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Daisuke7777 Posted: 03-13-2003 , 10:32 PM

K' -- KOF

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Ara? Oro? Eh?

:: applauds :: These introductions have been great so far. I'm thoroughly entertained Good job.. and oh, :: points to his avatar :: It matches Chipp, Sol, and Ky! XD

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Dry31 Posted: 03-14-2003 , 03:10 AM

Judge/Jury/Executioner

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

And mine, too. -_-

My intro will eventually show up here...

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Baka Posted: 03-14-2003 , 07:20 AM

Heaven or Hell?

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

I shall now post to try and get all five of the funky GGX avvies happen in a row. TT, Ex, get yo asses over here

Oh, and great RE info there. Maybe I should actually play one one day...


Baka // Black Angel // Salva Nos

"I'm not good- looking enough to be party leader." - Robin Cook

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Bugenhagen Posted: 03-14-2003 , 05:01 PM

Hello, Mr. Forest Fairy!

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Right behind you.

*dances like a drunken monkey*

That was awesome.

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Switchblade Posted: 03-20-2003 , 03:02 AM

Road Warrior

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: In your fridge, behind the mayo

Intro part 1. You may want to skip this one if you're of a sensitive constitution.


The sun shone in through the hotel window, only partially diffused by the cheap curtains. The light did little to bother the occupants of the room’s only bed, both of whom had stayed up far too late to be woken up by something as simple as daybreak. That was where the shrill ringing of the telephone came in.

It took a moment, but eventually one of the bed’s occupants, a stunningly beautiful woman whose normally well-groomed blonde hair was currently a tangled mess, stirred. With a soft, angry growl she lifted her head off the pillow and leaned over her companion, shivering slightly at the contact of warm naked flesh on warm naked flesh. She paused to teasingly brush her bare breasts across her partner’s back. Then she laughed softly and reached over to grab the phone on the bedside table.

“Yes?” she said into the receiver, her voice a low, sultry purr. She paused for a moment to listen to the reply. “Oh, it’s you, boss.” Mature rolled her eyes as the last word passed her lips, still disgusted at herself for her submissive position under the petty man known as Rugal Bernstein.

Rugal talked for several minutes, relaying a series of instructions to the woman he thought of as nothing more than his secretary. “Fine,” Mature replied once the orders were fully delivered, “We’ll get right on it. And, sir? Next time we’d appreciate it if you’d arrange a decent hotel room for us.” Mature listened to her boss’s parting words then waited for the click of the other line cutting out before hanging up the receiver on her end.

“What did the idiot want now?” Vice asked, reaching her arms up and folding them around Mature’s waist.

Mature looked down at the shorthaired brunette lying beside her. “A hit. Apparently some weapon’s dealer won’t deliver the goods. Rugal wants him gone.”

“How gone?” Vice asked, purring like a cat as she hooked one of her legs around Mature’s.

“Permanently.” The blonde answered with a wicked smile. She then bent her head down and licked Vice’s cheek.

“Mmm,” the brunette moaned as she nipped at Mature’s neck, “I was hoping that was the case.” Vice then pushed her lips fully against Mature’s soft flesh and bit into it, hard enough to draw blood.

A small gasp escaped Mature’s lips, a combination of pain and arousal that sounded like music to Vice’s ears. The blonde woman pushed Vice’s face away from her neck and pressed the other girl’s lips to her own. “I wish we had the time,” she said, “But Rugal told us where the man is going to be in an hour, if we don’t move fast we’ll miss him.”

“So,” Vice grinned, “Fuck or kill? Hell of a choice.”

“Really?” Mature asked as she untangled herself from her partner and climbed out of the bed.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Vice laughed, “I’ll take killing any day.”

Mature laughed back as she pulled some clean underwear out of her suitcase. “Me?” she said, making sure she had Vice’s eyes on her before she bent over to pull on her panties, “I‘ll take both. Remember that, partner.”

Vice leaned back her head and gave a hearty laugh at the blonde’s words. “Come on,” she said after she calmed down, “You want to use the shower before we go?”

“Not a bad idea,” Mature replied as she fastened the clasp on the front of her bra. “We only have an hour, though, so I’ll have to wait until afterwards. Besides, I’ll have plenty of blood to wash off then, anyways.”

“Fine,” Vice said, “But I am going to wash up. In case you hadn’t noticed I got all sweaty last night. Are you sure,” she added as she walked over to Mature and ran a hand up and down her back, “that you don’t want to join me?”

“We have to be on time,” Mature said, placing a hand on one of Vice’s breasts and pressing a sharp fingernail into the soft flesh, eliciting an animalistic moan from the brunette.

“Late for a kill?” Vice said in a soft voice, “Never.”

* * *

John Crawley stood perfectly still, ears alert and muscles tense as he leaned up against the wall of the parking garage. Somewhere else in the complex h could hear a car pulling away, the shrill squeal of its tires echoing in the cavernous building. John sighed and looked at his watch. The night before he’d received a phone call telling him to be at the garage by noon, promising help in clearing his sullied name. John had no idea who the caller had been, but any chance to get rid of the erroneous labels of arms dealer and traitor that Mr. Big had affixed to his name was worth any risk. John’s watch currently read 11:58, two minutes until the arrival of his mysterious would-be benefactor.

“Are you alone, Mr. Crawley?” a voice suddenly spoke up from the darkness of the garage.

“Who’s there?” John demanded, raising his fists in preparation of a fight.

“Calm down, my friend,” the voice continued, a definite Spanish accent detectable in the words. “I’m not here to hurt you, I’m here to offer redemption.”

“Redemption, huh?” John said, already focusing his chi to prepare a Mega-Smash. “Nice words, but try saying ‘em to my face, chuckles.”

“As you wish,” the voice said. John heard footsteps coming towards him from his right. The former military pilot leapt back from the sound, his energy attack primed and ready to launch. After wait seemed to be hours the shadows parted and revealed the tall form of a bearded Spanish man dressed in an expensive-looking business suit. “Laurence Blood,” the Spaniard said with a bow.

“Blood, huh?” John said, “What does a creepy dope like you want with me?”

“Your name’s been given a pretty bad rap, John,” the man called Blood said, calmly walking over to John. “My employer is giving you a chance to clear it.”

“Employer? What the heck are you talking about?” John backed up again, his guard lowering a little. “I ain’t no weapons dealer, you know.”

“Yes,” Laurence said, “I know, as does Mr. Krauser, my employer. Mr. Krauser would like to give you the option to clear your good name by joining the two of us in an upcoming tournament called the King of Fighters. If we win Mr. Krauser will see to it that your name is cleared of any arms dealing charges. Are you interested?”

“King of Fighters? Krauser? What’chu talkin’ ‘bout, Laurence?”

“It’s pretty simple, Mr. Crawley,” Laurence replied, “You, Mr. Krauser, and myself will form a team and compete in the tournament. And when we win your good name will be restored. Are you interested?”

John fully lowered his guard, reaching up with one hand to scratch the back of his head. “I dunno. It sounds okay, I guess. But I gotta know this: I’ve never heard of you or this Krauser, so why do you want me to join your team, huh? Why me?”

“Who cares?” Another voice, this one raspy and feminine, suddenly spoke up. Once more the shadows parted, this time revealing the forms of two beautiful young women, one a voluptuous blonde, the other a tomboyish brunette. The blonde was dressed in a black and white business suit, a long slit up one side of the skirt that bared a slim leg. The brunette was dressed similarly, but her suit was green and red. “After all,” the brunette said, “You’re going to be six feet under long before KOF starts.”

“Hey!” John called out to Laurence, “What the hell is this? These broads with you?”

“Never seen them before,” Laurence replied. The Spaniard grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled it open, revealing a full Spanish bullfighter’s costume underneath, complete with flowing red cape. “But whoever they are they’ve made a bad mistake.”

“Mr. Crawley,” the blonde said in a low sultry voice, “Our boss was very disappointed when you refused to supply him with the weaponry he requested. We’re here to show you just how disappointed.”

“Hey,” John said, “I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, chicky-poo, but ol’ John don’t play the arms dealing game. Never has, never will. Your boss just made a mistake.”

“Probably,” Vice agreed, “He is an unmitigated fool, but that’s no reason not to have some fun with you.”

“What about the other one?” Mature asked her partner, “Any reason to let him live?”

“None I can think of,” Vice replied.

“Good,” the blonde grinned. “Shall we?”

“On three,” Vice said.

The two looked at each other and grinned. “Three!” they shouted in unison. With blurring speed the two dashed forward, reaching out fast and low with their arms. Laurence and John leapt back, but it seemed as if the two women had impossibly long reach. Vice and Mature’s arms connected at the same time, Vice grabbing John while Mature took hold of Laurence. The two then pulled back, sending their targets flying through the air. Laurence landed hard on the hood of a Buick several feet behind Mature, but as John flew towards her Vice leapt into the air, grabbed hold of him, and slammed him hard into the ground.

“Have fun,” Mature called to her partner as she ran over to the already rising Laurence.

“Absolutely,” Vice replied as she pulled John up onto his feet. “Come on, Johnny boy,” she then purred at her opponent, “Don’t you want to play?”

“Thanks,” John said with a surprising smile, “But no thanks.” The military man took a quick step back and lashed out with a fierce kick. Vice managed to dodge the kick, as well as the four which immediately followed it. “Yeah!” he cried out, “Come on, baby!”

Vice said nothing in reply she simply and suddenly charged forward, leading with her shoulder. John attempted to sidestep the rush, but ultimately he proved too slow and Vice slammed into him, audibly cracking a few ribs and sending him flying backwards. Once again, though, Vice moved faster than her victim and again caught him in midair. Instead of slamming him into the ground, though, she instead launched him full-force into the parking garage’s cement wall. John slammed into the wall with a heavy crunch, the sheer force of his impact enough to crack the both the wall and several of his bones. The blond military man slid down the wall until his feet found the floor, several seconds after Vice lightly touched down. Moving with a pain-induced slowness John brought his arms up and started reaching for his chi, ready to unleash his powerful Mega-Smash on the crazy woman who wanted him dead.

Last edited by Switchblade on 03-22-2003 at 12:16 AM

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Switchblade Posted: 03-20-2003 , 03:07 AM

Road Warrior

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: In your fridge, behind the mayo

And the rest:

Before he could gather enough energy, though, Vice had renewed her attack. She dashed forward a few feet then leapt into the air, lashing out with a strong kick that slammed into John’s face, smashing his nose into a bloody pulp. Just before she touched down she spun around in the air and lashed out with her other foot in a series of incredibly fast kicks, each one so swift that it created a razor-sharp wind shear. After a series of eight or nine slashes Vice let her foot fall and stepped back to examine her handiwork. Each wind sheer had left a deep cut in John’s chest, and Vice couldn’t help but smile as she watched the steady flow of blood from his wounds. Vice gave a final, savage growl and charged John again.

Once again her shoulder connected and sent John flying back into the wall. John connected with a wet crunch, and as the air rushed from his lungs he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Then the light in his eyes slowly faded away and he slumped down onto the ground, blood from his wounds pooling around his corpse. With a savage grin Vice knelt down next to John’s body and traced her fingers through the warm blood. Bringing her hand back up to her face the brunette ran her tongue over her first two fingers. “Well,” she purred, “I guess I’m done. There aren’t any more bones to break.”

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Mature asked Laurence as the Spaniard watched John Crawley die. “Well don’t worry, nothing like that will happen to you. I like to take my time.” With that said Mature pivoted on one foot and lashed out with the other, slamming it into Laurence’s gut. The Spaniard groaned and clutched his stomach, backing away from Mature as he did so.

“B-b-b-bitch,” Laurence spat as he backed away. “Krauser wanted that one!”

“Really?” Mature asked, lashing out with one fist so fast that it caused a wind shear to shoot forward and open a long, thin cut on Laurence’s cheek. “Too bad.” Another wind shear cut open Laurence’s other cheek.

Laurence growled and suddenly dashed forward, reaching inside his cape and pulling out a sharp saber which he violently thrust towards Mature. Before he got near her, though, Mature had already leapt into the air, somersaulting over Laurence’s head and lashing out with another wind shear slash, this one slicing the Spaniard’s right ear clean off his head.

Although wounded Laurence didn’t slow down, instead he used his momentum to spin around and whip his cape out towards Mature. The red cloth lashed out and wrapped itself firmly around the descending blonde’s right leg. “Gotcha!” Laurence grinned, jerking back on the cloth in an attempt to impale Mature on his poised sword. Far from phased the blonde assassin merely gave a small pout before waving a hand upwards in a wide arc that sent a long wind shear traveling through the cape, not only cutting it in half but also managing to cut a wide gash in Laurence’s left arm. “Bitch!” Laurence screamed out in pain, dropping his sword as he clutched at his injured arm.

“Really, Mr. Blood,” Mature smiled as she landed gently on her feet, “Is that the limit of your vocabulary? I would have hoped that you could come up with something more inventive. Something as simple as ‘bitch’ makes for poor last words.”

“Maybe,” Laurence replied through gritted teeth, “But I don’t intend for them to be my last. In fact I feel rather like saying quite a bit more. Starting with this: Bloody Spin!” Laurence suddenly leapt forward, spinning through the air towards Mature like a whirling torpedo. Far from acting alarmed, however, Mature gave a little laugh and jumped aside, swinging her arm in another wide arc, as fast as she could. The resulting wind shear blazed towards Laurence, slamming into him as he flew towards Mature’s former location. A few seconds later Laurence’s face slammed into the paved ground of the parking garage. Several feet away his legs and lower abdomen also crashed down, quite separate from his upper body.

Mature stood over Laurence’s severed upper half, watching with sadistic pleasure as the dying Spaniard attempted to speak, but nothing but blood issued from his mouth. “Good night forever,” she softly whispered to him, “Have a million sweet dreams.”

“Beautiful work,” Vice commented as she walked over to join her companion, “Pretty fast for you, though.”

“That’s the problem with men,” Mature replied, “They never last very long. Just when you start having fun…”

Vice reached up and ran a finger across Mature’s cheek, leaving a red streak of blood on Mature’s ivory skin. “Fun, eh?” the brunette asked. “I remember how well a good kill can turn you on. Shall we play?”

Mature responded by reaching up and grabbing hold of Vice’s neck with one hand. She slowly backed the brunette up against the wall, not stopping until she was resting in the cracked indentation she’d made while fighting John. Vice smiled and gave an animalistic growl as she stretched her arms up over her head and clasped her hands together. Mature responded with an equally primal purr and pressed her lips against Vice’s, biting down on the brunette’s lower lip until she drew blood. The blonde then started to press her fingernails into Vice’s neck, eagerly awaiting the glorious moment when they’d bite through the flesh and bring the sweet red fluid trickling to the surface. Before she could achieve penetration, however, both she and Vice disappeared in a sudden flash of light.

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ETP Posted: 03-20-2003 , 11:29 PM

humble canadian

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Stratford, Ontario, Canada Favorite Character: GGXX Zappa Astrological Sign: Gemini Area_of_Interest: Illustration & Porn Level of Canadianliness: 98%

Switchblade

Excellent work on your intro. You definetely chose an interesting set of characters to portray. Your writing during the fight sequences was easy to follow, and very exciting. I look forward to seeing more in the future.

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Baka Posted: 03-21-2003 , 08:26 PM

Heaven or Hell?

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Kiske 0:2 – Good Manners and Customs

”Sir Ky! The east wing has fallen, and they’re pushing us back to the north!”

“Got it! Rally the survivors and pull back to the inner sanctum. We can still survive this!”

“What about the civilians? There are still commoners back there?”

Damnit.. what were civilians doing there? Shouldn’t the city have been evacuated by now? He hadn’t been able to concentrate though, or maybe he would have remembered that sooner… but not with Sol… not with what he had done…

“Sir! What about the civili-ARGH!”

He remembered turning – Collins had been a good man, and a fine soldier – turning and seeing the crazed figure rip through the wall and though Collins… the blood in his memory was still so red and fresh, and the Gear’s claws so white, brilliant white… and he remembered asking the lord for forgiveness for what he was about to do…


It took Ky no more than a second to take in the red jacket, that flowing dark hair and the amused sneer on the other man’s face.

“Sol!”

It was Sol, indeed. The man Ky longed to meet again, the man who shadowed him wherever he went, but…

Ky’s eyes dropped to the man’s side, to the Fuuenken, the Fireseal. One of the Jinki, the eight holy weapons, like Ky’s own Fuuraiken, the man had stolen it, so long ago now. Eight weapons created to destroy Gears, and this man, this… traitor… held one. And now he stood infront of Ky again, looking around like this church, this place meant nothing to him. Ky stood up, hand on his sword-hilt.

“Yo, Kiske. Didn’t expect to see you here.” The man looked around nonchalantly, reaching into a jacket pocket. A half-frown crossed his face, then he grinned and reached into the other one, pulling a packet of cigarettes out. Flipping the top open, he pulled one half-way out and grinned at Ky.

A rush of emotions flooded Ky’s head – conflicting thoughts. Sol was here, but what would he say to him? Where had he been? Come back with me? Return the Fuuenken? Or…

“Sol… why are you here, now? Of all places, here?” Ky took a step forward, extending a hand towards his rival. This time, friendship and reconciliation beat down those other flickering feelings and thoughts to push Ky towards the man. In answer, Sol pulled the cigarette out and placed it in his mouth. Lighting it with a chrome zippo, he waved the packet towards Ky. “Cigarette? No? Naw, you never were one for ‘vices of the flesh’, were ya?” As Ky’s jaw hung open, Sol continued, ignoring his surprise. “So.. you see anyone else around here? I’m kinda looking for someone.”

“No, I – what does that have to do with anything, Sol? Why here? Of all places, why here?”

“Dunno.” Sol shrugged. “Following a trail, it led here. You sure you didn’t see anyone? Naw, scratch that. You don’t know anything.”

Insolence, anger, even a simple answer, Ky was expecting. He could have delt with that, even with a simple denial, a rebuttal. But to be ignored? The arrogance of the man still knew no bounds – in that way, the man hadn’t changed since that day, all those years ago, when he had walked out on the Order, leaving them to face a force far stronger than their own – “Sol, Sol – why? Why did you leave?”

A cloud of smoke left Sol’s mouth as he flicked some ash from his cigarette onto the stone floor. “Eh. Obviously not here. Well, good to see you again, Kiske.” With that, he span on his heel and began to walk away, humming quietly to himself as he did so. Ky’s eyes narrowed. All his training told him to hold back now, to let him leave, but..

A scraping noise echoed through the room, past the sound of the rain, as Ky’s sword left its sheath. Thunder rolled in the sky, almost as if the Lord had sent it there on schedule, and Ky called out one word. “Stop!”

Sol did stop, and he slowly turned to face Ky, a wry grin on his face. “’Sup, Kiske? Why the serious look? Anyone would think you had something on your mind?”

“Sol.. don’t you… don’t you walk out on me again.” Ky’s voice was calm, but for a slight tremor that gave away the raging bubble of emotion that he kept strapped away at the back of his mind. “I’ve looked for you for too long, and now we meet again, here of all place. Do you even know what this place is?” He didn’t wait for Sol to give another condescending reply – Ky’s mouth acted on its own now, churning out the words he had longed to say for so long. “It was here, eight years ago now, that you walked out on us – you left the Order, you left Kliff, the man who took you in, looked after you – and you left me – you left me and a hundred good men to face an army of Gears! You took the Fuuenken – what right had you to steal from the Order? You left us, and we were beaten back! We lost so many to that army – men and women who were my friends – heck, they were your friends too, and you abandoned them, us – to run off on your own! Why, Sol, why?” Ky’s tirade ran out finally, his voice dropping to a whisper for a final “why?”

Sol didn’t answer straight away. He raised the cigarette to his mouth slowly, and took a deep drag, all the time not removing his eyes from Ky’s. Lowering his cigarette, he tapped the ash off, then looked down at the half-smoked stick. Muttering a disgruntled ‘bah’, he stubbed it out on the corner of the nearest pew – rotted and swollen from the rain and the years – and dropped the dog-end on the floor. Looking up at Ky again, he smudged it into the ground with his foot, then grinned.

“Later, Kiske.” he growled, then turned on his heel once again to leave. As he reached the door, Sol ran one hand through his hair. “If ya see that man, tell him I’m looking for him.”

Ky’s anger finally got the better of him. Crying out, he swung the Fuuraiken down in a long sweeping arc, a bolt of lightning arcing down the aisle to earth itself at Sol’s feet. “Sol… SOL! Don’t you dare leave, damnit!”


Baka // Black Angel // Salva Nos

"I'm not good- looking enough to be party leader." - Robin Cook

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-21-2003 , 08:53 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Before I post intro-stuffs... I explain. ;p

Technically, this is all supposed to be one part of the intro in itself, but... due to the character limit, it's quite broken into parts. ^^; Yah. Once I finish the rest of it, it shall likewise follow suit in the same manner. ^^

So, without ado...

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-21-2003 , 09:19 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Hisame Shizumaru - Prologue:1

Memories...

That, I have little of, I can say for certain. I am not sure what makes me this way, yet I suspect it is the demon that dwells within my body that makes it so. My old sensei, a man by the name of Haohmaru, ascertained that about me when I was under his training, and I have reason to suspect that he was right.

The demon inside of me... it surprises people to know that it exists within, and they fear me because of it. Even when I do not say anything about it, they eventually figure it out somehow, and then... the endless circle that is my life begins anew. They do not want demons in their presence; no one in the usual state of mind would. Henceforth, they take it upon themselves to drive me away, and the things that they have done to me... Haohmaru related them to me once I would come back after such an incident, terrified and sobbing -

... they make me glad, sometimes, that I cannot remember the things they have done to me.

Those forgettable occasions happen rarely, thankfully. Most of the time, they simply throw stones at me in hopes to drive me away, and those that are brave enough to touch me merely try to push me over or hit me. Yet, I never strike back at them - not to say I am above such things - simply, I have no need to attack them... I always trained to fight the demon who wrought my curse upon me. If they think that it is debasing to me, they are only debasing themselves in that matter... by no fault of mine am I a demon, and that fact is immutable.

I do have an excellent short-term memory, and the attacks upon my body are common enough to where it is second nature. Besides... the minor injuries they leave behind are proof enough that they do that to me...

I cannot even remember what my first meeting with Haohmaru was anymore; of course, I know that it did happen... he is quite the character in his own right. In fact, he was only the second person able to accept what I am, and I am extremely grateful to him for that. The first was a lady who took me in when I was yet an infant, and she was the one who named me 'Shizumaru', for I rarely ever spoke...

I speak much more than I did then, but those occasions are only when need be. I do not know what I would have to speak about - aside from the single clear memories I do have... and if I could live without no memory whatsoever, just so I could not remember those two, then I would in a single beat of my heart. Those two memories haunt me with every step, they invade my thoughts, they trespass on every breath I take - and worst of all, I dream of them.

It is rare I have pleasant dreams... nearly every time I find myself dreaming about that night - about the demon who took away my freedom, my mother, and birthed the demon within - and I am frightened awake, cold sweat upon my brow, leaving it impossible for me to regain the tranquility in sleep I desire. Even if a dream starts out kindly enough, it soon transforms back into one manifestation or another of that night - and there have been times when my mind will explore more... primordial thoughts... those happen at a much higher frequency than ever before. Surely, I would not have dreamt of such physical pleasure at half the age I am now...

Could this be the scheming of the demon...? I am tempted to think so...

There have been occurences when I felt the demon shiver and tremble within my body, but none were as painful as when I met the 'Eve' creature - I still cannot say for sure whether the being was a demon or not, but her lust for my blood was frighteningly akin to the needs of some demons I've heard about. She ensnared me, somehow - and, yet... the demon saved my life. I doubt the demon bothered to save me out of compassion; rather, it was to keep me alive so that it, in turn, would not die... a peculiar symbiosis exists between us.

Ever since that awakening, however... the feeling of unease is steadily growing. The nightmares have returned; not even my dreams can be in serenity. At times I lose myself entirely to the feeling when I am awake - my hearts beats so painfully, and I can taste the traces of vomit on my breath before it ensares me completely.

I see the demon vividly in my dreams, even now... it possesses my body, so, somehow it is me - and yet it is not me at once. The color of my hair is a deep red, so like my blood; his is the white of stars at pure midnight. My skin is a fair ivory, his a sickly sort of yellow. Tiger-like stripes frame his face, whisk across his arms and legs - my features have no such markings. His expression is conniving, sinister... a face that continues to smile wickedly upon me with malice, even now.

His breath caresses my cheek - it always makes me shudder by the sheer lack of warmth it carries with it. A long, smooth nail follows the cool air - and it snaps back to slice me across the face. His eyes - no, they are mine - flicker up to meet my terrified gaze of horror. He stares at his hand bemusedly, carefully examining it, and meticulously licking the blood off of his nails. His shrill laugh suddenly rings in my ears, and my hands immediately fly up to shield them from the noise - but it reverberates within, getting louder; now his wicked smile has returned, and he shows off his clawed fingers proudly to me - and my breath is lost, suddenly, replaced by the bittersweet taste of blood - staring down in horror, I realize - he has struck with his claws, into my heart - and only pushing them through, deeper into my chest - it hurts so much, I cannot make a sound, and I cannot possibly move - delirious, all I can do is slip away; surrounded by his sickening laughter -


"Shizumaru! Mezame yo! Wake up!" the panicked voice of a young girl was what brought the young man back into consciousness. "Shizu-kun... Shizu-kun!"

"Wha... oh - Rimururu..." Shizumaru ran a hand through his bittersweet hair, and sighed, feeling the moisture of cold sweat on his forehead. Another nightmare. What'd he done this time, send everything within a mile fleeing from his shrieks of torture? "I... I woke you... I apologize - "

"You don't have to," she shook her head. "You can't control what you dream - but it sounded terrible... better to know that it was just a nightmare, right?" she smiled.

"I suppose so," Shizumaru frowned. "But - I fear that I have had such recurring dreams before..." Shaking his head roughly, he settled his eyes on what little of the sky he could see through the leaves of the tree the two had been sleeping under. Slowly, he let his gaze fall back to the girl beside him, who was frowning at his lack of concern...

Rimururu...

... and he looked away, glumly. ... why do you stay with someone like me?

"Doushite no? WhatÕs the matter?" Rimururu asked him, and his eyes darted back to hers again. Shizumaru shook his head - nothing to make a fuss over - but the girl insisted upon prying. "Please... maybe I can help - "

"T - they are merely dreams," he stammered abruptly. "I will be fine... I promise you."

She ignored that. "How long have these dreams been recurring?"

"... many nights. Ever since we began our embark to Kyoto, in fact..." he thought to himself out loud. "But, Rimururu... I do not think this is something serious. Other people have the same dreams from night to night... I suppose I am included in that minority."

Rimururu raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, but laughed, and continued her interrogation. "What were you dreaming about?"

"A demon - " he blurted out, his usual response - it was rare not to see one in his dreams, anyhow. " - It was a nightmare, you see..."

"And that's what you've been having too far many of," the Ainu girl snapped her finger at Shizumaru, mockingly scolding him. "... have you even *had* one pure, happy dream lately?"

He looked at her sadly - though she tried to sound casual, he could see in her eyes that she was deeply concerned for him. Not that he didn't appreciate her sentiment, no... but how come she was so worried? Nodding silently, he tried to appease her - no sense in depriving themselves of sleep over a simple nightmare.

Simple nightmare? The same one had struck at him night after night...

"That's good," she smiled happily. "Well, if you're sure you'll be okay... oyasumi," Curling up under a thin blanket, she closed her eyes, letting her head fall against Shizumaru's shoulder, and soon was fast asleep again.

"Oyasumi nasai," he mumbled, but unlike the girl, he stayed awake to think.

Why does she stay by my side...? I can understand wanting help with her shoulder, but - how can I possibly know what she desires from me? A travelling companion, a friend... or maybe it's -

He stopped himself from the dark thought on the edge of his mind. ... that could hardly be what she wants... then again - far be it from me to try and unravel the mysteries of a girl's mind...

Shizumaru closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling deeply. He stared down at Rimururu again, feeling her gentle, warm breath on his neck. Idly, he let himself brush a finger ever-so-softly on her cheek before slumping his own head down in fatigue.

--

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-21-2003 , 09:43 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

"How long 'till we get to Kyoto?" Rimururu asked, bounding over a grassy hill. "DidnÕt Kafuin-san say that what's-his-name would be there?"

"'WhatÕs-his-name' is Haohmaru and he said that he *might* be there," Shizumaru winked and smiled. "With any luck, we should reach Gion within the hour."

"Oh, Gion, that's right," Rimururu laughed.

The two of them, since their unusual meeting in a bamboo forest, had first gone to visit the elderly monk, Kafuin Nikochin - well, Shizumaru had been heading in that direction; Rimururu insisted on coming with when she realized how far he was going to be traveling. It had taken a week to reach the monk's home, another week under his hospitality (Shizumaru noted it was plainly obvious he wanted Rimururu to stay behind), and another week so far to get to Gion. Haohmaru hadnÕt been at Kafuin's, but, the monk had thought that he would be in Kyoto - his old home - and besides, if you knew the kinds of entertainment you could find there...

"Oh, I see," she announced, at the top of a second hill. "There's Kyoto... oh! The Imperial Palace - goodness, itÕs enormous! How will we find our way to Gion?"

"I know how," Shizumaru caught up with her. "I have been with Haohmaru on some of his visits here... follow me, and we will be fine." Saying that, he took her hand, and they ran the rest of the way to the city.

"Oh wow..." Rimururu gasped in awe when they reached the outskirts. "I've never seen an area so populated... Kamui Kotan is busy, but surely not to this degree."

"Kamui Kotan? ... is that your home?" Shizumaru turned to her, and she nodded. Urging her on a bit, he slowed down amidst the crowds, looking at his surroundings carefully, trying to find something that would trigger a memory... nothing. Rimururu was still gaping at the height of the Imperial Palace - it towered above the city. Shizumaru, though, looked beyond the grand building, and stared into the horizon, where the sun was setting, lighting the sky aflame in its beauty. The sun set in the west, so they had arrived in the same direction, which told him that Gion was to their right... tugging on Rimururu's hand again, he led her through the streets of Kyoto (she wouldn't stop staring at the Imperial Palace, though).

"I hate to sound cruel, but... you, especially, would not be let into the Palace because of your heritage..." Shizumaru sighed. "I hope I haven't - "

"No... I didn't think I'd be able to get in anyway," the girl faintly smiled. "Tall buildings are always important ones, and I have no business in them, so I won't bother myself with those thoughts..." Rimururu kept on staring, as Shizumaru led them to Gion - the sunset was fading, gradually turning the sky into twilit darkness... it was a perfect night. Not too warm, nor cold; the sky was cloudless and the stars twinkled like the shine of blades...

"Shizumaru?" Rimururu took her eyes off of the Imperial Palace for a moment. "How in the world do you know when you're at Gion...? There doesn't seem to be any signs or landmarks that I can see..."

"Geisha," he answered simply. "They will be out at night, I assure you... and Haohmaru was always quite infamous with them. If he is here, all we have to do is inquire to his whereabouts..." But, he frowned after the words left him. Easier said than done - carrying on a conversation with a geisha was tricky, especially if you happened on one of the wittier ones. They were artful dodgers; always avoiding the subject if they could help it. Besides, even if you managed to slip past her conversational skills, they were dreadfully alluring, making it difficult to retain composure. And, well, if you met a geisha equally endowed in intelligence and beauty...

"I see," she smiled. "Oh! Is that a geisha?" she pointed off somewhere - to a young lady in yukata. Shizumaru shook his head in mirth, and she sighed. "How can I tell them apart...?"

"You will know when you see one," he laughed. Rimururu shrugged, and continued to let him lead on. The streets were becoming yet more crowded, and Shizumaru nearly lost hold of Rimururu's hand in the hustle and bustle of the night. "Stay close to me," he warned her, and she nodded nervously. "We must be close to Gion... the streets are very busy."

"That's reassuring..." she squeaked, seeing a crowd of men leering at her. Still nervous, she tightened her grip on Shizumaru's hand, and continued to follow him diligently along. "Here's to hoping we get to Gion soon..."

"Very soon. Shijo divides the district into north and south, so once we find that street, we shall be there..." Shizumaru smiled to reassure her, and scanned the horizon once more for the familiar street. The area was getting more crowded, so they should've arrived there, or at least been relatively close to the district -

"Is *that* a geisha?" Rimururu tapped him on the shoulder, and he swerved his eyes to where she pointed to.

He smiled and nodded. "Yes... that is a geisha. We must be at Gion..." Holding Rimururu's hand, he led her over towards the figure in kimono, the white face shockingly luminescent in the moonlight, and the hair ornaments twinkling and glistening like dew on flower petals.

"She's awfully beautiful..." The Ainu girl resisted the urge to stare.

"He," Shizumaru laughed, correcting her. "That is a male geisha, I'm afraid... you will not see many in Gion, though - female geisha are considerably more popular."

"... oh," she blushed, waving timidly at the geisha - he'd overheard their conversation and was likewise chuckling at her mistake. Frowning, she scooted quickly up to Shizumaru and pouted a little. "It isn't funny..."

"Gomen nasai," Shizumaru nodded his head quickly in apology, then directed Rimururu to the left - into south Gion. "Aa... all we have to do is find a geisha that will be willing to help us out now..."

"They don't look like they're willing to talk, Shizu-kun.." she bit her lip. "They're all in such a hurry, it seems! Do you really think we can talk to one?" Rimururu looked over at Shizumaru as she asked her question, and blinked in surprise when she saw him blushing. "Doushite no? Oh - oh..."

She heard the giggling of girls around them, and finally realized why Shizumaru's face had become so scarlet - they were fawning over him.

"Aa, bishounen..." one of them sighed. "Kirei desu ka?"

"Hai, kirei desu!" the other girl nodded. "Utsukushii da..."

Still giggling, they passed in front of them, and Rimururu stared at their dress - extravagant kimono, tied in a marvellously long obi knot. "Goodness - is that the way you tell that they're male or female - if they have longer obi?"

"No..." Shizumaru mumbled, his face still red. "Those were maiko - apprentice geisha..." Rimururu nodded, slowly, in understanding, and continued to look around the streets of Gion, looking at the people out on the town like they were, and when a geisha happened to spring up, her eyes were immediately caught and drawn in by their white face paint.

Shizumaru, on the other hand, was frowning - how long had it been since he'd been to Gion, or even Kyoto, for that matter? The geisha he would've met he couldn't remember, and he barely recalled where everything in Gion was... if Haohmaru was here, it was going to be a difficult search for him.

"Ah, I would know that blood-red hair anywhere, Hisame-san!" a voice laughed tauntingly in Shizumaru's ear, and he spun around to meet who had spoken - a geisha, of course; who else would've known him? She bowed lightly, and asked, "How long has it been since Haohmaru brought you here, hm? Surely, you two could not have had an argument and seperated; it would break my delicate heart to see you two angry!"

Shizumaru tried to look the geisha straight in the eye, but only flustered himself as he bowed to her. "I... well, I needed to learn nothing from Haohmaru-sensei anymore, so I... well, we parted ways, you see..." his voice had trembled a fair sight more than he'd wanted it to.

"Midoriko-san had wondered if she might see you again," she smiled, referring to herself in third person sweetly, once she had noticed that Shizumaru was unable to place her name. "What brings Hisame-san to Gion again? Perhaps he's trying to sell this pretty Ainu girl... Hisame-san, surely that wasn't what you were here for!" she smiled again, and it only got broader as Shizumaru choked up again.

"Not at all, Midoriko-san," Shizumaru shook his head. "I - er... you are not terribly rushed, are you? I must ask you something, for you seem as if you should know..."

Midoriko laughed, a hand innocently over her mouth. "Midoriko-san has parties to go to, yes, but she's hardly in a rush. Tell me what brings you here in such bashful manner and haste, however; if you need to ask a geisha for what troubles you, I can only imagine it's something dreadfully silly! Geisha aren't much for old wisdom, you realize..."

"I need to find Haohmaru-sensei," Shizumaru frowned. "Midoriko-san, perchance you know if he is here? I have important business I must discuss with him, and it must be as soon as possible."

"Midoriko-san knows where Haohmaru-san is," she laughed again. "In Gion, as you guessed correctly. He happens to be at the Ichiriki Teahouse on invitation from the mistress, actually, and it's a wonder she ever let him in with his reputation!" The Ichiriki Teahouse - a famous spot in Kyoto, for not a hundred years earlier, it was where the leader of the Fourty-seven Ronin had devised his revenge for their master's death. Chuckling softly, Midoriko added: "I don't suppose she would hesitate to let you in - she was rather fond of you as well, I recall, and certainly, you were much more behaved and civil than Haohmaru-san was!"

"Ara...Ó Shizumaru sighed. "I surely hope she will let me in. My business with Haohmaru-sensei is of utmost importance..."

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-21-2003 , 10:31 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

"Midoriko-san will go with Hisame-san to the door and help," she smiled, seeing Shizumaru sigh in relief. "I doubt she would let your friend in, though... the Ichiriki mistress would not be fond of Ainu in the teahouse."

Shizumaru looked back to Rimururu, worried that she would be offended, but it seemed like she hadn't even expected she'd be allowed in in the first place - or even that Shizumaru wouldn'tve been. Frowning, he turned back to Midoriko, suddenly feeling the air become slightly thick and stagnant. Quickly, he unslung his umbrella from his back, anticipating rain.

"Why, Hisame-san!" Midoriko laughed. "I do believe you've summoned this sudden weather! Who else but with a name like yours could succeed in summoning rain to his command?"

"It was not me," he said aimlessly, looking up at the night sky - now becoming darkened with clouds, the smell of moist earth wafting into his senses.

"Ah - pardon me for asking, but..." Rimururu spoke behind them. "Where am I to stay while Shizu-kun is talking? It smells like it's going to rain soon, so - "

"Midoriko-san guesses that you will have to stay outside, sadly..."

"... I see..." Rimururu looked towards the ground, somewhat shamefully. Her reaction did not escape Shizumaru's eyes, and he wondered for a moment if he should reassure her -

"The Ichiriki Teahouse," Midoriko stopped at the gate of a tall fence, and Shizumaru looked at it, tilting his head back to see how high it rose - the red fence and roof were nearly indistinguishable at nighttime. "Haohmaru-san is in there at the moment - please wait patiently, Hisame-san," the geisha bowed politely, and lightly tapped a knuckle on the door, kneeling; Shizumaru followed her actions precisely as the door slid open, revealing one of the teahouse maids.

"Midoriko-san! What a surprise to see you!" the maid was startled. "Please, why don't you come in for a moment? I would hate to see your makeup ruined by this rain we're going to get tonight!"

"I shall indeed step in for a moment, Morimoto-san," Midoriko deeply, delicately bowed low to the maid. "However, you see the young man before you as well, do you not?"

"H - hajimemashite," Shizumaru nervously bowed as well, and blushed when he saw Midoriko's worried frown. "I - forgive my rudeness for being here..."

The maid looked down at him - admiring his looks, Shizumaru thought, and flashed an even brighter scarlet. "My my, Midoriko-san, what the bishounen you've brought to the Ichiriki! What does he wish, I wonder? Why, with those looks... I'd say that he's a fair sight more beautiful than half of the geisha in Gion!"

He cringed in embarrassment, and Midoriko quickly noticed and changed the subject. "Ah, Morimoto-san, the bishounen is not here to be beautiful; he is here to see a guest that the Ichiriki has graciously invited! I daresay, can we ask the mistress's permission to let him see Haohmaru-san? The young man has something urgent to talk to him about, you see..."

"Urgent news, hm?" The maid tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I'll bring it up... what's your name, for reference? I can't just have you as a nameless bishounen, can I?" she winked.

"Hisame Shizumaru," he tried to hide his scarlet cheeks by bowing his head, letting his blood-red hair fall over his face.

The maid blinked in surprise. "Hisame Shizumaru...? Oh, goodness, you'll have an easier time being let in than I thought - considering that I know I've seen you in here before!" she laughed. "Itte kimasu!"

As the maid turned to leave, Midoriko giggled with her hand over her mouth, which was covered up in the sleeve of her kimono. "There's no need to be so bashful, Hisame-san; you've been here before! I'm sure the mistress will let you in post haste."

"I hope so," he sighed. Quickly, he looked over his shoulder at Rimururu, who caught his eye with a glint in hers, and she winked, showing her encouragement - which made him feel still more hopeful that the mistress would let him in. The air certainly felt thicker because of his anxiety, yes, but it was almost certainly going to rain now, and he was worried about Rimururu...

"Hisame-kun!" the maid called back, and he spun his head around quickly. "The mistress is indeed allowing you in, but I'm afraid only for this night's duration."

"See, Hisame-san, miracles happen," Midoriko giggled, and stood up with a flourish, helping him to his feet before walking into the teahouse and removing her zori sandals.

Shizumaru hesitated before walking in - he looked at Rimururu forlornly. Looking down at his umbrella, Kirisame, he tossed it to the girl, who caught it with a smile. "It will rain soon... I am sorry I cannot save you from the cold, but I can save you from getting wet, at least," he bowed to her, and as an afterthought, added: "... itte kimasu." Rimururu nodded, and snapped open the umbrella, holding it above her as she slumped to the ground. Shizumaru didn't see the slump - he was already in the Ichiriki Teahouse. Quickly, he stepped out of his own sandals, placing them next to Midoriko's, and looked around his new surroundings - or rather, smelled them; what struck him immediately was the musty smell of kuroyaki perfume.

"Morimoto-san...?" he cautiously asked for the maid, who appeared beside him like a sudden spring breeze. "Ah - where *is* Haohmaru-sensei, if you would pardon my asking?"

"Oh! Alright then, Hisame-kun, follow me," the maid smiled, and led him down a hallway of wooden floor. On either side, rice paper-lined doors hid clients in the middle of parties, and their laughter from inside reached Shizumaru's ears, only serving to further his anticipation for his meeting with Haohmaru.

"Now, Haohmaru-san is with Sango-san and Gohan-san, so you had better be polite to those two," the maid instructed him quietly, still leading him down the hall. "If you need anything, send for me or any other of the maids, okay?"

"Hai," Shizumaru nodded. Before long, they stopped in front of a door, where Shizumaru could hear the familiar chuckle of his old teacher, and the bright laughter of the girls inside. "Here, I presume?"

"Yep. I'll leave you to your business now," she bowed, and left Shizumaru to enter the room on his own. His hand was poised to slide the door open, but he hesitated. Slowly, he reached into his tunic and procured a blood-stained slip of paper, with a sorrowful haiku written on it in deep black ink. Rereading the haiku to himself silently, he closed his eyes tightly, keeping back his remorse and solidifying his resolve - then, he pushed aside his anxiety and slid open the door.

Haohmaru was sitting at a low table, and across from him, sat a geisha and an apprentice geisha - a maiko. Their kimono was what his eyes were immediately drawn to at first - the geisha's was a deep, sea blue, mainly because of the setting upon it - a moonlit beach, with stars that seemed to twinkle all on their own, as if they were not silk dots, but truly real... and her obi was equally enchanting; a light lavender, etched with violet in darker shades, contorting to form a pattern of overlapping flowers. The maiko's kimono was even more exquisite than the geisha's, for hers was a base silver, with bronze leaves falling in the wind, the veins traced in gold, and the swirls of wind lightly outlined in black. The obi she wore was tied in an elaborate knot nearly as high as her shoulders, and it must've at least been as long as the width of the room undone, judging by its streams - it was bronze, and sewn into it were convoluted shapes done in gold. The length and color of the obi that the maiko wore almost seemed to make her kimono insiginificant...

Their hair was what struck him next. Both had a lovely shine, both of them had been tied in infamous lobes, and from both of their hairstyles, flowers were perched and ornaments dangled. Again, the maiko's hairstyle caught him - it was a split-peach bun, tied around bright red silk. The most peculiar aspect of the maiko's hair was the fascinating part - exempting the forelock, all of her hair was a pure snow white.

"Wouldn't you know it; just who I was talking about!" Shizumaru snapped out of his transfixiation - Haohmaru's laugh had startled him. The geisha and maiko simultaneously flipped their heads to look at him, and the young man suddenly felt the warmth of a blush on his face. They smiled and bowed politely to him, and he bowed as well - although, his was fraught with nervousness.

"Ah, Haohmaru-sensei... shibaraku desu ne," he smiled softly, and sat next to his old teacher. "It's been a long time since we last met."

"That it has, Shizumaru-kun," Haohmaru grinned. "See, I told you he was a polite one, ladies," he nodded his head towards the young man, and both geisha and maiko smiled innocently.

"What coincidence it truly is for two pairs of teacher and student to meet each other," the geisha laughed. "Although, Gohan has yet to reach her full geisha status, unlike you, young man, who have grown beyond need of a teacher..."

"You underestimate me, Sango-san," the white-haired maiko smirked. "I am perfectly self-sufficient, and you full well know it."

"When you're not entertaining, you are, but as a maiko, you are not," the geisha pursed her lips. "Ah... well, Haohmaru-san, at least your student has better manners than mine! I can't say much the same for dear Gohan here."

"Well now, how so?" Haohmaru asked. "Perhaps she needs someone to put her back into place..." he waggled his eyes and winked, which sent Sango into a fit of giggling, Gohan into a bright blush, and Shizumaru into a facepalm.

"I do NOT need proper etiquitte lessons, thank you very much," Gohan pouted.

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-21-2003 , 11:16 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

"You see my point," Sango smiled, and Gohan's mouth hung open, gaping like a fish, in exasperation. "Her manners aren't anything compared to how she spends her time at her okiya, I'm afraid," she continued, while the shade of red deepened on Gohan's cheeks. Shizumaru looked curiously at the maiko's face - Gohan's eyes were a brilliant red, hidden behind small, elegant glasses. Her skin was already so deathly white, much as her hair was, that she hadn't bothered to use a bit of the typical white facepaint - only her lips and eyebrows had been finished... no wonder her blush was so obvious.

"Miss Gohan," he asked her, "do you not wear your facepaint because of your skin? It is so white already that I presume you do not..."

Gohan tried to speak, but Sango held a petite hand to her face, and spoke herself. "Such perception... and you would be correct. There are many things that Gohan can get away with because she is shiroko. The poor girl is often mistaken for an elderly lady, however... if only she were as wise as one."

"I suppose it's true, for I shirk my lessons often to pursue more personal interests," Gohan played along, trying to hide her annoyance at Sango. "I do very well at them when I do work at my studies, however - I'm very good at playing my fue, you know!"

"I would invite Gohan to play for you, if only she had bothered to bring it," Sango rolled her eyes. "So forgetful she is."

"I didn't forget, I just didn't think I'd be playing it," the maiko frowned. "In any case, Haohmaru-san wouldn't want to hear that - "

She looked at Shizumaru, who was holding the blood-stained note, biting his lip anxiously, and looking up at Haohmaru every so often. The young man noticed her gaze, and for a second, they looked into each other's eyes. Both of them saw something in the other they hadn't anticipated in the least... a dark secret neither of them could share -

" - ... ah, er... well, *he* might want to hear it," Gohan laughed nervously. "Pray tell, you never gave my oneesan and I your name! Answer me if you can tell me a way to carry on a good conversation without it..." Her glasses twinkled mischeviously.

Shizumaru stared at her blankly for a moment - did Sango know or realize what that secret Gohan held within her eyes could do to her? Sighing and running an idle hand through his blood-red hair, he muttered his name to the girls: "Hisame Shizumaru."

"'Scarlet Rain Silence'? Why, what an ominous name you have!" Sango laughed. "I surely hope that it doesn't ring true for myself or Gohan!"

"I do not massacre; I assure you," Shizumaru smiled, but his eyes flitted up to Gohan's again, and she looked back, a forced smile on her lips.

"Nor do I, if that is what Hisame-kun's look suggests," Gohan smirked. "Just because I am shiroko does not mean that I'm dangerous."

Shizumaru looked away from the maiko, who continued to ponder what she had seen about him. Instead, he looked up to Haohmaru, who had been listening to Sango and Gohan with bated amusement. "Ah... Haohmaru-sensei," he began, "I have been meaning to find you for a while. It was by chance I learned that you were here..."

"I didn't realize you'd been looking for me, kid," Haohmaru grinned, and ruffled his hair a bit. "So, you have business with me, hm?" For a moment, he paused, looking tentatively at Sango and Gohan, and then leaned in to whisper. "It - is the demon hurting you at all? If it is, I can - "

"Iie, Haohmaru-sensei," Shizumaru shook his head. "It is not that... I was given a message, nearly a month ago, and I was asked by the sender to give it to you..."

"Well, go on, now, who's it from?" the older man smiled down at him.

"... Tachibana Ukyo..."

Haohmaru's face suddenly fell, and he was silent for what seemed like an eternity. "... we'd better discuss that later, Shizumaru-kun... now is not the time to discuss that, with the present company," he nodded his head towards Sango and Gohan, and Shizumaru nodded slowly. The girls had been silently arguing over something while he and Haohmaru had briefly spoken, and they squeaked, noticing that they were both looking at them curiously.

"Ah! Haohmaru-san, Hisame-kun! Gohan and I were just, er, talking..." Sango laughed. "I hadn't meant to ignore you, I'm sorry - it's just that Gohan and I were trying to settle something... she had this silly idea, you see, and I didn't think that you would be willing to enjoy it, so - "

"Sango-san, really, they both are masters of the sword, and you say that they wouldnÕt enjoy it?" Gohan raised an eyebrow. "Her trouble was with *me* in particular, you see."

"And just what did the maiko have in mind for us, ne?" Haohmaru laughed. "She's had her mizuage; I can only imagine the kind of thoughts she has now..."

"NOT THAT, Haohmaru-san, not that at all!" she blushed. "You see, I don't shirk my lessons because I am lazy... I shirk them to practice something else. I used to live in an iaijutsu dojo, and I studied the blade for years until I was sold to my okiya to bring money to that dojo... and since I became an apprentice geisha, I received a katana and tachi as gifts from one of Sango's more wealthier patrons I met, after he learned of my background... " she sighed, and continued on in a more innocent voice. "... and I thought, since you are both fighters yourself and I haven't fought in *so long*..."

"It's a foolish idea, Gohan," Sango rolled her eyes. "Nobody wants you hurt, much less myself, and I very much doubt that the mother of your okiya would want to pay your bills if you did get injured!"

"Sango-san, you know perfectly well that my debts to the okiya were quite more than covered with my mizuage fee," Gohan frowned. "Onegai, Sango-san... toki wa ichi dake! It's just for one night... and I can get my hair redone tomorrow and everything! Please... please, Sango-san? Just one night? We arenÕt entertaining anyone else and we arenÕt charging any o-hana tonight anyway..." she looked as if she were about to cry, and Sango seemed on the verge of letting her do it - her eyes were darting around the room nervously, and she kept muttering 'oh, I donÕt know...'

Finally, Sango threw her hands up in the air. "You drive home a good point, Gohan... but it's your own fault if you get yourself killed, alright? Duels are dangerous..."

Gohan was bowing too low to see Sango's concerned expression. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu... I swear I won't embarrass you nor my okiya, Sango-san!" When she finally straightened herself up, she was smiling brightly, and her eyes seemed to be welling up with tears behind the elegant glasses she wore. Beaming, she looked over at Haohmaru and Shizumaru, and slapped her forehead. "Ahh, I completely forgot... you didn't give your consent to fight, did you?"

"Well, why don't you go ahead with that, Shizumaru-kun?" Haohmaru ruffled his hair again. "You can use Fugudoku if you want - " he rattled his katana saya to show what he meant - " - since you donÕt seem to have your Kirisame with you..."

"Oh! Rimururu! I left it with Rimururu, that's right..." Shizumaru gasped. "It must be raining out there now, and I completely forgot about her..."

"Rimururu - ahh, that Ainu girl? She's a cute one, isn't she?" he winked at Shizumaru, who blushed again and frowned. "Yeah, yeah, I know you don't like to talk about girls... but will you duel with one?" he waved his hand at Gohan, who was holding her breath anxiously for his response.

Hesitantly, he thought about that painful secret which he had seen in her eyes - but who was he to deprive her of that opportunity? After all, he harbored such a secret as well... "... I suppose I can," Shizumaru nodded, slowly. "But mayhap you know of a place where Rimururu can stay out of the rain?"

"I can invite her to my house while we wait for Gohan to ready herself," Sango sighed. "Be absolutely careful, now... it would truly sadden my heart to see you perish."

"I will," Gohan bowed deeply again, and turned to Shizumaru. "Thank you so much... I haven't had an opponent in six years! I shall meet you in an hour at Sango-san's house... be ready," she winked, "for I'm not a lady to be underestimated," and scuttled out the door happily.

Sango looked after her with forlorn eyes, and sighed deeply. "Gohan may be beautiful as a geisha, she may be very good at performing and entertaining, and she may be an expert with the sword... but she has yet to learn humility, I am afraid. You heard her talk in here... she has little respect for the way a geisha should properly act - and, unfortunately, it's made her quite popular..."

"Sango-san," Shizumaru looked off beyond her, to the open rice-paper door that Gohan had slipped through. "I must ask you a question about Gohan-chan, before the two of us proceed with our duel."

"Certainly, Hisame-kun. What is it you wish to know?" She put on a happier smile for him.

"I see it when I look in her eyes, Sango-san..." he shivered to think of the feeling that had passed over him when he had seen into them. "Do you know what she is?"

Sango blinked nervously. "Why, Hisame-kun, Gohan-chan is many things..."

"She is yasha." He stared her in the eye. "A demon."

Sango's eyes flared open in shock, and Haohmaru's features hardened - both were stunned. The geisha regained her composure quickly, but she did not hide behind a charming smile. The room was utterly silent, exempting the soft patter of rain that had begun to fall outside.

"... I know," her voice trembled. "That is what has me so worried... but Hisame-kun, how could you possibly tell?"

Shizumaru looked at her sadly, and closed his eyes in shame... and the geisha understood.

--

a long summerÕs day
stretching out the cold
searching for the answers
and some say IÕm not alone

could you tell me where I might find fallen horses
their spirits they fly...


--

(first part done~)

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San_Draco Posted: 03-22-2003 , 01:19 PM

El Bruje Sale

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: The realm between the worlds...

In which the rules of the game are introduced...

Shang Tsung laughed. For the first time in many, many years, his plans were coming together perfectly. The Dragon King’s invincible army of undead was nearly awake, most of the soulless eyes glowed with an unholy power.

As before, the sorcerer had organized a Mortal Kombat, with the same goals as before… to garner the most powerful souls to himself, and thereby grant himself power absolute and undeniable. This time, however, he had an ally, and that ally had granted him immortality.

And the souls. Ah, yes, the souls. Quan Chi had offered Shang Tsung access to the heavens themselves, with all the souls contained therein. All the Chinese sorcerer had to do was reawaken the Dragon King’s army, and give them to Quan Chi. And therein lay the problem.

Shang Tsung was no fool. He knew that his relationship with Quan Chi was a purely business one, and that he was expendable as soon as the army was awakened. The question was how long it would take for Quan Chi to make his move. The sorcerer was unconcerned, however. No matter how powerful his contemporary might be, Shang Tsung had far more power and souls to draw on, and without powerful allies, the pale one wouldn’t stand a chance. Wouldn’t he?

A voice broke in on his thoughts. “Mr. Shang Tsung, you have a guest. Quite a looker, too, I might add. She says it’s urgent.” The sorcerer glared at Kano, somewhat annoyed at being interrupted.

Then the sorcerer waved his hand, and the far door to his inner hall flung open. In strode a very scantily-clad woman, two sai strapped to her waist, and her black hair flying in the wind. Shang Tsung smiled behind his goatee. “Welcome, Li Mei. I have been expecting you.”

The woman strode in, ignoring a interested stare from Kano. “I have fulfilled my vow, my lord, and now I demand you to fulfill yours. Free myself and my people!”

Shang Tsung smirked, and motioned to Kano. “Bring our guest wine, and food. It must have been a tiring journey, with little rest. While you rest, Li Mei, I shall prepare the reception.”

To this, the woman eyed him suspiciously. “Reception?”

A nod. “Such an important event needs the proper atmosphere. And what could be more important than the freedom of an entire race? This will be quite a special event, one that shall shape the realms to come.”

As Kano began to leave, Shang Tsung motioned him over, and whispered in his ear. “Get the amulet from Quan Chi. After this, he will no longer have any reason to keep me alive, and we must be prepared.” He didn’t need to add a threat. And if I die, you will join me.

Kano gulped, and nodded. Never mind that the amulet was the most protected item in Quan Chi’s domain, and never mind that the chances of successfully retrieving it were extremely low. His chances of surviving his many opponents were much, much lower than that. The other Black Dragons had learned that the hard way.

As the last of the Black Dragons left, Shang Tsung turned to Li Mei. “There is one last thing, my dear. I want to challenge you to one last battle. If I win, then you will remain in my service. If you win, then I shall not only free you and your people, but I shall separate their realm from Outworld, out of my reach forever.”

Li Mei considered this, then slowly shook her head. “No. I will take my freedom, and be done with it. I don’t want to serve you any more than I need to. Understood?”

The sorcerer smiled. “I’m afraid I do not. You see, if you refuse the challenge, then you will have lost this tournament, and that means that you and your people will be bound to my forever. I’m sure you don’t want to falter now, since you’ve gotten so far.”

At last, the full weight of Shang Tsung’s words hit Li Mei. Her response was a quiet, yet dignified one. “Very well. Let’s finish this.”

Kano smiled from behind the door. Although he wanted to watch the battle, as Shang Tsung preferred to avoid direct combat, he knew that his mission depended on his speed and cunning. And luck. Though that tended to go against him at the wrong time.

Back in the reception hall, Shang Tsung unsheathed his straight sword. “Prepare yourself, Li Mei.” The woman assumed her Mandarin Duck style, and smiled. “I am ready.”

Fight!” As he shouted, the sorcerer flung a fireball at Li Mei, catching her in the face and flinging her backwards. The woman, not to be outdone, flung a bolt of electricity, though it was easy enough for Shang Tsung to dodge. In the meantime, however, Li Mei lashed out with her long legs, catching the mage in his face and knocking him down.

Shang Tsung laughed. “Well done, Li Mei. Very well done.” As the black-haired one stepped toward Shang Tsung, he whipped out with his leg, tripping her and allowing him to stand up. Then he stabbed at the ground with his sword, barely missing the woman as she dodged aside. However, she was not expecting him to spin around with it, and a small gash appeared on her right arm. She grimaced.

“A cheap shot for a cheap man, sorcerer. Why don’t you fight me on even grounds?” To this, Shang Tsung sheathed his sword, and shifted into his Snake style kung fu.

She flew towards him, arms flailing as she levitated across the arena. Though Shang Tsung managed to block most of the blows, the sheer force his opponent generated knocked him back. As she landed, Shang Tsung launched a roundhouse kick, forcing her to block high. With blinding speed, he then swept low, knocking her to the stone floor once again. As she picked herself up, the thaumaturge flipped backwards, and gathered his mystic energy. Li Mei expected a single bolt of fire heading towards her, and therefore dodged to the side. However, Shang Tsung had flung two of them in opposing arcs, and she ran right into the right-hand one. The other slammed into her form a few seconds later, and she reeled back.

Sensing an advantage, the sorcerer dashed forward, attacking in a snake-like motion, aiming at his opponent’s eyes. Just before he could hit, though, Li Mei grabbed his hand, and kicked him in the stomach. As he doubled over, she wrenched his body over her head, using her powerful right leg to fling Shang Tsung far away. He staggered to his feet, and flung another fireball at her.

Li Mei was prepared for that, however, and she dodged it. Before Shang Tsung could recover from the slight drain of casting a spell, she launched a deadly combo of flying fists and feet, ending up flinging her foe into the stone wall behind him. As he shook his head, attempting to regain his bearings, she pulled out both of her sai. “This battle is over, Shang Tsung.”

Utilizing a portal between his master’s castle and Quan Chi’s, Kano arrived at his destination. Unlike Shang Tsung, however, Quan Chi lacked servants and guards, which made Kano a very happy man indeed. His mechanical eye swept the hallways, searching for the man he knew to be somewhere in the castle. However, there was nothing there… or so he hoped.

As Kano dashed through the outer levels of the castle, he noticed just how empty the castle was. No furniture, no sculptures, nothing. Just… blank nothingness. Until he got closer to the core of the castle, where there was a gradual increase in the decorations. Then, he stumbled into the very heart of Quan Chi’s fortress… The Inner Sanctum chambers.

Back in Shang Tsung’s castle, the sorcerer smiled. “If you believe this battle to be over, then finish him!” His opponent charged forward, attempting to impale his body against the wall. However, he dodged to the side, barely. One of the sai scored a gash against his side, and the sorcerer gritted his teeth.

“I yet live, Li Mei. Continue this battle!” As he said this, Shang Tsung switched to his Crane style, sacrificing a strong defensive stance for raw speed. As expected, Li Mei charged towards him, and stabbed at him again. This time, however, Shang Tsung grabbed her hand, and her entire attack rhythm was destabilized.

With one smooth motion, Shang Tsung flung her hand aside, and lashed out with a kick. It connected with her chin, and was immediantly followed by two others. As she reeled back, he followed it by three strong punches to her nose, and then jumped into the air, whipping his left leg around and knocking Li Mei flat.

Kano looked at the Inner Sanctum. Generally, Quan Chi would only go inside when he wished to meditate and view distant events. And, thankfully, this time was no exception. The normally-open dome was closed, and a powerful light pulsed through the miniscule cracks in its surface. And there, on a pedestal in the very center of the room, was the amulet his master wanted. “Like taking candy from a baby.” Then the Sanctum began to open…

Shang Tsung smiled, as Li Mei desperately struggled to get to her feet. She managed to, but it was easy to see that she was wounded. Blood flowed from her broken nose, and her right arm was hanging loosely. However, her eyes yet shined brightly, and her left arm flung another ball of electricity.

This, however, was merely blocked by Shang Tsung, and the sorcerer strode towards her, as she backed up, trying to delay long enough to catch her breath. In this, the sorcerer was more than happy to oblige. He raised his right hand, and smirked. “I think I’ll take a taste of your soul. Just a taste… for now.”

As he said this, a portion of Li Mei’s soul was taken from her, and the additional energy strengthened Shang Tsung. The woman, on the other hand, looked more weak than ever. Still, she stood up, and launched a kick at Shang Tsung.

Surprised, the sorcerer could not block in time, and he was knocked back. However, he smiled, and again assumed his crane stance. Once again, Li Mei attempted her flying barrage move, but it was easily blocked, lacking a full half of its power. Desperately, Li Mei tried to attack again, but Shang Tsung was faster.

-Continued...-

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San_Draco Posted: 03-22-2003 , 01:23 PM

El Bruje Sale

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: The realm between the worlds...

...and concluded.

Once again, he performed his three swift kicks to her jaw, and again he punched her three times in the face. This time, however, he changed the ending. Instead of kicking her, he pulled out his straight sword, and slashed with it. Li Mei gasped, then looked at her stomach. As expected, that had been the deathblow, and she fell to her knees. “C… curse you, Shang Ts-tsung…”

The mentioned sorcerer shook the blood of his sword, then sheathed it. With a broad smile, he walked in front of her. “You will have plenty of time to do so, Li Mei. Your people will forever belong to me, but what about you? Do you know what this ‘service’ to me entails?”

She shook her head, but the look on her face betrayed her guess. Shang Tsung smirked. “Correct. Your soul is mine!” Using his favored spell, Shang Tsung lifted her body off the ground, then slammed it down again. Her sai went flying across the floor as Li Mei gave one last gasp, then was silent forever.

Shang Tsung cupped his hands, and a green wave of energy passed from Li Mei’s former body to his hands. He smiled. “So warm… a true warrior’s spirit. A pity I cannot claim it as my own. Pity.”

Slowly he stalked through the long rows of dead warriors, some sufficiently aware to track his movements. The others merely stared ahead, though their eyes seemed to brighten as he passed by. There, at the very front, was the last warrior. The long-dead commander of the Dragon King’s army. Soon he shall breath again… She, rather.

Reluctantly, the soul passed into the commander’s body, a scream appearing to fill the chamber as the soul of Li Mei was imprisoned behind an expressionless undead warrior… forever.

Shang Tsung turned again, his face now grim and worried. If Kano has failed his mission, then Quan Chi will be able to command the Dragon King’s army… and against such a force even my army of souls will not be able to stand. Besides, using them will weaken me, and nothing can defeat the Dragon King’s army, nothing!

He went back to his reception hall, where two servants were removing the body of Li Mei and a third cleaning the mess left by the fight. He picked up a sai, and was prepared to fling it away, when Shang Tsung stopped him. “Give it to me.”

Lightly, almost caressingly, Shang Tsung took the sai, still sensing the lingering aura of Li Mei in them. Of course, soon all traces of her would disappear forever, but that meant nothing. After all, all mortals were doomed to that fate.

He handed the sai to his servants, and bade them to put them in his storage room, where the weapons of warriors were stored. Trophies, almost. More for the benefit of his memory than as viable weapons, as most of them had been shattered in the conflicts long ago.

It was then that Quan Chi entered the chamber. His high-pitched voice seemed quite triumphant. “Shang Tsung! Show me the now-revived army of the Dragon King! Show me… my ultimate power.”

He didn’t see the red, mechanical eye as it nodded to Shang Tsung. “Of course, old friend. This way.”


"Your soul is mine!"
-Shang Tsung

It was fun, and I enjoyed myself. But, it's time for me to go now.

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Switchblade Posted: 03-25-2003 , 08:43 PM

Road Warrior

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: In your fridge, behind the mayo

Alright, just because I'm weird here is my omake intro. It has nothing to do with Vice and Mature's story, but it was fun to write.

Those who don't get the wonkster reference should go check out Survivor IX at RI.

------------------------------------------------

“I’m sorry, Wakka,” Rikku spoke into the communicator as she checked on the most recent sales figures from her private enterprise. “But I’m currently out of stock on wonksters.”

“Oh,” the voice on the other end said in obvious disappointment. “Well, uh, that’s okay, ya? I just wanted one for a friend. Tid, er… Aur… mahri. Tidaurmahri. Ya, that’s it. Tidaurmahri. That’s his name.”

“Wakka, that’s just pathetic,” Rikku said as she walked across the room to check on the wonkster nursery. “You should have tried saying it was for Lulu, or something. You know, a decent excuse.”

“But Rikku…” the Besaid blitzer protested.

“Hey, it’s cool,” the blonde Al-Bhed replied. “I don’t judge, I just deliver.” A green cactaur suddenly trotted into the room and handed Rikku a memo. “Thanks,” she smiled at the small creature. “Like I was saying,” she continued, “I’m out right now. The new breed won’t mature for a couple more weeks and Shelinda bought the last two.”

“Two? Why does she…”

“Don’t judge,” Rikku repeated, “Just deliver. Besides it’s better this way, she has a back-up this way. She’s already worn out three of ‘em.”

“Look,” Wakka said, “I really don’t wanna know, ya. Jus’ let me know when the new ones are ready.”

“For Tidaurmahri, right?” Rikku said with a little giggle.

“Ya. See ya soon, Rikku.”

“Cool, bye,” Rikku replied, deactivating the communicator. “Tidaurmahri? Who does he think he’s kidding?”

* * *

Meanwhile in Besaid Wakka put away his communicator and turned to face his companion. “Sorry, man,” he said, “She’s out, ya.” Wakka’s friend Tidaurmahri frowned and started to walk dejectedly back to his house.

* * *

“Well,” Rikku said to the blue slime that was currently running the latest figures through his comically antiquated calculator, “How we doing?”

“The wonksters are selling like hotcakes, boss,” the slime answered. “But the alien souvenir sales are down like ninety percent.”

“That’s because we’re out of them,” Rikku sighed. “All I have left are the ‘Rikku went to an several other planets as part of a weird cross-dimensional fighting tournament and all I got was this lousy t-shirt’ shirts. And they’re not all that popular. We need another tournament like now, so I can restock.”

As if on cue there was a sudden flash of white light and a handsome young man with long blonde hair and a smart goatee appeared in the room. “Switch!” Rikku cried out happily in a massive assault on the fourth wall. “Is it time for another tourney?”

“Yep,” the author replied, “But I’m afraid you’re going to have to sit this one out.”

“Aww,” Rikku pouted, “But I’m out of souvenirs.”

“Well I could always change my plans,” Switchblade said, “But I was going to give you this.” The scene suddenly shifted and Rikku found herself standing in a beautiful hot springs resort.

“Nice,” Rikku said, “But it’s not going to pay the rent (which technically I don’t have).”

“There’s more.” With slight splashes three figures suddenly fell out of the sky and landed in the springs. One was a woman with long blue hair, one had tan skin and short white hair, and the last had short black hair and a pair of sunglasses perched atop her head. “Meet KOS-MOS, Angel, and May Lee.”

“Hmm…” Rikku said, putting her hand on her chin as she cutely thought the offer over. “I don’t know…” There was a brief white flash around all three girls and when it cleared they were each dressed in a Japanese schoolgirl’s uniform. “Deal!” Rikku enthusiastically cried out.

Rikku gave an excited squeal as she ran to the hot spring and jumped in, still fully dressed. “Thanks, Switchy!” she called out, “See ya next time!” The author smiled politely and waved goodbye before he vanished in another burst of light.

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-28-2003 , 02:33 AM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Hisame Shizumaru - Prologue:2

By now, the rain had been lightly pouring, and after finding Rimururu outside the gate of the Ichiriki, the crew had ventured to Sango's house to wait for Gohan to arrive. The air now heavily smelt of the moist earth - and in Shizumaru's case, also of tree sap - although, he was near no tree...

"I wanted you to stay inside," he murmured, holding up his umbrella - with Rimururu beside him. "It... I do not want you to get wet out here - "

"Nah... *I* wanted to see you fight," she laughed. "Come on, you shouldn't be so modest, Shizu-kun! It's not like I haven't gotten wet before, y'know."

"Ah... right," he smiled. "Of course you have, but... I - I just - "

"It's okay," she laughed and grinned, huddling closer to him under the umbrella. "I don't mind getting wet, really... I've been through much worse," Rimururu nodded to her shoulder, and Shizumaru idly looked towards it. "It's feeling much better than it was when I got hurt, I can say that for sure."

"That's good," the young man closed his eyes and sighed softly, peering back up again to see his companion's face - she was looking at him with concern. What for, though?

"... you alright?" she bit her lip. "Not... not tired or anything? You don't have to fight her if you don't want to, you know..."

"I am not sure if I want to, but... I cannot simply back out of this arrangement. Gohan-san will be expecting me to fight..." After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Shizumaru simply decided to stop talking, and listened to the soothing patter of raindrops against the canvas of his umbrella. Rimururu must've been listening a bit, too; her head fell onto his shoulder, but she brushed back a lock of hair to let herself hear.

"Shizumaru-kun?" Haohmaru's rough voice startled both of them out of their serenity, and Shizumaru looked up to the older man, who had a plainly obvious grin on his face - his own face suddenly flashed with heat, and he could tell that he was blushing again. "Ah, no need to get embarrassed, now; I just wanted to know what your business was with me!"

"Oh!" the young man gasped - it had once again slipped his mind. "Ah... yes... well, Haohmaru-sensei... I - I am not sure how to begin... oh! Rimururu, you don't have to leave," he glanced at the Ainu girl, who had been heading towards Sango, for she was also under an umbrella, to protect mainly her hair from the rain. "You may stay if you wish..."

"That's alright - I can tell this is going to be something big and private," she giggled. "I'm not gonna bother you any, okay? I'll just talk with Sango-san." Saying that, she ran over to the geisha carefully, making positive not to get a bit of mud on SangoÕs kimono.

After Rimururu had become distracted by Sango, obviously enthralled by her conversational skills, Shizumaru returned his look to Haohmaru, who spoke again. "This was about Tachibana Ukyo, you said?"

"Yes," he ran a hand idly through his hair, and bit his lip. "Y - you see... I had the opportunity to meet Tachibana-san, and... well... " He tried as hard as he could to find some other way to say what had been happening, but there was no substitute for the truth - "... he was not in relatively good health when we met, Haohmaru-sensei... ah, I cannot figure out how to say this effectively..."

"I've known he coughed up blood for years, Shizumaru-kun," Haohmaru smirked. "That's not news to me."

"I knew too, Haohmaru-sensei, and in fact, that very point is what I came to you to talk about..." As he meekly tried to recall his memory of the iaijutsu swordsman, he frantically grabbed the dangling braids from his tassel to assist him. "He... he was dying... Haohmaru-sensei, he taught me Tsubame Gaeshi, he bestowed upon me such great wisdom..."

At the words 'tsubame gaeshi', Haohmaru's ears pricked up and his eyes opened in surprise. "Tachibana actually taught you that? He must've really been desperate for something to do... so sick of women, he turns to the bishounen instead," he grimaced.

"Haohmaru-sensei, it was not like that at all!" he protested. "But... he told me something - that if something should happen to him, that you and Odagiri Kei would be the recipients of his message from me..."

"Well, what is it?!" Haohmaru frowned. "You're not going to have time to prepare for your duel, at this rate! What happened to Tachibana?!"

Shizumaru's fingers trembled violently, as he slowly pulled out a familiar blood-soaked sheet of paper from within his tunic, and handed it to Haohmaru - the shine of tears welling up in his eyes. "I... I - I can't - I can't say it - "

Raising an eyebrow, Haohmaru shrugged, and quickly read the haiku.

Immediately, his face fell into complete shock, and all he could do was gape at the young man, who's still-trembling fingers took back the note and placed it in safekeeping. "... Tachibana Ukyo... masaka - I can't believe it... he's dead?Ó

"If he was not when I received his message, he is surely now," Shizumaru struggled to blink back his tears, but some managed to slip down his cheek slyly. "He had been so weak... ... so weak..."

His breathing was ragged now, so much that he did not notice that Haohmaru had been, after reading the note, completely silent. Haohmaru's mouth was still gaping, he hadn't blinked, and he seemed as if he was about to vomit. Haohmaru and Ukyo had not been close, exactly, but they had been rivals for some time - and now, to imagine one without the other seemed impossible to either.

"... I..." Haohmaru tried to speak up, but hung his head with a shudder. Even if he had been able to speak, where would his words have come from? Gravely, he looked back at Shizumaru, and suddenly pulled him into an embrace, knocking his umbrella to the ground. "... you got close to him... didn't you?"

Still trembling, Shizumaru nodded his head. "I did..." Biting his lip, he slowly closed his eyes, determined not to show Haohmaru how close he really had been to the other samurai.

How long his head laid upon his teacher's chest, he didn't know; but soon, Shizumaru felt Haohmaru release him and stand up. His head whipped around so swiftly that Shizumaru got a faceful of thick black hair - frowning, he brushed it away.

"She's here, Shizumaru-kun..." Haohmaru looked back at him, and the younger man nodded, picking up his umbrella again. "You'd... you'd better go have your duel..."

"Hai, Haohmaru-sensei..." Shizumaru bowed to him, his thoughts still back on Ukyo. Glumly, he looked up at Gohan's approaching form, and sighed - the last thing his heart was for was fighting, but he couldn't very well turn down what she had been looking forward to for an hour - not exempting that she was a demon, which could only make things deadly if she was pushed too far, or if he himself lost control...

"So, how do I look, Sango-san? I don't think my hair's been this free in years," she laughed. Her hair was not in the lobes of an apprentice geisha, nor did it seem to have a bit of wax in it - whoever had helped her out with her hair had done a very good job of it. It was now tied in a rather casual ponytail at the top of her head, with her odd black forelocks stubbornly hanging out. Of course, instead of the usual garb of a maiko, she wore a measly yukata and sandals... "I donÕt think my *body*'s been this free in years, actually!"

"And if I have any say as to how your career will be, Gohan, it'll never be free again," Sango pursed her tongue. "You see, Rimururu-chan, what she puts me through? I donÕt think I've ever had a more disobedient younger sister than her in all my career!" As the geisha started to ramble on, Rimururu couldn't help but smile, and she looked at Shizumaru with a 'can-you-believe-what-she's-saying?' sort of look. Shizumaru met her eyes, and returned the smile only to hide his depression.

Gohan only rolled her eyes, and walked over to Shizumaru and Haohmaru happily. "You see, I told you I had swords," she giggled - with a considerably low voice; the sugary voice she'd had in her maiko garb was apparently an act. "My tachi - " she flicked a hand towards her left shoulder - " - and katana," the other hand grasped the hilt of her blade on her right. "I thought, maybe... you should get acquainted with them before you get *too* close." She laughed again.

Shizumaru closed his eyes, and laughed a bit. "Gohan-san... there is not much chance for your blades to become 'acquainted' with my flesh when you practice iaijutsu, you realize."

Gohan slapped her forehead, a flash of red splaying across her cheeks. "It doesn't matter, just as long as you know what you're up against! Anyway..." she looked up at the sky, somehow just noticing it was raining. "... I won't let such things deter me - words or weather that get thrown at me, you're still not going to come out of this without a scar somewhere," she winked, a bit seductively.

Perhaps, Gohan-san, it will be you that receives the most painful scar tonight... Shizumaru thought to himself, before bringing himself back to the moment. "Where shall we..."

"Here in the street should be just fine," she smiled brightly, walking out to the middle of the open road. "Come on, come on! You're so slow, I swear - oh..."

Shizumaru was faintly amused, seeing as how he'd managed to reach the center of the road before she had. As she practiced drawing out her swords, he couldn't help but envy her, somehow - how they were the same in essence, yet, she had been far more priviliged than he in life. However, the fact remained that she was still a demon, and this night could completely shatter the life sheÕd been so lucky to have...

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-28-2003 , 02:53 AM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

She was now in her fighting stance - her right hand reaching up, ready to grasp her tachi with her left at the hilt of her katana. For a moment more, he stood silent. Sighing, he bowed to her deeply, and, thinking about all that she had at stake, muttered softly: "... gomen nasai."

Almost as soon as he took up his own stance, she leapt at him, slashing out with her katana. Taken by surprise, but not deterred, Shizumaru countered her hit by holding up his umbrella to shield himself, and then swung forward to drive her away. Gohan simply leapt at him again the same way after she'd once resheathed her blade; this time, he leapt into the air, and snapped open his umbrella, drifting softly above her.

"N - nani yo?!" she shrieked. "You can't DO that!!" Growling, she leapt up in the air, slashing out with the katana, but she couldn't reach him. Calmly, Shizumaru closed his umbrella, and used it in his fall to spring off of Gohan's head. When he landed, he immediately snapped open his umbrella again and threw it at the girl, striking her in the side. She gasped in pain as the umbrella hit her, and winced as she stood up on her feet again. With a yell, she leapt at him with her hand on her katana hilt again. When Shizumaru tried to back away, she swiftly drew out her blade, slamming it to the ground and back up again, knocking him off his feet - which was when she chose the time to slide in and hit - first across his chest, then an upward cut, and from left shoulder to right hip.

"Shizu-kun - " Rimururu gasped, and bit her lip, seeing Shizumaru forcing himself to shrug off his cuts. They didn't seem to be deep, though, which relieved her only slightly - and judging from the way that he'd just counterattacked with the same vigor as before, she didn't think that he thought it hurt much either.

Gohan pursed her lips in anger as her eyes followed Shizumaru - he was up in the sky again - and she grumbled, blocking above her head. Once she'd left herself open, though, Shizumaru suddenly spun his umbrella, falling towards Gohan, and slicing through the white skin on her chest, sending her sprawling.

"Bakayarou," she spat angrily, and sprung lithely up to her feet again. Again, she jumped towards him, but this time she swung at him with the tachi in an attempt to hit harder; Shizumaru simply blocked it with his umbrella again and threw her back. When she stumbled a bit, he slid in and opened his umbrella to its full span, then spun it around rapidly, catching her in its fray once again.

Gohan frowned as she sprung back onto her feet, and hit him in the side with the saya of her katana before he could block her. When the saya slammed into him, he staggered on his feet, and Gohan smiled, snapping out her tachi and hitting it on the ground in front of him to catch him off balance further. She then leapt at him, slashing with fury, until her final blow, where she kicked off his chest, flipping away, and sending him crashing to the ground.

Sango shook her head, obviously disgusted at Gohan's attacks; but Gohan hardly seemed to notice. Grinning, she dashed towards him, prepared to initiate the flurry of hits again - but Shizumaru flung out his umbrella again, slashing her across her chest. He picked up his umbrella again as soon as he could, wary of Gohan's increasing anger at her unfortunate luck.

She screamed again as she leapt towards him, attacking with her katana again; but Shizumaru had seen that technique enough by now to counter it effectively - so, he swung up his umbrella, knocking away her blade; then he swung again with his nodachi, careening her into the air as she shrieked in fear. By the time her body landed on the ground, he was already back in his stance, umbrella at his side. Gohan got back on her feet more slowly this time, and she roughly spat on the ground again in anger.

Again, she tried to leap towards him, but, again, Shizumaru was able to knock back her sword, and he threw out his umbrella again, which slashed into her stomach this time since she was so close. Gohan grimaced, but she stubbornly refused to cry, despite the tears that were obviously welling up in her eyes. Instead, she haughtily took up her stance, and nodded her head to beckon him to her. Shizumaru leapt up in the air and began to fly on his umbrella as a response, making Gohan groan in frustration once again. She couldn't seem to figure out just what he would do this time; stomp on her head or shred her skin. Eventually, she decided that he would spring off her head again - but a few seconds too soon; since he smashed into her wrist instead.

Gohan shook her wrist a few times to wring out the dull pain now throbbing in her arm, and she once again took up her stance, though by now she seemed to have figured out that leaping towards him wasn't a suitable maneuver anymore. Right then, Gohan decided, she thought she would take a more defensive approach - which would've been the smarter thing to do in the first place for her. Shizumaru could guess that too, and he once again leapt in the air to float on his umbrella, making Gohan screech in exasperation. It was a bit amusing to him to watch her figure out what she should guard against, and finally, she gave up, and simply moved away from him. He smiled then a bit - he'd expected that as well. Quickly, he dropped from his perch in the sky, letting go of his umbrella - and swiftly stabbing her in the stomach, though not deep enough to seriously injure her. As his umbrella had landed away from him, he flipped backwards off her, just as she had done to him earlier, and slashed at her with the nodachi. Both sent her to her knees, and she angrily spit off to the side once again - though this time, Shizumaru saw and gasped - it was blood.

Gohan screamed in rage, then swiped at his chest quickly with her katana - and once she saw a thin line of blood across his chest, she smirked, and sheathed her sword, using the saya to hit him into the air. She herself then jumped up and caught him in another flurry of attacks, carrying them both higher and higher, until she broke off, and kicked away from him, flipping away and landing on her feet lightly. Shizumaru landed a good ways away from her, and the impact knocked the air out of his lungs. Groping at his chest, he blinked away the rain, and squinted to see how badly he was bleeding - not so much compared to Gohan, who, frankly, didnÕt seem to be caring a bit whether she'd been hurt or not - just as long as she could defeat him. In fact, he could see that she was bleeding rather heavily - or was it the rain, smearing the blood around? Somehow, he doubted the latter, as his own bare chest was not bleeding nearly as heavily as her cloth-wrapped one.

If this didn't end soon, she might lose *too* much blood... and, even now, she seemed to be staring around dazedly.

"Hisame-kun..." her speech was slurred. "Come on... you're so *slow*..."

He frowned. "Gohan-san, do you realize how heavily you are bleeding? Perhaps - "

"No, Hisame-kun, I shall finish this NOW!" she screamed, startling the young man before he could get back to his feet. Now, as she leapt, she was slashing wildly, without purpose or technique. Although she did remember to sheathe her sword once in a while, she was only doing so half-way. Shizumaru quickly scooted away, picking up his umbrella, and leapt up into the air, floating once more again. Gohan screamed in rage again as he (seemingly) peacefully floated above her. His mind was not at all tranquil, however; he could see how furious she had become in her desire to win - and with her blood loss, that could only further the onset of the situation. He had to end it now, before she pushed herself over the edge - and he knew precisely how to do it.

Gathering his concentration, ignoring the furious raving screams of the girl below him, he calmed himself down as much as possible. Then, when he felt ready to do it - the timing had to be exact - he took a deep, shuddering breath, and closed his umbrella, quickly slinging it over his back, and taking a hold of the hilt of his nodachi, and as hard as he snapped out the blade, he himself screamed out into the night -

" - Tsubame Gaeshi!!"

- and set his sword aflame.

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-28-2003 , 03:19 AM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Within seconds, the fires upon the blade lit up the girl below him, and she screamed in horror, her body set in flames. Shizumaru landed safely, and he quickly resheathed his nodachi, but his gaze was on Gohan, rolling around on the ground to put out the fires on her body as quickly as she could. Wiping his eyes from the rain, he squinted at Gohan through the night, and was shocked to see her shakily standing on her feet.

Her head snapped to stare at him - and her eyes had become completely wide open and bloodshot. She was breathing slowly, heavily... her fingers twitched maddeningly, her teeth were bared at him, and her hair - once in the beautiful lobes, then in the elegant ponytail - had fallen loose and was now in complete disarray - and the odd forelocks of hers had become rough and spiky -

As soon as their eyes met, Shizumaru didn't have to even think it; his heart immediately skipped a beat, and his chest suddenly seemed to freeze...

... Gohan's demon had indeed awaken, and by his own hand.

Quickly, Shizumaru sprang to his feet, his mind in complete panic. Gohan - well, it was her, but... not her as well - looked around her surroundings, jerking her head in every direction to see, and even sticking out her tongue to taste some of the rain. Licking her lips with a deadly smile, she grinned, and in a split second, she had dashed to Shizumaru's side, grasping him by his tunic collar. She growled, the grin still on her face, and flung him off the road into the garden nearby, where Shizumaru slammed into a tree and slumped down to his knees.

"G - Gohan-s - san - " he gasped breathlessly. "This - why have you - "

He suddenly found himself unable to speak, for his body seized up with the touch of Gohan's fingers, snaking over his arm. She was staring at him with an odd curiousity, and her head cocked from side to side curiously. Gohan squinted, and her nose twitched a bit before she leant her head in, taking in the young man's scent. Panicking, but finding himself unable to move, all Shizumaru could do was stare at the girl, perched on his lap, in horror. Her wonder never ceased, and her touch was curious, examing his clothes, her yukata, her own flesh - but particularly curious in his. Their eyes met for a moment, but it was enough reason for Shizumaru to firmly shut his eyes and turn his head away.

After a moment, he felt no more movement above him, until her warm breath fell on his cheek, and he gasped at the sensation. A split second later, Gohan had roughly turned his head back to face her own, and though he tried desperately not to open his eyes, she pried one pair of eyelids open anyway, and peered into them, making his eyes water from her breath. A tear managed to slip free, and, ever-inquisitve, she promptly licked it away, causing Shizumaru to moan pitifully under her grasp.

His moan startled the newly-awakened demon, and her head snapped back, startled. Frowning, she rested her ear to his bare chest to listen to his heartbeat, and then looked back and smiled. Shizumaru was in no position to feel comforted, however - his chest had seized up against her touch, and his heart paused for a moment before pounding inside his chest furiously. Already, he was beginning to feel faint just being around her, and if she managed to bring out the demon inside him -

"... hanyou...?" she spoke the one word; her voice considerably raspier and lower than her normal voice. "... hanyou," she grinned with her wicked teeth again, this time, with much more confidence. Placing a hand on his chest, she giggled, and traced her finger around the bare skin. "Hanyou!"

Still, Shizumaru was too delirious from her prescence to respond, and he felt his forehead burning with panic as Gohan continued to explore his body. Her touch felt sickening, and he couldn't help but feel a burn wherever she felt his skin - though she likely didn't realize how much she was hurting him, both inside and out. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying the rise she was getting out of him, seeing him tremble -

"Hanyou!" she laughed, cupping her hands to hold his face - by now, Shizumaru had given up trying to fight what his body was doing; namely, seizing up completely, and instead, focused on some way to try and get himself away from Gohan. He hardly had time to think, when she smiled and stared to take little, small licks on his face, just like what she had done with his tear. Horrified, tear after tear fell upon his pale face, and Gohan thought it was a sweet game, catching each salty droplet after another on the tip of her tongue. After a while, she got bored with the game, and decided to busy her hands again - "Hanyou!" she giggled, and shoved him to the ground, clambering on top of him, and tracing a finger down his chest. Laughing, she slipped her hands into the sleeves of his tunic and slid them down, exposing his whole chest to the chilly, rainy night, and further sending his mind into a nightmare.

She leant in close, her mouth right next to his ear - whispered in her low growl: "... hanyou..." and looked in his eyes for one moment more, before letting out another growl, and leaning in to bite into the ivory skin on his neck -

"Tatsukete!!" Shizumaru suddenly screamed out. "Haohmaru-sensei - tatsukete!!" After he'd screamed out his desperate cry, he gathered his resolve and, with tears still pouring down his face, kicked away the demon on top of him, and slashing at her with his nodachi to keep her at bay. "Wretched demon, touch me not once more!" he hissed at her, quickly wiping away his tears on his wrist guard.

"Hanyou...?" she stared at him, broken-hearted and obviously lost, confused. Then, her face contorted into an ugly expression of rage - a complete opposite of the stunningly perfect maiko face she had not even ten minutes ago. Shrieking, she pointed a shaking finger at him, and screamed right back - "Hanyou!!" and threw herself at him, knocking him backwards. She leapt on top of him, brandishing her teeth and ready to strike with her nails, and in that instant - in which a flash of lightning and thunder rocked the skies, along came the wind to go with it - "Senpu Retsu Zan!!"

Gohan shrieked as she was flung up into the air, but that was not the last of the first foray of attacks to come at her - "Daishizen no oshioki da yo! Upun Opu!!" A rain of icicles flew out to attack the girl, still at the height of her blast up into the air. Quickly, Shizumaru stood up on his feet, albeit, visibly shaken, and stumbled away from the garden.

"Sango-san!" Haohmaru snapped his fingers. "Shizumaru-kun is hardly in a position to help us - get him into your house as soon as you possibly can, and don't let him get near Gohan for a second more! Rimururu-chan and I will keep her at bay; you and Shizumaru-kun get away!"

Sango, who hadn't realized the situation, was still confused until she saw the pain in Shizumaru's eyes, and a hand fluttered up to her mouth in shock. "Oh, I *knew* something like this would happen, I just knew it! Come on - " Clumsily, Sango tried to run through the mud to her house, made especially difficult with her kimono and zori - even though Shizumaru was dazed and shivering, he still, somehow, managed to help out Sango to her door, where she let him in quickly, and, kicking off her sandals alongside Shizumaru, rushed him to the guest room for her danna.

"Stay in here, Hisame-kun," she gasped, out of breath. "I'll go back - heaven knows where Gohan-chan is going to go tonight... I'm going to try and convince the okiya she stays at to let her stay there... *you* stay here," she repeated sternly, and dashed out her house again, leaving Shizumaru completely alone in a dark, musty room - simply decorated, with a simple futon and shikibuton mattress in the middle of the floor.

His skin still tickled wherever Gohan had touched it, and he lifted up his hands in the moonlight to try and see if she had left any permanent marks - none that he could see. But the horrible feeling still lingered all over him, and he stared at his palms helplessly. With his eyes welling up with moisture again, he slowly untied the strings of his wrist guards, and let them fall to the floor. Then, he unslung the saya of his nodachi, leaning it against the wall - after that, his shin guards and socks - and, checking for no noise if someone else had trespassed into Sango's house - he untied the sash around his waist, and let the rest of his clothes fall to the ground. Shivering, he quickly crawled under both the shikifu sheet and kakebuton quilt, and dropped his head on the pillow with a heavy sigh. Without his clothes off, the horrifying sensation of Gohan's fingers surged through him, making his skin prickle all over his body - finally, he could not stand the sensation any longer. With a sob, he threw his face into the makura pillow and screamed in agony; the events of the night far too tramautic to keep in any longer - and, finally, he managed to cry himself to sleep.

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-28-2003 , 03:39 AM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Darkness... I only see darkness. So many times the setting in my mind... for there are no doors to escape from, no light to speak of, and the noise does not reverberate off the walls.

I used to be alone in here with my... my father... how surreal it must have been for him, to torture my young body without a shred of guilt and remember the tale, knowing that I would forget and be prey to his methods. His equally black kimono blended in perfectly with the walls, and his light, snowy blue hair is always flowing, as if pushed by the whispers of children in the wind -

- but now... it is different. Zankuro died by my hand and a second by Tachibana-san - so another force has come to stir my mind in submission. He also has the soft, snowy white hair, but his eyes are a brilliant red like mine - yet, I am inclined to think that my own skin is lighter... a fair ivory I have.

His fingers suddenly constrict my throat - a hand covered in his sickly yellow skin, to be precise. His excrutiating laugh causes me to cry in fear time after time again - I can never know what he is laughing about - however, I do suspect that it is me in question... the tiger-stripe markings he has always seem to glow when he's acted inappropriately.

The shrill laugh he has cuts through anything I could've been thinking about...

His fingers trace across my heart, then he smirks, and shakes with mirth before breaking out into a full-laugh... and then, suddenly, he plunges his hand into my chest again, holding my heart... and he suddenly rips it out; still beating. My mind is faint and I can barely see; all I can hear is my heartbeat in front of me, the shrill laughter of the demon, and with each passing heartbeat, his name becomes louder in intensity and I can hardly understand what is going on and with each beat of my heart it rings in my ears and refuses to stop - I - I can't - iya - dame yo - hanasete yo! yamete!!! - !!!!


The next thing he knew, he was being shaken awake, and he looked up immediately to see who had been doing it - "Rimururu!" he gasped. "Rimururu... it - it is not safe for you to be near me tonight...!"

"Don't give me that," she snapped at him. "You were injured! You were assaulted by a demon! You had another nightmare - I could hear your screams through the rain! Shizu-kun, if anything, it's not safe for *you* to be alone tonight!" The girl's voice was trembling with concern, and twinged with tears. "Here - " she hesitated for a moment, but quickly slipped out of her own wrist guards, and untied her hair ribbon - and clambered under the blankets right next to him. "There... now, come on, Shizu-kun, I won't hurt you! That's the last thing you need right now..."

Shizumaru could feel his face flare up in a blush, and he only hoped Rimururu wouldn't see it. She had good intentions, of course, but... "... Rimururu, you are awfully - ah... well - "

"Shh," She placed a finger to his lips. "Haohmaru-san said it would be best for me to stay with you tonight, and, well, I was thinking that would be a pretty good idea myself... but he warned me to be extremely careful..."

"Rimururu..." he whispered, suddenly deathly frightened. "I do not want you to get hurt, but - " he clasped her hand in his own, "... I... I do not want to be alone..."

"Why would I get hurt?" she blinked. "Haohmaru-san said I'd be in danger, and now you're saying it... I don't understand anything that's happened - with the girl, and you, and now this... Shizu-kun - "

She stopped and sighed, looking sadly into his eyes. Shizumaru turned his away for a moment, but then laid them back on her face. "I... I did not want to tell you - "

"Please, Shizumaru... I have to know," she pleaded with him, her eyes fraught with intense concern. "Onegai nasai..."

The young man was silent for another uncomfortable moment. "... when I was an infant... the demon Minazuki Zankuro destroyed the village I lived in, mercilessly... and he murdered the villagers as well - " he sobbed once as he continued. " - my mother - "

Rimururu's eyes flew open in shock, but Shizumaru hardly noticed - he'd begun to rattle on. "Zankuro spared me... Rimururu... the day that he murdered my mother, he birthed a demon inside of me - and when I found him, after training with Haohmaru-sensei for so long, I was able to slay him for retribution - oh, but Rimururu, when I felled him, he said he recognized my soul, and suddenly knew my identity - " He choked on his emotions again, but managed to keep them stable for one last sentence. "Rimururu... I am his son..."

After those words, he completely broke down. "He killed my mother and birthed the demon in my soul - and when I killed him... as he was my father, and I a demon, I - "

" - Shizumaru..." Rimururu interruped him, her voice dry from her throat. "Masaka... I - I never imagined... I didn't think - "

"Leave if you want to," his voice was suddenly deadened and monotone, as if he'd spoken the speech a dozen times before. "You would not be the first to abandon me..."

"... but I'll be the first to stay," she bit her lip firmly. "What kind of demon would've saved an injured girl's life like you did? How many demons are as gentle and polite as you? I just... you might be hanyou, Shizu-kun, but you're the kindest, most human person I've ever met... how could I leave you in despair after what happened tonight?"

Shizumaru stared at her, not quite sure what to say. True, he was relieved that she was going to stay with him, but - the fact was, not a soul his age before had shown him an inkling of kindness, and he couldn't figure out what to say or what he was supposed to feel - everything was coming up blank for him. Though, truth be told, she *was* the only girl who'd taken to him...

"... Rimururu..." he looked back into her liquid brown eyes, which looked at him as no one had before. "I - " Finally, he stopped trying to come up with a word, and contented himself with staring into her eyes, letting the horribly foul touch of Gohan upon his skin disappear. Still holding her hand in his, he squeezed a bit tighter, and when he saw the girl slowly close her eyes, his eyelids fell as well...

Their lips brushed over each other's, and they immediately looked back up again, feeling the familiar warmth of embarrassment flood their faces. Shizumaru let go of Rimururu's hand, and instead, gently rested it on her blushing cheek, and she brought her lips to his to meet once more. For a moment, it was simply the touch of each other to satisfy, but it inevitably grew deeper as time passed - for one was willing to give love, and the other in sore desperation of it. Hardly graceful; neither of them exactly had experience with kissing, but having no basis of comparision, they continued to do just that - a brush of tongue against the other, and further and further...

Shizumaru broke away first, still lingering, but his heart reminded him of how intense the moment had been. Rimururu smiled at him, and rested her neck on his shoulder, where her breath startled the young man, making him gasp, but only making her smile broader.

"Suki da yo," she murmured happily. "Suki da yo..."

Shizumaru could think of naught to say, being too marred with emotion. His eyelids shut tightly, quivering with the threat of more tears, and he held her tightly - too scared to, and yet, too scared to not, and further frightened to let go. She sighed contentedly and drifted off into sleep, while Shizumaru - although relaxing his embrace - was back into perpetual fear. Afraid of the demon Gohan, afraid of Haohmaru's reaction to the note, even afraid of Rimururu at the time - though, it eventually led him back to one simple realization: he was afraid of himself. Not necessarily the demon, though that was quite a part of it - he simply could not comprehend himself at the moment, and it scared him immensely.

His heart still beat furiously - was it passion or the demon that the moment faced him with?

Sighing, he shifted his position under the covers to let Rimururu have the space to herself, and quickly went over to his own abandoned clothing, putting it back on as quickly as he could; right down to the wrist and shin guards. Shizumaru sighed with a tremble, and sunk into a corner of the room, holding onto the saya of his nodachi as tightly as he'd clung to Rimururu. He tentatively reached up with a finger to brush one of the thin braids of hair -

Last edited by CarlyCheeese on 03-28-2003 at 03:48 AM

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-28-2003 , 03:45 AM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

"Ahh, cunning methods, cunning methods, my Covert Blanket Ninja! You simply lure the girls to you for the 'kill', as we call it sometimes, and make your move! Genius - pure and utter genius!" He could hear the laughter of Zack Ebony in his mind as soon as he held onto the braid, and it brought a subtle smile to his lips.

"Shizumaru-kun... I only began to see the depth of your pain during our time together - how difficult it truly is for you to let yourself be trusted by someone else! However much you fear the girl before you, she is willing to put herself in danger for you... and yet, you wish to not acknowledge it...? You are very inexperienced with this sort of matter; I cannot help but be concerned...

Yet, do not fear this turn of events. You do have my blessing, after all..."


Tachibana Ukyo. Words that comforted him and gave him a faint glimmer of hope. Yet when he tried to find more of that infinite wisdom, holding the other thin braid of hair in his hand - nearly trying to squeeze out all of the wisdom of the older man - nothing lit up in mind, and he was lost again.

Another flash of lightning and a blast of thunder shook the geisha's house, and Rimururu stirred in her sleep. Shizumaru gazed at her for a while, and sighed, envying her seemingly good dreams - the nightmare that Rimururu had awaken him from still haunted his mind, and he doubted he would get any more sleep tonight, despite how hard he should try. The cold, moist air prickled his skin and the earthy smell of the wet ground further brought back the touch of GohanÕs fingers on his flesh -

- do not think of that...

He shivered. Nothing about this night could bode well, it seemed to him. Shizumaru slowly brought himself to his feet, slinging his nodachi back over his shoulder, and picking up his umbrella as he went out - the room seemed tense and ominous, and he'd been wanting a breath of fresh air anyway. He paid little attention to his surroundings - nothing seemed to affect his train of thought, being only focused on keeping his thoughts off of Gohan and Rimururu.

Almost lazily, he slid open the front door of the house and stepped into his zori once more, while opening his umbrella to shield himself from the rain -

- but he had already disappeared, with a gasp of shock.

--

blinded by the whiteness
staring at the sun
IÕm wishing that I had wings so that I could become one

would you help me if I wanted to die
I could ride off with horses tonight...

tell me why - why, oh why - I said why - why, oh why...

now that IÕve arrived here I know IÕm not alone
all my friends among me tell me welcome home
but could you tell me where I might find the one IÕm looking for
Ôcause her wings have arrived...

tell me why - why, oh why - I said why - why, oh why...

... you said goodbye...


--

(Phew, that took forever. XD I SWEAR my tourney posts won't be as long as this monster, I swear-swear-swear-swear-sweaaaar. XDDDD;;;;; )


a lonely soul ____________________ moonlit skies
speaker of silence ________________ candlelit town
footsteps in the night _____________ eyes cast in gloom
utter reliance ____________________ a saddened frown

sweet serenity __________________ shielded by innocence
waits to be broken _______________ hidden by beauty
its mouth aghast ________________ the demon sleeps within
a demon hath spoken ____________ destroying naievte

~ hisame shizumaru, survivor x - oboeru mo ~

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San_Draco Posted: 03-28-2003 , 08:25 PM

El Bruje Sale

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: The realm between the worlds...

In which Shang Tsung combats Quan Chi

Shang Tsung turned around, and walked down the many halls of his palace. Unlike Quan Chi’s palace, the passageways were hung with rich tapestries, statues were proudly set in their pedestals, and the floor was thickly carpeted.

The Oriental sorcerer held out his hand, and summoned a soul to it. Hidden behind the green glow, Shang Tsung smiled. He glanced behind him, and shivered slightly. There, strapped to Quan Chi’s back, were two curved broadswords, razor sharp and deadly. He had already proven their effectiveness in the fight against Jax. The black man’s bionic arms had been no match for the dual swords.

Suddenly, Shang Tsung stopped, and gestured to the thick door in front of him. “Beyond this door is the army you seek. Go, and see.”

Quan Chi nodded, then opened the door. As had been promised, the vast legions of the dead Dragon King stood at attention, their skeletal figures grasping halberds and swords, their eyes glowing with an unholy light.

The cadaverous sorcerer strode through the ranks, inspecting each soldier in turn. “Well done, Shang Tsung.” He stopped at the head of the army, then spun around. “Now that each soldier has a soul, there is no longer any reason for this portal to the heavens open, right?”

With a wave of his hand, the limitless supply of souls that had sustained Shang Tsung was closed. Almost immediately, the red-clad sorcerer felt the familiar pangs of his hunger for souls. He could almost imagine his body aging, each individual hair slowly turning gray and white. The feelings of panic slowly started returning, but he regained his composure.

“You are right, of course, Sorcerer Quan Chi. Now that my purpose is done, there is no reason to maintain my existence. Now, please, leave my castle with the army, and let me eke out an existence as best I can.” Of course, Shang Tsung hid a smirk behind his goatee. He was orchestrating this, and was merely enjoying his sport for as long as possible.

Quan Chi cracked his knuckles, then smiled, his high-pitched laugh echoing through the vast chamber. “I wonder, Shang Tsung, how effective this army would be against magic. I know that they were supposed to be invincible in battle, but against magic? Hm…”

Once again, Shang Tsung smiled. “I wonder as well. Indeed, it would be quite a test of their skills, fighting against a powerful sorcerer. Now, who would we use as a subject. More than likely, the said sorcerer would die, as the army would be deadly, and would certainly not restrain itself.”

As Shang Tsung looked innocently at Quan Chi, the other sorcerer shined a predatory grin. Then, he whispered, “Let’s find out, Shang Tsung.”

The human arched his eyebrow. “Oh? And who do you plan on testing the army on?”

Quan Chi shouted in response, “Army of the forgotten Dragon King, arise and destroy Shang Tsung!”

A long pause ensued, and the army didn’t move. Shang Tsung began walking to his balcony.

“Slay that sorcerer!”

Once again, there was a long pause, and once again, the army didn’t move. The sorcerer glanced over the vast hall, and his gaze finally rested on his pale contemporary.

Then, slowly, realization dawned on Quan Chi. He vehemently whispered to Shang Tsung, “Where is my amulet?”

It was at this moment that Kano walked out on the balcony, the amulet in his hands. With a slight bow, he handed it to Shang Tsung, and the red-clad sorcerer examined it closely. “Would this be what you are looking for, Quan Chi? It certainly appears to be your amulet, and I can smell the aroma of stolen souls about it.” To emphasize his point, Shang Tsung delicately sniffed the golden artifact.

Shang Tsung’s opponent gnashed his teeth and gathered a soul in his hand. “Give it back to me, sorcerer!”

The Oriental mage lightly tossed the amulet from one hand to the other, then smiled. “Why do you want it? It opens portals, and only sorcerers can utilize its abilities.”

“I am a sorcerer, you fool!”

Shang Tsung’s smile widened. “Out of your own mouth you have condemned yourself. Army of the Dragon King, destroy the sorcerer!” Quan Chi stared at the army around him, his eyes widened and his breath halted. There was a long pause.

Then the army began to move.

Out of desperation, Quan Chi pulled out both of his broadswords, and assumed a defensive stance, trying to protect himself in all directions. However, only one soldier advanced to meet him, his halberd stretched out before him. As he raised it above his head, Quan Chi spun around, and one of the swords cut into his opponent’s chest. However, that didn’t slow the undead warrior down, and it lashed out.

The blow from its halberd glanced off the twin blades, and Quan Chi struck again. That blow, however, only succeeded in cutting the halberd in thirds. The automaton looked at the ruined weapon, then threw the two parts in its hands at Quan Chi. As he ducked, the armored zombie dashed in, and lifted the sorcerer up with a devastating kick. A roundhouse then sent Quan Chi into a rank of the soldiers, who promptly threw him back to his challenger.

This time, however, Quan Chi tried a different tactic. He gathered a soul in his hands, and launched it at his undead foe. Surprisingly, the tactic worked somewhat well, knocking the soldier back, distracting it as the soul already established fought against the intruder.

However, another one instantly took its place, and thousands more waited for the result. Quan Chi knew that he lacked the sheer number of souls that Shang Tsung possessed, and without his amulet, he had neither course of retreat nor ability to gain more souls. He steeled himself for the next fighter.

Suddenly, a voice rang out. “Stop!”

Instantly, the undead army halted, though their eyes yet shone intently. Shang Tsung walked down the stairs, and strode toward Quan Chi. “I will fight you myself. For, unlike you, I am no coward. Besides, if you kill me, then you can command this army yourself. That desperate fight for survival should make this fight interesting… and the furtive clutching after hope will make your soul that much more delectable.”

Quan Chi smiled at this. “I never took you for a fool, Shang Tsung, but perhaps I should have. You have me in your power, and now you throw it all away, when you had victory in your grasp? Well, I suppose I should thank you for that. Now, I go from death to absolute victory, all because of you.”

The sorcerer smiled. Hope on, Quan Chi. I shall enjoy every second of this. The cadaverous sorcerer sheathed both of his broadswords, and assumed his favored Tang Soo Do stance, his right arm resting on his shoulder while the left was outstretched. To counter, Shang Tsung shifted to his Crane style, and motioned for the army to surround them both, to prevent either from running away.

It was Quan Chi that attacked first, attacking with his famed Rising Star Kick, sliding along the floor and trying to knock Shang Tsung up. However, the sorcerer took a step back, then answered with his three kick, three punch, roundhouse kick combo that made his Crane stance feared.

Quan Chi dragged himself back up, then tried to lash out with a straight kick. However, his opponent merely stepped to the side, and used the leg as a springboard, jumping up in the air and stomping down on the pale sorcerer.

At point-blank range, Quan Chi fired another soul at Shang Tsung, which he barely managed to block. Suddenly, the former owner of the amulet lashed out with two knees, then pulled out both broadswords. While Shang Tsung was still doubled over, Quan Chi slashed with them both, scoring two gashes in his foe.

Smelling blood, the sorcerer slashed upwards, catching Shang Tsung with both blades again. Without warning, he switched to his Escrima style, and jabbed Shang Tsung in the face. Shang Tsung reeled back, but caught the next blow. He flung Quan Chi into the ranks of the undead. After a few seconds, Quan Chi was flung back, noticeably more bruised and battered than before.

After a brief pause, Shang Tsung got back to his feet. “Very well, Quan Chi. You’ve gotten better since I last saw you. Now, can you seize this advantage?” With one smooth motion, Shang Tsung unsheathed his straight sword.

Quan Chi again chose his two broadswords, and blocked a thrust from Shang Tsung. Easily, he threw the blade back, and spun with it. His other sword went low, forcing Shang Tsung to jump over it. The sorcerer barely managed to block the two blades heading for his throat, and he in his turn forced the broadswords aside. With an easy grace, he spun his straight sword in a circle, catching Quan Chi off guard.

In mid-arc, Shang Tsung switched directions, cutting Quan Chi across the arm. At the bottom of that swipe, he spun around, and horizontally cut the pale one across the chest. However, while he tried to recover his stance, Quan Chi attacked from the other side, knocking the sorcerer to the ground.

As he got back to his feet, Shang Tsung slashed twice, both hitting Quan Chi across the chest. As the pale one staggered back, he gathered another soul in his palm. Shang Tsung charged forward, only to have the soul blast him straight in the chest. He staggered back, then shook his head. “Not bad, Quan Chi. But, how long can you last with that blood loss?”

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San_Draco Posted: 03-28-2003 , 08:30 PM

El Bruje Sale

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: The realm between the worlds...

In which the battle with Quan Chi is concluded

In response, the pale one sheathed his two swords, then performed a hook punch and a trip in rapid succession. As Shang Tsung was falling down, Quan Chi caught him by the arm, and flung him again.

He dashed forward, preparing to stomp Shang Tsung. However, the red-clad sorcerer thrust at his foe’s throat. Quan Chi barely managed to dodge, emerging with only a gash on the side of his throat, centimeters from his jugular.

It took them both a short while to get back to their feet, but they did. Quan Chi cracked his neck and knuckles, then smiled. “You have done well, Shang Tsung. I never would have thought that you could fight this well. Of course, without your souls, you would be nothing. Let us finish this.”

Shang Tsung nodded, then readied his straight sword. “As you wish.”

Quan Chi dashed toward him, but was stopped by a fireball. As the heat dissipated, the sorcerer spun, both blades striking with such speed that they seemed to be a blur. Sparks flew as they impacted with Shang Tsung’s sword, and they struggled together. Then, the red sorcerer flipped backwards, and sheathed his sword.

He went back to his crane style, and he smiled. “Come and attack me.” Quan Chi did, both swords coming down in a powerful slash. However, Shang Tsung grabbed both of his arms, and flung them back. With one smooth motion, he unsheathed the straight sword, and impaled it into Quan Chi.

The pale sorcerer’s eyes grew larger, and he coughed. “A cheap blow, sorcerer. But it.. .will not… stop me…”

Shang Tsung smirked. “Quan Chi, I assume that you know how this impaling technique works, right? The blade attaches itself not merely to your flesh, but to your soul, as well. It slowly drains you, drawing your power and strength and locking it away.”

Quan Chi coughed again. “I am not… yet defeated… I will not… give you the time… you need…”

Once again, Shang Tsung laughed. “I have won. Therefore… Soldiers of the Dragon King, restrain him.” The automatons obeyed instantly, arresting his arms and legs. Meanwhile, Shang Tsung went back to his balcony, and sat down. One of his servants offered a glass of wine, and Shang Tsung accepted.

“Now, Quan Chi, why did you think you could defeat me. In my own palace, under my own rules?”

“You… are… weak… If you hadn’t… impaled me… I would have won…”

The healthy sorcerer took a sip of wine, then summoned a soul to his hand. “So it would seem. Even so, the fact that I can use souls to heal myself, and with the Dragon King’s army at my side, guarantee my victory.”

Quan Chi seemed even paler than usual. “You stole… that amulet… from me…”

Shang Tsung smiled. “No, but Kano did an acceptable job. You shouldn’t have spent so much time meditating on far-away events. After all, it was your neighbor that you wished to destroy.” The sorcerer took another drink of wine. “Did you enjoy your life?”

Quan Chi’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Exactly that. Did you enjoy your life? Did you take souls you wanted? Did you enjoy the pleasures that life can offer? Did you succeed in your goals? Did you… have fun?”

Quan Chi coughed. “Fool…”

Shang Tsung took another sip of wine, then put the glass down. “Fool? Hm… perhaps during the first century or so. But, as the saying goes, what didn’t kill me made me stronger. I was close to death, several times. Liu Kang nearly killed me twice. Kung Lao nearly killed me. Shao Khan nearly killed me. Shinook nearly killed me. Raiden nearly killed me. You nearly killed me. But, all of you failed. Half of you are dead now, and a third of your souls reside in me. A pity I couldn’t get Shinook… A god’s soul would boost my power by a considerable step, wouldn’t you say?”

The dying sorcerer was noticeably weakening. “You couldn’t handle the strain…”

“Perhaps. Then again, I did claim the soul of Shao Khan. He was nearly a god in his own right, with longevity and power to spare. But a true god? Ah, that would be a feast. And think of theologic complications. If I consumed the soul of a god, would I become a god myself? Or, would I simply be a human with the powers of a deity?”

Quan Chi slid to one knee, and his eyes began to glaze over. “I… don’t… know…”

Shang Tsung leaned over the balcony’s railing, and stared straight into the unfocused eyes of Quan Chi. “That much is certain. Now, how much longer do you think you can last? Your blood is slowly but surely escaping…”

And so it was. The Oriental sorcerer raised his hand, and a stream of souls began to flow out of Quan Chi’s body. “Amazing things, souls. They can tear a body apart when used as a weapon, and they power my invincible army, and they enable me to live forever… Yet taking them is so easy. Humans do not realize what power they possess, and they cannot use it, because they are afraid of their own life. Pathetic, really.”

Quan Chi weakly struggled against his captors, trying to reclaim some of the souls. In vain, of course. “I… am… dying… At least… give… me… a decent…” His voice trailed off in a pained whisper, and his head slowly began to drop onto his chest.

His opponent leaned forward again. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t quite make that out. A decent what, exactly?”

Quan Chi fell to his other knee. While his lips moved, no sound came out. Shang Tsung shrugged, and pulled another soul out of the pale one’s body. “Interesting. You have fewer warrior souls than I. Most of yours are those of noncombatants. May I ask why you did so? Surely you could have taken your pick of the finest warriors, but why didn’t you…”

Quan Chi’s head snapped up, and his eyes burned with an unnatural vehemence. “So they wouldn’t turn on me!”

Shang Tsung smiled. “Ah… I see. You were afraid that your weak will would not be able to contain the souls you have consumed. Am I correct?”

Quan Chi continued staring at Shang Tsung, though the glow was slowly fading. “You can not assume that your souls will be obedient to you. They shall turn on you, as freedom is the key to the human… heart. Then you shall die… and my soul shall be avenged… Even if you take the souls of the entire world… what would it have gained for you… when you are the only one left to enjoy your immortality? But this I predict with my dying breath… You shall go to a far-off place… And you shall die in a place far away from here, alone and friendless… and you shall die of that which you fear most…” Saying this, Quan Chi’s eyes closed, and his form collapsed on itself. His guards flung the now-white form of Quan Chi on the floor, and it crumpled into a heap.

Shang Tsung raised his hands, and Quan Chi’s soul came flying to him. The living sorcerer merely stared at the soul for a short time, admiring the bright glow coming from it. “For all of his mistakes, Quan Chi was a warrior. If he had not come to my aid, I might still be living in a more miserable condition.”

He turned to the pair of undead soldiers yet standing guard over Quan Chi’s corpse. To one, he commanded, “Return my straight sword to me.” To the other he said, “Throw the corpse into the acid bath.”

As they shuffled off to perform his wish, the sorcerer stared at the soul. Strangely, it still seemed to hold some resemblance to Quan Chi. “At least our rivalry had a final conclusion. There is nothing worse than a false ending.” He chuckled.

The soul flowed into Shang Tsung’s heart, and immediantly a transformation began. The sorcerer’s body got younger and stronger, and raw power seemed to arc through his body. Even his hair went from its usual brown color to a deep black. He laughed, and took a step forward. “Marvelous…”

Kano cleared his throat, and raised his eyebrow. “Not that I’m complaining, Mr. Shang Tsung, but we do have a schedule to keep. Don’t want to keep our adoring public waiting, do we?”

The sorcerer snorted, and turned to his accomplice. “Be patient. I need to prepare my belongings for the trip, and I need to open a portal. It will only take a short while… Servant!”

A black-robed man walked forward, bowing repeatedly. “I have prepared your belongs, my lord. If I may?” The sorcerer curtly nodded, and two other robed figures struggled forward, heavily burdened with a large crate. “These are all the supplies you shall need while in Earthrealm, my lord.”

The thaumaturge looked at the crate, then to the commander of his army, the former Li Mei. “Carry it.”

Without question, the commander walked over, and hefted up the crate in one hand. Shang Tsung smiled. “At last, now we can begin our campaign.” He stepped forward, and raised the amulet.

Soundlessly, the sorcerer accessed the powers of the amulet, and a portal between Outworld and Earthrealm was opened. However, something was wrong. “That… doesn’t lead to Earthrealm…”

The sorcerer stepped back, and sneered. “What trickery is this?” Then the portal consumed him and his commander.

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Baka Posted: 03-29-2003 , 04:04 AM

Heaven or Hell?

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Nice intro there, Draco. I've played a little big of MKA, so it kinda makes sense to me Very nice. You stay away from Ky's soul now, y'hear!


Baka // Black Angel // Salva Nos

"I'm not good- looking enough to be party leader." - Robin Cook

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Renmazuo Posted: 03-31-2003 , 04:41 AM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Alma Beoulve - Prologue: Gleipnir (I)

Prologue Primus - Gleipnir


My legs...my shins feel like they're bleeding. It's so cold...oh, where are you? Where are you?!

Igros was harsh in the winter. The city's rulers prided itself on having no slums, no dregs in which the bottom tier of society wasted away, but those who saw Igros at the core knew that wasn't the truth. As much as Dycedarg Beoulve and Duke Larg liked to ignore it, there were bad neighborhoods in Igros, where the veterans of the Fifty Year War came to die and thieves schemed doomed rebellions against the crown. They were dark streets and alleys, living in the shadow of the majestic castle and cast away from its grace. They were abandoned, and those abandoned with it were at the mercy of the weather. And in winter, death and despair were at their highest here.

Alma ran through those streets and alleys, the tears in her eyes frosting in the cold. Her shins were sore, she'd been running for what felt like hours, and her face was parched and chapped. It was so late at night, and she could barely see, and her lantern was growing dim. The fatigue, the cold, and the monotonous echoes of her own footsteps on the barren alley floors were setting in. Alma was beginning to tire, and she felt she would fall soon, fainting against the dark walls of these abandoned houses, weakened by the cold.

...no. I will not...I have to find her!

She grunted, stuffing the small purple scarf against her mouth, chafing her cheeks and lips. She forced her eyes to stay open, holding out the swishing lantern in her hand, and peered into the alleys as she ran. Her eyes caught moldy blankets crumpled against the walls, long deserted by their homeless owners as they wandered along. The alley before her was filled with these blankets, and she could see no one in sight. Just old blankets, strewn across her path.

Alma hurried along, scanning the alley. Zalbag said he saw her run to this district...by the Saints, it's so cold, how in her right mind could she rush out here like this? She bit her lip as she reached a separate passage in the alley, her concern increasing along with the frigid exhaustion in her body. She came to a stop, looking into the new path before her- and nearly fell to her knees as the pain flared in her shins again. She winced and leaned her free hand on the grimy wall- it was all so painful. She shouldn't be out here, she knew; she'd just gotten over a severe fever, and this would not help at all. Tomorrow she would surely be ill, she could even miss seeing Ramza and Delita off to the Academy. They'd been on a break period for the past few days, and Alma hadn't gotten to talk to them much…

...I'm not turning back.

"Hff...hff...just don't keep me out here…too long," Alma breathed, shuffling forward. She raised the lantern again, squinting into the cold darkness. She saw the passage was a dead end of chilled black brick and more blankets, and there was a large trash bin at the end, boarded up and shoved aside. Alma smelled something foul, and grunted again as she stuffed the scarf against her nose. She took a step further, casting a little more light on the path. She saw something huddled against the bin, shifting under a dark purple blanket-

Alma froze. She could not mistake that shade of purple. "Teta!"

She rushed forward, and the lantern cast light over her lost friend. Teta sat there, her arms wrapped around her knees and her body resting against the pungent trash bin. Her dress was in disarray, her purple skirt torn from running and the sleeves of her blouse matted and dirty. She turned her head up, her brown hair tangled around a lovely face streaked with tears- and crust. Alma felt hot rage well up in her stomach as Teta turned her dark eyes to her, exposing the bits of pie crust that littered her cheeks. In Ajora's name, how could they have done such a thing...?

"Oh, Teta..." Alma slumped by the other girl, the lantern clattering at her side. She reached out, tenderly touching Teta's cheek. "Teta, you're like ice...come back with me, please!"

Teta shut her eyes and turned her face away. "...why...why'd you come out here? I wanted to be alone..."

"Don't say that. Don't ever say that, please." Alma tugged her scarf loose, her blonde hair falling to chill the back of her neck. She wrapped it around Teta's shoulders, breathing warm puffs of air on her neck. "You shouldn't be out here...please, Teta, come back with me."

Teta's eyelids squeezed further, and she pressed her hand to her face. "G...go away! Go...aah..." Her voice cracked, and she sniffed, failing to hold back a wheezing sob. "They...they threw food at me, Alma..."

Alma hugged Teta fiercely, grimacing as her own throat tightened with pain and anger. Teta slumped against her willingly, her weeping muffled in Alma's chest. The wind was sharp and cold over both of them, but the fury in Alma's heart dispelled it all. She was angry. She was angry. Those ‘classmates' of theirs had planned it all. She and Teta had been so looking forward to the graduation dance at Igros Aristocratic School…

All just because her blood isn't the color of their feather hats. She was going to ask Ramza for a dance, and they cut her off...mashed a pie in her face. Called her a dog. Alma grit her teeth and hugged Teta tightly. Those uncaring, mean little fools...

Teta shuddered, sighing into Alma's shirt. "A...Alma, my chest..."

Alma looked down, moving Teta just enough to see her chest. She froze again, finding Teta's collar ripped down to the slope of one breast- and a ragged chip of glass cutting into her skin. Alma glanced in horror at Teta. Her face was pale, her eyes heavy and red, and she winced. "Fell, I...I was running…"

"Oh, Teta..." Alma moved her hand carefully to the cut, tentatively grasping it between her thumb and forefinger. It was not deep, but the cold was clearly not helping. Teta gasped as she took hold of it, her hands wrenching Alma's skirt. Alma did not relent, knowing she had to get it out. She touched a finger along the flesh, finding the outline of the shard in Teta's cold skin. She swallowed, looking back to Teta with a weak smile. "It's okay, Teta...I'll take it out. Be still…"

Teta nodded back, still sniffling. Alma cupped her other hand close to Teta's breast, and slowly grasped the sharp edges of the glass again. She rubbed Teta's chest soothingly, then, with the utmost of caution, pulled out the shard. The torn flesh fell back, bleeding, and Teta jerked, twisting her hands in the cloth of Alma's skirt. "Gngh..."

"Shh...it's okay, it's out," Alma whispered, tossing the shard aside. "I'll take care of it. Easy..." She placed her fingers close to the wound, pressing against the flesh where the shard had cut. She bowed her head towards Teta's shoulder, and puckered her lips, blowing softly on the cut. "Per animam meam, adsumate signo tuto uto care, una pretiosa," she whispered. "Through my heart, receive this protective spell to use, precious one..."

Her fingers pressed down once, but Teta did not wince. A sparkling pink light was already there, at the center of the cut, weaving its way along the broken flesh. It cast its gentle glow over Alma's face as she blew upon its essence, and then coursed through the wound. The flesh sealed up and the blood caked and fell away, its glow fading into Teta's chest. Then it was as if the cut had never been.

Teta relaxed under Alma's grip, breathing in relief as the warm light finally disappeared into her chest. Then all was cold again, and her head fell forward. "...Alma, I'm so sorry..."

Alma gave her the best smile she had, pulling up Teta's blouse and tying it up. "I'll have to sew this when you're home...and clean this up, too." She gave her fingers a small lick and wiped at Teta's cheek, rubbing off bits of pie crust. Again, she smiled. "You know, even with all the pie, Ramza would have danced with you in a heartbeat. After throwing all those jerks out the window, of course."

Teta chuckled, a weak but comforted sound. She curled her arms over her chest, barely moving as Alma cleaned her cheek. She sobered again, sniffling and doing her best to wipe a tear on her sleeve. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have run like that. It was stupid of me...stupid, stupid...I should've just gone home..."

Alma used the scarf's edge to dry Teta's cheeks, then drew the other girl back into an embrace. "I would have followed you even then, Teta..." She winced. "Oh, you're freezing...here, I know the way back, I'll help you up."

"N-no..." Teta swallowed, burying her face in Alma's shoulder. "I'm...I don't want to move..."

Alma tilted her head, suddenly alarmed. "Wh-why? Are you hurt anywhere else...?" Teta made no response to that, only buried her head further in. She shook again, and Alma knew she was going to cry. Her own eyes welled up, the anger seizing her again. This wasn't fair. Teta was such a good student, smart and diligent- and her dearest friend. All through their early lives they'd been close, and Alma did not forego friendship so easily. Teta was a good person, a good person…

She rested her hand on Teta's nape, stroking it gently. "...you know something, Teta?"

Teta shook her head, not looking up.

"I wish I were more like you."


"Virtus in cordibus tranquillibus floret. Iustitia est mecum. Per animam meam, cave. Cave."

-- Sponsoring Alma Beoulve, Survivor X.

Last edited by Renmazuo on 04-15-2003 at 03:20 AM

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Renmazuo Posted: 03-31-2003 , 04:46 AM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Alma Beoulve - Prologue: Gleipnir (II)

Teta gulped, shaking her head again. "No, you don't...I'm...they call me trash, Alma. Dog. Wench...and..." She trembled, squeezing her hands in Alma's skirt once more. "After a while...you begin to believe it..."

Oh, God... Alma gently pulled Teta's head back, biting a trembling lip. "Teta. These people have been saying these things for six months...six months. A long time, and even one second is far too much. You deserve to be called none of those things..." She brushed back a lock from Teta's forehead, smiling gently. "But, you know...I've known you for fifteen years. For those fifteen years, I have always wanted to be like you. You are a good person, better than me..." Alma chafed her shoulders, gently kneading Teta's cold muscles. "Amica mea cara, te amo...ego te amo. Semper ego te amo. You know that..."

Teta leaned her head in Alma's hand, smiling back as best as she could. "Alma..."

The way she said her name was enough to make Alma want to weep with joy, but she restrained it, putting on another smile. She tugged Teta closer and hugged her again, even tighter. She took a deep breath, her friend's familiar scent flooding through her, and suddenly the night wasn't so cold. "Don't run, Teta...I don't want you to fall again. I'm always here. I won't ever leave you."

Teta shook a little, gently placing her hands on Alma's sides. "...don't make promises like that, Alma," she said, her voice strained.

Alma frowned slightly. "Why not?"

"...I've seen you coughing, lately." Teta swallowed- Alma wished she could take that lump out of her throat- and squeezed fistfuls of Alma's blouse. "I know you're sick...I know you're in pain...ahh, haha...look at me." She turned her head up, her eyes far redder now. "I make you and everyone run out here in the cold...right when you're ill. I'm...oh, I can't even say ‘I'm sorry', Alma! I can't even say that...mmf!" She shook her head back and forth, trying to choke back the lump. "I'm...b-by God, Alma, you're my only friend..."

Teta bowed her head again. "Can...can you imagine what it feels like? To see you cough, or see you sneeze...or hear you say you have a headache, or a stomach ache...to just know you're not well, and...and to...to feel..."

Alma's breath came to a slow, deliberate halt. Her heart quickened in its pace, a throbbing surge rushing from her belly to her throat. Few things had ever affected her like that- like hearing from your dearest friend that she feared for your life even when the most minuscule threat to it appeared. Alma could barely speak, her parched lips managing only, "Teta..."

Teta slumped against her once more, and this time it was she who embraced Alma- no, clung to her. "Alma...Alma, please...when you promise that, you have to mean it with all your heart. Please...Alma, don't throw me away, don't leave me..."

It would have been so easy to pity her. But pity was never reserved for those with the ardor, the life that Teta had, and especially not when they bared such passion. Alma gently cupped the back of Teta's head, just under and behind her ear, and guided Teta gently from her shoulder to her chest- over her own heart. Teta stopped sniffling, and Alma stroked down the back of her neck, smoothing out her hair. She turned her head down towards Teta's, and spoke softly. "By the heart that beats here, Teta, I promise I won't ever leave you...for as long as you live, I won't let death touch me..." She smiled. "I won't let it touch you, either."

Teta was quiet. Her body quivered in Alma's embrace, her body flashing cold and hot. Alma chafed her arms again, doing her best to keep Teta warm. She stopped, though, when Teta placed her left hand on her right. The brown-haired girl brought that hand up and behind her head; Alma frowned a little, wondering what it was Teta was trying to guide her to. A moment later, as Teta brought the young Cleric's fingers to close around her ponytail, Alma knew. There was a small bow tying Teta's hair together, and Teta made Alma tug it free. Teta shook her hair loose, letting it cascade down her back. Alma smiled- she actually looked even prettier like that.

"Um...here," Teta said, drawing their hands back around to Alma's chest. She pressed the bow into Alma's palm, and averted her gaze. "This...this can be the sign of that promise, yes?"

Alma looked into her palm, studying the bow. It was a woven cloth of crimson, though it appeared pink, and was softer and lighter than all the bows Alma had. She rubbed its surface, and it felt like...

Like the skin on Teta's cheeks...this is a holy cloth. I cannot take it-

"You will take it," Teta said, seeming to read her own thoughts. "Please...I-I don't know much about it, it was something my mother gave me, before she got sick. Gleipnir, she called it...supposed to be unbreakable, or something silly like that..." She gave Alma's hand another squeeze. "If you keep it close, maybe...maybe you'll be that much more blessed..."

Alma reached behind her head, her smile never fading as she tied it into her hair. "I will. Hee-hee, I'll be the second-prettiest girl in Igros, thanks to this! After you, of course."

"Hah-hah..." Teta smiled back, rubbing her eyes. "You always cheer me so. Thank you..."

"You've given me twice as much cheer," Alma said, and meant it. She perked her head up as a shout came from nearby- Zalbag, most likely. She put her arms around Teta's shoulders again, and gave her a gentle tug. "I think I hear Zalbag. Come on, now...you look so sleepy. Let's get you back to the estate and clean you up..."

"...all right," Teta said, sighing as Alma stood her up. "Alma, I'm so very sorry..."

Alma shook her head. "Teta, you have nothing to be sorry about. But, believe me, those clowns will be sorry tomorrow," she said, setting her jaw. "You're as much a Beoulve as I am."

Teta chuckled, leaning her head on Alma's shoulder. "I like to think that."

"Then do so! I doubt Father thinks of you as anything but a daughter," Alma said, slinging Teta's arm over her shoulders. "Now shh. Some hot water and a good, warm night's sleep is what you need."

She left the lantern- Zalbag had many, and besides, the people that wandered through here were in more need of light than she. Alma guided Teta along, walking towards the alley again. She could hear Zalbag growing closer, his crisp voice ringing out across the district as he called for them. She was glad- in just a few minutes, she and Teta and Zalbag and everyone would be back at the Estate, warm and ready for a long night's rest. The night had ended well.

"Alma...?"

Alma looked back at Teta, and found her friend's dark eyes peering into her own. She tilted her head, returning the stare. "Yes...?"

Teta smiled drowsily. "I'm sorry...could you say what you told me again...? In the Middle Glabdic...?"

"Say wh...oh..." Alma smiled back, tugging Teta closer, and whispered back to her. "Amica mea cara, ego te amo...semper ego te amo."

Teta closed her eyes, and pulled the scarf until it draped over both their necks. "Amica mea..."

"Amica mea cara. Semper, amica mea pretiosa..."

---

She left me at Fort Zeakden. Along with Delita, and Ramza. All of them left me, and that was when I began to doubt. I began to fear. I began to feel the terror that she told me about- that of loss. When she told me how much she feared for my life at all those meaningless moments- when I sneezed, when I coughed- I felt...I felt like life was worth even more than I already valued it. And life was richer for having Ramza and Delita, and Father, and Zalbag, and even Dycedarg, all in it. For having Teta in it.

That's why it hurt when she left me. That's why I began to doubt.

Don't take that the wrong way. Doubt is a beautiful gift that's been given to mankind- without doubt, we would still have slaves. Without doubt, we would have no boats. Without doubt, we wouldn't know God. Perhaps, without doubt, we would be less human. But we have doubt, and for that, I am immensely grateful. Yet, as with all things, doubt has a darker side, and that is fear. And the ultimate point of fear- the nadir of its darkness- is despair. Despair is a terrible sin.

That is why I am here now. When Teta left me, and when Zalbag came to me from Zeakden, grim-faced...I started to doubt. I'm still doubting, and gradually, I think I may be yet slipping into that darker side of doubt.

...yet I still do not fear. I will never fear. I won't. Ever. For Teta's sake, I won't give in to that.

Teta...ego te amo. I love you. Semper ego te amo. I will always love you.

Amica mea cara. My beloved friend.


+ End Prologue Primus +

Last edited by Renmazuo on 04-15-2003 at 03:21 AM

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Slipstream Posted: 03-31-2003 , 11:38 AM

Maester of Monsters

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard Within My Mind

Renmazou, it's a great intro but there's a serious problem with whatever font you're using. Maybe I'm wrong and it's just my computer, but instead of speech marks I'm seeing a bunch of symbols and other gibberish. Here's a screenshot of what I mean, since you're probably not seeing it at your end.


People like you. People who plan out every little detail of their lives.

You could never understand me.

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Baka Posted: 03-31-2003 , 12:07 PM

Heaven or Hell?

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Actually, I get the same thing..


Baka // Black Angel // Salva Nos

"I'm not good- looking enough to be party leader." - Robin Cook

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Soujiro Seta Posted: 03-31-2003 , 01:54 PM

The Silver Ogre

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Beyond Death

Echoing the previous sentiment, that was a great first-part of the 'ol Intro, TK. Truly heartwarming, I think. However...yeah, you need to use a different font. I think whatever font you're using has quotation marks and apostrophes that are their own stylized characters and don't display properly on the boards.

*furtively crouches, like a tiger, waiting for the signal to post his intro*

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San_Draco Posted: 03-31-2003 , 02:25 PM

El Bruje Sale

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: The realm between the worlds...

You know, after reading through these intros again, I'm struck by just how awesome the writing for this tournament is so far. *gets pumped up*

*remembers that he'll have school during Survivor X*

Argh! Oh well...

Baka: (you had to know this was coming) Ky's soul is mine! Seriously, though, Kyo made sure that I wouldn't take any Sponsor souls. He didn't say anything about the souls of Fallen, though...

Just kidding, of course. Or am I?

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Amethyst Posted: 03-31-2003 , 02:50 PM

Jellomancer

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

*gets a headache reading Alma's intro*

This, folks is why I use Notepad to write my pre-written posts.

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Renmazuo Posted: 03-31-2003 , 06:19 PM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Whaa? I used WordPad for this thing! XD D'ah, okay, I'll get to fixing that right away. Sorry, folks!

Edit: It has been repaired! The apostrophes, quotations, and elipses on Microsoft Word were what was screwing it up so much. It's fixed now, I think- I replaced all the special font pieces with plain text. ^^ Sorry!

Last edited by Renmazuo on 03-31-2003 at 06:35 PM

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-31-2003 , 08:01 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Ahh, don't feel bad, Tenshi - I had EXACTLY the same problem with my intro. ^^;

... :\

*feels bad since no one's bothering to read hers :\*

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Renmazuo Posted: 03-31-2003 , 08:35 PM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Hey now, I'm reading yours! I think you're doing a bang-up job bringing out Shizumaru's personality and establishing his fighting skills and reiterating his incredible sexual appea- ER, you're doing fine. XD


"Virtus in cordibus tranquillibus floret. Iustitia est mecum. Per animam meam, cave. Cave."

-- Sponsoring Alma Beoulve, Survivor X.

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 03-31-2003 , 09:25 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

I already knew YOU read it, silly. XD *patpat Tenshi*

... reiterate? Hell, I could EXPLOIT it if I wanted. XDDDD

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Netz Ausg Posted: 04-01-2003 , 01:46 PM

Junior Member

Registered: Mar 2003
Location:

Part Two

His mind was ablaze, images and thoughts flashed through the fog of unconsciousness as his dreams churned through his life, the pain and flashing lights of that Canadian facility, the loss of his loved ones, his forgotten past…

Logan awoke with a start, his eyes snapping open and darting around the room. As his mind cleared slowly, the mugginess of disturbed sleep threatened to draw him back to unconsciousness, adrenaline barely keeping him awake. Sniffing at the air and slowly raising himself out of the bed his knuckles itched, his instincts telling him to pop his claws.

“Creed.”

The door exploded inwards in a shower of splinters, followed by Sabretooth and he rolled into the room. Coming up again he barely had time to look at Logan before he was knocked down again.

“What are you doing here Creed!”

The two figures rolled back out the door and hit the corridor wall hard, temporarily freeing themselves of each other.

“You know why I’m here son, don’t act ignorant.”

The two mutants clashed again, this time Sabretooth overpowering Logan. The two bodies were driven back by Creed’s strength, and they hit the window. Smashing through they hit the street below at force and the two men grunted in pain as the wind was knocked out of them.

“Holy shit!”

“Muties!”

They stood facing each other, the people on the streets either staring in disbelief or running for their lives. “You’re not getting my goddamn adamantium,” Logan wheezed, “and you never will!”

The sight of a man wearing nothing but boxers and bleeding from the nose and several cuts on his back was a strange enough thing alone, but the sight of a larger man wearing a skin tight red and brown outfit with fur seemingly growing from his back wrists and ankles was enough to send even the most curious bystander packing. The fact that he has inch long claws and sharpened canine teeth were just the icing on the cake.

Gritting his teeth, Sabretooth said, “Aw, come on son, would you begrudge your old man your life? I gave it to you, I can take it a- ”

Logan tackled him at waist height and drove his back into the wall of the apartment block, his claws ripping through the flesh between his knuckles and extending to full length with a ‘Snikt’.

“That’s the spirit boy,” Sabretooth said, grinning as he smashed his clasped fists into Logan’s head, “I didn’t think a son of mine would back down.”

Logan never was one for words and as the pain in the back of his head was bested only by the agony of his face as it struck the floor burned through him, his control slackened and his sight became tinted with red.

A guttural roar split the night as Logan kicked up at Sabretooth and struck his chest. Not stopping for a second he span on his knee, bring his feet to bear under him and gaining purchase before pouncing forward. Slashing in a roundhouse motion, his claws bit flesh and a wave of grim satisfaction swam through Logan’s mind. In a full berserker rage he found himself enjoying the violence, the angry scream he induced filling him with a taste for more.

Fitting his name sake, Wolverine roared bestially again and continued cutting, biting and striking Sabretooth. Pain flashed into his consciousness, but it was drowned out again by the cry of the beast inside him.

His head struck Sabretooth’s face, the crunch of cartilage and wet feeling of blood drawing a yearning to kill as his fist punched into Creed’s side. The claws sunk deep, coming out of his back and hitting the wall, before Wolverine ripped his fist to the right, poring his inhuman strength into rending the flesh of his so called Father.

Then it was over.

Stumbling backwards Logan sank to the floor and the last thing that he felt before the red tint of blood lust was replaced with the black of unconsciousness was of sheer agony as he realised that he hadn’t come out of the fight unscathed.


Two to tango...

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Exeter Posted: 04-01-2003 , 10:52 PM

Rock You

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

~Under Pressure~
Sol Badguy--Greatest Hits, Track 2

Chippin' around
Kick my brains round the floor
These are the days
It never rains but it pours


The dark-haired man was motionless, every muscle tensed, all of his attention on the...the sword behind him.

…the blade gleamed brilliantly in the candlelight, razor-sharp and...

Yeah...better to focus on the sword than the boy.

He’d likely end up killing him, otherwise, and, much as he hated to admit it, he didn’t want the kid dead.

The beat had faded completely, and all the world was silent, curiously awaiting the inevitable action, from one man or the other, that would end the tension.

And one had already laid his cards on the table.

Straight flush, queen high. Not bad.

But the other still had an ace up his sleeve.

So he turned.

High stakes bet, this time.

Slowly.

And yet there’s nothing left to lose.

His eyes fell to rest on those of Ky Kiske.

The boy's face betrayed no emotion, but his eyes were a storm, one that echoed the torrent outside, surpassed it, and consumed it utterly, remorselessly.

The wrath of Heaven (or Hell?) lay behind those eyes.

The Fuuraiken continued to shine, anxious for its wielder's next attack, and that wielder’s eyes suggested that the blade's hunger would soon find satisfaction.

All it would take was a flick of the wrist.

--and you’re dead baby--

Glancing down at the singed earth at his feet where the bolt from the Thunderseal had struck, Sol couldn't help but match Kiske's anger with some of his own. Not too much...just enough to make things interesting.

Always was a cocky little son-of-a-bitch.

Kiske was ever silent, his sword aimed to pierce his rival's heart at a moment's notice.

A moment more than Sol would ever have spared him, but to deprive him of that moment would mean...

The boy who was no longer a boy waited for an answer, and Sol no longer had the heart--or the patience--to disappoint.

Somewhat reluctantantly (...still got things to do, dammit...), the bounty hunter pointed at the door behind him with a single thumb.

"Outside."

*****
Warning: Disc Skip
(~static~)
--Fast Forward--
*****

Later, when he'd cooled off, Sol couldn't help but be a bit surprised at the sudden surge of...well, hatred...Kiske had shown that day. Sure, the boy had never hesitated to speak up whenever someone--usually Sol--was doing something that pissed him off, back in the Order, but never had he let his temper get the better of him.

“Sol, you idiot! Do you want to get us killed?” Kiske scolded angrily. “I thought Sir Kliff told you to guard the rear!”

“Yeah, whatever. I go where the action is.”

“Shut up and get back t...”


Well...certainly not enough to curse aloud and desecrate the floor of the church, anyway.

I must just have a way with people, Sol would think later, mirthlessly.

But right now, he was focused.

Rare thing, that.

The last vestiges of day had long since faded, leaving a dark, ominous sky…much like that the night he’d left, in fact. The flashes of lightning provided the only illumination, the rain poured, and the wind howled.

The spirits of the fallen cried out, demanding retribution.

None would listen.

Listen - what people do to their souls
They take their lives - destroy their goals
Their basic pride and dignity
Is stripped and torn and shown to pity
When this should be heaven for everyone


Neither of them spoke, content to let the storm speak for them as they trudged through the mud, almost side-by-side.

And after an eternity (...couple minutes...?), they reached the fountain.

A series of short, gradual steps surrounded the shallow bowl and the towering marble statue that rose up from it, a robed figure, clutching a staff in one hand and a teardrop shield in the other. A symbol of righteousness and justice, a tribute to God's infinite mercy and good will.

A fitting mascot, as it were, for the Order.

In more ways than one.

Its head was missing.

Had been for some eight years, now.

The gear attacked from out of nowhere.

Moments later, the pair of corpses struck the statue with enough force to crack...


Sol grimaced.

Somehow…it seemed appropriate.

Kiske’s eyes made clear that he, too, remembered it well.

Justice had found justice already.

In the boy's mind, there was only one man left to blame.

The Fireseal clenched in a reverse-grip as usual in his left hand, and his eyes shielded from the rain by his right, Sol turned to face his nemesis.

“Ready when you are,” he rasped.

“Let me know when you're willing to answer my questions. Until then...”

The Thunderseal finished his sentence for him.

You're rushing headlong
Headlong out of control - yeah
And you think you're so strong
But there ain't no stopping


And the duel was on.

And there's nothin you nothin' you
Nothin' you can do about it at all

Last edited by Exeter on 04-02-2003 at 10:01 PM

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ShinkuuR Posted: 04-03-2003 , 07:26 PM

New College Grad! Whoo!

Registered: May 2001
Location: Savannah Ga

Rydia's Intro: Part 2 of 3


As Rydia stepped out of the cave and into the night sky, she could barely believe that the figure she looked upon was the Kingdom of Baron. Brilliant lights enveloped the castle town as fireworks exploded from above, and even though she was a couple of miles away the sounds of jovial music floated effortlessly in the air. On this day one year ago, the world was freed of Zeromus and roared out in celebration, and once again it was time to remember their liberation with songs and dances and laughter.

And as she walked towards the sight, Rydia didn’t know why people were celebrating at all.

Yes, Zeromus was destroyed and the populace was saved from the evil, but even today there were still people suffering and in pain. She didn’t understand why people were getting drunk celebrating the past while others are hurting in the present, and the thought saddened her. She originally planned to skip the event and continue improving her village instead, but Rosa convinced her to attend a couple a days ago, saying that ‘it would be demoralizing to the people if one of the saviors of the planet did not come’.

”For the people...I guess...”, she thought as she reached the entrance to the castle, waiting patiently in line as the front guards checked the party goers for weapons and such. When she reached the guards she was stopped quite abruptly.

“Miss, please take off your hood and empty your pockets of all possessions.” The guard on the right side of the drawbridge nonchalantly said, eyeing the figure for any sudden movements or hesitations. As soon as Rydia took off the hood that was attached to her more formal green summoner’s garb, however, the two guards as well as the villagers behind her kneeled in respect.

“Oh! Forgive me mistress summoner! I didn’t know that was you!” Rydia couldn’t see the guard’s face but she could tell he was embarrassed beyond belief.

“Don’t worry about it. And please, everyone stand up. I’m just a person like you all.” Every one slowly rose from their knees and regain their composure.

“We were thinking that you would just teleport in front of us like you always do.” The other guard said. “You’ve done too much for our land to have you wait in line, you know.”

“I guess...” Rydia looked around at the people behind her, then slowly turned towards the guards. “...but is all this security necessary?”

“Yes mistress!” The first guard stammered, still quite embarrassed from his mistake. “The king ordered us to make sure nothing interferes with the celebration, and we attend to do just that. Ain’t that right Wedge?” The other guard nodded his head.

“Please enjoy yourself mistress. You deserve it!” Rydia sighed silently at the pair and walked past the gate and into the throne room, where she was bombarded with people dressed in beautiful gowns and outfits dancing and eating the night away. She allowed herself a small smile as she spotted Cecil’s unsatisfactory attempts to dance with Rosa, then made her way to a small chair near the feast that was prepared for guest. When she sat down Rydia heard a soft shuffling sound underneath the table, an when she peeked at what was making the noise she laughed at what she saw. It was a young boy who was dressed in mage’s robes who was eating some chicken quite hastily, never taking his eyes of the guests’ extravagant clothing as he reached for more food. When Rydia recognized the figure, she sighed and tapped the boy on his shoulder, scaring the hell out of him and caused his chicken leg to drop.

“Whatcha doin’, Palom?” The boy, also one of the heroes who fought to defeat Zeromus, quickly regained his composure and responded to his comrade.

“Uh...What’s up Rydia? Well I was kinda hungry so I figured I’d just crash out here....wanna bite?” The boy offered her a piece of chicken, but Rydia shook her hand in rejection.

“No thanks.” Palom shrugged his shoulders and returned to eating the chicken. “But aren’t you supposed to be with your sister and the other mages?”

“Yeah *chomp*, but all they do *chomp* is talk about magic spells and stuff *chomp burp* and it gets boring after a while. Hey, if you see my sister don’t tell her where I am, okay? She’ll have a fit if..HEY!” Palom’s words came a bit too late as out of nowhere a hand approached him from the opposite end of the table, yanking the boy from the table and knocked over some food in the process. Most of the guest turned towards the sight as Palom stood up, ready to knock some sense into whoever interrupted his meal.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE...uh oh...” His voice quickly turned from anger to terror as he realized the person who pulled him out was his twin sister, Porom. She didn’t look happy in the least.

“What in the world are you doing here? Do you know what type of example you’re setting for all the other mages in Mysidia?”

“But is boring in there sis!”

“What, are you afraid that you might actually learn something? Come on!” Porom grabbed her brother by the ear and started dragging him, making sure to apologize for her interruption and greet Rydia before heading out the throne room.

As the laugher from her and the other guests subsided, Rydia found herself envying Palom’s predicament. Even though the boy was in trouble with his sister, he was still enjoying his childhood and the joys and trials it brought him. Rydia, on the other hand, basically had to give up her childhood for the justice she wanted so desperately, and even though she looked like an adult and had to act like one all the time, she still longed to be the kid she once was. Truth be told, she would rather listen to boring lectures with the twins than at the celebration, but she had to stay and be a sign of hope for the people. She sat back down in her chair and watched the scenery for a while until she can sense someone approaching her from the right. She could tell who it was from the smell of cheap cologne.

“Hey babe! What’s up?” As expected, she turned around to see the Crown Prince of the Eblan Ninja Clan in the finest clothing that he could muster, holding a drink in one hand while extending his other hand to her.

“Hello, Edge.” Even though she was always turned off by his advances toward her, today’s greeting was colder than usual. Edge almost withdrew his hand, but the pride in him wouldn’t let that happen.

“Well, what’s with the grumpy face, beautiful? You should be on the floor dancin’ with me! Let’s go!” She answered the gesture by continuing to stay in her seat.

“Don’t you feel bad about being here at all?” Edge rased a eyebrow at the vision of loveliness in front of him, trying to actually understand the question.

“What do you mean? Feel bad that I’m at a rocking party? Not likely! That comment was the last straw for Rydia, and as he danced a little with the music and urged her to join him, she rose from her chair and walked past Edge, headed straight for the East Tower stairs.

“Hey babe, party’s over here!” Rydia stopped and turned around.

“Sorry, I got a phone call to make.” And with that she headed up the stairs.

”What’s a phone call?”, Edge wondered for a second before he started dancing with two women he saw watching him from across the room.


SRK Battle Poll II:10th place - Edge
SRK Battle Poll II: 5th place - Link


One of the reasons why the '24' threads are too good...

quote:
Originally posted by Azrael-sama

Not to mention the Triple P's New Ho is going to get herself into all sorts of shit. We didn't need to see Spinless Weasel Guy stuffing a gun into his bag to know that's a trap. You have to hand it to Shin Sherri, not only would she have recognized this blatantly obvious set-up, she would have RC'ed it into about 7 different traps of her own. By the time she was done with that guy, he'd be on welfare and PREGNANT with HER kids.

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ShinkuuR Posted: 04-03-2003 , 07:33 PM

New College Grad! Whoo!

Registered: May 2001
Location: Savannah Ga

Kicks.
Punches.
Stabs.
Fire.
Explosions.
Slams.
Lasers.
Guns.
Chains.
Blood.
Death.
Sadness.

These things were common in this fighting arena. Most people would go on to say that it’s enjoyable sight to see fighters give it their all in such a chaotic and brutal sport. But the fighters did not feel the same as they were fighting for their lives, for they knew that soon their time would be up, and by then it would be too late for mistakes. Too late for forgiveness. Too late for sorrow.

With all these thoughts in their heads combined with the chaos surrounding the area, it’s no wonder that the tiny but life threatening hazzard went unnoticed by the combatants. And by the time that one of them noticed the danger it was too late.

BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!

The explosion sent the four fighters soaring into the air and spiraling out of control, and as they was just beginning to accept the oblivion that awaited them, something finally stepped in and claimed dominion over them all.

Time.


“THE WINNER IS...SAMUS!!!”

“WHAT THE HELL!!!!!! Where did the Bomb-Omb come from???” Ryo and Robert screamed at the television screen in protest of the decision as a blonde woman, quite slender and beautiful, turned her head and smiled at the boys.

“Hey guys, don’t get mad if you can handle the competition!”

“What are you talking about King?? Link owned you all match! Look at that, 5 KO’s!” Ryo screamed at the woman.

“Yeah, but look Ryo!” Yuri smiled at her brother as she tapped her finger to the screen, pointing to Samus’s win counter. “9 wins versus Link. Matter of fact, ALL her wins were from you! You suck!!” The two women started laughing him in earnest.

“What can I say, Ryo? Charge Beam is too good!” King’s smile was incredibly sweet as she tapped him on the shoulder.

“Whatever...” Ryo responded angrily, but honestly he was glad that they was able to relax like this at all. His father decided to go to the mountains for a training trip for a couple of weeks, so he left Ryo, Robert, and Yuri to teach classes. And since Takuma didn’t like it when they played video games (said that they would ruin the fighting instincts), this was the only time that they could play Super Smash Bros. Melee in piece. It was especially interesting now that they have actually met and fought with most of the characters in the game, who were all real legends in their respective worlds and times.

“Man, Peach should’ve beaten you all...” Robert said, still trying to figure out why he was losing.

“No dear, Terry’s Higher Peach would’ve ***ed us all, yours sucks! But don’t feel bad Robert...you don’t suck as bad as Ryo!” Yuri said, obviously using some newfound slang that she must have found on one of those video game message boards.

“That’s IT!! Ryo, let’s team up.”

“Yeah! We’ll show them.”

“If you insist...but it won’t change anything.” King sighed as the four switched to team mode and started choosing characters. Suddenly the phone started ringing throughout the house.

“I got it.” Ryo stood up from the house and ran into the kitchen to get the phone, but there was no response from the other line. While he was trying to figure out what was going on, he heard ringing from his room. He walked across the hall and made a left into his room, and sure enough the cell phone on his dresser was ringing.

”This can’t be...” he thought as he picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hello there.”

“R..Rydia? That you?”

“Of course. I told you I would call!” Ryo couldn’t believe it. He didn’t think that he would ever see her again, but ever since that kiss they had, he was thinking about her more and more as the weeks passed. He became embarrassed as he noticed that his heart was beating faster.

“Where are you?” Ryo asked.

“The Kingdom of Baron.”

“Wha...”

“In my world.” Ryo could here her laugher through the phone. It pleased him greatly.

“But...how can you call me from your world?”

“Before I left, I had Samus modify my phone so I can call you from anywhere.”

Samus does everything right, doesn’t she... ” He murmured to no one in particular.

“What did you say?”

“I said ‘Samus treats everyone right, doesn’t she?’.”

“Yes. She’s a very nice person.”

“Hey Ryo!” Out the other ear, he could here Yuri’s voice screaming through the house. “Hurry up and get your butt kicked!” He rolled his eyes.

“COMING!!” He started walking to the living room, phone in hand. As he sat down he noticed that Yuri traded her Mewtwo for Roy and Robert switched to Yoshi. King still had Samus, as usual.

“Hey Ryo, who did you beat up for the cell phone money?” King giggled, not believing that he would actually go out and by one.

“This was given to me if you MUST know.”

“Who’s on the phone man?” Robert asked.

“Rydia.”

“Really? How is she?” While she was listening to the conversation, King realized that she didn’t know who that was.

“Yuri, who’s Rydia?” Robert heard the question, and after flashing an evil grin at his best friend he answered.

“That’s his girlfriend!!”

“WHAT?? She’s not my...”

“Ryo, what’s going on? You okay?” Rydia spoke through the phone, worried that something might have happened to him.

“Um, I’m fine! Everything’s okay...” At least he felt that way until he looked at King. She still had a smile on her face, but it didn’t look quite as pleasant as before.

“Oh Ryo finally has a girlfriend now! How...sweet!” He knew that he was in trouble as the tone of her voice rang through his ears. Ever since the two met there was an unspoken relationship between them, more than friendship but less than a romantic attachment. They both really cared for the other and they knew that it was a matter of time before they became a couple, but both were also shy and nervous about admitting their feelings. His feelings for Rydia were true enough, but he also thought that with her gone he wouldn’t have a chance. Now that she actually wanted to talk to him...

“I told you...it’s not like that.” He said nervously, feeling a small headache coming on as he picked up his controller and picked Young Link.

“And why would I care?” King asked, trying to pretend that she wasn’t affected by the situation. Ryo decided to cut his losses and stop arguing with her at the moment. Robert and Yuri started laughing inwardly as King turned to the TV and picked the Game and Watch stage. The four started to play as Ryo turned back to the cell phone.

“So, what’s going on? You don’t sound very happy.” Ryo asked Rydia. “Are things getting any better back home?”

“Not really. The reconstruction of my home was finished today, but it’s still bad here. I’m afraid that a civil war will erupt soon...”

“I see. I’m sorry I can’t help...” Samus’ Grappling Beam casually tossed Young Link out of the arena.

“I know...” Rydia looked at the midnight sky that surrounded her on top of the tower, wishing that she could just see him. “I wish everyone here wanted to help as much as you do.”

“What do you mean? I thought that your friends were helping you?”

“Well they are, but tonight they are having a party! How can they do that when there are still problems out there?”

“Rydia, there are times that people have to enjoy what life has to offer so they can remind themselves what they are fighting for. If they continually use their energy to save everyone, eventually you would lose focus and burn yourself out. Then you can’t save anyone.”

Rydia let his words swim around her head and her heart for a bit.

“You’re probably right. I guess I’m just so tired from fighting that I want it to be over as soon as possible.”

As Young Link started his bomb techniques against the three, Ryo thought of a idea. Although it could potentially get him into a lot of trouble, he decided it was just what Rydia needed.

“When’s the last time you had a vacation?”


SRK Battle Poll II:10th place - Edge
SRK Battle Poll II: 5th place - Link


One of the reasons why the '24' threads are too good...

quote:
Originally posted by Azrael-sama

Not to mention the Triple P's New Ho is going to get herself into all sorts of shit. We didn't need to see Spinless Weasel Guy stuffing a gun into his bag to know that's a trap. You have to hand it to Shin Sherri, not only would she have recognized this blatantly obvious set-up, she would have RC'ed it into about 7 different traps of her own. By the time she was done with that guy, he'd be on welfare and PREGNANT with HER kids.

Last edited by ShinkuuR on 04-03-2003 at 07:35 PM

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ShinkuuR Posted: 04-03-2003 , 07:40 PM

New College Grad! Whoo!

Registered: May 2001
Location: Savannah Ga

“It didn’t work?”

“Well, all of the data worked itself out...maybe it’s taking a longer time than we thought...?”

“But it’s been 15 minutes. Maybe the subject was too injured to survive the process?”

“I told you all that it was a bad idea to use a human for the first subject. Especially one this damaged.”

“Oh well. At least we obtained some samples while he was still alive. We could always try it again on some fresher subjects.”

“Nonsense.” Wesker said, joining the five scientists who were looking inside the containment unit that housed the body of Steve Burnside. They just injected him with the O-Virus after spending all day gathering samples of the T-Veronica in Steve’s body, and making sure that the dosage was correct for the body’s genetic content. The dosage didn’t seem to work however, as after fifteen minutes his body was still dead to the world. “We needed a subject with enough brain capacity and physical stability to withstand the process. Have patience, my friends. Even Alexia took fifteen years for the T-Veronica to adapt to the...”

His words stopped dead in his tracks as Steve’s eyes opened. As the scientists cheered their incredible accomplishment, Wesker could only stare in horror as he realized that the blood red eyes were not the same eyes of the host. They were something else...something familiar...and something he never thought he would see again.

This can’t... As if to dispel any lingering doubt Wesker had in his mind, Steve flashed a devilish smile at the shaken scientist.

Security!! Get here...!

His warning came too late.

In a flash the glass containment unit broke, allowing Steve to walk through. His body was covered in a reddish hue, and his face looked like a pure testament of a demon in itself. None of the scientist had anytime to reach as the demon pushed his arm forward, spreading a wave of energy that picked up everyone in the room and slammed them into the wall so hard that no one survived except Wesker. Steve walked up towards the fallen man, who was still barely conscious, and picked him up by the neck with his left hand.

“S...Sho...how did...” Steve Burnside, now being controlled Sho’s consciousness, started slapping Wesker in the face lightly.

“You pathetic creatures are all the same. You always want to enjoy the good stuff without thinking of the consequences. No manners at all...” Sho shook his head disapprovingly, obviously playing with his prey before he pounces on it. “...but at least you were nice enough to provide me with another souvenir.”

Before Wesker could began to wonder what he meant, Sho thrust his hand inside his prey’s right eye and savagely tore it from its socket. And, like the last time, the pain and shock drove Wesker to collapse. And also like the last time, Sho tossed the body through the air with a small “Hmmp”. He then checked out his new body and assessed his strength, seemly unaware of the ear-wrecking sirens and multitude of footsteps that were rapidly approaching.

“Ugh. I wouldn’t even give this body to my pet. Oh well, guess it’s time to go shopping!” He started to walk out the door slowly after taking a second to admire his work. “And I know just what to buy.”


“What the hell is going on?” The doctor thought as he finally finished closing down his lab for the night. Emergencies like this were commonplace here, but he had never seen so many guards head towards the lab before. He didn’t like where this was going, so after grabbing his briefcase he head out of the lab and entered the hall. As he went up the steps and turned the corner he came face to face with a person who was floating in air, surrounded with a red haze, and a smile that would haunt him for the rest of his days.

”This is definitely not normal.” He thought before everything around him went black.

Then he was no more.


SRK Battle Poll II:10th place - Edge
SRK Battle Poll II: 5th place - Link


One of the reasons why the '24' threads are too good...

quote:
Originally posted by Azrael-sama

Not to mention the Triple P's New Ho is going to get herself into all sorts of shit. We didn't need to see Spinless Weasel Guy stuffing a gun into his bag to know that's a trap. You have to hand it to Shin Sherri, not only would she have recognized this blatantly obvious set-up, she would have RC'ed it into about 7 different traps of her own. By the time she was done with that guy, he'd be on welfare and PREGNANT with HER kids.

Last edited by ShinkuuR on 04-03-2003 at 08:24 PM

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