Somewhere in Between
by mystasia (Jen)
Prologue: Moving Legends
Her raven hair whipped around her as she ran away from death's pursuit. Her
sapphire violet eyes were wild with fear and determination. Heading deeper into
the forest, she looked back to see her stalker advancing closer to her. Fear
gripped her heart as she ran into a small clearing and found nowhere else to go.
She looked sharply around her, holding her shuriken in a position to attack. He
came out of nowhere and surrounded her using her ancestor's water flowing
technique. His twin blades glittered in the moonlight as he surrounded her.
Rei watched her beloved surround her, holding the cloak tighter around her body,
trying to keep warm from the increasing cold his technique was causing. "Jun.
Onegai, Jun listen to me. Onegai? Don't do this…"
Her pleading voice seemed to reach him as he lowered his kodachis; his cobalt
eyes were hidden by his raven black bangs. She reached out to him, smiling as
she placed her hand on his cheek. "Jun…"
The snow fell around the young couple as they stayed in the little moment. Jun
felt the presence take over him again, as the iciness set on his heart again.
"Rei… run!"
Rei's eyes widened. "Iie! Jun fight it! You have to! ONEGAI!!"
He pushed her away, hoping to give her a head start before he would once again
become the cold-blooded assassin from hell. Rei's eyes widened again when she
barely managed to avoid Jun's kodachis. "Jun!! STOP!!!"
He ignored her and continued to attack her. Rei could still feel her heart
beating fast as she dodged. I can't go on forever. Jun…
Rei felt the darkness once again take over her for this one last time, and she
was strengthened, but she lost conscious in the darkness. She and Jun exchanged
attacks again and again. This went on until finally, Jun's kodachis hit her
heart and at the exact same moment her shuriken hit his. They fell into each
other's embrace, dying together. Their blood covered the virgin snow around them
as they uttered their last words. "…ai..aishiteru."
~*~
'Ne, Omasu. Where's Jiya?'
Faster, faster, faster. The mantra repeated itself inside her mind as her legs
carried her faster and faster towards her destination.
'He's...Aoshi-sama...'
Misao's mind, too occupied with her thoughts did not register the small rock,
until she tripped over it. Gasping as she tumbled down, Misao thrust her arms
out to push herself back upwards, and continued running, her heart hoping
against all hope that she would not be too late.
'Where?'
'The old Oniwabanshuu lookout in the mountains.'
In the distance, Misao could see the outline of the small building, and running
quicker than she ever had, with renewed energy she pushed forward. Throwing the
door open, only to see her beloved mentor's twin blades reflected by the light
as it struck her Jiya. Time slowed, then stopped as her body remained unmoving,
not even flinching when Okina's blood struck her, not even when the one person
she loved most, turned to her with that gleam in his icy eyes. She remained this
way until he took his first step towards her, his kodachis still drawn, and
instinctively her hand went to her kunai, hidden in her clothes, as she took a
step back. He continued walking towards her, then past her, without any
acknowledgment of her, and even then she moved mechanically, the only thing that
she could utter was, "Doushite?"
And she received no answer, but only the pause in his stride, and his cold
gaze on her back.
"Doushite?! Aoshi-sama, why?" She whipped around, her eyes full of tears as she
screamed, wanting a reason, anything for why he abandoned her long ago, why he
had betrayed her now. He turned his back to her and continued, calling coldly
over his shoulder. "Don't ever let me see your face again."
And it wasn't until he disappeared through the trees did she collapse, and
Makimachi Misao did the one thing she rarely ever did, she let herself cry.
Aoshi-sama...why? Misao wept, her hoarse sobs echoing through the forest,
reaching Aoshi's ears, causing him to stop, and he shut his eyes against the
sound, steeling his heart even more as he left behind a broken woman.
~*~
Somewhere in between these two worlds, a lone figure looked upon these scenes
with tears running down her cheeks, her silvery eyes taking in the heartache.
"Hikari-sama?" Two soft voices called from behind her, and the beautiful goddess
turned around to look at her two trusted servants. The two individuals, High
Priest and Priestess of her temple stood together, looks of worry etched across
their features. Straightening, she grimly dismissed their concern with a wave of
her hand. "I am fine. But I'm afraid we do not have long. We have much to do
before the moon cycle ends."
The female stepped forward, surprised. "You mean...?"
Hikari nodded solemnly, "Hai, the legend has begun to move. We have until the
moon cycle ends before the stars align. We must act quickly..." She paused
before adding quietly, "...both worlds depend on this."
tbc...(?)
**Author's Notes** Minna! Ohayo! I've missed you guys! If some of you remember way back when, I started a fic called, From Amidst the Winter's Snow. Well, I'm taking the concept I had before, and adding a bit more to it. Warning: This fic is going to be a bit angsty, confusing, and supernatural. Anyone interested on me continuing?