Shinjuku.
I can't say I have any fond memories of this place. But it's home, nonetheless.
I've sweat blood and tears here. They've stained the floors and smeared the walls.
My heart screamed here. Echoed down the streets; ripped out so many times with each death that I witnessed. Trampled on every time it's not my own.
Shinjuku is my home. Well… even if it wasn't, I couldn't bring myself to leave here. My soul is weaved too deep into the tragedy that surrounds me. And that will be my undoing… my connection to this place.
I am destined to die here. Like my friends had.
~~~~~~
Sabel
Prologue: How Far Gone
By Little Ucchan
~~~~~~
"You're not considering that idiotic plan, are you?"
They were standing on top of the Tocho, the 48-story twin towers that served as the capital's City Hall. Steel and glass flanked them on either side, one of the few monumental skyscrapers that still remained, and from their vantage point, on the bridge that adjoined both towers, they could see all of Tokyo, the desolate city that it was.
He smirked, though the topic nor the scenery were anything to smile at. It exasperated his companion.
"Are you mad?" He tossed his head to the side irritably, blue locks jerking at the movement. "Or just suicidal?"
"Maybe a little bit of both."
"Stop joking around," he snapped as the other man fought back a chuckle. He's been acting so strange as of late. He folded his arms over his chest, regarding the tall blonde sitting on the ledge, so calm and graceful. No one would know that the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. No one would know that he had the guilt of his friends' deaths eating away at his soul. No… All you'd see was a mellow man that could find humor in the strangest of situations. How much he's changed from the samurai warrior I met so many years ago…
Though one thing remained the same.
He was still as reckless as ever.
"It'll be dangerous," he tried again. Maybe this time he'd be able to sway the swordsman's decision. "Chances of getting there unnoticed are slim. They'll find you before—"
"I know."
He stopped, startled for a moment before he shook his head. "You really do have a death wish."
"Not really!" the other man laughed, brushing back his bangs in an unconscious gesture. "But, you've got to admit… They've got us cornered. We can't possibly defeat them now. In fact," he laughed again. "we're as good as dead."
"Thank you for that bit of optimism," he gritted, resisting the urge to add 'baka' at the end of his sentence. He didn't need to hear that kind of talk. Not now, when it was so close to the truth. We can't win.
He gave a snort, grudgingly resigning to his fate. Guess there's no use lying to myself anymore.
"You're right. Our situation is hopeless," he admitted. "But does it have to come down to this? Sneaking into the Nether realm to use a time gate that isn't guaranteed to work? And why you? I should be the one going."
It was the other man's turn to snort, flicking his ponytail over his shoulder. "You haven't aged, Cale. The others will mistake you for your younger self, trying to mess with their heads. Besides," and with this, he gave the man a mocking grin, "I wouldn't want to put them through the pain of dealing with two Warlords of Darkness."
"Ha! As if seeing your ugly mug would put them at ease!"
His grin only widened, turning back to his vigil over the city. "They won't know it's me."
At his words, Cale gave the blonde a thorough look, dark eyes searching for a flaw to his claim, but found none. He had grown in the twelve years since the first demon wave. And it wasn't just his signature haircut that had changed.
They won't recognize him. If he plays his part right, they won't suspect a thing.
"What about the chibi?"
There was no reply. Cale's eyebrows scrunched down into a scowl. "You're not even going to say goodbye?"
The silence continued, though the air was anything but quiet. It thickened with the man's torn emotions. His eyes, however, remained the steeled hue of resolve.
He couldn't say it. He couldn't see her to go say it. He'd lose his nerve if he did.
"She'll be upset," Cale reminded him.
"I know."
Another pause, then… "Right. I understand."
"Take care of her," was all he said as he got ready to leave, pulling the shoulder strap of his bag over his head and securing his grandfather's sword at his waist.
"I will." He watched as the last of the legendary Ronin warriors donned his sub armor, perhaps for the last time. "And Sage."
The man turned, instinct reacting quickly to catch the armor orb Cale had thrown at him. He gazed at the dark marble for a second before turning back to his former enemy. A confident smirk was painted on his tanned face. "It's been fun. I wish you the best of luck, my friend."
After a moment spent gazing back at him, studying his features, keeping them fresh in his memory, Sage nodded his sentiment, and leaped down from the building.
Author's Note:
^^;; I suspect that some of you might be angry with me, starting a new fic and all when I should be working on RWU. But I just had to write this. -_- So it'd stop jumping around in my head and interfering with my other work. ^^;; Don't worry! It's not an epic. So I might actually finish this one! Ahh! My first completed fic. Oh how I dream…
On a more educational note, the Tocho (or Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office) is a real building in West Shinjuku. If any of you have watched Message, the building Suzunagi first appears on is the Tocho.
Leave a review!! Even if it is to tell me to start working on RWU. ^^;;