You Always Have a Choice
Chapter 1: An Untimely Meeting
Full Summary: She wasn't supposed to happen, neither was he. Her light could save him, his darkness could utterly destroy her. What's the difference? Born from a forbidden love, she was swept away and strategically placed in Ningenkai; her existence known to none but two. He was cast away from his world and named outcast by everyone; the forbidden child. She was carefully cared for, every need given without influencing her childhood. He was forced to fend for himself, a fate almost worst than death. She could only offer him love, he could only offer pain. Now her destiny calls and he must save her before she falls into darkness. The only question is: Will he face his fears and finally be able to love and protect her? Or will he be too late.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of the other Original Characters. I do however own Aya Shikon.
So you know:
"Regular Speech"
'Thinking'
"Talking Telepathically"
Dream or Flashback
Song
(Shadowed Replica speaking)
Japanese Translations (sorry if I'm wrong about anything)
Ningenkai - Human world
Renkai - Spirit world
Makai - Demon World
Youkai - Demon
Baka - fool/idiot
Onna - girl/woman
Ohayou - Hello
Arigato - Thank you
Konichiwa - How are you/ form of greeting
-kun, -dono, -chan - forms of endearment/respect
-san - added to show respect and higher authority
-sama - added for lords and ladies of royal or high power dominance
Her muscles tightened in strain as her tiny feet pounded the ground tirelessly. She was near to the point of exhaustion but her pursuer was fast, faster than her most likely. And she couldn't stop lest he catch her. Breathing was hard to do now; lungs were beginning to quiver for the lack of much needed oxygen. She darted past a tree and barely jumped in time to avoid being taken down. Every now and then she would turn and flick her wrists, the path exploding in front of him to slow him down slightly before he could pick up the pace again. This was the only way she was able to stay ahead of him. If only she could hit him!
But suddenly, her foot caught on a vine, actually it was more like a vine grabbed her foot and hauled her down because she was 100 positive it hadn't been there a moment ago! She growled in frustration as she fell and upon contact with the ground, all the precious oxygen was flushed from her starving lungs.
She rolled down the bit of the hill and hit another tree with such force that it snapped in two and she cried out painfully feeling a rib or five crack and brake under such impacted force. A whimper rolled from her blood red lips as she staggered to get up.
He tackled her before she could get up and pinned her lithe little body down onto the ground. His katana was at her neck in an instant. But what surprised her most was that, instead of the sharp piercing blade wreaking havoc at her neck, she felt warm-almost burning hot-lips ascend on her own blood red ones.
Her eyes snapped open before fluttering close in a dreamy state. She gave a content sigh and let the man take control of the kiss, which became almost violent and bruising, though in a way, very gentle and loving.
Eyes opened once more as his lips left hers and she gazed into two very deep crimson, blood red eyes and saw the blunt end of the katana connect with her temple harshly.
Aya Shikon sat up straight in her bed. She gave a yawn and stretched leisurely before throwing her legs to the side. She stood and moved toward the large vanity and mirror.
Her long silver hair fell down to her hips perfectly straight. Natural streaks of deep purple were strewn evenly throughout. As she looked into the mirror, she could see her reflection perfectly.
Her face is flawless, blemish-free, and slightly tanned along with the rest of her body. Her lips are a luscious blood red and full. Her nose is cute and small –or so she's been told.
The most distinguishing feature on her face though, are her eyes. The left eye is a blood red whilst the right is a brilliant gold. Most people find her striking beauty and two-tone eyes quite unnerving. But she doesn't mind.
Her body is lean and well toned. Though she isn't muscular, she can easily protect herself in a fight. The only thing she hates about her body though, is the fact that she stands at an incredible 4 foot 8. –Note sarcasm.–
It's aggravating really. Being so short means that it is hard to find pants that fit you correctly and finding a boyfriend that doesn't tower over you is nearly impossible! But she doesn't mind that fact, she's so light, she is carried easily.
She sighed and turned from the mirror to her dresser. She pulled out a black bra from a favorite American store; Victoria's Secret. She pulled out matching panties and pulled them on quickly. She moved to her closet and gave her wardrobe a once over before deciding on a red, long-sleeve shirt that had purple and white stripes running horizontally. She also pulled on a faded pair of tight, boot-cut jeans. She then slipped her feet into some stockings before stepping into a pair of fashionable white boots. Next came her black coat with a faux fur lining. It was a bit large on her but that's how she liked it!
She stepped down the stairs and looked around the empty house before sighing. She opened the door, deciding to skip breakfast-seeing as she lost her appetite-and walked out onto a snowy landscape. She was glad today is Friday, that means she gets to wear whatever she wants instead of that ugly, too-short black skirt and the too-tight pink shirt with those ugly pink and black stockings and those horrible black dress shoes!
Aya could hardly wait. This was her last day of school until Christmas break! She would be free for a whole month! She was so happy that she thought of skipping to school; which would be really weird of her.
Following along the path, her normal way to school, she stopped at her best friend's house and knocked lightly on the door. It opened almost immediately and a red-headed woman with kind green eyes stared down at her. She held a brilliant smile and encompassed the small girl into a tight hug.
Her arms wrapped around the woman and waited until she was set down. "Hello Shiori-san (so sue me! I don't know what her real name is!), is Shuichi ready yet?"
Shiori shook her head slightly before ushering her son's best friend inside the house quickly. She snapped the door close before turning on the girl. "He should be ready in about ten minutes. Would you like some strawberry pancakes?" The kind woman asked so politely.
Aya's eyes lit up and her stomach growled impatiently. "Arigato! I would love some!" She all but raced into the room and grabbed a few pancakes before consuming them quickly.
Shuichi had finally decided to make his appearance and smiled at her friend. "Konichiwa Aya-chan." He said affectionately as he looked at the tiny girl.
Aya had finished with the pancakes ages ago and jumped up and darted outside. "Arigato Shiori-san! The pancakes were delicious! C'mon Suichi! Let's get a move on and get this day over with!" With that Aya disappeared down the walk, her boots lightly crunching in the snow.
Shuichi called a goodbye to his mother and it was repeated towards him as the door shut with a slight 'snap'. Silence ensued between the pair, but it was a comfortable silence, for the moment.
The pair reached the school grounds and instantly, Aya was only a few inches from Shuichi's body and she began to talk animatedly with a dazzling smile. He listened to her and answered all her questions and laughed at her innocent jokes.
Girls from within the school's courtyard glared angry, jealous glares filled with hate and malice towards the girl that had Shuichi's attentions. It was like this every damn day and they all hated it, hated her. But Shuichi seemed to like her too and they couldn't do anything to their idol. The Shuichi Minamino fan club was hysterical with disbelief and anger.
Aya laughed lightly as she received the glares and ignored them. "Shuichi, maybe you should give one of them a chance." She laughed.
Shuichi shuddered and then laughed as well. "I think I'd rather keep my hair and clothes to myself." He joked.
As they reached the school, they went their separate ways, him being in different classes than her. The day was rather uneventful and she finally made it to lunch. Time seemed to be dragging on forever as Aya stored her books in her locker and walked outside into the falling snowflakes. Several landed on her eyelashes and she blinked them away. A pure, innocent smile lit her face as she gave a mirthful laugh.
Shuichi smiled at Aya and joined her out in the snow. She looked so beautiful with the white snow dotting her tanned skin. She laughed joyfully in his arms as he hugged her cool body to his warm one. He couldn't let her get sick.
They sat on a bench and watched as the snowflakes fell from heaven. There was an unspoken agreement between the two persons. Though it seemed on the outside, the two were not in love and not in any relationship with the exception of a strong, unbreakable friendship of love between two siblings. But this outward façade of joyful, tender love was just to keep poor Shuichi's fan club at bay and-secretly-to keep the men away from his little sister-as he loved to call her.
Shuichi's eyes flashed golden for a second before dissipating into the emerald once more. Yoko felt this way as well. When the demon had first laid eyes on the little girl, he had felt an urgent need to guide her, to protect her, to guard her from any harm, and to love her like a sister. She was precious to him and he would never let her from his watchful gaze for long. Only Shuichi knew of the fierce bond that held the beautiful Aya and Yoko together as well as the unbreakable bond of brother-sister friendship they shared between Shuichi and Aya.
Aya gave a small soft sigh that was almost inaudible. But Shuichi's demonic hearing picked it up and he turned to look at her, pulling her tiny body against his in a hug and tucking her head under his chin. "What is wrong Aya?"
Aya sighed and gave him a half-hearted grin. "You are way too observant for your own good Shuichi-kun." She added the surname to tick him off. He didn't like it, not one bit!
But Shuichi chose to ignore that and smiled graciously. "It is a gift I suppose." He said with a bitter laugh. "Now tell me, what troubles you?"
The small girl sighed before settling herself next to him. "I had a dream, a strange dream."
"Go on." A simple command from the red head.
Aya nodded before continuing with her tale, "I was running, from someone. I can't remember his face clearly, except for red; crimson red eyes, almost like my left eye." She paused to take a breath. "As I was running, a vine grabbed my foot and I was tackled by the man, I could slightly see his face between the tangles of my hair. His skin was tanned and his features sharp, his eyes were cold and so red. He looked so feral at the moment that I felt myself recoiling in terror as the katana was placed at my throat; it drew blood only slightly before his lips crashed against mine and I woke up." She said this quite simply to her best friend, not noticing the growl that escaped his throat lightly.
Shuichi pulled himself together and pushed Yoko back before giving a slight laugh. "I'm sure it was just a wild dream that came from some movie or something you read. Don't worry, you'll be fine."
Aya nodded and smiled up at her almost-brother before nuzzling her face into his bicep. He always knew exactly what to say to make her feel better. "Yeah, you're probably right." Suddenly, she had this feeling of being watched and she looked around.
"What is it?" Shuichi asked quietly.
"I-I don't know. It feels as though I'm being watched," She paused to take a deep breath and smile at Shuichi. "But I'm probably just being paranoid. We should go inside before we freeze to death and become popsicles," She laughed as she trailed towards the door. With a glance over her shoulder, she noticed her favorite red-headed person wasn't coming. "Are you coming Shuichi?"
Shuichi turned towards her. He gave a reassuring smile before looking out towards the trees. Two crimson eyes stared at him from a particularly large oak tree and he nodded to the figure. "Actually, I've got to do something so I'll meet you after school okay?"
She cast a worried glance towards him and then up at the trees; but she saw nothing and so nodded. He might need some space or time to think and she didn't want to suffocate him, besides, she couldn't be late to her class. "Okay, see you then!" With that, she disappeared into the warmth of the school and dashed to her class.
The day continued to be very uneventful and completely boring. Aya aced all her tests, had fun with the few gal friends that didn't hate her for being around Shuichi all the time and flirted with some cute guys. All in all, it was fun but it could have been better.
Sometimes, Aya get's that feeling that she's missing out on something very important. Whatever it is involves her and yet she has no clue what it could be. But every time she tries to think harder on the subject, she is always interrupted by something! This time, it was the final bell of the school day which signaled the Christmas and New Year's break! No more school for THREE WEEKS!
Aya skipped happily to her locker and put away the last of her books and closed the locker; no homework either! A smile graced her features as she passed by the growing crowd of students near the door and strode toward Shuichi's locker.
He wasn't there.
That's weird, Shuichi is always there! Panic flooded Aya's mind but she quickly subdued it. She was sure he would have told her if he had to leave! Right? So she was only over reacting and should probably just start on her way home.
About halfway home, Aya stopped to look around. She was getting that feeling of being watched again and this time it made her skin crawl. So she decided to pick up the pace and get home quicker. But now she could hear the crunch of footfalls in the snow. She whirled around in a panic but saw no one. A lump formed in her throat as she turned around once more to face the way home.
But, standing not four feet in front of her was a large hulking figure that reeked of a foul odor she couldn't nor wouldn't want to name. It stood almost eight feet tall and had large muscular arms. His skin was a sickly green color and his eyes were black, completely black. Large fangs protruded from the demon's mouth and acid drooled from its mouth.
Aya didn't give herself time to figure out anything else about it. She turned on her heel and high-tailed it out of there. She fought back a scream as she felt the earth quake around her from the heavy pounding footfalls of the creature. As she ran, she realized she couldn't take the thing into town-what if it hurt someone? So she turned down the left road that would take her towards the forest. Unfortunately, she didn't see the patch of ice that had formed on the walkway and as soon as her tiny foot touched the slick ground, she slipped and was sent sprawling as her body slid down the walkway; a small scream worked its way up from her throat.
The ugly monster was catching up to her and smirked in cruel satisfaction as she fell and slid a little ways away from it. The huge feet lumbered across the ground, cracking the ice in the process, as its beefy hand swung forward. He easily snatched the girl from the ground and brought her struggling body up wards in triumph.
"Help, somebody help! Please, anybody!" Aya screamed over and over again until the monster began to shake her. She had to clutch onto his burly hand to keep from snapping her neck.
The beast smirked and stopped shaking her only to turn towards the deeper and darker part of the forest. His heavy footfalls crunched loudly in the snow. The foul odor was choking Aya as she struggled within his grasp.
"Please, let me go!" She tried to free herself but the beast was just too strong.
Suddenly, there was a sickening crack and the sound of metal on bone. The beast gave a loud howl of pain or rage, it was hard to identify which, and she began to fall towards the ground. But something or someone rather, pulled her from its grasp just in time. She expected to land painfully on the ground but was surprised to find herself in the strong arms of a man with striking, almost familiar crimson red eyes.
Aya's attention was quickly averted from the man who was grasping her safely in his arms to the beast that was suddenly bounding their way; his large feet sending little quakes through the ground. "Run, he's going to crush us!"
The man only smirked at her and jumped over the ogre-looking fiend and landed safely on the other side. This little leap had caused Aya's fingers to fist in his shirt and her head was buried deep into his chest as her lithe little body trembled violently in fear.
"Onna, I do not run," The man stated simply before setting her down onto her feet. He brandished his katana and took an offensive stance.
Aya felt her jaw drop at the apparent stupidity. He was going to take on that big hulking creature with a dinky little piece of steel. It was like using a toothpick as a spear. "Are you nuts?" Aya shrieked at him and then felt her breathing almost stop. There was another coming up behind the man. "There's another one!"
The man growled and grabbed her before the other beast could get a hold of her. "Baka onna, if you had not distracted me, there would only be one now." He was very irritated at the foolish girl. She could have just been killed. He was also angry at himself for not sensing the other one coming up.
Instead of being angry for being insulted she glared at him. "Well excuse me for trying to help you!" She snarled before walking out into the open.
"What are you doing?!" The man cried incredulously.
"Distracting them, what the hell does it look like?" She waved her hands at the two beasts. "Hey ugly, over here! Yeah, you too barf-for-brains. You want me?-come and get me!" She took off and was a bit frightened to hear and feel the vibrations of the monsters coming after her. 'Well,' she thought, 'That's what I was hoping for, right?'
What she hadn't planned on was for them to be so fast. She looked back just in time to see the hand swiping for her and dodged the hefty hand. But even though she dodged one injury, she literally fell into another. Blood trickled out of the new cuts and scratches that she received from the thorn bush as she had fallen shoulder-first into it. A yelp escaped her lips when she had to yank her wrist free from a thorny grasp. Her skin was torn badly around her left wrist and she cradled it against her body; not really caring the fact that blood was seeping into her clothes.
Moments later, she heard a clang of metal on what sounded like metal. She stumbled out into the open to see one beast lying dead-the one that had initially grabbed her-lying dead not too far from her current location.
She looked up to see the man was trying to fend off the claws of the second creature. He was doing quite admirably until the second hand came down and took a swipe at his side. This sent him sailing into a tree and she shuddered upon hearing a crack; she wasn't sure if it was his body or the tree but she hoped for the latter.
While watching this happen, she didn't seem to notice the large monster growing near quite fast. She only had a moments notice before a green hand appeared in her peripheral vision. Instinctively, she threw up her hands to shield her from the oncoming attack, but it never came.
After what seemed forever, she peaked through her splayed fingers to see that the monster was right there! She jumped back and gave a cry of surprise. She was expecting it to grab her, but when it didn't she looked up once more to see it wasn't moving. Her mouth hung open in confusion. The thing was…frozen? "How?" It was all she could think to say.
The man appeared at her side and she jumped slightly. "How did you," she pointed to the first beast, "And then you," she pointed to her side, "But you were over there…" She trailed off as she looked back at the beast that was apparently frozen. "What the hell is going on here?"
"Hn. What did you do?" The man inquired while flicking his blade swiftly to rid it of the crimson liquid.
Aya would have laughed at this point because she thought it was completely preposterous and down right fantasy-come-to-life. But seeing as this was all happening-she discovered after a harsh pinch to the skin-and that she was not hallucinating. "I didn't do anything."
She was suddenly pinned down to the ground, his katana at her delicate neck. "Don't' lie to me onna. What did you do to stop that demon?" His eyes never left hers.
Confusion was bright in her two-tone eyes. She was afraid of this man, he had killed one of those beasts, his katana was now pressed harshly against the delicate skin of her throat, and he didn't seem to be too friendly. But instead of letting her anger build up, at the sight of his blood her nature for helping everyone kicked in.
"You're bleeding; you need to see a doctor." Aya completely ignored the blade at her throat and pushed it aside with her hand. She forced him back-God only knows how-and tore the bottom of her button-up school blouse and dabbed at his side where the monster's claws had taken refuge. She tore an arm cuff off and wrapped it around his arm and pressed on it to try and stop the bleeding. "I'm sorry; I've only taken first aid so I can't do anything for your side except apply pressure to it." She talked futilely to him to try and calm him down even though he already was.
He was silent, and the silence is what made her look up into his glittering red eyes. Her skin now tingled from where she touched him and she could almost feel the loneliness and grief coming off him in waves. It broke her heart and a single tear slid down her cheek. "Thank you," Aya whispered, "For helping me, for protecting me… for saving me."
If there had been and emotion in his eyes to begin with, it was gone now as a smirk formed upon his lips. "Hn." That was all he said before letting his fist connect with her temple. He caught her as she fell unconscious into his arms.
He picked her up and was surprised to feel no pain in his arms or side. He chanced a glance and noticed there was no blood; anywhere! The only thing that was tainted red were the two strips of cloth she had torn from her blouse. His skin, where there had once been an ugly gash and a bit of muscle and bone showing, was now flawless-completely perfect. There wasn't any remainder of a scar or that there had ever been a wound.
The man looked down at her in surprise, suspicion, and most of all-curiosity. "What did you do?" With that, he disappeared from the forest, completely oblivious to the demon that was now moving about and retreating-with his dead accomplice's body-into the dark forest.
How did you like the first chapter? It took me a couple days to figure out how to write it. Plus my internet is being really slow and pissing me off. So forgive if the next chapter isn't out for a few days. It might be out later today or even tomorrow since I'm on crutches but that all depends.
Also, if any of my Japanese spellings are wrong or you know the correct way to interpret something, please do NOT hesitate to tell me. But be kind about it as flaming will be ignored and deleted. Thank you all, feel free to give me suggestions or whatever.
I might even give you a special little something at the beginning of a chapter!
Please rate and review. I would very much like that and now I think it's time to say:
Arigato and Sayonara!
-Shadowed Replica