A/N: Sorry I took so long to update. And I had to make one of my long time friends a birthday gift. All I ask is that you all take the time to read the lyrics! They are very essential to the plot. So, what that means is that if you skip over them, this whole chapter may not make any sense at all! Further more, these lyrics aren't easy to understand, so that is where the story comes in. I hope you all enjoy!
Open up my eyes,
Saving what's been broken.
Wasting all this time…
Now I know you'll never see,
This side of you that I know.
It's been killing me far too long.
It's such a long way down from here.
All this time I've waited!
Never seemed to change, your mind,
I'm pleading, do not be afraid.
Has all our time been wasted?
Sinking with each step.
Scared of what might be next.
For me in this game we've played for so long.
My instincts disappear.
The only voice I hear,
Is telling me to run away from here!
All this time I've waited!
Never seemed to change, your mind,
I'm pleading, do not be afraid.
Has all our time been wasted?
No one left to blame.
Don't shut me out.
Don't shut me out and,
Think it'll be okay.
I'll take this knife and,
Bury it today!
All this time I've waited!
Never seemed to change, your mind,
I'm pleading, do not be afraid.
Has all our time been wasted?
No one left to blame.
Don't shut me out.
Challenge Three: Waiting
She stood there, hands tied up in a thick durable rope tightly behind her back. She gritted her teeth wildly as her head hung down. She was thinking. Her mind was lost in absolute thought. The more she contemplatated, the angrier she had become. Her long brilliant blonde hair folded around her feet as two rather bulk men walked her towards a lightly lit hallway. Her weapons were taken, and anything she could of turned into a weapon was taken also. She was just thinking… thinking and waiting. She was thinking of how to murder him when she saw him. She reviled him. He was such a disgraceful human, wasted to be made from God's hands. Yet, she cherished him.
She loathed him.
But she treasured him for abhorring him.
More importantly, she hated herself for loving him.
The woman lifted her head with the most slyest smirk she could muster. Her luscious lips curled with an utmost tenacity. Today, it would al be over. Today would be his last day. And they could finally live together. They could live together in the shadowy lowest point of hell. She would make sure of it. The woman stopped walking, and in response to her action, the two men looked suspiciously at her. The men were armored carefully. They were equipped with grenades, guns and a variety of swords. Surely they didn't think a woman was such a threat? Especially a woman with no means of attack. … Or so they thought.
"Come on wrench, we do not have all day. The superior hasn't always been one to wait." snarled the man on the left side of the blonde woman. The man on the right side of the woman looked a bit terrified of the woman sudden rebellion. The woman chuckled sadistically as she slowly brought her gaze up at the man on her right. This was going to be so much fun. With one twitch of the wrist, the woman's hands busted out of the rope. The man on the left quickly fired a round of shots toward the woman, while the squeamish one ran towards the door placed on the far end of the hall.
"Typical intimidating ass scum!" The woman exclaimed while barely dodging the onslaught of bullets. She had to think of something, and fast. The woman had only one option as she gazed upon her feet. Hesitantly, she took off her latex boot and through it at the man's forehead. Everything grew silent as the boot slipped onto the floor. The woman and the man both looked confused at the boot.
"What the…"
Before the man even got to finish his sentence, the woman's bare foot connected with his face, sending him tumbling a great distance away from her. The man crashed against the hall's wall, making a great big pattern imprint in the wall. The woman cracked her fists as she collected her shoe. She looked ahead of her, considering the possibility that the enemy could already have set an ambush.
She would take that chance, for she was no ordinary woman. No, this woman had a name. A name that would soon be known as the killer of the caption of the Yevon solders.
"My name is Sophia, and I am going to beat holy hell into everything here!" Sophia cried as she ran enthusiastically towards the door.
"I am an Al-Bhed survivor, and a good one at that! I killed at least two people before, and have been pissed to where I could not even see straight! Don't take me lightly!" Sophia chanted, as if she was reciting a battle cry. With out warning, Sophia busted into the room, her jaw dropping at what she saw. The room was bare. No one, or anything was in it. Sophia grunted as she paced slowly around the room. Something wasn't right.
Sophia stumped her foot into the floor and stuck out her chest. " You have got five seconds before I start blowing things sky high… and if I do that, I will not be a happy camper…"
Sophia threw her hand into the air in response to no reply. "Alright… here we go!"
Loud explosions filled Sophia's ears as she started to light thing s up on fire, smiling immorality as she did it. The sight of the flames pleased the Al-Bhed woman. Her jade-green eyes lit up with the red vivid light of the fire. Suddenly, the fire disappeared completely, making Sophia cringe with bewilderment. She quickly collected herself as she thought for a second. This was it. This had to be the work of him. Suddenly, the air around Sophia got really dense. Chains wrapped around Sophia's arms, leaving her totally defenseless. Sophia bowed her head, trying to breath more easily. She messed up for a quick two minuets and her guard was suddenly diminished. The air around Sophia thickened, and so she lifted her head, to see the insuperable and cocky smile of the one she hated the most; the man that wields her heart and repudiates to give it back. His name echoed throughout the woman's head, but she would not dare to pass in through her lips. He would die. He would die right here, right where he was standing.
The man's gaze slowly fixated on Sophia, as if he was actually thrilled to see her. His prideful smirk engrossed itself into Sophia's mind. It would be the last time he ever smiled again. Sadly, as much as Sophia wanted to attack him, she couldn't move. Her whole body instantly tensed up, an incensed frown plastered on her face. He stood several feet away from her, examining her like she was some kind of science experiment gone wrong. He was captivated by the petrified yet predominate look on Sophia's face. She was up to something, and he knew that. He always took great pleasure in making her mystified. After all, it was what he gets paid to do. Misake collected himself casually.
"… What, aren't you happy to see me sweetheart?"
Sophia gritted her teeth wildly before inhaling a great intake of breath.
"Don't you ever call me that again!" Sophia exclaimed, poison dripping from her words. Misake chuckled at this comment before walking towards the enraged woman. Sophia shut her eyes tightly. This was it. This was the end. Everything she stood for was going to simply disappear. And suddenly, Sophia's nose was inflicted with a numbing tenderness. What did he just do? Sophia opened her eyes to see Misake had just flicked her nose. She absolutely despised him now. Misake use to do that when ever the two would go out and start training. When Sophia did something wrong, he would flick her nose. However, that was a really long time ago. Sophia was only interested on why he did it now. Sophia was emitting waves of anger, her lower lip poked out as if she was still in grammar school.
"Why do you persist on guaranteeing your death wish?" Sophia said with an arrogant reassurance in her voice. In response to Sophia's comment, Misake bent down to stare the blonde in the face.
"Hmm? A death wish you say? Watch your tongue sweetheart; you are in no position to threaten me. One false move and I'll have to really eradicate you. That would be such a shame…"
Sophia only smiled. She twitched her right arm, and the chain broke instantly.
"Don't try to use the same simple grade school tricks on a master!" Sophia exclaimed as she motioned her right hand towards her. More then a dozen yo-yos appeared behind Misake, wrapping him in their entanglement of strings. Sophia smiled as she grabbed one of the stings on the ground. She glance at Misake's expression, which was one of total glee.
Sophia sighed. "Hey, dude, you are about to die smart one. Can I at least get a plea for your pathetic life before I kill you anyway, despite of what you have to say?"
Misake couldn't help but snicker at this comment. "Aren't you the apprentice?"
"Pff… just shut up! I am the expert here now!"
As soon as Sophia finished her sentence, Misake busted out of the entanglement, and came at Sophia with a power driven roundhouse kick. Sophia was able to dodge the kick, but he followed it up with a quick bombardment of punches. He was good. He was scary good. Sophia struggled as she tried to keep up with his movements. No one is this fast. However, this was Misake's head office. Anything can happen. The duo began to topple over items such as chairs and tables. After a couple of minuets of close combat; they suddenly stopped. Sophia began panting from being out of breath while Misake was loving every minuet of her struggling. Sophia was Misake's ultimate muse.
"Getting tired already Sophia?"
Sophia opened her mouth to dish out a sharp reply, but she started to feel a numbing pain grow throughout her body, causing her to become frozen in her tracts. Not again…
"N-Not yet… idiot." Sophia cringed silently. Yet again, Misake began to slowly walk towards her. Sophia kept a steady glair on him, not falling victim to another one of his old childish antics again. Misake grinned as he started to invade Sophia's 'personal space'. His face was nearly three inches away from hers. Sophia wasn't the least bit intimidated by his action. She kept the same expression.
"… My sweetheart…" Misake said mellifluously, which startled Sophia a bit. Was she suppose to respond? Strange. Sophia could smell Misake's strong mint aroma smelling breath. She never wanted to be this close to him. Clinching her teeth, Sophia muttered under her breath--
"What do you want from me?" Sophia shouted. Sophia jumped at the touch of Misake's hand gliding across her face. Soon after, Sophia's luscious lips soon connected with those of Misake's. Sophia had no means if freedom as this kiss lasted for a long duration of time. Why was he doing this all of a sudden? What was his plan? Sophia contemplated this for a while before Misake broke away from her. Sophia spat for a moment.
"Now you are especially going to die." Sophia spoke in a subtle tone. Misake just smiled.
"Sophia dear… I want you to become mine."
Sophia nearly gagged on her own saliva. He wasn't serious was he? Even if he was, did he really think Sophia would fall for that same mistake? Did he really think Sophia was that ignorant? Sophia smacked her lips loudly as she distanced herself from Misake.
"You sick bastard…" Sophia started while taking two yo-yos from on the ground. "Do you really think I'll fall for that again? Now you are just pissing me off!"
"But Sophia, I really do mean well. You don't want to subsist with me? To walk down the aisle me?"
Damn it, he really did know how to get inside Sophia's head. Her gaze fell for a moment.
"Don't tell me you don't romanticize about us. I know you do. You yearn for me deep inside your heart. Please don't lie to yourself. I'm reliving your reminiscences." Misake said with a self-gratifying smile.
"T-Then… why me? I know there must be hundreds of women throwing themselves at you. You are a man with high power and prosperity…" Sophia snickered while heading towards the end of the sentence.
"Simply because…" Misake paused. "You are a woman with extraordinary beauty. And I am a man of my word. Won't you believe me sweetheart?"
"You're full of shit beloved." Sophia smiled. "Lets go walk the aisle of death together neh?"
Sophia inhaled a great intake of breath while clutching her yo-yos tightly in her hands. Sophia smiled a smirk of peaceful reminiscence memories. This was the final time she would ever see anything. With a loud grunting noise, Sophia lunged her body outwards towards Misake, sending her yo-yo's to wrap around her victim. In mid-air, the yo-yo's broke apart, unleashing a hellish onslaught of yo-yos wrapping around Misake and herself. They were so close together, but so very far away. Misake just smiled that omniscient smile. Sophia gritted her teeth.
"You are so conceited Misa-ke!" Sophia shot.
"The Sacrificial Inviting? So soon Sophia darling? Are you sure you want to go through with this? You may not like the end results."
"Wha… what the hell are you talking about now?" Sophia said in a annoyed type way.
"You didn't know? You are more oblivious then I thought sweetheart. I am immortal." Misake laughed. Sophia narrowed her eyes. This could of just been a biased bluff to by him some time. But what if it was true? If Sophia did execute this move, she'd die without a doubt. She had to take Misake out, no matter what the cost is.
"Damn…" Sophia muttered silently. "How the hell does something like that happen? Are you lying to me?"
Misake snickered noiselessly. Did she really expect a straight and honest answer? He was her adversary. If anything, he wasn't to respond at all. However, this was Sophia of all people he was fighting. Sophia was dumb enough to do anything he supposed. Misake should stop her before the technique goes through. …That is, if she can do it right. With one quick thrust with the hand, Misake was able to cut the strings entangling the two together. Sophia gawked in total disbelief. As soon as the two separated, Sophia started to grow very weary. Her eyes started to droop, and her vision became slightly indistinct.
"Since you didn't execute the move in time, you had to take the punishment. You will start waning as time goes on. You know, if you don't stop fighting me, you are going to die. Surrender yourself to me."
Sophia began to breath heavily. It was almost impossible for her to see any glimpse of her childhood lover.
"Y-You'll see…" Sophia gasped. "I'm not going to give up… not now. I have so many reasons as to kill you now!"
Misake shrugged his shoulders. He walked to a convenient placed desk and pressed a small button found on the side of it. The room the two were in started to change weird colors, until it remained an ugly shade of purple.
"You are so persistent Sophia… if I can't put you in your place, then I know the people who can. I hear they are really quite… 'violent' to their hosts." Misake stated. "Richard, Althea…"
Sophia's heart literally fell at the sound of those two names. Those were the names of her parents. Sophia's eyes twinkled with the utmost despondency. Her fists clutched tightly around her yo-yos. She bit her lip so hard that blood started to trickle from it. It was fake, it is all just an illusion… Sophia paced back and forth inside her head. She tried to look away, truly, but every single second she looked, lucid tears began to form in her eyes. She remembered there faces. Every single detail that made Richard and Althea was forever imbued in her memory. She came so far, only to be beaten by the very people that she strived to avenge. But more then anything, Sophia wanted revenge. Merciless revenge was what she thirsted for. However, the only thing stopping her from making her move was her god forsaking--
"Sweetheart, so you need some help? All you have to do is call out to me. Then I'll take care of them… again." Misake spoke with a cocky smile. Sophia straightened herself out. Waves of undying anger flushed all over her face. She hated that name sweetheart. Sophia looked ahead of her, watching her parents withdraw the same weapons that they wielded so long ago. No, Sophia wasn't going to cry; especially in front of Misake.
"Well sweetheart?" Misake asked in a playful tone. He knew he was pissing her off calling her that. Surprisingly, the way he said it sent an adrenalin chill down Sophia's spine. It was also something about that word sweetheart that made Sophia feel like a young fan girl who just got warped into a world that was populated by her favorite boy characters. Maybe Misake was just messing with Sophia's feelings as he always seems to be doing, but maybe he truly liked her. After all, she is a very distinguished woman with overwhelming features. Sophia's thoughts were then distraught once Misake suddenly walked towards Sophia, making her angry scowl turn into a rosy blush. Now wasn't the time to think about such feeble female viewpoints, but now Sophia was totally drained. Sophia would fight until the bitter end. Sophia slowly lifted her right hand, totally exhausted. Misake cupped Sophia's chin, which made a look of anguish cover her face. He was winning. In fact, he had probably already won. All Sophia could do was fall victim to his befuddling tactics.
"Don't tell me your expecting a kiss, sweetheart…" Misake spoke soothingly, making Sophia freeze up. Then she realized… she had a job to do. What ever he was planning on doing was not going to reassure her boss and friend's contentment. If it all ended here, the name Sophia would be long forgotten, forever washed away by the ebb of relentlessness
"No you jerk." Sophia shot. "I'm sorry Misake, but I have an objective to complete!" Sophia bellowed, doing a maladroit one-hand-stand-back-spring away from Misake. Misake snickered as she did so.
"Very well then," was his reply. "Why must you be so unwilling? You can't play this game much longer can you? I can see fighting against me is taking its toll on you."
"Asswhole…" Sophia muttered. She smiled bashfully before her yo-yos started to emit a bright red light. Misake smirked. Oh how he loved to play with Sophia. She is his ultimate muse. She is very persistent, and that makes for a longer battle.
"Richard, Althea would you mind putting your daughter back in her place?"
Richard took out his very large Machina machete and Althea just stood there, twitching her fingers a bit. Sophia frowned intensely. She abhorred them so much. For putting Sophia through hell, they would pay. On the other hand, if she harmed, all her efforts to redeem her parent's death would be for naught. Now Sophia was really confused, and Misake loved every minuet of it. Sophia stood there, unable to make a move. Not because her strength forbid her to, no; it was the fact that she couldn't bring herself to do so. Sophia was in a terrible state of shock. If she did nothing, she would die. If she moved, she would die. Sophia bent over groggily, unsure of what her next move was going to be. Beads of perspiration began to form all over her body. There was no way out. Out of the blue, Richard lunged at Sophia, completely catching her off guard. Sophia let out an earsplitting yelp, instinctively ringer her arms to block his slashes. Blood began to spew from the woman's arms while her eyes widened in tenderness. Misake couldn't help but laugh at this spectacle.
"Dearest Sophia… please stop before you are heavily injured."
Sophia managed to slip her leg behind Richard's legs and tripped up her father, causing his weapon to fall onto the ground several feet away from him. Before Sophia could catch a hint of air, her mother attacked her ruthlessly with her konochi claws that have poison imbued into them. The only thought running across Sophia's mind was to run like there was no tomorrow. Sophia could feel the life leaving her body. This was it, last call. With all Sophia's strength, Sophia quickly stepped back.
"Conflagration tornado!" Sophia chanted in a soft whisper, twisting her body. She let go of her yo-yos, sending a deathly flame twister towards her antagonists. Her parents dissipated within the smoke, but she couldn't see any sign of Misake as she slowly collapsed onto the ground. She smiled as shadows overcame her eyesight. If she was going to go out, she wanted to go out fighting. Before falling unconscious, she caught a glimpse of someone's leg. Then darkness.
"Is this… heaven?" Sophia mumbled as she awoke in a bed. She rubbed her eye lids before she sat up in her bed. The walls were colored with a light red velvet, laced in a gold trim. Antic paintings lay scattered about on the walls, all of them of were pictures of Misake. Although, one particular painting perplexed her. It was a picture of Sophia in her young years. In the picture, she was creepily ecstatic, something rarely scene in Sophia at the time. Sophia glanced at the bed she was in. It was king sized and was furnished with designer red, gold, and white pillows. Sophia tried to get up, but her head began to throb in pain. Sophia patted her sides to realize she didn't have own her 'super spy' clothing. Befuddled, Sophia instantly began to pull on her raunchy white bustier (1) and white skinny leg jeans.
"That bastard…" Sophia mumbled as she walked towards a conveniently placed counter with her weapons placed on top of it. Sophia took them, but then a thought floated through her mind. Should she leave without a sound? No, she had to get an answer at least. She should have been dead right now. Misake tries so hard to hurt her, but he saves her when she should have breathed her last breath?
"And with that in mind… how come I don't BUY phoenix downs? Innu Misake, show yourself…"
In response to Sophia's summons, as if her had been waiting all along, Misake appeared, snide smirk and all. Sophia frowned a bit.
"You pervert did you--"
"Ah, ah, Sophia, one of my loyal priests did that. With my recommendations of course. You don't like the clothes? You should be more appreciative sweetheart. I saved your life. You owe me a act of kindness."
Sophia shot a glare at Misake. "I don't owe you any damn thing! If anything… you owe me for not kicking your ass when you fucking kissed--" Sophia paused. She could see Misake's grin getting wider and wider. And almost instantaneously, Sophia's face started to color. Sophia turned away from Misake to finish her sentence. Sophia folded her arms and pouted. Normally, Sophia wouldn't contemplate this, but he did save her life.
"…Thank you…" Sophia scoffed, "For not being a total bastard."
Misake scorned. "Now would be a good time to tell you that you are rightfully mine now. I own every inch of you."
"Pffff, ha ha ha!" Sophia busted out into laughter. It was enough to make tears flutter from her eyes. "Dude, I take orders from no one. You know, except for the signature on from my check."
And then, that's when her heart felt a hard tinge of pain. Sophia staggered for a moment before wiping stray traces of blood from her mouth. Panting, she shot Misake a death glair. The pain resided slowly, Sophia looking like she was particularly ready to exterminate.
"I hold your heart in my hands sweetheart. Know that I can crush it at anytime I please."
Sophia clinched her fists. "You should know I'd rather die. Go on ahead and do what you will I have no life when you are still alive."
Misake's smile immediately turned into a frown. Isn't this what she wanted? She wanted to be with him… correct? She often dreamt about him. She even cried thinking about what could have been. She thinks about him every day, even in the midst of battle. She strives to become better then him. And to think, now that he is here, devoting himself to her, she doesn't want his affection? What else could he give her? Money, love, riches-- he had already given it. Could it be that she was already in love? Misake walked over to Sophia, a raging snare on his face.
"You don't want to be with me Sophia? You love that ingrate? Silly naïve woman--"
"I am not a kid!" Sophia spat. "And furthermore, that isn't the least bit true." Sophia put her fists up. "I just want you to stay the hell away from me."
"Then I'll kill you where you so stand." Misake murmured. Sophia eyes widened. Now she had control over him. Ah, the wonderful art of seduction was such a beautiful thing. Sophia was going to have a little fun.
"You need me don't you?" Sophia smiled.
Misake frowned, but soon brought a smirk to his face. She had gotten better with he exploitation. Right now, she probably could beat him at his won game. Misake will admit. He is an extremely jealous man. He will not share Sophia to anyone, nor thing.
"Your right Sophia. I need a companion."
"Cliché, cliché, cliché," Sophia answered. "You know how long I have been waiting? Are you just outrageously jealous? You had your chance and you might still have it. I've waited seven years for you, just so you could randomly appear and tell me how much you love me? I looked for you… yeah, for the longest. I thought killing my parents was part of my training; something I had to endure. You have five minuets to pled your case Misake. And you better make it meaningful, 'cause you have to make up for the seven years that I've wasted.
Misake shrugged. " Fair enough sweetheart."
Misake dug into his coat pocket and pulled out a small gold locket. He tossed it to Sophia, and she caught it with ease.
"A pictures worth a thousand words?" Sophia questioned before opening the locket to find the most beautiful ring she had ever laid eyes on. It was crafted with black diamonds; it's luminosity practically blinding her. Pungent tears started to well up inside her eyes. Seven years, and she finally got her wish?
Misake smiled. He had finally prevailed. "…About that favor…"
