A/N: LOL you know what's really funny? I was writing this chapter then the next day, my friend submitted a picture to deviant art that was like…this chapter. But she didn't know about it yet…8D
Ahem…sorry. Pointless story. -.-; Anyway, here's the important part: WARNING: THERE IS VIOLENCE AND MILD GORE IN THIS CHAPTER. IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH, KEEP A TRASH CAN NEARBY. Just kidding about the trash can part. It's not that bad…at least in my humble opinion.
Disclaimer: I do not own GX
Chapter 7: Trepidation
The world was dark, suffocating, void. It all seemed completely surreal, perhaps it was. But Haou could not be sure. He waited for his vision to adjust, but it never did. The darkness was endless, interminable. He looked around himself, trying to find anything familiar. Soon enough, he became aware of a dim glow that was growing increasingly brighter. The source of the light surprised Haou. Surrounding him on all sides were identical mirrors. Slowly, he began to recognize the place. He was somewhere within Juudai's mind.
He took a moment to collect his bearings. If he recalled properly, then he had fallen asleep several minutes prior to waking in Juudai's mind. And, thinking back on the sudden drowsiness he'd mysteriously experienced, he remembered that it had hit him only after he'd opened the closet. What could have caused him such exhaustion? Even then, he felt incredibly weak. Perhaps he could take a few moments to try to recover before he thought on the matter any more…
His eyelids were drooping shut again when he heard a faint noise echoing in the distance. Quickly, he snapped himself to attention. Gazing about him, he saw nothing except the darkness and the mirrors. This made him uneasy. Even though he felt incredibly lethargic, he forced himself to get up. He walked around the mirrors, peering behind them. He spent a few moments searching for the source of the noise.
Suddenly, he stopped. The noise was coming from behind one of the mirrors. Slowly, he looked around it. There, crouching on the ground and curled up with his knees pulled to his chest, was Juudai. Haou opened his mouth to speak, then saw that it was probably best to let Juudai see him before hear him. The poor brunette was trembling all over. This puzzled Haou. What could have upset him that badly?
Stepping around the mirror and edging closer, he found that Juudai was not trembling from fear, rather, from intense shock. The poor boy was gasping slightly, blood trickling down his face. Looking closer, Haou saw that it was not just a few stray scratches. Instead, he was covered in wounds, his clothes soaked in the crimson flow. Haou dropped down to his knees, kneeling by the boy. Tentatively, he reached forth a hand, grazing his fingertips to the other's injured shoulder. Juudai twitched involuntarily at the touch. However, he did not seem to notice Haou other than that.
Haou moved closer to the brunette, turning him so they were facing each other. Juudai's dark eyes were vacant, unfocused. He stared off into space, wheezing and struggling for breath. Deep inside, Haou was alarmed. However, he refused to let it show on his features. Gingerly, he took Juudai's shoulders, giving him a bit of support. Something had to be done. Even if they were only in Juudai's mind, this could affect his physical body as well. After all, things that went on in his mind were not mere subconscious thoughts. They affected the body too. The body's reaction was based on what happened in the mind as much as external means. So he had to be stabilized.
What had happened to injure him so badly? Had it been an intruding spirit? If so, where was the intruder then? Haou glanced around, wary. There did not seem to be any other presence at the moment. Looking back down at Juudai, he sighed. There was not much he could do for him. The first thing he'd have to do would be to calm him. He was going into mental shock. There was nothing he could do about the bleeding, since it was a mere illusion. The only thing he could aid was the psychological aspects of the situation.
Juudai slumped against Haou's chest, growing limp. Haou kept a hold on his shoulders, keeping him from falling completely over. He gave the boy a few nudges, trying to get his attention. However, it was all in vain. Juudai remained unresponsive.
"Juudai," Haou called quietly, continuing to nudge him, "Don't you dare go to sleep. Don't you dare fall unconscious. It's an illusion. You're not really hurt. Juudai, I'm talking to you…Juudai?"
Haou spoke his name in a questioning sense lastly, for Juudai had responded to some unknown stimuli. His head lifted weakly, his chocolate eyes scanning the darkness. There was a certain amount of nervous anxiety that he gave off, the way his fingers dug into Haou's arms as he watched intently. Somewhat uneasy, Haou glanced around as well. The atmosphere hung heavily; there was an ominous tension in the air. The tension caused his senses to heighten; his discomfort rose as he felt the presence of a malicious soul lurking in the distance. Instinctively, he clutched Juudai closer, to protect him from further harm. His eyes narrowed dangerously, threateningly. Woe be to the one that laid so much as a finger on Juudai. He would not allow such atrocity to go unpunished; he would not allow such an offender to go unscathed. The very thought of anyone harming Juudai like that made his blood boil.
At that moment, a high pitched scream ripped through the tense still of the atmosphere. Instantly, Haou reacted. He gripped Juudai closer, clenching his teeth. Hot, wet liquid hit Haou's skin suddenly. Crimson streams crept down Juudai's chin and neck, dripping onto Haou's chest and hands. His hands traveled to Juudai's hair, which he ruffled comfortingly.
Carmine eyes glinted from the darkness beyond. A clawed foot stepped from the thick mist, revealing black, iridescent scales. Haou squared his shoulders, every muscle in his body tensing, preparing for attack. His more animalistic nature replaced his refined side, a primitive sort of response for a threatened target. The only question that lingered in his mind at the time: How was he to ward this creature off and expel it from Juudai's mind while protecting the boy at the same time? It would not be easy.
Slowly, he began to release Juudai so that he might face this beast. However, he soon changed his mind. Hot, moist breath blew on his ear as a bloodcurdling shriek shattered the silence. Momentarily, he could hear nothing but a slight ringing. Stiffening, he realized that there was more than one of them. What were these grotesque creatures? Where had they come from? His grip on Juudai tightened once more. Whatever they were, they were after the brunette.
Glancing back down at Juudai, he inwardly cursed. He could not calm the boy's shock if he had this predicament on his hands. Well, it seemed as though he didn't have a choice. He'd have to fight to help protect Juudai. It looked as though the brunette had already done all he could on his own. Indeed, his battle scars were many and deep. If he wanted to save Juudai's soul, he'd have to dispose of these beasts swiftly and thoroughly. He would not allow such barbaric slaughter! Neither would he allow a killing that would go to waste. If it was not beneficial, then it was useless. These creatures did not seem to be deriving anything out of it. Perhaps they were simply searching out their next meal, and Juudai was the feast they were to soon partake of. It disgusted him.
He watched their movements carefully, his fiery amber eyes twitching in all directions, following them. So far, he sensed three of them. The third had yet to make a move. It was probably there as a watch out. Either that or these two before him and behind him were distractions from the true issue at hand. He would have to be extremely cautious.
The first creature stepped closer, its silver claws gleaming in the dim glow cast off from the mirrors. A second thin foot soon followed. He watched as a scaly hand dropped out of the shadows. The claws were also silver, yet they were coated in thick red fluid. It streaked down the wrist and the arm, pooling at the elbow. Bits of cloth and what appeared to be flesh were caught on the claws, from where it had taken a swipe at its victim.
Another step. Haou gritted his teeth, his frown deepening. This revealed the rest of the creature. There was a ring of dirty gray fur stained with blood around its neck. Its head was slender and elongated, ending in a snout. The teeth protruded sharply from beneath the dark lips, gleaming silver and dark crimson mixed. It had thin, pointed ears that perched atop its head that twitched every then and again. The eyes were red; he could not discern where they were directed. Indeed, it was an unsightly beast. The very sight made Haou want to shudder in disgust. But he mustn't show any bodily movement that could be mistaken as weakness. He must remain stiff and domineering.
The second creature growled low in its throat from behind him. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle at the sensation of its breath on his skin. A cold, moist nose pressed against his neck, the razor sharp front teeth scraping against the tender flesh. He remained still and calm. Slowly, it withdrew, and stepped off to the side. The two beasts began to circle Haou and Juudai slowly, their heads turned in their direction, their soulless eyes never leaving them. At this, Haou began to realize what he was dealing with. His eyes flashed in anger. He would not allow this to occur. Not then. Not there.
He realized he had no weapons to fight them off with. Not that he really needed any. He could do just as well with or without a sword in his hand. If he'd had a choice, he'd have preferred to have one, though. He was not quite back in practice with the use of his power, though he wished he was. Silently, he reprimanded himself for being so careless. There was nothing to do then except what he could. So, he gathered up his strength and exerted a hard force on the creatures. Perhaps it would be enough to drive them from Juudai's helpless mind.
Juudai gave a soft, murmured protest at the sudden pressure that crushed his chest. Haou's eyes flickered down to meet those brown ones, just for a moment. Juudai relaxed, though he did not seem to fully comprehend the situation, or the person in front of him. Somehow, though, the secure, assuring vibes penetrated the shell of understanding, and helped him relax.
Clenching his teeth again, Haou cursed inwardly, seeing that the power was not enough. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated on tapping into his own reservoir of energy, so that he might be able to use it against these beasts. The spirits cried out in agony as the force intensified a hundredfold. The second one, however, was close enough to wage another attack. A quick swipe of its paw was all that was required to slice the silver claws easily through Haou's flesh, severing his arm from his body. Red hot agony shot through his veins, electricity stimulating his nerves. The rush of blood leaving the gaping wound so suddenly left him feeling dizzy. Gritting his teeth, he breathed in deeply, willing himself not to scream. The only facial expression that indicated any pain was a slight grimace that flickered over his features for a second. Then angry flames licked at him, consuming him with rage. The pressure he exerted was adequate this time. The sudden burst of energy crushed the spirits, causing them to let out a final lengthy cry as they dissipated into nothingness.
Panting, Haou leaned back against a mirror, holding his shoulder and squeezing his eyes shut. The pain was almost unbearable. It filled his entire body with sickness and weakness. At this point, Juudai seemed to have been shaken from his trance. Perhaps it had been the damage that Haou had received. After all, they were one and the same. What happened to Haou affected him as well. This caused Haou to murmur a small curse beneath his breath. He'd meant to prevent Juudai's body from going into shock. Instead, he seemed to have made it worse. Juudai's eyes widened as he saw the damage that had been done. Quickly, he placed his hands over the wound, trying to cease the flow of blood, but failing. The precious life force bled from betwixt his fingers, trickling down his arm. It was not the physical body that was dying painfully slow, rather, it was his soul. Haou grimaced at the thought of Juudai losing his life just for the sake of his own carelessness. It was a sacrifice he was not willing to make.
"Haou!"
"I'm all right," Haou muttered, breathing deeply, "It's just a little pain. Nothing I can't handle."
Compassion washed over Juudai's features. He tried to help Haou desperately; however, not much could be done. Haou, though, would not be taken into a state of shock. He would not be anything but calm and alert. Even if the pain was great, he reminded himself that it was merely psychological. If his mentality remained normal, then he would not be affected quite as badly. It was mind over matter.
Glancing back over at Juudai, he murmured, "Your wounds…Are you in much pain?"
Juudai fell slightly forward, clutching Haou's shoulders to steady himself. "It hurts…a lot…"
Haou opened his mouth to ask another question, but stopped. Something was happening…He felt as though he were being slowly pulled from Juudai's mind. Looking back over at Juudai, he noticed the boy fading. Before he had time to completely infer what was occurring, Juudai had vanished. Afar off, he heard the sound of glass shattering and showering to the ground. The noise resounded, growing louder. It was then that he noticed the mirrors in the distance breaking. This was different…it rarely happened. Only sometimes did this occur when Juudai was either deeply distressed or becoming self aware from a state of deep comatose.
He felt Juudai beginning to awaken, and realized that he needed to wake himself as well. This proved to be more difficult than it sounded. He struggled to escape that part of Juudai's mind; however, his own soul was weakened considerably by his expenditure of energy. Judging by the rate of the destruction, though, he would have to find some way to escape, and quickly. Not to mention he didn't want Juudai to know that he had been there…There was no telling whether or not Juudai was aware of the danger he'd been in. After all, they had been deep in his subconscious. Hopefully, he was blissfully ignorant to the whole matter.
Haou finally gathered the strength to rip his half of their soul from Juudai's mind. He'd done it several times since they'd been given separate bodies. However difficult it was though, it was possible. After all, he had lived in Juudai's mind while his spirit resided partially in Dark World and when he had needed to focus on tasks before him instead of on Juudai, he'd done this sort of thing. The part that proved to be arduous was finding an exit. After all, he had not come on his own will. Which led him to this question: What had pulled him back to that level of Juudai's mind? He did lurk and reside in that place, true, but since they'd been separated, he'd found it increasingly difficult to enter certain places of Juudai's mind. He really would only go there on certain occasions of his own will. Unless of course, Juudai felt a strong sense of danger, anger, or fear. He figured that since Juudai had needed his help, he had involuntarily called him to the surface. After all, that was the only logical explanation. And since he was the darker half of Juudai's soul, it took a bit more prodding to result in his appearance. Judging by the critical situation, though, he could have very well dragged Haou out to help him.
Looking around for any means of escape, a brilliant glow caught his eye. Turning quickly, he found the source of the eerie glow to be another mirror nearby. Quirking an eyebrow, he noticed that the glint of light was katakana. He looked closer, only to find that it was virtually illegible. Then, he realized why. It was spelled backwards. Glancing over his shoulder at a mirror behind him, he read it slowly: Restore. He was not sure what the significance of this was. Puzzled, he continued to stare into the glass, until he realized that there was something different about this mirror. Whereas the other mirrors might show either blank reflections of light or the reflection of a face, this one reflected a swirling blend of light and darkness. His eyes widened. Perhaps this would give him a way out! Before he tried, though, he hesitated and tried to logically weigh the possible consequences of doing so. After all, he knew nothing about it. However, glancing back and realizing that Juudai was already coming to, he hesitated no longer. He could not have the boy knowing what had occurred, so he leapt through the glass, and found himself instantly transported.
Feeling incredibly overwhelmed, he let himself sink back into his own consciousness. His energy was more easily depleted since he and Juudai had been split into two. It was harder to replenish it as well. Slowly, he opened his eyes. The light struck a sharp pain through his head, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut again. Well, he should have expected having a major headache after that encounter. He slung an arm over his eyes and lay still, hoping the pain would subside given enough time.
Hearing a soft groan from Juudai, Haou rolled over on his side and peered over his arm to make sure the boy was all right. He was relieved to see Juudai was unharmed. However, it seemed as though he was experiencing extreme physical discomfort as well. Slowly, Juudai got to his feet and crossed the room. He opened a nearby drawer and took out a bottle of aspirin, then took one of the small pills. Haou watched him, his eyes half closed. Juudai put the bottle away, then sat on the edge of the cot, looking down at Haou.
"I don't feel that good," He muttered, grinning weakly.
"I imagine not," Haou sighed, "You've been through a lot today."
Juudai sighed and held his head in his hands. "My head hurts a lot…"
Unable to help the concern that rose within him, Haou asked quietly, "Are you all right?"
"Yeah…I'll be Ok," Juudai smiled again, though he remained pale. In fact, he looked rather sick.
"Don't be so dishonest," Haou muttered, "Go lie down. It will pass."
"I guess I should," Juudai grumbled, looking irked, "but I don't want to go to sleep again. I had some bad dreams…"
Haou refused to respond. However, he wasn't too happy to hear this. Really, he hoped that Juudai didn't know what exactly had happened. That might scar his innocence. Finally unable to stand it, he asked, "What did you dream?"
Juudai shrugged. "It's really stupid. But it was disturbing too…I dreamed that monsters attacked me. Weird, huh? And kind of embarrassing too." He laughed a little, but was obviously troubled.
"And that was all?" Haou blinked calmly.
Juudai nodded. "It was a dreamless sleep after that...But I did wake up with a headache."
Haou didn't respond to this. He merely stared at Juudai with an emotionless amber gaze. Part of him was deeply relieved to hear that Juudai was unaware of the battle that had occurred within his mind. Part of him was still concerned that Juudai was still in danger, particularly since he did not know what had happened. Since he didn't know, then he was unable to tell Haou if he felt a similar intrusion. That meant that the king was going to have to keep a sharper eye on him. He'd have to be more alert and in tune with everything that went on in Juudai's portion of his mind. Privacy was not an issue at hand. It could be sacrificed in order to preserve their existence. Besides, since he and Juudai were one, he had a right to Juudai's thoughts. He couldn't waste his time trying to be courteous or spare the brunette's feelings. This was not a matter of common etiquette. This was a matter of self perseverance. What happened to Juudai happened to him.
For the time being, he turned his attention back to the boy in front of him. By then, Juudai was clutching his knees, his head hung, his breaths short and ragged. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead; his entire body began to tremble. Slowly, he lifted his head to gaze at Haou, a pained expression etched on his delicate features. Something deep within the king stirred, some forgotten emotion. It tugged at him most uncomfortably. He shifted and watched Juudai suffer from some unseen, oppressive force. Wondering if it were him, he dipped into Juudai's subconscious. He let his mental vision darken, then adjust. He felt a strange disturbance in Juudai's mind. It was no foreign presence. It was not him either. For once, he was completely thrown off guard. He could not find anything wrong with him. So, perhaps it was physical, then? He withdrew from Juudai's mind. Then, he stared into the other's eyes, searching. Juudai crawled closer to him and collapsed by his side. He seemed to take comfort in Haou's presence, just as he should.
Juudai sighed heavily, trying to calm himself. Gazing up at Haou and raising his head, he muttered, "Why do I feel like you're so close to me?"
Haou frowned slightly and did not reply. Instead, he laid a hand on Juudai's head and pressed it back down to rest on the pillow. He should've withdrawn his hand then. But he didn't. Rather, he allowed it to linger on Juudai's soft, brown hair. He felt obliged to give some physical contact; to let the other know that he was still there, that all was well. Although Juudai was doing quite a good job at concealing it, Haou could easily feel the depth of his true fear. Juudai was afraid. What was scaring him was no big mystery. Even though he did not consciously remember what had taken place, the subconscious damage had been done. And perhaps that added burden in his mind had been what had made him so physically ill then. Well, Haou was not going to let that happen again. He would not allow anyone to get that close to Juudai or himself.
Haou watched as Juudai's eyelids fluttered shut. The boy heaved a heavy sigh, looking troubled. A soft, gentle rub of the head was all that was needed to reassure him. Neither he nor Haou spoke; it was unnecessary. Each kept to their separate thoughts. Yet, what went unsaid verbally was involuntarily communicated mentally. How could it be helped, after all? One could not hide from himself. One could not possibly expect to keep his own thoughts from himself. Even though this was the case, it was possible to shut the other half off to some degree, for privacy's sake. As strange as it seemed, each half of the soul was distinct enough to remain separate while together. Haou finally stopped thinking about this. It was something he could never quite shake entirely from his mind; however, he hated to think of it because it was such a deep, complex thought. It was far too complicated to dwell on any longer.
Perhaps the reason that he thought of it so much was because it was undeniable. Not to mention the notions that flew across his mind for even a moment's time…they were absolutely absurd. Out of the question. He had to convince himself to drop such silly thoughts, and focus on the true meaning of their existence. They were one. They were meant to be that way. Juudai was meant to aid and guide him as much as he was meant to do the same to him. If that was the case, and if they were to hold the fate of the world in their palms so delicately, then why did he feel that he was lacking? Empty? Why did he feel as though something more must be accomplished and obtained in order to receive the height of nirvana? As much as he tried not to ponder the possibility, he did. Ah, it was such a sinful idea. It was absolutely dripping with venomous lure. Although it was a vice of the highest degree, he could not help but think of it, to consider it. And he knew it would be his downfall if he chose to relent. He must not allow himself to be caught up in such foolish allures. He must think of his ultimate goal. Besides, what had he said before, promised to Johan? Yes, that was it. Out of the question. Unbelievably ridiculous. He would think of it no more.
Looking back down at Juudai, he noticed the brunette swallowing hard, his eyes now squeezed shut. His breathing had calmed considerably, though it was still too deep and irregular. Haou gave his hair another absentminded rub, then sighed. He thought about helping Juudai; then again, what could he do? It seemed as though there was nothing that could be done but wait. Still, taking into consideration that Juudai might change his mind…He dwelt on the thought a bit longer. It wasn't impossible for him to offer, was it? Or was he just so unaccustomed to any basic show of compassion that he could not even pity himself? Well, self-pity was a weakness anyway. Still…Juudai was a different case. It was not the normal case of self-pity. Not only did the boy possess half of his soul--the same soul, really--he was also Haou's reincarnation. So what made him hesitate? Was it that difficult to help himself? To offer? It was not a matter of that. It was a matter of pride. Finally, he relented. It was best to try, at least. Sitting back and watching was not going to help him at all. Besides, the bitter taste of bile was rising in his throat, product of Juudai's inner sickness.
"Is there anything that I can do?" He asked in a quiet tone. Even though his own mind had carefully turned the question over and over, pondering it, he was still surprised at himself. It was not an easy thing for him to offer aid, even if it was to his suffering counterpart.
Juudai looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. There was some kind quality to the king's voice, some tenderness that had not been present before. Usually, his voice was harsh, firm, and quiet. But then…He seemed to be regarding the other boy with a sort of gentle affection, a type that one might show to his closest friend. After a moment's thought, Juudai shook his head slowly. "You're keeping me company; that's good enough. Thank you for offering, though. But I'll be all right. I'm already starting to feel better." He smiled brightly, though a bit of dull pain lingered in his dark eyes.
Although he wasn't so sure, he let it go and fell silent. Absentmindedly, he stroked Juudai's hair a little, as a way to reassure him that it was all right. Finally, exhausted, the brunette shut his eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep. Haou leaned back against the wall, his eyelids beginning to droop as well. The things they were put through…The mental strain was absolutely exhausting. He resisted sleep for awhile, then finally gave in. There was always the morning to continue in his work. Besides, he needed to regain his energy and recover from the incident that had taken place. He could only hope that nothing like it happened again.
It was still twilight when Haou awakened. His eyelids fluttered open half way, his mind still foggy with sleep. Wondering why he felt so warm, he shifted a little, only to find a mop of messy umber hair tickling his nose. Propping himself up on his elbows, he looked down at Juudai, who was fast asleep beside him. It took him a moment to remember what the boy was doing next to him. Then, he shrugged it off and slipped off the bed. Quietly, he crept out the door, to go soak in a nice, hot bath. He wouldn't take too long. After all, he would like to have breakfast before the others arose. For once, he'd like to eat in peace. The noisy teenagers were tiresome to him. Even Juudai's vitality could be exhausting. Especially Juudai. Perhaps it was because he had to be extra careful around the other half of his soul. After all, at times, he forgot who he was dealing with. He could get fed up with him just as easily as he got fed up with those around him. It was hard work to keep himself under control.
Since no one else was using the bath at that time in the morning, he got it all to himself, much to his relief. He hated having to sacrifice his privacy. Thankfully, teenagers needed a lot of sleep. Sighing heavily, he lowered his aching body into the heated water and sank low. Sometimes, it felt nice to let his guard down slightly and relax. It had been ages since he'd properly allowed himself to unwind. Maybe a little bit wouldn't hurt. Just so long as he was ready to be interrupted. He was just glad to be able to stretch out and ease his tense muscles. A fifteen minute bath was all that he needed to feel refreshed.
After drying off and redressing, he slipped into the Osiris cafeteria for a quick bite to eat. As he stepped through the doors, a black-clad figure caught his eye. Dismayed, he took a seat at the far end of the room. For a few minutes, he was able to enjoy his meal in silence. Although the food was mediocre in his opinion, he would accept what he was served. He couldn't afford to be picky when it was the only food he had to eat. After all, he hadn't been able to be picky on the battlefield or while traveling across the steppes. He would've liked to have been given better food, but he wasn't offered that luxury, so he didn't complain. However pleasant the meal was in silence, though, the quality was most certainly degraded by pestering. And this was exactly what happened.
A tray clattered on the wooden table in front of him. The black-clad Osiris student seated himself confidently across from Haou, smirking a little. Haou sighed heavily, annoyed. He watched in disapproval as his new companion propped his elbows rudely on the table.
"Hey, how's it going?" Manjoume asked, attempting to start a conversation.
Haou sighed a little under his breath. Well, so much for a quiet breakfast. "If you mean to ask how I'm doing, then I'm doing fairly. And you?" He only made this petty exchange in order to be polite. He was, in no way, crude or barbaric.
"I'm doing good. Great actually." Manjoume replied, leaning farther on the table. "So, I saw you practically murder Andersen yesterday…"
"Did you really?" Haou asked grimly. It was becoming more than apparent that this boy was determined NOT to leave him alone.
"Yeah, I saw you go into the duel arena so I figured that something must be about to happen. So I kind of watched from the doorway…" He shoved some rice in his mouth as he finished saying this.
Haou frowned a bit. "It's not very considerate of you to follow me around like that."
Manjoume's charcoal eyes widened. He nearly choked on his mouthful of rice. "Wh-What makes you think I've been following you?"
"It's obvious," Haou said calmly, "by the way you've been behaving over the past few days and from the way that you so poorly conceal yourself. Not to mention that statement gave it away. As I recall, I was in an empty hallway at the time. Or at least it seemed so at first glance. If you weren't trying to be discreet, you'd have walked with me. But you didn't, which leads me to believe that you were following me. No one else was around at the time. Though, I find that strange…"
Quickly, Manjoume tried to compose himself. He licked his lips nervously, his eyes darting about uneasily. "Well, uh…Why would I do that? That's ridiculous. How dare you accuse me of being a stalker--!"
"And, you continue to dig yourself into a deeper hole even though it's clear you've been caught," Haou muttered, calmly taking a bite of his cabbage, "If you wanted to talk with me that badly, all you had to do was what you're doing now. And since you're talking with me now, that leads me to believe you had some other reason for following me." He raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "So what was your true aim, then? What was your reason?"
Shifting uncomfortably, Manjoume crossed his arms and pouted. He refused to look directly at Haou as he mumbled, "I just thought you might be a good opponent to duel."
"Mmhmm," Haou was not impressed. Neither was he fooled. Looking Manjoume up and down, he began to devise a scheme. He knew already that Manjoume and Juudai were good friends, as well as rivals, since he'd been able to watch Juudai's life somewhat. Not to mention he was one of the strongest duelists in the Academia. Drumming his fingers on the tabletop, he thought about the possibilities. The more he thought about it, the better of an idea it seemed. Manjoume could be useful…VERY useful. Well, Manjoume had been the one to come to him. He couldn't complain. First, though, he'd wait to see if Manjoume tried to initiate any more of an acquaintance.
"Ok," Manjoume grumbled, scowling, "Maybe I think that you're kind of…um…cool…I kind of was hoping I could…learn from you. After all, you would've finished Johan off relatively quickly had Juudai not intervened. I was just hoping that if I watched your method…maybe I could adapt it…"
"Mimicry is not the way to succeed," Haou pointed out, "However…" He paused to look Manjoume up and down, still pondering. Well, having a toady wasn't a bad thing. After all, he needed followers, servants to do his bidding and back him up. He could always get rid of the boy if he had no need for him or if he did not suite him. With a little wave of his hand, he granted permission. "But, I don't see the harm in taking you under my tutelage. As long as you realize that you will have to repay me later."
Manjoume looked uncertain. "Well, uh….I'm not sure…"
Haou blinked. "And why is that?" He asked, his expression stony, "After all, you must be certain if you went to such great lengths to follow me. But if you want my help, then you must pledge your loyalty to me as your superior and do as I ask when I require your assistance. Nothing less is satisfactory exchange for the gift I shall bestow upon you. I will make you great. All you need to do in return is obey me. Is that understood?"
Swallowing hard, Manjoume was not sure he could turn it down. There was something alluring about Haou…something that made one want to please him. Finally, he nodded weakly. "I…I'll do it. I'll do anything to be the best…Even now…I want to beat Juudai."
Looking as cold as ever, Haou muttered, "We'll see." He stood and held his hand out to Manjoume, palm down, fingers curled slightly.
The ebony haired teen stared at his hand momentarily, unsure of what he was expected to do. Finally, he took it and tried to shake it. Haou gave him a strange look.
"You aren't accustomed to these rituals, are you?"
Grimacing, Manjoume knelt down before Haou, his head bowed slightly in submission. Feeling Haou touch him lightly on the head as permission, he lifted it to find that Haou still had his hand outstretched. Finally, looking annoyed, he took the hand in both of his and stared at it. A quick glance up at Haou's cruel eyes was all he needed for confirmation. Grimly, he took the hand closer until he'd brushed his lips to the knuckles, thereby signing the deal, so to speak. Looking satisfied, Haou withdrew his hand.
With that, he turned on his heel, his shoulders squared. As he started to walk out the sliding door, he bumped into Johan. The teal haired duelist stared at him, blinking. He uttered a word of greeting, which Haou tersely and politely returned. Before Haou could make his escape, Johan grabbed him by the arm. Every muscle in his body tensed. Not only did he dislike any sort of physical contact, he also severely disapproved of a 'peasant' laying hands up royalty. Frowning, he glanced back over at Johan, his mouth setting in a tight line.
"What do you want?" He asked with more than a hint of asperity to his voice.
"Oh, nothing much," Johan answered, blinking innocently and smiling, "I just thought maybe we could talk…"
Haou sighed deeply. Was it everyone's wish to disturb his peace that day? Granted, he did not feel like talking with the boy. However, he might as well try to get along with him. He could be useful. Not to mention he was glad to see that Johan wasn't upset about the way he had treated him before…All had been forgotten once the duel had ended.
"Very well. What do you wish to discuss?" He looked into those sea green eyes, bored.
"Well, I was just worried about Juudai. Is he doing all right?" Johan bit his lip and wrung his hands slightly in distress.
"He's doing much better," Haou murmured, "All he needed was some rest."
"So he's going to be Ok?" Johan pressed, still uncertain.
Haou gave a curt nod. "If you were so concerned about him, though, why didn't you just go see him for yourself?"
"Well, I wasn't sure if he wanted to be alone or if he was sick or what." Johan replied, "I wanted to go see him but…"
Haou grumbled something, then asked, "Is that all?"
The European opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, a loud thud came from somewhere nearby. The dorm shook a little. Haou remained calm, though he felt a stab of concern for Juudai. On the other hand, Johan looked alarmed. He turned to run out of the cafeteria, but Haou put a hand on his shoulder stopping him.
"What was that?" Manjoume asked, finally speaking from the back of the cafeteria.
Listening intently, Haou glanced around him, then slowly released Johan's shoulder. Without another word, he slipped out the doors, and stood back to see if anything had collapsed. It wouldn't be a surprise if the dorm had caved in partially. After all, it was so unstable.
Johan soon joined him. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened at what he saw. Haou, who normally remained stoic and indifferent to any sight he was met with, could not help but emit a little gasp.
Glancing over at Johan with his lips slightly parted, a frown plastered on his face, he murmured, "This is getting WAY out of hand…"
Johan kept a hand over his mouth, and just nodded weakly, though he wasn't sure what Haou was talking about. Adrenaline soon kicked in, and the two rushed up the steps as quickly as they could. Nothing could prepare them for the trouble they would soon face…
A/N: MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Cliffhanger! You have to WAIT you have to WAIT :singsongvoice: Um…ahem. Anyway…Sorry about having it kinda jump around like that. And…
I was going to say that the other night I was sitting and listening to music in the den while my dad watched TV. And GWAH what do I see? A movie trailer…and I kid you not that this is the first time I saw it…and I'd already had this chapter half way done. Anyway, so like…it was advertising a horror movie where like people's alter egos come and like butcher them. And their entrance is through mirrors. And it was called Mirrors. And I rolled my eyes and thought, "Great. Now people will think I ripped it off a dumb movie." But, hell, I don't WATCH movies even. GAH! Plus, I mean like…this story is different and stuff….still, I was all paranoid about it. I have a VERY complex plan for this. UGH. It's probably going to backfire later but w/e. I just had to share that HORRIFYING experience. DX
