See? Lookie Lookie faster update!!

Innocence

Teal strands of hair blew freely in the gentle breeze. Looking out past the extent of the shrine's estate, the wind changed directions and became bitterly cold A chill ran down the figure's spine, and he dropped his head in dismay.

"Yukihito." He simply stated.

Yukihito leapt down from the nearby tree at the sound of his name, dusting the snowy debris off his shoulders.

"I feel that we have lost the Solar Priestess, we don't have much time now."

Only nodding in response, he slid the door to the shrine open to attain the necessary items.

Raising his head to the sky he spoke quietly, "Lunar Priestess, you're this worlds last hope."

---

The pain.

I feel my heart pulse heavily inside my chest, threatening to break through. The solar symbol that adorned my chest had never felt so raw as it did now.

It never goes away. No matter how many times I try to forget, I just can't escape it.

She stands before me her sword held tight in her grip. I can tell she's struggling for breath as I see her chest rise and fall deeply. I can barely hear my own ragged breaths since my face is covered in that mask.

I run at her my own sword held tight in my hand, and she drops her sword. My blade pierces her body and she slumps into my awaiting embrace.

The tears freely fall now, and I cried out her name in an almost inaudible manner, this was the third time that I was dutied with killing her. I remember every single time I have taken her life, because every time she died, I died.

The mask slipped from my face and fell to the ground below.

How much I truly loathed that mask.

That mask came to us the very first time. The first time one of us had to die. I refused to kill her and dropped to my knees begging to be killed instead. Chikane threw down her sword and ran into my embrace, confiding that she would let the world end before she killed me.

That's when it appeared. That mask.

Whenever our resolve to save this world began to waver the mask appeared.

I've felt the power of that mask many times since then, almost like it blocks out our feelings and binds us to our duty.

I open my eyes and see that I've gotten pretty close to the outpost. I don't know how long I've been walking with my eyes closed, it's almost like I have no use for them.

I can feel her getting closer with every step I take.

I lift my head up and smile into the cold winter's air and speak out loud to no one in particular, "Chikane ... I'll be with you soon."

My voice has returned to it's normal pitch, no longer dark and full of malice. I'm thankful for that.

I shiver slightly as the wind picks up, no time to be stopping, I lift my feet and continue to walk, I can see the building in the distance now.

After walking for a few minutes my foot suddenly made cold hard contact with something half buried in the snow.

Stopped I peer down at the object, a half covered mask.

My mind is screaming for me to run, not to touch it; but I remain silent and frozen to this spot.

Know your duty Solar Priestess. Pick up that mask.

Never, I will never touch it, not again.

I ver off the path and felt the cold and crisp snow crunch beneath my heavy feet. Ignoring the mask that lay forgotten in the snow.

Continuing on my way my eyes catch sight of a movement to the far left. I squint my eyes and catch sight of a person, but only for a second.

It's a trap, you know.

Ignoring my inner voice I dip into a small group of trees and follow them around to where the figure stood, taking cover a good distance away.

In the midst of a dense group of trees two figures perched, awaiting the arrival of the Solar Priestess. Stepping out from the covering of the tree a girl with rust colored hair and glasses spoke, "Hey, number sixty nine I think our target has arrived."

The other figure rises from one of the tree branches and jumps down to the awaiting ground below. Her face scowled in resent she begins to flail about, "It's sixty eight! SIXTY EIGHT!! Reiko, I don't know how many times I have to tell you this before you get it, you half rate Mangaka!!"

Mangaka? Reiko? Reiko Ōta?

I sneak a peek and recognize her instantly from the inner jacket of the manga. It is her!

I feel myself becoming slightly nostalgic, she writes my favorite manga, I can't believe she'd be out here in the cold. I almost squeal with girlish delight before the situation completely dons on me.

She's an Orochi, she's here to kill me.

The girl's eyes furrowed slightly at the shot taken to her skill and raised her hand to adjust her glasses, "I think we've lost our element of surprise, thanks a lot Miss I can't get past number sixty nine on the pop charts."

Her hand flies quickly to her hair and grasps a pen free throwing it sharply to the exact spot where I lie hidden.

My mind reverts back to it's previous resolve pushing down my slight oversight as I throw myself out of hiding dodging the blast from the Mangaka Orochi. I feel heat wash over the right side of my body as a second blast from the other girl connects and I'm thrown into the side of a cold awaiting tree.

My vision is slightly clouded and my body aches with pain. Something warms trickles down the side of my face. It's blood. This warm sensation is the only thing that is keeping my mind from falling unconscious.

My mind still whirling I hear a noise, I hear them approach, the snow conceding under the pressure of there steps.

"Hey superstar, That was a pretty good shot." a spoke a cold unchanging voice.

I heard a loud crunchy stomp and a I slowly try to open my eyes and they fail to adhere to my will. Catching only a glimpse of a fairly upset young woman stomping into the snow.

"I swear one day I'll shut that sarcastic mouth of yours up for good."

I can't lose to them, I still have to save Chikane.

"Orders were quite specific, that she is to be killed. Lets get this over with."

I hear crunching in the snow that sound as if they are getting farther away.

"Hey! You can't expect me to to do this! I can't ... can't kill her."

Chikane.

I'm sorry I failed.

"Why not sixty ninth? Can't even make it as an Orochi either?"

I'm sorry I can't save you.

"Shut your mouth! That number doesn't mean a thing to me!"

I'm sorry that you have to suffer because I'm so worthless.

"Well, then prove me wrong, prove to me you're no failure."

I'm sorry that I'm so weak.

There was a moment of silence before a voice spoke out again, "You know what I don't have to listen to you, I'm the fourth neck of the Orochi and I order your superior, Fifth Neck, to kill the Solar Priestess."

Call for it.

Never.

Do it.

Desperation gripping me I concede.

I need power.

I feel a weight suddenly settle on my right hand, it's hard a smooth. My suddenly arm is filled with strength that it lacked moments before.

My eyes open slightly and notice the two women still engaged in their bitter argument ignoring my presence. I shift my line of sight to where my sword lay several feet away.

I swore to myself I would never touch this thing again, but I'm left with no other choice. For Chikane I'll do anything.

The moment the mask slips upon my face I am bound to my duty. The duty that lies deep within my heart.

My body is overwhelmed with strength surging through my entire body I rise silently from the ground and rush the two awaiting Orochi. Nothing to stand in my way anymore. I feel cold and detached from the world.

I strike out with my fist and catching the Mangaka square in the jaw. She falls instantly to the ground, not moving a muscle.

Swinging around to face the "Superstar" only to meet with a flying tube of lipstick. I drop to the ground and kick my leg out towards the girl who is in shock that I managed to dodge her point blank shot.

She falls to the ground as her shot rings out far behind myself. Trying to stand to her feet I rise from the ground and let my elbow crash down into the dead center of her back.

Just like her fellow Orochi she crumples to the ground below.

I stare blankly at the scene before me and breath out a chilly sigh of relief.

I'm still alive.

I feel the pain in the side of my head slowly ebbing away as I stagger to where my sword lies. Grasping it tightly I take one last glance at the two fallen women. Unsure if they are alive or not I continue. I just pray they aren't, I don't feel like killing anyone else today.

Perhaps after all this is over, or maybe in another better world. We'll meet understand different circumstances and Reiko Ōta will give me her autograph and that other girl will fair better than sixty eight.

Walking away I lift my hand to the mask, pulling it slightly, but finding that just like in the past it can't be removed till my duty is completed.

Duty.

Completed.

Never in all my past lives have I never put Chikane before the world, she was always very close though, but my conscience always won over.

This mask not only binds me to my duty but also provides me with the power I need to complete it. I just hope that I didn't make a mistake in choosing to wear this mask, that my resolve to save Chikane will be stronger than my duty to kill her.

Guess what?

Oh Snap! Chikane/Himeko reunion in the next part!!!