Chapter Eight: Coming Back to Life
Death is kind of strange. Well fake death, anyways. It's kind of like a blink, only long after you've woken up, you begin to fill in the gap with your imagination. Maybe it wasn't a blink...maybe it was more like falling asleep. And then a while after that, you beging to make up stories. Was there a bright light? Were there the gates of heaven opening up for you? Maybe it was the fiery pits of hell?
Satsu tried to stir. She found it difficult to even try to open her eyes. It was like she was paralyzed. She could feel someone next to her, holding her hand. But she didn't know who it was. It wasn't for a long time before she was able to slowly half open them. Everything blurry at first, but she eventually was able to focus on the ceiling above her.
"You're okay," came Julia's voice. What the hell?
"Jules?" That was what Satsu was trying to say. What came out was more like a moan.
"Shh," Jules shushed gently, stroking Satsu's hand. She brought it up to her face and kissed it. "I'm so sorry, honey." Satsu could feel tears hitting her hand. Gross… and also kind of hot. She's got really soft lips. "I didn't mean anything I said out there. I had to make it seem real. They were watching us. And that kiss—well I'm not going to say I'm sorry for kissing you because I'm sure you enjoyed every second of it." Satsu wanted to laugh. She really did, but her paralysis prevented her from laughing. It was the worst feeling in the world, wanting to laugh but can't. "I had to think of a creative way to give you that pill. Faked death for you. And you know—all that sexual tension that's been building up between us has got to have an outlet. It's pretty unhealthy." Again, Satsu couldn't laugh. "I love you so much, Satsu. I hope you know that. You're my best friend in the whole world." I love you, too. Satsu could hear a door open somewhere.
"How's she doing?" came Betrix's voice. Her!
"She's regained consciousness. I don't think she can move yet though." Julia said. "Betty, thank you so much. You saved her life. And mine. I don't know how to repay you." She saved our lives? Really?
"You don't have to." Betrix said.
"Can you do anything for Zack and Jane?" Julia asked. I almost forgot about them!
"I—honestly I don't know. I might be able to save the girl. I don't know what they're planning to do with the wolf."
"How are you going to save Jane?"
"Buy her." Betrix said. What?
"Are human slaves expensive?"
"They carry a hefty price, yes. But don't worry. I'm rich." Julia laughed.
"Hey I know this is a really random question to ask—but how come everyone around here speaks English. I mean, really? Is English like the demon language or something?" Betrix laughed for a good long while at that. Satsu thought it was pretty strange hearing her laugh. She seemed a lot kinder now than she did before. Her voice was different, too. Smoother…
"No. It's one of the languages they speak. They have a lot of English speaking slaves, so it's kind of necessary to be able to speak the tongue."
"That makes sense," Julia said. Satsu felt as if she were regaining some of her mobility. She could clench her hands now.
"Jules," Satsu muttered.
"Satsu," she said. She hurriedly grabbed Satsu's hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. I—I think I can sit up now." Julia helped Satsu sit up on the bed, her back leaning against the wall.
"That's some powerful pill you got there." Satsu said. Her head was ringing. "My head feels like it's been split in two."
"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. Only thing I knew that would work effectively." Satsu nodded her head.
"Thank you, and please—if you can save Jane as soon as possible—I'll be in your debt forever."
"Right, I'll get on that right away. You stay and rest. You and Julia can catch up. I'll be back with Jane as soon as I can." Betrix left the room. Julia smiled wide at Satsu and threw herself at her, hopping on top of her.
"God am I glad you're okay!"
"That kind of hurts, Jules." Julia was lying on top of Satsu, her arms around her neck, their faces inches away from each other. Satsu had her arms rested on Julia's lower back. "You gave me a good beating out there." Satsu smiled. They were so close she could count the freckles on Julia's face.
"Yeah, you've improved a lot though, you know that?"
"I learned everything from you, sensei." Satsu joked. To her utter surprise, Julia leaned in and kissed her. It was the most amazing kiss Satsu had ever had in her life. It was like the stars had aligned and the world had stopped spinning, and as clichéd as that sounded it was exactly how Satsu felt. Everything was just perfect. It was a long, passionate kiss, and after Julia had pulled away Satsu could still feel the lingering effects. I'm in love with her. Satsu finally opened her eyes. Julia was looking at her as if she was examining her for a reaction. "Wow." Satsu breathed. "You are one hell of a kisser." Julia was blushing as she stroked Satsu's hair.
"I don't know if I'm—you know—like you. Gay." Julia said slowly. "But I think I'm in love you with." Those words were almost too unreal for Satsu to comprehend. It was as if this were a sick dream that someone planted in her head and she would be forced to wake up any moment. Or maybe this is heaven? Maybe she was really dead. Satsu didn't know, but she knew she was happy.
"I think you shouldn't label yourself. You are what you are." Julia nodded at that but she continued to look at Satsu without moving. Satsu chuckled. "I love you too, Julia. Have for a really long time." They kissed again, even more passionately than before. Satsu, however, pulled away.
"What's wrong?" Julia asked. Satsu shook her head.
"Jane. James. Zack." Way to kill the mood, Satsu. Dumb! But…true. Julia let out a long sigh and she let her head drop on Satsu's shoulder. Satsu combed her hair absentmindedly.
"Do you love her? Jane?" That wasn't a hard question, but answering would lead to too many unknowns. Satsu didn't answer her and after a long while Julia muttered, "You do don't you?"
"No," Satsu finally answered. "Of course not. I can't get my mind off of you. But—I care about her. I like her a lot. And I don't want to hurt her."
"You can't say you love me and not hurt her."
"You're right. And you're right." Satsu let out a long sigh. "Okay—do you love James?" Julia breathed heavily on Satsu. Her breath was so warm it was almost hot.
"I do." She said. That was like a stab in the gut. Satsu wasn't expecting that reply. She took in a sharp breath. "I can't lie to you, Satsu." She said. "But I love you, too."
"You can't do that, Jules. You can't—" Satsu was trying to push her away but Julia held on to her tight.
"I want to be with you. More than James." Satsu closed her eyes. Things had just gotten way too complicated for her. And on top of that, they were somewhere else. Somewhere she still had no idea about.
"How about we deal with this when we get back home? Okay?" Julia nodded and then looked into Satsu's eyes.
"Can I kiss you again?" Satsu laughed and was about to say no, but looking at Julia's lips all she wanted to do was kiss it. She leaned in and kissed Julia, a quick but meaningful kiss. Julia climbed off the bed and sat down onto a chair next to it. She still held on to Satsu's hand.
"So where are we, Jules?"
"A demon dimension. Betty says that the only way out of here is by opening a portal. She doesn't have clearance for that. She technically is a prisoner here. Only a respected and feared one."
"That's interesting," Satsu said. "So we need to do two things. Find a way to free Zack and find a way to open that portal. Easy enough."
"Oh yeah, really." Julia said sarcastically. She was still holding on the Satsu's hand, with both of hers in fact. She was stroking it with her thumb. Satsu had never known Julia felt so strongly about her. She could feel butterflies in her stomach. That had never happened with Jane before...with anyone before. She shook her head. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Satsu pouted. "You're making me go crazy." Julia laughed and kissed the hand that she held prisoner.
"Good, I'm glad."
"Ugh! Enough flirting. You! Bad!" Satsu said with an exaggerated frown. Focus, Satsu. Focus.
"I'm sorry." Julia said, still holding her hand.
"Well does Betrix have clearance to get into the Cells?" Julia thought for a while then nodded her head.
"I'm pretty sure. She should. I don't see why she wouldn't be able to."
"Good." Satsu said. "We're two slayers...and a werewolf." Both Julia and Satsu laughed at that. "We can team up and take them down. But first we need to get a hold of how to open the portal." Suddenly the door burst open and in came Betrix with Jane. Julia let go of Satsu's hand immediately and stood up. Jane rushed over and jumped onto Satsu and hugged her with all her might.
"Oh, my God! I thought you were dead. I was so scared!" Jane kissed Satsu. From the corner of her eye, Satsu could see Julia looking away.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Satsu asked. Jane shook her head.
"No, no I'm not. Betrix filled me in. I was honestly freaking out." Jane said as she rested her head on Satsu's breasts. Things are way too complicated.
"I'm sorry I worried you like that." Satsu said, patting Jane's head. "Is Zack doing okay?"
"He wanted to turn all wolf-like and break out. I convinced him not to. I don't think they'd think twice before killing him."
"Good, I'm proud of you for thinking smart." Satsu said and Jane kissed her again. "Jane, I think this is really awkward for Betrix and Julia."
"I don't mind." Betrix said. Satsu glared at her and Betrix shrugged. "Or not." Jane got off Satsu and onto the chair Julia was on earlier.
"So what next?" Jane asked, looking around from Satsu to Betrix to Julia.
"Satsu has a semi-plan." Julia said with a smile at Satsu.
"Well more of to-do list, really." Satsu said. "Betrix, how do you open the portal?" Betrix shook her hand.
"You're right. That's not a plan. Look, if opening the portal is so easy, then I'd have done it years ago."
"You have two Slayers and a werewolf on your side now. We can do it. We just need to know how."
"The boss has it. He collects them. Rings that each open a portal to a different dimension. He gives them to his hunters whenever they go on a mission and then he takes it back." It was as if an idea had struck Julia across the head. Her eyes lit up and she smiled wide.
"I'm his hunter." Julia said. "Aren't I?" Betrix nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you are."
"So how do I get to be the one on the mission?"
"Well—actually—and I totally hadn't thought of this—but you will be called. Greg and Abu are the two senior Hunters. They would be your training masters. And they usually bring Tuck and Sam with them. You've faced them before. You think you can beat them this time?" Satsu nodded.
"I think you and I can take on three, Jules. Zack might not be strong enough to take down one by himself, but he can distract him long enough for us. We'd take down three and then team up against the last one." Everyone nodded at this.
"I have a—favor to ask." Betrix said.
"What is it?" Satsu asked.
"Amelia the Connector—she's an innocent girl who's been forced to do their dirty work just like I was. If we escape—I want to bring her with us. Her powers can be of use to you and—"
"The more people we bring, the more dangerous the mission becomes." Julia said, and rightly so.
"But you have helped us more than we can ever repay you for, so of course we'll help Amelia."
So that was my big idea. The plan. As Betrix had said, Julia was called to meet "the boss" and we waited. Betrix had the master key to unlock the Cells and she gave that me. So this is what happened. As Julia, Greg, and his gang opens the portal, I busted out Zack. Jane would be Betrix and Amelia, who would have been picked up before my break in to the Cell. Thing is, the portal would close after the person with the ring goes in, so I needed to keep Greg occupied until everyone goes in. Then, I'd drag him in after me and close the portal…
"Hurry up, Zack!" Satsu hissed. She locked the door behind her. She couldn't let these demons that were being held prisoner go to earth, too, even if they were innocent. They were probably just as blood thirsty as any demons.
"I thought you were dead!" Zack yelled, hugging Satsu. "What the hell?"
"I'll explain everything later? We got to go now!" Satsu and Zack broke and ran. They got to the portal just as Greg was about to go in. "You get into that portal, you hear? I'll grab Greg. Go!" Satsu ran forward and tackled Greg before he could get through the portal. Zack ran in as Satsu pounded Greg to a pulp. Jane, Betrix, and Amelia ran passed her and they entered the portal, as well. Satsu grabbed the beaten Greg and she backed herself into the portal.
They arrived at the back alley of the theater. It was nighttime and rain was pouring down on them. Satsu could see werewolf Zack fighting Tuck and Julia getting beaten by Abu and Sam. Satsu tossed Greg and Sam caught him. She rushed over and kicked Abu.
"You okay, Jules?" Satsu reached out her hand and helped Julia up.
"Will be after we kill these guys." Everything went according to their plan. Two Slayers against the three demons was much easier than one against two. They killed Greg first, because had been hurt pretty badly by Satsu. Sam was next and Abu was admittedly harder to kill then Satsu had imagined. He, too, had his neck ripped clean off, however. Zack was going toe-to-toe with Tuck and Satsu would've let him go on if she thought he could win. Thing was, even though they were about the same in strength and speed, Tuck wouldn't have gotten tired. That was a little tip Betrix and told them. Their such great hunters because their species never got tired. Zack on the other hand, was getting weaker with every passing second.
With Tuck dead, the battle was won. Satsu picked up the ring and placed it in her pocket. The battle was over. They were home. Satsu surveyed her friends. Betrix was sitting on a curb with her head in her hands, weeping with the joy of returning home. Amelia was next to her, holding her arm. Jane was helping Zack sit down. Julia was leaning against a wall, panting, sweating, wet, and extremely sexy. Taking in a deep breath, and knowing that it was probably going to be the worst, meanest, bitchiest, stupidest thing she'd ever do, Satsu grabbed her, leaned her backwards and in front of her girlfriend, her best friend, pretty much everyone, Satsu kissed Julia in the rain.
