A/N: Okay, so first and foremost, I must apologize for not uploading sooner. I've been really sick these past few weeks. I had a sinus infection and it was REALLY bad; so bad that I couldn't sleep because it hurt to breathe. And on top of that, my back has been acting up, so I've been taking pain meds that make me loopy. So, needless to say, I've been pretty messed up. I hope you guys can forgive me for leaving you guys hanging like that.
On another note, I know this chapter looks familiar, but I promise that it isn't. Well, it kind of is, but... Damn it, just read it and see what happens. I know it's short, but I JUST wrote it and now I'm working on Chapter 11 and hopefully I can have it up by tonight. If not, then it will be up tomorrow.
Happy Readings!
I stared up into the eyes of an angry Takken. Honestly, I couldn't remember how I even got on the floor. It seemed that everything that happened before that point was just a blur. It didn't make sense. Nor did it make sense the reason I was bleeding. Perhaps I tripped and fell?
Don't be an idiot.
No, of course I didn't fall. I was a youkai. Youkai weren't clumsy and I was certainly no exception. So the only other option was that I was forced to the ground. But how?
Training?
Were we training? Was Takken training me in hand-to-hand combat? I took in my surroundings, noting the pale lilac walls of my bedroom. That was a weird place to train someone.
Fool.
A sharp pain in my side forced me face-down onto the ground. I didn't understand. What was happening? Why was I in so much pain? I coughed up blood, rolling onto my side to curl into myself. Why was this happening?
"You are pathetic, Ayame. You do not deserve your status. You are weak," the voice above me taunted, rolling me back onto my front; a pressure on my spine kept me in place. "You like to believe that you are strong, but you are not. Your father would have been ashamed of you."
A choked sob escaped my lips at the mention of Father. He would have been ashamed of me? Why? I didn't understand! Help me to understand!
"I-I… I…" I gasped. It hurt too much to speak.
"You what? You do not think he'd be ashamed of you?" I shook my head weakly. "Then you are a bigger fool than I thought you to be!" Another sharp pain in my side and I was against the wall on the other side of the room.
What is happening?
You know what's happening!
I opened my mouth to speak, but all that came out was more blood. I didn't understand.
"W-Why…?" I finally managed to gasp, curling into myself once more.
"Why? You know why!"
It has been about 10 years since I had that premonition. And it had come true. The pain started about 5 years ago and it only got worse. I could not fight back. I was too weak. I was not sure exactly what had happened, but my youki had been draining over the past few years. I could have easily been mistaken for a human, if not for my appearance.
"T-Takken… Please…" I muttered, forcing myself onto my hands and knees.
"And now you're begging!" he laughed, kicking me onto my side. "Oh, it can't possibly get any better than this!"
"P-Please…"
"You know, Lady Ayame," he spat, towering over me. "You are all bark and no bite. You humiliated me with your beloved youki, but where is it now, huh? Why aren't you fighting back? It's because you're WEAK!" His foot caught me in the stomach, forcing me harder against the wall. "You don't deserve anything that has been given to you!" Kneeling, he gripped my chin firmly, forcing me to look up at him. "But you know that, don't you? And now, there isn't a single soul who can help you. Poor Ayame, all alone. But you always have me, Ayame. Isn't that enough?"
"Fuck you!" I spat, my saliva splattering against his face.
He bellowed in anger, backhanding me with such force I blacked out for about five seconds. The hit hurt, but the pain in my chest was nothing compared to that. Breathing heavily, he rose to his full height, glaring down at me.
"You are alone, Ayame. No one else cares about you or your well-being. All you have left is me. And you will do well to remember that."