Oh dear, where do I begin? I'm sorry this post took so long again. I got a new job and between it and my classes I'm going crazy. I actually had this finished last night, but after a few drinks with my friend I decided to start the chapter over..even in my drunken stupor. When I woke up this morning I laughed pretty hard at my typos, but I saw some potential in what I wrote. So..5 or so hours later, here we go. A chapter that is almost the exact opposite of the one I had intended to post (which was 14 pages long). But..this will result in some serious fan-service. so get pumped.
Lucia had seized the opportunity for escape, even if it could only be one of them. She let go of Sumire's hand and pushed her toward the pathway. "Go Sumire!" she yelled, holding the monster by the tongue with one hand over the other as he tried to wriggle free, "Don't argue! Run! Now, please just go!" Sumire wanted to fight, but knew Lucia wouldn't let go until she was a safe distance away. If she wasted any time, Lucia's hand would be destroyed. Sumire ran quickly down the path and disappeared into the nights shadows. Lucia watched her gratefully, 'at least she'll be safe.' She kicked the virus in the head, he growled and writhed. Lucia had to let go of the tongue. He pulled it into his mouth and snarled at her. She clenched her wrist and looked at her hand, the flesh on it hand almost been entirely eaten away. She winced and glared down at the Virus, who got up and hissed at her. "Bitch." He mumbled, covering his mouth, "you'll pay for that."
"We'll see." She challenged dropping her hand to her side, "C'mon then!" Lucia sprinted in the opposite direction of Sumire, towards the other side of the park and down the street. The virus flew into the air and followed her. She stuck to the alleyways, covering several blocks in only a few minutes as she darted through the shadows. She finally stopped in the middle of a dimly lit street, panting as she stood on the pavement. At least they were further away from Sumire now. The virus landed in front of her.
"I warned you that running was useless!" he growled as he swung at her. She jumped back, avoiding his sharp talon. He lunged at her and she leapt over him, stomping on his back as she did. She landed on the street and swiftly turned around to face him. It would be simple to evade his attacks, but it took a lot of energy to jump around so much. She had to keep distracting him for as long as she could, but knew she couldn't keep it up forever. She hoped Sumire would have enough of a head start when she failed. The virus angrily snapped at her, she evaded him again, positioning herself behind a lamppost. She looked for an opening to attack, but couldn't find one.
"Stop moving!" the beast snarled, "Just accept your fate." He brought down his talon across the post and sliced the metal in half.
"I'm not one to give up so easily." Said Lucia as the top of the post crashed and shattered on the road, "Not without a fight."
"You can't run forever!" he yelled, swinging at her another time.
Lucia flipped backwards and dodged yet again, "I don't have to! Just until you get tired."
"You've underestimated my ability!" the virus cursed, circling her. She scoffed, she knew exactly how strong he was. She just had to keep his focus on her, and taunting guaranteed it. She watched him cautiously, ready to avoid his attack as soon as she saw his body shift. Unfortunately, she did not see him move. It was too sudden, too fast. Like a blur, he came at her before she could blink. 10 ft away one second and 5 inches away the next. She tried to evade once more, but in her haste she misjudged his movements. His was aiming for her throat, but his talon caught her shoulder, ripping her nightgown and knocking the already injured shoulder out of place again. She flew back, hitting the back of her skull, among other parts of her body, as she bounced against the ground like a rag doll. Her bare skin skidded against the pavement until she stopped at a curb. Then she just laid there, still and silent. The virus stood over her laughing, he reached for her neck.
Sumire staggered into an alley, lost and breathless. She swore, somehow she'd managed to twist her ankle and now every time she stepped a terrible pain rushed up her leg and through her body. She had no idea where she had run, but she knew it was nowhere near the Vanguard. She glanced around frantically, it certainly wasn't her neighborhood, but it looked vaguely familiar.
"shit..shit..SHIT!" she cursed, pounding her fist against a brick wall. "I left her alone, why did I run? Why am I such a coward?!" She opened her hand so her palm pressed alongside the wall and she rested her head against it hopelessly. She watched the road outside the alley, hoping she'd see Lucia dash by, praying the hunter managed to escape somehow too. She pressed her forehead to the wall and swore again, her knees began to quiver and her ankle throbbed. She wondered if she could somehow access her 'berserker mode'. She looked in direction from where she came. "I need to go back, I need to go save her.." Her legs wouldn't move though, she was too afraid of what she would see; not even of her own death, but of Lucia's. She hated herself for being so terrified and selfish. Lucia was willing to die for her… shouldn't Sumire feel the same? She looked out into the street and suddenly realized where she was. She only had one chance to save Lucia now; she just hoped it wasn't too late.
Lucia waited for the virus to drop his guard. As she winced and grabbed her injured shoulder, he leaned over her and reached one claw towards her long neck. Lucia quickly kicked him in the chin as she back flipped to escape him. The virus stumbled back, clutching his jaw and growling. Lucia, now on her feet again, used his distraction to attack. She lunged forward and punched him in the face with her working arm. The virus toppled over and hit the ground. He rolled around, grasping his head and swearing. Lucia laughed and winced, putting her left hand on her right shoulder and trying to pull it back into place. It didn't work, her arm hung limp at her side and she groaned. The virus got up again, baring his teeth. "You can't fight anymore, can you?" He hissed, "Good..cause I'm gonna tear you limb from limb bitch."
Lucia stepped back, but she wasn't afraid. She had always known one way or another she'd die during some battle, she just hoped it wouldn't be until after she got revenge for her mother's murder. She hoped Sumire had made it back to the Vanguard. In those last thoughts, she was thankful that she had at least kissed the younger girl, but regretted being anxious of her feelings for so long. She knew that if she had the chance, she would let Sumire know exactly what she meant to her, without inhibition. Too bad she hadn't realized it all sooner. But it seemed that it always worked out like that. People never realize the truth until they are staring down death. She clutched her limp arm and positioned herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, fully expecting it to be her last. The virus flew towards her, intent on tearing the heart from her chest. Lucia raised her hand, ready to pull off her eye-patch and destroy them both.
She opened her eye quickly, she saw him in front of her, about to strike. She began to remove the patch, but stopped when a silver blur crossed her sight, followed by the virus's screeching and howls of pain. Before she knew it, he flew off, escaping into the sky. "Slash'd his arm pretty good, he's smart to flee like that." Chimed a familiar voice, "I didn't think I'd be running into yah again so soon. But it's certainly a good thing, I'd say." Róisín grinned as Lucia noticed her.
"What are you doing here?" asked Lucia immediately. Although she was mystified and perplexed, she was more relieved than she'd ever felt before. She was truly just happy to see Róisín. Sumire dashed up behind the foreigner, probably slowed by her injury.
"Sumire fetch'd me. I gotta admit I was pretty thrown when she show'd up at my door in the middle of the night in her gown… and all breathless too." She winked as she took a cloth and wiped the blood from her blade. "I thought I'd have to tell her that you're the only one I'm interested in and break her heart." Sumire rolled her eyes. From her pocket, the foreigner retrieved a vile of what looked like anti-virus serum and let a few drops fall on the blade, then wiped it again before sheathing her weapon.
"She was the only person I could think of." said Sumire, watching the sky attentively, expecting the virus might return.
"I really didn't think you'd call on me so soon." She said with a laugh, wrapping her arms around Lucia's neck. Sumire's fists clenched. "Can't say I didn't miss yah though! I thought about you all day, even when I went to a bar tonight; where a very attractive girl tried to pick me up, but I turned her down because I only want you!" Sumire wondered if she'd ever stop talking. "She was nothing compared to you." She tightened her embrace. Lucia cringed, pain shot through her shoulder across her chest. She winced softly and Róisín quickly let go. "Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't notice. What the hell happened?"
"Well, it's just my shoulder. It never healed properly." Lucia replied.
"Oh no, Lu-" began Sumire, before Róisín interrupted.
"My poor dear! You work too hard! You should've let yourself rest." She cried, "Maybe if you didn't have to carry all the burden of all this on your own."
"She's not on her own, I'm here to h--" Sumire tried to say.
Róisín ignored her again, "Come to my house. Let me take care of you. I'll protect you until that shoulder is properly mended." She touched Lucia's face gently. "Sumire, you can go back to the Vanguard."
"Oh, that's not necessary." Sumire stated, "I can take care of her. I'm not gonna leave her."
"I don't want to trouble anyone." Whispered Lucia, too drained to listen to them argue.
"We better go home and fix you up!" exclaimed Sumire quickly, glancing at the foreigner, "Thanks for your help, sorry for waking you up. You can go home now, I'll take Lucia back to the Vanguard."
"Oh, no no." Róisín responded, "I would feel much better if you let me help. After all, that virus escaped..he's still out there and he's probably angry now. You should at least let me escort you back."
"We don't need you." Argued Sumire, "I can take care of Lucia."
"Yah obviously do or else you wouldn't have come to get me tonight."
"I'm thankful, don't get me wrong." Claimed the younger girl. "But it would be best if you just let me take it from here."
"I can't do that. Lucia needs me by her side." Róisín insisted, her voice raising in volume and stressing her statement.
"No she doesn't." Sumire contended, also getting louder.
"You can't take care of her!" Róisín argued.
"Yes I can!" declared Sumire.
"I'll carry her back to my home. She must be tired and to walk all the way back to the Vanguard would be troublesome. You should really go though, Sumire." The foreigner said again.
"No way! I already said I wouldn't leave her." Yelled Sumire.
"You already did. You left her to die." Said Róisín coldly, "I wouldn't do that, not ever." Sumire didn't have a response to that. She was already ashamed by her cowardice; she looked down and bit her lip. Róisín was smug; she smirked, a sort of 'Ha, got you...' response to the younger girl's humiliation. Lucia, having observed the entire ordeal without understanding what it was truly about, touched Sumire's shoulder.
"That's not true… I asked her to leave. And I hate to interject, but the virus is still out there and likely to return." Lucia finally asserted, stepping between Sumire and Róisín. "Please, it's simply not the time. As flattered as I am that you both want to help me, I can take care of myself." Róisín shook her head and began to open her mouth to argue, but was interrupted by exactly the creature Lucia warned would come back for them. He swooped down towards the foreigner, who saw him in the corner of her eye and managed to dodge out of his path just in time.
"Shit!" Róisín yelled, pulling her sword out again as he flew back into the sky. "I didn't think he'd be back so soon."
"I did." Lucia murmured, holding her shoulder and cursing the fact that she still couldn't move it.
"Lucia!" Sumire exclaimed, "You need to get back. You can't fight like that."
"Like hell I can't!" Lucia yelled, taking an aggressive stance. She searched the sky for the virus, but he was nowhere in sight.
"No really Lu—" Sumire began to disagree, but was yet again disrupted. This time, however, by the vicious creature above them. He shoved her from behind and knocked her into Lucia, who caught the girl regardless of her injury.
"Let the hunter stay little girl, we're not done playing!" He growled.
Sumire regained her balance and Lucia glared at the beast, "By the way you ran off, I was certain we were finished."
"Oh no, I was having so much fun I went to get some of my friends." He hissed as two more viruses emerged from behind him. One was a female who had gold eyes like the first virus, but the other was a larger man whose eyes were wild and crimson. Lucia didn't back down, but Róisín's blade began to shake in her hand. She moved forward, ready to attack the first one that advanced toward Lucia.
"Cute," said the first virus, "you've got a little bodyguard."
"I cut you once and I can cut you again." Róisín threatened.
"Oh I know," the virus replied, lifting up his arm to show the long gash Róisín made, which had turned black on the edges where the serum ate his flesh, "I'll get you for that."
"Whatcha' waiting for?" the foreigner challenged, "Come at me and I'll give yah one to match right across your neck."
"I have no interest in you.." said the virus, "Sure, you have the sight so your soul should be appealing, but it still smells putrid. You must be a sinful girl!"
Róisín held out her sword, "Enough talk, c'mon! I just want to kill you already."
"How delightfully feisty you all are!" the second gold-eyed virus exclaimed.
"I told you it would be fun, didn't I?" laughed the first.
"I want to eat the shy, cute one." Said the red-eyed one, watching Sumire as she clung to Lucia's arm. He stepped toward them and Róisín moved, swinging her blade just short of his nose. "That was rude.." he growled and lifted his fist, punching the ground in front of Róisín and causing the earth so shake. She lost her footing and he sprung at her. His fist flew toward her, but she was just fast enough to evade it. She cut his upper arm and his chest, but his attacks did not slow despite his burning skin. The cuts weren't deep enough for the serum to spread.
The other two viruses began to circle the group, cheering on their companion. The female set her sights on Sumire and the first nodded when she looked at him for approval. She charged at the younger girl. Sumire pushed Lucia out of the way and avoided the attack without a second to spare. She was thankful for all Lucia's training in hand-to-hand combat, but still wasn't sure how long she could last against the virus whose nails had suddenly grown long and sharp. Although she hated Róisín, she could not leave her to fight alone; and Lucia was too injured to fight. The female virus leapt at her, slashing her sharp nails toward Sumire's chest. The younger girl dodged again, but the virus's nails nicked her flesh.
As her friends fought to protect her, Lucia glared at the first virus. He was laughing, his tongue falling out of his mouth again. He was acting like it was just a game. Lucia was enraged, she charged him even with her arm limp at her side. She launched herself into the air and kicked at him, but he caught her leg and threw her back. She hit the pavement."Wait your turn!" he laughed, "I already got to play with you."
The female virus had Sumire by the neck, she choked as the monster's grasp tightened. "Sumire!" Róisín yelled as she saw the virus lift the younger girl off the ground. She didn't hesitate to intercede although she was still fighting her own opponent. She swung her sword down and sliced off the female virus's arm. She let out an ear piercing shriek that stopped her companions in their tracks. Sumire dropped to the ground, pulling the severed limb from it's grasp on her neck. She gasped and coughed as Róisín forced the female back. Lucia, who had finally risen from where she was thrown, ran toward Sumire only to be cut off by the first virus. He grabbed her arm, and held her there.
"You're not going anywhere," he hissed, "I want you to see this." He ran his claw up the back of her neck and grasped her head, forcing her to watch helplessly.
The red-eyed virus stood stunned as the anti-virus serum from Róisín's blade spread up the female's shoulder and into her chest and neck, dissolving her slowly. Furiously, he turned and ran at Róisín, who was distracted, watching the female turn to ash. He leaned forward and rammed his head into her stomach. She flew back, slamming against a lamppost, dropping her sword as she hit. Before she could recover, he was on her. He kicked her in the side and beat her down until she was unable to move.
Sumire could not watch a moment longer, she darted toward Róisín and grabbed the sword from the ground. She held it out in front of her, swinging it at the red-eyed virus and forcing him to back off the foreigner.
"Oh oh," He cackled, "What're you gonna do?" Sumire looked at Róisín in horror, the foreigner had come to Sumire's rescue even at the risk of her own safety, and now she laid on the ground in Sumire's place.
"Don't come any closer unless you want to end up like your friend." Warned Sumire.
"Do you even know how to use that?" he asked, stepping forward. No, she didn't. She'd never been trained with a sword, the extent of her knowledge of swordsmanship came from movies and television. But she had different plans. Quickly, she glanced at Lucia, who knew exactly what the younger girl was planning. They both knew the risk, but it had to be taken. "Careful little girl." He laughed, "You could cut yourself."
"Exactly… " she murmured, lifting the blade. She ran it across her palm, letting the sharp edge slice her skin. The serum pulsed through her veins, her mouth tasted like burning metal, and her sight went black and hazy. From where the hunter stood, she could see Sumire change. As her eyes a turned red, a black cross flashed. She grinned at the virus, her voice a low hiss, "Something smells sweet..."
Soooo...I'm writing the next part right now but I figured that you would want me to post what I could. I don't have class till 2 tomorrow, so I should have it done. :D Dunno..I might get distracted by the Bills game. But probably not..cause they're a pretty terrible football team. (I say that with love...they're my boys and I'm in love with Trent Edwards) If you review and tell me how badly you need to read the next chapter I'll probably skip the game and type just because I love you guys. So Review! And check out my profile for the status on updates on this and other stories (I'm currently writing the outline of another awesome VVV fanfic [AU] that should be posted October 31st)
EDIT! - I posted one of my early character sketches of Roisin Dubh cause people were wondering what she looks like in my head, The link is in my profile! Please go take a look.