Alright here comes another one. Sorry it's been taking so long with updating but school is really beating me up lately.
Black Star darted down the halls with reckless abandon in his search for the beautiful woman he had seen, and with each step her voice grew louder in his head.
Come to me, I'm waiting…Black Star
Meanwhile, Tsubaki tried everything in her power to stop him from continuing. She tried reasoning with him at first, but her words fell on deaf ears. Every time she said something he replied with the same basic response, "I have to find her" or "she's this way" but in all honesty Tsubaki had no idea what he was talking about. She hadn't seen any girl at all, besides the others, and now they were far behind, somewhere in the castle. Finally, she had had enough and she transformed out of her Kusarigama form and, while keeping her hair a chain, wrapped it around him, causing him to slip and fall.
"OW! HEY WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA TSUBAKI!"
"You're acting like a fool is what!" she replied, angry that her partner had led her through this castle after some girl that she knew didn't even exist, "Who are you chasing after that's so important?"
"I…don't know her name…" said Black Star seriously, his head down, then he lifted his head and smiled wide, "But she's beautiful, and she's waiting for me!"
Tsubaki felt her jaw drop when she heard this, but then set her jaw and said, "And what about Minora, I thought you were in a relationship with her?" Her anger only intensified when he began to laugh, low at first but then so loud that his voice was echoing off the wall and she was sure they would be found at any second.
Finally, after a good few minutes of laughter, Black Star said, "You thought I was chasing after some tail or something? Are you serious? What kind of GOD goes chasing girls around?" Then, he began laughing again, and Tsubaki just stood there in shock.
"So…why are you chasing after this woman then?"
Black Star looked at his partner and said, with a triumphant grin on his face, "She was trying to outshine me! I'm going to show her just how handsome a god really is!"
Tsubaki stood and stared at her partner slack-jawed, before she began to chuckle to herself. "That was all he wanted? Was to prove that he was more attractive than some woman?"
"Yeah and," Black Star continued, "There's a good chance she's one of these 'vampires' or something. Anyway, you mind letting me up Tsubaki?" Regaining her composure, not that she had actually lost it in the first place, Tsubaki unraveled the chain around her Meister and helped him to his feet. He rubbed his nose with his finger and then caught her as she retransformed and landed neatly in Black Stars open hands. Then, he was off once more.
Within minutes, the duo found themselves in a wide open room, and both saw very different things.
Black Star's POV
The room was vast, and lit by several candles all around. Near the wall at the back of the room was a rather spacious bed, bug enough for at least fourteen people. The sheets and pillows were a rich scarlet color. The carpeting was the same. The rest of the room was adorned with the items one would expect to find in a grand room such as this: a gargantuan closet, no doubt filled with extravagant clothing, a large vanity mirror with several different kinds of cosmetics along its counter. There were no windows, so the only light coming in was from the candles. Upon the bed lay the woman he had been following, still clad in her silver dress as she lay on her side, a sly and seductive smile on her face.
"There you are, Black Star. I've been waiting for you."
Tsubaki's POV
Because of her heightened sense of perception, Tsubaki could tell that there was something…off about the room. From her place in Black Stars hands, she could see the room he was, but something was off about it, as if it were warped in some way. Closing her eyes, she slowed her breathing, concentrating on seeing through whatever deception was in place, while Black Star took a step forward. After a moment, her eyes were opened to the truth.
The room was lit with torches, the flames barely smoldering. The room was grimy and dead looking, empty save for a single lever on the opposite wall. Standing next to this lever was the woman that Black Star had been talking about. She was indeed very attractive, and dressed in a silver dress. Her hand rested on the lever and a truly evil smile was spread along her lips, her eyes wide and seeming to glow a deep red color.
"That's right Black Star, come to me."
"That's right, I've got something to tell you, lady, so listen up!" proclaimed Black Star, stepping forward arrogantly. The woman only smiled wider and pulled the lever, allowing a pitfall to open in the middle of the room. Inside were rows of spikes, one or two with impaled skeletons upon them. Tsubaki gasped in horror as she realized Black Star was unable to see this.
"Black Star, what are the Three Rules of Assassination?" she asked him, thinking quickly. She had an idea, and she desperately hoped it would work.
"Why? She already knows I'm here."
"Just go through the steps!" she cried, noting the frustrated look on the face of the vampire before her. Black Star stopped his walking and began to recite the rules.
"One: Blend into the shadows….control your breathing…..wait for your target to let down his guard," he said, closing his eyes and slowing his breathing until it was just barely audible.
"Come Black Star, this is pointless. I've been waiting so long," said the vampire seductively.
"Two," continued Black Star, oblivious, "Tune in to your target: Predict his thoughts and actions." He could feel her wavelength from here, and could see how it worked. He also felt something all around him, but he wasn't sure what it was.
"Three: Strike your target before he notices you!" he cried, snapping his eyes open and charging, only slightly disoriented by the sudden change in scenery. He planted his foot firmly at the edge of the spike pit and leapt, raising his weapon high as he flew through the air, and then bringing it down as he landed before the woman. She took a quick and graceful step backward, despite her wearing high heels, and smiled a wide, toothy smile that looked almost as insane as it did deadly.
"A nice try, boy, but I'm afraid you're simply too slow to best me. Not very beautiful, either. Too bad, I guess I'll have to bathe in another's blood. How about your partner?" she asked, her tone sweet and alluring, but the look on her face was something malicious and, if it were anyone else, just plain scary. But it wasn't just anyone else. It was Black Star.
"You won't have to worry about that one! I am the Almighty Black Star! No one is more beautiful than me! Bask in my shining glory!"
"Er…Black Star…?" Tsubaki muttered, embarrassed that her Meister had just said something so…well…embarrassing.
The woman before them merely laughed and said, "So bold for one so young, but I told you before, you are simply too slow." Then, the woman was gone, only to be heard just inches from Black Star's ear a moment later.
"See what I mean?"
Black Star felt a hand, nothing more than a hand, on his back before he was sent flying forward, a feeling that was both electric and burning pulsing through his body before he crashed into the nearby wall.
"Black Star!" cried Tsubaki as she transformed and helped him to his feet.
"Oh, I was so very right about you dear. So young! So exquisitely beautiful! Yes, you're blood will no doubt bring me beauty. Might I ask your name before I kill you?" Tsubaki glared at the woman with anger spreading across her features.
"Call me Tsubaki Nakatsukasa."
"Charmed dear. I suppose it's only fair that you hear the name of the most beautiful being in existence before you perish. Listen well, children! I am Erzsebet! The Blood Countess! The Dark Illusionist! My Dark Desire is to be the most beautiful being known in this world, and with your blood my dear, I will achieve this."
"I told you…" said Black Star, straightening up as he smiled back at Erzsebet, "It is my blood that will make you beautiful!" Then, he held out his hand for Tsubaki, who face- palmed at his ridiculous statement before she began to glow and transformed into the Kusarigama, landing in his hands.
Black Star didn't have much time to prepare as Erzsbet vanished once more, this time coming up along his side with her hand extended out to spear him, and he knew that from the look of those nails that it would probably kill him. As quickly as he could, he ducked out of the way of the blow and wrapped the chain of his weapon around her arm, then pulled, using all his strength to flip her over his shoulder. The attack was successful at first, but as soon as she hit the ground on her back, she was gone again, freeing her arm from the chain easily. For the second time, Black Star was launched away, feeling the burning electric current pulse through him for a moment.
"My but you are persistent," she mocked, allowing him to get to his feet as she crossed her arms and watched him, "How long do you think you'll be able to last, Black Star?" He didn't answer her, but instead smirked at her and said nothing. Her own smirk dissipated, and then turned to a scowl when she noticed that the boy was no longer holding one end of his weapon. Looking down she saw that it was sitting just at her feet.
"You're the second person to fall for this one!" he cried triumphantly, whipping the chain and raising the other end into the air, attempting to cut her in half. Once more, she smiled, and with speed faster than lightning she grabbed the weapon before it could do any more than scratch at her dress.
"Sneaky," she said, before Tsubaki began to cry in pain, "Maybe my Dark Wavelength will teach you to fight fair, hmm?" Before he knew it, Tsubaki was back in her human form, all the way where Erzsebet was standing, holding her up by the throat. Her cries were cut short as the woman tightened her grip, and small trails of blood began to ooze down her neck. After running her tongue along one of these trails and closing her eyes at the taste, Erzsebet glanced up at Black Star and said, "Fetch."
Before he knew it, Tsubaki was thrown like a rag doll toward the spike pit, and he took off with all his strength, moving at speeds even he wasn't sure he could attain, and leaping across with his arms open to catch his partner. They collided in the center, with Black Star catching her and just barely making the jump before rolling into his landing, being mindful not to hurt his partner. He lay her down on the cold stone floor gingerly and she looked up to him with tears in her eyes, pain still coursing through her.
"C'mon let's take this bitch down, Tsubaki!" he said to her, but she did nothing. "Tsubaki?"
"She can't transform, boy. My Wavelength is making sure of it. Granted, it won't last long, but neither will this battle. Are you ready for death now?"
Standing, Black Star glared back at his opponent, his pupils replaced with white stars, "Yeah, let's get this over with," he said menacingly, his voice dark. Erzsebet only smiled on, waiting for him to make the first move. This was her first mistake.
Like she had been doing, Black Star had managed to vanish from her sight, only to appear seconds later ducking down in front of her, his fist raised and flying for her abdomen, a ferocious snarl on his face. She sidestepped out of the way, the attack meeting air, and then she too vanished, appearing on the opposite end of the spike pit. While all this happened, Tsubaki had managed to slowly hobble to the wall, where she was now leaning and holding her throat.
"My, what a surprise. You actually do have some bite to you. But it won't matter. Dark Wavelength, Gather!" Erzsebet cried, and as the words left her lips, Black Star felt a rush of dark energy fly past him, toward his opponent. She was surrounded for a moment by a dark aura before it dissipated, leaving her standing there looking stronger than before, her fingertips now covered by black talon-like claws.
"Are you ready, Black Star? I certainly hope so," she had, her voice dark and dripping with malice. Then, she was gone, Black Star just barely able to react before she could take a chunk out of his side with her claws. He was too slow, however, to dodge the next attack, which even then only caused a small graze on his arm. The effect, however, was immediate.
Right after being struck, Black Star watched as the scenery before him changed once more, this time into a dark room. Before him stood Tsubaki, holding a pair of Kusarigama and looking at him with menace.
"Tsubaki?" he asked, only to be answered by one end of the weapon spinning toward him. He sidestepped out of the way, but was surprised to find that his partner had charged him while he was busy, and buried the other end in his gut.
"Black Star!" he heard a little ways away, and at this he knew it was just another illusion. Closing his eyes and concentrating, he was able to snap himself back to reality, only to find his true opponent standing just in front of him.
"Surprise!" she said joyfully, digging her claws into his gut before sending him flying back against the wall, and sending him into another illusion, this one more vivid than the one before it.
Black Star was standing in a room, his to be exact, and standing before him was Minora, looking at him with sad eyes. It took all he was just to keep from walking to her and holding her, since he never liked to see her look sad.
"This is just an illusion…" he said, trying to concentrate and free his mind, but it was no use as she spoke back to him.
"What's an illusion Black Star? Why won't you look at me…did I do something wrong?" she asked as Black Star turned his face away from her, only to feel her warmth next to him seconds later. He looked down to see her crying, and just faintly he could hear Tsubaki once more,
"Black Star! She's coming you have to fight back! Do it! Now!"
Black Star stood with the silently weeping girl in his arms, trying to force himself to attack, to strike her away, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, until finally, it was too late. He felt the claws dig into his throat before the image before him faded, showing Erzsebet standing just before him once more, this time with her hand around his throat.
"You don't mean to tell me that this is the best you can do?" she asked sweetly, closing her fingers tighter so that he couldn't reply, "Oh well, I suppose your blood will taste fine, then I can move on to your partner." Black Star struggled against her at this, but it was no use, and soon black spots began to appear in his field of vision. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, he heard the vampire before him screech in pain and drop him to the floor. Taking his chance, despite his foggy mind, Black Star concentrated his Soul Wavelength like Erik had taught him and struck, his hand curling into a claw as he dug it into her gut. He felt his wavelength pierce through into hers, but something was off about it: like there was a thin layer just on the surface. This didn't last long, however, as he again used too much power in his attack and the two combatants were sent flying in opposite directions, Black Star colliding with the wall behind him and Erzsebet flying to the other side of the room. Tsubaki, who was in Shuriken Mode at the time, transformed and landed on the ground in a kneel while the vampiress flew through the air, before she made her way to her partner and, once again, helped him to his feet.
"You little bastard!" cried Erzsebet, standing. Her form had changed dramatically after his attack. Her body seemed to have aged a hundred years or so, and her hair had become something gray, thin and wispy. Black Star recalled the feeling he had felt while he used the Soul Ripper on her, and he suddenly had a burst of true insight, something that only happened every once in a while.
"I get it now: why you desire to be beautiful. You've lost all of your youth, and your wavelength allows you to create illusions to fool others into seeing what you want them to see. But I bet it doesn't work on you, does it? Every day you have to see what we're seeing right now: an ugly old woman."
"Shut up you little pest!" The desire to murder the young ninja before her was clear in her burning eyes, and silently she said, "You'll pay for your words boy. I may be old and…undesirable, but you still will not win this battle! I'll have your blood!" Then, with an otherworldly screech she charged the pair, leaping the pit easily, her hand clawed and still covered in darkness. Silently, Tsubaki transformed, choosing Enchanted Sword Mode of her own volition, and Black Star also charged. As Erzsebet attacked, he sidestepped, catching her gut with his free hand.
"You're speed was just an illusion as well, wasn't it, Erzsebet?" he asked, his tone serious and somewhat mocking. She didn't answer, so he continued, "Vampire or not, I won't lose. I am the man who will surpass God!" Then, with a great heave, he launched the woman into the air, flying high over the pit. Just as she was about to fall in, Black Star leapt with incredible speed and power, hi blade passing through her easily. He landed on the other side and Tsubaki, despite the very tense atmosphere as the vampire faded away into darkness, leaving a glowing violet soul in her place, said, "You're really starting to like those dramatic one his kills, aren't you?"
"Well," Black Star said as he turned back to look at the peculiar soul behind him, "No normal victory would be great enough for me! I'm the greatest warrior in the whole world….and the most beautiful!"
Crap ending, right? Wrong. Hope you liked, and sorry for taking so long to update, but college is getting kind of hectic. Spring break is coming up soon, so I might be able to update more then. Here's hoping.
