Ch 35: Memory
*****************From Aurora Marie's Perspective*****************
I sat on the ground, staring at the rubble in front of me. The ceiling had suddenly come down right where I was. If I had been moving even a slightly bit faster, I would have been killed. As it stood, glancing over my shoulder, I might still be. There were a couple of the assassins following me. One had a different weapon than the others. It looked like a simple Odachi.
"So. All alone are we? Why not come to our side?" the man asked. He had a feminine look to him and a rather high voice.
"Nah. I'm good. I've seen what those things do to your skin." I said confidently, trying to intimidate them.
"Hmph." the man muttered, looking disappointed. "Kill her."
The other assassins charged me. I got a blade with my light hand and broke it in half. Then I slammed my shadow hand into the ground, sending a line of spikes at one of the assassins. He managed to evade the spikes, but was hit by the first assassin being thrown at him. I held my light hand above my head, where it flared. Then dozens of beams of light leaped from my open palm and burst through the assassins.
"You are skilled I see." the man said.
"Want to try?" I asked him, taking my stance.
"But of course. However I, unlike these fools, have not fallen to the Bakkoutou. I control mine." he said, holding the Odachi at the ready.
"Big deal. Come and get me!" I yelled, charging him. When I got close, I swung my light hand at his face. He blocked with the Odachi and my hand began to bleed.
"What the?" I muttered in shock as I retreated.
"Simple. You punched a sword. Not the brightest idea in the world." the man said.
"Punk." I said, slamming my hand into the ground, sending a line of spikes at him.
He dodged them and attacked my side. I dodged the attack and kicked at his head. As he swung, I flipped and twisted, dodging the blows.
"You're pretty good at running. But if you don't attack, you won't wi-" he said, but I cut him off with a sharp kick to his groin.
"How's that for an attack?" I asked innocently, with a grin on my face.
"You…bitch!" he yelled, blue reiatsu bursting from his body.
"Woah…hold on now!" I shouted.
"My name is Ranmaru Mori! Nobunaga Oda's personal guard!" Ranmaru yelled in anger.
"Aurora Marie. Member of the 14th squadron." I said.
"Then taste the bite of my blade!" Ranmaru yelled, dashing at me.
I tried to dodge, but his weapon clipped my side and sent me spiraling into a wall.
"What?" I gasped as I pulled myself to my feet.
"My Bakkoutou creates a vacuum when it's swung. Even if I barely miss, you'll still be sent flying by the vacuum!" Ranmaru gloated, then he was attacking again.
I tried my best to dodge his attacks, but either the blade would catch me, or the vacuum would send me flying.
"What's this? Just a slight increase in ability is too much for you?" Ranmaru taunted as I lay against a wall. "Oh well. Guess I should end this. You weren't much of a fighter to be honest."
Ranmaru came closer to me, intent to finish me off. Then the ceiling over him came crashing down on him with a huge explosion. As I laid there, I thanked my lucky stars.
*******************Ryan Ryuugi's Perspective********************
"Emma! Will you quit blowing shit up like that!?" I yelled at her as she nearly caught me in the explosion.
"You didn't get hit did you!?" Emma shouted back.
"ARGH!" I yelled in frustration.
Mikey just laughed from a safe distance away.
"Hello?" came a weak voice.
I glanced at the hole and saw a beacon of light.
"Hey! Are you ok?" I called.
"Can you…can you help me up?" Aurora asked, sounding in pain, but wearing a huge grin despite the blood running down her face.
"I'm coming!" I shouted, leaping down the hole.
Aurora was huddled against the wall, covered in lacerations and scratches, but otherwise looked fine.
"Emma! You idiot! You dropped the ceiling on Aurora!" I shouted, looking at the pile of rubble and seeing that Aurora must have dragged herself out of it.
******************Shino Tobias's Perspective******************
I heard another explosion as I opened a heavily designed door. As I walked through, I saw a man in ebony armor staring out the veranda at the moon.
"So. You are here." he said, turning to reveal an aged, but hard face and cold black eyes.
"Nobunaga Oda." I said the name like a curse.
"And, if it pleases you, may you grace me with your name." he asked, though there was a commanding tone to his voice.
"Shino Tobias. Your men attacked and nearly killed my husband." I told him.
"Oh? That was my sisters doing." Nobunaga said with a grimace.
"Lalum is your sister?" I asked.
"Lalum? Who is Lalum?" Nobunaga asked.
"The girl you sent. Red hair?" I asked in confusion.
"Red hair…Of course…so this is your plan…" Nobunaga muttered to himself, seeming to lose himself in thought. "But no…perhaps this is too much for you…"
"Where is she?" I asked.
"Nowhere you will find her." Nobunaga said, walking to a weapon rack and grabbing a katana with a large disc on it.
I held my weapon at the ready.
"Now….you shall taste the full wrath of the Oda Clan." Nobunaga said, holding the disc towards me. It flashed and suddenly, I was floating in a black realm with mirrors surrounding me. Suddenly they flashed…
…I woke up and looked around. Kyle was sleeping next to me. I watched him sleep for a moment, then I slowly roused him.
"Ungh…Morning love." he muttered as he opened his eyes and looked for me.
"Morning. We both have the day off today." I said with a grin.
"Guess it's gonna be a really good day eh?" Kyle said with a sleepy grin.
"Yup." I said, giving him a slow kiss. He put his arms around me and returned the kiss. Slowly, the kiss turned into more. Awhile later, we were still in the bed, but we were both sweaty and tired again.
"Shino…I love you." Kyle said to me with a dreamy look.
"I love you too." I said, kissing him again.
….I was waiting at the North gate to Rukongai. Kyle was on his way back from a dangerous mission to eliminate a hollow's nest. Slowly, the door opened and Kyle and his squad walked through. They were all bloodied and bandaged, but they all had a look of accomplishment on their faces. My heart flew as I saw Kyle walking at the forefront, his face breaking into a smile as he saw me. Then he was running to me and hugging me hard.
"Shino…I'm home." He said.
"Welcome back." I said with a smile.
…It was late. Kyle was completing one last set of rounds, then he would be back. My nerves were racing as I was preparing to tell him something important. I jumped a bit as he knocked three times.
"Come in." I said, trying my best to keep my voice neutral.
"Hey Shino. So…what was it you wanted to talk about?" Kyle asked.
"I…we…have you ever…I mean…did you ever want…" I couldn't seem to get the sentence to come out right.
"Did I ever want…? Shino, are you alright?" Kyle asked, a worried look on his face.
"I'm fine. It's just…Kyle…do you…want to have children?" I asked slowly.
"Of course. I want to be a good father." Kyle said.
"Well. Kyle. You know how we…you know." I began, blushing deeply at the thought of what we do. "And that we do…that…a lot right?"
"Yes. Somehow I know what we do. I mean, it's not like I'm there or anything." Kyle joked with a smile.
"Please." I said imploringly.
"Sorry. You were saying?" Kyle apologized.
"Well. You see. I'm…I'm pregnant." I told him.
"You're pregnant?" Kyle asked in dumbfounded shock.
"Yes. I found out this morning." I told him.
"You. Pregnant. That makes me…That means I'm gonna be…a…father?" Kyle said, a strange look on his face.
"I don't know what the rest of Seireitei will think." I admitted.
"I'm…gonna be a…father?" Kyle muttered again.
"And I'm going to be a mother." I said to him, putting my arms around him.
I felt my neck grow wet.
"Kyle? Are you…crying?" I asked uncertainly.
"I'm…just so…happy." Kyle muttered, leaning back and draping his arms around my shoulders.
"Kyle…" I said quietly, happy at the way he was taking it. Then I felt his hands move.
I thought he was just running his hands along me. Then his hands tightened on my neck.
"K…Kyle?" I gasped in shock as he tightened his grip.