A/N: Gosh! It's been so long! So sorry, Final Fantasy XIV has distracted me terribly! That and my girlfriend, you can blame her! -glares at sailorjessica228-
Chapter Fifty Five: The Beginning of the End
Healer made a point of not having contact with her comrades, at least not yet. Not when the memory was so raw, so painful. She wonder what hurt more, their betrayal, or if she'd actually lost them to Galaxia. At least if Galaxia had killed them, she wouldn't have a reason to hate them. But did she? She wanted to, so badly..but when considering it from all angles, they can't help loving each other, right?
No matter what, someone would've walked away broken hearted. It just happened to be her.
Kakyuu managed a tense smile whenever she saw Maker, the one who claimed the love of her life, or Fighter, the one that got away..
They could never know how much it hurt her to never tell Fighter that she loved her.
Maker was in her room, working on her latest poem. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't a sad love ballad, but an invigorating war piece. She envisioned it being played as Fighter walked the ranks, as was custom of the head general before a battle, or even a ceremony. A light smile traced her lips as she heard every strong beat in her head, the image of her strong leader firmly in her head.
Fighter was outside, training hard as usual against a dummy, summoning every ounce of strength she possessed, ripping the dummy to shreds with her new blade.
"Wouldn't you rather have something that'll fight back to train on?"
Fighter felt a chill slip down her back as she turned to face the voice.
"And you are..?" she asked hesitantly. There was just something about this guy that seemed off.
"I'd like to think of myself as a professional swordsmen, though you can imagine how difficult it can be to get someone to challenge me."
Fighter cocked an eyebrow, her guard lowering slightly.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. A duel?"
Fighter regarded him skeptically.
"Are you sure? You do realize I'm head of the Tankei Kingdom's army, a sailor senshi?"
"All of Kinmoku knows who you are...trust me.." The man smirked, his body brimming with delight. Now was his chance, she had sweat dripping down her, she'd already exerted most of her energy. The other senshi were not around, nor were any guards.
"I suppose we can do one round." Fighter agreed, feeling invigorated from the prospect of a fight.
The man nodded, drawing his blade, a curious blood red, it's shape more of scimitar than a true sword.
Fighter readier her own, a thin, glinting silver blade, with a deadly edge and speed.
"Hiuet!" The man cried, charging forward. Fighter narrowed her stance, tilting her shoulders, narrowly escaping, her own blade crashing down on his with a metallic clang, nearly knocking it from his hand. He quickly regained his balance, swinging diagonally, aiming for Fighter's back. Fighter quickly rotated out of the way, standing slightly behind him, swinging her foot backwards, knocking his leg out from under him. Immediately he fell to the ground, the sharp blade of Fighter's sword pointing against his neck.
"I win." She said with a cocky smirk, retracting her blade and reaching down to help him up. He accepted her hand, allowing himself to be hauled up.
"Good fight." she said with a wink, "Though it was awful short."
With that, Fighter turned to leave, more than ready for a nice warm shower and a night of cuddling with Maker.
"Lady Fighter?" The man spoke suddenly, his voice inches behind her.
As Fighter turned, her eyes widened, mouth opening in shock, unable to scream as the blood red blade pierced into her side.
Gasping and coughing, she clutched at the wound, desperately trying not to drop to her knees and aggravate the wound.
"You're right.." he said softly, his voice darkening. "It was too short."
"Wh-why...!" Fighter pleaded, looking up helplessly. She couldn't believe how easily she'd been fooled!
The man grinned, releasing his grip on the blade. From a pouch at his side he removed ashes, flicking them onto Fighter, who stared at him like he was nuts.
"Arise, Destroyer, and reclaim a human form!"
The sword pulsed. Once, twice, three times...and everything went black.
Maker finally set her writing down, walking down the hall. Fighter should've been back by now, perhaps she got caught up?
"Ah! Kakyuu-hime, have you seen Fighter?"
Kakyuu faltered slightly, glancing around. "No, I haven't seen her in days, actually.."
Maker nodded slightly, walking down the hall. She checked the library, thinking perhaps Fighter had looked for her there. Empty. After searching the castle for several hours, she resigned to asking Healer.
She knocked soundly on the door.
"Go away!" Healer barked, already knowing who it was. She never wanted to see Maker again.
"Healer, please listen. We can't find Fighter anywhere.."
Healer stood slowly, closing her eyes, searching for her leader...but it was a total blank. Healer gasped softly.
"I..I can't find her either!"
Even asleep, or unconscious...Healer could always find her leader..
Healer whipped the door open, looking at Maker's bleary eyed face. She tightly wrapped her arms around her comrade, feeling the shuddering sobs of the taller woman deep within her heart.
"I'll go tell Kakyuu..you get some rest." Healer said soothingly.
Maker nodded slightly, walking to her room. She didn't know how long she was there before she heard a knock at her door.
"Who is it?" she choked out, her voice raw from crying.
"Guess..." a familiar voice teased. Maker leaped off the bed, hurling the door open.
"Fighter!"
A cocky smile graced her leader's lips. "Miss me?"
Maker hugged her tightly. "I..I thought you were gone! I was so scared.."
Fighter furrowed her brows. "Gone?"
"We couldn't find you anywhere?"
"I've been here all along." Fighter said softly. Maker pressed their lips together wildly, never wanting to let go.
When Maker opened her eyes again, she was staring at the ceiling. She glanced around, looking for Fighter.
Then it hit her.
It was just a dream..
Her bedroom door opened slowly, a saddened princess entered her room, sitting on the bed next to her.
"Maker..." Kakyuu said, her voice on the verge of breaking to pieces.
"Hime?" Maker questioned. Kakyuu flung herself into Maker's arms, sobbing loudly. Maker allowed herself to cry too.
How ironic, Kakyuu thought, two women embracing each other, crying over the loss of their beloved.
It was strange, being trapped in one's own mind. Is this what it meant to die? Or was she simply waiting to be reborn, into a fresh new body, with a fresh new start? She thought of Maker, and a wave of sadness hit her. She would be devastated, no doubt. She thought of her princess, would she be in danger now, with the leader of her guards out of the picture?
A body lay in the middle of a circle, the emblem of the three shooting stars painted on the floor. Ringing the outside were candles, and incense burned nearby. A cloaked figure recited a spell, meditated, and recited another. The candles flared, and then extinguished. With a mirthful laugh, the man stood, rising his hands in the air.
"Arise, Destroyer, arise in your new form!"
Sapphire eyes slid open. Slowly, strong, but exhausted hands propped up a sleek upper body, blue-black hair hanging limply over the figure's face. With some effort and a grunt, she managed to stand, staring blankly at the summoner.
"So this is it?" She asked monotonously, examining her own body.
"No, this isn't it. This is just the beginning." The cloaked figure smiled, yellowed teeth showing. "The Beginning of the End!"
A/N: "Hiuet!", similar to en-garde in Kinmoku-language, a way of informing your opponent that the fight has begun.
