A Devil's Halo
Part 12: Welcome Back Taichi
~*~
As the fiery red demon raged days on end in the pits of doom, Tai and Sora were given a break from his demonic deeds. With that, the two continued to stay at the little inn for three wonderful, Oni-fee days.
~*~
"I was thinking of ice cream today," Sora said, as she stared up into the beautiful clear sky. It was a hot day and there was not a cloud in sight.
Tai walked on, deep in thought. What did Oni mean by making him relive his past? How was it to happen if there was only one person whom he truly cared about in this world now? Besides, it wasn't like he could even kill himself right...? Or was he completely human now? If he kills himself... wouldn't his undying soul just return to Oni? It would have returned to the demon either way though... although Matt's story seemed interesting. But after all his training with Oni for all those years... Was he ready for Heaven?
"Tai...?"
Tai looked to his right and saw Sora giving him a worried look. "I'm sorry about that Sora... it's just that... My mind's full right now. What were you saying?" he asked.
"N... nothing. Never mind. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking about something about these past few days. Really, it's nothing. Let's change the subject. What were you saying earlier? Ice cream?"
Sora's face lit up as she took his hand and led him to an ice cream vendor.
~*~
The little inn was the only refuge Tai and Sora had from the damned monster. Since Oni couldn't sense Tai, if he were indoors, it would be harder for Oni's minions to come and find him.
~*~
"I don't understand..." Tai said at he stared at a mat with different, brightly colored spots.
"Okay... Let me explain it again... this time slower. There are two spinners. One tells you which body part- like the left or right hand or the left or right leg- which spot to put them on. The other tells you about what color you have to place them on. Whoever drops first loses. Now do you get it?" Sora said.
Tai nodded.
~*~
Thirty minutes later, the two were laughing until their eyes watered. With their twisted positions, it was hard to explain why gravity let them defy it.
"Okay... right leg on... the red spot..." Sora said, as she tried to move her leg over Tai's face. "No.. NO!!! Aaaahh!!!!" she half yelled, half laughed. Gravity had finally taken them down.
"You lost! Oh yeah!!! I won!!!" Tai boasted.
Sora puffed out her cheeks. "But it was 'cause you were cheating!"
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"Was not!"
"Was too! Look.. this isn't getting us anywhere," she finally said. She waved off whatever Tai was about to say, and grabbed the spinner. "Wanna play again?" she asked.
Tai shook his head. No. Too much fun. They had to talk about the seriousness of it all. It had been invading his thoughts for the whole day already. "Sora," he said, with the most sincere voice he could conjure.
Sora gave him a look of worry as she walked over to him. The two sat down on the foot of the bed, as Tai pondered on how to begin the conversation.
"I wish I could just say that everything's just all fun and games, but what if I can't defeat Oni? You know how Matt said that he had powers back then. I don't have my demonic powers with me. I can't get them back unless I go back to hell. I don't want to go back Sor. You know that. I can't defeat him though, as just a human being. There's no way. Oni is the most powerful creature in the world of the underground, fiery supernatural. I... I'm just a puny human..."
"Tai. It doesn't matter. There are ways. Why are you bing so serious all the time. Were you raised to be a party pooper?" she asked, lightly punching him on the arm.
Tai gave her a weak smile, then crawled over onto his hotel bed. He went under the sheets, as Sora was left still sitting down on the foot of the bed. She stood up and walked over to where Tai was, curled up, with his back facing her. "Tai..."
Tai was deep in thought. He had also hardened his heart even just for a second to stop himself from crying. Too much crying. He was always crying now. He knew that it took a man to cry... but it was the drama queen who cried almost everyday. "He knows about you Sor," he said, trying to swallow down that lump in his throat.
Sora crawled over to his side and brought her face around to look at his.
"He knows how much you mean to me. He said that he was going to make me relive my past... You're the only one now who I care the most about... I don't want him to hurt you... I don't want... I don't want to regret this..." he said.
Sora crawled under the sheets next to Tai as he turned around and smiled at her. "We're ready for this. Unfortunately for him, he gave us a warning so we're more likely to be cautious now. Remember. Matt's still on our side. Guardian angels never just let whom they're guiding, get hurt."
He nodded at this. She was always there to cheer him up and keep him out of depression. Sometimes he just wished that he could relive his life before he killed himself, and have Sora there along with him. "Thanks..." he said.
Sora gently placed her fingers over his eyelids, and closed them. "Shh... go to sleep..." she whispered.
~*~
The brightness and the scorching heat of the sun practically baked Tai until he woke up the next day... or was it the sun? Was that the sun's heat? Oh no...
He looked down on what was supposed to be the inn's bed. It was the red hot floor of hell. Was this real? Only if you really could feel pain in your dreams... That girl wasn't Sora. That was one of Oni's minions.
~*~
Sora walked back from the drug store after feeling the intense heat of Tai's forehead. He hadn't woken since a day ago. She was worried and all she could think of was that maybe he was sick once again. She went to the drug store in order to get him something that would help him get better.
~*~
Author's Notes: I know it's been awhile and I'm really sorry, but well... school work's been hectic and I haven't had much time to continue. Also, to tell you the truth, I was having a little bit of a writer's block. Hence the fact that this chapter's pretty short. I'll try to make the future one longer.
Hope you enjoyed. Please review.
The Way of Heaven does not compete,
And yet it skillfully achieves victory.
It does not speak,
And yet it skillfully responds to things.
It comes to you without your invitation.
--Lao-Tzu