*************
Mirage
by Rei Himura
*************
Disclaimer: Oh please, do I have to go through this -again-?
*************
Chapter 3: Finding me...
*************
Don't tell me
How to be
'Cause I like some suffering
Don't ask me
What I need
I'm just fine
Here finding me
Me
~ Finding Me - Vertical Horizon
************
Joker sat at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the lush green valley. He smiled. It was perfect. The perfect place to view the perfect sunset. And sunrise. If he even bothered to pay heed to his battered alarm clock. He turned behind and headed down the dusty path.
It was strange, all so strange. Now that Kurei-han and Neon-han were married. Raiha vanishing off somewhere. Must be with the Hokage girl. He smiled to himself, allowing a glimpse of his trademark fang. Kirin the amazing girl who-never-took-off-her-shades was on yet another honeymoon with Rasen the guy-who-never-talks. What a weird pair.
Mori Kouran was dead. Gone. Kapush. Finally. He was beginning to feel very repulsed should those beady wall-eyed eyes of him come to focus on him. Sure Mori never saw him, nor most of the Uruha Jyushinshuu. The Jyushinshuu were under Kurei-han. So only Kurei-han saw them. Pesky wall-eyed moron had no business interfering. He always wondered why Kurei-han didn't just fry that old pervert. It would have saved them a lot of work. But knowing his employer's devotion to his mysterious and elusive mother, he kept his fangs shut.
Don't question the man.
Reaching into his pocket, Joker pulled out his car keys and deactivated the alarm systems to the metallic red Porsche boxter. Aah... his pride and joy. He had bought it eight months prior to his stay in the Jyushinshuu. Denying people their rights to live sure had its perks. Not that he considered himself to be a sadistic neanderthal, just that some people shouldn't even have a life to begin with.
He slipped into the car and revved up the engine, letting the cooling breeze sweep through the interior of the car. Nah... waste energy. He leaned forward and turned off the air-conditioning. After all, the nights in Morikawa were usually cool. He'll let the windows down later when he was driving.
Time check, 5:35 pm.
"Won't be staying for the sunset." he mumbled to himself. After all, he had other things to do. Life never seemed to slow down to a standstill for Hiroji. Sure things were supposed to ease up now that Mori was eradicated. It only meant he now had time to do things he couldn't have leisurely and freely done. Or so he thought.
*************
"You're asking me to do what? Come again? I didn't get you the first time round." Joker nearly yelled in the dimly-lit warehouse.
"Joker-san... please understand. You know me as well as Kurei-sama and Neon-san." Raiha tried pacifying his comrade. He let out a sigh and cleared his throat.
"I know this may seem like too much to ask for but-"
"But what you're asking me goes against my principles!"
"You had principles Joker-san?" Raiha was amused at what Joker would say just so that he could shift the burden of the responsibility to someone else. He laid a hand on Joker's shoulder who, like a child denied a treat, shrugged it away.
"Look, I'll only be gone for awhile."
"Oh yeah... five years is albeit a -short- while. Where you going anyway? Converting into a monk, practise celibacy and live in some Kami-sama-forsaken mountain? You're crazy. Kureeji. Crackers."
"I... I have to sort things out." Raiha looked away and walked towards the window, where a small slither of light entered the dark room. The white part of Joker's armour shone a little. He still wears it... his mind mused despite their present condition. He looked at his own ninja garb. Some things just never changed. But perhaps after this... they will.
"Fine. I'll go keep and eye on that girl. But you better get back here you hear that? I don't know what you're going to do for ten years, you probably won't even tell me. But if your girl finds a nice man who suits and looks after her needs, I'm not going to do anything. I just keep an eye. I'm no father." Joker gripped his Taishaku Kaiten.
"I wasn't asking you to intervene. In fact, it'll be better if you don't." Joker's head snapped upwards. What -was- this ninja talking about? In all the years he'd come to know of the solitary man in Uruha Rai, he never knew Raiha to be the type who gave up easily. Okay... so there was the fight with Noroi and when he forfeited his match against Uruha Kurenai. But truly, to see and hear him give up the person whom he loved and cherished so much so easily, there had to be something wrong.
"It's better you know... for her to find someone else. Someone young, able and has a respectable job."
"Oh for Kami-sama's sake! You're young, able and so the job part isn't quite there but still Raiha-han; you're the only one for her. I've seen the look on her face when she's with you. Like some radiating Mata Hari. You bring out the best in her -and- she brings out the best in you. Don't look at me like that you brainless ninja. You sure as hell don't know what you're doing, fancy giving up the love of your life to become a monk." ending his tirade, Joker sat back down on the crate which had served as his chair earlier. If he had said Raiha to be crazy earlier, he would have liked to make amends to that. Raiha was not crazy, oh no, he was a blind-brainless-insane-deranged dimwit who couldn't see things clearly. He should get glasses.
Raiha let out a deep sigh.
"Finished?"
"Sure as hell am." Joker retorted grumpily. Now I can't have a freedom as a bird, gotta act like some obsessed matron. Insane nut...
"Why all of this all of a sudden anyway?" Raiha still had not told Joker of his true reason for vanishing. He couldn't possibly want to be a monk. Somehow, an image of a bald Raiha in yellow and khaki robes entered his mind. Joker shuddered. Bad imagination, bad bad imagination. Raiha smiled.
"You know... I've always wanted to see the world." he smiled wryly.
"Yeah, and you could have brought her along. She needs the exposure and the skills to handle people. Not like those Hokage morons." came a disgruntled reply.
"Joker-san... I would love to tell you of my plans. But I fear if I did... it may go wrong. Onegai. Help me, just... just watch over her okay?" Joker wouldn't have minded if Raiha grovelled and beg, but the latter was his comrade and perhaps the only other closest friend he had in the Jyushinshuu. He let out a defeated snort and stood up, towering slightly over Raiha.
"Oh all right. Be sure to write, I want to see some post cards." he joked. He was a Joker after all, and jokers' jobs were to make humour of everything, even if sometimes the things and situations were dark and unbefitting.
"Make sure she reads the letter."
"Oh alright."
"Sayonara Joker-san."
"Mata ato de Raiha-han."
*************
The tree split into half, the damage beginning from top most bough to just a few inches above the roots. Surerounding it was a whirlwind of sharp razor leaves. Green as the grass, young as an infant. The tenacity of the typhoon reflecting the haunting look in the girl's violet eyes.
"Oh how I hate you..."
Fuuko raised her hand, the orb in the hollow of the Fuujin glinting maliciously in the sunlight. The leaves swirled closely beside the tree and then from a cylindrical formation, it changed into the shape of something resembling a spear.
"I hate you..."
The limb came down and the leaves attacked. After the initial fog of dust had settled, the tree stood no more. In its place were bits and pieces of braken and twigs. The former herald of nature's glory nothing more than wooden smithereens.
Such is the power of hatred and vengeance.
"Sooner or later you'll realize the Ministry of Environment ain't going to like it." came a voice from behind. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. There was a flicker of emotions on her eyes but it passed. Hands hanging loosely by her sides. Fists unclenched.
Hiroji leaned casually against a tree, eyes shielded from the brim of his baseball cap.
"Well?" he asked, the tone of his voice questioning and mocking. There was no response from the purple-haired girl. Her back was still to him. No movement.
"Well what?" the reply was more of a bark. A cold bark. The tone of her voice not bright and sprite like that of the male visitor, but cold and harsh. She whipped around, eyes glaring at the non-commital figure.
"You would have been at the warehouse four days ago. I take it you weren't coming. But after visiting that idiot flame caster, I took it more as you weren't even aware." his arms were folded across his chest, one leg crossing behind the other. A soft gust of wind breezed by, causing his rasta braids to swing a little behind his back.
"I don't need an idiot to tell me what to do." Fuuko concentrated her glare on him, as though her intense scrutiny would have set him on fire.
"Pity, I was in charge of taking care of an idiot. Come on. There's no time." without warning, he walked over and lifted her easily across his shoulder. The short moment of confusion was replaced by that of amazement and then anger. Biting and beating his muscled back, Fuuko screamed.
And then, like most suspense/thrillers would say, all became black.
*************
Author's Notes: If I were myself, I would be killing the author to tell me what happened next. Nail-biting? Nah... *looks at nails* haven't bitten them yet. Hehe, I know is sounds very... confusing but I'm just hoping to clear this all out. Iron out some wrinkles. Add in a few more surprises. It's hard work you know, to be a writer. But hey... it's worth the reviews. Hint hint. ^_^;;.
[rei]
Mirage
by Rei Himura
*************
Disclaimer: Oh please, do I have to go through this -again-?
*************
Chapter 3: Finding me...
*************
Don't tell me
How to be
'Cause I like some suffering
Don't ask me
What I need
I'm just fine
Here finding me
Me
~ Finding Me - Vertical Horizon
************
Joker sat at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the lush green valley. He smiled. It was perfect. The perfect place to view the perfect sunset. And sunrise. If he even bothered to pay heed to his battered alarm clock. He turned behind and headed down the dusty path.
It was strange, all so strange. Now that Kurei-han and Neon-han were married. Raiha vanishing off somewhere. Must be with the Hokage girl. He smiled to himself, allowing a glimpse of his trademark fang. Kirin the amazing girl who-never-took-off-her-shades was on yet another honeymoon with Rasen the guy-who-never-talks. What a weird pair.
Mori Kouran was dead. Gone. Kapush. Finally. He was beginning to feel very repulsed should those beady wall-eyed eyes of him come to focus on him. Sure Mori never saw him, nor most of the Uruha Jyushinshuu. The Jyushinshuu were under Kurei-han. So only Kurei-han saw them. Pesky wall-eyed moron had no business interfering. He always wondered why Kurei-han didn't just fry that old pervert. It would have saved them a lot of work. But knowing his employer's devotion to his mysterious and elusive mother, he kept his fangs shut.
Don't question the man.
Reaching into his pocket, Joker pulled out his car keys and deactivated the alarm systems to the metallic red Porsche boxter. Aah... his pride and joy. He had bought it eight months prior to his stay in the Jyushinshuu. Denying people their rights to live sure had its perks. Not that he considered himself to be a sadistic neanderthal, just that some people shouldn't even have a life to begin with.
He slipped into the car and revved up the engine, letting the cooling breeze sweep through the interior of the car. Nah... waste energy. He leaned forward and turned off the air-conditioning. After all, the nights in Morikawa were usually cool. He'll let the windows down later when he was driving.
Time check, 5:35 pm.
"Won't be staying for the sunset." he mumbled to himself. After all, he had other things to do. Life never seemed to slow down to a standstill for Hiroji. Sure things were supposed to ease up now that Mori was eradicated. It only meant he now had time to do things he couldn't have leisurely and freely done. Or so he thought.
*************
"You're asking me to do what? Come again? I didn't get you the first time round." Joker nearly yelled in the dimly-lit warehouse.
"Joker-san... please understand. You know me as well as Kurei-sama and Neon-san." Raiha tried pacifying his comrade. He let out a sigh and cleared his throat.
"I know this may seem like too much to ask for but-"
"But what you're asking me goes against my principles!"
"You had principles Joker-san?" Raiha was amused at what Joker would say just so that he could shift the burden of the responsibility to someone else. He laid a hand on Joker's shoulder who, like a child denied a treat, shrugged it away.
"Look, I'll only be gone for awhile."
"Oh yeah... five years is albeit a -short- while. Where you going anyway? Converting into a monk, practise celibacy and live in some Kami-sama-forsaken mountain? You're crazy. Kureeji. Crackers."
"I... I have to sort things out." Raiha looked away and walked towards the window, where a small slither of light entered the dark room. The white part of Joker's armour shone a little. He still wears it... his mind mused despite their present condition. He looked at his own ninja garb. Some things just never changed. But perhaps after this... they will.
"Fine. I'll go keep and eye on that girl. But you better get back here you hear that? I don't know what you're going to do for ten years, you probably won't even tell me. But if your girl finds a nice man who suits and looks after her needs, I'm not going to do anything. I just keep an eye. I'm no father." Joker gripped his Taishaku Kaiten.
"I wasn't asking you to intervene. In fact, it'll be better if you don't." Joker's head snapped upwards. What -was- this ninja talking about? In all the years he'd come to know of the solitary man in Uruha Rai, he never knew Raiha to be the type who gave up easily. Okay... so there was the fight with Noroi and when he forfeited his match against Uruha Kurenai. But truly, to see and hear him give up the person whom he loved and cherished so much so easily, there had to be something wrong.
"It's better you know... for her to find someone else. Someone young, able and has a respectable job."
"Oh for Kami-sama's sake! You're young, able and so the job part isn't quite there but still Raiha-han; you're the only one for her. I've seen the look on her face when she's with you. Like some radiating Mata Hari. You bring out the best in her -and- she brings out the best in you. Don't look at me like that you brainless ninja. You sure as hell don't know what you're doing, fancy giving up the love of your life to become a monk." ending his tirade, Joker sat back down on the crate which had served as his chair earlier. If he had said Raiha to be crazy earlier, he would have liked to make amends to that. Raiha was not crazy, oh no, he was a blind-brainless-insane-deranged dimwit who couldn't see things clearly. He should get glasses.
Raiha let out a deep sigh.
"Finished?"
"Sure as hell am." Joker retorted grumpily. Now I can't have a freedom as a bird, gotta act like some obsessed matron. Insane nut...
"Why all of this all of a sudden anyway?" Raiha still had not told Joker of his true reason for vanishing. He couldn't possibly want to be a monk. Somehow, an image of a bald Raiha in yellow and khaki robes entered his mind. Joker shuddered. Bad imagination, bad bad imagination. Raiha smiled.
"You know... I've always wanted to see the world." he smiled wryly.
"Yeah, and you could have brought her along. She needs the exposure and the skills to handle people. Not like those Hokage morons." came a disgruntled reply.
"Joker-san... I would love to tell you of my plans. But I fear if I did... it may go wrong. Onegai. Help me, just... just watch over her okay?" Joker wouldn't have minded if Raiha grovelled and beg, but the latter was his comrade and perhaps the only other closest friend he had in the Jyushinshuu. He let out a defeated snort and stood up, towering slightly over Raiha.
"Oh all right. Be sure to write, I want to see some post cards." he joked. He was a Joker after all, and jokers' jobs were to make humour of everything, even if sometimes the things and situations were dark and unbefitting.
"Make sure she reads the letter."
"Oh alright."
"Sayonara Joker-san."
"Mata ato de Raiha-han."
*************
The tree split into half, the damage beginning from top most bough to just a few inches above the roots. Surerounding it was a whirlwind of sharp razor leaves. Green as the grass, young as an infant. The tenacity of the typhoon reflecting the haunting look in the girl's violet eyes.
"Oh how I hate you..."
Fuuko raised her hand, the orb in the hollow of the Fuujin glinting maliciously in the sunlight. The leaves swirled closely beside the tree and then from a cylindrical formation, it changed into the shape of something resembling a spear.
"I hate you..."
The limb came down and the leaves attacked. After the initial fog of dust had settled, the tree stood no more. In its place were bits and pieces of braken and twigs. The former herald of nature's glory nothing more than wooden smithereens.
Such is the power of hatred and vengeance.
"Sooner or later you'll realize the Ministry of Environment ain't going to like it." came a voice from behind. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. There was a flicker of emotions on her eyes but it passed. Hands hanging loosely by her sides. Fists unclenched.
Hiroji leaned casually against a tree, eyes shielded from the brim of his baseball cap.
"Well?" he asked, the tone of his voice questioning and mocking. There was no response from the purple-haired girl. Her back was still to him. No movement.
"Well what?" the reply was more of a bark. A cold bark. The tone of her voice not bright and sprite like that of the male visitor, but cold and harsh. She whipped around, eyes glaring at the non-commital figure.
"You would have been at the warehouse four days ago. I take it you weren't coming. But after visiting that idiot flame caster, I took it more as you weren't even aware." his arms were folded across his chest, one leg crossing behind the other. A soft gust of wind breezed by, causing his rasta braids to swing a little behind his back.
"I don't need an idiot to tell me what to do." Fuuko concentrated her glare on him, as though her intense scrutiny would have set him on fire.
"Pity, I was in charge of taking care of an idiot. Come on. There's no time." without warning, he walked over and lifted her easily across his shoulder. The short moment of confusion was replaced by that of amazement and then anger. Biting and beating his muscled back, Fuuko screamed.
And then, like most suspense/thrillers would say, all became black.
*************
Author's Notes: If I were myself, I would be killing the author to tell me what happened next. Nail-biting? Nah... *looks at nails* haven't bitten them yet. Hehe, I know is sounds very... confusing but I'm just hoping to clear this all out. Iron out some wrinkles. Add in a few more surprises. It's hard work you know, to be a writer. But hey... it's worth the reviews. Hint hint. ^_^;;.
[rei]