6/24/01
Disclaimer: the characters such as Kenji, Uriko, etc. belong to Hudson Soft
Dedication: God, my parents, my 'brothers', Hudson for creating Bloody Roar I-III, and my readers, especially PokeDigi, StarryPeach, Xion, LazzyQ, Alica, Deoku, VGuyver, Flyby, and Niteflite.
Special dedication to ~ Deoku and Guyver for putting me in a rotten enough mood to produce this story.
Bloody Roar III: Shackled By Guilt
By Tiger5913
Sentiment… the opposite of what he had felt in a long time. Arms were encircling his waist, ensuring protection and compassion while a voice whispered words of promise in his ear. Pain had been his ally, his unfortunate companion for the past couple years, and a part of him inside yearned to feel the opposite. He desired bliss, sensuality, and all of the things that had been denied to him because of his cruel captor. Everything of the sort seemed out of his grasp… until he had returned, returned back to her, into the love stored within her heart.
His forehead felt tickled, as his bangs were being teased. Warmth settled on his chest, emitting gentle rays of light on his skin as thin objects trailed over his heart, stealing his beat. He almost grimaced when they encountered a few of the many scars that were etched into his body, but the feeling turned to a strange sense of pleasure, and it was then that he welcomed it. The touch was feather-soft and felt like it was out of good intentions, embracing and caressing his wounds, miraculously healing them in just mere seconds…
Just then, another warmth suddenly made its presence there, coupling to help with the other one, and that was rapture. Hours of hard, grueling pain had to be endured when he received those injuries, but now they were recovering because of these holy auras… Was he even worthy of such a thing, after all the suffering he had caused to innocent bystanders, such as his former love? Perhaps he was being presented with a second chance to redeem the atrocious acts that he had committed; perhaps it was time to repay everything…
A warning signal alarmed him when the restrain on his neck alerted that something was nearing it, and his eyes immediately shot open. Spying the young woman looming over him, he reached a hand out to grasp her arm, shooting her an augury look as he did so. She was the one that had given him warmth… yet he was giving her back imprisonment and capture, yanking away her freedom and happiness. At that moment, when he sighted her wincing expression, he wished that he could give her smile back, see adoration and trust in her pupils instead of fear and uncertainty.
"Don't touch that." He said evenly. I miss her warmth…
She struggled to free her arm, while replying, "Let… go of me."
"What were you doing?" the ninja questioned coldly. I wish you had continued it.
"Nothing," his prisoner answered, still fighting against his hold as she awkwardly got into a sitting position.
"Why were you touching me?" he asked. Why did you stop?
The feline zoanthrope appeared flustered. "What? Puh-lease… D-don't flatter yourself." She glanced down and noticing her hand, instantly retracted it while never meeting his eyes, seeming to be embarrassed.
Now would be a perfect time to kill her… she's showing resistance, and she is mocking me as well… His master would understand his situation, agree with him should he carry out that thought, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Something shown in her large chocolate brown irises, aside from the dread and dismay of the situation: a shred of determination. He detected that she still had hope that things would work out, she would be able to go free, and… and that he would go with her…
"Why can't I kill you…?" he wondered, full well knowing the answer, while caressing the smooth skin of her chin with his hand.
"I'm wondering the same thing myself." The Kenpo student agreed, trying to gain freedom of her wrist from his hold on her once again.
An amused laugh escaped his lips. "I think I'm attracted to you-" I know I'm attracted to you…
Her answer was an unconvinced snorted. "Hah! Yeah, right."
"-But it won't last for long." My lust for you will fade eventually…
She shot him a scornful look. "Oh gee, how did you come to the first conclusion?"
For some reason, he didn't truly know the explanation to that question himself. "I…I don't know." You're beautiful, loving, brimming with passion from your heart, even forgiving… how can anyone not be attracted to you…
Her head tiled as she gave him a sideways glance. "Are you going to let me go anytime soon? Mother and the others are gonna get worried."
You want your freedom… "Hrmp, do you think I'm stupid?" But I keep entrapping you in an unwanted prison…
"Sweetheart, you really don't want me to answer that right now." That reference brought a miniscule twist to his mouth that somewhat resembled a smile, but it disappeared when she continued with, "Now please let go of my freaking hand before I break your damn arm."
Something in her voice broke through to him, and he took his arm away from her hand, flinching when he saw her shaking out the pain of his grasp.
"Geez, what a tight grip," Uriko remarked irritably. "So what are you gonna do now?"
"I am supposed to be interrogating you." He informed her bluntly, then fighting down the resistance that was igniting in his own body, he captured her arms and bound them behind her.
Her eyes meet him, shock hovering in them as she spoke up, "I hope you don't mind my asking, but… What'd I ever do to you??"
"You really want to get me started?" he asked while giving her a cold glare. I don't want to hurt you again…
The sudden slump in her shoulders suggested that she was starting to succumb to defeat, and that actually brought a twinge of fear to him. "Sigh… and to think that you loved me…"
…Love? Kenji paused when a tingle shot up his spine at the familiarity of the words. …Love… Have I ever felt that before…? But who… who could ever love a monster like I…? Shaking the effects off, he inquired curiously, "…What was that?"
"None of your business," she retorted, defiance in her words.
Still, she had struck a sensitive nerve in him, and he began to shudder violently in response, letting out a strangled, "Ugh-!"
"Kenji? What's wrong??" The auburn-haired teenager turned to look at him, and earnest concern was shining in her irises, care for… him…
"Damn that stupid thing already!" she shrieked.
Weaken a little, he wasn't able to prevent her from reaching both of her hands towards the ring, and stretch it out away from his neck. While he was recovering from her action, she was already tugging at the coarse material, and he opened his eyes to angrily glare at her with his blood red pupils. They glowed menacingly at her, telling her to keep away from him, but she challenged him with a hiss, baring her teeth. Snarling at her, he tried desperately to pry her hands away, but to no avail, his effort only fired up her determination.
"Quit struggling-!" the female teenager ordered.
Ignoring her, the dark-haired ninja reared his arm back as small bolts of lightning began emitting and he brought it foreword. The electricity shocked her chest, travelling quickly to zap her skin, and the force of his attack knocked the young woman back a couple yards away from him.
Uriko sprang to her feet as soon as she could. "Tell me what that thing is!"
Damn it, she's too strong for her own good, Kenji thought as he rubbed his throat vigorously. "Stay away from it!" Hrmp, you may be strong, Uriko, but I'm stronger than you are, so don't count on beating me.
"Why?!"
His patience was running thin; he raised a fist at her and growled dangerously. "That's none of your goddamn business!" Freaking nosy as hell! Stay out of my affairs!
"I'm not afraid of you!" she yelled back, raising her fists and bending her knees slightly as she eyed him carefully in her battle pose.
He smirked arrogantly. Rather, you're not willing to admit to yourself that you are… you're staying in your little bubble of denial, sweet Uriko. "Are you sure about that? Because based on our last battle, you should be…"
Her expression softened greatly as she informed him, "Kenji, I've known you since we were fourteen. You never really gave me a reason to be afraid."
"You sound so sure of yourself," the blue-haired teenager answered. After what I did to her, she still doesn't fear me…? "Confident of your words, as if you really know me." How can I possibly remind you of how I once was…?
A frown marred her facial features. "I suppose I sound kind of like you did back when you were Bakuryu."
"Oh, so you are dissing me now?" I knew there had to be a catch. She was pretending with me, hah.
"No…" she told him, losing her former posture to fold her arms across her chest and rest her back against the wall behind her. "I'm not."
She's so rare… "…You're an interesting one," the ninja mused. "Why aren't you resisting me?" Her spirit's strong…
Letting out an agitated scowl, the Kenpo student stepped up to him and lightly but meaningfully tapped her palm on his forehead. He flinched, but didn't counteract. "Hello? Kenji, don't you remember our shared past at all?"
He let out an unconvincing sneer, then pushed her hand away, making her resort to taking a hold of his arm instead. "After all we've been through together, I've… gotten to trust you."
Trust…? She still trusts me, after what I've done…? "You've…what?" Kenji inquired, looking confused at her words; succumbing for the moment, he slipped his wrist out a little to link their hands together. Feeling her warmth gave him a sense of comfort, and he clung onto it while tentatively glancing into her pupils. There was forgiveness in them that called to his attention, and he yearned to be lost in her eyes, where he would always be safe and secured. He wouldn't have to fear being punished everytime he made a mistake, and instead could be freer to do what he desired…
"Well… do you?" She questioned gently.
The mole zoanthrope looked at her curiously, torn by the emotions that were conflicting inside him. "Do I… what…?" He twitched suddenly when one of the sides won for the temporary moment, and he whispered to her raggedly, "…U-Uriko?" You're such an angel… can you forgive me…?
Ruining their serene moment, the ring around his neck started to shudder and he immediately dropped her hand, wincing as a wave of static surged through his body. Uriko went toward him, curious and concerned about what was happening, but he cried out, "Ugh…stay away-! Don't want you…to get hurt too…" I've… brought you through enough… pain and suffering… as it is…
She gazed at him worriedly. "But I-I can't just stand here and do nothing!"
Her words were faint to him while he was entangled in a misty world, his vision fogged, and his mind clouded with confusion as the inward battle resumed raging. He was caught in the middle of the mayhem, and he wanted to choose to leave his master and crawl over to the area where he was welcomed instead of tolerated. But that side wasn't strong enough at the time to overcome the dominating opposition, and he unwillingly gave in. Anger reclaimed his emotions and his eyes went to glare at her coldly, silently accusing her of being the cause of his previous bewildered state.
Trampling upon her helping hand, he yelled scornfully, "What is this damned influence that you have over me?!" She's bewitched me! Almost turned me against my own master! She didn't answer him and he growled, stepping foreword to capture her arms in a tight grip with his callused hands.
The look in her eyes was filled with affection and it almost weakened him at the sight. "Kenji…"
She has to get out of here… my master will be coming soon… "Go away. Leave now." He ordered with a shove for emphasis.
"I will not!" His captive replied indignantly.
Goddamn your defiance! "I said leave, damn!!"
"And I said fuck no!" was her fierce come back.
He was surprised by her strong curse at him, but recovered quickly, and strolled toward her menacingly. His eyes flashed furiously as he hissed each word to her in a low voice, "You don't realize the position that you are in, do you? If you do not leave now, my master will come soon and have the pleasure of killing you himself." …I don't want you to be killed… The realization that he cared for her well being was shocking to him, and he wavered slightly in bafflement, his expression turning almost pleading.
"And who the hell is that?" she of course asked instantly. "I know it can't be Busuzima; Stun killed him over two years ago. And Shenlong killed himself, according to Master Long."
You'll never understand. "No, it's not either of those pathetic weaklings!" He looked up and caught her rolling her eyes, and he grunted under his breath. "This is a harder opponent… a stronger zoanthrope… That is, if you want to refer to him as one of…our…kind."
"…What's that supposed to mean…?" the cat zoanthrope inquired curiously.
You don't want to know, Uriko. Trust me. "I can't explain now. You have to go," was all that he told her.
"And why don't you want me here so that your master can destroy me? Isn't that what he wants?"
No!! I don't… I don't want him to touch you- He opened his mouth to answer her, but suddenly the ring vibrated again, as if foreshadowing a dark omen that was approaching, and his being shuddered violently in response.
She growled in annoyance. "You know what? I'm seriously getting annoyed by that stupid thing!"
The ninja couldn't say anything to her, just continued engaging in his private war, wishing that it would end soon. He didn't notice the young woman's actions until she pounced and pinned him securely to the ground with the weight of her body. Sharp objects clawed at the ring on his neck, and he stared at her face, wondering how she could do such a thing when she was still in her human form. After the surprised faded away, he shot her a murderous look and was about to retort, but a successful strike from her broke his restraint. The broken pieces fell to the floor with a clank, while he felt his body slump immediately, and release was restored to him.
"Finally!" he faintly heard the fierce female fighter exclaim triumphantly.
"Uhhh…" the seventeen-year-old mole zoanthrope moaned as bright light pierced his vision. Unseen water ran over his body, cleansing the blood that stained his flesh, making him feel more purified and reborn from his previous sins. W-what… happened to me… …I feel free…
"Oh!" she hastily got off of him. "Kenji, are you alright?"
"Uriko…" he murmured faintly, shaking his head as he thought groggily, I… I'm back… I've come back home now… Home… to you.
The young woman took a firm hold of his hand and helped him up to a standing position, watching him albeit carefully as he arose from the ground. He knew that she was still a little weary of him, probably wondering if he was trying to trick her or if he was being truthful. Hoping that it would convince her, he gazed into her eyes, allowing his emotions for her to be shown in them, the affection that had been stored in him so long, he let go free now.
A smile formed over her face and he knew that she believed him. "Y-you're back!"
Finally… "Yeah… ugh, my neck hurts…" In pain, but at least I'm back…
"Oh man, I'm sorry about that… I… I didn't intend to hurt you or anything," her tone was regretful.
I'm glad you did… it was a small price for me to pay after what I did to you… "F-forget it…" Kenji assured her with a faint smile. "I, I am just glad to see you… Riko." You're my savior…
With a happy grin on her face, she lurched foreword and embraced him tightly; he returned her affections warmly. "I'm glad to see you too, Kenji. It's been too long…"
What did I do to you…? He bit his lip so hard that it began to bleed. Riko… how can you forgive me for… for… "Umm… about three years?" And I had promised to only leave for a couple weeks. Damn it. I can't even keep promises that I make…
A mournful-sounding sigh escaped her. "Yes…unfortunately. Oh, I missed you so much…"
"I missed you too…" he replied earnestly, sneaking a look at her out of the corner of his eye. In the time that the two had been separated, he didn't notice any significant changes about her, except that she was a stronger person than before. Newfound confidence gleamed off her like droplets of fresh rain glistening on the soft surfaces of young flower petals. Realizing that he was practically gawking at her, he backed away from her respectfully, the ninja glanced at her meaningfully and all of sudden spied an angry red welt marring the skin of her shoulder.
Almost subconsciously, he reached a hand toward her and grazed the bump gently with his fingertips as a pained feeling struck his inner being. What have I done to you… "Uriko, I… I… didn't…"
"You don't need to explain," she assured him aimlessly.
Stop being so conscientious, please… "No… I do," Kenji insisted, taking her hand and meet her eyes nervously. I have to own up to what I did… "I have to let you know that I would never hurt you like that…not ever willingly… I apologize…" I deserve whatever's coming to me, if she yells, lashes out…
A grimaced flickered over her face. "Trust me, Kenji, I know you better than that. Hey, we have been going together for quite a while. I'm sure that… that incident… was because of that 'master' of yours."
…Master… Shit, she needs to get out of here now, before he comes! His eyes flared. "Him… Uriko, sweetie… you gotta get out of here."
"What?" She sounded flustered. "Yeah right, I'm not gonna leave you to face him alone!"
You have to go! "Please, go!" the dark-haired ninja pleaded, squeezing her hand tightly with affection. "You don't get it, he's very powerful and manipulative with mind games; I care about you too much to risk him messing around with you!" Uriko, if he got to you-
"Hmm, touching. How disgusting." A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. He froze, recognizing the speaker. I-It's him…
They both turned to face him, the mole zoanthrope feeling like he was being reluctantly drawn to look upon the newcomer. Standing in the pathway that led out, he blocked the sunlight with his frame, darkening the room with his mere presence. His face was covered by strands of shoulder-length silver hair, but Kenji identified him by the white linen shirt, dark pants and oversized red coat that clothed his figure. The teenager began to tremble, fright replacing his former emotions while drops of sweat caused by anxiety clung to his cyan bangs.
"Xion…" he mumbled fearfully.
"That's his name…?" his female companion whispered.
"Yes…" he answered wearily, keeping his eyes trained on the foreigner.
"Foolish ninja… foolish boy," the dark stranger gibed at him conceitedly.
The young woman felt her companion stiffen at the words.
"So premature, so easy to confuse," Xion continued speaking in a hypnotic tone of voice, slowly stepping toward the pair, locking his intimidating crimson eyes on Kenji, who immediately flinched. "What a poor, pathetic boy. Do you really believe that the girl isn't just toying with you again?"
"Shut up!" The feline zoanthrope screeched in her ally's defense.
The steel-haired man instantly shifted his attention to her, snarling his annoyed hiss, "Stay out of this, you little brat."
"Not when you're trying to mess with his mind I'm not!" She retorted back.
The blue-haired boy's head lowered slightly, hanging 'casually' as his eyes were cast to the ground. The argument between the two others was heated and fierce, yet the words all felt faint to him as his head began to swim. His control over himself was slipping away from his grasp, and all he could manage was a weak murmur; "Uriko…"
"Yeah?" the young woman questioned gently.
"He's lying…" Please tell me he is, Uriko… "…Isn't he?"
Neither of them caught the triumphant smirk that formed over Xion's lips.
Surprise and disbelief were in her voice as she asked, "Kenji… you doubt me…?"
I feel… so tired… His head felt heavy, and he allowed it to bob freely, his pupils becoming familiar with the contour lines of the ground. Sleep sounds like a good thing to do right now…
"Do you…?" she persisted. "…Kenji?"
The warmth of her hand comforted his chin, yet didn't waver his dazed state as she turned him to face her. He could see her eyes, but could only stare foreword blankly while dullness seeped through inside him, inhibiting his mind. It was hard to think and to concentrate on her face, as his sight senses were fuzzy, disoriented while something heavy weighed down on his mind. Uriko… w-what's happening to me…?
She firmly shook her compatriot while whispering a frantic, "Kenji, don't let him get to you!"
"I tire of this nonsense." The intruder remarked bluntly.
Her hand left him suddenly and he heard something thump against the wall a few feet away, but all he could do was wonder. In his drowsy state, he was too weak to even lift up his head to see what was going on, try and help the young woman if she was in some kind of predicament. He faintly wished that he could stand up and fend off Xion, protect the Kenpo student, but his muscles were strained.
Uriko yelled to him, "Don't give in, Kenji! Fight it! You've got to!"
Somehow finding a bit of strength, he was able to turn his face and look at her, hearing her gasp when their eyes met. What's wrong…? He questioned silently. Did Xion get to her…?
"R…Riko… I'm…sorry…" The last thought that ran through his mind an instant before he succumbed to the hazy, seductive darkness was, Uriko… even though I don't deserve it… please forgive me…
The End
Author's Note: This mini-series has taken a slightly lighter tone, I hope… ^^0 At least Kenji reached a revelation before he got claimed by Xion's stupid persuasive mind-control again, heh… This is most likely the last of the series by the way, because I'm tired of feeling depressed (Deoku and Guyver), and besides, it's time to focus on the sequel novel! *grin* Hope you readers enjoyed this and please leave a review!
With love for my fans,
Tiger5913