A Recca no Honoo fic
By: Tenshi no Ai
Grr...do you know how many times I've had to write that I don't own Recca no Honoo?
(A/N: This is spoiler-heavy for the manga! And I'm real sorry to say that it's pretty relevant to the plot too...(checks)...yep, pretty relevant. Gomen, but you can grin and bear it, right?)
Ch. 14: Internal
(Fuuko, Mikagami, Recca, Yanagi's POV)
(Fuuko's POV)
There's no time for self-pity over this. We have to act now.
I scream in Recca's face, didn't you just hear what that bitch just frickin' said?!
He looks right at me and, I swear, I feel so bad for the guy.
But it passes. If we don't do something, we lose! Do you know what that means or do I have to spell it out for you? Mi-chan and Domon die. Hello?! It also means that Yanagi's soul becomes the sole property of that madougu. Are you listening to me? That's your hime we're talking about! There's only you and me left, and we both know that Yanagi'll only react to you! Doesn't he realize that?
He whispers something so softly that I lean towards him.
WHAP
Dammit Recca, I know that it's hard to go against the one person you promised to protect, I try to bring my temper down, especially since that slap didn't do anything for him. It's hard for me to do too, y'know. That's Nagi-chan's body covered in that silver metal. But that's not her in there. Not anymore. I'm sure that, with the way things are now, she'd rather have us take her down instead of having her body taken over by some bitch with an identity problem, I grab his shoulders and shake him lightly, you'll protect her true identity that way.
He shakes my hands off and turns his head to the side. Iie...I can't hurt her...the one I promised to protect and...failed...
Kuso. Fine then, Recca. I said that I'd rather die than let Yanagi's body and soul get twisted even more than it already is, and Kirisawa Fuuko means what she says. For you Recca, I'll save your hime from this. I turn away from him and start walking towards Abekobe.
Even if you're in my best girl friend's body...
I'll kill you for what you've done to my friends.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Mikagami's POV)
I've been walking for a while now.
Of course, since where I'm currently in is a place of darkness, I haven't gotten anywhere yet.
When I first entered, it was gray, almost white. But it seems the longer I stay, the darker it gets.
I've realized that I'm dead, and I accept it. Someone like me...I've always wondered why, on that day, those men killed Mifuyu and left me alone?
It seems like fate has finally remembered me.
Suddenly, the thudding of heavy footsteps echo in this desolate land of shadows. That could only mean that someone else has died by Yanagi's hand.
I'm still wondering why and how did she get a madougu like that. Did she know what it did? It occurs to me, from the way she was acting when I found her at her house, that perhaps she didn't. It was like some sort of multiple personality. I wish that I could've helped her...died for her instead of because of her...
THUDTHUDTHUD
Right behind me. I turn around, reflexively going into a fighting stance. Even if I'm dead...I don't like hearing footsteps behind me.
A figure steps out of the blackness in vivid colors. I think that the fact that I had to look up to see the figure's face clued me in on who it was.
Ishijima Domon.
...The hell? What the hell're you doing here, Mikagami? the gorilla stares at me. It makes me wonder if he knows that we're dead.
...Don't you know where we are, gorilla? I relax and carefully sit down. It's like I'm standing on nothing, and I wonder if my body will fall through the blackness if I sit down.
What am I worrying about? I'm dead after all.
I'm not completely stupid, I know that we're dead, the gorilla sits across from me, well, I knew I was dead. Didn't think that you kicked the bucket too. So, how'd Yanagi get you?
I stare at him. Yanagi-san blasted me after I went over to her house.
She show you her madougu?
I nod slightly.
Strange, huh? She was blasting us and throwing me into the ground and all, then she decides to try and take Fuuko out...kinda just reacted then, y'know? the gorilla smiles after this bit of knowledge.
The gorilla I know...knew...isn't so nonchalant about death. I can't believe that he's so cheerful after that.
But it was worth it, y'know...just for Fuuko. Recca's in shock, so it's all up to her now... he looks over at me, what d'you think?
I look right back at him. That you're really a gorilla.
He arches his eyebrows at that and lies down. Soon I hear heavy snoring. I don't understand how he can be so happy. So what if he protected that monkey Kirisawa? He can't do anything now.
And...he's wrong about who's going to be the deciding factor. If anything, Kirisawa won't be the one to help Yanagi.
Hanabishi will.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Recca's POV)
It's pathetic, I know. Fuuko thinks that I'm taking this way too far. But what can I do? That's Hime right there, fighting. Covered in that madougu Abekobe...being controlled by Hisomu...that's Hime right there.
You realize that you're taking this self-pity thing too far, right?
It's that hentai Kokuu. Why don't you come out and talk, like you always do?
Ha! I don't think that Hisomu-hime wants to see me. I'd rather just stay in here and tell you how much a baka you're being.
Oh, arigatou for your advice. You're the one who made the damn madougu, you're the one who gave it to her, you're the one who caused this whole damn mess. If you come out, I swear I'll be beating you up right along with her.
...I didn't think that this would happen at all. It doesn't matter about the past now, anyway. It's over and done with. What matters is figuring out a way to save Yanagi's soul and body from Abekobe.
Che, what do you think I've been doing?
Drowning in self-pity.
Screw you. Tell me how I can save Hime and I'll do it, but I've gone through more shit from this madougu you've created than anyone else.
Even Yanagi-chan?
What happens to Hime happens to me.
Well, that's great and all, but I didn't make Abekobe. I only made Aku Nomikomu. The way Hisomu was talking, it seems like it still functions to take the souls of those who have evil in their hearts. I guess the only reason that Yanagi-chan's wasn't taken was because...
Yanagi-san still has the ability to deflect what a madougu can do.
Tousan?
Recca, don't you remember what I told you before you went after Tendojigoku and Yanagi-san? About her past life as Sakura-hime? What happened when I lent her that madougu when she wanted to create fire?
Yeah, it broke. So?
...Why do you think that Yanagi-san has been able to last this long? Her own innate healing powers have been protecting her from having her soul sucked into the madougu, but they're weakening because of the inverse factor.
Resshin...but the time's almost up. She's had that madougu on for about 10 days. It's like that time with Mori Kouran after the Tenjoujigoku...it takes time for any madougu inclined to absorb a soul to do so. And Abekobe's had the time.
Yamero, Kokuu! Tousan, so Hime's been protected all the time? That means that she's strong enough to beat off Abekobe, right?
...Perhaps...but remember, Sakura-hime's powers were able to weaken to the point that she couldn't save Koheita...surely Yanagi's powers are almost depleted.
My attention's brought back to reality. Hime...Abekobe's holding Fuuko by the neck. Fuuko's trying to hit her, use Fuujin, whatever...but then she slows her attack.
Hime...kisses Fuuko on the lips.
And then Fuuko stops moving.
Abekobe tosses my friend to the side. Hime looks at me through silver eyes. I liked them better when they were that beautiful brown-red color...brandy. What're you going to do now, Recca-kun? she hisses through metal lips.
Fuuko...Hime...I know how to save you...I think...
You think?
Recca...
I smile. Don't worry, it'll work cuz I know my hime. She's stronger than anyone knows!
Well, if you die, you're going to be the ninth flame dragon...you're going to have to listen to some baka kid that just flings himself into trouble, and I'm gonna laugh my ass off seeing you take a dose of your own medicine!
Recca...I trust you.
I yell, causing her to glare at me. I figured out how to save you!
That's Yanagi, not Hime! Abekobe yells, but I'm already halfway up to her by the time she's done yelling.
Her eyes widen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Yanagi's POV)
What is that bakayarou thinking? Hisomu growls. I'm still on the ground, trying to get over my crying.
It's hard not to stop crying once you realize that you're going to die.
Suddenly I see what she's talking about. Recca-kun's running...at me! Doesn't he know that I can't...that Hisomu is controlling me?
Well, I'll just kill him and absorb his soul and Kagerou-san won't be able to fight us! Hisomu cackles. I can hear her black kimono rustling as she shakes in laughter.
In my mind, everything has substance.
I've hurt you so much, and you're still trying to save me? Why?
I can feel my body's hand rise. Hisomu plans to blast him! Iie!
IIE! DON'T YOU DARE HURT RECCA-KUN!!!
And, for a split second, I have control...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Recca's POV)
I'm running at Abekobe and I realize that I might not even make it to her.
Hime's arm is rising...she's gonna blast me and I know that she's faster than Fuuko...
Then she freezes. Her eyes widen.
Now I know that Hime's still in there!
I run right up to my silver hime, grab her shoulders, and push my mouth right onto hers. I can't help myself...it's still Hime under the silver...
And then I feel torn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Yanagi's POV)
Recca-kun! What are you doing...
Recca-kun's right in front of me...I mean, right in front of me. Not only in body, but...he's here, in my mind...
he dashes forward and hugs me tightly. It worked!
What worked, Recca-kun? I ask. You feel so warm...
I knew that my soul'd be absorbed and then I could help you! You're grinning like you've won some grand prize.
But instead you've only reached me.
a cough sounds beside us. We turn to see Hisomu standing there, still holding my hand. Recca-kun hugs me tighter. So, you would willingly kill yourself in order to save your hime?
Of course! Her life is my life! If she died, that means that I failed in protecting her... his grip loosens, but I know that Hime can protect herself!
I can...protect myself? Recca-kun, how did you come to such a conclusion? I always thought that you felt like I needed your protection, that I was weak... I murmur. He looks down at me.
Hime...how could you ever think that I thought of you like that? You're one of us, one of the Hokage. It's my duty to protect you, Hime, but I know that...I know that you're just as strong as the rest of us! He starts grinning that funny grin that shows all his teeth...that one he shows when he has full confidence in something.
He has full confidence in me.
Why do you have confidence in me, when I don't have any for myself?
Don't you think that it's a little late for this? Hisomu yawns. I mean, Yanagi, you're almost fully absorbed. Recca, your soul is already being transferred to the madougu. Do you honestly think that there's still a chance?
Recca-kun looks at me. He looks...sad? Eh...she kinda has a point there, eh Hime? I mean, she's killed them all...I died to get here...well... I grab Recca-kun's shoulders.
Recca-kun, you killed yourself in order to tell me that I have the power, that I'm a part of Team Hokage...if you had told me this almost two weeks ago, this might've never happened... I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Two weeks...all this happened in that short of a time?
He looks at me oddly. What's wrong, Hime? I mean, all of us died to get you back. You're back to normal, so it's not like we died for nothing. Fuuko, Domon, Mikagami...we all knew what we were fighting for. They understand.
But it's not fair! I cry out, You all shouldn't have to pay for my mistakes!
Hai, that's true, but they already have, Yanagi...so what can you do about it now? Hisomu grips my hand a little tighter. We're as bonded as two souls in one body can be.
All along, I thought that my friends never knew me for me.
Demo...wouldn't it be better to have those other names than to...have my identity stolen?
At least before, I knew who I was. I had a body and a soul.
Now my soul's about to be banished into a madougu while my body is taken over.
By a whole other person.
My friends have died just to try and stop that.
Just so they could have me back.
Recca-kun just killed himself knowingly just to tell me that I'm important.
I won't...
I won't let my friends' sacrifice go in vain!
Something's happening to me...
A deep well of energy opens in me...it feels like..
My energy.
Not from a madougu...but my energy.
I can save my friends.
I can!
I whisper. He leans towards me.
Hai, Hime? I hug him tighter. I don't think I'll ever have this moment again.
You're right...I am stronger than this...
Eheh...wow. Never thought I could write a chapter from 5 in the afternoon to 1 in the morning...do you still think that I don't work, that I'm just reading from the summaries I've written in Latin and Algebra 2? This chapter required something a little different...lots of alteration...lots of spoilers...do you think that I don't work? Um, I won't have authoress' notes at the end of the final chapter and the epilogue...I won't make shout outs until after the epilogue...as in a chapter completely irrelevant to the story itself...it'll be like a special end of Abekobe' party, okay? ^_^ I'll be crying all through it, but it'll still be a party... So this will be the last I honor all y'all for awhile, okay? starts crying about the end
Yo, ReccaGirl! Of course Abekobe (as in Hisomu, right?) is really mean and evil! If she were nice and sweet, she wouldn't be the antagonist now, would she? _^ Look, Recca moved this chapter! Yay! And you can join me for my sobfest over the ending...although you'll be crying for a different reason than mine...(moving right along) SGG! I see we're still creative as ever, ne? I'm in angst mood? If you think that, just wait till the last chapter! Mwhahaha! Lone, I appreciate the compliments (naturally). I tried to email you, but it didn't work...what's up with that? Not mad, just wondering. (You're the one who told me I had a B- fic, right? Saiite, I don't mind) Karen-san, you're right about being addicted to this fic...you just imed me asking if I was gonna update tonight! I know that you'll be the first reader since I just told you what time I was updating...grr. ReccaGirl'll be annoyed, y'know.
Well, Hoowee, it seems like you've disappeared off the face of the earth...or are you waiting until everything's all done? Whatever.
Next chapter: This is it! The climax and conclusion...oh, wait, just the climax. Gomen!