"The Third Soul"
by Mikim (mikim@multimania.com)
Chapter 4 : Dreams
Standards Disclaimers Apply : Rk : Watsuki's and Co ; not mine (unfortunately.)
"Night, young lady."
Startled, the girl turned around to face the man, her long black hair tied up in a long braid with a red ribbon.
No.
A white hand with long and slim fingers came into view, at her right.
His hand.
The girl seemed petrified. Only her dilated pupils were evidence of her humanity, that she weren't a statue but a human being.
Please.
The white hand gently stroke the slender neck of his prey, the long, slim fingers too gentle for a man, she thought. They lightly caressed, almost as a lover would, the cheek of his victim. The girl tried to cry out, but the only sound able to pass through the barrier of her lips reminded her of the death cry of a bird.
Please. Stop.
"Oh, her will is stronger than i first thought !"
Amazed, the deadly fingers had stopped their dance, but now they were caressing the red lips of the girl.
"She looks more like you than I believed, don't you think, Tokio-chan ?"
The fingers trailed down and closed around her neck.
NOO! MURAKI ! ! !
As life escaped the girl's body, Muraki absorbed all her willpower along with her memories. Images came to her mind, sounds to her ears, smells. Attacked by everywhere, her senses assaulted, a soul fell deeper in the darkness, disgusted of herself since a part of herself was delighted at the sight of this new corpse lying on the ground, the pain that had been felt, the last sound of the victim seemed to be the glorious sound ever.
**~~**~~**~~**
She was drowning. She had to do something, but no matter how hard she tried to move, her legs and arms refused to obey and remained still. It seemed to her that something was holding her prisoner, she tried to make them understand they were about to kill her if they don't let her go but they refused to listen to her. She could see faces, familiar ones, but she was unable to remember their names. Their worried faces scared her even more so she tried to push them away. She was fighting against them when exhausted, she gave up.
Then, he came in.
She saw him slide the panel open. It must be the man who had left before who had told him to come in. As he came closer, she saw his golden eyes, which were piercing her, as wolf's eyes.
His aura was so strong, she was going to be safe.
A man starting to chant behind her. It was a strange one, smothering her and upsetting her at the same time because whenever she was about to understand what the man was saying, the elusive meaning escaped her at the very last moment.
The wolf-man kneeled beside her, and his eyes were burning with anger and sadness. For her maybe? Her gaze was locked on the man, and he was the last thing she saw before falling deeply asleep.
*^*^*^*^*^*
His breathing woke her up. He was holding her effortlessly. She modulated her breathing to fit his while she studied his profile. His nose was slender and straight, the lips slender too, but what fascinated her, she whose eyes and hair absorbed light, was the wolf-man golden eyes, as golden as a summer sun.
He must have realized she was awake since he turned his eyes to her without stopping walking. Their gazes locked for a moment, then he took his attention back to where he was heading, but he moved her so that her forehead would rest in the hollow of his shoulder, touching his neck.
His warmth invaded her and she closed her eyes again.
:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
His sudden stop woke her, she opened her eyes, upset. Another man, all in black, was there, standing in their way. He gestured to the wolf-man as if he wanted the wolf-man to give him his precious burden, but the wolf-man only tightened his grip on her. The eyes of the man in black lit up with anger but the wolf-man didn't pay attention to him and continued walking as if nothing had happened. But the man in black didn't give up and turned to the wolf-man. He put a hand on the wolf-man's shoulder to make him turned around.
Really upset, she decided to do something, but her arms were so heavy! Despite this she braced herself and she put her hand on the wolf-man chest. She then gripped his hakama as if her life depended on. The eyes of the man in black widened with shock and pure despair, he opened his mouth, ready to say something, then changed his mind and bent his head, in defeat. The wolf walked away.
Tatsumi, sorry.
Her hand fell back on her lap and she sighed, tired. The wolf was looking down at her, a little dazed, she stared him back without blinking, the wolf- man nodded at her once and he focused again on their way.
She sighed again and went back to sleep.
*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:
Warm. Safe. And just before disappearing in the land of dreams, she realized that she knew his name : Saito.
*******
"Wake up."
He shook her lightly. She blinked several times.
"Where are we ?"
"Your brother told me to come here. He said the Elder Council will do the necessity."
She looked up to him, "thank you," she smiled to him, and he nodded and looked around scanning the darkness. Toya didn't let him bring some light, pretending it was part of the ritual. Saito had cursed that young boy several times now, and he was still cursing him since where they were was in the middle of nowhere. They were in the forest, behind the main houses of the Magami Domain. Saito could hear a waterfall, near them.
The moon had risen some time ago, but there were so many trees that he couldn't see the sky.
"Could you please, let me down ?'"
Saito let her go but took a hold on her arm before she fell on the ground. As Toya had said, she was exhausted.
"They will arrive soon." She said.
"They? Who?"
"In fact, we're already there, Tokio-chan!" a joyful voice sang on their left. Saito cursed Toya again because the young man had forbidden him to take his katana and thinking that people had actually managed to sneak that close to them, made Saito really angry at that insufferable brat that was Tokio's brother.
"TSUZUKI! Shut the hell up, will you?" a male voice yelled at the younger one. The new man seemed to be on their right this time.
Saito heard the young one, Tsuzuki, grunt a little surely annoyed of being yelled on that harshly in front of other people.
"Tokio-chan, are you alright? We can postpone this, if you're not feeling well, you know." A concerned female voice reasoned in front of them. Saito tightened his grip on Tokio's arm. Not being able to feel how many people were there or where they were angered him to no point.
"No, it's will be okay, thank you Sakuraï-sama."
"Oy! He really has a strong ken-ki! Hey, Tokio-chan you've chosen damn well!"
"Watch your mouth, Brat!"
"Who are you talkin at old crown?"
"Tsuzuki-kun, show a little more respect to Ryu-sama, he's been one of the elders for a greater among of time than you have!" Sakuraï's voice sounded shocked but no one paid attention to her since Ryu yelled at the same time:
"What did you say?"
"OLD CROWN!" Tsuzuki yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Tsuzuki-sama, Ryu-sama, please don't start bickering." Tokio pleaded. But Saito couldn't believe his ears. THAT was supposed to be the Great Council of the Magami Elders as Toya referred to, but right now, they only sounded for Saito as a bunch of kids fighting over a candy!
"What the hell...Why are you yelling that way, Ryu? What happened? Great Spirit!" Atsuko yelled.
"Atsuko! There you are! I still disagree on this! You disobeyed to the Council decision!" Ryu changed of victim and headed his anger towards the newcomer.
"I did not!"
"You did!"
"Hey, old crown, we haven't finished yet!!!" Tsuzuki came back in the argument.
That was too much for Saito, on one hand there was Tokio and Sakuraï trying to ease down the argument going on, while Atsuko, Ryu and Tsuzuki were still yelling at one another. So he did the only sensible thing he had on mind, he burst with laughter.
After a little time, Saito managed to take control on him. He could imagine Tokio's dazed face and he could hear the other's gaps of surprise. But a little chuckle froze Saito's laughter that came from behind his back.
"I wouldn't have said it better myself: a bunch of kids fighting over a candy! How right you are!" Saito whirled around, pushing Tokio behind him. The man was so close! How on earth did that man come that close! And.. He had repeated what he had thought word for word...What the hell? Was that man able to actually read his thoughts?
A small hand came on Saito's shoulder. Tokio's.
"It's alright, she said, it's Kamuro-sama, the First Elder."
The others had fallen in a respectful silence at Kamuro's approach.
"Now, he said, what was all that fuss about?"
"As usual, Kamuro-sama, Tsuzuki-kun annoyed Ryu-sama in a way or another and the usual fight went on, then Atsuko-sama arrived and Ryu-sama attacked her of betrayal to the Council since she let Tokio-chan here call for the Miburo." It was a new voice, a male one, Saito turned on him, trying to find the source of this new voice. Tokio must have felt it because she whispered the name of "Watari-sama, on my right" in Saito's ear.
"Very well, thank you, Watari. Now, let's start the Council and please, behave yourselves for at least giving this young man a decent image of the Magami' s Elders."
"Now, Ryu. We all know, my friend, that Tokio would not be able to survive another attack of Muraki. Like me, you felt what happened this evening, you felt her pain and hatred as well as her joy and..."
Tokio's little scream cut Kamuro's speech and she fell into Saito's arms.
"I'm sorry, Tokio-chan, but Ryu needed to be reminded of some vital points."
She nodded against Saito's chest, and Kamuro went on.
"So, Ryu, do you still believe she could go on alone?"
"I...You. ...Oh, well, but only if Tokio-chan says so!" Ryu answered, regret, defeat, the weight of age and troubles clearly heard in his voice.
"Please, Ryu-sama. Grand-father."
See you in next part !
by Mikim (mikim@multimania.com)
Chapter 4 : Dreams
Standards Disclaimers Apply : Rk : Watsuki's and Co ; not mine (unfortunately.)
"Night, young lady."
Startled, the girl turned around to face the man, her long black hair tied up in a long braid with a red ribbon.
No.
A white hand with long and slim fingers came into view, at her right.
His hand.
The girl seemed petrified. Only her dilated pupils were evidence of her humanity, that she weren't a statue but a human being.
Please.
The white hand gently stroke the slender neck of his prey, the long, slim fingers too gentle for a man, she thought. They lightly caressed, almost as a lover would, the cheek of his victim. The girl tried to cry out, but the only sound able to pass through the barrier of her lips reminded her of the death cry of a bird.
Please. Stop.
"Oh, her will is stronger than i first thought !"
Amazed, the deadly fingers had stopped their dance, but now they were caressing the red lips of the girl.
"She looks more like you than I believed, don't you think, Tokio-chan ?"
The fingers trailed down and closed around her neck.
NOO! MURAKI ! ! !
As life escaped the girl's body, Muraki absorbed all her willpower along with her memories. Images came to her mind, sounds to her ears, smells. Attacked by everywhere, her senses assaulted, a soul fell deeper in the darkness, disgusted of herself since a part of herself was delighted at the sight of this new corpse lying on the ground, the pain that had been felt, the last sound of the victim seemed to be the glorious sound ever.
**~~**~~**~~**
She was drowning. She had to do something, but no matter how hard she tried to move, her legs and arms refused to obey and remained still. It seemed to her that something was holding her prisoner, she tried to make them understand they were about to kill her if they don't let her go but they refused to listen to her. She could see faces, familiar ones, but she was unable to remember their names. Their worried faces scared her even more so she tried to push them away. She was fighting against them when exhausted, she gave up.
Then, he came in.
She saw him slide the panel open. It must be the man who had left before who had told him to come in. As he came closer, she saw his golden eyes, which were piercing her, as wolf's eyes.
His aura was so strong, she was going to be safe.
A man starting to chant behind her. It was a strange one, smothering her and upsetting her at the same time because whenever she was about to understand what the man was saying, the elusive meaning escaped her at the very last moment.
The wolf-man kneeled beside her, and his eyes were burning with anger and sadness. For her maybe? Her gaze was locked on the man, and he was the last thing she saw before falling deeply asleep.
*^*^*^*^*^*
His breathing woke her up. He was holding her effortlessly. She modulated her breathing to fit his while she studied his profile. His nose was slender and straight, the lips slender too, but what fascinated her, she whose eyes and hair absorbed light, was the wolf-man golden eyes, as golden as a summer sun.
He must have realized she was awake since he turned his eyes to her without stopping walking. Their gazes locked for a moment, then he took his attention back to where he was heading, but he moved her so that her forehead would rest in the hollow of his shoulder, touching his neck.
His warmth invaded her and she closed her eyes again.
:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
His sudden stop woke her, she opened her eyes, upset. Another man, all in black, was there, standing in their way. He gestured to the wolf-man as if he wanted the wolf-man to give him his precious burden, but the wolf-man only tightened his grip on her. The eyes of the man in black lit up with anger but the wolf-man didn't pay attention to him and continued walking as if nothing had happened. But the man in black didn't give up and turned to the wolf-man. He put a hand on the wolf-man's shoulder to make him turned around.
Really upset, she decided to do something, but her arms were so heavy! Despite this she braced herself and she put her hand on the wolf-man chest. She then gripped his hakama as if her life depended on. The eyes of the man in black widened with shock and pure despair, he opened his mouth, ready to say something, then changed his mind and bent his head, in defeat. The wolf walked away.
Tatsumi, sorry.
Her hand fell back on her lap and she sighed, tired. The wolf was looking down at her, a little dazed, she stared him back without blinking, the wolf- man nodded at her once and he focused again on their way.
She sighed again and went back to sleep.
*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:
Warm. Safe. And just before disappearing in the land of dreams, she realized that she knew his name : Saito.
*******
"Wake up."
He shook her lightly. She blinked several times.
"Where are we ?"
"Your brother told me to come here. He said the Elder Council will do the necessity."
She looked up to him, "thank you," she smiled to him, and he nodded and looked around scanning the darkness. Toya didn't let him bring some light, pretending it was part of the ritual. Saito had cursed that young boy several times now, and he was still cursing him since where they were was in the middle of nowhere. They were in the forest, behind the main houses of the Magami Domain. Saito could hear a waterfall, near them.
The moon had risen some time ago, but there were so many trees that he couldn't see the sky.
"Could you please, let me down ?'"
Saito let her go but took a hold on her arm before she fell on the ground. As Toya had said, she was exhausted.
"They will arrive soon." She said.
"They? Who?"
"In fact, we're already there, Tokio-chan!" a joyful voice sang on their left. Saito cursed Toya again because the young man had forbidden him to take his katana and thinking that people had actually managed to sneak that close to them, made Saito really angry at that insufferable brat that was Tokio's brother.
"TSUZUKI! Shut the hell up, will you?" a male voice yelled at the younger one. The new man seemed to be on their right this time.
Saito heard the young one, Tsuzuki, grunt a little surely annoyed of being yelled on that harshly in front of other people.
"Tokio-chan, are you alright? We can postpone this, if you're not feeling well, you know." A concerned female voice reasoned in front of them. Saito tightened his grip on Tokio's arm. Not being able to feel how many people were there or where they were angered him to no point.
"No, it's will be okay, thank you Sakuraï-sama."
"Oy! He really has a strong ken-ki! Hey, Tokio-chan you've chosen damn well!"
"Watch your mouth, Brat!"
"Who are you talkin at old crown?"
"Tsuzuki-kun, show a little more respect to Ryu-sama, he's been one of the elders for a greater among of time than you have!" Sakuraï's voice sounded shocked but no one paid attention to her since Ryu yelled at the same time:
"What did you say?"
"OLD CROWN!" Tsuzuki yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Tsuzuki-sama, Ryu-sama, please don't start bickering." Tokio pleaded. But Saito couldn't believe his ears. THAT was supposed to be the Great Council of the Magami Elders as Toya referred to, but right now, they only sounded for Saito as a bunch of kids fighting over a candy!
"What the hell...Why are you yelling that way, Ryu? What happened? Great Spirit!" Atsuko yelled.
"Atsuko! There you are! I still disagree on this! You disobeyed to the Council decision!" Ryu changed of victim and headed his anger towards the newcomer.
"I did not!"
"You did!"
"Hey, old crown, we haven't finished yet!!!" Tsuzuki came back in the argument.
That was too much for Saito, on one hand there was Tokio and Sakuraï trying to ease down the argument going on, while Atsuko, Ryu and Tsuzuki were still yelling at one another. So he did the only sensible thing he had on mind, he burst with laughter.
After a little time, Saito managed to take control on him. He could imagine Tokio's dazed face and he could hear the other's gaps of surprise. But a little chuckle froze Saito's laughter that came from behind his back.
"I wouldn't have said it better myself: a bunch of kids fighting over a candy! How right you are!" Saito whirled around, pushing Tokio behind him. The man was so close! How on earth did that man come that close! And.. He had repeated what he had thought word for word...What the hell? Was that man able to actually read his thoughts?
A small hand came on Saito's shoulder. Tokio's.
"It's alright, she said, it's Kamuro-sama, the First Elder."
The others had fallen in a respectful silence at Kamuro's approach.
"Now, he said, what was all that fuss about?"
"As usual, Kamuro-sama, Tsuzuki-kun annoyed Ryu-sama in a way or another and the usual fight went on, then Atsuko-sama arrived and Ryu-sama attacked her of betrayal to the Council since she let Tokio-chan here call for the Miburo." It was a new voice, a male one, Saito turned on him, trying to find the source of this new voice. Tokio must have felt it because she whispered the name of "Watari-sama, on my right" in Saito's ear.
"Very well, thank you, Watari. Now, let's start the Council and please, behave yourselves for at least giving this young man a decent image of the Magami' s Elders."
"Now, Ryu. We all know, my friend, that Tokio would not be able to survive another attack of Muraki. Like me, you felt what happened this evening, you felt her pain and hatred as well as her joy and..."
Tokio's little scream cut Kamuro's speech and she fell into Saito's arms.
"I'm sorry, Tokio-chan, but Ryu needed to be reminded of some vital points."
She nodded against Saito's chest, and Kamuro went on.
"So, Ryu, do you still believe she could go on alone?"
"I...You. ...Oh, well, but only if Tokio-chan says so!" Ryu answered, regret, defeat, the weight of age and troubles clearly heard in his voice.
"Please, Ryu-sama. Grand-father."
See you in next part !