This is for Ketsuki. I tried to mail you but it looks like your mailbox's
full. So I've decided to post this here. Hope it'll help the others… I know
I'm weird and my explanations really are weird but it's truly how I see
them…
Here, I'm writing you to explain you about the names:
Tomoyo: i love this name because of its meaning (i believes it means "friendly world" or something close to that). For me, the meaning of the name is really important and if i chose that one, there was a reason. It was because Tomoyo was the first girl to be killed (well in my story)…The "friendly world" is destroyed (means Tokio's peaceful life's over).
Aï: second murder, meaning: "love" or "plea". Again, another reason: the first murder introduces the relationship between Tokio and the girl killed (yeah, i know, it's really hard to get, but in my twisted mind it's how it looks like… because Tomoyo was killed, Tokio cried and suffered) while Aï is the description of Muraki's mentality: he's obsessed with Tokio. He thinks he loves her (first meaning "Love") but his love only hurting her...(Second meaning "Plea")
Do you get it? I know my explanations aren't really clear but that's the only way i found to write them down, sorry, sorry.
Hitomi: third murder. Hitomi means: "eye". When Muraki kills her, we see it through Tokio's eyes. (The easier one)
Tsuzuki: i l*oooooooooo*ve Yami No Matsuei and Tsuzuki was the perfect name for this fellow, always happy, ready to cause any mischief. Even though mine doesn't look like a single bit like Tsuzuki-chan of YnM....
Tatsumi: well, Tatsumi of YnM even though he doesn't show it, he cares for our Tsuzuki-chan. So when i looked for a name for my Guardian, he naturally popped in my mind. Also because he's really secretive...
The name "Magami" is from X of Clamp. It means "the real God" or something like that i believe...See the connection? (If not, see chapter 8 when Saito tells Okita about Tokio's family)
Toya: in fact, I've chosen the name from Ayashi No Ceres. It means "ten nights". When I started writing, i wanted to give him a more important role, but it didn't happen.... At first, he was supposed to ally with Saito and help him to kill the meanie of the story on the 10th night after the beginning of the killing (i know, i know, i really have a twisted mind...maybe i should go out more often and get a little fresh air for my over heated neurons...)
Reiji...I didn't know there was a Reiji in Weiss Kreuz.... Wait, now that you've mentioned it, wasn't he the big bad guy?
Watari: he too was supposed to have a more important role...see how he ended ;_; only 1 or 2 lines....bouh, i really feel bad about that one.... If you've read YnM you'd know that Watari despite his cheerful face has a big secret (hope I'm not spoiling you...If yes, well, I'm soooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrry)...
Kamuro: in fact, this one is from KaMiKaZe from Satoshi Shiki. It means "from the god" i think. So if you put the 2 together : Kamuro Magami= the real god from heavens. Well, that's what i wanted it to mean.... Anyway, i used it because i wanted him to have an aura of power and knowledge: he knows everything (he can hear people's thoughts) and he's the 1st elder, one of the most powerful men of the clan. Well his relationship with the Head Clan is quite unclear (even in my own mind, I'm still trying to find a way out, but I'm more and more drifting to let that matter drop....)
Muraki: i took his name because he's my favorite insane character around. There's no other reason, for him, though...
There's reason too for the song...But, i won't tell you because it would give out too much of the story! (hehehehe) maybe I'll add another one…
Again thanks a lot to all of you who reviewed my story. It helped a lot. It really did, it always does.
Now, on to the story!!!!!
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"The Third Soul"
Chapter 9: Butterfly
Standard Disclaimers Apply.
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"I'm so glad you're still alive, Tatsumi-san! But, how did you manage to survive? Or rather, should I ask you how did you raise from the dead? Because you indeed were dead!" Muraki's smile became even more brightly and he kept on. "Maybe you should explain who you truly are, Tatsumi-san. Or rather should I say Reiji Magami-san."
"What? Tatsumi-san! What the hell is he saying?" Tokio was shaking.
"Tokio!" Saito turned and held her back, but his gaze was still locked on Muraki.
"Tatsumi-san! Tatsumi-san, what is he saying?" Tokio cried out, fighting Saito's embrace.
"The truth, my love. Only and always the truth." Muraki smiled gently to Tokio once more. A smile that froze her to death. "But, please, Tatsumi- san, heal yourself. I'll wait."
Tatsumi inhaled sharply and closed his eyes.
Wind blew around him and as if the wind had taken them away, his injuries disappeared, little by little.
"What the bloody hell…" Astonished, Okita couldn't end his own sentence, he couldn't even believe his own eyes.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Tokio yelled, fighting Saito's hold on her but he was too strong for her. So she gave up and as a lifeless doll she watched in horror the man she considered as her only friend, her guardian.
So Muraki was right. Her father had broken the most sacred law of their clan. And it would cost him his life and Tatsumi's.
"Care to explain?" Saito asked. One of them needed to stay in control and if not Tokio, then it should be him.
"Sure, Miburo!" Muraki happily complied. "When I killed Tokio-chan' s mother, her father went insane and…"
"THAT CAN'T BE TRUE! My father would never do something like that! Never!" Tokio yelled, cutting Muraki.
Muraki's face darkened: "I hate it when people cut me." He made a odd movement of his wrist and immediately after, Tokio yelped in pain. Saito had to support her so that she would remained on her feet and not giving Muraki the satisfaction of falling before him.
"Don't worry, Tokio-chan, I'll teach how to please me…" Muraki kept on and his face cracked with a smile.
"Tokio-chan!" Okita exclaimed in alarm. "Are you…" But he couldn't finish his sentence as the wind hit him with full force, sending him crashing on one of the temple pillars and knocking him out. Saito's eyes widened in shock as his friend was swept away as a vulgar leaf.
"Shut up." Muraki smiled warmly at the unconscious Okita. "How dared you to call her that way? Only I has the right too."
Saito pushed Tokio firmly behind him and asked: "Ahou ga, why don't you finish your story?"
Muraki's face reddened a little at the provocation but he mastered his anger and managed to cast a smile at the couple.
"Her father's desire, no need to protect his children from me was so great that he, unconsciously, released a certain amount of power that created Tatsumi's soul and body."
"Liar." Tokio managed to say between her gritted teeth, her eyes set on her enemy, full of hatred for the man and suffering.
"Really? Have you forgotten Tokio-chan? I am the one who say the truth! I'm illusion and to make perfect illusion I have to know the truth, don't you think Reiji Magami-san?"
Tatsumi had opened his eyes again and was now ready to battle.
"He's telling you the truth."
Tokio's world went to pieces…She felt like spinning, faster and faster… And nothing seemed to be strong enough to hold on her. A wolf jumped into her infernal spiral, grabbed her gi and sent her back to reality with a strong jerk of his head, giving her support and comfort in the meantime. Then she heard Muraki burst in laughter, saying : "Then, let's start playing!"
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Muraki opened his arms wide and the wind started to blow around them, circling around their legs. Sound of thousands of birds soon made itself heard and as expected, the same deadly birds, which had attacked Saito earlier, appeared out of nowhere and aimed dangerously at the couple.
Saito greeted his teeth, readying himself to battle.
"Tokio" he whispered "let's move closer to Okita."
"Hai."
"Stay close to me." He ordered again and the two of them, walked towards Okita, Saito slicing the birds that came too close to them. Tokio kneeled next to him and helped him up as the young man came back to his senses.
"What happened?" Okita asked, rubbing his head.
"He knocked you out and birds are coming closer." Saito looked at the birds: Muraki was only playing with them. Teasing, a bird came forward to wound him, and the other stood behind, watching. Muraki was only teasing them: he could send all his weapons in once but he didn't. Why? He said it earlier, for the sake's of play.
"Birds? What birds?" Okita asked, looking up.
"He can't see them." The young woman stared unbelieving at the young Captain.
"Thanks a lot, Tokio, I needed you to tell me." Saito said, ironically looking down at her. He turned back quickly to slice down a bird that had came a little too close at his own likes.
"No need to be so sarcastic!" She groaned. "All I wanted to say is that he won't be able to defend himself against Muraki attacks."
"Sure." The man added, a lop side grin playing on his lips. "I haven't realized it myself, thanks again."
Angered, Tokio stood up and let her temper go. She reached in her sleeves and pulled out several ofudas. Glaring at Saito, she released the spell, which allowed her to create some birds on her own. Clapping her hands together, she mentally led her birds to draw on the floor, around them, the symbol that would shield them from Muraki's birds. Feeding the symbol with her power, Tokio released her anger, pain, sorrow in the spell, making it shine with strength and willpower. The great white bird, once again, rested on her shoulders but this time, a wolf was laying at her feet.
Okita withdrew his sword, not really knowing why, but there was an odd feeling in the air, a threatening one.
"What's going on down here?" He asked Saito.
"Tell you later." Came the short and blunt reply. Okita would have let it pass if it was a normal day and a normal battle, if a battle could actually be qualified of being normal, but it wasn't. He needed to understand. And now. But he hadn't had the time to. His gaze, who had been wandering around them, fell on the other two opponents and Okita no longer paid attention to Saito who oddly kept on slashing the air up and down.
The other two men were facing each other, doing nothing but the tension between them was so evident that Okita was surprised not to see thunder crashing down between the two.
And Muraki smirked. Okita froze and Muraki waved at him: "Nice job, Tokio- chan. But will it be strong enough to defeat this?"
Tatsumi took the opportunity and ran forward to slash the man down with a sword that was coming out of his hand. Muraki avoided the cut, laughing and disappeared, simply and purely: he vanished as if he was nothing but thin air.
"Where are you looking at?" He said, happily. "I'm right here!" Another Tatsumi emerged from the temple, behind Tokio, Saito and Okita. The three of them whirled around and Okita put himself in front of the girl as Saito was behind her.
Muraki chuckled once more.
"What the hell!" Okita gasped. Another 'Tatsumi' just got of the forest, grinning madly. Then, three more climbed the stairs and stepped at the Temple entrance. Okita looked around him, as more and more Tatsumis got out of the shadows of trees, temple… Now, several Tatsumi encircled them. They all bore the solemn face of the Guardian.
"Don't panic, Sou-chan. It's only an illusion." Some of the Tatsumis faced each other, withdrawing their owns katana against each other, some turned to fight, Saito, Okita and Tokio. "But, be careful, if you got hit by one of them, your mind but also your body will receive the impact of it. You can get killed by one of them. The same goes for you, Hajime." Tokio added looking over her shoulder to him. You promised. He grunted back, nodding once. He then turned his back at her, to face some of their opponents who were making rounds around them.
"Tokio, Saito quietly asked, can you tell us which one is the truth?"
"No…they all feel real for me. Give me some time and I'll be able to tell you which one is Tatsumi-san."
Saito nodded once more and the ShisenGumi took their battle stances.
Tokio kneeled on the ground, concentrating, detaching herself of what was going on around her: some Tatsumi fighting one another, Okita blocking one of them while Saito fought against three Tatsumi.
"How nice of you, Muraki. Three against one, you're underestimating me…"
Tokio smiled, feeling Saito assurance in her heart, it gave her the courage and strength she needed and once again, the great white bird took its flight.
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She was flying, she was the air, she was the wind, she was the earth, everything and nothing. She was a bird, a great, white bird with black liquids pools for eyes, a long, slender neck and graceful wings. She turned above the battle area and studied the fighters: some of the Tatsumis were fighting among themselves, surely to provide Muraki a protection from Saito or Tokio's interference when he'd try to kill Tatsumi-san… Tatsumi-san, her heart tightened, so he was created from Father… She shook her head and once more concentrated on the battle going on: Okita was fighting against two Tatsumi who were trying to reach her body. The young Captain had an amazing force, his ki was flaring up and he slashed one of his opponents down. But a third Tatsumi, sneaking behind him, aimed at his head. Okita sensed it, whirled around and blocked the man's sword with his other little katana.
Tokio turned her attention to Saito, who was playing around with one remaining Tatsumi, his ki brighter than usual he was enjoying himself. Settled with her examination of the ShisenGumi Captains, she turned to the Tatsumis who were fighting themselves, trying to find the illusions and the real one.
Shaking her head, she cried out in despair as she found herself unable to tell where the real Tatsumi was. No, no, where is Tatsumi?
A familiar feeling soothed her and attracted her attention: coming closer to her was another bird, just like her. But instead of being white, the bird's feathers were all black but the eyes were white, pure white, as the snow from the highest mountains. Toya.
The bird that was her brother came closer to its white twin and wrapped its black neck around the white one. Time stood still.
Tokio had reintegrated her body and Toya was standing in front of her, smiling.
"I can't stay for too long, imouto-chan, Tsuzuki-kun' s covering me up. Here, I came to give you this." Toya said, taking her hand and putting in it a ceremonial knife. Ryu's.
"But, this is…" She stared at the knife in her hand and glared at her brother: "You didn't steal it, did you?"
Toya smiled sheepishly: "Do you really believe that I could sneak out of the Magami Domain by myself? I needed some help and Grand-Pa was willing to help so… I guess Atsuko-sama will make me clean up every single floor of the main house as my punishment. I guess she'll have Tsuzuki doing it too."
Tokio closed her fingers around the knife and held it close to her heart. "Arigatou, onii-chan. But, tell me, did you-" Toya put a finger on his sister's lips.
"Yes, I knew for Tatsumi-san. But, imouto-chan, he's not our father, what he's been through the bad times like the good times are all different from our father. That's what make him different…Oh, shot. I can't stay any longer, Kamuro-sama is coming to kick my ass back home. Good luck." He whispered, kissing her on the cheek. Toya vanished and Time took back his throne on life.
Tokio was still kneeling on the Temple ground, between Okita and Saito, both of them fighting back their opponents. Her lips had still been forming the words of the spell, she had to change her tactic and do it fast, before Muraki could realize she was actually planning to attack him.
It will hurt like hell, but better this that letting Tatsumi die. He's not father. He's a member of my family, an uncle maybe, but family.
She withdrew the ceremonial knife from its saya and abruptly changed the spell. Chanting louder and louder, the wind whirled around her, screaming in disagreement.
Kamuro-sama' s voice, when he was giving her lessons, resonated at her ears: "Tokio-chan, you can' t switch spells so abruptly. When you're chanting a spell, you're binding yourself at its structure and detaching yourself from it too quickly will cause you harm. The kind of harm depends on the strength of the spell you threw away."
Wind made her robes floating around her, knife in her right hand, she stroke the ground, still chanting. The great white bird grew even bigger and turned its head to the sky, screaming. It flew towards some Tatsumi and went through the man. The illusion shattered.
Muraki's counter attack didn't wait for long. Immediately after the first fallen illusion, another bird aimed at Tokio but the wolf jumped at the bird throat and the two of them fought in a tangle of fur, feather, blood, claws and fangs. Saito lost his concentration when he saw a big wolf coming from out of nowhere and protecting Tokio from one of Muraki's attack. His opponent took advantage of his surprise and aimed his heart but he only wounded Saito's right thigh, who scolded himself for being so restless.
However, Tokio paid no attention at the wolf: she kept on 'killing' the illusions, but watchful golden eyes saw the opportunity there to destabilize Muraki even further, maybe get rid of him, if the strike was given at the right time.
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Tokio could felt it: with each fallen illusion, Muraki's strength was slowly but surely getting weaker. If she could destroy all the remaining illusions in once, she would give him a powerful strike but she, too, was getting tired… sweating and panting, Tokio started to shake, she wouldn't last for long… A ghostly hand caressed her forehead, brushing the sweat away. Windy lips moved closer to her ears.
…Free me…
…I want to leave…
…I hurts…
…Why am I still here?…
…Free me…
…Help me…
…Free me…
…It hurts…
Tokio froze in shock. These voices belonged to the girls Muraki had killed the last three nights. Their souls were stuck within Muraki and now under Tatsumi and Tokio's attacks, Muraki was losing control over his last preys…
The thought fired Tokio's hatred towards the man and she withdrew the ceremonial knife from the ground. Beginning her spell once again, she stabbed the ground perpendicularly compared to the first time, forming a cross. This time, four Tatsumi vanished, eaten by flames, Muraki hugged himself in pain and Tokio fell on the ground shaking and coughing blood.
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Tatsumi watched Muraki doubling up with pain, he then launched himself on Muraki to stab him, right in his heart. But the killer hadn't said his last words, with a last start of pure willpower, Muraki sent Tatsumi away. But the harm had already been done: Tokio had freed the girls' souls making them out of Muraki's reach.
Mad with pain Muraki fell on his knees. Maybe a good kill would help him to get back in control. Getting back on his feet, Muraki quickly marched over where Tatsumi lied down and stabbed him in the stomach twice. Tatsumi yelled.
"You dared to love her" he growled in Tatsumi's ear, making his sword turn into the man's stomach. "This is your punishment. And this time, I don't think that your creator will be able to support it. He'll die with you, be happy, I give you some company." Muraki avoided just in time Saito's sword but Saito didn't: Muraki's sword wounded deeply his right side. And Muraki vanished in the air. Tokio raised her head from the ground, little blood running on her chin.
But Muraki's voice lasted after him:
"Tokio-chan, you're playing a dangerous game, I should punish you but you're already suffering a lot because of your actions and it won't teach you anything. But, Tokio-chan, I promise you to teach you a lesson or two. You really hurt me, this time but I forgive you because I love you." Tokio moaned in pain, not only from a physical pain but also from one which touches the soul.
With the help of Okita, Tokio came to Tatsumi's side. She fell on her knees next to him and took his hand in hers. He difficulty opened his brown eyes and stared at her for a while.
Okita moved closer to Saito, who to steady himself on his feet had to lean on his sword, planted in the ground. Okita ripped Saito's gi, making some bandages and wrapped them around the older man's side. Tokio studied Saito's face as she felt his pain, worried for him. Dark clouds of rain accumulated themselves above their heads.
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"I have been loving you…" Time froze and Tokio slowly turned her head back to her Guardian, lying down, in a red pool. Small drops of rain fell, troubling the ruby red pool.
"How could I not love you?" he asked her "You've always the only one important to me, I watched you grow into a fine, beautiful and young woman. The need that gave me life turned into desire to see you happy…" His voice slowly faded to become a whisper. Drops ran down his face. "Living besides you, watching you smile, laugh or cry. Being there when you needed me. How I've loved when your eyes would light up because you had something to tell me, something to show me. Don't blame yourself. My wish had always been to die for you." He tried to squeeze her hand a little, but failed, the dark shadow of Death, which had let him escaped from its grip once, engulfed him again.
Rain fell heavier, the two ShisenGumi, one holding his left arm, the other his right side, remained silent under the rain as the man whose soul had been created only for her sake said his goodbyes to the girl who had taken so much importance in his life and finally fulfilled his wish.
Tokio, amazed, watched three butterfly coming closer to her. One of them rested on Tatsumi's lips while the other two circling around his head. They, then, took their flight. A fourth butterfly had joined them, quickly followed by a fifth one.
.~.……………….~.………………….~.……………….
"I don't understand. What the hell were all these Tatsumi?"
Harada was bandaging Okita's left arm, in Saito's room. The latter was leaning against the window frame, watching the yard where a little someone was hiding behind a particular Sakura tree.
"When we were carrying Saito-san back, Tokio-chan explained it to me. But I didn't catch everything, though…"
"Try me." Harada eagerly waited for his friend to continue.
"Muraki must have killed Tatsumi once before, he then sucked his soul like he always does. So, when Muraki realized we wouldn't let him kill Tatsumi a second time, he needed something to keep us busy while he'd kill Tatsumi. I think he wanted to give Tokio-chan the last blow by this, I mean making her realize that her most trusted friend no longer lived and he almost succeeded. Anyway, 'Tatsumi' was created from Reiji Magami-san, Tokio's father, need to protect his children. She told me he had to use a forbidden spell to create her Guardian, because when you create a soul from a need or desire, this need and desire will lead the new soul life forever. Nothing else would matter to the new life, only the need, here the visceral need to protect his own children."
"So, Tatsumi-san was Reiji Magami."
"Yes… and no. I mean, first he was Reiji Magami-san but the experience and the everyday matters Tatsumi had to solve was made from his own decision. Do you understand?"
"Hum…so, it's a bit as if Tatsumi-san and Tokio's father were once at the beginning and then due to the different leads that their lives have taken they differentiated one another more and more with time."
Okita nodded, thoughtfully. "But the need to protect his children never left either men hearts. And when Tatsumi died for the second time, Reiji Magami lost his life too."
"Why not the first time when Muraki killed Tatsumi?"
"Hum, that's what I didn't quite catch… She said it had to do with power: when you create a new life from your power, you first support it, then, with the time, the new one can support itself. But, the creator and the created share a link forever and here, the created died once, but Reiji Magami was the Head Clan, after all. So he summoned Tatsumi again."
"I guess it has some limits and the second time was a time too much."
"Well, I don't know, she said something about another forbidden spell about calling the dead. And the price to pay was both lives."
"Hum…" Harada remained silent for several minutes, trying to assimilate everything Okita had told him. Only the rain could be heard. "But, he said, can we say that Tatsumi was a real person? I mean, he was created from another one's desire to fulfill another one's wish, after all. He only was a… plaything. I don't know how to say it."
"Tatsumi-san was a 'real' person. He took care to Tokio since she was seven, that's why he came back. Tokio told me once that Toya had swore to Tatsumi he'd grow to be the stronger man of the Magami Clan so that all he would have to do was to watch over her. The one in immediate danger was Tokio and he couldn't leave her be. I think Tatsumi decided by himself to come back, against Magami-san's order because Tatsumi was in love with her." Saito stated, not bothering to face the other two men. Okita sighed and recalled what had happened at the Temple.
"What?" Harada, shocked, pulled a bit hard on the bandage, causing Okita to yelp in pain. "Gomen." He muttered to his younger friend.
"Think for a while, will you? I swear, it'll help."
Harada groaned and Saito smirked, turning back, he then locked his gaze with Harada's :
"He took care of her since she was seven, nobody else mattered. Toya was different, he was under the Elders fiery protection because he's the heir. But what about her? She held for years the first place in his heart. Years passed and she no longer was a child: she became a woman. Reiji Magami only wanted to make sure his children were safe, but why did Tatsumi come back? Because he had acquired his own free will, soul and heart. Can this sink in your head and make you understand what I'm saying?"
Harada struggled, holding himself back at lurching at Saito's throat. But the untold words resonated in his mind: 'he came back to protect his love. To give his life to his love.'
The golden-eyed man only chuckled at his youngster behavior and turned back at the window, gazing down at the yard, where he could see Tokio's form, crying as usual.
She had her knees drawn to her chest her back at the tree and him. The rain was pouring for hours, now. She was cold, he could felt it, and numb: she just couldn't move. "I've been loving you." Words played in her mind again and again. Love me… I stopped him to get attached to someone else, he… Father, what have you done? Her father. He was dead now, Toya will be the next Head Clan of the Magami Clan. He must have run away in the forest so that nobody would see him cry. Onii-chan, forgive me. Tokio put her head on her knees, rain poured down on her. Will the rain take my pain away? Would you take my pain away? Somebody help me.
Upstairs, in his room, by the window, golden eyes watched small shoulders shake with sobs.
.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
I suck at action scenes……Forgive me minna, for this horrible chapter….Duuuh, when I was writing it, I had the end before the middle written down… I'm also trying to make Saito a bit more saitoish ( =a real pain in the butt)… Does it work? Anyways, stay tuned for next part!!!!!!
I changed the name of this part and added a few lines… Why? Well I've just seen Cowboy Bebop and it made me remembered a tale my mum told me once. It was about the butterflies which were in fact the dead people souls that come back to earth, times to times to see how their loved ones go on with their lives. I love the idea.
See ya all!!!!
Here, I'm writing you to explain you about the names:
Tomoyo: i love this name because of its meaning (i believes it means "friendly world" or something close to that). For me, the meaning of the name is really important and if i chose that one, there was a reason. It was because Tomoyo was the first girl to be killed (well in my story)…The "friendly world" is destroyed (means Tokio's peaceful life's over).
Aï: second murder, meaning: "love" or "plea". Again, another reason: the first murder introduces the relationship between Tokio and the girl killed (yeah, i know, it's really hard to get, but in my twisted mind it's how it looks like… because Tomoyo was killed, Tokio cried and suffered) while Aï is the description of Muraki's mentality: he's obsessed with Tokio. He thinks he loves her (first meaning "Love") but his love only hurting her...(Second meaning "Plea")
Do you get it? I know my explanations aren't really clear but that's the only way i found to write them down, sorry, sorry.
Hitomi: third murder. Hitomi means: "eye". When Muraki kills her, we see it through Tokio's eyes. (The easier one)
Tsuzuki: i l*oooooooooo*ve Yami No Matsuei and Tsuzuki was the perfect name for this fellow, always happy, ready to cause any mischief. Even though mine doesn't look like a single bit like Tsuzuki-chan of YnM....
Tatsumi: well, Tatsumi of YnM even though he doesn't show it, he cares for our Tsuzuki-chan. So when i looked for a name for my Guardian, he naturally popped in my mind. Also because he's really secretive...
The name "Magami" is from X of Clamp. It means "the real God" or something like that i believe...See the connection? (If not, see chapter 8 when Saito tells Okita about Tokio's family)
Toya: in fact, I've chosen the name from Ayashi No Ceres. It means "ten nights". When I started writing, i wanted to give him a more important role, but it didn't happen.... At first, he was supposed to ally with Saito and help him to kill the meanie of the story on the 10th night after the beginning of the killing (i know, i know, i really have a twisted mind...maybe i should go out more often and get a little fresh air for my over heated neurons...)
Reiji...I didn't know there was a Reiji in Weiss Kreuz.... Wait, now that you've mentioned it, wasn't he the big bad guy?
Watari: he too was supposed to have a more important role...see how he ended ;_; only 1 or 2 lines....bouh, i really feel bad about that one.... If you've read YnM you'd know that Watari despite his cheerful face has a big secret (hope I'm not spoiling you...If yes, well, I'm soooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrry)...
Kamuro: in fact, this one is from KaMiKaZe from Satoshi Shiki. It means "from the god" i think. So if you put the 2 together : Kamuro Magami= the real god from heavens. Well, that's what i wanted it to mean.... Anyway, i used it because i wanted him to have an aura of power and knowledge: he knows everything (he can hear people's thoughts) and he's the 1st elder, one of the most powerful men of the clan. Well his relationship with the Head Clan is quite unclear (even in my own mind, I'm still trying to find a way out, but I'm more and more drifting to let that matter drop....)
Muraki: i took his name because he's my favorite insane character around. There's no other reason, for him, though...
There's reason too for the song...But, i won't tell you because it would give out too much of the story! (hehehehe) maybe I'll add another one…
Again thanks a lot to all of you who reviewed my story. It helped a lot. It really did, it always does.
Now, on to the story!!!!!
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"The Third Soul"
Chapter 9: Butterfly
Standard Disclaimers Apply.
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"I'm so glad you're still alive, Tatsumi-san! But, how did you manage to survive? Or rather, should I ask you how did you raise from the dead? Because you indeed were dead!" Muraki's smile became even more brightly and he kept on. "Maybe you should explain who you truly are, Tatsumi-san. Or rather should I say Reiji Magami-san."
"What? Tatsumi-san! What the hell is he saying?" Tokio was shaking.
"Tokio!" Saito turned and held her back, but his gaze was still locked on Muraki.
"Tatsumi-san! Tatsumi-san, what is he saying?" Tokio cried out, fighting Saito's embrace.
"The truth, my love. Only and always the truth." Muraki smiled gently to Tokio once more. A smile that froze her to death. "But, please, Tatsumi- san, heal yourself. I'll wait."
Tatsumi inhaled sharply and closed his eyes.
Wind blew around him and as if the wind had taken them away, his injuries disappeared, little by little.
"What the bloody hell…" Astonished, Okita couldn't end his own sentence, he couldn't even believe his own eyes.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Tokio yelled, fighting Saito's hold on her but he was too strong for her. So she gave up and as a lifeless doll she watched in horror the man she considered as her only friend, her guardian.
So Muraki was right. Her father had broken the most sacred law of their clan. And it would cost him his life and Tatsumi's.
"Care to explain?" Saito asked. One of them needed to stay in control and if not Tokio, then it should be him.
"Sure, Miburo!" Muraki happily complied. "When I killed Tokio-chan' s mother, her father went insane and…"
"THAT CAN'T BE TRUE! My father would never do something like that! Never!" Tokio yelled, cutting Muraki.
Muraki's face darkened: "I hate it when people cut me." He made a odd movement of his wrist and immediately after, Tokio yelped in pain. Saito had to support her so that she would remained on her feet and not giving Muraki the satisfaction of falling before him.
"Don't worry, Tokio-chan, I'll teach how to please me…" Muraki kept on and his face cracked with a smile.
"Tokio-chan!" Okita exclaimed in alarm. "Are you…" But he couldn't finish his sentence as the wind hit him with full force, sending him crashing on one of the temple pillars and knocking him out. Saito's eyes widened in shock as his friend was swept away as a vulgar leaf.
"Shut up." Muraki smiled warmly at the unconscious Okita. "How dared you to call her that way? Only I has the right too."
Saito pushed Tokio firmly behind him and asked: "Ahou ga, why don't you finish your story?"
Muraki's face reddened a little at the provocation but he mastered his anger and managed to cast a smile at the couple.
"Her father's desire, no need to protect his children from me was so great that he, unconsciously, released a certain amount of power that created Tatsumi's soul and body."
"Liar." Tokio managed to say between her gritted teeth, her eyes set on her enemy, full of hatred for the man and suffering.
"Really? Have you forgotten Tokio-chan? I am the one who say the truth! I'm illusion and to make perfect illusion I have to know the truth, don't you think Reiji Magami-san?"
Tatsumi had opened his eyes again and was now ready to battle.
"He's telling you the truth."
Tokio's world went to pieces…She felt like spinning, faster and faster… And nothing seemed to be strong enough to hold on her. A wolf jumped into her infernal spiral, grabbed her gi and sent her back to reality with a strong jerk of his head, giving her support and comfort in the meantime. Then she heard Muraki burst in laughter, saying : "Then, let's start playing!"
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Muraki opened his arms wide and the wind started to blow around them, circling around their legs. Sound of thousands of birds soon made itself heard and as expected, the same deadly birds, which had attacked Saito earlier, appeared out of nowhere and aimed dangerously at the couple.
Saito greeted his teeth, readying himself to battle.
"Tokio" he whispered "let's move closer to Okita."
"Hai."
"Stay close to me." He ordered again and the two of them, walked towards Okita, Saito slicing the birds that came too close to them. Tokio kneeled next to him and helped him up as the young man came back to his senses.
"What happened?" Okita asked, rubbing his head.
"He knocked you out and birds are coming closer." Saito looked at the birds: Muraki was only playing with them. Teasing, a bird came forward to wound him, and the other stood behind, watching. Muraki was only teasing them: he could send all his weapons in once but he didn't. Why? He said it earlier, for the sake's of play.
"Birds? What birds?" Okita asked, looking up.
"He can't see them." The young woman stared unbelieving at the young Captain.
"Thanks a lot, Tokio, I needed you to tell me." Saito said, ironically looking down at her. He turned back quickly to slice down a bird that had came a little too close at his own likes.
"No need to be so sarcastic!" She groaned. "All I wanted to say is that he won't be able to defend himself against Muraki attacks."
"Sure." The man added, a lop side grin playing on his lips. "I haven't realized it myself, thanks again."
Angered, Tokio stood up and let her temper go. She reached in her sleeves and pulled out several ofudas. Glaring at Saito, she released the spell, which allowed her to create some birds on her own. Clapping her hands together, she mentally led her birds to draw on the floor, around them, the symbol that would shield them from Muraki's birds. Feeding the symbol with her power, Tokio released her anger, pain, sorrow in the spell, making it shine with strength and willpower. The great white bird, once again, rested on her shoulders but this time, a wolf was laying at her feet.
Okita withdrew his sword, not really knowing why, but there was an odd feeling in the air, a threatening one.
"What's going on down here?" He asked Saito.
"Tell you later." Came the short and blunt reply. Okita would have let it pass if it was a normal day and a normal battle, if a battle could actually be qualified of being normal, but it wasn't. He needed to understand. And now. But he hadn't had the time to. His gaze, who had been wandering around them, fell on the other two opponents and Okita no longer paid attention to Saito who oddly kept on slashing the air up and down.
The other two men were facing each other, doing nothing but the tension between them was so evident that Okita was surprised not to see thunder crashing down between the two.
And Muraki smirked. Okita froze and Muraki waved at him: "Nice job, Tokio- chan. But will it be strong enough to defeat this?"
Tatsumi took the opportunity and ran forward to slash the man down with a sword that was coming out of his hand. Muraki avoided the cut, laughing and disappeared, simply and purely: he vanished as if he was nothing but thin air.
"Where are you looking at?" He said, happily. "I'm right here!" Another Tatsumi emerged from the temple, behind Tokio, Saito and Okita. The three of them whirled around and Okita put himself in front of the girl as Saito was behind her.
Muraki chuckled once more.
"What the hell!" Okita gasped. Another 'Tatsumi' just got of the forest, grinning madly. Then, three more climbed the stairs and stepped at the Temple entrance. Okita looked around him, as more and more Tatsumis got out of the shadows of trees, temple… Now, several Tatsumi encircled them. They all bore the solemn face of the Guardian.
"Don't panic, Sou-chan. It's only an illusion." Some of the Tatsumis faced each other, withdrawing their owns katana against each other, some turned to fight, Saito, Okita and Tokio. "But, be careful, if you got hit by one of them, your mind but also your body will receive the impact of it. You can get killed by one of them. The same goes for you, Hajime." Tokio added looking over her shoulder to him. You promised. He grunted back, nodding once. He then turned his back at her, to face some of their opponents who were making rounds around them.
"Tokio, Saito quietly asked, can you tell us which one is the truth?"
"No…they all feel real for me. Give me some time and I'll be able to tell you which one is Tatsumi-san."
Saito nodded once more and the ShisenGumi took their battle stances.
Tokio kneeled on the ground, concentrating, detaching herself of what was going on around her: some Tatsumi fighting one another, Okita blocking one of them while Saito fought against three Tatsumi.
"How nice of you, Muraki. Three against one, you're underestimating me…"
Tokio smiled, feeling Saito assurance in her heart, it gave her the courage and strength she needed and once again, the great white bird took its flight.
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She was flying, she was the air, she was the wind, she was the earth, everything and nothing. She was a bird, a great, white bird with black liquids pools for eyes, a long, slender neck and graceful wings. She turned above the battle area and studied the fighters: some of the Tatsumis were fighting among themselves, surely to provide Muraki a protection from Saito or Tokio's interference when he'd try to kill Tatsumi-san… Tatsumi-san, her heart tightened, so he was created from Father… She shook her head and once more concentrated on the battle going on: Okita was fighting against two Tatsumi who were trying to reach her body. The young Captain had an amazing force, his ki was flaring up and he slashed one of his opponents down. But a third Tatsumi, sneaking behind him, aimed at his head. Okita sensed it, whirled around and blocked the man's sword with his other little katana.
Tokio turned her attention to Saito, who was playing around with one remaining Tatsumi, his ki brighter than usual he was enjoying himself. Settled with her examination of the ShisenGumi Captains, she turned to the Tatsumis who were fighting themselves, trying to find the illusions and the real one.
Shaking her head, she cried out in despair as she found herself unable to tell where the real Tatsumi was. No, no, where is Tatsumi?
A familiar feeling soothed her and attracted her attention: coming closer to her was another bird, just like her. But instead of being white, the bird's feathers were all black but the eyes were white, pure white, as the snow from the highest mountains. Toya.
The bird that was her brother came closer to its white twin and wrapped its black neck around the white one. Time stood still.
Tokio had reintegrated her body and Toya was standing in front of her, smiling.
"I can't stay for too long, imouto-chan, Tsuzuki-kun' s covering me up. Here, I came to give you this." Toya said, taking her hand and putting in it a ceremonial knife. Ryu's.
"But, this is…" She stared at the knife in her hand and glared at her brother: "You didn't steal it, did you?"
Toya smiled sheepishly: "Do you really believe that I could sneak out of the Magami Domain by myself? I needed some help and Grand-Pa was willing to help so… I guess Atsuko-sama will make me clean up every single floor of the main house as my punishment. I guess she'll have Tsuzuki doing it too."
Tokio closed her fingers around the knife and held it close to her heart. "Arigatou, onii-chan. But, tell me, did you-" Toya put a finger on his sister's lips.
"Yes, I knew for Tatsumi-san. But, imouto-chan, he's not our father, what he's been through the bad times like the good times are all different from our father. That's what make him different…Oh, shot. I can't stay any longer, Kamuro-sama is coming to kick my ass back home. Good luck." He whispered, kissing her on the cheek. Toya vanished and Time took back his throne on life.
Tokio was still kneeling on the Temple ground, between Okita and Saito, both of them fighting back their opponents. Her lips had still been forming the words of the spell, she had to change her tactic and do it fast, before Muraki could realize she was actually planning to attack him.
It will hurt like hell, but better this that letting Tatsumi die. He's not father. He's a member of my family, an uncle maybe, but family.
She withdrew the ceremonial knife from its saya and abruptly changed the spell. Chanting louder and louder, the wind whirled around her, screaming in disagreement.
Kamuro-sama' s voice, when he was giving her lessons, resonated at her ears: "Tokio-chan, you can' t switch spells so abruptly. When you're chanting a spell, you're binding yourself at its structure and detaching yourself from it too quickly will cause you harm. The kind of harm depends on the strength of the spell you threw away."
Wind made her robes floating around her, knife in her right hand, she stroke the ground, still chanting. The great white bird grew even bigger and turned its head to the sky, screaming. It flew towards some Tatsumi and went through the man. The illusion shattered.
Muraki's counter attack didn't wait for long. Immediately after the first fallen illusion, another bird aimed at Tokio but the wolf jumped at the bird throat and the two of them fought in a tangle of fur, feather, blood, claws and fangs. Saito lost his concentration when he saw a big wolf coming from out of nowhere and protecting Tokio from one of Muraki's attack. His opponent took advantage of his surprise and aimed his heart but he only wounded Saito's right thigh, who scolded himself for being so restless.
However, Tokio paid no attention at the wolf: she kept on 'killing' the illusions, but watchful golden eyes saw the opportunity there to destabilize Muraki even further, maybe get rid of him, if the strike was given at the right time.
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Tokio could felt it: with each fallen illusion, Muraki's strength was slowly but surely getting weaker. If she could destroy all the remaining illusions in once, she would give him a powerful strike but she, too, was getting tired… sweating and panting, Tokio started to shake, she wouldn't last for long… A ghostly hand caressed her forehead, brushing the sweat away. Windy lips moved closer to her ears.
…Free me…
…I want to leave…
…I hurts…
…Why am I still here?…
…Free me…
…Help me…
…Free me…
…It hurts…
Tokio froze in shock. These voices belonged to the girls Muraki had killed the last three nights. Their souls were stuck within Muraki and now under Tatsumi and Tokio's attacks, Muraki was losing control over his last preys…
The thought fired Tokio's hatred towards the man and she withdrew the ceremonial knife from the ground. Beginning her spell once again, she stabbed the ground perpendicularly compared to the first time, forming a cross. This time, four Tatsumi vanished, eaten by flames, Muraki hugged himself in pain and Tokio fell on the ground shaking and coughing blood.
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Tatsumi watched Muraki doubling up with pain, he then launched himself on Muraki to stab him, right in his heart. But the killer hadn't said his last words, with a last start of pure willpower, Muraki sent Tatsumi away. But the harm had already been done: Tokio had freed the girls' souls making them out of Muraki's reach.
Mad with pain Muraki fell on his knees. Maybe a good kill would help him to get back in control. Getting back on his feet, Muraki quickly marched over where Tatsumi lied down and stabbed him in the stomach twice. Tatsumi yelled.
"You dared to love her" he growled in Tatsumi's ear, making his sword turn into the man's stomach. "This is your punishment. And this time, I don't think that your creator will be able to support it. He'll die with you, be happy, I give you some company." Muraki avoided just in time Saito's sword but Saito didn't: Muraki's sword wounded deeply his right side. And Muraki vanished in the air. Tokio raised her head from the ground, little blood running on her chin.
But Muraki's voice lasted after him:
"Tokio-chan, you're playing a dangerous game, I should punish you but you're already suffering a lot because of your actions and it won't teach you anything. But, Tokio-chan, I promise you to teach you a lesson or two. You really hurt me, this time but I forgive you because I love you." Tokio moaned in pain, not only from a physical pain but also from one which touches the soul.
With the help of Okita, Tokio came to Tatsumi's side. She fell on her knees next to him and took his hand in hers. He difficulty opened his brown eyes and stared at her for a while.
Okita moved closer to Saito, who to steady himself on his feet had to lean on his sword, planted in the ground. Okita ripped Saito's gi, making some bandages and wrapped them around the older man's side. Tokio studied Saito's face as she felt his pain, worried for him. Dark clouds of rain accumulated themselves above their heads.
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"I have been loving you…" Time froze and Tokio slowly turned her head back to her Guardian, lying down, in a red pool. Small drops of rain fell, troubling the ruby red pool.
"How could I not love you?" he asked her "You've always the only one important to me, I watched you grow into a fine, beautiful and young woman. The need that gave me life turned into desire to see you happy…" His voice slowly faded to become a whisper. Drops ran down his face. "Living besides you, watching you smile, laugh or cry. Being there when you needed me. How I've loved when your eyes would light up because you had something to tell me, something to show me. Don't blame yourself. My wish had always been to die for you." He tried to squeeze her hand a little, but failed, the dark shadow of Death, which had let him escaped from its grip once, engulfed him again.
Rain fell heavier, the two ShisenGumi, one holding his left arm, the other his right side, remained silent under the rain as the man whose soul had been created only for her sake said his goodbyes to the girl who had taken so much importance in his life and finally fulfilled his wish.
Tokio, amazed, watched three butterfly coming closer to her. One of them rested on Tatsumi's lips while the other two circling around his head. They, then, took their flight. A fourth butterfly had joined them, quickly followed by a fifth one.
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"I don't understand. What the hell were all these Tatsumi?"
Harada was bandaging Okita's left arm, in Saito's room. The latter was leaning against the window frame, watching the yard where a little someone was hiding behind a particular Sakura tree.
"When we were carrying Saito-san back, Tokio-chan explained it to me. But I didn't catch everything, though…"
"Try me." Harada eagerly waited for his friend to continue.
"Muraki must have killed Tatsumi once before, he then sucked his soul like he always does. So, when Muraki realized we wouldn't let him kill Tatsumi a second time, he needed something to keep us busy while he'd kill Tatsumi. I think he wanted to give Tokio-chan the last blow by this, I mean making her realize that her most trusted friend no longer lived and he almost succeeded. Anyway, 'Tatsumi' was created from Reiji Magami-san, Tokio's father, need to protect his children. She told me he had to use a forbidden spell to create her Guardian, because when you create a soul from a need or desire, this need and desire will lead the new soul life forever. Nothing else would matter to the new life, only the need, here the visceral need to protect his own children."
"So, Tatsumi-san was Reiji Magami."
"Yes… and no. I mean, first he was Reiji Magami-san but the experience and the everyday matters Tatsumi had to solve was made from his own decision. Do you understand?"
"Hum…so, it's a bit as if Tatsumi-san and Tokio's father were once at the beginning and then due to the different leads that their lives have taken they differentiated one another more and more with time."
Okita nodded, thoughtfully. "But the need to protect his children never left either men hearts. And when Tatsumi died for the second time, Reiji Magami lost his life too."
"Why not the first time when Muraki killed Tatsumi?"
"Hum, that's what I didn't quite catch… She said it had to do with power: when you create a new life from your power, you first support it, then, with the time, the new one can support itself. But, the creator and the created share a link forever and here, the created died once, but Reiji Magami was the Head Clan, after all. So he summoned Tatsumi again."
"I guess it has some limits and the second time was a time too much."
"Well, I don't know, she said something about another forbidden spell about calling the dead. And the price to pay was both lives."
"Hum…" Harada remained silent for several minutes, trying to assimilate everything Okita had told him. Only the rain could be heard. "But, he said, can we say that Tatsumi was a real person? I mean, he was created from another one's desire to fulfill another one's wish, after all. He only was a… plaything. I don't know how to say it."
"Tatsumi-san was a 'real' person. He took care to Tokio since she was seven, that's why he came back. Tokio told me once that Toya had swore to Tatsumi he'd grow to be the stronger man of the Magami Clan so that all he would have to do was to watch over her. The one in immediate danger was Tokio and he couldn't leave her be. I think Tatsumi decided by himself to come back, against Magami-san's order because Tatsumi was in love with her." Saito stated, not bothering to face the other two men. Okita sighed and recalled what had happened at the Temple.
"What?" Harada, shocked, pulled a bit hard on the bandage, causing Okita to yelp in pain. "Gomen." He muttered to his younger friend.
"Think for a while, will you? I swear, it'll help."
Harada groaned and Saito smirked, turning back, he then locked his gaze with Harada's :
"He took care of her since she was seven, nobody else mattered. Toya was different, he was under the Elders fiery protection because he's the heir. But what about her? She held for years the first place in his heart. Years passed and she no longer was a child: she became a woman. Reiji Magami only wanted to make sure his children were safe, but why did Tatsumi come back? Because he had acquired his own free will, soul and heart. Can this sink in your head and make you understand what I'm saying?"
Harada struggled, holding himself back at lurching at Saito's throat. But the untold words resonated in his mind: 'he came back to protect his love. To give his life to his love.'
The golden-eyed man only chuckled at his youngster behavior and turned back at the window, gazing down at the yard, where he could see Tokio's form, crying as usual.
She had her knees drawn to her chest her back at the tree and him. The rain was pouring for hours, now. She was cold, he could felt it, and numb: she just couldn't move. "I've been loving you." Words played in her mind again and again. Love me… I stopped him to get attached to someone else, he… Father, what have you done? Her father. He was dead now, Toya will be the next Head Clan of the Magami Clan. He must have run away in the forest so that nobody would see him cry. Onii-chan, forgive me. Tokio put her head on her knees, rain poured down on her. Will the rain take my pain away? Would you take my pain away? Somebody help me.
Upstairs, in his room, by the window, golden eyes watched small shoulders shake with sobs.
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I suck at action scenes……Forgive me minna, for this horrible chapter….Duuuh, when I was writing it, I had the end before the middle written down… I'm also trying to make Saito a bit more saitoish ( =a real pain in the butt)… Does it work? Anyways, stay tuned for next part!!!!!!
I changed the name of this part and added a few lines… Why? Well I've just seen Cowboy Bebop and it made me remembered a tale my mum told me once. It was about the butterflies which were in fact the dead people souls that come back to earth, times to times to see how their loved ones go on with their lives. I love the idea.
See ya all!!!!