A/N: I'm awfully sorry for the delays! My Math projects just had to stand
in the way. I think you might like Chapter 25, because I've got an outline
for it already! Well, for now I hope you guys enjoy this episode ;D
*grins*.
No sound but the one that frightened him was loud. His trembling heart pounded furiously. Soushi, the sweet child, lay on the floor limp and unconscious. Soujiro did not hesitate to aid the child, yet something bothered him. Where did Nagi go?
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 24:Night of Many Mischief Part 3)
Soushi was freezing. His usually pale pinkish flesh seemed just as cold as his sister's dead and unwelcome skin. What Soujiro thought to be his worst fear then, it was happening without a warning. He had remembered Taro telling him that Soushi may die sometime when Modhra was back. He knew this could be it. He panicked. He wanted to shout, but his hand over his gasping mouth let an even bigger surprise. Soushi's hair was turning glowing yellow. It was odd, and there appeared to be a black thing coming out. It was a black butterfly.
The apparition danced before Soujiro's eyes. It hypnotized him. It made him feel dizzy but strong. A ghastly screeching noise was about. To Soujiro, it meant nothing. However, he knew so little of the spirits that foretell the immediate future through these noises.
He clutched Soushi in his arms. He tried to walk, but his feet were unstable. He raged, "Why is this happening? Why now? WHERE IS NAGI?!"
A crisp catch of the screech made him even wobblier. The ground appeared to shake and shake that it was like a tremendous earthquake where you cannot walk a step, nor can you be still without something to depend on. Soushi did not have a weight, so that did not bother him. Only his condition made his senses disturbed.
The little boy turned a bit paler; his hair even more bright. A tear fell from Soujiro's eye and he muttered, "What can I do to save him?! Why can't someone else die?!"
A very cynical thought entered his head. It was a different Soujiro. It was the kind that had a heart of love, but a cold and harsh one it was. He was determined to find a way on his own.
He was able to run from then on. With his heart set, he tried to rid of the grim thoughts that just might happen. Then, one unexpected turn did happen.
"What.?" Soujiro asked on a paradox, "What am I doing here?" He seemed to be lost. His tears, that he knew he had not shed many times before, grew more quickly. He peered into the halls that surrounded him. "Where am I?"
It was one of the most unusual corridors ever to be found there. It was dark. It was homely and repulsive. Even more, it did not share the same holiday spirit the rest had. To Soushi, it was a path to his life. If they fail to take this path, he was to suffer more. To Soujiro, this was a familiar hall. It was Gyenryu's hallway. Only that the hallway was darker. It had a morbid appearance that Soujiro wasted on looking at. Either way, he passed there to see who he can ask help from.
He called out to people. He said for them to show up if they can help. As logical as it wasn't, Soujiro was not convinced he ought to go to Modhra for Soushi. He has thoughts of what happened to the murders at the dojo. No, he did not want to lose another soul to the evil of them. What bothered him was that it could be someone else and that he was falsely accusing Modhra of a crime he did not commit. Jodraul had a perfect alibi. So did Kitsune. Gyenryu was on his list too.
"Please! Somebody, I need your help!" He continued. There was no reply but dead silence. The torture of this waiting cut a wound into his heart. Why wasn't anyone there?
One of the doorways caught his eye. It was the silver mirror-like door Gyenryu had. It glowed immensely bright. It shone its light strangely. There was no way it count retrieve a force of its own to create these unnatural phenomenon. Either way, it didn't matter whether this odd light came from the door itself or from something else. He crept closer to it, trying to avoid letting go of Soushi. He pulled forward. He couldn't stop himself.
He entered the door that promise him a salvation of his own.
It was a few seconds. Soujiro saw himself back again to where he stood, just by the mistletoe. Nothing happened exciting. It's just that Kitsune was near. This wasn't his second chance. This was his first and maybe last chance to share a moment with the woman he had in mind. He clenched his fists in anticipation, but then he noticed he was holding some things.
They were a doll, an elixir and a chain. There was also a small parcel wrapped with colored paper on his other hand, and bruises, probably from glass, were present all over. He dropped them all to the ground, knowing somehow that if he missed this moment, he would live it over and over as a mistake to regret.
He heard in his head that all the things that he had done then, they were to cycle. He was to live in a different identity and appearance, but he'll still have himself. All these actions he had done or not done were going to happen over and over; and he can do nothing about it. He can only feel sorry for himself. He can also do the right thing in the first trial. He thought of this in that short awkward pause.
The mistletoe was straight under Kitsune's big, unique head. Heading towards her, he looked for signs that may make her flinch or move. No, Taro was somewhere safe and "un-mistltoed". The reason for all this scanning and preparation: he did not now. All that there was to him was that he foretold this event somehow. It didn't make sense how he had his guard up on Taro or why he wanted to be extra precautious being with her. They were all blurs that had nothing to make out.
He swiftly took steps towards Kitsune. Within an instant bizarre moment, he was able to land his lips on her cheek.
"BAKA!!!! (Idiot) WHAT ARE YOU THINKIN'?" she shouted hastily.
Soujiro blushed, but it didn't seem visible since Kitsune chased him in the room like a hunter and its prey. It was daring for him to do that. As he ran, he saw a glimpse of Taro. He was smiling. Beside him, Soujiro saw an even brighter yet vague image.
It was Yuri, Taro's beau. They stood in the middle of the corner, weary-teary eyed. Soujiro blinked with pain. How could that have happened? Another blink of his eye, and she was no more. Yuri was out of his vision. However, could that be possible Taro knew her presence was there? Impossible, Soujiro kept repeating. It's as impossible as escaping Kitsune from their hilarious frenzy of a chase.
Far in the corner of the room, where laughter could not reach and Modhra strayed farthest from, two eyes watched the excitement of the crowd in the middle of the room. Most of all, it kept track of Soujiro's movements. It was undeniable that Soujiro did run strangely, just as fast as he often ran when he did his Tenken abilities. The two lustering eyes swayed back and forth like a rocking boat beneath the midnight sky.
Silence. Deep silence, it crept.
Within the black darkness, a drop of what appears as human blood spilled from the bowels of the shadow land where it stood. A small speck of flesh covered an object he held in his arms. More blood, more water spilled cautiously. Nobody was able to notice the strange phenomenon that occurred while they lay in a blissful time.
"SOUJIRO-BAKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU BETTER BE HERE WHERE MY FISTS COULD REACH YOU!!!!!!!"
Soujiro thought of her as very immature. It was only a little kiss. It wasn't as if he lifted her skirt or accidentally fell on her chest. He grinned, maybe she'd be happier if that happened, especially if it was Taro- kun. Now that would be a spectacle he admired! The more he thought of this chase, the more he thought less of Soushi and more on Taro.
He remarked, "I'm happy I'm finally getting some exercise here. It's been a while since I've last ran as fast as this."
A twinkle in his eyes signified that he was in content with himself. He had fulfilled one of his many awkward happiness. The other of which he wishes to accomplish was out of his head for now. He was having fun. It was a different one that when he had with Battousai or when he was with Makoto Shishio. It was the type of fun he had when raindrops fell on his skin. They passed into through his toes. How wonderful he felt when those tiny, little particles of water tickled his toes without him noticing it!
Then all his happiness, the ones that took his misery out, stopped for a second.
The dark corner of the room that, of which they feared, bore a sinister cry. A tear of soft, brown hair plummeted to the light.
It was someone he knew.
It was Soushi.
No sound but the one that frightened him was loud. His trembling heart pounded furiously. Soushi, the sweet child, lay on the floor limp and unconscious. Soujiro did not hesitate to aid the child, yet something bothered him. Where did Nagi go?
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 24:Night of Many Mischief Part 3)
Soushi was freezing. His usually pale pinkish flesh seemed just as cold as his sister's dead and unwelcome skin. What Soujiro thought to be his worst fear then, it was happening without a warning. He had remembered Taro telling him that Soushi may die sometime when Modhra was back. He knew this could be it. He panicked. He wanted to shout, but his hand over his gasping mouth let an even bigger surprise. Soushi's hair was turning glowing yellow. It was odd, and there appeared to be a black thing coming out. It was a black butterfly.
The apparition danced before Soujiro's eyes. It hypnotized him. It made him feel dizzy but strong. A ghastly screeching noise was about. To Soujiro, it meant nothing. However, he knew so little of the spirits that foretell the immediate future through these noises.
He clutched Soushi in his arms. He tried to walk, but his feet were unstable. He raged, "Why is this happening? Why now? WHERE IS NAGI?!"
A crisp catch of the screech made him even wobblier. The ground appeared to shake and shake that it was like a tremendous earthquake where you cannot walk a step, nor can you be still without something to depend on. Soushi did not have a weight, so that did not bother him. Only his condition made his senses disturbed.
The little boy turned a bit paler; his hair even more bright. A tear fell from Soujiro's eye and he muttered, "What can I do to save him?! Why can't someone else die?!"
A very cynical thought entered his head. It was a different Soujiro. It was the kind that had a heart of love, but a cold and harsh one it was. He was determined to find a way on his own.
He was able to run from then on. With his heart set, he tried to rid of the grim thoughts that just might happen. Then, one unexpected turn did happen.
"What.?" Soujiro asked on a paradox, "What am I doing here?" He seemed to be lost. His tears, that he knew he had not shed many times before, grew more quickly. He peered into the halls that surrounded him. "Where am I?"
It was one of the most unusual corridors ever to be found there. It was dark. It was homely and repulsive. Even more, it did not share the same holiday spirit the rest had. To Soushi, it was a path to his life. If they fail to take this path, he was to suffer more. To Soujiro, this was a familiar hall. It was Gyenryu's hallway. Only that the hallway was darker. It had a morbid appearance that Soujiro wasted on looking at. Either way, he passed there to see who he can ask help from.
He called out to people. He said for them to show up if they can help. As logical as it wasn't, Soujiro was not convinced he ought to go to Modhra for Soushi. He has thoughts of what happened to the murders at the dojo. No, he did not want to lose another soul to the evil of them. What bothered him was that it could be someone else and that he was falsely accusing Modhra of a crime he did not commit. Jodraul had a perfect alibi. So did Kitsune. Gyenryu was on his list too.
"Please! Somebody, I need your help!" He continued. There was no reply but dead silence. The torture of this waiting cut a wound into his heart. Why wasn't anyone there?
One of the doorways caught his eye. It was the silver mirror-like door Gyenryu had. It glowed immensely bright. It shone its light strangely. There was no way it count retrieve a force of its own to create these unnatural phenomenon. Either way, it didn't matter whether this odd light came from the door itself or from something else. He crept closer to it, trying to avoid letting go of Soushi. He pulled forward. He couldn't stop himself.
He entered the door that promise him a salvation of his own.
It was a few seconds. Soujiro saw himself back again to where he stood, just by the mistletoe. Nothing happened exciting. It's just that Kitsune was near. This wasn't his second chance. This was his first and maybe last chance to share a moment with the woman he had in mind. He clenched his fists in anticipation, but then he noticed he was holding some things.
They were a doll, an elixir and a chain. There was also a small parcel wrapped with colored paper on his other hand, and bruises, probably from glass, were present all over. He dropped them all to the ground, knowing somehow that if he missed this moment, he would live it over and over as a mistake to regret.
He heard in his head that all the things that he had done then, they were to cycle. He was to live in a different identity and appearance, but he'll still have himself. All these actions he had done or not done were going to happen over and over; and he can do nothing about it. He can only feel sorry for himself. He can also do the right thing in the first trial. He thought of this in that short awkward pause.
The mistletoe was straight under Kitsune's big, unique head. Heading towards her, he looked for signs that may make her flinch or move. No, Taro was somewhere safe and "un-mistltoed". The reason for all this scanning and preparation: he did not now. All that there was to him was that he foretold this event somehow. It didn't make sense how he had his guard up on Taro or why he wanted to be extra precautious being with her. They were all blurs that had nothing to make out.
He swiftly took steps towards Kitsune. Within an instant bizarre moment, he was able to land his lips on her cheek.
"BAKA!!!! (Idiot) WHAT ARE YOU THINKIN'?" she shouted hastily.
Soujiro blushed, but it didn't seem visible since Kitsune chased him in the room like a hunter and its prey. It was daring for him to do that. As he ran, he saw a glimpse of Taro. He was smiling. Beside him, Soujiro saw an even brighter yet vague image.
It was Yuri, Taro's beau. They stood in the middle of the corner, weary-teary eyed. Soujiro blinked with pain. How could that have happened? Another blink of his eye, and she was no more. Yuri was out of his vision. However, could that be possible Taro knew her presence was there? Impossible, Soujiro kept repeating. It's as impossible as escaping Kitsune from their hilarious frenzy of a chase.
Far in the corner of the room, where laughter could not reach and Modhra strayed farthest from, two eyes watched the excitement of the crowd in the middle of the room. Most of all, it kept track of Soujiro's movements. It was undeniable that Soujiro did run strangely, just as fast as he often ran when he did his Tenken abilities. The two lustering eyes swayed back and forth like a rocking boat beneath the midnight sky.
Silence. Deep silence, it crept.
Within the black darkness, a drop of what appears as human blood spilled from the bowels of the shadow land where it stood. A small speck of flesh covered an object he held in his arms. More blood, more water spilled cautiously. Nobody was able to notice the strange phenomenon that occurred while they lay in a blissful time.
"SOUJIRO-BAKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU BETTER BE HERE WHERE MY FISTS COULD REACH YOU!!!!!!!"
Soujiro thought of her as very immature. It was only a little kiss. It wasn't as if he lifted her skirt or accidentally fell on her chest. He grinned, maybe she'd be happier if that happened, especially if it was Taro- kun. Now that would be a spectacle he admired! The more he thought of this chase, the more he thought less of Soushi and more on Taro.
He remarked, "I'm happy I'm finally getting some exercise here. It's been a while since I've last ran as fast as this."
A twinkle in his eyes signified that he was in content with himself. He had fulfilled one of his many awkward happiness. The other of which he wishes to accomplish was out of his head for now. He was having fun. It was a different one that when he had with Battousai or when he was with Makoto Shishio. It was the type of fun he had when raindrops fell on his skin. They passed into through his toes. How wonderful he felt when those tiny, little particles of water tickled his toes without him noticing it!
Then all his happiness, the ones that took his misery out, stopped for a second.
The dark corner of the room that, of which they feared, bore a sinister cry. A tear of soft, brown hair plummeted to the light.
It was someone he knew.
It was Soushi.