Chapter One: Waking Up.
AN: Hello again, here's the first chapter, centred on Hitomi, and again the monologue at the beginning is hers. This time I've chosen the song 'Bring me to Life' by Evanescence ('Daredevil' soundtrack). Again I strongly suggest downloading it or just playing it through mp3.com etc…You people know by now how I am with creating an atmosphere through music lol.
Warnings: Violence, though nothing explicit really…swearing, but not that much. ^.^
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Escaflowne.
Thanks:
Enzeru no Yami: Thank you lol, I'm glad you liked it. And you get
two cookies! *Passes Yami two cookies*
Aeka-himme: Yep, I've seen the movie, and I love Christian Bale, very drool worthy. You get a cookie for just having a good taste in movies lol.
TennyoAngel711: Hey girl, I apologise for not being around, but as you can see I couldn't stay away for long lol. *Glomps*
esca chick: Yep, you were right! Cookie for you, and I'm glad you liked the song.
Divine Discontent: Well, you get two cookies, and I'm glad you liked the start of this fic. You always review my stuff and I love ya for it. I'll promise I'll update my others in due course.
Sailor Centauri: *passes you two cookies* thank you!
I'm sorry to the anonymous reviewers, but when I was writing this ff.net had done something strange and I couldn't find the names! I'm really sorry! But thank you for the support *throws loads of cookies*
OK, on with the fic! Enjoy!
It wasn't long until we started grouping. With the end of mankind's second 'dark age' came the beginning of a third. We moved from darkness just as readily into shadow.
Within weeks new street gangs were formed, the hierarchy of which were based on who had gotten into the city first, and claimed the most money, buildings, even a store of food made you a king.
Others had no choice but to work for what they needed, but I'm told that was how it was before anyway. And so, gangs formed, and with them formed rivalry. Ever since the 'light' there's been only one rule, 'first come, first served,' meaning which ever gang got the land first, turned it into a kind of territory.
We've turned our struggle to survive into one huge childish game of calling shotgun.
So the only option was to join a gang and work for what you needed. Most became guards, circling the territory and shooting anyone who entered without permission. In return your family is guaranteed protection, well, from the outside anyway.
And this is what our city has become; a place where those who have the food are in control and were anyone who isn't a gang member is an enemy.
~~~~~
Hitomi didn't even bother to look back, she knew who it was. Skidding slightly to decrease her speed, the honey haired woman splashed down the puddle littered alley and turned sharply into the next one. Now flat out sprinting, an action she knew she couldn't keep up for long, crystal emeralds darted. Tearing apart the shadowed scenery Hitomi's mind searched for a way out.
Or a way up.
Gazing upwards, desperately trying to ignore the sharp stabbing in her side, the fleeing mortal's orbs locked on a low hanging ladder, the rust covered steel loomed before her, dead ahead. If she could grab it, it would provide enough momentum to knock her pursuer off his feet. That was if she could swing herself a full one eighty, and if the lug behind her was close enough behind.
It's all about the risk, that's the real thrill.
Breathing fast and shallow, Hitomi put on one final spurt of speed. Her legs were screaming at her to stop, her cheeks flushed and her eyes watered. The ladder flew toward her.
Now or never.
Her arms flew out and grabbed at the metal rung, using her speed, Hitomi's feet flew off the cobbles. It was impossible for her to tell if she'd aimed right, in a flash of grey Hitomi's feet collided with the mug's chest, knocking the wind out of him. Landing in a crouched position Hitomi didn't give him the chance to get back up. Grasping at her right side, she pulled a black hand gun from her belt and took aim with both hands. A sharp click echoed round the deserted enclosure as she flicked off the safety.
Bang.
~~~~~
Surrounded by huge piles of metal most of which, in Hitomi Kanzaki's opinion, was useless rubbish, a man of about thirty stood. Dark blue hair was swept back from his oval shaped face, tied back in a pony tail and greyish looking eyes squinted in concentration as his hands hovered above a small microscope.
Just as the man seemed to made a mental decision, in spite of obvious but unknown concerns, his hands slowly lowering to either side of the scope, head bowing to the lens, prepared for whatever the result was…
''OF ALL THE STUPID INCOMPETENT MORONS!''
Thomas jumped back from the workbench with an unmanly squeal. ''Damnit Kanzaki!''
Hitomi pulled the iron gate closed behind her, the wheels squeaking in protest under the weight of the massive garage doors. She walked towards him, stepping over various piles of 'rubbish' in the process. ''What?''
Tom sighed, turning back to the bench. ''Nothing.''
''Our so-called contact was working for Lecka. Complete trap. One of his 'demons' chased me for three blocks before er-… lost him.''
Tom didn't bother to chide her for trying to lie to him. ''You shouldn't have done that. If they weren't suspicious of you before, they will be now.''
The emerald eyed teen moved closer, finally turning her back to the bench and leaning against it, crossing her arms over her chest she stared out towards the opposite end of the warehouse and the doors through which she had just entered.
''I had no choice.''
A pause.
''It was him or me.'
Thomas sighed lightly, his hands moving to an old radio he was fixing. Turning towards the younger woman he waited patiently until she raised her head again, her emeralds locking with his grey.
''Thing's are getting worse,'' He started, ''the gangs are becoming just that little bit bigger every day. It won't be long before there's a full out war.''
Hitomi cringed at the word. It brought back too many memories. ''I'll talk to Benson, but I doubt he'll listen to me now.'' She replied, slipping her jacket from her shoulders and throwing it on a near by chair. ''There all so bloodthirsty.''
''Power hungry, Hitomi, it's the control they want now, not the blood. Lets leave the death to the demons. Alright.''
''It's hard to tell, who can really say who the demons are now? We broke the world Tom, not them.''
''We have to carry on Hito, all we can do is search for the balance we had before.''
''And in the mean time?''
''Hope is still there to find.''
[1]
~~~~~
Van sniffed the air. He knew it, felt it, sensed it.
Death.
Another soul was lost here tonight.
Walking at his usual pace, Van stepped through the shadows, turning off into one of the cities many side alleys. This one was created by the gap between two ancient skyscrapers. Bursting with life once, empty shells now. Van cast his red-brown orbs to the heavens, gazing into the first full moon of the New Year he took his hands from his coat pockets and let them hang at his sides.
The night was cold, minus three at least. The stars were shining in all their twinkled glory, silver light raining down onto this earth, and all on it. Living or not. The hunter's eyes lowered again and were met with an unpleasant sight.
Wasted blood.
If Van could still sigh, now would be one of the times when he would have. Closing in on the body Van swept his coat back to examine the remains. Gunshot to the head, direct hit. Van's lips quivered slightly as he inspected the bullet hole in the centre of the corpses forehead. Ouch.
~~~~~
''I swear, it's the truth!''
Hitomi tightened her grip.
''All right, all right! They're meeting at a place called 'The Devil's Inn' but I swear man that's everything!'' The small mole of a man flinched as Hitomi's hand went to her belt. Squeezing his eyes shut the mole man waited for either a serious blow to the head, or the click of a safety trigger. When neither came, he squinted curiously, before grabbing at the dollar bill waving in his face.
''You better pray that my night will turn out to be as lucky as yours, otherwise…'' The taller mortal left the threat hanging, deciding to leave the rest to the imagination, which no doubt her reputation would supply.
The mole man nodded as his feet were placed back on the stone below, Hitomi's arm coming away from his neck. ''I-I will.'' He stuttered, before sprinting of down the street, dodging in and out of passing crowds to reach the safety of his hole. Hitomi watched until her newest informant was out of sight, before turning towards the south end of the old city. Towards 'The Devil's Inn'.
Party time.
~~~~~
Marcus hid his surprise with a skill he could only have picked up from a certain black clad vampire when the door to his establishment swung open heavily, hinges groaning against the frame, sending an almighty 'bang' echoing throughout the interior of his club. From his usual place behind the bar, brown rag ever present on his broad shoulder, he watched as three men entered, the first two standing either side of the nearly shattered door to make way for the third.
With blond hair passed the small of his back, blue eyes and a strange sense of fashion [2], the third man scanned the room briefly, the corners of his lined mouth twitching in dislike, before walking towards Marcus, a sudden smile adorning his hansom features.
Marcus flinched internally; he wasn't used to fake emotion.
''Table for three?'' The man inquired, after coming to a stop in front of the bar.
Marcus gestured to the dozen-unoccupied tables scattered through out the club. ''Take ya pick.'' He said simply, turning away to serve a customer who had his respect. 'Business in business.' He chanted silently.
~~~~~
Still walking south, Hitomi pulled at her jacket, grasping it a little tighter as a cold wind swept against her face, the chill causing shivers down her spine. Blinking furiously she briefly asked herself why she wasn't still sleeping in the old warehouse Tom owned, when the conversation they had had mere hours ago echoed in her mind.
''This guy's got a thing for conflict. Loves to see other's fighting.''
''So he's one to be surrounded by body guards then?''
''More than likely, so watch yourself. As far as we know, only the Black and Red dragons have a physical description of you, which means-''
''It's not a good idea to go stirring up trouble.''
''Exactly, keep low and see what this guys up to. There's enough tension in the old city without some psycho trying to start a gang war.''
''Got it. So where will they be?''
''I don't know, not my fault you killed your last contact.''
Hitomi's eyes focused on her destination again and were met with the glowing neon lights of the inn. Taking in the red blaze she mumbled into the night. ''This better not be another waste of my time.''
~~~~~
Allen Schezar slid gracefully into the seat before him and rested his elbows on the polished wood surface in front of him. Linking his fingers and resting his chin on them, his cerulean eyes lingered on the door, luckily for this 'Lecka' fellow; patience was one of his virtues. His eyes flickered with momentary annoyance when the first person to step into the club after him was a honey haired woman, clad in skin tight black leather and a green top, the back of which was covered by her jacket. His orbs lingered for a moment as she walked towards the disgusting old barmen, dark knee high boots barely making a sound as she walked, then shifted his gaze to the door again.
His patience was rewarded a few minutes later when a 'slightly' suspicious looking gentlemen steeped into the smoke flooded building, hands rubbing together nervously as he scanned the interior. 'Blood as good as spilt.'
~~~~~
Slipping inside Marcus' club Van wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, grinning wolfishly as he took his place on the same stool that he had occupied the pervious evening.
It didn't take his friend long to notice his presence, and in another moment the big man stood over him, his expression one of uncertainty. Seeing Marcus' eyes flicker to a table behind him, Van turned discreetly on his stool. What he observed was not to his liking; a blond haired man of about twenty rotations was leaning over in his seat, two mean but expressionless men standing either side of him as he spoke to a, what looked to Van, like an almost terrified companion.
The hunter turned back. ''When they get here?''
''About an hour ago,'' Marcus sighed, ''I can't really afford to be picky about business these days, but I just don't like 'em.''
Van nodded in understanding. ''The usual, old friend.''
Hitomi sipped her drink noiselessly, flinching slightly as the liquid burned its way down her throat. She wasn't really fond of alcohol, but why else did people come to bars?
She had known whom she was watching before Lecka had even walked in, it wasn't as if the psycho was trying to hide. She followed the mumbled conversation with some difficulty, only having learned to lip-read a few months ago.
''How much?!'' She almost sniggered out loud at Lecka's expression.
''Now really, it's not that much when you think about it. The old city could be yours within days.'' Hitomi's expression conveyed her felling of absolute disgust. This guy really was madman.
''I-I'' Lecka didn't share the others confidence.
''You must understand my good man, me and my companions here,'' He motioned to his guards, ''Have come here at great expense, surely you wouldn't want to disappoint us.'' He stressed the word and the glint in his eyes made even Hitomi feel uneasy.
Lecka looked ready to bolt. And within seconds he had done. Or at least tried.
Van had moved from his stool before anyone else knew what was happening. Heading to the first bodyguard, pushing the blond haired man off his perch in the process, he wasted no time in aiming a high kick to his opponent's gun hand. His action was followed by a grunt of pain as the weapon fell to the floor, a fist soon raised and flying straight to Van's head. Ignoring the screaming patrons desperately running to the only exit, the hunter ducked and in one fluid motion had slammed his own fist into the guard's chest, knocking the wind from his steel like lungs.
The only other body not ducking or running was Hitomi's. Jumping onto a nearby table she reached for the light fixing. Before the second gunman knew what had hit him, Hitomi had swung from the fixing and broken his jaw with the heels of her boots. Landing in a crouched position for the second time that night she drew her own gun automatically. Unfortunately she didn't get much of a chance to use her favourite toy, as the sight of the psycho sprinting for the door distracted her one-second to long.
''Shit!''
It wasn't until the other fighter had cursed that Van realised he wasn't out numbered two to one. Sweeping his own opponents feet out from underneath him and using his fist to send him into unconsciousness, the dark eyed warrior went to the cursing girls aid.
Flat on her back, Hitomi reached for her gun in vain as the sun glassed clad brute bent his knee, his foot aiming for her neck. Squeezing her eyes shut she waited for the living world to banish her.
As the last guard fell to the floor with a thump that no doubt caused earthquakes in China, Van bent over the other fighter, eyes glinting in amusement.
''You OK?''
Hitomi blinked her emeralds open again and groan internally. Way to go dumbass.
[1] Yes, I have just watched 'Blade'.
[2] I'm sorry Allen lovers, but it's not like it isn't true…
Well, there 'ya go, another chapter for your enjoyment. Simple question today; who is Hitomi's new informant? (not really difficult considering I kinda said his name anyway…) Cookie for the correct answer! Or you could just leave a review…lol.