Disclaimer: Same old, same old… -__-
A/N: Well, this chap kinda troubled me for quite some time now but oh well. Finally, it's release! *V* Usual warnings and pairings as stated in the introduction. Oh yes, the most important part. REVIEW!!! XD Arigatou for Kimmie! *huggies* This Saiyuki fanfic deity neko has been reviewing since the intro. Luv ya! And also thanks for the others who reviewed the last chap! *bows*
Oh one more thing to some readers who are acquainted with either the book or movie version of The Princess Bride, just a little reminder: this fic was not meant to follow the exact text/ script, ok? I may skip some useless parts though cuz if I don't, and I include *my* personal scenes, believe me, this *will* be incredibly LONG and painful. Especially for me since I am relying on memory alone. I do not have the movie.
Gomen ne, for kill_joy ^^. I cannot discontinue this fic *drum roll* because ^0^:
[1] You are not part of the majority.
[2] I would very much like to continue this.
[3] I was never known to be very obedient when I want to. ^_~
Though I respect your review *very* much. Honto ni, Arigatou. *sweatdrop* you really do live up to your name, ne? ^^ Next time, I advise you to read more than the *ahem* introduction before chap 1 before initially reviewing this. That's all! Ja bye bye! ^-^ *waves hands*
SAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKI
Chapter 5: The Chase Part 4: Idiotic scholars and misunderstandings
The man in black steadily made his way to wherever Nataku fled with his lover, or perhaps former lover, before he stopped his tracks upon seeing the one being chased comfortably seated on a cut trunk which served now as a seat to an ironically bigger cut trunk in front of it that served now as a small table covered in a small scarlet table cloth, the image complete with wine and two intricately designed chalices.
Nataku was facing him, his features graced with a smile that looked more like a knowing smirk, as his left hand supported a seated and blindfolded, golden-eyed boy. In his right held a sharp knife pointing directly at the prince's throat. [ A/N: Took out that useless apple.]
" So it is down to you and me. If you wish pretty boy here dead, by all means keep moving forward.
The man in black stepped forward casually, " Let me explain-." though he immediately stopped when a gasp was heard from the hostage in negotiation. The knife now dangerously pressing on soft skin.
" There is nothing to explain. Clearly, *you* want to steal what *I* have rightfully stolen!"
" Perhaps there can be an arrangement."
" There will be no arrangement and you're killing him!" Jabs again a little.
" We're at an impasse then."
" Looks like it. Clearly, I am no match for you in physical strength and you are no match for my brains."
" You are that smart?"
"Let me put it this way: have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?"
" Un."
" Morons."
The one addressed stared for a few seconds, somehow the clockworks of his brain moving up for a plan. "Alright. Then I challenge you to a battle of wits." Nataku quirked an eyebrow, "For the prince? … I accept." he finally said, taking the other up for his word.
The man in black sat on the opposite end of the "table" across the former toushin while the latter surrendered his dagger to the ground. The masked man pulled out a small, thin container that resembled bamboo quality and opened its' lid.
"Smell it. Don't touch." He urged on. Nataku took a whiff.
" I smell nothing." He shrugged.
" What you do not smell is called iocaine. Odorless, tasteless, dissolves instantly and kills within a matter of seconds." Nataku smiled lazily as if pushing the information aside with confidence. Violet eyes assessed calmly and then he took the wine, poured some into the golden cups and turned around with both for a second before he turned back to the other, jumbled the two alike containers and placed either cups on either sides in front of them.
"Now," he spoke after a moment of tense silence, " which cup contains the iocaine? This is when we choose who is the winner… and who is dead."
Nataku snorted, "But this is simple. All I have to do is to analyze what I know of you. Are you the type of man who would put the poison in my cup or in yours?"
"…"
[Beware: Ranting starts here. Oh yes, do not worry if you cannot make any sense out of it because it was meant NOT to have any sense. Have you read the title?]
" If you are a clever man, then you would put the poison in your own goblet since both of us know that only a great fool would reach for his own goblet. But I am not a great fool so I can not choose the wine in front of you. In other words,, you *want* to confuse me by letting me believe that the poison is in front of me obviously in this kind of game because you think that I won't suspect you of doing something like that, making *me* choose the wine in front of *you* which INDEED holds the true poison! But you must've known that I wasn't a great fool therefore I can not choose the wine in front of me!"
" So you've made your decision then?"
" Not remotely! Because we can consider that iocaine comes from Heaven since you can only have it if you are blessed by a God with it, as everyone knows. And Heaven is full of cheap people who abuse and think nothing except for themselves and people like those aren't trusted by a lot of people so I can *clearly* not trust you and not choose the wine in front of you!"
The man in black nodded, obviously bored and faking attention, "Truly, you have a *very* dizzying intellect."
Wait till I finish!" he gloated, " Now where was I?"
" Heaven."
" Oh yes, Heaven. But you *must've* known thet I knew it's origin so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me!"
" You're just stalling."
" Stalling??! You'd really like to think that, don't you? You have defeated Hakkai, which ALSO means that you have brains and because you are pretty smart you realize that you are mortal, a being *very* capable of dying by poison and *therefore* placed the poisoned wine *farthest* from yourself! BUT you also defeated Gojyo, which can only mean that you are probably confident with your strength to fight the poison therefore placing the poisoned cup in front of you!!"
" If you are trying to make me slip to giving you a clue, it won't work."
" It's worked I tell you! You just gave away everything!! I know where the poison is."
"Then make your choice, dammit." *twitch*
" I will. I choose- what the hell could *that* be?", Nataku suddenly pointed at the bush behind the man.
" What? Where?… I don't see anything." The MiB [A/N: Here we go again…] turned cautiously and when he did, Nataku expertly switched the two cups. Questioning eyes turned backed at him.
" Oh! Pffhhppftt! Must've been my imagination. I swear I saw something." and he started to laugh.
" What's so funny?"
" I'll tell you in a minute. First, lets drink! Me from my cup and you, yours."
Eye contact never broke as both of them drank from their respective wine so irritatingly slow.
" You guessed wrong." The man in black grinned slightly after they drunk. Suddenly, a somehow suppressed laughter rang through the air. " Why are you laughing? You lost."
" HAH! You only think I did!"
"?"
"Don't you get it?? When you turned on your back, I switched cups! That will teach you not to mess with ultra smart ex-toushin taishis that had sly training under some cunning lunatic he-woman goddess of Mercy , Kanzeon Bosatsu! AHAHAHA! AHAHAHA! AHAHA-"
And he drops down dead.
Of course, the one who remained to be the victor immediately stood up and took off the blindfold from Goku's eyes. Bright golden orbs squinted for a while and peered down at the dead Nataku lying at his feet.
" Who are you?"
" Someone not to be trifled with and that is all you need to know."
" To think that the poison was in *your* cup all along…" he stated in awe as the man in black grabbed both of his hands and helped him stand up.
" Actually, both cups were poisoned. I spent the last few years building an immunity to iocaine powder."
And so, they ran through the vast fields, partly knowing that by this time Prince Homura had been long aware of his beloved's disappearance hours ago and probably had sent troops, if not he himself leading it, to reclaim his self proclaimed lover.
" Rest." Goku's new captor said, letting him sit on a large rock in the middle of the plains after all their running.
" Release me and you'll get anything you want. Anything. I promise." The boy panted, as he sat there, looking at the man's back. The other unsuspectingly chuckled.
" And what worth is that? The promise of people like you? You are very funny, highness."
" I was giving you a chance. No matter where you take me, there is no greater hunter than prince Homura. He will find you."
" So you think your dearest love will save you?"
" I never said he was my dearest love! And yes, he will save me. That I know."
" So you admit you do not love your fiancé?"
" He knows I do not love him…"
" 'Not capable of loving' is what you mean." he sneered.
" I have loved more deeply than a killer like yourself could ever dream!" Goku stood up facing him with angry eyes. Lavender eyes flared up as the man in black tried to keep his fist back from slapping the boy, who flinched at the attempt but never retreated himself from the possible blow that the man could've inflicted on him.
" That is a warning, highness. The next time, I won't hold back. Where I came from there is a penalty when people lie."
TBC…
SAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKISAIYUKI
A/N: Chappie finished! XD Hmm… I have some bad news. 9 days from now, I will be leaving for America and I'm just saying this so that you know why updates for every fic that I posted up would be delayed. Well, that's about it I guess! ^^ Hmm.. I doubt it. Can I push myself to update one more time within a span of 9 days?… probably. It's my break after all. ^.~
Review this chap ok? Reviews make people happy and the world of fanfic writers go round!! *V*
Luvs,
M-i