Ack. T-T Sorry this chapter took SO long to upload. I've been really busy and not to mention I'm all sore XO So, just read on. I really like this chapter.

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CH 12: Ah, we are such sentimental fools

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"She wasn't the right one..." Maleficent sat on her throne, resting her head in her hands. "How could this be? When I returned from the darkest depths... I could have sworn..." She closed her eyes and chuckled quietly. "Hmmm... you will pay, Ansem. It was you who deceived me."

_

Eichiko grabbed her stomach. "Uugh...man, that hurts..."

"As it should."

Eichiko bolted upright as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and pushed the hand off.

"W-what do you want!? That woman said to leave me alone."

"I shall kill you, do you know that? You caused my mistress to hate me." His face hardened. "So give yourself up and I promise a slow and merciful death."

The girl began to back away.

"Running away? Impossible." He flew at the girl and she ran left. "Stop NOW!" The man boomed.

"I-I can't--!" She fell. Eichiko was way too weak to fight. Let alone she was terrified. She never had to deal with a situation like this before

'I don't wanna give up' She thought bitterly.

Onikage stepped closer, his long hair trailing behind him. "You won't escape me."

"B-but don't you have to obey that lady?"

"What lady?" Onikage looked confused.

"That. that one lady."

_

Maleficent gasped.

"The spell. it's wearing off." She leaped from her thrown and walked through the marble corridors.

_

"The lady with the green skin." Eichiko began to scoot away a little bit.

"I don't know.and I don't care!" Onikage yelled with such force it startled Eichiko and she squeaked.

_

Maleficent stalked through the halls, her shoes tapping ominously on the hard floors.

"The spell. the spell." She breathed, "It's wearing off already?"

_

Onikage stepped forward. "Come here! I will have to kill you."

"N-no." Eichiko jumped to her feet and dashed down the hall.

_

The green-skinned woman reached the dungeons.

"Onikage.!" She called sweetly. But after there was no answer, she assumed he must be going against her will.

He was going to kill that little wench. And his strong desire to do so broke the spell that she had put on him.

_

Onikage dashed after her.

"I'm much too fast for you!" He yelled.

Eichiko didn't dare look back. At least a rush of adrenaline would help her run a bit faster. Run a bit farther. But she was gasping for breath. Her lungs felt like they were on fire. Her heart was about to burst from her chest. These pains were going to drive her mad but she couldn't stop. She had to retrieve those souls.

_

She reached the hall and found blood on the floor. The little wench's blood.

"Ahh." She hissed, "Her blood. She must be bleeding badly." Maleficent's lips curled into a smirk.

_

"STOP!" The man boomed.

Eichiko almost felt inclined to stop. But she forced her legs to keep going.

"YOU stop," Melficent yelled, ".Onikage." She finished sweetly.

Onikage stopped in his tracks. 'Why. why am I following her whim so easily!?' The green-skinned woman walked forward and caressed Onikage's cheek. He nuzzled to her touch unknowingly, but he quickly stopped himself.

"What do you want, hag?" He breathed.

"Why, Onikage. I only want you." She hissed.

Eichiko hid around the corner. She held her side and flinched. She couldn't run any longer. Where could those friggin souls BE!? And then she saw it. Dangling from the green hag's belt were two small orbs. One red, one blue. She didn't notice before because they were always lost in the folds of her clothing. Eichiko's eyes widened. Those had to be the souls!

But how would she get them away from her?

"Oh, Onikage.. Don't you remember me?"

"I. I d. d-don't." Onikage's face hardened. Confusing, so confusing. Then he realized it must be HER. He slowly brought up his left hand near her shoulder. Then, without a second thought, struck down the green-skinned hag.

Maleficent hit the floor with a loud thud and lay there in shock. No one-NO ONE-had ever struck her before. But this man. this lowly maggot who should have been jumping with ecstasy at the very thought of breathing the same AIR as her. She slowly rose up and leaned on her staff to balance herself.

"Oni.kage." She hissed through her teeth.

'The man will die'

He only stood there dazed. He didn't know what was happening.

"It seems that my. spell. has worn off."

'Spell?' Eichiko moved farther back from down the corridor, 'That's what she did.'

Maleficant moved forward.

"You see. I've put MANY spells on you. Each one for a different purpose- each one creating who you are. I am practically your creator, onikage. And you would strike me? ME!?" She boomed. She raised her staff and pointed right between the man's eyes.

"You will die for going against me. Onikage." She let loose a burst of flame from the end of her staff. Onikage didn't move. The flames seemed to swirl and dance and mock him. They hypnotized him. He couldn't make his legs move so he could run, he couldn't make his arms move to block. There was only that ominous, luminescence, almost neon light, of the fire spewing forth from the old hag's stick.

'Yes. my. lady.'

Then nothing.

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I dare you to tell me that my writing hasn't improved. *victory dance* Boo- YAH! Also, remember those piccies I promised? Well, I was drawing Onikage and when I was done I was like: Holy CRAP! Onikage is a yummy-hott-nekky- man-body! XD And that's why Onikage has made it on my list of my favorite very evil-but very hott guys. Congratulations, Oni-kun. *huggly little Riku action figure* Whoa! *cough cough* This thing is dusty o.o