Thanks for the reviews. Yes... yes I do really like Yun Sung. He's yet another obsession for me. ^.~ Anyway, here's the next chapter of Fate & Destiny. Oh, yes! And so you know when a character is thinking and not speaking, I've made their thoughts in Italics.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Soul Calibur II characters, weapons or plots.
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Fate & Destiny*~* Chapter 3 – Another Friend is Another Rival *~*
Takharu wandered through a nearby town. She was exhausted... she hadn't had anything to eat since she left Yun Sung's cabin several days ago. She looked around at all of the stalls set up. They were selling food and weapons... selling... that was the problem. Takharu didn't have any money with her. It wasn't exactly something that was on her mind when she ran away. She sighed, "Maybe this was a mistake... maybe I should have listened to Yun Sung and just gone home," she stopped for a moment and remembered Yun Sung. All he wanted was power... he wanted to prove himself. That wasn't such a bad thing... but Soul Edge wasn't the way to do it. "No... I can't turn back now. I have to keep going for Yun Sung's sake," she continued walking through the alleys, despite that she had no money.
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
Meanwhile, Yun Sung was still trying to catch up to Takharu... the Sword of Salvation on his mind. He had several people to worry about... he couldn't let anyone beat him to the sword. With Takharu ahead of him, trying to keep him from the blade... and Seung Mina behind him, attempting to get him to return home... and who knew who else was out there? He walked forward... every step bringing him closer to his goal.
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
Takharu sat down in the middle of the town. No food... no rest... what kind of lifestyle had she chosen to live?
"Excuse me," she heard a voice behind her. When she turned around she saw a girl who appeared in her twenties, holding a rod in her hands, "Have you by any chance seen a kid around your age with red hair, and wielding a Chinese sword? I've been trying to track him down for days... non-stop."
"Yun Sung," Takharu immediately knew whom she was talking about... but she didn't want to tell her. She didn't know if she could be trusted, "Why are you looking for him?"
"That's none of your concern," she answered, "Please... if you've seen him, just tell me."
"I'd rather not," Takharu held back the information she knew.
The girl sighed in frustration, "You're beginning to irritate me."
"I'm not telling you a thing," Takharu unsheathed the blade of Ra... ready to defend herself.
"You're picking a fight with the wrong person. My father has taught me the art of fighting very well," she twirled her rod and held it out in front of her.
"As has mine," Takharu tossed her blade in the air and caught it be its hilt, "If I defeat you, you must answer any question I ask."
"All right... but I win, you need to answer my questions."
"Deal... let's go!" Takharu rushed the girl, taking to the offensive; however, each attack was easily blocked. Her opponent smirked, then dodged her next attack and hit Takharu in the back with her rod. Takharu fell to the ground. She turned over and saw the girl towering over her.
"Ready to give up?" she asked.
"Never..." Takharu grasped her sword's hilt tighter, and got to her feet, "Ra! Give me the power I need!" she shouted. As if answering her cries, the blade began to glow... it was surging with so much strength. She slashed at her adversary, who held out her rod in defense. The sword hacked right through the rod, breaking it into two pieces.
Takharu's foe gasped in astonishment, "I can't believe you beat me..." she dropped the wooden pieces in her hands, "You won fairly... so go ahead; ask me the questions you want answers to."
"Who are you? Where are you from?" Takharu questioned.
"I am Seung Mina from Korea. I live under my father, Seung Han Myong's care," Mina replied.
Takharu pondered about her response for a moment, then continued her questions, "Why are you looking for Yun Sung?"
Mina smiled, "So you do know him. Well, I need to find him to get him to go back home. He took an heirloom of my family with him, and I need him to go back before my father decides to come and search for us. Got any more questions?"
"Yes I do, as a matter of fact. Are you searching for more than Yun Sung?"
Mina was taken aback by this question, "What do you mean?"
"Soul Edge... are you looking for it?" somehow Takharu could sense when people were aware of Soul Edge.
"Yes," Mina did not lie. She just wasn't one to do that.
"Thank you for being truthful," Takharu didn't really know how to react. There were indeed more people out there who wanted Soul Edge, "Is there anything you want to ask me?" she felt obliged to give Mina a chance to get some information for herself. Mina seemed like a trustworthy person.
"Well... I suppose," Mina was a little shocked that Takharu offered to answer her questions, "Who are you? And how do you know Yun Sung?"
"I am Takharu," she began. She went into the entire story of Yun Sung saving her.
After she had finished talking, Mina looked a little confused, "That's not like Yun Sung at all," she commented.
"What do you mean?" Takharu asked.
"Yun Sung isn't the type of person who would just help some random person," Mina explained, "Back at home, he's known for being pretty ruthless."
"Really?" he had been so kind to Takharu. She couldn't imagine him being ruthless... but then again, it seemed like he'd do anything just to get his hands on Soul Edge.
Mina nodded, "Anyway... if I'm going to keep moving on, I'll need a new weapon," she looked down at the broken rod.
Takharu blushed, "Sorry... Maybe breaking your weapon was a little harsh..."
"It's no problem," Mina assured, "I'm sure there are shops around here that sell plenty of weapons."
"Yeah... and food... I'm still starved," Takharu thought. Of course, she didn't dare say it.
"Why don't you come with me?" Mina asked, "I'll get a weapon, and then maybe we can get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starved."
"Sure," Takharu agreed calmly, "I'm pretty hungry, too," she didn't let Mina know what was really going on in her mind, "Yay! Food! Mina's so kind. I'm so lucky I met her!" they walked through the alleys together. Mina got a new rod, and they both got some food to eat.
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
Takharu and Mina were unaware that while they were fighting, Yun Sung had passed through that very town. But, he hadn't stayed long. He didn't want to waste any time – he continued on through desolate woods. "Odd that I haven't seen Takharu," he figured that he should have passed her... which he did, but he didn't know that. Suddenly there was a rustling in the trees. Yun Sung looked around... no one in sight, "Who's there?" he called.
A young girl stepped out from the trees, "You must be Yun Sung," she said, "I am Talim... I heard that you're searching for Soul Edge."
"How did you know that?" Yun Sung asked.
"I was travelling through Ayatthaya, and I understood that you passed there before me... searching for the 'Sword of Salvation'," Talim replied.
"What's your point?"
"I can't let you, or anyone else lay hands on that sword. It's evil. It will consume you," she explained.
"I don't care. I don't believe the stories that say Soul Edge is evil. My culture knows it as a sword that will save us, and I believe my people more than some stranger," Yun Sung began walking again.
"But I've experienced the evil first hand. Listen to me!" Talim followed him, "I do not just say something this serious for fun... you have to understand!"
"Tell it to someone who cares."
"Very well..." Talim appeared to be giving up, "But before you reach Soul Edge, your mind will be changed."
"Whatever..." Yun Sung kept walking. He wasn't afraid of what this girl had to say. A quest is a quest. He didn't even think of stopping... not now.
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
"Did you enjoy your food?" Mina asked.
Takharu nodded, "Yes. Thank you very much for buying it."
"No big deal," Mina said, "Where are you headed to from here?"
"Forward," Takharu answered, "Wherever that ends up being."
"Well, I'm going to try to find Yun Sung and get him to go back home. After that, I'll continue looking for the Sword of Salvation. Goodbye until we meet again."
"Farewell," Takharu and Mina went their separate directions, but their goals were the same. Eventually their journeys would lead them to Soul Edge... and they would battle once again.
*~* End of Chapter 3 *~*
Ah! My disk has no more room! I need another one! Wait... I have another one... Yay! Ahem... anyway... I guess it's weird to read my crazy author's notes after reading a chapter from a serious story, eh? Well, what did you think of that chapter? I think I did a pretty good job! *nod nod* But... that's my opinion. What's your's?? Review and let me know, please!
