Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
*creeps in quietly* Erm... long time, no see, eh? ^^;;
Readers: *stare*
*nervous laugh* I'm really sorry this chapter took so long. Writer's block was hell to get over. Anyways, I'm here now! Enjoy chapter 6! ^_^
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"Ascot!" A silver-haired girl in her late teens ran towards her younger brother. Her long hair trailed behind her and fox ears poked out from the silver tresses. "Mother said you were leaving! It... it isn't true... is it?"
The brown-haired fox demon bit his lip. "I'm sorry, Shimizu..."
"No!" The young woman yelled. "Ascot, you can't just leave!"
"But I must, Shimizu!" Ascot defended himself. "Master Mage Clef is the most powerful demon sorcerer in the world! I cannot just let an opportunity to be his apprentice pass me by!"
"Yes, you can!" Shimizu pleaded, her eyes filled with tears. "You're a great summoner! You don't need to be a sorcerer's apprentice to prove that!"
"Shimizu, I'm sorry, but I really want to do this," Ascot looked at his sister with sad eyes. "If you really care about me, you'll let me go..."
Tears cascaded down Shimizu's cheeks. "Ascot..."
Suddenly, a chestnut brown horse rode from the forest, a lavender-haired wolf demon on its back. A second horse trailed behind them. Ascot turned around and a smile appeared on his face.
"He's here," Ascot said happily as he turned back to his sister. Seeing her distress, he embraced her tightly, burying his face into her silver hair. "I promise I'll be back. I'll miss you."
Shimizu pushed him away gently. "Take care, little brother."
Ascot smiled and ran towards the mage, who was riding closer on his horse. As Ascot came up to Clef, Clef smiled warmly and shook Ascot's extended hand. Ascot mounted the second horse, and Shimizu dropped to her knees as she watched them. As they turned around, heading back into the forest, she sent an icy glare at the mage. To her, it was as if Clef had taken her younger brother away from her . . .
The rain poured down and the wind blew harshly while fiercely whistling. Shimizu hid behind bushes and watched as an army of humans fought against a full pack of wolf demons. Her eyes scanned for a glimpse of green robes. Suddenly, she saw her brother fighting bravely. Pride swelled within her as she watched the fox demon fight gallantly along side his fellow demons. However, her pride vanished and was replaced with terror when he suddenly called out to the blue-haired demon slayer as she screamed. Shimizu's eyes widened as Ascot flung himself in front of her attacker. Ascot screamed in agony as the sword struck him, and Shimizu's blood went cold. As she watched him die in the demon slayer's arms, she listened in terror as he confessed his love to the blue haired woman. Shimizu felt an immense hate towards the slayer, and she fled from the bush, running in the opposite direction, tears streaming down her cheeks . . .
Shimizu bolted awake, sweat pouring down the back of her neck. She sat upright in bed and her silver hair cascaded down and around her face. Her green eyes were wide and frightened, and her pupils had constricted to slits. Her breathing was ragged and heavy.
"That dream again..." she whispered, calming herself as she clutched the bed sheets tighter. "Damn it."
Shimizu turned her head and stared into the mirror that was hanging on the wall adjacent to her bed. Her own emerald eyes stared back at her. She slipped out of her bed and walked to the mirror. Standing in front of it, she lifted her hand and placed it to the glass. Her reflection followed, and Shimizu laid her palm flat on the glass. As she turned her head upward to stare into the mirrored image of her face, she clenched her teeth tightly and curled her lips, showing her white teeth. Her eyes narrowed, and she slowly tightened her flat palm into a balled fist.
Magic flowed from her fingertips and flooded the mirror. Shimizu watched angrily as a crack ran right through her reflection. She cried out in anger, and the mirror shattered into thousands of pieces. Shimmering glass flew around her, cutting into her clothes and arms. When the glass settled on the floor, she dropped to her knees, ignoring the pain shooting through her as the glass cut her legs and palms. She turned her palms upward and stared at her bloodied hands.
"They took him away from me..." she cried softly. Tears fell from her eyes and mixed with the blood that covered her hands and the floor. "Damn them both... that mage and that blue-haired wrench!" Shimizu wrapped her arms around herself, blood smearing her clothes. Her eyes blazed angrily. "I'll kill them both! I'll kill them!"
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Umi awoke to see Clef's sleeping face beside her. She smiled gently and brushed his lavender bangs from his face. Clef murmured something incomprehensible in his sleep and rolled over. Umi giggled before poking his back. Clef turned back over and stared at Umi with azure eyes, a small smile playing at his lips. He yawned slightly.
"Hey," he murmured softly.
Umi smiled. "Hey."
Clef kissed Umi softly for a moment, then got out of bed, stretching and yawning. Suddenly, a small growling sound could be heard. Clef cursed his empty stomach.
Umi raised an eyebrow. "Hungry?"
Clef laughed. "I'm starving!"
Umi smiled and looked out the window. The sun shone past a few wispy clouds. "Any minute now they'll ring the bell for breakfast..."
Then, the sound of a bell rang though the blissful silence.
Clef laughed as he slipped his headdress back on his head. "Perfect timing!" He reached out his hand to Umi and she grasped it and was pulled from the bed. Hand in hand, they walked down to the dining room.
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Meanwhile, Ozumo flew through the air, circling the castle. He had taken on the form of a sparrow. He caught sight of a window, and he dove towards it. He perched on the windowsill of the dining room window, and smiled inwardly as Umi and Clef entered together.
Ozumo looked down at a capsule of poison he held in his talons, then back up at Clef and Umi. He had enough poison to get one of them—the mage would be better to get first, strategically. Then, he wouldn't be able to protect his precious demon slayer when the shape-shifter decided to strike. Now if he could only find a way to administer the poison . . .
Then, a maid carrying a silver tray walked in. As Clef and Umi sat down, the maid set cups of tea in front of them, as well as at the rest of the places at the table. Ozumo flew from the windowsill and into the air as the rest of the castle's occupants entered. As Clef rose to greet them, Ozumo released the capsule of poison from the grasp of his talons, and the capsule dropped into Clef's cup of tea. As Ozumo turned and flew back towards the windowsill, he glanced downward and inwardly grinned sinisterly as he saw the capsule dissolve in the tea. He landed back on the windowsill to make sure his plan came into full effect.
Clef sat down at the table and resorted to listening to the people around him talk. As Presea began to chatter about a something new she had forged, he nodded every once in a while to show he was listening, although he hadn't the slightest idea what she was talking about.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip, but as soon as the liquid touched his tongue, a highly unpleasant taste filled is mouth.
"Shit!" Clef gasped as he began to cough. He pounded himself on his chest lightly, and reluctantly swallowed the substance. Behind him, Ozumo snickered.
I see the poison took control of the tea perfectly, he thought. It always has had a bad taste.
"Master Clef?" the maid asked worriedly. "Is your tea not acceptable?"
Clef looked up at her. Her face was filled with fear. "N-no," he stammered. "It's perfectly fine..." he searched his mind for some excuse for his behavior. "I just swallowed it the wrong way, that's all."
"Oh," the maid smiled hesitantly. "Alright."
Clef tried his best to smile, and he drank the rest of his tea in small sips, trying to be polite and ignore the taste.
And behind him, Ozumo flew away, proud of what he had done.
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Later that morning, Clef leaned against a wall in his bedroom, breathing heavily, his eyes closed. The entire room was spinning, and his head felt light. Every noise seemed to echo in his mind. He felt sweat streaming down the back of his neck, and it was getting harder and harder to breathe.
"I knew there was something wrong with that tea," he murmured as his consciousness began to wane.
Suddenly, there was a knock at his bedroom door. All of a sudden, Clef felt someone's arms around him, and something gently touching his forehead. The last thing he heard was Umi scream his name . . .
And everything went black.
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Well, there's chapter 6! ^^ I promise I won't kill off any more characters in this story, so don't worry about Clef-chan! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, and sorry again that this chapter took so long!
Also, please remember: On my FF.Net profile, the progress of each chapter of every one of my stories is recorded. I try to update it frequently, so you can always go to my profile to see information on each chapter I'm working on: how much of it is done, when it will be uploaded, etc. Thank you!
I'll try to get Ch. 7 up as soon as I can! PLEASE REVIEW!!
