Disclaimers: me no own SK. Me will die happy if me does… Fic's title is taken from a song with the same title written by a friend. It will be featured in the fic's later chapters.
Author's Note: : In this story, for some twisted reason even I couldn't comprehend, I've made Hao slightly OOC. Probably not a good move but…I had to do it!
Lately, I've been a very unlucky kid but that didn't stop me from writing new chapters and fics and this chapter wouldn't be completed if Daddy Worm, Kathyrine and 2Bz haven't been religiously harassing me to continue writing.
Running From Myself
Chapter 3: The Devil Has Come
That evening.
A lone stalker stood upon a cliff, the night air whipping his long hair and cape from side to side. The full moon's light played upon his sinister features as he stood motionless, eyes closed in full concentration, listening to the wind's song.
Slowly he opened his eyes, eyes that burned with vengeance, and let out a very sinister smile.
'Finally, I've found you,' he whispered to the wind before walking away from the cliff's edge.
-==+==-
"Keep close watch, man. That Asakura scourge might attack anytime," an unknown man holding a spear told another.
"Sure. The full moon is set upon a cloudless sky; therefore it will be easy to see in the dark. Besides, I don't think Hao could find out how we enter the fortress. We are more prepared this time. He cannot penetrate the fortress even if he brings along with him his army of idiots who shamelessly call themselves shamans." The man spoke with such bitterness that it looked as if he was about to strike the spearman with his katana. He then spat on the ground, seriously wishing it were Hao. "Asakura Hao, that scion of Satan himself. Hn!"
"Yes, he is indeed evil and powerful. That is enough reason that we should not let our guards down," the spearman tried to reason with the katana wielder. He knew that they had to keep their cool and their emotions should not go into overdrive. "Nor should we take risky chances. However, it doesn't mean that we're safe. We can't let it get into our heads nor let our emotions make irrational men out of us."
"But the murderous bastard killed my wife and children. He slaughtered my family. I will make him pay."
There was a pause as the spearman tried to search for the right words to say. Meanwhile, overhead, clouds gathered around the full moon, blocking its light and the sky turned red.
"I know it's painful to lose your family, man, but you have to cool it. There's no telling what might happen." The spearman glanced at the sky and exhaled sharply. "Keep your eyes open, looks like its gonna rain."
The spearman then faced the massive rock pillar behind him. He took out a necklace with a crystal pendant from his pocket and gently swung it from side to side. The wind shifted and the air around felt like it was electrically charged. A circle of blue light appeared on the ground, weird symbols started to appear one by one in red light and finally a David's star appeared in the center of the circle. The spearman, situated in the star's center, was chanting to himself.
The katana wielder, seeing that the portal for the fortress' entrance was about to be opened, turned his back on the spearman and scanned the horizon. 'Artemis, brush away the rain clouds from tonight's sky and-' he stopped from his incantation to the moon goddess when he heard a groan from behind like a man dying in his sleep.
The scene that he saw was enough to make his heart stop.
His worst fear and nemesis was standing behind him, holding the spearman's dead body by the hair with one hand and his soul with the other. A moment later, the spearman's soul merged with the rest of the stalker's spirit, bringing his power a notch higher.
The swordsman's throat went dry and nothing but two words escaped from his lips, barely audible. "Asakura Hao."
The stalker looked up and met the swordsman's eyes and said, "Ah, so you remember me. So heart-warming." The light from the portal made his sinister features seem more evil.
"You," the man managed to say in a shaky yet resonant voice. He raised his katana to point it at Hao. "I will never forget. How can I, when you slaughtered my family like pigs? How can I, when the sight of their dead bodies torment me in my dreams, when their voices haunt me, telling me, pleading with me to seek revenge? How can I!"
"One, never point sharp objects at other people. That's very dangerous. Two, man, I'm really sorry 'bout your family. It was bitch of me to kill them…especially when they gave me oh, so little power. But their screams of pain and pleas for mercy were like music to my ears," Hao replied in a calm yet taunting voice, watching the swordsman's reaction, as if relishing the sight. "Their pained faces and tortured bodies were like merry little worms writhing helplessly in a bed of burning charcoal making me smile, the puny fight they put up saved me a bit from boredom, the little power they gave moistened the parched lips of my Fire spirit and their blood… ah yes, so delicious. It was like elixir to my soul."
"You…you killed…my…family and part…part of the clan for…fun?" The man lowered his katana as if reality drained him of all his energy. His voice faltered while his eyes sparkled with tears that were held back with effort. "You kill innocent people for fun?" he shouted, flames of anger leaping in his eyes.
"Frankly speaking, no. I kill for power. Fun, enjoyment, pleasure-they just rank second. Basically, it's all about gaining power, growing stronger. However, since we've had too much of getting-to-know-you-more talk, I'm cutting our conversation here. Now if you'll excuse me, I still have an appointment with your leader."
The swordsman clenched his jaw and swallowed hard, 'He's going after dancho! I will not allow it!' He took a step forward, once again raising his katana. "I will not allow you to enter that portal, Asakura Hao, not when I'm on guard. Powerful or not, I'm still gonna fight you, for the sake of our dancho's safety!"
Hao didn't even bother to meet the man's eye when he countered the man's challenge. "Look, I'm feeling generous today and I'm gonna prove my point that I do not kill for fun. Besides, I have no business with you; I'm here for your leader, so put that katana down. Plus, I'd rather see you live another day, contemplating your cruel fate and later die with too much depression. Killing you would deprive me of something more…soap opera-ish." Changing his mind, Hao tilted his head slightly towards the swordsman's direction and let out a smirk.
Without warning, the swordsman attacked Hao, shouting his battle cry: This if for my family and the clan!
Though he caught Hao off guard, the man missed Hao by a few centimeters as Hao's instinct and quick reflexes dictated he deflect the attack.
"Missed," a sarcastic monosyllabic comment from Hao. "I told you to think about my deal and I thought you were wise enough to opt the "die in misery" bargain, but no. Therefore, you leave me no choice."
"Enough talk Asakura! You fight like a girl, hiding behind acerbic words. Is this the famed Hao, bearer of the Spirit of Fire? Is this really him?" The man was having difficulties coordinating his offense-defense moves with his train of thoughts. "C'mon Hao, fight like a true Asakura!"
"You talk too much," Hao whispered, and gave the man a mysterious smile that promised pain and misery. In a blink of an eye, the swordsman was dead, a spear inserted though his forehead. A second later, his soul was being absorbed by Hao. 'That was a quick one. Now, for my appointment, I don't wanna be late. Where could that crystal be?'
Hao drew near the spearman's lifeless form, stooped over it and picked up the crystal on its open palm. "Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna borrow this for a while."
Walking to the center of the portal, he repeated the process earlier done by the spearman. He closed his eyes and started chanting.
ib rean idim it niste isto reb las"
Net eb ish nebe edre fre it re."
The next moment, Asakura Hao disappeared into the portal, closing it, leaving a spire of smoke behind.