Chapter 20: Ripped Apart by Faith's Cruel Messenger
A/N: Well, I finally started it. I've been here at my dad's for a while-- nearly a week--and Thank GOD, I found my writing again. It recently left me staring dumbly at the computer screen while trying to think. And that, my friends, is something I never want to happen again but I'm sure it will. So, I've gotten my general idea back into my head, and I'm working on this next chapter like a wildfire works on clearing a forest. Ok, so it was a corny analogy, give me a break ok? OHOH! Looky! I got a new ring! *shows ring* Isn't it beautiful?? *laughs* Oh, you can't see it. Too bad.
Disclaimer: You know, I look back at my story, and I see all the torment and torture I would put the poor characters through, and if I wasn't careful, I wouldn't HAVE any characters left, So, I'm GLAD that I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. *twitches* Ok, so Maybe I lied and I'm NOT so glad, but still!
~*~*~
Kenshin sat, remaining broodily silent, on his futon where he'd stood before. Sano stared at him, watching the awesome power of the manslayer cover the gentility he'd known as the rurouni. He couldn't believe that Kenshin was willing to give up on his beliefs! He was giving up on everything he'd ever told Sano to believe in! "What do you mean you DON'T KNOW?! You mean to tell me that all these days, NO! All these MONTHS you've LIED to me?!!" Sano stood, his anguish evident in his eyes. "Sano, no I--" "SHUT UP!" Sano roared, continuing his frustrated tirade.
"If you lied to me about who I am, about who YOU are, about why you LIVE, what else have you lie--" "I won't say anything next time. Shut up and sit down." Kenshin intoned softly. Sano started towards him, fists clenched in his anger. "Don't push me, I beg of you. I'd rather not have more blood than I can handle on my hands this day." Kenshin spat, glaring at the advancing Sano. Sano caught sight of the glare and froze in his tracks, for the glance coming out of them was more than just the Battousai. It was fear itself, nasty and evil and oh so terrifying.
"Why you little--" Sano started.
"You little what? What are you going to do about my feelings?! You wanna be like me?! YOU WANT TO BE A COLD-BLOODED KILLER THAT CAN'T SLEEP FOR THE LIVES HE'S TAKEN AND THE BLOOD HE'S SPILLED? A KILLER THAT CAN HARDLY PASS SOMEONE ON THE STREET WITHOUT WONDERING IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND TRY TO KILL WHAT'S MOST PRECIOUS TO HIM? A MAN WITH A LIFE SO BLOODY THAT NOTHING CAN EVER CLEAN IT?! YOU WANT TO BE A KILLER?! THEN BY THE GOD'S ABOVE, BE ONE!!!!" Kenshin finally lost his calm composure and stood, towering above the seated Sano although he wasn't much taller.
His hand gripped his sword in an almost inhuman grip. His eyes before had remained calm in their icy glare, but now they glittered with an animal lack of control. But then, as Sano watched, those awful amber eyes flickered and faded, and Kenshin's limp body collapsed to the ground.
~*~*~
Hitomi's concentration shattered as she was brutally shoved from behind. She cried out in agony as her mind ripped away from Kenshin, and it only hurt more that she felt his mind crumble under the strain. She raised her hands to her head, trying to stop the smashing, squashing, awful crushing pain. She couldn't think; she couldn't breathe; she couldn't do anything but lie in her agonizingly ravaged mind.
At last she opened her eyes, wishing to catch a glimpse of her attacker. A glimpse she did catch, but that was all, for she clamped her eyes shut again as the light pierced her mind, tearing and ripping and blinding even though it was extremely dim. She curled onto her side, writhing through the bitter torture her mind most likely wasn't going to pull out of. Her attacker kicked her exposed back viciously, causing Hitomi to reflexively unroll, but her body registered no pain from the kick, for her mind was too ravaged by anguish and separation.
"Get up you filthy baggage!" the voice shouted coldly, and her intense pain only magnified the shout. She whimpered at attempted to roll over again. "NO!" the voice screamed, and another vicious kick connected with her ribcage. She hardly flinched as three of her ribs snapped and broke away inside of her, but the voice sent her into fits of agony; screaming and wailing and crying she fought him. Her prohibited her rolling; she couldn't escape from her awful state.
After what seemed a millennia, she would see through the red mist throbbing about her eyes, and she gazed up at her attacker. Recognition flitted across her face before she cried out as her mind was assaulted. ~Oh Dearest Hitomi, do I hurt you that badly?~ Came the smug voice of her attacker through his torture. ~Snae.~ she whispered. ~Yes my dearest, 'tis me. You must surely be more careful next time you teleport, for--oh wait, I don't suppose there will BE a next time, now will there?~ he laughed menacingly. ~For you, my sweet, shall not live to see the end of this day.~
Hitomi screamed and clawed at her head, desperate to rid her mind of the horrible voice that told her such evil things. ~Leave me! Leave my mind!~ she wailed in despair. Each word forced from her mind only bore the pain more intense. ~Leave you? Now why would I ever do a thing like that? You know as well as I do that I'm not here to make you feel good. No, I'm here to make sure you NEVER feel good again. And I want to tell you a little secret about your dahling Fjork.~ the voice teased.
Even through her pain Hitomi tensed. ~Fjork?~ her question echoed. The voice answered her not. She knew she didn't have enough strength for much more telepathic communication, so she said it not again. Finally, Snae responded. ~Your little angel has been quite devilish in choosing his companions.~
Hitomi winced and closed her eyes slowly, struggling to maintain her composure through her pain. She swallowed, and even the sounds of her body grew too loud for her to bear. "Kill me...just kill me. Please, Snae...I beg of you, just kill me...end this torture." she whispered, her deep blue eyes peering at his wildly. "I don't want to know." Snae's glory was etched all over his features. He bent over Hitomi, reveling in her labored breathing. "But Hitomi...you must know." She sobbed, and Snae smiled. ~Does it bother you to know, that your very own Fjork last night tried to kill you? Dearest Hitomi, don't blame me...I'm just here to finish the job.~
~*~*~
When Fjork collapsed to the ground, screaming and clutching his head, Kaoru hadn't known WHAT to do. She'd knelt at his side, gently touching his exposed temple. He'd gone rigid, and before he went totally limp, a single message had echoed through her mind. ~Find the Voyridal.~ She'd waited beside him for a few minutes, searching for a twitch or a sniff, something that would let her know he was ok. When she touched him again, he was already cold and stiff with death.
She now ran through the misty, humid plain--away from Others HQ. Within minutes, she made it to the gate of the realm. The two watchguards stood upon her hasty arrival. "I must see the Voyridal." she commanded, and so authorative was her demand that the guards didn't even take her disheveled appearance or her humanity into consideration. One grabbed her wrist, and then, they stood behind the Voyridal.
"Hiko?!" Kaoru exclaimed in disbelief. Hiko turned suddenly, as if they'd surprised him. "Kaoru. So it's been set into motion then." Hiko said. "Begging you pardon?" Kaoru said uncertainly. "Hiko turned to the guard that had brought Kaoru. "Fjork is dead, and Hitomi soon will be. I must get this lad back to Earth. Prepare to march on the Others." "Yes, Voyridal." the guard said, and before Kaoru could blink, he was gone.
She slowly backed away as Hiko approached. "What are you people?" she asked quietly. "Oh, come now. Surely my baka deshi's woman doesn't back down now. Or did my idiot rurouni choose a chicken instead of a woman?" Hiko said, completely ignoring her question. Kaoru stomped indignantly. "I am NOT a chicken! And I'm not--" she stopped, remembering that Kenshin had attempted- -and very nearly succeeded--in taking his own life for...her. So she WAS Kenshin's woman. Kaoru smiled. "I suppose I am Kenshin's woman. And I don't think I mind at all..."
~*~*~
A/N: WOOHOO! FINISHED A CHAPTER! *beams proudly* Oh I love being me. Lol, just kidding. Actually, no i'm not kidding. Woops I forgot to capitalize that I...oh well. I'm going to post this now, so I hope you like it even though it IS short. I feel so sorry for my characters. *sigh* Now to the review responses.
Shaolin10: WOOHOO! It's New Years Eve, and I'm writing to thank you for reviewing and to say HAPPY 2004! Gosh, it's hard to believe the year has gone by so quickly. I did leave off at a cliffhanger, but I don't think I did this time...*shrug*
DarkShadowHuntress: HEY! Glad to hear you liked it! Lol, glad to hear you like my sn, now don't go sneaking onto your mom's sn and talking to insane authors like me! MUAHAHAH! Lol, j/k. Hope to talk to you sometime soon, I'm back from my dad's tonight, which means I can TALK to people online instead of just email. *sigh*
stoictimer: Lol, thanks for reading. Yes, I did want Kenshin to be oblivious to plans being made concerning him, because if he knew, well he'd just kick ass and take names, ya know what I mean? He wouldn't just stand by. Oh well, keep reading!
A/N: Well, I finally started it. I've been here at my dad's for a while-- nearly a week--and Thank GOD, I found my writing again. It recently left me staring dumbly at the computer screen while trying to think. And that, my friends, is something I never want to happen again but I'm sure it will. So, I've gotten my general idea back into my head, and I'm working on this next chapter like a wildfire works on clearing a forest. Ok, so it was a corny analogy, give me a break ok? OHOH! Looky! I got a new ring! *shows ring* Isn't it beautiful?? *laughs* Oh, you can't see it. Too bad.
Disclaimer: You know, I look back at my story, and I see all the torment and torture I would put the poor characters through, and if I wasn't careful, I wouldn't HAVE any characters left, So, I'm GLAD that I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. *twitches* Ok, so Maybe I lied and I'm NOT so glad, but still!
~*~*~
Kenshin sat, remaining broodily silent, on his futon where he'd stood before. Sano stared at him, watching the awesome power of the manslayer cover the gentility he'd known as the rurouni. He couldn't believe that Kenshin was willing to give up on his beliefs! He was giving up on everything he'd ever told Sano to believe in! "What do you mean you DON'T KNOW?! You mean to tell me that all these days, NO! All these MONTHS you've LIED to me?!!" Sano stood, his anguish evident in his eyes. "Sano, no I--" "SHUT UP!" Sano roared, continuing his frustrated tirade.
"If you lied to me about who I am, about who YOU are, about why you LIVE, what else have you lie--" "I won't say anything next time. Shut up and sit down." Kenshin intoned softly. Sano started towards him, fists clenched in his anger. "Don't push me, I beg of you. I'd rather not have more blood than I can handle on my hands this day." Kenshin spat, glaring at the advancing Sano. Sano caught sight of the glare and froze in his tracks, for the glance coming out of them was more than just the Battousai. It was fear itself, nasty and evil and oh so terrifying.
"Why you little--" Sano started.
"You little what? What are you going to do about my feelings?! You wanna be like me?! YOU WANT TO BE A COLD-BLOODED KILLER THAT CAN'T SLEEP FOR THE LIVES HE'S TAKEN AND THE BLOOD HE'S SPILLED? A KILLER THAT CAN HARDLY PASS SOMEONE ON THE STREET WITHOUT WONDERING IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND TRY TO KILL WHAT'S MOST PRECIOUS TO HIM? A MAN WITH A LIFE SO BLOODY THAT NOTHING CAN EVER CLEAN IT?! YOU WANT TO BE A KILLER?! THEN BY THE GOD'S ABOVE, BE ONE!!!!" Kenshin finally lost his calm composure and stood, towering above the seated Sano although he wasn't much taller.
His hand gripped his sword in an almost inhuman grip. His eyes before had remained calm in their icy glare, but now they glittered with an animal lack of control. But then, as Sano watched, those awful amber eyes flickered and faded, and Kenshin's limp body collapsed to the ground.
~*~*~
Hitomi's concentration shattered as she was brutally shoved from behind. She cried out in agony as her mind ripped away from Kenshin, and it only hurt more that she felt his mind crumble under the strain. She raised her hands to her head, trying to stop the smashing, squashing, awful crushing pain. She couldn't think; she couldn't breathe; she couldn't do anything but lie in her agonizingly ravaged mind.
At last she opened her eyes, wishing to catch a glimpse of her attacker. A glimpse she did catch, but that was all, for she clamped her eyes shut again as the light pierced her mind, tearing and ripping and blinding even though it was extremely dim. She curled onto her side, writhing through the bitter torture her mind most likely wasn't going to pull out of. Her attacker kicked her exposed back viciously, causing Hitomi to reflexively unroll, but her body registered no pain from the kick, for her mind was too ravaged by anguish and separation.
"Get up you filthy baggage!" the voice shouted coldly, and her intense pain only magnified the shout. She whimpered at attempted to roll over again. "NO!" the voice screamed, and another vicious kick connected with her ribcage. She hardly flinched as three of her ribs snapped and broke away inside of her, but the voice sent her into fits of agony; screaming and wailing and crying she fought him. Her prohibited her rolling; she couldn't escape from her awful state.
After what seemed a millennia, she would see through the red mist throbbing about her eyes, and she gazed up at her attacker. Recognition flitted across her face before she cried out as her mind was assaulted. ~Oh Dearest Hitomi, do I hurt you that badly?~ Came the smug voice of her attacker through his torture. ~Snae.~ she whispered. ~Yes my dearest, 'tis me. You must surely be more careful next time you teleport, for--oh wait, I don't suppose there will BE a next time, now will there?~ he laughed menacingly. ~For you, my sweet, shall not live to see the end of this day.~
Hitomi screamed and clawed at her head, desperate to rid her mind of the horrible voice that told her such evil things. ~Leave me! Leave my mind!~ she wailed in despair. Each word forced from her mind only bore the pain more intense. ~Leave you? Now why would I ever do a thing like that? You know as well as I do that I'm not here to make you feel good. No, I'm here to make sure you NEVER feel good again. And I want to tell you a little secret about your dahling Fjork.~ the voice teased.
Even through her pain Hitomi tensed. ~Fjork?~ her question echoed. The voice answered her not. She knew she didn't have enough strength for much more telepathic communication, so she said it not again. Finally, Snae responded. ~Your little angel has been quite devilish in choosing his companions.~
Hitomi winced and closed her eyes slowly, struggling to maintain her composure through her pain. She swallowed, and even the sounds of her body grew too loud for her to bear. "Kill me...just kill me. Please, Snae...I beg of you, just kill me...end this torture." she whispered, her deep blue eyes peering at his wildly. "I don't want to know." Snae's glory was etched all over his features. He bent over Hitomi, reveling in her labored breathing. "But Hitomi...you must know." She sobbed, and Snae smiled. ~Does it bother you to know, that your very own Fjork last night tried to kill you? Dearest Hitomi, don't blame me...I'm just here to finish the job.~
~*~*~
When Fjork collapsed to the ground, screaming and clutching his head, Kaoru hadn't known WHAT to do. She'd knelt at his side, gently touching his exposed temple. He'd gone rigid, and before he went totally limp, a single message had echoed through her mind. ~Find the Voyridal.~ She'd waited beside him for a few minutes, searching for a twitch or a sniff, something that would let her know he was ok. When she touched him again, he was already cold and stiff with death.
She now ran through the misty, humid plain--away from Others HQ. Within minutes, she made it to the gate of the realm. The two watchguards stood upon her hasty arrival. "I must see the Voyridal." she commanded, and so authorative was her demand that the guards didn't even take her disheveled appearance or her humanity into consideration. One grabbed her wrist, and then, they stood behind the Voyridal.
"Hiko?!" Kaoru exclaimed in disbelief. Hiko turned suddenly, as if they'd surprised him. "Kaoru. So it's been set into motion then." Hiko said. "Begging you pardon?" Kaoru said uncertainly. "Hiko turned to the guard that had brought Kaoru. "Fjork is dead, and Hitomi soon will be. I must get this lad back to Earth. Prepare to march on the Others." "Yes, Voyridal." the guard said, and before Kaoru could blink, he was gone.
She slowly backed away as Hiko approached. "What are you people?" she asked quietly. "Oh, come now. Surely my baka deshi's woman doesn't back down now. Or did my idiot rurouni choose a chicken instead of a woman?" Hiko said, completely ignoring her question. Kaoru stomped indignantly. "I am NOT a chicken! And I'm not--" she stopped, remembering that Kenshin had attempted- -and very nearly succeeded--in taking his own life for...her. So she WAS Kenshin's woman. Kaoru smiled. "I suppose I am Kenshin's woman. And I don't think I mind at all..."
~*~*~
A/N: WOOHOO! FINISHED A CHAPTER! *beams proudly* Oh I love being me. Lol, just kidding. Actually, no i'm not kidding. Woops I forgot to capitalize that I...oh well. I'm going to post this now, so I hope you like it even though it IS short. I feel so sorry for my characters. *sigh* Now to the review responses.
Shaolin10: WOOHOO! It's New Years Eve, and I'm writing to thank you for reviewing and to say HAPPY 2004! Gosh, it's hard to believe the year has gone by so quickly. I did leave off at a cliffhanger, but I don't think I did this time...*shrug*
DarkShadowHuntress: HEY! Glad to hear you liked it! Lol, glad to hear you like my sn, now don't go sneaking onto your mom's sn and talking to insane authors like me! MUAHAHAH! Lol, j/k. Hope to talk to you sometime soon, I'm back from my dad's tonight, which means I can TALK to people online instead of just email. *sigh*
stoictimer: Lol, thanks for reading. Yes, I did want Kenshin to be oblivious to plans being made concerning him, because if he knew, well he'd just kick ass and take names, ya know what I mean? He wouldn't just stand by. Oh well, keep reading!