~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 19: Assassin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hikari:
I ran away from Tasuki, running all the way back into my room. 'Doushite?' My mind wondered. 'What's wrong with me today?'
I entered my room and locked the wooden doors. My breaths came out in short pants now, exhausted from all the running. I suddenly clutched my head in pain. 'Something, something's not right...' I thought to myself.
Groaning in pain, I fell to my knees. What was that awful screeching sound that I've been hearing ever since I've got back? Why is my head hurting so much?
So many questions but no answers.
I couldn't stand the noise anymore. My eyelids were getting heavier and my headache worse with each passing second. In a matter of seconds, my world turned into darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miaka:
I nervously sat on the chair that Tamahome had pulled out for me like a true gentleman.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked, blushing slightly when I could feel him staring at me. I felt my shoulders stiffen as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
Tamahome...
You don't know how much you mean to me...
You don't know...
I suddenly felt pangs of guilt. Taiit-sikun... She... She had said that...
'Iie! I mustn't be close to Tamahome! I'm forbidden to do so!' My mind was racing...
Tamahome...
"Miaka?" Tamahome bent down a little to see my eye to eye. "Daijoubu ka?" He asked as he placed a hand on my cheek.
"Daijoubu," I answered back coldly.
How could I?
How could I bear to do this?
I gasped as Tamahome went down on his knees. "Ta... Tamahome!"
"Miaka," Tamahome said as he looked deeply into my eyes. "Will you marry me?"
I sat on the chair, dumbstruck. My hands gripped the chair tightly to stop myself from shaking.
Those words...
Those very words that I longed to hear...
Those words that would make me his forever...
A few days ago, those very words would have been heaven to my heart and soul. Those words would make me the happiest girl in the world.
A few days ago...
But now...
Those words tore my heart apart.
Doushite? Why is it that Tamahome can't understand it? Why can't he understand that I don't want to hear those words? That I don't want to see him?!
Atashi...
Atashi...
I have a duty to fulfil as the Suzaku no miko.
"Tamahome no baka!" I shouted at his face. "Can't you see? I was toying with you all this while! You're a fool to believe me! Baka!" I got up and immediately dashed out of the room.
"Miaka! Matte! Nani..."
I didn't even hear him finish his sentence. The only thing that I could hear right now was the sound of me crying.
Iie.
It was the sound of...
The sound of...
My heart crying.
Bleeding.
Kokoro...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Narrator :
Crouching down low, the werewolf snarled and bared its sharp fangs at the villagers. With one giant leap, it brought down several villagers. Without wasting time, it slashed the villagers that was pinned beneath it. It then growled at the remaining villagers, as if daring them to come closer.
The farmers tightened their grip on their simple farming tools which they used to fend themselves.
"Uso..." One of the farmers said loudly in fear.
The werewolf took a few steps closer to them.
A farmer wearing a worn kasa stepped forward bravely. "Men, even if we die, we'll make sure that we'll bring this monster down with us!!! Protect the innocent wives and children hiding at home!!!" The farmer roared. "Charge!!!!!!"
The small group of farmers charged like wild bulls towards the werewolf.
Boring.
With ease and grace, the werewolf leapt into the air before slashing the pathetic humans. Blood splattered everywhere, staining walls, houses and the soil. The werewolf licked its lips hungrily.
It was so, so hungry.
So very hungry.
Greedily, it approached one of the dead fat farmer. It sunk its fangs into the soft dead flesh of the corpse. Thick red blood filled its mouth that was watering its saliva.
More...
It wanted more...
Male humans weren't that satisfying.
Females, children...
Ah, yes. Children.
Pure innocent little souls.
How it longed to hear their screams, to taste the soft delicate flesh. The younger the child, the sweeter the blood. The werewolf looked around at the useless bloodied bodies that were strewn everywhere.
Pathetic humans.
It jumped over the dead bodies, trying to get to the nearest house.
As soon as it was standing outside the humble little house with a damaged rooftop, it grinned to the rising blue moon and howled, indicating its presence.
The werewolf used its head to slam down the weak wooden door. A young woman wearing pink robes crouched down trying to hide under a table screamed loudly. Her high pitched scream cut through the silence of the night like a sharp knife.
Ah...
Sweet screams.
Merely music to one's ears.
The werewolf sniffed the air. It could sense fear coming from this woman. It sniffed the air again.
Ah, just as suspected.
A virgin.
Sweet delicious virgin.
So pure...
Smacking its lips, the werewolf pounced on its prey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Motoki watched silently through her large crystal balls. Her slave was wasting time having fun.
Oh well.
If it means having more blood shed, Motoki wouldn't mind it.
Motoki was bored. She soon found herself thinking about Hikari once again. How long was it? A whole year...
A whole year since Hikari went missing.
A whole year wasted.
"You don't know how valuable you are my dear..." Motoki whispered to herself, her voice echoing in the darkness.
"Oh you simply don't know..." With that, Motoki blew out the black candle beside her, her only source of light in the dark room.
Hikari...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tasuki :
I stared at the retreating figure, dumbfounded. What the hell was that?! Hikari, what's wrong with you?! I placed a hand on my cheek, as if I was slapped.
I sighed loudly before putting on my coat. Using my speed, I ran all the way to Hikari's room. I tried peeping underneath the door. It was dark inside. And the doors were locked. "Hikari?" I knocked on the door.
"Oi? Hikari?" I was getting worried. Without thinking twice, I kicked the doors opened, revealing an unconscious Hikari laying on the floor.
"HIKARI!!!!!!"
I gently lifted her head and placed it on my lap. I placed a hand on her forehead. No good. She was slightly feverish. I shook her shoulder. "Hikari? Don't scare me! Oi!!! Onna!!! Open your eyes!!!" Tears formed in my eyes. Chikuso!
Wiping my tears using my sleeves, I immediately carried Hikari out of the room to get help from Mitsukake.
On my way to find Mitsukake, I bumped into a crying Miaka. She stopped crying when she saw Hikari in my arms. "What happened?!" She asked, now panic stricken.
I shook my head. "Wakkanai yo! Demo, right now, we need to find Mitsukake, fast!" Miaka nodded her head in agreement. Just as we were about to continue the search for Mitsukake, Miaka suddenly collapsed to her knees, hands covering her ears.
"Dame!" Miaka shook her head furiously.
"Miaka! Daijoubu ka?" I asked. The only reply I received was the sound of Miaka falling to the floor, unconscious.
"Oi?" I asked confused. What the hell is wrong with the girls today?!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tamahome:
I dashed out of the room after Miaka. Miaka ran even faster when she heard my footsteps following her. Kuso! Soon, I lost her to the confusing and endless corridors of the palace.
"Miaka? Miaka?!" I frantically called out her name in vain.
After about ten minutes of searching, I came across Tasuki trying to carrying two unconscious girls somewhere.
"MIAKA!!!" I rushed forward to take Miaka away from Tasuki. "Miaka, open your eyes, onegai..." I whispered. My heart leapt with joy when Miaka's eyelids fluttered open.
"Ta...Tamahome... Stop... Stop the music... Onegai... My head hurts..." Miaka's hand clutched onto my sleeve tightly before fainting again.
"Miaka?" I tried shaking her shoulders, hoping for a response. I shot a glance at Tasuki. "What happened to them?!"
"Hey, don't accuse me, bakayarou! The girls just fainted all of a sudden! What am I suppose to do?! I was trying to find that bloody Mitsukake who seems to disappear every time we need him!!!!" Tasuki shot back at me angrily.
Not waiting for Tasuki, I carried Miaka in my arms and began searching for Mitsukake.
Miaka, shikkari shite!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chichiri :
I was getting worried. I could sense another presence here in the palace. Another presence of evil. Kuso! Hikari isn't even here to help in placing the barrier around the palace! As I walked along the silent corridors of the palace, I noticed that one of the extra unused bedroom doors were opened. Curious, I peeked into the room. Tamahome and Tasuki were gently laying Miaka and Hikari on two separate beds. Bursting into the room, I immediately went to the bed Hikari was laying on. Looking accusingly at Tasuki, I said, "What happened?"
Tasuki glared back at me accusingly. Tamahome, upon seeing the looks on our faces decided to step in before a major fight broke out. Looking worriedly at me, he asked, "Have you seen Mitsukake? We desperately need him now."
I shook my head. "Didn't Mitsukake say that he went out this afternoon to stock up on medicine supplies?"
"NANI?!" the two boys exclaimed. "What about the girls?!"
The three of us stopped talking when Miaka suddenly sat up and started screaming with both hands covering the ears.
"Miaka!!!" Tamahome rushed to her side to help calm her down but to no avail.
Just then, all of us heard a ear piercing laughter followed by the sound of a flute being played in a horrible way.
What the...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Reply:
To paws_bells : Yes, I do like angsty stuff so there are other many angsty scenes coming up...
To Eulene : It seems like you have the same problem like paws_bells. Not understanding Japanese terms. It may have also been my fault for not giving a small list of Japanese words at the end of the chapter. So anyway, 'kokoro' is heart, 'chottomatte' is Wait up! and 'dozo' is 'Please do.' (In this case, Hotohori was telling Chiriko to please stand up.)
chiri26 : Pity Hikari now, but you might want to pity the other characters later... Hehe...
To evening_twilight : I know it's confusing at parts but all this loop holes will be covered in the later chapters. When I read it myself, I was wondering at the confusing part of why do so many girls dislike Hikari? Then I was like, hold on, I know!!! But ain't gonna spoil it for you readers!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note: Yes, your most beautiful author in the world has decided to reply back to your reviews from this chapter onwards. So any questions in the story will be answer in the new section 'Author's Reply'. Personally, I'm not really satisfied with this chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List of Japanese words :
Tamahome no baka – Tamahome you idiot
Oi – Hey
Onna – Woman
Wakkanai yo – I really don't know
Bakayarou – Dumb Ass
Shikkari shite – Hang on
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 19: Assassin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hikari:
I ran away from Tasuki, running all the way back into my room. 'Doushite?' My mind wondered. 'What's wrong with me today?'
I entered my room and locked the wooden doors. My breaths came out in short pants now, exhausted from all the running. I suddenly clutched my head in pain. 'Something, something's not right...' I thought to myself.
Groaning in pain, I fell to my knees. What was that awful screeching sound that I've been hearing ever since I've got back? Why is my head hurting so much?
So many questions but no answers.
I couldn't stand the noise anymore. My eyelids were getting heavier and my headache worse with each passing second. In a matter of seconds, my world turned into darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miaka:
I nervously sat on the chair that Tamahome had pulled out for me like a true gentleman.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked, blushing slightly when I could feel him staring at me. I felt my shoulders stiffen as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
Tamahome...
You don't know how much you mean to me...
You don't know...
I suddenly felt pangs of guilt. Taiit-sikun... She... She had said that...
'Iie! I mustn't be close to Tamahome! I'm forbidden to do so!' My mind was racing...
Tamahome...
"Miaka?" Tamahome bent down a little to see my eye to eye. "Daijoubu ka?" He asked as he placed a hand on my cheek.
"Daijoubu," I answered back coldly.
How could I?
How could I bear to do this?
I gasped as Tamahome went down on his knees. "Ta... Tamahome!"
"Miaka," Tamahome said as he looked deeply into my eyes. "Will you marry me?"
I sat on the chair, dumbstruck. My hands gripped the chair tightly to stop myself from shaking.
Those words...
Those very words that I longed to hear...
Those words that would make me his forever...
A few days ago, those very words would have been heaven to my heart and soul. Those words would make me the happiest girl in the world.
A few days ago...
But now...
Those words tore my heart apart.
Doushite? Why is it that Tamahome can't understand it? Why can't he understand that I don't want to hear those words? That I don't want to see him?!
Atashi...
Atashi...
I have a duty to fulfil as the Suzaku no miko.
"Tamahome no baka!" I shouted at his face. "Can't you see? I was toying with you all this while! You're a fool to believe me! Baka!" I got up and immediately dashed out of the room.
"Miaka! Matte! Nani..."
I didn't even hear him finish his sentence. The only thing that I could hear right now was the sound of me crying.
Iie.
It was the sound of...
The sound of...
My heart crying.
Bleeding.
Kokoro...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Narrator :
Crouching down low, the werewolf snarled and bared its sharp fangs at the villagers. With one giant leap, it brought down several villagers. Without wasting time, it slashed the villagers that was pinned beneath it. It then growled at the remaining villagers, as if daring them to come closer.
The farmers tightened their grip on their simple farming tools which they used to fend themselves.
"Uso..." One of the farmers said loudly in fear.
The werewolf took a few steps closer to them.
A farmer wearing a worn kasa stepped forward bravely. "Men, even if we die, we'll make sure that we'll bring this monster down with us!!! Protect the innocent wives and children hiding at home!!!" The farmer roared. "Charge!!!!!!"
The small group of farmers charged like wild bulls towards the werewolf.
Boring.
With ease and grace, the werewolf leapt into the air before slashing the pathetic humans. Blood splattered everywhere, staining walls, houses and the soil. The werewolf licked its lips hungrily.
It was so, so hungry.
So very hungry.
Greedily, it approached one of the dead fat farmer. It sunk its fangs into the soft dead flesh of the corpse. Thick red blood filled its mouth that was watering its saliva.
More...
It wanted more...
Male humans weren't that satisfying.
Females, children...
Ah, yes. Children.
Pure innocent little souls.
How it longed to hear their screams, to taste the soft delicate flesh. The younger the child, the sweeter the blood. The werewolf looked around at the useless bloodied bodies that were strewn everywhere.
Pathetic humans.
It jumped over the dead bodies, trying to get to the nearest house.
As soon as it was standing outside the humble little house with a damaged rooftop, it grinned to the rising blue moon and howled, indicating its presence.
The werewolf used its head to slam down the weak wooden door. A young woman wearing pink robes crouched down trying to hide under a table screamed loudly. Her high pitched scream cut through the silence of the night like a sharp knife.
Ah...
Sweet screams.
Merely music to one's ears.
The werewolf sniffed the air. It could sense fear coming from this woman. It sniffed the air again.
Ah, just as suspected.
A virgin.
Sweet delicious virgin.
So pure...
Smacking its lips, the werewolf pounced on its prey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Motoki watched silently through her large crystal balls. Her slave was wasting time having fun.
Oh well.
If it means having more blood shed, Motoki wouldn't mind it.
Motoki was bored. She soon found herself thinking about Hikari once again. How long was it? A whole year...
A whole year since Hikari went missing.
A whole year wasted.
"You don't know how valuable you are my dear..." Motoki whispered to herself, her voice echoing in the darkness.
"Oh you simply don't know..." With that, Motoki blew out the black candle beside her, her only source of light in the dark room.
Hikari...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tasuki :
I stared at the retreating figure, dumbfounded. What the hell was that?! Hikari, what's wrong with you?! I placed a hand on my cheek, as if I was slapped.
I sighed loudly before putting on my coat. Using my speed, I ran all the way to Hikari's room. I tried peeping underneath the door. It was dark inside. And the doors were locked. "Hikari?" I knocked on the door.
"Oi? Hikari?" I was getting worried. Without thinking twice, I kicked the doors opened, revealing an unconscious Hikari laying on the floor.
"HIKARI!!!!!!"
I gently lifted her head and placed it on my lap. I placed a hand on her forehead. No good. She was slightly feverish. I shook her shoulder. "Hikari? Don't scare me! Oi!!! Onna!!! Open your eyes!!!" Tears formed in my eyes. Chikuso!
Wiping my tears using my sleeves, I immediately carried Hikari out of the room to get help from Mitsukake.
On my way to find Mitsukake, I bumped into a crying Miaka. She stopped crying when she saw Hikari in my arms. "What happened?!" She asked, now panic stricken.
I shook my head. "Wakkanai yo! Demo, right now, we need to find Mitsukake, fast!" Miaka nodded her head in agreement. Just as we were about to continue the search for Mitsukake, Miaka suddenly collapsed to her knees, hands covering her ears.
"Dame!" Miaka shook her head furiously.
"Miaka! Daijoubu ka?" I asked. The only reply I received was the sound of Miaka falling to the floor, unconscious.
"Oi?" I asked confused. What the hell is wrong with the girls today?!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tamahome:
I dashed out of the room after Miaka. Miaka ran even faster when she heard my footsteps following her. Kuso! Soon, I lost her to the confusing and endless corridors of the palace.
"Miaka? Miaka?!" I frantically called out her name in vain.
After about ten minutes of searching, I came across Tasuki trying to carrying two unconscious girls somewhere.
"MIAKA!!!" I rushed forward to take Miaka away from Tasuki. "Miaka, open your eyes, onegai..." I whispered. My heart leapt with joy when Miaka's eyelids fluttered open.
"Ta...Tamahome... Stop... Stop the music... Onegai... My head hurts..." Miaka's hand clutched onto my sleeve tightly before fainting again.
"Miaka?" I tried shaking her shoulders, hoping for a response. I shot a glance at Tasuki. "What happened to them?!"
"Hey, don't accuse me, bakayarou! The girls just fainted all of a sudden! What am I suppose to do?! I was trying to find that bloody Mitsukake who seems to disappear every time we need him!!!!" Tasuki shot back at me angrily.
Not waiting for Tasuki, I carried Miaka in my arms and began searching for Mitsukake.
Miaka, shikkari shite!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chichiri :
I was getting worried. I could sense another presence here in the palace. Another presence of evil. Kuso! Hikari isn't even here to help in placing the barrier around the palace! As I walked along the silent corridors of the palace, I noticed that one of the extra unused bedroom doors were opened. Curious, I peeked into the room. Tamahome and Tasuki were gently laying Miaka and Hikari on two separate beds. Bursting into the room, I immediately went to the bed Hikari was laying on. Looking accusingly at Tasuki, I said, "What happened?"
Tasuki glared back at me accusingly. Tamahome, upon seeing the looks on our faces decided to step in before a major fight broke out. Looking worriedly at me, he asked, "Have you seen Mitsukake? We desperately need him now."
I shook my head. "Didn't Mitsukake say that he went out this afternoon to stock up on medicine supplies?"
"NANI?!" the two boys exclaimed. "What about the girls?!"
The three of us stopped talking when Miaka suddenly sat up and started screaming with both hands covering the ears.
"Miaka!!!" Tamahome rushed to her side to help calm her down but to no avail.
Just then, all of us heard a ear piercing laughter followed by the sound of a flute being played in a horrible way.
What the...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Reply:
To paws_bells : Yes, I do like angsty stuff so there are other many angsty scenes coming up...
To Eulene : It seems like you have the same problem like paws_bells. Not understanding Japanese terms. It may have also been my fault for not giving a small list of Japanese words at the end of the chapter. So anyway, 'kokoro' is heart, 'chottomatte' is Wait up! and 'dozo' is 'Please do.' (In this case, Hotohori was telling Chiriko to please stand up.)
chiri26 : Pity Hikari now, but you might want to pity the other characters later... Hehe...
To evening_twilight : I know it's confusing at parts but all this loop holes will be covered in the later chapters. When I read it myself, I was wondering at the confusing part of why do so many girls dislike Hikari? Then I was like, hold on, I know!!! But ain't gonna spoil it for you readers!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note: Yes, your most beautiful author in the world has decided to reply back to your reviews from this chapter onwards. So any questions in the story will be answer in the new section 'Author's Reply'. Personally, I'm not really satisfied with this chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List of Japanese words :
Tamahome no baka – Tamahome you idiot
Oi – Hey
Onna – Woman
Wakkanai yo – I really don't know
Bakayarou – Dumb Ass
Shikkari shite – Hang on
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~