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Chapter 31
I stapled a couple of pieces of paper together. "Hey, Rei."
Her voice sounded a little tired, "Hey Ryan. It's almost 9:30. When are you going to be back?"
"Not for a while, babe. I have some paperwork to do and it'll probably take half an hour or more."
Jokingly, "You having an affair, aren't you?"
I snorted, "You can talk to Dana if you'd like, she's going insane right now from the paperwork too." Dana shot me an amused look and I stuck my tongue out at her, "Alright, Rei-chan. I'll see you in a bit. Love you."
"Well, well, well. It seems like you're getting something resembling a home life. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy. Rei's working out for you then?"
"You know, the office work has been a little unbearable, but honestly I like going home to someone. Makes me feel all fuzzy inside."
Dana shook her head, "I'm glad that you're happy. But I also have to say that I told you so."
"You did indeed. I was lonely, terribly so. I'm glad that I found who I did though. Which reminds me, you need to help me find a new secretary."
"This time I'll look for a male. Don't want Rei to have any competition."
"Har har." I wadded up a ball of paper and tossed it at her head. She giggled and continued to work.
I fumbled with my key for a moment, then realized that someone was waiting for me inside. Ringing the doorbell, I waited until Rei opened the door.
She looked at me with pursed lips, "It's ten thirty. You're late."
I eased off my jacket and folded it over my arm, "Not really my choice."
Rei smiled and kissed me softly, "I know. I worked there before. You look worn."
"I am worn. At this point, I just want to sleep."
"Aww, poor baby. Would you like a back massage?"
I grinned at her, "You're taking to this homemaker thing rather well, aren't you?"
She shrugged, "I figure you ought to get some pampered treatment while I search for another job. After that, it's TV dinners and take out."
I clutched my heart, "Aww...Rei, why would you do something like that." Turning serious for a moment, "I did hear of a job opening for a junior associate at McKinsey. You may want to check that out."
"Thanks, sweetie." She kissed me on the check and I smiled in return. "I'll definitely look at that. I want something with manageable hours though. Say fifty a week with weekends off."
"Your idea of manageable is somewhat different than the norm. I think I worked you too hard."
She took my hand and led me into the living room, "Perhaps, but it also gives me plenty of free time when I'm not working. Close your eyes and follow me."
I did as commanded and bumped my shin into some soft object, which puzzled me, considering that I had very few of those in my living room. I could sense Rei's excitement and I smiled in spite of myself. "Can I open my eyes now?"
Her voice was brimming, bubbling over with glee, "Yes, open them."
What I saw, amazed me. The drab couch and easy chair had been replaced with a matching set of loveseat and sofa. Shelves had been placed along the walls, filled with pictures of friends and relatives and trinkets of all sorts. A glass coffee table sat in the middle of the room, with a couple of decorative books tossed onto it. Finally, an achingly luxurious leather recliner and ottoman had been moved into the corner, facing the windows for a grand view of the stars and Tokyo.
"Wow."
She giggled, "You like it?"
"It actually feels like home, for once. And that recliner is calling to me. I think I'll give it test drive."
Sinking into it, I closed my eyes before feeling a sudden weight on my lap. "Hey, who said you could join? This ride is single only."
"Yeah, but I think you'll make an exception for me."
I sighed and smiled, "Alright, lady. Time to go to sleep. I'm just far too exhausted."
Rei slipped off and pulled me up, "Okay, old timer."
Even before I got to the bedroom, I had begun to strip out of my work clothes and tossed them onto a chair. I was too tired even to hang them up. Yet, I felt a wonderful pall of satisfaction come over me as I hid myself underneath the covers and instantly fell asleep.
That night the visions returned. The man found himself in a familiar uniform, the drab gray of a general. His eyebrow raised slightly, in repressed curiousity, then narrowed slightly. His hand went to his side, pulling free a sword which almost glowed in the half light. He slowly scanned the room then set his eyes on the door, knowing instinctively that his enemy was coming. The sounds of a battle had died down outside and he calmly waited. And then the door opened. Malevolent men at arms, magically enhanced attack dogs, and monsters of all sorts filed in silently, filling up half the room before arranging themselves in parade formation.
A young man, wearing the same uniform as the general, edged his way through the crowd and stood to face the lone soldier opposing them. He wore a smug smile, "General."
The general smiled briefly. It held none of the cheer of the other's. "Captain. I should have suspected as much. How long?"
The young man shrugged, "Long enough. You know that we could not let this farce of a courtship happen. Stand aside, General. We are taking the prince into custody."
"I think not. You will not pass this door."
"General, you are mistaken. You still think that you have an actual choice in the matter. I am quite certain that you don't. We have MAGIC on our side, unlike you. And we are not afraid to use it.
The captain's smile turned sympathetic for a moment, "Come General. There is much room for an accomplished tactician such as yourself on our side. Your brothers found her reasoning...persuasive. But Beryl-hime is willing to barter with you. She has asked me to convey to you the offer of a commanding generalship of all her armies."
"Because she is incapable of leading them herself?" The general snorted and smiled cynically, "Convey back to her my sincerest regret at not being able to accept the offer as well as the suggestion to go perform some anatomically impossible act."
"Please, General. This is a poor time for vulgarity. You are surrounded and outnumbered. I suspect that you are the last thing in our way. Move or die."
The general did not even answer that time, instead setting into a clearly defensive fencing posture.
The captain sighed, "So be it general."
The front rank of men at arms broke into battle formation, charging the lone swordsman, trusting overwhelming force for victory. The general dodged easily, stabbing the first one deep in the gut then withdrawing and slashing across the belly of the next. He clashed with the third, striking sparks in the darkness. He danced back a step then his hand flashed and the third fell to the ground, the tip of a dagger protruding from the back of his neck. Before the others could react, another fell from a knife which seemed to sprout from his forehead.
The first rank slowed its perilous charge and backed up for a moment. The general smiled contentedly and again set into his defensive position, lifting a bloodstained sword to his center of gravity. The captain gestured and the second rank joined the first in its assault, striving to take down the man in front of them. The general fell back, picking off individual attacks easily, channeling the wave around him with a flurry of clashing steel. He also found time to give back of little of his own, as soldiers of Beryl's armies fell around him.
The captain gestured again and the rest of the force charged in, seeking to smother the single man by pure force of weight. Wave after wave of soldier and monster charged, yet to no avail. The general moved faster than all of them, slashing through their armors like a knife through butter. Any reasonable force would have stopped the nonsensical bloodshed, but Beryl's troops attacked with the fury of maniacs only to fall to the floor in a pile of severed limbs and entrails. Twenty minutes later, it was all but over.
The general noted the blood on his tunic with a faint disdain and then set his eyes on the traitorous captain. The young man smiled and clapped appreciatively, "Well done! I must say I am surprised to see you still standing. I see though, that you have kept up with your fencing. No matter." The captain closed his eyes and whispered a few words. A sword appeared in his hand and he began to pace slowly towards the general. The blade came up and slashed down, the motion forming a wave of energy that scythed through the air towards his opponent.
The general deftly dodged the blast and brought his blade up to deflect another sent his way, "Beryl taught you a couple of her parlor tricks I see."
"She taught me more than that." The air seemed to whip around the captain for a moment and an eerie glow surrounded him. And just like that, he disappeared.
Sensing a trick, the general scanned the horizon, trying to pick out any strangeness with the surroundings. Suddenly, his senses began to peak and he flung himself backwards, barely dodging a skewering slash to his head. Rolling, he came up in an instantly defensible stance. This time, he closed his eyes, trusting his instincts more than his sight.
Another of the energy blasts appeared and the general moved to deflect it up to the sky. Then, he whirled around, bringing his blade to clash with that of his now visible opponent. In a quick move, the general snaked his foot out and tripped the captain, dumping him onto his back. He brought the blade down in a killing slash, but the captain had disappeared again.
He sensed the attack coming from behind and pointed his hand towards the onrushing captain, whispering softly, "Maelstrom."
Luminiscent blue flames erupted from his finger tips, spilling over the unfortunate captain almost like liquid. The captain screamed in pain, beating himself frantically to put out the clinging fire, but to no avail. The fire was an unnatural conflagration, formed from the unholy power of phantoms and spirits, grasping at the very tendrils of one's soul. Like all magicks, a two edged sword which both empowered and exhausted, swaying its user towards misuse.
The general closed his hand and breathed in deeply. The licking flames slowly died away, leaving a charred, but still alive captain twitching on the floor. He turned slowly and took two paced to stare down at the burned and battered soldier.
"How did you...You can't-"
"Use magic?" Jadeite smiled briefly at the pathetic creature, "I assure you it was not easy to learn. But, it is amazingly useful, if tempting. And temptation is what has brought you here today."
The general lifted his blade, holding it like he would a dagger. He hesitated for a moment, "I apologize for any discomfort you might feel."
He stabbed the blade down, muffling the captain's scream of terror with a muted clack as the sword drove itself into the stone below. "Thus die all traitors."
The sound of clapping filled the room and Jadeite looked up to see a beautiful woman in an evening gown step in. His heart froze and for the first time, fear managed to work itself onto his features. The woman called out, "Congratulations, Jadeite. I'm glad to see that you survived."
"The feeling is not mutual. Is this how you decide to deal with me? A powerless lackey and a company of troops. I'd like to think you have more respect for me."
"Oh, I do. I really do. In fact, I actually had specific orders for him not to attack you. I see that he did not follow them too well. I didn't like him anyway."
Beryl smiled winningly, a smile with which she had charmed away half the Royal Army, "Come now Jadeite. Put the sword down, so that we can talk. We are friends after all."
"I am no friend to a traitor of my Prince."
She frowned, "Jadeite, it saddens me that you are so fanatical about devotion to Endymion. I don't want to hurt him after all."
Sarcastically, "Really now. You have led a revolution against him, using his own armies to attack his people. You have raped and pillaged the countryside, slaughtered those loyal to him, and have sent armed troops into his palace to take him as a prisoner for your twisted ends. Call me old fashioned, but I think that constitutes harm."
"Jadeite, I am not a traitor. I am merely acting in the best interests of the dominion."
"You certainly have a funny way of showing it."
"Then how can I prove it to you?"
"By turning around, marching your forces out of here and leaving us in peace."
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. Endymion is mine. Move aside."
He did not budge, "Endymion is the property of himself and whoever he chooses to give himself to. Last I checked you were not on the list."
Her eyes flashed in anger, "How can you condone what he has done? He has run off with that Moon slut!"
"It is a matter of the heart. You can either accept it and leave or try to get past me yourself."
Beryl smiled predatorily, a clear departure from the geniality of before, "Jadeite, my friend, you are making a very huge mistake."
She began to draw power around herself, calling upon her vast resources of magicks for the coming battle.
Jadeite's eyes betrayed a little bit more fear, but he pushed it away with a warrior's training. Gulping softly, he intoned, "I am ready."
I sat bolt upright, sweat drenching my shirt. I gasped for air until my eyes focused on the room around me and I realized that I could breathe again. I lifted a shaking hand to my now spiky hair. No matter how I tried, I could not make them stop.
A concerned voice from my side sounded it my ear and my raven haired angel slipped her arm around me, "Ryan, what's wrong?"
I did not answer immediately, reliving every agonizing moment,
right until my defeat at her hands. My hands opened and closed reflexively trying to grasp the useless blade again.
She repeated her question, "Ryan, what's wrong? Please tell me."
"No-nothing, Rei-chan." I lay back down, trying to reassure her with my actions.
Quietly, "That is obviously not the case."
She felt my forehead and then recoiled slightly, "You're clammy, sweating."
"Please, Rei-chan...."
"Shut up." She snuggled near me, sharing her body warmth with me, "You were having a nightmare, weren't you?"
"Yes, Rei-chan." 'Worse than you could possibly imagine'
"What about?"
I closed my eyes, "I can't tell you. Not yet."
"Please, Ryan," Rei leaned forward to let her lips brush against mine, "They won't go away unless you talk about them."
"Not yet, not yet, not yet...." I curled into fetal position, exhausted from the assault. She spoke no more, merely holding me until I fell into broken sleep.
Chapter 31
I stapled a couple of pieces of paper together. "Hey, Rei."
Her voice sounded a little tired, "Hey Ryan. It's almost 9:30. When are you going to be back?"
"Not for a while, babe. I have some paperwork to do and it'll probably take half an hour or more."
Jokingly, "You having an affair, aren't you?"
I snorted, "You can talk to Dana if you'd like, she's going insane right now from the paperwork too." Dana shot me an amused look and I stuck my tongue out at her, "Alright, Rei-chan. I'll see you in a bit. Love you."
"Well, well, well. It seems like you're getting something resembling a home life. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy. Rei's working out for you then?"
"You know, the office work has been a little unbearable, but honestly I like going home to someone. Makes me feel all fuzzy inside."
Dana shook her head, "I'm glad that you're happy. But I also have to say that I told you so."
"You did indeed. I was lonely, terribly so. I'm glad that I found who I did though. Which reminds me, you need to help me find a new secretary."
"This time I'll look for a male. Don't want Rei to have any competition."
"Har har." I wadded up a ball of paper and tossed it at her head. She giggled and continued to work.
I fumbled with my key for a moment, then realized that someone was waiting for me inside. Ringing the doorbell, I waited until Rei opened the door.
She looked at me with pursed lips, "It's ten thirty. You're late."
I eased off my jacket and folded it over my arm, "Not really my choice."
Rei smiled and kissed me softly, "I know. I worked there before. You look worn."
"I am worn. At this point, I just want to sleep."
"Aww, poor baby. Would you like a back massage?"
I grinned at her, "You're taking to this homemaker thing rather well, aren't you?"
She shrugged, "I figure you ought to get some pampered treatment while I search for another job. After that, it's TV dinners and take out."
I clutched my heart, "Aww...Rei, why would you do something like that." Turning serious for a moment, "I did hear of a job opening for a junior associate at McKinsey. You may want to check that out."
"Thanks, sweetie." She kissed me on the check and I smiled in return. "I'll definitely look at that. I want something with manageable hours though. Say fifty a week with weekends off."
"Your idea of manageable is somewhat different than the norm. I think I worked you too hard."
She took my hand and led me into the living room, "Perhaps, but it also gives me plenty of free time when I'm not working. Close your eyes and follow me."
I did as commanded and bumped my shin into some soft object, which puzzled me, considering that I had very few of those in my living room. I could sense Rei's excitement and I smiled in spite of myself. "Can I open my eyes now?"
Her voice was brimming, bubbling over with glee, "Yes, open them."
What I saw, amazed me. The drab couch and easy chair had been replaced with a matching set of loveseat and sofa. Shelves had been placed along the walls, filled with pictures of friends and relatives and trinkets of all sorts. A glass coffee table sat in the middle of the room, with a couple of decorative books tossed onto it. Finally, an achingly luxurious leather recliner and ottoman had been moved into the corner, facing the windows for a grand view of the stars and Tokyo.
"Wow."
She giggled, "You like it?"
"It actually feels like home, for once. And that recliner is calling to me. I think I'll give it test drive."
Sinking into it, I closed my eyes before feeling a sudden weight on my lap. "Hey, who said you could join? This ride is single only."
"Yeah, but I think you'll make an exception for me."
I sighed and smiled, "Alright, lady. Time to go to sleep. I'm just far too exhausted."
Rei slipped off and pulled me up, "Okay, old timer."
Even before I got to the bedroom, I had begun to strip out of my work clothes and tossed them onto a chair. I was too tired even to hang them up. Yet, I felt a wonderful pall of satisfaction come over me as I hid myself underneath the covers and instantly fell asleep.
That night the visions returned. The man found himself in a familiar uniform, the drab gray of a general. His eyebrow raised slightly, in repressed curiousity, then narrowed slightly. His hand went to his side, pulling free a sword which almost glowed in the half light. He slowly scanned the room then set his eyes on the door, knowing instinctively that his enemy was coming. The sounds of a battle had died down outside and he calmly waited. And then the door opened. Malevolent men at arms, magically enhanced attack dogs, and monsters of all sorts filed in silently, filling up half the room before arranging themselves in parade formation.
A young man, wearing the same uniform as the general, edged his way through the crowd and stood to face the lone soldier opposing them. He wore a smug smile, "General."
The general smiled briefly. It held none of the cheer of the other's. "Captain. I should have suspected as much. How long?"
The young man shrugged, "Long enough. You know that we could not let this farce of a courtship happen. Stand aside, General. We are taking the prince into custody."
"I think not. You will not pass this door."
"General, you are mistaken. You still think that you have an actual choice in the matter. I am quite certain that you don't. We have MAGIC on our side, unlike you. And we are not afraid to use it.
The captain's smile turned sympathetic for a moment, "Come General. There is much room for an accomplished tactician such as yourself on our side. Your brothers found her reasoning...persuasive. But Beryl-hime is willing to barter with you. She has asked me to convey to you the offer of a commanding generalship of all her armies."
"Because she is incapable of leading them herself?" The general snorted and smiled cynically, "Convey back to her my sincerest regret at not being able to accept the offer as well as the suggestion to go perform some anatomically impossible act."
"Please, General. This is a poor time for vulgarity. You are surrounded and outnumbered. I suspect that you are the last thing in our way. Move or die."
The general did not even answer that time, instead setting into a clearly defensive fencing posture.
The captain sighed, "So be it general."
The front rank of men at arms broke into battle formation, charging the lone swordsman, trusting overwhelming force for victory. The general dodged easily, stabbing the first one deep in the gut then withdrawing and slashing across the belly of the next. He clashed with the third, striking sparks in the darkness. He danced back a step then his hand flashed and the third fell to the ground, the tip of a dagger protruding from the back of his neck. Before the others could react, another fell from a knife which seemed to sprout from his forehead.
The first rank slowed its perilous charge and backed up for a moment. The general smiled contentedly and again set into his defensive position, lifting a bloodstained sword to his center of gravity. The captain gestured and the second rank joined the first in its assault, striving to take down the man in front of them. The general fell back, picking off individual attacks easily, channeling the wave around him with a flurry of clashing steel. He also found time to give back of little of his own, as soldiers of Beryl's armies fell around him.
The captain gestured again and the rest of the force charged in, seeking to smother the single man by pure force of weight. Wave after wave of soldier and monster charged, yet to no avail. The general moved faster than all of them, slashing through their armors like a knife through butter. Any reasonable force would have stopped the nonsensical bloodshed, but Beryl's troops attacked with the fury of maniacs only to fall to the floor in a pile of severed limbs and entrails. Twenty minutes later, it was all but over.
The general noted the blood on his tunic with a faint disdain and then set his eyes on the traitorous captain. The young man smiled and clapped appreciatively, "Well done! I must say I am surprised to see you still standing. I see though, that you have kept up with your fencing. No matter." The captain closed his eyes and whispered a few words. A sword appeared in his hand and he began to pace slowly towards the general. The blade came up and slashed down, the motion forming a wave of energy that scythed through the air towards his opponent.
The general deftly dodged the blast and brought his blade up to deflect another sent his way, "Beryl taught you a couple of her parlor tricks I see."
"She taught me more than that." The air seemed to whip around the captain for a moment and an eerie glow surrounded him. And just like that, he disappeared.
Sensing a trick, the general scanned the horizon, trying to pick out any strangeness with the surroundings. Suddenly, his senses began to peak and he flung himself backwards, barely dodging a skewering slash to his head. Rolling, he came up in an instantly defensible stance. This time, he closed his eyes, trusting his instincts more than his sight.
Another of the energy blasts appeared and the general moved to deflect it up to the sky. Then, he whirled around, bringing his blade to clash with that of his now visible opponent. In a quick move, the general snaked his foot out and tripped the captain, dumping him onto his back. He brought the blade down in a killing slash, but the captain had disappeared again.
He sensed the attack coming from behind and pointed his hand towards the onrushing captain, whispering softly, "Maelstrom."
Luminiscent blue flames erupted from his finger tips, spilling over the unfortunate captain almost like liquid. The captain screamed in pain, beating himself frantically to put out the clinging fire, but to no avail. The fire was an unnatural conflagration, formed from the unholy power of phantoms and spirits, grasping at the very tendrils of one's soul. Like all magicks, a two edged sword which both empowered and exhausted, swaying its user towards misuse.
The general closed his hand and breathed in deeply. The licking flames slowly died away, leaving a charred, but still alive captain twitching on the floor. He turned slowly and took two paced to stare down at the burned and battered soldier.
"How did you...You can't-"
"Use magic?" Jadeite smiled briefly at the pathetic creature, "I assure you it was not easy to learn. But, it is amazingly useful, if tempting. And temptation is what has brought you here today."
The general lifted his blade, holding it like he would a dagger. He hesitated for a moment, "I apologize for any discomfort you might feel."
He stabbed the blade down, muffling the captain's scream of terror with a muted clack as the sword drove itself into the stone below. "Thus die all traitors."
The sound of clapping filled the room and Jadeite looked up to see a beautiful woman in an evening gown step in. His heart froze and for the first time, fear managed to work itself onto his features. The woman called out, "Congratulations, Jadeite. I'm glad to see that you survived."
"The feeling is not mutual. Is this how you decide to deal with me? A powerless lackey and a company of troops. I'd like to think you have more respect for me."
"Oh, I do. I really do. In fact, I actually had specific orders for him not to attack you. I see that he did not follow them too well. I didn't like him anyway."
Beryl smiled winningly, a smile with which she had charmed away half the Royal Army, "Come now Jadeite. Put the sword down, so that we can talk. We are friends after all."
"I am no friend to a traitor of my Prince."
She frowned, "Jadeite, it saddens me that you are so fanatical about devotion to Endymion. I don't want to hurt him after all."
Sarcastically, "Really now. You have led a revolution against him, using his own armies to attack his people. You have raped and pillaged the countryside, slaughtered those loyal to him, and have sent armed troops into his palace to take him as a prisoner for your twisted ends. Call me old fashioned, but I think that constitutes harm."
"Jadeite, I am not a traitor. I am merely acting in the best interests of the dominion."
"You certainly have a funny way of showing it."
"Then how can I prove it to you?"
"By turning around, marching your forces out of here and leaving us in peace."
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. Endymion is mine. Move aside."
He did not budge, "Endymion is the property of himself and whoever he chooses to give himself to. Last I checked you were not on the list."
Her eyes flashed in anger, "How can you condone what he has done? He has run off with that Moon slut!"
"It is a matter of the heart. You can either accept it and leave or try to get past me yourself."
Beryl smiled predatorily, a clear departure from the geniality of before, "Jadeite, my friend, you are making a very huge mistake."
She began to draw power around herself, calling upon her vast resources of magicks for the coming battle.
Jadeite's eyes betrayed a little bit more fear, but he pushed it away with a warrior's training. Gulping softly, he intoned, "I am ready."
I sat bolt upright, sweat drenching my shirt. I gasped for air until my eyes focused on the room around me and I realized that I could breathe again. I lifted a shaking hand to my now spiky hair. No matter how I tried, I could not make them stop.
A concerned voice from my side sounded it my ear and my raven haired angel slipped her arm around me, "Ryan, what's wrong?"
I did not answer immediately, reliving every agonizing moment,
right until my defeat at her hands. My hands opened and closed reflexively trying to grasp the useless blade again.
She repeated her question, "Ryan, what's wrong? Please tell me."
"No-nothing, Rei-chan." I lay back down, trying to reassure her with my actions.
Quietly, "That is obviously not the case."
She felt my forehead and then recoiled slightly, "You're clammy, sweating."
"Please, Rei-chan...."
"Shut up." She snuggled near me, sharing her body warmth with me, "You were having a nightmare, weren't you?"
"Yes, Rei-chan." 'Worse than you could possibly imagine'
"What about?"
I closed my eyes, "I can't tell you. Not yet."
"Please, Ryan," Rei leaned forward to let her lips brush against mine, "They won't go away unless you talk about them."
"Not yet, not yet, not yet...." I curled into fetal position, exhausted from the assault. She spoke no more, merely holding me until I fell into broken sleep.