To Break the Chain
Kohari: Yes, chains of friendship have been broken in this little ficcy of mine. That's why it's called "To Break the Chain." I still don't have anyone asking to be in this fic or offering characters. --sarcastically-- Don't everyone e-mail/review at once. --normal--Anyway, here's chapter 4.
Chapter 4 (Kohari POV. Flashback)
We were running through the woods, laughing like never before, not caring that the forest was crawling with ticks, fleas, and God only knows what else. There's nothing better than being eight years old, and playing tag with your best friend.
Eventually, I ran out of breath, and Dmitri and I stopped for a break beside a brook. I sat on a huge rock out of splashing range while he stuck his head in the water, washing off the sweat that he had worked up that morning. He dried his face with a towel that we always left there (it was our secret hiding spot), and approached me as he wiped the cool, clear water off.
"Dmitri," I call his name lightly, my voice high. I always hated my voice. When I spoke, it was more of a squeak. He hung the towel up on a tree nearby and sat on the rock beside me. His green-colored hair was even darker now because he had drenched his whole head in the brook, and it was dripping water all over the place. The earth quickly absorbed it, quite thirsty, apparently.
"What?" He asked. I had always admired him. He was so brave. And smart. Strong, too. He was a half a year older than me, but that meant that he was even wiser in the ways of the world. At least, by 6 months, anyway.
"We'll always be friends, right?" I sounded so innocent. But I was asking truthfully. He was my best friend. One of the few I had. I didn't want anything to come between us. I wanted us to be together forever.
"Of course," he answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Why would you ask something like that?" His gorgeous, luminous amber eyes locked with mine for a second before I turned away, ashamed I had even thought something that horrible.
"I dunno. It's just..." I turned to him, blurting everything out, looking him once again in the eyes. "What if something happens, huh? There have been more and more people visiting the village, and with that, there has been a lot more crime. That's what mommy says. What if something happens to me? I'm not a fighter like you."
"Nothing will happen. I won't let anything happen to you." He pulls me into a hug. "I'm gonna protect you with my life, Ko."
I pulled away from him for a moment, checking his expression to make sure he wasn't lying. "You'd do that for me?"
"That's what friends are for, right?" he laughed. "Neither of us'll be left behind. We're sorta like family."
"Family," I repeated, smiling. That sounded just about right.
Over the years, we were sort of a family. Todd, Jacob, and Mina were, too. We all watched each other's backs. Dmitri started a gang, the Blitz, to help protect our righteous home, with me at his side. T, J, and M were quick to follow into it, and pretty soon, plenty of kids had dedicated themselves into our "family." And that's what we were.
Six and a half years passed. Trials threatened to break up our group, but we were strong. I still hadn't become the ultimate warrior, but good enough to defend myself should Dmitri not be there to protect me. I knew, deep down, that one day, I'd be placed in a situation where I'd have to save myself. And I convinced to train me in self-defense. I was one of the best in the Blitz. There was romance between Jacob and Mina. I suspected there was something between Dmitri and myself as well. I'd be my happiest with him, not that that was any different than ever. We'd hang out by ourselves a lot. Sometimes, he'd lift me into our special tree, onto one of the lower branches, and we'd watch the sunset together. Together. Just like always. And that's the way we thought it would forever be. Us. Together.
That all changed when Hiei showed up. He had destroyed countless cities. We were a village who protected ourselves with the policy of isolation. It had slowly been weakening over time, allowing loopholes, and more people came. The tourists stopped altogether after the attacks, as we called them. Eventually, some time passed, with no word of an ambush. Maybe someone had defeated the apparition, and the world could be at peace again. We were wrong.
He found us. The village was in ruins in no time, pride tearing us apart because he had had only a few soldiers with him. Soldiers we had thought our allies. The Blitz had been easily defeated, much to our surprise, anger, and dismay. A few of us were left standing, and found ourselves on the main street. The market street.
Flames covered the city, and no one was screaming anymore. They were all gone. Some lucky people had managed to escape, only to be apprehended by Hiei and made to pay for their mistakes later. Many had been shown no mercy and were murdered on the spot.
Todd lay where he had fallen, unconscious, at the wall of the bakery he had been thrown at, paint, and pieces of brick surrounding him, parted from the wall. He hadn't managed to avoid a few blood-stains. But we knew he'd survive. Jacob and Mina were in an alley, dead, Mina in Jacobs arms. Tears had mingled with other colors that had been flung on their clothes, staining their shirts, and pants. There were more than a few cuts and bruises. And more serious things.
Dmitri and Hiei stood facing each other, about ten yards apart. They were going to face off. Dmitri stood in front of me, determined that no one should lay a hand against me. I caught a glimpse of our enemy. He was quite good-looking. How can someone that hot be so cruel and heartless? I shook off all those thoughts. I was in love with Dmitri.
"Go! Run, Kohari!" Dmitri yelled at me, sweat and blood coating his face and body. He flung his hand out so that it was between me and that evil assassin. I tried, looking on in fear as Dmitri drew his sword, and Hiei his. I tried to run, but my feelings for Dmitri hindered me from going more than to the end of the street, almost to the gates. I was scared that Dmitri would fail. I wished desperately that he would succeed. I could run no farther, and watched as the two battled it out.
Dmitri fought valiantly, but after taking on the soldiers, he was exhausted, and couldn't block Hiei's blade with his own for very long. I couldn't turn my eyes away as Hiei dug his sword into my best friend in the entire world.
I sunk to my knees, tears threatening to flood from my eyes, terrified that Hiei would come after me next. I was paralyzed. I couldn't move away as he drew closer to me, Dmitri's blood dripping fom the sword. He stood a foot in front of me, and I had my arm covering my face, dreading what would happen next. I could see him grinning at me, eager for the kill, weapon poised, pointing right at me. I shut my eyes, not wanting to see how he was going to finish me.
No attack came. I heard a metallic click of his sword being sheathed. I opened my eyes again, curious. "You're not worth it," he growled at me. "Run. Get out of my sight before I change my mind."
I nodded, and took this opportunity to get out of that danger zone. Everyone knew that Hiei had a vivid bloodlust, and when he gave you a chance to escape, you took it. He enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, you could say.
I returned shortly afterward, and the village was practically nothing. Dmitri lay on his side on the ground, face down, on his arm. The soldiers were gone. Of course. They never hung around long after terrorizing a place. I ran to my leader, taking him in my arms, back against my stomach, laying him on my lap. I turned his face to look at me, and his eyes were shut. I cried. I had never cried in my life. Not even when my kitty died. Never. I poured out all the tears I had stored inside me. He was gone, never to return.
Todd approached me, clutching his side, badly hurt. He knelt down beside me, and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Oh, Todd!" I sobbed, and buried my face in his chest, hugging him for dear life. DM (his nickname) stayed on my lap. He had said that he'd protect me with his life. And he had done it.
It turned out that a lot of the Blitz had survived. We took it upon ourselves to clean up the town and bury the dead. Since that incident in the street, I hadn't touched my buddy's body. I couldn't. And I couldn't bring myself to touch anyone else's.
We left soon after that. All of us. Hiei was one to do a job thoroughly. He would return, and we all knew it. The Blitz vowed to take down that bastard. We followed a trail of trashed cities, picking up a few helpers along the way. Todd had taken it upon himself to do what Dmitri had sworn to do. Protect me. He took it a little too seriously. I couldn't go anywhere by myself, except to bathe, and even then he kept watch to make sure nothing happened (he didn't look).
One day, a woman with strangely-colored hair met up with us while we were pulling a clean-up crew on some of Hiei's thugs, a few days after Hiei's disappearance. I would knock them out and leave the easy part to the others. I couldn't kill them. I just couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to take the life of another. The others understood. We were family, and they forced me to do nothing, never criticising that I was their new leader, alongside Todd.
At the village, at Dmitri and my favorite hiding place, there was a white towel, hung to a special tree, tear-stained, and my handprint, in Dmitri's blood. A symbol that we were friends, together, forever.
Kohari: Oh, how sad. Anyway, review for me! And character spots are still open! Byes!
Kohari: Yes, chains of friendship have been broken in this little ficcy of mine. That's why it's called "To Break the Chain." I still don't have anyone asking to be in this fic or offering characters. --sarcastically-- Don't everyone e-mail/review at once. --normal--Anyway, here's chapter 4.
Chapter 4 (Kohari POV. Flashback)
We were running through the woods, laughing like never before, not caring that the forest was crawling with ticks, fleas, and God only knows what else. There's nothing better than being eight years old, and playing tag with your best friend.
Eventually, I ran out of breath, and Dmitri and I stopped for a break beside a brook. I sat on a huge rock out of splashing range while he stuck his head in the water, washing off the sweat that he had worked up that morning. He dried his face with a towel that we always left there (it was our secret hiding spot), and approached me as he wiped the cool, clear water off.
"Dmitri," I call his name lightly, my voice high. I always hated my voice. When I spoke, it was more of a squeak. He hung the towel up on a tree nearby and sat on the rock beside me. His green-colored hair was even darker now because he had drenched his whole head in the brook, and it was dripping water all over the place. The earth quickly absorbed it, quite thirsty, apparently.
"What?" He asked. I had always admired him. He was so brave. And smart. Strong, too. He was a half a year older than me, but that meant that he was even wiser in the ways of the world. At least, by 6 months, anyway.
"We'll always be friends, right?" I sounded so innocent. But I was asking truthfully. He was my best friend. One of the few I had. I didn't want anything to come between us. I wanted us to be together forever.
"Of course," he answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Why would you ask something like that?" His gorgeous, luminous amber eyes locked with mine for a second before I turned away, ashamed I had even thought something that horrible.
"I dunno. It's just..." I turned to him, blurting everything out, looking him once again in the eyes. "What if something happens, huh? There have been more and more people visiting the village, and with that, there has been a lot more crime. That's what mommy says. What if something happens to me? I'm not a fighter like you."
"Nothing will happen. I won't let anything happen to you." He pulls me into a hug. "I'm gonna protect you with my life, Ko."
I pulled away from him for a moment, checking his expression to make sure he wasn't lying. "You'd do that for me?"
"That's what friends are for, right?" he laughed. "Neither of us'll be left behind. We're sorta like family."
"Family," I repeated, smiling. That sounded just about right.
Over the years, we were sort of a family. Todd, Jacob, and Mina were, too. We all watched each other's backs. Dmitri started a gang, the Blitz, to help protect our righteous home, with me at his side. T, J, and M were quick to follow into it, and pretty soon, plenty of kids had dedicated themselves into our "family." And that's what we were.
Six and a half years passed. Trials threatened to break up our group, but we were strong. I still hadn't become the ultimate warrior, but good enough to defend myself should Dmitri not be there to protect me. I knew, deep down, that one day, I'd be placed in a situation where I'd have to save myself. And I convinced to train me in self-defense. I was one of the best in the Blitz. There was romance between Jacob and Mina. I suspected there was something between Dmitri and myself as well. I'd be my happiest with him, not that that was any different than ever. We'd hang out by ourselves a lot. Sometimes, he'd lift me into our special tree, onto one of the lower branches, and we'd watch the sunset together. Together. Just like always. And that's the way we thought it would forever be. Us. Together.
That all changed when Hiei showed up. He had destroyed countless cities. We were a village who protected ourselves with the policy of isolation. It had slowly been weakening over time, allowing loopholes, and more people came. The tourists stopped altogether after the attacks, as we called them. Eventually, some time passed, with no word of an ambush. Maybe someone had defeated the apparition, and the world could be at peace again. We were wrong.
He found us. The village was in ruins in no time, pride tearing us apart because he had had only a few soldiers with him. Soldiers we had thought our allies. The Blitz had been easily defeated, much to our surprise, anger, and dismay. A few of us were left standing, and found ourselves on the main street. The market street.
Flames covered the city, and no one was screaming anymore. They were all gone. Some lucky people had managed to escape, only to be apprehended by Hiei and made to pay for their mistakes later. Many had been shown no mercy and were murdered on the spot.
Todd lay where he had fallen, unconscious, at the wall of the bakery he had been thrown at, paint, and pieces of brick surrounding him, parted from the wall. He hadn't managed to avoid a few blood-stains. But we knew he'd survive. Jacob and Mina were in an alley, dead, Mina in Jacobs arms. Tears had mingled with other colors that had been flung on their clothes, staining their shirts, and pants. There were more than a few cuts and bruises. And more serious things.
Dmitri and Hiei stood facing each other, about ten yards apart. They were going to face off. Dmitri stood in front of me, determined that no one should lay a hand against me. I caught a glimpse of our enemy. He was quite good-looking. How can someone that hot be so cruel and heartless? I shook off all those thoughts. I was in love with Dmitri.
"Go! Run, Kohari!" Dmitri yelled at me, sweat and blood coating his face and body. He flung his hand out so that it was between me and that evil assassin. I tried, looking on in fear as Dmitri drew his sword, and Hiei his. I tried to run, but my feelings for Dmitri hindered me from going more than to the end of the street, almost to the gates. I was scared that Dmitri would fail. I wished desperately that he would succeed. I could run no farther, and watched as the two battled it out.
Dmitri fought valiantly, but after taking on the soldiers, he was exhausted, and couldn't block Hiei's blade with his own for very long. I couldn't turn my eyes away as Hiei dug his sword into my best friend in the entire world.
I sunk to my knees, tears threatening to flood from my eyes, terrified that Hiei would come after me next. I was paralyzed. I couldn't move away as he drew closer to me, Dmitri's blood dripping fom the sword. He stood a foot in front of me, and I had my arm covering my face, dreading what would happen next. I could see him grinning at me, eager for the kill, weapon poised, pointing right at me. I shut my eyes, not wanting to see how he was going to finish me.
No attack came. I heard a metallic click of his sword being sheathed. I opened my eyes again, curious. "You're not worth it," he growled at me. "Run. Get out of my sight before I change my mind."
I nodded, and took this opportunity to get out of that danger zone. Everyone knew that Hiei had a vivid bloodlust, and when he gave you a chance to escape, you took it. He enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, you could say.
I returned shortly afterward, and the village was practically nothing. Dmitri lay on his side on the ground, face down, on his arm. The soldiers were gone. Of course. They never hung around long after terrorizing a place. I ran to my leader, taking him in my arms, back against my stomach, laying him on my lap. I turned his face to look at me, and his eyes were shut. I cried. I had never cried in my life. Not even when my kitty died. Never. I poured out all the tears I had stored inside me. He was gone, never to return.
Todd approached me, clutching his side, badly hurt. He knelt down beside me, and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Oh, Todd!" I sobbed, and buried my face in his chest, hugging him for dear life. DM (his nickname) stayed on my lap. He had said that he'd protect me with his life. And he had done it.
It turned out that a lot of the Blitz had survived. We took it upon ourselves to clean up the town and bury the dead. Since that incident in the street, I hadn't touched my buddy's body. I couldn't. And I couldn't bring myself to touch anyone else's.
We left soon after that. All of us. Hiei was one to do a job thoroughly. He would return, and we all knew it. The Blitz vowed to take down that bastard. We followed a trail of trashed cities, picking up a few helpers along the way. Todd had taken it upon himself to do what Dmitri had sworn to do. Protect me. He took it a little too seriously. I couldn't go anywhere by myself, except to bathe, and even then he kept watch to make sure nothing happened (he didn't look).
One day, a woman with strangely-colored hair met up with us while we were pulling a clean-up crew on some of Hiei's thugs, a few days after Hiei's disappearance. I would knock them out and leave the easy part to the others. I couldn't kill them. I just couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to take the life of another. The others understood. We were family, and they forced me to do nothing, never criticising that I was their new leader, alongside Todd.
At the village, at Dmitri and my favorite hiding place, there was a white towel, hung to a special tree, tear-stained, and my handprint, in Dmitri's blood. A symbol that we were friends, together, forever.
Kohari: Oh, how sad. Anyway, review for me! And character spots are still open! Byes!