.- Return to Innocence -.
-. Truculent .-
DISCLAIMER- Me no own Shadow Hearts and characters. I no comprehend.
Just a warning, Alice becomes violent!
And... well, this is the crappiest chapter ever. -.-
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I'm not about to stop until I'm dead.
Yeah, come on,
I'm not about to stop until I'm gone.- Die Trying, Die Trying
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Restoring peace to this village sure isn't going to be so easy. If these hell cats and zombies keep appearing, I don't think I could tolerate such a task.
And well I had a question, probably one that no one would know the truth of. Perhaps, Zhuzhen might know. Should I dare to ask? I think I should..
Me, Yuri, and the Master Zhuzhen began our walk to the cavern which ensconced the miniature shrine to the Yamaraja. I stopped my prints causing them to look at me with concern.
"Hey, what's botherin' you this time?" Yuri asked checking his inside coat pocket for the Thera and Pure leaves.
"Well, you're right, something has been bothering me... Just who is this "person" that's supposed to be controlling Yamaraja? Master, do you have a clue?"
Zhuzhen placed his hand on his chin, "Hmm, he probably thought that if the Black Tortoise was here, it would with stand in the way of his evil plans. He must of used the animal souls to seal it, which is just a small votive picture. Quite sad."
My stomach started to ache, no one would be so sinister to do something such as this. Roger, was it you? Did you bring such sorrow and grief to this humble little town?
How could you..?
Why would you want to bring back the animals hate in the first place? Could you of known I was adventuring here?
"Was.. It a man named Roger Bacon?"
Yuri looked at me with curiosity.
"Roger Bacon?"
My face was full of anxiousness and I gulped and brushed my bangs back.
"He was the warlock that tried to carry me off on that train."
"You two know Roger Bacon?!" The Master Zhuzhen looked astonished, adjusting his spectacle intently.
Zhuzhen knows him as well..? How can that be? Well, he did travel the world, he must of had some sort of information on this man. Or..
Could it be fate?
What sort of fate and connection brought us here tonight?
"Is he really that famous?" Yuri inquired, glancing at the dwarf man with a curious eye.
"Hmm, if Roger Bacon has appeared... Then there can be.. No doubt."
"I was captured by the Japanese in Changchun, and was being escorted to Fengtian on a special train. Bacon killed the Japanese soldiers and tried to abduct me."
Yuri gave a small chuckle and put a hand on my shoulder. "But of course I came in gallantly and picked him off like a helpless rabbit!"
Zhuzhen looked confused. "Picked exactly who off..?"
Yuri gave a huge proud grin. "Roger Bacon!"
The Adept started to burst out in laughter, his head tottering back.
"Roger Bacon? You actually think you killed him? Sorry young man, but that's quite impossible. He's not likely to succumb to you, no matter how hard you fight."
Yuri lowered his head and kicked a small twig in defeat. "Hmph, well thanks a lot, Zhuzhen!"
What Zhuzhen said about it being impractical, I doubt it. I really believe there is a way. There has to be. How could there been a human in existence without a weakness? It's possible to kill a fly with the right repellent, right?
"Now, now don't get all hot under the collar. I know you're strong, kid. Hmm.. But here's what I think. I'm sure it wasn't Roger who used the local spirits, but I highly don't doubt that he's involved somehow in this case."
"Who else could it be, Master? This certainly looks to be Roger's hand at work."
My brows formed a scowl when Zhuzhen said Roger couldn't have done this by himself. So there are more warlocks and witches like Roger?
This doesn't sound too good, it's too much like a storybook were evil tries to gain control of the world. Whereas I was in the real world, not some dumb fairy tale.
At length a noisy moan came from the side of Granny mayors dusty shambles. I saw a small form crawling towards us painfully. The granny? But wasn't she that cat demon?
"You'll never understand the pain of giving birth only to have them devoured.." She reached out as if to pull herself up but failed as her head sunk deeper in the bloody earth.
I lowered to her height, she smelled horribly of death, it made my nose twinge in disgust.
"I understand how you feel, those horrible humans sacrificed all your worth... And you were brought back to this world against your will only to be killed once more. Here, let me help you back to your place, I may even be able to bring you to the celestial world." I whispered, looking through the pages of my book.
She quickly lashed out at me, making me jump back aghast. "Wha...?"
"I won't accept pity from you, girl! Oh.. Yamaraja... I leave everything in your hands.."
She slowly but unshakably faded into blackened ash, it blew in the wind leaving nothing left on the solid ground.
"I... don't understand. Why? Why?! Why wouldn't she let me..?" I buried my face in my hands and took a deep breath.
"Oh Alice, c'mon, why would you care about an old hag like that? She was already about to croak."
"Yuri.."
"A true Demon Eyes girl, you are." Zhuzhen stepped up, interrupting my sentence. "But here in China, your powers tag you as a demon."
"A demon..?"
"Well of course, your powers are supernatural, an unknown phenomenon. But you better be on your guard, there are people out there that would use your powers and then... Kill you."
Roger Bacon, this is why you wanted me? It all makes sense now, using my six sense ability to make your own masteries more successful.
I will never let you lay a finger on me, I'd be sure to kill myself before you take me in your custody.
"Kill.. me, Master Zhuzhen..?" It was barely a whisper but I'm sure he heard, he was about to open his mouth when Yuri butted in.
"Hey, old man! Keep your ominous fortune-telling to yourself!"
"You too, kid. Like I said earlier about your fusion, it surely is a double edged sword. If your heart becomes enclosed in darkness and your powers run wild, you'll be a threat and danger to everyone."
Zhuzhen must always have his ways of scaring us, doesn't he?
"Oh yeah right, gimme a break. I can cover my own ass, thank you."
"Heh, I suppose your father taught you how..?"
Yuri had quite a puzzled expression on his face, I can tell you. But I was just about as clue less as he was.
This Zhuzhen fellow just gets weirder and weirder, how can we know he's not just a harebrained old man that's making this crap up?
"Ha ha, forget it, kid. Let's get going to that shrine and recover this place." He tapped his staff in the ground and moved on ahead cheerfully.
"How could anyone act so merry at a time like this..?" I shook my head and followed him heedfully.
"Hey, why do you always leave me!?" Yuri caught up as I crawled after Zhuzhen in the narrow cavern.
I was hoping not to come back but I'd do anything to rescue the less fortunate beasts.
Me, strong willed? Nah..
I stepped over the bones cautiously, kicking a leg bone gently out of my way, not to trip. I touched the wood of the small shrine softly, feeling all the hatred locked up in it's hollow.
"It's filled with vengeance, everyone be careful."
"You ready?" Yuri stepped in front of me almost as if protecting me from the shrines ill aura I sensed.
"Of course I am!" I looked back at him with a face showing how silly his question was.
Zhuzhen smacked the shrine swiftly with his old staff, it broke down in debris, as if it knew that we were coming to take over and restore the bugbeared filled location.
The cavern began to rumble and quake, rubble falling from the tops, making crackling noises. I gasped when I suddenly saw the rocks pile up the entry way, leaving no exit for us to escape.
Zhuzhen held his staff securely, looking more as if he was only about to defend himself then actually fight. Yuri gripped my shoulder tightly, I thought as it were about to snap off my body.
I shrugged him off irritated and stared at the light coming from the shrine, getting brighter and brighter.
It slowed as a large figure emerged from the once blinding light. So it was Yamaraja, the God of the harvest, or so I learned. It wore a crown fit for a king and staff five times the size of Adept Zhuzhens. Its piercing white eyes glowed around the room leaving a forecasting shadow on the wall.
I felt my legs grow weak, my face feeling pale as ever as it turned its eye to me, the whiteness boring its way into my very soul, showing how it took advantage of everything, a God of mass destruction and chaos.
I furrowed my brow and raised my book slightly, knowing my idle threat would have no use to this immense God, but... I was prepared.
Ready to save the lives of the people who once roamed the village, and the animals with their lives at stake. Saving them would be a great accomplishment.
The God growled a deep groan at the three of us wishing for a challenge, slamming its massive staff into the ground, dust scattering, leaving an indented imprint in the soil.
"Hah! Bring it on."
Yuri rushed over to the huge Yamaraja, kicking it in its hard stomach leaving no effect. Enraged with the foolish attempt, it whacked Yuri back with its large staff.
"Yuri!" I called out in daunt, as I saw him slam against the wall sliding down it like a slug. He laid spiritless against it, his eyes were closed, as if he were sleeping soundly and peacefully. It almost looked, well.. Cute.
Fainting like a girl, eh?
My eyes widened in terror and shock. The God is this powerful? If Yuri can't take it on.. How could I conceivably..? A frown lurked its way on my face.
"Master, Please help Yuri!" I quickly grabbed the Talisman of Luck out of my sheep skin book, remembering what Yuri told me it was used for, 'When yer ass gets kicked.'
I hurriedly prodded it into the old man's bony hands, an understanding look on his aged face.
"But Alice, you aren't possibly..?"
"I am, you just stay there with Yuri, please. I can do this.. Really I can."
Not wanting to argue with me, Zhuzhen lowered his head looking at the Talisman and then at Yuri.
In any case, I trudged over to the angered God, a pang of fear filled my heart as it looked at me, emotionless.
"You! Leave my friends alone! Leave them out of this, I'll defeat you on my own! I won't let you get away with what you've done, no matter what the cost."
Its blank stare didn't even move an inch, as it stepped forward accepting my blunt contest.
Okay.. Here I go.
Father, give me strength.
Without a second thought at top speed, it slashed at me with its powerful staff, not giving me a chance at to make my move.
Dodging the attack, I rolled over to the back side of the Earth Yamaraja, I kicked it in the back as I flipped myself up. The God huffed, provoked at my action and out of the blue back handed me with the end of its weapon.
I tumbled into the stack of bones in the far left corner, my stomach in agony from the attack, and my back aching from the crash.
I'm use to this pain...
Thanks to you, Mother.
I ducked another swift assault rolling to the other side of cavern. I gave a quick glance towards the entrance. Yuri was leaning on Zhuzhen, looking half asleep, or as you would put it, half dead.
He can't fight.
Crap, I guess I really do have to do this on my own..
Well, in any case, a huge hydraulic splash knocked me to my knees unexpectedly.
Coughing and spitting out the water, I stood up soaking wet, the pages of my Bible turned into thin soggy paper. The Yamaraja used a spell on me, but during that time, I had no idea what it was.
How lame... It's just water.
I learned later it was called whirlpool, It surely didn't have much control, it had no effect on me but getting me drenched to my bones.
Angered, I threw my Bible as high as I could with a small grunt, water flicking in all directions from my moving body. My aim was perfect, in fact I hit the God smack dab in the face with it.
The entity closed its blazing eyes and brought a hand to its face, blindly swishing its staff, trying to find me, the culprit.
How will I retrieve my Bible? It was lost in the pile of bones behind the God of harvest. No use thinking about how now, defeating Yamaraja is my main priority.
I ran towards the spirit in its sightless state and started pounding it with my fists violently and rapidly.
It started to laugh in a rapacious boom and belted me in the back with its heavy iron staff. But I didn't give up, I kept hammering the God even when I heard my bones beginning to crack, the more pain I received the harder I hit.
"Alice! You'll for certain bring only death to yourself!" I heard Zhuzhens worried yell, but I couldn't turn back, not now.
The creature suddenly picked me up by my right arm, the bandanna sliding off it.
Which means my very little protection was gone. Startled, and feeling as if my whole body would tear off of my arm as I dangled high in the air, I started to kick wildly at its chest with the heels of my shoes.
It rose its staff in the mid air and struck me twice in the stomach, feeling the blood raise into my mouth and dribble down the side of my face I didn't have any thoughts on giving up, I kept ramming it in the chest anyway.
It got irritated at my futile stormy actions and soon threw me with a mighty force making my back hit the wall, affecting a loud crunching sound. I slid down it and fell to the floor like a little abandoned doll.
Stumbling to get myself up with my hands and my face to the side, I began to cough up blood feverishly.
I have to get up. I'm not giving everything away.
No matter how much I bleed and break, I intend to kill it, which means I'd be killing myself in the process.
My back must of been broken, I couldn't even move my upper body any longer, my stomach held a sharp unbearable hurt, I winced as I just resided there, trying to move wasn't going to help much.
Am I... really going to die?
I can't cease yet, I haven't even helped the spirits.
I'm worthless.
My eyes started to close and I felt blackness soon envelope me. I heard someone curse, striking the demon with a staff, as well as chanting Chinese to cast spells, kicks and punches too. Yuri and Zhuzhen? It has to be.
How embarrassing, Yuri must of saw the whole thing, seeing me fail at the double.
Someone then shook me, as I heard blasts of fire, water, and aggressions in the distance. Ache contracted in all parts of my body from the sudden impact.
I groaned and tried to turn away but of course I couldn't, I was all battered up and fading leisurely.
"Alice!? Alice, are you still there?"
I'm sorry, Yuri.
I wish I could of gotten to know you better.
I gave out a soft moan, for I couldn't talk, it would take too much out of me.
"Alice, you're still alive..? Shit."
I felt him hold my broken body, but my world was gradually slipping away, everything was spinning around and darkening more and more.
"Pops, do something! Alice is dying! God damn it, do something!!"
"Hold your horses, kid!" I heard tiny footsteps dashing to approach me. Soon after, I felt something soft touch my forehead, a bright bustling light enter my head, piling me with memories I wanted to forget.
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"Mother, it's me! Your daughter, Alice."
"I have no daughter, demon!"
"Stop it! Stop it please! It's Alice!"
"You're are nothing but the Devil in disguise! Planning to take my soul, were you?!"
"Mother!!"
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Mortified from the remembrances, my eyes shot open.
Do I want to go back home..?
The pang was hardly there, my back pained but it surely wasn't broken. My vision was a bit foggy but I could see quite well, I looked up to see Yuri, who was still holding me, give a smirk. Zhuzhen wiped his forehead with relief.
"Who would have thought I would have another Talisman of Luck tucked away in my shirt. Oh ho, the Gods must be with us."
"Where's Yamaraja..?" I said weakly trying to get out of Yuris hold but failed miserably.
"Don't overwork yourself just yet, Alice. The Talisman of Luck only has enough power to bring you from the dead and heal broken bones. Sorry 'bout them bruises." Zhuzhen must of thought he made quite a joke, and gave a small chuckle after his own statement.
...Ha.. Ha.
I glanced from the corner of my eye to see the Yamaraja face up on the ground stiff as a board.
"The bastard finally went down after I used a lighting spell." The Adept shook his head. "You took up quite a fury out there, missy. And unarmed too, quite impressive."
"Yeah, well that's Alice for ya. I learned from the start she was a bit neurotic. You should of seen her beating on Roger Bacon, squawking like a injured parrot. The chick's crazy."
Zhuzhen gave a bellowing laugh from Yuri's declaration and in all likelihood from the look of my face, I couldn't do a single thing but I was probably as red as a beet.
"Well now, I suppose we should get going. The gate should be open now." Zhuzhen started to crawl through the passage way which was surprisingly, not covered by the rocks. They have completely disappeared.
"Dunno how pops did it, but it sure was a freakin' miracle. You were as dead as a doorbell before." Yuri stood up still holding me, knowing I was still too feeble and brittle to move on my own.
"Gee, thanks. That's always nice to hear." I said sarcastically.
Yuri looked as if he were about to say something next when suddenly the Yamaraja stood to its full height eyeing us with a menacing stare.
"What the hell, we killed you, what're you doin' standing all proud? Or are you tellin' me you want an encore?"
The God gave a wicked smile and lifted it arms, its body looking as if it was melting. Then by leaps and bounds, it exploded into bursting flames. The wind blew our clothes and hair fiercely, fire spreading speedily.
Just like a harvest being destroyed..
"Oh shit!" Yuri cursed looking around frantically for the exit.
"Hurry, we have to get out of here!" I cried out, coughing from the heavy dark smoke.
Yuri dashed towards the exit managing to crawl out with me in his arms, as we both came face to face with the entire village covered in flames.
Zhuzhen was standing near the well and motioned for Yuri to follow him and he did, evading the tiles of roofs and shambles of housing falling from the sky, making me sick in the process of bouncing up and down in his arms.
We finally approached the gate. Which itself was also breaking apart. The small stout man named Meiyuan whom I met earlier was biting his nails like crazy until he saw Zhuzhen, which made him jump up with joy.
"Speed up, everyone! Let's scadaddle!" He squeaked as he ran to the plains, his hands flapping about in a motion which I usually ran in.
How... Adorable?
Meiyuan and Zhuzhen nabbed to each other in Chinese while Yuri was kneeling in the grass panting, still gripping me.
"Phew, what an adventure."
"I would of never thought the Yamaraja would just.. suddenly burst forth." I pondered aloud.
"Yeah? Well maybe that's just the beauty of Gods."
I gave a small chuckle as I watched the flames burn down the once afflicted town with ease.
"Hmm, I suppose. Rest in peace.."
But at any rate, I felt empty somehow. Something was missing.. Then I remembered. My Bible... it was still the cavern after I threw it. How could I have been so stupid?
"Yuri, Yuri! Let me go, please! My Bible... My Bible is still in there!!" I all of a sudden hove and squealed struggling in his arms.
"Whoa now, babe. You think I'm gonna let you drag your way back in there and get all crispy for a dumb ol' book?"
"You don't understand! That was a gift from my father! I have to go back and get it!" Tears started to well in my eyes, "That's the only thing left for me.." I sobbed heavily holding my hands to my face.
"C'mon Alice, don't make yourself look like an idiot, weeping over something asinine like that."
"You know nothing about it, you jerk!"
"I mean, your dad'll always be in your heart, right..?" I looked down to the ground, the grass blowing willingly in the wind.
"Right?" He said again, expecting me to answer.
"... Well yes. But he gave that to me ten years ago and I had it by my side ever since, and now.. now it's probably nothing more but a pile of ash."
I left the tears fall freely, feeling more childish at my assertion.
"Forget about that crap, why would you need a object by your side all the time to remember him if he's in your heart? You don't need that stupid thing. Trust me."
How could Yuri know about all this tomfoolery? I bet he still had a benignant secure father, and.. well, a mother that actually cares and loves him. I could probably say with this thought that I envied him greatly.
Why couldn't my father still be living and breathing today? Why couldn't my mother treat me with the utmost respect I deserved?
And the poor little boy I saw in my vision... he would probably envy Yuri more then I could ever imagine.
Losing both parents at the same time... I don't think he could even be alive today. He probably killed himself off just to be with them.
But for some reason, Yuris words always stayed with me, even to this day. It was the reason I didn't even bother to strain out of his hold and race in the village heroically for my beloved Bible.
And I later learned why he said it. But for now, all I did was gaze off endlessly at the embers embarking in the sky like small delicate fireworks.
I yawned lightly and soon found myself in a deep slumber.
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Phew! I did it. The lamest chapter ever. I got really lazy on this one. Shame on me!
It was really boring to write, so I took forever with it. Just inching my way... lol. Sorry for that crappy mom and Alice scene, I can't give away much yet! Seesh...
And "At the double" is a British word. Alice is British, right? ... .... ....
Vi3t Girl MOMO- Yeah, I hoped you liked it. Even though I keep going on how much I hate it! .
aegis- Hello doll, muah Yeah the kitties have bugs in them. I read it in the thingy so I put in here. shrug Yes, Alice swears she's a naughty girl. She won't say the "F" word that much but only when she's really mad. ;
Mwahaha. And when she guarded Zhuzhen, I wanted her to still have her Alice tendencies but a bit braver. - Yep her seeing lil boy Yuri was cute. That's why I did it! - And you'll be seeing more of pig Alice soon.. lol Wuv u!!
Tiger5913- Yes yes my praise for my cool Alice and I guess I'll make Margarete all gross if you wish it. lol Don't worry Yuri won't "succumb" to her. He likes nutty Alice too much. XD! Oh so sorry hunny to keep you waiting, I might put a lil' cute thing in the boat at Dalian. -! And I do, I do love you!! Don't say that!
Wheres all my reviewers!? ;.; Oh well... lol
- /A Lifeless Beauty/ -