Disclaimer: I'm writing this out of pure love for RK fanfiction --so I don't own any of the original characters in the Anime or the Series. Although, I do own Urako-and the plot-and extra crap like that .
Chapter 16: Secrets in the Family
BTW... Any issues in formatting are my fault (Orion Kohaishu; Sleep Deprived Editor) so blame me. I'm blonde and tired, and therefore stupid. Much love, and read the damn chapter already!
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Shinta's eyes widened in horror, his breath uneven. What? What did Hiko just say?
"Wh....what?" Shinta asked slowly, trying to figure out if he had heard Hiko correctly.
Shinta could see his unstable form reflected in Hiko's brown orbs before the older man sighed and looked away. Shinta felt as if everything he knew to be true just collapse in around him.
"Urako, is not your sister, Shinta," Hiko reiterated slowly as he rubbed his head.
Shinta swallowed slowly as he tried to come up with viable evidence that Urako was in fact his sister. How could Urako, be anything else? It just wasn't possible for her to be anything else. His brows creased in confusion as he felt his heart speed up in anxiety. His jaw opened slightly, and his fingers began to lose feeling as they fisted tightly into the sheets.
"H-how? How can Urako be anything else, Hiko?!" Shinta screamed out of trepidation, punching the mattress. "Answer me!"
What the hell is going on? Why is Hiko saying this? How could Urako, the woman whom I believed to be my sister, be anything else than what she is? Our blood type is the same-she was there with me throughout my childhood-- Mom an' Dad called her their daughter! Someone is lying!
Hiko took a big breath and bit his lower lip as he began slowly, "Even Urako does not know this, Shinta."
"Wa-" Shinta began, his heart beating faster.
"Let me finish," Hiko paused a moment, rubbing his arms slightly, "All I can tell you is this, you'll find your answers in the past."
Answers in the past? What is he getting at? There's nothing there in the past! Shinta gasped as he suddenly realized what Hiko was saying. But, Urako is in the past.....What is gonna happen to her?
"Hiko...why?" Shinta asked, his eyes conveying his sadness and worry.
"Sometimes, lying is necessary," Hiko replied as he sighed.
Shinta began to shake his head vehemently, closing his eyes briefly before saying, "No! Not to your family! If you lie to your family, then who can you trust?" Shinta felt the coolness of his own tears trail down his cheek before he buried himself weakly in the comfort of his pillow. Why would you lie, Hiko? We trusted you with everything! You helped us when our parents were slaughtered! What else have you lied about?
"No!" Hiko suddenly shouted, standing abruptly,"You don't understand, boy! She's the key! The key to everything!"
"She's a human being, Hiko! What is this key business?" Shinta glared up from his pillow.
"Haven't you been listening to me at all, kid? She's what we've been searching for. It's her power," Hiko said as he turned for the door.
"What? You can't be serious, Hiko!" Shinta exclaimed as his eyes widened further.
"I am. And I knew from the very first moment I saw her firece blue eyes," Hiko said as he glanced back to Shinta.
"But why? What do you plan to do with her? You've already ruined her life!" Shinta screamed as he reached out to grasp Hiko's cape.
"Because, last time, she failed in her mission," Hiko explained simply as he quickened his pace towards the door.
Shinta shot up his head in fear, his breath caught in his throat, as he whispered, "Last time?"
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A man with short brown hair walked briskly down the cracked corridors within a hidden bunker. His slanted brown eyes shifted nervously from side to side, watching for anything that might spring up and threaten him. A trickle of sweat ran from his hairline to the curve of his chin. They were on to him.
Hoji kept his pace short and quick, turning his head to look back every five seconds. He had read over Shishio's plans, which really didn't appeal to him. What he was doing was suicide; backstabbing his employer. If he learned anything while with Shishio, it was that in order to survive in this world you must be stronger than the threat of being weak. In this case, destroying what Shishio had planned on to take over Japan made him more powerful than Shishio himself. After all, your best friend is your worst enemy.
Hoji quickly ran through an unmarked door, which he locked quickly behind him. His heavy breathing filled his ears as he felt around the darkened room for the light switch. Finding it as quickly as possible, he flipped it on. This was his own office, a place totally unsurveillanced by hidden cameras or bugs. Or so he believed.
"Mr. Hoji," a voice jingled behind him. Hoji gasped as he turned around quickly, finding himself face to face with Soujiro.
"Sou-Soujiro! I-I-uh-"
"Mr. Shishio wants to speak with you, Mr. Hoji," Soujiro explained evenly, a venomous smile placed upon his lips. That creepy, crooked smile. Hoji shuddered everytime he looked at the child-like assasin.
"Re-really? He does? Uh-um-ok-"
"Now, Mr. Hoji," Soujiro said in a low tone, the smile still in place. Soujiro began to walk towards Hoji, slowly, making sure that Hoji saw his movements. Hoji's eyes widened with fear as his hand slipped behind him to quickly unlock the door. Turning the lock quickly with sweaty fingers, Hoji burst through the door, shutting it behind him noisily.
"Hoji," a deep angered voice growled.
Hoji snapped up his head up, his brown eyes glistening with fear. "Mas- Master Shishio," Hoji stuttered, his throat closing up from fear.
"That was very stupid of you," Shishio growled, his fiery eyes narrowing at the fearful man in front of him. Shishio snapped his fingers and men in uniforms carrying loaded arms suddenly surrounded them both.
"Take this pathetic piece of filth away for questioning," Shishio ordered sternly, pointing a gloved finger at Hoji.
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Saitoh's slitted amber eyes glazed over with joy at the thought of this moment finally occuring. His thin lips creased in a grim grin as he hid himself from Urako's searching chi. He could feel her fear building up as she searched endlessly for his chi signature. He'd have his fun with her and it would start now.
He kept his movements cool and cat like as he leapt into a nearby tree, keeping his eyes on Urako's form below. As soon as she was in range for his attack, he let his chi become more noticable.
"Ah....my little fire cat, how are you?" he almost purred from the trees, feeling the shock from Urako as his voice clicked in her mind. He chuckled and took the opportunity her surprise offered him, and unsheathed his katana. With a loud shout, he executed a downward thrust upon her body.
Though, as he had expected, he didn't hit her flesh. Good, she hadn't lost her skill. This would make the fight much more interesting.
"Koishii?" he heard her weak voice ask, as he landed on the grassy floor. "Why..?"
He stood erect then, resheathing his katana as he looked Urako in the eyes. He could see her shakey form, he could sense her inner emotional battles just from the way she spoke. If he wanted to win, he'd have to strike hard and fast while she was still dazed and confused. In an answer to her question, Saitoh merely smirked as he rushed at her again pulling out his katana in a deadly horizontal arc.
"Aren't you going to tell me how much longer I have to live, Urako?" he asked as he swung his body around to try to slash at her again. He saw her flip backwards towards the tree he had occupied, holding her arm. He licked his lips in slight victory, he had cut her. He glanced down at his blade and saw her slick crimson blood drip slowly off the tip.
"Love, I-"
"I'm not your love, Urako," he spat, disgusted. Saitoh had destroyed those feelings once he had felt them creeping up on him. In a fight, he needed to have a clear mind. He couldn't be distracted by meaningless emotions like love. He flicked his sword clean of her blood and walked towards her slowly. He stopped suddenly, feeling the air around him electrify with anger. He tightened his grip on his katana and braced himself for her attack. He saw her bow her head slowly, her muscles beginning to ripple as she clentched her fists in anger.
It was time to strike.
His pace quickened and in a flash, brought his sword down vertically. He heard the tearing of flesh and the rich smell of newly split blood. He side stepped quickly and stood ready for her attack, but instead saw her still standing there, her arm and side covered in blood. This fight wouldn't be as fun as he had previously thought. His eyes narrowed as his sword came in front of his face defensively.
"Why?" her voice cracked through his ears like an angry whip slicing the air. Saitoh grumbled to himself and sheathed his weapon. He had no time for questions of this sort, but if it would help the fight along, then he was all for it.
"Isn't it obvious?" he countered, his voice venomous.
Urako stayed silent, waiting for more of an explanation. Saitoh watched as her blood slithered down her arms like liquid snakes crawling down to pool inside the pink gi she wore.
"You're the key to this whole mess, Urako. You're what Shishio wants, what I desire to fight, and the last thing standing in evil's way. I was the inside mole in Hiko's Company as well as in Shishio's. I was no one's own puppet, however. I did what I had to in order to survive. I saw you as a means of getting me what I wanted quicker,"
"Is that all?"
"Nothing more,"
"Then you have seven minutes and twenty-seven seconds left to live," she responded monotonously as she reached inside her gi for something. She took her time in placing the small stereo down and pressing play, her wounds making her actions slow.
Saitoh smirked and responded lightly, "There's my girl."
"I am no one's to be had!!" Urako screamed, her head jolting up suddenly. Her eyes flashed white as they bore deeply into Saitoh's own. The wind around them picked up at a dangerous pace, pushing Saitoh back forcefully.
Saitoh ground his teeth tightly in his lack of vision to see this happen and shielded his eyes with his free arm. The wind whipped across his body ferociously, tearing at his clothes and bare skin. He growled as he felt himself being pushed back by the force of the wind. No, he was wrong, it wasn't the wind, it was Urako. And what she was doing was beautiful.
"Traitors are weak little rats. Traitors of the heart are fucking bastards that should rot in the seven hells!!" Urako screamed loudly, waves of white energy flying off her form in enormous amounts.
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Dim lights flickered in the void of the Interogation Room, annoying Hoji a little bit. Those lights were the least of him problems, however, as he waited for Shishio to end his life. He knew he was going to die, but he didn't know how it would happen. And that made him even more afraid.
A squeaky sound reverberated in the far corner of the darkness, away from Hoji's bound form. Heavy footsteps circled the chair he was chained to, forshadowing his upcoming pain. Hoji could see the fierce blood red eyes stare at him from the shadows telling him silently of the nameless fear that froze his blood. It made his mind wander to all the inventive ways of torture.
"Hoji.." Shishio's voice drawled menacingly. "I'm going to give you a choice."
Hoji swallowed nervously and shallowly nodded, knowing that whatever Shishio offered was going to end up in his death. It was merely up to Hoji how end up there.
"But first, however, I want to know what you had the Wolf do for you,"
"I-I..had him go back......to-to the past-"
"Why?"
"Umh-to-t-to bring Ur-Urako b-back,"
"You fool!" Shishio snapped loudly, "I placed her there for a reason!" Shishio growled and slowly unsheathed his katana. He stood in front of Hoji's form, his blade pointed at his forehead.
"Anything else, Hoji?" Shishio narrowed his eyes as he applied more pressure to his blade against Hoji's head.
Hoji whimpered slightly, sweat rolling down his temple as he lightly replied, "He's going to ki-kill her."
Shishio's eyes widened with fury and forcefully thrusted his blade into Hoji's damp temple. His skull crunched and blood immediately pooled over his face and around his bound form, the blade still imbedded in his head. With a grunt of disatisfaction, Shishio pulled his blade upwards, opening up Hoji's cranium even more and splattering his blood and brain matter against the walls and floor.
"Damn it," Shishio muttered as he flicked his blade clean of Hoji's blood. He slammed his fist against Hoji's bloodied body, knocking it to the ground.
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Shinta couldn't sleep, even after his nurse had told him he ought to. His world was crashing in around him, how could he possibly sleep? He shifted in his bed, looking up at the ceiling, and sighed. How he wished he could move, or do anything at the moment. His legs were still broken, his skin torn and marred by burns, his scalp partly ripped, and his arm fractured.
Tears brimmed in his eyes, tears of depression and hopelessness. He felt useless and partly dead to the world. He furrowed his brow and bit back pain as he made himself sit up. Pain shot up his back and chest, but he ignored it.
He promised Urako he'd have hope, and damn it, he would, despite who Hiko told him she was. He glanced around his room again, looking for a means of transportation. Finding a wheelchair already packed up in the far corner of his room, he shifted his position to get out of bed. Using his good arm he began to carefully move his broken legs one by one off the bed.
"Y'know, that's really stupid of you," said a voice from the doorway.
Shinta shot his attention towards it, finding his long time friend standing there.
"Sanosuke! What the hell happened to you?" Shinta exclaimed as he took in his injuries.
Sano sighed exasperatedly, a smirk on his face as he leaned on the doorframe.
"Ah--a bunch of shit really, you know me and my directional problems," he said with a smirk.
Shinta frowned as he asked, "Wasn't Miss Kaoru with you?"
Sano chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head, "Hehe...yea..We got in a little mix up..but she's doing fine."
Shinta arched an eyebrow at him, "She was hurt, too?"
Sano looked a little sheepish as he nodded slowly. Shinta growled at Sano's incompetence, though waved his hand over to him.
"Don't do that again, Sano. Here, help me up," Shinta said, pointing to his legs.
"I can't carry your ass, you know," Sano explained, pointing to his ankle as he hobbled over.
"Thank you Sherlock. I meant get the wheel chair and bring it over so I can get around easier."
"Oh!" Sano smirked, as he turned towards the wheel chair in the corner of the room. "You wantin' to see Missy?"
Shinta blushed and instead responded, "Shut up and wheel it over here, Sano."
Sano chuckled as he opened up the wheel chair, saying, "Yes, ma'am."
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Kaoru stretched her sore body in her bed, cracking a few air pockets in her back and neck. She sighed deeply, letting her mind become clear. She absently patted her broken arm as she gazed out the window. There was so much to take in; her being evil stuck out the most in her mind. She couldn't accept it, her mind wouldn't allow that fact to be taken in. Her whole being would stop functioning until it figured out a way in how she could avoid that destiny. She looked back to her past, to all the times in which she used her power. She focused mainly on the feeling she got when she had completely destroyed a chi signature. She felt....nothing. Nothing. No remorse...no happiness. Just empty.
"Missy?" a voice snapped her out of her reverie. She let out a startled gasp and turned quickly towards the man in the room.
"Oh, Sanosuke!" she said as she sighed, partly relieved, "Don't ever do that again!" She folded her arms and glared at Sano.
"I'm sorry Missy, but hey! I got somethin' that will make your day brighter," he said, smirking. He was suddenly pushed forward by someone behind him, and he winced from pain.
"What could you possibly get me?" Kaoru said as she smirked and shifted in her bed. Sano, like a whipped puppy, hobbled over to his bed and jabbed a thumb behind him. Kaoru followed the direction his thumb was pointing at, her eyes devouring the sight of Shinta in a wheelchair.
"Shinta!" she gasped, as she jumped out of her bed and kneeled beside him, "You all right??"
"Oorroo!" he screetched from surprise, jumping a little. "Ms. Kaoru, thank you, I am fine that I am."
"Really? I-I mean, uh--What happened to you?" she stuttered nervously, sitting on the side of a nearby chair.
Shinta smiled sadly as he sighed, his amethyst eyes reflecting his past pains. "Nothing that you need to worry about, Ms. Kaoru."
Kaoru furrowed up her brow as she shouted, "Damnit Shinta, don't be stupid! I worry about you anyway!"
"You .....worry about me?" Shinta asked slowly, a flash of hope running across his eyes.
Kaoru blushed a little bit as she stumbled on her answer, "Well, um..ye- yes, I mean, y'know....you were so nice to me in your apartment...uh..mmm-"
"I think I'll leave you two alone, there is a lot of ...."tension" in here," Sano interupted cooly as he pulled himself up.
Kaoru turned to glare at him, though thankfulness could be seen in her eyes as she watched him hobble out of the room.
"Use protection, you two," Sano quickly added as he shut the door.
"OROROROO!! SANO!!" Shinta shouted loudly, his face rivaling his hair color.
Kaoru's eyes bulged and she covered her cheeks with her hands to hide her blush. Kaoru looked back to Shinta, swallowed nervously, and was determined to converse with him without being embarassed.
"Shinta," she said strongly as she closed her eyes for a moment, "Really, what happened to you?"
Shinta sighed as he wheeled himself over towards Sano's bed, motioning for Kaoru to follow him. Kaoru followed behind, curiousity eating at her as she sat down next Shinta.
"Ms. Kaoru, what I'm about to say has nothing to do with how you are as a person--I still think you're wonderful and nothing will change that. However, the way I am now, battered and bruised and broken, was because of your brother and his need for Urako's power," Shinta explained shortly, as he turned to look at her.
Kaoru looked down in shame, tears building up in her eyes. "i'm -I'm-"
"Don't apologize for him, Ms. Kaoru. I know it's hard and painful to realize. You didn't do this to me, Shishio Makoto did, your brother," Shinta softly explained, taking her hand.
"But I-"
"No, no 'buts' Ms. Kaoru. You didn't add on to my pain, you take away some of it. So does Urako, my sister,"
"Really? We do? But how, I mean-"
"Because Urako is my sister, and I love her as such. You.....because-"
"Because?" Kaoru prompted, her heart in her throat as she stared intently at him.
Shinta sighed as he smiled again, his eyes sunken slightly, giving him a tired look. "Because, Ms. Kaoru, I care about you. I care about you a lot,"
Kaoru's smile was short and tight, a feeling of loss crept inside her heart, and she turned to look at the floor again. She sniffled and repeated Shinta softly, "You care about me."
"Yes," Shinta said, as he lifted her chin up with his forefinger, "i care about you......a lot." Kaoru looked up to his eyes then, searching for an answer that she so desperately needed. She found herself feeling slightly hazy, her eyes locking on to his lips. She watched them become closer to her, not realizing that he was leaning into kiss her.
Though just before his lips touched hers, she voiced a question, "Is that all?"
There was a brief moment of silence before she heard Shinta's voice again, feeling his breath against her awaiting lips. She could hardly stand it, she wanted him to kiss her, however, she just had to know.
"I..don't know.. Honestly I have an enormous feeling of protectiveness and care for you, and....and something else that I have yet to define," Shinta responded slowly, staying dangerously close to her lips.
Kaoru closed her eyes, feeling a tear slowly crawl down her cheek. She sighed and forced herself to turn away, burying her face instead, on his shoulder.
"Do you think it's love?" she forced herself to say, tasting some of the fabric of his shirt in her mouth.
"Honestly, I don't know....but-"
"But?" she prompted again, wiping her eyes and leaning back to face him.
Shinta smiled again, that same fake smile that she had seen before. "I hope so." he replied lightly. Hope fluttered in Kaoru's chest, though, also held hatred if these feelings were untrue. Kaoru smiled brightly, sniffling the last remnants of her crying.
"Then I think we can kiss now," she responded, gazing into his eyes.
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A/N::::: WHaT DO yA THINK????? I thought that seeing the past again might give some people more excitement when they read--b/c Urako...well....yea--CAN'T GIVE AWAY THE ENDING!!!! Muwhahahahahaha!!!
Much love to ya'll loyal fans hugs
Fanfiction Wanderer
Chapter 16: Secrets in the Family
BTW... Any issues in formatting are my fault (Orion Kohaishu; Sleep Deprived Editor) so blame me. I'm blonde and tired, and therefore stupid. Much love, and read the damn chapter already!
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Shinta's eyes widened in horror, his breath uneven. What? What did Hiko just say?
"Wh....what?" Shinta asked slowly, trying to figure out if he had heard Hiko correctly.
Shinta could see his unstable form reflected in Hiko's brown orbs before the older man sighed and looked away. Shinta felt as if everything he knew to be true just collapse in around him.
"Urako, is not your sister, Shinta," Hiko reiterated slowly as he rubbed his head.
Shinta swallowed slowly as he tried to come up with viable evidence that Urako was in fact his sister. How could Urako, be anything else? It just wasn't possible for her to be anything else. His brows creased in confusion as he felt his heart speed up in anxiety. His jaw opened slightly, and his fingers began to lose feeling as they fisted tightly into the sheets.
"H-how? How can Urako be anything else, Hiko?!" Shinta screamed out of trepidation, punching the mattress. "Answer me!"
What the hell is going on? Why is Hiko saying this? How could Urako, the woman whom I believed to be my sister, be anything else than what she is? Our blood type is the same-she was there with me throughout my childhood-- Mom an' Dad called her their daughter! Someone is lying!
Hiko took a big breath and bit his lower lip as he began slowly, "Even Urako does not know this, Shinta."
"Wa-" Shinta began, his heart beating faster.
"Let me finish," Hiko paused a moment, rubbing his arms slightly, "All I can tell you is this, you'll find your answers in the past."
Answers in the past? What is he getting at? There's nothing there in the past! Shinta gasped as he suddenly realized what Hiko was saying. But, Urako is in the past.....What is gonna happen to her?
"Hiko...why?" Shinta asked, his eyes conveying his sadness and worry.
"Sometimes, lying is necessary," Hiko replied as he sighed.
Shinta began to shake his head vehemently, closing his eyes briefly before saying, "No! Not to your family! If you lie to your family, then who can you trust?" Shinta felt the coolness of his own tears trail down his cheek before he buried himself weakly in the comfort of his pillow. Why would you lie, Hiko? We trusted you with everything! You helped us when our parents were slaughtered! What else have you lied about?
"No!" Hiko suddenly shouted, standing abruptly,"You don't understand, boy! She's the key! The key to everything!"
"She's a human being, Hiko! What is this key business?" Shinta glared up from his pillow.
"Haven't you been listening to me at all, kid? She's what we've been searching for. It's her power," Hiko said as he turned for the door.
"What? You can't be serious, Hiko!" Shinta exclaimed as his eyes widened further.
"I am. And I knew from the very first moment I saw her firece blue eyes," Hiko said as he glanced back to Shinta.
"But why? What do you plan to do with her? You've already ruined her life!" Shinta screamed as he reached out to grasp Hiko's cape.
"Because, last time, she failed in her mission," Hiko explained simply as he quickened his pace towards the door.
Shinta shot up his head in fear, his breath caught in his throat, as he whispered, "Last time?"
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A man with short brown hair walked briskly down the cracked corridors within a hidden bunker. His slanted brown eyes shifted nervously from side to side, watching for anything that might spring up and threaten him. A trickle of sweat ran from his hairline to the curve of his chin. They were on to him.
Hoji kept his pace short and quick, turning his head to look back every five seconds. He had read over Shishio's plans, which really didn't appeal to him. What he was doing was suicide; backstabbing his employer. If he learned anything while with Shishio, it was that in order to survive in this world you must be stronger than the threat of being weak. In this case, destroying what Shishio had planned on to take over Japan made him more powerful than Shishio himself. After all, your best friend is your worst enemy.
Hoji quickly ran through an unmarked door, which he locked quickly behind him. His heavy breathing filled his ears as he felt around the darkened room for the light switch. Finding it as quickly as possible, he flipped it on. This was his own office, a place totally unsurveillanced by hidden cameras or bugs. Or so he believed.
"Mr. Hoji," a voice jingled behind him. Hoji gasped as he turned around quickly, finding himself face to face with Soujiro.
"Sou-Soujiro! I-I-uh-"
"Mr. Shishio wants to speak with you, Mr. Hoji," Soujiro explained evenly, a venomous smile placed upon his lips. That creepy, crooked smile. Hoji shuddered everytime he looked at the child-like assasin.
"Re-really? He does? Uh-um-ok-"
"Now, Mr. Hoji," Soujiro said in a low tone, the smile still in place. Soujiro began to walk towards Hoji, slowly, making sure that Hoji saw his movements. Hoji's eyes widened with fear as his hand slipped behind him to quickly unlock the door. Turning the lock quickly with sweaty fingers, Hoji burst through the door, shutting it behind him noisily.
"Hoji," a deep angered voice growled.
Hoji snapped up his head up, his brown eyes glistening with fear. "Mas- Master Shishio," Hoji stuttered, his throat closing up from fear.
"That was very stupid of you," Shishio growled, his fiery eyes narrowing at the fearful man in front of him. Shishio snapped his fingers and men in uniforms carrying loaded arms suddenly surrounded them both.
"Take this pathetic piece of filth away for questioning," Shishio ordered sternly, pointing a gloved finger at Hoji.
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Saitoh's slitted amber eyes glazed over with joy at the thought of this moment finally occuring. His thin lips creased in a grim grin as he hid himself from Urako's searching chi. He could feel her fear building up as she searched endlessly for his chi signature. He'd have his fun with her and it would start now.
He kept his movements cool and cat like as he leapt into a nearby tree, keeping his eyes on Urako's form below. As soon as she was in range for his attack, he let his chi become more noticable.
"Ah....my little fire cat, how are you?" he almost purred from the trees, feeling the shock from Urako as his voice clicked in her mind. He chuckled and took the opportunity her surprise offered him, and unsheathed his katana. With a loud shout, he executed a downward thrust upon her body.
Though, as he had expected, he didn't hit her flesh. Good, she hadn't lost her skill. This would make the fight much more interesting.
"Koishii?" he heard her weak voice ask, as he landed on the grassy floor. "Why..?"
He stood erect then, resheathing his katana as he looked Urako in the eyes. He could see her shakey form, he could sense her inner emotional battles just from the way she spoke. If he wanted to win, he'd have to strike hard and fast while she was still dazed and confused. In an answer to her question, Saitoh merely smirked as he rushed at her again pulling out his katana in a deadly horizontal arc.
"Aren't you going to tell me how much longer I have to live, Urako?" he asked as he swung his body around to try to slash at her again. He saw her flip backwards towards the tree he had occupied, holding her arm. He licked his lips in slight victory, he had cut her. He glanced down at his blade and saw her slick crimson blood drip slowly off the tip.
"Love, I-"
"I'm not your love, Urako," he spat, disgusted. Saitoh had destroyed those feelings once he had felt them creeping up on him. In a fight, he needed to have a clear mind. He couldn't be distracted by meaningless emotions like love. He flicked his sword clean of her blood and walked towards her slowly. He stopped suddenly, feeling the air around him electrify with anger. He tightened his grip on his katana and braced himself for her attack. He saw her bow her head slowly, her muscles beginning to ripple as she clentched her fists in anger.
It was time to strike.
His pace quickened and in a flash, brought his sword down vertically. He heard the tearing of flesh and the rich smell of newly split blood. He side stepped quickly and stood ready for her attack, but instead saw her still standing there, her arm and side covered in blood. This fight wouldn't be as fun as he had previously thought. His eyes narrowed as his sword came in front of his face defensively.
"Why?" her voice cracked through his ears like an angry whip slicing the air. Saitoh grumbled to himself and sheathed his weapon. He had no time for questions of this sort, but if it would help the fight along, then he was all for it.
"Isn't it obvious?" he countered, his voice venomous.
Urako stayed silent, waiting for more of an explanation. Saitoh watched as her blood slithered down her arms like liquid snakes crawling down to pool inside the pink gi she wore.
"You're the key to this whole mess, Urako. You're what Shishio wants, what I desire to fight, and the last thing standing in evil's way. I was the inside mole in Hiko's Company as well as in Shishio's. I was no one's own puppet, however. I did what I had to in order to survive. I saw you as a means of getting me what I wanted quicker,"
"Is that all?"
"Nothing more,"
"Then you have seven minutes and twenty-seven seconds left to live," she responded monotonously as she reached inside her gi for something. She took her time in placing the small stereo down and pressing play, her wounds making her actions slow.
Saitoh smirked and responded lightly, "There's my girl."
"I am no one's to be had!!" Urako screamed, her head jolting up suddenly. Her eyes flashed white as they bore deeply into Saitoh's own. The wind around them picked up at a dangerous pace, pushing Saitoh back forcefully.
Saitoh ground his teeth tightly in his lack of vision to see this happen and shielded his eyes with his free arm. The wind whipped across his body ferociously, tearing at his clothes and bare skin. He growled as he felt himself being pushed back by the force of the wind. No, he was wrong, it wasn't the wind, it was Urako. And what she was doing was beautiful.
"Traitors are weak little rats. Traitors of the heart are fucking bastards that should rot in the seven hells!!" Urako screamed loudly, waves of white energy flying off her form in enormous amounts.
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Dim lights flickered in the void of the Interogation Room, annoying Hoji a little bit. Those lights were the least of him problems, however, as he waited for Shishio to end his life. He knew he was going to die, but he didn't know how it would happen. And that made him even more afraid.
A squeaky sound reverberated in the far corner of the darkness, away from Hoji's bound form. Heavy footsteps circled the chair he was chained to, forshadowing his upcoming pain. Hoji could see the fierce blood red eyes stare at him from the shadows telling him silently of the nameless fear that froze his blood. It made his mind wander to all the inventive ways of torture.
"Hoji.." Shishio's voice drawled menacingly. "I'm going to give you a choice."
Hoji swallowed nervously and shallowly nodded, knowing that whatever Shishio offered was going to end up in his death. It was merely up to Hoji how end up there.
"But first, however, I want to know what you had the Wolf do for you,"
"I-I..had him go back......to-to the past-"
"Why?"
"Umh-to-t-to bring Ur-Urako b-back,"
"You fool!" Shishio snapped loudly, "I placed her there for a reason!" Shishio growled and slowly unsheathed his katana. He stood in front of Hoji's form, his blade pointed at his forehead.
"Anything else, Hoji?" Shishio narrowed his eyes as he applied more pressure to his blade against Hoji's head.
Hoji whimpered slightly, sweat rolling down his temple as he lightly replied, "He's going to ki-kill her."
Shishio's eyes widened with fury and forcefully thrusted his blade into Hoji's damp temple. His skull crunched and blood immediately pooled over his face and around his bound form, the blade still imbedded in his head. With a grunt of disatisfaction, Shishio pulled his blade upwards, opening up Hoji's cranium even more and splattering his blood and brain matter against the walls and floor.
"Damn it," Shishio muttered as he flicked his blade clean of Hoji's blood. He slammed his fist against Hoji's bloodied body, knocking it to the ground.
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Shinta couldn't sleep, even after his nurse had told him he ought to. His world was crashing in around him, how could he possibly sleep? He shifted in his bed, looking up at the ceiling, and sighed. How he wished he could move, or do anything at the moment. His legs were still broken, his skin torn and marred by burns, his scalp partly ripped, and his arm fractured.
Tears brimmed in his eyes, tears of depression and hopelessness. He felt useless and partly dead to the world. He furrowed his brow and bit back pain as he made himself sit up. Pain shot up his back and chest, but he ignored it.
He promised Urako he'd have hope, and damn it, he would, despite who Hiko told him she was. He glanced around his room again, looking for a means of transportation. Finding a wheelchair already packed up in the far corner of his room, he shifted his position to get out of bed. Using his good arm he began to carefully move his broken legs one by one off the bed.
"Y'know, that's really stupid of you," said a voice from the doorway.
Shinta shot his attention towards it, finding his long time friend standing there.
"Sanosuke! What the hell happened to you?" Shinta exclaimed as he took in his injuries.
Sano sighed exasperatedly, a smirk on his face as he leaned on the doorframe.
"Ah--a bunch of shit really, you know me and my directional problems," he said with a smirk.
Shinta frowned as he asked, "Wasn't Miss Kaoru with you?"
Sano chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head, "Hehe...yea..We got in a little mix up..but she's doing fine."
Shinta arched an eyebrow at him, "She was hurt, too?"
Sano looked a little sheepish as he nodded slowly. Shinta growled at Sano's incompetence, though waved his hand over to him.
"Don't do that again, Sano. Here, help me up," Shinta said, pointing to his legs.
"I can't carry your ass, you know," Sano explained, pointing to his ankle as he hobbled over.
"Thank you Sherlock. I meant get the wheel chair and bring it over so I can get around easier."
"Oh!" Sano smirked, as he turned towards the wheel chair in the corner of the room. "You wantin' to see Missy?"
Shinta blushed and instead responded, "Shut up and wheel it over here, Sano."
Sano chuckled as he opened up the wheel chair, saying, "Yes, ma'am."
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Kaoru stretched her sore body in her bed, cracking a few air pockets in her back and neck. She sighed deeply, letting her mind become clear. She absently patted her broken arm as she gazed out the window. There was so much to take in; her being evil stuck out the most in her mind. She couldn't accept it, her mind wouldn't allow that fact to be taken in. Her whole being would stop functioning until it figured out a way in how she could avoid that destiny. She looked back to her past, to all the times in which she used her power. She focused mainly on the feeling she got when she had completely destroyed a chi signature. She felt....nothing. Nothing. No remorse...no happiness. Just empty.
"Missy?" a voice snapped her out of her reverie. She let out a startled gasp and turned quickly towards the man in the room.
"Oh, Sanosuke!" she said as she sighed, partly relieved, "Don't ever do that again!" She folded her arms and glared at Sano.
"I'm sorry Missy, but hey! I got somethin' that will make your day brighter," he said, smirking. He was suddenly pushed forward by someone behind him, and he winced from pain.
"What could you possibly get me?" Kaoru said as she smirked and shifted in her bed. Sano, like a whipped puppy, hobbled over to his bed and jabbed a thumb behind him. Kaoru followed the direction his thumb was pointing at, her eyes devouring the sight of Shinta in a wheelchair.
"Shinta!" she gasped, as she jumped out of her bed and kneeled beside him, "You all right??"
"Oorroo!" he screetched from surprise, jumping a little. "Ms. Kaoru, thank you, I am fine that I am."
"Really? I-I mean, uh--What happened to you?" she stuttered nervously, sitting on the side of a nearby chair.
Shinta smiled sadly as he sighed, his amethyst eyes reflecting his past pains. "Nothing that you need to worry about, Ms. Kaoru."
Kaoru furrowed up her brow as she shouted, "Damnit Shinta, don't be stupid! I worry about you anyway!"
"You .....worry about me?" Shinta asked slowly, a flash of hope running across his eyes.
Kaoru blushed a little bit as she stumbled on her answer, "Well, um..ye- yes, I mean, y'know....you were so nice to me in your apartment...uh..mmm-"
"I think I'll leave you two alone, there is a lot of ...."tension" in here," Sano interupted cooly as he pulled himself up.
Kaoru turned to glare at him, though thankfulness could be seen in her eyes as she watched him hobble out of the room.
"Use protection, you two," Sano quickly added as he shut the door.
"OROROROO!! SANO!!" Shinta shouted loudly, his face rivaling his hair color.
Kaoru's eyes bulged and she covered her cheeks with her hands to hide her blush. Kaoru looked back to Shinta, swallowed nervously, and was determined to converse with him without being embarassed.
"Shinta," she said strongly as she closed her eyes for a moment, "Really, what happened to you?"
Shinta sighed as he wheeled himself over towards Sano's bed, motioning for Kaoru to follow him. Kaoru followed behind, curiousity eating at her as she sat down next Shinta.
"Ms. Kaoru, what I'm about to say has nothing to do with how you are as a person--I still think you're wonderful and nothing will change that. However, the way I am now, battered and bruised and broken, was because of your brother and his need for Urako's power," Shinta explained shortly, as he turned to look at her.
Kaoru looked down in shame, tears building up in her eyes. "i'm -I'm-"
"Don't apologize for him, Ms. Kaoru. I know it's hard and painful to realize. You didn't do this to me, Shishio Makoto did, your brother," Shinta softly explained, taking her hand.
"But I-"
"No, no 'buts' Ms. Kaoru. You didn't add on to my pain, you take away some of it. So does Urako, my sister,"
"Really? We do? But how, I mean-"
"Because Urako is my sister, and I love her as such. You.....because-"
"Because?" Kaoru prompted, her heart in her throat as she stared intently at him.
Shinta sighed as he smiled again, his eyes sunken slightly, giving him a tired look. "Because, Ms. Kaoru, I care about you. I care about you a lot,"
Kaoru's smile was short and tight, a feeling of loss crept inside her heart, and she turned to look at the floor again. She sniffled and repeated Shinta softly, "You care about me."
"Yes," Shinta said, as he lifted her chin up with his forefinger, "i care about you......a lot." Kaoru looked up to his eyes then, searching for an answer that she so desperately needed. She found herself feeling slightly hazy, her eyes locking on to his lips. She watched them become closer to her, not realizing that he was leaning into kiss her.
Though just before his lips touched hers, she voiced a question, "Is that all?"
There was a brief moment of silence before she heard Shinta's voice again, feeling his breath against her awaiting lips. She could hardly stand it, she wanted him to kiss her, however, she just had to know.
"I..don't know.. Honestly I have an enormous feeling of protectiveness and care for you, and....and something else that I have yet to define," Shinta responded slowly, staying dangerously close to her lips.
Kaoru closed her eyes, feeling a tear slowly crawl down her cheek. She sighed and forced herself to turn away, burying her face instead, on his shoulder.
"Do you think it's love?" she forced herself to say, tasting some of the fabric of his shirt in her mouth.
"Honestly, I don't know....but-"
"But?" she prompted again, wiping her eyes and leaning back to face him.
Shinta smiled again, that same fake smile that she had seen before. "I hope so." he replied lightly. Hope fluttered in Kaoru's chest, though, also held hatred if these feelings were untrue. Kaoru smiled brightly, sniffling the last remnants of her crying.
"Then I think we can kiss now," she responded, gazing into his eyes.
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A/N::::: WHaT DO yA THINK????? I thought that seeing the past again might give some people more excitement when they read--b/c Urako...well....yea--CAN'T GIVE AWAY THE ENDING!!!! Muwhahahahahaha!!!
Much love to ya'll loyal fans hugs
Fanfiction Wanderer