Blue: The readers of my Trigun fic are really going to murder me for not updating.
Ivey: Yep…
Blue: Wait… :digging through her purse: Eureka:pulls out a can of pepper spray: If they get violent I can use this!
Ivey: You know if you use that on the readers they can't read the story.
Blue: Crap… my plan is flawed.
Ivey: Just take the beating.
Blue:Gulps: Well then… reviews: Hae-jang Lee- :starry eyed: One of your favorites:glomps: I love you!
Ivey: Hey:smacks Blue in the back of the head so she lets go: Stop fondling the readers.
Blue: Bubblewheel-What a cool phrase! Thank you for telling me about it. Black Winged Angel Sami- Yes Edward from Fullmetal Alchemist! I had so much fun at the convention. :starry-eyed again: I got to meet Travis Willingham! (The guy who does the voice of Roy Mustang!) He was so cool and he signed a FMA poster for me and he took a photo with me! I hugged him:passes out with happiness:
Ivey: Neely- Even I'll admit Chibi Mabudachi Trio is pretty damn kawaii. Lyanne Tyler Davidson- :sighs and points to the genre at the top of the page that reads Drama/Tragedy: Sorry this time around Blue and I are making a lot of people suffer. Chibi Shigure and Ayame are eight. Chibi Hatori is seven. Xia- Thank you so much for the compliments and letting me join your RP group! I love RPing Akito. Kerichi- We did so know that Al and Hiro have the same English voice actor.
Blue: Yes, I realize that there are some similarities between Asa and Tohru, however they are too very different people as will be shown as the story progresses. :laughing: You know Hiroaki is kind of like Hojo (but hopefully less annoying haha) who I've always felt kind of sorry for. The poor guy doesn't have a chance. I love Aaya! He's so funny. I'm not sure why Ivey wants to beat his face in.
Ivey: He's an annoying git that's why:just remembered something: Oh yeah… We've been told that this story is kind of hard to follow. FYI Aside from the first chapter and the beginning of each consecutive chapter (and most likely the last chapter of the story) this story takes place in the past. It starts twenty years ago and mostly revolves around Asa and Akito. Blue doesn't own Trigun, but she now owns every Hellsing manga available in English. :glances at Blue who is practically worshipping a picture of Integra Hellsing: That Integra chick is either her new idol or Blue has "joined the other team."
Blue: Sir Hellsing is so cool!
Ivey: I don't think I want to know the answer…
Melancholy Requiem
By Blue
Chapter Five- Lament Of A Child
Rolling out of his futon with a yawn, Shigure ran a hand through his messy hair and slid open the door to his room and padded down the hall towards the kitchen. Passing the open shoji door he caught the sight of Kyo practicing his katas in the yard in a vain attempt to distract himself from his worry and possibly work of some of his frustration. 'You'd think they'd be used to Tohru's Sunday visits with Akito by now,' he thought. With a short laugh he continued down the hall and into the kitchen to find Tohru looking like the perfect little housewife with her apron and her oven mitts. He was also delighted to find that she was in the process of leaning over to slip a pan of something into the oven, giving Shigure a peek at her panties. 'Pink… how cute,' he thought with a grin. Shigure was so caught up in the view that he was unprepared for the smack that Yuki dealt to the back of his head and he stumbled.
"Don't look at Honda-san like that!" Shigure pouted and rubbed the back of his head. Yuki always hit harder when he was in a bad mood especially when he was worried about Tohru. Shigure would never understand how such a seemingly gentleperson could be so violent.
Sohma Asa sat stiffly as Atsuko ran an ivory comb through her damp shoulder length hair that hung loosely, framing her face. The young girl had just taken the most luxurious bath of her life, complete with ridiculously expensive soaps and salts, that was anything but relaxing. The lavender-eyed woman had sat vigil the entire time and had even insisted on washing her hair. Apparently Atsuko had been appointed to help her prepare for the ceremony much to Asa's discomfort. It was as equally awkward as the medical exam the woman had preformed on her the week before to determine when her body would be most ready. Afterwards Atsuko had rubbed a light coat of rose scented oil onto the girl's dry skin while she stood in a small towel that was just enough to cover the essentials.
As Atsuko pinned the sides of her hair back from her face with two smaller combs made of jade Asa's mind was in turmoil. She was about to commit the most intimate of acts with someone she'd never even met before and all of her doubts were making themselves known. In all of the fairy tales she had read in her life her favorite part had always been the kiss. The first kiss shared between hero and heroine was always so captivating. Often she'd dreamt of what her first kiss would be like. She only had a vague idea of what making love was like, but she was sure that what would soon take place would not be making love. Asa was terrified.
The rustling of fabric and the feeling of the cool air on her bare back caused her to jump as Atsuko gently pulled the towel down to expose her back. Asa clutched the towel to her front and shot a glance over her shoulder at the older woman whom, to Asa's surprise, uncapped a crystal vial filled with silver ink and picked up a calligraphy brush from the tray next to her. Dipping the bristles in the ink she moved to paint something on the nervous girl's back.
"What's that for?" she asked in confusion. Atsuko just ignored her and begin to write an archaic circular pattern on the upper part of her back. Asa craned her neck in an attempt to see what was being drawn on her skin, but the rat of the zodiac sternly told her to keep still. Keeping her head forward, she worried her lip and clinched her fingers around the material of the towel. "Atsuko-san, what are you drawing? Is it part of the ceremony?"
"You ask too many questions," she said as she dipped the brush into the ink again and continued to draw the intricate design. Asa winced at her commanding tone and her grip on the towel tightened.
"I'm sorry Atsuko-san. I'm just nervous." The tickling of sensation of the brush strokes on her bare skin pause momentarily.
"It will all be over soon," she told her softly and then finished the symbol. "The ink will dry soon. There's a yukata for you in the chest put it on. I have to take care of something, but I'll come get you in a few minutes." And without another glance Atsuko took her leave of the child who would soon be robbed of her adolescence.
The head of the Sohma family was just taking a sip of his green tea when a knock came to his door. Bidding the visitor to enter he set his cup aside and eyed Atsuko as she slid the door closed behind her and kneeled before him. The rat of the zodiac waited silently for her master to address her before speaking. She may have been Sohma Akira's most trusted confidant, however she never forgot her place. Akira's wrath was something to be feared and avoided at all costs.
"Atsuko are the preparations complete?" he asked in an indifferent manner.
"Yes, Akira-san. The girl is ready to be presented and Takeshi has informed me that the boy has arrived. He will be ready momentarily."
"Good. Have him brought to me." At his dismissal Atsuko bowed and went to fetch Sohma Shinji. Ten minutes later the young man was seated before the god of the zodiac with an unreadable expression on his face. Akira took a moment to survey him before speaking. He was by no means unattractive with his ebony hair, eyes so dark blue they almost appeared to be black and his refined features. By looks alone Akira could tell he was a Sohma however removed from the family he was. He appeared to be around eighteen though the god of the zodiac hadn't bothered to ask. Shinji's great grandfather had been a member of the inner circle and as far as Akira was concerned he was irrelevant. If he served his purpose he would be rewarded and then discarded and that was all there was to it.
Sohma Shinji had never been to the main house before Akira had summoned him four months ago. He wouldn't have even bothered to show up if he hadn't been told that it was in his best interest monetarily. Shinji had big plans for his life. He wanted to be a doctor a surgeon to be specific. To the young man what mattered most was what he had and what people thought of him. Doctors were respected, renowned and most importantly well paid. The only thing holding him back was the tuition fees. To attend medical school he had to first attend college, both of which cost a great deal of money. Money Shinji didn't have. Akira's offer was one he couldn't refuse. Knock up some girl that Akira had chosen and get a nice, fat check with no strings attached? Shinji hadn't even hesitated with his answer.
Asa didn't know if it was the incense in the room, the bitter tasting tea Atsuko had made her drink before escorting her here or her own nervousness, but she was starting to feel light headed. She was all alone in a lavish room she'd never been in before that was decorated with dozens of white candles. In the middle of the room a futon with silk sheets was laid out and she hesitantly approached it and sat down. Locking her trembling hands together on her lap she stared unseeingly at the pattern on her yukata. She wasn't sure if she could do this, if she even wanted to do this. Akira had asked her to be the mother of the new family head and had told her what an honor it was, but…
The sound of the door sliding open caused her to start and she stared with wide eyes as a tall man clothed in a yukata similar to her own entered. With calculating eyes the man took in the young girl making her feel like a small animal beneath a hawks gaze. Asa nervously bowed to which the man only inclined his head slightly. Taking measured steps he approached her and knelt next to her on the futon. When she moved to scoot away from him slightly he firmly grabbed her wrist which instantly stilled her.
"M-my name is Asa…' she said in a small voice. Shinji in turn said nothing and placing his other hand on her shoulder pushed her onto her back. Asa gasped in surprise looked up at him fearfully. "What's your name?" The older man ignored her and set to work undoing the knot in her sash. Asa trembled beneath him and when he paused to shed his own garments her eyes widened before she shut them tightly. "W-wait-"
"Why are you talking?" Shinji said effectively cutting her off. "Shut up so we can get this over with and I can get my money." Asa's breath stilled and she stared at him in shock as he roughly pulled off her yukata and exposed her. As she lay there frozen while he violated her body the only thing that passed through her mind was that she didn't even know his name.
The next morning Asa spent over two hours in the bath with the door locked. Atsuko's knocks were ignored as she lay numbly in the lukewarm water and tried not to think about the feeling of that stranger's hands on her flesh. Her aching body and heart were proof that she had not in any way been ready for the act committed the night before. At this point she could only hope that she was carrying a child. She didn't think she could go through that experience again.
Blue: Please review!
Ivey: Why do you have a cigar?
Blue: Uh… because Integra-san smokes them:sheepish:
Ivey: …at least she's not running around in her Edward Elric costume again…