Waiting for you

Disclaimer: (Kantaro: How could you forget to put the disclaimer for the last chapter?) (Rei-chan: I am so sorry!) (Haruka: Tactics does not belong to this little evil author, so put it in mind for that. And she ruins my reputation!)

Rating: PG-13 or T (for violence and for safety)

Genre: Action/adventure, tragedy, suspense, slightly AU

Pairing: None in this chapter as well

Warnings or notes: AU (for both Haruka and Kantaro's pasts), grammar or other errors (English is not my mother tongue…), might be confusions, OOC-ness, around 1300 words.

Okay okay, I know most of the readers would chase after me and get me killed for making Haruka this bad. But…actually, he is not really 'Haruka' anymore. Physically, of course he is the same handsome Haruka we all know, but mentally, he is occupied by his own 'old self', yeah you get what I mean. That is what makes him so violent and merciless towards Kantaro.

I am sorry for I left the disclaimer in the last chapter:sweats: And I left a Japanese translation…I will add it into the Japanese terms in this chapter. Hope you would forgive my carelessness:timid tone: I seemed to make a lot of mistakes…Urgh…Anyway, I will add a few points to clear off some possible confusions…:sweats: Hope you all will like this chapter!

Japanese terms:

(in Chapter 9) ofuda - paper spells

Kindly refer to the previous chapters for other words okay...:bows:

: ooo :

Chapter 10-Torments

Soon enough, an unavoidable battle took place as Haruka tried to attack his ex-master in a swift and deadly movement. Kantaro's condition was very bad, for his previous wounds slowed him down. Not to mention he was only a normal human now, after the ritual. In order to regain those memories and to return Haruka's original power back to him, he had to sacrifice his own spiritual power, which to Kantaro, it was also part of his life. That was the price he had to pay. He was no longer qualified as an exorcist. He was only a weakling, an injured human with no power to defend himself.

All the time, he merely managed to dodge all the attacks. There were times he was nearly hit directly by Haruka's attacks if there were no trees blocking them for him. The young man knew very well that any second could have been his death. But, his stubbornness refused to give in. He wanted to find the answer to his question for such long time ago. That day was the only chance he could have had his curiosity satisfied.

While attacking Kantaro, Haruka observed him and finally decided to ask him. "Ichinomiya Kantaro, what are you hesitating for?" Haruka's voice was demanding. Of course, he wished to kill his ex-master in an attack, but that would not satisfy him. The revenge he had wanted for how long…could not be satisfied with a single fatal attack.

Trying to dodge another attack, Kantaro replied. "Ha…," Kantaro stopped himself from calling his ex-slave the given name, since he was back to his own self, no longer the cool yet protective Haruka he once knew. 'It's because I have nothing to put up a fight with you now…Haruka…,' Kantaro thought bitterly. Yet, going against the odds, he decided to counter-attack the demon with the same question. "Onikui Tengu, then why are you?" His crimson eyes looked deep into Haruka's pair of equally red orbs as if searching through his mind.

The simple question hit Haruka's nerves and he strike harder plus faster than usual with his sharp claws. Unable to avoid the swift fatal attack, Haruka's claws met with Kantaro's chest and left a several deep cut on his flesh. The human was attacked once again with a strong gust of winds, sending him flying across the air and his back met with a hard tree. Then he landed on his bottom. It was a lucky thing for Kantaro due to the remained effect of his previous spell that helped him to disable his pain system. Otherwise, he would be screaming or maybe wailing.

Probably, it was not a thing to be proud or grateful of since the spell itself was like a double-edged sword; there would be advantage and disadvantage as well. Such damage he received would surely alarm him of his limits if he had not been protect by the spell. Nevertheless, Kantaro was aware of it. He knew once the spell was worn off, surely he would be in Hell.

"Is this all you have, Ichinomiya Kantaro?" asked the nonchalant Haruka while he was advancing towards his prey. Sensing his closing range, Kantaro's left hand went immediately to cover his chest on order to hide his bandages under the torn layers of his clothes. Unknown to Haruka, the black-winged tengu thought he tried to stop the bleeding instead of hiding something else.

"I…," before the young man replied, a deep pain hit him hard on the chest. Finally, the effect was gone. Once it was gone, Kantaro could finally feel the damage on his own body. He wanted to scream or cry in agony, yet his mind halted him as he only lowered his head, allowing his long bangs to cover his betraying red orbs. His left hand gripped on the clothes near his chest tightly. His head was killing him, his right arm felt like being torn off, his back was like hit by a thousand of needles…Shortly, his whole body felt like on fire. The pain was so unbearable…

His mind could not even register Haruka was indeed a few steps in front of him at that moment. Big drops of sweats were formed on his body, making him looked like he just had his bath. Everything was so slow, so painful, so torturing. He wished he could moan, or scream, or do anything to make his pain go away. Yet, he could not. His voice betrayed him. He could only grip on his clothes for a little comfort to wash away the burning pain.

"I…guess I am not good enough…," he paused to take deep breathes. "…to fight you," he completed the sentence somewhat hardly. Despite the overwhelming pain, he tried to handle a small smile. "The strongest demon indeed," the silver haired youth flattered weakly.

Amazingly to Kantaro, the tengu answered nothing. He was looking, observing the weak and fragile human in front him, the one he wanted to kill on instinct. And his anger towards Kantaro's family overwhelmed his softer self as he was blind to Kantaro's weak condition. Normally he would have known it by sensing how weak Kantaro's spiritual power appeared to be. However, now his sense for that was gone. Only anger existed, and only hatred ruled.

"Pray to God for one last time, Ichinomiya Kantaro," the demon said bluntly. His words and tone were like venom to anyone else's ears. Contrary, it sounded perfectly fine to the poor young man. He accepted his fate like any man would. In fact, he was aware of his fate long time ago. Before he went to search for the spell, and before he started the ritual. Even before he released him and liberated him 'Haruka'. He knew, sooner or later, this would happen. Time was the only thing it mattered.

With a little movement of his fingers, his wand-like weapon appeared out of nowhere and the body rested on his right palm. "Regret?" asked Haruka, although it sounded more like a statement more than a question.

Smiling somewhat awkwardly, Kantaro's crimson eyes looked again into Haruka's. "Before I answer your question, I want you to reply mine first." Haruka remained silent. Upon seeing this, Kantaro opened his mouth to voice his question. "Haruka," he felt like calling his ex-slave the given name he gave suddenly. "Are you…feeling happy now?"

The black winged demon was mild bewildered by such question. Of all things he had to ask…Kantaro was still concern of him at this time? Nevertheless, being typical as he always did, he replied coolly, "Needless to say, I am."

: Flashbacks :

"Haruka, are you happy?"

"Why should I?"

"…You are not happy?"

"……"

"Because you lost your memories?"

"…Maybe."

"…I see…"

'Then…I, the one who took away your happiness, shall return it…'

: End of flashbacks :

When those words rang through Kantaro's ears, his soft smile went broader. "I see…," his breathes were shorter and it went rapidly. 'If you are happy…I am too…Haruka.' It seemed like a heavy burden was lifted from his small shoulders upon hearing the half-expected reply. Everything he had done was worth it. It was worth to make his slave…his ex-slave happy again.

Another pain snatched away his attention. His bleeding did not stop and it seemed like his other wounds were reopened, because they were bleeding as well. Every air he took was burning his lungs, yet he chose to ignore it. Unconsciously, a few drops of salty liquid rolled down from his glowing eyes. Still smiling ever gently at his ex-slave, he said, "I am glad…to know this…Thank you…"

He was feeling glad to leave the pain. He was feeling grateful to hear his ex-slave was content with the effort he had given despite his own health and life. He was joyful to know his plan did not go into waste. Oblivious to Haruka, he did not know nor understand of his ex-master's effort. He even raised his weapon as a sign to strike its opponent…

God of victory seemed to side with the vicious tengu this time. And yet, would God of mercy pull poor Kantaro's hands out of the living Hell and save him from his torments?

: To be continued :

Haruka (or you can say it is Onikui Tengu currently) calls Kantaro by his full name now, if you ever notice. Why? Well, because of the hatred buried deep down within him towards Ichinomiya-s. When Kantaro asks Haruka 'Are you happy now?' refers to the return of his origin power plus his lost memories, as well as his freedom. The flashbacks are of once Kantaro asks Haruka the same question, and the answer is actually a 'no' although the demon keeps silent. Yeah, Kantaro tries to see Haruka as the famous Onikui Tengu, yet he fails because in the end, he couldn't resist to call him 'Haruka'.

I just want to ask something: What do you think of this chapter? If it is touching…I would be glad since I meant to make it that way! Someone else feels it is boring or it is lame:bows: Sorry if you think this is not good enough ne!

Replies:

Karushna5: Aww…I know I am evil to stop every chapters as cliffhangers…:hides: Please don't kill me! XD (Haruka clone: Oww! What for you hit me? It's the stupid author's fault that she makes me this cruel!) (Rei-chan: You better zip your mouth if you want your body in a whole…) Aww…thanks for the review ne:hands cookies:

Ruby-dream: I guess I like to play with the characters…:chuckles: Well, actually Kantaro is just being Kantaro. Like in the anime, Kantaro even asks Haruka to kill him, right? This is actually in the same situation as that one, though I change it of course. :grins: Aww, you are so kind:hugs: Thanks for forgiving me ne. But I hope you won't kill me for writing another cliffhanger…:sweats: About Haruka's past…I just kinda put in…like fill in the blanks. :lol: By judging how well Sugino and Haruka's friendship to be in the anime/manga, I guess Haruka spent his time a lot with him in the past, so I make it that way. :laughs: Hope you like it that way!

Silverkaze013: Thanks for the supporting review as well as story fave and author fave:bows: I hope you like it this chapter then!

Kiokie-princess-of-pain: This story made you cried? Aww…:pats pats and hands hanky: Thanks for the review, the story fave and author fave! I am honored! Hope you enjoy this chapter:bows: And I hope you feel touched by this chapter…:lol: because it is meant to be…:sweats:

Yummy Yaoi: Hehe, thanks a lot for the review! I will try my best to upload the next chapter as soon as possible (unless my laptop wants to die on me again… :sighs: )

Goku-chan: Aww, yes, the anime/manga is really nice! XD I like the anime style more though... XP Thanks for the kind review! Hope you don't mind spoilers ne?