I'm really sorry. I've just had one of the worst cases of writers block,
and it's basically invaded every part of my writing life. Luckily, I
already had the first part to the next chapter done, but since I can't see
myself finishing it right now, due, of course, to the writers block, I
decided that it would be better for me to post it the way it is now,
instead of going for a couple months without updating. As it stands, this
will have to serve until the ability to write returns to me. So anyways, if
you have any brilliant, inspirational ideas for the story, PLEASE tell them
to me. Who knows, maybe that's all it will take. I'll keep trying, but if
my writing continues to come out as crappy as it has been, I'm certainly
not going to post it. You reviewers, after all, deserve nothing but the
best.
So anyways, here's the first part of the chapter.
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER NOT FINISHED!
The Ferry
Haku groaned and attempted to sit up, only to meet a hand pushing him back down. He opened his eyes and found himself beneath a copse of what appeared to be pine trees, although, here in the Spirit World, it was impossible to be sure. Nami was sitting next to him, boiling something over a bed of hot coals.
"I see you've decided to return to the land of the living," Nami said, pulling a strip of cloth out of the small pot and carefully moving Haku so that he could bind it around the wound. Haku winced, the pain from the cloth touching the wound almost unbearable.
"How. . . how long have I been lying here?" he asked, noticing for the first time that it had stopped raining. It was still rather dark out.
"About a day," Nami replied, tying the bandage tightly. "Done. You think you're feeling well enough to keep on moving?" Haku nodded, more than eager to be off again, even though he knew that it would probably be best if they rested for a few more days. Nami carefully studied his face, and Haku shifted nervously. Then Nami nodded.
"All right. We can get started, but I want to make you to make sure that you take it easy. That's no small wound that you've got, and trust me; you DON'T want it to re-open.
About an hour later, they found themselves on the bank of a seemingly endless expanse of black water. High overhead, storm clouds constantly circled, always threatening to break into a torrential downpour, but never seeming to manage it. Lightning flashes reflected off the mirror-like surface of the lake, perfectly smooth and flat. A cool wind stirred the trees behind them and ran through their hair. It felt rather pleasant after the muggy, humid conditions that they had had to endure during their stint in the forest.
About 200 meters down the beach, they could see an old, rickety dock with a large boat tied to it. The boat had a flat deck, and what appeared to be a small, one story house on it. From one of the house's windows came a soft, flickering light indicating the presence of someone within.
"Well, it's now or never," Nami said. "We might as well see who's home." Haku nodded, and slowly they made their way forward.
Toruma dropped to his knee in front of the shadowy throne. He kept his eyes cast on the ground, not looking up for fear that he would anger his master more than he already had.
"You have failed me." The cold voice of his master echoed through the stone chamber, sending shivers down Toruma's spine. He grimaced.
"Master, when we left the two spirits, the dragon wasn't moving. My soldier has already told me that he is certain that the spear pieced the heart."
"Yes. I have already talked to that soldier." A shadowy hand indicated the decapitated and disemboweled corpse lying off to the side in a pool of blood. Toruma looked away, sickened by the sight, but somehow managing to keep his expression neutral.
"Master, I did everything I could with the number of troops that were given me." He shuddered, suddenly realizing, too late, that it would seem as though he was making excuses. Belatedly, he cursed himself.
"I have already talked to Charon on this matter. The question is, what do I do with YOU?"
"Master, my life is in you hands."
"Yes, it is, now, isn't it." The voice sounded almost cheerful. "A week in the salt mines ought to do you a world of good. Maybe then I'll no longer be in the mood to wear your head as a necklace."
The doors opened and several guards came in, picked Toruma up, and dragged him out, frozen with terror.
Now, as I said before, this chapter isn't finished, but will be as soon as this cursed writers block goes away.
TME
043004
So anyways, here's the first part of the chapter.
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER NOT FINISHED!
The Ferry
Haku groaned and attempted to sit up, only to meet a hand pushing him back down. He opened his eyes and found himself beneath a copse of what appeared to be pine trees, although, here in the Spirit World, it was impossible to be sure. Nami was sitting next to him, boiling something over a bed of hot coals.
"I see you've decided to return to the land of the living," Nami said, pulling a strip of cloth out of the small pot and carefully moving Haku so that he could bind it around the wound. Haku winced, the pain from the cloth touching the wound almost unbearable.
"How. . . how long have I been lying here?" he asked, noticing for the first time that it had stopped raining. It was still rather dark out.
"About a day," Nami replied, tying the bandage tightly. "Done. You think you're feeling well enough to keep on moving?" Haku nodded, more than eager to be off again, even though he knew that it would probably be best if they rested for a few more days. Nami carefully studied his face, and Haku shifted nervously. Then Nami nodded.
"All right. We can get started, but I want to make you to make sure that you take it easy. That's no small wound that you've got, and trust me; you DON'T want it to re-open.
About an hour later, they found themselves on the bank of a seemingly endless expanse of black water. High overhead, storm clouds constantly circled, always threatening to break into a torrential downpour, but never seeming to manage it. Lightning flashes reflected off the mirror-like surface of the lake, perfectly smooth and flat. A cool wind stirred the trees behind them and ran through their hair. It felt rather pleasant after the muggy, humid conditions that they had had to endure during their stint in the forest.
About 200 meters down the beach, they could see an old, rickety dock with a large boat tied to it. The boat had a flat deck, and what appeared to be a small, one story house on it. From one of the house's windows came a soft, flickering light indicating the presence of someone within.
"Well, it's now or never," Nami said. "We might as well see who's home." Haku nodded, and slowly they made their way forward.
Toruma dropped to his knee in front of the shadowy throne. He kept his eyes cast on the ground, not looking up for fear that he would anger his master more than he already had.
"You have failed me." The cold voice of his master echoed through the stone chamber, sending shivers down Toruma's spine. He grimaced.
"Master, when we left the two spirits, the dragon wasn't moving. My soldier has already told me that he is certain that the spear pieced the heart."
"Yes. I have already talked to that soldier." A shadowy hand indicated the decapitated and disemboweled corpse lying off to the side in a pool of blood. Toruma looked away, sickened by the sight, but somehow managing to keep his expression neutral.
"Master, I did everything I could with the number of troops that were given me." He shuddered, suddenly realizing, too late, that it would seem as though he was making excuses. Belatedly, he cursed himself.
"I have already talked to Charon on this matter. The question is, what do I do with YOU?"
"Master, my life is in you hands."
"Yes, it is, now, isn't it." The voice sounded almost cheerful. "A week in the salt mines ought to do you a world of good. Maybe then I'll no longer be in the mood to wear your head as a necklace."
The doors opened and several guards came in, picked Toruma up, and dragged him out, frozen with terror.
Now, as I said before, this chapter isn't finished, but will be as soon as this cursed writers block goes away.
TME
043004