RO5
A/N: FINALLY, DESU! The next chapter! Banzai! Celebration! I'm sorry it took so long… homework, stress, getting sick… all part of this author's life…! XD so I shall make this Author's Note short, and get on with it!
Please, enjoy!
Chapter 5: Blood-Thirst
"Need help?" His voice trembled slightly, was it from the cold or from nervousness?
"No. I can do it myself." She swore. That had came out ruddier than intended.
Mikey stiffened, feeling like a guilty child about to get his hand slapped.
"I'm sorry." She whispered twisting the strings of her apron.
"No, I'm sorry. I owe you an explanation… Here. For you." He smirked lightly, thrusting the cup and bag in her direction.
She raised a brow, taking the objects from him.
"Thank you." She took the cup slightly, smiling herself. It was half empty and col. Sitting the item on the table top she peeped into the bag. Laughing, Caitlynn pulled out the latest issue of Wolverine still in plastic wrap.
"I-I figured that since it worked for me when I'm upset, maybe it might help you too." He thoughtlessly reached for the cup he had given her and brought it to his lips. At her laughter he stopped, blinking.
"Ah… Sorry." He blushed and re-handed her the cup.
"No. You're fine." It felt so good to laugh with him again.
Hallena's My Immortal Beloved, page 8
"… Ecarg… where're you going?" the soft voice echoed throughout the silent room.
The swordsman smiled as pulled on her metal gloves.
"Nowhere in particular— don't worry, I'll be back in time for dinner."
A giggle erupted from the shadows.
"… the moon looks bloodthirsty tonight, doesn't it?"
"Tsch…" Ecarg chided as she proceeded to wrap her cloak around her shoulders. "… I wouldn't go so far as that."
A pair of arms appeared, wrapping themselves around her shoulders. Hugging her tightly, it whispered gently in her ear:
"… But it will soon enough… don't you think, my love…?"
Hand meet mouth in an unruly fashion.
"… Senuta." Came the one-worded hiss.
The assassin regarded her coolly, before answering in a deep voice. "… Yuzuna."
She smirked. "What're you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be at this moment, anywhere but here?"
A shrug. "… it wasn't my position to be so tonight."
"Well, someone sent you at fine time."
"On the contrary, it was my choice," he drew out his katars slowly, the twin-blades growing larger with each passing moment.
Eyeing the sharp gleaming objects, Yuzuna chose her words carefully. "… because of the Time Venom in Second Watch…?"
"Exactly." And the grace and precision that followed awed the hunter who had one leg already out the window.
Throwing her hat up, Yuzuna welcomedhim with formality only assassins could be known to possess. Clash met clash, as sparks flew and bodies dodged flawlessly. Left right, up down, behind—
"… Senuta!" it halted both fighters immediately. One turned with a horrified expression, whilst the other lighted with an eerie glow.
In all her glory, Lady Altera Bexiterette Lauriesien Roselinia Lyrecean. Hope. Light. Mercy.
"Miss—Lady Lyrecean! Please! Ru—"
"Allie." And only he could say it with such smoothness and gruffness in his voice at the same time.
She looked ready to collapse. "Oh, Senuta! I thought… I thought that…! Mother… she called… it's not true, is it?"
Yuzuna glanced open-mouthed at the high priestess, seizing a chance as the shadows covered the assassin's eyes. Shielding them from questions. Protecting them from answers.
"Lady Lyrecean! You have to listen to me—you don't know—" she slammed her body into his as he proceeded to raise his katars once again, eyes still hidden.
Though fear flashed through the eyes, Altera took a step forward, much to the aghast of the female assassin.
"Senuta… Senuta… please… what have they done to you…?"
And he lost control. Head snapping up, he glared at her, sending wisps of hair whipping about his face. Emitting a deep all sense-lost growl, he lunged at her, the force throwing Yuzuna on the floor.
In the next moment, he halted in front of her. Circled around. And launched himself at her again, katars raised in the motion for a quick, yet painful death—
—but the blades of demise were send spiraling in the air, high above the original target, and landing point-down on the floor, vibrating slightly as it did so.
"Shivon!" The hunter that had remained frozen until now uttered a cry of relief.
Smirking slightly, the second hunter stood in the doorway, posed in the aftermath of a perfect, exact shooting, ribbons flowing around gently. "Yep. That'd be me."
Lashing around, Senuta ran full speed towards Shivon, bare hands poised for catching a neck and twisting it, only to be, yet again, slammed out of the way. But this time, it was by another female assassin.
She reappeared besides Yuzuna, glancing at the assassin on the floor with mild interest.
"… so… we're all here because of only him?"
The "twin" besides her laughed, despite the situation. "Yeah… come to think of it… I guess so!"
The other assassin sighed. "Figures."
Slowly, he picked himself up, eyes bloodshot. "I highly suggest you leave me and my unfinished business."
Mimi snorted. "And I highly suggest you to high-tail out of here before you get hurt."
He laughed a short, harsh laugh. "… always the joker, weren't you, Mimi?"
Her eyebrows flew up into her hair. "Erm… no. That would be the one next to me," she jabbed her finger left of her. "What're you… drunk or something?"
Choosing to ignore her comment, he turned to the still high priestess.
"Allie… you'll come with me, won't you?" the voice seemed almost pleading.
Her eyes widened. "Senuta, I …"
"You'll come with me, won't you?" the pleading gone. Replaced by firm demand.
"Oh!" she gasped, kneeling down, hands covering her face. "Senuta… Senuta… what has happened to you…? What has happened? Please, won't you—"
She was yanked up forcefully. "Come with me. Now." Threat smothered the speaker.
Instantly, he felt the cold steel of the staff on his back.
"Let her go."
The assassin smirked, knowing who it was without even turning around. "Friendly as ever, I see, Dark."
A snort. "Let her go." The command repeated itself.
"Why should I?" he slowly twisted her arm, making her struggle for breath. "… Why do I have to obey you…?"
"Because." The answer was short. Simple. Confusing. "… if you don't… I'm going to have to break off the deal—"
And the assassin's eyes snapped open.
"Don't you dare," he snarled, grabbing the staff behind him and turning around. "Don't you—"
The wizard regarded him calmly. "… then let her go."
Casting him the most venomous look, Senuta pushed the high priestess away.
"Miss Lyrecean!" Zeffy rushed forward, catching Altera as she touched the floor. Altera stared at the male assassin with wide eyes.
And suddenly, he appeared behind the hunter in the doorway. Locking her head in his arms, he pressed a spare blade to her neck. A single trickle of blood slid down.
"… But, since you are no cohort tonight, I am going to have to take matters into my own hands." He smirked. "I am here to do my duty, nothing else."
Yuzuna snapped. "And when is trying to kill your lover your duty?"
His smirk grew wider, and another drop of blood slithered down. "Since now."
And as soon as he said that, an unread message passed through all the assassins in the room.
Senuta slammed Shivon into the wall as two blurs raced to him, one disappearing and reappearing behind him.
He dodged Mimi's front blow, and twisted around to parry Yuzuna's. Coiling his lean body, he disappeared, and Mimi whipped around, catching Senuta's katar with the two of her own.
"Give up." She said quietly, watching those blue eyes of his with caution.
His eyes widened with mock surprise as he felt Yuzuna press another blade to the back of his neck. "…"
And suddenly, both girls were blown back as he disappeared. As Yuzuna fell back, she quickly threw a bottle of poison towards him.
He turned around and caught it. "Why dear dear Yuzuna… I never thought you would use poison against your—"
He was thrown back, spinning in the air, before crashing to the ground.
Yuzuna smirked as Mimi appeared besides her. "Who's talking now?"
He picked himself off the floor with inimitable grace. "You—"
"Hey! What's going on here?"
Everyone froze. The Militia.
A Paladin entered the room, filling it with his bulky presence. "… We've been reported by pass-byers, that there has been an attack here."
Shivon rushed to the door. "Oh! Um… hi! Yes, yes, that's right, there—there was a slight disturbance here… it's alright now."
He turned to her. "Ma'am. We've been sent to search this place out—"
Shivon giggled nervously. The Paladin looked at her uncomfortably.
"Uh…"
"Oho! No worries here, Mr. Paladin!" she pushed him towards the door, winking coyly as she did so. He looked at her oddly. "… we have this under control, thankyouverymuch!" she finished in one breath, as he toppled over the front steps.
"Have a nice day! Don't get into trouble!" she slammed the door and leaned against it, breathing hard.
"Oh My Odin. I can't believe that I just fake-flirted with a Paladin!" she looked ready to either cry or scream. Probably both.
Zeffy hooted with laughter. "Proves that you've got a baaaaad side, Shii!"
Senuta glared at them, and Zeffy quieted instantly.
"… I'll be back." He smothered the room with tenseness.
After some moments, Yuzuna chuckled. "Yeah. Sure. Though we'd prefer if you came back your normal self."
To their surprise, he laughed quietly. "… You think so? Well, this is a sign for you that I'll back here as I did today."
"Mimi! Watch out!"
A scream.
On foot. The other. One foot. The other.
She looked back at the footprints in the snow, then up to the sky, shuddering.
"… It was right. The moon…"
3 December 2005
A/N: waaaaaah! Yes! It's a cliffie! … Though some of you can probably already predict what's going to happen! Smart! Ehhh. I'm sorry it took so long to get up! Right now, I'm writing the next chapter… I hope it is up to your expectations!
Please, reviews and suggestions are always welcome!
… I'll try to update it sooner!
-hopelessmine!
