Rim: I've been procrastinating when it comes to writing, but I've come to a decision today since I really don't have anything to do, that I will take the next few days to finish off Half Pain. This chapter will be the pinnacle of what I've dreamed, so I hope you all enjoy it.
-oooooo-
Prince Tyson's head swam with pain he couldn't remember from what. Taking a minute to try and clear his head, before opening his eyes, the young prince found the task harder than expected. It ached relentless, making it hard for him to see even after opening his eyes. All he saw was blurred images and shadows dancing around him. Only a moment later did he recognize the cold slab of stone under his head.
Slowly sitting up to stave off vertigo, the Japanese prince gazed around his surroundings, noting the poorly lit room. The damp smell of mildew and water filled his lungs, only adding to his headache. He wished he knew where the hell he was.
"You're finally awake," whispered a voice in the corner of the room. Nearly jumping out of his skin, he turned to the voice, squinting in the darkness to find a familiar, battered figure hugging her knees to her chest.
"Nanako! Is that really you?" Tyson crawled over to where she was, his eyes tearing with relief at her being there. "Nanako, where are we?"
"Prince Tyson," she murmured, pulling him into her embrace. It was only a miracle that he hadn't been killed by now. "It's so good to see you again I was so worried about you."
"Nanako, where are we?" Tyson questioned again.
"We're in the dungeons. King Boris's men brought you here only an hour ago. I've been so worried about you over the last few months. I thought the king had you killed after showing his true colors to the people of our kingdom," she said, looking down sadly.
"King Boris…" It was slowly coming back to him. Getting news of being able to come back home, the trip, the talk with his brother, arriving and discovering the state his kingdom was in, then finding out who was behind it all. He couldn't remember anything after that; so he could have been knocked unconscious just like his brother. That would explain the splitting headache.
Jolting to attention, he looked around the dungeon at the thought of his brother. With panicked eyes, he tried spotting the shape of his brother, but didn't see the younger boy at all. "Nanako, where's my brother? He's not here with us!"
"Forgive me, my prince," Nanako cried, clinging to him, shaking. "I tried to protect him while he remained unconscious, but that man…he came and took your brother away. There was nothing I could do to stop him. Please forgive me."
"What man? Was it King Boris?" Tyson demanded.
"No sire," Nanako shook her head, tears shining in the corners of her eyes. "It was a young man with red hair. He came down to the dungeons and stared at your brother then he had the guards open the cell and he came inside. I tried to stop him, but he was too strong for me. Can you forgive me, Prince Tyson for not being able to help Prince Kenny?"
"Tala…it had to be," Tyson muttered, clenching his fists at his sides. What did the red head want with his brother; he and his brother had already destroyed the world they knew. Wasn't that enough for him?
His stomach filled with dread as he looked down at Nanako, whose eyes held guilt for what happened. It wasn't her fault for this happening. He shouldn't have placed so much trust in an outsider for their kingdom's protection. If anyone should apologize it should be him.
"Nanako, it's not your fault," Tyson smiled wearily, lifting her face to meet his gaze. "You tried your best to save Kenny you don't have to be guilty for this. I should have been wiser than to accept an offer like this without considering things. If anything, I will have to apologize to you and our people. And my family also for this mess."
"Prince Tyson, you had no way of knowing what King Boris's intentions were," Nanako stated. "We all trusted him because our kingdom was in such a grave state of panic. No one had any idea he was the cause of this panic."
"What do you mean?" Tyson frowned.
"King Boris mastered this entire plan. Your father's illness was not by coincidence. I heard him tell the King before killing him with his own hands that he hired an assassin to come poison your father and to spread rumors of other countries coming to invade, when in fact those countries are allied with him," Nanako declared.
"Why…why would he do something like that?"
"Because I want the power of the Bakuten Kingdom's heir," replied the deep voice of the Russian king. Tyson and Nanako turned their eyes to the entrance of the cell, finding the purple haired man smirking at them from outside the cell. "Prince Tyson, good of you to come back to the land of the living."
"Where's my brother? Where have your son taken him?" Tyson shouted.
"How should I know where that wretched boy has taken your brother? What does it matter, he's not the one that I need anyway," Boris shrugged off. "As far as I care, my only concerns left are you and Kai. You two will make my wishes come true."
"Is that why you sent me to your son?" Tyson growled.
"Of course," Boris answered. "Once I brought together the two halves of my plan, I could get everything else out of the way for what I have in store for the world. I'm sure Kai didn't tell you his little secret."
"What little secret?"
"Of the blood that lies within my veins," Kai answered, coming into sight from where he stood behind his father.
"You traitor! You liar! How dare you show your face to me again?" Tyson screamed. "You knew all along what your father was planning, yet you continued to go along with it. You could have stopped it! You could have told me and we could have made a plan to stop this from happening! There was no reason you had to go along with your father's insane ideals!"
"I had no choice but to obey him," Kai replied.
"You had a choice! There are always choices!" Tyson hated this man, this man who had tried to make his submit. That man, who confused Tyson with riddles, yet could once in a while be direct and generous with him. The more his eyes saw him, the more it caused a pang in his chest to ache. Despite it all, he had trusted Kai to a point. His trust had been broken and tarnished now; no way for those bonds to be secured again. "You could have…you could have chosen me over him."
"I could have," Kai murmured. "But I chose my father because what I only wanted from you was the power of Dragoon to sate the fire in my blood. You never questioned how I could sense Dragoon's power in the days we've sailed back to your homeland. How is it that an outsider could do something like that?"
"It's impossible," Nanako said. "No one, but someone who has experienced his power can sense it."
"Or someone with another guardian spirit," Kai stated, as a bright red like erupted from his back. Tyson and Nanako awed at the crimson wings sprouting from his back tipped with gold.
"Dranzer," whispered Tyson. "But how…no one outside of the Bakuten Empire should be able to form pacts with our guardian spirits! Only those with holy blood should be able to summon a guardian's power."
"What do you think is the secret my father was mentioning?" Kai said, pulling the wings back in. The light faded, leaving the air tinged with energy. "My great grandmother was a member of the Bakuten Kingdom long before being exiled from this land. She was one of the few holy families that could directly pact with the guardian spirits."
"She was…a summoner?" Tyson had been told stories of those people whose blood allowed them to ask the gods for divine protection, however the royal families feared those summoners would try and overthrow their power and take the kingdoms for their own, so their powers were drained away to keep it from happening.
"She was to be drained of her power and exiled from Bakuten however she escaped with her pact intact. She passed on her power down the lines, and my mother passed that pact onto me. I've been able to summon Darner's power for years now. When father learned about the other guardian spirits from an old diary of my great grandmother's, he immediately set to work on figuring out how to control the other spirits," Kai explained. "Only, he learned that you were just under Dragoon's protection."
"Dragoon and Dranzer are the two most powerful of all the guardian spirits are they not?" King Boris questioned. "With your power, and Kai's power, not even the rise of the other guardians can stop me."
"I would never let you use me for your grandiose ideals," Tyson retorted.
"That's what you say now, but I can guarantee that by the end of tomorrow's sunset, you will agree to anything I say," Boris replied in certainty. "I have my methods, my little prince." And with that, turned and walked out of the dungeon, leaving Kai alone with Tyson and Nanako. His auburn eyes studied the angry prince for a long second, before he too turned to leave.
"Don't test what he can do Tyson," Kai advised.
"Oh, so I should be like you and allow my people to be ruled under a tyrant?" Tyson snapped. "You're just like him!"
"I'm nothing like him," Kai corrected.
"Yes you are," Tyson voiced. "If you weren't, then why are you going through this? Why aren't you stopping him? You have the power to, you've had the power to stop him for years, and you turn a blind eye to what he's doing. If you aren't like him, do something to stop this madness!"
"It's too late for that now," Kai said.
"Please Kai, don't let this happen," Tyson begged, crawling over to the dungeon bars to look at the Russian prince. "If you're not like him, do something to help me."
"I told you, it's too late for me to do anything," Kai repeated.
"At least get my brother away from Tala. Bring my brother back to me. Don't let him be taken away from me. He's the only family I have left," Tyson pleaded. "If I fail him, I will never be able to face my mother and father on the other side."
"You should worry more about yourself Prince Tyson. You are the one that my father is after, don't forget it," Kai instructed, walking out the dungeon.
The dual haired prince refused to acknowledge the sound of the younger prince screaming for him to help him. The only thing he could do was make sure his father didn't do anything hasty to force Dragoon's power from the young prince. In the state he was in, it could only end up deadly.
Catching up with his father, Kai matched the older man's steps perfectly. "What do you plan on doing to initiate his cooperation, father? If you try to force him to submit to you, his power may awaken in a way that you will not be able to control."
"That's why I have you, Kai," King Boris informed. "If we force his power to come out immaturely, his control shall falter, giving you the advantage of binding his power to yours. Once that occurs, we will have no more use for him."
"It's dangerous to force it out of him by violence," Kai contemplated. "I've dealt with him for six months, I know his mannerisms. It's best if his power is cultivated another way through a weakness."
"A weakness," King Boris said. "He's particularly fond of his younger brother isn't he?"
"Sire, I do not believe that is a good idea. That might be one of the ways in which his power will flare out of control," Kai warned. "I propose discovering another way to bring out Dragoon's power."
"I see no better way in binding his power to you," King Boris responded.
"But sire," Kai started until his father held up his hand to silence his son.
"Where is the boy, he wasn't in the cell with his brother?"
"More than likely Tala has the boy. Since you have no use for the younger brother, he's taken the boy for a slave for the time being until he tires with him," Kai answered.
"I see then," King Boris frowned. "I guess I have no choice but to take away his play toy until I have finished using him."
"He's not going to be content with your decision," Kai announced.
"That child will just have to deal with it. I have more important matters to attend to than your brother proving that he needs whatever he believes his life is missing," King Boris scoffed.
"Yes, of course, father," Kai murmured.
-oooo-
Kenny came awake to a scream on the tip of his tongue; his knuckles were white with fear as he gripped the cover in his fists. His heart hammered against his ribcage, ready to burst from his chest at any second. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to forget the carnage of his homeland, of hearing about how his homeland came to be in such a state.
"You're awake," said a voice beside him. "I thought that blow to your head placed you in a coma." Kenny didn't say anything, especially to the person who was indirectly involved with the destruction of his homeland. Hearing the chuckled at his refusal to speak, Prince Tala shifted ever so slightly on the bed to eye the boy who was now staring down at the shackled on his wrists. "There's also one around your neck, just so you don't try to make for an escape."
"I hate you," Kenny sniffed, tears pooling in the corners of his eyes. "I wish you would die! I hate you! How could you agree to destroy my home? How could you? I thought that…I thought…you wanted someone to open up to. Yet you're…how could you?"
"You wish I would die?" Tala didn't flinch at words he had heard before. Words said by a woman who had hated him more than life itself. That woman influenced the rest of his life, and the life of a small boy, who could have looked up to him, with those words.
"I wish you would die! I wish you would die so that I would never be able to look at you again!"
-flashback-
"You filthy half breed," the woman with long silvery blue hair glared down at the five year old boy who played with a rabbit which was nuzzling his face. The little boy looked up with bright azure eyes which was suppose to be his second mother. When it came down to it, she was just like the woman who gave birth to him, except for she saw him. So often he wished she didn't because all she ever did was glare at him. Making him wish he hadn't been born in order to see such hatred towards him.
"Mo-" he started before she reached down and yanked him up. The rabbit hopped away from him towards the tree where it safely watched the events.
"Don't you ever let that word come out your mouth when you address me you little bastard!" she hissed, narrowing her auburn eyes on him. "I'll never be your mother. Who would want a little bastard like you? Not even that wolf whore that birthed you acknowledges you."
"M-" A sound slap across the face silenced his words, as the Queen shook with fury.
"I thought I told you that you are never to address me with those words," the woman scowled, shaking the little boy by his collar. "I only have need of one son, not one son and a bastard child. Just wait until my darling Kai grows up. He's going to become King of the entire Russian Empire then he's going to rightfully toss you out. Everyone knows the only reason you're here is because that whore of a mother the King is so fond of."
"I'm not her!" Tala voiced, receiving another slap from the Queen.
"You're her offspring, that's good enough for me," the Queen snapped. "I don't know what my husband sees in that whore. He has more important things to attend to. I wish you and your mother would die so we could wash our hands clean of this matter."
"What have I ever done to you?" the little red head sniffled.
"You were allowed to live," the woman hissed. "You are a curse upon this kingdom. You shouldn't have been allowed to been born. My husband should have tossed you out the moment that wench came up pregnant!"
"Momma?" The Queen whirled around, dropping Tala to look at her son. The little boy looked up at her with fear in his large auburn eyes.
"Kai, don't worry," she cooed, rushing over to kneel down beside him and take the little boy into her arms. Tala looked away from the woman and his younger brother, the rise of jealousy clawing at him.
"Why were you yelling at him?" Kai asked.
"Because he made me," the Queen stated, stroking Kai's hair. "He forced me to yell at him. He makes people do things they don't want to do. You have to be very careful of him, Kai. When you grow up, it's going to be your duty to make sure he doesn't try to corrupt our kingdom. Do you understand me, my darling?"
"Yes momma," Kai nodded, prior to shifting his attention to his older brother with an angry, cute pout. "Stop making my momma do things she doesn't want to! You're a bad person!"
"That's right, he is a bad person," the Queen nodded in agreement as Kai pulled away from her, his eyes catching sight of something. With a squeak, he rushed over to the tree and picked up the rabbit he had been looking for earlier. "Mr. Fuzz! There you go! I thought you ran away, what are you doing outside in the gardens?"
"I found him hopping around," Tala replied.
"No, I'm sure you took it from my son, didn't you?" the Queen accused.
"No, I didn't!" Tala exclaimed. "I was walking by and I saw the rabbit. I didn't take him!"
"You little liar," she remarked.
"I'm not!" Tala shouted. "That's the honest truth!"
"You wouldn't know about being honest you little whelp," she cursed. "Your kind could never be honest about anything. Come on Kai, you shouldn't be around him. We don't need you poisoned by his ways."
"I'm coming mommy," Kai called, rushing over to his mother whilst giving Tala a weary stare. The two left the little red head alone in the garden with his own thoughts, and bitter feelings arising in his heart.
-flashback ends-
Shaking off his past, Tala turned his attention back to the brunette who had quieted down momentarily to watch him. When Kenny realized Tala's attention was back on him, he glared, averting his eyes. His body was tense as he tried to stop the tears trickling down his face. If the brunette hated him, it would be easier not to feel anything, and he could finally sate himself with the boy.
"Are you truly serious about hating me?" Tala questioned, breaking the silence.
"Of course!" Kenny snapped. "How could you do something so horrible to my brother and me? Why?"
"If you really hate me, then I can rest assured that I have nothing left to worry about," Tala said softly. "I can have you anyway I want and then tossed you aside without looking back." He wouldn't have to feel anything now. All he had to do now was take what he wanted, then he wouldn't have to worry about the past that's been haunting him since the Japanese prince appeared before him. The older prince moved over to where the shackled brunette was, shoving him down on the bed and pinning his hands above his head.
"Let me go!" Kenny struggled.
"Tell me again, tell me you hate me. That you want me to die so you can never see my face again!" Tala growled. That's right, if he heard those words enough, he could return to the way he used to be. He could finally sate himself if he heard those words enough. All he had to do was make the brunette hate him then those words would come no matter what.
"I hate you! I hate you so much Tala! Why did you have to betray me like this! Why? I just wish you would die so I wouldn't hurt like this!" Kenny sniffed. "It hurts so much that I want to hate you that I want you to die."
"Then keep saying it, free us both from this pain," Tala murmured. "Say it until you believe those words like all the others before you who told me those words. You have no idea how easy it is. Keep saying them. Say them over and over until they are the only words in your heart you know. Until you feel them with every fiber of your soul. That way neither one of us will regret this."
"Shut up…" Kenny sobbed. "When you say it like that I can't hate you…I only want to shelter you from the pain that's destroyed your life. The more you push me away, the harder it is for me." The two princes fell silent; the only sound being Kenny's ragged sobbing, until there was a knock on the door. Moving from his spot on the bed, Tala traveled the short distant to the door, pulling it open to find his father standing behind the door. With a slight bow, he moved to the side.
"Is there something you need from me, sire?" Tala inquired.
"I've come for the boy," King Boris informed.
"He's not the one you need," Tala narrowed his eyes at his father. "The boy is mine to have rightfully."
"Don't back talk me boy," King Boris growled. "You forgot who is in the position to make the orders around here. If I want to use the boy how I see fit, then you will say nothing and follow my orders accordingly, do I make myself clear Tala?"
"The boy is mine," Tala repeated. "You have no right to take what I have claimed as mine."
"I have no right?" King Boris chuckled. "You seem to forget boy who kept you around when I could have easily thrown you and your mother out once I grew tired of you both. The only reason I kept you around, is because your mother was the perfect bed whore. After she had you, I couldn't possibly allow her to go. If others figured out who had sired you, there could be trouble for me, so I kept you around. Eventually I just became use to your presence, so I had no reason to usher you out of my sight when you were competent enough to survive on your own."
"I already knew you didn't want me around. Every time I turned around, I would hear about being the bastard child of the king. When no one stopped saying it, I figured you didn't care enough about my mother nor me. I never wanted anything from you, and I still don't, but you're not getting that boy from me. He's the only thing I've ever wanted from this sorry excuse of a life you've given me," Tala barked, his azure eyes flashing with possessive fury.
"You dare talk back to me boy," King Boris growled, motioning for the guards behind him to enter the room. The three guards stationed at the door marched into the room, holding up their rifles pointing them at the red headed prince. "You might be able to scare everyone around you, but you're nothing but a frightened, spoiled little boy who wants someone to hold his hand."
"Spoiled?" Tala laughed, staring down each one of the guards with a look that could easily be mistaken for the look of the devil. The guards took a step back under the icy glare. "How can a child who grew up without love and attention be spoiled? Tell me that father?"
"Don't be afraid of a dog that is all bark," King Boris told the guards. "This little boy is nothing but a pup still."
"If you honestly believe that, then try to take the boy from me. I don't give a damn about your plans for this country or this world. But I will not allow you to taken what I have earned on my own from me. So, if you believe I'm nothing but a pup with no bite, you'll have no problem with me," Tala stated, remaining his ground.
"Tala, stand down, this isn't the time for you to stand in father's way," Kai remarked, walking into the room.
His auburn eyes swept to the bed, studying the terrified boy shaking on the bed. It amused him slightly to find that all of the brunette's attention remained on the red head. Even after discovering the truth towards what Tala had done, the younger Japanese prince continued to accept him. It wasn't going to be pleasant having to strike Tala down in front of the boy. Returning his vision on his brother, he met the predator glare of a blue eyed wolf that was trying to protect its mate.
"Well, I was wondering when you were going to step in to lick his feet. The ever obedient, favorite son wants me to play nice, eh?" Tala spat.
"You've finally found something that you can have for your own, that will take the abuse and not mind. That will care for you after the pain your mother put you through growing up, and now it's threatening to be taken away from you. Of course you're going to fight, but this isn't a fight you can win. Now stand down Tala," Kai ordered.
"I'm not standing down for you or that bastard of a father we have," Tala growled.
"Move out the way," King Boris ordered the guards.
"Then you leave me no choice," Kai sighed, as his back began glowing again. Crimson energy swirled around him, dancing on his fingertips as he raised his hand towards his older brother. Shifting an eye to the young prince on the bed, Kai sighed once more. "Forgive me for this act, Prince Kenny."
"No!" Kenny shouted, realizing what Kai was doing at the last second. Shielding his eyes from the bright crimson light which exploded from Kai's fingertips. The air was electrified with energy, causing the hair on the back of his neck to stand up. Lowering his hands, Kenny discovered crimson wings sprouting from Kai's back. "That's…"
"Dranzer's power," Kai murmured, turning his eyes on Tala who remained standing, even after the energy which tore straight through his body. The red head clenched his chest as blood pooled out under him onto the floor. Despite the pain which had to be unbearable, his eyes were determined to defy everyone for what he wanted.
"Tala!" Kenny screamed, seeing the blood. "Tala, you don't have to do this. There's no way you can fight the power of one of our spirit guardians. Please let them have me."
"Shut up!" Tala coughed. "You worthless little…I'll never give you to anyone…ever…you're mine."
"It's over Tala," Kai said softly, walking up to his brother, his fingertips continuing to burn with crimson fire. "You don't have to fight it anymore. It's okay for you to rest."
"Please Kai! Don't hurt him anymore!" Kenny yelled climbing off the bed, trying to rush over to the brothers, however the chains connected to his shackled yanked him back. Turning his eyes, he noticed the chain secured to the bedpost by another shackle. Struggling to free himself from it, he turned his attention back on Kai, who was subduing the red head, while his free hand rested on top of Tala's head. "Stop, please don't kill him Kai!"
"The aviator of wolf god should know better than to get in my way. I did warn him to back down, but this stubborn fool didn't listen. I didn't want things to turn out this way, but he left me no choice," Kai said. "Now sleep, my brother."
"Stop Kai, stop!" Kenny sobbed, watching the energy explode through the back of Tala's head, his body jerking back, slumping to the floor. More blood pooled out under the now unmoving body. "How could you? How could you have done that…after all the pain you caused him…you…?"
"At least he won't have to hurt anymore," Kai mumbled, staring down at his brother. "He never has to carry the weight of what his family has done to him ever again."
"I can never forgive you for it. I will never…"
"I've given you every reason not to. Guards," Kai called. "Go get me the whip, it's time I show Prince Tyson how we handle those who won't cooperate with our King."
"Yes sire!"
Kai eyed the brunette who stared up at him with hateful, fearful eyes. While he waited to seal his fate, he mused at just how much he had learned from his brother; both in life and now after his death. It was amazing, after all this time being around the red head, it was now that he wished he could trade places with his accursed sibling. The more he carried his own burden, the more he grew haggard being encumbered to his abhorrent father, and the more he wished for his own death to devour him.
Maybe he would get his wish soon.
Maybe.
-oooo-
"Prince Tyson," Nanako started, watching the young prince yanking at the bars of their dungeon cell in hopes of yanking them open. "I don't think that's going to work."
"I have to try something!" Tyson struggled. "I can't just sit here and do nothing while they have Kenny. I have to try whatever I can to get us out of here."
"I know you're worried about Prince Kenny, I'm anxious for his safety also, but we have to think smart over our situation. Even if we get free, it's reckless to rush around with King Boris's men scattered throughout the palace. We'll be captured and then brought back here."
"I know you're right," Tyson sighed. "But a little while ago, I felt another surge of Dranzer's power from Kai. I don't know what he was doing nevertheless I got a bad feeling from it. If only I could properly summon Dragoon's power this wouldn't be a problem."
"But you can't yet, so we have to think this out," Nanako replied. "Tell me, do you know of any weaknesses the Russian prince has? If we figure it out, there's a chance we stand a chance without Dragoon's power."
"Weaknesses?" Tyson thought for a long moment, running ideas through his head over the last six months he spent with Kai, only to come up blank. Shaking his head, he gave Nanako an apologetic sigh. "I can't think of anything he considers a weakness. He never talked to me on a level that we were ever equals after showing his true colors. I was nothing but a slave to him that he desired."
"It must have been hard for you," Nanako murmured. "Every day for the last six months, I didn't expect you to return alive. The first month your father and I awaited letters from you, but none came. Then month after month, after month arrived, yet still no letters. By the fourth month, when King Boris killed your father and destroyed all resistance in our country, only then did I discover you remained alive."
"I wrote to you so many times without word of how father was doing. I wondered if our country had fallen to invaders. I feared for the worst, only to have all my expectations shattered by a far worse tragedy." Releasing the bars of the cell, Tyson rubbed his eyes with a hand, weariness settling in. "It's still hard to believe that so much has happened."
"I know, Prince Tyson," Nanako nodded in agreement, falling into a silent depression. Just as Nanako was ready to speak once more, the clicking sounds of boots echoed off the dungeon walls, accompanied by a light dragging sound. One of the Russian guards strolled around the corner with a set of keys, moving to the cell. Placing the key in the lock, he disengaged it whilst Kai and King Boris came around the corner, two more guards bringing up the rear; in their hands they carried a large object.
"I've come back to see whether or not you've changed your mind about helping us, little prince," King Boris smirked as the cell door swung open. Tyson made a dash for Kai, however, the guard which had opened the door, grabbed him, slamming the bluenette to the ground.
"Prince Tyson!" Nanako gasped, making a move to go to his side.
"Stay back, Nanako. I don't want you to get hurt," Tyson ordered.
"Wise decision, Tyson," Kai said, walking forward. "We need an answer Tyson, my father is getting impatient with you. Will you be a good boy and lend us Dragoon's power?"
"I'll never go along with such a demented plan. I don't care what you do to me, I'll never submit to you. So as far as I'm concerned, you can go ahead and kill me," Tyson snapped.
"That's too bad that you had to say that, Tyson. I didn't want to have to show you this." Kai turned his head to the two guards behind his father, motioning with his head for them to bring forward the object in their hands. Obeying the silent order, they marched forward, bringing the body to Kai. Taking the fragile form away from the guards, Kai laid the tattered figure on the ground. "Release the prince, so he can reconsider the offer."
"No…" Tyson whispered as he was released. Rushing over to the motionless, tattered and bloodied figure. "Oh gods no…"
His brother's brown hair was caked with blood plastered to his scalp. The robes which now barely covered his back were in shreds, ripped apart by what must have been a braided whip by the long, gashes exposed beneath the remains of the silk robes. Gently lifting the body into his arms, he cradled his brother's limp form, brushing blood soaked hair from the battered, pallid face.
"No…Kenny…please Sohryu…don't let him die," Tyson trembled, gripping his brother's body. Placing his cheek to the blood caked head, he prayed to the gods that he wasn't forsaken. Hot tears burned his eyes, blurring his vision.
"We both know it's too late to save him. He breathed his last breath saying your name," Kai replied, watching dark blue energy tinge the air, swirling around the Japanese prince who sobbed into his brother's hair. This was what he feared the worst from pushing the younger by these means. His father got what he wanted. Tyson's power was now breaking through the barrier immaturely, and was about to rage out of control.
"Get ready Kai, it's about time for you to be of use to me now," King Boris ordered.
"Yes father," Kai nodded, looking on at the dark stormy eyes upon him that flashed with unforgiving rage. Maybe…he really would get his wish now.
-oooooo-
Rim: Well…the pinnacle of what I dreamed is very dark and bloody obviously. I guess we blame my choice of soundtracks. People tell me to stop listening to dark, angst music while writing because it never comes out for the better. All right, on to writing up the next chapter which comes out Thursday or early Friday.