"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Nineteen: Lonely Blood
*Warning! Extreme yaoi! Read at your own discretion!*
Mia leaned over Cale's sleeping form carefully and laid a palm across his dampened forehead. Fever… She sighed to herself when she realized that the intense warmth had not subsided in the least. She glanced across the hall into Sekhmet's room. His door had been left open so she could keep a vigil on the both of them. The two warriors had fallen into fever several hours after they returned. The training she had received in a medical course in college seemed useless. She couldn't figure out why the treatments hadn't worked. She had hoped it was nothing but a chill, but her mind was painfully settling on the latter: that their mentality was in dire need of care and comfort.
Cale murmured restlessly in his sleep and began to toss about. Mia steadied his shoulders gently and reached for his hand to calm him. Instead of returning to a sound slumber, he awoke, dazed. Mia turned the key on the lantern to brighten the room slightly. The generator had frozen over and they all had to wait until morning to thaw it. She wondered if it was possible to thaw something like that.
She smiled down at the exhausted man and stroked the sapphire locks affectionately. He blinked and then smiled weakly. "Am I… dead?" he whispered. "… This must be heaven," he breathed. Mia laughed softly and continued the gentle caress upon his forehead. "No, Cale… You're in your bed."
"… Damn," he sighed and closed his eyes. He stroked the soft skin of her hand with his thumb. "… What happened?"
"You passed out on the kitchen floor a few days ago… You have a high fever too," she answered in a soft voice. Cale groaned.
"… So that's why my head feels like an ogre trampled on it…"
"I've tried everything to get your fever and Sekhmet's down, but nothing is working…" she sighed. "I'm sorry you feel sick, Cale… Sekhmet is the same way, but he's been in and out of sleep. He is recovering. It's you I'm worried about." He smiled softly and cracked open a dark blue eye. "Heh… I feel better all ready now that… I know you've been watching over me," he chuckled, but snarled as a sharp pain cut through his skull. Mia smiled gently and touched his forehead and neck with a dampened cloth. "Easy now, Cale…" she warned. He shivered.
"Why is it so bloody cold in here?" he demanded hoarsely.
"The generator's frozen… the other's can't thaw it until tomorrow when there's light. That means…"
"Noo heeaat… Blast… I can't imagine how Sekhmet is feeling." Mia chuckled and pulled the comforter over him warmly. "When he's awake, he complains about the cold. Sai swiped all the extra blankets in the house for him… It was murder keeping this one… but I saved it just for you," she smiled. His eyes opened slightly just enough for her to see the dark cerulean depths meet hers. He simply just gazed at her sleepily without a word. Mia felt his hand enclose tighter around her slender hand. "… How is Anubis?"
"… He's still up in the attic. He's been in and out of sleep as well. Anyone who tried to get near him got clawed. Dais took a pretty deep gash in his leg earlier today. He's okay now. The ward is still holding, although, Lady Kayura isn't sure how long it will hold."
"… And Rekka?" he asked.
"… She hasn't spoken a word or eaten in days. I found her upstairs with Anubis just staring each other down this morning. I think she's still up there. The strange thing is that he won't attack her… probably inner guilt. How long do you think he'll stay like this?" Cale closed his eyes.
"… I don't know. All we can do is wait…" he murmured. His eyes opened again after a pause. "Lady Mia?"
"What?" she smiled and turned down the oil lamp. Cale struggled to sit up. "Cale, don't-" He shot her a look that silenced her until he was sitting upright in bed. The sheet and blankets fell from his bare chest and he physically tightened as the bite of cold air met his skin. Mia flushed at the sight. The man was magnificent in all aspects. Slowly he reached for her face and cupped it gently in his heated hand. He pulled her face to his and kissed the side of her mouth tenderly. "Thank you…" he whispered. Without another word, he returned underneath the bed covers. Mia swallowed hard and touched her face where he had kissed her. Cale… In another instant, she heard the man's soft snore once more. She stared down at the sleeping Ronin for a long time. She glanced at the clock, which read a little after one in the morning. With a sigh, she covered him warmly and leaned down gently and placed a tender kiss on his brow before standing and letting him sleep.
*****
Nasake sighed heavily and banged her head against the keyboard. "Nothing… I can't find anything about this new armor. You must've imagined it, Dais," she said. Dais looked up from a book with agitation. "No, no, no… I didn't imagine this. It was too real… Trust me, I know what's real and fake… Keep trying." He turned to Rowen who was on his own search. "Any luck, Strata?"
"None and with the generator's power at half, I'm doing the best that I can… but I found a lot of pop-up porn sites, if you're interested," he smirked and kept his eyes on the screen. "'Amour videos'… 'Amorous girls'… A-whoa that's disgusting," he frowned. "Eww, Rowen…" Nasake scolded. "Be serious, will you?"
"I am! It's not MY fault that this is all I get!" Dais peered over his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow. "Now, I know you mortals like to play god sometimes… but that's just blasphemous! She has to have back complications… " he muttered with a light flush. Rowen chuckled at the older man's expression. "Welcome to the world wide web of silicone… They even got pills to enhance, heh, you know." An exasperated sigh left Nasake followed by the harsh clicking of the mouse in agitation. Dais gave Rowen a whap upside his head. "You idiot… Look. You misspelled 'armor'…" he said and pointed to the screen. Rowen rubbed his head and winced before looking. "Whaat… Oops…" he laughed. Dais shook his head and retreated to Nasake's side to watch her. "And they call you the smart one…" he chuckled.
"Guys? How do you spell 'amaranthine'? Maybe I can look in the dictionary for a clue. Mia's grandpa probably had it hidden away. Cause there's this one part that I need a password to access it… I doubt Mia knows it's here though." Rowen typed while he spelled.
"A-m-a-r-a-n-t-h-i-n-e. But I think you should ask Mia."
"Why? We can do this ourselves. She has enough of which to worry," Dais said. Rowen rolled his eyes and returned to surfing.
"Okay lessee… 'Amaranthine: adjective… One. Undying or unfading, like the legendary amaranth. Two. Of a dark reddish purple color…' That's weird…"
"Sounds like the flower… Look up amaranth next," Dais suggested.
"'Amaranth: noun… One. A plant with long drooping heads of small green, red, or purple flowers. Two. A flower, that, according to legend, never fades.' That's kinda cool." Dais kneeled beside her. "Bring up the password input… I want to try something."
"Done."
"Type in… 'Flower'."
"Access Denied."
"… 'Legend'."
"Access Denied."
"… 'Eternity'."
"Access Denied." Dais groaned.
"… Damn twentieth century technology," he spat to himself.
"We aren't getting anywhere…"
"Rooowen! I need to talk to you-" Mia stopped in the doorway of the study. "What are you guys doing?" Dais immediately straightened and stood. "And on my computer no less…" She was always surprising him now. He attempted to hide the blush creeping to his cheeks. "Uh, well you see-"
"Mia, we need a password to access a file that might help us out. Dais had a dream about the Ancient and a new armor…" Mia began to pick up the books from the floor where Dais had left them. She set them on the desk and took the keyboard. She typed then returned the collection of books to their shelves.
"Access Granted… Hello Mia."
"Grandfather always used my name as a password… It made everything a lot simpler for him. Who can remember fifty passwords?!" she laughed.
"Who's the smart one now, Dais?" Rowen said smugly. Dais frowned, but then smiled.
"Mia… dear… I asked Strata to help our search through the Internet and guess what he found?" he asked in a tone that mocked his surprise as he slid his arm around her shoulder and guided her to Rowen's laptop.
"What?" she asked.
Rowen shrank back in his chair as Dais turned the laptop around…
*****
Rattling chains started Tori from her light doze as she slept on a dusty couch that was rather dangerously close to his ward. She fell off sprawled onto the hard wooden floor. "Oww…" She clutched the back of her head in pain. More rattling of the chains pulled her attention towards the trapped warrior. Again he was clawing at the floor and banging on the walls of the ward as he thrashed about. It had been almost a week since the Ancient's death and Anubis' transformation. Every day she snuck up to the attic and just watched him from her haven on the couch. She wasn't sure why she did it. All she knew that it made her feel slightly better. It gave her something to do. However, she never said a word to him. She would only stare at him for almost hours on end. Today she had fallen asleep on the couch before he woke.
Tori's heart jumped into her throat as the sound of his skull crashed against the invisible wall. His back had been to her. He fell back with an angry snarl, a track of blood rolling down his beast-like visage from the impact. He was back on all fours as if it hadn't happened. He was about to try again, when he froze and sniffled the air. He scanned the dim attic slowly and then turned. As soon as he saw her sitting almost within arms reach of her he stilled and just stared through the shaggy and dirty auburn locks that had grown over his eyes, but they were not as hard as earlier. Instead they were more frightened than angry. Aware of his she slowly crawled closer to him. He etched back and began to snarl in a low tone. His eyes turned harsh and full of rage in disapproval of her motions. Tori frowned and glared at him darkly. You moron… I'm not going to hurt you! Her eyes sparked with fire for an instant, making him silent and still. She glanced at an open wound upon his leg. It was growing swollen and on the verge of infection. Eww… That needs to get looked at. Not able to halt her instincts, she reached for his leg slowly. The tattered jeans were split at the seams and offered some kind of shield for the wound. She watched his eyes for him to react violently again and prepared to return with another fire blazed glare. As soon as she took her eyes from him, he snatched her arms and pinned her to the floor. She opened her mouth to scream and he covered it roughly. She struggled to free herself. I'm gonna die! He clamped down harder with his claws digging into her skin until tears of pain and fear coursed down her cheeks. She finally stopped struggling and instantly he yanked her to his chest and buried his face in her neck. A soft whimper left his throat and he gripped her sweater tightly. Tori froze and listened, as the whimper became a low moan that was heartbreaking. Is he… crying?
"… K… Kaaa….os…" he moaned sadly. Tori caught her breath and felt her bottled up sorrow crash through her and race down her face. She sat there as he clutched her against his massive frame saying and doing nothing. She just listened to his soft wails. As soon as she touched his back with a cold hand, he fell limp against her and crashed to the floor. She stared at his body shocked. He had returned to normal.
In the dimly lit upper room, she could see his fresh tears catch what little light was available. She caught her breath as she saw that it had not been tears, but blood.
She scrambled down the stairs to find Sage.
*****
Fou-Lu twirled the ends of Zeal's amber hair in his clawed hand, as they lay exhausted from their nightly encounter. He felt her gentle hand running along the side of his abdomen as she lay atop him. He felt her sigh heavily and halt her movements. "Something wrong, my dear?" he inquired deeply.
"No, my lord… It's nothing important," she lied and stared at the flames that still burned on the candles surrounding the bedchamber. She glared at them darkly. "Emperor Talpa wishes for me to go to the Ronins in a few days… I am to bring Badamon's latest concoction and kill their precious Ancient girl… How I hate her and her clan," she confessed and sat up. Her body gleamed, still damp from the sweat of their lovemaking. Fou-Lu smirked and still toyed with her hair. "Ye sound like ye art not looking forward to it… 'Tis not like thee…"
"… I- I know. It's silly…"
"You art afraid to go?" he asked and sat up slowly. He received a slow nod and knew. "… Ah… I see… 'Him'…"
"At least that girl is gone," she stopped when Fou-Lu's expression caught her attention. "She's alive, isn't she?"
"Very much-" Zeal abruptly leapt out of bed. In a burst of bright blue flames, she vanished from sight. Fou-Lu sighed and stretched before sliding out of bed. He slid his robe on and stepped into the shadows of the bedchamber. "Fool," he muttered and reappeared in the corridor leading down into the dungeon. He summoned his armor as he met the guards at the gate. They stopped his entry with great hesitance and nervousness. Fou-Lu's eyes darkened. "Let me pass…"
"My-my lord… No one is to see Lord Raiko, but the high priest and His Majesty," he said in a shaken voice. The other guard did not utter a word as bullets of sweat formed on both men's bodies. "… May I ask why?"
"… Raiko has not received punishment from his crimes upon Lady Managi… He is awaiting it and no one can see him until-" Fou-Lu narrowed his eyes slightly and the first soldier grasped for his neck and gasped helplessly. "… Mine master has directed me to commence the punishment as I see fit…"
"Emperor Talpa didn't inform us about-" the second soldier dropped to his knees, choking to death. "I did not say that Emperor Talpa ordered me… These come from a… darker power… far greater than Talpa…" He opened the door and released them. "No one enters until I leave. Is that clear?" he ordered over his shoulder.
"Y-yes sir!"
"A-Aye…"
Fou-Lu descended the slick stone steps of the dungeon that twisted around the stone column further he went. Slowly his eyes became accustomed to the darkness and the pungent stench of the dark halls grew stronger with the dampness of the still air. Within the time of descent, moisture collected upon his armor and hair nearly drenching him. The halls were so dimly lit that he could barely see the guards and the cells and chambers of which they guarded. His footsteps echoed in the dark corridors as he drew closer towards Raiko's cell, in which he deduced by the number and manner of armored guards that watched the door. The guards straightened as he made his presence known. "C-commander!" one of them managed to say and collapsed to one knee. The others followed in suit all equally aware of his power. "… Is he awake?" Fou-Lu inquired.
"Lord Raiko? Y-yes… Is it time for-" Fou-Lu unlocked the large iron-like door with a lift of his hand and opened it. His hands returned to his back and he stood in the doorway staring at the silhouette of the chained warrior. "… Whatever ye hear, do not enter this chamber, understood?" he ordered.
"Yes sir!!" Fou-Lu stepped inside and the heavy door closed behind him slowly. Raiko lifted his head from where he stood and turned to face his visitor. He scowled and turned his back on him. His hair hung to his waist ragged and mussed. His tail lashed about wildly in an agitated manner. "Why are you here? Emperor Talpa forbids it." Fou-Lu stepped toward him slowly. "He sent me for thine sentence for the crimes ye committed against Managi…" He watched Raiko lean against the cell's wall of stone. "Let's get it over with… What is it? Ten thousand lashes? The abyss? Or perhaps the cross? I hear the only one that survived that was the Warlord of Venom…" he spat sarcastically.
"… The Ancient One is dead," he said. Raiko's head shot up quickly.
"Truly?! What of the lady Ancient and the-"
"Soon…" he paused and stepped closer. "Was it worth it?" he asked.
"… Feh… of course," he chuckled. "Resistance excites me…" He paused and straightened. "Does she live?" he asked suddenly over his shoulder.
"Aye… For now…" he replied stretched his arm to the wall, blocking his only escape. Raiko felt his breath on the back of his neck as he pulled the long hair away. He shivered and dug his claws into the wall as lips caressed the nape of his neck. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back. Fou-Lu grabbed his large arms in an almost crushing grip and yanked him around, trapping him against the wall with his strong arms and his own body. Raiko's breath was heavy in his sudden excitement. Fou-Lu's armored hand reached up and gathered a lock of damp hair in his fingers. He smiled much to Raiko's comfort. "… The Emperor suggested… this?" His voice had grown low and husky and practically gasped the question. Fou-Lu's lips descended upon his and stopped any further speech. He buried his claws deep within his hair, mouth hungry and slightly punishing as the sweetness of feral blood touched his tongue as his tiny fangs pricked the edges of his lower lip. Raiko groaned blissfully against his mouth as the feel of his leader's now nude body against him heated up his flesh. Even through the thin and tattered rags of his prisoner's raiments it was enough to send him over the edge.
Fou-Lu tore his mouth away roughly and snatched the cloth separating them. He tore it easily free, pushing it back and tossing it away, revealing the scarred and stone chiseled chest beneath it. "… Not even the Warlord of Venom would survive this unscathed," Fou-Lu spat and claimed his mouth roughly again. With an inarticulate growl, Raiko threw Fou-Lu to the dust covered ground. A half pained, half-feral growl emanated from Fou-Lu's throat as he grinned wickedly letting his eyes roam the hardness and strength of his tight body. Unable to stop himself, Fou-Lu slid his palm to the front of Raiko's stomach, dragging his claws lightly against the heated skin and wandering farther down erupting a pleasure moan from him, while the other journeyed upwards, entangling strong fingers in the lavender tousled hair. Fou-Lu tightened his grip and yanked back almost too roughly, exposing the pale throat and extracting a pleased groan from the enthralled warrior as his lips and heated tongue bathed his skin. As if Raiko's voice actually had ordered him to, Fou-Lu's fangs devoured the exposed flesh hungrily, drawing dark sweet blood with gentle grazes from the razor sharp points. Raiko moaned again and ground his hips into his massaging hand. Fou-Lu captured the gasp in a forceful kiss and rolled the slightly smaller man onto his back. He plunged his tongue deep into Raiko's mouth, swallowing whatever sounds that poured from his throat. He bit down accidentally on his lower lip, drawing the sweet blood again, as claws dragged down the light toned flesh of his back and grasped his grinding hips tightly in his hands. Raiko hissed in pain, but ignored it as he felt the pains of arousal being held too long. A large hand began to pump in a slow and steady rhythm that tormented his senses. He nearly screamed in pleasure when the calloused clawed hands rubbed and massaged him as if he were made of clay. He bit savagely at his throat, lapping the trickles of the saccharine fluid that flowed down his neck hungrily. Time seemed to drag on until the heat and wetness of Fou-Lu's mouth consumed him. He gasped as the roughness of his tongue caressed and slid against the hardness in an agonizingly slow pace.
Raiko's eyes opened slightly. Even in the pitch-black room he could find the heavy, muscular outline of his lover nestled in between his thighs. It was almost too much for him to bear as he grasped the ivory locks in his claws and breathed his name. This torture was pushing him to the brink, then he stopped. Raiko whimpered in protest and grunted when he found himself face down on the cool stone floor. He let out a deep snarl and clawed savagely at the ground, seemingly begging for release in his moans. Fou-Lu clamped down on one shoulder and placed himself at his entrance, while grasping the tail that thrashed wildly, and slid inside of the beast man's tight flesh. Raiko hissed in pure pleasure and thrust himself against the entire length of his commander, impatient as ever for release. He was nearly paralyzed with ecstasy. He was touching all the right spots inside him. Moaning loudly he pushed back defiantly into Fou-Lu's painstaking and thorough thrusts, pulling him deeper into him with each one. His hips lifted off the ground and braced himself on all fours.
Fou-Lu felt his mind haze as he glided in and out of his tight flesh. He grabbed his strong hips in both hands and increased his thrusting, his own breath becoming heavy and hot. He leaned over his arched back and hooked on arm around his stomach, crushing him to his chest. Raiko practically snarled as he continued in a too slow of pace. Fou-Lu's breath became more and more heavy from the strain of going so painfully slow with him, but the moans of pain and pleasure was more than worth it and the feral demon was even in for a bigger surprise.
He slid his arm farther down and over his firm and muscular stomach and teasing the tender area's curls with his claws. Raiko glanced down then tipped his head back in protest when it lingered so close… He bit his lip, drawing blood and dug his hips harder into Fou-Lu's slow grind. He gasped as his punisher quickened his pace, pulling nearly all the way out and all the way inside of him. He cried out as Fou-Lu wrapped his hand around his throbbing length. The calloused hand began to pump him again slowly. He grasped Fou-Lu's arm and clawed him for more. Raiko felt torn between pushing into punisher's pumping hand or to grind his hips faster and harder against the enormous length. He screamed out Fou-Lu's name and increased the thrusting that was all ready at a tiring speed.
Fou-Lu grinned tiredly. The thoughts and sensations that Raiko gave as he imagined the cries and the slick heat that rubbed the whole length of him sent him over the edge. He pounded harder into Raiko and pumped his hand faster over the entire feral's piece. Raiko felt wave after wave of pleasure drown his senses. The wave built higher and higher, but never fell. It was all he could do to find the strength to keep up with the pace and hold himself up. He cried out to Fou-Lu to go faster and harder and he could do nothing but oblige to it. He gripped him even tighter as his hand pulled on the hot flesh in his palm.
Raiko was on the brink of insanity. The hard but long thrusts impaling him along with the rough hand massaging his entire length pulled him to his peak. Fou-Lu ran his hand over him once more and Raiko let out a roar as the tsunami crashed down on him. Fou-Lu did not stop. Raiko convulsed around him, the tightness of his buttocks clenching around his throbbing length. Fou-Lu rode into his own orgasm bucked against the still moaning feral demon.
Panting heavily, Fou-Lu pulled out of him slowly and summoned the armor. Raiko turned on his back and gasped. "M-my lord…" he moaned.
"… A-aye?"
"I thought you… came here to… punish me…" Fou-Lu grinned in the darkness.
"I did… Lady Managi?" he called. The cell lighted a dim teal and she emerged from the shadows, eyeing the spent warlord darkly. Raiko chuckled deeply. "Is my sentence: 'mate until death'?" Fou-Lu pulled the young woman close and kissed her forehead sweetly. "… Inform him of his fate, would ye, my lady?" he chuckled.
"His lordship drank a special elixir for a week straight… Now you will feel its effects shortly," she replied and pulled the thorned whip from around her waist.
"Ohh, I've felt it all right…" he grinned tiredly. He then felt a throbbing pain in between his legs. He glanced down and gasped. "What did you do to me?!" he hissed. Managi cracked her whip dangerously close to his now erect length. "… Now thine punishment begins…" Fou-Lu said in a deadly voice. "Lady Managi… Do with him as thee wish…"
"Lord Fou-Lu! NO!" he pleaded. "Don't-"
"… Thee have nine lives. For what are ye worried?" he smiled and disappeared into the shadows. Raiko turned his head to Managi. She flicked her finger and sent him flying up against the wall, binding his ankles and wrists with shackles of teal light. "My lady… Do- do not do this!"
Managi's eyes darkened and she raised her arm and brought the whip down with a slicing blow…
*****
Zeal squinted her eyes in the freezing ice storm that plagued the valley. This weather is ridiculous… We're supposed to be able to travel too… Ignorant old foul, she thought about Badamon and turned her head to one of her black, cloth-clad demon. "Do away with this weather… Can't see a damn thing," she muttered. It nodded hesitantly and floated towards the sky slowly. The powerful gusts tore the cloth as it fought upward against the storm. Thrusting its ghost white palms high into the night sky, it released a sky splitting screech, overpowering the howling of the tempest spell. The angry wind and blades of ice swirled around the wraith and the cloud opened up and swallowed the wind and ice. The night fell silent once more and the moon lit up the valley brightly. Zeal uncovered her ears and greeted her servant with a sigh. "… Couldn't you have been quieter?" she asked. It shook his head shyly and wrung its hands. "Did you see anyone while you were up there?" she asked. The wraith shook his head again.
"Alllll arrre… sleeeeping…" it whispered. She smiled.
"Excellent… Guard the portal until I return," she ordered. She vanished in a wisp of blue flames.
*****
Anubis opened his eyes slowly and carefully. What… what happened? he asked himself. He touched his forehead reflexively as his head began to pound. It was then he noticed the chains around his wrists. He sat up in shock. What the devil?! I… He froze when he recalled his last thoughts of clear consciousness. His heart and shoulders sank as images of a shadowed creature, the Ancient, and his comrades filled his memory. He felt his face and hands in a panicked motion. The fangs and claws were gone to his relief and he swallowed a large lump of sorrow in his throat. He didn't remember anything after that, but he had dreams of attacking and threatening the others violently and viciously. He could smell the scent of blood lingering on his hands. A combination of people. "… Not again…" he whispered and clutched his head angrily. He felt slight movement beside his leg and he stiffened. Looking right, he peered at the form sleeping soundly. Tori's head was pillowed on her arms as she sat on the floor beside him. Gently he reached over and touched the soft auburn locks as he remembered another dream he had. It was his last one before he had woken. She stirred, but did not wake. Anubis glanced at his chains again and frowned. "Damn… Mythril…" he muttered. It was the only metal that he could not bend to his will, on his own at least.
"Allow me…" a voice spoke softly. The chains unlocked and felt easily to the bed. He rubbed his bruised wrists and stood quickly, careful not to wake Tori. "Who's there?" he demanded. A shadow darted across the floor behind him. He turned to the window and saw a figure perched on the sill. "… Z-zeal…" he gasped and swallowed hard. He darted to his nightstand to snatch his yoroi, but found himself inches from Zeal as she blocked his path. "… You don't need that…" she smirked and dragged her fingertip over his chest slowly. She circled him and ran here hands over his hardened body. It was then he realized that he had on not a shred of clothing. "… You've… improved over the years… Very nice…" she whispered and brought herself against his chest. Anubis pulled back. "You… you shouldn't be here," he whispered. "If the others should find you-"
"Shh…" she touched his lips with her finger. "I didn't come to fight you, Anubis…" She glanced behind her. Anubis caught her arm roughly.
"Please, no!" he hissed. "She's just a young girl…" he pleaded. "This has nothing to do with her!" Zeal wrenched her arm away.
"I will be the judge of that… Her time is not now," she said in a normal tone.
"Hush!"
"She can't hear me, you fool," she laughed and stepped toward Tori's sleeping form. She pushed her over and she fell against the floor. "See? She'll wake in a few hours…" she chuckled.
"What do you want?" he demanded in a harsher tone. Zeal sighed and advanced towards him. "… I snuck out," she confessed. "I… heard about what happened to you… I wanted to see you. It's been so long," she said in a pained voice. She slid her hands over his shoulders and down his arms, before taking his large hands in her slender ones. "… Didn't you want to see me?" she asked. Anubis lowered his eyes.
"O-of course… but… you are the enemy," he whispered sadly. "You died. You killed yourself over something that in which I still am in the dark. Talpa resurrects you and… you are not the woman I loved…" Zeal grasped his face in her hands.
"No, no, my love! I am still her…" she smiled. "It doesn't have to be like this… Come back with me… Talpa will forgive you for your actions. You were a confused man and he is merciful-"
"No. He is not. He killed innocent women and children. Raided villages. Forced people to follow him with the threat of death. We had no free will, Zeal! You are his puppet! If not his whore! You are just like Kayura was!" Zeal delivered a slap to his face.
"Never compare me to that wench!" she snapped. "… I have free will. Talpa has changed since you and the others left. He has become kind and compassionate. He treats Managi and myself like we were queens. He would treat you like a king! Just like Kaos-"
"Talpa is nothing like the Ancient!"
"Of course he is… They are twin brothers, after all…" she smiled. "He left the clan because he was shadowed by Kaos. He had no choice but to become dark. All he ever wanted was the same love and compassion Kaos got. His jealousy drove him to the dark side. Once he returns to the Mortal Realm, he will return… I promise you, my love…" she explained. Anubis looked away.
"… I find that hard to believe…" he said sadly. "He had me attack Sekhmet's empire and Managi cannot remember him because of me… He poisoned my blood and I cannot even control these… transformations! Talpa choked the life out of me… nothing will make me return to him…" he stated defiantly. He grasped her arms gently. "… Stay here with us. Help us stop Talpa and his plans to take over…"
"I cannot. I will not… These humans have poisoned your mind, Anubis. You are not thinking clearly…"
"I am thinking clearly for the very first time… I just want… the fighting to stop… I want us…" he finished. "Please reconsider…" he begged. "I cannot bear to loose you again…" he whispered and pulled her forehead against his. Zeal touched his mouth softly with her own in a tender kiss. Anubis hesitated briefly before his own longing desire just to be able to see her clouded his mind. He knew this was wrong, but he loved her. How could that be so wrong? Confused over the mixed emotions now coursing through his still feverish body, he went willingly. He slid his hand through her soft hair, fingers burning from the last time he was able to touch the silken locks, and pulled her mouth deeper into his. He could not stem the reaction he felt in the pit of his stomach as his other hand dropped to the small of her armored back, and he pulled her toward him and against him. Without any hesitation, he allowed her tongue entry, and he joined it with his own in a kiss that he thought he would only experience in his dreams.
She abruptly ended it and pulled out of his arms, surprised when she met with a slight restraint. He met eyes that had been once soft and calm were now harsh and cold, emotionless and dark. "… Z-zeal?" he managed to utter. She straightened and glanced back at Tori. He retracted his hand and stood still. "… Why did you do it?" he asked. "Why would you kill yourself?"
"… You really have forgotten everything," she laughed bitterly and turned to him. "You betrayed our love… with this… girl you are so hell bent on protecting."
"W-what?" he gasped. "No, I-"
"Master Talpa showed me… then ordered me to kill you for your treasonous thoughts and ideas… Your loyalty was wavering. It was a direct order from him… I stowed away into your room while you were sleeping," she said softly. "… You looked so peaceful… I had the knife and… I couldn't stop thinking about that image of her and you together in…" she paused. "I still could do it! I was so angry! I left the room and…"
"Aye… I remember… There was blood everywhere…" he finished, eyes closing releasing tears. "I… I never betrayed you…" he added. "I know there is no way for you to believe me, but… this girl… is not the same as you saw. She is just a human… and you died nearly ten mortal years ago… She would have been only the age of nine!"
"I know what I saw, Anubis!" she spat and dashed to the window. "And that is all I need to know… Goodbye. We will not be meeting under these circumstances again… I suggest you keep a watchful eye about your… child of fire…" she snarled and leaped into the darkness. Anubis mashed his eyes with the bottom of his palms in frustration and sighed out a cry. "Gods, why?" he cried and fell to the carpet in a silent sobbing heap.
His bedroom door opened slowly and Whiteblaze poked his head inside. Anubis jumped when he felt the tiger's large face nuzzle his fevered back affectionately. His eyes narrowed at him. He obviously understood more than he'd given him credit for. A sudden guilt washed over him as he realized that he had overstepped his boundaries. Like Sekhmet, he was in love with the enemy. He tried to forget about her and everything and every moment they had shared, but somehow this feline saw behind the mask. "… I know," he admitted and hung his head. "I could get us all killed… Kaos died, because I didn't realize it soon enough…" he whispered. He watched his eyes register his words and growled in a low tone that disagreed with his conclusions. His head seemed to shake. Anubis reached his hand up to the large head and ran his fingers through the soft fur slowly. "… You don't believe that?" Whiteblaze purred in response and nudged the man's hand. "What do I do then? I don't think I have the heart to kill her…" he said. Whiteblaze stood and padded over to Tori's still sleeping form. He bent down and nudged the young woman's chest and looked back at him. He licked her hand and looked back again. Anubis colored. "I hope you are not suggesting what I think you are suggesting," he whispered. Whiteblaze sat on the floor rather roughly in a manner that seemed agitated and annoyed at the man's interpretation. Human were always slow to grasp things. Anubis recognized his actions in a way that was similar to Mia when she would cross her arms in annoyance when she was dealing with Hardrock or Sekhmet. Anubis' eyes widened, in realization of the cat's irritation, he noted that what he thought was a mistake. Apparently, his stubborn and rude behavior towards the younger summoner had even Whiteblaze thoroughly pissed off and sick of it. "… Sorry…"
Whiteblaze looked down at Tori sadly and then padded over to the chair. He pulled a blanket that had been left there with his teeth and dragged it toward Tori. He set it aside and went to Anubis' chest of drawers and pulled the handle, opening it. He propped himself up and dug around inside with his nose. He pulled out a pair of sweats and dragged them over to Anubis. The man took them and remembered that he was stark naked in the middle of his floor. "O-oh…" Anubis slipped them on quickly and Whiteblaze pulled him over to Tori with his teeth clamped gently around his wrist. "What?" Whiteblaze held the blanket in his teeth. "… Oh…" Anubis stooped over and lifted her into his arms. She shivered and nestled into his chest. He stood there and stared at her. He noted the striking resemblance she bore to Zeal. The hair and temper were the same. He remembered her words as he carried her to her bedroom and placed her into her unmade bed. Whiteblaze had followed and held the blanket in his mouth. Anubis looked down at him. He chuckled softly at the big eyes he gave him and took it. He pulled the covers around her warmly. He sat on her bed and stared at her. He realized that he was back to 'normal' and dreaded the next morning when he would have to face her and her sorrow. Whiteblaze nudged him for reassurance and licked his hand. "… I know… I just wish that I could have saved him…"
He stood and padded back to his room where he lay awake until the sunlight spilled across the bedroom floor and the birds began to sing once more…
Dawn breaks; there is blue in the sky.
Your face before me though I don't know why.
Thoughts disappearing like tears from the Moon…
Now I know I must leave your spell
I want tomorrow.
Enya~ "I Want Tomorrow"~