I need to update on this more. A lot more. But I kinda go on a cycle and update every story once in a while. Here's how I plan it the next few chapters, if any of you want to know:
Chapter 5: The Attack
Chapter 6: In Hiding
Chapter 7: I Can't Do It
Chapter 8: Time To Admit
It'll be more relevant when you finish this chapter, by the way. Especially chapter 7. I'll try to update soon, by the way. Thanks, all of you, for reviewing this.
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It was a rainy day, and Chase was walking alone outside, practicing his martial arts skills. Chase had still been avoiding Sakaya to the point where he wanted to just burst, but he held out. Every time he heard her, or could sense her presence, he averted his eyes and hurried to his destination. He just couldn't face her, and he didn't want to be acting suspiciously, as if he liked her.
The battle he had fought the first day that Sakaya had come visiting was still raging deep inside of him. Did he really love her? He wanted to keep hiding the enormous monster within, but it was struggling to come out.
Suddenly, Chase's mind became alert as the sound of footsteps drew closer to him. He froze instinctually.
"Chase," Sakaya said in a soft voice. Chase knew there was no point in running away. She was already next to him. "It's just that…well… I have a lot of frustrated feelings about staying here with you, in your cave. And not just the thing about being worried that someone from my world will discover that I'm still staying. I mean… well, at first you seemed eager to let me stay, and it was pretty weird because I thought that you detested me and my people. And now…every time I come around, you turn your head away and walk by really fast. Why are you avoiding me? What's the purpose of doing that? It just makes me feel kind of hurt."
Sakaya had a sad expression on her face, as if she were struggling to hold back tears. Chase immediately felt a strong urge to hug her, but right before he was about to do it backed away from her. He gave her an uneasy look, which made her smile a little. "Well, it's just that I don't really have time to talk to you. I have many plans."
Chase felt guilty about lying, but there was no other way. He couldn't let her find out what he felt for her. Sakaya gave him a serious look. "Yeah, but…still. You could at least try talking to me or waving. I won't complain anymore, I'm sorry. Really. I also wanted to tell you…when I'm around you always get this kind of weird look on your face. Like… you look really nervous for some reason. I mean, it's just me. Do you think that I'm the one responsible for your predicament or something? I'm just telling what's been told to me, I'm not judging your attitude and crucifying you for it or anything like that. Is that why you're avoiding me? I promise, I'm not up to anything."
Chase breathed deeply, relieved. When she had mentioned the part about the look on his face, his palms had gotten extremely sweaty. If she knew… he shuddered. What would become of the great lord Chase Young, fallen to love? He gave her a cold look that he felt was faltering. "I'm sorry for that. Next time I'll make a note to talk to you, are you happy now? And yes, that was why I was nervous. I was afraid that you would be trying to judge me, to destroy me in the end. No other reason."
Sakaya smiled affectionately, admiring his look. Chase felt his normally cool cheeks warm and he turned to hide it.
"All right. I guess I'll see you sometime?" Sakaya asked.
"Don't count on it," Chase said, not looking at her.
"That's so kind of you," Sakaya retorted with a look of false anger. She walked away, disappearing into the mouth of the beast that held his precious palace. Chase watched her light and graceful steps until she stepped in and disappeared, and then he began to smile a little. It was funny, how Sakaya could tell that he was nervous around her, that she could sense his tension, yet not understand the true meaning of it. He didn't intend for her to find out, but felt bad because he was still lying to her, hiding from her.
"Well, I'd better get back to my work here," Chase muttered brightly. He couldn't help it. For the first time in the few days that had passed by, he felt happy. He had finally had a conversation with her, heard her sweet voice again. Even if the conversation didn't exactly go well, he was happy just to hear her, to talk to her.
For the rest of the day, he kept on slipping up as he continued designing new layers for his cave because his mind kept wandering.
--
It was nighttime, and Chase kept his curtains close this time. He could still feel the gentle breeze floating through the air and enjoyed it for a while as he lay on his hard bed. He had trouble sleeping. For some reason, it felt as if somebody was following him. But he pushed the though out of his head. Who would be? Sakaya wasn't a pervert.
Suddenly the blue glow of the night faded and there was a darkness that blanketed his room. "What's going on?"
A shape emerged from the darkness. Chase felt a cold tinge, a feeling of dread arising in his heart. The figure stepped closer, and Chase could see the shadow of the beast. A thin body with an eerie red glow, with evil claws and two sharp horns sticking out of its head was shown. The devil.
"Why do you return?" Chase asked cautiously. "Is there something you want with me?"
The devil, lit with a red glow, smiled evilly. "I have heard that you did not fulfill what was meant to be fulfilled. You did not make the potion, and your 1500-year time period is up already. You had trouble with the dragon, I see? Defeated by Master Monk Guan… hmmm. It looks as if immortality isn't going to be the way for you after all. But I offer you a last chance at immortality, because I know that you have great powers and excellent insight as well, which may prove useful to me."
"Well then…" Chase said nervously. "What is it that you desire from me?"
"Deliver me the dead body of Sakaya," the devil said, his terribly eyes flashing wildly. "She is living with you, is she not? Well, well… she has been a deliverer of peace for quite a while now. Causing kindness to prevail over destruction and evil, she cannot live if evil is to succeed. Kill her and bring me her body, and I will grant you your wish after long last. If you fail…I will kill you myself."
"What?" Chase cried. "I can't do that."
"Why not? Have you fallen to her powers, her ridiculous chain of lies about good? You, enslaving so many warriors, you, the greatest warrior ever, can't even kill a simple woman who never deserved to exist and is weak to every last degree?" the devil sneered at Chase. "If that is what you wish for, I can take care of you right now. I will give you another month to finish this quest. You must kill her."
"But…" Chase protested. "It's pointless."
"Maybe to you, Chase," the devil leered. "But it would be a great fulfillment. You have her right in your hands. Finish her off. She will not defend herself."
"But why me? You have enough power to destroy her. Why did you ask me to do this task, when you could do it right now?" Chase asked, desperately hoping that what he had just said would not inspire the devil to actually do it.
"Because I have known her from since she was born, as one of the greatest people of her world. And from that point on, I have investigated her many times, but I have never seen her behave to anyone the way she has to you. She loves you. I enjoy tormenting people, making noble people all around regret dealing with evil, and I love betrayal and unrequited love. That is why I ask you to do it. It would entertain me so."
"All right." Chase said, knowing that this was the only way to live for at least a month. "I will do it for my immortality."
"Excellent choice," the devil complimented.
In a puff of black smoke, the devil disappeared and the darkness lifted, leaving Chase with the blue night sky again. He sighed heavily as he stared wildly around his room, searching for something that could free him from the heavy weight of the situation he had been forced into by the devil.
He could not kill Sakaya, nor could he let her be killed. He knew that he loved her deep within his heart, and he couldn't stop that or control it. The truth was that he didn't want to either, despite the fact that he kept telling himself that he wasn't allowed to, that it was against everything he had built up for. Because he knew that it wasn't. He wanted her, more than immortality, even more than remaining evil or young. He shook his head warily as he thought of the devil's words again. Chase could never hurt her because of the deep love he felt, and the love she felt for him in return. No matter what, he could not carry out the devil's evil plans.
He thought of Sakaya's innocence, her tinkling laugh and her understanding voice, the beauty that lay on her exterior and also deep into her interior. She understood him and she liked him, even though she didn't show it directly. Chase couldn't hurt someone like that, especially since she cared about him so much.
Look what I've been dragged into, Chase thought. Was immortality really worth all of this?
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This took so long, yet I don't feel I wrote very much. Grrr. I hope you guys liked it anyways.
