~Dedicated to Lady Aduka~
I feel terrible about this chapter. I really wanted to make it longer, and better written. I really, really, wanted to do this chapter well. But it seems I failed that. I'm so sorry! The most I did was repeat myself over, and over, and over… in desperate attempt to make it longer. I apologize greatly. *bows* Please forgive me! I hope you can somehow enjoy.
A simple reminder: this story is AU. Characters have different pasts and influences making their character also slightly different. Thank you.
Sei's feet struck the ground over and over again, kicking up dust. Questions invaded her mind. Who could he possibly be? What was he trying to do? Why was he out as late as this? Why had his stare seemed so cold?
Finally, she found them again. She longed to see his face and know who he was but she was only capable of seeing his back. She got there just in time to see him draw his katana and chop his opponent down. Blood poured onto him, drenching his clothes. It was terrifying, but what was worse was that he didn't seem to care at all. He only stood calmly. His partner killed the other person in a single strike as well, making new fear arise in Sei.
All she could do was stand, horrified. A few droplets of blood scattered onto her cheek. She wanted to scream and cover her ears in fear but she knew all too well that that would mean giving herself away and ending up just as the people that had just been killed.
The one she had followed here had noticed her. She knew it, though he hadn't turned to face her. He had too have seen her. She had seen him almost turn to her. Any minute now, he would whirl towards her and kill her as well.
She was paralyzed. Terror struck through her like bolts of lightning.
OoOoO
Okita could feel her stare. She was there again. He was about to turn and face her but then he realized something. If he were to do that, there would be no way that Toudou wouldn't also notice her and then they'd have to kill her as well. He couldn't look back. All he could do was get away as soon as possible so Toudou wouldn't have to time to see her. Wait… why did he care? What did it matter if they killed her? She was a witness. They had to kill her. He was about to turn but didn't.
This made no sense. Okita couldn't figure out his emotions. He had to kill her. He didn't want to kill her. But why didn't he want to kill her? She was just another town person who probably hated him. She didn't matter at all. He was about to spin on her but decided against it. Instead, he nodded to Toudou and they left.
OoOoO
Prior to her expectations the person nodded to his partner, and they both darted away.
Sei collapsed in relief. She was alive. She was breathing. Her head was still attached to her neck. It seemed like stupid things to think, but after seeing such an awful scene they made perfect sense. She put a hand up to her chest to make sure her heart was still beating.
She stood up, still clutching her chest, and walked away, taking uncertain steps, making her way back to her own home. Never had she been so happy to have a home, a nice, safe home – where nothing like that would ever happen.
With every step another part of the scene played out in her mind. Whenever she had thought she'd forgotten about it, it came back to her again. Starting from the beginning then getting to the end, and starting at the beginning again. It went on, and on, and on…
Servants immediately came to her as soon as she walked into the house. They offered to bring her food, asked her if she was okay, tried to give her blankets to warm up. She couldn't even force out words to tell them all to leave her alone. She couldn't even manage to say that she was okay.
All she could do was stumble to her room. As soon as she was there, she was on the floor and leaning against the wall.
She cursed her curiosity. How easy her life would be if she had just been smart enough to leave and not follow that person.
His cold stare was still an image in her mind. She could still feel the blood spraying onto her cheek. She reached up to her cheek. There was no blood there, thankfully. She had remembered to wipe it off before entering so the servants wouldn't notice. But, she swore, she could feel the cool wetness of it. She could almost see it's redness on her fingers when she brought them down and looked at them again.
He had known she was there. He knew. He would come kill her at any moment now. She walked to her futon and laid down, waiting for sleep to come, even though she knew she would be getting no sleep tonight.
Well, now you've read it. What did you think? Was it even worth the read? And maybe a review too? Please?
I would also like to tell all of you that I'll be going to the Tag Fest on Friday (it's a convention) ad if you happen to go as well, I'm the one cosplaying Okita. ^-^ Before you think I'm crazy, I know you won't be there. Really, I do. But I want to tell you anyway, because I'm desperate to meet you guys!