shadowwing1994: Thanks for the review!
Flippy17: I believe I owe you an apology about my last message. Sorry.
Home Almost Alone
"I.. I, my mum told me," Joe stutters.
"When did she tell you and how did she know?" Shun snaps.
"Hey, leave him alone!" Dan snaps. "It's bad enough that you trapped us in here…"
Shun doesn't listen to the rest of Dan's rant. Instead he straightens up and looks at the door. His brow furrowed with concern. It doesn't take long after that for Marucho to elbow Dan and signal to Shun. Shun's senses are in a wild careless frenzy, and that leaves him vulnerable. It's not by choice though, something's coming that's acting like a magnetic to him. He hasn't ever experienced anything like that ever before and he finds it intriguing; despite having to work harder to stay protected. The door then opens with a low screech.
"Shun," he sounds surprised.
Whatever Shun had prepared to say to him died before it even reached his lips. The ever present shadows around the figure laughs. Dan and the Brawlers are confused, it's like one of those inside jokes, but they're not on the inside. Shun takes a stumbling step back with a shocked expression. His entire demeanour changed in one moment, from fighting to stay strong to a crumbling ruin. He keeps trying to find his voice, but nothing is coming out. He doesn't know if he should be jumping for joy, or hanging his head in shame. He supposes it should be both, but he's far too happy to bother with them.
A low click! comes from where the door once stood. The few rays of light pouring in from the passage are momentarily blocked. Then there's a scuffling sound. The light pours back in, but illuminates the figure standing before them. She looks up at them through her thick eye lashes. The dark blue orbs soon settle on Shun. Her skin is milky pale, nearly white. Her dark blue hair is pulled back in two sections from her face. Her dress is made from a dark blue silk and brushes the ground, leaving her lower arms bare. She skirts around the debris with a superhuman grace and elegance. Her eyes never once stray from Shun. She stops a few feet from him and drops her eyes to the ground.
"Why?" the word is barely even a whisper.
Shun pauses. The word rings out in his head. He wonders why he brought them again. Then it all becomes so clear to him that he almost stumbles back again. He notes the determination shining in her duller eyes. She knows just as well as he does what he's done, and what it means. He half turns from her, pondering his actions and their meaning. She daren't let him catch her in that deadly game of dominance once again. Her wisdom has grown, as has his. A sound resonates in his mind, that he should have avoided, and didn't. He looks from the katana blade held to his throat to the hilt in her hand. She meets his eyes defiantly and strongly. As always.
Her grip is strong and firm. She has it held at an inescapable angle and he briefly regrets teaching her how to wield a sword. Her mind tells her exactly everything she knows and has ever needed to know. She has absolutely no regret if she has to taint her hands with his blood. It's her duty, her obligation. He looks at her for something he could use, but she wears a perfect poker face. Perfect, except for that slight, near frown whenever she's concentrating hard. He supposes it's her moral obligation against killing for the first time ever. He could talk her out of it, or try to, but he gives her free reign with his fate hanging in the balance. She meets his eyes, asking if he truly trusts her that much, and he nods once, slowly.
The blade drops to her side. "I don't know."
Her eyes flash up to his and she states clearly. "This is your last chance."
"Ah. Careful there Shun," the figure chuckles. "I've just noticed. Little Miss Misaki isn't here. Our deal is worthless."
Shun spins round to stare at her desperately, filled with panic and dread. They know. They both know. She looks at him with more of a pleading look than a desperate one. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, chains shoot forward and slither over her. They focus and bind the upper half of her body tightly. She can't help but cry out at that. Somehow though, her eyes open to look at him one more time behind the chains glow a bright yellow orange colour. The glow makes a sudden increase in brightness, and then it's gone. Her gone with it, wherever it may be. Shun stares at where she was in complete shock. Then the shadowed figure chuckles and walks out, still laughing. Like the crumbling pillar of what was once strength that he is, Shun collapses onto his knees. He stares at the ground, wide eyed. He was so close! Ah, but not close enough. He bangs his fist against the ground, trying to vent what must be at least ¾ of a decade's worth of frustration. It's not enough for that though. He feels weak and exhausted and almost fully collapses right there and then.
Hours later. He finally gets up from the floor and moves. The light from the passage seems haunting to him now. He keeps thinking of how it shone around her, as if she were an angel sent from above. He stumbles out and through hallways until he reaches the room that he was given as guest. Then he collapses onto it. He feels completely empty, and that everything he did was worthless in the grand scheme of things. With those as his last thoughts, he drifts off into a fitful sleep filled with haunting images of his childhood and them.
Disclaimer: If it's not Bakugan, then it's most likely mine. End of.