Home; Almost Alone
"Roxanne betrayed you, Elise has left you, the brawlers are now your enemies," Kai chuckles. "Anna has died because of you… Who haven't you betrayed and rejected? Well Shun, can you even give me an answer?"
"It isn't like this!" Shun protests. "You've got it all wrong!"
"I haven't got anything wrong!" Kai yells. "The first chance you found to run away; you did! You disbanded us, and left without giving us any protection… You're the one who walked away, o' wise and great leader!"
Shun glances to his left. The towering steel cylinder they've gathered at looks stable, but he can see the glowing green embers breaking through. There isn't much time, but Kai isn't willing to listen. He can't even summon his Bakugan or the steel structure might weaken. Kai can still summon his creatures; they'll be empowered by the energy.
3 ½ Hours Earlier
Shun glares at the guards. They're armed with high-tech weapons he can't ever hope to avoid. He looks back the way he came. The throng of people are still bustling about. He can't turn back in case they suddenly decide to notice him. He eyes a stack of wooden crates thoughtfully before leaping up them. There's a vent hatch, but it's sealed shut. He draws a kunai and forces it between the hatch and frame. It groans lowly as the two parts begin to separate. He can tell that some of the people can hear the vent hatch coming off. He pulls the kunai back and forces it back in, twisting it as he does so. The hatch creaks loudly and falls to the ground. As the people fall silent and move to inspect it; he's already gone.
A light shines into the vent. Shun glances at it with cautious eyes. He's already made a right turn, so they can't see him, but they might start to follow him. He can't risk a confrontation with the lack of space. Shun turns to try and lose them quickly, but something grabs the back of his shirt. It yanks him back and he tumbles out of the vent. A soft sound comes as the hatch screws itself back in place.
Shun stands up quickly, and turns around. The other person disappears around the corner, their black cloak swishing behind them. Shun runs after the person, but whoever it is always manages to stay out of reach. The person is always passing the next corner, no matter how fast Shun runs. Eventually, he turns a corner, and the rock face changes. He stares down a tunnel, quickly finding the person waiting. The person seems to see him, and walks into a room hidden by the stone walls. He knows it could be a trap, but he follows the person into the room anyway.
The wooden door slams shut behind Shun. A low creaking signals the door locking. He ignores that and glances around the pitch-black room. A tiny sliver of supernatural light illuminates the dull grey bars of a prison cell. He squints at the cell, but stays where he is. The light shifts, catching on a few strands of bluish hair. His breath catches in his throat, and he slowly stumbles forward. His steps, though very nearly silent, reach the prisoner.
"… Shun…" she whispers, hoarsely.
He grasps some of the bars. "Elise, what are you doing here? I thought you left; you should have left,"
She pushes herself away from the hanging metal bench. Her head if lowered and her eyes are downcast. She stops in front of the bars and places her hand over his. He pauses as she discreetly passes something to him. He tightens his grip on her as she tries to move away.
"What are you doing here?" he frowns.
She smiles sadly, still refusing to look him in the eye. "I wanted to tell you, but Kai… Kai is as smart as he always was, and I was a fool to think he wouldn't know…"
"What were you going to tell me? Elise, please, I have to know. What have you been keeping from me?"
She pulls away from, walking beyond his reach. He watches her, knowing how guilty she must feel just by her movements. She turns her back to him. Her hands are clasped together tightly as she worries.
"It was a long time ago. You weren't even there that day…" she whispers, tears slipping down her face.
"What did I tell you?" Kai roars. "Get out of my sight! Go! Leave now!"
The servants scurry out, not being able to leave fast enough. He growls, and swipes at a table. Glass, food and metal cups clatter onto the ground. He roars, throwing something at the closed door, and it dents the wood. He takes a deep breath to calm himself.
"Who's there?" Kai yells, spinning around.
A soft sound echoes through the large and empty black hall. He glares as a dark wolf slowly makes its way into the light. His face contorts into a malicious, cruel smirk. He chuckles quietly, and the wolf glares. He clumsily raises his hands in submission, mocking the angry wolf. He signals over to a chair, and sits down. The wolf follows his lead, though reluctantly.
"I never thought I'd see the day," he chuckles. "He was so sure that it was impossible, but that's what you wanted him to believe, wasn't it?"
"Your opinion is meaningless to me," Roxanne* says. "I'm here for business, and I can take it elsewhere if you wish."
"No," Elise protests. "This isn't right Shun, we should go back."
His grip on her wrist tightens momentarily, and he doesn't turn to face her. "I can't let this go Elise, you know that. It's why you didn't tell me in the first place. It's one of the many reasons why you didn't tell me…"
He starts to walk away, but she holds him back. "Shun, you know I care for you. I have always stood by your side, but I cannot abide this. You know this isn't right," he tries to block out her words. "Please don't make me choose."
"I have to do this," he says, adamant.
Again, she holds him back. "Then I will come with you, but I cannot guarantee that I will leave with you,"
He almost smiles. "That's enough for me,"
They two slip along the tunnels silently. The path twists and turns, separating and re-joining. Shun walks with a purposeful stride, and she follows him obediently. As he wanders the tunnels, something in the back of his mind stirs. He can almost remember the way, but he can't remember being in a place like it before.
The two eventually stop walking, as she holds his sleeve firmly, like a stubborn child. He watches her, wondering why she's suddenly full of fear and anxiety. She glances up at him through her eye lashes and he turns around. Ahead of them is a giant's archway. They both know that beyond that is a silent chamber which leads to a grand double door. Beyond the door is where, no doubt, Kai awaits them both. Then suddenly it's all so clear to Shun why he remembers the tunnels. The memories aren't his own. They've been borrowed from someone who's long since died.
Cautiously they make their way into the silent chamber. It isn't a chamber, though everyone calls it that. The silent chamber is actually a long tunnel crafted diligently by a lesser class. The floor is crafted of stone tiles, the walls are stone blocks, and the arching ceiling is made from stone blocks as well. Every now and then a flaming torch lights itself, showing the way. The falsely called chamber isn't silent either. The torches elicit almost no sound, and some have said that the sounds are in fact ghosts. Though in the place meant for silence, their footsteps echo loudly as they pass through.
"It is still fearsome," she whispers.
Shun looks up, knowing that she's referring to the large head hung above the doors. The eyes glare down upon those wanting to pass. It's meant to instil fear into the hearts of those coming near. Shun isn't scared at all, but he can tell that it's worked on Elise. She begins clinging to him as they approach the doors. He smiles, pleased that not even the past can change her. They step over the threshold, and the doors swing open.
Instantly, Elise's arms fall limply to her sides. She gasps in shock and horror. Shun grits his teeth in aggravation. He tears his eyes from that heinous corner to glare at Kai. In all of their years together, he had never thought that Kai was capable of such things. Elise strokes his left arm once before she runs over to the confused brawlers.
Shun growls, furious. "How could you?"
"Very simply, actually. You hadn't expected this from me, had you? Never mind, I was hoping to surprise you," Kai smirks.
"Have you no respect?" Elise whispers, appalled.
"It's not personal," he replies.
"How dare you? Don't you know anything?" Shun roars, storming over.
Something soundless, tasteless, odourless and colourless is suddenly in the room with them. Elise stiffens, slowly turning to stare at Kai. Her wide, panicked eyes are glistening with unshed diamante tears. Even Shun comes to a stop, his eyes glancing over the ground warily. Kai only smiles at those he's gathered. He wants the moment to be special, and so he dragged everyone to the room.
"I know plenty. I learned after you left us fending for ourselves," Kai claps slowly. Then he lifts a small glowing ball. "So, tell me this Shun, can you do what's right?"
He tears his eyes from the towering steel cylinder. "Bring it,"
Author's Note: Sorry! I've been working on getting my first book published! It's a lousy excuse since you've been spending some of your time reading my stories. You guys are technically my fans, and I promise that you mean so much to me. I am so sorry; I really need to straighten out my priorities.
*Roxanne – Yes! I really did mean Roxanne, and you will discover how she fits into all of this in the final chapter. Technically it's the next chapter, so, not long to go really.
IMPORTANT! – Regardless of what was said before, I have now made up my mind. Once this story is complete I will re-write it separately under the title of 'Almost Alone'. Sequel! Yes, so when this version and the 'Almost Alone' version are complete, there will be a sequel. It will involve a lot of different anime shows, and you may not know them all. I just wanted to let you know.
Thank you for reading my story thus far!