Kuroi Chi no Yume 9
Well, I did get a lot of reviews, so it's only fair to hold up my end of the bargain and deliver you this: A speedy update!
To Major Session: Thank you again for your constructive criticism :) I actually posted the 8th chapter before I read your comment for the 7th so I didn't see your tips on making a good fight scene until after. I do like your idea, but I guess it's kind of not my usual style (plus the little green underlines in Word bother me to no end *twitch*) so I have to play around with it a bit. I tried to keep your style in mind for this chapter though.
To Wanderwithme4now: Thank you for feeding :D This speedy update is your reward!
To Musicsoundsmysoul 14: Thank you for your interest! Here's the next chapter, nice and speedy:)
To DalalRocket2SE: Wow, I hope this chapter is worth it :) Also, *is jealous of your iPad* XD
^^^^^^^^^CHAPTER 9^^^^^^^^^
I can't stand much longer…we have to end this quickly. Maka gritted her teeth until her jaw hurt, readying her weapon. The Kishin charged, its blood-thirsty eyes rolling crazily. Summoning all the strength left in her weary body, Maka leapt forward to meet the beast, screaming with everything she had. The scythe connected. Maka swung, begging whatever luck had kept them alive thus far to save them once more. The Kishin let out a bone-chilling screech that shook the young technician to her core.
Please die! She begged desperately. Maka could feel the monster push against the pole of the weapon, keeping the blade from piercing its chest. The scream reached a new pitch as the beast knocked the weapon from the meister's hands.
"Maka!" Soul yelled at his unarmed partner as his weapon form clattered on the pavement.
Shit…! Instinctively, Maka raised her arms protectively in front of her face as the Kishin struck. The gods of luck were with her once again as the attack had merely been a backhanded swat instead of a lunge with the deadly claws. Nonetheless, she simultaneously felt and heard the sound of bones cracking as she was flung an incredible distance. Maka hit the destroyed paved road with a gasp, feeling the air leave her lungs with a whoosh.
I can't breathe…! I think I just crushed every rib in my body…can't…!
"Maka!" Soul called again; in his human form once again he sprinted for his meister, sliding to a stop between her and the Kishin who was limping purposefully towards them.
Please…! I need… A shaky breath finally made its way into her lungs, alleviating the burning desperation for air. Thank you…thank you… She looked up to see the wounded Kishin advancing on her partner who was standing protectively over her.
Soul…I'm so sorry…I wasn't strong enough again… She could feel tears pooling in her eyes at her own shortcomings. Please get out of here, Soul… But she already knew he wouldn't. He had proven himself before already that he would die for her if it came to that. Please don't… Maka begged, more tears sliding down her bruised and battered face. Soul…
Soul readied himself as the Kishin drew closer, left forearm curving into the shape of a blade. What chance do you think you have? A voice in his head that sounded frighteningly similar to the small demon that had been tormenting him lately asked. This isn't what you're trained to do; that thing will destroy you!
Shut up! He growled, trying to ignore the racing of his heart, the slight trembling in his limbs that was not fatigue, the bead of sweat rolling down his face despite the crisp night… The Kishin was moving closer now with what could be seen as a smirk on its disfigured face.
Even that thing knows you don't stand a chance, Soul.
Didn't I tell you to shut up? He mentally raged.
You know, there is a way… A sudden image flashed through his mind, unbidden; the Devil Sword in Italy, taking the full force of Maka's swing and emerging barely scratched. The black blood.
You have it too, you know. Startled, the young scythe nearly dropped his guard for a moment. Was it really possible? Could he have the same abilities as the Devil Sword?
Just let me show you, Soul, what you're truly capable of. If it were possible for a voice in your head to sound like it was smirking, this one was.
But… Thoughts of his black blood infused nightmares flooded his memory.
But does any of that matter if you're dead? The voice taunted. Soul had to admit that was a fair point. Suddenly he found himself fighting for his consciousness. His eyes widened as he tried to keep himself from blacking out.
What…? What is this? He could actually feel his reasoning and sanity slipping away as another entity fought him for control of his body and mind. Raw emotion filled the void. Pain. Desperation. The desire to protect. And above all else: Fear.
We must be stronger. He could no longer tell whose voice it was in his head. We must be stronger so we do not fear. For that, we need souls. His body turned, seemingly on its own accord to the nearest soul it sensed. A floating blue light hovered just above the ground. That would give him the strength he needed. The strength to overcome fear. He reached for it…
"SOUL!" A scream pervaded the darkness of his mind and suddenly, as if surfacing from a deep sea of water his consciousness was fully returned to him. Everything happened so fast at that moment, he wasn't able to process the full implications.
A blood-curdling scream from behind.
Maka's leg hooking around his. Pulling.
His legs being pulled from under him. Falling.
The sound of rending flesh. Pain.
Pain. Lots of pain.
Limbs tangling everywhere. Human, weapon and Kishin.
Screaming. Impossible to tell whose.
Blackness.
Maka didn't move for nearly a minute, staring at the blood red Kishin soul that hovered so innocently above her and her partner. It was hard to believe that such an entrancing object had come from a beast so vicious. She still clutched Soul's arm tightly in her hands; the forearm had returned to its human form when her partner had lost consciousness. She allowed the desperate struggle to play through her mind again in order to assure herself this nightmare really was over.
She could remember Soul falling on top of her after she'd tripped him in an attempt to knock him out of harm's way. The Kishin had stumbled on top of both of them and in the tangle of limbs Maka was somehow able to find her partner's left arm, still in the form of a scythe and shove it through the Kishin's chest. With a shrill scream, the beast had finally died, leaving behind only a floating red orb. Pulling herself from underneath the unconscious body of her partner, she was stunned to find her front covered in blood. She quickly moved her hands over her body, trying to locate the wound. The scythe master grimaced and hissed in pain when her fingers found the definitely bruised and maybe broken ribs, but no cuts that would merit this much blood.
Then where…? With a start her green eyes fell on the still form of her friend. Weariness suddenly forgotten, she gingerly rolled Soul's limp form on his side to see her fears confirmed. Three long claw marks ripped through her partner's back, staining everything red.
"No! Soul!" She gasped.
I thought I got him out of the way in time… Oh Soul, I'm so sorry… Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she mentally raged at herself. Idiot! You should have moved sooner! You shouldn't have allowed yourself to be thrown like that! This is all your fault!
"Get it together!" She hissed at herself, "You have to do something!" She carefully lifted Soul's torso, wrapping his arms over her shoulders. With strength she didn't know she possessed the battle-worn technician hoisted her partner's unconscious form up and began her desperate search for a hospital.
The first thing he was aware of was the welcomed lack of pain. He allowed himself to recover for a moment before worry took over.
Does this mean I'm dead?
"Not quite." A chuckle replied to his unasked question. Soul opened his eyes with a start to find himself once again in the checkered room.
"What happened?" He asked, turning his focus to the small demon who was grinning. "Hey! Tell me what happened!" The demon's smile only grew at Soul's impatience.
"Well, you decided to accept my help," The short demon began.
"Hey wait! I don't remember accepting your help!" Soul frowned. The demon shot him a bored glance.
"Do you want to hear what happened, or do you want to argue about technicalities?" Soul's response was merely a glare and a nod.
"And I was helping you to become stronger-"
"You wanted me to eat Maka's soul!" The scythe weapon yelled, outraged. "That's not the kind of help I wanted!"
"Again with the technicalities." The small monster replied, waving a hand.
"And what about that black blood that was supposed to make me invincible?" Soul added, remembering the intense pain right before he passed out. The demon shrugged.
"It's not my fault the black blood was deactivated right before that Kishin attacked you." Soul ground his teeth in frustration.
"Screw this; just let me wake up already!"
"Are you sure that's what you want right now? You do remember how much pain you were in, right?" The small demon's eyes were gleaming as it spoke.
"It's better than the headache you're giving me now." Soul replied, glaring.
"Ouch Soul," The thing mocked him, "I think that was a little uncalled for. I was being so kind, answering all your questions and this is how you repay me?" Soul's glare didn't waver. "Heh, very well." It smirked with a shrug.
"And stay out of my head!" Soul added sharply.
"Oh Soul," The monster chuckled darkly, "It's amusing how you think you still have control over that…
"Wha-?" But the nightmare world was already fading…
"Just sit down, hon. He'll be okay." A soft looking older nurse tried to assure Maka. The young technician stubbornly continued pacing although her body was begging her to comply with the nurse's suggestion. She glanced again to the double doors where the doctors had rushed her partner.
"At least let us look at you. Those scrapes on your knees really need to be disinfected." As if on cue her knees began to hurt again in earnest. She looked down to see the entire bottoms of her pyjamas stained in crimson. She supposed she must be a fearful sight, covered in both her and Soul's blood, clothes ripped and torn, dirt and blood caking her hands and no doubt her face was a mess of tears, mud and blood. Her ribs were aching too and she could feel swelling in her quite possibly broken right wrist.
"Not until I see him." She replied in what she hoped was a final voice. The nurse was about to protest when a single doctor finally emerged from the room, heading for the reception desk. Maka intercepted him, determined to get answers.
"Is he okay?" She asked, hoping her voice didn't reflect her desperation. He seemed taken aback by her for a moment, no doubt because of her appearance.
"Ah, well luckily the lacerations weren't too deep. We've gotten him stitched up now, but he's lost a lot of blood so we'd like to keep him for a couple of nights." Maka felt all the fear and worry drain out of her. The exhaustion and fatigue quickly swooped back in to replace the emotions that had kept her upright for the past long two hours.
"Thank goodness." She breathed, finally allowing herself to be led away by the nurse who was insistent on checking her over.
Ah! Finally something that isn't a cliff-hanger. :D Plus a speedy update and a decently-sized chapter. You guys are really spoiled! Lol! Just kidding. Reviews and constructive criticism are welcomed as always!