Chapter 35:
Part 4:
Hotohori stumbled through the darkness, feeling the air grow colder and colder around him. His feet splashed lightly in the streams of icy cold water that anointed his way and the steady drip of water from the moist walls sounded thunderous in the silence of the narrow path. The path now had a sharp slope dripping downwards, the slippery smooth pebbles that paved it made maintaining balance rather hard. The inky black darkness that the path was plunged into was not making things any easier.
Hotohori frowned, his speed hampered by all these factors. ' Damn it. I swear the Gods have conspired against me, though why they would rather take the side of the witch is something, which my reasoning cannot comprehend. '
He paused again feeling that familiar tightening in his chest. Earlier his instincts had warred with him, whispering sane counsel into his ears, urging him to turn back and re-group, but they had been ruthlessly suppressed, buried under a fierce desire, a desire which drove him to ally with something untrustworthy, something that led him through series of traps, ambushes, abandoning him in the middle of a maze, something ... not human.
He had tried to give his quest a logical approach. He had argued that he followed Shadow because he wanted to stop Seiryuu from being released, yet somehow that sounded hollow to his ears. No matter how good a warrior he was plunging headlong into a battle where he was likely to be outnumbered was suicide. So in the end it all came down to the mockery in the pair of fathomless eyes.
' Demon, are you so easily tamed?'
Hotohori growled, but before he could dwell on this, he felt that his heart was being squeezed violently, a suddenly anxiety gripping him so hard that he could hardly breathe. His eyes widened a little.
' What is this? Why do I feel that something bad is about to happen? Why do I feel ... so scared?'
The unsettling realization dawned on him with a crushing force. So far fear had yet to assail his defenses and he understood that it was so because was never really afraid of what might happen to him, the safety of his friends was always his first priority. In the darkness his face turned ashen and a strange feeling knotted in his stomach. He couldn't quite identify it but it made him very ... uncomfortable.
Suddenly, the air around him seemed to cackle, the hair at the nape of his neck rose as a faint fissure of ki rippled through the air around him. The familiar ki seemed to beckon him through the darkness, staying mockingly out of his reach. His teeth bared into a savage smile as the more reasonable part of his brain was overcome by the very same desire that had brought him this far.
' Oh no you don't witch.'
He started to run, moving blindly in the darkness following the ki, which lured him on like a wicked mirage. His feet slipped on the loose pebbles and he found himself tumbling down the path with break neck speed ... into open air...
It was almost as if the earth had opened to swallow him up...
Hotohori twisted his body in the air hoping desperately to land softly, more precisely without breaking a few bones. He landed with a soft splash in ankle deep water.
' Good grief. That was fast ... and a remarkably short fall. And here I was, thinking that I was falling into a bottomless nadir.'
He looked around carefully taking in the surroundings and the signs of struggle that took place there. The glistening walls that surrounded him were cracked and chipped at places, and the sooty lamps that lined it drew attention to the fresh red stains that anointed it walls. He looked up at the curving dome shaped ceiling marveling at the way it was designed so that the opening would not be visible from where he was standing.
But the thing that immediately drew his attention was the large door that seemed o rise from the dark waters itself. Through its open entrance a mesmerizing soft glow stepped shyly into the cavern beckoning him to enter. He stepped forward, feeling the ki that had called him so far spike abruptly as ripples of ancient magic washed over him like tidal wave.
' Damn.'
He tried to move forward, but an invisible wind kept pushing him back, the energy circling around him like a gigantic whirlpool. Gritting his teeth he swam against the tide. The soft light, which had crept into the grotto, now blazed like white fire, blinding his vision with its brilliance.
Then the ground began to shake and he found it impossible to keep his balance on the bucking earth. He found himself swaying like a drunken sailor, forced to sink to his knees in the choppy waters.
He hear a low rumble, almost impatient that slowly rose in volume as the energy around him increased, till at last he heard a roar, the call of a Beast- God finally released from his imprisonment, a call that awed him and chilled him to the bone and filled his heart with the cold realization.
' I am too late.'
As the energy around him began to ebb away, the earth calmed down, the cavern became silent once more, almost like Nature when the fury of her storm has passed. He rose slowly to his feet; a cold fury seemed to take hold of him. Surprised he found that his head was very clear and he reasoning lucid.
' Whoever released Seiryuu must have used up a lot of ki in the process. They should be unable to put up a resistance right now.' There was only the barest tinge of red in his dark eyes. ' You will soon see witch, while you may have won the battle, the war is still on.'
He stalked ahead stepping into the luminous doorway only to be held captive by the unearthly beauty of the place. For a while all thoughts of war escaped his mind as he turned his spell bound eyes all around him.
' Beautiful.'
With some effort he tore his eyes away from the mirrors that drew him in like magnets and turned his attention towards pursuing his quarry. He moved through the sea of mirrors schooling himself not to be drawn in by the tide of untold stories that swirled around him. Yet, in front of one mirror his legs stopped of their own accord.
It was an ancient mirror and unlike its counterparts it was neither fancy, nor beautiful. No gilded fairies or dragons or flowers surrounded its reflective surface, it fact it was its very starkness that caught his attention. He did not know the material that hemmed it in, a strange iridescent metal that glowed slightly when light glanced off it. Looking closer he found runes inscribed on the edge, which wavered and flickered, almost like a fickle candlelight before dying out.
The reflective surface of the mirror swirled and he watched mesmerized as the swirling dark waters slowly froze into a shape.
' A crest?'
He frowned a little studying the image. It was a crest unlike any other he had ever seen. Made of a dark material it glowed slightly as light glanced of the intricate patterns around its edge. The crest showed no figurine or symbol, but looking at the patterns that surrounded its edge and two triangular red stones that were embedded in the center, Hotohori had the strange sensation of a mysterious being staring at him through a thick foliage...
' Its almost like the eyes of a predator...'
His eyes widened as the red eyes seemed to glow a little; almost as if the beast was coming alive, the foliage surrounding it rustled, the darkness around the gemstones seemed to move as if trying to take form...
And then the very darkness seemed to leap at him like a sinewy beast of prey ...
Shading his eyes he stumbled back, a little unnerved. Slowly lowering his hands he found that now the mirror reflected nothing but his face.
' What the hell was that?'
He tore his eyes away from the mirror, forcing his mind away from this incident that sparked so many questions within him.
' I don't have time for this. '
He moved ahead resolutely ignoring the lure of the other mirrors that beckoned him like the call of a siren, desperate to draw him into their glassy domain. His legs stilled as his lips curved into a small half smile, red slowly seeping into his eyes.
His sharp hawk-like eyes rested on the still figure sitting in front of a cracked glass mirror, staring so intently at it that she missed the rapid footsteps behind her. Only at the last moment she seemed to realize that she was no longer alone, because her shoulders tensed and she half turned her face to meet his eyes even as his hands closed cruelly around her arms and hauled her abreast him.
For a scant second he saw the fathomless eyes unguarded, surprise, exhaustion and anxiety swirling in their vulnerable dark depths before that thick enigmatic veil fell over them. Her dark locks fell like a rippling cascade over her shoulders framing in her pale and ashen face, her soft lips curving upwards into that small half mocking smile which infuriated him.
"So witch, where are the rest of your merry men?"
To his irritation his voice did not come out, as he would have intended, threatening and intimidating. He had intended his voice to be coldly polite, not that husky guttural drawl that emerged from his throat.
The smile deepened, "I could ask you the same question Demon."
Once again he felt that uncomfortable sensation in his stomach as his hold around her arm tightened. "I wonder what you dear Black Warrior will say when he finds himself in the same situation as I did when he took Lee hostage?"
"He will not be worried. " She smiled placidly. "After all what a servant can do, a master can do better." There was a dangerous gleam in her smile. "You should know that Demon. "
He could feel a sharp spike in her ki, something blazing hot contracted with his stomach sending him reeling with its impact. He recovered balance at the last instant, eyes briefly flashing scarlet. He touched the sore spot in his abdomen.
"That was a remarkably tame attack witch. You have done little but singe my skin. "
He could see that even that little attack tired her, her breath came in small pants and sweat collected like dew drops on her forehead, her lips more bloodless than usual. She straightened and for a moment he saw a flash of anger in her fathomless eyes, before she turned her back at him tossing her dark mane in an infuriatingly contemptuous manner.
"Moron. "
Her voice, cool and mocking, effectively struck Hotohori speechless.
' Moron?' Anger and incredulity dueled for dominance inside him, anger winning out. ' And how dare she turn her back on me, like I am a nothing? '
"How dare you turn your back on me witch?" His eyes bled red and his voice came out like a growl.
She half-turned, a strange expression in her dark eyes, lips curved into a small smirk. "I had not thought you were so foolish Demon. " Turning she walked to him, holding his scarlet eyes captive with her enigmatic gaze, that maddeningly secretive smile lingering on her lips. "That you have failed to stop Seiryuu from being released must have really distressed you. " She chuckled. "I am glad. "
"Indeed witch. " He moved like lightning and their swords met with a sharp clang, raising sparks when the razor edges met.
He forced her on the defensive, his blade moving like liquid lightning in his hands until a small clever flick of his hands send Keeah's blade flying. He held the tip of the naked edge at her throat.
"What now witch?"
She smiled. " What now indeed?"
Her tone did not waver, nor did the slight mockery in her voice fade. Nettled Hotohori frowned.
"Are you not afraid?"
She flicked her hair casual unconcern. "Should I be?" The smile on her lips deepened. "Besides I think your skills will be better employed there. "
He did not remove his eyes. "Seriously witch, your attempts to distract me are really pathetic. "
She rolled her eyes. "Seiryuu, you are a moron. I was not even serious when I was fighting you. "Her eyes flashed with anger, there was a steel edge in her smile. "Do you know what this room is? It is the room of Time where the history of the all the ages is recorded, the past, the future and the present. "
He frowned. "And what has that got to do with anything?"
Putting up her hand she gently pushed the blade aside and to Hotohori's intense irritation he allowed her to do so. One of her hands closed over her his arm and she led him towards the cracked mirror in front of which she was originally sitting and to his extreme annoyance he allowed her to do that as well.
"Look. " She was utterly serious now, pointing at the mirror." What do you see?"
Hotohori frowned. Sheathing his sword he followed the direction of her gaze. All at once he felt that familiar tightening of his chest, his eyes widened a little and he could not stop his small, horrified gasp.
"Menesku!"
OoOoOoOoO
Menesku panted a little. Nothing he did seemed to break through Shizimi's defenses. Shizimi brushed off his attacks almost as he would brush off a speck of his dust on his tunic. He glanced in Suraco's direction.
' Damn it. He's still out cold. '
He looked at Shizimi standing casually at the other end of the room, inspecting his nails, an action he found singularly irritating and unnerving. Almost as is he felt Menesku's heated gaze on him Shizimi turned to meet his eyes. The mockery on his lips deepened.
"Are you worried about the outcome of this ... farce Menesku ? You shouldn't be. " He leaned against a broken column. "You will loose. "
Menesku bit his lips, a flash of anger passed through his usually emotionless gray eyes. Gritting his teeth he got into a defensive position.
Shizimi looked at the young man, his gray eyes were nearly glazed over with pain, his tattered armour hung in shreds from his bruised body stained scarlet by his lifeblood. The smile on his lips deepened.
"So you will fight till the last blood in your veins is shed. Do you know what I call that ? Foolishness. "
"Then so be it. " With a growl Menesku rushed forward, his ki- sword clashing with Shizimi's iridescent blade.
Shizimi fended off Menesku's sword with a casual indifference, treating the dangerous scarlet swords as he would a boy's toy.
"Your attacks bore me Menesku. I am beginning to wonder how you defeated Freya. "
Once again his kick cut through Menesku's defense like butter thrusting him hard into a wall. Menesku panted, coughing blood. Flicking the blood from his lips he struggled up. The air around him had picked up as dark storm clouds gathered overhead. The lightning cast a fickle light on his pale face.
"I'll be more than glad to educate you Shizimi. "
He concentrated, a ball of scarlet ki swirled in his hands, the sign on his neck blazed a violent scarlet, teeth bared into a savage smile.
"Rot in hell !"
He let the ki ball fly which expanded rapidly before exploding with a brilliant flash showering Shizimi with large balls of scarlet fire that fell from the sky like broken stars.
A cold laughter swept through the hall and Menesku stiffened. He saw Shizimi standing in the rain of fire, untouched by their fiery kiss, their red glow casting an almost sinister look on his handsome face.
"Some day Menesku. " He chuckled. "Someday I will go to hell. But not now and certainly not by your hands. "
OoOoOoOoOoO
Keeah saw Hotohori's shoulders stiffen as his eyes fell on the cracked glass of the mirror and heard his startled gasp.
"Menesku !"
She leaned against a column studying his back as he studied the events unfolding behind the mirror with increasing horror. It took a lot of her self-control to maintain her unconcerned image and placid eyes. In reality the sight Suraco's limp blood splattered body made her sick with apprehension and so freaking angry that she wanted to sink this god forbidden island, and everything on it down to the bottom of the sea.
But anger never helped anybody, especially if their enemy was as strong as the one who was fighting with Menesku and Suraco. They needed to handle this with a level head. And yes, they needed to handle it quickly.
"What is going on here witch ?"
Keeah raised an eyebrow meeting his steel edged scarlet eyes squarely.' There is something different about him today. I can't quite put my finger on it but ...'
"Exactly what you saw Demon." Her voice was placid. "Though I can't understand whether it is the immediate past or the ongoing ... present."
He moved so fast that she was taken by surprise. He pushed her against the crystalline walls so hard that the breath was knocked out of her.
"I do not have time for your tricks witch. " His grip tightened cruelly around her upper arm, his lips curved into a snarl . "Where is Menesku ?"
Keeah looked into his eyes, a little surprised. The scarlet stain in his eyes seemed to wax and wane as if by a will of its own, there was a strange light behind his eyes, almost as if he was unconsciously holding something back. She had sensed this in him before, when she had stood on the stairs, looking down into the dank prison cells, into the eyes of the man in chains.
" However of this I am sure ..." She continued as though she had not heard his query, consciously keeping her voice even. "Wherever he is, he is in great peril and in need of help. "
He leaned forward. "And why are you so eager to help him ?" There was a mocking smile on his lips. "Is it because of Suraco ?"
Keeah had a faint sensation that he was looming over her. She never considered herself petite, built on more Amazonian than delicate lines, but somehow today Hotohori managed to make her feel small and ... fragile. Now that, was feeling she hated with every fiber of her being. She curbed her anger and irritation with some effort, years of practice keeping her eyes veiled to his smoldering gaze.
"Naturally, but that is only one of my reasons. "
She could see that his interest was piqued. "And what are your other reasons ?"
"The list could go on forever, but now is hardly the time to discuss that. Let me give you the gist of it. I am eager to get me and my men off this island safely. " Her lips curved upwards into a Cheshire cat-like grin. "After all it wouldn't do me any good is if we were to die so soon after releasing Seiryuu. "
She could feel his anger spike as the scarlet in his eyes became more pronounced. "It would suit me fine witch. "
She realized she liked baiting him. "Would it now ?" Her voice was slightly contemptuous. "I would loath to relinquish my prey to another. "
"Prey ? Is that so ?"
She also realized that she was playing with fire. "But now is not the time to discuss our individual philosophies. Charming as your conversation is, I would rather be helping my friend at this moment. "
"Very well. " He said at last. "But by Suzaku if this is a trick ..."
"Spare me the melodrama. " She rolled her eyes. " Do you mind ?"
"Mind ... what ?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Unhand me. "
He stepped away from her as if he were burnt, his face was a little flushed.
She brushed her sleeves meticulously, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Ah. Thank you so much. " Moving across the room she retrieved her sword. "Now, let us go and shock them out of their shoes ... literally. "
He made a non-committal grunt. "I hope you know the way witch. "
" No, actually I don't. "
" What !
"Of course, being a witch, I don't really need to know the way. I have seen the place and once I can visualize it in my mind I can teleport us there, though that would mean ..."
"That would mean ?"
She looked at him. "Teleporting takes a lot of ki. Once we get there, I will be pretty much useless for sometime. That would mean that you would have to shoulder the burden of the battle ..."
"Are you done ?" He cut in impatiently and she could see scarlet seeping into his eyes. "Just get us there."
She frowned." Very well. "
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Suraco groaned. He fought desperately against the merciful darkness that beckoned him like a siren, forcing his eyes open. The pain in his body seemed unbearable and he was pretty sure that some of his ribs were broken.
' That's ... all right. Sotisku will heal me, if I live through this of course.'
A small chuckle broke through his bloody lips. He grimaced.
' Damn it. It hurts even to laugh.'
The wind howled around him and looking up he saw dark thunderclouds in which lightning danced like a nubile maiden. The ground seemed to shake a little under him and a slow realization dawned on him.
' Could it be ?'
His eyes fell on the dueling figures.
' Menesku ...'
Menesku's gray eyes seemed a little hazy, and his bruised face was ashen and lips bloodless. Suraco knew that it was only Menesku's legendary self-control that kept him standing. That ... and the desire to keep fighting till there was one drop of blood left in his veins. He felt a renewed respect for his rival.
' Both of us will keep fighting till we are dead, in that respect we are the same Menesku. '
He heard Menesku's cold voice. "I will be glad to educate you Shizimi."
' Educate him ?'
A ball of scarlet ki swirled in Menesku's hands, for a moment the sign on his neck blazed a vivid red before he let the ki-ball fly.
"Rot in hell. " Menesku spat.
The ball expanded before exploding violently showering Shizimi with blazing meteors.
' Impressive. Nasty ... but impressive.'
A cold laughter floated through the hall and instinctively he stiffened.
' What !'
Shizimi stood in the fiery rain, unaffected by the death dance around him, not the slightest scratch on his body.
"Someday Menesku. Someday I will go to hell. But not today and certainly not by your hands. "
' Damn it ! Is this guy even human ?'
Shizimi moved, a blur of scarlet, leaving a blazing trail in his wake. Suraco's eyes widened with horror as he saw the long scarlet talons dance around Menesku like an enraged demon , lifting him off the ground in a scarlet whirlwind, anointing the ground with his blood.
"No ... " He struggled up, green eyes blazing. "Stop it !"
There was a heavy thump and Menesku fell to the ground and lay there, still and lifeless. Shizimi turned at him, a half mocking smile on his face, blood dripping slowly from the iridescent edge of his sword.
"Really ?" His voice was contemptuous. "And why should I ?"
Suraco forced his body to move, his whip lashing out the lightning that flashed overhead. The smile never wavered from Shizimi's lips as he danced out of the whip's brutal kiss like a fickle lover, clearly enjoying Suraco's growing anger and frustration.
"This is it ?" He mocked standing just outside his reach. "You are even more disappointing than Menesku. I should do the world a favor and put an end to your miserable existence. "
"Thank you. " Suraco panted. "But no, thank you. "
As the wind picked up around him, he could feel a new strength flow into his veins. Yet he knew that even with this new found strength he was nothing but an amateur when compared to Shizimi. The fact that Shizimi was toying with them became even more apparent as he stayed frustratingly out of Suraco's reach, mocking him by not retaliating to his desperate attacks.
' He knows that I am no match for him and he know that I know it as well, but he didn't have to rub salt on my wounds.'
He froze as an unearthly roar swept through the hall, shaking heaven and hell, and he instinctively knew what it was.
' Seiryuu is finally released. At least some good will come of this.'
His nostrils flared a little as he met Shizimi's eyes squarely. ' Oh well. If I must go, I will go with style.'
He blinked. The scenery around him had changed. He seemed to standing in the middle of a battlefield, the smell of death wafted up to his nostrils as did the acrid smell of rotting flesh. The sky seemed to be painted in hues of red and the ground wept tears of blood. Looking around that silent graveyard he saw a man ...
' What ... does this mean ?'
All at once he felt a tremendous pain his forehead, almost as if his skull would burst asunder like a rotten melon. Something hit him like a ton of bricks and he found himself reeling backwards catching his aching head. His vision swam and he found himself being lifted off his feet and thrust into a wall.
Shizimi's face loomed over him and with a detached feeling he noticed that Shizimi no longer had that maddeningly contemptuous smile on his face.
"How dare you ." His voice was seething with cold fury.
' How dare I what ?'
He felt something sticky on his face. Putting up a bemused hand he touched it and saw the red stain on his fingers. His head pounded and he felt that his skull was being ripped apart. With a groan he curled into a fetal position, clutching his head.
"Pathetic." Shizimi's voice was cold.
"Shizimi."
Through the corner of his eyes he saw Menesku had struggled up. ' So he is not dead after all. Good.'
Shizimi turned to face Menesku. "Why don't you give up Menesku ? You should know when a battle is lost. "
Menesku grinned through bruised lips, but said nothing. His gray eyes were focused intently, on some invisible point and Suraco instinctively knew that Menesku was putting the last dregs of his energy into this attack.
A shimmering scarlet mist seemed to form around Menesku and Suraco could feel the sharp spike in his ki. The swirling mass of energy whirled around his body lifting his hair in an invisible wind, the sign on his neck glowed sporadically as the ki slowly solidified into scarlet blades, floating behind Menesku like hounds on a leash waiting pounce on their prey.
Menesku's bloodless lips parted in a snarl. "Now .."
The knives hurtled towards Shizimi, wicked edges cutting through the cold air, raising a trail of blazing scarlet in their wake
' There is no way he can avoid those attacks ...' Suraco watched the proceedings through the crack of his eyes still clutching his pounding head. ' Can he ?'
Shizimi did not move, there was a dangerous edge in his smile that only seemed to deepen as the wicked edges hurtled towards him. Suraco wasn't quite sure what happened next. At once point it appeared as if the scarlet blades would sink their curved talons into Shizimi's flesh and at the next instant they sailed past his head, surprisingly wide of their mark.
Shizimi chuckled, casually putting up a hand and plucking one of the scarlet blades from the onward rush, almost as if he were plucking a ripe fruit from amongst the leaves of a tree.
"Very flashy Menesku. " He smirked and in the blink of an eye moved in front of Menesku. "But of very little use. "
Suraco's eyes widened a little as he saw a flash of scarlet as Shizimi drove the scarlet dragger into Menesku's stomach. Menesku staggered back a little clutching the wound in his stomach unable to dodge Shizimi's foot that came up like lightning to collide with his jaw. He whirled and fell.
"Since you keep coming back, I guess I should end this properly. " He unsheathed the sword.
"No .." Something brought back strength to Suraco's limbs and even though his head still felt like bursting at the seams, he forced his body to respond. The whip lashed out with a sharp crack wrapping itself around Shizimi's blade arresting its downward curve.
Shizimi raised an eyebrow. "What ? You can still move ?"
He flicked his hand casually, almost as if he was shaking something undesirable off his hand, but that simple gesture send Suraco flying. By some miracle he managed to recover his balance at the last instant but the whip fell from his limp hands.
Shizimi smirked kicking the whip away.
The world seemed to tilt a little before his eyes as the pounding in his head increased. Dimly he could feel Menesku's still body behind him. Almost by instinct he moved to guard Menesku's body. The pounding in his head increased and he could feel something hot roll down his face as the world wavered in and out of focus.
"Pathetic. " Shizimi's voice was contemptuous. "How long can you manage to remain conscious ?"
"Long enough. " Even his voice sounded hollow to his ears.
Desperate to stay conscious he drew his dragger from the sash around his waist burying its wicked edge into this thigh. White-hot pain ran through his body almost rivaling the intense pounding in his head, one pain dulling the other. But even then he knew he was spent.
' So this is how it will end ...' A small half smile graced his lips as his glazed eyes met Shizimi's black orbs with a stubborn defiance. ' I suppose this is what is known by staring Death in the eye ... then so be it.'
"Fool. " Shizimi's mouth curved upwards into a smile and instinctively Suraco knew that he was getting ready to deliver the killing blow.
Vaguely he felt someone move in front of him, protectively shielding him. Dimly he heard a voice, familiar but seemingly coming from a long distance.
"Suraco, are you all right. "
"No." He squeezed his eyes shut to block out the pounding his head. "But ... Menesku. "
"Suraco ..."
Suraco felt the world darken around him. "Forgive me ... Princess. I think ... I am going to faint ..." The world around him went out like a lamp in the wind as he sunk into the arms of merciful darkness.
OoOoOoOoO
"Now remember. " Keeah paused in the ankle deep water, half turning towards Hotohori. In the semi darkness he could not make out her features properly. "Teleportation tends to make you feel woozy. "
"Huh ?"
"You know ... just a trifle light in the head. " She frowned. "But ... I just thought you should know. Anyway, its time. "
He folded his hands defensively over his chest. "Finally. " His voice dripped with sarcasm.
She shrugged, turning. He could feel a faint spike in her ki. A blue mist circled around her form as her ki rose steadily. He frowned as he watched a shimmering magical circle appear under his feet. The ancient runes circled around them slowly as if enmeshing them inside a pulsating blue tent and then ...
Hotohori wasn't quite sure what happened next. The world seemed to tilt violently before his eyes before snapping back to its original position. His head seemed to spin a little and he instinctively dug his feet into the ground to recover his balance.
He saw that Keeah had sunk to the ground before him and through the curtain of her dark hair he could see that her face was extremely pale. Her breath came in small pants and the little horrified gasp that escaped her was so low that he almost missed her startled exclamation.
"Suraco ..."
Following her gaze he froze. The world seemed to tilt before his eyes once more as his eyes slowly soaked in the scene that lay before him.
' No ... This cannot be. '
He saw Keeah struggle up, moving with desperate haste to interpose herself in front of the two prone figures forming a flimsy wall of defense. between them and their attacker.
He had known Menesku for a long time. Menesku was his chief aide in all his nefarious activities during his childhood. Menesku was that silent shadow behind his throne when he struggled through the first shaky years when he assumed his position as the Emperor. He was that solid wall that checked and held the demon Konons called The Black Warrior.
Now looking at the battered body of his dearest friend, seeing his mighty limbs lying limply on the cold marble floor muddied with blood and grime, he felt some unknown emotion slowly fill his veins. The scarlet stain slowly began to return to his eyes...
' Menesku ...' He felt his vision turn red and his fingers over his sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
A slow realization dawned on him. When he had so thoughtlessly followed Shadow into the dark labyrinths under Fa Sang somewhere at the back of his mind he knew that he was being led into a trap. As the true nature of Fa Sang unraveled before his eyes that very same voice told him that Fa Sang was a viper's nest marseduqing as a bird of paradise. That very voice also urged him time and again to turn back. And yet that thought was pushed back suppressed under his desire to even the score between Keeah and himself.
' No ... not entirely.'
He felt his heart constrict, a wave of guilt, anger and surprise holding him paralyzed. There was another voice at the back of his head, a voice that reassured him that in his absence his friends would be safe because Menesku take care of them. He realized that he had almost instinctively come to expect Menesku to be there like a pillar of strength behind him, guarding his back ... always there when he needed help.
The cold wind danced around him, laughing mockingly into his ears.
' Ah ... but what happens when heneeds your help ? And you call yourself a friend ?'
Hotohori felt a burning sensation behind his eyes that slowly spread like a forest fire through his veins painting his vision scarlet. The sword in his hand throbbed with unusual energy as he turned his smoldering gaze at the silent figure in the middle of the room.
OoO
It was purely instinct which fuelled Keeah's action when she desperately threw herself in front of Suraco though that same instinct told her that she would form a flimsy line of defense. Even as she prepared to fight she saw the black haired man check himself, the mockery in his eyes deepening as he casually observed the new arrivals.
"Ah, My lord Hotohori. " His lips curved into a smile. "And my Lady Keeah. " He favored them with a slight inclination of his head, the dancing lights casting an almost fiendish light on his face. "You are late. "
Keeah felt anger burst forth like molten lava through her veins and fingers itched with the desire to burn the impertinent fool to ashes. But she had not missed the mockery in his eyes and realized that he was deliberately baiting them. His words were coached to get the raise out of them, to fan the smoldering anger inside them to a blinding rage.
' Of course, when a warrior attacks driven by blind rage, he is reckless and his attacks however powerful lacks planning. ' She bit her lips ruthlessly curbing her anger. She was shrewd enough to realize that a person who could fell two of the finest warriors she knew without so much of a scratch on his person was not to be taken lightly. She smiled inwardly. ' More like I am an impertinent fool for calling him an impertinent fool. '
She raised her eyes to meet his cynical black orbs squarely, a deceptively innocent smile on her face and for a while she had the awful premonition that he knew exactly what she was thinking. With a conscious effort she kept her voice even.
"So I see. " Her legs shook a little and she realized that she was beginning to suffer from the aftereffects of the teleportation spell. "Can I have the pleasure of knowing your name Sir ?"
"His name is Shizimi. "
Startled Keeah turned at Hotohori. She wasn't surprised that he spoke or that he knew the name of this man, it was the way he spoke, the tone of his voice, which was what startled her. She always thought that his voice was like honey, smooth and ... suave. When she had taken Lee hostage she had felt Hotohori's anger and his voice though angry and frustrated had still not lost that slight polished edge. Yet when he spoke today, she felt as if those layers were being peeled away.
Shizimi chuckled before bowing with a flourish. "That is my name. "
"Traitor. "
Keeah felt anger roll of Hotohori in waves and saw his ki swirl around his lean form like a scarlet mist. Again she felt it, the faint sensation that Hotohori was unconsciously holding something back. But whatever he was holding back was much closer to the surface now and the chains that were holding it back were no longer as powerful as they used to be.
"Traitor ?" Shizimi's aura flared, there was an unpleasant gleam in his eyes though the mockery in his smile did not abate. "How is that ? I gave my word to bring you to Fa Sang and I have done it. " He paused inspecting his nails. "By the way you were right. I fought your friends and I thought their skills were non-existent. "
Keeah did not see Hotohori move, it seemed as if two scarlet blurs collided midair, weaving around each other like fireflies, raising a shower of sparks when the two met with a sharp clang of steel kissing steel.
Keeah frowned. ' Good grief. I did not know that Hotohori was so fast. But now is not the time to research on that.' She turned towards Suraco all the blood receding from her face as she took stock of his injuries. ' Damn it.'
She knelt down, feeling a little helpless. Yes Suraco was wounded but Menesku appeared to be in a worse condition. His breaths came in little gasps and the rise and fall of his chest was erratic. She winced a little as she tried to stem the blood that flowed copiously from the wound in his stomach.
' By Seiryuu, that bastard.' She felt a hot flash of anger pass through her body. ' Calm down.' She chided herself harshly. ' As much as you would like to kill this Shizimi fellow, you can't do it. Menesku and Suraco need help. We need to get them out of here first and then seek vengeance. ' She looked at the scarlet blurs still engaged in the dance of death. ' We need to knock him out ... or something and retreat ... for now. Now how the hell do I get that across to Hotohori. '
There was a sharp clang and she saw the scarlet streaks colliding once more before breaking apart. Hotohori seemed to be pushed back violently and she saw he dug his feet stubbornly into the ground to maintain his balance. His tunic was ripped open and she could see long scarlet marks on his flesh that bled sluggishly.
She heard a contemptuous chuckle and turned towards Shizimi. With a start of surprise she realized that there was not a scratch on his body. His posture was still that bored indifference, the same cynical half smile on his lips, not a hair out of place.
"As I expected." His voice was mocking. "Your skill is non-existent as well. Even if you were here you would have been of little help to your friend."
' This guy is good at rubbing salt on fresh wounds.' Keeah frowned, as she felt Hotohori's ki spike. 'He wants to make us angry and it seems that he is succeeding rather well.'
"You bastard." Hotohori growled as he raised his sword, the scarlet ki whirling around it like a whirlwind before he brought it down with a wicked swish.
The air seemed to be rendered apart before being drawn into the eye of the tornado that erupted from the tip of the scarlet blade, rushing like a maddened beast towards its prey, tearing to pieces everything that stood in its way.
For a while Keeah was blinded with the dust and she had to put up her hands to shield her face. Slowly the dust began to settle down and she was able to make out the hazy outline of their enemy through it.
"Very flashy boy. " His voice sounded amused. "But hardly useful."
It was as if the curtain of dust was ripped apart as a scarlet streak blazed through it towards Hotohori. For a while it looked as if Hotohori would be unable to block the attack, but he raised his sword fast enough to stop Shizimi's blade midway. There was a very savage smile on his face.
"Don't be disappointed Shizimi. I have more than one card up my sleeve. "
Shizimi laughed, almost genuinely. There was a gleam of unholy amusement in his eyes. "Oh is there?" He used sarcasm with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. "I am shuddering in my shoes. "
Their aura's increased, swirling around them like a mist, before melding into a scarlet shimmering dance, battling each other dominance. They came together like angry Titans, their blades meeting with an shuddering impact and for a while it appeared as if they had totally forgotten the existence of the other people in the room.
Keeah frowned. ' This is not good. As impressed as I am by Hotohori's skill, I still feel that Shizimi is deliberately tiring him out. ' Suraco's heartbeat was faint under her palm and Menesku's was practically non-existent. ' Damn it Menesku.' She bit her lips. ' You can't die like this ...'
Biting her lips she stood up. ' It is time I intervened.' She concentrated. A shimmering shield covered the two unconscious warriors. ' That assured, I must now try and knock out Shizimi as soon as possible.'
She saw Hotohori and Shizimi break apart, fresh scarlet stains anointed Hotohori's body and Shizimi still looked like he was taking a stroll by the lake.
She grimaced. ' And somehow, I don't think that is going to be easy.'
"So where are those tricks you were talking about ? "Shizimi yawned. " Today is by far the most boring day in my life. "
Hotohori growled, his body tensing and Keeah saw the scarlet stain in his eyes become more pronounced. Moving quickly she put a restraining palm on his arm.
"Calm down Demon. " She snapped, her voice a low urgent whisper. "Don't you understand? He wants you to be angry and you are playing right into his hands. "
Though Hotohori jerked her hand away, she was glad to notice that he did not charge at Shizimi, which she knew he was dying to do. A soft chuckle drew her attention. Consciously wiping all emotion from her face she turned her eyes towards Shizimi. Once again she had the horrid premonition that he could see right through the thick veil she had flung over her eyes.
" Hello Princess. " Shizimi's voice was bored. "I was wondering when you were going to join the fray ?"
"Oh you did ?" Keeah's smiled. "I am touched. "
" Keep going girl. Sarcasm will get you everywhere. "
"Why, thank you. And it's Princess Keeah to you, Sir. "
"Well then. " The mockery in his voice deepened. " Princess Keeah it is. So Princess, shall we get on with the program. I most eager to see whether you are another spoilt …"
"Brat." Keeah offered helpfully.
"Yes. That's the word."
She could feel his ki spike and instinctively knew that he was going to move. But before she could react she felt something rush past her and knew that once again Hotohori had charged ahead to meet with Shizimi.
' Damn it.' She felt a twinge of irritation. 'In order to gain the upper hand in this situation we need to work as a unit. But Hotohori and I … we … we are not working as team … we are …'
She felt a hot air brush past her face before Shizimi' profile loomed dangerously close to her. It was only the years of training that kept her from screaming out .
" Surprised little girl?"
" Yes." Her voice was sharp and incurably truthful. "What I don't understand is why you had to drop in to check on poor little me. You and Hotohori were having so much fun together."
"We were having so much fun Princess, that I couldn't bear to keep you out of it."
Keeah joined her hands together, her voice a perfect imitation of the sugary tone the ladies employed at court. "Oh. You shouldn't have."
Shizimi's lips curved into a savage smile. "Only to glad to oblige."
She readied herself for his attack. But before Shizimi could move she felt herself lifted and bodily carried away to a distance.
"What the hell!" She could hardly keep control on the choicest curses to sprung to her lips as found herself unceremoniously dumped on the ground. Jumping up she face the perpetrator of this incident, cheeks flushed, eyes ablaze. " Hotohori, you moron … what the hell do you think you are doing? I am well able to protect myself. "
Hotohori looked at her, the scarlet stain not completely gone from his eyes. "I am not protecting you, I am protecting him. He is mine to kill."
' You wish.' Keeah rolled her eyes. "Now listen …"
He turned, grabbing her wrists in a vice-like grip. "No you listen witch." His eyes were a strange blazing scarlet and his voice dangerously calm. "You stay out of my way. I will make him pay for what he has done to my friend." He was gone.
Keeah could have almost stamped her foot with vexation. ' You moron. Your friend isn't dead yet. But he will be if you can't swallow your pride and retreat for now.' She paused as a realization dawned on her. 'What the hell am I getting pissed for? Its not like I need his help to teleport Menesku and Suraco out of here. Well, pretty boy here can stay and display his machismo while I get Suraco and Menesku somewhere where they will get the right kind of attention. After that, I can come back with fresh reinforcements and see what we can do about this guy here.'
She stiffened, instinctively feeling a powerful ki headed towards. ' You took me by surprise once. Not again. '
She turned, a shimmering blue ki dancing around her form, lightning leaping from the palm of her hand, lips curved upwards into a small unreadable smile. ' Come.'
Shizimi stopped just inches from her, a cynical smile on his face. "That will not hurt me you know. "
"I know." She grinned. "This spell was not made to hurt anybody, not much at least."
The shimmering lightning leapt out of her hands, moving like a slithering python encircling Shizimi in its silvery folds, tying down his sword arm.
"You wouldn't hurt a man who can't fight back, would you ?" Shizimi's voice quivered a little, and Keeah had a sneaky suspicion that he was laughing at her.
"Yes I would." She concentrated, letting the shimmering light in her hands solidify into a wickedly sharp sword of crystalline ice. She raised her hand to strike, bringing down her hand with a deadly purpose.
Her eyes widened a little, the sword shattering in her hands as a steel blade cut through it.
"You didn't think that could hold me, did you ?"
"Well, a girl can hope." Too late she saw his leg move up like a flash catching her hard across her stomach sending her flying across the room.
She had been prepared for the bone shattering impact, but she was unprepared to be plucked off the air midway and deposited quite safely onto the ground. Letting out an unladylike squawk she turned a startled eye towards Hotohori and almost froze. The scarlet stain in his eyes was deeper than usual and when he spoke, it was a voice quite unlike his own.
"Stay out of this witch." He let her go striding purposefully towards Shizimi. "Its time to get down to business Shizimi."
Shizimi's smile was unreadable. "Ah. Finally."
They circled each other now, measuring their opponents and then in the blink of an eye they had come together once more, waltzing around each other, their swords forking out like a cobra's tongue, their battle auras making the air around them throb with power. Once again the two warriors seemed to have forgotten the existence of any other person in the room, immersed completely in their duel. Despite her anxiety Keeah couldn't help but be awed at their skill.
' I knew Hotohori was good. But I didn't know that he was this good.' Keeah frowned. ' It would seem that I have seriously underestimated him.'
She froze as she saw one of the scarlet streaks being lifted off the ground as the other wove around it like a golden butterfly, drawing a shower of scarlet raindrops with every golden brushstroke, before letting it plummet towards the earth. Her eyes widened a little as she saw Hotohori's body hit the earth with a shattering thud. Shizimi landed almost next to him, lightly with a fluid cat-like motion, one foot coming forwards to meet Hotohori's abdomen with a wicked crunch, sending him into the wall with a shuddering impact.
' Seiryuu that is certainly going to leave a mark.' She saw Hotohori struggle to get up but Shizimi was beside him before he could recover.
"What is this my Prince ?" His lips were twisted in an odd smile as fist crashed with Hotohori's jaw, making his head snap backwards. "Why so silent ?" The kick that followed was just as vicious as the tinge in his voice. "Why no more words? No baying for my blood?"
"Excuse me Sir." Keeah moved up, the faint blue ki that surrounded her shimmering once more. "But only I am allowed to treat him like that. So kindly unhand him."
Shizimi let Hotohori go, the ends of his lips quivered a little, there was tinge of amusement in his eyes. "Is that so ? I under the impression that you are friends."
Keeah shrugged. "That's the whole point. We are not friends. We would like nothing better than to kill the other." She paused, her lips curving upwards into a smirk. "Which is why I really hate it when others interfere …" The ki in her hand shimmered. "For example you." She let the ki sphere fly.
Shizimi merely smiled as the ki ball whizzed past his head colliding with the columns behind him. "Rather wide of your mark Princess."
' Damn he is fast.' Keeah bit down the flash of anger. "Yes it is." She sighed dramatically. "I have been out of practice for too long."
Shizimi chuckled. "I really like these verbal spars with you. But forgive me, I have had a long day and right now I wish to retire."
Her eyes began to turn silver. "Then we are in perfect agreement."
A silvery hue began to spread from under her feet, its long icy fingers moving rapidly across the room, its cold touch freezing the floor, climbing up the broken columns and transforming it into a pillar of frozen ice. Shizimi's lips curved a little as he watched the cold fingers close around him, jumping into the air to avoid its freezing touch. The ground rippled as the fluid surface rose skywards in a wicked spike to meet him midair.
Keeah's eyes widened a little, as Shizimi effortlessly avoided the wicked edge, chuckling as he balanced himself on its tip before propelling himself towards her.
' Oh no, you don't.'
The icy seemed to take a mind of its own, as Keeah's eyes turned to a silvery blue, the surface leaping up like beast wanting to gobble Shizimi up in its frozen belly. Keeah felt her anger and frustration increase as Shizimi maneuvered his way through the frozen death traps as if they never existed.
' Damn it.'
She felt strong fingers coil around her neck even before she could formulate a counterattack. Shizimi smirked.
"Nice trick girl. Too bad I have seen all of them."
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