*laughs nervously* Ehehehe...hi everybody. Umm...yeah, so judging by all the glares you guys are leveling at your computer screens, I'm guessing you're not very happy with me for taking so long to write this next chapter. But before you kill me, I would like to say one thing...IT'S ALL FEATHER-CHAN'S FAULT! *runs and hides behind Feather-chan*
NinthFeather: WHAT? How on Earth is this my fault? And stop hiding behind me! I'm the captive here, so you have no right to use me as a human shield.
Me: Actually, the fact that you are MY captive and thus completely at my mercy gives me full rights to use you as a human shield.
NinthFeather:...Can we move away from that disturbing piece of Neko-chan logic and get back to why you not updating for over a month is my fault?
Me: Oh, it's not really, but I don't wanna give them the real excuse-uh, I mean reason. *cries*
NinthFeather: WHY THE HECK NOT?
Me: You try explaining to your readers that you nearly ended up in the hospital YET AGAIN because you have YET ANOTHER serious illness.
NinthFeather: I sincerely hope I never have to.
Me: So yeah, that was why I haven't updated in so long. That, and I had a case of writer's block from hell. Curse you, Lucifer! You're trying to sabotage my story!
NinthFeather: You do realize that you are blaming a fictional character for your writer's block, right?
Me:...And? Your point?
NinthFeather: *face palms* Just get on with your fic, already.
Me: Ok! ^-^
Warning: More bishie abuse, though not as severe as the last chapter. I can guarentee you, however, that you will still hate me by the end.
Disclaimer: At the moment, I own copious amounts of pain killers, but not the bishies of Saint Beast. Which sucks because bishies are the best kind of pain killer known to man (or woman ^_~)
Oh, and btw, this chapter is dedicated to Got Buttermilk, who actually helped give me the idea for this chapter (though I don't think she knows how yet). You rock, girl!
None of the earlier false bravado or whispered worries were heard from the angels held captive in Hell. All had been forced into silence, for really, what was there to be said now? What use was bravado, when one of their own had already been broken? And what use were worries, when the worst had already come to pass?
No, the only sound to be heard in the large, stone cave was the soft, hiccuping sobbing coming from the aqua-haired angel chained to the wall.
It was only when the crying stopped, and a heavy, tension-filled silence descended upon the angels did one of them finally speak.
"Shin," Yuda pleaded, his low voice as loud as a shout in the dead silence of the cave, "Please, talk to me. Say something. Anything. Just let me know that you're..." What? Alright? Of course he wasn't alright. Yuda knew that. No one could come that close to...to that, and still be alright. Still, Yuda needed some kind of reassurance, some kind of proof, that Shin was still there. That he hadn't been completely broken. That Shin was still his.
Shin didn't respond at first, and the terrible, weighty silence continued to press on Yuda. Finally, just when the crimson-haired angel thought he would go completely insane if he didn't hear his love's voice, Shin spoke.
"I'm sorry," the aqua-haired angel whispered, his voice so low that Yuda strained to hear him.
"What?" Yuda asked gently, certain that he hadn't heard his angel right. After all, what could Shin possibly have to apologize for? It was Yuda who should be apologizing. It was Yuda who hadn't been able to protect Shin. It was Yuda who had done nothing but watch as that...that creature had tried to violate his love. So why in Heaven would Shin be apologizing?
"I-I said I'm s-sorry," Shin stammered, a bit louder than before. "I'm sorry I w-wasn't able to s-stop him. I tried, I truly did, but...but..." Shin paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"You know I tried, right Yuda? You know I didn't want him to do that. You didn't believe him when he said...when he said I...I liked it, right? Please tell me you didn't believe him, Yuda!" Shin begged, finally looking up and meeting Yuda's eyes.
The expression on the aqua-haired angel's face shattered Yuda's heart (as well as any thoughts of mercy towards Stheno) even more than his horrifying pleas. Never had he seen his beautiful angel look so...lost. So hopelessly lost. Like he was broken beyond what he ever imagined to be possible, and he desperately needed someone to pick up the pieces and put him back together again.
Yuda had thought about how he would feel if something like this were to happen to Shin many times since his conversation with Ruka in the library all those months ago, but not even in his worst nightmares did think it would feel like this. Anguish, terror, and rage roiled around inside him like a tornado, consuming everything inside him until there was nothing but the pain.
So much pain.
Fighting to keep his voice calm, Yuda attempted to speak around the growing lump in this throat. "Of course I didn't believe him, Shin. How could I? I know you fought him with everything you had. I know you did not want, let alone enjoyed what he did to you. And I know you have nothing, nothing, to be sorry for."
The panic in Shin's eyes began to die away, though the haunted, terrified look was still there. "Then...then you don't hate me?" he whispered, almost not daring to hope.
Yuda's expression grew even more pained, but he forced his voice to remain steady. "Shin, listen well to what I'm about to tell you, and never forget it. I will never, ever, hate you. I do not believe I am physically capable of feeling such a thing towards you. I love you. I have always loved you, and I will always love you. And there is absolutely nothing you or anyone else can do to change that."
The tears once again filled Shin's eyes as he nodded, grateful beyond belief for Yuda's words. Slowly, the aqua-haired angel turned to the other angels in the room and, his earlier anxiety returning to his voice, he whispered, "A-And the rest of you?"
For a moment, the awful silence returned. Thankfully, it was cut short by a rather angry voice replying, "What the hell does that mean, 'and the rest of you'? You think we could hate you for what that bastard did anymore than Yuda could? Please! You're our comrade, and more importantly, you're our friend, and there's nothing that damn Stheno can do about it!" Gai growled, trying to sound indignant, but the effect was ruined by the wink and toothy grin he sent Shin, making the amber-eyed angel smile softly in return.
Gou couldn't help but chuckled at Gai's usual callousness, "Well, while I would not have phrased it so...bluntly, Gai is right. Put in even simpler terms, we care about you, Shin. We're your friends, and as such, how could we judge or hate you for something that occurred through no fault of your own?"
"Shin-san, you didn't do anything wrong. Stheno hurt you, just like he hurt me, Kira-nii-san, and...and Rei-san, but there was nothing you could have done. How could anyone hate you for that?" Maya asked, giving Shin an encouraging smile.
"Shin," Ruka said, his voice somber. "There is something you should understand, something all of you should understand, though I'm sure some have guessed already," Ruka paused, seeming to gather his courage, before continuing. "What Stheno did to you moments ago, he also did to Rei six months ago."
Ruka saw both Shin and Gou nod, grim expression on their faces, as though they had already anticipated this revelation, while Maya gasped, his eyes wide, and Gai let loose a furious growl.
"It has taken me all this time to convince Rei that what happened was not his fault, and too be honest, at times, I think he still believes it is. So I hope you will listen to my words, and take them to heart as I truly hope Rei will someday do."
"Shin, what Stheno did was many things. It was cruel, disgusting, horrifying, and truly one of the most terrible forms of violation one being can force on another. But there is one thing that it was not. It was not. Your. Fault. And I could no more hate you for what was forced on you than I could hate Rei for what was done to him."
The tears that had gather in Shin's eyes once again began pouring freely down his cheeks, though this time not from terror or shame, but from relief and gratitude. "Thank you so much, everyone."
"Yes, thank you. That truly was a very touching moment," came a mocking voice from the far end of the cave. All six angels turned to see the smirking form of Lucifer striding towards them, flanked on either side by two hulking, grotesquely deformed demons.
"While I hate to interrupt such a tender, loving conversation, I'm afraid we have some business to which we simply must attend," Lucifer concluded, an arrogant sneer on his face as he walked toward his captives.
"I have come to see if the six of you have reconsidered my offer to join me in my paradise. There are many things I could teach you here, including the meaning of true freedom. A freedom where you are not bound to serve a tyrannical god, but instead serve no other but yourself. You would hold responsibility for none but yourself, and you would answer to none but yourself. Is that not what paradise truly is? Is that not what true freedom is?"
"You speak not of freedom, but of confinement," Yuda replied, glaring at the fallen angel in front of him. "A confinement born out of false beliefs of righteousness and illusions of grandeur. How would we achieve any more freedom under you than we do under Zeus-sama? At least under Zeus-sama, we have a purpose. We protect our fellow angels in Heaven, in addition to the humans and animals of Earth. And it is that purpose, Lucifer, that gives us our freedom."
Lucifer sighed. "All you angels are so naïve in the beginning. Very well, I guess I'll have to set about...convincing you one at a time. Now, who shall we select first..." the onyx-haired man murmured as he scanned the angels currently chained to the cave wall.
Suddenly, he smiled. "Ah, I know. Let's start with the Byakko," he purred, signaling the the demons on either side of him to unchain the small angel.
"NO!" Gou shouted, tugging frantically at his own bonds in an attempt to free himself and save the blonde angel. "Take me instead! Just leave him!"
"Oh, worry not, Seiryuu, you will have your turn. And of course, the Byakko will be returned to you. Although," Lucifer continued, smirking, "What condition he is in when he is returned is entirely dependent on both you and him."
"Jeez, Gou, relax," Gai said, his teasing tone off put by the terror that shone through his eyes. "You think a can't handle a couple of stupid demons? I can take anything they can dish out!"
The demons on either side of him laughed. "We shall see about that, little angel," they growled as they roughly shoved Gai forward. "We shall see."
"Well, oh fearless leader, how do you suppose we get out of this?"
Rei scowled, both at Kira's sarcastic tone and the situation they seemed to have found themselves in. He should have known things had been going too well.
They had managed to enter the gateway of Hell without encountering any demons. The same occurred in the first circle. And the second circle. And the third circle. And the fourth circle...
By the time they had reached the eighth circle and had yet to encounter any demons at all, Rei was starting to get very, very nervous.
Still, both he and Kira continued to press on, for really, what choice did they have? No matter how much this whole situation was beginning to look like a trap, they had to continue in order to rescue the others.
And it was that brilliant plan that had currently gotten both him and Kira into their current situation. Well, at least now we know where all the demons were, Rei thought to himself, peeking out around the corner of the protruding wall he and Kira were currently taking shelter behind to gaze out at the large mass of demons currently blocking their only entrance to the ninth circle.
Thankfully, their backs were all turned towards Rei and Kira, so thy had yet to notice the two angels yet, but Rei did not hold out much hope for that to last long.
Quickly scanning the layout of the massive stone hall they were in, Rei noticed a narrow ledge that ran along the side of the cliff-like wall of the cave that would, while keeping them out of the line of sight of the demons, still lead them through the colossal iron gates of the ninth circle.
Quietly and quickly explaining his plan to Kira, the two carefully crept out from behind their shelter and made their way over to the steep, ramp-like incline that led up the ledge.
They had barely begun making their way up when the screaming started.
Terrible, horrible, and yet eerily familiar cries that seemed to make the very blood in Rei's veins run cold. Never had the violet-haired angel heard anything so heart-breaking, so soul shattering. Rei was certain that if pain were ever given a voice, it could never compare to this one scream.
While they managed to make up to the ledge fairly quickly, the trip was not without its close calls, the worst of which being when Rei slipped on some loose gravel on the path, which resulted in several small pebbles cascading to the ground, and the demons, below. Thankfully, however, the screaming was so loud by that point that none of the demon heard the soft sound of the rocks crashing to the stone below.
When the two angels finally managed to pull themselves up onto the ledge, however, their relief and elation at accomplishing such a feat was short lived. For from their vantage point on the ledge, they could finally see the source of the screams.
In the center of the large ring of demons, a small figure had been crucified, nailed to a crude wooden cross. The figure's clothes were all but gone, and what few scraps of clothe remained were so stained with blood that it was nearly impossible to tell fabric from flesh. Demon hell hounds barked and growled ravenously at the foot of the cross, and from the numerous bite marks along the captive figures legs, they were not there merely for intimidation. Innumerable burn, stab, and bite marks marred the figure's body, painting every inch of the once ivory skin a bloody crimson.
Yet it was none of these things that caused both Kira and Rei to freeze in horror. No, what succeeded in filling both angels with a terror so keen they felt it cut into their very bones was the sight of the figure's mop of long, filthy, blood matted, yet still undeniably blonde hair and its wide, pain-glazed green eyes.
Gai.
Well, there it is! The long awaited chapter 18 of "Strength"! I hope you enjoyed it and, while I know half of you want to kill me for what I've done to Gai, while the other half want to kill me for the majorly sadistic cliffhanger I've left you with, I promise I will try and updated much sooner than last time (provided there are no more impromptu hospital visits).
NinthFeather: There had better not be any more hospital visits, or I swear I'm going to kill you!
Me:...Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of me going to the hospital in the first place?
NinthFeather: Yes, but it would make me feel a heck of a lot better.
Me:...ANYWAY, please please please please give me reviews! I love my reviews! They make me want to write! So please, REVIEW!
NinthFeather: Please just do it. It might actually make her shut up.
Me: Not likely.
That's all for now!
~Neko-chan~