THE CAVE: CONTINUUM
Part Fifteen
The few tribesmen who are left behind stoke the bon fire creating large amber flames which licks at the logs, reaching higher, passing the top of the still-erect pyramid of logs that snap and crackle sending orange sparks into the air.
The brightness from the blaze shines on Kanda's back and emits a searing heat. They drag him away and slowly the light fades on his back, turning into twilight. The scorching heat on his body turns to a shivering chill.
The loud, thunderous banging of the drums follow Kanda and the two warriors as they escort him back to the path where Allen and he had been before their encounter with the Level 3 Akuma.
The two warriors have no idea who they are attempting to drag away, back into the forest far from his Bean Sprout. Like any loving spouse, he is determined to save his husband. Kanda is a swordsman, a competent warrior who forms strategies ahead of time, if possible, before engaging into any sort of battle, unlike his impulsive partner who is ready to save the world instantaneously.
Kanda still struggles against the ropes which bind him. He yanks and tugs, trying to loosen them, to no avail. His efforts only leave his wrist red and raw. Because of this, one of the warriors grows tired of Kanda's constant rebellion and intends to teach him a lesson. Suddenly, one of the warriors is at Kanda's side and kicks his legs out from under him. He lands heavily, face down in the dirt.
Laughing, they drag Kanda along, his arms stretching out in front of him, pulling his body faster as dirt and dust kicks up from the ground into his face. Despite the pain to his wrists, Kanda twists and turns in the ropes grip which yanks mercilessly on his arms. He struggles to get to his feet.
"You mother fuckers are not going to get away with this. You will pay for what you are doing," sputters a fuming and defiant Kanda as he starts to cough from the dust.
"Well, if you stop fighting us we will let you up to walk along quietly. What do you say?" The taller warrior on his right asks.
Kanda quickly thinks about this and decides it will be better if he cooperates with the two warriors, for now at least, and try to extract information from them rather than continue struggling and not have an opportunity to get free.
"Okay," Kanda says, relinquishing his struggle.
They allow Kanda to stand up and he brushes the dirt from his clothes before they resume their walk.
"So, tell me, where is this Stone Warrior's prison located?" Kanda asks seeking the information he needs to find Allen.
The two look at each other, figuring they have the upper hand with this fireball of a warrior which they have been ordered to separate from the White-hair god. They decide to tell Kanda the name of the place.
"Skull's cave," replies the shorter warrior.
"Is this cave far from your village?" Kanda asks, probing further for answers.
"It is considered far when one is towing the large wagon with the wheel on top. Where it is located is of no concern to you, for you will be far away in the other direction, unable to interfere with the ceremony," hisses the second warrior.
'Hmm, so we are heading in the opposite direction from where they are taking Bean Sprout. I will need to escape soon, or I will lose the trail leading me back to the village.' Kanda continues to ponder the plan forming in his mind.
With what little information he has been able to extract from the warriors it should still be enough to help him find Allen. Seemingly, the two warriors are strong, but they are still no match against Kanda. He had discovered that earlier when they had pulled the ropes tighter to stretch out his arms to prevent him from breaking his constraints.
The young warrior's bodies are well built, with tight, strong muscles, but they have not acquired the finesse in which to measure up to Kanda in hand to hand combat, which the samurai swordsman knows would be to his advantage.
When tied to the tree he had no leverage in which to break the ropes, but now, having his arms free with only the rope around his wrists, there is a better chance of escaping.
Even though they had confiscated his sword, Mugen, they did not look inside his boot where he carries a dagger. The other helpful fact is the inexperience warriors had tied the other ends of the rope to their own wrists, leaving them bound to Kanda.
Resolving his plan in his mind he sets it into motion. He looks for a tree that can withhold being pulled on without being too flexible, or fragile to break if bent too far.
Kanda spots such a tree coming up close on his right side. Within a split second, Kanda forcefully tugs on one of the ropes, which swings the shorter warrior around the tree. The rope wraps quickly and tightly, smashing his head hard enough on the tree to knock him out.
Before the other warrior can react, Kanda jerks sharply on the rope again, swinging him in the opposite direction then his comrade around the same tree. The warrior's head crashes into the tree, leaving him on the ground semi-conscious and moaning in pain.
He grabs his dagger from inside his boot, and severs the ropes around his wrist and darts away from the two defeated warriors and heads straight to the village to snag Mugen.
He quickly surveys the area for signs from which they came. Just feet away from him is the path where the two warriors had dragged him for several yards. Following it to the end, he notices the path they had taken from the village and follows it.
'I have to get to Bean Sprout. What are they going to do to him? Just feed him to a warrior made of stone? That's ridiculous … but most things we encounter as Exorcists is ridiculous … I wonder if Innocence is involved with this," Kanda mulls this over in his mind.
"I hope I can get there in time to save Bean Sprout. Damn it! I will get there in time! Ha, a White-hair god … that's going to come back and bite me in the ass at some point in our life, I just know it," Kanda mutters to himself.
Up ahead he can see the shimmering of fire brightly lighting the village. He approaches cautiously, peering around for any sign of the warriors that had stayed behind. None were to be seen, so Kanda slowly walks into the village.
The bon fire still flickers tall, its amber flames blazing into the air, sparking, making crackling and popping sounds as before. The blaze illuminates everything, giving plenty of light for Kanda to find Mugen which is leaning against the Chiefs' seat.
He races up the stairs to where the Chief's throne sits and picks up Mugen and swings it over his shoulder. He scans the area around him to get his bearings before he sprints off in the direction Allen had been taken away.
The beating of the drums can no longer be heard, only the crackling sound of the fire as he leaves the village. Kanda believes they may have taken the drums to the ceremonial grounds for their sacrifice. "Damn, Bean Sprout is their sacrifice." A chill runs down his spine. He has to find his partner.
Once beyond the bright light of the fire he has to adjust his eyes to the darkness. Moments pass before his eyes acclimate to the dim light. It's not exactly dark, but the stars and moon isn't offering much light. Though, the dimness contributes to an eerie, almost ominous feeling, as if something is lurking in the shadows ready to jump out at any moment.
Luckily, it isn't too hard to find signs as to what direction they have taken Allen. The trail blazing before him is clearly where they were towing the heavy wagon. It left tell-tale marks, making a path even he can see in this darkness.
He sprints off, following the wagon's trail, keeping a steady pace and thinking only of getting to his Bean Sprout. He can still see the look on Allen's face when he had to drink that potion. Too many things on this trip have brought back so many memories of what they have gone through together.
'I only want us back together, finding our paradise together. Damn I love him,' Kanda thinks as he picks up his pace.
Suddenly he hears rustling behind him. Following the rustling sound he hears the hush of voices whispering from what seems to be a conversation between two people. 'Could those two have escaped from the tree already?' Kanda wonders as he listens. He pulls back into the tall grass to hide.
Sure enough it is the two warriors Kanda had left in a heap back in the forest. The shorter warrior has a gash on the side of his forehead with blood trickling down. A bump and a bruise are already starting to form. His body has various scratches and cuts from the trees and his wrists are red where the rope has burnt the skin.
The taller warrior didn't look much better. His head had smashed into the tree as well, leaving a massive welt on his right cheek and eye. The swelling of the bruise makes his face askew, which complements the large black swollen eye which is already a deep black and blue. The warrior's body also has cuts and abrasions from the rope and tree. Clearly, both of them have seen better days.
One warrior falters in his steps and stumbles as he tries to keep walking. He sways back and forth while the other warrior waddles and walks just as lamely. Neither one of them look as if they could make much headway to the ceremonial grounds. Kanda sneers at the boorish warriors, despite himself.
Quietly, Kanda carefully backs up into the taller grass to where they wouldn't detect his presence. Furtively, he creeps ahead of the two warriors until he has put some distance between them. Only then does he move back onto the path of the wagon.
It is still dark, and in the shadows Kanda blends well with his black coat, making it difficult to ascertain if it is him. Vigilantly, he continues to pick up a faster pace while moving stealthily amongst the large trees and brush. In the distant he can now hear the drone of drums pounding – he has to be near the ceremonial grounds.
'Bean Sprout, hang on, I'm almost there,' Kanda thinks, becoming anxious to get there before it's too late.
The drums become louder as he arrives closer to the site. Still keeping his fast pace, ducks branches and moves smoothly through the brush, silently and skillfully. He looks to the sky and notices it will be dawn soon. Hopefully, this will not interfere with his rescue of Allen.
Thunderous banging of the drums confirms Kanda's suspicion he is almost there. A flicker of flames can be seen filtering through the leaves and brush. Closer now, Kanda stomach begins to churn inside at what he may find. Is he too late to save Allen? Has the Stone Warrior already been released, the sacrifice completed and Allen gone?
Thoughts are now whirling around in Kanda's mind as he becomes afraid of what may be over the rise ahead. 'I can't lose Bean Sprout – damn he has to be alright!' Once again, that deep rooted pain is trying to ripple up and tear at his soul at the thought of losing Allen.
Through the leaves he sees the flames of random bon fires scattered about the grounds. He is closer, much closer now. His legs are shaking, his thigh muscles burn from his furious pace to reach the ceremonial grounds. His calf muscles balk, tightening with every step he takes. 'I'm almost there, keep moving, just keep moving,' Kanda chants in his mind.
The beginning of dawn is approaching. The sky has an eerie appearance as night fades away unveiling a sky which is unsettling to Kanda. Once he reaches the ridge, he crunches down and creeps to the edge to view the activities happening below. Directly across from him is a sight he had not anticipated seeing – as he stares at the cave the natives call Skull Cave.
A/N: Hopefully this was a faster pace chapter and keeps you interested. I was lucky to have someone review it in time to get it out for this weekend. Please enjoy and thank you to everyone that has been following this story and have left their wonderful reviews or comments!