**I found a song. It's Hiro. It's almost amazing how well it describes the situation.
It's called 'INSaNITY' [Frost Mix] Author unknown. It was an anime song originally, but it's in English.
Ever since I've picked up on writing fan fiction, I've found a whole variety of music because of these character related links. It takes some digging, but you can find some pretty cool stuff out there! This next one, seriously. Best link yet.
Here's the link:
youtube-.-com/?#/watch?v=jhdIu-oDHVU
Give the song a chance, you won't be sorry. Unless you are. But still... Variety!
Enjoy Chapter 22! :)**
Chapter 22: Trial of Tongue's
We were standing in front of the gate to the first trial. There were no guards outside, then again, there didn't have to be.
The inside was well fortified enough.
"Wow..." Said Linn. "This place looks even bigger than 'The Warrior's Respite'! And that's saying something."
Kuhn nodded. "Yeah it does. I'm not looking forward to that mess, that's for sure."
"Let's just go." Said Haku coldly. He rarely spoke, but when he did, it was always cold and monotone.
He had taken this entire ordeal the hardest, though he'd never say so himself.
We walked up to the front gate. Kuhn and I looked at each other, we nodded.
Time to go in.
We waited for Boh to crack the lock in mouse form.
He switched back to his giant self, and opened the massive gate.
We all ran in, but Boh and No-Face stayed put.
"We'll be right in." He said. "Just scoping the area for any stragglers. We'll have enough problems in there as it is."
I nodded. "Alright then. Don't be too long."
We ran inside to the door of the trail, and awaited their arrival.
...
Boh looked the first door close behind them.
He looked at No-Face.
"Did you administer the crash pill?" He asked.
No-Face nodded. "Ah. (Yes, and I gave her a little more of the normal dose. You know, the stuff we usually give her? Yeah, I have to say, that dosage we've built her up to is enough to drop a wraith! With the crash pill? Yeah, there's no way she'll survive both the withdrawals, and the crash pill's symptoms. She'll most likely die in this trial. Seamless and flawless, and no one will know the better.)"
He smiled darkly. "Good, and about damn time too."
...
They entered the fortress, and nodded.
"We're clear. Let's get this over with. I don't want to be in here any longer than we have to!"
Kuhn laughed bitterly. "You can say that again."
We opened the door, and the room sucked us in.
It was dark for a moment, then a dim red light filled the room.
"Okay, the first thing we need to do, is start looking for the priestess."
They all looked at me with confusion.
Kuhn spoke. "Hwta rea oyu yinsga? Inact-!"
"Ahwt het!?" Said Chihiro. "Thwa sithtsi!?"
Oh no... We were all speaking gibberish! The trial of tongue's... It was very clear now, that we were babbled to each other.
Haku and I looked at each other, and nodded.
I pulled out my crossbow, and shot the wall. Everyone stopped babbling, and looked at us.
Haku pointed to a pathway to the right, then looked at Chihiro.
You could see a shiver move up her spine. She shook her head, and pointed to the left one instead.
Nina shook her head, and pointed center.
Chihiro glared at her angrily, and pointed hard to the left.
Nina pointed just as hard, glaring just as much.
Chihiro grabbed her by the collar, and pointed left.
Both Kuhn and I stopped them. They continued to glare at each other.
Kuhn pointed to him and Linn gesturing to the right entrance. He grouped Nina and I, and pointed us to the center, and Chihiro and Haku to the left. He then paired Karo and Shisuta with themselves, Haruka with Haku and Chihiro, and Boh and No-Face with us.
He was suggesting we split up, going into our preferred entrances.
I gave him a worried look. He chose the right one.
He sighed, and gave me a look that said. "Might as well."
I hesitated, then gave a sharp nod.
I gave him a quick hug, and we entered our paths. This was going to be a hard trial, I could feel it.
...
Hiro and Eiji rode up to the gate of the first trial.
It was open.
"No! They're already in!?" Hiro exclaimed.
"Dammit. What now?" Said Eiji.
They stopped at the gate.
"I don't know, should we go in?" Hiro asked.
"I would advise against it." Said Talin. "But if you must, Max will go with you."
Max stood beside her. "You said I could eat Lilith Mistress. I will, and I'll save you at least one tooth. Make the necklace shiny please."
I smiled. "I will. Come on max, there isn't any Leviathan I'd rather have by my side."
He turned a brighter shade of red.
"You too Mistress!" He said happily.
Eiji looked at her, and smiled. Even after all that had happened, she was a force to be reckoned with. Like a force of nature, just wild and beautiful...
"Let's go then." Said Eiji. "We don't want to keep them waiting.
She nodded, and the three of them went through the first door.
They looked at the door to the trial, and stopping.
"On three." Said Hiro.
Eiji nodded.
They began to count.
"One... Two..."
They looked at each other.
"THREE!" They yelled, opening the door.
The room sucked them in, and dim red light filled the momentary darkness.
"Well, we're in." Hiro said.
Eiji looked at her. "Ahtw idd uyo ysa? Idditn' tchac atht."
Hiro's eyes widened. "What the? What is this!?"
Max spoke. "Ahahahhhhhahaaahh! Uoy syug dnuos ynnuf!"
Hiro and Eiji seemed to catch on to what was happening.
Hiro found some chalk on the floor next too a wall. She picked it up, and started writing.
Eiji looked over, and saw it.
"Where do you think they went? There are three pathways, and only one way they went. So which one is it?"
Eiji grabbed the chalk, and wrote.
"I don't know... Did they leave any clues as to where they went? I'm not seeing anything."
Hiro felt a buzz, and looked to the right. Junichi was standing there, then he disappeared.
Hiro pointed to the right exit. She took the chalk and pocketed it just in case.
She didn't know if they'd have time to stop, but if they had to, this would come in handy.
They ran into the right exit, hoping they wouldn't be to late.
...
We were walking through the center path.
So far, nothing bad had happened, but Nina didn't look so good.
I stopped her. I held her face, and gave Her a soft kiss.
I gestured for her to sit down by a wall.
She shook her head, and tried to move forward. I grabbed her arm.
I turned her so she'd be facing me. I was starting to get really worried.
I looked down at the wall, and back up at her.
Nina... She looks so sick.
Please... I'm begging you, take the hint! Your face is pale, your in a cold sweat, your shaking... I can feel you shaking! Please... Just sit, take a break!
She nodded, and sat down.
She started to shake heavily. I lifted my hands, and started to heal her.
It rejected.
My eyes went wide, and I tried again. Nothing.
I held her, and made sure she stayed awake.
Please... Heavens I know you hate me! But please! Grant me this one pleasure... Please... Don't let her die! I can see it in her eyes, she's dying! Dear god, PLEASE! DON'T LET HER DIE!"
I felt myself sob, but tried to hold it back.
She held my face, and gave me a gentle kiss.
I kissed back, tears spilling from my eyes.
"I love you..." I whispered.
I know we were babbled, but she would understand that much.
Her lower lip trembled, and tears spilled from her eyes.
"I love you too..." She whispered.
She put her hand to my head, and all was dark.
...
Nina stood, and stumbled off.
Boh looked down at Kahn.
I never imagined I'd feel so horrible about this. If I know one thing now, it's that Lilith loves him...
It had to happen, and I won't beat myself up because of this. Lilith didn't care about the team, or anyone else but herself, or so it seemed. She cared about Kahn though, now, that much is clear.
I never thought I'd see true love and mercy in that woman's eyes. But I did.
Well, no stopping it now. She's a goner.
...
Nina stumbled forward.
She knew she was dying, and she didn't want Kahn to have to see that. She'd been poisoned, and now she'd never be with Kahn again.
Someone's gonna die.
If I'm going down because of these fools, I'm bringing some wenches down with me!
...There's a path that splits off into the right exit.
Well, so much for them.
...
Kuhn and Linn were wandering forward.
What was so bad about the right exit anyway? Linn didn't see anything suspicious, and they seemed to be headed in the right direction.
...There was a noise... No, a feeling.
Linn grabbed Kuhn, and stopped him.
Kuhn stopped the others, and looked at Linn with confusion.
The look told her. "Why are we stopping?"
She held up her finger, and looked around.
She looked forward, and saw a dagger flying toward Kuhn's head. He was turned to the side, so he couldn't see it.
There's no way he'll dodge it in time! God DAMMIT!
She jumped in front of him. Now the knife was headed toward her...
Damn... I guess this is it. Goodbye Kuhn. Please find Hiro, and make sure she's safe... I know you will.
She saw something fly in front of her, and block the blow.
She fell to the ground.
Linn looked up, and saw...
Hiro... It was Hiro.
Kuhn, let out a small cough. She must have knocked the wind clean out of him.
She shook him, and pointed at Hiro.
His eyes went wide.
"On ywa! Ihro! IHRO!"
Karo and Shisuta stood at the ready. Shisuta's tail flipped out, and Karo's greatsword was ready.
"Tsya ABCK!" She yelled, sticking her hand out.
She was telling them to stay there.
A sword flew at her, and she knocked it aside like a child's plaything. That metal club was MASSIVE!
"Ocme Uto!" She screamed. "Ouy tsuipd BICHT!"
Shisuta's eyes widened.
Linn didn't need a translator to know what that last one was.
Nina ran toward her, greatsword swinging at full force.
Hiro swung at her.
Nina blocked it with her sword, but the force of the blow knocked her clear up to the Ceiling, and slammed her down again.
A Leviathan jumped on her, attempting to swallow her. He punched her in the mouth, grabbed a tooth that had fell out, and went for another blow.
She held his arm back, and stabbed him with her sword.
She continued to stab him.
"Ied! Ied! IED!" She screamed.
Hiro threw her off, beating Nina with her club. Screaming loud gibberish as she continued to wail on her. She screamed louder, and tears were spilling out of her eyes.
"She's dead Hiro." Said the Leviathan.
Kuhn and Linn looked at him. He just spoke coherently!
She ran to him, sobbing and crying.
He opened his hand, and placed the tooth in hers.
"I... I got one." He said.
He disappeared.
Her hands hit the bloody floor beneath her.
She was shaking.
"MAAAAAAX!" She screamed.
Then she just continued screaming.
Then she stopped. Her eyes were blank.
There was saw a boy running toward her, it was Eiji.
"Ihro! Idhera ouy scraem! Ihro...?"
She looked at him, and her eyes went wide. She backed away.
"Hwo era uoy!? Hwat si htsi!?"
She stumbled up, and ran. Pocketing the tooth.
Eiji ran after her.
"IHRO! AITW UP!"
They stood, and ran after them. Whatever was going on, things had just taken a turn for the worst.
...
She continued to run.
What was this place?
Where was she?
Why was this guy still chasing her!?
Who was he anyway!?
She ran, and saw a door ahead. She picked up the pace.
"Ihro! ON!"
Silver threads flew out of the boy's hands, and attempted to grab her.
She dodged them, and opened the door. It sucked her in.
Eijii ran to the door, and tried to pull it open. It was sealed shut.
His face was pale.
She was facing the high priestess now. There was nothing he could do.
...She was stuck in there until she killed the priestess. She was on her own from here.
...
Haku and Chihiro were close to the exit. The left path was fairly empty, and they hadn't had any trouble. They ran toward the door, and froze.
Eiji was standing there. His hand was pressed against the door.
...He was crying.
Haku lost his composure.
"IEJI!" He screamed.
He ran toward him.
Eiji turned and saw him, little silver threads flew out and darted around him like snakes.
Haku stopped.
"Looks like your seal didn't work." He said bitterly.
"I... I'm sorry." Said Haku. "I know I shouldn't have-"
"JUST SHUT UP!" He yelled.
"You betrayed me! Both of you..."
He laughed darkly. "But now we're here... And look, training paid off after all... Not that you'd know."
"What do you think!?" He yelled. "Was I BRAVE ENOUGH! ARE YOU PROUD OF ME NOW!?"
Chihiro's eyes had filled with tears.
What have we done...?
"Eiji." She said. "I am very proud of you."
He stopped, and looked at her.
"I'm more ashamed of myself than anything... You've grown up so strong, you must have trained for hours every day..."
His eyes went wide.
"You were an honor to raise, and we'd glady have you back..."
Tears spilled from her eyes.
"It's your choice... I can't stop you if you want to leave, not anymore."
Tears were falling from Haku as well... He nodded, and gave Eiji the first smile she'd seen in a long time.
Eiji fell to his knees, and started to cry.
"She's in there! Hiro's in there, and the door is SEALED! She'll die! We were... We were supposed to go together!"
He sobbed.
Haku and Chihiro ran up to him.
They both wrapped him in a hug, and he leaned into them.
"I love you..." He said softly.
Haku began to cry.
"I love you too! Please never do that to me again!"
Chihiro held him, and cried softly.
"Ihro... SI hse...?"
They were babbled again.
Haku looked at her.
"Tno htis igaan!"
Chihiro groaned in annoyance.
"Ghuuuu! Htis lacep so ooooos iewrd!"
Eiji held the bridge of his nose.
"Rgaet! Htis igaan!? Ufck ym ifle..."
He turned red.
...I really hope they didn't catch that!
"What did you just say!?" Chihiro exclaimed.
"N-Nothing! Please don't kill me!"
The light changed, and everyone was back to normal. She did it.
"You just... You did! You DID SAY THAT!"
He lifted up his hands in a defensive surrender.
"Just... Please don't. Aw dammit... No! I did it again! Shit! What!? Fuck really!?"
He held his head in his hands.
"I'm grounded aren't I?"
"I'd say... Yes." She said.
"Dammit- I-I mean... Yes Ma'am."
Hiro ran out of the room.
"What the hell is this place!?" She yelled. She ran in the opposite direction of the door.
Eiji stood. "Hiro! WAIT!"
She turned around.
"Leave me alone! I don't know you!" She yelled.
"And who the HELL IS HIRO!?"
She ran off.
Eiji was frozen.
She didn't know him...?
She didn't know she was Hiro?
What HAPPENED!?
The others ran into the room.
"Hey!" Yelled Kuhn. "Hiro's HERE! AND-"
He stopped.
"Eiji, where did she go!?" He asked.
Eiji pointed down the hall... His face was expressionless.
Kuhn and Linn ran after her.
"We ran into Nina." Said Shisuta.
"Yeah..." Said Karo. "She tried to kill us, but Hiro killed her first. One of her Leviathan's died though... She seemed pretty traumatized... That sucks... Really bad."
Eiji looked down sadly. "Max... It was him."
He bit back tears. "Damn... Not him..."
Shisuta froze.
"Wait, where is Kahn? He wasn't with her!"
Karo's eyes widened.
"You're RIGHT!" He exclaimed.
They ran down the center exit, and looked for him.
...
I was awake.
A had been awake for some time now...
She was gone. I knew she was gone.
I was empty. Void of all emotions...
I was okay with this. I didn't want to feel anything right now... Or ever again.
Footsteps ran toward me. I ignored them.
"Kahn!? YOU'RE ALIVE!" Shisuta screamed.
She wrapped me in a hug.
"That horrible woman! She betrayed you, didn't she?"
I glared. "No. She did not."
She froze.
"Kahn... What happened."
I was silent. I felt a spark of anger before, but it was gone now...
Karo knelt down.
"Tell us what happened." He said.
I looked up at them.
"Why should I tell you?" I said monotone.
"It would not matter to you."
Shisuta started losing her composure.
"Kahn! Why are you being like this!? We just want to-!"
I stood. I was angry.
"What!? You want to do WHAT!"
I was shaking.
"You all HATED HER! SO BE HAPPY SHE'S DEAD! Yes... Why don't we all have a GOD DAMN CELEBRATION!"
I punched the stone wall. It cracked.
Tears spilled from my eyes.
"She was dying in my arms... She knew she was dying! She knocked me out, and I never got to..."
I punched the wall again, and stone chunks flew from it.
"DAAAAMMMIIIT!"
Shisuta put a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off.
I turned to face her.
"Don't touch me." I said coldly.
I walked away from them, and toward the exit.