Fan Fiction ❯ New Dawn Of The Heart ❯ I Shall Rise From The Shadows For I Am Not Lost To Darkness ( Chapter 8 )

Fujio found his whole body tense, he grabbed the sheets trying to control his muscles. His eyes where filled with stars for a few seconds which glared revealing Suzuka, the woman's naked body was on top of his he watched her throw her head back her long black hair flowing in motion. He watched her tense for a moment then open both her eyes her blind one moving around for a moment.

He traced her body with his eyes she was so beautiful despite the scar on her stomach and chest it hadn't changed her figure. He followed her arms upward there were small scars and cuts no doubt old scars from demon hunts and battles but nothing serious. He turned seeing her cloths stranded across the floor, how had it come to this? It was hard to say it happened to quickly.

Fujio smirked slightly she had been gagging for it, that didn't surprise him though she probably hadn't had anyone so sleep with in a long while. He turned ignoring the sweat on his brow to the room it was apparently hers, the room she grown up in as a ninja. It was cleaner than Taki's with out a doubt although there where pieces of scroll nailed to wall full of notes on how to kill demons.

There were drawn diagrams of demons, which had marks on them as to where to cut and slice. He raised an eyebrow she was very dedicated when it came to killing or at least that what it seemed like at least. He breathed in deeply lying back she wasn't a bad lover ether as far as women went he was the best he'd had in a long time, he heard rumours about ninja's being very good lovers but he hadn't really believed it until now.

Still the thing that forced him to disagree with that rumour had been hearing about Taki from some young girl who'd ended up in bed with her. The girl was one of theses types who had probably run in to Taki after the bitch was heaving with sweat and coved in blood after killing some demon. The girl had described her as the best lover she'd ever had. That had almost made him spit out his drink because it sounded so stupid.

People in general always liked to boast about their bedroom talents and tell lies about how brilliant their partner's are in bed. It's just another way off masking the fact that half of them probably weren't getting any at all or couldn't deal with the fact they had a crap lover. He snorted hearing about Taki had just made him want to throw up the girls story just sounded like Taki getting desperate and seriously needing the nearest girl to calm down her sexual frustration.

The girl hadn't seen it that way she'd seen Taki as some hero who'd slain the demon bothering her village then had come up to on her black stallion and had swept her off her feet like some brave knight from a heroic story, who takes the princess away to a castle and lives happily ever after with her. As if Taki cared for the young girl that much she was a demon hunter who preferred the joy of killing the girl was probably just a perk.

He eased up his hand running it down Suzuka's scar he watched the woman shiver slightly, he grinned widely perhaps now was the time to put his proposal forward. He ran both hands over her breasts this had been so easy! She had just fallen in to the trap like all women her emotions where her weakness and she could be toyed with so easily like a cat that was being pulled in because it's instinct was always to play with the string.

He grinned noticing the change of expression on Suzuka's face, the woman was looking at him with a curious smile on her face. He breathed in deeply then turned meeting her good eye "No one ever mentioned you where that good in bed Suzuka, You have such skill and talent under the bed sheets."

Suzuka turned gazing at him this flattery was starting to piss her off, she couldn't care less for his stupid slimy remarks. She pulled up her hand letting her fingers form a fist, she was only here because she'd been bored and wanted to amuse herself and it had seemed like a good idea at the time. She breathed in deeply then ran her finger across the bed sheets Fujio wasn't actually worth the time and his skill in bed weren't anything to shout about.

She raised her eyebrow scanning the room, but then she had only been interested in the sex, even that hadn't really been partially brilliant. She slowly took hold of the top sheet wrapping it around her top half. Her gaze shifted to her double-edged dagger that was lying on the bedside table. She turned back slowly giving Fujio a wide smile "Cut the bull Fujio!"

Fujio pulled up both hands "Oh come now Suzuka don't be so moody it ruins your beautiful face." Suzuka slowly put a hand up tracing the scar across her eye. What dream world was this bastard on? Her face was ruined Taki had taken away all her good looks when she'd sliced Rekki-Maru across her face! She sat up slowly stiffening "I know your not here just to impress me now tell me what you really want!"

Fujio sat up slightly he found it hard to move because Suzuka's legs where locking him in place "You know just before I carry on with this conversation do you ninja women have any spell that keep you from getting pregnant?" Suzuka turned sharply a disgusted expression appeared on her face "Yes we do you little bastard and I used one before I entered this room! What makes you think I'd want your fifthly offspring?!"

She folded her arms "Your children would be weak and pathetic like you they be an insult to my bloodline." Fujio found himself grinding his teeth together "Hey you should be a little more thoughtful I just had sex with you." Suzuka sniggered slightly "You call that sex, it wasn't even that, all you cared about was getting yourself off."

Fujio snarled aloud "Well you weren't complaining!" Suzuka slowly brought up her hand "It's a ninja costume not to complain about how crap your lover is in bed until after the act is done." Fujio sneered trying to pull himself up but finding it hard as the woman's legs tightened "Bitch…I `m god between the sheets!"

Suzuka grunted, "Oh please do you think I was interested in you! I was just un entertained and you entertained me for a while." She slowly ran a hand over her nails "Now I'm satisfied I'm not interested in you anymore." Fujio moved his gaze to her legs, which weren't letting him go "If that's so then why are you still keeping me here? Is this one off your sexy little games to tease me?"

Suzuka eased out her hand running it across her blades hilt the bastard still hadn't given her the scroll she wanted yet! She breathed in deeply she'd just have to amuse herself a little longer. She narrowed her good eye "The only reason you're here is because I want to know what the real reason is for you trying to flatter me." She wrapped the sheet around her chest " I also want the scroll!"

Fujio sighed shaking his head "Always in a hurry aren't you? It's almost like you don't know how to relax." Suzuka growled slightly "I'm a very busy woman now cough up what it is you want!" Fujio smirked slightly "As you wish I don't want to bother your schedule." He slowly eased up a finger putting it on her chest "Well, its not a huge proposal it's just one you'd like a lot."

He smiled slightly "You're a women of my talents we both know that, but what you need is a strong person to stand by your side." He put a hand on his chest "Namely me and why me, because I'm stronger than both Akira and Akuma put together my skills are legendary and you need someone who's committed to you in both leading and in the bedroom."

He grinned widely "You see those idiots Akuma and Akira are just using you for there own ends, personally I think you should have killed them a lot sooner, but that doesn't bother me I'll be happy to kill them for you. Then we can work as a joint team and I can kill who ever you want me to kill I'll bring the rest of this assassin clan to victory and you'll love every second of it."

His grin widened "So what do you say?" Suzuka gazed at him for a moment then slowly pulled her weapon off the bedside table, she ran her finger down the blades middle "Your very amusing I must say I was hoping this would only be about the sex. Guess I was wrong still you've been useful."

Fujio pulled up be felt Suzuka's leg hold tighten even more "I am useful! I was leading the bunch that caught Taki and Sophitia when they came here. It was me! I did it not Akuma or his stupid little brother!" Suzuka scowled slightly turning to face him "You know when I got thrown out off this temple I was at deaths door! I was dieing despite all the healing that had been done to me."

"Akira and Akuma found me! They brought me back to health they were going to keep me as a slave girl until I kicked both their faces in and took control! They have been loyal to me for years I would never trade their loyalty for your stupid little partner ship I don't do partner ship theirs only Suzuka and her two loyal guards!"

Fujio grunted aloud "Those to assholes couldn't save you or give you want you want I could!" Suzuka narrowed her gaze "You're pathetic and you're a moron whose weak minded, why do you think you're here? Why do you think I had sex with you? Did you honestly think you could win me over by flattering me and playing on my emotions."

"You aren't even in control I just used for amusement, and as you put it so well for sex." She twirled the weapon between her fingers "Have you ever asked yourself what it is ninja's are most famous for."

Fujio pulled back nervously "Your famous for killing demons and are meant to be extremely good lovers which you are might I add." Suzuka pulled back sneering, "I wasn't talking about my clan I was talking about the others!"

Fujio pulled out a hand "Well that's easy you're famous for assassination attempts and killing your lovers." He paused turning sharply seeing an evil grin spread across Suzuka's face he watched her pull up her weapon watching it gleam in the low light for a moment.

Suzuka eyed the blade she could see the panic in Fujio's eyes she slowly placed the weapon back down on the table then pulled out her hand reaching for Mekki-Maru which was lying close by in a pile of her cloths.

Fujio tried to pry himself loose he didn't get a chance to move as his bad shoulder was slammed down. The next moment where shear agony as Suzuka's other hand shot out grabbing the double edged blade then slammed it directly in to his bandaged shoulder. He watched as Mekki-Maru slowly opened it's one eye near by the weapon began to shake and quiver.

One of it tenacities shot out from the solid blade's hilt it wrapped it's self around Suzuka's wrist then it began dragging itself forward across the floor until it was close to the bed. Suzuka leaned down as the blade made it's way in to her hand she turned eyeing Fujio "You now it's never polite to ask a ninja for sex. You see you only get it when you don't ask for it."

She slammed out her hand wrapping it around his throat then pushed him down so he couldn't rise "Akira and Akuma never ask and they always get my body occasionally when I want them. They share me it's a sort of share with no strings attacked loyalty that's well above yours which is very sad for you because your expendable."

She smiled watching as the Mekki-Maru's hilt started to fan out becoming more jagged the blade slowly pulled apart at the sides as long tentacles with long sharp razor edges started to come free. She leaned forward smiling at Fujio's panicked gaze "You've been so much fun, but now your going to entertain me some more with your screams of agony which will echo through these walls until you die."

Fujio felt his throat being pushed in wards he could see the tentacles rising around Suzuka each with there little razor edges getting ready to come down on him. This was all wrong! It was meant to be like this! How could this go so wrong? How could she trick him like this! His thoughts where cut off as one of the tentacles razors slammed in to his stomach. Whatever thoughts he had at that moment where replaced by his scream of agony.

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Seung Mina slowly opened her eyes she put a hand on her head groaning painfully. She blinked trying to clear the horrible blur that was clouding her vision; she snarled aloud the last thing she remembered was that bastard's assassin's fist heading toward her face. From what she could recall his name was Akuma she cringed painfully putting a hand on her stomach, which was really hurting.

She'd kill that bastard when her chance came as well as Suzuka the blind-eyed bitch! She turned noticing that someone was kneeling over her, she squinted trying to see who it was she watched as a small girls face came in to view. The girl didn't look that old very young she had red eyes and short black hair she watched the girl turn eyeing up her companion a long haired man who had his hair tailed back.

He had very dusty brown eyes he reminded her of Mitsurugi, she found her self-shaking at the prospect of it being it being one of his cozens. She slowly let her eyes wander up both there clothing they had what looked like ninja clothing the young girl had a body suit that was like Taki's the only difference being the patterns which where a set off small blue cranes flying across the shoulder line.

The man was in much looser outfit although it was very plain with no patterns she gazed at them both where thy part of Suzuka's bunch? She groaned trying to pull herself up she noticed the young girl turn to look at her again she crawled forward meeting her confused gaze then turned grinning "Hey I think she's finally come around!"

The tailed man turned leaning over staring at Mina "Appears so do you think she's all there? It's just her boyfriend said she had a run in with Mekki-Maru." The young girl put a hand through her hair "Hey come on she's got to be all there at least for both our sakes otherwise he'll probably end up beating us up like he did Nagmo."

The tailed man snorted aloud "Nagmo deserved that it's just typical of him to think with his lowers. He's a moron we both know that all to well." The young girl pulled out a hand "Makes you wonder what he was thinking when he came out with that comment about sleeping with her, I mean does he actually use his brain when he speaks!"

She shrugged slightly "It's just like our asshole pervert of a brother to make Taki's friends feel like their in a ninja battle ground because he can't keep his trap shut!" Seung Mina groaned painfully this was doing nothing for her headache she moaned aloud then turned staring at the young girl "Please…for my headaches sake shut the hell up!"

Mina was about to say something more when she felt someone's arms around her waist she turned slowly meeting Kilik's gaze. Her boyfriend's quite voice slowly came to her ears "I'm so glad your awake I was so worried about you. They weren't sure you'd come around the ninja's said your wounds were a lot worse than mine and it'd take you longer to come around."

Mina slowly ran her hand up through Kilik's dark hair "I'm so glad you're here, I missed you." Kilik gently leaned forward his lips met hers for a seconds before he pulled away "I can't believe that ninja bitch I want to kill her! How dare she hurt you like she did." Seung Mina squinted slightly " You know I'd like to do the same but I'm going to have to wait I can feel it."

She winced as he eased her to her feet which were very unsteady " I'd like to break her legs like I did to Isabella Valentine's I'd get a real kick out off it!" Kilik pulled out a hand trying to steady her "You know I get the impression there's a long line of people who she's rubbed up the wrong way I think you'll be joining the list." Mina groaned again "Yeah and who would that be?"

Kilik slowly eased her around "That would be Taki's clan me and Sophitia." Mina shook her head gazing at the group of ninja's in front of her. She eased up her hand "This is Taki's clan?" She watched as a middle-aged man with a white beard stepped forward " I'm so glad you're awake how are you feeling Seung Mina?"

Mina raised an eyebrow slightly "And you are?" The man smiled putting his hand gently on hers "Toki, I'm Taki's father." Mina put a hand on her head "Why is Taki never tells me anything?! She didn't even tell what you look like." She sighed aloud "I apologise I didn't mean to sound rude I just had no idea."

She turned seeing the red-eyed girl step forward to stand by her side "We don't mind, Taki's never been a real talker until she got her latest girlfriend." She paused then grinned widely "I believe she's a friend of yours." Mina found her self staring in disbelief "What the…?"

Kilik put a hand through Mina's hair "It's ok Mina I'll show you what she's talking about." He smiled putting a hand on the young girls shoulder "This is Rei she saved both of our lives. She's the reason Suzuka couldn't finish as off." He turned slightly pointing to the tailed man who was busy wringing out some white cloths "That Yosho he healed as both."

His gaze moved to the tall man with short brown hair who was playing with a bottle "That's Hiroshi he's second in command he takes over when Taki's not around." He grinned eyeing the man next to him who was butch with black hair and brown eyes "That's Nagmo." His gaze drifted to the older woman with black hair and green eyes "That's Ryoko you and here have a lot in common."

Mina stared at the ninja's in front of her "You know its funny I thought you guys would look slightly more vicious and unclean." She took a shaky step forward "You all remind me off a group I'd find drinking in an upmarket tavern." Nagmo's smile widened he turned nudging Ryoko " She sounds like you." Ryoko slowly folded her arms "No she doesn't!"

Rei shrugged slightly "Normally you do find as drinking in places like that, its just right now we've got a problem. No doubt you've already come face to face with her." Mina narrow her eyes turning to face the young girl "You mean the ugly blind eyed bitch yeah we've met you have no idea how much I'd like to break her spine."

Rei stiffed slightly "I can guess and trust me I'd like to do that myself, its just I have no weapon to do it." She shook her head "Just about everyone in this room would do it if we weren't so concerned about Mekki-Maru. Its alive just like it's counterparts the Soul Edge swords where and it's incredibly dangerous."

Mina slowly pushed her hair back "You don't need to remind me she woke it up and used it on me I saw it open it horrible eye and move through my memories and there was nothing I could do to stop it!" She closed her eyes for a moment "It frightened me so much, I felt like it was ripping my soul apart."

Toki slowly placed a hand on the girls shoulder "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. One of the reasons it took you longer to come around was because that weapon drained you so badly." His gaze drifted over meeting Kilik's "Your boyfriend said you had a very bad time with that weapon and it harmed you a lot."

Mina turned slightly she watched Kilik smile back at her, her gaze drifted back to Toki "Thank you for healing my wounds." She took another step forward "You've all been very kind to both off as. I guess I had a very narrow view of ninja's but it seems that you are all very much unlike what I thought you'd be. I just thought you'd all be grouchy and unemotional like Taki."

Toki breathed out heavily "I can understand you thinking that but Taki's emotional withdrawal is my fault. Although she hasn't been so withdrawn as late mostly due to Sophitia." Mina raised an eyebrow in confusion "How do you know this…I don't understand?"

Toki slowly eased up his hand pointing to a huge oval shaped mirror in the corner, it was blazing with white light and images could be seen moving in it "That's mirror is called the eye it gives as a vision of anyone its asked to show. Suzuka wanted it show Taki and Sophitia and its shown them since they where first thrown in the labyrinth. Sadly we can't change the image she has to much power over it."

Hitoshi grunted aloud "The only thing we don't know is how she knows what's going on even though she can't see the dame mirror. " Toki stiffened "What my son says is very true." He breathed in deeply "Did you see anything strange while you where with her?"

Mina pulled back slightly "I'm sorry I didn't see anything plus I wouldn't really know what to look for." She put a hand on her chest "I only saw her doing some kind of chant on Mekki-Maru which brought it to life I didn't really see anything else."

Toki sighed heavily "I expected as much." He heard Hiroshi snarl behind him he turned meeting the young man's gaze "She's probably hiding her true powers from everyone." Hitoshi sneered slightly "Its probably more a case of her hiding just her power and hiding Mekki-Maru's as well. She doesn't care at the end of the day! She'll try to hide everything from as for as long as she possibly can."

Mina slowly moved her gaze to the mirror something was moving in it, she slowly stepped forward she could still feel Kilik supporting her. She turned to him smiling gently her hand slowly moved up his face she had missed him so much. She leaned her head against his for a moment, he'd been there for which meant so much she gently kissed his lips feeling there warmth for a moment then gently pulled away.

Her gaze drifted back to the mirror, she came closer gazing at it the image of Taki and Sophitia came in to view. She stared at in surprise what kind of magic was this? How powerful was it? She'd never seen anything like this in life, it seemed almost impossible to be able see them through the glass.

She slowly came forward until she was next it she slowly grasped the side then looked around the back. There was nothing there but a normal mirror back she sharply turned back. She turned it slowly trying to see if there was anything under it then turned it back to it' normal position. Her gaze drifted back to the Taki's father "How is it doing that? I mean what kind of magic is this?"

Toki folded his arm "Very powerful magic some of the strongest used by ninja's." Mina turned back to the mirror "So do you guys use this to spy on people? I bet it's far more entertaining than those arena fights you have to pay for to watch." Toki rolled his eyes "Actually it's used to watch the front door it's normally connected to the dragon's jewelled eyes although in the past Nagmo has used it to watch the Greek Olympics."

Nagmo pulled up sharply "Hey that was one time! I just wanted to see the naked Spartan girl's run around and throw discus." Ryoko turned giving him a look "You could have gone to Greece for that instead of putting spells on the Eye so you look at naked women!"

Nagmo grunted "Why should I bother paying to sit in an arena full of people when I could watch the show from here." Ryoko sighed aloud "It's a powerful tool not something for you to play with." Nagmo sneered slightly "I know that already so give it a rest! It was worth it though, the girls over there look good."

Mina stared at the mirrors image her eyes widened as Taki leaned over kissing Sophitia's lips she turned sharply around "There to together! How long have they been together?" Toki pulled up his hand slowly "A while now, Taki confessed very early on and they been very close ever since. I thought you knew I thought Taki would have told you about her feelings for Sophitia."

Mina sighed aloud "Taki doesn't tell me anything personal she's always kept her feelings locked away from me. Kilik told me about Taki having feeling for her but that was only because both him and his sister saw things happening between them when they where in China. A Samurai by the name of Mitsurugi also caught on about Taki's feelings for her and sent a letter to tell her about it."

She ran a hand through her hair "Sadly the other great warrior who was with as had it and we don't know if he's alive." Hitoshi stepped forward "There's another in the Labyrinth?" Mina stiffed "Yes his names Aeon Calicos, he's one of Sophitia's friends." She looked down at her feet "He's a Lizard man who managed to regain his human soul."

Kilik pulled up his hand "I know how that must sound to you but it's true. He's very brave and honourable he put his own life on the line to save the both off as." He shook his head "We got separated because he got trapped behind a flooding wall. We don't know if he's still lives but if he did survive he'll be coming to help as all out of this horrible situation."

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Taki gazed up at the walls she felt Sophitia's hand as it moved across her arm in a gentle motion. She smiled to herself then slowly turned meeting Sophitia's light green gaze for a moment. Her gaze slowly drifted back to the corridor the main room was so close now she felt as though she could finally breath the clean air. She slowly moved her hand up Sophitia's back she couldn't wait to get out off this place.

A sneer formed on her face, this had all been so fucked up, her gaze drifted back to Sophitia again her girlfriend hadn't deserved half off this, she had been knocked around drenched in ice cold water and been taunted by Suzuka who had took pleasure in hitting her and to the point she'd passed out. She slowly narrowed her eyes she'd make that bitch suffer!

She'd rip out her lower intestine with her bare hands if it came to that, she closed her eyes for a moment why hadn't she finished her off all those years ago? It would have been so easy just to slit her throat she wouldn't have felt a thing it would have been that quick. Maybe it was because off some sense off pity that she'd kept her alive.

She had been bleeding all over the place and the severity off Suzuka's wounds had made her believe that Suzuka was going to die anyway. Also the thought off becoming like her had kept Rekki-Maru from finishing the job.

She turned watching Sophitia as she walked slowly by her side, she seemed so untroubled even know. Despite everything she'd been put though in this past year despite everyone's attempts to break her spirit they had all failed. Although from what she'd seen the emotional scars where still there but Sophitia was refusing to let most off them get to her.

She looked at her feet Sophitia very rarely talked about the battle with Cervantes but then she'd been there she'd half of the horrible living nightmare roll out in front off her eyes she didn't need to push the subject she'd seen enough to understand why Sophitia didn't make conversation about it and clammed up when people started speaking about it.

She still didn't know what had happened inside Kyumm mrl py eltzk's palace it was still a mystery to her. The only thing she really knew was that Sophitia had been tortured. The marks on her back when her and Seung Mina had found her lying unconscious outside one of the temples had been from Ivy's sword, which had been, used as a whip across her upper half.

It had been horrible to watch the process of Sophitia's detraction from such an honourable beautiful and loyal warrior to a psychotic, violent and almost half demonic women who had no compassion, conscience or even the slightest inch off feeling for those she harmed. It had been so quick once the spell had set in that no one had seen it coming before it was to late.

Taki could still see Sophitia's possessed form looking into her eyes. She'd found herself staring in to pupil less red eyes, which glowed like the fire of the demon world. The grin that evil cold grin with it's slightly lengthened canines which where on both the upper and lower jaw. The way her armour had slowly become dimmer and the white cloth wrapped around her both shoulders had slowly turned to a dirty shade off grey.

The colour of her hair had dimmed down two shades loosing it golden shine but the way she'd acted had scared everyone the most, it was so insane and horrible. The worst of it had been her grabbing the nearest horse and stampeding it through the Chinese army's campsite that they'd been posted at while using a flaming torch to set fire to everything.

The look of pleasure on her face had chilled her to the bone at the time she'd found both herself and Mina grabbing horse's and giving chase to try to stop her. They only managed to hold her off by surrounding her at one of the temples. It hadn't stopped there though, Sophitia just wouldn't give in she had almost won both of them in battle because of her rage and unwillingness to surrender and be helped.

It had been slowly turned sides though as Sophitia found herself not being able to call the Omega sword to her grasp, the weapon had acted like it acted to everyone's else as did the shield by putting lightning bolts through her body. Taki found herself wincing it had been so horrible to watch the sword attack it's owner with such fury. She still wondered if that had been Sophitia's gods doing.

Even though it had hurt her it had saved her giving Mina enough time to pin her and knock her out so she could do the spell to get rid off the growing demon, which was taking over Sophitia's mind and body. She knew what she'd done was started Sophitia's true soul on a ragging battle to take back ownership of her body and kill the demon version off herself off from the inside.

The younger women had come back around after what seemed like hours but she had come back herself although the appearance had still looked demonic. Taki had known at the time that would slowly go away and her normal appearance would return but there would be after affects and she'd still not be in full control. She would also need to watched, just in case she went off and did something stupid because she wasn't completely herself.

She remembered turning in bewilderment, as Seung Mina's weapon had been reborn in front off her eyes, as Sophitia had come back around. No doubt it had been a gift from the Greek Gods for being the one to stop Sophitia who at that time had been the only remaining warrior left of the twenty four who'd been sent to destroy Soul Edge.

She slowly pushed her hair out of her eyes she'd always hated the fact she'd not been there when Sophitia needed her. She not stood by her when the Lizard men had captured her. She still had no idea why they had wanted her in the first place, she had a feeling they had tried to corrupt her so they could use her as a dangerous tool. Who in the end would return to the demon fort and tell them all about the Chinese armies plans to bring Kyumm mrl py eltzk's army down.

Personally she wished she'd been the one they'd captured at least she could've been able to fight off the spell that they had used on Sophitia. She narrowed her eyes Kyumm mrl py eltzk had been such a weakling in there final stand off it had been such a quick victory. The man had no real power over the Soul Edge weapon he'd made and it in its self was weak.

Weak and useless like it's master, she would have finished off the worthless weak demon staff if Ivy Valentine hadn't got to it first. She snarled aloud Ivy was nothing but a low life bitch that just loved to get under people noses and fuck everything up. She was always in it for herself everyone else was there for her to toy and mess around with emotionally.

"Is this it?"

Taki looked up sharply her thoughts being pushed to one side. Sophitia was standing by a large metal door, which had long thin lines running down it in all directions. A huge risen dragon's head was in the centre of each door. There wasn't a handle anywhere in sight she could see Sophitia's eyes wandering over the metal trying to figure out what to do.

She took a step forward putting a hand on the door, she slowly leaned against it tapping the metal her ears where meet with a hollow echo. She slowly pulled herself up a smile forming across her lips "This is it, the last room is through this door then it's just a long climb upwards." Sophitia ran her finger over the steel dragon's snout her hand was stopped in mid motion by Taki's.

She turned meeting the ninja's brown gaze Taki slowly moved her hand up gently running down her jaw line. She leaned her head back slightly as Taki's fingers moved down her neck the ninja's hand stopped at her chest line. Taki slowly leaned forward her lips meeting Sophitia's one of theses days she'd probably find out what had happened in that fort. As well as what they did to Sophitia's mind to cause her to drink in such an evil spell.

Sophitia pulled away slightly she watched the ninja's gaze turn in surprise she slowly pulled up her hand running it through the ninja's dark pony tail end, she slowly looked up meeting the ninja's gaze again "Is something wrong?"

Taki breathed in slightly she eased up her hand slowly moving it through the soft blonde hair "No nothings wrong. You looked a little lost that's all I just wanted to remained you that I'm here." Sophitia shrugged her shoulders "I `m just confused about this door, it doesn't have anything to open it or at least nothing I can see." Taki slowly eased up the Jin Uni Ki dagger flicking it slightly "This is what's called a pattern door."

She eased up the weapon point putting it in to one of the fine groves "You put your weapon in to the slots then start moving it around to create a pattern. You can normally tell if you've got it right because you can hear the locks on the other side clicking." She pulled up her free hand running it over Sophitia's arm "It's quite simple but very few people actually get to this door alive or with weapons."

A wide grin slowly spread across her lips "There's also quite a lot of long spiked spears fly which fly out off the wall, if they screw up the sequence." She slowly eased her weapon up slightly "It's not that hard to figure out though, the door just takes a little coxing."

She pulled the blade down the grove in quick slicing motion she put her head to the wall listening to the countless clicks as the weapon moved a little further down. She turned slightly noticing Sophitia was leaning against the door listening to the sounds behind it. She slowly let her gaze travel as she moved the blade up one the side cut groves she breathed in deeply hearing the clicking noises.

Sophitia found herself listening as the sound of clicking locks hit her ears she watched Taki's blade move again this time moving away from her. She let her gaze wander up to the ninja's face Taki looked so focused and in her element. She stared at the brown eyes for a moment something had been bothering her girlfriend for quite sometime, she wasn't really sure what it was.

She had her thoughts one being that Taki was desperate to get out of the Labyrinth and probably wanted to spill Suzuka's blood. Not that she blamed her she wanted the evil woman to die just as much. She didn't want to stare back in that sightless eye again or see her face; it was a horrible face one which had enjoyed spilling the blood of those children and one, which had enjoyed hurting her.

She slowly put her hand up to where her scar was she slowly ran her hand across the area, she looked down slightly the Jin Uni Ki fur patch was know covering the scar. It felt slightly odd she pressed slightly she didn't feel any pain when she put pressure on it which was even stranger. She slowly pulled her hand up looking at it, she hated killing she'd never liked it from the beginning.

She narrowed her eyes the hands that had taken the evil women's life would know be used again to repeat the act. She'd never enjoyed watching the woman bleed to death and die. It wasn't fare ether, why did she have to do this all over again? Taki always found it so easy or at least that's how it seemed, in the back of her mind she knew Taki had been trained to kill since birth.

Demons, monster and assassins as well as other ninja's probably it was like the woman could just shut it out, ignore the deaths of those she slammed her blade in to. She stared at her hand again she hated to hear the screams, hated the look in her dying enemies eyes, eyes which she could still see on occasion staring back at her in her nightmares.

As if she needed to see that along with eyes of both Soul Edge swords, as if she wanted to see there pain play out all over again. As if she needed to look her fears in the face while she slept it wasn't like she didn't see it when she'd been awake.

She could still remember the suffering that Kyumm mrl py eltzk had forced on her in her waking moments. He wouldn't let her sleep he wouldn't let her eat drink or stand up properly she was forced to endure his magic which had made her start to hallucinate constantly.

Her dreams hadn't left her in those dark hours they'd played out over and over again until she'd found herself screaming at the top of lungs because she wanted them to stop. She could still remember forcing herself to pull on the chains for all she was worth.

She'd not even felt them cut in to her hands or ankles she'd not even noticed her own blood start to drip on the floor. She'd only wanted freedom from the horrors, from the sight of seeing her own insides spill all over the floor. For the voices in her head to stop speaking constantly, for the image of Cassandra's death by her hands to stop. It was like a tidal wave of pain crashing down on her.

It only seemed to go away when she found herself getting angry the more aggression and hate she started to feel the more she'd found herself getting rid of the hallucinations. It was so shameful how easily he'd broken her, she still couldn't get over how she'd become taken over by a demon copy of herself, which had been slowly taking over her true soul and body.

She narrowed her eyes even more that thing that had no honour or care for anyone! The dark side of herself, that horrible image with its red glowing eyeing and animal teeth. It disgusted her, it shocked her and it made her feel ashamed and weak inside, all she'd remembered doing the moment she'd seen herself was smashing the long mirror in her Chinese tent.

Most people never really got to see they're dark half or at least if they did there body was still the same. She'd seen her other side the other monster the dark being that lived inside her she'd had to live with it and painfully wait until her body had changed back in to its true form. Taki had said that, that being was what she could've become if the Soul Edge swords had affected her.

Apparently the spell that had been forced down her throat in it's liquid potion form then another spell to her mind had been put on to drive her insane. When her rage took hold the liquid spell would take effect and the dark side of her very soul would be released in all it psychotic glory for the world to see. The Soul Edge scar on her body had enhanced the effects causing the transformation to quicken.

She'd never believed a thing like that could be born from her but it was there like everyone else she had a cruel darkness in her soul. She'd spent so many days on the Shrine Of Eurydice just sitting and thinking that through. Somehow it made it so much easier to understand Aeon's situation but it made her also feel for him so much more. He was stuck in the form of darkness permanently unlike her he couldn't escape from his appearance.

She'd gotten away from hers because Taki had freed her from it, he was fated to walk around and try to live from day to day with his. Deep down she couldn't understand how he coped with it when everyone around him hated him or spat at his form. He never seemed to show any feelings when remarks had been made at him; he always just carried on walking.

She had her doubts though one being that he hid his hate of those who couldn't stand him deep down. He was probably so hurt and crippled inside it was killing him a little more each day. He also put on a large grin to everyone but deep down inside he was like gunpowder just waiting to be lit. Why was she complaining anyway? What ever she'd suffered was nothing compared to him.

He was so much stronger than she was when it came to his dark soul and she knew it. She'd spent most of her childhood looking up to him for his amazing warrior skills but as a woman and as his equal she'd found herself admiring his strength to deal with the fact he was stuck in the form of the lizard man General. Despite his form he tried so hard in everything from holding spoons with his clawed hand to trying to make himself as helpful as possible.

Her eyes travel up to Taki's face again her girlfriend was so much stronger than her in that area as well. She carried around a weapon, which had one of the Soul Edge's broken pieces fused in to it's very blade. It hadn't affected her at all it seemed that her will power was the very thing that kept Mekki-Maru under control. Once in her life before they'd become close friends she'd thought about destroying that blade.

She still felt so angry with herself for contemplating killing it's owner as well, she was no different to Taki she had, had one off Soul Edges broken pieces inside of her. Taki had saved her life and shown her so much kindness when she'd been near death. She could have slit her throat at any time while she was on that sick bed lost in a semi comma, which she'd apparently shifted in and out of constantly.

She could still remember staring at the sleeping ninja, then just dropping her weapon in the ground near by. She'd known full well Seung Mina was sleeping near by and Taki had probably not been fully asleep anyway, she'd no doubt heard the whole thing although she'd never mentioned it. She needed this woman so bad now she was her girl friend the person she loved more than anything.

She needed her affection, her warmth, her kisses, to touch her hair that soft black hair which stunned her just to feel it. Those eyes she just wanted to look at them to feel that touch. She'd seriously harm anyone who dared to hurt the only person she loved. After what had happen in her previous relationships she'd just felt like she wasn't worthy as a partner and a poor excuse for a girlfriend.

This relationship had made her feel so alive it had re awoken so much inside of her that she'd forgotten. She wanted to survive this, just to dear to hope for the next sunrise to show this woman everything she possibly could. She wanted to walk with her under cherry blossom trees and tell her about her Greek world and at the same time learn about the Japanese's one she had been brought in to.

To train together near Japanese's temples and slay demons, ok so she wasn't a demon hunter but she'd sure try to be. So what if she was a Greek warrior she'd never believed that anything was beyond her. So what if she'd never slept with a woman before she'd try her best, she'd walk through fire and frozen ice if it was for Taki.

Taki who had saved her Taki who made her feel alive, Taki who would always stand by her side. She didn't care what the people thought of her choice ether they could go burn in the fires of Tarturus for all she cared, no body was going to take this women away from her!

Taki slowly pushed the dagger down the final grove she smiled hearing the clicking sounds. The blade travelled downwards it point clicking in to the top of one of dragon's heads. She watched its eyes slowly open and the rubes within flash up red for a split second it was followed by a grinding sound as both heads rose up from the doors themselves. She watched as their teeth slowly came down and the whole head rose up half way there was clicking sound as both heads stopped.

She slowly eased her weapon out from between the dragon's horns her gaze drifted over to Sophitia who hadn't moved. The younger women seemed lost in her own thoughts her eyes weren't even moving she seemed totally oblivious to the fact the dragon head she'd been leaning close to had just risen up out of the door.

She slowly pulled out her hand running it slowly under her girlfriends chin, the movement seemed to bring Sophitia sharply out of her thoughts. She found herself staring in the light green eyes she leaned forward slightly "Is something wrong?"

Sophitia just gazed at her for a moment then lowered her eyes Taki leaned slightly closer she could sense something was eating at her girlfriend. Sophitia looked lost and worried. She came even closer she could feel Sophitia's breath against her face she'd still had no answer, which was worrying. She was about to say something when Sophitia suddenly came forward.

The women's lips pressed against her own Taki found herself having to step back slightly so that her foot didn't slip because of it being at an awkward angel. She slowly closed her eyes letting this kiss wash over her. It felt so good but she could feel the urge in it Sophitia was desperate for her affection she could tell every time there lips moved. She slowly brought her hand up running it through the soft blonde hair.

It seemed like less than seconds before Sophitia's hand founds its way up to her pony tail end, the younger woman's fingers began to move through her hair in a gently movement. She eased her other hand slowly down her girlfriends blue shirt feeling the material lightly with her fingers. Taki felt her pull away slowly she slowly raised an eyebrow "Are you scared?"

Sophitia lowered her gaze again then slowly brought her eyes up to meet hers "Terrified, what if ether off as don't see the sun tomorrow?" Taki pulled back in surprise she hadn't expected that reply. It was the last thing she could think off Sophitia saying, the last thing she would have expected. Her hand moved slowly up Sophitia's neck she put her other hand on her girlfriends back bringing her forward again "We'll see the sun tomorrow mark my words I'll be standing right next to you and we'll both watch it rise."

Sophitia slowly turned her head away "What if we both die? Taki eased her hand under the younger woman's chin bringing her head back around "Where not going to die, where both strong warriors you know that as well as I do." Sophitia slowly pulled up her hand taking the ninja's "Then why do I feel uneasy about going to the surface." Her gaze drifted across Taki's she'd seen the women fall in her vision fall in to some horrible abyss.

She'd seen that monster slam its claws in to her shoulder and she'd not been able to stop it! The vision hadn't made much sense until now. They where so close to the surface and if that was vision was a true premonition she couldn't change it. Why where her gods being so cruel? Why had they shown that to her? It was almost like they where saying she couldn't have this woman!

It wasn't fare! They'd shown her a possible sequence of what was probably her coming death and Taki's. She felt the ninja's hands move on to both sides off her face pulling her head up she found herself looking in to the woman's dark brown eyes. Taki slowly leaned forward she could feel deep in her gut that Sophitia wasn't telling her something her girlfriends eyes had given it away.

She gently kissed the woman on the lips " Have your gods spoken to you?" She kicked herself mentally, that was such a rude question to ask Sophitia probably wouldn't answer it. Her gods were a very personal and precious thing to her, she was also poking in places, which she didn't really understand.

Sophitia's gaze wandered over the ninja's "They showed me something the future in a vision." Taki leaned forward she was surprised that Sophitia was telling her this "What did it show you?" She knew she was pushing slightly on this subject, she watched Sophitia's gaze lower "A vision of my failure and your death."

Taki pulled back slightly trying to take what her girlfriend had just said in, she stared at the younger women. Why had her gods show her that? Perhaps this was a message of some sort. She grunted aloud it was a vision though, visions at the end of the day are just possibilities of destiny that aren't always full of truth. She'd never cared for them much anyway mostly because she believed in making her own destiny.

She slowly pulled up her hand her gaze not leaving Sophitia's "How long ago did you have this vision?" Sophitia turned looking at her feet she found herself breathing in deeply "Some time ago." She found her self-sighing aloud "It was when I was out cold before I came around and saw Suzuka."

Taki pulled back slightly "You knew all this time and you never said anything!" Sophitia pulled up both hands "What was I meant to say? Taki I just had a vision and your going to die in it!" Taki pulled out her finger poking it under the younger woman's nose "That would have been a start! It would have also have been far better than you keeping it from me!"

Sophitia pulled back she could feel her anger welling up inside she turned facing the ninja head on "Keeping it from you! I wasn't keeping it from you, I wasn't your girlfriend I then I didn't know I was going to be ether! I didn't tell you because I didn't think you'd believe me, very few people actually believe me anyway when I talk about my gods!"

Taki narrowed her gaze "I am not anybody! I'm your girlfriend I love you! I'd die for you! How could believe that I wouldn't listen to you. How could you believe I wouldn't take in what you say?" She paused seeing the pain appear in Sophitia's face her girlfriend looked so hurt.

Sophitia felt her teeth grinding together "Don't give me that, you don't believe in my gods, my gods have always been something you and Seung Mina got a good laugh out of the last time we travelled together! Don't pretend you ever took what I said about my gods seriously!"

Taki slowly looked down at the floor something she'd forgotten coming back to her, she'd once laughed and made jokes at Sophitia about her gods when they'd met the second time around. It had all been a tease which her and Seung Mina had done just to mess around and bide the time but she had hurt Sophitia's feeling and the conversation had ended with Sophitia walking off in to the woods to sleep eases where because she was so annoyed.

Sophitia sighed aloud "I love you more than anything in this world I don't care if I die just so long as I die with you." She noticed Taki was tapping her boot against the floor the ninja slowly looked up meeting her gaze. Taki leaned against the wall folding her arms "I do believe in what you say about your gods, I'm not going to say that in the past I did because I didn't. I do want to apologise for all those times I made fun off you, I was out off line and I should've kept my comments to myself."

She slowly walked forward putting both hands on Sophitia's shoulders "I've seen what your gods can do, I saw them pull Seung Mina's staff in to the air and change it in to a powerful weapon. I've seen what you can do just by believing in them like keeping yourself alive for two days while you bleed constantly until you found the nearest temple to the camp then you collapsed so we could find you."

She closed her eyes easing Sophitia in to her arms "Your gods gave you a vision an interesting one but maybe there just trying to show you a way of changing destiny. I don't believe they'd want to show you your death or mine I mean we can all change our destiny."

Sophitia found herself hugging harder Taki's words didn't change the hurt she felt inside. Perhaps her girlfriend was right maybe she was the one who was wrong she seen her own visions change slightly before this one could do the same. She brought a hand up slowly taking Taki's "I love you…I just don't want you to die."

Taki gently nuzzled the younger woman's hair "I now you do and I love you just as much. We will see sunrise tomorrow we both just have believe it and if say this vision is our death then at least if it comes to that we can change it." She gently kissed Sophitia on the cheek "We've been through so much together we can win this and be together." She felt Sophitia's arms tighten around her waist she ran a hand through the long blonde hair she only hoped her own words were the truth and that this possible vision didn't come true.

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