Fan Fiction ❯ New Dawn Of The Heart ❯ Echo's From The Past ( Chapter 2 )

Kilik opened his eyes wearily, he groaned feeling his hang over. He slowly pulled him self up and glanced around, he was in a small bedroom. He turned slightly he was surprised to see Mina fully clothed dozing right next to him. He leaned over the young woman shaking her slightly "Mina you awake?"

The young woman moaned slightly "Leave me alone I'm sleeping." Kilik smiled at her "I thought we where in the bar." She shuffled slightly "We where I dragged you in here and put the covers over you." Kilik grinned, " That's very sweet of you, I must have been heavy." Mina eyed him "Hardly try dragging Rock, it took me Sophitia and Taki to pull him of the floor when he passed out drunk. The guy weighs a ton."

She paused shaking her head "Nearly broke my back dragging that guy to his room. I'm betting Mitsurugi was giving him extra strong beer just to see how much it would take before he passed out." Kilik put a hand on his chin "How much did it take?"

Mina rolled over on to her back "Put it like this the table was filled with empty beer mugs and Taki who'd been having a drinking match with him was just drunk herself." She paused scowling "Oh and when she's drunk she just makes a total idiot of herself." She heard kilik laugh aloud he turned smiling "Oh I wish I'd been there to see that!"

Mina turned surprised "Trust me it wasn't that exiting more like embarrassing. Mitsurugi was loving every moment of It." kilik eyed her "I think I met that guy once. He's a samurai general right?"

Kilik watched her nod, he sat him self up grinning, "My trainer the Edge Master took much pride in watching me beat him up. He was showing me the rods true power as a final test and that guy was just in the right place at the right time." He heard the young woman burst in to a fit of laughter. She pulled her self over so their eyes met while flicking her fridge back at the same time "Now that must have been funny."

Kilik leaned forward until he was almost touching her face "It was most enjoyable to watch a samurai warrior crawl away like a dog with his tail between his legs." There was a moment of silence between them. He smiled enjoying the view "So does a woman like you have a loving guy waiting for you when you get home?"

Mina smile faded she turned on to her back "No."

Her words were short and sharp. She turned away from him again "I don't have much luck when it comes to men. They ether run away or their duties are more important than I am." Kilik pushed his black hair back from his face "Your such a beautiful young woman I'm surprised you don't have men lined up at your door."

Mina narrowed her gaze "Men prefer woman who will give them lots of children and who will be house bound. They don't like women warriors who are just as good as them in battle." She shuffled in annoyance "Hell I can't even get a job as Chilli San coast guard because I'm a woman. I've done everything and more to prove my self. Its not fare!"

She slammed her staffs blade harshly in to the bad frames side. She could feel her self seething she felt Kilik hand on her shoulder "That's not fare." His words were calm and gentle. She turned eyeing him as he swung his weapon slightly with his free hand "Did the guy who's in love with you leave you for his duties?"

Mina pulled the blade out off the wood " He doesn't love me he never did. He just loves his Coast guard job which I can never be part off because I'm a woman. Can't believe I wasted my life waiting for him to return to Chilli San so I could get married to him!"

She growled then slammed the blade back in to the bed frame "He can go drown for all I care!"

She put her hand across her chest in silence trying to hold back her tears. She suddenly felt both Kilik' hands on her back. He rubbed her gently "That man's a fool to walk away from such a beautiful woman as yourself. One who so full of life and adventurer."

Mina blinked in surprise at his words. This was the first time she'd heard anyone compliment her for who she was in ages. Up till now she'd though the mans compliments had been all just part of his personality. She hadn't thought for five seconds that he'd speaking to her out of being honest and that he actually thought something of her. Even had respect for her.

She turned over silently to look at him. He was a very handsome man, his dark brown hair was pulled back in a long pony tail which went just over his shoulders. His fridge hung down both side of his face and he had a rather old looking scar on the right side of his face. His dark brown eyes seemed to burn brightly as he raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He was a well-muscled man who wore no shirt only a beautiful crystal strap with huge glowing colour stones on it. His trousers were red with blue patterns wrapping around one of the legs, which were also wrapped in to a belt that went around his waist. His dark blue shoes were wrapped up white ninja bandages.

A long back robe hung from his trousers it had the same blue patterns as the belt. He had a long hanging robe which hung from his trousers it was bursting with red patterns. He also wore metal arm guards which went right up to his elbows.

Mina turned fully over till she was face to face with him, she smiled enjoying the view. Kilik could feel the Mina's pain lifting he gentle ran his finger across the pillows which she was using to lie her head on. The young woman seemed to watch his finger for a second then placed her hand on his. kilik found himself gazing in to her eyes.

Mina eyed the warrior's hand she ran her two fingers over his knuckles "So is there a girl waiting for you back home?"

Kilik grinned wickedly "Only my sister but she's my family and she'll get a guy of her own someday." He paused then looked straight in to Mina's eyes "I don't care for girls anyway I prefer strong women." He wanted to say more but found himself stopping in mid flow. He really admired this woman but was he doing the right thing by chatting her up?

She'd just come out of a relationship. A very painful one by the sounds of it. He could be taking advantage of this weakness she could also be unhappy and just want comfort and friendship not love.

He pulled back putting his foot on the floorboard breaking the silence "I ought to get up." Her hand suddenly thrust out pushing him sharply back down she seemed to look at him in a hurt fashion. Her words were full of discontent "Don't leave, please stay!"

Kilik eyed her for a moment then sat back down. He breathed in heavily "My apologises I don't mean to chat you up. I mean you're a very beautiful woman its wrong of me to take advantage of you. I mean you've just come out of such a terrible relationship." He slowly tried to stand up but was pushed down again. He eyed her this time with even more surprise.

Mina eyed the bed sheets "I had no relationship the whole thing was joke can't you see that?"

Kilik shook his head "He might still love you." Mina grunted, "He doesn't love me, he loves his job." Kilik leaned over to meet her lowered gaze "You may just be heart broken. I don't want you to use me to get back at him and not really love me if it came to that." She grabbed his hand cursing under breath. He stopped still there was something important she was about to say and he stayed still waiting for her to speak.

Mina felt a tear trickle down her cheek it had been so long coming. She slowly ran her thump across kilik hand "I wasn't brought up to spite people. My father used to curse me for speaking of such things. He never believed vengeance was worth it, he was right. I remember defeating Ivy Valentine on the burning castle in the outer realm. After I'd maimed her for life I couldn't bring my self to finish her off. I felt empty and lost My whole hated of her wasn't worth it, all it did was give me a terrible burdened which tried to eat in to me a little more ever day."

"Hwang is just same he became a burden I couldn't bear. I wasted so much time waiting, wanting but nothing ever came. All my life I've been picked on, insulted, mocked and taunted for what I am and what I do." She could feel the tears streaming down her face "I just wanted to loved to be given reconciliation for who I am. I love friendships but they're never enough."

She buried her face in his hand "You're the first guy I've met that actually cares about how I feel. Who compliments me and expects me for who I am and who wants to chat me up and make me feel good about myself. I don't care what's happened in my life or my past relationships I just want the here and now because I can't stand the loneliness anymore. Taki and Sophitia my beable to live with out love but I can't stand it."

Kilik slowly leaned forward he put his arms gently around the young woman hugging her while stroking her long dark brown hair. He could feel her body shudder as she cried in to his shoulder. He gently rubbed her back then pulled her hair away from her ear. He leaned over whispering in to it "Then lets begin in the here and now."

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Sophitia put her hand gently on the ground checking for string or trap triggers. Taki came up behind her, the dark haired woman put a hand on her chin "No traps that's just not right. This place should be filled with traps it like it's been stripped off them." Sophitia looked around her then shrugged "Maybe your clan took them down for a refit?"

Taki paced forward until she was eye level with the younger woman, she put a hand on Sophitia's shoulder. She noticed Sophitia wasn't as jumpy to her grasp anymore it was like she was welcoming it. She put a hand up pointing to the trees in front of them "Well the temples just over there. It's the most beautiful thing you'll ever see." Sophitia stepped forward "Please show it me."

Sophitia followed Taki as she walked over the ridge she pulled back the branches slowly A wondrous sight hit her eyes. The huge Hoko-ji Temple rose up skyward, its huge Japanese sides spaying out at each side. It's every golden pattern shone under the sun and its red brick seemed bring it out through the tree covering.

Its huge golden temple spire rose up to the heavens. It was bigger and taller than the Greek palace in Athens.

Two huge silver Japanese's dragons rose up in front of the huge doors entrance like heavenly guardians. Their jewelled red eyes bearing down on the entrance and their mouths open in a roar of power and supremacy. While their tails and long body wrapped themselves around the temple lower section. Sophitia turned slowly to the ninja who was smiling "It's beautiful, I've never seen anything so spectacular."

Taki put a hand on her arm pulling her towards the temple steps, which led to the huge door guarded by dragons. Sophitia stopped to gaze up at them she felt the ninja draw close by her side. The dark haired woman raised an eyebrow "They are rather daunting I know." The younger woman shook her head "No their beautiful. I didn't know such things could be carved from silver metal and on such a large scale."

Taki grinned "But these dragons aren't just silver statues their eyes are magical. What they see we ninja's see inside the temple." She watched Sophitia raise an eyebrow in confusion. She squeezed her shoulder "I'll show you." She put her foot on the first step of the twelve that led up to the temple doors. On her actions one of the dragons head moved its red ruby eyes suddenly glowing. It's head turned as she moved up the next three steps watching her every move.

Taki turned back smiling at Sophitia "You see it follows me and it will transmit my image back in to the temple. Hell if you know the magic words these huge silver statues can pull them selves free of the temple and attack in coming armies." She shrugged it's the reason why we don't get trespassers." Sophitia smiled "That's amazing I had no idea ninja could do such things I thought…."

Taki laughed cutting her off "You thought we lived in dark places and sharpened our knifes?"

Sophitia nodded feeling her cheeks flush in embarrassment "Something like that." Taki spun on the step slightly "Well it's not wrong to think that. Some ninja clans do live like that. They are also very difficult to tear apart from assassins but my clan prefers this life." She put her hand on one of the dragons clawed feet "It's hard to believe that the evil of Soul Edge once showered these lands. It nearly sent my father mad."

She pulled out one her Ninjato's from its scabbard "And all because of my cursed weapon Mekki-Maru it has caused me so much grief in the past." She eyed the blade then slammed it back in to it's scabbard.

Sophitia shook her head "After the evil swept my lands Greece was blackened in a permanent night which lasted for three days. All the animals died in every Greek farm." She put her hand on the second dragon's clawed hand. It turned it head directly to look down at her "Do you think we defeated Soul Edge for good. I mean do you think we might have missed something?"

Taki put a hand to her chin "I doubt it there's no Soul Edge swords left and one on its own is useless with out the other. Even if it is merged with another very powerful sword."

"The final sword could do no harm I saw it disintegrate in the ashes of Cervantes." She smiled "I mean even if it did survive. Which I doubt it did no one can truly wield its power. Its nothing with out its brother sword."

She shrugged of her thought then smiled at the younger woman, then turned towards the door. She put both hands up in respect then stepped back. Both dragons turned to watch her she clapped her hands once then twice then looked up at the doors "HO-MASUBI!"

The huge dragons tails suddenly swung around grabbing the huge doors pushing them inwards. She turned as they came to a creaking halt. She smiled at Sophitia then pulled a hand inwards to the open doors "Shall we?"

She let the young woman walk in first then followed her. She heard the doors creak behind her as they began to close. It felt so good to be finally home again it had been so long since she'd walked through the dragon doors. It felt almost like another lifetime.

Taki smiled as they came to a second set of doors that would lead them in to the temple's central heart. Place of the Samurai for fathers and old temple of the monks who had long since left. She put her hand on the door pushing slightly but to her surprise it didn't open. She shoved on it in annoyance, it couldn't be locked. It was never locked it was meant to be the forever open door of the ninja clan.

She pushed all her weight against it shoving. She noticed the Sophitia had pulled her self up against it to try and help. Sophitia looked up making a confused face "Is it a sticky door? You know one of those types that jams itself?"

Taki growled ramming her shoulder into the door with full fury "No it's meant to be open. The bastard things meant to be unlocked at all times!"

She kicked the door with her foot then rammed her self in to it again. She swore something in Japanese's feeling a dull pain her shoulder then grabbed the handle shaking it with violent force. "Open you stupid peace of dead wood" she grunted hitting it a final time with her shoulder "What in hell is going on here? This door is never closed who the hell locked it?"

A sudden whirring sound caused her to look up, but she'd heard it to late. A foot smashed it self across her face sending her flying back across the floor. She heard Sophitia cry out painfully as she was thrown half way across the floor landing close by her. The Greek warrior got up on to her knees she put her hand on her jaw rubbing slightly then pulled out her sword and flung her shield around in a protective stance scowling at her attackers.

Taki pulled her weapons out fast, then back flipping on to her feet "What the hell are you doing I'm your on my side?"

She looked at the ninja but it hit her like a bolt out of the blue that these were not her own clan but another. Each wore purple and red robes around their arms they all seemed to laugh at her remark. The largest man seemed to scowl then turn to the others "Unfortunately she isn't so lets teach her and her friend a lesson."

Sophitia didn't get chance to move she was hit from all four side. She tried to swing her sword but it was for nothing as a powder was thrown in her face she found within seconds that her sight was gone. She felt the kicks and then a final blow struck her on the back of her head. She felt her feet buckle underneath her and the floor as she hit it. She hadn't even been given a fighting chance she heard Taki in the distance shouting. She felt her self passing out in to darkness.

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Darkness and cages, huge swinging cages. While the battle raged on below fires blasted up around the arena.

A huge beast slowly rising up. Its black body and red eyes gleaming in the darkness. Its huge mouth opening it long tongue with a single eye at its end swerved around in mid air. Its body was covered in muscle and claws dug in to the platform. Its horrible features were like something from a nightmare.

Sophitia swung the rusty sword hitting it in the face. The huge beast claws lunged back then smashed her lower stomach sending her flying back. She felt the pain as she hit the metal supports holding the cage up above her.

She slowly tried to get up despite the pain but her body was slammed back down on to the platform. The claws slammed in to her unarmoured shoulder digging in deep she watched as her blood began to leak on to the platform. The nightmare roaring over her swinging it tongue like some horrible whip.

Sophitia tried to grab the broken long shield near by she couldn't reach it. The pain came again as the beast used it claws to impale her driving deeper in to her shoulder. Its other clawed hand smashing at the cages supports. She felt a feeling of horror as a weapon flew above in slow motion like some rotten light out of Tarturus.

Its smashed the cage supports. The person inside face showing horror as the huge cage seemed to fall towards the black darkness of the labyrinths abyss below. Sophitia screamed aloud feeling the horror and desperation. She could see her face the brown eyes and dark long hair the oriental features and the horror in her eyes.

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Sophitia's eyes snapped open. She looked around trying to come to terms with her vision she glanced around her seeing that she was being held fast by ninja's. Her weapons and armour had been stripped from her body. The only armour left was on her was on her boots. She turned sharply seeing Taki who was being held fast. Her armour had also been stripped from her as well as her weapons.

Taki growled lashing out at a ninja who came over to touch her she snarled, "I demand an explanation you bastards. You're not my clan why are you here?"

She narrowed her gaze kicking out trying to free herself "Who's your clan leader I demand to speak with him!"

The clan just remained silent two of them slowly stepped back as a tall female figure dressed in black ninja armour from head to foot appeared. Her face was covered totally she stopped sharply looking at Taki and Sophitia studying them both for a moment. She slowly laughed then folded her arms then calmly pulled up her weapon walking over to Taki.

Taki stopped still she hated this routine between ninja clans. She eyed the woman "So you're their leader well aren't you a low life scum bag. How's about you tell me were my clan is then I can set about killing you and reclaiming my home."

She watched the woman swing her sword. A low voice cut through the black mask "You always were one to talk bull shit Taki. You tried to kill me once already don't you remember?"

Taki raised an eyebrow "What the hell." She pulled herself forward growling, "You, your not allowed here you're banished." The woman fist suddenly smacked her full force across the mouth. Her voice came back with hateful bite "You wish, you know step sister your really stupid. Did you honestly think the fate you gave me would be forever. I told you I'd be back!"

The woman turned grabbing the mask from her face a rush of black hair flowed out. A very slender featured face came in to view but it wasn't a very nice one a huge scar cut through the eye, which looked around, white and unseeing. Her mouth was a cruel sneer and her other turquoise eye wandered coldly around.

Sophitia felt the breath get caught in her throat. She knew this face it had haunted her for much of her life but it couldn't be. This person was not alive she'd died. Taki spat at the woman in disgust "Suzuka you bitch how dear you return here!"

Suzuka smiled at her "Oh shut up you pathetic little woman." She smirked "Bet you wish you had killed me now but unfortunately that honour was bestowed on someone else." She side stepped grinning evilly at Taki partner "Wasn't it Sophitia?"

Sophitia could see Taki's shock the ninja looked stunned and confused. Taki turned growling at the taller woman "What the hell are you talking about Suzuka?"

Sophitia looked up at the nightmare in front of her. She suddenly scowled looking straight in to the one cold eye "Your not her, she's dead you're an impostor with her face. You are not her!"

Suzuka turning to face her an evil smile appeared across her lips "Oh Sophitia you little fool didn't anyone ever tell you that you can't run away from your demons?"

Sophitia grinded her teeth together "You are not my demon I killed you" her eyebrow twitched. She felt a sudden rush of violent anger causing her to fight against those holding her " I killed you evil child murder!"

Suzuka put a hand on her hips enjoying the young woman's sudden outburst "I didn't murder your poor little Greek children Sophitia. I just sent them to better place." Sophitia's boots kicked the floor as she tried to free herself she suddenly bit back at her "Your a sick bitch you mutilated them. Their insides were hanging from every corner of that sick ritual room of yours!"

Sophitia could feel also feel the adrenaline rushing to her brain. She eyed the smiling ninja "I don't know how you lived having your own log trap put though you, because I saw you die in front of me!"

Suzuka eyed the young woman "Its so humiliating to be killed by the bakers daughter. I mean do you have any idea how much that sickened me that a stupid little girl like you who could barely hold her own sword was able to take my life." She slowly clenched her fist "You pushed the log traps trigger on me just before I could finish you off and not before you gave me this!"

She grabbed at her top pulling it open to reveal her lower rips and stomach. A huge burn marked scar was stretched across her ribs it stuck with a vengeance. Suzuka snarled at her "How does a stupid innocent little girl have so much power that she can light up her sword with red flames and give me a scar like this?"

Taki laughed aloud "Personal I like it, it goes very well with the one I gave you on your face." Suzuka turned sneering at her then turned back to Sophitia she leaned over the blonde grinning evilly "Apparently you have one of your own as well. I also know how much it hurts for you when someone punches it." She grabbed hold of girl by the hair "Shall we find out just how much it does hurt?"

Sophitia gritted her teeth together "Go to Tarturus!"

The next blow caught her off guard the woman's fist hit her in the right side of her ribs full force. She cried out in agony somehow the woman knew just were the scar was. She found her self shaking in pain and loosing all traction in her feet she fell painfully to her knees. She heard Taki scream something at Suzuka but she found it hard to hear what she was saying for the pain in her body.

"Leave her alone you bitch!"

Taki pried her arm free hitting the nearest ninja then turned desperately trying to get to Sophitia who was on her knees. Suzuka seemed to just glance at her outburst "What's wrong Taki did I hit your soft spot?"

Taki found her free arm being locked back again as Suzuka turned to face her " I'm stunned that you being the cold bitch of a woman that you are, would have a soft spot for an annoying little Greek warrior such as this one." She suddenly kicked Sophitia in the side. Taki narrowed her gaze "I said leave her alone!"

Suzuka folded her arms "Or is they're more to it than you just liking her?"

She could see Taki anger starting to take over. The ninja squirmed trying to break free "Seems to me like your really loosening your edge. I mean travelling around with this annoying naive little Greek warrior." Taki made contact with the woman's one cold eye "She is not naive or annoying she's twice the warrior you'll ever be!"

Suzuka grabbed her face harshly "Don't ever compare to that Greek!"

Taki ground her teeth together "I can't wait to get free from these bastards so I can wipe that evil smirk of your face!"

Suzuka sighed letting her go "Simple Taki always thinking it will be so easy to win a battle. You're as simple as your step father." She watched Taki's eyes narrow "Toki isn't simple or easy to beat by any means." Suzuka pulled up her blade eyeing it "Oh really Taki, well it was very easy for me. He lay defeated and bleeding by my feet. Truth is without you to protect him he's not really all that strong."

She twirled the weapon "You should have seen his face when I declared leadership of your clan." She grinned widely "But you know the law I have to kill you first so he has no right hand and in doing so I melt away all the leader ship rank. I'm just so glad you showed up your timing couldn't be more perfect." Taki eyed her "If that's so then why haven't you killed me yet?"

Suzuka glared at her "What did you think for five seconds I'm going to make your death and easy one. Ninja law permits that I can do what ever I want with you and your little friend." She adjusted her shoulder guard "I'm going to make you both regret the day that you were both born!"

Taki turned to Sophitia then turned back "Let Sophitia go, your fights with me not her." She was replayed with a laugh from Suzuka. The tall ninja woman brushed her long hair away from her face "Oh please your pathetic do you seriously think I'm going to let Sophitia walk out of that door. I think not, I want her to suffer along with you."

Taki closed one eye "You say she killed you it looks more like she gave you a reminder of her swords power." Suzuka leaned over her in annoyance "She killed me you stupid fool. I got to see my own insides as my own log trap pushed its swords in to me." Taki shook her head " If that's so how come your alive now?"

Suzuka gusted at her comment "You're a big clever ninja why don't you figure it out?"

Sophitia got up half way up but found her self collapsing back on to her knees. She breathed deeply waiting for the pain to subside. She turned, listening to the conversation while closed her eyes and putting a hand around her ribs trying to stop the steady stream of pain that was flowing relentlessly through her body "It's not possible for you to be alive. I saw you die your wounds were far to serious you couldn't have lived."

Suzuka turned looking down at her "Shame you Greeks aren't smart enough to check your dead after you've buried them." Sophitia looked at her blankly then growled "If you had been alive and the Greeks had known we would've brought you in and tried to heal you then given you a trial."

Sophitia watched as A black boot came in to view. She looked up at the tall woman who eyed her coldly then spoke "A trial- more like me being hung drawn and quartered!"

Sophitia shook her head "You're an abomination no one survives having their insides plunged with swords." Suzuka folded her arms "That's true but then I'm not just anyone." Sophitia laughed at her remark "No don't suppose you are. I'm mean a sick minded child murder such as yourself is more monster than human. Guess you must have made some very big deal with some off Tarturus's worst demons to get back to the land of the living."

She paused seeing Suzuka's annoyance "But you know Hades will come and find you he hates lost souls and people who cheat death." Suzuka narrowed her eyes "How I got back this world is hardly worth telling an annoying little Greek such as yourself."

Taki breathed out heavily "Well I don't give a dame how you came back from the dead. Since no one ever told me that Sophitia took your life." She growled angrily "Where are my clan brothers and sisters and my father!"

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