InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Guilty Hero ❯ Little Lion Man, Part 2 ( Chapter 47 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I begin with my routine apology.  Always routine, but always sincere. :P  What can I say?  It's been summer.  I went on my yearly, life-changing mission trip to West Virginia.  My dad had the opportunity to stay there for over a month instead of the usual week, so it was difficult to say goodbye then.  But, he came back a changed guy, which was amazing to see. :)  And while he was gone, an aunt who I only get to see once a year, if that, came and stayed for over a week.  I had my first drink while she was here.  Didn't like it, but I felt as though I finally made a right of passage. :D

Adding to the craziness of life, I have finally reached a balance between my two jobs, and thus have been able to build my social life a tiny bit.  It's been weird, but lots of fun.  But it also cuts into my writing time, so boo.

Well, enough about that.  Now onto business.  I would like to apologize for not replying to any review made for the last update.  I seriously am ashamed of myself.  What with the trip and then my aunt coming over, I never got time to reply until it became so late that to reply would have been embarrassing.  I want you all to know that I deeply appreciated all the kind comments that were made, and they were a wonderful inspiration to keep writing!  I looked at them frequently in the process of this chapter. :)  Thank you to any and all who reviewed, and I am making a solemn vow to never do this again.

Okay, I've chatted long enough.  For author's notes to follow at the end.

Guilty Hero

Chapter 46: Little Lion Man, Part 2



A lone figure slowly rose out of the quarry, pale and gaunt compared to the horrendous display of demons roiling behind him.  Draped in an ivory fur pelt, his long ebony locks swirled around him in stark contrast.  Cruel red eyes burned into Inu-Yasha from a pallid face while the demon's lips were curved into a malicious smirk.  It was quite clear he was savoring the taste of Inu-Yasha's terror, much like one might savor a succulent piece of meat.

Kagome hardly had time to react to the demon's appearance before Inu-Yasha roughly grabbed her forearms and shoved her behind him.  Every muscle in his body was taut with fear, to the point where he visibly shook.

“Inu-Yasha,” the demon rumbled, his voice deep and cold.  It washed over them like a cascade of ice, sending chills down their spines.  Inu-Yasha started violently at the sound.  “How very long it has been since we last laid eyes on each other.”

Grinning evilly as Inu-Yasha opened and closed his mouth like a fish, Naraku went on.  His tone was friendly and familiar, as though he were addressing an old friend.  “You know, I daresay it has been so long that you probably assumed we would never meet again.  Am I correct?”  He did not bother to wait for an answer as Inu-Yasha was in no state to give one.  “Indeed, I myself was uncertain of our next gathering.  But I planned for it.  I planned, and waited, and prepared.  And here we are.”  He spread his arms wide, gesturing at the mass of demons that had encased the three of them in a living cage.

“Wondrous, isn't it?” he asked conversationally, gazing around.  “The vast majority of the city's demon population, all under my control.”  With a careless wave of his hand, a swarm of imps surged above Inu-Yasha and Kagome.  The sheer number caused the pair to cower below them, nearly forced to the ground to avoid being caught.  Inu-Yasha snarled weakly at the threat, shielding Kagome as well as he could with his body.  It was a touching act, although Kagome knew that he would hardly be able to fight should they be attacked.

Despite being utterly confused as to how Naraku was not only alive, but far more powerful than she had ever imagined, anger dominated Kagome's emotions.  Naraku's mere presence was absolutely terrifying for Inu-Yasha, something which his sanity could ill-afford.  Not only were her carefully laid plans for the evening crushed to pieces with Naraku's arrival, but all the progress Inu-Yasha had made over the past several weeks was in danger of receding.  And, Kagome was not about to stand for it.

“Stop trying to intimidate us!” she shouted once the imps had passed.  Gripping her crossbow, she got to her knees from behind Inu-Yasha and leveled her weapon at Naraku.  “We have nothing to fear from you!  Inu-Yasha destroyed you once, and he can do it again!”  Inu-Yasha was able to twitch his head back to gape at her, horrified to see her directing Naraku's attention upon herself.

“Kagome, no!” he hissed, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head.

Low, cruel chuckles drifted over to them, snapping Inu-Yasha's focus back on Naraku.  The sound was so chillingly cool that even Kagome shuddered and ducked a little back behind Inu-Yasha.

“That cowering pup offers no threat to me.  Do you really think I have something to fear from that quivering mass in front of you?  From a half-breed who didn't recognize the scent of one of my children after a direct encounter? From a worthless mutt who was weak enough to turn to liquor to escape from reality?”

Naraku smirked coldly at them as Inu-Yasha's expression of horror grew and Kagome's mouth dropped open in shock.  “Yes, fools.  I know every move you make.  Nothing is a secret to me.  Ever since my untimely survival, I have done nothing but watch, wait and plan.  I know your every weakness, Inu-Yasha, from your dependence on liquor to the love for your woman.”

Inu-Yasha's grip on Kagome tightened as Naraku extended his arm.  The pair watched in horrified fascination as his hand molded into a point, then stretched and grew.  It slowly morphed into a discolored tentacle that reached out to them.  Inu-Yasha's hands were like iron on Kagome even though he was frozen stiff.  Fear stole his voice from his throat.  He couldn't even whimper as the tentacle drew closer.

Kagome, however, was not quite so incapacitated.  Wrenching her arm from Inu-Yasha's grasp, she raised her crossbow into plain sight.  “Not another move, Naraku!” she shouted.  “If you really do know our every move, then you should know how easily I took out two of your monsters!  I have no issue using that same power on you!”

While Naraku did not retract his arm, its progress did halt.  He focused his gaze on her, his blood red eyes boring into her sharp blue ones.

“Kagome Higurashi,” he murmured, drawing her name out long and low.  “Ah yes, Inu-Yasha's angel in white, his shining savior.  The only woman capable of filling the void dear Kikyo left in his soul.”  His sarcasm was quite clear.  “I do indeed know of your actions with my children yesterday.  And I say again—I have nothing to fear.  However...”  His tentacle shifted targets, aiming instead for Kagome.  “You have displayed some interesting abilities, Miss Higurashi\abilities this city hasn't seen since...ÿh

The tip of his tentacle was mere inches away from the pair.  Sweat dripped down Inu-Yasha's pallid face, and even Kagome was mesmerized by Naraku's proximity.  The tip of her crossbow was beginning to waver.

“...Since Kikyo was alive.”

Inu-Yasha snapped.  His hand lashed out wildly, severing the tip of Naraku's arm clean off.  “Don't touch her!”

Withdrawing his arm, Naraku laughed outright, the sound silencing Inu-Yasha once again.  “Did I strike a nerve, Inu-Yasha?  Are you afraid of losing the love of your life to me again?”  His white teeth were bared in a maniacal grin as he stared unblinking at the half-demon.  “You should be.  For this time, I am not as unprepared and naïve as I was before.  This time, I have gained power far beyond your meager knowledge.”

As though to prove his point, he raised his dismembered limb up high.  The mangled tip roiled uncontrollably, and then a fresh end shot out.  Slowly, it morphed into a hand, which Naraku flexed in satisfaction.

Inu-Yasha was beyond speech at this point.  He was sagging back against Kagome, hardly able to remain upright.  His eyes were open so wide that the whites could be seen all the way around.  Regeneration was not an ability that just any demon possessed, and it certainly was not a power Naraku had been capable of using in their last battle.

“A neat trick, is it not?” Naraku asked.  A sadistic glee had overcome his demeanor\glee at seeing Inu-Yasha so utterly helpless.  ÿgAnd I can see already that it will be quite useful.  Better still, that is not the only power the shards of the Shikon Jewel have bestowed upon me.  Soon you and the whole city will feel my full might.  And you...ÿh

His aura suddenly grew darker and heavier.  Menace was thick in his voice.  The wall of demons around them began to churn as the imps and ogres grew agitated by the surge of malevolent energy permeating the quarry.  A strong wind was whipped up as they swarmed around while Naraku rose higher in the air, a purple energy glowing around his figure.  When he spoke, his voice was amplified and powerful, rolling over them like thunder.

“...You will be powerless to stop me.”

Just when Inu-Yasha felt he could stand no more, a shot broke Naraku's control.  A bolt of white-blue light tore through the darkness with a shriek, exploding with Naraku upon contact.

The effect was immediate, as though a spell had been broken.  The wind died down, the air lightened, and all the demons froze to stare silently at their leader.

As the smoke slowly dispersed, Naraku's torn body emerged.  The entire right side of his chest had been blown away.  He was staring down at Kagome, his crimson eyes wide in shock.

Kagome glared right back, her crossbow held high.  A small stream of smoke still issued from it due to the power of her blast.  Honestly, she surprised herself by conjuring a blow that strong, but she was hardly about to let Naraku know that.

“We aren't as powerless as you think,” she snapped, her voice overly loud in the silence.

The sound seemed to bring Naraku back to his senses.  His expression smoothing, he remained silent for a moment.  Then his chest twisted and jerked, and soon had regrown with nary a sign of injury.  “I believe you missed the shards, Miss Higurashi.  That was your intent, no doubt.  You will have to try harder than that if you wish to dream the impossible dream of saving this city.”

Kagome bit back a cry of disappointment.  She had indeed been aiming for the shards, but saw that he had twisted away at the last second.

“You talk big, Naraku.  But I'm still unconvinced.  You're no threat to us.”  She reloaded her crossbow and aimed again.

Naraku laughed, crossing his arms.  “There will be plenty of time for fighting later, Miss Higurashi.  But for now, I have another task for you.”  With a quick flick of the wrist, he sent the wall of demons into a downward spiral.  Every last one of them shot back into the quarry in a whirlwind, battering Inu-Yasha and Kagome with the ensuing gusts.

The moment they were gone, the air went still.  Kagome felt far lighter than she had moments ago, now that the aura of a thousand demons was not pressing down on her.  Even the strength of Naraku's aura had lessened, causing her to smirk.  It seemed he was not as entirely unaffected by her shot as he appeared.

“I have not finished piecing together my new body,” he continued.  “But, I believe I have given you a sufficient display of my power.  And I assure you, it will only increase as my body nears completion.”

The smirk dropped off Kagome's face at the thought.  Unfortunately, with the power of nine Shikon shards behind him, he spoke the truth.  His power was limitless.

“While you will surely be crushed, I am a fair opponent.  That is why I am charging you with the task of spreading the news of my return to the Order.  We don't want the Order going into the battle for the city completely unprepared, do we?”  He smiled down at them.  “It will do you no good, of course.  But at least my conscience will be clear.

“You have no conscience, you monster,” Kagome snarled in reply.

With a chuckle, he slowly lowered himself back into the quarry.  “That's just as well,” he murmured, his red eyes staring at them as he descended.  “By the time all this is over, I shall have many deaths on my hands indeed.”  

And then, he was gone.

Despite the relief of having the full weight of Naraku's aura removed, the pair sat motionless on the rocks, staring into space.  The effect of the horror they had just witnessed, and miraculously survived, took several moments to process.  It took the sound of a stone tumbling into the quarry to break the silence of Naraku's absence and shake Kagome from her thoughts.

“Inu-Yasha,” she said hoarsely, her eyes still focused on the black abyss.  “We have to get out of here.  H-he may come back.”

Her senses came flooding back when she didn't receive an answer.  She quickly moved in front of Inu-Yasha, hoping to gain his attention.

“Inu-Yasha.”  Her tone was much sterner.  “We have to move.  Can you stand?”

He had sunk back on his elbows and was quivering, his gaze fixed at the spot where Naraku had hovered moments ago.  His mouth still hung open, and his expression was etched with fear and  shock.  There was no sign that he was even aware she had spoken a word.

Kagome understood that she couldn't possibly know the true depths of Inu-Yasha's horror.  She had not been through the torture he had at Naraku's hands.  She did not know what it was like to be forced to murder her fiancee or risk losing the lives of thousands of people.  She did not fully understand the hurt and the guilt he had been through.  

But, she did know that seeing the source of his torture back from the dead was an absolute shock.  And she also knew that there were others who needed to know of Naraku's return.  They did not have the time to wait for Inu-Yasha to recover.

“Inu-Yasha.”  She spoke his name clearly and calmly, placing her hand over one of his own.

It seemed her voice and her touch broke his trance.  He slowly closed his mouth, though his lips still trembled, and his eyes, which were still wide and fearful, flicked over to her.

She stared evenly back.  “Please.”

His gaze shifted to the quarry, where the darkness in its caverns held something far more sinister than anyone expected.  The Order needed to know.  Sango and Miroku needed to know.

At last, he swallowed and nodded shakily.

Kagome sighed in relief and made to stand.

Suddenly, she felt her body being lifted up, and the world around became a blur.  A small shriek escaped before she realized what had happened.

Inu-Yasha, it seemed, was as desperate as she to leave.  In one fluid motion he had rolled to his feet, hefted her onto his back and shot off in a dead run.  Kagome's hair whipped crazily about her head in the rush of wind.  Buildings whirred past so rapidly that she couldn't distinguish one from another.  She could feel Inu-Yasha's muscles beneath her, taut and hard as iron.  He was afraid.

The farther away from the quarry they got, the faster Inu-Yasha ran.  His fear was fueling the sprint.  His sneakers pounded an increasing rhythm on the sidewalk, and his breath came in short gasps.  Kagome, who was growing very concerned with his behavior, gave his shoulders a reassuring squeeze, but he took no notice.

With terror being the driving force, they reached Sango and Miroku's apartment in seconds.  Kagome cried out once again when their direction abruptly changed and Inu-Yasha leaped straight up to their windowsill.  And then, at last, they came to a halt.

His breathing still harsh, short, and erratic, Inu-Yasha rapped on the glass with his knuckle.  Hanging precariously on his back with nothing but the sky above her and the ground a few stories below, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut and held on tighter to him.  She knew he wasn't going to let her fall, but she still was greatly relieved when a very surprised Sango opened the window.

“Once again, the door's not good enough for you,” Miroku called jokingly from the armchair he rested in.  “Always the window.”

Inu-Yasha slipped inside, gingerly lowering Kagome to the ground.  He then slammed the window shut, locked it and then strode over to the far corner of the room.  Ignoring the stares he was receiving due to his irrational behavior, he turned toward the wall with his shoulders hunched and his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

Miroku, quickly realizing that this was not the time for humor, gave Kagome a questioning glance.

“What... happened?”  Thinking that the assignment should not have been so difficult, he really couldn't understand the fear in Inu-Yasha and Kagome's faces.  His concern grew when they remained silent.  Glancing over at Sango, he could tell she was just as worried that something had gone terribly wrong.

In an unusual display of tenderness, Sango slowly moved over to Inu-Yasha and reached out a hand to rest on his arm.  “What is it?”

“He's back.”

Inu-Yasha's sudden, harsh statement made Sango jerk her hand back as though she had been stung.  “I-I'm sorry?”

“He's back,” Inu-Yasha snarled again, his voice louder this time.

Once more, Sango and Miroku shared a look of confusion.  They didn't have the foggiest idea who Inu-Yasha was speaking of but they didn't want to ask for fear of causing the clearly distressed half-demon to snap.

Silence flooded the room, broken only by Inu-Yasha's harsh breathing.  It was erratic and uneven.  He would inhale sharply and then shakily exhale with such irregularity that it was almost as though he had forgotten to take another breath.  They could see his shoulders trembling from behind and how tightly his claws clutched at his sleeves.

Unable to watch any more, Sango turned to Kagome.  “Who?” she asked in a desperate tone.  Inu-Yasha's reaction was highly unsettling.

Kagome opened her mouth to answer, but Inu-Yasha spoke up once again.

“Naraku.”

Sango and Miroku gaped at him in disbelief.  Neither wanted to accept it.  In fact, both began to speak, stuttering out questions  However, any query died in their mouths when Inu-Yasha turned to face them.  The look on his face told all.  Hopelessness was written in his eyes.  That alone was all they needed to know that he spoke the truth.

Sango sank to the floor next to Miroku's chair, drawing her legs up and resting her arms on them.  “But...how?”

With a worried glance at Inu-Yasha, Kagome stepped forward.  “I'm not entirely sure,” she admitted.  “Only that Naraku himself was surprised that he had survived.  Shikon shards are the most likely explanation, and he was in possession of several.  He was able to regenerate missing limbs and rapidly heal from serious wounds.  Not only that, but he had huge numbers under his control.  Literally hundreds of demons.

Miroku, despite the pain his wounds caused him when he moved, reached down to rest his hand on Sango's shoulder.  She covered it with one of her own, and the pair sat in silence for a moment, allowing the full implications of Naraku's return to sink in.

In his first rise to power, he had leveled nearly half the city in the ensuing battle.  He had destroyed almost any alliance in existence between humans and demons.  He had come dangerously close to taking control of the entire city.  He had created a life of fear and chaos to any who could not escape the city limits.  He had created a necessity for all citizens to carry weapons in order to survive the day.

It went even deeper.  Within the Order itself, loyalties were lost.  Lives were lost.  Friends and protectors were killed.  For many, they no longer fought for the city.  They fought merely to survive.  Life had become, in a word, hell.

Thus, with Naraku not only back from the dead, but stronger than before, with numerous Shikon shards powering his strength, and huge numbers already in his command, Sango and Miroku saw little hope of defeating him.

Kagome stood quietly by as the pair processed the information.  However, growing concerned when she noticed their demeanor slowly declining into something similar to that of Inu-Yasha's, she decided to speak up.

“Now, stop that,” she admonished, crossing her arms.  The sharp tone of her voice caused them to jump and look up at her.

“You can't think that way.  I can see it in your eyes.  You already have the city reduced to a pile of rubble with us buried underneath, don't you?”

Sango and Miroku looked guiltily at each other.

“Hmph.”  Kagome stood up straight.  “Now look, I know things seem pretty bleak right now, but the only thing that has surprised us is who it is we're fighting.  We've been preparing for this for weeks.  We have a good number of fighters working for the Order.  Or at least, secretly working for the Order, due to Muso's meddling.  We also have most of the police force being trained by Koga.  And, not to be immodest, but you also have me.”  She flushed a little by saying that, but continued.

Not only that, but we have already defeated two of Naraku's offspring, so we know we have some power over him.  Plus, Naraku himself admitted that he is not yet at full-power.  We have a window of opportunity available.  I promise you, we are anything but hopeless.”

The pair stared up at her.  Miroku allowed a half-smile to grace his features.  Bless this girl and her naivete,  he thought.  She will be the one to keep Sango and I going, no doubt.

Giving Sango's shoulder a squeeze, he said to her, “She's right, you know.  We can't write the city off just yet.  We have things we can do.  But, I cannot do them alone.  I'll need you there with me.  Will you do that?”

Sango, who was clearly still wrestling with memories, finally closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  Slowly, she entwined her fingers through his and gripped them tight, drawing strength from him.

“Of course I will,” she replied, her voice clear and determined.

Satisfied that Sango had convinced herself, at least for the moment, that all was not lost, Miroku gently shook her shoulder and nodded at the corner.

It seemed that Kagome's pep talk did not have the same effect on Inu-Yasha as it did on them.  He had calmed down considerably, that much was clear.  His shoulders had ceased trembling and his arms now hung limply at his sides.  But while a spark of determination had replaced Sango and Miroku's depression, Inu-Yasha had no such spark.  In fact, he appeared completely devoid of emotion.  He was staring blankly at the floor, oblivious to his surroundings.  It was only when Sango spoke directly to him did he move.

“Inu-Yasha,” she said carefully.  “What are you going to do?”

He slowly breathed out a shuddering sigh.  Keeping his gaze on the ground, he finally spoke in a voice full of defeat.  “I'm out,” he murmured.  “I'm done.  With everything.  I'm out of the Order.  I'm out of the war.  I wasn't strong enough to kill Naraku last time.  There is no chance of that now.”

With that, he turned and trudged out of the apartment, leaving Sango and Miroku staring speechlessly after him.  Even Kagome, who had helped him through some of his darkest times, was shocked at how far he had sunk in just a few minutes.

However, she was also not about to sit and watch him drop out of life.  For one as unstable as he, the implications of that were unacceptable to Kagome.  With fear for his safety and health as her driving force, she sprang forward and followed him out of the apartment with a shout.

“Inu-Yasha, wait!” She skidded to a halt in the hallway and leaned over the railing, just in time to catch a glimpse of white hair vanishing out the front door.  Never before had she begrudged him his ability to safely leap down several stories in a single bound, but this time she pounded her fist on the rail in frustration.  Whirling around, she pounded down the stairs in pursuit.  She nearly tripped several times in her haste but did not dare slow her speed.  Inu-Yasha could very easily keep well ahead of her if he wanted, and she did not want to miss even the slimmest chance of catching him.  If she did, the results would be disastrous.

Finally reaching the first floor, she dashed across the lobby and flung open the front doors.  “Inu-Yasha!”

She stumbled out to the sidewalk and then jerked to a stop, panting for breath.  Much to her surprise, Inu-Yasha was standing but a few feet away.  His back was to her, and he was leaning heavily against a lamppost.

Sending up a silent prayer of thankfulness that he had stopped, Kagome stayed where she was.  “Inu-Yasha,” she said again, this time in a softer tone.

His ears twitched at the sound of her voice.  Slowly, he turned around, keeping one hand on the lamppost.  He was weak and exhausted, as though it was almost too much trouble to move.  When he lifted his face to meet her gaze, she had to resist the urge to gasp.  His eyes, which had been so dull mere moments ago, were overflowing with despair.  She wanted to break down and weep at the sight.  Never before had she seen him in so much pain.

“Kagome,” he said quietly.  Even his voice sounded tired.  “You need to stay with Sango and Miroku.  They'll take care of you.”

“What are you talking about?”  She took a step closer, concern flooding through her.  “I don't need them to protect me.  Why would you tell me different?”

Inu-Yasha sighed and shifted his gaze to the sidewalk.  “I'm not a part of this anymore, Kagome.  Don't include me in the picture.”

“Just because you're not fighting in the war doesn't mean you aren't included,” she replied harshly.  Fear and worry were threatening to render her speechless, but she pushed on.  “You're always a part of my life, Inu-Yasha.  We have so much left we need to do.”

He remained silent and motionless.  Frustrated, Kagome went on.  “You've been doing so well.  Don't you remember just this morning how confident you were?  How powerful and skilled you were when you took out those demons?  We've come so far since we first met.  Do you really want to put all that on hold just because of one demon?”

He still said nothing.

Kagome grew so frustrated that her hands balled into fists at her sides and she actually stomped her foot.  “Damn it, Inu-Yasha!  What about your drinking?  You can't just quite the routine!  You still need me for that!”

No response.

Tears were now beginning to spill down her cheeks, one at a time.  “What about... what about us?” she asked in a voice so quiet that she was uncertain  Inu-Yasha had even heard.  “What about our plans for... for when you were all better?”  It sounded pathetic and childish to her ears, but she couldn't help it.  She was past the point of caring about such trivial things.

At last she fell silent.  She stared pleadingly at Inu-Yasha, desperate for any response.  She blinked rapidly in a weak attempt to stop crying.  She didn't want to miss any movement he made.

Finally he drew his gaze up to her face.  In the pale yellow glow of the streetlight his face appeared hollow and gaunt.  But that was nothing compared to his expression.  In the short time he had looked away, he seemed to have retreated deep within himself.  His eyes were once again dead and lifeless.  He had raised a wall around his emotions that not even Kagome could penetrate.

Upon seeing this, Kagome openly wept.  “What... what about us?” she repeated brokenly, horrified of what his reply was to be.

Inu-Yasha stared at her, cold and distant.  When he spoke, it was as though someone else was using him as a puppet.

“I lost so much in that first war, Kagome,” he murmured dully.  “The pain was... indescribable.  And you... You aren't worth getting hurt like that again.”  With that said, he turned and walked away.  Rounding the corner, he was soon out of sight.

Kagome sank to her knees on the sidewalk.

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Apologies for the shorter chapter, but I had to end it there.  I know this one took a while to get out, but I simply could not speed through it.  It required a lot of care, and I hope it has the effect I am going for.  I would love to know your thoughts.

Now, as for the title of the chapter, Little Lion Man.  While listening to the song on repeat (which I heartily suggest everyone goes and listens to that song at least once), I realized how it really mirrors Inu-Yasha in GH, particularly this chapter.  I've had this chapter planned almost since I began writing this story so long ago, so no inspiration was wrought from this song.  However, the similarities are so uncanny that I had to post the lyrics.  So, here we are:

Little Lion Man, by Mumford and Sons




Weep for yourself, my man/,You'll never be what is in your heart/Weep Little Lion Man,/You're not as brave as you were at the start/Rate yourself and rake yourself,/Take all the courage you have left/Wasted on fixing all the problems/ That you made in your own head/But it was not your fault but mine/And it was your heart on the line/I really fucked it up this time/Didn't I, my dear?/Didn't I, my.../Tremble for yourself, my man,/You know that you have seen this all before/Tremble Little Lion Man,/You'll never settle any of your scores/Your grace is wasted in your face,/Your boldness stands alone among the wreck/Now learn from your mother or else spend your days Biting your own neck/But it was not your fault but mine/And it was your heart on the line/I really fucked it up this time/Didn't I, my dear?/
Didn't I, my dear?/Ahhhhh....../But it was not your fault but mine/And it was your heart on the line/I really fucked it up this time/Didn't I, my dear?/Didn't I, my dear?/

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)  Stay tuned for the next installment.  Who knows what's gonna happen now?
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