Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Bound Together ❯ Escaping Our World ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter 18

Escaping Our World

 

“Put him in the other room until I can make arrangements for his burial.” Tai-Li ordered the guards.

 

“Master Kay, what do we do with her?” One of the guards asked motioning towards Carine.

 

Tai-Li smiled, liking the sound of being called Master Kay. He turned and looked at the pale faced girl who was shaking so badly she couldn't stand.

 

“Just leave her be for a while. She will be alright.” Tai-Li said as he slowly walked over to Tai-Shi and sat next to him. “Are you doing alright?”

 

Tai-Shi wiped his face off and stared blankly at the floor.

 

“Tai-Shi?” Tai-Li asked.

 

Allen and Sei sat back at their tables, what had happened had upset Allen and Sei stayed with him to make sure he was okay.

 

“Allen…you knew this was going to happen…” Sei started.

 

“I know…but still...I didn't know it would be like that. I didn't know it would happen with Tai-Shi under him…” Allen said quietly so only Sei could hear him.

 

“I don't think anyone planned for him to attack Tai-Shi…but you know it was his fault…” Sei sighed.

 

“Don't say that…Tai-Shi only wanted to be accepted by his father…” Allen said bitterly as he looked away from Sei and looked up to where Tai-Shi and Tai-Li were sitting. “I don't know if I could take it if my father was to die over me…”

 

“Don't say things like that Allen.” Sei sighed and leaned back against the table. “What is done is done…nothing we can do about it.”

 

“I know…” Allen sighed as he looked back towards Sei.

 

“Tai-Shi…please don't shut me out.” Tai-Li said quietly as he placed his and on Tai-Shi's knee.

 

“Don't touch me…” Tai-Shi said quietly.

 

“Tai-Shi…” Tai-Li began before he was interrupted.

 

“Someone just doesn't die suddenly…” Carine's shaky voice could be heard.

 

“Please be quiet Carine.” Tai-Li sighed as he turned to look at her.

 

She slowly looked over at Tai-Li, “It was you…you killed him.” She said as she slowly backed away from him.

 

Tai-Shi looked up at Tai-Li, “Is it true?”

 

“It was just a heart attack Carine, he got over excited and…” Tai-Li began.

 

“Don't try to feed me your lies! I know full well that was no heart attack. You despised your father!” Carine shouted as Tai-Li got up and approached her. “Stay back you murder!”

 

Tai-Li leaned down and gently grabbed her chin to look up at him.

 

“It was just a heart attack.” He said with a lightly smiled.

 

She stared at him and violently shook.

 

“Let her go!” Tai-Shi yelled as he grabbed Tai-Li and pulled her away from Carine. “She didn't do anything to you!” Tai-Shi yelled.

 

Tai-Li stumbled backwards and was surprised to see Tai-Shi jump to her aid.

 

“I didn't know this was the type of family you were…I just…I just wanted someone to be my knight in shining armor…I don't want to be wedded to a monster that would kill his own father.” Carine rambled on and softly began to cry.

 

Tai-Shi looked back at Tai-Li. “Everyone made a plan to kill him…but they didn't do anything…”

 

“Tai-Shi, that's not true. I didn't kill father!” Tai-Li defended himself.

 

“Stop lying!” Tai-Shi yelled.

 

“Tai-Shi!” Rei called to him as he slowly got up from his spot. “Tai-Li is telling you the truth!”

 

Tai-Li looked back, surprised that Rei, of all people, was defending him.

 

“Don't lie for him Rei…I don't want to hear it…” Tai-Shi said as he stumbled towards the table and placed his hands on the table cloth and gripped it tightly in his hands.

 

“Tai-Shi, calm down. You need to take it easy.” Tai-Li said as he slowly approached him.

 

“Stay away from me!” Tai-Shi yelled as he quickly turned around and quickly grabbed something off of the table.

 

Before Tai-Li could react, he felt something pierce his left arm and he yelled in pain as he stumbled back away from Tai-Shi. He then quickly looked to his arm to see a metal fork stuck into him. He grabbed the metal and pulled it out with some pain and looked over to Tai-Shi.

 

“You stabbed me?” He looked on with horror as he saw Tai-Shi advance towards him with another utensil in hand.

 

He quickly grabbed Tai-Shi's hands but couldn't stop the force that knocked them both to the floor.

 

“Tai-Shi! Get a hold of yourself! We're family! You're my brother! We shouldn't be doing this!” Tai-Li begged as he glanced over at the curved soup spoon that was in his brother's hand.

 

“Tai-Li doesn't have a brother, remember?” Tai-Shi said as he glared down at Tai-Li.

 

“What are you talking about? Tai-Shi, you are my brother.” Tai-Li said as he stared up at Tai-Shi with slightly confusing, fighting off his brother's strength.

 

“No…I am not apart of your family, I am just Tai-Shi…I am the disease that destroyed your family!” Tai-Shi yelled.

 

“Quick! Go get father!” Allen pleaded to Sei. “They have to stop Tai-Shi!”

 

“I knew this would happen…but I didn't know if would have been Tai-Shi…” Sei said as he got up.

 

“How could we have known? How could we have known that Tai-Shi was sick?” Allen softly cried as he watched Tai-Shi and Tai-Li fighting.

 

“Allen! I want you to get out of this room…I don't want you to get hurt.” Sei said as he offered his hand to him.

 

“No! I can't let Tai-Shi do this…I can't…he can't be sick like Eliot…I know he can't be…” Allen said as he got up as quickly as he could and tried to hobble over towards Tai-Shi and Tai-Li on his bad leg.

 

“Stop! Wasn't it you yourself that just said Tai-Shi was sick?” Sei yelled as he grabbed Allen's wrist and pulled him back towards the tables.

 

Tai-Li had managed to push Tai-Shi off of him. He stumbled to his feat and circled around and leaned back against the table.

 

“Snap out of it Tai-Shi! What's wrong with you?” Tai-Li said as he stared at Tai-Shi who was slowly getting up.

 

“They said you did it…” Tai-Shi slowly said as he glared at Tai-Li.

 

“No they don't! Carine doesn't know what she's talking about and Rei said that he had done it!” Tai-Li pleaded, hoping Tai-Shi would snap out of it.

 

“I'm not talking about them…” Tai-Shi said as he darted towards Tai-Li and shoved him back onto the table. “They said because of you I don't have a real family!”

 

“Who are they? Who are you talking about? Who's telling you this?” Tai-Li asked, staring at his brother's blank stare.

 

“They are they.” Tai-Shi as he struggled to push Tai-Li over the table.

 

Tai-Li fell back against the table and flipped him over his head. Tai-Shi flew over Tai-Li and his back landed hard against the wall. He slid down the wall and rolled to the floor. Tai-Shi held his stomach as he slowly got to his knees and looked up at Tai-Li.

 

“I don't understand Tai-Shi,” Tai-Li began as he rolled over as he watched his younger sibling. “I don't understand what's going on.”

 

Tai-Shi glared at him, “They don't have a name…they are the ones who speak to me!”

 

“Tai-Shi…do you hear people talk to you?” Tai-Li asked, staring worriedly at him.

 

“I don't hear them! They are there!” Tai-Shi said as he slowly got to his feat.

 

“We're leaving now!” Sei said as he pulled Allen towards the door while Tai-Li and Tai-Shi were furthest away from it.

 

“But Sei…they're going to kill each other if we don't stop them!” Allen pleaded.

 

“You're more important to me right now!” Sei said as he tightened his grip on Allen's wrist. “This time…I want to protect you…”

 

“Sei…please…” Allen begged.

 

“Just come with me…we'll get our fathers.” Sei said as he pulled Allen towards the door as fast as he could without hurting Allen's leg.

 

“Wait Sei!” Allen yelled as he was drug along with Sei.

 

“Tai-Shi…please…snap out of it…” Tai-Li begged as Tai-Shi leapt over the table again at him.

 

Carine screamed as she crawled back against a wall, sobbing hysterically.

 

Tai-Shi and Tai-Li rolled and crashed into the table where the Path family was being seated. Rei had moved, and was no where to be found.

 

God damnit! Why won't anyone help me! Because you're an arrogant bastard. You've fought Tai-Shi many times in the past and beat him. But, he did beat you once. Only once… he hasn't been able to spar though. Neither have you...

 

“Damnit! Now I'm talking to myself!” Tai-Li whined out loud as he rolled over so Tai-Shi laid underneath him.

 

“Get off me!” Tai-Shi yelled.

 

“Stop it Tai-Shi! I don't want to fight you, not like this!” Tai-Li yelled back, hoping that Tai-Shi would calm down.

 

“Why not? You're just afraid you'll lose! You were always afraid I would beat you! Then I finally did, and I bet I can do it again!” Tai-Shi began with a low growl to his voice.

 

“I'm not afraid I'd lose…” Tai-Li growled back as he quickly stood up, pulling Tai-Shi with him onto their feat and shoved him back.

 

Tai-Shi watched Tai-Li strangely as he saw Tai-Li graceful bend his knees and prepare a stance.

 

“I'll make an offer you won't refuse. If you can beat me, you can have my name, and I'll be the one without a name, not you.” Tai-Li said calmly as he stared coldly at his younger brother.

 

“And…and if you win?” Tai-Shi asked, his tone changing quickly as he watched his brother, his mind continuing to race with the current situation heightening.

 

“Then you are free.” Tai-Li said flatly, “You would no longer be bound by the invisible bonds that have kept you here for so long.”

 

“Fine…” Tai-Shi glared as he lowered his knees and held out his arms away from his body. “Don't go light on me…”

 

“I won't.” Tai-Li confirmed as he shifted his foot and took the first attempt to strike.

 

“In here!” Allen said quickly from the door.

 

Maith and Raze were the first to enter as they stared at the sight of Tai-Li charging the retreating Tai-Shi. Maith was first to try and rush in to put a stop to their senseless fight, but Rei stepped in front of him.

 

“Wait.” Rei said.

 

“Rei! You know as well as I do that there is something wrong with—” Before Maith could finish, Rei interrupted him.

 

“They are doing this properly.” Rei said.

 

“Properly how?” Raze growled as he entered the conversation.

 

“They both have something they are fighting for now.” Rei said as he turned and watched Tai-Shi stumble backwards, holding his stomach. “Tai-Li is fighting for Tai-Shi's sense of freedom, and Tai-Shi is fighting for a name.”

 

Everyone's eyes went to the two brothers. So much had happened within those short moments. Tai-Shi held his stomach, glaring at Tai-Li who had his hand over his ribs. Both were out of breath, and both held no hint of emotion in their eyes as they glared at one another.

 

“Tai-Shi will win.” Rei smiled as he watched, “He'll win…”

 

“What are you waiting for? I thought you wanted me to fight you.” Tai-Li taunted between breaths.

 

Tai-Shi gritted his teeth as he let go of his stomach and darted towards Tai-Li. Tai-Shi leaned forward and placed his right hand on the floor. He spun slightly and aimed to kick Tai-Li raided for this and held his hand down in front of him and caught Tai-Shi's foot. He quickly turned and started to throw Tai-Shi, but he felt his leg caught by Tai-Shi's hand and soon he called out in pain as he felt Tai-Shi's teeth sink into his skin. He quickly brought his knee up and connected it with Tai-Shi's gut. Tai-Shi gasped as he let go of Tai-Li. Tai-Li threw Tai-Shi to the side and jumped back. He bent down and placed his hand to where Tai-Shi had bit him and looked at him.

 

“That was a dirty move.” Tai-Li growled as he watched Tai-Shi slowly get up and spit a mixture of his blood and Tai-Li's blood out of his mouth and onto the floor next to him.

 

“Not as dirty as this…” Tai-Shi grabbed the glass container of salt from the floor in front of him and threw it at Tai-Li, its contents flying everywhere and into Tai-Li's eyes.

 

“Arg!” Tai-Li yelled as he rubbed his eyes. “Do you not have any honor?”

 

“Someone without a name does not have any honor.” He replied as he stood up and advanced towards him.

 

“Tai-Shi…” Tai-Li growled as he quickly stood up, barely able to see, as he listened to Tai-Shi slowly step towards him.

 

“I'm not going to lose…” Tai-Shi said as his foot steps quickened.

 

Tai-Li waited until he was sure Tai-Shi was in range. He heard the glass bottle from which the salt was spilled from chime as it rolled across the floor after being upset once again.

 

“There…” Tai-Li said as he swung his foot up high.

 

The sound of a sickening crack rang in the room. Tai-Li rubbed his eyes again and saw Tai-Shi holding his mouth and throat as he collapsed to the floor on his knees.

 

“Tai-Shi!” Tai-Li yelled as he rushed to Tai-Shi's side.

 

Tai-Shi doubled over and held his stomach as he vomited blood onto the floor between him and Tai-Li. He slowly looked up; blood dripping from his shaking jaw with a terrified look at his face as he wordlessly voiced his panic, unable to make a sound.

 

“Tai-Shi? Tai-Shi!” Tai-Li yelled as he saw Tai-Shi's face turn a faint shade of blue and he slowly fell forwards.

 

Tai-Li quickly caught him and pulled him up to look at him, “Tai-Shi, please answer me!”

 

Tai-Shi franticly looked up at Tai-Li, almost begging.

 

“Tai-Shi, please say something.” Tai-Li begged.

 

Tai-Shi watched Tai-Li with a sad expression.

 

Why am I so glad to see this hurt expression? Is it because I know that this is really him…and not them him from a few minutes ago?

 

Tai-Li watched Tai-Shi's left eye slowly grow dim and he lightly shook him.

 

“Come on Tai-Shi…” Tai-Li continued to beg. “Please…don't die…”

 

Tai-Li cried softly, feeling Tai-Shi grow slightly heavier. “Tai-Shi…” Tai-Shi lifted up the frail boy and held him tightly to him. “Oh Gods…please…tell me you're alright…please…just say something…” Tai-Li's voice quivered as he tightly shut his burning eyes.

 

A sharp breath escaped him, and the sound of a resonating string echoed throughout the room. Tai-Li felt his back grow hot as he turned and breathlessly looked at Rei, his cheeks stained with hot tears and his body shaking with a mixture of anger and sadness.

 

“Die…you filthy Kay…” Rei said bitterly as he could no longer hide his feeling, having taken Sei's bow and one arrow from the quiver.

 

Tai-Li looked back at Tai-Shi, his still warm body leaning helplessly against him. He smiled bitterly as lifted Tai-Shi's chin up, his distant eye staring right through him.

 

“Please…don't look at me like that…” Tai-Li said as he lightly pressed his lips to Tai-Shi's.

 

He held his younger brother close to him as he fell to his side, feeling the seeping cold of darkness devour him as he slowly slipped in and out of consciousness.

 

Please…don't hate me…we're finally free…

 

~ * ~

 

Author's Note: Oh my…first off…before anyone…ANYONE…considers killing me, I would hope you notice that there is not a “The End” after the last line of this chapter. Remember…you still have the epilogue to read. This chapter would be the shortest one considering the other chapters are about two to three or more pages longer then this, the reason for that is because the epilogue tightly fits into this…so that means that the epilogue may be short…or it may be longer. I'll try to tie up any loose ends