Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Sacrifice ❯ The End of a Legend ( Chapter 10 )

X.X.X.

Sacrifice

By: Melissa Norvell

Chapter 10: The End of a Legend

X.X.X.

"Tomorrow, Ohanna…I think I would like to paint a picture on our wedding day," Tobito told her all too calmly for the situation. His eyes cast a look of omen, as if he knew exactly what had happened and was developing something in his head. "Get some sleep. We'll be getting wed tomorrow and I want my bride to look beautiful for her wedding portrait."

She agreed, but still felt a little apprehensive as she arose and walked to Tobito. There was something that wasn't right about what was going to happen, and still, she felt powerless to stop it.

"Good night, my dear Ohanna," he told her endearingly and ran a hand through her curly, black locks.

A kiss was made, passionate and full of emotion. The two silhouettes pulled away from the tender caress of their lips after a couple of minutes and stared into each other's eyes. Ghostly blue skies met forest green fields as an understood silence befell the two.

"I don't know how long this affair can last," Ohanna was concerned. As much as she loved him, she knew what she was doing was wrong but she couldn't help it. She'd grown afraid of his twin brother and as the days passed, Ohanna had seen him more and more like a monster than a human being.

"I know its wrong…but I can't help what I feel," the twin admitted. He momentarily tore his gaze from the distressed maiden and looked at the star stuttered skies above them. It was late and Tobito had gone to bed. He turned back to the bride as she spoke.

"Me either…You're so unlike Tobito. I know you'd never hurt me. I love you," Ohanna smiled sadly. More than anything, she wished that she was being wed to the man before her, rather than his nut job of a brother.

"I love you too," the dark man told his secret love and kissed her gently once more. More than anything, he wanted to bask in her glory, and hold her until the end of time. It hurt more than he could say, knowing that their union was doomed to flicker out and die.

"What am I going to do?" She was worried about their wedding day.

"I have no idea. I don't know how to keep you without being disowned by my family," the man looked apprehensive for the woman but at the same time, nothing was worse than being cast out of your family. He was caught between morale and his own emotions, not knowing who to side with.

"I don't want to be disowned by my family either but I really don't want to be married."

Her love rested a hand upon hers gently and looked into her green eyes with a deep understanding. "Don't worry…I'll protect you as long as I'm there."

Lurking around the corner of the door that led to the patio outside, the dark twin stood. His sights were set upon his brother and his engaged. Ghostly unstable eyes examined the situation going on a few feet outside. 'Of course, and the three of us will paint a twisted masterpiece together.' He thought grimly to himself.

The next day everyone who was invited to the wedding were scattered about the chapel grounds. Each was engaged in their own separate conversation, talking and laughing at such a seemingly joyous occasion. They were dressed in formal wear and drinking fine wine. Some danced and some joked. Everything seemed as if it would be perfect.

As he walked down the hall dressed in a black tuxedo with a small cape held together by an elaborate decorative gem and gold chain, Kabuto saw Ohanna approaching him in her bridal gown. It was long and white with gloves of the same color and many fancy veils. White flowers adorned her hair in strings that formed a decorative tiara around her head.

"You look beautiful, Ohanna," he complemented her and couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you," her voice was monotone and a look of dread was etched on her face as she kept walking. In truth, Ohanna was horrified of what was about to happen.

Kabuto turned and looked at her in question. "Where are you going?"

"To paint a picture with Tobito."

"Be careful," he warned having seen Tobito earlier, “he's not been himself today."

"Yes," she replied sadly, as her form receded down the hall.

After watching her depart, Kabuto heard his brother's voice from behind him. The sound made him ridged with surprise and apprehension. He had thought Tobito to be in the artists' quarters and a part of him wondered how long he'd been behind him.

"Soon, the work changes genre," he spoke in a cryptic tone.

"What?" Kabuto questioned but received no answer as his brother walked away slowly and disappeared from sight. His twin was left silent as he stood in the hall.

In the art room, Ohanna sat upon the upraised area modeling in her dress amongst the fruit and white flowers that surrounded her. Tobito sat a few feet away, busily working on his easel and occasionally looked at her to study each detail.

"Like the good old days," he spoke calmly with a twisted smile on his face. The events he had planned in the future brought up a sense of sick pleasure within his being.

"Yes," Ohanna agreed in monotone. She really didn't want to be there or even have this day take place but she wanted to please her parents, so she forced herself to stay.

"One of one-hundred portraits."

"Yes."

The painter laughed a little, that familiar frenzied feeling filled the air around him as his features twisted with his psychosis. "True beauty lasts when framed, even after the one who is in the painting or painting it themselves, cease to exist."

The bride remained silent. She tried to ignore his comment. It struck fear deep within her being but showing him at this opportunity would get her killed. She decided to play it as stoically as possible even though it was hard to force herself to be brave.

"I'll always have an ever-lasting moment with you," he was confident.

Suddenly her view was blocked by his body. It was as if he had moved with superhuman speed, although she was just not aware of him at that moment from trying to tune out his unstable comments. Ohanna gasped in surprise as he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the chest as he watched as the blood began to stain the white of her dress.

"This is the exact shade of red I've been searching for - the color that no paint could imitate," he replied in a sense of sick joy as he examined the knife drenched in blood as the bride tumbled down from the up risen platform, her upper half draped over the side, dark waves and curls tumbled onto the floor, mixed with white veils and streams of blood.

"The masterpiece," Tobito started as one of the small droplets of blood hit the ground, "…is complete." He stalked out of the room where a finished picture of Ohanna, stained with blood and an ever present look of horror on her face remained, capturing the last moments of her life on canvas.

'Now for the final act…' He thought as he tracked down the halls of the chapel. 'A little Coincide in the punch.'

X.

As he walked down the halls Kabuto had not seen Ohanna emerge from the artist room. He saw his twin walking down the hall in a deranged manner and sensed that something may have been wrong. He called out her name several times and received nothing in reply. He searched several rooms and came up blank each time.

The man then decided to look in the famous art room.

Upon opening the door, he made a disturbing discovery. He called out her name, and then a look of terror and dread formed across his features. There was the one he had been looking for, form stretched down the platform, her blood running coldly onto the white floor, staining the purity of it with her essence.

"Ohanna," he ran to her side, kneeling beside of the fallen bride, looking into her face with sorrow and concern. "Tobito did this…Didn't he?"

X.

"Hmpf," Tobito smiled darkly at the ballroom before him as the last person dropped dead. Their form crashing to the ground only registered as yet another glory in his twisted game. All over the floor lay the dead, dressed in their best formal clothes. The corpses were of all ages - the elderly and children as well as adults littered the ballroom. "The final act is one hundred percent complete." The man said in a sadistic joy nearly chuckling.

The sound of a gun being shot was heard.

Tobito's body fell to the ground, joining his fellow corpses. Behind his once-standing form, Kabuto held the gun out with trembling hands.

"You monster," he growled with malice and grief.

"So you killed Tobito?" Fife asked, glancing to the frowning man.

"Yes, no one knows how it all came about…There were no clues and I wasn't going to give them any," Kabuto replied.

"How sad," Azmy had a sad expression written on her face.

"Wow, legends get messed up over time," Ko observed.

"Naturally," Chichiri replied, "I mean, once someone is told and it's passed down through a lot of different people, things get forgotten, changed and all together left out."

"Maybe that's what the angel meant when he said 'fate isn't something that is predetermined, but lies in the hearts and actions of humanity.' "Keiji was deep in thought at Tsurugi's statement and the meaning of his cryptic words.

"It would make sense," Fife agreed.

"Everything is what you make of it," Undine told them. "Judging from that, in order to change bad stereotypes you must take it into your own hands to change. If proof is brought to light, humanity eventually will change their mind." The more people who shed light on the truth of the supposed bad legends, the better they would get over time. She was certain that Ohanna's smeared name could turn out better over time. She wanted to believe that, at least.

"But some people are so stuck in their ways they'll never learn," Azmy looked sad. No matter what happened, the bad was still out there, and when someone is told something enough times, power of suggestion would eventually birth truth in their minds. That was the fractured reality that they would choose to see.

"That's precisely why that ideal may never be realized," Kabuto replied. No matter what, he knew that such a thing was futile. However, even if a few remnants of truth existed, he was willing to prove everyone wrong. As long as but a hand full of people believed him, the good in that legend could still exist and one day outshine it's darker counterpart.

"Unfortunately, as long as there are stereotypes and those who misconstrue things, the truth will forever be hidden," Ohanna had a sense of sadness that clung to her form. After she had passed on, she never wanted to be remembered in the way that she was. Her heart was filled with regret to know that there would be so many people who hated her.

"Ohanna."

"Yes, Kabuto?"

"I'm ready to follow you," Kabuto began, taking the bride's hand and bringing it to his face, "into the afterlife." He kissed her pale hand softly and gently.

"Of course, let's begin with the ritual."

"Wait!" Ko shouted, interrupting them and causing everyone's attention to be brought on her.

"Since this is going to be your last day on this plain and I can't stop you from what you're about to do, I just want to say thank you for all you've done."

Azmy nodded. "We appreciate everything."

"It's really you whom I owe thanks to. You're the first people who ever wanted to find out the real truth about the House of the Dark Bride. I'm sorry that I've been lying to you about what's going on here. I simply wanted to stir up the legend to make you wonder," Kabuto admitted what he was doing.

"You've been doing this for quite some time, haven't you?" Keiji asked.

"Yes, but unfortunately, it just scares them off."

"Yes," Ohanna agreed. "We've been waiting for people like you to come along- someone who genuinely cared."

"We'll miss you," Fife spoke fondly of the two.

"And we'll miss you, but you will never be forgotten," Ohanna smiled kindly.

"Now," Kabuto spoke, holding up a golden glass, similar to the one that Chichiri had when he preformed the ritual with Ohanna last. "Let the ritual begin." He sliced his wrist, striking the vital area and releasing it of its blood. The substance flowed freely into the glasses.

Green eyes watched from a far, pondering the situation at hand. 'I can't believe I'm going to watch someone die. That Kabuto…He's either really brave and honorable, or very foolish and suicidal. One could say that he's crazy and even odd, but he is strangely kind and even warm-hearted. He's brave no doubt; this will be the end of a legend and the sacrifice of a hero.'

"Let's drink," Ohanna held up her glass. They both entwined their arms, drinking form each other's glass. "And now, the ritual begins. Take hold of my hand." The bride once again extended her hand to him and he grabbed it tightly.

"Don't let go, unless you desire to lose me forever." Kabuto nodded in agreement to her terms. "Now, in order to protect me in the afterlife and lead me to peace- you must die."

"I am aware of that. I am willing to make that sacrifice."

"Let it commence."

Worry and fear began to cross Azmy's face. Her heart was racing and she felt as if she would cry any second, though no tears were visible in her eyes. She felt herself grow panicked. "He's going to die…I can't watch."

"No," Chichiri's words were stern and commanding.

"What?" She looked back to him with innocent eyes.

"Watch. For his sake. He wants this."

"I'll try," the short-haired girl looked forward, forcing herself not to turn away. 'That doesn't mean I'll feel good about it.'

After Azmy's thoughts ended, some of the decorative swords flew off of the walls and headed straight for Kabuto, each one piercing his body. The shy girl threw her hands over her ears, trying to drown out his pained screams. She forced herself to stand there and watch as he was skewered upon the swords. His body was flung every which way with each strike and his blood was splattered more and more upon the ground below him.

"The pain," Fife said in a sympathetic and understanding tone, placing his hand over his wound. He stood silent and morbid in thoughts kept secret to only him.

Kabuto's corpse fell to the ground. He was deceased and his blood was splattered on the floor. His glasses lay a few feet away from him with broken and cracked lenses. His face held a pleasant smile upon it.

He was content.

"He died a happy man," Chichiri said calmly. It might not have been the best ending, but in a way he felt like he was the right one. Now, the two of them could be together, and they didn't have to be in so much pain anymore.

Ohanna stood still, her hand still hanging on to the blood-splattered corpses. She no longer held any pain to her form. She smiled brightly at the group before bidding them farewell, her being filled with a sense of happiness and peace. She could now move on from this physical plain, her lover as her guide to the afterlife.

"Thank you…and good-bye everyone," her form faded and she was visible no longer.

"It's over," Keiji said, shortly after her disappearance. His voice informed and held a little less tension then before.

"A well-deserved end, don't you think?" A familiar voice asked from close behind him. This caused the boy to go rigid and swiftly turn seeing what exactly spoke. His eyes met with those of a heavenly blue and locks of gold.

It was Tsurugi.

"You were spying on us?" Ko was angry at him for what he had done to them last time. He was a deceptive man and she didn't want any of his bullshit.

"Just watching really," a deep, masculine voice intoned from high above them. Looking up, they could see the legend, perched upon the railing above.

"What's the meaning of this?" Ko shouted up to him. "Why the hell are you following us?"

Suddenly, there was a blast of red light that exploded into the room, bathing everyone in a bright glow. The light was warm to the touch. It felt much like a hot tanning bed, or the inside of an oven.

"Ah!" Azmy screamed, covering her face to protect it from the stinging temperatures.

"What's with the red light?" Chichiri asked.

"What the-" Hiroshima exclaimed.

X.

All that could be seen was a crimson color before it faded and the group found them in a dark and drab room with an elaborate mirror which was round and held be a sort of stand that allowed it to be flipped in either direction. It was bordered by a golden frame that looked much like the waves of the ocean. There was a large throne of sorts nearby, which was red in coloration and had two gigantic harpy statues on either side of it. There was also a large chest nearby that was closed to the public.

A woman stood a few feet away from the group. She was tall and thin almost anorexically so, minus her bust line. She wore a dress that seemed to be Chinese-inspired with slits up each side. It was red and white in coloration and possessed a sash around the waist, tied with a large bow in the back. The top looked like that of a ballroom gown, framing the breasts and leaving from mid-breast up exposed. She wore a golden necklace and on each arm a piece of cloth was present. It was tied with a silk ribbon at the top and seemed to be a sleeve that didn't attach itself to her dress. It had a large opening that resembled that of a wizard's robe. They were very elaborate, decorated with white lace and blood red silken ribbon on each end.

The woman had scarlet eyes and matching hair which was pulled back. A big loop was made, pinned with long black chopsticks, leaving the rest of her board straight hair to fall, until it ended at her mid-back. Her bangs were also as straight as the rest of her hair and stopped at her eyebrows.

"Who the hell?" Hiroshima asked, standing by his companion.

"The Red Witch of Zameln." Tsurugi informed, upon seeing who this mysterious woman was.

"The who?" Chichiri asked, confused beyond all belief.

"Greetings," the woman in question spoke, her voice eerie and mysterious. "I am the Red Witch of Zameln. My name is Vespa."

"Vespa," Fife repeated making sure he said it right.

"Why are we here?" Keiji asked, no longer recognizing his surroundings. Since when did the room morph and change around him? Was this more magic? Where were they?

"My question exactly," Hiroshima shot sarcastically.

"I want you to do something for me," Vespa told them.

"Sorry, I'm not for hire," the legend sneered.

"Yes, we are terribly sorry but we have our own matters to take care of," Tsurugi agreed kindly. Whatever this woman wanted, he really didn't want to have any part of. He didn't care what she was willing to give them in return.

"I'm well aware of that. This will benefit all of you."

"Are you a stalker too?" Chichiri asked.

"No, but I have been doing some detective work," the witch spoke. "You," her crimson gaze befell Hiroshima, "Are looking for open-minded people to carry out your plans, and all of you," she glanced at Ko and the ban, "are trying to prove whether or not the two angels before you are credible as good or bad legends."

"Something like that," Chichiri shrugged, not really getting any of this.

"This would be the perfect opportunity to help both of you acquire what you want."

"What do you mean, lady?" Hiroshima wasn't quite sure how all of this was fitting into play but not necessarily liking where it was going either.

"And why would you need help? You're the most powerful wizard in all of Zameln," Tsurugi told her. The others might not have known who she was, but he did.

"I don't get it," Keiji added. "Where's Zameln and who is she exactly?"

"And why are we here?" Azmy asked.

"More importantly, why are you picking us out specifically and how are you so sure that we're going to work with you?" Hiroshima added.

"I'm not, but it's inevitable that the events of the future happen, - whether you do what I say or not," she replied gravely, almost sternly. "You all should be aware that you're caught in a web of intrigue, deceit, lies and mistrust."

"What are you? Captain Obvious?" The legend sneered. "You're talking about the world."

"Yes, sin is what makes any plot interesting and it keeps everything in balance," Tsurugi added.

"But you all are surrounded by a much bigger problem, one that none of you are aware of," Vespa told them. It wasn't as if she wanted to employ them beneath her, as much as it was that she had to for the sake of the world.

"And what is that?" Hiroshima leveled her with a glare.

"That Saesugawa has been coveting power."

"Coveting power? If they were coveting power then they'd be strong enough to defeat me," the green-haired angel couldn't believe that the village would be coveting power and still crumble under his clutches. It didn't seem possible or even logical.

"They are doing it to get rid of beings like you. So it is essential that you go through with your plans." This was a problem that went far beyond the world of the living. A lot of things were at stake if Saesugawa ended up getting what they wanted.

"Look, I was going to do that whether or not you summoned me."

"But you need help."

"Well, that must be some power," Tsurugi intoned.

"To answer your questions before we get any further. I am a sorceress and informant for Saesugawa. Thank of me as an ambassador to keep the peace," Vespa explained. It was better off that she introduced herself, rather than leave them in wonder. She was sure that they all wanted to know about her.

"There is no peace," Hiroshima contradicted.

"There was until you came back," Keiji grew tired of Hiroshima's hostility.

"You're wrong," Vespa corrected.

"What?"

"It's been going corrupt and I've been waiting for someone strong enough to come along." The incident had been happening for a while, and the longer they waited, the more power that was being stored in the ghost town.

"What about you?" Tsurugi asked. "You come from Zameln, a land of very prestigious wizards. You have the power to make changes in the world and perhaps even to change fate on your own."

"I'm not strong enough."

"So what? Are we doing your dirty work or something?" Hiroshima questioned. He really didn't feel like being some woman's grunt.

"No, I'll help you. I have to stay back in the shadows for a while, however. My presence cannot be known." If her cover was blown, then the world would fall into disarray.

"What's in it for us if we decide to help you?" The legend shifted his weight to one side and crossing his arms.

"What do you desire?"

"Acceptance," Hiroshima told her his one, true wish.

'Interesting,' Fife glanced to the being as everyone looked at Hiroshima, almost as if they didn't expect him to say such a thing.

"What?" The angel seemed somewhat offended that they'd give him such a stare.

"It's a very good goal to have," Fife smiled.

Tsurugi seemed touched by Hiroshima's statement and looked at him with an odd sort of surprise and sympathy. 'Hiro-kun…Really?'

"I'll definitely see what I can do," Vespa told him.

"This doesn't mean that I won't hesitate to kill them if they get in my way." Just as the legend began to show some feeling, he hardened back up, not allowing anyone to peer into his heart enough to decipher the comment.

"Of course not," a small smile adorned her red lips. She knew his type all too well, but she decided to let him have his way. "Just carry on as you are now, with your own individual goals. You don't have to be friends. Whether or not you make an alliance is your own business. You will have to go to the surrounding towns to gain more power. Some of the towns will be beautiful, some eerie and you will meet many different types of people. Some human, some inhuman…Some are kind and some will trick you, chose your allies wisely."

"So, let me get this straight…We'll all be traveling together?" Ko asked. She wasn't too keen on having a little adventure with two people who could care less if any of them died.

"If we agree to the terms and conditions set before us," Undine replied.

"But," Ko interrupted as Hiroshima's eyes moved to her form and Tsurugi turned his head, "we don't have to be friends or even really allies."

Vespa nodded.

"But that makes everyone suspicious," Fife noted. It was worse traveling with people he would have to watch his back around. That didn't sound enjoyable or fun at all.

"We already are that way," Hiroshima told the feminine boy, "there are four independent groups."

"Four?" Keiji wasn't quite sure on where Hiroshima got that number from.

"Tsurugi and I, who have been together for many years, there's Azmy, who was recently introduced into all of this, Undine and Fife, who have been friends for a month, and the band." He explained his number choice and how they each factored into the equation.

"Sub-Seventy-two!" Chichiri corrected proudly as Ko put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

The legend closed his eyes, "whatever."

"I see what you mean," Fife sighed.

"So, none of us really know each other," Undine said.

"And it would be easy to get suspicious," Azmy added.

"We'll have to deal with it," Hiroshima responded.

Keiji turned to the winged man in disbelief. "You mean you're going to go through with this?"

"It's a good idea, despite my inner protests but I'll just have to kill them off," Hiroshima smirked at the stoic boy, who only glared as a response before his mouth got the better of him.

"You're really good at that."

"Fuck you," Hiroshima was angry that he had attempted to make a joke and the insolent boy just down-sized him. The kid should have been lucky that he spared his miserable soul. He wasn't above trying to take him out again if he got in his way.

"Now, now, be nice to our new teammates," Tsurugi waved his finger to Hiroshima, as a scolding mother would a child. He smiled at the other angel, only earning a glare in return.

"Shut up, Tsurugi," he dead panned.

"Okay!" The dark angel said happily, instantly dropping the subject.

Keiji glared at Hiroshima. "Just because we're on the same side, doesn't mean that I'm going to like you." He warned.

"Damned straight," Hiroshima agreed, glaring him down back.

"From my end…It's forced."

"Like it isn't from my end?" The legend began to get defensive again.

"Now, you will all be sent to your place of training," Vespa decided to break up the fight before it escaladed.

"Place of training?" Chichiri asked.

"You'll have to build up your own strength to defeat the power of Saesugawa. Each of you has power within you, all at different quantities…and skills. In order to defeat them and find out the truth about legends, you'll need to go to the surrounding towns."

"A killing spree?" Hiroshima asked, a malicious smile crossing his features as he swung his sword over his well-built shoulder, “child's play."

"You can't go slaughtering people who will help us. We'll need allies if we can't do this on our own in the end," Ko found it annoying that he'd think of killing right off the bat.

"This isn't an execution line," a sense of anger overcame Keiji.

"I know what I'm doing!" The angel in question fumed. "How dare you mock me!"

"I bid you farewell," Vespa tapped the end of the staff she held on the ground as a cloud-like substance began to swirl around them like a whirlpool and the winds picked up to a tornadic speed.

"Wait!" Hiroshima shouted, holding one arm over his brow to defend his face from stray debris as he barely kept his footing on the ground. All around him his clothes flapped rapidly, and his wings blew straight behind him unable to flap against the winds. "How do we contact you?"

"Use this!" Vespa said, throwing him a blue stone. He caught it and held it in his hands, looking down at it. "It's a form of communication. The magic of this jewel will allow us to talk if you need my advice. Now, be on your way."

At the end of her sentence, the ground turned to liquid, swirling up in the way of the whirlpool-like winds and engulfing them. Azmy gasped.

"Whee!" Fife called out in joy as if he were riding a roller-coaster.

"You retard," Keiji's dead pan was the last thing that could be heard before they disappeared completely from Vespa's sights.

The Red Witch of Zameln looked to the ceiling as if in deep thought before speaking only to herself.

"I wish you good fortune…In all your endeavors."

X.

"Mistress Soel. They've managed to reach the Red Witch of Zameln. What do we do now?" The woman asked, her harem of men surrounding her.

"Wait," Soel was concentrating on something straight ahead of her, "just a few moments longer."

"But-"

"Don't get excited. It will soon be your turn, Ceres."

"Of course, my mistress," the woman, now addressed as Ceres spoke.

"Soon will be the time of a great change," Soel prophesized, "and for that change to take place…We'll need the winged boy."

To Be Continued…