Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ Tamashii Kasanete (Souls Overlap) ( Chapter 44 )

I apologize for the break. Like I said, I'm not confident with fight scenes, and since that's basically what this chapter is, it took a really long time to decide what exactly was going to happen and how to execute it. Plus, some British people are staying at my house, and they're sleeping where the computer is, and it's hard for me to type during the day, since I type better at night, but they're sleeping when I want to type. (I asked the younger British girl how she felt about Ren having a British accent in the dub. She said it was dumb. “I bet there aren't even Chinese people in Britain!” “Yes, there are a lot in fact.”)

 

This one's long…so please don't kill me for being late -cowers-

 

You guys are going to be screaming by the end of this chapter. Will it be from joy? From sorrow? Let us find out…

 

Here is my explanation of the Five Sword Penalty ritual: An ancestor is chosen to integrate with. This person must be similar in age, stature, and overall body shape (Gender is a given). The ritual is performed and must go through the nine stages before reaching completion; Awareness, Creation, Healing, Intuition, Energy, Dimension, Harmony, Power, and Absolute. Once these stages are all completed, then the caster calls out to the ancestor to request the integration. If it is approved, the caster is sent to a dark void, chained to a cross, and blindfolded. They cannot hear or see anything that happens in the outside world, only what the ancestor says and does. The ancestor appears in the real world using the caster's body as a proxy. The abilities of the ancestor are carried over into the proxy body, but the physical attributes depend on the condition of the proxy body. In Ren's case, the physical abilities could even be better than what Tao Yi's actual body had, considering how well he takes care of himself. As for appearance, the ancestor's head is basically on the caster's body (it is proportioned of course. No Picasso paintings here). From the moment the ancestor appears with the proxy body, a time limit starts. Depending on how well the technique is mastered, it will be longer or shorter. Ren's limit is 40 minutes. Every eight minutes, a sword will appear and strike a place in his body; starting with the right wrist, then the left, through the crossed feet, chest, and throat. If the caster is still attached to the cross when the fifth sword hits, he dies. The limit is not a goal, so it is advised that the battle be fought and won as quickly as possible.

 

Interesting fact: There actually was a Tao Yi around 245 AD or so. I only realized this after I had already picked the name.

 

If you haven't already noticed, the past few titles have been Shaman King songs. w00t.

 

Notes: “Aibou” means “partner, companion,” or “pal”.

 

This chapter has Ren/HoroHoro implications.

 

I apologize if the use of the cross in a crucifixion-type manner offends anyone. Not my intention.

 

There is a rather gory description of Tao Da-Xia's death. You've been warned.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

A Gift of Love - Chapter Forty-Four: Tamashii Kasanete (Souls Overlap)

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

As the light covered him, Ren felt himself being sucked into another dimension, a void.

 

The sound of rattling chains met his ears for only a split second before the chains wrapped themselves around his arms, so quickly that it almost made a snapping sound. He was slammed against cold stone, his arms stretched out on either side of him.

 

A cross.

 

More chains wrapped around his neck, holding him in place. Another set held his midsection against the stone. His feet covered each other, pinned to the cross by iron clamps. Finally, a blindfold wrapped itself tightly around his head, covering his eyes.

 

Sweat dripped down his body as he breathed deeply.

 

No turning back now.

 

He stiffened as he heard a semi-deep voice fill the air.

 

“So, you're the one who called out to me.”

 

Ren raised his head. “Yeah, that's right.”

 

“Hm…”

 

He felt rough hands on his arms, feeling his muscles before moving down to his chest. They traveled down to touch his abs and a tasteful six-pack. Still, they went lower.

 

“HEY!” Ren cried.

 

The hand retracted and he could hear a chuckle.

 

“Just a joke, Aibou. Just a joke. I wouldn't really do that. I'm a married man, after all.”

 

The blindfold was lifted onto his forehead, and Ren got his first glimpse of the man he had summoned to aid him. He had dark green hair that was tied back in a thin ponytail. His bangs were parted in the center of his head, unruly and spiky. His eyes were a soft amber, contrasting with his descendant's yellow. He seemed to be about the same height, but his features were a little bit softer than Ren's.

 

Ren sighed. “Why do a suddenly feel like I should have picked someone a little more serious?” he wondered aloud.

 

Yi looked at him with a jokingly pained face. “Now that just hurts!” He laughed. “Believe me, you're not the only one to say something like that. But everyone bites their tongues when I go into battle.” He folded his arms and grinned. “But you must already know that. Why else would you choose me over everyone else in our family's history?”

 

When Ren said nothing, Yi smirked kindly and continued. He rubbed his chin in deep thought.

 

“So, what is it we're dealing with here? The enemy outnumbers us and we need a desperate strategy? A spy mission? Or maybe the recovery of a precious artifact…?”

 

Ren allowed his head to fall. “…The same as you.”

 

Yi stopped and looked at him almost sympathetically. “I see…” He patted his head gently.

 

Ren clenched his fists. “Don't pity me…I'm over it.”

 

The older boy took his other hand and reached under to touch his face. He sighed. “Of course you are…” He stepped back and looked at him.

 

“One thing I learned from Da-Xia's death was that the more I pitied myself, and the more I dwelled on the fact that she was gone, the lonelier I became. But when I put on a strong face and acted as if I didn't care, my heart hurt even more. Before I was finally able to gather the strength to go after her killers, her relatives, I had decided that I would take some time to myself every day and think about her. To remember her smile, her laugh, and how beautiful she was, even when she cried, inside and out. I would cry, but I wasn't sad. I knew that Da-Xia wouldn't be able to rest in peace if I was. I didn't know your fiancée, but from what Xu Zhang told me, I don't think she would want you to be sad either.”

 

Ren looked up at him. “You spoke to Zhang?”

 

Yi nodded. “We both still have to find the people important to us, and with that common goal, we met. You don't meet your lover immediately after you die. You have to search for them. It could take centuries…like it has for me. So dying isn't the easy way out.”

 

Ren smirked. “What makes you think I was contemplating that?”

 

“Remember, we've both been through the same thing.” He closed his eyes and sighed again. “That being said, I'll help you. But know this: Don't push this to its limit. Only go until the fourth sword hits you. Then you can recover and we can try this again. If you die, then your revenge is going to come to a halt. Understand? Quit before the fifth sword hits you.”

 

The caster practically glared at him. Yi glared back.

 

“Understand?”

 

“Fine. We'll stop after the fourth sword.”

 

Yi smiled and patted his cheek. “There's a good Tao.”

 

His eye twitched. “Don't. Touch me. Again.”

 

“Alright, jeez. Touchy aren't you? Haha! Touchy! I'm so witty…”

 

“I really should have picked someone else…”

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Italics in quotes will be Yi conversing with Ren. Bold italics is Ren conversing back. (or whatever)

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Jun looked at the two large clouds of dust on either side of the room. “Ren…”

 

“I think we can trust his judgment,” Anna said suddenly, causing Jun to almost jump at her voice. “Like I've said before, he has problems with his personality, but he's not stupid, right?”

 

Jun nodded and tried to smile. She looked back to the clouds, and then behind her at Pin-Mei. Her skin was now chalk white, and her smile was gone. She turned around and looked at her more closely. Anna looked back at her also.

 

“If Suo's ritual was successful, then Pin-Mei really is gone. Even a spirit can't survive without a soul.”

 

Jun nodded slowly. She knew she was right. It was all the more reason for her to watch the battlefield closely. Maybe some sign of hope would appear and make it possible to bring her brother's beloved back. Right now, it was all she could do.

 

She squinted her eyes as the cloud where Ren had been cleared. A figure was standing in the column of light. “…Ren?”

 

The figure brandished Houraiken and glared at the cloud opposite him as the light disappeared. A strange wind blew through his hair as the look in his eyes intensified. Surges of lightning could be seen covering the sword. Without warning, he rushed toward the other cloud. He almost seemed to skate across the floor.

 

“Bason knows to listen to me, right?”

 

“Right.”

 

“Good. That's going to make this a little easier.”

 

“Just hurry up and stop Suo's ritual! I want to make sure we can save Pin-Mei!”

 

“I hear you; you don't need to yell…jeez…kids these days…”

 

“JUST DO IT!!

 

Yi sped up, trying to make it in time to possibly stop the sinister ritual before it was too late. He stopped short a few meters in front of it.

 

“What is it? Why the hell did you stop?”

 

Yi didn't reply. He just stared into the cloud, where a shadow could be seen. It raised its left arm midlevel and snapped its fingers. Yi looked behind him just in time to dodge as Minbouken came rushing toward him. It flew into the shadow's hands. The dust or feathers and flower petals began to clear.

 

There stood Xu Hua, dressed in her black battle attire, but there was now a lavender cloth tied around her waist, making a bow in the back. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Her expression was very upset, clearly angry, but there was also a hint of sadness.

 

Yi stared at her. “Shit…”

 

“What? What is it?!”

 

“There's a girl here, and I'm pretty sure that she's not the one you lost.”

 

“Hua? Hua's really here? But that means…”

 

“Yeah…I think your girl's gone.”

 

He lowered his head as he heard Ren go through every single curse word he could think of, repeating some when he had run out. His eyes shot wide when he addressed him again.

 

“…Kill her.”

 

“What?”

 

“Kill her. It's HER fault Pin-Mei's gone…This was all so that SHE could be brought back. She's not even supposed to be alive! So send her back where she belongs…and maybe she'll release Pin-Mei's soul...”

 

“Aibou, I know you're upset, but even if she's just a resurrected, imperfect being, she's still human. You can't just take her life away like that. I won't. And you have no say in what I do with this body. I'm not going to kill her. She didn't ask to be brought back.”

 

“How the hell would you know that?”

 

“If you could see her eyes, you'd say the same thing.”

 

Yi looked up and could see Suo over Hua's shoulder. She looked him in the eye and laughed.

 

“My, my. You Taos just can't seem to get a break. Another loss. Ah well…what should I expect from MEN any how?” She fanned herself.

 

Yi watched as a spirit with pink curly hair and chalk-white skin appeared next to Hua; the flower guardian.

 

“Hyoi Gattai! Li-ling in Minbouken!”

 

With a flash, Minbouken was surrounded by a white light. What looked like petals fell from the blade. She looked up at Yi.

 

Suo snapped her fan shut. “Hua! Attack!”

 

After a slight moment of hesitation, Hua charged at him. They clashed and a large wave of furyoku spread throughout the room.

 

As it hit Rong, she felled the kyonshii she was fighting and looked back. Her eyes widened. “Lady Hua…but that means…Pin-Mei…” She began shaking so hard the chains of her whip rattled. “No…She…she's really gone…” She fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around her head. “NO!!!”

 

HoroHoro punched away a kyonshii that was about to attack her. “This isn't the time to take a break! Get up! We still have a hell of a lot more of these things to kill - again!”

 

“You…you don't understand…There's absolutely no hope now…There's no way at all to bring her back…It was the only reason I kept fighting…Nothing even matters anymore…”

 

HoroHoro yanked her up with his free hand and then smacked her. “Get a grip on yourself, Rong! Yeah, Pin-Mei's dead, we get that. But are you just going to stand by and watch Ren die too? Just because the person you care about died, doesn't mean you can watch the person someone else cares about die too!!”

 

Rong looked up at him with dull eyes. He wasn't looking at her at all. He was looking over at Yi, at Ren. As she made the connection, she gave him a sympathetic smile and stood up.

 

“Alright, alright, I'm up. You owe me one, Blue Boy.”

 

He smirked as they stood back to back. “Just keep telling yourself that, Macho Chick.”

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Meanwhile, Yi and Hua were still pushing against each other in the center of the room. Sparks flew from their blades as they glared at each other.

 

“Usually, it's against my principals to go after beautiful girls such as yourself, but I have my reasons,” Yi said with a cocky smile. “You understand, right?”

 

She pushed him away. “Just shut up. I'm not in a very good mood right now.” She slashed Minbouken down and a crescent-shaped light flew from it. It knocked Yi down and across the room.

 

“What the hell are you doing?”

 

“Leave me alone, it's just one hit. I can--,”

 

“AAAAGGHHH!”

 

“What is it, Aibou? What--,”

 

Then he looked down at his wrist. Blood was dripping from it. He felt no pain, but he knew that eight minutes had already gone by. He lowered his hand, almost in shame.

 

“Okay, I was holding back. But for your sake, I'll go all out. I can't have you joining me. You'll cramp my style.”

 

“How…very kind of you.”

 

Suo came behind Hua. “My daughter! I have missed you so! I'm so happy to have you with me again!” She reached out a hand to her, but her feelings were not reciprocated.

 

“Don't touch me, Mother.”

 

Suo quickly retracted her hand, startled. “Hua…”

 

Hua looked at her from over her shoulder. Her blue eyes shot through her mother's heart with an almost killing intent.

 

“You told me as a child that I should honor the dead and help them find their place of rest… You did not do that for me. I had a child like you wanted, and it killed me. I told Zhang to take care of Pin-Mei, but you got in the way of that. You did not honor my passing, mother.”

 

Suo looked slightly nervous. She almost seemed to cross her arms across her chest, as if to guard herself from her own daughter. Hua's eyes just narrowed even more.

 

“Zhang, I know what will help you feel better…there are some women in your room who know the just the thing to ease your pain…”

 

Her eye twitched.

 

“You berated Zhang for staying in his room with the concubines all those years, but it was you who introduced him to them. You drugged him so that he would allow it to happen. Because of that, he became so intoxicated, so poisoned, so tainted by sex that he forgot his responsibilities as a father. Because you forced Pin-Mei to live her life as me, I was all he saw when he looked at her. It pained him so much that he couldn't look at her. I don't blame him for that. He made up for those years by becoming the father I wanted him to be. However, you tried to tear Ren and Pin-Mei apart even before they met. If I hadn't spoken to Zhang in his dreams, they never would have met, and my daughter would have lived a life of hatred similar to Ren's. The only exception would be that she would not have found friends that would change her. She would have remained a cold and heartless person her whole life, hating the world for her own sadness. Now how, dear mother, is that like me?”

 

No response.

 

“Is that so? I personally don't see any connections.”

 

She turned around fully. Suo took a few steps back.

 

“You're afraid of me? You waste my daughter's life bringing me back here and now you're AFRAID of me? There's just no pleasing you, is there, mother? I watched you abuse my daughter for over fourteen years. I had to watch Ren fall into despair as well. I found myself wondering if this would have happened if I had lived. But living would mean not having Pin-Mei. That would lead to Ren losing those few months of respite that they had ten years ago. I realized there was no way for everything to work out perfectly. But the least you could have done was take care of the child that I died bringing into this world!

 

“You hurt the two children most precious to me: my daughter and her future husband. You hurt Zhang, the only person I could fully trust, the only person I could ever love. Worst of all, you did it on purpose. Now my daughter is dead, and Ren is ready to throw his life away to avenge her. This is not what I wanted, mother. I wanted those two to live in happiness together, without having to worry about the cruel world that awaits outside. I didn't know that cruel world was within my own family…If I had known that, I would have just stayed with the Xu family in their home and lived my life there.

 

“You're hurting the people I love, mother…and I'll never forgive you for it.”

 

She whipped back around to wait for Yi to come at her again. With a shaking hand, Suo reached into her sleeve to take out a tag.

 

“I hope you aren't trying to curse me, mother. I promise you'll regret it,” her daughter said, her back still turned.

 

She dropped it as Hua charged toward Yi.

 

Hua pulled back and threw Minbouken like a boomerang. Her blade traveled around Yi, who was going to dodge, but then noticed it was nowhere near hitting him. Instead, it took out some kyonshii that were around him. He stared at her as she caught her sword and continued charging at him.

 

“Did you do that on purpose or is your aim just really bad?” he asked as they crossed blades again.

 

She smirked. “I was never very good at being evil. As long as I'm here, I might as well help you guys.” She parried his next thrust, aiming it at the ground. She touched his chin. “Da-Xia said she was okay with me doing this.”

 

Yi's eyes widened. “Da-Xi---?!”

 

He was muffled by her lips on his. He could feel himself getting slightly weaker, but couldn't escape her touch. When she let go, there was a slight blush on his face, and all he could do for a few moments was blink. Hua giggled.

 

“I just took some of your furyoku. I hope you don't mind. I need it for some upcoming events.” He nodded dumbly.

 

“What's going on out there?”

 

“N-Nothing…”

 

“Sure…”

 

Hua took hold of his wrist, which held Houraiken, and raised it to the level of her waist. “I need to borrow Houraiken for a few moments,” she said.

 

Before he could react, she grasped the hilt and forced herself onto the blade. Her former opponent stared at her.

 

“Why?”

 

She smiled. “Because I love the both of them very much, and unless I do this and carry out my plan, they can't be together.” She looked serious. “Now, I need you to fling me across the room, preferably behind you.”

 

“I don't understand why you need to do this, but alright…” He lifted the sword, with Hua still on it, and gave a mighty heave. She was launched behind him, and he watched as she hit the ground and rolled for a few meters, landing on her left side. He squinted and saw her slip her right hand over her wound. He smirked. “Clever bitch.”

 

He turned back around just in time to see Kai coming at him. His eyes were wild with psychotic rage.

 

“DON'T LAY ANOTHER FINGER ON NEESAMA!!!!”

 

Yi moved to block his attack, but was distracted by another pained cry from Ren. He looked at his left wrist. A new wound had appeared. “Dammit…two swords already?!”

 

“I'm going to finish this quickly, Aibou, don't worry.”

 

“Take your time.”

 

“Don't give me that crap. I'm not letting you die.”

 

“Who's in charge of this ritual?”

 

“…you.”

 

“Right. Now cut this guy down, and then go after Suo. After that…”

 

“No. We're stopping right there. You're going to stop the ritual and recover.”

 

“Sure…”

 

Yi clenched his fist. “Stubborn bastard.”

 

Kai swung at him. Yi met it and they entered a deadlock. The two glared at each other, thinking about the things they were fighting for.

 

“How dare you lay a finger on my Neesama after she has only just returned to me! DIE!”

 

The elder Tao grunted. “Listen buddy, I have my own problems to take care of. I hate to say it, but I don't give a shit about you right now. In fact, I only care about killing you, and ending this madness. Then the scion of the Tao family can be released from this cursed ritual.”

 

Kai smirked. “You're going to find that I won't die so easily.”

 

A smirk returned to him. “We'll see about that.

 

Kai swung at him once again, and he ducked. Yi planted his hands on the ground, quickly sheathing his sword and putting it in his mouth, and then pushed himself up, launching his feet at his face. His opponent was phased, taking a few steps back.

 

Yi crouched on the ground, taking Houraiken from his mouth and drawing the blade. He pulled back to swipe at him, but when he did, Kai regained his composure enough to bend backwards, avoiding his attack. As he came back up, Yi rushed at him and grabbed his wrists. They struggled until the forefather's foot slipped.

 

He looked down to see blood through his socks. He panicked slightly. ALREADY???

 

“Ren, what's going on? Why is it happening faster?”

 

“I don't know…it's almost like I lost some furyoku somewhere or something…”

 

Yi's eye's widened. It was because of the furyoku Hua had taken. Had she done it on purpose? She wouldn't…would she?

 

“Whatever! I'm ending this NOW!”

 

But as he went to move, Kai gained control of his wrists and used his feet to deliver a swift and painful blow to his stomach, sending him backwards. As Yi regained his footing, a blast came at him. He pushed off the ground and jumped high into the air, avoiding it. Knowing time was limited, he pulled out Houraiken and flipped it around him, making hand seals with his left hand. He held the sword sideways in front of his face and then pointed it at Kai.

 

“LEI-GONG! AID ME! LIGHTING!!”

 

There was a resounding rumble that shook the castle. Above the ancient shaman, a hole was opened in the roof, exposing a darkened, stormy sky. Thunder boomed, and lightning surged into the room, surrounding Kai and encasing him in a cocoon of electricity. There was a loud crash, and the lightning vanished.

 

As Yi landed on the ground, Hua walked past him and knelt down next to her younger brother. Rong followed behind her. Kai looked up at her with innocent and confused eyes; eyes that he had lost fourteen years ago.

 

“Neesama…please…help me…Make the hurt…go away…Neesama…” he whispered.

 

Tears in her eyes, Hua stroked her brother's hair. “It'll be over soon, Kai. I promise.” She turned to Rong and nodded. The guardian opened her left bracer and took out a vial. She yanked the cap off and poured it all over the tortured body.

 

He smiled. “Neesama…The pain…is… going away…”

 

Hua smiled and continued to stroke him. “I'll be there soon, little brother. Just wait for me…”

 

“…Promise…?”

 

“Yes…I promise.”

 

Kai smiled once more before his eyes slowly closed. His sister covered her eyes, still trying to smile. She reached into his pocket and took the talisman he had used on Pin-Mei before her arrival, then stood and walked away.

 

“Put the body somewhere safe, Rong,”

 

“Of course, Mistress.”

 

Yi looked down at the body. Then he saw the blood dripping from his own chest. He had no idea how long it had been there. Again, he began to panic.

 

“Ren! Stop the ritual! NOW!!”

 

“No.”

 

“What the hell do you mean, `no'?”

 

“I mean, NO. We still have to kill Suo. Do that quickly and I'll stop the ritual. Not a moment before then.”

 

“Listen, we can do this again later. I'm not letting you die.”

 

“You don't have a say in the matter.”

 

“YOU STUBBORN SON OF A BITCH!!! YOU CAN AVENGE HER ANOTHER DAY!!!”

 

“I doubt you would stop on your quest to avenge yourwife.” He smirked.“Can you even remember what that felt like?”

 

Yi stopped, the memories suddenly flooding to him.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

“Alright, darling, I'm leaving,” Yi said, kissing Da-Xia on the forehead.

 

She smiled at him. “Good luck. I'll be praying for your success.”

 

Her husband couldn't help allowing his smile to brighten even more as he looked at her. He gently touched her slightly rounded stomach.

 

“You be good, little guy,” he said to it.

 

Its mother giggled, causing her stomach to jiggle slightly. When she looked back up, Yi was looking at her seriously. He kissed her again, this time on the lips.

 

“I'm so worried…I don't want to leave you alone…” he said. “You know how much your family despises mine…for our history…Things are getting more and more violent. I'm…scared for you…”

 

She smiled and touched his cheek. “You don't need to worry about me, little one,” she said with a small laugh. “Everything will be fine. I promise.”

 

He groaned. “Just because you're a few years older than me doesn't mean you can call me that. I'm the husband here. I have more power over you...”

 

She smiled again. “I apologize. You're right darling.” She touched his chest. “I'll be fine…just be safe…”

 

He nodded, and turned to leave. She grabbed his sleeve.

 

“Will you...show me that power?”

 

He looked back at her and looked into her eyes.

 

He left a half hour later.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

“WHERE IS SHE?? WHERE THE HELL IS MY WIFE???”

 

Yi had opened the doors of his castle to see blood on the floor. Da-Xia had not been there. Now, his family members were trying to restrain him as he flew into hysterics.

 

“LET ME GO GODDAMN YOU!!! LET THE FUCK GO!!!!”

 

He overpowered his relatives and ran out into the garden. As her body came into view, he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide with inexplicable horror.

 

Her body was sprawled on the stone ground, her long lavender hair was cut off. The murderers had cut her stomach open and mutilated the defenseless child inside. There was blood between her legs, signifying the trauma of rape. Knives were stuck into her chest. Worst of all, her eyes were open. Her soul had been incapable of finding peace.

 

He looked to the ground where “LEARN YOUR LESSON?” was written in her blood.

 

Quivering, he knelt down beside her, using his hand to close her eyes. He clutched himself in anguish as the tears cascaded down his face.

 

“DA-XIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”