Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Poupuru Koukon ❯ Aku-Kaibutsu Dane ( Chapter 2 )

Yo all, I'm back for another installation of Poupuru Koukon. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter… I know I had a blast writing it. So, you guys get ONE more update, then I have to return to my other story. Well, I really can't wait to write the next chapter, so I'm not going to stall ya anymore than I have.

 

Enjoy.

 

Poupuru Koukon, Chapter 2: “Aku-Kaibutsu Dane”

 

Omniscient POV

 

The wind began to blow more heavily, and gusts picked up, making the tall grass of the moonlit meadows dance, perfectly synchronized with each brother blade. It was quite a site, though it seemed nature went by unnoticed despite how beautiful… As the soft padding of sandals crossed it, following the dirt path, cleared by consistent use.

 

Liliha Doux… a complexity, indeed. Where was it she was going? What was her purpose for crossing the meadows, for tramping through Zabaso village…? It was all hidden, covered, by the sheer thickness of that great fog of mystery that surrounded her always. It was so thick, you could cut it with a knife… or a katana, in her case.

 

Hiding within the safety of the grass, he watched her, silently stalking her, as many thoughts crossed his mind. He began to wonder about her… so many things he didn't know… the greatest question of all being… why he was compelled to follow her in the first place…?

 

Did he want revenge for his fallen comrades? No… they meant nothing to him… He'd only known them for a few weeks, and they seemed rather unpleasant, anyway… not to mention trying to get revenge on HER would be suicide. Perhaps he was just curious? He was a cat, after all.

 

Maybe it was having no other place to go? Maybe it was a change of heart, or a decision to leave the ways of the ninja… but he didn't know what it was…

 

He was too busy wondering how long he'd have to follow her before she'd stop to rest… he'd been following her for miles now, and was completely and utterly exhausted… not to mention the extra energy he'd been spending on keeping himself concealed from sight and sound.

 

He began to wonder… about that sleeve. That huge sleeve, covering her left arm… what was under it, he wondered? What was it she was concealing…? He'd noticed her using a single-handed sword style… she'd only used the left for balance…

 

He found his curiosity growing again, as he began to make little guesses at what might be under the fabric, just to make the grueling task of crouching on his aching legs to stay under the tall grass less painful.

 

Perhaps a scar…? Maybe it's a nasty cut, or a burn, or some sort of displacement? No… she swings the arm when she walks… it moves normally… And I can see her fingers a little bit, so it's not that there's no arm beneath it… What could it be? Not just a fashion statement, it can't be! She doesn't seem the type for such things… Maybe… maybe it's a birthmark, or a skin irritation? No… that can't be it… Perhaps a- But as that thought crossed the young cat's brain, he saw a blade swashing before his eyes, flashing in the moonlight, as his life also seemed to flash by.

 

The samurai girl stood amongst the tall grass she'd easily sliced to knee length, revealing him, as her curved blade rest ominously close to his face. Had she known of his presence all along?!

 

Needless to say, Taku, being somewhat of a scaredy-cat, fell to his hind quarters again, gulping, and visibly shaking, tiny whimpers of fear escaping his mask. The girl examined him, and looked deep into his eyes for a moment. Her silver, metallic eyes… The ninja looked at them for the first real time, and found himself captivated by them…

 

He'd never seen eyes like that before. They were quite scary, but at the same time, very beautiful, and they reflected him like a set of mirrors. He saw how pathetic he looked, and managed to look away.

 

The infamous Liliha Doux, terror of the katana, Kaibutsu in a hedgehog's disguise, goddess of death… Despite all the horrible rumors he'd heard of her mercilessness, her face softened just a tiny bit, and she skillfully whirled her weapon about, sheathing it… quite an impressive little trick, but she made it look easy. She folded her arms, and he could see the gloved hand hang from the sleeve. She looked at him, shaking her head.

 

“Why is it that you're following me…? You're not out for revenge, are you…?” She asked him, her voice more calm, and less edged than it had been before. He frantically shook his head. She smiled… but it wasn't the type of sadistic grin that she was famous for… it was an actual smile.

 

“…Good. I'd hate to have to rend such a young one asunder. I can't help feeling like a bully.” She told him. He stood up, being wary of her, eyeing her expression, before making a perplexed look.

 

“…Who are you…?” He asked her. She looked a bit impatient, and cocked her head.

 

“You already know who I am. I told you… in fact, you seemed to know before I even said it.” She answered. He shook his head.

 

“The samurai I've heard of is a merciless, insane, blood thirsty monster… yet you show compassion… and you spare lives… you've spared mine twice…” He told her. She looked at the ground, almost looking ashamed.

 

“… I see. I suppose my reputation is not a pretty one… I've been called kaibutsu, oni, murderer, even the queen of Hades… I haven't met a person who wasn't terrified of me for I don't know how long.” She told him, eyes narrowing, though more in a regretting way than in an intimidating way.

 

He was silent for a moment, then he pressed himself to speak.

 

“…Well, people fear power… especially power that cannot be dealt with… everybody attacks that which they misunderstand.” He said, looking at the ground.

 

Next thing the youthful shinobi knew, he felt a palm touch his chin, and lift his head up, back to look at her. He blushed under his mask, and he was a bit scared at the touch, as she looked at him for a moment. Next thing he knew, she swiftly pulled his mask off, making him jump.

 

She examined the boy's face, seeing that he was a solid white cat, with deep, lavender-colored eyes. He didn't look like the kind of person who was `ninja' material. She smiled, and even laughed a little, before turning back onto the dirt road, walking, yet again on her good way. He was about to say something, but she stopped, and turned her head to look back at him.

 

“You're a handsome boy. Show your face more and maybe you'll find a nice girl to take care of you, eh?” With that, she waved, and silently went on her way again. He stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do.

 

He took a single step, and she immediately stopped him with her voice.

 

“Don't follow me.” She said simply, not even bothering to stop walking. He followed anyway, hoping she wouldn't notice. She sighed deeply, and turned around, to look at him, her eyes alight with a tint of frustration. He jumped, and just stood there.

 

“…Listen, I'm the very LAST person you want to tag along with. Now do both of us a big favor and go back to your village… I travel alone, got that?” She explained. He looked at the ground, then back up at her.

 

“… I..I have to ask you, w-where are you going?” He stammered, twiddling his thumbs. She pointed down the road.

 

“That way.” She stated, simply. She pointed back at Zabaso village. “And you're going THAT way.” She finished. It took a great amount of courage to speak afterwards it seemed.

 

“No… I mean, where is it you are headed…? Your destination, I mean…” He gently prodded, hoping she didn't cut his muzzle off for pestering her with it. She shrugged.

 

“I dunno.” She told him, another simple, blunt two word answer. He looked confused.

 

“…What do you mean? How can you not know where you're going? What is the point of wandering around aimlessly?” He asked her again. Her hand came upon her forehead, rubbing it in a mild irritation. He mentally scolded himself for getting on her nerves like that.

 

“You ask a lot of questions, don't you? … Ok, listen, I'm famous. Everyone knows who I am, so I simply can't stay in the same place for too long, alright? Even I can't fight in my sleep, and I've too many things left I still have to do before I can be taken off guard by my enemies.” She told him. He opened his mouth to say something, but she walked up, and in a very outgoing motion, she clamped it back shut with her hand, looking a little miffed. He would've frowned if his muzzle weren't sealed by this action. She took the sleeved hand and put a finger up to her lips, signaling, quite clearly, for him to be quiet for a change.

 

“You talk, a LOT. Never forget this, the gods gave you only one mouth but TWO ears for a reason. Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens… ok? You should take heed twice as much as you speak.” With that, she let his mouth go, and he looked at the ground, sweating a bit, nervous… but, obeying her, he said nothing.

 

“Now, I'll tell you once more, you don't want to follow me. Everyone I meet is my enemy… and my trusting days are over. If you travel with ME, all my enemies suddenly become YOUR enemies, too, and you don't want that.” She told him. Again, she turned around, and began walking down the road.

 

“…I have difficulty trusting myself…” He told her. She stopped, and looked at him for a long moment. She shook her head.

 

“If it's advice you want, I'll tell you this: If you can't give yourself reason to have a little self-confidence, then I'll give you one…” She started, before she folded her arms, and stared up at the moon. The wind blew her visage for a moment. “…You only have to live with one person for your entire life… and that's yourself. If you can't learn to be independent, then you'll never really understand the true definition of trust.” She told him. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, before continuing down the road.

 

“Good-bye.” She said simply.

 

Taku was torn, as he stood there, reflecting deeply on her words. He didn't want to go back to Zabaso… There was nothing left for him there. He'd never been independent, before so how could he now…?

 

______----_____====++++++

 

Liliha's POV

 

Naivity… it was this innocence which spared the young one's life. I could not help but feel like a bully, slaughtering such weaklings. Much less ones so young, and so fresh in this harsh world.

 

I'd be no worse than the murderous dog that took Masashi-Sensei away from me… even though the young one was orphaned, and probably had none to call `parents'.

 

At least I assumed so… for one to follow ME, you'd think they were truly desperate. I doubted in my very heart that the little one had any such family to go home to… but…

 

That's how I was growing up. And if I could do it, I'm sure the young cat would be alright… whenever I was near him, I sensed an inner strength, a blunt, inner power, not honed to a skill, or sharpness, but potential nonetheless.

 

I turned my head, watching the indecisive-looking face melt into the backgrounds, until he shrank out of my sight completely. Good, he was off my tail… I meant all the words I bestowed upon him… it is against my morals to lie about anything, unless it is truly for my, or another I care for's benefit. Usually it was my own.

 

I'd had none to care for in ages it seemed… The only words I spoke nowadays fell upon deaf… or rather, soon to be dead ears… Either way, the tales I sewed fell to the ground, and rotted away. My words were not important to this world… only my legend, my blade.

 

Liliha Doux, the goddess of destruction. The Samurai of Sweet Anger. The mistress of rage… Death's messenger. I had so many names, I'd never be able to remember all of them. Not in one thousand life times, not in fifty of my own legacies…

 

It was strange that the world would be interested in one such as I. I, after all, owned nothing, save for a blade, my own whim, and revenge…

 

Yes… sweet justice, something I craved each and every night, every minute of every day… it drove me stark-raving mad every second, every half of a second… A consistent, ever simmering inferno of wrath welled up inside of me, even now. It was ALWAYS on my mind.

It blanketed the sweetest of my dreams.

 

It drenched my gruesomest of nightmares.

 

I basked in it, took joy in the power it lent me.

 

And yet, it was driving me completely insane, turning me into a bloodthirsty monster, horrifying me to no ends, chasing me no matter how quickly I run, impending upon me no matter how many pieces I slice it into.

 

The only thing that I loved was the only thing I feared. Myself. My anger. My own power.

 

I could not help but think to the fated day, when I shall rid myself of my handicap, my immortality… my infinite rage.

 

Why was I cursed to live in a state of bloodlust? I knew the answer… And yet, the answer wasn't complete, which brought forth another question, and then another, and yet another.

 

I found myself consumed by the relentless confusion of my own pitiful situation.

 

I shook my head, in a futile attempt to throw the demons of my past off me…

 

(flashback)

 

“Masashi-Sensei, what's a katana…?” Asked the innocent little hedgehog. She was a cute shade of purple. The elderly black cat's soft face grinned, and he let out a rusty chuckle, as he patted the little one on the head.

 

“Why, little Liliha, you needn't know of such things at such a tender age! Where did you hear that word?” The old cat asked, as he crouched down next to the reflecting pool. The tiny girl looked into the pool with her friend, her teacher.

 

“… Moguba took my onigiri! I asked him real nice for it back, and he said I'd need a katana before I could EVER stand up to him!” She shouted, looking a pouty sort of mad.

 

“Moguba again, eh? That rotten little porcupine… will he ever learn not to take things from others…? Come, child, I'll take care of this…” The old one said, standing up, and walking from the reflecting, holding her hand as they made there way to deal with the spoiled brat.

 

(End flashback)

 

He was always so kind, such a sweet old master… I remember… how he'd always stand up for me, even when I was the one who did something wrong, how he'd always defend me from the other kids, and make me feel safe. He always made sure that I fit in with the others, whether they liked it or not.

 

Suddenly, the inevitable flash of the kind old face twists in pain, and a splat of red stains the walls of my home, which burst into flame…

 

I feel my head jerk, as I flinch at the mere thought.

 

…I hear their screams.

 

…I feel their pain…

 

…I'm drowning in the blood of my fallen comrades! My classmates! My friends! My family! Everything that I cared for! My home! All of it, burned… consumed by the wrathful flames, like my heart!

 

My heart… it's frozen over… and though it is set ablaze, the ice does not melt. It turns to rock, and, in turn, I become like the rock, steady, stone-faced… finding the strength to rise, and continue down the road, I stagger once, then retain my former balance, as my senses sharpen to the hone of my blade once more.

 

I cannot let my own emotions delay my journey to destroy that which destroyed me. I must do this… and this… this is for myself. Not for the innocent. Not for Mobius, or for the better good, for ME.

 

I'm no hero, this much I know. I am merely the one, the death bringer, who shall slay him… BATHE in his blood! Drink from his skull! Dance upon his grave!

 

Vengeance is a very selfish thing indeed… for no other can destroy the one I've set out to kill. NOBODY. I must be the one to end his repugnant existance… SLOWLY.

 

And should anybody try to stop me, or him before me, they will experience a swift end.

 

Nobody can stand against the blade of Liliha Doux, nobody! I am the strongest being in the world… If anyone disagrees, I'd be MORE than happy to prove them wrong. With my infernal wrath comes my greatest power… The power that destroys, the power that ends lives… It's this power that destroyed everything I once loved… at a time when I COULD love…

 

And I shall use it against it's greatest proprietor.

 

I find myself at my next stop, as bands of sunlight paint the night sky with dawn. The horizon's illumination reveals a small town, right across a glistening river. I can smell exhaust in the distance… I'm getting ever closer to him.

 

I smile, as my mind fills with the delightfully sadistic images of what it would feel like… to release ALL my anger upon my most loathed nemesis…

 

“Your time is neigh, Eggman…”

 

End Chapter

 

Well, I'm too lazy to look at all the words and translate them, so… yeah, you'll be fine, right? Anyway, that's all the samurai-ness for now. Hope you enjoyed the small time spent in Liliha's twisted mind. I know I did. ^_^

Please review my lovelies!