Dark Star part 4 :- Black souls still feel pain.. written by KT Coope (katy@coopefamily.demon.co.uk) Story started By Lady C ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Himiko was smiling as a new ball of power formed between her hands. It seemed this demon really wasn't as powerful as he thought he was, he hadn't even turned round to face her yet... but this would be unstylish, even for her.. Many emotions were coursing through Zellar's soul-- Sorrow, Pain, but mostly Hatred, deep, dark hatred, the kind that clouds the mind. His senses were screaming at him that she was behind him, and would kill him if he didn't do something NOW.. But it doesn't matter anymore. Tenshi is gone. But this isn't how she wanted it to end.. Himiko regretted her moment of doubt as she, Tenkou and Joodan were flung to the ground by the flash of pure darkness that assaulted their senses. Once Himiko's eyes readjusted to the light levels, she could see Zellar had somehow cast off his human guise and was in demon form. Tenkou opened her eyes and saw Dark Star, but there was something different about him, though she wasn't sure what. His eyes burn with fierce, cold hate and the night seems darker around him. Black sparks dance between the ground and his feet. And he is just standing there.. waiting. Himiko Scrambles to her feet, the fireball reforming in her hands as she yells "Your pitiful demon form will not save you, prepare to Die, Infidel!" Dark Star continues to stand there, unmoving. Not quite the desired affect thinks Himiko, she was really hoping for a fight. But enough playing around, If this demon has a death wish, so be it. She launches the energy at her quarry with as much bravado as she can muster. Dark Star crosses his arms over his chest as the energy flies at him. there is a is a flash of light as the fire hits. Arcs of lights lick over an invisible globe ; the cobblestones around him are shattered and the air becomes thick with stone dust, ozone and raw mana. Himiko's smile turns to an expression of disbelief when the smoke clears-- He's still standing, the only sign that she ever attacked are the broken cobblestones around his feet. And he stares at her with a look that says "Come on, why don't you just do it.. You can kill me.. I don't mind..." Joodan took that as a que to get the phrack out, he wasn't lucky but he sure as hell wasn't stupid, it didn't seem exactly smart to stick around. He grabbed Tenkou's wrist and pulled her after him as he ran, or at least tried to. Tenkou on the other hand had no intention of leaving Dark Star. Joodan did his best attempt at being assertive and yelped "look, what-ever-yer-name-is, we need to get out of here.." suffice to say it was less than effective. Tenkou wrenched her hand out of his grip and said "I'm not leaving him! you go, you coward, but I'm staying right here!" She snarled "Coward? Look, If we stay here, we'll get killed.." "What about Dark Star?!" "you really think he wants you to die too?" Tenkou didn't get chance to answer before Joodan swept her up in his arms and ran.. "y.. you.. But that's IMPOSSIBLE! how did you.." Himiko stuttered. "Nothing is impossible when need must." the demon replied softly, voice barely above a whisper. "Are you ready, demon? This time, I will be victorious" Himiko traced a cross in the air and the square was bathed in light. A three bladed weapon, shaped like a crucifix, formed in her hand and a golden spiral coiled around her, replacing the tattered nurse's outfit with an elaborately embroidered white and gold robe. Her lank hair swept back from it's bun and a gold circlet formed on her forehead. With a deft flick of the wrist she swung the cross, the blades flew off and sped in a blaze of light toward their target. Dark Star leapt high into the air, trailing black sparks, the Blades missing him completely but arching round for another shot. "Shadow Sword! come forth!" A new sword formed in his hands, cruel barbs jutted from the blade and the jeweled hilt. The golden blades were defected by three lightning fast strokes and clattered to the floor before bouncing back straight at him. One caught him in the arm as he swiped at it, another set formed on Himiko's cross and she let fly with them. It didn't occur to Dark Star that he was going to die as Himiko fired off round after round of golden blades. There were too many to block now, those he did deflect merely came back for more. They tore at his skin and clothes, cutting jagged gashes in him with each pass. But it didn't hurt anymore.. Himiko smiled as her golden blades of vengeance did their work. This was easy, his pitiful dark magic was no match for her and the gods. Good always wins, that's the way the world works. Through the cloud of glinting gold she saw Dark Star hit the ground, stumble and sink to his knees.. Just a few more moments and her job would be done. Black blood stained the ground around the demon, the same color of the sky above them. "It's time to finish this... May god wreak his wrath on you black soul, Demon!" She yelled, raising her cross into the air. The blades all plunged into her quarry, hiding his tortured form with a swirl of golden lights Maybe she would leave the body as an example to another demon that strayed into the material world. There would be little to salvage from it... yeah, leave it for whoever finds it. as turns to leave she notices just how badly damaged the fountain is. Oh well, it was only a statue, they can build another. she thinks as she changes back into her less conspicuous form. Maybe they will build one in honor of her once she rids this land of evil.. Walking from the scene she feels the stones jolt beneath her feet. Light streams from the hairline cracks that form.. and get larger... and larger. and then the world seems to explode around the demon hunter, she is thrown into the air as the floor buckles, landing with a sickening crack on a large sloped section, fenced in by the harsh light blasting up around her to the heavens. She thinks she has broken something, but she can't be sure. she thinks she can make out a figure behind the curtain-- Oh god, not him... A creature steps though the curtain. It's Dark Star, but where he was once pure snow white, this creature is strained from head to foot in it's own lifeblood. It's body is covered in gashes, mortal wounds with shards of gold in them. The black star in the center of his forehead is hardly visible, the only real sign it is the same creature are his eyes, burning like the heavens. A single blade remains lodged firmly in his chest. He stands over Himiko, emotionless silver eyes stare into brown eyes filled with terror. The demon places a hand on the blade in his chest and viciously yanks it out, showing no sign of pain. Himiko winces involuntarily as he does so, and the bloodied blade reflects blinding light into her eyes. Dark Star regards the weapon scornfully. He lets it fall from his hands, it chinks against the stones as it bounces and lands by Himiko's foot. Himiko realizes with growing dread that she isn't just frozen with fear, she really can't move. Dark Star kneels by her, touching a cold, blood soaked hand to his enemy forehead. "Do you know what real pain feels like, Himiko?" He whispers into her ear with a voice like velvet. Please god... He's going to kill me... Let it be quick... Himiko stares at him, she feels a tear run down her cheek. "I know pain, Demon.. If you kill me, let me go with--" "If you know real pain, you'll know how I feel. Have you ever lost one dear to you, Himiko? Have you lost everything? Do you know what it feels like to be alone?" he soothes, eyes not betraying any trace of emotion "I.. I don't know.." "Do you ever wonder what it feels like to be the hunted, not the hunter Himiko? Tell me, what does redemption feel like?" The streaming lights end as abruptly as they had begun, the only light now is from the moon and stars. The Demon hunter looks up at her enemy, but she can't think of anything to say. Then her world spirals into darkness... Joodan Skidded to a halt when he saw the blast, absently dropping Tenkou on the grass of the park. Damn.. What is happening back there? he wondered. Tenkou got to her feet, staring back in the direction they had run from.. "What the hell?... oh, god, I've got to help him!" The girl started to run, but tripped over the inutatsu's foot. "look miss, If that demon friend of yours is doing that, he really doesn't need our help. and if it's the hunter doing it then--" It was only when he noticed that the lights had stopped that he realised Tenkou was already running back to the square. She wasn't even close before she could see what devastation had been caused. The place had been wrecked, the ground was cracked and jagged, deep gauges had been cut in the earth. Much of the ground was stained blue-black and the deserted buildings around had taken a lot of damage too. One piece of ground juts at an angle, Tenkou thinks she can make out as figure on it, and runs to get a closer look. It's Himiko. The Demon hunter lies prone on the stones, a gold blade lies nearby, there is black blood on her forehead, Tenkou guesses easily it isn't hers. If Himiko is defeated, thinks Tenkou, then where is Dark Star? Joodan catches up, Skidding to a halt as he sees the damage. "Whoa! that must have been some fight.. I take it that nurse lost then" He says, noticing Himiko. "what should we do with her? I don't think she's quite dead yet.." "Someone will find her.. Maybe we could make a anonymous call for an ambulance.." "A what?" asked Joodan. "well, I'm going to just leave her here." Tenkou replied simply. "why not?" "because it's wrong, that's why not!" "Hey, no need to get touchy.. Where's your demon friend?" Joodan asked looking around. Tenkou shook her head. "I wish I knew.." ************ It's cold in the forest, but he doesn't mind. All that matters is solitude. If they can't find you, they can't hurt you. At least that what they say.. He reaches the lake, it is crystal clear, and he knows it will be even colder. He steps cautiously in, it makes him shiver but it is necessary. He hates swimming, but he needs to wash away the blood. He wades in until it is up to his chest, it stings and every little movement of the water around him reminds him of his pain. closing his eyes he goes further in, ducking under the surface. the lake is still once more for a second, a perfect mirror of the stars. Dark Star comes back up, gasping for air. He is not much cleaner than to begin with, but it is a start. Wincing, he tries to wash off the remainder of the blood on his skin, it hurts as he brushes his wounds accidentally. When most of it is gone, he wades back to the bank and sits against a tree. Concentrating, he calls forth some clean clothes and changes. The black fabric clings to his wet skin as he does so. He is too weak to change back into his human form now, He still isn't sure what really happened. All he really knows is that Himiko destroyed Tenshi and cut him up.. He wishes she had succeeded, Without Tenshi, he has nothing to live for, nothing worth the pain he is in now... What about the queen of heaven?, a part of him that never really spoke before spoke out. Tenkou?.. She doesn't love me. I killed her father, he thought. Then why did she save your life?.. He didn't like this thought, and dismissed it. An icy breeze seemed to blow strait through him, painfully, he hugged his knees to his chest in a vain attempt to stay warm. It's strange, the cold never bothered him before, it never made him feel so alone, so vulnerable. Tenkou and Joodan wouldn't find him out here, it was quite a few miles back to town and he had left no trail as to where he had gone. He wondered whether Himiko was alive, she wasn't sure what happened before he fled and tried to piece the events together in his mind. Somehow he had transformed, he didn't know how, or even why. It had never happened like that before. the Demon hunter had attacked him.. It wasn't a dangerous one.. He remembered a swirl of gold and a cross.. yes, then she used that on me, he thought, that image was clear now. There had just been a few, but more and more and they were all over me. Hurt like hell.. or at least it should have. But what then? Did she kill me?.. no, that's stupid, I'm alive.. I remember it getting light, almost blinding me... and an explosion... but how? I was dying, I couldn't of, I was too weak.. All these years and I still don't understand this body.. Tenshi would understand me.. Oh Tenshi.. how could I fail you like that? are you still there my love? are you roaming the heavens without a body, or are you gone for good? He gazed up at the stars as he thought, and a shooting star shot across his vision. He felt some of his strength returning, enough for a weak healing spell at least. most of the wounds on his body closed as he recited the spell, but it still hurt.. There had been shards of gold in the cuts when he closed them, it didn't take a genius to guess they were holy so it would hurt even more soon and the wound in his chest refused to heal. But at least most of the wounds were closed and wouldn't bleed any more.. Tonight was turning out to be a VERY long night, he was tired and really needed some rest.. but what someone else would be sent for him? Joodan hadn't done his job, and the gods rarely trust everything so someone so pathetic.. Maybe even Yasha could be there waiting for him, playing on his fears until the right moment to strike. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid, he thought, trying to take his mind off Tenshi. Dark Star felt a lonely tear on his cheek before it began to rain.. suddenly he heard a sound behind him, the sound of trees and bushes being disturbed. The noise moved to the right, curving round. Dark Star got to his feet, readying himself. "Come out!" he called. His lunges ached as he did so, he hoped the pain didn't come through in his voice. The movement stopped, and then something stepped out of the trees. A child. A small human child. It looked at him with large, innocent eyes. It couldn't have been much older than five or six, it looked slightly confused, like it was lost. It began to back off, obviously surprised by Dark Star's looks. "You.. You're a monster!" it breathed "Am I?" asked Dark Star, not really expecting a reply. The child moved closer, to get a better look at this scary thing it had found in the woods. "Yeah... do you eat people?" the child asked in return, curiosity in its eyes. Dark Star half smiled at this, but couldn't really think of a reply. Dealing with children was not his strong point. "I don't know.." he shrugged. The child backed off a few paces again. "You won't eat ME, will you, mister-monster-sir?" "no." "Oh.." the child sounded almost disappointed. "You're not a very scary monster, are you?" "That depends.. say, what are you doing out here in the woods all alone?" Dark Star asked, sitting back down. he wasn't getting any hints of an illusion from the child, so guessed it was fairly safe. "I'm not alone, You're here" said the child with a very unfive-year- old like logical tone. It was strange that the child didn't seem the slightest bit phased by the wounds Dark star hadn't managed to heal, probably because it hadn't been exposed to things like that before.. "No, I mean where are you parents?" Dark Star sighed. The child thought about this for a few moments then said "I forgot." The child sat down next to him. from here he could tell it was a little boy. It had red hair and storm-blue eyes. It looked up at him expectantly. "you forgot? don't you have any idea where they are?" Dark Star asked. he really didn't need this interruption, he would rather of been able to think alone. "Nope, mister-monster-sir." the little boy chirped. Great, just great, thought dark star. I can't really just leave it here.. but what if something happens.. or if this is a trap.. why did it have to find me? I really don't need this tonight. "When did you last see your parents?" he asked, hoping to get rid of the child as swiftly as possible. "ummmm.. at our house. I wanted to go monster hunting, but they said I had to go to bed." Dark Star noticed the toy bow and arrow in the child's hand. "Your parent's will be really worried about you, you should go home." "I like you, mister-monster-sir" replied the little boy, leaning against him. Dark Star was losing his patience. "Look, I will start being very scary indeed if you don't go home right now!" he snarled in his best 'nasty monster' impression. but the child was already asleep... ************ somewhere, a lonely figure opens her eyes. It is dark, so dark she isn't even sure she is really awake. She looks around, hoping to see something. but there is nothing but black.. no, wait, there are a few stars appearing now, in constellations she doesn't recognize. She can't feel any kind of floor beneath her feet, she seems to be floating. Somehow she manages to move around, but nowhere is any different, all there is velvet darkness studded with stars. Behind her, she hears a sound, she recognizes it.. yes, it is someone laughing. But it isn't a happy sound. It is cold and malicious, it scares her. It continues, and she can hear voices from all around her now, calling her name, mocking her. She covers her ears and asks them to stop but that doesn't work. It gets louder, they are taunting her with images now, things she never wanted to see.. she can't take it any more and screams out loud. It stops and she is alone once more. She feels cold and alone, so she wraps her wings around her self and sleeps once more.. ************ Dawn broke, and with it Dark Star realised just how tired he was. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully at his side, Dark Star didn't move for fear of disturbing him. the Rising sun tinted the world gold though the trees, casting strange and beautiful patterns on the lake's still surface. The beauty of the scene was pretty much lost on Dark Star though. What if the child's parents come looking for him, he thought. They wont be to tolerant of their kid spending the night with a demon.. but then again, If everyone knows I killed Alan Stone, being in human form wont be much better. They might think I kidnapped this boy.. on the other hand, they might not have heard about me, they'll definitely know I'm a demon, looking like this.. I guess I'll be better off human.. Dark Star placed his hands together in front of his face and his human form returned. "wow, mister-monster-sir! that was cool!" the little boy chirped, obviously awake once more. Zellar looked at the child in surprise, he had been sure he had been fast asleep. The child's blue eyes stared at him expectantly, waiting. a few moment passed in silence before the child's stare hit on Zellar's paranoia. "What?" he asked. the child giggled and said "Nothing. Why ain't you a monster no more?" Dark Star shrugged and got to his feet. "You ready to go home yet?" He asked. "Nope" The boy replied cheerily. Zellar took a deep breath and said "Listen, your parent are probably worried sick about you by now, we really ought to--" "My names Milei, what's yours?" the boy interrupted. "None of your business, now, we really should be getting you home.." He replied bluntly. "Why isn't any of my business?" Asked Milei, Zellar wasn't sure whether he was being this annoying on purpose.. Folding his arms he said and answer he was sure the child would understand "Because I'm bigger than you. lets go." "Awwww.. I wanna stay here!" Milei chirped. Zellar clenched his fist at his side and snarled "Look, are you coming or do I have to drag you?!" Milei started giggling again but stopped when he caught Zellar's glare. "Gee, you're really touchy.." The child stated, looking ready to sulk. "Which way is your house?" Zellar asked, looking royally sick of dealing with little kids. Milei thought about it for a few moments then pointed behind them. "thataway!" "Right, then lets go. And please, try to be quiet. we might be able to get you back without your parents noticing.." "But I wanna show 'em I caught a monster!" Milei chimed, the toy bow in his hands. "What? look, I don't want you to tell them who I am, okay? now please, lets go!" Zellar had really had enough of this child. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts, and to get some rest, not baby-sit some five- year-old demon hunter wannabe. He started walking and heard Milei get to his feet and follow. They hadn't been going far before Zellar realised they were heading deeper into the forest. he stopped and looked round. "what?" Milei asked, looking up at him. "are you sure this is the way to your house?" Zellar asked cynically. He doubted there would be any houses this way, the forest went on for miles and miles, Milei didn't look like he had come that far. "ummmm... I think it was this way.. I can't remember.." the child replied. Oh great, thought Zellar. He can't even remember where he lives.. "Look, Just try, please. We need to get you back as soon as possible.." Suddenly Zellar heard something move behind them. He span round to see what it was, but there was nothing there... then it came again. He felt a trace of magic build up, it was weak but it was there. and there was definitely something out there, watching them. "What" asked Milei, noticing Zellar's unease.. "I don't think were alone here.." "Naw.. C'mon, you said we needed to hurry. I think it's this way.." The child seemed strangely confident. As they continued into the forest, Zellar didn't notice Milei turn round behind him and wave.. ---------------------------------------------- So Ends Part 4! sorry it was so late/short/badly written! Authors notes Milei doesn't actually mean anything, I just couldn't think of a name and I don't have a Japanese dictionary.. yet.. I hope I didn't wreck LC's great setting and Gink's great attempt to lighten it up, I tried. this part is the product of not enough sleep, too much caffeine and a case of PMS.. Hope It didn't suck too much, good luck to who ever continues it!