From: nightsinger@mindless.com Tenshi by Nightsinger (Nightsinger@mindless.com) Standard disclaimer: I don't own rights to either the story or characters of Rurounin Kenshin in either format of anime or manga. What is my own creation is the itsy bitsy data and ascii text that has been complied in onto a story from my demented mind. Prologue - "The ceremony of innocence lost." from The Second Coming by W. B. Yeats 7th century Japan in a forest. "...great spirits of the land, accept. For the one who stands before me, consider her worthy..." A rhythmic stamp beats and echoes along the strange chant, as a young man dances for the Kami. While the tongue it seemed both foreign and familiarly archaic, the implications felt both ominous and terrible. ".... accept. By blood, by soul I promise to protect. For love, I live and die. For love, I..." he instinctively paused. "sacrifice..." Within the purified circle of rare salt, a young girl lays kneeling on the ground. Dazed with lethargy, she tried following the ritual but failed. She was young, with the innocent hint of maturity and the budding promise of grace and beautiful. Dressed in plain white cotton robes, it complemented and allured her natural innocent child-like beauty. Except that her sickly pale face was slightly flushed with beads of sweat. With trembling blue-tinted lips, her dilated eyes stared into nothingness while ethereally glowing. Flashing above her head from the moonlight, as the clouds parted and drifted away, was a metallic sheen of a knife resting against her throat. Completely calm and relaxed as the knife kissed her throat, her face softly radiated with love and trust. Looming above her was a young man, who was lightly caressing her face as he tipped it back for a clean kill. While he lacked the refined delicate facial bone structure of the girl, his face and eyes were similar and yet bolder. He was her older brother. Pained by the sacrifice, the shaman paused. Instinctively sensing her brother's pain and uncertainty, she gave a small but trembly encouraging smile. Shining with both sorrow and joy, the older sibling continued on with the chant and ritual. "...as your life, for life eternal. Accept!" Punctuating with the completed ritual, he plunged the blade down into her throat. An explosion of shearing light and energy blasted him away. Even before the ritual was completed and thus killing her. Grunting as he slammed into the trunk of a tree, the young shaman's knife was knocked out of his hand as his was burnt. Instinctively wiping his blood away from his nose and mouth with the back of his hand, he gingerly withdrew his hand. Sensing the numbing pain and the smell of burnt flesh from his hand, he screamed. "Desist!" A loud crude voice demanded, with strong Chinese accent. "What you are dealing with, is both foul and dangerous." In strange foreign robes and a circlet of beads in his belt, an old man stepped into the clearing. Wearing off colored orange robes, he radiated with flickering faint aura of energy before it faded into nothing. Lowering his half clenched fist were the last dying embers of energy remained. Relaxing into a strange yet open combative stance, the old man sternly glared at the shamanist. Behind him, looming defensively were a pair of young monks holding their staves in a more simpler yet aggressively stance. Recognising a foreign accent and strange robes of the new religion, the shaman wordlessly screamed his pain, frustration and defiance. Recognising the truth about the rumours of the new religions fighting skills, he decided that reasoning would only succeed. Dazedly standing up right, he could feel some of muscles scream in pain and rejection. Defiantly ignoring and suppressing the pain, he decided that only power and authority would help him negotiate. "Begone! You dare to interrupt a ceremony of the Kami?" Outwardly ignoring them as the cautiously moved to surround him, with fighting a turmoil of uncertainty and panic. "Fool, you consort with demons, while you cruelly sacrifice an innocent child. For what gains?" A sharp thrust of rage and anger swept through what little calm he felt. Demon? They dared to call his faith, his belief, a perversion while arrogantly calling themselves superior and the truth? Instinctively crouching into their foreign combative stance, as he felt the surge of rage. Shifting into a more aggressive stance, the old monk's hands began to glow once again with power. At the same time the other two once again shuffled into their stance. "Your the fool, you foreign demon with your 'gods'. You don't even begin to understand or at least know what you meddle in." "You, simple peasants do not even know or begin to know the truth or the true path of enlightenment. Yet you arrogantly claim to know all. Foreign ideas and concepts are beyond your comprehension or understanding, yet you still claim that your simple ideas are purer. Your action like your ritual is both foul and corrupt. Desist!" Startled, by the abrupt sound the girl woozily raised her head to blankly stare into the old monk. Trembling as she tried to regain control to speak in her brother's defence. As she opened her mouth, her control failed as she began severely coughing. Trying to remove the foul taste of blood in her mouth, so that she could express her support and deflect further conflict. But the pain was too great and the gesture too insignificant. Worried about the increasing threat of death from the sickness and the interference to complete the ceremony, the young man decided to use his master's final technique. Physically and mentally calming himself while focusing on death. While he was trained in manipulating the mystical energy, much like the old monk, abately at smaller levels. Although he couldn't generate powerful blasts like the monk, he usually could do a few minor different tricks such as slightly enhance his senses or speed and strength. However with the final technique he just begun using, the rules of the game just changed. Burning up with strength and power, he could feel trickles of energy and his own life force compress and combust at accelerated rates. Feeling his eyes throb and burn, the world became brighter and sharper. Except all was washed with a dark crimson. Growling out. "Move away or die!" Aware of the limited time, he moved towards his sister to prepare for the death strike. Revolted and afraid of the reddish-black aura of death and madness, the old monk biting back his terror and calmed himself. Unlike the old monk, the two novices could only see the demonic crimson glowing eyes promising death if they dared interfered. Acting smug about the circumstance, the old monk taunts. "Ah... your true colors are revealed demon. Due to your actions and nature you have corrupted and imbalance her natural harmony." Pissed off by the accusations, he lashed to kick the monk. "Shut up! Shut up!" Twisting away, the old monk catches the foot with the crook of his arm and pulls the shaman forward to bring him off balance. Attacking with the advantage, the two novices rush forward to give a quick swing from their staves. Glancing off his body and the energy released from his aura lightly scorched the surface of the staves from the blows. Lunging forward to body slam the glowing monk. Tumbling forwards towards the girl, the two glowing priests managed to separate from the tangled bodies. Clawing the ground to stop himself from rolling too far away, he could still feel the moments tick away. Quickly throwing the two large handfuls of dirt at the monks to blind them. Only the old monk managed to deflect the spray of dirt with the fold of his sleave. Ignoring the advantaged the shaman rushed towards his sister and projected out a shrinking blade of energy to kill her. His face was constricted in anguish and pain, while her's was both calm and resolute. Staring trapped within each others eyes for a moment that seemed like eternity. For that moment his face relaxed expressing pain and sorrow, while her eyes cleared without pain or suffering and for that instance she gave a small little smile as their wordless farewell. Then the world exploded and tipped over, as the shaman died with an expression of surprise and apology to his little sister. As he died, the tiny blade of energy flickered and vanished before it could rip out her throat. Standing behind the shaman a few metres away was the old monk expressing pain and regret. Cupped in each hand where two iridescent white spheres of energy crackling and throbbing with electrical blue currents. "So much potential, and corruption. May Buddha have mercy on your soul." As the body collapsed forwards against her body, she could smell and almost taste mingling coppery metallic flavour of blood with burnt flesh and hair. Looking down along his back, she quickly turned away to vomit. A mixture of foul bile and blood, caused her to further retch with another bout of coughing and blood. The image of dark blood and flesh, with hints of fresh bright crimson blood and flesh underneath remained with her. More disturbing was the jagged protruding spikes of white bone from the remains of rib cage and spine. All abnormally twisted and shaped. Stunned with horror, she didn't notice the old monk trying to comfort her and hug her. In a soft and now soothing tone. "Child it is now safe. Do not fear, you are now safe." Startled out of her stupor with the human sound of sympathy, she began wailing her grief and pain. Ignoring the sliminess of blood and harsh char of flesh, she grabs and clutches her brother's body against her. Rocking and hugging the cooling body, while irrationally trying to provide warmth and life. Gradually calming down, she starts talking and crooning in between sobs. Ignoring the attempts of communication from the monks, she focused on the little world of her brother and herself. As she clung on to the tattered shreds of their fantasy of a paradise of warmth and harmony. Unable to understand the sobs, the monks respectfully, if some what confusedly, stood aside to allow her room for private pain and grief. As the blood continued to bleed and dribble down from the body, making her body and clothes were bathed in blood while erotically clinging to reveal her natural curves and developing breasts. Despite her pure and unconscious beauty, the crimson sheen brought of blood made a disturbingly sinister and seductive contrast to her otherwise innocent appearance. Shuffling in discomfort, the two younger monks turned away in shame while mumbling their mantras. Even the old monk mentally reminded himself of his vows and her need for help. Seconds became minutes, until finally the silence was broken. The younger monk asks. "Master, what is wrong with the child is she possessed or demonic by nature?" Distractedly replying, while puzzled by the confusing situation. "Mmm... the power should have broken on their death. Maybe she is already lost to us." In clearer and slightly hysterical voice, the girl pleaded. "Brother! Brother, you can't die now. I was suppose to be the one. I'm the one who is already dying." Even hysterical the voice seemed both soothing and sweet, like an angel. "Brother?" as they instinctively withdrew in horror and surprise. "Don't worry, soon we will be together. Forever." Lifting our the pin out of her hair with trembling hands, she steadied it when the sharper end pointed directly near her eyes and prepared to plunge it in. Hypnotised by the revelation and actions, the monks reacted to late and too far from the girl. Controlling his surprise the old monk instinctively responded by deflecting the thrust of the pin away, while with the other hand he grabbed her wrist to gain her attention. Staring in to her eyes, he began to feel lost within their depths. Quickly reminding himself and refocus on his centre, he subtlety avoided staring directly into her eyes. The emotions they made him feel were too new, too old and too raw. Roughly pulling her away from the body, he leaned forward to get her complete attention. "What ever the problem is, the answer is not necessarily death. Not the sort of death your seeking." In a soft sweet voice. "But I am already as good as dead." With so much certainty and acceptance. To puntuate her dilema she once again began her bone racking coughs, with blood bubbling out and dribbling down her face. With a dawning feeling of dread and understanding, the old monk delicately wrapped his fingers at the base of her neck and quickly struck few nerve clusters to knock her out. Stirring out of shock, the old monk ordered. "poor child, we must return her to her village and decide on her fate from their." Abruptly the forest became silent, as sound from the blow echoed in trees. Carefully picking her up, they also wrap and prepare the shaman's body to carry away. Deciding that it wasn't their place or custom to impose on another's faith or remains. - ~ - ~ ^ ~ - ~ - As they left, with each step the forest became ominously quieter and darker. Stirring in the air was a atmosphere of anticipation and emptiness. The quiet hum of nature became subdued and muted until there was nothing, as if something was lost or taken away. One by one, thousands of glowing eyes opened from all round the forest as they turned and stared at the departing group. Feeling the chill or void in the air, the old monk called it a demon forsaken forest, while the peasant turned monk corrected him about the his village's superstition about an awakened kami. Reprimanding the peasant as impudent and superstitious, the old monk instinctively increased their pace to leave the forest. After they left, the forest animals soon quickly dispersed as everything returned to normal as it ever will become. No longer was it serene and pristine, instead the new quiet became deceptively subdued and sinister. As if it spirits were watching and waiting. Some would say that the essence, the kami, of the forest ripped away or destroyed. Gradually as time went on and the locals took for granted the sinister change, local legend gave rise in trying to explain the strange atmosphere surrounding the forest. Eventually in the end the most persistent and popular folk lore gave rise to its new name: Kekkai forest, or the break down forest. The forest of evil spirits that would break or rip away your soul and senses. - ~ - ~ ^ ~ - ~ - Of the girl, she survived for a few more days drifting between delirium and pain. During her brief lucid moments, there was unconditional acceptance and forgiveness. After the monks returned the girl back to her village, of which the Village Elders thanked them for preventing the possible crime and welcomed them for a permanent stay. After a couple of days of her return, the Elder soon realised the severity of her illness and banished her into exile for her 'impurities' and to prevent further vengeance from the Kami. Forsaken and abandoned by both her family and friends, she died alone in exile. Staying and tending to her in her last days were three monks, who were both horrified and disgusted by such attitudes. Even with advanced healing techniques, it was too late and too little in trying to help her. Even till her death she accepted and forgave their limitations, and her light of her beauty shone brighter while her body failed her. In the end the monks never bothered staying, after her death at which they performed their own funeral rites for both her and her brother. Then they continued on with their journey. While they later parted ways, each of them managed to return to bury themselves with the only girl who captured their heart with her innocence. - ~ - ~ ^ ~ - ~ - For around a thousand years, the ritual remained incomplete while the forest remained silent. Around thousand years later, a sacrifice for love and killing of a loved one completed the ritual and the final crossed scar. Thus changing everything. End of Prologue - ~ - ~ ^ ~ - ~ - OMAKE *warning may contain offensive material* "I'm hungry!" "Shut up!" "But I'm hungry! "SHUT UP!" Pouting slightly as her lips trembled "you wouldn't hit a little itsy bitsy sick girl would you?" Tears formed a threatened to spill and over flow. *sigh* "Oh, O.K. O.K. Go ahead, do what you want." "Gee. Thanks. Big brother would understand. He always was so understanding with my worries and my... needs." Ending with a seductive hint of a purr. Paused with a moment of reflection and empathy "So you hungry?" Receiving a strange look, she happily shrugged. Commenting "you know the fingers and testes are the most tastiest parts. Can you pass me my brother's penis? Please don't pull off the testes you might ruin the flavour." Receiving the bloodied body part, she began happily munching. Pausing to notice the strange stares from the monks, she once again politely offered "Are you sure that you don't want to try a bit? Big brother was always very... sharing. Anyway you might want to begin with the shoulders, they skin's slightly crispy." Curious about the taste "Sure, why not." Second by "well I am feeling slightly peckish." Followed by. "Well pass me the leg, I prefer the fleshier parts anyway." Defenisively "Hey I experimented in stuff in my younger day." BURP! The End (Feel peckish?) - ~ - ~ ^ ~ - ~ - Authors Note: Most of the finer details comes from the fan-translation of the manga, unfortunately which I can't seem to get a hold of, much less get. I have seen more of the anime then I would like and could possibly see the whole thing, except I believe after the 'Shishio-Kyoto' series, the anime story writers must of went on some bad 'trips' and should have temporally stopped. The plot and ideas are generally shoddy and money making, completely unlike the manga's 'Revenge series' or anything the high standards set in the original manga. Although I wrote the draft a few months ago, I've mainly been busy with a couple of other stuff and fanfic ideas from other series. Oh yeah, If the format of the posting is screwed, sorry this is my first time ever. What I will say is that I have planned the first couple chapters and the general theme of the series, but writing this up this will be a killer. So you might have to wait a while. Anyway, I prefer reading then writing. I know its a bit rough around the edges, but with from all those that do bother to read and reply, hopefully I could improve and expand this effort - if you might consider it worth while. If not, I'll just continue on at my own leisure and not bother posting any more chapters. Oh yes, I like the flames. If people don't like the omake, I'll can always later replace it with something less offensive. More to the point where are the Kenshin-gumi?? Well wait, this section is relevent to the story. Hint and Warning: The future chapters contain spoilers to the OVA and the manga chapters after the Shishio-Kyoto series. I will be sending the teaser of chapter 1 soon, if your still interested in knowing. Mmmm... one last thing, the title is a japanese-english pun refering to the story's plot, thus remains untranslated. Final note: if by accident, I sent a copy of this draft and the response warned of severe backlash and complaints about the changing tense and grammer. While I don't have enough time right now to correct these problems, i will send forth these drafts and hopefully receive some relatively 'constructive' pointers (be they flames or not) and will correct these problems at a later date. As i said before i don't mind the flames, but I as long as they useful. More to the point, it has been clearly pointed out that i do need some pre-readers and editers to provide some alternate and objective help. If anyone is surprisingly interested please reply privately.How well this works, i'll have to wait and see. A point of explaination about the violent buddhist monks and all, like any differences between two religions there has always been conflict of some sort. In early japan, the gradual merge and harmony between shinto and buddhism was paved with blood and death. Each claiming their own 'enlightened' superiority. But in the end, they can all become corrupt like anything pure thing. Even Buddhism, during one of the era's in Japan became heavily corrupted and powerful as it assumed the role of the state religion. Monastaries became fortresses while monks became marauding private armies pillaging and looting where ever was convenient. Before i forget the teaser of the first chapter will also be sent to give a better understanding of the main plot. "Underneath the frightenly beautiful stars, I stand Time to close my eyes and pray this world ends." Aoi Arashi by Touma Yumi, from the Fushi Yuugi Seiryuu Counterattack CD. "Better to reign in hell, than serve in heav'n." Paradise Lost, from Lucifer by Milton. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Get your free email from AltaVista at http://altavista.iname.com --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- ??? 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