Disclaimers: I no own, pesky lawyers no sue!
Author's Note:This is fun!
Priestess Tokiko - There are only six episodes? Huh. Graham�s appearance must have been in an OVA or something. I just watched my friend�s DVD with everything (I guess it really WAS everything!) from the series on it. In that case, I saw the OVA before the actual series! ^ ^;; Thanks for the FYI! ^ ^
Second Chances
Chapter 4:The Razor
What have I done�
I find my voice with difficulty.
�Graham��
The open eye seems to shake, although from fear or shocked recognition I do not know. Maybe both. He cannot possibly miss the resemblance I bear from Mother. I see his gaze shift rapidly over my face, hair, and strong yet feminine frame. Attributes I inherited from a girl he devoted his life to. Died for.
A thousand emotions flash across his face.
�You have passed,� the crimson robed figure announces, almost vaguely. As though the odd phenomenon had never occurred.
As if partners long dead reappearing was perfectly ordinary.
They leave us, disappearing in a shimmery flash.
We are alone in the tiny glowing arena.
Our breathing is the only sound.
I attempt to utter a sentence, a word, anything! But I can�t. What do you say to a person who has been dead for nearly twenty years, then suddenly brought back to life? By his previous partner�s daughter, no less. And fate tosses cruel dice, as I am practically Mother�s replica. It is like the past repeating itself for him. What have I done�
What have I done?
My breath shakes, coming in gasps. The tears burn at my eyes. He looks uneasy, then apprehensive, when I drop his arm and slowly stumble back. I stare at him as I move, not finding reason or strength to look away. Coming to the center of the ring my knees buckle, and I drop. He doesn�t move, returning my steady gaze with an uncertainty and sorrow that breaks me.
A bead of water trickles down my cheek, followed by an ocean of tears. I throw my face into my trembling palms. �What have I done?!� my voice pleads softly. Desperately. �I�m sorry! I�m sorry! I didn�t mean to� how did I� I�m sorry!� My mind won�t be calm, and my weeping is unrestrained. It is more sadness than horror. More regret than rage. I cry not for me.
For him� This is all my fault.
My hands fall to the ground, drained, and my sobs weaken into a quiet whisper. Yet I continue to cry. I don�t think I can stop.
And yet I am shocked into doing so.
Shocked by the light touch on my chin, a beckoning pull upward. Upward to find his face. The face I had been curious to see for so long.
Not this way� I didn�t want it this way�
But there is nothing I can do.
His lips move, and an inquiry issues forth. �Not� Tiara?�
My lip trembles, but somehow his voice is soothing me. Giving me confidence enough to answer him. �No� her daughter�� I feel less and less sad, but my tension will not leave.
His fingers drop from my skin. Now he is merely kneeling before me, watching. Studying.
He has a right to judge me, the one who yanked his soul back to life.
But I do not have the right to judge him. I haven�t even the right to face him.
My eyes lower to the ground.
�They�re waiting for me�� I whisper. On the edge of my peripheral vision I see him slightly cock his head. Who?
�My mother, Tiara, and my- father.� Please do not let him ask.
But he will.
And he does.
�Your father?�
I nod, still not facing him.
�Kagetsu.�
He says nothing, but he does not need to. From both of my parents, I know that this partner and my father had never been on good terms.
�You don�t� have to come with me. All this is because of me. I�ll� try to send you back, if you want me to. And if I can�t, you don�t have to stay. I won�t make you be my partner if you don�t� want� to� be�� I stutter the rest as his mangled hand lightly touches mine. My fingers are gathered up and lifted to him, stopping inches from his lips.
�I� stay.�
And he kisses my hand.
Chapter 5
Author's notes:Not bad, ne? I�ll be getting to the next chappie fairly soon- I think. *slow poke*
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