http://clampfix.fanworks.net/rgv-fix/gold11.txt </head><body><pre> Well, here's part 11. Enjoy! RG Veda "The Golden Warriors" Part 11 Written By Ashura/ChunLi Chapter 11: The Price of Freedom 'Yasha-ou! Yasha-ou, don't do it!' Susan tried to call out. But it was of no use. She didn't want Ashura to die, not now. The outside of the ice prison cracked. Aizenmuyo turned and narrowed her eyes. "No, not now...", she whispered. Then the prison shattered, like glass. Susan fell to her knees, gasping. "No! Your power cannot have awakened! You're under _my_ control!", Aizenmuyo yelled. "Y-Yasha-ou...", Susan whispered. Yasha-ou stopped, hesitantly. Aizenmuyo turned, feeling trapped. "Yasha! Kill her!", she encouraged. Then Yasha-ou brought down his sword. Ashura gasped and closed her eyes, waiting for the final blow. But, somehow, it didn't hit her. Ashura opened her eyes. "Ashura... how... are you?", Susan asked, struggling with Yasha-ou's strength. Susan had blocked Yasha-ou's blow with her katana. She was struggling to keep his sword from coming down, and Yasha-ou was struggling to understand. "Ashura, get out, I'll deal with this...", Susan ordered. "But... Yasha! I won't leave Yasha!", she argued. "Then move out of the way!", she commanded. Ashura scurried away to a safe spot and Susan leaped away, barely missing Yamato's blade. "You are under MY control! How can you break free?!", Aizenmuyo asked. Anger flared within Aizenmuyo, her plans weren't going as accordingly. "Never mind, I still have the other, I can do without one. Kill them both, Yasha!", Aizenmuyo ordered. Susan stood tall. 'Why isn't Yasha-ou snapping out of it?' she wondered. Yasha-ou came towards Susan first, sword at ready. "Yasha-ou... I won't fight you...", she said. But it didn't work, he still came, still under the trance. He reached her and raised Yamato. Susan just stood there, waiting. "If you remember me... you wouldn't strike me... Yasha-ou.", Susan whispered. Yasha-ou hesitated. Aizenmuyo was furious. "Kill her quickly Yasha!", she shouted. Yasha-ou took one step forward, closing the space between him and one of his targets. Somehow he couldn't control himself. He couldn't strike this person, something.... something wouldn't let him. "It's okay now... I'm here, Yasha-ou...", Susan whispered. Yasha-ou brought down his sword and stabbed himself. He knelt to the ground, and pulled Yamato out of his leg. Ashura ran to him. "Yasha! You're hurt!", she cried. "It's okay, I'm sorry I scared you.", he said. "NO! He's mine! _You're_ mine!", Aizenmuyo cried. She turned to the ice prison still standing. "Hiyana! Kill them all!", she commanded. The structure shattered, releasing Hiyana. Susan stepped back, not knowing what to do. "Yasha-ou, take Ashura and get out.", Susan ordered. "No, I won't leave you!", he argued. "Stop worrying about me, and get the hell out!", she snapped, her eyes never leaving Hiyana. Yasha-ou hesitated, then he took Ashura and left. Susan stood, waiting. "Susan... we must...", whispered Hiyana. "Snap out of it, Hiyana... She's just using us!", said Susan. "...we must...", she stopped as she reached Susan. They stood, face to face, waiting. Then Hiyana smiled cooly. "We must help save Tenkai.", Hiyana finished. A surprised expression lit up Susan's face. Aizenmuyo couldn't believe they turned on her. "If I can't have you... no one can!", she shouted. Hiyana turned. "We don't belong to anyone! Only to ourselves! Your loneliness drove you to join with the demons!", Susan said quietly. Aizenmuyo grew angrier. "You're already dead, Aizenmuyo. We will set you free from darkness' grasp.", said Susan. Yasha-ou and Ashura turned abruptly as a flash of golden light shot out from every opening in the ice castle. The ground began to tremble. "Susan!", Yasha-ou whispered. "Yasha, what's happening?!", Ashura asked. Karura-ou and Sohma turned to the ice castle as the light caught their attention. Kujaku stared suspiciouly. Ryu-ou gasped. "So they're finally free.", Kujaku whispered and smiled. As the light dimmed, the image of a girl appeared. It was Aizenmuyo. "Thank you...", she said, and vanished. Then the entire castle began trembling again. "Let's get--!", shouted Hiyana. "--Outta here!", Susan finished. Kujaku and the five stars watched from a cliff as the ice castle fell apart to rabbles. Yasha-ou had a worried look in his eyes. Ashura stared at him. "Who was that girl? She saved us.", said Ashura. "...She was a friend... a long time ago.", Yasha-ou answered. "So where are we headed next?", asked a voice. Yasha-ou and the rest turned around. Behind them was two figures, walking up to them. It was Susan and Hiyana. "Susan!", Yasha-ou gasped. "Hey, what's up?", she asked. Zenmijou, Tenkai. "Taishakuten... a force even greater than Kuyou's prophecy, has awakened...", Hanranya predicted. Taishakuten turned. "What?", he asked. "Perhaps you will remember them... the Golden Warriors.", said Hanranya. Susan gazed out at the village of Yasha, which was in rabbles. "How awful... every single soul...", Susan whispered. "Ashura blames herself for this. But it's my fault.", said Yasha-ou. Susan remembered that Ashura always kept blaming herself for the death of the Yasha clan. She pitied the poor child. "...If only I had reigned in my thirst for vengence that day... This village would never have been like this... damn it all to hell...", Susan whispered. "It's not your fault. It's not Ashura's fault. The guilt belongs to me.", said Yasha-ou. "You shouldn't take it so hard on yourself. I mean it. Are we headed to Zenmijou to find the sixth star?", Susan asked. Yasha-ou stared at her in surprise. "H-how do you know about Kuyou's prophecy?", he asked. "You don't want to ask. By the way, how long has it been since 'that day'?", Susan asked. "Hm, about... three to four hundred years.", Yasha-ou answered. Susan stopped in her tracks. Hiyana turned. "Susan? You okay?", she asked. "Y-You mean... Taishakuten already... and Ashura-ou already... and-and-and...!", Susan babbled. "How could you know about those things? You were incased in ice.", said Karura-ou. "Damn it!!! Stupid Tai can't even wait! Can he!? Argh!!", Susan shouted. Yasha-ou stared at Hiyana, confused. City of Tenkai. Nighttime. "They're setting up the castle for display, nothing more.", said Sohma. "Hm, sounds like a trap to me.", said Ryu-ou. "Who knows what Taishakuten is up to?", asked Karura-ou. Yasha-ou sat on the floor of the abandoned house, a single firelight lightened the room. "The sixth star is in Zenmijou. We have no choice. We'll enter Zenmijou tomorrow night when they're putting the castle for display.", said Yasha-ou. Susan sighed, watching Zenmijou from a distance. "I never thought it'd be this cool, watching the fireworks from this point of view...", she whispered. Ashura was nearby, somewhere, in a tree. Susan sat back, watching the fireworks. Then she heard Ashura wince. She turned. "Ashura, are you okay?", she asked. "...ah, yeah.", she replied. "Um, okay then...", said Susan. 'Stupid Shashi, I'd kick her *ss if I met her...' Susan thought. She had a grudge against Shashi, Ashura's mother. Yasha-ou walked out to find Ashura. He saw her in a tree, Shurato in her hand. "Ashura.", he called. Ashura turned and looked at Yasha-ou, then she jumped into his arms, clutching him. "I don't need a mother... I have you...", she sobbed. Yasha-ou held her, thinking hard. "How touching... I hate Shashi.", said a voice. It was Susan. Yasha-ou stared at her, Ashura turning to look. "She betrayed--", Yasha-ou stopped as Susan interrupted him. "Yep, I know, she betrayed the Ashura clan, dah, dah-dah, dah, dah, dah-dah...I know.", she said. "Why is it that you know so much?", he asked. "Oh, I have my ways.", said Susan, smiling. "Do you... know my mother?", Ashura asked. Susan looked at Ashura. "Yes, well, sorta, I didn't talk to her, but I know who she is.", Susan answered. "Oh...", said Ashura. "We'll be going to Zenmijou tomorrow night, while the castle is on display.", Yasha-ou informed. "All right.", Susan acknowledged. Hiyana appeared then, from above. "Hi all.", she said cheerfully. "Evesdropping?", Susan asked. "What? Don't think I'd do something like that... Anyway, I just got back. Susan, lots of people are going to be there.", said Hiyana. "You were out spying?", asked Yasha-ou. Susan and Hiyana stared at him. "Um, sorta.", answered Susan. Yasha-ou let Ashura slide down. "Ryu-chan!", she called and ran off. Susan stared at Yasha-ou and Hiyana. They both stared back at her. "Um, why are you staring at me like that?", Susan asked. "Weeeelll, I think I should get going now... aheh, bye!", said Hiyana as she ran off. Susan stared after her... feeling a bit confused. "So, um, what's happened since... um...", Susan hesitated. "Were you hurt?", Yasha-ou asked, catching Susan off-guard. "What? Uh, um, no.", Susan answered. They stood in the dark night, motionless except for the wind that blew past... "Were you... worried?", Susan asked, hiding her face in the shadow of the tree. Yasha-ou paused. "I... was just wondering, that's all.", he said, emotionless. "Oh, okay... Well, um, I've got something to do, if you don't mind...", Susan said. "What now?", he asked, suspicious. "...You don't need to concern yourself in what I do... I'm on your side. Remember that.", said Susan as she vanished into the night. Yasha-ou was left standing there, watching the fireworks. He sighed and returned to the shelter. Susan bounded over the top of the houses, silently and swiftly. >From there, she could watch everything. She headed towards the castle. Leaping silently over the gates, she entered the road to the castle. Then she made it the rest of the way, unnoticed. She slipped into one of the balconies, and entered the castle. Far off, she could hear music. "Kendappa-ou... Hm, Tenou should be visiting you shortly then...", she whispered. Susan walked out into the hallway and to the stairs. She ducked when she saw all of the soldiers and guards lined up, the three Shittenous kneeling to the emperor... Taishakuten. There were so many of them, they filled the entire audience hall, except for the red carpet. Susan smirked. She knew she couldn't handle them all, so she waited. "Lord Taishakuten, Yasha-ou and the other rebels were spotted nearby.", Bishamonten reported. "So?", asked Taishakuten. "If you don't open the castle for display, they'll say you're afraid of Yasha-ou. Do you want us to go find them?", Bishamonten asked. "Wouldn't it save us a lot of work if they came to us instead?", Taishakuten suggested. "As you wish.", said Bishamonten. "Darling.", said a female voice. Susan jerked her head to see. She narrowed her eyes as Shashi and Tenou walked in. "This is a rare pleasure.", said Taishakuten. "Wouldn't we be short on guards if you open the castle for display?", Shashi asked. "More guards would ruin the celebration.", said Taishakuten. "But--", said Shashi. "Don't worry, the four heavenly lords of Heaven will protect the castle. This is your chance to get rid of Ashura-ou's last momento.", said Taishakuten. Shashi laughed evily. "I know you'll keep your promise. I want their heads.", she said. Taishakuten stared at her. "What will you do with Ashura's head?", he asked. "I'm going to tear it apart with my bare hands.", she said. "That should be interesting.", said Taishakuten. Susan smiled. 'Oh, no, you won't be getting anywhere near Ashura, Shashi.' she thought. Then the guards and soldiers left with the three Shittenous. Shashi left with Tenou and Kendappa-ou appeared to play music. "Okay, now is the time...", Susan whispered. She leaped over the staircase and landed on the floor nearby, walking casually towards Taishakuten. "I admit, I'm impressed Taishakuten.", said Susan. He sat up, watching her every move. "Who... might you be?", he asked. "Oh, I can't believe you don't remember me... Think hard.", she said. Susan walked to a pillar nearby and leaned against it. "Hm, nice renovation. So, what did you do with Ashura-ou's body?", she asked. Taishakuten stood up then. He stared at her hard. "...Susan.", he finally said. "Hm, you _do_ remember. So, how was he?", Susan teased him. "What do you want? How did you get here?", he asked. Susan stood up and walked closer to Taishakuten. She smiled slyly. "I have a proposal.", she said. TO BE CONTINUED....... Next time: Will Kuyou's prophecy about Susan ever be revealed? What is Susan proposing to Taishakuten? Could Susan be spying for both sides? And why is Yasha-ou's feelings different? What will become of Tenkai? What will happen when the five stars infiltrate Zenmijou? Will they find the sixth star? Ok, this chapter wasn't that long, but it took me a long time to write. Sheesh. Okay, well, as always, if you don't understand something, comments, questions, and whatever are welcome. :D Ashura/ChunLi ashura@future.net "Love binds you to me." -Louis, IWTV </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>