29:: Arashi to Uragiri

-------> song on the right is the one your looking for. I urge you to listen to it. its a really pretty song :)

And yes this is Rhythm's voice actress . . . I guess until I can find someone better

WARNING! This chapter is rated R for violence and gore and stuff! If you can't handle it then skip this chapter. though this is probably one of the most important chapters in the book . . . just saying.

~Rhythm~

Stomping around and kicking up large boulders by a Marine base with a bounty on your head was defiantly not the best way to release your anger.

The clouds above grew thicker and darker by the second, temperatures dropping by counts. There were Marine’s coming after me. They yelled at me, warning me to stop and give in. I didn’t want to fight because I was still a bit sore from the last battle with Sapphire. I had to be careless and let them notice me. Great.

“Dammit!” I muttered. I turned the corner and dove behind some trash cans. The marines ran past my hiding place, completely oblivious.

When I was sure they were gone, I hesitatingly stood up from my hiding place. The sky grew darker, intimidating the few citizens outside into hiding. Cobblestoned streets and lantern lit pathways that lined the city was empty, with the 3 story tall brick buildings shut and locked for the upcoming storm. Everything was holding its breath, waiting for the storm to past and the danger to disperse.

(Song Inspiration: Lost in Paradise by Evanescence)

“Delilah,” A soft voice said behind me.

I turned sharply. At the end of the street under the low gas-light, was Sano.

“Sano! There you are! I was getting worried!” I said; a smile slid up my face.

“Rhythm. . .” he muttered.

(The music starts. A slow, sad tune with the piano)

I ran up to him, able to see his face now. His eyes were shadowed from the dim light and his drooped head. The Marine coat hanging from his shoulders lifted and swirled in the wind as thunder rumbling in the distance. “Sano, come on. It’s gonna rain and we don’t want to get caught in the storm.”

He didn’t reply, but he was muttering something over and over under his breath. His hands shook slightly, either from cold or something else, I don’t know. I reached out and touched his hand.

That small touch seemed to send volts of electricity through him. He jerked away, stumbling back with dark eyes and even darker look on his face.

(The singer takes a deep breath and starts to sing. A beautiful voice with a deep, emotional tone)

“Don’t touch me, pirate!” he sneered. The wind picked up, billowing his coat behind him and my hair into my face.

“You’re kidding right? Because it’s not funny.” I ran my hand through my hair, only to have the wind to blow it back into my face.

I’ve been believing in something~ so distant~

As if I was human~

“I’m not kidding, Jade. I am a Marine Rear Admiral, and I cannot be an acquaintance of you. And I haven’t gotten this high up just for sleeping with a pirate.”

“Hey that was only once . . . twice in one night, but what are you getting at?” I protested.

“I’m saying, I’m going to take you down and turn you into the World Government for your crimes in piracy.” His face showed no emotion, eyes blank and mouth in a firm line.

And I’ve been denying this feeling of hopelessness~

 In me~ in me~. . .

I laughed. But it wasn’t heartfelt like always, but low and nervous, “Stop the prank it’s to cheesy.”

“I’m 100% serious. I’m going to bring you down in the name of absolute justice!” his spine straightened and jaw stiffened, true to his words.

(The tempo builds up, violin joining in as the piano’s tempo builds. Thunder rolls in the background)

“Sano. . . what is this? Stop,” I whispered.

“I had my eyes opened this morning before you woke up, when I went to get breakfast. I realized that what I was doing was punishable by death, and that I needed to take action,” he said. He reached for the sword at his hip.

All the promises I made~ just to let you down~

You believed in me but I’m broken~

(The tempo rises. Her voice increases in power)

I stumbled back. I know he’s an amazing swordsman, and in a swordfight, I’d lose instantly.

He’s serious. I’ve never seen him this serious before, and it scared me.

“No!” I turned and started running back down the street, thunder rolling and lightning cackling, as though calling for the rain.

I turned so I could hit him with a Rhyme Shock, only to get hit by his own attack.

It happened too fast. His arm lashed out, still a good 10 feet behind me, and his signature weapon, kunai, flew at me at an impossible speed. I managed to dodge one of the three, but two still got me. One imbedded deep into my left collarbone, into the soft flesh bowl within it, and the other under my shoulder plate, yet above my rib cage. I cried out in pain as the blood spurted from the wounds. I fell to my knees, getting dizzy and weak.

“Its steel soaked in scorpion poison. You’ll die in an hour at most.” He said, walking slowly towards me as though he had all the time in the world to kill me.

“Dammit!” I coughed blood and spit trickled down my chin.

He drew his sword once he was upon me, a deadly double-edged sword with a leather grip and steel hilting.

 “Now die,” he said, raising his sword above his head for the killing blow.

I have nothing left~

(AN: die potato!)

“Not today!” I yelled. I rolled away from the deadly arc, drawing my own sword. They clashed, just as a shock of lightning illuminated the sky.

He pulled back and attacked again, this time with a sideways blow, which I blocked successfully. I held back a cheer for my suddenly good swordswoman’s ship.

And all I feel is this cruel~ wanting!~

He lashed at me again and again, each blow more powerful and getting harder to defend. I finally landed my own blow on him, slashing him across the cheek. I wasn’t sorry for hurting his gorgeous face.

We’ve been falling for all this time~

“Rhyme Shock!” I yelled as I imbedded the blow with an extra boost. That extra boost did me good.

All he could do was doge, since it was a powerful blow. But his right arm was to slow. I watched in awe, as though someone had but the whole thing one slow-mo. My sword cut into his bicep, tearing into the flesh, cutting through the muscle, slicing through the bone, and eating away the rest. His arm flew off, leaving behind a waterfall of blood and a screaming executive.

Sano fell to his knees, dropping his sword and clutching his now stub of an arm.

“Fuck you!” Blood oozed out of the fresh wound, soaking the entire right side of his body and the ground at his feet in crimson life.

I was so shocked at my action, enabling him in a way I had never done to any enemy, so matter how evil.

And now~

I didn’t see his next move, not until it was too late. He picked up his sword and slashed at me. As though karma was working the battle, all I could do was flinch back and close my eyes and scream.

I’m lost in paradise!~

The cold steel cut through the sensitive flesh of my closed eyelids, tearing through the cartilage of my nose. The pain was too intense, too torturous.

The rain finally fell. Hard, thick curtains of water from above pounded down on us the exact moment Sano tore away my eyes.

(The rest of the band joined in, guitars, bass, drums, and the rest of the orchestra. A chorus of heart wrenching, wall-clawing, tear falling notes)

I screamed as I, too, fell to my knees. The pain ripped through my mind, clawing away any sign of thought as it fogged my head with insanity. I clutched my blood-soaked face, crimson droplets falling like tears. I shook with the blood loss and the poison pounding through my veins.

“You fucking bastard!” I screamed. I whistled quickly, sending out the sonar. I grabbed my sword and pounced at him.

He let out a battle cry as I screamed like a maniac. Steel clashed, blood splattered on the walls and floor, as the rain pounded down on us like millions of tiny hammers. My blinded eyes thrummed painfully, pouring blood down my face and into my mouth and down my chin.

As much as I like the past not to exist~

It still does~

He slashed across my inner wrist, clumsily from his own blood loss and lack of right arm. It would have been fine, if it was anywhere else. But it was right on an artery. More blood dripped down my hand, making it hard to hold my own sword. My grip was slipping with blood and water, as my balance was from the increasing dizziness and slippery footing. That was a fail on my part. Another slash and there was a deep gash running from my lower right rib cage to the left hip.

And as much as I like to feel like I belong here~

I’m just as ~scared as you~

We clashed; the sheer force sent us flying back. My head hit the hard ground, bouncing painfully as blood spurt from my mouth like a gaizer. The little air in me was knocked out, as bright stars danced across my dark vision. I struggled to sit up, only to have blood-craving steel at my throat.

I have nothing left~

And all I feel is this cruel~ wanting!~

“Give in, Jade.” Sano said thickly. The sword shook at my throat, only from lack of body fluid and cold.

“Never. You should know *cough* that I’ll never give into the Marines. I knew I should have ignored you years ago. We wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for your fucking meddling.” I gasped.

We’ve been falling for all this time~

I put my body weight on my hands, then lashed out. I kicked off the ground, only held by my trained hands. My legs swung around and caught Sano right in the right shoulder. He cried out as I dislocated the bones there.

And now~

I’m lost in paradise!~

He grabbed my ankle, swinging me around and knocking my head into a light post. I felt blood trickle from my scalp and down the back of my shirt. The rain soaked through my skin and into my very bone, washing away the blood and pain for a brief second.

He put his boot on top of my limp head as he swiped his hand again, stabbing my side with another poisoned kunai.

“This is what pirates are reduced to in the end. Dirty piles of shit!” He spat. I grabbed his boot, nailed digging into the strong leather. My throat itched and my eyes felt warmer, stinging in pain.

Oooh~

Run away!~ Run away!~

One day we won’t feel this pain anymore~

I grinded my teeth.

“I’ve never liked Marines. They destroyed my family and abuse others with their power. I- I hate them more than anything! You make me sick! I just want to rip out all your fucking throats and burn all of you and your precious Gorosei down to the very pits of Hell!”

Anger like none other coursed through the remaining blood I had pumping through my veins. At that moment I didn’t think anymore. My mind went white as I let instinct take over. I shrieked in agony and pure hatred as I clamped my hand onto his boot, swinging my leg around on a wide arc.

Take it all away~

Shadows of you~

‘Cause they won’t let me go~~!!!

I sucked the sound within a 50 feet radius into this attack. It was like a movie muted, able to see the actions and the actor’s mouths’ moving, but unable to hear what they were saying. My foot collided with his crotch in a sonic blast, the sound returning. A sharp pain cracked up my leg. A small miscalculation . . .

His voice raised three octaves higher as my foot collided, screaming in agony. But the sonic boom blanketed any sound, including the sudden rumble of thunder and pounding rain. He fell to the ground with a heavy thunk, gurgling screams emanated from his mouth as blood and spit drizzled from his mouth.

Until I have nothing left~

And all I feel is this cruel~ wanting!~

 

I whistled, locating my sword. I crawled over to it, pain in my shoulder increasing as the ground rocked.

My hand found its rough hilt, feeling a wave of warmth spread from my fingertips. I stood up shakily and wobbled over to Sano’s withering form. I straddled his hips as I sat on him (only able to get there by sonar). I put the blade of Chōwa no Warai to his throat. He stopped moving under me, breathing heavily as blood oozed from his wounds and pooled around us, soaking my pants and shoes instantly.

“You won’t be sleeping with anyone, ever again. Nor will you be dating, either.” I said blankly, like a borne killer.

We’ve been falling for all this time~

And now~

I’m lost in paradise~

“Wait! No! Don’t kill me! I was. . , was testing you! Yeah!” he said, voice still three octaves too high and shaky. The pulse under my sword blade beat faster than it already was.

“Stop lying. I’m going to bring down the World Government. Starting with you!” I yelled. I swiped the blade across, slitting his throat. More blood mingled with mine and his, deeper and warmer.

The rain hammered against the still scene, as Sano’s life faded from his body below me. He choked, getting weaker and weaker, until he was silent, dead, and cold.

(Every instrument fades out at once, except for the piano and her voice)

Alone~ and lost in paradise~

I rolled off him, pain searing not only in my wounds, but my heart as well. Stumbling to my feet, sword in one hand and sheath in the other, I leaned against the rough stone wall. The energy coursing through it touched my back, as though comforting me.

It was getting harder to breath by the second as bright lights flashed across my darkened vision. The rain seemed to pierce my very bone, driving cold deep into me. The ground was pitching and rolling like a roller coaster, wanting to knock me down. Wind shoved me, as though nature was trying to pull me to the ground. But I can’t. I need to get back to the Going Merry, to Luffy and the Straw Hats.

To Zoro.

Wait no, I was mad at him. I had to be mad. GR!

I sheathed my sword; hard to since it was covered in blood and water. I then used it as a support, trudging up the street, away from the body of my old lover and closer to my family. I sent out whistles every few minutes to keep track of where I was, but unable to get there fast enough with my pathetically slow pace. I reached a bridge, a small cobblestone one over a tiny stream. The world was spinning faster, each step of mine getting slower and heavier. The blood from my wounds dripped down me and left a scarlet trail in the crevasses of the ground, rain washing away the dark red on the smooth surfaces of the rocks. I stumbled, losing my balance and falling to the ground arm first. I felt my elbow twist awkwardly as pain shot up my arm.

“Shit!” I cried out. “Fucking blood loss and rain!”

I hissed between my teeth, unable to move anymore. The cold made me sleepy, as the blood loss made me dizzy.

I could just drift off to sleep now, letting my immune system kick in and heal me.

The poison. .  . I thought. Shit. I’ll be fine. I’ll just take a quick half hour nap and then I’ll find Chopper. No biggie.

That’s what I thought before my adrenaline finally stopped pumping and the pain kicked in.

I clutched the ground and screamed; nails tearing into the craggy rocks. The pain coursed through my body like a million volts of electricity. My blood sizzled like I was on fire as my muscles and nerves felt as though of knives were piercing them. I couldn’t move; I couldn’t feel anything but pain as my brain shut down completely. The worst part of this endless torture was the emotional pain.

I just killed someone. . . I just killed Sano! I killed him with my own hands. His blood stains my shirt as it stains the ground around his lifeless body. Oh God what have I done?!

My heart raced, remaining blood pulsed, throat closed and eyes swelled. Something trickled down my face, warm and wet. It was too thin for blood, yet too warm for rain. I shakily reached up and touched my face, pulled back and rubbed the liquid between my fingers. It feels like water. What was this? My nose was running and my chin was jittering as my throat grew tighter and tighter. I held back that feeling, but it kept welling in my chest like a rearing lion ready to pounce.

I tasted it, since I couldn’t see what it was. I brought my rough fingertips to my lips and licked the strange liquid. Now you may be thinking, why the hell would you taste some strange liquid? Only a complete dumbass would do that!

Well maybe I am a dumbass.

It tasted too salty and light for it to be blood. My nose was getting worst as I sniffled and tried to hold back the snot. My eyes burned worst, blood mixing with the salty liquid and rain as it poured down my face.

Why was I like this? Why did I fell so . . . heartbroken?

~~

XZoroX

I needed to get to the Going Merry, but they docked the ship somewhere weird. The rain hammered down on me and the empty street as I ran, kicking up deep puddles. I turned into a dead end, one with a familiar graffiti painting of a man with three eyes picking his nose. Is it a famous form of art or something?

“Che,” I growled. I was glad I picked up my hoodie before I left, but that didn’t stop the rain from soaking through. It was cold, yes, but I wasn’t going to let that show.

I ran back out to the street, a flash of lighting illuminated the darkened sky followed by a roll of thunder. The wind was going so fast and hard, the water was shunted at an angle and came down in waves instead of droplets. Or bullets, more like.

I turned the corner and stopped eyes wide at the horrible sight in front of me.

Under a dimming street lamp was a twisted body. Blood was smeared on the walls and ground, filling the crevasses in the ground like a crimson outline. Some parts of the street were chipped away, as there was a crater the size of a grand piano a couple yards ahead. I started forward, only to step on something squishy. I looked down to see a severed human arm, moist blood still running from the part above the elbow where it was severed. Flinching, I ran over to the twisted form, barley able to see under all the curtains of rain and blood.

“Oi, are you all right?” It was a rhetorical question. I knelt down and nudged his side. His crotch was smashed in (not using that ever again) as he lay in a pool of his own blood that expanded a good ten feet in radius around him. His right arm with a stump (case of misplaced arm solved), which was the main source of blood, along with the deep slit in his throat.

Was this a murder? Had I just stumbled upon a homicide?

Then I noticed the Marine coat he laid on, bright white now a deep scarlet, and the double edged sword laying a few feet from his attached hand.

No, this wasn’t a murder. This was a battle. And he was the loser.

I noticed a tiny golden hoop glinting in the dim light on his earlobe. Why does that look familiar? I bent closer to his face, the twisted blood splattered face of the man. Then it hit me.

I choked and jerked back, falling onto my butt. My hands shook as I ran it through my hair. I know this man. I’ve met him before.

And Rhythm is going to be heartbroken when she finds out. I looked around, trying to see if someone was around. But of course, there wasn’t. The storm was too powerful to be out doing whatever. And it was late. You’d have to be crazy to go outside at a time like this.

I looked back at the twisted body of Sano. I had to do something, right?

So I picked up his sword and sheathed it, resting it on his chest along with his severed arm. I then dragged him into an alley so someone could find him later, instead of leaving him out in the open to freak out the locals.

Checking the ground, I found a trail of blood in the crevasses, the pounding rain still haven’t been able to reach there. The winner must be at the end of the path. Whoever it is, I will hunt them down and kill them.

For Rhythm.

I started following the trail, head down and eyes squinting. There must be a lot of blood for rain like this to not be able to wash it away.

A few streets down, and still, the trail led to no one. It was a shaky path, meaning the victor was unstable, hurt already. Probably already dead with the amount still here. I looked up, to see a form slumbered on the ground, right where the trail ended. Crimson spread from the limp body, as their life drained away.

What I noticed, though, was how the body seemed too small to cause so much damage to a man like Sano. But the good news, I would be able to avenge him for her without a problem.

I stopped, a few feet away from the twisted form.

Wouldn’t Rhythm want to avenge him herself? I though.

Now that I think of it, she’d kill me, and probably leaving me in a worst shape than Sano. Fine, I’ll just drag them back to her, alive, and let her kill them.

(AN: I know! The suspense is killing me too!)

The victor let out a snuffle, as though they were crying. Why would they cry after a victory like that? Unless they were a wuss.

“Hey, you’re going to have to pay for what you did to Sano back there,” I growled.

I knelt down, only to fall back (yet again) when I realized who they were.

Rhythm laid there, eyes shadowed as blood, tears, rain, and snot ran down her face. The only part of her that was moving was her juttering lip and chest as it rose and fell unevenly. Kunais jutted from her body as the flesh around them slowly turned purple.

“R-Rhythm,” I gasped. My heart clenched at the sight. How could she be like this?! How?

“Z-Zoro. . . I. .  why am’b I crying? Wha’s goin’d on why- why does it hurt so much?” She whispered.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “Hold on.” I grabbed her blood-soaked sword and the scruff of her shirt, dragging her under the eve of a shop.

The rain was loud, but at least we were away from the pounding bullets.

I lay here gently down against the wall. She gasped from the slight movement as the wound on her side squelched more blood.

I cupped her face, tears poured freely down mixing with the blood and snot. “What happened? Why are you like this?”

“S-Sano. He’s completely insane. He tried to kill me and we fought, but I- I killed him,” more tears fell. Thank god her bangs and the dim lighting covered her eyes. I didn’t what to know where it was coming from.

“So you did that to him?” I whispered.

Rhythm nodded, sniffling as her breath came out in short, ragged gasps.

I didn’t ever want to see her like this. I hurt me so much, and I just wanted to find a way to take this pain away from her and into me, or at least feel what she’s feeling now. The mixed up emotions that played across her face, as her body shook with effort to remain conscious.

Why is fate such a sick, twisted bastard to let this happen to her?

“Rizumu . . .” I said. Pulling her into my arms, I let her rest her head on my shoulder. “Let it out. It’s normal to cry after something like this.” For girls, that is.

And Rhythm did. She released all her emotions in to a long, loud, emotional cry; tears came spilling down faster than the blood. She cried like a small child does when they find out their parents died, or a sick newborn, or even when a widow cries for her dead husband when he’s lowered into the ground, forever buried in his casket.

I couldn’t do anything but hold her close and whisper softly in her ear, how it will be okay and that he was a douchebag anyway.

We sat like this for who knows how long. Minutes, hours. Time was nothing under this small eve, where Rhythm’s cries of anguish and pain disappeared into the night, masked by the falling rain. I rested my head against her blood stained mattered hair, holding her closer as my hands clenched her back, supporting her in her emotional breakdown.

After what seemed like an eternity, Rizumu’s cries faded so soft sniffles. Then after a moment of silence, she said, “Clean my sword for me, will you? I don’t want his blood to rust my blade.”

I nodded, “I will.”

“Oh, and the knives are poisoned,” she whispered, as she drifted off to sleep.

Well shit.

______________________________________________

Forever. That’s how long I’ve wanted to post this. I’ve proof read this so many times, edited it and all. It will be PERFECT!