Sorrowful Seraphim: Alright this one is supposed to be a multi-chapter, but I guess it really depends on my reviews.
Disclaimer: Still don't Shaman King or the characters
Warning: There is NO yaoi in this chapter, but there will be in future chapters. This chapter does however contain 1) strong language and 2) A LOT of blood descriptions.
It hurt. Everything hurt. My legs and arms, my head and back, everything. I could do nothing to stop the pain. I couldn't move. I couldn't breath. All I remembered was falling, falling until I hit the hard cold surface I know lay upon. There was no pain until now, and it felt as if someone had grinded my body in some kind of machine.
Even though I couldn't move, I could still see, barely. The vision in my left eye was red and blurry. I guess I was bleeding profusely from many places. I could see in my peripheral vision, the blood that was pouring from the numerous wounds in my body.
I couldn't scream or call for help; the copper taste and dripping feeling coming from my mouth told me my throat was crushed. I knew this was the end. No one knew I was here. I would have to suffer until I bled to death, or died from lack of oxygen.
It was just a few hours ago, if I hadn't been out for long, that I was sitting with my friends, happily chatting about the Shaman Tournament in the cave that we were staying in for the night. We were laughing and eating hot food Ryu had cooked up for us on the fire, and nothing could have me any happier at that moment.
I decided to go exploring through the vast caverns that began near the back of the cave. I was going to ask Ren or Lyserg to come along, but decided against it. And Amidamaru was chatting away with Bason, so I chose to not disturb them. DAMN myself for that! If I hadn't been so stupid and gotten someone to come along, then I wouldn't be in this situation right now. I wouldn't be about to die!
I walked through the many openings in the walls of the cave, marveling at the wonders of nature's processes. It didn't occur to me, even for a fucking second that I would get lost! How fucking stupid am I! I knew I acted pretty dense sometimes, but that was damn near ridiculous! Just look where my stupidity got me! Lying on some hard cold stone, in a small ravine that was about to become my grave! For God's sake, how could I be so damn foolish!
When I first discovered I was lost, I didn't immediately panic. It wasn't until about an hour of fumbling around that I first started to feel uneasy about the whole thing. I picked up my pace, never once noticing the large openings in the floor, but to no avail, I was completely lost. And there were noises, strange crawling noises. I couldn't stand it! I completely panicked and lost it. I dashed forward at a speed I myself didn't know my legs could take me, and the last thing I remember was falling, falling, falling, until I hit a hard cold surface.
When I finally got my train of though back, I realized that I must have fallen through one of the openings in the cavern floor. Now I was cursing myself over panicking. I was a shaman. I had been through trials much more frightening than a cave, so why had I panicked?
Not that it mattered now. My spine was broken. I thought I could even feel it outside my body. The thought made me cringe. Both of my arms were immobilized, obviously broken or dislocated, maybe both. I could barely adjust my blurred vision far enough to see that my legs were twisted at odd angles and bleeding more blood than I thought I had.
I began to cry. I was supposed to become Shaman King and live a happy life. I was supposed to bring honor to my family. I had placed it upon myself to stop Hao, whoever he was, before he eradicated all the humans. But now I would never be able to because I was about to die.
I began to hear my gushing blood drip over the side of the large slate rock I lay on. The sound made me sick, nauseous, and I didn't know how long I could stand to here it. My denial of the events that had led to this was over. I now accepted that my death would come soon, so I close my eyes and waited for my life to end.
Then I heard an unfamiliar voice, that of a small child. She was coming closer, and I didn't know why a child would be here… or maybe it wasn't a child. Perhaps it was an angel or messenger coming to lead me to the spirit world. Maybe I had just died and was about to be escorted away. Or maybe I was just delusional.
The sound of small feet patting their way toward me caught my ears. They stopped mere feet from me, and I heard a light gasp. Angels wouldn't gasp at a mangled body, would they? Then I heard the small child speak.
"Ha…Hao-sama! Opacho has found him!" Hao-sama? No. It was one of Hao's followers, most likely the little African girl I'd seen with him so often. This couldn't be happening. I was inches from death and now Hao was coming to punish me further? Why? Why was this happening to me?
Hot tears were now streaming down my face. I opened my eyes strenuously to see the small girl called Opacho standing in front of my body. Her expression was that of horror and disgust. I could tell she'd never seen so much blood and gore. I wasn't entirely sure I had either.
Suddenly a burst of flames erupted before me, and out them came none other than Hao himself. The look in his eyes was so different from the any way I'd even seen him look when he gazed upon my torn and broken body. What was that look? Concern? Pity? Worry? Those were not traits of the Hao I knew.
He looked directly into my eyes, seeing that I was still conscious. The look in his eyes doubled in intensity. He clenched his fists. I was becoming so confused by his actions. It was almost like he cared. But why would that be? Hao showed no concern towards his followers' wellbeing, and that was the interest he had in me, right?
"Hao-sama? Is Yoh-sama dead?" Opacho whimpered. "No, Opacho." Hao replied quickly. Wait. Yoh-sama? Why would Opacho call me master?
"You will find out soon, Yoh." I could sense my eyes widening in fear. Had Hao just read my mind? "As a matter of fact, yes I did." He stated in response to my thoughts. "Even so, this is not the time or place to discuss such matters. Your body is close to giving out on you." Don't you think I know that? I mentally shouted. "I hope so, but let's stop this arguing. You need medical attention immediately."
What? Was Hao actually going to help me? I mentally slapped myself. Of course he was, you dumb bastard! Why else would he be here! The only question that remained in my mind after that moment was: Why? Why was Hao saving my life? I guessed I'd find out soon. The thoughts of confusion in my head would not abate, even as Hao painfully lifted me into his arms, and the last of my consciousness faded into darkness.
Sorrowful Seraphim: Well, that was an interesting chapter to write. I guess you all know what people think about when they're about to die now. Well, please REVIEW!