Deadly Hatred
Characters: Rankati, Kehelon.Rated PG. Warning: mild violence.
Rankati sighed, falling against a tree and sliding down its rough trunk. It had just rained, and the forest smelled wetly green. The earth demon closed her golden eyes and leaned her head back, exhaustion plaguing both muscles and mind. Keeping track of suspicious Subishi-related deaths in the past week had taken its toll on her; she'd not gotten hardly any sleep, hadn't eaten more than a mouthful of travel rations, and had only supplied herself with enough water to function moderately well. That was all. Though tall, lean, and at the peak of her health, 'Kati could only take so much neglect before she began to feel the effects, and it was now, six or seven days after she began her constant surveillance, that she could no longer go on.
The fertile soil was damp and cool under her limp fingertips, and she coiled her long, sinuous tail around her waist to avoid coating the mocha length and tawny tailtuft with mud. Her clothing was already stained, dirty, and torn; she again needed a new outfit due to prolonged, rapid-fire battles in which thrown blades and stars barely missed her dark brown skin. What once was a casual yet appealing outfit of baggy trousers, sleeveless shirt, and a loose cloth jacket tied with a ropy belt had become mere rags, barely affording the demon decency. Despite the battles, 'Kati had avoided even the merest scratch on her flesh, and the remembering of such success brought a quiet smile to her lips. The type of Ayshu to take on a group of Subishi alone, she normally didn't avoid bloodying her own hide during battle.
One long, pointed ear flicked and one cat-slitted eye opened. Danger? 'Kati could barely focus enough to listen more carefully, shallowing her breath. The other eye eased open and her gaze darted amongst the misty shadows, but there was nothing. She was tired enough not to care if it was a Subishi; she'd outlived her usefulness by far, disowned by her own House. Formally, she was no longer an Ayshu, though she still lived by the Code, and lived for the People. Fought the Subishi and other like beings. But it was a harsh existance, especially when one could no longer rely on Allies... only protect them. For Rankati, there was only the People, and the Enemy. The Subishi assassins. She hated them... or was it that she feared them? Either way, she was too exhausted to care. If one had found her, then within the next few seconds, she would find a thin blade piercing her heart. It didn't seem to matter anymore.
But no sliver of sharpened metal plunged into her flesh, and she breathed easier for it, closing her eyes again and letting once-tensed muscles slacken and go limp. The demon knew that, without sleep, she was easy prey and the automatic loser of any battle. It was sleep or die. So sleep the ex-Ayshu did, in the midst of a quiet, rain-lulled forest in which there was no shelter, protection, nor friend. But then, there were no signs of an enemy, either.
It was unusual for her to sleep the sleep of the exhausted... so when the tiny dart sank into her hand, she barely twitched before the liquid spread on the tip took effect.
A little green-skinned creature tugged on the demon's long, bleached-blonde braid, huge dark eyes glinting curiously. An admonitory tap on its hairless skull was enough to make the monkey-sized beast draw back, rasping in its throat. "What have you brought me?" a nobility-tainted voice demanded, a stately human woman sweeping up. Her multi-hued, lacy gown was horribly out of place in this world of greens and browns, earth and leaf and rain. A black-robed demon bowed low, sharp ears angled back... in respect or in dislike, the woman could not tell. One did not read a Subishi... one paid and ordered them. Nothing more and certainly nothing less. "An Ayshu that I found resting. She is unconscious and will remain so for another few hours. Your wishes, mrekahn?" the demon asked, using her Subishi-given title of 'employer' in his formality.
The raven-haired beauty lifted one red-painted nail to tap her chin. "I care not. Ayshu are not my problem, Subishi. If she's not pitted against me, then I don't have any reason to want her dead. Return her, kill her, do whatever you people do with captive Ayshu. Just be prepared to carry out my next orders at any time, Subishi." Glittering grey eyes lidded briefly and the pointed ears twitched another few degrees backwards, but the assassin bowed his head. The woman left with unhurried steps, returning to her carriage and her entourage that waited anxiously. The Subishi repressed a snort of disdain; such underlings, living only for their superiors, worth nothing without her and less with her, deserved to die. Perhaps, when he left this woman's service, he would help them in that area.
But it was his business to deal with the Ayshu that he had drugged. His pet, a gaunt little forest creature, hopped onto his shoulder and rasped noisily, pointing one many-jointed finger at the prone woman. Apparently some comment that it felt should be shared; the assassin cared little for the pet, only that it behaved and cleaned the blood and filth from his belongings after a kill. Subishi did not tolerate impractical things. Almost as an afterthought, the compact assassin slipped his black hood from his face, baring angular features, sharp fangs, and short-cut silver hair that did nothing to mask his long, almost elfin ears. He was a successful Subishi, with many kills staining his fingers in the traditional way of keeping count of trophies - small black markings, raked across the backs of his fingers in precise notation. He would not forget. Those kills of exceptional importance were dyed in red, and he had none of those. He cared nothing for extravagance, for social status, for risking his neck on the off chance that a prize trophy would fall to him.
This Ayshu troubled him. He was not accustomed to catching his enemies unawares; only the fact that she had heard his presence and then not investigated clued him in to her bedraggled condition. It did not mean she wasn't a formidable warrior when awake, but it had betrayed her; she was in his hands, at his disposal. Idly, the dark-skinned assassin looked at his palm, where the Ayshu he'd killed were recorded in small, blue circles. It was tradition, that Ayshu colors were blue and Subishi colors red. Only six circles marred his small palm, and a dot within each indicated that each had been killed in battle. There was no honor, no pride, in killing a sleeping foe. He was not being paid to kill in cold blood, nor did his mrekahn particularly wish this demon dead. For that... he was uncertain.
I have hours yet to decide, he reminded himself, ears slowly angling upwards to a less hostile position. The fool human, not knowing the simplest of body language, she who could not express herself in barely half the ways a demon could. Hours yet. The green beast, all legs and skinny torso and scorpionesque tail, pointed at the Ayshu again and whirred this time, bulbous eyes even wider in some mock emotion. The Subishi looked down again, and froze as his grey eyes met those of vivid golden. Her breathing had not altered, and she had not moved except to open her eyes. There was a look of no-quarter in that amber gaze that said she would fight for her life, but as the assassin suddenly noticed her hand at her waist, those eyes clouded. He had stripped her of her typical Ayshu weaponry-belt; it lay some distance away. He had too many weapons to let her get that far, and his aim was excellent, revered among his peers. She couldn't possibly know that, but her gaze was calculating.
Rankati swore mentally as she carefully shielded all emotion from her face, engaging in a staring contest with the slender, almost petite Subishi. The assassins tended towards smaller builds, treasuring speed and mobility over strength and endurance. Ayshu had to try to match them, though overall Ayshu tended to be a bit larger, stronger, but less quick and agile. An even trade in most cases, but now such speed was deadly. She knew exactly where her weapons were, could feel the chill of the deadly blades from where she sprawled, lacking the usual bodyheat that they shone with and now simply glinting with hostility. Metal spoke to an earth demon, just as stone and soil did; Rankati was no exception in this matter.
For a long moment, mortal enemies faced each other, unmoving and silent. Neither blinked. Breathing and pulses never changed from soft and steady; no muscles betrayed the battle of wills by twitching or tensing. The Subishi finally spoke in a low, measured tone. "My name is Kehelon. My employer does not care what I do with you." Finally, a reaction; the Ayshu grinned. "My name is Rankati. If you expect me to bargain or plead, you've another thing coming." The name Rankati tugged at his memory, a warning bell, but of a different kind than those triggered by the most deadly Ayshu. An almost dirge-like toll. The earth demon must've read his expression, because she added, "Not though it matters, my House has disowned me." Kehelon's grey eyes widened minutely and a slight grin twitched at his lips. "You live as an Ayshu still." It was not a question, but 'Kati inclined her head ever so slightly, still motionless as a whole. She wasn't pushing him, but he sensed her readiness. Her will to fight was like the smell of blood; intoxicating, provocative.
It was at this precise moment of conscious restraint that Kehelon found himself suddenly staring up at the taller Ayshu and pressing a blade that he did not remember unsheathing to her dark throat. Golden eyes glittered with wry appreciation. "Fast," was all she said, now standing and within arm's-reach of him - all too obvious, as his left arm did not waver, the knife's sharp edge not yet taking her life.
"Tsuh," was his huffed response, unnerved at her speed. Taller by about a foot but barely more muscular, he hadn't expected her to move that quickly. But she had, and now she might be able to do something dangerous. He appreciated that, and noted that his pet had scurried into the nearest tree, rasping loudly.
"I'll fight you, Subishi... but I will not walk away. Either lean forward and try to end me, or give me a decent battle." Rankati's voice was firm, and the amusement was suddenly gone from her face, lips now in a thin, uncompromising line. Kehelon appreciated that, too. Bravery to dare him the easy way out, when she might full well kill him in battle.
"I did not earn my kills by risk, Ayshu," he responded easily, and she half-lidded her eyes in what might have been a nod of understanding... but he had never paid much attention to Ayshu subtleties, being as they were the enemy. Now he did, and wondered. And he remembered, at the last possible instant, that she had dared him to try to end her like this-- the wrist-flick that should have left her throat gaping barely sliced her skin as she threw herself backwards with amazing quickness. He swore.
Rankati almost laughed at the surprise flitting across the assassin's angular features, his storm-grey eyes widening minutely before he drew a handful of blades in true Subishi-style: one long, thin, hiltless blade between each finger, perfectly held. With an experienced gesture, the four blades found themselves arching towards the earth demon's muddied, rag-clothed form so quickly that 'Kati herself was surprised. She twisted to the side, dodging two, reaching out her left hand to catch them as they zipped by, barely catching the other pair in her right as they angled in for deadly hits. With a fluid motion, the four blades found them held with equal precision in a new hand, Subishi-style, and Kehelon's eyes widened again. "No Ayshu ever mastered this technique of ours," he stated calmly, withdrawing another handful of knives to match hers.
"You've not met me before, Subishi, so I'll forgive you this ignorance." Rankati grinned fiercely as the two, now separated by fifteen meters, simultaneously threw their blades. Each of the four blades met its mirror image, tip striking right on with razor-sharp tip - all eight blades shattered as though the high-quality metal were no stronger than glass. Kehelon was taken aback and swore under his breath as the metal shards fell to the moist earth, echoing 'Kati's quiet laughter. But the ex-Ayshu did not allow him time to regroup his thought, diving instead for her weapons belt; Kehelon inhaled and exhaled deliberately, letting her buckle it on and lay hand to her own weaponry. "A fair fight you'll have, Ayshu who is no more Ayshu," he said simply, drawing forth from his own belt a wickedly serrated throwing star. 'Kati scowled, hating this type of weapon the most, and drew a smooth, sharp-edged disc and set it between thumb and forefinger, dwarfed by the Subishi's palm-sized star.
"For what you must know, consider me Ayshu." It was less a retort than it was a statement of fact, and the earth demon focused wholly upon the Subishi. Ears and eyes almost straining with concentration, it was by the tiniest shred of luck that 'Kati detected the throw - the Subishi hand is faster than even the Ayshu eye at times - and sent her own disc spinning to intercept the star. They met and merged with the force of the two throws, falling at her feet. Frighteningly close. 'Kati grinned, but so did Kehelon. And that unnerved her more than the close call.
Again, the Subishi pitted throwing star against silver disc and, at the same exact distance, they melded into a seamless clump of crumpled metal. "Your skill is impressive for an Ayshu," the slight demon admitted, and quite abruptly vanished. 'Kati flung herself forward, avoiding the assassin's blow from behind, and spun to catch his punch with her open palm.
"As is yours, for a Subishi," she said evenly, grinning at his speed-blurred face as he rebounded easily. And in retort, 'Kati moved quickly enough to seemingly disappear, veering at a sharp angle before coming straight at the now-turning assassin, leaping over his head, landing, turning - punch met with kick, a slippered foot connecting solidly with her fist. Both blows were neutralized and the opponents sprang back, working the shock from their muscles.
"You're no ordinary Ayshu." Kehelon's grey eyes were hard. "Your name rings a bell, but not a dangerous one. Who are you?"
'Kati arched a blonde brow, the pale color stark against mocha skin. "Since when does a Subishi care about even his opponent's name?" The slender demon flashed his fangs in a mirthless grin, but didn't answer. And Rankati had no intention of spilling her life story to a man that might kill her in the next three seconds, or whose blood she might find staining her hands. Abruptly, a long dirk appeared in those deft hands and the assassin vanished again, using the split second of off-balance, just as 'Kati had. She barely avoided its length sinking into her heart; as it was, cold steel drove a few inches into her left shoulder before her lunge backwards took her out of range. Kehelon pressed forward, but his blade was parried by a three-pronged dagger expertly wielded.
The earth demon regained her balance almost instantly and leaned into the one-handed bladeplay, listening to the fine steel sing and produce sparks with each note. It soothed her pain and eased her mind into the full rhythm of the fight, and as she did during most duels, she found herself acutely aware of only the Subishi and her immediate surroundings. Fresh blood and pain streaking to her heart and head were ignored as finally her steel tore into Kehelon's side, scraping against ribs but not doing major damage. "Bloodscore settled," Rankati murmured half-audibly, an almost automatic statement. She'd fought too many battles with far more vehemence than now to not say it.
"Wrong," Kehelon's calm voice contradicted, and 'Kati found a new source of pain in her thigh. Just as quickly, the Subishi was staggering back, a deep gash in his upper right arm pouring blood.
"Wrong indeed. Bloodscore settled, with you worse off." Effortlessly, the earth demon slid her first dagger into her left hand, now slowed by pain and injury, and drew the second of the pair into her right. "Can you match my two with your one, Subishi?" The assassin nearly laughed and darted into the battle again, and soon the blades sang a bloodier, more slick-metered song than before. Rankati, in some private corner of her mind that was still objective, noted that she had not had such a strong, skilled opponent in many months. The last of the drug was finally wearing off, just in time to let her wounds pain her full-force, and her exhaustion was coming back to haunt her. Her muscles quivered, and she was only abstractly pleased to note Kehelon's weariness. It seemed that he had been working recently as well.
After another furious exchange of bladeplay, blood, and martial artistry, they backed off, panting. "Just thought I'd swell your ego," 'Kati breathed, "by telling you you're the best opponent I've fought in months. And I've not been idle, either; I don't deal with small fish in this pond."
Kehelon almost laughed, but contented himself with a grim little smile. "You're the most efficient Ayshu I've ever encountered," and now he flashed his palm with the six blue circles at her, "but I've not much experience against your kind. I find there is much to learn, and much to look forward to." The earth demon nodded, feeling the blood soak her clothing and dribble down her skin, and realizing that her enemy was doing the same thing; simply feeling. The pain hit her like a lightning bolt, and both Ayshu and Subishi jerked in unison.
Rankati found the humor in the situation and laughed under her breath. "I don't want to kill you... Kehelon." She finally honored him by using his name, and his elfin ears twitched at that. "You're too much fun to fight," she added, grinning enough to display fangs much like his own. The Subishi raised one narrow brow and let the frown fall from his face.
"Fun would not be my word of choice, but you've my agreement on the reciprocal." Golden eyes half-lidded, an unspoken question. Kehelon studied the taller Ayshu - blonde mane braided down to her back, dark skin, blood and exhaustion staining her, rags for clothing - and found little to distrust. He found himself being studied in the same way, and thought of how he must appear; now bloodied and wounded, dark as well, silver-haired and -eyed, robed in a black cloak, under which was a black tunic and trousers... and knew she might not see him as a threat.
Rankati did not wait for her enemy to fully decide; she straightened and sheathed her twin daggers in one smooth, weary movement. "I will return for you, Kehelon." The statement was neither threat nor promise... it was challenge. The Subishi, knowing himself unable to argue through reason and pain, sheathed his dirk and eased his slender frame out of fighting stance. Rankati grinned, saluted him jauntily, and quite suddenly was running through the forest, with creditable speed and grace for one as pained as she. For his part, the Subishi gathered and buried his ruined weaponry, his pet cautiously trailing him. After settling himself against a tree not within the battle area, he allowed the little creature to tend his wounds.
As for Rankati... she ran on, knowing exactly where to hide and heal. And knowing exactly when Kehelon would be fully healed, so that they could fight on better terms. He was too good an opponent to waste.