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Love, Jealousy, and Homicide
Once upon a time, in the land of Taiget, a young god, the god of sound and speed. He had recently announced his love for the goddess of earth, Kenuyai. Heihashì, Kenuyai's fiancé, was virtually unbeatable at the Coliseum. He had black eyes, was very tall, and somewhat muscular, his strength beyond that of twenty-five men together. His temple's walls were lined with the very trophies he had won in tournaments held. Even the other gods stood no chance against him, many were too afraid to even try, looking at the damage he had done to the mortals. The gods did not play clean however, Heihashì himself often 'increased his luck' while in the Coliseum. However, the other gods and himself felt that it was their duty to use their gifts, as they are what seperated them from the mortals, other than their welcoming home at a nearby waterfall-cave. Heihashì was participating in a tournament this week as well. He had remained undefeated so far in every tournament, every round. Often, he would dramatically take a blow or two, making the audience, and his opponent, think of him unworthy as a contestant, but would then give them a wink, and tear them apart. He had used the appearance of a "poor ninja looking for a way to find money, even if he had to risk his life to 'support his pregnant wife".
There was one fact that slightly bothered the god though. Somehow a man had made it through the tournament unharmed and unscathed. What bothered him even more, to the point of obsession and insanity was the fact that the man was blind. Blind! He often paced in the secret palace behind the far-off waterfall that was the home to all gods, while Kenuyai tried to calm him down, which to her dissatisfaction, was nearly impossible. How had a blind man made it to the semi-finals? Heihashì was watching the blind man constantly since he had heard about his progress in the tournaments. He had left no clues behind, all he did all day was carry endless tributes to, Ridier, the goddess of souls that were killed in spite. Or in other words, she was the goddess of homicide. Many of the gods and goddesses often tried to keep her in a good spirit, for as it came with her powers, she was the only one that could kill another god or goddess. As gruesome as it may sound, she was not a murderer. She was often very light, and optimistic. In fact, it was her job to escort the unrested souls to the afterlife. However, she had seemed somewhat disappointed with Heihashì's love choice.
Finding no answers in the blind man's actions, Heihashì returned to the waterfall-cave, to sleep there, Kenuyai by his side. The next day, everyone in Taiget gathered in the stands of the Coliseum, the noise of the fans and onlookers deafening the ears of the immortal god. Heihashì was outside the Coliseum and was bragging about his victories so far to a local, who seemed completely bored with the topic, and would rather saw both his legs off than talk to the contestant. In the local man's view, the other 3 semi-finalists were just as good, the blind man perhaps fought even being better. The annoyed man scurried off with an explaination very unbelievable. However, in his excitement, the god had actually believed that the man had to flee the Coliseum because he was being stalked by blind hitmen; hired by the blind semi-finalist himself.
Heihashì soon afterward entered a room in the Coliseum; specificly designed for the participators. However, since there were six rooms , and only four semi-finalists, left, or alive, they each had a room to their own, with a pair of servants in each chamber to do their bidding. After giving himself a peptalk, he entered the Coliseum arena as more cheers exploded from the crowd, the sound was so deafening, it sounded like a swarm of bees' buzzing. He had a whip coiled on his belt, along with twin tiger-head hook swords in his hands. His eyes were fierce, yet excited, like a child's. His opponent came into the large open Coliseum arena sporting a rapier on his belt, and a large sword seemingly unliftable, covered in what appeared to be bandages, was in his hands. Puzzled, the god of sound and speed stared at the mans large weapon making a mental note to find the smithsman who created the object later, after he had defeated the enemy, and have one made by Werthrr, the master smithsman of the gods. Then, he laid his eyes upon the man himself. He was huge, muscles the size of infants on his biceps, and a hideously scarred face, and arms. He looked like a soldier that was tortured for years, the ones who had held him captive trying to find how many scars they could leave him with before he died. Shuddering, hoping he would never have to see another like him again, he waited. They both continued to wait, testing each other mentally, then finally the tremendously ugly man struck first. He ran blindly into the fight, swinging the deathbringing sword irrationally , his weapon slightly stained with blood doubtlessly from the previous fights. Heihashì had used his speed to his advantage, and bulleted past the man, who was still running, unable to stop his stampede. The god had swiftly taken his whip, and snapped it at the man's back, leaving a stinging red welt. The man winced, and let out a ferocious growl. This time, he let out a sideways slash. However, he was struck with a surprise when the clever god jumped and landed on his sword itself. To the mortals, it may have been impossible, but to a god of speed, it was an act they might had preformed as a child. Grinning, the black-eyed god pushed on the mans forehead, using his own weight to throw the ugly opponent off balance. He then strung a long combination of whip attacks and short punches to knock him to the ground. Then, with inhuman speed, he pulled out his twin tiger-head swords, and placed them on both sides of his neck, then delivered the final blow to the man's immortal skin. A final scream shot through the Coliseum, before another raucious explosion of screaming, cheering, and other, inhuman, sounds. He quietly exited the Coliseum, smirking somewhat. He wiped his swords on his clothing, giving them light red stains. He would ask Lyria --the goddess of cleanliness-- to wash them for him later. He was greeted at the exit of the arena by the two servants from his room, and they escorted him back to it. When he arrived to his room, a letter was hanging on the door. It read:
Congratulations!
You have hereby been declared the winner of your fight in the Coliseum. You must stay away from the arena, as the fight delcaring your opponent in the Finals takes place. There are special clothes on your cot. You may keep these if you live, win or lose. However, you may not take them off until the fight is at end. It is a tradition held here, and you will be disqualified if you refuse to participate in it. You may choose to put them on today, or tomorrow, but they must be on when you enter the arena. Meet your opponent in the arena when the sun is high in the sky. If you are not there within a short time-span, you will be forced to forfeit. Please tell your two servants if you need anything, we will do our best to please you. If you happen to win tomorrow, you will be rewarded a pure gold trophy cup, and a sum of 500 gold pieces.
Heihashì smiled as he read the letter, then stuck it in his pocket. When he walked into the room, it was covered in decorations, and a large tub full of warm water was giving of steam in the center. After he had washed himself up, he decided to slip into his silk-like clothes that he was rewarded. They were dark, Lapis Lazuli in color, a golden olive tree branched out from his stomach, the branches reaching out to the sleeves ends, which were lined with blossoms. Where the pattern had met the pants, roots climbed down his legs and ended at the bottom, where the fire of the underworld was displayed. He was pleased with the clothing, it was sure to be some of Taiget's best handiwork. The fire on torches in the room lightened parts of the cloth, so it shined a brighter blue, giving it the appearance of motion as the flames licked.
He was in the middle if cleaning his wicker sandles, when his enhanced hearing had picked up a loud scream of fear, or pain, somewhere far off in the building. He swiftly dismissed his servants,and they bowed in respect and scurried away much like mice. Heihashì had strode in the direction of the scream, wondering what was happening, perhaps it came from the arena? No. He quickly discarded that idea, when he relized it came from the opposite direction. Turning down many corridors, rising curiosity and confusion flashed upon him, when the blind man passed him in one of the long hallways. Long sleeves flowed passed his hands, a cane sticking out of one of the sleeves. He dramatically slowed his pace to not raise the blind man's suspicion. Then, once he was out of the same corridor, he began to walk in a fast speed again. Then, remembering the blind have great hearing, he used his powers as god of sound, and hushed his footsteps. Anxiety weighing down on him, he began to run, turning hallway after hallway, following where he had pinpointed the place where the scream had orignated. He turned down one last corridor, ready for anything that was to come. Or thats what he thought.
Heihashì's first emotion was pure horror, then it was overcame quickly with grief. A thick, red liquid sank through his sandle, and he looked down to find a woman laying in her own blood. Her was face twisted in so much agony, that she was barely recognizable, even the god of identity could not have been able to solve who it was. His heart sank quickly in his chest, when he finally discovered who the woman was. A single, hushed words escaped his lips.
"Kenuyai....." Eyes opened wide, he allowed himself to slide on the side of the wall, ending up sitting the puddle of blood. The olive trees roots, and a large other part of his pants were now purple, due to the mix of pigments. He could feel the warm blood on his legs, it would have bothered him, had he not been traumatized at this point. He found no cut on her at first, no head wound, and nothing on the front of her. Contrary to this, when he turned her over, he saw two large slices upon her back, one on each side of her spine. Other than this wound, even though he searched intently, he found no other signs of evidence of her killer, or how to revive her. There were only a few things that could kill a god or goddess. He thought at first it was a dragon attack. He knew of nesting ground nearby. This was proved wrong with the fact that they do not usually leave a body, but eat their victims. In the end, he decided it was most likely a chimera attack, as they had deadly claws. He gently opened her hand, and inserted his in it, closing his eyes, and seeing her face. He opened his eyes again, not wanting to be tormented by her face, before this. He just now noticed that the walls weren't only splashed with her blood, but also her bloody handprints. This has proven, that she had attempted to flee.
Who could have done this??? Heihashì thought the question to himself, trying to face back tears as he lifted her body. The blow of solemnity had made the goddess of earth feel heavier than any weight he had lifted in his life. He carried her body through the Coliseum, and into a nearby forest. Here, Heihashì set her on the forest ground, knowing shes want to be with nature. The Earth showed it grief by making a grave for her, first mummifying her body-- leaving her neck and head uncovered--with leaves. Suddenly, a nearby tree's bark split, revealing a hollow inside. The vines had carried her into the hollow tree, so she was standing up, and then the bark grew back, covering her face. Heihashì was about to attack the tree, for stealing his fiancé's corpse, but stoped, as the bark began to rapidly age, until it was fossilized, and he could see her pale face through it. Above it, a heart was cut into the bark, by the tree itself. Inside the heart, was an intricately designed rose, caught in the act of its leaves falling. Satisfied with Earth's gift, he exited the forest.
Heihashì trudged back to the Coliseum, now allowing the tears he had held in earlier to be released, as they streamed his face. In his last fight, the Finals, he would take out his anger and sadness against whomever it was he would fight. He would ignore the fact that they were not the true murderer. All he was thinking about was avenging his love's death. His thought of revenge reminded his that he didn't know who he was going up against. He was hoping it was the blind man, but was also somewhat terror-stricken by his ongoign march through each round. He doubted he could have made it as a finalist though, he must have made it this far on sheer luck.
He slipped into bed, Heihashì's dreams filled with pictures of Kenuyai holding out her hand for him to help her out from the darkness that surrounded her, and was tearing her further, and further from him. He seemingly could not move his body though, and could only watch her drift further away, asking for help.He could only murmer an appology.
He readied himself, his eyes monotonous and without sleep. He was wearing his blue clothing he was given, though they were hard to move to to the wet blood. He had successfully removed some of it by getting in the large tub with the clothing on, the alteration of the water making it red. Now, wearing boots instead of sandals he had been wearing, he tied the laced, pulling them as tight as he could. He marched into the stadium, ignoring the cheers, and the bystanders could feel a large tension in the air. He ceased all soundings, and watched as in the distance, a body, in a similar outfit, but a bright orange, came marching to the center of the arena. As he had expected, and slightly doubted at the same time, the blind man made his presence.
After a few minutes, the blind man threw back his cane, revealing his hands, which were covered in something red, looking like paint. As he walked closer to Heihashì, the god relized that finally it wasn't paint, or dye, but blood. In fact, it was Kenuyai's blood. It all started to make sense. He had saw the blind man in the corridor the day of his soon-to-be-bride's death. Also, he was wearing a very long sleeved shirt, to hide the blood on his hands.
"You!" Heihashì hissed at the man. He would have probably shot venom out of fangs if he were truely a snake.
"Me? May I help you?" The man acted as if they didn't even know of each other's presence, or that that were going to fight together, most likely to the death.
"Why did you kill Kenuyai?" He was now shouting, his face red, veins on his neck sticking out slightly as adrenaline, and new bloodlust rushed forth. "How could you have killed Kenuyai? The only things that can kill a god...." He paused here, revealing his true self, in an attempt to terrify the blind man. He had forgot that the man was blind in his raging fury. "...is a handful of creatures, or....." He completely stopped his sentence here. His eyes opened wide in understanding
"Finally you caught on." He blind man's voice rang, a new feminine touch to it. As if in turn, another disguise was discarded, and from a dark billow of smoke that was created, the elegant goddess Ridier emerged. "I was beginning to think you were completely ignorant. Ah', but that would only increase my love for you." She said in a sigh. She was wearing a dress, handmade by the god of sewing and craftmanship. It was glowing in the sun, as he had to look away to resist being hypnotized by the beautiful floral design.
"Why did you destroy my love?" Heihashì yelled out, completely thick-headedly. His fists clenched and unclenched, trying to get them as tight as he could make them. He dove at her, but she easily avoided his dash. He then did a long spin attack, looking like a human and blade cyclone, and she again avoided easily. Sighing she answered his question with impatience.
"I just answered that!" She shouted, wondering wether to be terribly ferocious, excited, or start crying from her his indifferance. Her eye slightly twitched, swaying her beauty, but then it regained its full hypnotism and radiance. Heihashì looked into the crowd to see many of the men drooling over themselves due to her looks, he was only able to resist it, because he was a god. He stopped it attacks, knowing it was futile to keep attacking in such a nature. He leaned up against the side of a wall, a bit dizzy from the spin attack. "I'm jealous! There I said it! I admit it! What did she have that I don't? I'm beautiful! I'm perfect!" She screamed, stamping her foot. She stammered to herself for a while then looked gravely back to him. "If I can't have you, nobody can!" She hissed, mumbling a foreign language at him. He backed away slightly, and picked up her cane that was nearby, in a last resort to save himself.
"La recienda, Fa rey!" She ended her chanting and held out her hands, a silver mist of shot towards him, and he twirled the cane, blurring its form with the speed of which he was spinning it. The silvery mist shot of the cane, and hit Ridier in the chest, knowcking her on the ground. She then let a tear fall before her body turned into a black shadow, and sank into the ground.
About once, every three months of the year, the tree released Kenuyai from her tree's grave, and one of four events takes place. In the first, her death is mourned, and the world turns barren and cold. In the second, she is held high, and the blood that still dripped from her body caused it to rain, and plants to begin to grow. Third, the sun shines bright happy that her death was avenged, and the crops flourish. Lastly, the leaves fall off, and fall onto her body and blood, causing them to change colors, and turn red. Thus were the seasons created.
Written by:
Me
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