X: 2099
Prologue one:
"The Princess is meditating." A quiet voice whispers.
"I'm sure she is," the words floated back, a hint of laughter in them.
"Come now, my lady, let us in. I'm sure Yuz…I mean the princess won't mind a visit
from her champions?"
"Perhaps you should think of something beyond yourselves. The princess could be
indisposed." The original cold voice snaps.
Yuzuriha stifled the giggle that threatened to overtake her as she listened to the argument
outside the gauzy fabric that separated her tent from the priestess'. "What do you think,
Inuki? Should I go out and see what they want?"
The spirit dog refrained from comment, merely raised his dog-eyebrows at her, not
moving from where he lay at her feet.
Yuzuriha took that as a good sign and moved across the makeshift room to pull back the
heavy flap to reveal the three figures at her doorway.
Arashi, the priestess, frowned at such behavior, as she bowed slightly to acknowledge the
girl. She kept her hands knotted tightly in front of her, careful to smooth her cool exterior
after her sudden outburst. She, like the two men behind her, was draped in the red-ish,
gauzy fabric of the Shikaku, each wearing variations of the court uniform.
"Don't be so stuffy, Arashi-chan," the princess teased, reaching forward to gently pat the
girl on the shoulder. The hidden priestess of Ise shrine had been one of her closest friends
since Arashi had come to the Shikaku court.
And the two men behind her now, were her champions and also friends. They both
dipped their heads in her presence, although one of them couldn't resist grinning. She
knew why, imagine, he of all people needing to bow in her presence!
"Fuuma, Kusanagi." She greeted, using her princess voice before she too lost control and
dissolved into giggles. "What brings you to my tent?"
"Do we need a reason to sit in the presence of your beauty?" Fumma teased gently,
ignoring Kusanagi's glare.
"We came to inform you that the Dreamgazer has had another vision." Kusanagi blurted,
his face blushing slightly as he spoke. He was always so shy, Yuzuriha thought, so odd
for such a man. He could be so outspoken and direct in other ways.
Arashi gasped slightly at that news, it was what they had come for, leaving the relative
safety of the Shikaku court to seek out the legendary Dreamgazer. The journey had been
a long one, and all were shocked to find one frail young boy to be the object of their
search.
"Another? So soon after he'd already given the oracle my father demanded?" the princess
asked, her face a startling shade of white.
"He asks to see you." Kusanagi told her softly.
The princess sighed, her usual jovial face suddenly became shuttered and closed. "Come
Arashi, we must prepare for what he has to say."
***
All who had accompanied Yuzuriha, the child warrior, as she was called, were present in
the tiny shrine where the dreamgazer known as Kakyou sat in session. His frail body was
huddled behind yards of silk and other fabric, carefully arranged to conceal the
diminutive, yet beautiful young man. The few servants who kept the shrine knelt behind
him, unobtrusive in his presence.
The princess stood before him, Arashi at her side, along with the spirit dog, as always
supporting the girl. Her two champions stood on either side of the entrance, as was their
place. Off in the corner sat Aoki, the court scribe, who chronicled each of the
conversations between Yuzurihah and the Legend. In the opposite corner, leaning against
the wall and flipping his ridiculous hat, stood Yuuto, the strange mercenary who had
joined them halfway through their journey.
All was as it should be, Kakyou thought to himself, regarding the group. "I have had a
vision, Princess of Shikaku, one that concerns you and your …"he paused here, "friends."
For it was true, the girl was uncannily attached to her honor guard and servants. More so
than any proper princess would be. But she was no ordinary princess, after all. She was
/kamui/.
"What is it, gazer?" she asked softly, her eyes never leaving his own.
"The earth is in danger." He told her simply, "I have seen a future without the green lands
of our country. Where the fertile mountains become covered with silver slime and the
waters run foul. Even the air which we breathe, becomes only smoke to poison us."
"Fine words from one who makes his living on dreams." A snide voice cracked the
powerful speech.
Kakyou gazed at Yuuto gravely, "Disbelieve me at your own peril, Kigai."
Yuuto stiffened suddenly, "Where did you hear that name?" he demanded.
"Oh, from dreams," Kakyou smiled slightly.
"Enough, both of you," the princess ordered, "If what you say is true, how can we
prevent it?"
The dreamgazer stood slowly, surprising them all, since they doubted he could move
independently at all. He walked stiffly, as if one not accustomed to it, coming to a stop
before Yuzuriha. Gently, he stroked her forehead, causing a bright symbol to come alive
at his touch. "There are always those chosen to battle for the majesty of gods. You, my
princess, and your friends, are they. You will meet your opponents seven days hence, at
the seventh hour, if you go to the seven springs of Watasumi."
"Is that how it is? You tell us what to do and we do it?" Yuuto challenged angrily.
"Hush, Yuuto, haven't you learned your lesson already?" the princess chided softly. "Our
opponents will come to meet us?"
"No, the seven dragons exist in another world. For a short time, you can be pulled into
their world. Then you must find them."
"How are we supposed to do that?" this time it was Fuuma who challenged the
Dreamgazer.
Kakyou smiled sadly, "You will find out when you get there. I will give you this." He
pulled from beneath his robes a tiny sea shell mirror, polished smooth on one side.
Taking the princess's palm in his own, he placed the tiny object there. "When you have
need to speak with me, sleep with this under your head, and I will come."
Aoki raised his head thoughtfully and asked the Dreamgazer if he could repeat the last
part, just to make sure his records were complete. Kusanagi began to groan, bemoaning
the use of a scribe who couldn't even recall what was last said.
Yuzuriha tuned out the familiar teasing, only half-hearing as Fuuma joined in. "Kakyou,"
she said softly. At her words the entire room became silent. "We will go. For Shinkaku."
End Prologue One
Begin
Prologue 2
Subaru Sumeragi frowned at the display that ran across the dimly lit screen, the
processor that served as his right eye cataloging all the code that ran by in
neat streaming bits of data. If he couldn't get this code to work by morning,
he'd have hell to pay with Satsuki Yatohji. And no one punished quite like
Satsuki.
The door to the lab slid open, the sound barely registering to Subaru's
otherwise occupied mind, but the deep baritone voice startled him right out of
his calculations.
"Subaru-kun."
"Seishirou-san," he said in reply. The man had often asked Subaru to give up his
formality, but he just couldn't do it. It was his last safeguard against the
feelings that this person aroused within him. It wasn't just Seishirou's
incredible good looks, or dripping sensuality that caused them, or at least, he
thought not. He liked to dream that there was sme connection between himself
and this tall dark almost-friend.
Seishirou slipped through the doorway, gliding into the office in one smooth
movement. "You are working late."
Subaru shrugged, "I needed to get this finished before tomorrow. You know we are
putting the final touches on the world network." he tapped the receiver in his
ear absently, his eyes glancing anywhere but at the dark figure who stared out
the long window.
"You like the view?"
"Um...yes," Subaru gulped, hoping his voice wasn't too high.
Seishirou looked back at him, a smirk upon his face. The silver shades he always
wore reflected Tokyo's light back at him. He held out his hand, motioning for
the younger man to join him at the window. "It is a lovely view," he agreed,
"The city is stunning at night."
This was true, Tokyo had become the world's center, the stronghold for Beast,
the most powerful computer ever created. Each building, even the sidewalks
themselves were infused with the mighty power of the mega-computer. Tokyo shone
silver, a beacon for the rest of the world.
Subaru had come to the man's side, wanting to move closer, but afraid to. /She/
hung in his mind, the one woman office gossip said Seishirou was linked to.
Karen Kasumi.
"Why are you here?" he blurted, hoping beyond hope Seishirou had ulterior
motives for his visit.
"To summon you to a meeting. The inner sanctum, at 2000 hours."
Subaru absently checked his clock. Ten minutes remaining. Three to walk to the
tube, another 2 for the trip through the shute..."Why didn't you just Message
me?"
"Now where would the fun be in that, besides, it's the inner sanctum, you don't
want common employees knowing you were in it, do you?" he chided.
"I guess not," Subaru sulked.
"Subaru-kun," the man asked softly, "Do you ever wonder what we would be, if
Satsuki hadn't made us..."
"Hush," for once Subaru took control, "You know Beast is always listening."
"Even so, Subaru-kun," he muttered, the lights glittering off his glasses like
odd pupils, "even so."
***
"I'm glad you could all make it," Satsuki began, stepping down the steps that
led from the protoplasmic chamber where she either communicated with or made
love to Beast, depending on current gossip. She tied the dark blue robe around
her waist with a quick gesture, although she had no qualms about these people
seeing her undressed. They were her handpicked chosen after all.
The silver and gray room unfolded into a semicircle, monitors making up most of
the walls. No windows, she detested windows. The five sat obediently around the
desk that circled the front, forming the base of the room. Subaru carefully
sitting as far from possible from Seishirou, though nearly everyone knew of his
crush upon the older man. At least, that's what gossip said.
Karen perched on Seishirou's lap, her arms folded upon her crossed legs,
appearing totally innocent by her posture. Next to them sat Sorata, who amused
himself by stealing the coffee cup of the creature sitting next to him. Nataku
looked puzzled, staring at the place where only moments before, he /knew/ he had
placed his coffee.
Nataku, now, he was her crowning achievement, her attempt at creating the
perfect man. Unfortunately, he was sexless, but Satsuki's idea of perfection
differed from a great many others.
"So, what's the big deal, boss lady?" Sorata chimed, leaning back and crossing
his legs on the table. He cracked his knuckles, clearly displaying the non
regulation driving gloves. His headset seems to be crooked and his shades,
normally reserved for processing data, were pushed back into his hair.
Ah, Sorata, what was she going to do with him? "I have found the 7th member of
the inner sanctum," she told him. "I'd like you to meet Kamui Shirou."
At her words, the door in the back of the room slipped open, revealing a short,
slim teenage with unruly hair and brilliant violet eyes. He grinned, half
leaning against the door. "Hi," he declared.
"Kamui is a telekinetic of the highest order." Satsuki continued in her droning
voice, "He will make an excellent addition to the circle."
"Now that there's finally seven of us," Sorata chimed in, "what up? I mean, for
years, you've been going on and on about us needing seven and I was kinda
wondering..."
"Enough," she commanded coldly. "I've assembled you on the advice of Hinoto-
hime, the seeress to the government."
"Oh, who needs a government, now that we've got Beast," Sorata cracked under his
breath.
"She warned of invaders, from another world."
"You mean like aliens?" Sorata again.
"Of a sort. They too possess powers like ours, but instead of understanding it
as the science it is, the quirk of genetics, they call it magic. And magic is
dangerous for us, for this world I...we've built."
"Once people believe in a higher power, then nothing we've created will have any
meaning," Kamui explained, finally coming down the stairs to be at equal level
with his teammates.
"Besides that," Satsuki continued, "They seek to destroy our world, believing
nature over science,"
"Damn tree huggers," Sorata quipped.
"Enough!" Karen reached over and poked him affectionately.
"Hey, I thought only Seishirou did the poking..."
Subaru stood abruptly, his chair falling to the ground with a resounding crash.
He cringed slightly and only said, "Where do we find these invaders?"
Satsuki smiled, a rare and terrifying event, "I thought you'd never ask."
End prologue 2
Prologue one:
"The Princess is meditating." A quiet voice whispers.
"I'm sure she is," the words floated back, a hint of laughter in them.
"Come now, my lady, let us in. I'm sure Yuz…I mean the princess won't mind a visit
from her champions?"
"Perhaps you should think of something beyond yourselves. The princess could be
indisposed." The original cold voice snaps.
Yuzuriha stifled the giggle that threatened to overtake her as she listened to the argument
outside the gauzy fabric that separated her tent from the priestess'. "What do you think,
Inuki? Should I go out and see what they want?"
The spirit dog refrained from comment, merely raised his dog-eyebrows at her, not
moving from where he lay at her feet.
Yuzuriha took that as a good sign and moved across the makeshift room to pull back the
heavy flap to reveal the three figures at her doorway.
Arashi, the priestess, frowned at such behavior, as she bowed slightly to acknowledge the
girl. She kept her hands knotted tightly in front of her, careful to smooth her cool exterior
after her sudden outburst. She, like the two men behind her, was draped in the red-ish,
gauzy fabric of the Shikaku, each wearing variations of the court uniform.
"Don't be so stuffy, Arashi-chan," the princess teased, reaching forward to gently pat the
girl on the shoulder. The hidden priestess of Ise shrine had been one of her closest friends
since Arashi had come to the Shikaku court.
And the two men behind her now, were her champions and also friends. They both
dipped their heads in her presence, although one of them couldn't resist grinning. She
knew why, imagine, he of all people needing to bow in her presence!
"Fuuma, Kusanagi." She greeted, using her princess voice before she too lost control and
dissolved into giggles. "What brings you to my tent?"
"Do we need a reason to sit in the presence of your beauty?" Fumma teased gently,
ignoring Kusanagi's glare.
"We came to inform you that the Dreamgazer has had another vision." Kusanagi blurted,
his face blushing slightly as he spoke. He was always so shy, Yuzuriha thought, so odd
for such a man. He could be so outspoken and direct in other ways.
Arashi gasped slightly at that news, it was what they had come for, leaving the relative
safety of the Shikaku court to seek out the legendary Dreamgazer. The journey had been
a long one, and all were shocked to find one frail young boy to be the object of their
search.
"Another? So soon after he'd already given the oracle my father demanded?" the princess
asked, her face a startling shade of white.
"He asks to see you." Kusanagi told her softly.
The princess sighed, her usual jovial face suddenly became shuttered and closed. "Come
Arashi, we must prepare for what he has to say."
***
All who had accompanied Yuzuriha, the child warrior, as she was called, were present in
the tiny shrine where the dreamgazer known as Kakyou sat in session. His frail body was
huddled behind yards of silk and other fabric, carefully arranged to conceal the
diminutive, yet beautiful young man. The few servants who kept the shrine knelt behind
him, unobtrusive in his presence.
The princess stood before him, Arashi at her side, along with the spirit dog, as always
supporting the girl. Her two champions stood on either side of the entrance, as was their
place. Off in the corner sat Aoki, the court scribe, who chronicled each of the
conversations between Yuzurihah and the Legend. In the opposite corner, leaning against
the wall and flipping his ridiculous hat, stood Yuuto, the strange mercenary who had
joined them halfway through their journey.
All was as it should be, Kakyou thought to himself, regarding the group. "I have had a
vision, Princess of Shikaku, one that concerns you and your …"he paused here, "friends."
For it was true, the girl was uncannily attached to her honor guard and servants. More so
than any proper princess would be. But she was no ordinary princess, after all. She was
/kamui/.
"What is it, gazer?" she asked softly, her eyes never leaving his own.
"The earth is in danger." He told her simply, "I have seen a future without the green lands
of our country. Where the fertile mountains become covered with silver slime and the
waters run foul. Even the air which we breathe, becomes only smoke to poison us."
"Fine words from one who makes his living on dreams." A snide voice cracked the
powerful speech.
Kakyou gazed at Yuuto gravely, "Disbelieve me at your own peril, Kigai."
Yuuto stiffened suddenly, "Where did you hear that name?" he demanded.
"Oh, from dreams," Kakyou smiled slightly.
"Enough, both of you," the princess ordered, "If what you say is true, how can we
prevent it?"
The dreamgazer stood slowly, surprising them all, since they doubted he could move
independently at all. He walked stiffly, as if one not accustomed to it, coming to a stop
before Yuzuriha. Gently, he stroked her forehead, causing a bright symbol to come alive
at his touch. "There are always those chosen to battle for the majesty of gods. You, my
princess, and your friends, are they. You will meet your opponents seven days hence, at
the seventh hour, if you go to the seven springs of Watasumi."
"Is that how it is? You tell us what to do and we do it?" Yuuto challenged angrily.
"Hush, Yuuto, haven't you learned your lesson already?" the princess chided softly. "Our
opponents will come to meet us?"
"No, the seven dragons exist in another world. For a short time, you can be pulled into
their world. Then you must find them."
"How are we supposed to do that?" this time it was Fuuma who challenged the
Dreamgazer.
Kakyou smiled sadly, "You will find out when you get there. I will give you this." He
pulled from beneath his robes a tiny sea shell mirror, polished smooth on one side.
Taking the princess's palm in his own, he placed the tiny object there. "When you have
need to speak with me, sleep with this under your head, and I will come."
Aoki raised his head thoughtfully and asked the Dreamgazer if he could repeat the last
part, just to make sure his records were complete. Kusanagi began to groan, bemoaning
the use of a scribe who couldn't even recall what was last said.
Yuzuriha tuned out the familiar teasing, only half-hearing as Fuuma joined in. "Kakyou,"
she said softly. At her words the entire room became silent. "We will go. For Shinkaku."
End Prologue One
Begin
Prologue 2
Subaru Sumeragi frowned at the display that ran across the dimly lit screen, the
processor that served as his right eye cataloging all the code that ran by in
neat streaming bits of data. If he couldn't get this code to work by morning,
he'd have hell to pay with Satsuki Yatohji. And no one punished quite like
Satsuki.
The door to the lab slid open, the sound barely registering to Subaru's
otherwise occupied mind, but the deep baritone voice startled him right out of
his calculations.
"Subaru-kun."
"Seishirou-san," he said in reply. The man had often asked Subaru to give up his
formality, but he just couldn't do it. It was his last safeguard against the
feelings that this person aroused within him. It wasn't just Seishirou's
incredible good looks, or dripping sensuality that caused them, or at least, he
thought not. He liked to dream that there was sme connection between himself
and this tall dark almost-friend.
Seishirou slipped through the doorway, gliding into the office in one smooth
movement. "You are working late."
Subaru shrugged, "I needed to get this finished before tomorrow. You know we are
putting the final touches on the world network." he tapped the receiver in his
ear absently, his eyes glancing anywhere but at the dark figure who stared out
the long window.
"You like the view?"
"Um...yes," Subaru gulped, hoping his voice wasn't too high.
Seishirou looked back at him, a smirk upon his face. The silver shades he always
wore reflected Tokyo's light back at him. He held out his hand, motioning for
the younger man to join him at the window. "It is a lovely view," he agreed,
"The city is stunning at night."
This was true, Tokyo had become the world's center, the stronghold for Beast,
the most powerful computer ever created. Each building, even the sidewalks
themselves were infused with the mighty power of the mega-computer. Tokyo shone
silver, a beacon for the rest of the world.
Subaru had come to the man's side, wanting to move closer, but afraid to. /She/
hung in his mind, the one woman office gossip said Seishirou was linked to.
Karen Kasumi.
"Why are you here?" he blurted, hoping beyond hope Seishirou had ulterior
motives for his visit.
"To summon you to a meeting. The inner sanctum, at 2000 hours."
Subaru absently checked his clock. Ten minutes remaining. Three to walk to the
tube, another 2 for the trip through the shute..."Why didn't you just Message
me?"
"Now where would the fun be in that, besides, it's the inner sanctum, you don't
want common employees knowing you were in it, do you?" he chided.
"I guess not," Subaru sulked.
"Subaru-kun," the man asked softly, "Do you ever wonder what we would be, if
Satsuki hadn't made us..."
"Hush," for once Subaru took control, "You know Beast is always listening."
"Even so, Subaru-kun," he muttered, the lights glittering off his glasses like
odd pupils, "even so."
***
"I'm glad you could all make it," Satsuki began, stepping down the steps that
led from the protoplasmic chamber where she either communicated with or made
love to Beast, depending on current gossip. She tied the dark blue robe around
her waist with a quick gesture, although she had no qualms about these people
seeing her undressed. They were her handpicked chosen after all.
The silver and gray room unfolded into a semicircle, monitors making up most of
the walls. No windows, she detested windows. The five sat obediently around the
desk that circled the front, forming the base of the room. Subaru carefully
sitting as far from possible from Seishirou, though nearly everyone knew of his
crush upon the older man. At least, that's what gossip said.
Karen perched on Seishirou's lap, her arms folded upon her crossed legs,
appearing totally innocent by her posture. Next to them sat Sorata, who amused
himself by stealing the coffee cup of the creature sitting next to him. Nataku
looked puzzled, staring at the place where only moments before, he /knew/ he had
placed his coffee.
Nataku, now, he was her crowning achievement, her attempt at creating the
perfect man. Unfortunately, he was sexless, but Satsuki's idea of perfection
differed from a great many others.
"So, what's the big deal, boss lady?" Sorata chimed, leaning back and crossing
his legs on the table. He cracked his knuckles, clearly displaying the non
regulation driving gloves. His headset seems to be crooked and his shades,
normally reserved for processing data, were pushed back into his hair.
Ah, Sorata, what was she going to do with him? "I have found the 7th member of
the inner sanctum," she told him. "I'd like you to meet Kamui Shirou."
At her words, the door in the back of the room slipped open, revealing a short,
slim teenage with unruly hair and brilliant violet eyes. He grinned, half
leaning against the door. "Hi," he declared.
"Kamui is a telekinetic of the highest order." Satsuki continued in her droning
voice, "He will make an excellent addition to the circle."
"Now that there's finally seven of us," Sorata chimed in, "what up? I mean, for
years, you've been going on and on about us needing seven and I was kinda
wondering..."
"Enough," she commanded coldly. "I've assembled you on the advice of Hinoto-
hime, the seeress to the government."
"Oh, who needs a government, now that we've got Beast," Sorata cracked under his
breath.
"She warned of invaders, from another world."
"You mean like aliens?" Sorata again.
"Of a sort. They too possess powers like ours, but instead of understanding it
as the science it is, the quirk of genetics, they call it magic. And magic is
dangerous for us, for this world I...we've built."
"Once people believe in a higher power, then nothing we've created will have any
meaning," Kamui explained, finally coming down the stairs to be at equal level
with his teammates.
"Besides that," Satsuki continued, "They seek to destroy our world, believing
nature over science,"
"Damn tree huggers," Sorata quipped.
"Enough!" Karen reached over and poked him affectionately.
"Hey, I thought only Seishirou did the poking..."
Subaru stood abruptly, his chair falling to the ground with a resounding crash.
He cringed slightly and only said, "Where do we find these invaders?"
Satsuki smiled, a rare and terrifying event, "I thought you'd never ask."
End prologue 2