Disclaimer: not mine (man this gets tiring every chapter)
Chapter 32 – The Book
Doumeki put down the book he had been reading and put a hand to his forehead and began to rub it, nothing but vague hints not a single real clue as to the whereabouts of the Magical Item in this world. The Library here in the Castle was huge, they had thought to just start at one end and read their way thru it but that could have taken years, but Doumeki had felt the pull of the Wild Magic and it had drawn him to a particular section of the Library, it was there they had found those first hints. Something lay in the lands of the west. Well Duh, they knew that already the Black Bun had told them that when they had first arrived that he'd felt the Item to the west. They were getting nowhere fast.
Watanuki had given up for the day, he had never been the most studious of the group anyway, he'd brought the book he'd won in Hokan with him and was sitting in one of the window seats reading the story within. It was a good story and he was really getting into it, it was all about some ancient immortal gods, one of whom had gone bad (he was the villain of the story), a warrior monk and his Special People.
"Oi."
Lissa looked up from the Scrolls she had been looking over at Doumeki who was looking towards Watanuki as he sat curled in the window seat reading his book, absently chewing a knuckle as he turned the page.
"OI!"
"Huh? WHAT!... HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAV E TO TELL YOU MY NAME IS NOT OI! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY HERE?"
"Whatcha reading?"
"Huh? Oh the book I won in Hokan. It's really pretty good actually, it's called 'The Amber Archer' and it's has immortal gods and warriors and big battles and…HEY, that's mine."
When Watanuki had told them the name of the book, Doumeki had stood up and gone over to the reclining teen and snatched the book out of his hands. Holding it in one hand he started reading the first page, using the other to fend of Watanuki as he tried to get his book back.
"FUCK!"
"Shizuka!" Lissa had been watching the byplay of the two males with an indulgent smile on her face. They were all getting a little irritable with the lack progress. But to hear that kind of language out of Shizuka's mouth was shocking to say the least, he almost never swore. Heck he barely formed full sentences half the time. Talking constantly, that was the Spirit Baits modus operandi, that and swearing, yelling, flailing and well just dramatics in general.
"Damnit, it's been here under our noses this whole time."
"What's been here, Shizuka?"
"This book, this stupid book has all the answers we've been looking for, it's all here and we've had it all along."
"Ah, Perhaps, but there were things we all needed to accomplish before we set out in search of the Item. So maybe we weren't 'meant' to find it until the time was right. We have learned much about this world and the dangers we will face once we leave the protections of the kekki surrounding Nihon." The Mage went to the furious Archer placing a hand on his arm, the muscles there tight. As he listened to her words and they penetrated his anger, he slowly relaxed and the golden fire that had lit his eyes dimmed back to normal.
"Stupid Magic crap, couldn't it have just told us about the book in the first place and then said we had to train before we headed out." Doumeki grumbled. Watanuki had been listening, it seemed the book he had won in Hokan was the answer they'd been looking for all along, but he had barely thought about the book the whole time they'd been here, at least not until today.
"No,… I- I think that if we'd known about the book then, we wouldn't have accomplished as much as we really needed to, if we are to have any chance of succeeding. We would have learned some stuff sure and then headed out as soon as we could. The Magic wanted to make sure we learned certain things before we left, at least that's what I think."
"Kimi's right Shizuka, I don't think we were meant to know about the book until the time was right. Apparently that time has come. Hm, that window seat looks big enough for the three of us why don't we go and read this book together." The window had been built for two but if the three were 'real' cozy it could accommodate them. Doumeki gathered the two smaller teens to him and they settled into the window seat and Watanuki began to read out loud….
-The realm of the Immortals was at the top the mountains of the western sky. Three days journey to the east were the lands where Men dwelled, known to all as Nihon…..
Watanuki with his vibrant and emotion filled voice read the story to the other two, Doumeki closed his eyes as he visualized the story that unfolded. A traitorous immortal intent on overthrowing the Jade Emperor and subjugating the mortals turning them all into his slaves and about the Warrior Monk known only as the Amber Archer, who along with his companions, a young sorcerer and a blade welding healer battled the Immortal War Lord. The last battle taking place in the War Lords castle among the valleys and Mountains of the western sky, there the Archer defeated him with a final arrow from his Bow, the cost, his and his companion's lives during that final battle. And so it was there in the War Lord's castle that his bow remained waiting for the Archer to return and claim it once more.
It was all there, which item they were looking for, the direction to take and where to look. They would leave the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow they would plot their path into the mountains and then on to the Valley of the Fallen Sky and the Castle of the War Lord.
It was time to call Yukko-san and give her the news.
"Yukko had been enjoying a quiet and peaceful afternoon in the garden when the Trio contacted her.
"So you have found the location of the next Magical Item? It is the Bow? Excellent work I'm proud of you all."
"Thanks Yukko-san, Hey where's everybody at, did the White Pork Bun finally do in Kurogane-san?" Watanuki was curious at the unusual silence there at the shop, he didn't even see the cheerful Princess and the ever suffering and patient Syaoran anywhere.
"Oh no, nothing like that, at least there haven't be any casualties yet. They were just getting a little stir crazy (and driving me completely insane) so I had Sakura-hime and Syaoran-kun enrolled in High School, and Fai-san and Kurogane-san are helping out at the Green Pharmacy. Sakura-hime seems to love School, but I'm afraid Syaoran-kun is not very fond of it." Lissa started laughing at that, she could only imagine the other worlders and their take on High School.
"You're torturing them with High school, how cruel of you Yukko-san. How are Yuui and his Ninja doing?"
"They are doing well, very well indeed. They've been going out on double dates with Kekai and Osaiga. Also Kurogane and Syaoran have gotten motorcycles and they have all been driving around the city and country side quite a bit. Their stay here in this world was just what they needed. How's the child?"
"Except for his classes and training he is by Princess Tomoyo's side constantly."
"Good it is as it should be, when I told Kurogane about her little 'Dragon' he seemed somewhat relieved. Well you should all get your rest and prepare for the start of your journey. I fear this one will not as easy as winning a few prizes at a Tournament." They all said their goodbyes after leaving messages for the others.
It was time to pack and plan, the Bow was waiting for the Archer to return.
Hitsuzen was back in action.
