Chapter 2. Mourn Not Overmuch
Satoshi wanted to cry out, but no sound came. His father was lying on ground in front of him, limp and motionless. Akiko put a comforting hand around him. He turned upon her with blazing eyes.
"What kind of beast would do this? Who would kill an innocent man? Why him? He never did any real harm in life! I shall slay the monster or monsters that did this to him!" Akiko looked into his eyes. She saw rage and hatred. She did not doubt a bit of it.
"Alas," cried she, "For you do not know who did this, or what. Mourn not overmuch for your dead sire, he is in a better place now. But I say this to you now, the time is come. We will search for alliances. Whoever did this must have been more than one person, and I do believe it will take more than two people to assail Hiroyuki's forces. Here me now, though, for you shall not bare your grief alone. This man was not loved by one but by many, and many it shall be that will weep for him. Now is not the time for us to weep, however, for someone has to be strong, someone has to fight." Satoshi's hand clasped together with Akiko's. She felt his firm grasp.
And then spoke Satoshi:"We shall seek the Fair Ones of the East. Skilled in the art of fighting I have heard, and swift agile they be. We will then form a council in the hall of Tabador, King of the Fair Ones." Akiko did not argue with his judgement. The pair got on to the broom stick and flew off.
The night was around them, cloaking them in darkness. Pale stars shone in the sky but were ignored by them. Everything was lost on the pair but the thought of slaying Hiroyuki. And ere morning they were in the gorge of Achieth, sleeping soundly in the daytime. They only rode at night, when the dark protected them from unwanted eyes. They ate only what they found in the densely populated forests. They travelled like this for many days. Finally they came to the Borders of the East.
"Here they lie, the frozen death,
Night's dark hand and decaying breath,
The Fair Ones two seek, but of death they reak,
And shall be taken by the Halbarath!"
So was sung by the Halbarath of the Eastern Borders. Akiko and Satoshi wheeled around to see who had said it, but seen nothing. Satoshi got his Rei Gun ready. He called out in a loud voice.
"What do you want? We come in peace!" But the shapes of the Halbarath began to circle around them.
"So speaks one who reeks of death," hissed they, "And thine companion is dead." Of course Akiko was dead, but what did he mean by him? Akiko called out in voice of sterness,
"Move or you yourselves will be reeking of death! My companion has travelled with me from afar, of course he should smell as I do! Move!" But the Halbarath did not move.
"Little girl, speak only when bidden and take refuge in knowing the Halbarath has mercy. Why are you seeking the Fair Ones?" Satoshi looked at them.
"We need men of arms to help us fight against the growing darkness of our enemy, Hiroyuki. He contains the Sacred Jewel and with that can combine the Human World and the Demon World! Please, you must let us pass." And lo! in the trees a strange whispering was heard and the Halbarath parted.
"Pass this way, but do not disturb our land. Harm not the ground you walk upon, for it belongs no to you but to us and dire consquences will ensue harming our land." And with that, they faded off into the wilderness.
At noon the pair found a small village. They walked along in it, looking for the chief of the Fair Ones. They walked into an old building. It was in there that they found him: old, grey, and knarled. He looked up from his meditation and spoke gently, however commandingly, to them.
"What hath thy bringeth me, news of good tidings or ill?" they explained their story and their mission. He sat awhile in silence then once again he spoke.
"Thee, young lady, and thy compainion needeth my armed men. I shall muster what I can, and the pair of you can leave at the first light of dawn.
So it was that in the first pale rays of light, Akiko and Satoshi mountain the broomstick; under them on horseback were four hundreths Fair Ones. After telling their leader bye, and thanking him for his generous hospitality, the pair left. They maintaned pace with the swift horses and by noon they all took a break. Anchath, the commander of the army strode toward the original journeyors.
"Look to the West, the sun is failing. Nightime is far away-the reek of death is in the air. A dark cloud veils the sun. We must hasten." Satoshi and his crush looked up to find the truth in these words. He pondered this and then said:
"Tell your men to mount, we shall ride forth to the fortress. With all speed we should be there ere five days are over." Anchath walked back to the assembled riders. Speaking ot them, they all mounted and rode, following the direction of a river next to their path. Akiko and Satoshi also rode away.
Night found the company arriving at the mouth of the river. The sounds of the gushing river went around their base in a grove of pine trees. Akiko and Satoshi had rigged a small tent for theirselves and the Fair Ones. However, the Fair Ones decided to sleep among what stars were left unveiled by the dark cloud. They were alone together.
Akiko looked over towards Satoshi. He looked pretty beaten up. Her heart grew sad to see him like that. He had the face of a weary one that no matter what could get no rest. His thin eyebrows were laid above lime-green eyes, in between the two was a nice-shaped nose.
"Satoshi," said she, "You are grieved. But hearken to me now, speak your thoughts and be comforted." Satoshi gazed long at the walls of the tent before answering.
"There had to be a reason. Out of all of the people in the town they could have gotten, they took him. " Akiko answered swiftly.
"Perhaps it is so because he once was spirit detective. He alone of the mortals new of the Fell Lands and of the Ancient Lands where we are now at. We passed the Spiritual Border when we flew off from Koenma's office in the Spirit World. The Fell Lands was in the Demon half of the Spiritual World, and is currently where Hiroyuki dwells."
"You speak as one who knows alot of the spiritual world, though you are not that old. Where and whence did you learn all of this?" She managed a smile.
"I learned it all from Koenma. He is a good teacher, when not pressed with work, of course." She looked into his eyes. Behind the walls of grief she could see the faintest hint of a smile.
"Thanks, Akiko. Your friendship in this time is greatly appreciated." Akiko did not know what to say. Fortunately, she didn't have to say anything, for at that moment Satoshi plunged into a kiss. She kissed back, not knowing what else to do. Their tongues chased eachother passionately. Satoshi broke free after a long moment.
"I love you, Akiko."
"I love you ,too, Satoshi." And so commenced the beginning of a passionate relationship.
