Keepers of the Hearts
Chapter 4: Ai to Kibou
Natsumi shrieked as yet another pitch-black ball shot towards her friends as a bullet. It hit Hiroto squarely in the chest and he was lifted off his feet. With a dull thud he landed ten feet away, unmoving.
"Hiroto!" Midorikawa exclaimed and attempted to run towards him along with a determined looking Someoka and a terrified Kabeyama.
But they too were blown away by the ferocious onslaught.
The crowd gathering around the scene helplessly had no choice but to watch on helplessly. The invisible force field around the field was keeping any attempts at help from reaching them.
Natsumi couldn't watch anymore, she had to intervene! Even if it meant...
"So if I understand this correctly," Natsumi said, aghast "we've accidentally released an ancient "wraith" and now have to take responsibility by stopping it from gaining power through things called "onshin"?"
"In essence, yes." Taiko said simply.
"I need to sit down..." Natsumi said in a tired voice.
"Natsumi-san... You're already sitting." Haruna pointed out rather stiffly.
"Yes, I was just having trouble expressing the extreme amount of difficulty I'm having accepting this..." Natsumi started exasperatedly, just stopping short of saying "fairy-tale" because, frankly, she wasn't hallucinating and nor was she imagining this.
"I hope you recover from the shock soon, we don't really have time to lost." Taiko said calmly.
"Wait, I know it's our fault but we didn't agree to this!" Megane interjected.
Taiko looked at Megane critically. "For the heir of Abe-no-Seimei-sama, you sure are a cowardly and underwhelming person."
"Th-that's just mean!" Megane said.
"It's true." The girls chimed in an offhand voice together.
"But... Wouldn't it be dangerous? And you really should get grown-ups to handle this, not some teenage girls." Aki said, trying to sound sensible.
"Yes, I am quite reluctant to let the fate of Japan to rest in the hands of some teenage girls." Taiko sighed, "But the Ethereal Treasures you hold, 'Asa no Naginata', 'Orochi no Tessen', 'Daichi no Shakujou', 'Hangatsu no Daishou' can only be used by the 'Maidens of One Year'."
"Let me guess, it was a prophecy?" Natsumi said sarcastically.
"No. It was a rule set by its previous wielders. Whether it was due to a premonition or is a property of the treasures, I cannot say." Taiko said, not getting or just ignoring the sarcasm.
"Riiiiight." Natsumi said, keeping her composure.
"Um... If you don't mind me asking, how do you know we're the 'Maidens of One Year'?" Fuyuka asked.
"Aaah, that's simple. Aren't your names Natsumi, Aki, Fuyuka and Haruna?" Taiko asked.
"Yes, I think we said that during the introductions." Haruna said.
"Now, put the first Kanji of your names together in order." Taiko said, her eyes shining.
"Natsu-Aki-Fuyu-Haru...Haru-Natsu-Aki-Fuyu..." Megane muttered pensively as the girls looked confused.
"'Hitotose!'" Megane cried, startling the girls.
"Yes, I'm glad to see that your intelligent, at the very least." The shrine maiden said approvingly.
Megane looked quite put-off by the lukewarm praise. The girls still looked confused.
"You see, the first Kanji of your names are all names of the different season, and when you put them together in order they read as 'Hitotose' or 'One Year'." Taiko explained. "But even before that, your features and personalities are almost archetypal of those associated with the four seasons. I was watching all of you as you traveled towards the center of this shrine, and almost instantly knew that you are the maidens who would wield these Ethereal Treasures."
"Okay... I guess-" Natsumi started, but was interrupted by Megane.
"Wait, I have two things I'd like to ask you." Megane said to Taiko.
"Please do." She replied graciously.
"First, what's this thing?" He showed the pipes given to him.
"That's the Gogyou-kan (Five Elements Pipes). It is an object Abe-no-Seimei-sama left for his heir." She said. "But the exact details of its use is unknown to me. I was just instructed to protect it and pass it on when the time comes."
"Okay... Now, I noticed when you named the 'Ethereal Treasures' that some of the names don't really fit." Megane said, "The things you gave them were a Yari, an Akomeogi, a Bou and a pair of Tantou. But you said Naginata, Tessen, Shakujou and Daishou."
"I'm pleased that you've noticed that fact. But that is something that is quite irrelevant at this point. A weapon is a weapon regardless of what one may call it." Taiko said rather evasively.
"Hmm..." Megane pondered.
"Anyway... I guess we could consider helping you, because it is our fault." Aki said, while Haruna screwed up her face in an apologetic grimace. "But... Could you please tell us how much danger is involved?"
Taiko suddenly looked down and after a while said stiffly, "To agree to use the Ethereal Treasures is to embrace death."
There was a moment of silence. The girls and Megane were frozen with shock.
It was Fuyuka who was the first to speak, "Wh-what do you mean?!"
"Unfortunately," Taiko started pensively, "the Treasures are very powerful, each drawing power from a great Kami. To siphon such power through a human soul and body is quite taxing. It is likely that, after a certain period, your bodies and souls will begin to wither away from the strain. Even if you survive and are able to seal away the Wraith and the Onshin, it is likely that your lifespans will be two or three years at most, and six months at the very least after the contract is complete."
After the startling revelation, no one moved, and a dead silence reverberated around the beautiful shrine hidden from the world...
Natsumi had made to rush to the woods near the tower, hoping for some cover during the 'contract' or whatever it was that she needed to do. On the way, someone suddenly called her from behind.
"Natumi-san!" It was Megane, rushing towards him with a look of panic playing on his face. He reached her and panted for a while before saying, "I hope you're not thinking-"
"But I have to!" She cut across him loudly. "Is there any other way?!"
Megane bit his lip in frustration, but suddenly said in a confident voice, "Natsumi-san, maybe the Gogyou-kan would be able to do something. It's not an Ethereal Treasure, so I should be okay."
"That's a great idea!" Natsumi said, impressed, "Let's hurry!"
They quickly ran towards the small forest and made sure they were out of sight. In the tiny clearing amid the orange light of the afternoon flitting though the leaves of the canopy, Megane brought the set of pipes towards his lips.
With a look of apprehension, he put his lips around the largest pipe with the Kanji for Fire inscribed on it and blew.
Instantly, the Kanji glowed a deep scarlet before a tiny wisp of brilliant scarlet flames came out of the pipe. It danced around in the air for a few seconds, before diving on the ground creating a brief blaze that made Natsumi and Megane jump back.
Both Natsumi's and Megane's jaw dropped. From the flames, a young girl about their age came out wearing an elegant white yukata with red flame patterns on it. She had the most beautiful fair skin, scarlet eyes and hair to match. Her hair was held in a loose ponytail with a golden ribbon. But the strangest part was that she had two fox ears protruding from her head that twitched occasionally and a swishing fox tail, both colored a pale golden, contrasting heavily against her scarlet hair and yukata.
The girl stretched, yawning sleepily. She looked at both of them as they gasped at her and childishly rubbed her eyes.
"Good morning!~" She said, her voice high-pitched and childish.
"Um... Hello." They both said.
She shook her head, and her eyes came into focus as she looked at the Gogyou-kan. Her fox-ears promptly twitched and she ecstatically jumped on Megane.
"OOOOOOOH! GOSHUJIN-SAMAAAAAAAAAA!~" She cried happily, glomping him as he turned red.
"I'm dreaming... It has to be..." Megane said, almost drooling, "Natsumi-san, if I am dreaming, please don't pinch me awake."
"Oh, for the love of-" Natsumi snapped angrily as she regained her composure, "Hey, can you please help us! Some people are in danger!"
"Whaaaat?~" The fox-girl asked, turning towards her without letting go of a euphoric Megane.
"There are some people being attacked by miasma from an Onshin!" Natsumi all but yelled in desparation.
"OH NO!" The fox girl exclaimed, letting Megane go. Megane just flopped to the floor like jelly carelessly.
"Goshujin-sama! We have to hurry! Onee-sama, please lead the way!" The fox girl said confidently, her fox ears perking up. She leaped upwards and seemingly was expecting something to happen. But instead, she fell flat on her face.
"WHAAAAAT?!" she whined noisily, rubbing her reddened face. She then took a closer look at Megane before pouting like a ten-year-old.
"GOSHUJIN-SAMA, MO-OU! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT YOU STILL WEREN'T THAT POWERFUL?! WE'RE ONLY AS POWERFUL AS YOU, DID'NT YOU KNOW?!" she yelled loudly, and Natsumi was glad that the people were too transfixed at that brutal display to notice the screaming.
Megane didn't answer, he was too caught up in his little world to care about anything. But Natsumi still had her wits about her, and now decided that it was time for desperate measures.
From her bag, she retrieved the stick with a small crystal protruding from the edge. Her Ethereal Treasure, Taiko called it 'Asa no Naginata'.
She breathed in deeply and sat in the proper Japanese way on the ground, trying to ignore the pain of the rough ground against her bare knees. Putting the broken spear respectfully in front of her, she clapped her hands loudly.
Promptly, the spear began to emit a wondrous golden light. And within a few seconds, a figure appeared within the light and asked, "Do you accept the fate that shall befall you?"
"Yes." Natsumi said firmly.
"Very well. Hear my plea, the plea of Shirayama-hime, the mediator and negotiator. Oukami-Amaterasu, let your promise be fulfilled, fill your gift with all your love!" The figure, Shirayama-Hime, the Kami of mediation, rainfall, negotiation and chrysanthemums announced.
The spear became brighter than ever, causing Natsumi, the fox girl and Megane look away from the brilliant luster. In a few seconds, the light extinguished and in front of them, and the Asa-no-Naginata (which was actually a Yari) floated in front of them in its full glory. No longer was it worn or tattered, but pristine and shining. The spear head was a diamond polished to look like a spear head, and its edge was no doubt sharper than anything. In the orange light of dusk, it still glittered as brilliantly as normal jewels would under a spotlight.
Natsumi jumped to her feet and grabbed the spear. Inside her head words reverberated and she announced to the world,
"The Night deepens,
The Darkness draws in,
Devoured in malice,
Bathed in Evil,
They come, they come.
Thus, steadfast,
I move towards the primordial hope,
Amaterasu's promise of a Dawn.
My heart shall not sway,
My love for the world shall not wane,
For as the night deepens,
Comes closer, the Dawn!"
Kazemaru groaned into the ground he was facing. The whole team were defeated, and none were left standing. But the shadows still continued, as though they had decided that they would brutalize them until they died.
Hiroto and Tachimukai had taken the most damage. He had seen Tachimukai cough up blood a few minutes ago. His right leg was searing in pain. He was sure the bone had cracked. Now it was only a matter of fighting to stay awake...
But what use did staying awake have? The state of consciousness was nothing less than hell. They were trapped, hopelessly trapped with the monsters that were those shadows.
Not even Endou could bolster their spirits now... But where in the world was he?!
In a way, he was happy that some of the team weren't here... At least they would survive to see tomorrow.
Yes. he had lost most of his hope in surviving this ordeal. He had accepted it, as well. There was no escape. Only an Angel sent from heaven, a miracle, could save them now.
"Kazemaru!" he heard Kurimatsu cry, and had just enough strength to look up. There it was, one of the shadows, looking at him with a ball under its foot.
It kicked it with more force than ever seen towards him, and he prepared for death with closed eyes.
But death never came. Rather, through his eyelids he saw the most brilliant light he had ever seen.
He opened his eyes to see a figure bathed in the golden light, almost like the sunlight of a burning midday. Her blonde hair was gently fluttering, and her eyes showing calm determination. From her back protruded luminous wings that shone like the sun during dawn. The things he last saw before losing consciousness were the kanji for 'Hope' (Kibou) and 'Love' (Ai) fluttering in the wind.
END
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