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AN: Only one part left and then it'll be up to another writer! Again sorry if it sucks I am a total newbie at fic writing lol.
Chapter 2 Part 3 of 4
Later in Tokyo
Later Kiku stands bathed in the light from a nearby lamb post, on a seemingly ordinary busy Tokyo downtown street. Britain's Mint Bunny is perched on Kiku's shoulder next the pack on Kiku's back filled with magical items given to Kiku from the other nations to help him on his journey. Kiku sighs and in response Mint Bunny nuzzles his cheek and it says a soft "chu". Kiku feels the soft leather of his Katana hilt that Alfred had fixed for him a few years ago. His people would ordinarily these days find someone walking around with a katana at one's hip as strange but like some of the characters one of Alfred's popular scifi series; a nation's personification is able to influence the thoughts of there people in subtle or overt ways.
He closes his eyes and concentrates. Kiku thinks of Alfred and his need to find him. Kiku focuses his thoughts on that need, a strong call for assistance in his mind and when he opens his eyes, the shop has appeared in front of him.
The shop would appear strange to one who did know the type of magic it was made of, as it now appears that there is a medium sized wooden house between two ski scrappers. The houses style is a interesting combination of victorian and traditional japanese architectural styles. Kiku knows it's magic so it does not surprise him, what does surprise and is a relief is that despite his estrangement from his spirits that he is still able to access the shop. Kiku crosses the street and enters the shop premises with a swift but measured gait.
As Kiku nears the doors swing open, seemingly on their own. In the door way to the estate two young girls stand, twins in every way except for their crazy different hair styles and eye color. One of the girls has short pink hair with two curled buns on either side and pink eyes. The other girl has long wavy pale blue hair and blue eyes. There something strange and inhuman about them, in unison they exclaim "oyasumi nasai Mister Kiku Honda" in greeting.
Kiku returns their greeting and then says "I have urgent need of your mistress."
The twins blink at him once then smile and then they say "Hai" in unison. After which they go off skipping through the dimly lit foyer with Kiku following right behind until they all stop at an ornately decorated paper screen door. The twins slide open to reveal a smokey richly decorated room with a long rectangular old fashioned reclining couch with plenty of velvety pillows piled on it. Reclining on the couch is a tall beautiful woman with red eyes, long, long black flowing hair and ornate long pipe is balanced in a casually careless fashion in her hand. She is wearing an ornately patterned kimono.
Mint bunny says "Chu"and flies off Kiku's shoulder and to the twins who in response start chanting "chu" in a sing song voice with mint bunny flying in circles around there heads.
"Kiku-kun it has been too long since your last visit," Yuuko says. Then she looks Kiku up and down, tilting her head in contemplation "though I can see you are in to great of a hurry and will not have time to drink our usual sake together."
Kiku bows feeling guilt for having forgotten about her for so long. "Hai" he says "I'm sorry Yuuko-san, I do not have time for sake because I must travel with all haste. As you well know my dear friend Alfred-kun has been spirited away by my spirits. I cannot leave him in their custody. It is of dire importance that I find him and bring him back to our realm."
Yuuko takes a puff on her pipe and exhales the smoke smoothly "Such a powerful spell reacquires a compensation of equal value."
At this Kiku takes off his pack"Hai" he says as he retrieves a jade sake bowl from the pack and hands it to Yuuko who inspects it.
"It is a magical sake bowl that I have had for countless centuries" Kiku said.
Yuuko takes the bowl from Kiku and hands it to one of her servants. "I will grant your wish and cast the spell that will transport you to the spirit realm but because you've become so estranged from your spiritual side I will only be able to transport you to a spiritual realm. The rest of the journey is up to you. The journey through spiritual realms is often hazardous, are you prepared to face what challenges may come?"
Kiku's visage hardens with determination and he says "hai, I am prepared."
Yuuko smiles and then motions for Kiku to go with her into a bigger room, "Then I shall grand your wish."
Mint bunny flies and lands on Kiku's shoulder once again, as soon as he does the time witches spell begins. Suddenly their is a glowing pentagram in a circle with patterns of stars, moons, and other mysterious symbols. Light that is a rainbow of colors envelops Kiku and mint bunny in a spiral fashion until the light is all Kiku can see. Then in flash they are gone from this realm.
Location: The Spirit Realm - Specifically? Who knows...
When Kiku opens his eyes he is no longer in Yuuko's shop and instead in front of him stretches a seemingly endless desert landscape. Kiku realizes this is not the his spirit realm and he will not find Alfred here. In the far distance he see's a glowing archway, knowing it to be the door to the next realm he makes haste towards it. Only to stop suddenly as his reflexes draw his attention to the seemingly endless chasm that he managed to skid to a stop a foot before falling into. Not only that but as he stops he hears behind him a fearsome low growl…..
To be continued..