Chapter 4 Part 2 By phoenyxnightbyrd
Kiku snaps back to the present as the door to his cell slams open. A horrific creature – half man, half jaguar – enters. It is Tezcatlipoca, the Smoking Mirror, Lord of the Night and evil ruler of this realm.
"Back to torture me some more, oni? I can't tell you what I don't know, after all," Kiku says. "I've had no contact with my friends since I was brought here, obviously, and have no idea what they may be planning. Most likely they've given me up for dead, and have abandoned any plans they may have had."
"Your friends are dead, human! My servant Quetzalcoatl told me just last night that he came upon them on the road and devoured them. I would've preferred to be able to show you their bodies, but there was nothing left when he was finished." Tezcatlipoca laughs cruelly, and continues: "It doesn't matter anyway. The new moon is tomorrow and you will be sacrificed to me at noon. When the sun goes dark your life will be at an end and you can join your friends in Mictlan.
"You mean a total eclipse of the sun, don't you? I'm not completely ignorant." Kiku is trying hard not to show the fear and grief that has filled him at Tezcatlipoca's words. He can't die here, he just can't! And poor Mint Bunny, Coyote, and Opochtli!
Tezcatlipoca continues, "Now, you have a choice to make. Do you face death with a clear head, or allow the priests to bring you all the pulque you can drink? Pulque is a powerful alcoholic beverage; if you choose to drink it you will be completely numb to what is happening. Sober, you will feel every bit of death's agonies as my priests cut out your still-beating heart. You will still be conscious as I eat it right in front of you. So, which will it be?"
Kiku suppresses a shudder, but replies: "I will go to my death clearheaded, to do otherwise would be cowardly and dishonorable."
"You are braver than many of my own people. It has been a very long time since a sacrifice refused the pulque. It's almost a shame to have to kill you. Hmm, you could join me and choose another sacrifice. I would even give you the honor of eating his heart to seal the alliance. How about it?"
"NO WAY!" Kiku shouts, sickened at the very thought. If he must fail in rescuing Alfred, he thinks, let it be because he has died; not because he has become a killer of innocents to save himself.
"Very well. I shall not offer again." Tezcatlipoca leaves, letting the cell door slam shut behind him.
Only when he is sure Tezcatlipoca is gone does Kiku allow himself to give in to his grief. "Alfred-kun, I hope you can forgive me somehow. I know how Yubaba steals names and memories; perhaps it's best that you've forgotten me. I've barely begun my journey to save you and already I've failed. Arthur-san, I need your forgiveness as well. It seems Mint Bunny has been killed, trying to save me. I cannot bring him back as I promised. Tomorrow I am being sacrificed to a dark god. I know they say nations cannot die, but I doubt that's true here. Goodbye, my friends. I'm …. so …. so …" Kiku breaks down, weeping. After a time, he slips into a fitful sleep filled with nightmares.
The next morning, Kiku is awakened at dawn by the priests. For the next few hours he is treated like royalty. It begins with a ritual bath where he is scrubbed from head to toe by beautiful priestesses. Then he is dressed in the finest robes and escorted to the feast prepared in his honor. The tables are filled with all manner of delicacies and exotic foods. The only thing that sparks even a bit of interest from Kiku, however, is the cup of thick, rich chocolate. He wasn't expecting to taste something so familiar in this strange place. Otherwise, Kiku is just going through the motions, putting on the expected show of enjoying his last few hours of life. During the night, he has accepted his fate. His only wish would be to see his friends one last time, to beg their forgiveness for his failure.
Finally, the feast is over. The sun already has a sliver missing. The eclipse has begun. The priests collect Kiku and escort him to the temple. There, his feast robes are exchanged for the ceremonial costume: a simple loin cloth of pure white cotton, held up by a belt of solid gold and a cape of the same fabric fastened with a gold clasp. He is then offered a goblet of drugged pulque, which he refuses. The priests accept his choice, bowing to honor his bravery. They then lead Kiku to the foot of the stairs leading to temple roof. He must, however, make the final climb to the altar alone. There are exactly one hundred steps to the top.
The first step is the hardest, but Kiku stands tall and takes it. The next comes more easily, and the next. Before he knows it, Kiku is halfway to the top. He pauses, looking up at the slowly vanishing sun, and at the Feathered Serpent circling overhead. Suddenly, Kiku thinks he hears someone call his name! The voice is familiar, but, he thinks, impossible. He shakes his head sadly, and continues to climb. Now Kiku is at the top. An eerie calm fills him as he approaches the altar; there is no fear, just a desire to get this over with.
Tezcatlipoca, in human form, is standing there. He is dressed as a high priest, in a robe of jaguar skin with a mirror of obsidian hanging from a golden chain at his neck. Kiku has not seen the god's human form before and is startled by his handsome appearance. The golden eyes are the only thing left of the monster Kiku had met before.
"I will give you one last chance to join me, human. It truly would be a shame for such a brave spirit to be lost."
This time Kiku is more polite in his refusal. "I am honored you think so highly of me. However, I still must refuse. I would be unable to live with myself if I became like you." With those words, Kiku lies down on the stone altar. He gazes up at the almost completely covered sun, watches as it disappears completely and the stars come out in the now-dark sky. It is, he thinks, a beautiful sight to be his last.
Tezcatlipoca's silhouette is barely visible as he raises the obsidian knife. As he brings it down, plunging it into Kiku's chest, several things happen at once. Quetzalcoatl dives from the sky with an infuriated hiss, slamming into Tezcatlipoca and knocking him away from the altar and nearly off the far side of the roof. Quetzalcoatl then shifts to human form and calls out, "No more, brother! You have claimed your last victim! I am now free, and your power is at an end." A small figure flies up to Quetzalcoatl and drops something in his hands. "Ah, yes. With this I can definitely destroy you." The silver mirror gleams in the returning sunlight. Mint Bunny shifts to his human form and runs to Kiku's side. Coyote and Opochtli are already there, keeping Kiku from pulling out the knife, which has lodged just below his sternum, at an odd angle. "Don't. That's the only thing keeping you from bleeding out right now."
"Doesn' …. matter," Kiku gasps. " 'm dead any … way. Since…you're… all here. You're all dead … so I … must be … too." Kiku coughs, blood trickling from his mouth. Tezcatlipoca laughs. "I don't know how you got free of my curse, but this time I won't go easy on you just because you're my brother. I'll banish you to the shadows with the others, instead of merely enslaving you!" Tezcatlipoca raises his obsidian mirror, which begins to emit a cloud of black smoke as he chants. The smoke reaches shadowy tendrils toward Quetzalcoatl, who lifts his silver mirror in response and begins his own chant. The mirror starts to glow brightly, beams of silvery light cutting through the smoke. "Kiku!" shouts Mint Bunny. "Please don't die, Kiku, please … We're not dead, Kiku, so please hold on!"
"But … he said …" Kiku coughs again, struggling to breathe. "… said Serpent … ate … you. Don't think you'd …"
Coyote speaks, trying to keep Kiku focused, "We tricked him. That's my specialty, after all! If you want to know the whole story you have to stay alive, though. It's too long a tale to tell now."
"I'm … sorry … every … one. Bunny-kun …. you'll have to … get back … home. Somehow. They … need to … know … 've failed." Kiku's voice trails off, his breathing ragged. He whispers faintly, "sorry … Al … fre … d …" He doesn't speak again. Kiku finds himself alone in a dark place, wondering how he got there. He suddenly realizes that his chest no longer hurts, and he looks down to find the wound is gone. He sits down hard, realizing what this must mean. As the sunlight strengthens even more, the glow from the silver mirror intensifies. Suddenly, a blinding beam shoots directly into the center of Tezcatlipoca's dark mirror. Tezcatlipoca screams as the obsidian disc shatters, and with it his power. His scream is cut off, however, as the glow surrounds him. When it fades, Tezcatlipoca is nowhere to be seen. Several other figures are appearing from the slowly dissipating haze. The missing gods are returning.
"KIIIIIIKUUUUU! NOOOOO!" Mint Bunny cries. "Nonono …. this can't be. Kiiikuu …"
Coyote calls out, "Quetz! We need you here NOW! If any of the other gods of life and healing are back, bring them too!"
Quetzalcoatl runs to the altar, bringing Ixtlilton and Patecatl with him. They are the gods of medicine and healing, respectively. Quetz looks at Kiku, who has lost consciousness and is barely breathing.
"You were too slow, Quetz. Tezcatlipoca stabbed him just before you attacked. I'll explain why later, but you can't let this kid die."
"Alright, Coyote. It took a lot of my power to get rid of Tezcatlipoca, but with these guys here now we should be able to save him."
"Opochtli and I can feed power to you, too. Let's do this!" Coyote turns to Mint Bunny and says gently, "You need to move, please. We need room to work."
"Okay," Mint Bunny says. "But I'm not going far. You might need me."
The rest of the returned gods watch for a moment, puzzled as to why anyone would be trying to save the life of a sacrifice. Then they leave the rooftop to find out what's been happening while they were gone and just how much damage Tezcatlipoca did.
The five gods gather around Kiku's far too still form. In just the short time they've taken to prepare, he has slipped farther away, his breathing barely detectable, his pulse growing fainter with each beat. Quetzalcoatl removes the knife carefully, so as not to do more damage, but blood pours from the wound anyway. He then places both hands not over the wound, but over Kiku's heart. Ixtlilton supports Kiku's head, while Patecatl eases Kiku's mouth open and pours a small amount of a potion down his throat, being careful not to cause choking. The potion is made with pulque, and the strong liquor brings some warmth back to Kiku's blood.
Quetzalcoatl begins to chant, then pauses. "Coyote, what's this kid's name? I need to know it to call him back."
"He called himself 'Honda Kiku,' but always went by 'Kiku.' " Coyote replies.
"Strange name, but if that's what he went by, that's what I'll call him." Quetzalcoatl starts his chant again, this time putting Kiku's name in. Ixtlilton lowers Kiku's head and places his hands over the knife wound. Then he, too takes up the chant, his voice a light tenor to Quetz's baritone. Kiku hears a voice calling from the darkness, mostly saying strange words he doesn't understand. He doesn't respond, numb with the thought that he has really died here and gone to some unknown afterlife. Then he hears his name being called, but the rest is more of the same gibberish as before. Quetz breaks out of the trance he'd fallen into and stops chanting. "Damn it! He's still close enough to hear me, but he won't answer. Surely he doesn't want to be dead, does he?"
Coyote thinks for a moment, then has an idea. "Let me try, and maybe Mint Bunny, too. Kiku doesn't know you and probably doesn't understand any of your chant except his name. Few enough of the common people here understand the ancient tongue, let alone a stranger like Kiku. If you can let him hear us, he might answer."
"It's worth a try. Get the bunny and let's do this. He won't last much longer if his soul doesn't return."
Coyote brings Mint Bunny back to stand beside him. He explains the problem and Mint Bunny gladly agrees to help.
Quetzalcoatl starts his chant again, altering it slightly to bring Coyote and Mint Bunny into the trance that will let them speak to Kiku and be heard by him. Kiku has gotten tired of sitting and has begun to wander down what is becoming visible as a narrow corridor. Maybe his eyes are adjusting to the darkness here? Then he hears the strange chanting start up again. There's something different this time though. More voices, and the ones calling his name sound familiar.
"Kiku, come back! Please! Please don't leave us like this."
"Bunny-kun? How …?" Kiku shakes his head and murmurs, "I must be imagining things."
"You're not imagining us, idiot not-exactly-human! Now get back here. If you go much further that way there'll be no getting you back."
"Coyote-san? What do you mean 'back?' I'm already dead, aren't I? How could I go back? I wish I could! I hate that I've let everyone down, but it's too late for me."
"Not quite, Kiku. Please come back with us. Quetzalcoatl defeated Tezcatlipoca and now he and a couple other gods are trying to heal you. But they can't do it if you don't come back. Bodies don't heal well without souls, Kiku. And if you come back, and get well, then we can go back to getting to your spirit realm and find Alfred and get home and everything will be right!" Mint Bunny has said all this in one breath and is now gasping for air.
"Alright, let's go back then. I truly should not give up so quickly." Kiku turns back the way he came, now following the sound of the strange chanting, as well as Coyote-san's and Bunny-kun's voices.
As Kiku approaches the place where he started, two skeletal figures appear in his path, blocking the way. They are the god and goddess of the underworld, Mictlantecuhtli and Mictecacihuatl.
"Why do you try to leave? You are a brave man, and would find peace here." The goddess speaks and steps forward, reaching out reassuringly. "You have nothing to fear in the underworld."
"I cannot stay," Kiku says. "It would be easy to, yes. I know I will be going back to pain, I know the road won't be an easy one, but there is something only I can do. My dear friend has been taken by the spirits of my homeland, and no one else can get there. I must save him if I can." He stops, wondering if beings like these can even care about such things. Back at the altar, Quetzalcoatl and Ixtlilton have stopped chanting. They look sadly at Kiku's body, which now shows no signs of life. "There's nothing more we can do. I'm so sorry. It looks like he didn't make it back."
"But he was right there! He said he was coming! He was right there!" Mint Bunny cries out, then dissolves in tears. Overwhelmed, he shifts to his bunny form and curls up on himself. The god laughs, "You are brave indeed, to talk back to gods. Brave or foolish. How do you even know your friend wants to be 'saved?' Maybe he's enjoying himself there. You had resigned yourself to death not long ago, why change your mind now?"
"Because the witch Yubaba is cruel, and blames Alfred for my neglect of my land's spirits. If my death would free him, I would gladly stay, but I don't think it will. It is not just for my sake that he must not remain there. The fate of a nation, perhaps even my entire world, is at stake." Kiku is near tears again, thinking of the possible consequences of Alfred remaining trapped. "Please, let me pass. I beg you."
Kiku falls to his knees and bows in supplication. Coyote falls to his knees beside Mint Bunny and gathers the small creature into his arms. "I can't believe it either. We were so close. Something must've happened." Coyote throws back his head and howls like his namesake in grief, though he remains human in appearance.
After a few minutes, Opochtli holds out his hand to Coyote and helps him to his feet. Ixtlilton and Patecatl have turned from the altar, tears in their eyes even though they didn't know Kiku. Quetzalcoatl speaks, "We should go, and let the priests tend to his body. I will let them know that he is to be treated with all honor, and given a king's funeral." "Rise, Honda Kiku." Kiku looks up, startled. "Don't look so shocked. Of course we know your name, as we know all who come here. Now, stand up."
Kiku does so, cautiously, fearing a trap of some kind.
"No, there's no trap. You have proven you are worthy to return. There are many trials ahead of you, but always remember that resolve which has served you well here. Go now, with our blessing." A bright light flares up around Kiku, and he vanishes from the underworld. Kiku finds himself back in his body, the wound miraculously healed, with only a faint scar remaining. His heart starts with a jolt, and his eyes fly open. He draws a deep breath and sits up, a bit shakily.
Halfway across the rooftop, Coyote hears the sound. He turns, expecting it to be his imagination, and sees Kiku sitting up on the altar. Surprised, he almost drops Mint Bunny, who lets out a startled "Chu!" As Coyote stands staring, Mint Bunny looks up and sees Kiku. He squirms out of Coyote's arms and flies back to the altar, where he shifts back to human and catches Kiku in a tight hug. "Kiku! Oh, Kiku, you're alive! You're alive!" Mint Bunny breaks down crying again, this time in joy and relief.
The others have noticed that Coyote has stopped, and turn to see what's wrong. At the sight of Kiku sitting up, pale but alive, wrapped in Mint Bunny's arms, they all head back toward him at a run.
Coyote gets there first and just stares at Kiku in disbelief. "How …? You were … you didn't …" Coyote trails off, unable to finish.
"I think what we all want to know is 'what happened?' You were on the way back, I broke the spell thinking you WERE back, but you weren't. You. Were. Dead. No breath, no pulse, cold…normal people don't come back after that point. So how are you alive? Oh, I'm Quetzalcoatl, by the way. I'd still be Tezcatlipoca's slave if not for you and your friends, so I'm glad you're not dead anymore. Thank you."
Kiku stares for a long moment at the young man standing in front of him. This is not what he expected the fearsome Feathered Serpent to look like. The rich voice fits, but otherwise … Quetzalcoatl looks more like a nerd than a god. A handsome nerd, tall and thin, with short black hair and chocolate-brown eyes, but definitely not the imposing figure Kiku had expected to see. "I was … Bunny-kun, please don't hold me so tightly. I can't breathe. You are much stronger than you look." Mint Bunny loosens his embrace slightly, but doesn't let go. Kiku tries again and manages to tell about the strange beings who challenged him, how he passed their test and was sent back.
"That makes sense. Mictlantecutli and Mictecacihuatl don't like to let the dead out of their realm without a very good reason. You were extremely lucky to convince them to let you go. Your friend must be even more important than you know." Quetzalcoatl looks up, at a sky suddenly filling with clouds. A rumble of thunder is heard in the distance. "Looks like rain! Tlaloc must be getting a headstart on getting things back to normal. Let's get down to the feast hall before we get soaked."
Kiku stands, unsteadily, aided by Mint Bunny and Coyote. He starts to take a step, but he feels lightheaded and his legs don't want to support his weight. As he sits back down, Kiku looks at Mint Bunny and sees the blood covering the front of his shirt. "Bunny-kun! You're hurt! Someone…"
Mint Bunny interrupts before Kiku can call for help. "No, I'm not. Kiku … all this ,… It's your blood. Not mine. I'm fine."
Kiku looks at Mint Bunny again, then down at himself, and at the altar. He goes pale at the amount of blood – paler than he already is. "No wonder I still don't feel right. They sent me back, healed the knife wound, but didn't do anything for the blood loss."
Quetzalcoatl realizes the problem and trots back to Kiku. "Sorry. Here, let me help you. I should've known you wouldn't be able to walk right away." He scoops Kiku up and carries him toward the stairs, Coyote and Mint Bunny following as the first drops of rain start to fall. Ixtlilton and Patecatl have gone ahead and are already partway down the stairs.
To be continued
