Byakko Monogatari
[Byakko] Chapter 09
Activation
[Inside the Book]
[
"Xiu-nii!" merrily calls of an eleven year old princess of Sairo, Lenalee as she running towards the tall fifteen year old lad—who's walking alongside the Bookman Junior—while carrying a scroll.
Both teens halted and turn towards the happy princess who successfully caught up with them; both smiles seeing her form standing before them.
"What is it Lenalee-sama?" Gentle, manly, with respect and warm voice asked the princess whom panting as she bringing back her normal breathing.
"This!" she answers after extending her hands that holding the white scroll towards the lads.
"This is 'The Universe of the Four Gods for Byakko's Priestess'." Lavi said after recognizing the white scroll "What do you want from that princess?"
"Please read this to me, Xiu-nii!"
"Why I have a feeling that I do not exist in her world?" Lavi whisper to himself but audible that Xiu hear it causing a sweat drop and half smile from the other lad.
Once, the young princess confessed to Xiu and Lavi about her 'world'; her world are the people that important her.
Her father Emperor, her elder brother, Bookman, Xiu and Lavi; she's a princess but even so, the people in Sairo are not part of her world; only those who are important to her.
Xiu is her favourite among them; because for her Xiu is someone she looking up to-this actually caused some minor dispute on Lord Komui's side as he is known that have a 'Sister Complex', the emperor, and everyone closed to them knows this—Lenalee's role model is none other than Xiu.
Xiu turns to the young princess and gave a sad smile, "I'm so sorry Lenalee-sama, but me and Lavi has something important to do." The princess pouted, completely disappointed on the answer from the young general.
Lavi and Xiu smiles to each other; smiles that saying 'it can't be help', then both kneel in one of their knees, levelling their eyes to the same height as the princess' orbs, looking at her straight in the eyes.
"Alright then, we will read it to you." Xiu said making the girl smile in delight.
"But!" the smiles quickly vanished after Lavi cut it off suddenly "After we were done with our jobs; so wait for us until then."
Oh how easy to please the princess.
"YES!" both men smile gently after witnessing the bright smile that the princess gives to them.
But that promise lasted for three days; Xiu—as a General—received an order from the Emperor about a certain group of bandits causing trouble on one of the lands in Sairo; wanting to find out, Emperor Nea sent him. Lavi—as a Bookman—came with him as part of his training. Even so, Lenalee waited for them, patiently and longingly; and when they came back they finished some reports then fulfilled their promise to her which makes the princess happy.
On the huge library of the castle, Lavi and Xiu read the book each of them per chapter.
"Ne, ne! Xiu-nii is a Celestial Warrior, right?" Xiu nodded, "Who are you then?"
"I bare Tatara's mark."
The princess then smile, "Then our future priestess will be safe!"
"Why is that Lenalee?" Lavi asked, got curious on her way of thinking.
"Because she has Xiu-nii as her protec—ah!"
"What's wrong Lenalee-sama?"
Lenalee frowned suddenly which put the two in curiosity "I change my mind I don't like her at all!"
This shocks the two, "Why is that all of the sudden Lenalee-sama?" but the princess stays quiet before she jumped out from their chair and run out the library. Lavi who's good at looking at other people finally got an idea for the princess' change of pace.
"I see…" Lavi chimes while putting his hand behind his head while playful smile has decorating his handsome face. Xiu looks at him curious as of what he found.
"What's that Lavi? You're being creepy!"
"Ha! I don't want to hear that from a dense dork!" after increasing the other's curiosity, Lavi gives out a mischievous smile to him "Look how dense you are, Xiu-nii~"
"Creepy."
Lavi laugh then look back at him "You—have you forgotten, about Lenalee's world?"
"What about it?"
"Hey there Xiu, if you're a Celestial Warrior then you'll leave this castle to join the priestess on searching for the other warriors right? Having a sudden realization that you'll be away for a long time and your attention for her would lessen more than it is, Lenalee suddenly have urged to don't like your future priestess. Also—"
"And? You are going to add more?"
"Why of course! Just to tell you, Lenalee likes you so much!"
"Well that's always putting me in Lord Komui's list of people he will execute soon when he becomes the emperor."
"You're in tight spot Xiu." Lavi teased as he poking Xiu's cheeks.
"Cut it out Lavi!" and sighs
Lenalee went straight in her room, plopping on her bed while feeling frustrated.
She already worse when she only thinking her world were just everyone she cares and not include the Sairo's citizens; but now she even more worst, hating a someone that will someday save their country from the terrible future. She cannot help it, not feeling frustrated.
Once that woman come, her Xiu-nii, Bookman and everyone will have their sight on her, which is just fine but when she thinking that one of her important person would leave the place just to travel with someone they barely know is what frustrates her.
Why is the priestess must from another world? Why she cannot become the priestess instead?
Her thoughts suddenly cut off when feats of knocks sound on her door.
"Lenalee-sama?" that voice, the gentle voice she knows very well.
The door gradually opens and Xiu came in.
"Why are you here?" Lenalee pouted while asking the lad.
"What's up with you suddenly hating someone that hasn't existing yet?"
"Because!" Lenalee get up from her bed and look at to Xiu "Once she comes, you no longer going to stay here, I may no longer see you! I mean some Celestial Warriors were sacrificing their life just to protect that girl."
Xiu scratches his head, he's not good at this kind of thing, is it Lavi's role not him.
"Lenalee-sama, you see… the priestess has many amazing things on her world; a peaceful world, for example, and yet why do you think she will come here by her own decision?"
"She… she doesn't have any choice, I mean… Byakko chose her and bring her here."
"Yes, she didn't come here by her own will and yet why do you think she'll save this world despite the circumstances waiting for her?"
The princess keeps quiet, as being young and spoil Lenalee doesn't know anything.
"Suzuno Osugi, the previous priestess of our Sovereign, why do you think she went till the end?"
Again; nothing from the princess.
"You know why?"Lenalee shook her head side to side "According to Bookman, it's because Suzuno-san's love for this country, and for her Celestial Warriors. The Celestial Warriors are the same; they love Suzuno-san that even it is so reckless and selfless they always putting her first. They protected her because despite she came from another world; she's ready to protect ours instead. She came to love this world more than into her own."
Silence conquers them,
"Well, on the other hand…" The princess looks at him "We haven't sure if she'll come or if she did, we're not sure that it is my era." Xiu shrugged his shoulder. "But, if she did come…" Xiu walks towards the young princess and pats her hair, giving her his gentle smile "Welcome her warmly and wholeheartedly, so she would feel at ease, okay?"
"Yes Xiu-nii."
]
[—Toki Village—]
'What now?' Xiu questions as he saw the grown up version of his and Lavi's little princess. 'I thought I told her to welcome my priestess with open hands not with scary look… setting that aside she did changed drastically huh, I wonder what Lord Komui and Lavi's reaction into this?'
[
"LENALEE-CHAN!" Lord Komui while hugging Lenalee "DON'T MARRY ANYONE!"
"st-st-STRIKE!" Lavi with his eyes shape in hearts.
]
Xiu sighs, remembering some crazy antics.
"Xiu-nii~" Lenalee's voice sounded like Road: creepy.
All eyes on him "Xiu… nii?" Chiharu questioned as they standing up.
"I thought you said that she's the princess of Sairo, Xiu." Allen stated, questioning the ravenet lad.
"Yo-yo-yo-you are not the prince right?" Miranda asked in panic and fear.
This is the reason why he cannot say about his relationship with Lavi.
"No." Xiu answer firmly not removing his eyes on their enemy; that actually put the three in relief.
"Let's play~ Xiu~nii~"
Upon further inspection, Xiu notices the unusual knee-high black boots that the former little princess' wearing, a green stripe is showing down her leg from the top to bottom and green energy is emitting from her ankles.
"What is that Lenalee? Where did you get that super tight boots?" Xiu asked, like in the past.
"Oh?" Lenalee then look down on her black boots, then back to Xiu with playful smile on her face "From Road-sama!" She cheery answered.
"Did Lord Komui allow that? I doubted it…"
Lenalee's smiles widen—though not as creepy as her voice entrance—her smile defines calmness.
"No~ but he doesn't need to. Ne~ Xiu-nii~" in a blink of eye she disappeared from their sights but not mere second past when she suddenly reappeared right in front of Xiu with eyes that holds bloodlust, "Can I kill you for the sake of Sairo?" Allen, Chiharu and Miranda have their jaws drop and wide eyes as the next second the princess appeared.
'For the sake—of what?!' Xiu suddenly have a mental panic, as her words contradict her own.
Right on that moment Lenalee kicks Xiu on his torso making him fly till his back hits the wall of now mess up restaurant. The ravenet fell down on the floor while the other people there have decided to run for their lives.
Allen summoned his white cowl and used his claws to attack the princess who surprisingly flew on another direction.
"As always Crown Edge is effective for these things." Allen stated, remembering the time he used the same technique to Lavi before.
Chiharu and Miranda went towards to Xiu—who on that time—is standing; at the same time Lenalee is standing as well.
She looks grumpily to Allen, "Who are you?" not actually interested; she just mad that this albino boy butting in on her fight with Xiu. "Cursed one." She nicknamed, after seeing his star mark on the left side of his face.
"I'm—" Allen think up first if he should use his birth or his other name but went into conclusion to introduce himself properly to the fierce princess "One of Celestial Warriors of Byakko, Kokie; not so pleased to meet'cha Princess." with playful smile.
"Well then Kokie, would you stop butting in? My only purpose on coming here is—" Her violet eyes then fixated to Xiu—who have Chiharu and Miranda on his side— "to kill Tatara." And once again, in split seconds Lenalee disappeared and reappear in front of the three.
Right after she reappeared, white ribbons impale on the walls above the ravenet and it's connected on Allen's sleeve on his right arm.
Lenalee turns her head to him and sees a confidence smiles on the albino's face.
"Sorry Princess, that's the thing I cannot allow."
Xiu then—after seeing a chance—summons his vines under his sleeves and holds them; while Allen summons another one of his white ribbon and wrap it on Lenalee's neck and with his strength pulls the princess and throws her to the opposite direction where are the three.
After throwing the princess Allen summon back his ribbon while Xiu came to his side, thanking him for saving them.
"Are you alright~" Allen chimes with smile, trying to making the air around them light. "You're not on yourself today."
"I used to read scrolls on her four years ago."
"Then this fight is too heavy for you then." Allen stated, understanding the situation.
"I caught on guard because of Lenalee-sama's world."
"World?"
Before they could continue their conversation, a fierce whirlwind came to them that they barely dodge, but it coming towards the two ladies behind them.
Xiu threw a seed at the whirlwind and Zomb, the man-eating plant that saves the three while back at Ruika Village blossoms from the seed. The whirl wind stops and vanish leaving the plant by itself.
"I'm always thankful to Zomb you know." Allen informed the owner.
"What about Chomp?"
"Not in slightest." Allen answered after remembering the dreadful sticky saliva of the said plant.
"Since you butting in…" both lads stares at her "Then I'll kill you too Celestial Warrior!"
"You are so confident Lenalee-sama~" Xiu commented, while remembering how coward is the princess before. Then Xiu's face gets all serious "Maa, might as well get serious here." As he summon more of his vines that immediately joins together and forms a shape: Scythe with thorns that acting as blade.
"Activate Dark Boots: Level Two." Upon commanding, Lenalee's dark boots' green energy strips are replaced with circles with a cross mark on them, and her boots now have knee pads and straps around her thighs.
Allen also readies himself mentally, with his Celestial Tool: Crowned Clown.
And their clashed begins.
Meanwhile Chiharu and Miranda couldn't do anything but to hide behind Zomb that Xiu left for their protection. At first the battlers are in equal terms, wounding, injuring and hitting each other; Xiu and Allen are in synch too but when Lenalee got more faster than she was before the fight becomes one sided.
Both lads gains more wounds and injuries; the young lady and elder woman were both shaking, both with fear but Chiharu is more worried for the two.
Miranda—whom watching the fierce fight—started to question herself if she really a Celestial Warrior. She is with no doubt clumsy, slow, creepy, and coward, not to mention she has no special ability; and the only thing she have right now is fear and her special silver pocket watch.
If she is—indeed—a Celestial Warrior, then she'll be a useless one, having no ability. After that princess finishes Allen and Xiu, she will surely target them next.
Wait… them? She looks at the young lady next to her who is continually watching yet holding worried face.
If those two are Celestial Warriors then this girl next to her—whom holding her—is none other than the Priestess of Byakko; the one that will save this country.
If the princess intended to kill those two then she has motived to wipe this girl as well.
No... no… no… That shouldn't happen.
She must be alive to save this country!
They, the Celestial Warriors must gather—alive—to save this country!
No… no… no… they'll be dead if at least one of them dies!
'Byakko!' Miranda starts to pray, tightly close eyes while weaving her prayers in intense pleading 'If I'm really your servant please! I am begging you! Give me an ability to help them! Anything would fine! I'm just wanted to help them!'
Allen and Xiu both flew and dropped in front of them, both wounded and no longer conscious; Chiharu quickly went to them, trying to wake up either of them but with wounds and injuries, it is a doubt that either would wake up sooner or later.
"Eh~ what is this? Xiu-nii is actually weak eh!" Lenalee then giggled just like how Road giggles.
"Xiu! Allen!"
'PLEASE BYAKKO!'
Green energy then emitted from the silver pocket watch that Miranda been holding closed to her chest; and from that the green energy covers her then spread out till Xiu and Allen's, then creating some sort of barrier against anything.