The next morning started out clear and peaceful. The winds were calm and the sea remained stable around the Tower of the Gods. Sasuke woke up then looked around confused and wearily. He found himself lying in the boat and his chest covered in bandages but sore and stiff with Seasor and Kikyo asleep and sitting up. He tried to sit up himself but a huge shockwave of pain prevented him. He tried to hold back his screams but Seasor started to wake up. "Hn? Sasuke?" He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes then yawned beastly. "Did you have a good sleep?" Sasuke frowned at that question.
"No." He tried to sit up but he couldn't so Seasor helped him. "Ugh, what happened last night? Why does my chest hurt?"
"I don't blame you for not remembering. You passed out from the blood you lost because Groudon slashed you. If Kikyo didn't do anything and fast then you would've died."
"I think I remember that…but what happened to Vaporeon?"
"Over here!" They looked over to the entrance then saw the very cat swim its way onto the boat. "Come on, I have something I want to show you and wake up Kikyo." Seasor started to shake her softly until she stirred. She rubbed her eyes then opened them to Sasuke.
"So you did survive." She whispered quietly to herself then smiled at him. "You shouldn't be able to move."
"It still hurts." Sasuke put his elbows on his knees carefully then sighed as Quill flew around them and finally landed on the arc rim.
"Good morning!" He sounded cheerful and the others greeted him except for Sasuke. "Sasuke, you're alive and fit!"
"I still feel weak." He grumbled irritably but quietly.
"Thank you for your help, Quill, and tell Komali and Valoo the same thing, okay?" Kikyo bowed her head before him slightly then he returned the gesture.
"It was no problem, really. This is where we part for now. Take care!" He took off once again towards Dragon Roost.
"So what's so important?" Sasuke questioned then took the Tetsusaiga on the floor.
"You'll see, let's just get there." Vaporeon nodded then Seasor steered the boat right into the now visible golden ring of light. They sunk down and arrived at the kingdom below. Kikyo looked around impressed once they climbed out and started walking in but Sasuke turned back to the boat and Vaporeon. The water cat was nowhere to be found or heard. He shrugged his shoulders then joined the two while slipping the Tetsusaiga at its place. They entered the huge foyer and down the stairs until they reached the open chamber. They continued down the steps then entered the massive basement while Kikyo took in the sights.
"Where are we? I've never seen a place like this before!"
"We'll explain it later. Let's go see what Vaporeon wants." Seasor stole a glance at Sasuke as if to tell him something with his eyes then faced forward as they climbed up the stairs to each platform. A figure stood in front of the rock the Tetsusaiga was encased in. He had long, midnight black hair tucked behind pointed ears, golden eyes, the same markings as Groudon but his were red and his face held a more majestic, kind expression. He wore a white kimono top with baggy, pure white pants, armor with spikes sticking out along the top of the chest plates and the arms, fluffy white fur like a cape and black, armored shoes. A yellow ribbon was tied tightly around his waist with sapphire sea designs on the ends. The ribbon also kept a sword placed firmly at his left hip but this one didn't have a sheath. The handle was red, the hand guard black and a small gold circle on the end. He stood with his back turned to them and the graceful shadows concealed his handsome face.
"It's about time you three came. There is something you need to know." He turned around and looked at all three solemnly while they watched in confusion. "My name is Kyogre, God of the Sea and Destruction." They stared at him skeptically at first but remained stunned at his presence. "Seasor, Sasuke, do you not recognize my voice? I am also Vaporeon." Kikyo immediately dropped to her knees and bowed lowly to him while the boys watched.
"God of the Sea, forgive me for not knowing it was you. I apologize if I looked at you the wrong way or disrespected you."
"It is alright. On your feet, child." Kikyo loyally stood up but still looked down.
"I'm not worthy to be in your presence. Don't mind me."
"Kikyo, it is alright. You may look at me. I am not all that great for someone worthy of that treatment."
"What are you talking about? Of course you're great. You're the one who created water and supported life everywhere. Anyone who does that must be great!"
"But by creating water I have also drowned millions in the Great Flood five centuries ago. And I had to sacrifice one of my creatures to be here in your world of the living."
"Wait, you sacrificed one of your own creatures to come back alive? How could you do that? That's horrible!"
"That is true but for its generosity I shall grant it eternal life." Sasuke and Seasor recovered from the shock but the look on their faces were priceless. Kyogre chuckled slightly in amusement to that.
"If you're really Kyogre," Sasuke started. "Why didn't you help before? We could've killed Groudon."
"It's all a part of my plan. I cannot let my brother know I'm alive just yet."
"Your brother?" Seasor blurted out. "Why didn't you side with him and not against him?"
"It is fate. I am the sea and he is the land. We were meant to fight from the start."
"But why did you need the Tetsusaiga? Or us?" Sasuke questioned confusingly. "Can't a god like you kill him?"
"Have none of you heard about the legend of the Original One? Five hundred years ago, he traveled across here with his army of Hell. They patrolled this whole land and slaughtered anyone or anything that was in their way. No mortal man could defeat him and lesser demons were intimidated by him. I tried to stop him but we were evenly matched even though we were both gods. I knew I had no choice but to convince a boy, no older than you, to end this war. However, it didn't work the way I planned it. Groudon was kept sealed in the bowls of the earth and not killed. I'm afraid it's all my fault. My foolishness is what caused this trouble."
"But if it wasn't for you, we would all probley be dead." Kikyo stated sympathetically.
"Yeah!" Seasor chimed in. "We still have one more shot at beating him!" A smile graced his face as he was trying to encourage his friends. It worked on Kikyo but not on Sasuke.
"There's only one problem." Sasuke added jeeringly.
"Yeah? What?" Seasor turned to look at him but noticed the look in his eyes.
"We can't fight him alone! We need help! Didn't you hear him, Seasor? Or were you too worried about me?" Seasor's smile quickly turned into a frown in an instant.
"You know what, why do you have to be like that? I'm trying to help but you just shove me aside like I'm useless!"
"That's because you are!" The boys' faces were a little red from anger and yelling at the other. Each second went by as tension rose between them until Seasor finally broke away from Sasuke's glare then stepped down towards the exit.
"Tch, I'm done, Sasuke." He shook his head in disappointment then jumped down the last of the steps.
"Where are you going?" Frustration was still evident in his voice.
"I'm going home! Obviously I'm no use here!" He was almost out by the time Sasuke called out again.
"Fine! Go back home you big baby!" Kikyo followed him after giving Sasuke a dirty look. "You too? Well fine! I don't need anyone! I can do this myself!" He crossed his arms and frowned while the two disappeared from sight. "Humph! Who needs them anyway?" He realized that he had to get out himself then walked towards the exit with his arms uncrossed.
"There is one more thing before you leave." Kyogre stayed in the same place while watching Sasuke turn around.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"The sword he has with him is the Sounga, the brother sword of Tokijin, my blade. They were forged by my father's fangs the same way the Tetsusaiga was forged. The way to defeat the Sounga is by combining the powers of the Tetsusaiga and the Tenseiga."
"So I have to get help from…" His voice drifted off as he went into thought. "Oh no." He mumbled, remembering the woman that was here before.
"So what are you going to do? It wouldn't be a bad thing to go search for her considering you'll find your brother." Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. His thoughts were scrambled as he tried to put them into words.
"B-But he said he despised evil demons. Wait, how do you know this?" Kyogre's face remained emotionless to the boy.
"I know because I saw. It was two years ago in the vast, lush forest of the Forest Haven. A pack of wolf demons invaded the peaceful island and devoured any human who was in their way. I saw the docked ship of the sailors but it was empty. The howling erupted and grew near telling me something was wrong. I went to see and along the way I saw the blood of the sailor corpses splattered everywhere and bite marks all over their bodies. I smelled the scent of wolves and headed deeper into the forest but I hid in the bushes so I wouldn't be seen and there he was. Your brother was trying to run away from a pack of about twenty wolves. Blood and sweat stained his face so I assumed he slain a lot. They finally caught up to him and pinned him down. I did nothing but watched them bite him all over until they left him for dead. After about an hour later, she encountered him in the forest with the imp, her servant, by her side. The imp talked to her about the wolves but it seemed like she ignored him. Instead, she drew out the Tenseiga and struck him then watched the healing effects. He was not cut, not even in the slightest way, and he did move. He opened his eyes and found himself in her arms. From that point I had to leave but before I did I saw him follow her and the imp. That's the most I can recall." Sasuke stood silent for a while thinking. A minute that felt like an hour passed as neither of the two said another word. "You better go." His low voice broke the silence. "Your friends will keep you alive if you let them. Now go." Sasuke hesitated for a moment before heading out again. He left the chamber before the statue sealed it up. He looked up and noticed Kikyo walking down the stairs.
"I thought you were leaving."
"I came back to get you. I think you should talk to Seasor." She turned back around and climbed the steps.
"Fine." He mumbled irritably then followed her outside. They walked down the steps and found Seasor sitting in the boat, arms crossed, and back turned to them. Sasuke just stared at him while getting his thoughts in order. He sighed then tried his attempt to speak. "Seasor, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. You aren't useless. In fact, if it wasn't for you I know I would be dead now. Do you forgive me?" Seasor turned back around and looked him straight in the eyes for about a minute then sighed.
"Yeah, I forgive you. I was thinking that I couldn't go back without you because you know how they get sometimes." Sasuke just nodded his head and spotted Vaporeon still sitting in the boat. They climbed in and returned to the surface world in front of the Tower of the Gods.
