Hullo again, Dearies!
It's been a while, so I think I need to insert this again…
Disclaimer: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle characters' copyright held by the ever AWESOME CLAMP folks and the various character's other respective owners. I make no claims to their ownership. (but THE BEAST IS MINE! MUHAHAHAH! Oh, and it's my story too) You know the routine...
Enjoy this next installment!
DEATH!*
One Dark and Stormy Night
Chapter 12
As Fai ended his melody, he could still feel the other presence lingering. Perhaps, if I were to try again… Fai began to focus and direct his thoughts towards the forest as he had earlier when he first felt this strange connection.
I know you are out there, whoever you are. I can feel your presence and know your eyes watch us. We mean you no harm, but my companion is worried. It is his job to protect us, and I do not want a simple misunderstanding to cause pain or suffering. We are simply travelers who are passing through this world. I wonder, are you friend or foe? Are you merely curious about us, or do you wish to do us harm?
"Oi- crazy wizard! Ya just gonna stand there all night or what?" interrupted the samurai.
So much for hopes of a nice civil conversation… thought Fai, as he turned to head back to the fire. "I'm coming, Kuro-kunie… don't get wound up so tight! It's bad for your complexion!" Fai hoped he had reached whatever was out there waiting for them. I guess only time will reveal the answer to that…
Kurogane offered to take the first watch as Fai returned from the doorway. "The kids are asleep and that useless pork-bun waddled over there and crashed too… why don't you go grab some shut-eye? I got this for now."
Fai thanked his friend and added "Come and wake me when you feel the need to rest… and don't be stubborn about it either." he said, as he gave Kurogane a wink and a smile. He headed over to where the others were sleeping, and settled down nearby, leaning against the wall for support. He watched as their protector was bathed in the firelight, and thanked the Universe for having such good friends to travel with. Even with all the hardships they had endured, he was still glad to be traveling with them. Within moments, his eyes began to slide closed as he also drifted off to sleep.
Out by the rain-soaked forest edge, the beast waited as the creatures prepared for the night. It reflected upon the visions it had seen during the song and wondered about the abilities of the intelligent one. Just then, it heard the thoughts of the smart one enter its mind.
I know you are out there, whoever you are. I can feel your presence and know your eyes watch us. We mean you no harm, but my companion is worried. It is his job to protect us, and I do not want a simple misunderstanding to cause pain or suffering. We are simply travelers who are passing through this world. I wonder, are you friend or foe? Are you merely curious about us, or do you wish to do us harm?
Shaking the rain off of its head, it looked up at the storm clouds, squinting its fiery-orange eyes as if able to discern the intentions of the clouds above by simply gazing up at them. Hmm… I do believe the rain is beginning to let up a bit… Perhaps there was some hope that tomorrow it might be able to sun itself on its rock and begin to dry out after all. It blinked the rain from its eyes as it returned its attention to the shelter and the now lone figure sitting beside the fire and the events of the day. Perhaps, it thought, if he could send thoughts, might he be able to receive them back? It wondered if it could communicate as it used to with its mate… Might be worth a shot. At best, perhaps I can find out what they want and why they are here… at the worst, it might provide me some entertainment.
It closed its eyes and rested its head on its neatly crossed front paws, relaxing itself and letting its mind go blank. After a few moments and several slow and deep breaths, it hesitantly reached out its mind while feeling for another presence… one that matched the intelligent one's.
First it encountered a prickly, dark, and hostile force; one that definitely did NOT want to be bothered at all. Ahh… Figures…this would be the brute standing watch. Quickly passing him by, it continued to reach out, gently probing its way through the room, looking for the specific feel of the mind who spoke earlier.
The next thing it knew, its mind had entered a whirlwind of an infinite number of strange images and sounds, all wildly flying around in no particular order… as if everything had been sucked up into a tornado. Curiously enough, most of the images seemed to be of the same type of creature… something that somewhat resembled a very well-fed version of a long-eared animal it had seen many times before, hopping around in its forest. There also seemed to be a loud and rambunctious song in the background, and the more it thought about it, the more the creatures all seemed to be dancing to the song in unison. Nope… Not this one either. This… is… rather disturbing. It hastily moved on, its ears still ringing from the noise.
No, this one is far too innocent. it thought, as it encountered the boy's gentle aura. It saw the depths of despair and worry wrapped in layers around this mind. It couldn't help but feel his love and devotion for the female sleeping in his embrace, and its heart ached in sympathy for him as it moved on to continue its search.
When it encountered Sakura's mind next, the strangeness of it caused the beast to pause. There is something very wrong with this little one… more than just a passing illness. Its curiosity piqued, it gently pushed against her mind and found surprisingly little resistance. Can they even tell how far this one has slipped, how perilously close to the edge of the abyss she has fallen? it wondered. The other young one is right to be worried about her.
As it explored her subconscious, it encountered large voids in her mind, gaps of inky darkness the likes of which the beast had never encountered before. It could only imagine what could have caused them, the amount of sheer power a trauma so large as to rend a mind to such pieces would take. It hastily yet tenderly withdrew its contact, not wanting to cause any more problems. It wondered what that poor being had been through to fracture a mind so completely and how one could even survive and function with such substantial damage. It decided then and there, should it be able to make contact, it would have to inform them of it and see if it could do anything to help mend the damage and heal her. Its compassionate side would not allow anything less.
As its mind wandered from being to being, it was surprised at the vast differences between each of them. That had not been expected. My,my… but aren't these strangers just a fountain of curiosities! So far things had gone fairly easily, and it was shocked at how little of a barrier they all had for their mental defenses. Just then its mind slammed into what seemed to be a solid wall, stopping it in its tracks.
Now this one will be interesting! it thought, as it began to get excited at the challenge this mind posed. Ah, yes- this would be the one I am searching for. Very formidable defenses, built up over time. This will be a tough nut to crack… and it settled in for the long haul.
As the night wore on, the beast continued to probe Fai's mind, looking for a weakness that would allow it to enter. Inside and peacefully resting alongside his companions, Fai began to dream.
He walked along the shore of a calm lake, enjoying the fine weather and wondering what exciting things the promise of a new day would bring. Cherry blossoms danced in the breeze as the birds chirped merrily from the treetops. He paused briefly to listen to the gentle lapping of the water against the shoreline and the slight rustle of his clothing in the breeze. Although alone, he felt relaxed, wrapped in a serene sense of calmness and self-awareness and soaking in the warmth of the sun and the auras of the creatures and plants around him. All was peaceful and beautiful here, and he felt whole and complete once more.
