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Chapter XII Nico
The moths and Saimyōshō came right at us. I used the shadows and had them become solid, and then shot them out like spikes. I took out several Saimyōshō and the moths. The moths were real annoying, and were probably there to be a distraction. A couple of the lizard demons came rushing at me, so I created a crack in the ground that pulled them to the Underworld.
Several of these demons were able to jump over the crack I made. They ran at me, with their claws like razors swiping at me. These monsters were confident that they could stand against me, but they underestimated me. I sliced them, their life force being absorbed into my sword. There was a moment when they tripped me up. As I fell on my back one of them pounced on me. As it did I raised my sword and ran it through.
When I stood up the lizard demons were circling around me. I thought it was strange that they weren't afraid of my sword. Nearly every monster I have ever fought usually backed away at the sight of Stygian Iron. I guess what Chiron said was true. This pantheon didn't have any real experience with us Greeks. One of the demons behind me jumped at me and I blocked its claws with my sword. It tried to push me back, so I dug my heels into the ground to support my stance.
Up close and personal with the lizard demon, my ADHD (if I had it, I was never really diagnosed with it when I was a kid) just picked up on the small details. While they all looked the same, there were small differences. Some were thin, while others had more of a muscular bulk. They also came in different colors. The one I was pushing against was dark green in color. The others that were still circling me were orange, black or green. Their claws were long and curved, like a sickle. They even wore loin cloths that looked like they were made out of various animals.
The lizard kept trying to snap at me with its jaws. I could see its small, sharp teeth and smell its breath that smelled like rot, and I have a lot of experience with rotting things. While it wasn't able to reach me with its jaws it licked me with its long forked tongue, like it was tasting me. I for one was not going to be the lunch of any monster, so I pushed harder against it until it backed up, a little of balance. With the little breathing room I had, I instantly rushed forward and sliced its head off.
As its life force was taken into my sword its fellow demons hissed in anger. I guess it was a friend or a family member to the others. They slowly got closer to me, ready to take me out all at once. Well, they thought they were going to take me out.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…" I counted the ones that were getting closer.
One attacked me from my side, but I countered. It even tripped up. The others attacked me in tune with each other. It reminded me of that dinosaur movie that was played at Camp when I first was there, specifically the moment where the raptors attacked the hunter with the accent. I wasn't really thinking at the time (and I'm going to beat myself about it later) but I let them back me up against a tree. They made a clicking sound, like it was their laugh. But what they didn't realize was that I was in the shadow of the tree. The moment they all ran at me at once, I made the shadows bend to my will and grow darker. The darkness expanded and covered me, allowing me to hide from their sight.
I could see them, and they looked lost. They leaned up and stuck their tongues out. They must be following my scent. Before they could catch my scent, I went to finish them off. After I defeated four of them, the last three finally were able to fight me in the darkness. I countered, the sparks made lighting up the darkness. The two other demons swiped at me with their claws, nicking my arms and legs while I fended off the main attacker.
I was getting angry with them. I needed to finish them off so I can help Percy and Tsuna. Getting an idea, I used my sword to gather the darkness. I closed my eyes at the last second as the darkness quickly went away. The lizards were blinded by the sudden light, and when I opened my eyes I made my move. I stabbed though one and sliced my sword through it and then impaled another demon. The last lizard demon was squinting its eyes when I rammed my sword through its chest. As its life force entered my sword, I felt a strong wind in the clearing.
Turning around, I saw Percy was creating a wind storm that was spinning the bugs around. His little hurricane was strong enough to pick up the lizards that were after him. When they got close he would slice them with Riptide. He even used the melted snow to propel himself into the air and turn the demons into piles of dust with each swipe of his sword. Kurama helped by jumping from Saimyōshō to Saimyōshō, biting and scratching them while he rode the wind that Percy created.
I heard Tsuna scream so I followed his voice. I saw the way Tsuna was fighting Menōmaru. He was giving him everything he got, using some of the Kendo and Fencing techniques that he showed me, but the moth guy looked like he wasn't trying. He looked really calm, dodging and blocking each of Tsuna's attacks. Every time Tsuna attacked, Menōmaru angled his blade to deflect Tsuna's attacks, sparks flying off the connecting point of the swords. I was shocked, as Tsuna was as good as a swordsman as Percy, and Percy was the greatest sword fighter I've ever known.
"You need a few more centuries of training to get up to my level Tsunayoshi." Menōmaru said.
"Your pride will be your downfall." Tsuna said. "And the name's Tsuna!"
Tsuna angled his sword in his right hand, and raised his left hand. He then jabbed his sword at Menōmaru really fast. Menōmaru deflected Tsuna's attack without any effort and pushed Tsuna away after the clashed swords. His finger nails glowed a sickly green color and went to stab Tsuna with his hand, but Tsuna created a shield of solid water. Wanting to help, I then made the black walls of Erebos tightly surround Menōmaru.
Tsuna stood up and went to stab Menōmaru, while Kurama jumped to attack him from behind. But when the two of them got close Menōmaru turned into a swarm of moths and escaped from the trap. Kurama had already jumped and went straight through the swarm and collided with Tsuna. They both fell to the ground and Tsuna's sword slid near the bird. Menōmaru reformed and went to pick up Tsuna's sword. But as his hand got close to the handle, he pulled back as something sparked around it.
"A barrier." Menōmaru said in annoyance. "Damn it, why can't my job be easier?"
"Didn't you learn not to touch things that aren't yours?!" Percy asked as he ran up to Menōmaru.
Menōmaru turned around and drew his sword. His sword was a bit longer than Percy's so he was able to stab him. But he didn't know Percy was invulnerable and his sword only cut into Percy's clothes. The moment that his sword touched Percy's skin it broke and the piece flew into Menōmaru's shoulder, injuring him. Before Percy's sword could reach him, Menōmaru disappeared again. I ran over to make sure Tsuna was okay.
"Are you alright?" I asked as I helped Tsuna up.
"Yeah I'm fine." Tsuna said. "Angry yes, but I'm fine. All those years spent training in two different styles of swords play, and he acted like I was nothing."
"At least you didn't get hurt." I said.
"Thanks for the concern." Tsuna said with a smile. "I saw you handle the Saimyōshō and the other demons. Good job. I didn't know you could use shadows like that."
"Thanks." I said. "Darkness is part of Dad's domain."
"I'm surprised you didn't summon the dead." Percy said. He handed Tsuna his sword. "Though the last time you did it you nearly died."
"I've gotten better at using my powers since then Percy." I said. Kurama came up to me and hopped to Tsuna's shoulder. "How are you feeling Kurama?"
"He's fine." Tsuna said after Kurama spoke and scratched him behind the ears. "He's angry that Menōmaru got away."
"How should we help the bird?" I asked. It looked worse for wear.
"Maybe we should cut off the silk." Percy said. "It must be the same stuff that burned Kurama."
"You're right." Tsuna said. "Let's get cutting. Just be careful, we don't need anyone to get burned right now."
We got walked closer to the bird, and it was in worse shape in the little time since I last looked at it a few minutes ago. Its feathers were a dull red and turning gray. Its face was tucked into its wing, probably to protect itself. I just now noticed that the bird was emitting a lot of heat. It must be the reason why all the snow in the area was melted. But before we could start cutting the silk, strange purple powder started to fall on us like snow.
"What's this stuff?" Percy asked as it covered us. Then I started to cough really badly. "Nico are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm *cough*" I started to say. I coughed again and when I moved my hand back there was blood on it. "By the gods…"
"Nico, what's wrong?" Tsuna said. He walked over to me and stumbled on his feet. As he fell he stabbed his sword into the ground and used it as support. That's when Percy started shaking and his nose started bleeding. "What's going on?"
"Doku no hōshi!" Kurama coughed out. We all started coughing violently. My vision was starting to get blurry.
"If you want to live, give me that sword." Menōmaru said from above us. "If not, allow my poison to kill you. Even the invulnerable one will die."
"You *cough, cough, cough* want my sword?" Tsuna asked. "You can just *cough* go to Hell!"
"Insolent child!" Menōmaru said. "I'll just have to rip it from your dead body."
He increased the amount of the purple powder, coating us in it. It was getting hard to breath. I heard him draw his sword from its sheath. I tried to make a shield for us using the black walls of Erebos, but I couldn't concentrate. Menōmaru screamed as he attacked. I felt so helpless, and dying by poison is something Dad will probably yell at me for when I'm in the Underworld. Maybe he'll let Percy and Tsuna get into Elysium, and maybe he'll let me visit them.
"Watashitachi o tasukete!" I heard Kurama yell.
I felt a really intense heat from behind me. My breathing became smoother and my sight became clearer. I picked myself up and saw the others bathed in fire. I was going to help them when I noticed that the flames were on me too. I tried to beat them away, but I realized that they weren't hurting me. The flames spread across the entire clearing, burning away the purple powder.
"Why don't you die you damn bird?!" Menōmaru said. I heard a loud sound, like a bird squawking, and I saw a pillar of fire head straight for Menōmaru. Menōmaru dodged the flames. "Our time will come bird. This isn't over."
Menōmaru turned into a swarm of moths again and flew off. Tsuna picked himself up, with his sword going back into being a ring, and came over to check if I was okay. He was really worried, but I assured him I was alright. I know he means well, but it's getting on my nerves. Plus I didn't want him to get too close, if he ever found out about how I feel for him or his brother, he's sure to hate me no matter what he's been saying.
Percy said he was okay too. Kurama shook himself then walked over to where the bird was and bowed. The three of us turned around and I saw the most amazing bird I have ever seen. Earlier it looked really old, but now it seems that it had new life in it. Instead of having dusty red feathers, it now has feathers of red, orange, yellow and gold. The feathers were even moving like fire. The bird had this aura too, like it radiated gold light, like fire.
"Thank you." The bird said. I noticed how when he talked he wasn't moving his mouth, er, beak. "It is good to meet those with kind hearts. Please, have a seat."
"So…" Tsuna said as the three of us sat on the ground. Kurama came over and laid down next to Tsuna. "Who, or what, are you exactly?"
"Anata wa sono yōna watashitachi no shujin ni hanashi o suru koto wa dekimasen! Ikutsu ka no ten no Tsuna o miseru!" Kurama yelled, jumping up and practically pouncing on Tsuna.
"Kurama, don't talk to our new friends like that." The bird scolded. "Young Tsunayoshi-"
"Please, for the love of the gods, call me Tsuna." begged Tsuna. I never realized he hated being called by his full first name.
"Forgive me." The bird said. "But to answer your question, I am the Guardian of the South, the embodiment of Summer and Flame. I am Suzaku, the Vermilion Phoenix."
"A phoenix?" I asked. "What's a phoenix?"
"I don't know." Percy said. "I never heard of them before."
"A phoenix is a very powerful bird, as well known as the dragons." Tsuna exclaimed. "They represent rebirth and regeneration, because when they die in flames, they are reborn in the ashes."
"You are very wise for someone so young." Suzaku said.
"But I read about you," Tsuna said as he pulled out the book I gave him for Chiron, "In this book. It says that there are four guardians, each one representing the four directions and the seasons. There's you, a tiger, a turtle, and a dragon."
"There were four of us." Suzaku said, drooping his head. "But now there's only me. The others have faded."
"Faded? Like what happened to Pan?" I wondered.
"Yes, Son of Hades." Suzaku said. Before I could ask him how he knew who my dad was, he continued talking. "Your Pan's fading is exactly what is happening to our kind. It's sad too, as Seiryu was the last dragon in our pantheon."
In the corner of my eye I saw Tsuna flex his hand that he wore his dragon ring. He must have hurt it when he was fighting Menōmaru. While talking to Suzaku, I saw his feathers begin to lose their luster.
"So, are you like a god or something?" Percy asked.
"We are considered gods, but we are nowhere near as powerful." Suzaku said. "Tsuna, may I see you sword?"
"Uh, sure." Tsuna said. He held out his hand, his ring turning into water and coiling around his hand, until his dragon designed sword was in his hand. He held it out and let Suzaku look at it.
"Can it be?" Suzaku muttered under his breath. "This is impossible."
"What?" Tsuna asked, pulling his sword back and allowing it to turn back into his ring. "What is it?"
"And what do you mean?" Percy asked.
"Nothing Son of Poseidon." Suzaku said. I had this gut feeling that he knew something that he wasn't telling us. "So what brings the Greeks to Japan?"
"We were given a prophecy from our new Oracle." I said. "The prophecy said something about gathering three treasures and defeating some Oni King."
"Three treasures?" Suzaku said. "The Three Sacred Treasures of Japan?"
"That sounds like the prophecy." Tsuna said. "What are they?"
"The Three Sacred Treasures are the most powerful artifacts in our Pantheon." Suzaku explained. "They belong to the three gods who ruled over Japan. There is a mirror, the Yata no Kagami, which belonged to the god of the moon Tsukuyomi, a jewel called the Yasakani no Magatama that belonged to our queen Amerterasu the sun goddess, and a sword named the Kusanagi no Tsurugi under the ownership of the god of the sea Susanoo."
"So these Sacred Treasures are like the symbols of power for our Big Three?" Percy wondered. "Zeus has the Master Bolt-"
"And my dad Hades has the Helm of Darkness-" I said.
"And Poseidon, Tsuna's and my dad, has the Trident." Percy finished up.
"How powerful are these Treasures?" Tsuna asked.
"From what I can remember, and know that I am old," Suzaku said, "The Treasures are as powerful as your Big Three's symbols of power. At her weakest, Amerterasu dwarfed my powers at my peak. The Yasakani no Magatama, has the full power of the sun. Fitting for the sun goddess."
"Do the Treasures have any special powers?" Percy asked. He indicated to himself and Tsuna. "Our dad Poseidon's Trident can control all of the oceans and cause earthquakes."
"I can't remember the abilities of the Yasakani no Magatama or the Yata no Kagami." Suzaku said. "But the Kusanagi no Tsurugi… I believe it would be comparable to Poseidon's Trident, after it was claimed by Susanoo. Legend states that when Susanoo found it, he was chopping up an old enemy. As he sliced into one of the tails, his original sword broke."
"Wait, wait, wait…" Tsuna said. "You said belonged. Does that mean…"
"Yes." Suzaku said. "The Noble Three have vanished. I fear they have faded ages ago, but as they are deities of the moon, sun, and sea, their essence always exists."
"But is the Noble Three have faded, what about the treasures?" Tsuna asked.
"I don't believe the Treasures have faded." Suzaku said. "Power of their magnitude is something that can never fade. The mortals even use replicas in the emperor's enthronement ceremony."
"But if fake ones are being used, where are the real ones?" I asked.
"I don't know." Suzaku said. "But items with as much power as the Sacred Treasures can draw the attention of supernatural beings, like our young Kurama."
"Watashi wa tasukeru koto ga dekimasu. Watashi wa, watashitachi o tasukeru tame ni anata-tachi no okagedesu." Kurama said while he looked up at Tsuna.
"Thank you Kurama." Tsuna said while he scratched him behind the ears. "He said that he'll help us."
"Thanks Kurama." Percy said
"Although I can tell you the general areas of two of the Treasures." Suzaku said.
"Only two?" I asked.
"The Sword has been lost for ages," Suzaku explained, "But I have heard rumors over the decades about the Mirror and the Jewel. The Yasakani no Magatama is said to be located in the Ama-no-Iwato. It is a cave that Amerterasu hid in after Susanoo terrified her many centuries ago. That would be a good place to start as it is somewhat close. Kurama will lead you."
"And the Mirror?" Tsuna asked.
"The Yata no Kagami should be in the Mei Prefecture." Suzaku said. "The mortals believe that the Mirror represents Amerterasu while the Jewel represents Tsukuyomi, so they could have put it in their holiest shrine."
"Are you alright?" I asked. "You're looking weak, and your feathers are dulling."
"Anata wa daijōbudesuka?" Kurama said as he got up and went close to Suzaku. From his tone, I could tell that Kurama was asking what was wrong himself.
"I'm Fading my little fox." Suzaku said, leaning down so Kurama could put a paw on his beak. "I'm ready to join my friends."
"Watashitachi to issho ni shite kudasai. Watashi wa anata o ushinau koto wa dekimasen." Kurama begged, tears falling of his furry face.
"Do not cry for me, my little one." Suzaku said as he nuzzled his head against Kurama. I saw his tears falling, and they looked like liquid fire. "After you lost your parents, I raised you myself. You were so brave for the past century. Please be brave for the young Heroes. Promise me."
Kurama nodded to Suzaku. I finally noticed something. Suzaku's life aura was dimming. When I first saw him after he saved us, his life aura looked like the hearth at Camp, but now it looks like the dying embers in a fireplace.
"Tsuna, Percy, Nico," Suzaku said as he sat up. He was a lot taller than I thought. "I believe in you, and I know deep down you will accomplish your Quest. Before I disappear, I wish to give you three something."
"What is it?" I asked.
"For the two of you, I give this gift." Suzaku said. His eyes started glowing and fire erupted from his body. The flames circled around both mine and Percy's necks. As the fire gathered at my throat I felt comfortable and warm heat in my throat, which disappeared after a couple of seconds.
"What happened?" Percy asked.
"I don't feel different." I said. "Do you?"
"You two don't look different." said a voice I didn't recognize. "But Percy's clothes are fixed up. So are your scratches."
"Who said that?" I asked. I looked around, trying to find out who spoke. I looked to Tsuna for help, and I saw that he was staring at me with wide eyes.
"What?" I asked.
"You-your speaking Japanese." Tsuna said.
"No we're not, we're speaking English." Percy said.
"I don't think so." said the new voice. Kurama jumped to Tsuna's shoulder. "I know English when I hear it, and you two are speaking Japanese."
"Kurama, I can understand you!" Percy said.
"Me too!" I said happily.
"Yay!" Kurama said. He jumped from Tsuna's shoulder into my arms. "It's about time! I thought Tsuna was going to have translate all the time we're together."
"This will make the quest a bit more enjoyable." Tsuna said. Kurama crawled out of my arms and went over the Suzaku.
"Tsunayoshi…" Suzaku said.
"Please call me…" Tsuna started, but when he stopped when he saw how pale Suzaku became. "Never mind."
"I have something special for you." Suzaku said. I saw his life aura concentrate into a small area on his wing. The feathers glowed with his life force, looking like fire. Suzaku plucked the feathers and gave them to Tsuna. Once they were in Tsuna's hand, a weird orange bubble formed around the feathers. "Take these, and use them only when you have no other option."
"Thanks…" Tsuna said after he put the feathers in his back pack. "But what do they- Suzaku?!"
Suzaku looked happy. I don't know why he was happy, because he was Fading. His entire lower body was gone and his torso was see-through. Soon his torso disappeared, leaving only his neck and head.
"I'm glad that I met his son before I left this world…" Suzaku said as his last words in the living world.
Kurama was crying where Suzaku used to roost. We all felt sad. Tsuna went over to Kurama and picked him up. He petted Kurama to calm the fox. Tsuna put Kurama on his shoulder and scratched him behind the ears.
"We should get going." Tsuna said.
Percy and I nodded. We walked with him out of the clearing and into the forest. Percy pointed out that since Suzaku Faded, the entire forest felt colder. Snow didn't fall, but it still was really cold. It was good knowing that we had a clue to the prophecy. It was even better now we had an idea where we were supposed to go.