Akurei mo Tenshi no Shiseiji
By nightelfcrawler
Warnings: Tasuki's foul mouth
Okay so... in chatting with an rp partner, we ended up discovering that we had been a part of the same fandoms some 10+ years ago. She ran a website that hosted some of my old fics... which made me drag out some old dvds that I'd saved my webpages on... and lo and behold, I found these old fics hanging around still and decided heck why not bring them back. So here they are, a trip down memory lane! These were written in the late 90's and early 2000's when I went by too many psudonyms to remember. I actually forgot who I was until I physically saw the fics listed and went 'oh crap I remember those!'. Ahh memories.
Be warned... these were my first attempts at writing and are likely riddled with grammar, spelling and other noted errors. I've read through them, blushed furiously that I used to write like this, and decided to put them up anyway as-is with no revisions. So please enjoy, but don't bother correcting or whining, they shall be ignored!
EmerganceStandard disclaimer: These characters aren't mine they're created by the wonderful Watase Yuu, although I wish they were, Houjun-chan is such a hottie! So don't sue me, I need o-ka-ne right now...
"Good morning sunshine!" Came a bright and cheery voice from beside his ear very loudly. Chichiri groaned and opened his eye a crack to see Sou grinning down at him. "Time to go, get up." He tore the covers off and threw them on the floor to entice Chichiri to get up.
"I'm up I'm up na no da." He grumbled and sat up stretching. He yawned and stumbled into his clothes, and met the others out front. It was still dim in the caverns, the artificial light imitating sunlight just rising. He yawned tiredly and hugged Kaira a good morning, and sipped the hot drink offered to him. The others were strapping their packs onto their backs, adjusting their weapons, and making final preparations. He glanced down at his own pack and smiled to himself in thought. He had some supplies for Kaira as well in there, and his wings weren't going to cooperate with him if he wore it. He crouched down beside it and concentrated on it, and then set his hand on it, and it suddenly shrank very slowly into his palm, the size of a small rock, and just as light. The others had paused to stare at him, then exchanged glances and immediately removed their own packs quickly. He chuckled, and did the same for theirs, and they all made their packs safe in their belt sacks. Chichiri accepted the short sword and the dagger that Sou handed him with some caution. He wasn't used to using weapons, but he knew it would be wise to keep them just in case, or for display only.
Once they had all eaten and finished preparations, they glanced at each other with warm looks, and Sou clapped his hands together. "Well! Guess we'll be off then!" Chichiri and Sou both shook hands with Juan and Doukun, and offered Tama-neko a final scratch on the head. Then, they all exited the building, not saying any farewells or speaking about good-byes, but setting off with purpose and a strong stride towards the stairs at the far end of the cavern.
They continued on in some silence, each pondering their own thoughts for a while, then the female Obsidian came beside Chichiri and struck up a small conversation with him. "What is it like in the sun?" She asked quietly.
He glanced at her, and saw the others were looking as well. "You've never been up to the surface before no da?" He asked.
"No, never." Sun'ra said solemnly. "We've heard what it is like from our teachers, and our legends. But none of our kind have been up there…..not for over 100 years."
Chichiri shook his head. "It's hard to imagine life without the sun for me no da….." He smiled. "You'll like it no da. It's warm, and it will most likely be bright for you too at first no da." He smiled. "In here it's so dim, and I've adjusted to it no da. But you might have some trouble with the brightness outside no da." They looked like they were thinking it over for a while, and he smiled gently and continued. "You'll like the wind no da. Down here there isn't much, if any it's damp and musty smelling no da. But up there, it's fresh, cool and warm, depending on the weather, and it's something that lifts your hair, tickles your skin, or fur, and just makes you feel good and free no da."
They looked wistful and truly inspired by his words. "How can you not fall off into the sky on the top of the world?" Miare asked softly, apprehension dancing in her purple eyes. "I'd think you'd be frightened of falling off of the earth."
Chichiri chuckled. "Do you worry about falling up to the ceiling where the stalactites are na no da?" He asked. They shook their heads. "The same principle applies no da. It's the same as in here, only….. different, and with a spectacular view no da." He smiled fondly. "I've yet to see the stars in this world yet."
They looked at each other puzzled. "What are stars?"
Chichiri went on to explain more and more. The three humans and Kaira listened, occasionally smiling since they had all been above ground once or twice before, and knew what to expect. Finally, their escapade brought them to the staircase, and they paused to catch their breath and glanced back at the underground valley, almost as if saying farewell. The Obsidian stared in awe, never have been up this high, or seeing a sight quite like it before. It was a whole new world to them, that had remained just beyond their fingertips their whole lives…..
Then, the moment was over as they turned and ascended into the staircase, upwards and upwards, winding around and around. Chichiri once again withdrew his wings to fit, and managed to startle the living daylights out of the Obsidian in the process. They recovered quickly though, admiring his talents.
It took several hours to climb, with frequent rests between periods, until they finally emerged into the dark upper cavern, and stood there stretching, recovering, and getting their wind back.
Once they had rested, they started forward, walking on the uneven rocky ground out towards the exit. As they neared it, Chichiri felt a gentle breeze lift his bangs, and he got the fresh scent of flowers. He smiled despite himself, and glanced to see the Obsidian looking amazed at the new scents. The light began gradually getting stronger and stronger, until at last, they saw the large opening to the cavern ahead of them. They emerged out into the bright sunlight, and even Chichiri had to shield his eyes as the sun poured warmly down around them. It had been cold and damp in the caverns, and was a stark contrast to the bright sunlight pouring down around them in floods. The Obsidian were hanging back, shielding their eyes still from under the shadows. Chichiri smiled and gestured. "Come on no da, best to come out and get it over with no da. It's better once you've adjusted na no da."
They slowly came out, flinching in the bright light, then slowly began looking around, their feline eyes wide in astonishment at the surrounding mountains covered in snow. "Good Mother on High." Sun'ra whispered making some quick gesture indicating prayer. "I've never thought that the upper world was so….. extraordinarily beautiful."
The others laughed heartily, and they all stood there taking in the scenery. Chichiri chuckled, stretching his glossy wings. "Forgive me… but I must stretch my muscles a bit no da." He smiled and scooped Kaira up as she squealed in glee about going for a flight. "I'll be back no da!" The watched as he leapt into the air with a strong pump of his wings, and shaded their eyes as they trailed him as he soared out over the valley, diving plunging, and dancing in the wind with pleasure. It was something that he enjoyed more than anything else in his life… flying was the most exhilarating sensation he'd ever experienced. He felt his blood pumping, soaring, and his heart racing with every stroke he pumped, with every rush of wind that tickled his feathers. It revitalized him like nothing else.
Finally after about 15 minutes, he flew down and landed again, a rosy glow to his face that the others smiled at once they saw it. He couldn't' help smiling. "That felt very good no da….."
They all laughed. "I guess you're lucky then." Sou said with a jolly smile. "I'm scared stiff of heights personally."
They all broke out into laughter, merry at the bright atmosphere, the stiff cool breeze and the spectacular scenery. They then began their trek towards their destination. It was a spectacular trail that they walked along. They stuck to the mountains working their way up more and more, then once they reached the summit, they began their descent into mountains that were jagged and rocky. According to Sou, the Akurei lands were at the far north region of these mountains.
Their hike was long and tiring, through difficult terrain and sometimes their path disappeared altogether and they had to hunt for it by sending Chichiri into the air to see from an aerial view. Luckily, they found it quite easily that way. Their path took them to the bottom of the first mountain range that day, and as the sun began it's descent over the rim of the far mountains, they set up their camp, and all sat in silence watching the colorful painting of colors before them.
After the sun had set, they set about their meal, and once that was finished, they all curled up inside their bedding and lay watching the shimmering stars on their backs. Miare's voice came softly in the silence of the night as they observed the heavens. "So….. those are the stars… what are they?"
Chichiri smiled as their heads all turned to him since he had lived topworld all his life. "Well, there are many theories on that no da….. some say they are the spirits of the past residents, gazing down and watching us as we go about our lives no da." He smiled thinking how his own friends might be watching him now, it warmed his heart to think so…. Knowing he had those who cared deeply for him, keeping an eye on him. "In my world, each pattern of stars has a name and a significance na no da…. In my world I was a special warrior who drew their name from the stars no da."
"Does that have anything to do with what you said back in the courtroom that other day?" Asked Sou. "Sishi seichi or something like that?"
Chichiri chuckled. "Hai, Shichi Seishi. I am one of the seven warriors who has a constellation pattern no da." He pulled his right leg out and bent it, and his character flared there. "Chichiri is the name of my constellation na no da."
They all looked impressed. "So there's seven of people like you?"
"Yes, seven for each quadrant no da….. Suzaku is whom I served no da….. there are three others, each with 7 warriors na no da."
They nodded in understanding, and things grew silent for a long time…. Then Kaira's soft voice spoke up from beside Chichiri. "Will…. Will you go back home when you're done here?"
He blinked in surprise and stared up at the glittering stars for a long time before answering slowly. "I don't know….. back home….. there are people whom I know and care for…. But I don't see them as often as I wish….. I'm sort of a wanderer no da. I really just aimlessly find my way around the world no da."
Sou chuckled. "You don't seem that type to me Chichiri-san."
He smiles slightly, his eyelid drooping. "Mmm…. I've changed a lot since I was younger….." And with that their conversation drifted off as they fell asleep in oblivion, dreams of stars and hopes flying in their heads.