14AmyChan: Okay, so we left you on a cliffhanger
Naruisawesome: but now we have a new chapter for all of you guys!
14AmyChan and Naruisawesome: yaaaaaay!
Naruisawesome: We actually own all of these OCs~!
14AmyChan: Enjoy~! *^_^*
Yuzuki scowled, stepping in front of everyone. "And just what would that be?"
The ethereal being held up three fingers, the index on his left hand, and his index and thumb on his right. "You have one door, and two halves of a key, and too bad for you that I need all three. Quick and painless I will try to be, simply hand over the babe to me."
"What?! We're not giving her to you!" Amaya blurted protectively, taking her place in front of Kazuki and Emi. The Shibuya boy tightened his hold on the infant at the other boy's words. Yuzuki glanced at the two of them from behind her shoulder and glared at Amaya. They didn't need to make him angry and do something rash.
"All that I need, you cannot see. Have I not mentioned that I need three? I am not accustomed to, as of late, needing only three instead of eight. Normally power, so profound, is found in this large number 'round," he stated.
Jun looked over at Souta. "Did he need to say 'round', or was he just trying to make it rhyme too much?"
Souta gave him a 'really?' look, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Now's not the time, Jun!"
"Enough, the time is set, hear the clock chime. I need my door and twin key this time," the ghost stated, and before any of the children could get one word in, they were all separated.
"Kazuki!" Amaya screamed as the boy and babe were ripped out from behind her.
"Yuzuki!" Souta cried out as the girl was pulled from his side and slammed onto an invisible wall.
Jun was the first to make an attempt to save the isolated three from their new prison. Instantly, he got into the stance his father had shown him and began the chanting that he had been taught.
"Rin Pyo To Sha Kai Jin Retsu Zai Zen!" the boy chanted as fast as he could to try and protect his friends.
As the nine cuts made a visible effect on the air surrounding them, all the chant did was to illuminate the fact that there was one enormous wall composed of spirit energy lying between the children, cutting them off completely from each other. Still, Jun would not be deterred. He switched to the other chant he knew.
"On bai shi ra man ta ya so wa ka!" Jun began to speak again, a determined glint in his eyes. "On isha na ya in ta ra ya so wa ka!"
Still, the boy's efforts proved fruitless. Behind the determined chanting boy stood Amaya and Souta, both separately cursing themselves for not being able to do more. Amaya had no powers to speak of, and Souta had yet to contract a-
A thought suddenly stuck Souta. Maybe he could...
"Jun, stop!" he shouted over the chanting.
The Takigawa boy, however, kept pushing on. Who knows what could be happening on the other side of that wall?! One they could see through, but could not hear across?
No one except, of course, lovely readers of this tale who have complete access to both scenes at once.
"Kaaaaazuki!" Yuzuki yelled in frustration as she struggled to break free from the invisible force that was holding her down.
Her brother was a few tantalizing inches away, and Emi even further than that. When they had been pushed apart from their friends, the three had been placed at equidistant points, forming a perfect triangle. Though Yuzuki could hardly be bothered with such geometrical precision at the moment. She had to reach her brother. She had to protect him!
Emi-having been rustled from her content state-began to wail loudly, bringing the full attention of Kazuma Yori upon her.
"Hm... you're a girl, and that's no fun... being a boy makes me number one! But I suppose you'll have to do, after all, I'll have a new life when this is through," he sighed as he approached the wailing girl.
"Don't you touch her!" Yuzuki warned angrily as she glared at the offending boy, causing him to stop his movements to let his gaze fall upon her.
"And now I see," he murmured. "That half of my key is unwilling. What must I do, or what must I say to have you see things my way?"
"What do you want with that baby? You said you'll 'have a new life', what are you talking about?" the young girl asked, trying to keep her anger under control.
"I'm stuck," he stated simply. Yuzuki was unsure whether or not to be surprised that he had finally stopped rhyming, but could not contemplate on that for long as he had begun walking towards them again.
"Stuck?" Yuzuki whispered to herself.
Remember what I said, Yuzuki. He's not a spirit. Kazuki reminded his sister even though it was obvious the boy in front of them wasn't a ghost. After all, what ghost can change forms of a grown man to a young boy?
"These two things I'm caught between, this isle of death and living humanity," he said somberly. "Not quite dead but not alive, I'm stuck here, and so I strive, to leave this place and become free, but for that, I need a door and a key."
"So you plan on inhabiting her body?" Yuzuki seethed through her teeth, referring to the Emi. First he takes their parents away and now he's planning to do the same to a small baby?!
"Yes, that is my plan, you see," the boy grinned, rocking happily on his toes. "Soon I will be able to play chainlessly! I will be free to run and play, free to live for many a day! I will have a mom and dad, my existence will no longer be so sad!"
"You can't just take someone else's life like that..." the young girl's anger deflated slightly at the boy's last few words.
Suddenly, the childlike face flashed with anger, and he appeared before Yuzuki within a split-second of his mood change.
"How dare I, you say? How could I possibly take this life away? Where were your words, filled with common sense? Where were they, where were they then?" he seethed angrily, his eyes flashing dangerously. Yuzuki moved to speak, but was interrupted by a continued rant. "I did not have a chance, they took it from me! Had not a prayer, was not even a babe! How could I, you ask? You ask me now? How could they?! How could they be so foul? Not even alive, that's the claim they make! Not even alive, a babe's life is all right to take!"
The twins shared a pained glance. How could anyone do that to someone—their own child?
"I...I'm sorry." Yuzuki confessed quietly, lowering her gaze. She really couldn't imagine what that would feel like. "Your parents had no right to do that to you, but—"
"The time for words has passed, it's time to begin," he said darkly as masses of energy swirled around him. Kazuki and Yuzuki looked in horror as Emi began to wail all the more loudly. "A life I will have at last, to atone for 'mother's' sin!"
A bright glow erupted from underneath all those within the spiritual wall. Yuzuki was enveloped in a gold light while Kazuki shone with red. Emi had a blue light under her, which called her to cry out all the more loudly. Kazuma Yori stood tall above an emerald green glow that connected with the other three.
"Why would you want to place Emi in the same situation as you?" Yuzuki continued to speak. "If you know the pain, then you shouldn't want to wish it on to someone else!"
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" the boy screeched, having heard enough from this loud-mouthed black clad brat. As he began to scream-a sound that tore through the hearts of all and elicited physical pain from everyone who heard it-Kazuki began to double over in pain.
I have to do something... he thought desperately, casting a look from Yuzuki to Emi, both of whom had tears coming down their faces.
But what? What exactly could he do to save everyone here?
Though the answer was clear to him and quite plain as day. If he could weaken the spirit somehow, he knew he could rely on his friends to come through the wall dividing them. There were only two problems.
He needed to get closer to Yuzuki.
And he was unsure if he would remain conscious afterwards. Every time he and his twin had tried this, he had always been the first to pass out from fatigue. Was this really his only option?
Yuzuki... he called out to his sister, gritting his teeth through the pain. He had to tell her what they needed to do—it was the only option right now.
Yuzuki snapped her head up when she heard her brother. As she turned to him, she saw that stubborn glint in his eye that daddy sometimes got, and she could not help but feel disappointed with herself. It was her job to make sure things did not get so bad that he needed to do this. And she had failed.
Still, she reached with her hand towards her brother, knowing that physical contact would lessen the strain of what they were about to do.
Just a bit more...! the black-haired girl struggled as they were able to grasp the tips of their fingers together.
As soon as contact was made, it began.
Yuzuki could feel a seed of power come through her fingers, and she held it in for a moment, adding to it. As soon as she could hold it no longer, she passed it back to the original owner of the power. It seemed like forever in their stressful situation before he passed it back to her, even larger. She built upon it as quickly as she could, and passed it through their connection to the boy.
Please Kazuki, Yuzuki thought to herself as she once again passed the growing energy back to her brother. Please be alright this time.
I will be, the boy shakily responded as he received the energy once again. It was hot... too hot... it was gonna explode... but it wasn't ready...!
Without his permission, a solitary burst of reckless energy erupted from Kazuki's small body, hitting everything in its path. Since he had not prepared and directed the attack directly at Kazumi Yori, it was considerably weaker than intended.
But somehow strong enough.
"Kazuki! Yuzuki!" The two were suddenly able to hear Jun call out to them.
The three friends who had been blocked until now finally burst through the wall that had separated them. Amaya rushed to Kazuki, who was looking consciousness fast. Souta hurried to the side of Yuzuki, who was faring only slightly better than her brother. Jun ran as fast as his legs could take him towards Emi, only to be halted by a weaker, though still very much powerful, Kazuma Yori.
Jun! a small voice cried within the boy's mind. Attack him now!
With wide eyes, the Takiagwa boy froze in place before glancing behind him. He saw Kazuki leaning against Amaya for support as he struggled to stay awake. But he did, however, notice the boy looking at him head on.
Do it, Jun! Hurry!
Kazuki...? the boy wondered to a moment before regaining his concentration. With the straight face of his uncle, the son of the monk and priestess concentrated all the more on the before him.
"This is for Kazi-kuuun!" he yelled before buckling down in his chants.
"On hi ro ta ki sha no ga ji ba tai sowaka!" Jun shouted, chanting with all his might. "On chi ri chi i ba ro ya sowaka! On a ra ba sha noo sowaka!"
The spiritual energy in the air began to lessen drastically, as if going through some sort of ethereal bah drain. Still, Kazuma Yori had just enough to knock the young boy off his feet and propelled backwards.
"Jun!" Souta yelled from his spot near to Yuzuki. He watched as one of his best friends went flying through the air and had not the strength to rise again. Anger began to cloud the young boy's eyes as he turned them to the entity they were fighting.
Souta guided Yuzuki down to sit beside her brother, leaving Amaya to watch over the two. That done he took a few steps towards Kazuma Yori, who was lying down as well.
"It's not fair..." the Lin boy heard as he bypassed the entity to offer a helping hand to his friend. He lifted Jun so he was supporting his friend and began to lead him back to the others. "I can't leave, and no one wants me. No one will play with me..."
"I'll play with you." Souta firmly stated once he turned back around to face him.
"Souta, don't!" Yuzuki seethed weakly from behind. What was he thinking? He and Amaya were the strongest of the team as it was, and Amaya was in the middle of taking care of three weak members and a baby whose cries had begun to finally quiet down. "What are you thinking?"
"Just stay down and rest, Yui. I can handle this." Souta told her, never taking his eyes off the boy in front of him.
The girl would have gotten up and stormed to the foolish young boy as she normally did had her strength not finally failed her. The last thought she had before she fell to the realms of the unconscious was don't, you stupid...
"Yuzuki!" Amaya shouted. Being in between the twins, she was immediately at the girl's side. Souta gave a small smile knowing Amaya would look after her before turning back to Kazuma Yori.
"I'll play with you," Souta repeated, somehow gaining the attention of Kazuma Yori.
"Really?" he asked, hope alighting in his sad, sad eyes. "You'll stay here with me and-"
"I never said that," the Lin boy stated firmly.
The entity frowned, furrowing his brows. "Then what?" he demanded. "If you aren't going to stay, then how are you going to play?!"
"By you coming with me," Souta answered simply as he walked forward, not trembling even a little bit. "You have two choices right now. Our parents could come back-and they will be back-and force you out of the house in a way you won't like, or you could come with me."
Kazuma Yori looked at him skeptically before speaking. "What do you mean 'come with you'?" he asked. Souta smiled.
"I have the ability to take you with me, but you have to make a promise first," he said. Kazuma Yori looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes, behind which was just a taint of suspicion.
"What promise is that?" he asked, taking a step forward to Souta, who didn't back away from him.
"You have to promise to stay with me for as long as I ask you to, and when I ask you to protect someone or attack something, I want you to do it," Souta said. "Any other time, we can all play together, but when I need you for something, I want you to come through."
Souta extended his hand towards Kazuma Yori. The choice now lay with him. "Deal?"
Naruisawesome: So what will happen?
14AmyChan: Will Kazuma Yori take the deal?
Naruisawesome: I dunno, will he?
14AmyChan: Idk, it's your turn
Naruisawesome: oh yeah. XD
14AmyChan: stick around to find out!
Naruisawesome: and fuel us with your wonderful reviews!
14AmyChan and Naruisawesome: See ya later~! *^_^*