Byakko Monogatari

[Byakko] Chapter 20

Oh My Wish

[Outside the Book]

'This is for the best!' Chiharu repeated, reminding herself those words. With her stepbrother's suggestion, Chiharu no longer approach the book and for a while she have been confined in a near hospital to heal her wounds that she got from Akuma.

Now thinking about it, aren't Lenalee and Lavi also has many untreated wounds as well? And the only thing that letting them to move freely is Miranda's Celestial Tool, Time Record: as what the elder warrior calls it.

It's been three days since her sudden comeback but up until now she still can't forget about them despite promising to Luca that she would.

She wonders how she can forget them.

Now she's bedridden in hospital, forbidden to move, all she could do right now is reminisce her memories when she's inside the book.

It all started during the play of Priestess of Genbu; when she opens the book for the first time.

She was sucked in and found herself in the middle of dessert, in the middle of nowhere.

Luckily for her after some walks she reach a nearby village called Yuikan.

Chiharu was so confused back then as she saw nothing familiar on the village.

No one even wanted to help her; and when there's someone willing to talk with her, that person said that she must die for their own country; scary thing is he said it with playful smile on his face and huge hammer.

Oh how she so scared to Lavi back then.

Lavi is willingly kill her with freaking SMILE!

Luckily for her Allen came and protected her from Lavi's fire snake with his Celestial Tool: Crown Clown; she's actually been curious but cannot ask as of why Allen's Celestial Arm is called Crown Clown. She should ask Xiu or maybe better Allen himself.

But then how? If she would never come back to that world anymore?

She sighs, then she remembers how the first time she met Xiu.

Chiharu woke up and found the lad sitting on the chair and reading a scroll next to her.

Probably the reason why she felt nostalgic on him.

No matter hard she thinks, Xiu is really resemble with her step brother Luca; even the position of their mole is the same!

After some introduction, Xiu and Allen told her about becoming their priestess but she quickly rejected that role. But still those two decided to travel with her to find the rest of Celestial Warriors.

On the next village they met Kanda, a well-known traveller; he is popular among the locals since he doesn't have mercy when it comes to soldiers of Sairo Empire.

Chiharu then remembered Lenalee informed her about the criminals that lock up at the dungeon has hired and promoted to become soldiers that would kill Byakko's worshipper. She then wonders if Kanda knew about this; while sweat drop appeared behind her head.

In Ruika Village where they met Kanda, they also taste Road's power.

She doesn't know what kind of power does Road has; because Allen said he and Kanda were trap into a different space where they are fighting a bunch of Road's round ugly dolls—while on her and Xiu's side, Allen and Kanda were attacking them without hesitation or whatsoever.

So maybe controlling and dreamscape?

They yet have rest when Lavi appeared and abducted Chiharu and attacked the three lads.

Now she doubting herself why she save Lavi when he almost rape her… and while reminiscing those events blush crept up on her face when she remembers how tight she embraced the long haired Celestial Warrior; doesn't she have any shame back then?! She means even she has feeling of joy to see the warrior since his presence means safety against to Lavi, hugging him is too much!

She just thankful that Kanda didn't push her or get mad at her.

The embarrassment didn't stay for too long when she remembers when Xiu stabs Lavi due to the fact he got mad for almost raping her. Now thinking about it, isn't her fault? Sighs once again escape from her lips.

But even after those join fights, Kanda still left.

She wonders why Kanda doesn't want to join them, Allen said that Kanda has hatred for his fate but why? And how the hell did Allen can say it?!

She sighs, another questions she wanted an answer.

Then before they leave that village, Xiu reveals to them about what happen to the Sairo's palace four years ago on how the fallens took control of the royals.

After that they went onto the next village where has rumours about that cannot be enter but look at that they able to enter because Xiu and Allen were Celestial Warriors, meaning the cause of mischief in the village is none other than an uncontrolled Celestial Power.

That is when they met the always trembling in fear and easily get freak in little things Miranda that later revealed a Celestial Warrior named Subaru.

But it is not yet finished and their problem just started when the princess of Sairo came to take Xiu's life: Princess Lenalee.

Well thanks to Lenalee Miranda able to took controlled of her own power and able to use it to help Xiu and Allen to continue their fight against Lenalee.

During their healing process inside of Miranda's Time Recovery Xiu reveals to them his relationship with the princess and Lavi.

"Priestess or not, you are part of us." Those words of Xiu should lifted up her feelings of self-rejection but it strike her in wrong way that she felt more bad about her decision.

But to think that Lenalee is also a Celestial Warrior; Chiharu never expect that—more precisely she didn't expect anything.

Well according to Kudo Satsuki Chiharu has 'self-pitying' issue after all.

Then Kanda came to their rescue but Lenalee escape before they could defeat her.

For some reason Kanda stay with them just because Xiu asked him to protect her and Miranda; no one knows why Kanda agreed—no—come to think of it Kanda didn't able to response back then as Allen and Xiu both collapse after Miranda deactivate her Celestial Tool.

Five days rest is really something for them, Miranda regain her stamina and gain weight thanks to Jerry's cooking—he is in Doctor Tiedoll's clinic and cooking for all patients; but her eye bags were still there

Staying there let Miranda and Chiharu discovered something about Kanda that is better to be buried, but about Alma is something she tackle more, but she doubts that Kanda would just easily let it out.

The person that freaks Chiharu the most is Chaoji and his overacting worship.

Thanks to him, she able to tell the others that she is not a priestess.

Now she wonders how Xiu and Allen handle him.

Then the messenger of Emperor Komui came in asking for Xiu's assistance that cannot be done as the said warrior is still unconscious.

With all Chiharu's idiocy—according to herself—she asked Kanda to help her saved Lenalee and thankfully Miranda joins them.

Then after saving Lenalee from being kill, they fell on the dungeon, separated to Kanda and Miranda.

They encountered an Akuma and get beaten up, and thanks to that she's now in the hospital having her 'mysterious' injuries being treated; for some reason Chiharu doesn't know, Lenalee able to activated her Celestial Power as Tokaki and saved both of them.

Fortunately, they met up with the two other warriors; Miranda then used her Celestial Power onto her and Lenalee letting them to continue.

Unfortunately Lenalee reveals that she doesn't know where is the other exit of the dungeon aside to the literal entrance, but she did said that Lavi might know; leading to them go where the tortured Bookman Junior.

She sighs, even before they could leave Lavi's cell seems like Byakko finally got tired on her that He let Luca to open the path for her to go back to her world.

She sighs once again before covering herself with the blanket she has.

She badly wanted to come back where they are.

But once she get out from the hospital as she promised she will start a new life with Luca but… it is alright? To just forget about everyone? To just forget all of her crazy experience in Sairo? It is really alright to let it all go?

Luca sips his hot coffee.

Despite he told to Chiharu not to approached the book ever again, it not stop him to research further about the mysterious book from china; so along with Hevlaska-sensei, they look for more information about it.

He cannot believe that it is all just a story that needed to be follow and once the chosen girl is out no more harm will approach her.

Because if it's really the case then… what about those wounds that Chiharu brought with her? As far as he remember Chiharu doesn't have any wounds when she sucked in, but along with great description of the book, all the wounds describe to it were still embedded onto the greenette's body.

"Ne Hev-sensei…" the said teacher turns her head to him, "What if…"

"Yes?"

"What if this Universe of the Four Gods, aren't the thing we really think?"

"That's complicated, what do you mean?"

"What if their world, the four Gods' Ancient China is actually existing?"

"You mean… parallel world?" Luca nodded.

"Look at Chiharu, she came back with wounds that described in book that she get from that monstrous Akuma. Maybe, instead of saying she get suck in, Chiharu probably were brought in some another world that Byakko controls."

"So you're saying that, that strange book is actually a bridge that connects our world to theirs?" Luca nodded once again. "Meaning, all those people in the book that we keep calling 'characters' were probably actually humans?"

"Yes. And maybe they are also living in this world but we're just not yet cross paths with them."

"'Parallel World's Theory' huh…"

"Yes. But then… why Byakko chose Chiharu?"

"That's the big mystery ne~"

Luca stares at his former teacher, agreeing she is right.

No one knows why Byako chose his step sister.

No one on them, none either in Celestial Warriors but only Byakko.

[Inside the Book]

[—Palace—]

"Eh~ interesting" Road chimes as she pulling on both side the arms of her angel yet look demonic doll "the Priestesses' world~" her golden glinted in delight as her tongue lick her own lips.

"Hey Road!" Wisely enters the room along with Tykki. "Time is coming…"

"Might as well have some fun with them before it comes, ne" Tykki stated, smirk decorating his face.

Road smiles sweetly to them as she agrees to their idea.

[Outside the Book]

[—Hevlaska's House: 8:00 pm—]

"Oi! Oi! Oi! Are you really good leaving the hospital?" Hevlaska asked, panicking inside.

The injured chosen girl has arrived at her house, while she's preparing her dinner, and now standing at her doorway; along with Luca's Butler.

Chiharu has bandages around her head, neck, arms, legs and probably even it is not visible because of her clothes she must have bandage on her waist

She is supposedly stay at the hospital for more than five months to make it is all heal completely.

But what the hell did enter this girl's mind to come at her house in the night?!

"I am… I asked Radius for temporary release."

"Meaning no." Hevlaska sighs in disappointment.

Youngsters this days.

"So what are you doing here?" the teacher question as she let them in. "It's not the book right?" Chiharu halted giving the unspoken answer to the elder woman; once again Hevlaska sighs while just close the door behind him. "You promised to your brother that you no longer going to approach that book ever again!"

"I am but… I just wanted to know their situation currently. If all of them were safe and recovering from the wounds and injuries."

"Hear me here young lady! Aren't you rejected the role to become their priestess? You already outta there, so stop involving yourself further!"

"I just want to know! Then after this I'll going to start a new life… so please just this once let me… just this one." Hevlaska saw sincerity through Chiharu's sad eyes.

Well she and Luca doubted that Chiharu could turn back from all of the mess.

After all, like she said before to Luca: 'once the Sovereign choses their priestess they will never change it.'

Hevlaska then let them in more in her house, inviting them first to have dinner which she make sure that two cannot reject after all Hevlaska accidentally cooked too much for a single person.

Radius, Chiharu and Hevlaska ate in silence; no one speak what's on their own minds, sometimes the teacher and the butler would steal glances on the young girl then found looking at each other then back to their own meal.

This repeated for more time until they stop when they all finished their meal.

Radius takes the dishes to wash while Hevlaska went upstairs saying the book is placed into attic; completely lying but Chiharu didn't caught it as she went first to living room but didn't enter because of the unidentified documents that scatter throughout the floor. Sweat drop appeared as she finally take a good sight of the living room; she cannot believe that she didn't noticed all those papers when she sucked out from the book.

In the middle of the dark living room, Chiharu sighted a silhouette stood up from the single person chair; she rubs her eyes thinking she might imagining it but the silhouette walks towards her which freaks out but before she could scream for help, familiar voice calls her name.

Near to her, near to the light the silhouette appears to be Luca who rubbing his eye rubbing off the sleepiness.

"Eh? Luca?" instead of a smile because of her priceless reaction Luca frowned instead while staring at his step sister.

"With all of those bandages wrapping almost entirety of your small body, you came here just so you could know what's happening to those characters?! What in the hell are you thinking CHIHARU?!"

The girl in question felt herself get little due to the fact that Luca yells at her for the first of their life together.

Luca heaved a deep breath before switching on the light for the living room, revealing how mush mess up it is.

"Come in… you wanted to learn about them right?" Luca stated as he enters the living room deeper, no longer caring for the documents in the floor that they stepping on and sits on the longer couch that fits three people; tapping the space next to him inviting Chiharu to sit there.

Chiharu with slight hesitation sits next to Luca… to her surprise she found the familiar props on their play in hands of her step brother; her wide in shock as shifting her gaze to the book to Luca's face.

Aren't Hevlaska said she will take it from the attic?

So what the hell it is doing in his hands?

"Hev-sensei lies." Luca simply said as if it is the most obvious thing in the world, while dark brown orbs looks at to the shock girl. "So? I'll read it to you but after this no more… and as you promised you will forget about them."

"Yes…" Luca heaved a sigh once again, there's no stopping this now…

"[Tatara get in the room further facing the young lady; while Karasuki came in and stand behind Miranda and Allen.

"Hear me here Haruna-san… no matter what may happened, even Byakko curse us, we will never acknowledge you as our priestess and the one we only accept would be Chiharu!" warrior Tatara renounced.]"

Silent conquers the room, as liquid drops from Chiharu's eyes.

Chiharu rejected the role, equivalent to rejecting them as well.

She never once feel helpful to them.

And she decided to just forgot them and start a new life.

But why?

Why they still thinking of her?

They already have a priestess that accepted them.

Why?

Why can't they just forget about her when she's not even part of their life?!

"You are part of us." Those words never strike her good but now she felt her heart clench not because she's in ache but because she finally feel happy. C'mon why now?

Hevlaska and Radius who were standing the door frame of that room and Luca were all staring at her weeping form.

They know what would be the next, and even though they know it there's no way they could stop it.

"Luca… I know I promised that I will start a new life here… but I… I wish to go back there…"

"They already have a priestess,"

"I know but… until I hear from their own mouths that they no longer want me I am part of them…"

As if hearing her, green light emerged from Chiharu and to the two finger alloy rings she still wearing.

"This is…" Hevlaska tried to say what's on her mind while Radius stay quiet and continue to watched, after all they know this will be happen sooner or later.

"Byakko's light…"

Slowly vanishing through thin air, Chiharu watches as they are the ones who vanishing to her sight.

"Chiharu!" she looks at Hevlaska "No matter what may happened don't wear out those rings, that's our only link to you, here me?"

"Yes!" Chiharu nodded cheerfully, whilst she doesn't know why; she after all will go back to that dangerous world.

"Go back here as soon as you finish Lady Chiharu, I will make your favourite pastries." Radius told to her, she nodded with smile.

"Chiharu," the said girl turns to her step brother while he touch her cheeks even though he no longer can touch her "Don't fall in love on either on those guys, okay?" blush crept up on her cheeks, which makes Luca smile gently on her.

And she finally vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but her essence.

'Celestial Warriors of Byakko, please protect my sister.'