A New Light
Chapter 36
The Storm Part 5
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Four years ago…
"Ahh the open sea. A place where all your worries just float away and a place where you can just sit down on a boat, get a fishing pole, and fish for all eternity…or at least when Kaiko finally gets sea sick."
Sakura and Asuna giggled.
Kaiko frowned. "Hey!"
Tenshi smiled like a child as he and his family enjoyed the wide open sea from the boat they were all riding on. Dark clouds loomed above them, covering the sun's rays to make it a fine chilly day. The boat lightly rocked and teetered in every direction as the cold water splashed at its hull.
"Heheh but you do get kinda motion sick out here Mama."
"I do not! Well at least not anymore Sakura."
"Well why do you look so pale?"
"A-a-am not!"
"Ohhhh yes you are! Are you going to throw up Mama?" Sakura teased.
Asuna just shook her head. "Stop that Sakura…"
"Haha, remember the last time we went out fishing?" Tenshi said.
"Ohh no! Don't talk about that!"
"Hehhe, yea, the time when Mama got sea sick on the fishing boat!"
"No no no. Shut up!"
Tenshi and Sakura didn't listen.
Asuna didn't talk.
"Mmhmm, we were all fishing outside and your Mom wasn't feeling good."
"And decided to throw up into the nearest bag!"
"Be quiet! Shut up! Aauugh"
"But the bag was already ripped at the bottom end, and all her already eaten food suddenly met her feet!"
"Yea! Hahahaha, that was hilarious!"
"Hahahaha. Of course!"
Kaiko blushed and quickly sat down to fish, frowning.
Asuna couldn't help herself and started to giggle. "Hehehe."
"You too Asuna!"
"Sorry Mama, but it was indeed a funny site."
"But your suppose to be the most mature!"
All three simultaneously stuck their tongues out at Kaiko.
"Guess not…"
-Fwoosh-Splash!-
Tougher waves suddenly met the ship's hull with full force.
The whole boat suddenly jerked to the left. Water sprayed into the misty air.
"Waaahh!" Kaiko yelped trying to stay in balance along with the others.
An old rusty door flung open.
An old white bearded man stepped out from the boat's cabin and stared at the four.
"There's a storm front coming in fast. Where're heading back to the docks."
"All right, we'll stop fishing."
The captain nodded and headed back into his cabin.
"Ok everyone, pack up and hold on. Its going to be a rough ride."
Asuna reeled in her line and placed her fishing pole neatly back into the boat as she started to pack up her stuff.
The others did the same.
The clouds suspiciously got darker.
And let loose a stormy rain.
Asuna finished packing and gazed over at Sakura. She was standing on one leg while she massaged the other.
"What are you doing? We have to get inside!"
Sakura felt Asuna's gaze and shout. "Hehe, My foot's asleep. Been sitting on it as I was fishing."
"Oh, ok, just hurry up, you might lose your balance and--"
-Fwoosh-Splash!-
Suddenly the whole boat jerked dangerously to the right from a huge wave.
Everyone grabbed onto something and stayed put, but Sakura was taken by surprise.
"Waaaahh!" she helplessly said. Falling out off balance and flipping off the side of the boat.
-"Waaaaaah!"-SPLOOSH!-
She hit the stormy waters hard and with an ear shattering splash before disappearing into the ocean.
Tenshi and Kaiko gasped.
"Sakura!"
Asuna immediately dove out of the boat -Splash!- and disappeared under the ocean's rough surface as well.
"…………"
Kaiko looked at Tenshi.
He looked at her, nodded, flipped out a card, and shouted.
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Asuna met the cold, freezing touch of the ocean head first.
Asuna panicked and looked around for a body and swam deeper…
She couldn't see a thing.
She fought against the strong gut wrenching storm currents that tossed and battered her.
She swam.
She couldn't see a thing.
But through the blue waters, a faint outline of a small body caught the corner of her eyes.
It was sinking deeper and deeper down the black abyss.
Asuna summoned all her strength and swam further down.
She was reaching her limit.
But she didn't want to give up. She didn't want to give up.
Failure was unacceptable…
Failure meant losing Sakura…
So she kept going down…and down….and down…
Her lungs felt like collapsing, her strength escaped her, and finally she couldn't go any further.
Suddenly her world turned black in an instant.
-FWOOOOSH-
………
………
………
………
………
………
"GASP!"
Asuna jolted up from where she was laying down.
Panting hard, refilling her deprived lungs with fresh air.
She felt her hands engrave themselves into grains of sand.
She felt the steady beat of the waves drenching her feet.
It was evident that she was on shore.
And of course alive.
She panted more but inside she sighed.
"Sakura!" She realized.
She looked to her left and saw a drenched Sakura laying on the hot sand besides her.
Completely unconscious and breathing.
Breathing…
Asuna sighed again with relief. Enjoying the sun's rays as it peeked through the storm clouds.
The storm had passed and had gone its merry way.
She crept closer to Sakura and with two fingers checked her pulse.
A normal heart beat.
Asuna smiled.
"Thank god…"
A chill ran up Asuna's spine.
Her hair started to stand up.
-FWOOSH!-
A shadow loomed over Asuna right then.
Something had emerged outfrom the ocean behind her and Sakura, something big.
Something fierce.
Asuna was too scared to look. But she slowly started to turn around any ways.
Her head turned a full agonizing one hundred and eighty degree turn and she instantly looked down.
She saw a pair of big padded feet.
She started to tilt her heads upwards.
Big thick thighs.
A soft padded chest.
A gigantic shell for a back.
Two meaty arms and metallic sharp claws.
A big pudgy round neck.
Two white slits for eyes and a short fierce snapping beak for a mouth.
The humongous stared at the little girl.
Asuna shook. Asuna started to pant even more, and all her mind was thinking was to get the hell out of there.
But her legs didn't budge.
And her mouth opened up for a screamed.
"AAAAHHH!"
"NNNNGGHHHAAAUUUUUU!"
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Camp site.
Present time.
Asuna stood over a weeping Sakura.
Just a few minutes ago Keitaro was taken, and there was nothing they could have done to prevent that. Now here they are, beaten, humiliated and worthless. Motoko stood next to Asuna as the two of them watched Sara wrap her arms around the crying girl's neck from behind. Trying her best to cheer up Sakura.
"Ca-calm down Sakura-chan! It's going to be alright."
But it was no use. Sakura couldn't help but kneel down on the grass and cry. Cry like as if it was last month all over again. The loss of a father…The loss of a mother… Loss of hope…
Asuna felt the same.
She gripped the hilt of her sword tighter. "Like Sara said Sakura...It's going to be alright."
Sakura wiped her eyes and looked up at Asuna. Or rather yet she glared Asuna.
Motoko stepped back a bit. Never seeing that expression on the girl before.
Asuna didn't phase.
"What do you mean its going to be alright! Can't you see Asuna, or are you blind! A boy our age, who seems to know our Tenshi, came out of no where and took Papa to who knows where! How is it going to be all right! I feel like history is repeating itself! I'm afraid of what Durante will do to him, and--and--Waaaahh! I have too many things going through my mind right now!"
Sakura broke down crying once again.
Sara just hugged her tighter.
Motoko looked away, gritting her teeth. "How did I let a boy take Keitaro away…"
"You did your best Sensei. It's just that Durante is a sneaky one.."
Motoko sighed. "Yea…"
Sara looked up at the two, still hugging Sakura.
"So, what's the plan?"
Sakura stopped crying and listened in.
Asuna looked up. "Me and Motoko go after Durante of course. While you two stay here."
Sakura scowled. "I'm coming too!"
"You are definitely not coming Sakura."
"Well too bad! I'm coming and that's that!"
"If Sakura is going then I'll stay with her."
Motoko stepped forward. "No Sara, that won't be necessary because you two will not be coming."
Sakura frowned.
"Sakura…I know how your feeling."
"I don't care I St--"
Asuna stomped a foot. "Shut up for a second!" Everyone winced. "Now Sakura… I know you feel worthless right about now. You don't have the same powers as me and Motoko, so you felt powerless when Papa was captured…right?"
"……."
"Right?"
Sakura nodded.
"Good…but think about this.." Asuna closed her eyes. "How about me…"
Sara and Sakura stared, confused.
Motoko looked down at the girl.
"I mean...you feel bad because you didn't have the power to make a difference…to stop Papa from being abducted…but how about me…I was trained by both Tenshi, and Motoko. But I was still unable to help Papa…unable to…make a difference. And now I am going to go after him and make up for that. I don't want you remotely near me because it is going to be dangerous. And because of that, if anything happened to either of you guys...Papa…Sara…you…I would never forgive my self…..ever…That's why I want you stay here…I promise…to bring myself, Motoko and Papa back in one piece. I will not fail. So promise me you won't follow me."
Sakura looked up at Asuna's eyes.
Asuna stared back, a single wet tear streaming down her face. Just one…
"………….."
And sooner or later, Sakura nodded. "I promise."
"Good, keep that promise and don't follow me, I'll bring him back with the power I have and we will enjoy the rest of our vacation together...like one big happy family."
Motoko stared, but inside she was smiling. "All right Asuna…lets get going.."
Asuna turned around and was about to dash off along with Motoko but--
"Be careful." Sakura said smiling.
Asuna looked back
"Always am." And with a fleeting smile she looked forward and ran ahead, joining Motoko side by side as the trees blurred in their side.
Away from the camp.
Motoko looked over at Asuna. "Is it alright?"
"Yea it's all right...everything is alright..."
"Good…now that you cleared your mind, how are we going to find Keitaro."
"With the clue Durante gave us."
"Clue?"
"Yea, remember what he said."
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"Wha-What are you doing!"
"Listen Asuna...Sakura. If you want your precious Father back you must meet me where the water begins to fall."
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Both the girls skidded to a stop right before the river.
Asuna looked down at the water.
The water where not to long ago they all had an outrageous water fight.
Where they were all happy and just happy.
"Meet him where the water begins to fall…"
Motoko looked at Asuna curiously, but found she was looking at upstream.
She gazed upstream as well, and saw the lake where the river pours out of. But she could also see at the end of the lake was a huge misty waterfall. It flooded itself from high up the rocky cliff into the lake's shiny smooth surface.
And at the top was where it began to fall…
Where the water began to fall…
"I'm guessing we have to hike up there."
Asuna only nodded.
"Then lets keep going…"
Asuna nodded again and dashed forward, crossing the river.
Motoko following suite.
Both of them kicking up some dust.
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Ten years ago…
Outskirts of the Aoyama residence
Out in the flowery meadows…
A seven year old Motoko ran down the lanes of grass and flowers that met up to her knees. At the day time the meadow was a vast country field full of colorful flowers. But at night it was a bleak, daunting field of swaying grass. The moon shone down on Motoko as she ran, illuminating the grass with a tint of purple so as she could see her escape.
A black sword and sheath tightly gripped in her hands.
She panted with fear. Her legs didn't stop. They ached but didn't stop.
Sweat ran down her brow.
Her long hair wavering behind her along with the chilly wind.
She just ran.
Piercing through the ocean of flowers and plants.
Afraid to look back.
Her foot got caught in between a pair of rocks.
"Aackk! Ooof!"
She fell down hard. The sword flew out of her grasp.
It tumbled forward on the ground.
She went out to reach it but a shadow loomed over her.
-Stomp!-
The earth shook underneath her.
Her heart stopped for a second.
Something was behind her and she had no choice but to turn around.
She gazed over shaking uncontrollably, and saw a creature tower over her.
A big muscular body and a shell for a back.
A sharp beak full of teeth lusting over her.
Two white slit eyes glaring at her.
A beat…
It lunged at her with vigor.
"NNNNGGHHHAAAUUUUUU!"
"Kyaaaa!" Motoko covered her head.
A figure came blurring form the side.
-SLIIICCCEEEE!-
The purple meadow instantly turned into a red one.
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Back at the camp site
Sara was still hugging Sakura from behind, unsure whether she was alright or not.
A pair of hands clasped over hers.
Sara looked and it was Sakura.
"It's alright, I'm fine now Sara."
Sara hesitantly let go.
"Are you sure…"
"Yes I'm sure, thanks Sara."
"No problem."
She turned around to face Sara.
"So what should we -eh!"
Sara was already inside the camping tent, rummaging through her bag. Throwing stuff aimlessly over her shoulder like and animal looking for food.
Articles of clothing, slippers and gear were flying everywhere.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
"I'm finding my stuff! I'm going to join them!"
"Wh-what!"
"Yea, I'm going after them. You didn't think I would just sit here and do nothing? Anyways don't you want to go?"
"Umm..er… That is..uh.." She stuttered. Avoiding a plush toy from Sara's random throwing.
"Admit it, you want to go don't ya."
"….Yea…" she said evading an incoming panty.
"Good! Now where the hell did I put it."
"But…I promised Asuna I wouldn't follow."
"Well, you promised not to follow Asuna and Motoko, but how following me…"
Sakura's eyes widened.
"Yea that's right, I found a little itty bitty loop hole for ya. Want to crawl through it?"
"….But if I do, how are we going to face up against tho-"
"Haha! Found it!"
"?"
Sara revealed a sleek black box from inside her bag. It had a silver handle, and was relatively small for storing anything important. There were no symbols, marking, nor anything special for that matter.
Just a plain ordinary black box.
"How did you fit that thing in there?"
"Don't ask…Now you were asking what I would do to defend my self against Durante and his little wolves?"
"Yea."
"Will this give you a definite answer?"
Sara opened the box and she seemed to gleam at what was inside it.
Sakura curiously looked over her Sara's shoulders and peeked inside the box.
She gasped.
"Is… are those what I think they are"
Asuna only nodded and picked up the item inside by its handle.
"Yes..it's a hand gun." She said holding up a black handgun. She observed its dark surface and its sleek design around the trigger and sides. She looked back down at the box and saw the clips for it and another handgun inside the black interior of the box. "They are the handguns my Papa gave to me. He told me to defend myself whenever necessary with these things."
"Yea, I recall you practicing with it when we first met you."
"But that was my last time I ever practiced. Ever since Papa left and I stayed with you girls. I never got a chance to practice."
"But what kind of a gun is that."
"It's a standard 9mm pistol. Or also known as a Glock thirty-four. It is based off the Glock seventeen but has a longer slide and barrel then its predecessor. It's also a combat competition shooting pistol with a standard magazine capacity of seventeen rounds of ammunition. It has a nine by nineteen caliber shot, a length of two hundred millimeters, a height of one hundred and thirty eight millimeters, and a width of thirty millimeters."
Sakura sweat dropped. "Wow...you sure know a lot.."
"I do don't I? Haha well we better get going." Sara quickly holstered one of the 9mm handguns while holding onto the other in her right hand. "But before we do. Here catch!"
Asuna threw something shiny at Sakura's way.
Sakura stumbled with it but caught the long cold item.
It was her necklace pendant.
She smiled. The red and blue colors of the crystal reflecting in her eyes.
She wrapped it around her neck. "Thanks."
Sara waved her gun. "Your welcome."
"Acck! Don't point that thing at me!"
"What! You mean this thing."
"Waah Stop!"
"Haha! Calm down Sakura-chan. It not like I'm going to shoot you." She said pointing the gun at her again.
"Acck!" Sakura dove to the ground.
"Jeez, so paranoid! Its just a gun. And anyways the safety is on and it has no ammunition in it right now so it wo-"
BLAM!-
Sakura winced and covered her head.
Sara stood still. The tip of the gun smoking.
Cr-creeaaakkk!- A thin branch fell off of a tree nearby.
"……………"
"……………"
"…………..I think I'll put it away for now."
"Yea good idea."
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Keitaro was out cold, laying besides the trunk of a tree.
The river flowed right besides him and the tree. Just a few yards away was the mouth of the waterfall where all the water was dumped into the blue lake below.
Durante stepped forward.
The sound of falling water rang everywhere.
"Keitaro Urashima…You're quite the nice replacement for Tenshi I must admit that. You and him have a lot of things alike you know that? That's one of the reasons why those two girls trust you so much. Your practically a splitting image of him…kinda creepy if ya ask me. Remove the glasses, make your hair blond and Kaiko could even go for you…a younger version of her love…Hahaha. Tenshi would be so pissed."
"Durante, They are coming. The wolves sense them."
Durante stepped back from Keitaro to let him have his sleep.
He shuffled over to the river, and bent down.
He placed a hand over the river and started to gently skim his hands over the water.
He looked at his reflection.
"Thank you Hitari. We're ready for them….Aren't we boy."
Besides his reflection/Hitari, on the rivers surface, a pair of white holes or slits opened themselves.
They narrowed like a pair of eyes.
"Don't worry boy...I'll release you when the time comes…"
"NNNNGGHHHAAAUUUUUU!"
----End of chapter 36-----