Astral Love

by: Amaterasu


Chapter Three: Revelations

" NAAAANIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! " Nuriko screamed. Her face turned into a sickly color and felt faint

Hotohori saw Nuriko just before she collapsed. Moing quickly, he caught her in his arms and laid her in Chihiri's couch.

Chichiri dropped his usual calm self and stared wide-eyed at Taiitsu-kun. " You mean to tell me that the ancient demi-gods are here with me? And a hundred years ago? Oh...my..God!! "

Taiitsu-kun nodded. " Aa. It's what those foolish psychologists term as ' past lives'. It is the belief of reincarnation that is integrated in the philosophy of Buddhism. A spirit merely 'recycles' itself as it dies. It is reborn into God only knows. Do you know the story of the legend? "

" Iie."
" Aa."

The two looked at each other

" You knew of it?"
" You don't know?"

Hotohori huffed indignantly " Of course I know. My tutors in Ancient China made a point of telling it to me. How could you not know? "

Nuriko bristled at the high handed remark " Unlike you,I didn't have the privilege of having the finest tutors around you know! "

" eeto...Gomen Nasai. " Hotohri replied humbly

"Iie. Daijobu. I didn't mean to snap at you like that,,,"

Taiitsu-kun got tired of their tirade " So, it seems that Nuriko here doesn't know it. So Chichiri, why don't you tell them the story? "

" Hai. So, a long time ago, before the world began, the Earth was just a void in Nothingness. After Pangu has formed the first of Earth, the Kami decided to put in people, so they sent Izanagi and Izanami, the brother/sister demi-gods to interior decorate the world. Their mating had produed their sons and daughters who were the land, air and water gods and goddesses. Then one day, they decided that they should hae another, the one who would bring warmth tho the world. It was the sun goddess, Amaterasu. Unfortunately, her arrival didn't bode well for Izanami. She was burned by the great heat surrounding Amaterasu, so she died and went to the Underworld. The Kami has an order that if you ate the food of the Underworld, you'd be there forever. Izanami was hungry so she ate one. Then- thats it. " Chichiri glanced uneasily around the room

Nuriko leaned toward Chichiri with curiosity in her eyes " There's more to the story Chichiri, why aren't you telling??"

" ano...eeto..."

Hotohori understood too well Chichiri's dilemma. He released a sigh and continued with the story " When Izanagi came down to the Underworld and found out what Izanami had done, he explained to her that she'll stay there forever. Izanami pleaded, begged and ranted about her children but Izanagi stayed with the Kami's laws. Then Izanami turned stark and raving mad as she transformed into a horrendous monster right before Izanagi's eyes. She swore that she will not rest until she made Izanagi's life hell. " Hotohori finished the story on a sad and quiet voice.

Nuriko sat there, stunned. The implications of the story were staggering. Her complexion had turned ashen, her gaze glazed.

Chichiri waved a hand in front of her "Daijobu desu ka?"

She nodded jerkily " Hai " [If Izanami swore that, and Im supposed to be Izanami, then...] Brown eyes involuntarily sought the golden gaze. She read sadness and anticipation there. She looked away.

"So Taiitsu-kun, what shall we do? " Hotohori queried, his gaze still on Nuriko

" Saa, Hotohori, we don't know yet. Dreams always have a purpose. Wait, and you will find out what they mean. "

And at that, Taiitsu-kun stood up and left the room.

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*The faceless man floated away from her, while she desperately called his name. As he went further away, a great pain suddenly takes her and she stares in horror as tentacles replaces her arms and a grotesque monster replaces her. There she was, beaten and pained. She watched as Izanagi's expression became horrified then fled.

' Help me! '

' Nani? '

' Nuriko, help me! '

' Izanami? '

' Aa. '

' What do you want from me? '

' I need you to go, beyond the realms '

' Beyond the what?! '

' Beyond the realms you are trapped in. You're a free spirit. Set to right the wrongs history had done. 'Tis the only way to happiness and prosperity'

' Oi! You're freaking me out! I can't understand this gibberish '

' Yin, Yang, set it to rights'

' Oi! Don't go! I don't understand!!'

'Set it to rights '

' DAME!! ' *

She jerked awake, breathing heavily. She laid a hand on her thumping heart. " What a weird dream " she whispered out loud. Flinging the covers aside, she set out to go downstairs. She sure is not willing to enounter those dreams again tonight.

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" Kore wa nan desu ka? You talked with Izanami? " Hotohori demanded incredelously.

" Hai. I know, it sounds crazy, but it's true. "

Hotohori raked a hand through his long raven hair " I don't understand. Set what to rights? Aaah!!! This is killing me. We need to go to Taiitsu-kun. Meet me at Chichiri's in twenty minutes " He replaced the receiver, grabbed his suit jacket and headed for the door.

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" Hmmm... this is bad."

Was Taiitsu-kun's first words after Nuriko finished rehashing her dream.

" What do you mean, bad? " Brown eyes sought gold

" Bad because even I can't decipher it!! " The old woman retorted

The blue haired man riffled through a Japanese myth book " Isn't yin and yang the balance of good and evil? Yang for men and Yin for women? I wonder if Izanami wanted to bring world peace "

" Iya. I don't think that's it. " Nuriko replied distractedly

"Oi! Chotto matte!! Miaka! " Hotohori exclaimed, out of the blue

" Doushite? "

" Miaka is doing a book on the Suzaku shichi seishi. So that means she must have done research on mythology, ne? She might have encountered this one. It wouldn't hurt to ask! "

Taiitsu-kun nodded " Aa."

Nuriko jumped up " Yosha!! "

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"Izanami and Izanagi? Of course I did. That's where I started. " Miaka said when Nuriko and Hotohori asked her.

" Do you have any idea on what's the connection of those two to Yin and Yang? "

Miaka nodded " Hai!! According to one of those references I had, Izanami and Izanagi were the epitome of Yin and Yang.They balanced each other. I even read about a rumor that one day, they will both awaken and set the world to rights. "

" I'm not sure I understand." Nuriko murmured

" The rumor says that there will come a time that the lovers will be united once more. And ther will travel back in time, beyond the realms that they are trapped in, and live their lives again. But this time they are going to do it right. It seems that they both promised this, same time, same words. But not to each other. For Izanami was in the Underworld then."

" And this rumor, do you think it's true? " Chichiri asked

" Frankly, yes I think it will come true. But researchers think it's just all hogwash. Hey, Nuriko, are you all right? " Miaka's excited countenance was replaced with one of concern

" That's what she said. ' Beyond the realms you are trapped in '. She said that w-they, would go beyond the realms and set to rights the history has done wrong "

" Hai! That's it! Verbatim! Did you read it somewhere? " the bubbly woman asked

" Iie. I dreamt it. "

" Sugoi! You did? Wow! That's great!! Oh! Look what time is it! I should prepare lunch now! You should stay! Wait here okay? It won't be long."

Nuriko rose " Arigatou. That will be lovely! Let me help you."

"Arigatou. Hayaku!! Taka gets cranky if he's hungry "

Nuriko's musical laugh and Miaka's lilting giggle filled the air.


*Notes

jap terms

gomen Nasai = I'm ery sorry
daijobu = it's all right
ano = equivalent of ' umm '
eeto = equivalent of ' er..'
dame = don't
Kore wa nan desu ka? = What is this?
yosha = Let's go
sugoi = awesome, great, marvelous
arigatou = thank you
hayaku = hurry

@ Yahoo!! Miaka has a brain!! Wahahaha!! I did not think that was possible...but...

@ Did i say this earlier? Yous shouldn't believe everything you read here you know. Because I've read several books about different mythologies, they're all messed up here. Aside from Japanese, there's Chinese here and I think I've also mixed up some Greek myths. Im not really sure. Anyway, I mean to entertain, not to inform.

@ I'm also not sure about the Yin and Yang too so don't take it too much to heart


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Go to Astral Love Four : Journey