Gemini
Book I - Ashtangi
Chapter I -

In the Form of a Man up to the Shoulders, Holding a
Conch, Discus and Sword

Sai yawned heavily as his nostrils filled with the honey-sweet aroma of the
pancakes he was making for breakfast. He smiled and curved the pancakes on the frying
pan into the shape of a balloon. Yuli loved the balloon-shaped pancakes that would be
waiting for him when he awoke.
He smiled again as he saw the familiar form of Sage step into the kitchen and
stretch. Sai saw his friend rub the last of sleep from his eyes and preceded to find the
morning paper. Sage stepped outside in the morning mist and walked barefooted on the
gray driveway to the paper. The dew drops clung to his golden hair, which seemed so
because of the sunlight peeking over the clay roof tiles. It was going to be a lovely day.
Kento, Ryo and Rowen appeared last, piling into the kitchen in a frantic rush before
the pancakes could be cooked fully. Kento still had drool stretching to his chin. Rowen
pointed this flaw out and Kento quickly wiped it off with his pajama sleeve.
Mia walked her way into the kitchen from the study. She held some school books
and papers, with Yuli trailing behind carrying the rest of the work load. The child grinned
ear-to-ear when his large blue eyes came to rest upon that which made his stomach roar
with anticipation.
Those balloon-shaped pancakes.
Yuli quickly deposited his load of books and papers and jumped to his seat beside
Ryo. Sage came in and sat down with the morning newspaper. Sai announced that the
pancakes were ready, and served them to everyone with strawberry syrup.
Kento ate quickly and heartily, as everyone expected. Sage passed about the
various sections of the paper, handing the 'Comics' section to their youngest companion.
Rowen received the 'Arts and Recreation' section and glanced over its contents. His blue
eyes skimmed through the words like a stone thrown a great distance across the surface
of the water. They rested upon an article covering a new art show at the downtown art
museum.
"Hey, everyone," he mumbled around bits of pancake and sticky syrup, "since we
don't have much to do today, let's go to the art show and ten!"
Mia agreed rather quickly. "That sounds wonderful. What do the rest of you
think?"
Sai giggled. "Don't ask Kento to think while eating!" he said.
His burly friend gave him an 'I'm-gonna-kill-you-for-that' look and continued to
shovel the remains of his breakfast into his mouth. Ryo half-smiled and looked at Mia.
"I don't know, art's not really my kind of thing..."
Sage barely said a word to anyone about his opinion on the subject as his friends
continued to banter back and forth. Ryo, after an intense lecture on the possibilities of
expanding his horizons with this little trip to the art museum, decided for the rest of the
group as well. They were headed for the art museum at ten o'clock sharp.
Rowen and Sai cleared the table as Sage and Ryo rinsed and loaded the dishes into
the dishwasher. Mia and Kento scrounged around for some money to pay the entrance fee.
Yuli cleaned his room, but only to keep himself out of the guys' way.
After about ten minutes, Yuli was called down to the living room. Rowen still held
the article about ancient legends and the new exhibit that was showing for a week only. He
held it high for everyone to see.
"Listen, everyone. I know we've been to the art museum before, but there's a new
exhibit on display about ancient gods and goddesses. It should be real fun!"
"Just as long as there aren't any exhibits on ancient food or anything, 'cuz Kento
might just eat the whole exhibit!" Ryo commented.
Everyone laughed; except Kento, of course.
Mia announced it was time to go and the group of six piled into the green mini-van
parked in the driveway. Ryo pulled the car into gear and backed up into the street. Their
journey began that day..."

The group reached the door to the two-story tall grayish-green building after a
lengthy drive in mid-morning traffic. It had begun to sprinkle, though the weather
reporter on the radio said that there was no rain in the forecast. Ryo stepped up the long,
tan, cement stairway leading to the front of the building. To his surprise, there was no
doorman standing in the darkened reflection of the tinted entrance. He glanced at Mia
with a sigh of relief.
"Good, so the new exhibit is free?" he asked as Rowen approached him with the
newspaper article. He reread over the article and found the indication of the entrance fee.
He looked up at Ryo and shook his blue head.
"No, the doorman must be inside."
Sage climbed the stairs next, and Ryo looked up and began walking again. The
sprinkle of the light rain was invigorating. The mist flew through the air like a tiny flock of
geese, flying home for the summer. A breeze shifted the teen's hair slightly to the right.
The rest of the group followed in sync with their friend, coming to a halt on the
inside of the building. It was somewhat dark, but still well-lit enough to see your
surroundings. The carpet was a dull almond color.
Ryo noticed that there was still no doorman. He turned to Rowen again.
"Are you sure you saw something about an entrance fee, Rowen?"
Rowen walked up to him, Sage close behind, who was eyeing the walls nervously.
Ryo's blue-haired companion looked over the news clipping a third time. He pointed
out a small bit of information just below the picture of an old statue. "It says right here,
'entrance fee $3.00'."
Sage nodded and had begun to pace about the small room. He hated small rooms.
"Well, I guess they changed their minds!" Kento said happily. "Now, let's find out
where this new exhibit is."
Sai and the rest of the group nodded in unison, and searched about the building for
the new exhibit. Rowen had found in his article where the exhibit happened to be. They
found it soon after, a swarm of people surrounding two large statues. Both were carved in
exquisite detail, the one facing the Ronins was done in marvelous white marble, with bits
of black weaving in and out of the entire piece. The second, with its back to the first
statue, was done in black pearl, with white like lightning, darting this way and that over
the fifteen foot statue.
Rowen walked up to an empty spot in the crowd, reading the golden plate that
stood in front of the red velvet rope surrounding the perimeter of the statues. He
motioned for the others to come forth, so he could read to them what was on the plate of
gold.
"Shanti and Ashtangi." Rowen read aloud. "The ancient Gemini Twins. Black is
Shanti, Twin of Lights. White is Ashtangi, Twin of Death."
"Kinda creepy, if you ask me..." Kento swayed uneasily from foot to foot.
Mia looked up at the statues. She noticed that there was an off-white tarp over
the heads of the statues. She tapped Ryo on the shoulder, pointing to the tarp.
"Why do you suppose they haven't unveiled the whole thing yet, Ryo?" she inquired.
Ryo shrugged. "Beats me. I told you art wasn't my thing."
Sai was about to make a comment when a professionally-clad man stepped out of
the corner of the room. He held his head high, although he didn't look as though he
commanded respect. He looked in his mid fifties, slightly hefty and balding. He stood
beside Rowen and gazed up at the statues. The man turned to Rowen.
"You wish to know more?" he asked plainly.
Rowen threw a nervous glance upon Sage, who stared at the man, fear engulfing his
normally emotionless violet eyes. He began to sweat noticeably on his forehead, and he
stepped back to another end of the new exhibit to get away from this man.
Rowen shook his head. "I...suppose. That would be helpful. For instance, why haven't
they removed the tarp on the statue's heads yet?"
The man looked the statues over and whispered quietly, "Soon...soon, I can feel it
in my veins...the power..."
Ryo cocked an eyebrow and studied the man further. He looked like he belonged in
a college, teaching History or something. His brown suit, complimented with a beige
necktie, blended well with the surrounding people. He walked up to this man.
"Excuse me, sir, but, what's your name?" he asked politely.
The man held out his hand. "My name is Arthur. I am a priest at the local church,
just down the street. I have been fascinated by these statues ever since they
arrived...but...oh, you wouldn't understand...I'm just some old geezer, anyway."
Mia stepped over towards Sage, who stood by a collection of gold statuettes,
encased in a glass box on a wooden stand mounted to the wall. She put a hand on his
shoulder, curiosity mixing with concern.
"What's wrong, Sage?"
Sage shook nervously when his eyes rested upon Arthur. He didn't know what was
so frightening about him, but his guts told him to steer clear of this man. His mouth went
dry and he broke out into a cold sweat.
"N-nothing...nothing at all...he just...gives me the creeps, that's all..."
Sai greeted Arthur whole-heartedly. "Hello, Arthur. Pleased to meet you."
Arthur smiled and shook the young British boy's hand vigorously. He smiled and
gave a nod before strolling leisurely out of the crowd. Sage backed up and ran into a
woman. He apologized profusely.
The priest's eyes tugged him, his mind telling him that One was near. One was near
him at this very moment. The trinket he held in his aging hands reverberated with the joy
of being reunited with its One.
Arthur turned to face a blond young man who looked pale and frightened in his
presence. He knew it. All his years of studying had finally paid off. This young man looked
strong and steady on the inside. This wasn't going to be an easy week.
"Young man," the priest held out his hand in greeting, trying desperately not to be
overwhelmed by this One's power. He had to be strong. This One could mean he beginning
and end for him and he knew it.
Sage stared at the outstretched hand and his eyes became unfocused. His head
spun and his feet ached. He was hurled back to reality by some unknown force. He
swallowed hard and shook the priest's hand, though he knew it was illogical to do so.
"I don't believe you've seen this, no?" Arthur asked, holding up his coat to shield
the trinket from the unwilling and willing eye both. He held in his hands a small, black pearl
scythe, embedded with rubies of the finest blood red. Sage stared at it, and reached for
it, trying to reclaim a piece of him he felt was missing, but never knew was gone until now.
Arthur pulled it back into his pocket before it could be claimed and gestured
towards the statues. He noticed Sage's eyes followed his hand and looked upon the statues
with a frightening purpose. Arthur knew this was One of Them.
"I will give this to you, for a price." Arthur bargained, gaining Sage's full attention.
Arthur's studies proved to be very useful today, although he hadn't expected to find One
this very day. He had to buy some time for the other One to come, if he wanted the
Prophecy to work.
Sage remained silent, but Arthur knew what he was asking. He smiled, nodded, and
walked slowly to the statues where Rowen and the others stood bewildered. Sai and Kento
stared and Ryo backed up so that Arthur and Sage could pass. Arthur smiled as he led this
One to the statues. Yuli noticed that the other visitors to the museum were leaving, and at
an alarming rate. Soon, they would be the only ones left. He stood between Mia and Ryo,
who looked very concerned. All of a sudden, Arthur didn't look so friendly to Yuli.
Sage followed obediently to the statues. His violet eyes became unfocused again,
as if he was under some strange spell. His mind swirled as many questions flew rapidly
through his mind. He knew in his heart and soul that he needed that scythe. But, why?
Arthur turned to Rowen and asked him to climb beneath the red velvet rope. He
wanted Rowen to remove the tarp on the white statue, but to leave it over the black one.
When Rowen refused to do so, Arthur sighed and turned his head away.
Mia walked over to them and stated, "It's against the law of the museum to do
that. One of the employees would have to remove it."
Arthur looked around. "Do you see any employees, miss? As you can see, we're alone.
Don't worry, as a priest, I have studied quite a bit on these beautiful works of majesty.
My studies have shown that it is quite safe to remove the section of the cloth from the
head of the white statue. Go on, no one will notice."
Rowen shook his head again. "No."
"I'll do it."
Everyone turned to the sound of the voice. It was Kento.
He shrugged. "He says it's okay anyway, right?"
Arthur nodded and Kento leaped over the red velvet rope. He began to climb the
statues, careful not to damage them in any way. Then someone would notice. He reached
for the tarp.
"Kento, you dolt! You'll get in big trouble! Come down from there!" Sai called.
His friend ignored Sai and pulled the tarp from the statue's head. Kento gasped
and fell, hitting his rear on the statues' wooden base. Sai ducked beneath the rope and sat
near his friend, checking him for any serious injuries.
Ryo and the others looked up at the statue's now unveiled head. Its eyes were solid
black onyx with a blood ruby in a brilliant ring as a pupil, and it didn't look at all human. Its
head was hairless with three horns on the top; two near the ears and one protruding from
the forehead. It had a pointed chin and nose, with gleaming white fangs. Its legs, done yet
again in black onyx, weren't human, either. The onyx started at the waist, moving
downward to the toes, making them pointed and clawed.
In its mouth it held a conch, which wasn't all white like the statue itself. It was
decoratively colored with pastel blues, greens, and pinks. Held in the statue's hands were a
silver discus and a black pearl sword. It held the weapons in a strange fighter's stance,
kneeling on its left foot with its hands raised above its head.
"That thing's real creepy..." Kento stammered as Sai helped him beneath the red
rope.
"Yes, it wouldn't win any beauty contests, that's for sure. But, there is an
interesting legend about Ashtangi. Would you care to listen?"
Yuli seated himself on the faded almond carpet. "Sure! We don't have much else to
do."
Rowen sat down next. "All right. We'll listen."
Arthur cleared his throat and began his story.
"A long, long time ago, there was a joyous couple who lived in a far away land. They
were husband and wife, and the wife was pregnant with twins. The husband was overcome
with emotion..."

"Oh, honey, they're beautiful...!" he said.
She sighed and reached for one of her twins. "Let me see...oh, how darling!" she
said as she patted the baby on the head. They were indeed beautiful.
The village elder entered the tiny hut, eager to see the newborn pair. He reached
for the one the husband was holding. He turned to him and smiled.
"Do not fear. I will just check them to see if they fit the Prophecy."
The husband and wife nodded and the elder began his work. He asked which of the
two was first born. As it turned out, the one the elder was holding was first born. He
carried the child out into the village square. There stood a monument to the Sun. The
elder placed the child upon the alter. The Sun's rays shone through the thick gray cloud
cover and danced on the baby's face. A symbol appeared on the baby's forehead. It was
the symbol for Light.
The elder nodded and carried the baby back inside where the husband and wife
were cuddling the youngest of the two twins they were blessed with. The elder placed the
first child in the husband's arms.
"This one does fit the Prophecy. Now I need the second."
The wife nodded and gave her second child to the elder. He carried the second
child to the alter of the Sun, but this time, went behind the alter, to where a second
monument stood. This was the alter to the Moon. He placed the child on the alter and
waited. Sure enough, the Sun was again blanketed by the clouds.
The Moon alter stood facing the village cemetery. The elder watched in disbelief
as bony, skeletal hands shot up from beneath the earth in praise to this child. When he
lifted the baby from the alter, the hands slid back into the graves.
He quickly ran back into the hut to give this child to the lucky parents. The
husband looked up at the elder. His wife had fallen asleep. It was the elder's duty to give
all the children born in his village names. The elder placed the second child in the
husband's arms, were he held the first as well.
The elder cleared his throat and the wife awakened, eager to hear her children's
names.
"I hereby christen these twins...Shanti and Ashtangi, the Twins of Prophecy."
The husband and wife were overjoyed. The elder smiled.
Ten years later, Shanti and Ashtangi were fighting. They couldn't come to a
decision on something, and the village elder came up to them in the grassy fields outside of
the village.
"What's the matter, children? Why aren't you in Balance?" he asked.
"Why do we always have to be in Balance?" Shanti asked.
"Yes, I would like to know." Ashtangi said.
"Well, if you two aren't in Harmony with one another, the world won't be in
Harmony. You must understand the importance of Balance and Harmony. And you must stop
fighting."
Five years after that, both twins became irate more and more often. One day, they
got into a fist fight. The ground shook and the graves unearthed themselves. Unholy spirits
walked the earth again and rays of light from the sky blinded the village citizens. The
elder ran up to the twins and said,
"You must stop fighting!"
Shanti and Ashtangi were so angry at each other, they ignored the elder and they
killed him. Shanti used a ray of light to form an ax that threw lightening bolts. He used
the earth to make a rock solid whip, and used the thorns of the rose bush to make a spear.
Ashtangi was jealous because his brother had three weapons and he had nothing.
So, Ashtangi decided to make three weapons of his own. Ashtangi called upon the spirits of
ancient pearl divers to give him black pearls, and he made a sword. He called upon spirits
of miners to give him silver, and he made a discus. Finally, Ashtangi called upon the spirits
of the sea to give him a conch, and to fill it full of the power to raise the dead. He now had
three weapons.
Shanti saw this and became angered. The Twins fought for days on end, until the
village blacksmith informed the two that their fighting had killed their parents. Shanti and
Ashtangi, who loved their parents, rushed to their hut. No one but the blacksmith was
there.
The blacksmith smiled discretely as the twins frantically searched the hut for
their parents' bodies. Shanti looked up at the blacksmith. Shanti gasped as the blacksmith
held up the bodies of their parents. In the twins' mother's body, there was a bony hand
that shot through her chest and pierced her heart. In their father's body, there was a
scythe, undoubtedly the Reaper's. Shanti knew his brother could call on the dead, and he
had seen his brother call the Reaper. Ashtangi had killed their parents.
Shanti became enraged and threw himself at Ashtangi. The twins fought until their
bodies died. But, their spirits continued to fight. Shanti would kill his brother for killing
their parents.

Arthur continued to speak. "And the Twins' battle lives on in the chosen Twins of
today."
Ryo blinked and stood up, his feet tingling. "What do you mean, 'chosen twins of
today'?"
"It means that the spirits of these statues will possess two people in order to
continue the battle."
"How totally cool!" Kento said excitedly.
"No, it's not totally cool. Next week, the chosen twins will search for each other.
If they find each other, they will fight until one dies. They must not find one another.
That's why I am here. I am searching for them to put an end to the fighting..." Arthur said.
Rowen asked, "Are these twins biological?"
"No. These Twins are not in any way related. They are just opposites. Like black
and white." the priest answered.
"What a cool story!" Yuli cheered with glee.
"Yes, it's a good story, but what does this have to do with us?" Mia asked.
Arthur smiled. "I just want you to keep an eye out for anything unusual, okay? Next
week, remember. Be careful next week."
As Ryo turned to leave, he inquired, "Any particular day? I'm only asking
because..."
He was cut off. "The ninth."
Sai gasped. "Hey, but that won't ruin your birthday celebration, will it Sage?"
The blond man smiled a bit and blushed.
"But, we'll keep an eye out for anything."
Arthur thanked them and the group of seven turned to leave the building. Ryo and
Rowen talked at the front of the group while Sage brought up the rear. Arthur stood
behind a stone pillar and flashed the scythe at Sage's back. Sage stopped and quickly
turned around. He followed Arthur to the back of the building where there was an
alternate exit. Sage walked with Arthur to the church down the street...