Many Faces of a Friend
***
Author's notes: I dunno, this is certainly not going in the same direction as I wanted, but I think it's going to turn out a lot better. Hopefully.
***
Tasuki ducked through the hallways towards the sounds of destruction. He skidded to a stop, seeing a creature almost like a wolf staring at him with large red eyes from beyond the pond. He looked away and saw the familar shape of the palace magician.
"Tomo?" he cried, and took a step, his hands outstretched. The figure dashed away.
A low growl emitted from the beast, and it began to tear at the ground. It paused and stared at the young prince again. "Rekka Shinen!" Tasuki cried, and a billow of fire burst from his hands, the only means of magical fighting he really knew.
The creature raised its head, and seemed to absorb the attack. Tasuki stepped backwards, and suddenly his fire was thrown back at him. Jumping over the wall of flames he again cried, "Rekka Shinen!"
Houjun ground to a stop and watched as the prince attacked, and was attacked in an unending cycle that was only making the creature stronger and Tasuki weaker. He raised a hand infront of his face, and quickly casted an immobilization spell. The creature shuddered and stood still.
Tasuki looked over in the direction sensed the magic coming from. It was the same sillouete from the last night. The dark hallway was enough to shadow the face, but the sun shed some light on his outfit. He was dressed like a wandering monk, from the binds around shins, to the large blue cloak wrapped around his body. He made obvious motions of casting a spell, and the creature disintergrated. "Hey," he called out, and started towards him.
Houjun drew in a breath and ran off, not willing to risk anything for his brother. As long as the creature was destroyed, it was okay. He also didn't want to be caught. What if they thought he was the one behind the attacks? He heard footsteps behind him, obviously someone running to catch up with him. Using a spell he rarely bothered with, he teleported down the hall, and back to his room. Tasuki stopped as the figure vanished in a light puff of magic.
"So what happened?" Ryuuen asked, looking up from the bed.
"A thought just occured to me no da."
"And that would be...?"
"If these attacks are more frequent now, then they were, there's a possiblity we could be suspected no da."
The younger brother sat up. "If I get caught... this could be the end of us," Houjun added very slowly.
"Well... I wouldn't caught because I make a beautiful girl," Ryuuen retorted, trying to lighten up the mood. It definately seemed like the wrong thing to say because his brother seemed to sink into the wall. "Gee, don't feel so bad... please."
Houjun opened his palms and the magical mask materialized. He raised it to his face and felt it affix itself to his skin. The gentle tingle of magic had become rather common place for him. Ryuuen knew that the jagged scar that marred his delicate face was the result of a similar occasion. He knew that his brother had fallen in love, and in an attempt to win the girl, his best friend turned against him and claimed that he was the cause of the monster attacks. In his rage, Houjun attacked him and his best friend lost his life. A complete accident, but as the flood hit, it loosened a log and the jagged wood smashed into his eye, bliding him. In a fit of pain, he had released the hand of the man he loved and he drowned in the rising waters. The same flood that took their parents lives and left them alone.
"Houjun..."
The mask smiled, covering up the pale face of the elder brother. "Well... I need to change my clothes no da," he said happily.
"I know I have strong physical strength, but NO ONE is stronger than you," Ryuuen said softly.
"Think the other girls are already out and about now no da?"
"Are you even listening to me?"
Houjun tied the sash around his waist, a smile still plastered on the mask's face. "You know, Ryuuen no da... I left that past behind me na no da. Time to move on you told me once no da," he finally replied.
~*~
Tasuki stared at his hands as his father went off on an impossible speech about safety. He was caught, for the second time and Tomo had ratted him out. The magician stood next to the emperor, his nose pointed upwards haughtily.
"And you, Tomo," Nakago snapped, turning towards the silver haired man. His pride went down the drain immediately and he looked down. "You've obiviously haven't been able to keep the spell up. I'll have to relea-"
"Majesty, I know that my spells have be nothing but first rate. There must be someone in here openining the wall between our world, and the world of beasts," Tomo interjected quickly.
Nakago's glare hardened.
"But, I'm sure I can find the culprit and once again protect this castle, as I had done for the previous years," he added.
Tasuki suddenly remembed that he saw Tomo standing near the creature when he arrived, yet he made no attempt to destroy it. But, also... there was that warrior with the red magic. Could he possibly be the source behind all of the trouble? "The women are out and about once more," a solider announced.
"Good, Tasuki, go and soothe them," his father ordered.
The younger prince raised himself to full height and nodded, though he didn't have any real intentions to do so. He sighed and left the main room and started down one of the walkways. Some of the gaurds were observing the areas where the monsters had been accounted for. There were some old mages and priests as well trying to figure out their origin. Tasuki blinked and rubbed his eyes, as he looked across the garden. For a moment he could have sworn he saw the warrior, instead it was Chichiri, his thin eyebrows furrowed in thought. Quickly he leapt over the railigns and ran across the garden towards him. "Greetings Chichiri," he said formally, noting the presence of the gaurds.
He didn't give any kind of response. From the looks of it, his personal friend was apparently absorbed in something personal. "Chichiri?" Tasuki repeated.
Chichiri seemed to snap to attention and he chirped, "What, Prince Tasuki no da?"
He jumped over the railing again and stood next to him. "You look kind of worried. No.. you look like you're deep in thought."
"I'm alright no da. I was just thinking about my parents no da," he lied easily.
"Is that so...?"
Chichiri nodded happily, at least it looked that way. "You know, Chichiri," Tasuki began, "I'm afraid that I'm going to get into a lot of trouble."
"What no da?"
"I keep trying to protect this place from those monsters and stuff, but my father keeps telling me it's wrong. It's like I'm not allowed to get hurt. I want to leave this place."
"Oh."
"You seem happy all the time, why?"
Chichiri shrugged and replied, "It's part of my nature no da. I find the positive in everything na no da."
"Everything?"
"Yeah no da."
Tasuki rested his chin against the railing, watching as the gaurds amd priests started to leave, obviously fed up with the situation. "I wish I could be like you," he said slowly.
"No you don't no da."
"Hm?"
Chichiri pulled away from the railing. "You don't want to be like me no da," he repeated stiffly. He bowed and turned away. Tasuki watched as he disappeared down one of the many hallways, into one of the many rooms. He knew, though the women were expected to stay in the parlor, that most of the time they wandered about. Some in the gardens, others in the music rooms. There was even a young girl he constantly found hanging around in the library. So, although he wanted to chase after Chichiri, he had no idea where he'd head.
"Tasuki, the way you make yourself comfortable with that girl... one would think you're over your hatred towards women."
He looked over his shoulder and saw his long haired brother heading his way. "What do you want Hotohori?" he spat bitterly.
His brother leaned his back against the railing next to him. "I don't get you Tasuki. I've seen what you're like with 'normal' people. It's like a totally differnt side of you."
"So?"
"I'm your brother. Can't you even be open with me?"
"..."
Hotohori let out a long dragged sigh. "I don't get you..."
"I'm not the one with hordes of women at his disposal."
"Excuse me?"
Tasuki hit his head against the railing in irritation. "You don't understand this, do you? I've seen that girl... Miaka. Something happened after you summoned for her."
"I did nothing of the sort," Hotohori retorted.
"What...?"
"I never summonded for her. In fact, I'm currently arranging things with father to release her. I've heard she's already engaged after all."
Tasuki stared at his brother in disbelief. "But I was there," he insisted, "you asked me to summon her."
"You've mentioned that already." The elder prince sighed and brushed off his clothing. "Well, don't dwell on it. Perhaps it was a dream of some sort." With that he left, not wanting to pursue the situation. Tasuki rested a hand against his forhead for a moment, before sighing reluctantly and walking away.
~*~
"Hey there Chiriko no da," Chichiri said, having caught a glimpse of the small girl sitting behind a pile of books.
"Oh, hi Chichiri," she replied, her eyes barely appearing above the stacks. "I'm researching the attacks, if you were curious. I figured, if I could analyze the previous records of mons-"
"You don't know na no da?"
"Know what?"
Chichiri slid into the chair and pushed some of the books aside so he could look her in the eye. "The origin of the monsters no da."
"I'm afraid not."
"They come from our mother earth, from this land that we live on na no da. The creatures are merely a way of purging the land of evil no da. Our mother earth attempts to rid her body of the imbalance, and thus they appear here, amoung us no da. In the form of a creature na no da," he explained slowly and carefully.
Chiriko snapped the book she was reading. "How do you know about this?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency.
"I've had a life before all this no da... I did studies. You should see the world beyond the palace walls na no da. Or ask Amiboshi and Suboshi, they would know no da. They see the world as it really is, not as the people behind the palace walls do no da." He stood up and walked to the window and stared outside. "This place no da, makes everything seem so peaceful na no da. So... unreal."
~*~
Nuriko poked Miaka gently, hoping to get a response from the napping girl. Unfortunately... for the past couple days, all she's been doing has been sleeping and eating, as if her brain was completely out of whack. It was as if she couldn't really function. Then suddenly:
"Hi Nuriko!" she chirped, her eyes snapping to attention.
He jumped back slightly. "M-m-m-Miaka?" he stuttered.
She stretched and jumped around a bit, getting the circulation running through her system once more. "Boy, what a nap! You know, I'm kinda hungry," she announced and bounced out of the parlor. Nuriko stared in disbelief. She had awaken as if nothing had happened, as if she wasn't half gone for the past two days. He felt a tingle up his spine and he whirled around. He saw a faint sillouete peering into the parlor. "Chichiri?" he called out, and soon the figure fleeted away, obviously not his brother.
"It's snowing! Snowing!" someone cried, running into the parlor, her hair sprinkled with wet flakes, her robes disheveled from the run. "I've never seen snow before! Come Nuriko! Come!"
~*~
Author's note: and another pointless chapter down the drain. Please comment! Offer ideas! Who knows! Maybe I'll incorporate your ideas... or even your personas into my story! ^.^ And... if you'd like.. I wouldn't mind some advertisement!
Chichiri: Talk about a shameless plug no da.
Hikari: Gee... Chichiri... you're so mean.
Nuriko: So.. *leans over towards Hikari* Do... I get to fall in love with a certain prince? *winks*
Hikari: AIYA!! STAY AWAY FROM ME!! I AIN'T GIVIN' AWAY THE ENDING!!!
Tasuki: What!? Hotohori and Nuriko are the stars now!? Excuse me?
Hikari: I never said that!
Chichiri: no da.... *sweatdrop*
***
Author's notes: I dunno, this is certainly not going in the same direction as I wanted, but I think it's going to turn out a lot better. Hopefully.
***
Tasuki ducked through the hallways towards the sounds of destruction. He skidded to a stop, seeing a creature almost like a wolf staring at him with large red eyes from beyond the pond. He looked away and saw the familar shape of the palace magician.
"Tomo?" he cried, and took a step, his hands outstretched. The figure dashed away.
A low growl emitted from the beast, and it began to tear at the ground. It paused and stared at the young prince again. "Rekka Shinen!" Tasuki cried, and a billow of fire burst from his hands, the only means of magical fighting he really knew.
The creature raised its head, and seemed to absorb the attack. Tasuki stepped backwards, and suddenly his fire was thrown back at him. Jumping over the wall of flames he again cried, "Rekka Shinen!"
Houjun ground to a stop and watched as the prince attacked, and was attacked in an unending cycle that was only making the creature stronger and Tasuki weaker. He raised a hand infront of his face, and quickly casted an immobilization spell. The creature shuddered and stood still.
Tasuki looked over in the direction sensed the magic coming from. It was the same sillouete from the last night. The dark hallway was enough to shadow the face, but the sun shed some light on his outfit. He was dressed like a wandering monk, from the binds around shins, to the large blue cloak wrapped around his body. He made obvious motions of casting a spell, and the creature disintergrated. "Hey," he called out, and started towards him.
Houjun drew in a breath and ran off, not willing to risk anything for his brother. As long as the creature was destroyed, it was okay. He also didn't want to be caught. What if they thought he was the one behind the attacks? He heard footsteps behind him, obviously someone running to catch up with him. Using a spell he rarely bothered with, he teleported down the hall, and back to his room. Tasuki stopped as the figure vanished in a light puff of magic.
"So what happened?" Ryuuen asked, looking up from the bed.
"A thought just occured to me no da."
"And that would be...?"
"If these attacks are more frequent now, then they were, there's a possiblity we could be suspected no da."
The younger brother sat up. "If I get caught... this could be the end of us," Houjun added very slowly.
"Well... I wouldn't caught because I make a beautiful girl," Ryuuen retorted, trying to lighten up the mood. It definately seemed like the wrong thing to say because his brother seemed to sink into the wall. "Gee, don't feel so bad... please."
Houjun opened his palms and the magical mask materialized. He raised it to his face and felt it affix itself to his skin. The gentle tingle of magic had become rather common place for him. Ryuuen knew that the jagged scar that marred his delicate face was the result of a similar occasion. He knew that his brother had fallen in love, and in an attempt to win the girl, his best friend turned against him and claimed that he was the cause of the monster attacks. In his rage, Houjun attacked him and his best friend lost his life. A complete accident, but as the flood hit, it loosened a log and the jagged wood smashed into his eye, bliding him. In a fit of pain, he had released the hand of the man he loved and he drowned in the rising waters. The same flood that took their parents lives and left them alone.
"Houjun..."
The mask smiled, covering up the pale face of the elder brother. "Well... I need to change my clothes no da," he said happily.
"I know I have strong physical strength, but NO ONE is stronger than you," Ryuuen said softly.
"Think the other girls are already out and about now no da?"
"Are you even listening to me?"
Houjun tied the sash around his waist, a smile still plastered on the mask's face. "You know, Ryuuen no da... I left that past behind me na no da. Time to move on you told me once no da," he finally replied.
~*~
Tasuki stared at his hands as his father went off on an impossible speech about safety. He was caught, for the second time and Tomo had ratted him out. The magician stood next to the emperor, his nose pointed upwards haughtily.
"And you, Tomo," Nakago snapped, turning towards the silver haired man. His pride went down the drain immediately and he looked down. "You've obiviously haven't been able to keep the spell up. I'll have to relea-"
"Majesty, I know that my spells have be nothing but first rate. There must be someone in here openining the wall between our world, and the world of beasts," Tomo interjected quickly.
Nakago's glare hardened.
"But, I'm sure I can find the culprit and once again protect this castle, as I had done for the previous years," he added.
Tasuki suddenly remembed that he saw Tomo standing near the creature when he arrived, yet he made no attempt to destroy it. But, also... there was that warrior with the red magic. Could he possibly be the source behind all of the trouble? "The women are out and about once more," a solider announced.
"Good, Tasuki, go and soothe them," his father ordered.
The younger prince raised himself to full height and nodded, though he didn't have any real intentions to do so. He sighed and left the main room and started down one of the walkways. Some of the gaurds were observing the areas where the monsters had been accounted for. There were some old mages and priests as well trying to figure out their origin. Tasuki blinked and rubbed his eyes, as he looked across the garden. For a moment he could have sworn he saw the warrior, instead it was Chichiri, his thin eyebrows furrowed in thought. Quickly he leapt over the railigns and ran across the garden towards him. "Greetings Chichiri," he said formally, noting the presence of the gaurds.
He didn't give any kind of response. From the looks of it, his personal friend was apparently absorbed in something personal. "Chichiri?" Tasuki repeated.
Chichiri seemed to snap to attention and he chirped, "What, Prince Tasuki no da?"
He jumped over the railing again and stood next to him. "You look kind of worried. No.. you look like you're deep in thought."
"I'm alright no da. I was just thinking about my parents no da," he lied easily.
"Is that so...?"
Chichiri nodded happily, at least it looked that way. "You know, Chichiri," Tasuki began, "I'm afraid that I'm going to get into a lot of trouble."
"What no da?"
"I keep trying to protect this place from those monsters and stuff, but my father keeps telling me it's wrong. It's like I'm not allowed to get hurt. I want to leave this place."
"Oh."
"You seem happy all the time, why?"
Chichiri shrugged and replied, "It's part of my nature no da. I find the positive in everything na no da."
"Everything?"
"Yeah no da."
Tasuki rested his chin against the railing, watching as the gaurds amd priests started to leave, obviously fed up with the situation. "I wish I could be like you," he said slowly.
"No you don't no da."
"Hm?"
Chichiri pulled away from the railing. "You don't want to be like me no da," he repeated stiffly. He bowed and turned away. Tasuki watched as he disappeared down one of the many hallways, into one of the many rooms. He knew, though the women were expected to stay in the parlor, that most of the time they wandered about. Some in the gardens, others in the music rooms. There was even a young girl he constantly found hanging around in the library. So, although he wanted to chase after Chichiri, he had no idea where he'd head.
"Tasuki, the way you make yourself comfortable with that girl... one would think you're over your hatred towards women."
He looked over his shoulder and saw his long haired brother heading his way. "What do you want Hotohori?" he spat bitterly.
His brother leaned his back against the railing next to him. "I don't get you Tasuki. I've seen what you're like with 'normal' people. It's like a totally differnt side of you."
"So?"
"I'm your brother. Can't you even be open with me?"
"..."
Hotohori let out a long dragged sigh. "I don't get you..."
"I'm not the one with hordes of women at his disposal."
"Excuse me?"
Tasuki hit his head against the railing in irritation. "You don't understand this, do you? I've seen that girl... Miaka. Something happened after you summoned for her."
"I did nothing of the sort," Hotohori retorted.
"What...?"
"I never summonded for her. In fact, I'm currently arranging things with father to release her. I've heard she's already engaged after all."
Tasuki stared at his brother in disbelief. "But I was there," he insisted, "you asked me to summon her."
"You've mentioned that already." The elder prince sighed and brushed off his clothing. "Well, don't dwell on it. Perhaps it was a dream of some sort." With that he left, not wanting to pursue the situation. Tasuki rested a hand against his forhead for a moment, before sighing reluctantly and walking away.
~*~
"Hey there Chiriko no da," Chichiri said, having caught a glimpse of the small girl sitting behind a pile of books.
"Oh, hi Chichiri," she replied, her eyes barely appearing above the stacks. "I'm researching the attacks, if you were curious. I figured, if I could analyze the previous records of mons-"
"You don't know na no da?"
"Know what?"
Chichiri slid into the chair and pushed some of the books aside so he could look her in the eye. "The origin of the monsters no da."
"I'm afraid not."
"They come from our mother earth, from this land that we live on na no da. The creatures are merely a way of purging the land of evil no da. Our mother earth attempts to rid her body of the imbalance, and thus they appear here, amoung us no da. In the form of a creature na no da," he explained slowly and carefully.
Chiriko snapped the book she was reading. "How do you know about this?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency.
"I've had a life before all this no da... I did studies. You should see the world beyond the palace walls na no da. Or ask Amiboshi and Suboshi, they would know no da. They see the world as it really is, not as the people behind the palace walls do no da." He stood up and walked to the window and stared outside. "This place no da, makes everything seem so peaceful na no da. So... unreal."
~*~
Nuriko poked Miaka gently, hoping to get a response from the napping girl. Unfortunately... for the past couple days, all she's been doing has been sleeping and eating, as if her brain was completely out of whack. It was as if she couldn't really function. Then suddenly:
"Hi Nuriko!" she chirped, her eyes snapping to attention.
He jumped back slightly. "M-m-m-Miaka?" he stuttered.
She stretched and jumped around a bit, getting the circulation running through her system once more. "Boy, what a nap! You know, I'm kinda hungry," she announced and bounced out of the parlor. Nuriko stared in disbelief. She had awaken as if nothing had happened, as if she wasn't half gone for the past two days. He felt a tingle up his spine and he whirled around. He saw a faint sillouete peering into the parlor. "Chichiri?" he called out, and soon the figure fleeted away, obviously not his brother.
"It's snowing! Snowing!" someone cried, running into the parlor, her hair sprinkled with wet flakes, her robes disheveled from the run. "I've never seen snow before! Come Nuriko! Come!"
~*~
Author's note: and another pointless chapter down the drain. Please comment! Offer ideas! Who knows! Maybe I'll incorporate your ideas... or even your personas into my story! ^.^ And... if you'd like.. I wouldn't mind some advertisement!
Chichiri: Talk about a shameless plug no da.
Hikari: Gee... Chichiri... you're so mean.
Nuriko: So.. *leans over towards Hikari* Do... I get to fall in love with a certain prince? *winks*
Hikari: AIYA!! STAY AWAY FROM ME!! I AIN'T GIVIN' AWAY THE ENDING!!!
Tasuki: What!? Hotohori and Nuriko are the stars now!? Excuse me?
Hikari: I never said that!
Chichiri: no da.... *sweatdrop*
