Many Faces of a Friend
***
Author's notes: *SIIIIIIIIIGH*
***
Nuriko followed the girl to one of the gardens and looked up. The sky was white, soft flakes of snow floating down and resting on the ground. The women were dancing around, some making comments on how they've never seen snow before, others talking about it's beauty.
"Snow no da," he heard from behind him. Turning around, he saw Chichiri and Chiriko joining them from down the hallway. The young girl's eyes were wide with disbelief and amazement.
"I've read ALL about snow, but I've never seen it!" she gasped, and stepped out into the garden, her arms raised.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking Chichiri?" Nuriko asked, moving closer to his brother.
"The fact that's it's snowing here, and the water hasn't even frozen over no da?"
"Right."
Chichiri pushed Nuriko into the garden and took off, crying, "I'm going to check with Suboshi and Amiboshi no da!" He skidded down the main hallway, and saw the twin gaurds standing, their clothes soaked, their hair matted against their foreheads.
"Hou-- erm... Chichiri!" Suboshi called, waving one arm. However, he didn't move from his spot against the wall.
"It's horrible outside," Amiboshi noted and shudded, wrapping his arms around himself. "I've never seen a storm like it, and it's even gotten inside the palace walls. Just like those monster attacks."
"Has it been more frequent no da?"
The twins shook their heads. "Same as always," Amiboshi explained.
Chichiri placed a hand on his chin in deep thought. "May I see the outside please na no da?" he asked after a moment.
"Sure, but be careful," Suboshi warned and pushed the doors open. The three walked down the walkway towards the gates, and the twins pulled them back, revealing the harsh land being ravished by snow. However, any of the hard ice that tried to penetrate the gates, seemed to vanish.
Chichiri took a step outside, the wind whipping at the clothes he had grown comfortable wearing. The land was no differnt, if not covered with snow. The same poor conditions, the same world that existed before he entered the castle. Lands ravished by beasts and monsters, weather that tore at the few crops that would grow. And yet, in the castle, food was abundant, the sky was always blue, the grass always green, the temperature always mild. Suddenly he was jerked back inside by the two gaurds, suddenly realizing just how wet and cold he really was.
"Are you crazy?" Suboshi cried, dusting the flakes of snow of him.
"You could have been frozen out there, if you remained any longer. Don't be foolish!" Amiboshi added.
"I didn't really notice no da," he said apologetically.
"How are you going to get dried off?" younger one of the twins asked.
The eldest boy held up his hands, and a soft warmth spread over him, a wave of magic, enough to dry the silk robes and return them to a far more normal state. And, as an additional favor, did the same to Suboshi and Amiboshi. They didn't need to be asked what happened by the people that knew not of outside the palace walls.
"Thanks Chichiri," Amiboshi said, giving himself a once over.
~*~
Tasuki stared outside his window, watching the girls play in the snow. His brother was also outside, not playing but maintaining a relatively platonic relationship with the women. He caught sight of Chichiri sitting in the hallway watching the women, but not taking part. Instead, he seemed to bear the same thoughtful expression as before. His thin eyebrows furrowed into an almost comical frown, his fox-eyes not quite smiling.
"You are so detached young prince. Why do you not play as your brother does?"
He turned around and saw the palace magician standing at the door, his lean form leaning against the frame. He was wearing a good set of thick, long black robes, his sliver hair nearly sweeping the floor.
"What do you want Tomo? Do you not know the rules of not interupting a prince?" Tasuki asked slowly and angerily. He felt a hand land on his shoulder, and he quickly moved aside, his arms rising in defense. "Don't touch me."
The magician's eyebrows raised slightly, and a smile crossed his lips. "Ah, such power, such strength. You'd make a fine emperor," he mentioned.
"That comment would be taken graciously, if I were to be the emperor. As you can plainly see, my brother is quite well and alive," Tasuki retorted, pointing out towards Hotohori.
"Yes... and when he's gone..."
"If he dies before me. No one has ever said that I wouldn't die first."
"And why would you?"
"What do you want Tomo?" Tasuki quickly asked, trying to change the subject.
"Nothing, my dear sweet prince, nothing at all," he said rather affectionately, and left. Tasuki placed his head in his hands for a moment. He didn't like Tomo, not at all. He had this strange air about him, one that made him feel uncomfortable and untrustworthy of him. He looked back outside the window, but Chichiri was no longer there. He noticed the purple haired Nuriko at least, which was a good sign that he might come back.
"You know no da... Staring ouside the window can make your nose flat na no da," Chichiri said from behind, looking over the younger prince's shoulders.
"AHHH!!!" Tasuki cried in surprise and nearly jumped. "Ya should warn a prince before ya appear!"
"Sorry no da," he apologized and sat down in a chair near the door. "You see snow before no da? Or are you afraid na no da?"
"I've been outside the palace walls before-without the gaurd of magic. I know what the real world looks like. And yeah, I've seen snow before. All it is, is cold, frozen water. Ain't nothin' amazin'," Tasuki replied, looking back outside the window.
Chichiri cocked his head slightly, his eyebrows moving together sympathetically. "So, you're not like Prince Hotohori no da?"
"..."
"No da..."
"I-I ain't the biggest fan of 'is."
"Understood no da." Chichiri stood and brushed at the invisible dust on his silk robes, carefully picking at dirt that wasn't there. "You're very differnt from him," he stated after a while.
Tasuki turned around, only to find that Chichiri wasn't there anymore.
~*~
He moved stealthly through the palace, careful not to set off any of the traps. Even in his own home he felt like an intruder during the night. The open walkways had been closed up as the snow grew harder, and the women had finally realized the pain behind the soft white gift. Tasuki stepped out from behind the coverings into one of the many training fields. The large empty areas built only for learing the ways of self defense, although it turned out the guards got to use it more often.
Tasuki reached into the chest of weapons, pulling out something no one dared touch. A large steel fan, a tessen, something the gaurds considered, "gay and girlish" little did they know the strength behind it. Grunting, he started into a form, the snow falling around him, the fan moving like a sword. Then he cried, "Rekka Shinen!" and a burst of fire escaped from the fan, swirling into the air meling the surrounding snow. The warm air brushed his face like a lover. But it didn't last long.
Something seemed to rise from the snow, white and human-like. It took form completely, a demon with firey red eyes and claws. It wasn't like the others, those resembled beasts, animals. This one had the body of a human girl, small in stature, but obviously not lacking in power. Tasuki held his tessen infront of him, ready to attack. As the words prepared to leave his lips, his body suddenly felt cool and stiff. At first the feeling was like a tranquilzer, calming his nerves, until it began to get colder, and the sound of crackling ice was heard around his feet. Looking down he saw the snow begining to crawl up his legs, hardening into ice. He felt it move up his torso, around his arms, creating twisting patterns. The demon walked closer to him, brusing an icy finger along his cheek, drawing ice along his flesh. It opened its mouth, revealing a set of finely pointed teeth. A sound like a snake escaped its throat. "Psssss, pssss," it said.
Suddenly Tasuki was blown backwards by a force of hot energy, sending him into a wall. He heard and felt his back crack upon the contact. And he crumpled uselessly to the ground. He heard the demon's hissing near him, and then everything went black.
Houjun cupped the orb of light in his hands and slipped under the covers into the outdoors. Pouring more energy into the spell, the light blossomed and he caught sight of a child-like demon bent over something. Disappating the previous spell he quickly casted another imoblization spell. It was then he saw firey hair peeking out from the snow and ice. "Tasuki," he gasped and quickly released the demon, making it turn its attention towards himself.
He jumped up and over the demon's head, standing between it and the prince. It hissed and launched a burning ball of blue energy that spun out towards him. Raising an arm into the air, he blocked the attack with a red shield of magic. "HA!" he cried, and the sheild shifted from defense to offense and streaked towards the demon, engulfing it in hot fires.
The demon was bent over backwards as the smoke settled. It rose back up slowly, one hand was clamped over a stump that used to be its arm. Brown, mud colored blood seeped through its fingers. Pulling the hand away it made a slashing motion, and suddenly ice cold claws seemed to rip across Houjun's chest, tearing at his clothes, breaking the flesh. He felt the blood drip, the cold air nipping at the open wounds. "Enough with you demons!" he cried, and a large red wave was sent hurtling towards the demon. There was a brief agonizing scream, and then all that was left was a pile of ashes.
Houjun stumbled a bit, the pain of the wound actually hitting him. Running a hand across his clothes, they slowly began to reknit. Blood still pushed through the fabric, but at least it wasn't open to the cold any longer. He bent over the prince, brushing the ice and snow away from Tasuki's face and body. With a grunt, Houjun lift the younger prince into his arms. He noticed a brief flicker of light, like a candle being blown out. Shaking his head, he started towards the prince's chambers.
~*~
It was nearly morning, the snow had stopped. Houjun managed to find and dress the wounds the demon caused the young prince. His back was slightly sprained, and the best he could do was use very risky magic to help set it into place. His chest was burned, but his clothes weren't. He rubbed an ointment into them. It wasn't until he began to feel light-headed did he bother with his own open flesh. Tearing at his already bloody shirt, he created his own makeshift binds.
"Unnngh...."
Houjun bent over Tasuki as the boy groaned. He wasn't worried about getting fingered as Chichiri. His hair was sticking up in its natural way, and the mask was discarded... and it also helped that he was shirtless. He brushed a few locks of orange hair from Tasuki's face almost lovingly.
One amber eye eazed open. "Dammmit... what happened?" were the first words from his mouth.
"You'll be alright n- young prince," Houjun replied, catching himself before he added, "No da" to the end of the sentence.
"Where's the demon?"
"Taken care of."
The other eye slid open, and he seemed to make an effort to sit up, but it didn't work. "I wouldn't move if I were you," Houjun said, his hands keeping Tasuki onto the bed. "You need to stay still a little longer before that spell works completely. But it'll still hurt."
"Who're you?" Tasuki grunted.
Houjun was taken aback by the question. He didn't expect it, so he had no answer. After a moment of silence the prince repeated the question and finally he replied, "A... friend."
The amber eyes slid shut once more, and his head turned to the side. "Thank you..." he murmured, sleep obviously wrapping its warm arms around him.
~*~
Houjun slid into his own room, tired from staying up all night. His brother, Ryuuen was already up and dressing. "AH! Hou-- Chichiri!" he cried, running to him just as he collapsed. "What happened?"
Silence was the blue haired man's response. Fatigued, worn out and in pain, he decided to allow his body a well deserved rest. Setting his brother down, Ryuuen took care of him, changing the wraps to fresh clean cloth. He also changed his clothes from the rather worn almost monk-like outfit, to a long dark blue silk robe. The clothes that Houjun wore were very special to the both of them, having been the same robes their mother wore before the flood, before she died.
The elder brother groaned and sat up, surprised to find himself changed and in less pain. Ryuuen, now completely dressed as Nuriko, sat crosslegged in a chair. "So," he said, "perhaps you can tell me what happened last night?"
Houjun rested a hand against his forehead for a moment, trying to recall the events that occured not to long ago. Slowly he relayed the information, from the moment he sensed the demon, to the instant he left the prince. Ryuuen only nodded, and made small sounds meaning he was understanding the situation. He climbed out of the bed and started towards the door saying, "Well, I suppose we should head out now no da." A yawn stiffled most of the words so they came out like: "AH-Suh-oz-E-sh-o-Ea-Ou-Ow-O-A."
"Stay here, rest a little lon--"
"They'll become suspicious no da. Why are the prince and Chichiri are both sleeping in na no da?"
Ryuuen shrugged. "And like walking around like a zombie is any better?"
"At least I'm alive no da."
"Ha ha, very funny."
~*~
Author's note: And another one bites the dust.... WHAT THE HELL am I DOING?? If you have any comments please review because I'm begining to become VERY skeptical about this story. Like... where the hell am I REALLY going?? *sighs* Maybe I should rewrite this and head down the path I was originally going to go. Simple and straight foreward. BUT this idea seeemed so totally cool in my head!
BTW 'Differnt Forms' is suffering from a horrible case of Writer's Block. The next chapter should go up in a few days tho. So watch out! ^.^
***
Author's notes: *SIIIIIIIIIGH*
***
Nuriko followed the girl to one of the gardens and looked up. The sky was white, soft flakes of snow floating down and resting on the ground. The women were dancing around, some making comments on how they've never seen snow before, others talking about it's beauty.
"Snow no da," he heard from behind him. Turning around, he saw Chichiri and Chiriko joining them from down the hallway. The young girl's eyes were wide with disbelief and amazement.
"I've read ALL about snow, but I've never seen it!" she gasped, and stepped out into the garden, her arms raised.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking Chichiri?" Nuriko asked, moving closer to his brother.
"The fact that's it's snowing here, and the water hasn't even frozen over no da?"
"Right."
Chichiri pushed Nuriko into the garden and took off, crying, "I'm going to check with Suboshi and Amiboshi no da!" He skidded down the main hallway, and saw the twin gaurds standing, their clothes soaked, their hair matted against their foreheads.
"Hou-- erm... Chichiri!" Suboshi called, waving one arm. However, he didn't move from his spot against the wall.
"It's horrible outside," Amiboshi noted and shudded, wrapping his arms around himself. "I've never seen a storm like it, and it's even gotten inside the palace walls. Just like those monster attacks."
"Has it been more frequent no da?"
The twins shook their heads. "Same as always," Amiboshi explained.
Chichiri placed a hand on his chin in deep thought. "May I see the outside please na no da?" he asked after a moment.
"Sure, but be careful," Suboshi warned and pushed the doors open. The three walked down the walkway towards the gates, and the twins pulled them back, revealing the harsh land being ravished by snow. However, any of the hard ice that tried to penetrate the gates, seemed to vanish.
Chichiri took a step outside, the wind whipping at the clothes he had grown comfortable wearing. The land was no differnt, if not covered with snow. The same poor conditions, the same world that existed before he entered the castle. Lands ravished by beasts and monsters, weather that tore at the few crops that would grow. And yet, in the castle, food was abundant, the sky was always blue, the grass always green, the temperature always mild. Suddenly he was jerked back inside by the two gaurds, suddenly realizing just how wet and cold he really was.
"Are you crazy?" Suboshi cried, dusting the flakes of snow of him.
"You could have been frozen out there, if you remained any longer. Don't be foolish!" Amiboshi added.
"I didn't really notice no da," he said apologetically.
"How are you going to get dried off?" younger one of the twins asked.
The eldest boy held up his hands, and a soft warmth spread over him, a wave of magic, enough to dry the silk robes and return them to a far more normal state. And, as an additional favor, did the same to Suboshi and Amiboshi. They didn't need to be asked what happened by the people that knew not of outside the palace walls.
"Thanks Chichiri," Amiboshi said, giving himself a once over.
~*~
Tasuki stared outside his window, watching the girls play in the snow. His brother was also outside, not playing but maintaining a relatively platonic relationship with the women. He caught sight of Chichiri sitting in the hallway watching the women, but not taking part. Instead, he seemed to bear the same thoughtful expression as before. His thin eyebrows furrowed into an almost comical frown, his fox-eyes not quite smiling.
"You are so detached young prince. Why do you not play as your brother does?"
He turned around and saw the palace magician standing at the door, his lean form leaning against the frame. He was wearing a good set of thick, long black robes, his sliver hair nearly sweeping the floor.
"What do you want Tomo? Do you not know the rules of not interupting a prince?" Tasuki asked slowly and angerily. He felt a hand land on his shoulder, and he quickly moved aside, his arms rising in defense. "Don't touch me."
The magician's eyebrows raised slightly, and a smile crossed his lips. "Ah, such power, such strength. You'd make a fine emperor," he mentioned.
"That comment would be taken graciously, if I were to be the emperor. As you can plainly see, my brother is quite well and alive," Tasuki retorted, pointing out towards Hotohori.
"Yes... and when he's gone..."
"If he dies before me. No one has ever said that I wouldn't die first."
"And why would you?"
"What do you want Tomo?" Tasuki quickly asked, trying to change the subject.
"Nothing, my dear sweet prince, nothing at all," he said rather affectionately, and left. Tasuki placed his head in his hands for a moment. He didn't like Tomo, not at all. He had this strange air about him, one that made him feel uncomfortable and untrustworthy of him. He looked back outside the window, but Chichiri was no longer there. He noticed the purple haired Nuriko at least, which was a good sign that he might come back.
"You know no da... Staring ouside the window can make your nose flat na no da," Chichiri said from behind, looking over the younger prince's shoulders.
"AHHH!!!" Tasuki cried in surprise and nearly jumped. "Ya should warn a prince before ya appear!"
"Sorry no da," he apologized and sat down in a chair near the door. "You see snow before no da? Or are you afraid na no da?"
"I've been outside the palace walls before-without the gaurd of magic. I know what the real world looks like. And yeah, I've seen snow before. All it is, is cold, frozen water. Ain't nothin' amazin'," Tasuki replied, looking back outside the window.
Chichiri cocked his head slightly, his eyebrows moving together sympathetically. "So, you're not like Prince Hotohori no da?"
"..."
"No da..."
"I-I ain't the biggest fan of 'is."
"Understood no da." Chichiri stood and brushed at the invisible dust on his silk robes, carefully picking at dirt that wasn't there. "You're very differnt from him," he stated after a while.
Tasuki turned around, only to find that Chichiri wasn't there anymore.
~*~
He moved stealthly through the palace, careful not to set off any of the traps. Even in his own home he felt like an intruder during the night. The open walkways had been closed up as the snow grew harder, and the women had finally realized the pain behind the soft white gift. Tasuki stepped out from behind the coverings into one of the many training fields. The large empty areas built only for learing the ways of self defense, although it turned out the guards got to use it more often.
Tasuki reached into the chest of weapons, pulling out something no one dared touch. A large steel fan, a tessen, something the gaurds considered, "gay and girlish" little did they know the strength behind it. Grunting, he started into a form, the snow falling around him, the fan moving like a sword. Then he cried, "Rekka Shinen!" and a burst of fire escaped from the fan, swirling into the air meling the surrounding snow. The warm air brushed his face like a lover. But it didn't last long.
Something seemed to rise from the snow, white and human-like. It took form completely, a demon with firey red eyes and claws. It wasn't like the others, those resembled beasts, animals. This one had the body of a human girl, small in stature, but obviously not lacking in power. Tasuki held his tessen infront of him, ready to attack. As the words prepared to leave his lips, his body suddenly felt cool and stiff. At first the feeling was like a tranquilzer, calming his nerves, until it began to get colder, and the sound of crackling ice was heard around his feet. Looking down he saw the snow begining to crawl up his legs, hardening into ice. He felt it move up his torso, around his arms, creating twisting patterns. The demon walked closer to him, brusing an icy finger along his cheek, drawing ice along his flesh. It opened its mouth, revealing a set of finely pointed teeth. A sound like a snake escaped its throat. "Psssss, pssss," it said.
Suddenly Tasuki was blown backwards by a force of hot energy, sending him into a wall. He heard and felt his back crack upon the contact. And he crumpled uselessly to the ground. He heard the demon's hissing near him, and then everything went black.
Houjun cupped the orb of light in his hands and slipped under the covers into the outdoors. Pouring more energy into the spell, the light blossomed and he caught sight of a child-like demon bent over something. Disappating the previous spell he quickly casted another imoblization spell. It was then he saw firey hair peeking out from the snow and ice. "Tasuki," he gasped and quickly released the demon, making it turn its attention towards himself.
He jumped up and over the demon's head, standing between it and the prince. It hissed and launched a burning ball of blue energy that spun out towards him. Raising an arm into the air, he blocked the attack with a red shield of magic. "HA!" he cried, and the sheild shifted from defense to offense and streaked towards the demon, engulfing it in hot fires.
The demon was bent over backwards as the smoke settled. It rose back up slowly, one hand was clamped over a stump that used to be its arm. Brown, mud colored blood seeped through its fingers. Pulling the hand away it made a slashing motion, and suddenly ice cold claws seemed to rip across Houjun's chest, tearing at his clothes, breaking the flesh. He felt the blood drip, the cold air nipping at the open wounds. "Enough with you demons!" he cried, and a large red wave was sent hurtling towards the demon. There was a brief agonizing scream, and then all that was left was a pile of ashes.
Houjun stumbled a bit, the pain of the wound actually hitting him. Running a hand across his clothes, they slowly began to reknit. Blood still pushed through the fabric, but at least it wasn't open to the cold any longer. He bent over the prince, brushing the ice and snow away from Tasuki's face and body. With a grunt, Houjun lift the younger prince into his arms. He noticed a brief flicker of light, like a candle being blown out. Shaking his head, he started towards the prince's chambers.
~*~
It was nearly morning, the snow had stopped. Houjun managed to find and dress the wounds the demon caused the young prince. His back was slightly sprained, and the best he could do was use very risky magic to help set it into place. His chest was burned, but his clothes weren't. He rubbed an ointment into them. It wasn't until he began to feel light-headed did he bother with his own open flesh. Tearing at his already bloody shirt, he created his own makeshift binds.
"Unnngh...."
Houjun bent over Tasuki as the boy groaned. He wasn't worried about getting fingered as Chichiri. His hair was sticking up in its natural way, and the mask was discarded... and it also helped that he was shirtless. He brushed a few locks of orange hair from Tasuki's face almost lovingly.
One amber eye eazed open. "Dammmit... what happened?" were the first words from his mouth.
"You'll be alright n- young prince," Houjun replied, catching himself before he added, "No da" to the end of the sentence.
"Where's the demon?"
"Taken care of."
The other eye slid open, and he seemed to make an effort to sit up, but it didn't work. "I wouldn't move if I were you," Houjun said, his hands keeping Tasuki onto the bed. "You need to stay still a little longer before that spell works completely. But it'll still hurt."
"Who're you?" Tasuki grunted.
Houjun was taken aback by the question. He didn't expect it, so he had no answer. After a moment of silence the prince repeated the question and finally he replied, "A... friend."
The amber eyes slid shut once more, and his head turned to the side. "Thank you..." he murmured, sleep obviously wrapping its warm arms around him.
~*~
Houjun slid into his own room, tired from staying up all night. His brother, Ryuuen was already up and dressing. "AH! Hou-- Chichiri!" he cried, running to him just as he collapsed. "What happened?"
Silence was the blue haired man's response. Fatigued, worn out and in pain, he decided to allow his body a well deserved rest. Setting his brother down, Ryuuen took care of him, changing the wraps to fresh clean cloth. He also changed his clothes from the rather worn almost monk-like outfit, to a long dark blue silk robe. The clothes that Houjun wore were very special to the both of them, having been the same robes their mother wore before the flood, before she died.
The elder brother groaned and sat up, surprised to find himself changed and in less pain. Ryuuen, now completely dressed as Nuriko, sat crosslegged in a chair. "So," he said, "perhaps you can tell me what happened last night?"
Houjun rested a hand against his forehead for a moment, trying to recall the events that occured not to long ago. Slowly he relayed the information, from the moment he sensed the demon, to the instant he left the prince. Ryuuen only nodded, and made small sounds meaning he was understanding the situation. He climbed out of the bed and started towards the door saying, "Well, I suppose we should head out now no da." A yawn stiffled most of the words so they came out like: "AH-Suh-oz-E-sh-o-Ea-Ou-Ow-O-A."
"Stay here, rest a little lon--"
"They'll become suspicious no da. Why are the prince and Chichiri are both sleeping in na no da?"
Ryuuen shrugged. "And like walking around like a zombie is any better?"
"At least I'm alive no da."
"Ha ha, very funny."
~*~
Author's note: And another one bites the dust.... WHAT THE HELL am I DOING?? If you have any comments please review because I'm begining to become VERY skeptical about this story. Like... where the hell am I REALLY going?? *sighs* Maybe I should rewrite this and head down the path I was originally going to go. Simple and straight foreward. BUT this idea seeemed so totally cool in my head!
BTW 'Differnt Forms' is suffering from a horrible case of Writer's Block. The next chapter should go up in a few days tho. So watch out! ^.^
