Disclaimer: I wish I owned Chiriko. He's so cute! ~pinches Chiriko's cheeks~ Unfortunately, I don't own him or anything else of FY. Poor me.
Note: This is my longest chapter yet: 2,244 words! Yes, yes, I know that sounds pathetic to some of you, but I just can't write humongous-ly large chapters like Kaze-chan or Roku-chan. I mean…12 pages?! 8,000 words?! ~laughs nervously~ I…I just can't do that. ^^;; Anyhow, this is an odd chapter…oh hell, this whole fic is odd. ^~ Enjoy!
The Girl of Duty, by bashou-chan
Chapter 5: A Crippled Life
Chiriko sat quietly in front of Mitsukake, hands lightly resting on the slender neck of the horse. The clouds and the trees passed unnoticed, as the young scholar was deep in thought. Miaka-san…I don't know where she is. She disappeared, leaving us with nothing but a mere clue. A confusing one, at that. And now, Nuriko-san. I don't understand this. Perhaps there is a scroll detailing the possible events and outcomes of the spiritual world merging with the physical world. No, I doubt it. And there is no access to the Royal Library any time soon. Sighing, Chiriko abandoned the thought. I wonder, he thought, what force sends Nuriko-san down to help us. Taiistkun? It is always Taiistkun--she favours us. But why? Why does she favour Suzaku, if she is the creator of the world—creator of all Four Gods equally? Thin, sandy-coloured eyebrows drew together in concentration, as Chiriko pondered over his string of questions.
"She does not favour us, Chiriko."
Blinking, Chiriko swivelled slightly in the saddle. "How—how did you know?"
"You were thinking out loud." Mitsukake smiled at the boy. "I'll repeat what I said. I don't quite believe that she favours us. There must be another reason."
"Mm…" he mumbled in response. "She just…I don't know, Mitsukake-san. I don't hear of her helping Seiryuu, or Nakago."
"Taiistukun does not deal with evil."
"Hai, I believe in that too. What I question, though, is this: Taiistkun does not create, nor does she deal, with evil. Where, then, does Nakago come from?"
Mitsukake widened his eyes in surprise, and then frowned in thought. Shaking his head, he sighed heavily. "I don't know."
~*~*~*~
"Ne, Nuriko?"
"Hai?"
"Nothing, just wondering if yer really here."
"Baka!" Nuriko sang teasingly. "Of course I'm here. I said I'd help you, didn't I?"
Tasuki's eyes softened at the mention of his promise. "Hai, you did." He glanced to his left where Nuriko floated along side his horse. "I'm never gonna fuckin get used to that."
"To what?"
"You. Floating. Nuriko, you fuckin float."
Nuriko scoffed. "Baka Tasuki! I have to float!"
"I know…it's just fuckin weird, that's all."
Nuriko shot an exasperated look at Tasuki, and then continued his travel, wishing he could feel the breeze in the air. It would always bother him, the fact that he could touch and feel nothing, setting a painful barrier between him and the tangible world. He wondered briefly what help he could provide when the group faced trouble. But Nuriko quickly dismissed the depressing thought, concluding that, when they did face trouble, he would do everything possible to help. If not physically, then some other way. Any other way.
"Nuriko!" Tasuki's rough but oddly charming voice shook Nuriko from his stupor.
"Nani?"
"I just thought of something that's fuckin great!"
"What is it?"
Laughing wildly, Tasuki grinned down at the smaller Seishi. "Now that yer a ghost, ya can't fuckin punch me anymore!"
"Ahou!"
~*~*~*~
Chichiri.
S-Sensei?
You know it's me, Chichiri.
Ah. What need do you have of me, Sensei?
Chichiri, you must come to Mt. Taikyoku quickly.
Doushite?
There is no time to explain. Hurry, and bring everyone with you. Make haste!
Chichiri blinked, then stopped his steed abruptly. Hopping onto the ground, he commanded everyone to stop their horses and to listen to him. "Taiistukun just sent me a telepathic message. She wants us a Mt. Taikyoku immediately. Everyone, dismount and keep hold of the rein of your horse, then step onto my cloak. It will take you straight to Mt. Taikyoku." He unclasped his blue, cotton cloak, laying it on the rocky ground. Gesturing for everyone to follow his lead, he stepped onto the fabric and waited patiently.
They did not have to wait more than half a minute, before the group found themselves confined in a small room. It was bare, with no furnishings or signs of anyone living there. Chichiri calmly walked to the eastern wall—how he could tell, Mitsukake would never know, as all four walls looked exactly the same—and tapped it with his staff. Suddenly, the room itself vanished, leaving the Seishi standing in an open vastness of pale blue. "Nyan, I have come by request of Taiistukun. Allow me through."
"Chichiri! Chichiri-sama! We haven't seen you for so long! Where have you been, Chichiri-sama?" Multiple high-pitched voices streamed in through their surroundings, materialising into little, bouncing children with bright eyes.
"Nyan, let me through."
"Taiistukun is busy! Busy, she is busy!" "Come play with us, Chichiri-sama!" "We've missed you, Chichiri-sama!"
"Nyan." Chichiri's tone was firm and commanding as he gazed dispassionately into the eyes of the little guardians.
The children stared at him for long moments before losing their smiles. In a blinding flash of blue, they disappeared and merged into one slender young woman with flowing hair. "Chichiri's heart has hardened." Nyan intoned, her eyes narrowing at the monk.
"Not true, Nyan. I merely have no time to deal with such disturbances."
Nyan's eyes flashed at the subtle insult. Then she bowed slightly; her hands folded in the sleeves of her robe. "Follow me," she regarded the group, careful not to include Chichiri in her line of sight. She walked ahead, straight into the blue that surrounded the group. It was odd, and Chiriko noticed. They did not follow her by walking. It was as if their legs were moving, but no direction was born from them. They did not move, but the blue moved. They walked, but they didn't walk. The blue walked for them. Confused, Chiriko glanced around to see if the others had noticed.
"It is like this, Chiriko." The older monk whispered. "You conserve energy on Mt. Taikyoku, as it is a mountain of healing. Right now, you are travelling long distances that you would normally not be able to travel in weeks."
Chiriko blinked, then nodded hesitantly, turning back to study the constant blue around him. When Nyan announced that they had arrived, Chiriko was startled. Arrived? He looked around. "It looks the same, as it was when we started 'walking'. How can we have arrived?"
Smiling fondly, Chichiri patted the scholar's head. "Accept and forget, Chiriko-kun. It is impossible for a human mind to comprehend."
"Suzaku no Sichiseishi," came a scratchy voice. "You are in ominous times."
"Sensei, please, tell us what is going on."
Taiistukun gestured to Nyan, who set a large globe on the table that had materialised from of thin air. The backdrop changed into a throne-like ballroom simultaneously, astounding the already baffled Seishi. "Sichiseishi, gather around." Taiistukun's voice was grave and reflected the atmosphere that had fallen like a curtain over the Seishi. "Look with your hearts into the globe. See what your Miko has done."
There was nothing but a mere tree in the globe. Tasuki was about to protest when he was cut off by the sudden change in the minuscule plant. Before the eyes of the astounded Seishi, the tree wilted rapidly, green leaves falling like bullets, the limbs rotting to a sickening black and twisted mass. It continued like to this for several seconds, before nothing was left of the tree but faint traces of dust. Taiistkun gestured once again to Nyan, who took the small globe delicately in her hands. Muttering a language foreign the Seishi, the globe vanished, leaving Nyan looking at her hands sadly.
"Chichiri has told you—"
"I have Sensei. I realised the moment that Miaka left."
"I've taught you well, I suppose. This globe was not depicting the future, as many of you might have thought. It simply shows us what we do not notice. Nuriko has told you that Miaka's disappearance is unbalancing the world?"
Nuriko nodded silently.
"Not only is she unbalancing the delicate scale of the world, but she is putting us at a terrible risk."
"But—but isn't the Seiryuu no Miko already tipping this scale?"
"Of course the summoning of both Miko during the same time affects the balance, Chiriko, but both sides were strong sides. This kept the scale on a tolerable level…but now. Now that Miaka is 'gone', the Seiryuu have both matters in their hands. What's worse is that the Seiryuu no Miko was summoned when she was not supposed to."
"So all we gotta do is get rid of Nakago and his bastards and the world'll be the same again?"
"Not correct, Tasuki. That would deteriorate the matter further. If the Seiryuu no Miko dies, or something along those lines, and Miaka is not found beforehand, the balance could be forever lost. Seiryuu no Miko must stay alive."
"I'm fuckin' confused. What's this gotta do with the tree?"
"I showed you the beginning stages of the deterioration of our world. You still have time to find Miaka before this situation deepens to a point where it cannot be saved. I have a gift for you—another clue to help you find her."
"But, Taiistukun," Nyan protested, "you cannot meddle into the lives of humans!"
"I know that!" she barked harshly at Nyan. "I will not be the one helping them. You will, Nyan."
~*~*~*~
"Come together, Sichiseishi, and form a circle around me. Kneel." Nyan walked slowly around the inner part of the human circle, smiling briefly and maternally at the youngest. "Place your right hand vertically in front of you, and rest your left on your knee. Open your right palm, fold you last down fingers and extend your thumb." Glancing around, she nodded, and then continued. "This is a form of meditation. I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on the people who surround you—namely, your Brothers." Nyan kneeled in front of Chichiri, leaning to his right side, sending her voice to his ear. "Help me, Chichiri," she whispered. "Open your mind to me, and help me send the message to your friends." Placing a feather-like kiss on Chichiri's cheek, she leaned back and stared intently at the monk's scarred visage. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand. Nyan touched one delicate finger to Chichiri's forehead, then—
Everything exploded. Vivid flashes of light burst, sending everything flying to the deepest corners of the room. First a streak of red flashed before their eyes, then a blinding blue, followed by deep earth green and pure white. The colours subsided eventually, settling on a pale blonde, which was streaked with highlights of light brown and brighter yellow. Another flash of matted blue crossed the yellow before all the colours died away to the sound of sweet, innocent music. It filled their ears and their hearts, bringing a feeling of peace to their tortured souls. The music dipped low, causing the Seishi to react with melancholy. But when the music soared high, their happiness soared with it, bringing them to new levels of joy that they had never dreamed to feel. This continued for some time, the music triggering feelings unknown to the Seishi before. But suddenly, the sweet music stopped abruptly, its place to be taken by a constant screeching noise that pierced their heads and caused shrieks of torture. The noise surrounded them, cutting off all means of escape and blocking all reasonable thinking. It engulfed their very being; tore at their hearts. It continued to pluck and eat at their thoughts and feelings until each Seishi felt they would rather die than live another second through this inexpressible torment.
And at that thought, the incessant noise stopped pulling and shredding them. It was gone in an instant, to be replaced by a sadness that was overwhelming and terrible beyond words. So terrible the sadness was, that it elicited tears and cries of utter pity from the Seishi. The sadness continued to overpower them until it built up enough supremacy to manifest itself into a tangible object. Appearing before the Seishi was a once beautiful sparrow, lying vulnerable on the rough, dirt covered ground. Her wings were bent at odd angles, her feet twisted and useless, her feathers missing the deep sheen of life. The sparrow opened her mouth the sing a striking cry for help…nothing came but a piteously quiet croak.
Tasuki's eyes snapped open and his breathing came in short shallow gasps. He reached a violently trembling hand to brush away the tears making a trek down his face. Angrily, Tasuki clenched his hands together to stop the vicious shuddering and tried to focus his attention on something else. It was then he noticed that the rest of the group was in much the same predicament; eyes wide and quivering, hearts still suffocating from the immense pain they had just felt.
Not too far away in the palace of Konan, the young king was in his study reading over propositions for new laws. Reaching a slender hand out to take hold of his goblet of sparkling wine, Hotohori wondered how the rest of the Seishi were doing. He did not have to wonder long, for a brief, sharp pain shook him to his very core, causing him to drop the with goblet with a crash. Hotohori clutched at his at his heart, desperately trying to stop the terrible ache. Fresh tears sprang to his eyes, rolling unhindered down his face and dripping onto his desk. A hoarse moan escaped his throat as he clung onto the edge of his desk for support.
"Amiboshi…" he whispered.
TBC…
Author's Note: Was anyone confused? Anyone? ~raises hand~ I have to admit…I was. Ehehehe…I was, I really was! I was writing this…and going…ehhhhh?! And then it all came together at the end…I think. --;;
Well, here a brief explanation to anyone who still doesn't understand:
When Nyan touched her hand to Chichiri's head, nothing exploded. (^^;;) I just jumped straight into the Seishi's heads and described what they saw, what they felt. So in a sense, everything did explode into their heads…just not literally. This is Nyan's clue, and Hotohori is the first to understand. Did anyone figure it out as they were reading about the pale blonde (his hair) and the music?
Still confused? Ehehehe…me too. ~_~ But don't worry, because I know that this story'll explain itself to me eventually. ^_^
Do you have any suggestions? Well, just to let you guys know, suggestions are welcome, and I promise I won't bite you. But I can't say anything about Tasuki…~looks over at Tasuki who has his fangs bared and a shining tessen in his hand~
Tasuki: Ain't no one gonna fuckin insult my Bashou!
Aww! Look! Tasuki loooooveess me!!!!
Tasuki: ~goes all sparkly and slow motion~ Of course. What made you doubt it?
…
Tasuki: Where tha fuck is this shit comin' from?!
~blink blink~ Damn. I could've sworn it wasn't a dream. --;; Then again, Tasuki doesn't talk like that, does he? Sounds more like Hotohori-sama. ^_^() Ok…~ahem~…I'll be going now…ja ne! Go review!
~bashou-chan