Chapter Six: Encounter
Author's Notes: Sorry to take so long with this. School starts soon for me, and it's been really busy. Anyway, enjoy and please review!
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Yume awakened much in the same manner as she'd fallen into slumber; feeling safe and warm in the arms of a certain blue-haired monk, who had leaned back against the sakura tree to catch some sleep as well. Unconsciously nuzzling the toned, bare chest, one gentle hand tightly grasped the sweet-smelling kesa about his shoulders as the dappled sunlight pulled her into reality.
As she stirred, so did the mage, who in turn tightened his grip around Yume's slender waist and adjusted his position around her. The girl smiled up at Chichiri's peaceful features, placing a butterfly kiss on his exposed collarbone.
"Mmm... Yu-chan? Is that you?" he murmured, opening his chocolate brown eye to meet her crystal blue ones. She smiled again, the memories of the night previous causing a tingle to run down her spine, the knot in her stomach to slowly unwind, releasing a cage of butterflies to dance about her heart in carefree merriment. They rose in unison to shaky feet, only to fall against one another in a passionate embrace, then a lingering kiss. All too soon, Chichiri pulled away, though his gaze betrayed regret.
"We don't want Tasuki and the others to worry, no da," he said playfully, tapping a finger on her nose. "We leave in a few hours to retrieve the relics."
A surge of fear rolled over Yume, but she shoved the feeling aside to make room for determination and hope. "I understand."
***
Tasuki had been reclining comfortably in one of the smaller dining halls of Taikyoku, when a sight greeted him from the entrance that sent the bandit to the floor, sprawling, in shock.
"Erm, Tasuki-kun no da?" a familiar genki voice inquired with apparent amusement. "Is something the matter?"
"N-no! Nothing's wrong! No way!" the brigand stuttered, though his eyes were wide as saucers. There was Chichiri, his best friend whom he'd thought doomed to be alone for eternity, clasping hands with the girl who had fallen into their world -- mere days ago -- with the destiny to save their very existence. As the shock began to melt away and his heart regained its normal rhythm, Tasuki also raised a silent, but all the more questioning eyebrow in reference to the monk's apparent state of undress; clad only in his forest-green pants and his kesa around one shoulder, he made for an interesting sight. Picking up on the unspoken accusation, Chichiri immediately began to blush, glaring denial in daggers from his single eye.
"Good morning, Tasuki," Yume chirped, reviving both men from their stare-down. "I trust you slept well?"
"Yeah," he answered with his famous fanged grin, then muttering under his breath, "…at least I slept…" However, sharp ears picked up on the comment, and the redhead was immediately sent flying into the wall by his own tessen.
"Taiitskun!" Yume and Chichiri exclaimed in unison, Yume hiding behind the monk in surprise. It's too early in the morning to see her face, she thought to herself with a stifled gag and giggle. Chichiri, too, muffled his own chuckle at her reaction, but his face remained serious as he regarded his sensei.
The old woman glared at them all, completely aware of what was transpring, but having taken out her anger on the currently cursing bandit, she merely sighed and sweatdropped before beginning to speak.
"Priestess and Seishi. Today you begin your journey for the four sacred relics of Genbu, Byakko, Suzaku and Seiryuu. Are you prepared to take on this burden? For if you fail to return with all four, Munashii will win and our world shall cease to exist."
"Hai, Taiitskun," Yume stepped forward, raising her head high. "I… no, we won't let you down."
The Creator smiled. "Very well then. As promised, I entrust to you this ancient scroll, which provides clues leading to the secret grottoes where the relics lie. Only you, Priestess, are able to read this parchment, aside from myself. This is for your own protection, and also to ensure that this information does not fall into the wrong hands.
"Even now Munashii sends his minions to lie in wait for your passing… you must defeat them, and not allow their deceptive and manipulative nature to sway your loyalties. Over these scant few days the three of you have formed a strong bond; trust in it indefinitely, and you will persevere."
"We are ready," Chichiri spoke up, taking Yume's hand in his own.
Tasuki rose to his feet to stand beside his two friends, clear confidence flaring in his lupine golden eyes. "Yeah, we're ready."
"Very well then. You have two hours; meet me in the shrine then."
***
Yume walked alone to her chambers, greeting Nyan-Nyan as she popped up at her door. The childlike spirit was, as usual, full of mirth, but at the same time expressed sadness that her new friend would soon be departing.
"Nyan-Nyan want to go on quest too!"
The girl laughed as the packed her blue bag. "I know you do, but I'm sure Taiitskun needs you here. I have Chichiri and Tasuki to protect me form Munashii."
"Priestess can take care of herself! No need seishi!"
She raised an inquiring eyebrow at the green-haired girl. "What do you mean, Nyan-Nyan? I'm not that powerful… Chichiri is at least ten times stronger than I am!"
The child giggled wildly. "Power of one not enough to defeat Munashii! Only when souls of harmony strike the chords of time to rise above the blood and sorrow, will the world be reborn from the angels fallen and vanquish the impending darkness!" Then Nyan-Nyan disappeared in a puff of pink smoke, her chiming laughter still tickling the girl's ears as if in echo of her presence.
A riddle? Yume thought as she turned back to her work. I wonder what it means. 'souls of harmony?' I guess that could mean a spell. But what of 'reborn' and 'angels fallen?' Jeez, I was never good at these sorts of things. I'm an artist, not a thinker.
"I wonder if I'm ready for this," she continued aloud, stuffing some extra clothes from the closet into the small knapsack she was given. "I've only been learning how to defend myself for a short time… how can I hope to be able to fight the Destroyer's demons?"
You're right, a voice from within her hissed. You're still weak, and will have to depend on Chichiri and Tasuki all of the time… and you know they won't like that.
"But I won't let them defend me. I can take care of myself. I don't need their protection."
There's nothing you can do about having no power. Maybe it's not too late to give up and go home. Yes, home… where life is simple and quiet…
"…but without Chichiri."
You'll have to leave here eventually… would Chichiri go too? Would he leave this world to chase a lovestruck girl from another world?
"Taka did."
He's not Taka, and this isn't a romance novel. Life isn't fair, and love doesn't exist. You know that; you've always believed it was phony…
"Wait a second…" Yume gasped as the voice gained volume in her mind, drowning out all thoughts other than those of doubt. "You're…"
Ah, so the pretty little Priestess finally acknowledges me. Should I be honored?
"Get out of my head, Munashii."
And she calls me by name! Such grace she bestows upon me, the voice cackled darkly. How easy it is to bring your darkest thoughts to the surface… The girl felt herself collapsing to the floor, her gaze twisting upwards to a darkened silhouette in her mirror. Lifeless silver eyes seemed to leer down at her from a featureless face and form, boring into her soul as if to cleave it in two with a mere glance. Though frightened, Yume stared right back at the evil deity, her own stormy orbs glazed with fury.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else with your heartless destruction," she stated, drawing a bone-chilling laugh from her tormentor.
Indeed? And how do you propose to do that, little Yume? You're powerless against me, even with your seishi. They're even easier to bend to my will… would you like me to demonstrate?
"Leave them alone," she growled, daring him to make a move. "I won't lose to you."
Oh? Shall we test this theory? The shadow raised one arm, flexing a fist tauntingly towards her. Then, with a quick snap of the wrist, Yume was clutching her head in agony as a shrill sound ripped through it relentlessly, growing higher and higher in pitch than she ever thought possible. Gritting her teeth even as a sickeningly harmonious scream tore from her own throat, she plunged into the depths of her consciousness for the barrier spell Chichiri had taught her only days before.
There's no one to help you now, little one; what will you do now? Munashii mocked, as he increased the power of his spell against the seemingly helpless Priestess.
Yume threw her head back in frustration, screaming out mindless obscenities intermingles with a desperate call to the monk she loved so dearly. Please, Chichiri, give me strength… Suzaku, let him hear me! She cried out mentally, tears flowing down her cheeks and matting silky brown hair to her face. Her hands clenched into such tight fists that her nails drew crimson crescent moons from aching palms, the evil god's laughter howling like the wind of a maelstrom all around her body…
***
"Chiri? What's wrong?" Tasuki asked of his friend, who had frozen mid-step. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Yume…" was all the monk replied before his eye clouded, and he fell into a deep trance.
***
Suddenly, everything she heard and felt began to numb as a coolness spread over Yume's fallen form. Absently she wondered if she was dying, until a familiar chi reached out to caress hers. Like frigid spring water it was, purifying her mind of the anguish and torment brought by the Destroyer's torrents of taunts and lies, filling her with a strength that was so new, but felt so right...
It was as if he were right there with her, chanting the barrier spell in perfect synch as her lips mouthed the words from memory. Munashii's jeers immediately silenced, cruel and contemptuous curiosity overcoming the sinister deity as he watched.
Yume's eyes snapped open, irises now tinted with hues of bloody crimson. Feeling the spiritual embrace of Suzaku, she began a second spell; one to banish the demon Munashii back to his mountain. Her tongue rolled in the ancient language of the gods, each precise enunciation enough to remind one of the pounding of steel nails into a newly-carved wooden coffin...
You know this isn't the last of me... your little magic trick can only last so long. I'll be back, Priestess, and you won't escape me! Black light flashed like lightning over the mirror and through the room, and then Munashii was gone, fading laughter the only trace of his earlier presence. The girl collapsed again onto the floor, though this time from exhaustion as the power of the phoenix god left her body, as well as that of Chichiri. She smiled at the thought of her azure-haired seishi, silently thanking him before fainting into a dreamless void.
***
"Chichiri! Chichiri!" Tasuki shouted as he shook the monk with almost murderous vigor, so intense was his fear. It appeared as though the mage wasn't even breathing, though upon a closer scrutiny one could tell that he was, but just barely. However, hysteria had set in with the fiery bandit just as his fellow seishi had fallen into a nearly comatose state, eye blankly staring forward and his lips moving to speak the words of some ancient language Tasuki didn't recognize.
"Dammit, wake up already! Yer scarin' me, this isn't funny!" he continued to yell, tightening his grip on his friend's shoulders. "Chiri!"
"Fix! Fix!" Nyan-Nyan instantly appeared, floating over to Chichiri's side, her mouth grimly set into a deep frown. "Bad Munashii... bad bad... hurt Priestess, hurt Chichiri-san..."
"Munashii?" the redhead gasped. "You mean that bastard did this to Chichiri?"
But it wasn't Nyan-Nyan who responded.
Yes, the Destroyer has done this, and now things are far worse than you realize, Tasuki.
A figure cloaked in red light appeared before the two seishi, and the bandit gasped in a mixture of awe and almost horror as he recognized the coalescing shape...
*****
Author's Notes: I know, I know, I'm terrible. Gomen nasai for it being so short, but the next chapter should be out tomorrow.
Next Chapter: The journey to retrieve the first of the relics begins, but why isn't Chichiri waking up? With some unexpected aid, Tasuki rushes to Yume's room to discover the source of the problem…
