Chapter 9 The Guardians
"Fuu are you all right?!" Umi screamed as she rode up, and her horse reared as she jumped off, "Woah…" she whispered, and he calmed.
"Yeah, we're fine," Fuu responded quietly, looking down, hiding from Umi's eyes.
"I've seen the enemy you don't have to act like that," Umi informed her curtly; they knew each other too well.
Fuu looked at her sadly, "Gomen nasai," her words were in Japanese, and it bothered her. She had learned Cephiran since she had taken up a permanent residence, but she still sometimes spoke in Japanese, and it was oddly converted for her.
Clef looked worried as he rode up, "Earth and Cephiro become one when the people of Earth are destroyed," he told them, "So it has begun," he gave Ferio a severe look.
"He had Fuu and there was no other way; you have the book in a safe place?" Ferio tried to explain, but Clef's eyes never let up.
"I do," he nodded solemnly, and Umi smacked him, "What was that for?"
"Please," she muttered, "If he had me you would have given Mokona up."
"You sound confident," he informed her, "Would I?"
She gave him that look that said, 'I know you too well, and you're bad at lying.'
He laughed slightly and smiled at Ferio, "Sorry."
"Apology accepted," they laughed.
"Someone should ride up to the mountains and get Hikaru down here; their next destination is the castle. We'll ride together now," Fuu instructed, and Clef nodded.
"I'll go."
Umi was about to protest, but Jake stopped them all.
"See about that," he laughed hesitantly, "See I can kind of talk to Zack, so you really don't need to."
"You can what?" Umi asked, and Clef's eyes widened.
"Well I can hear and speak to him in my head; it's weird," Jake shrugged his shoulders, "I'll tell them to come."
Umi looked at him curiously, "Hm… that normally has a lot to do with prophecies," here she turned to Clef who looked down, "Please tell me that something else isn't being hidden here."
"You have much to learn about Cephiro's history," he said quietly, and she shook her head.
"Wonderful…"
"Anyway," Mizuuma tried to change the subject. This one made her uneasy.
"Yeah I'll call them," Jake thought in his head to Zack.
'Hello?'
'Jake?'
'Yeah, hi, this is really weird, and see I think that Guru Clef is going to explain it all and everything, but I think that you need to be here first. In fact, I know you do. See the Magic Knight of Wind wants you four here right away,' Jake told them.
'I'll let them know,' Zack answered.
Brian scowled and looked away.
"What's wrong with you?" Mizuuma asked though no one else had noticed.
"Nothing," he mumbled and would have walked off but for his duty to Fuuchou.
"Whatever," Mizuuma hated when people lied, but she didn't want to press anything under Fuuchou's watchful gaze, "Fuuchou while we're waiting you wanna practice?"
Fuuchou smiled and nodded as they walked onto an open spot.
Both Brian and Jake watched nearby, never taking their gaze from the two.
"They're good, for being so young," Clef nodded to himself, and Umi looked at him.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Umi questioned.
"You'll see, as soon as the others get here," he smiled, "Just another thing in our favor."
"Oh yeah," she said sarcastically, "The Black the White and the Blue were supposed to be in our favor too," she turned and looked down, "Dammit."
He put his hands on her shoulders, and she looked up, "Sorry."
"It's okay…"
§§§~~~
Mizuuma drew her sword in a flash of purple and black. Fuuchou drew hers in a flash of deep green and yellow. They stared, amazed, that had never happened before.
"Okay then," Mizuuma laughed, and Fuuchou grinned as they began, remembering not to bow to one another.
Fuuchou made the first swing, Mizuuma allowed her that advantage, and she parried. They danced around before Mizuuma made the next swing low, and Fuuchou dodged it. She turned in a circle, and Mizuuma met the sword and threw it. Fuuchou grabbed it quickly as Mizuuma approached and put her weight into the next swing. It threw Mizuuma off-guard that she had so much power so soon, and the sword went flying from her hands.
She scrambled, but Fuuchou was approaching. She remembered what Persea had told her and smiled slightly. She reached out a few fingers, "Come," she ordered, and the sword flew into her fingers.
Fuuchou's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped, "Cool!"
But there wasn't time to admire, because Mizuuma was approaching. Somehow Fuuchou got the upper hand with the power again and accidentally slashed Mizuuma across the arm. Blood gushed through her shirt, and she winced and dared to look down.
"Mizuuma!" Fuuchou rushed toward her and was apologizing as Clef approached.
He leaned down and touched the wound, completely used to fixing things like this. He looked up again, startled.
"What?" Mizuuma asked, wincing from the pain.
"The thing is," he laughed hesitantly, "This wound was caused by another Magic Knight and can only be fixed by another Magic Knight."
"Well then," Fuu raised her hands.
"No no no," Fuuchou shook her head, "Let me do it, sorry Mizuuma," she whispered again, and Mizuuma grinned.
"Payback for all those times I beat you when we messed around."
Fuuchou laughed slightly and picked up her sword. She touched it to Mizuuma's wound, and it was instantaneously healed.
"Wow," it was Mizuuma's turn to be amazed, "That's amazing, it feels as if it never happened."
"That is the healing power of the Earth element," Clef responded and smiled at Fuuchou, "Good job, you know, your parents found themselves in a slightly different, but the very same situation."
"What?" Fuuchou and Mizuuma asked in unison.
"Oh yeah," Umi laughed nervously.
"Well see," Fuu looked down, "I accidentally stabbed Umi because at the time she wanted to kill me because her father was killed by my father, and I wasn't ashamed of it, and we were in a huge, terrible fight about our parents which was quite stupid. Anyway, she drew her sword and then dropped it, and I thought that she was swinging. I stabbed her, and she lay on the ground, dying. Clef couldn't do anything for her, and your father," she looked at Fuuchou, "Was battling with the Son of Cephiro because he was about ready to just kill me himself. Anyway, it could only be healed by the magic of another Magic Knight, but I had to be willing to do it. Eventually I was, and we were fine, but it was a test of friendship, and that just reminded us of it," she seemed ashamed, but Umi put a hand on her shoulder.
"She did a very brave thing, accepting a traitor's daughter. It just shows that you can accept all kinds of people," here she threw a glance at Brian who turned away from her knowing eyes.
"Did we miss anything?" a voice called cheerily from behind them, and they all turned.
"Hikaru!"
"Hikaru-san!" they hugged, and Kojishi grinned and walked to the other two who smiled and embraced.
"Hey how did you get here so quickly?" Fuu inquired as they walked back to where the others were standing.
"Oh a Transportation Spell from Lantis and a bit of magic from Rayearth," Hikaru responded, and Clef urged Lantis to come close, so he could restore some of the magic that was lost. He looked as if he was going to fall over in exhaustion. When they were finished they all looked ready for battle.
"Now we need to wait a day for the wound that Umi caused to heal and give them a bit of a head start, and then we follow from behind. Do you think that Zagato and the others will be able to hold them up at the palace gates until we get there?" Fuu asked and turned to Lantis.
"My brother can do incredible things with sword and magic," he answered.
"Your brother can do incredible things for my sister," Ferio grinned impishly, and Lantis shook his head.
"You would say something like that," he informed the Prince.
"Well it's a common known fact that…" Ferio began, and Fuu hit him.
"Stop while you're ahead," she mumbled harshly, and they all laughed.
"Wait, what wound that Umi caused?" Hikaru asked, "And how did Zack know to bring us here?"
§§§~~~
They sat around the campfire and explained that Umi had wounded the real enemy, the old lover and then came the real explanation. Clef sighed when he saw that he was again going to be the one to tell it, to break it to them all. He closed his eyes and began.
"Once upon a time there were three Magic Knights, a Knight of Wind a Knight of Fire and a Knight of Water. Long after their fighting was over they settled down and had a family, and of them came the Knight of Earth, the Knight of Sun and the Knight of Storm. Each of these new Knights would be ignorant of their heritage until the Black, the White and the Blue were once again reunited in new forms.
"When the new Knights were born so were the Guardians of the Rune-Gods. There were three new Rune-Gods to be born with the Knights arrival. The Rune-Gods, like everything, began as babies and therefore needed to be kept and tended to until they were able to take their true forms and show themselves to the Knights, and so there were the Guardians. The Guardian of the Rune-God of Earth, the Guardian of the Rune-God of Sun and the Guardian of the Rune-God of Storm.
"The Guardians were born into the world and grew up with the Rune-Gods, learning and growing together until eighteen years before the Knights knew anything about themselves. Then they were transported to Earth and given old memories, things that never happened. There they grew, and the memories took hold, and Cephiro and their beloved Rune-Gods were forgotten and lost.
"Then the Magic Knights were remembered and the new force was at work. The Guardians were once again summoned to their home and became the Sacred Guardians, destined to take care of the new Knights. Once home they remembered their old skills, and slowly their old abilities and memories would emerge. They would be the ones to determine when the new Knights were able to Don their greatest friends," Clef explained to them, and it left them dumfounded.
"You tended to all this didn't you?" Umi demanded, and he nodded, "I need to start paying more attention when you go sneaking off."
He smiled and shook his head.
"So you mean to tell me we're from here? And we took care of some weird creatures so that these girls could go play war with them?" Jake threw his hands up, "Wow, that sounds believable."
"You don't have to believe it for it to be true," Mizuuma snapped, and he shook his head.
"Guess not, I mean, I didn't believe that anyone could be as cold as you are."
They looked at her curiously when she looked down and grabbed her hands.
Clef's glare was dangerous, and he itched to grab his staff.
"So that's how we knew how to sword fight?" Brian asked, and Clef tore his gaze from Jake to nod slowly.
"Man that sucks," Zack muttered, and Kojishi looked at him curiously. He grinned as he responded, "I just thought that I was that good because I was a quick learner."
"Hate to tell you this," Hikaru smiled, "But you don't learn skills like that being a quick learner, or even beginners luck. No that's a lot of practice and training."
"What are the Rune-Gods?" Fuu asked, "I mean, like ours have shapes, what are their shapes?"
Clef shook his head, "Only the Guardians know."
"How will we know when to summon them for the girls?" Brian questioned.
"You will know," Lantis told him, "These things are always known in Cephiro."
After a long silence they decided it was time for bed and had to do things the old-fashioned way; they pitched tents.
"Where's Mokona?" Lantis asked, and Ferio shook his head. He understood through that and didn't ask anymore questions.
When it was all finished there was one huge tent for the new Magic Knights, and the Guardians and three smaller tents for their parents.
They all said goodnight and went to bed because they knew they would need their rest.
§§§~~~
They waited until mid-afternoon before they began to head back to the palace at a walk.
"Can't we just canter a little?" Fuuchou was pleading.
"We'll just ride up to the ridge and then we'll meet you there," Mizuuma offered.
Finally Fuu and Umi gave up and let them canter to the next ridge. They shouted in happiness and urged the horses faster.
Brian and Jake took off after them at a gallop to catch up. When they reached the ridge they looked at what they saw, horrified.
"The Forest of Silence is on fire!" Fuuchou screamed and galloped down, not heeding a word from anyone. Who had done this to her beloved Forest? She would kill them whoever they were.
"Fuuchou wait!" Brian shouted and ran behind her.
"That's impossible," Clef whispered beside Mizuuma.
She turned and looked down, "It's magic, strong magic."
§§§~~~
Fuuchou ran her horse hard and fast toward the Forest. She slowed only when he began to breathe heavily. When she reached the Forest she found Brian had followed her but couldn't speak because the Forest was no longer on fire and looked as if it never had been, "What?"
"You stepped right into my trap," a girl came from the Forest on horseback, followed by that man. The woman was gorgeous and was holding a dark blade, the Dark Blade.
Brian and Fuuchou drew their swords, and she laughed.
"The Guardian and the Knight of Earth want to challenge two Magic Swordsmen," she scoffed, "Well now, this may be interesting."
"You will never defeat me Hebi, wielding the Dark Blade or not," Brian stepped forward, and Fuuchou thought she saw a whole new person.
"Oh but I believe I shall," she smiled maliciously, "So sad though, did you really have to be a Sacred Guardian?"
His eyes flashed, and he raised his sword and swung hard at the Dark Blade. There was so much power in that one swing that it would have cracked any other blade.
She fell back from the impact, but the Dark Blade fed her and pulled her up.
Brian found himself fighting hard against the blade. He turned when Hebi's accomplice went toward Fuuchou, "Fuuchou!"
But it was too late. She was struck down, bleeding from a wound in her head caused by the butt of a sword. Her sword clattered to the ground, from the pure loss of Will. He closed his eyes for a second, he had failed, and Hebi slashed him across the shoulder. He fell back, and she approached.
"The Guardian of Earth dies for the love he can never have, how sad," she laughed and held the sword above him.
"I won't be the first that blade has killed in the name of love and protection," he said calmly.
"Shut up!" she screamed and brought the sword down on him.
He parried, but had lost too much blood and fell to the ground. Just before he lost consciousness he whispered in his mind, 'Hiroji, Takeru, I have failed.'
§§§~~~
"What?" Zack and Jake whispered.
Ferio looked up, and Fuu's tears eased for a moment; they had searched the entire Forest to no avail.
"Brian can speak to us too, and he just said 'Hiroji, Takeru, I have failed," Zack explained.
"No," Ferio mumbled and looked to Clef for guidance.
Umi and Hikaru hugged Fuu close and told her she'd be okay while she cried.
"Takeru, and Hiroji were your names when you lived here," Clef explained to Jake and Zack.
"She's still alive, and I'm going to find her," Mizuuma mounted and clicked the horse into a gallop, determined to find the friend she loved.
"Dammit Mizuuma!" Jake shouted after her and mounted quickly, ready to follow her.
Umi began to tack up, but Clef put a hand on her shoulder, "I will not lose her, not now," Umi said determinedly, and he nodded.
"I just wanted you to wait," he whispered, and she smiled and finished quickly.
"If we're not back in two hours head on to the palace without us," Umi instructed and hugged Fuu from the horse, "We'll find her, don't worry."
Fuu smiled and thanked her before Umi kicked her horse into a gallop, and they took off after their children.
§§§~~~
"Mizuuma you could at least wait for me! What if you get hurt?!" Jake demanded as he caught up to her, "Your parents would have my skin!"
"You are not my protector!" she screamed, and then thought about it. He glared, and she apologized, "One of my best friends is out there, maybe possibly dying; I can't fight with you now."
"Then don't, let us fight together," he told her, and she shook her head.
"You will not be my keeper," she turned her horse, and there was a voice in her head.
'Follow your heart and trust your feelings; they guide you well.'
"What?" she whispered, and then realized that she knew that the voice was that of her sword, "Follow my heart," she whispered, and looked down to the mare beneath her. She dropped the reins and kicked the horse.
"What are you doing?" he called after her, and she shook her head.
"Following my heart!" she called back, and he followed her.
"How are you following your heart by letting go of the reins?"
"I'm following the horse, and horses are a piece of me, and they're a piece of Fuuchou; I trust them," she answered, and the horse whinnied, and she looked down.
Brian was lying there, on the ground, unconscious.
"Oh my God," she whispered and dismounted. She looked over his injuries and shook her head, "I wish my father were here," she muttered, and right on cue Clef and Umi appeared from the Forest.
Clef immediately bent near Brian and when he looked back up he closed his eyes and looked at Umi, then back at Mizuuma and Jake, "It was caused by the Dark Blade," he told them.
"Fuuchou's sword will fix it!" Mizuuma sounded triumphant as Brian slowly regained consciousness.
"Mizuuma," he whispered and looked around him, "Where am I?"
"You're in the Forest; we can't find Fuuchou where is she?" Mizuuma asked, and he closed his eyes and winced, breathing heavily.
"Not here," he told her quietly, "Hebi took her."
"What?" tears came to Mizuuma's eyes, "You're wrong!" she shouted and mounted once more, "I'll find her. Yah!"
"Mizuuma no!" Umi shouted and mounted. Clef snapped, and Brian was back at the campsite. They would chase Mizuuma for hours, but never find her. Jake followed and was able to find her quickly.
§§§~~~
"I knew you would do this," Hebi laughed as she appeared in front of the Storm Knight and her Guardian, "I knew you would, and I threw your mother and father off your trail. There's no one to save you now."
"Hebi, you will stand aside and leave her blood untouched," Jake stepped forward, sword drawn, and Mizuuma's eyes narrowed; she saw a change, but more than saw, she felt a change, a drastic one.
"Ah but you saw where noble speech got your friend didn't you?"
"He has proved himself worthy of you, just not of the Blade, only one can match the strength of the Blade, and it destroyed him."
"It did not!" her eyes flared, "It did not," she whispered, "Only that Water Knight destroyed him!"
"Leave my mother out of this! All she is guilty of is loving him!" Mizuuma stepped forward and drew her sword.
"Mizuuma step back," Jake's voice was oddly protective.
"No, I won't."
"This is not a time for your stubborn pride, I said step back!"
"As if you could fight better than I!"
Hebi just watched, with mild amusement.
He knew he couldn't lose her, not now that he had found her again, "Gomen nasai," he whispered and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her away, and put her on the horse.
"What do you think you're doing?!" she was struggling, but he was strong.
"Go," he instructed the horse and whispered a few words, and it took off the other way, "Now," he turned to Hebi, "Do you want to fight me?"
"Of course," she smiled a dazzling smile that was once beautiful, now turned cold, "A chance to fight the legendary Guardian of Storm, but first," she snapped, and a man appeared and bowed, "Go take care of that Storm Knight, make sure she ends up like the other one."
He nodded and disappeared once more.
His eyes widened in horror.
Her laugh was reflected in her swing which was almost playful, a cruel kind of teasing. He answered with a quick, powerful stroke, that made his blade scream against the dark of the other.
He soon learned that it was the Dark Blade he was fighting, not the girl herself. With this in mind he aimed only to hurt the Blade, not the girl in front of him, and that was his mistake. He didn't realize until it was too late that the Dark Blade was indestructible.
"I like you," she told him as she threw him to the ground, and his sword clattered from his hands; they were both breathing heavily, "So I'm not going to kill you like I killed the other. See, because we're both alike you and I; we both want something that's almost impossible. Notice the almost because see that's the difference; you'll never get what you want, but I will," she smiled, "But I pity you, so I'm going to have mercy."
"I want none of your pity or mercy," he glared, and his green eyes flashed.
"See I thought you'd say that," she smiled cruelly, "So I decided beforehand that I'd do this," she hit him with the butt of the blade and knocked him unconscious, "And we'll see what you have to say when you wake. Now let's see what we can do with the Sun Knight," she snapped her fingers, and he disappeared and she did as well.
§§§~~~
Mizuuma tried to turn the horse around but found that she couldn't, "How did he spell it?" she whispered, "How did he know magic?" and then it dawned on her that he must have come back into himself. That was dangerous for them, but she wasn't so sure that he wasn't trying to protect her. He just didn't want to see her hurt, but she needed to find Fuuchou, "Spring Breeze," she whispered, "If you can hear me through that spell, you have to help me, please," she begged, "You're one of my dearest friends; you have to help me save Fuuchou."
The horse whickered and reared, suddenly the spell was broken, and Mizuuma shouted in happiness and touched the horse's neck, "Thank you."
"You have power in your love," he informed her from behind, and she turned the horse and found the accomplice.
"And you have weakness in your hate," she answered and smiled warmly but cruelly at the same time, "You follow her orders like a dog to a master; I'm sure she sent you."
"Actually," he laughed slightly, "She did, and don't think that whole routine bothers me because it doesn't."
"Why?" Mizuuma demanded, "Why doesn't it bother you? Don't you want to be your own person?"
"I don't really care; she's powerful, once she's gotten what she wants maybe I'll get what I want too," he approached, and Mizuuma drew her sword.
"Are swords needed among friends?" he said softly, and she was caught.
"What? Friends?" she questioned suspiciously.
"Yes," he answered and came toward her, but didn't draw his sword, "Are we so different? You listen to the Guardian like I listen to Hebi, is that so wrong? We could be so beautiful if only…"
She slashed his arm as he tried to touch her, "If only you weren't on the wrong side," she whispered cruelly, and he glared and drew his sword.
They were almost equally matched until he whispered a few words and threw her to the ground.
Magic Swordsman, her mind reminded her, and she cursed herself for not knowing any magic. A Magic Knight that didn't know magic couldn't be a true Magic Knight. A Magic Knight that abandons her friends isn't much of a Magic Knight either, she answered herself sarcastically and tried to stand, but with a hand he held her down. She screamed and tried to get away.
He came near her and touched her hair. She tried to pull away but couldn't, "Can I tell you a secret?"
She was scared, and she tried not to show it, but it came through in her shaking body.
"I think that you're one of the most beautiful people I've ever met," he smiled at her softly and touched her face. She cringed, and he hit her, "Too bad I'll have to kill you."
She closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her cheeks from the pain, emotional and physical.
"Sleep," he instructed, and she passed out.
§§§~~~
He stirred in the unconsciousness when he heard that scream from miles away. He looked around him and found that he was in some kind of cage, and Fuuchou was staring at him from across the room, "Fuuchou?" he whispered.
She nodded slowly and turned slightly; he saw the blood on her blond hair, and the slight bump where the cut used to be, "I fell on my sword," she explained, "And woke up okay and here, wherever here is."
"Mizuuma…she…" he stopped and hit the bars, "I failed."
"Don't say that," she told him, "You didn't fail, you did your best. Mizuuma is safe, she's strong."
"But he went after her, he had a sick gleam in his eyes. If anything happens to her I'll kill someone; I swear to anything holy," he turned and paced the room. He got a feeling of dizziness and fell against the bars.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded and sat on the ground, "I just need to sit for a minute."
"You probably have a concussion," Fuuchou told him, "Try not to stare at anything for too long."
He slowly stood again and scanned the room, small with two cages and no doors, sealed with magic most likely. He tried to think, but his brain swam, and he had to sit again.
"You're worried, so am I," Fuuchou admitted, "Is Brian okay?"
"Who?"
"Brian," Fuuchou looked puzzled, then distressed, "My Guardian!"
"Oh you mean Misao?" he shook his head and looked down, "No, he's not."
"Why? What's wrong?!"
"He was hit by the Dark Blade, wounded badly. Only the Magic Knight of Earth can save him. Her magic is pure and heals, and no other can remove a taint so deep," he explained solemnly.
"I have to get out," now Fuuchou was the one thinking.
§§§~~~
Clef and Umi returned to the campsite weary and empty-handed.
Fuu looked down, and Ferio put his hands on her shoulders.
"I need to be alone just now," Umi turned, and Clef caught her arm.
"Don't do it; you'll be susceptible to Hebi's magic."
"I don't care!" a tear streamed down her cheek, "I want her back Clef."
Fuu looked up, hope gleamed in her eyes when Clef nodded. He wiped a tear away with his thumb and kissed her softly.
"I'll be back," she said and lingered in his arms a moment longer before she turned and walked alone into the forest.
§§§~~~
Fuuchou looked up only when she felt something behind her. She turned and saw a crumpled ball with lavender hair, "Mizuuma," the name made him turn, and he ran to the bars and looked at her, lying there, completely helpless, and it was all his fault. His eyes were desperate and pleading when Fuuchou looked up from examining the girl.
"She's been hit by someone," Fuuchou told him, "In her jaw, but other than that I can see no damage."
He sighed and let out a breath he had been holding.
"I assume the spell will be lifted soon."
With her words Mizuuma stirred and looked around. She saw the cages and scrambled into a corner, shaking.
He clenched his fists.
"Mizuuma," Fuuchou whispered and touched Mizuuma's hand gently.
She looked up shakily, "F-Fuuchou?"
Fuuchou nodded and smiled weakly, and Mizuuma tackled the girl in an embrace.
"Oh God it was so horrible," Mizuuma whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks, "He was trying to seduce me and then he held me down and-and I thought…"
His hands clenched the bars so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"If Jake had just let me stay and fight and now he might be worse off than Brian or…" Mizuuma muttered miserably.
"Or," Fuuchou smiled softly, "He could be right there."
Mizuuma looked up and saw him watching her nervously from across the room. She sighed and then smiled at him, then in a fit of anger glared at him, "What do you think you were doing?! You almost got us both killed!"
"I…"
"You weren't thinking at all were you?! Did you just want all the glory for yourself or what?!"
"Well…I…"
She turned and paced, fuming, "Now we're probably all dead anyway…so what does it matter?"
"I was trying to keep you safe," he mumbled, and she looked up at him sharply.
"Somehow I don't see this as safe."
"Hebi would have killed you!" he shouted at her, and he appeared before them.
"Exactly right, well done Guardian," he laughed and came near Mizuuma who fell back, trembling.
"Stay away from her!" he shouted.
"Shut up!"
Mizuuma cowered as a door was opened for her and her alone, blocking Fuuchou from the entrance, and he held out a hand.
"Come, my name is Shinji," he urged her forward, and she found her voice was shaky.
"What are you going to-to do wi-with me?"
He hit the bars and demanded to be let out again.
"This has nothing to do with you Takeru!"
"What did you call him?" Mizuuma demanded, and he smiled.
"He is your Guardian, Takeru, Guardian of the Storm Spirit, or has he been hiding that too?"
Mizuuma looked to Fuuchou who began to explain shakily, "Well you see…they kind of transformed…see they remembered their old lives, and so everything is well…more like their old selves."
An understanding came into her eyes as she looked him over, "Takeru," she nodded, "It suits you," she stepped forward and took the hand of the enemy.
"Mizuuma what are you doing?!" Fuuchou screamed, and she shook her head quickly.
"You'll understand someday," she said quietly and nodded to Shinji, "Let them go, please, your quarrel is not with them."
"Mizuuma you're leaving with the man who is in cahoots with the woman who wants only to see your mother's blood spilt!" Takeru turned and looked at her with pleading eyes, "What are you doing?!"
"You are freed from your duties to me," she said calmly and turned away from him.
"Mizuuma I will never be free until you have proven yourself worthy!" he shouted after her. He fell back and looked at a desperate Fuuchou.
"What kind of stunt is she pulling now?" she whispered, and Takeru's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
She laughed, but it was hollow, "You obviously haven't known Mizuuma too long. She's like her mother, only sneakier, like her father. She will put herself in any kind of danger for herself and others. It doesn't matter if she dies as long as she gets the gratification of having saved someone."
"Oh Jesus," he whispered, "She's putting herself in the hands of the enemy to save us."
Fuuchou nodded and closed her eyes, "It's up to her now."
"But Kojishi and Hiroji…"
Fuuchou shook her head, "No, they will be taken as well…I can feel it."
*I was rereading some of my other stuff online today, and I realized that I really suck with lose and loose. Almost every time I wrote loose I meant lose and the other way around. It made me sad, wow. Okay anyway. How's it coming? Good? Bad? Until next chapter ja ne! ^.^*
Tori:
"I wish I could do what gold does
Heard that the stars were in order
Got yourself dealt a hand with
With two queen of spades
And blues on the way
Blues on the way
Tears on my pillow
Of course they're not mine
Alter that altar
Making a play
Somebody, just somebody, invent the telephone line
I'll take my chances"
~Tori Amos, Alamo, Talula single UK version