Broken Worlds 6

Who Am I Now?

I do not own digimon tamers.

After everyone had a meal and retired to bed, Juri roamed the halls, checking in on her guests.  She wasn't used to having so many guests at once, especially guests like these.  They were meant to be together.  Juri didn't know what to make of it.  Takato came to her tavern often so she was comfortable with him staying. She just could not believe that two bounty hunters who tracked the most feared assassin in the country, a traveling martial artist and his sister, former gladiator king and queen were in her tavern. Not to mention her good friend Takato was an illusionist and never knew it. She never had such an opportunity.   Everyone was fast asleep and knowing that they were all right, she decided to retire to bed herself.  On her way to bed, she noticed light coming from one of the rooms. 

"Who could be up?" she said quietly, walking to the room.  She peaked in, seeing that Takato was still awake.  "Takato, are you all right?  Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm all right," he answered her.  He was sitting Indian style on his bed working on a sketch.

"May I come in?"

"Of course."

Juri walked inside of the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Why are you up?"

"Couldn't sleep," he replied.  "I was just too excited, I suppose."

"What are you working on?" she asked.  "May I see?"

"It's not finished yet," he said, "but you can take a look at it."  He handed her the sketch.  "It's us…the demon seekers.  See, there's you, me, Jenrya…I haven't gotten to the others yet."

"It's beautiful, Takato," she said.  "All your sketches are so good."

"I can't wait until the morning," he said excitedly, "then we can be off on our quest and stop all the demons.  I think when I'm done with this sketch I'll do a flag."

"What a lovely idea," Juri commented, "I think we have enough fabric here to make one."

He nodded, "I'll start on it tomorrow then.  Juri, how come you never told me you were a card mage?"

"I--well, I don't know," she said, slightly nervous.  "How come you didn't tell me you was an illusion maker?"

"I didn't know I was one," he sighed.  "I've always been an artist.  I had no idea I was an illusionist.  But then I had a dream a while ago.  It was about me," he explained, touching his amulet, "wearing this and I was surrounded by things I created.  I woke up and I found this."  He pulled out a picture of him wearing his amulet.  "I drew this before Alice came.  I forgot how I got the amulet.  I thought it was a gift but it actually came from the drawing!"

"What?" Juri asked.

"She's right.  After I drew it, I left to get more ink and I came back to find this amulet on top of the drawing."  He grinned excitedly, "If I can make an amulet become real from just a drawing, think of what else I create!"

Juri smiled, "that's a wonderful gift, Takato.  Maybe it's because you're so imaginative and everything you draw does look real."

"Why thank you, Juri."

"It's quite late," Juri said.  "You should get some rest."

"I don't think I can go to sleep.  Why don't you bring me the fabric for the flag and I'll have it done by morning?"

Juri giggled and stood up.  "Takato, get some sleep.  It's been an awfully long day."

He sighed.  "I can't sleep.  I'm just too excited."

"I know.  I am too."

There was a moment of silence.  Takato yawned.

"Ah, you're starting to look tired."  Juri said.

Takato smiled, "I suppose I should get some sleep.  I draw better when I'm refreshed. Juri?"

"Yes Takato?"

"I'm glad you decided to come with us."

"Oh…" she blushed slightly and smiled, "Me too.  Goodnight, Takato."

"Goodnight, Juri."

Juri kissed his temple abruptly and left Takato alone.  Takato looked down at his many sketches, unable to keep from smiling. Then an idea for another sketch came to him.

"Ah…" he picked up his quill and started to sketch quickly, followed by some paint.

Yawning quietly and setting a shield around the tavern to keep it safe from invaders, Juri went to her room.  She put the candlestick on her nightstand and took the bun out. As she sat down at her vanity set to brush her hair, she found something else on it.

"What's this?" she wondered out loud. She gasped. "Oh…my very own amulet."

It was official now. Juri was a demon seeker.  Juri picked up the amulet and gazed into the gem, a beautiful polished yellow topaz. Juri giggled.

"Thank you, Takato."

****

Though she was the last to go to sleep, Juri was the one to wake up. Alice said that she would be coming in today to talk to them all again.  Juri wanted everything ready.  After putting the bun in her hair, she placed her new amulet around her neck and started down stairs.  She heard Hirokazu's snoring from his and Kenta's room and she giggled slightly. Everyone was still asleep.  She started to cook a breakfast for her guest and the smell drifted upstairs.

The next to wake up was Takato.  "Morning, Juri."

"Good morning," she said.  "Breakfast should be ready in a minute.  I bet you'd like the fabric for that flag? I can get it in a minute."

 "No, you don't have to and get it," Takato said.  "You can tell me where it is.  Is it in the storage cellar?"

Juri nodded, "yes.  You sure you don't want me to get it for you?"

"I can manage.  Thank you."  He left for the cellar. "I want it to be a surprise."

Jenrya and the bounty hunters woke up next.  "You were snoring again, Hirokazu."

Kenta muttered.

"I was not!" Hirokazu exclaimed.  "Good morning Juri! Everything smells good.  Is it all right if I just help myself?"  He picked up the hotcake she was cooking with his bare hands. 

"Hirokazu!" Kenta cried. 

Juri giggled, "Not at all. Be my guest."

Jenrya raised an eyebrow, "he must be hungry."

"Did you gentlemen sleep well?" Juri inquired.

"Best sleep I had in my life," Hirokazu stated, licking his fingers.

"Because you were snoring," Kenta said.

A stretching Shuichon walked down the stairs.  "A little bird told me breakfast is about ready."

Hirokazu chuckled, "hahaha! That's funny!"

"No, Hirokazu, she's serious," Kenta said. "She can talk to animals, remember?"

"Oh, right.  I knew that." Hirokazu said.

Shuichon sat down and Jenrya gave her some milk.  "Are you all right?" he asked. 

"I'm fine."  Shuichon replied. "Everyone still asleep?"

"Just Ryo and Ruki." Juri said.

Ryo came in, but not down the stairs, but through the front door and all sweaty.  Everyone looked at him in concern.

"Ryo!" Juri gasped, running to him and grabbing his arm. "Are you all right? What were you doing outside?"

"I was just out for some air," he explained.  "Nothing to worry about." 

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did. Thank you."

"How about some breakfast?"

"Good. I'm famished."  He sat down.

"You gave me quite a scare," Juri said.  "I thought we were under attack."

"Sorry.  I saw the sun come through my window and thought I'd take a walk.  The sun hasn't looked like this in years."

"Maybe the demons are all leaving," Jenrya suggested, eating some bread.

"Jenrya, tell me again about the woman you saw last night," Shuichon said.  "She said you were the demon seekers."

"Who?" Hirokazu asked. 

"Takato and I talked to a woman named Alice last night," Jenrya explained, "She said it was our destiny to stop the demons.  Mine, Takato's, Ruki's and Ryo's.  That's why we went to prison to get her last night."

"You took her out of prison?" Kenta asked.

"I'm surprised we lived through the night."  Hirokazu muttered.

"She's too tired to fight," Juri said.  "She may be asleep for a while."

"You must be Shuichon," Ryo said, walking to her.  

Shuichon nodded.  "Yes.  I know who you are.  You're the gladiator king.  Are you all right?"

"I should thank you."

"Thank me?"

"You saved my life by telling the bounty hunters how to find Midnight Fox."

Shuichon's lips spread to a grin, "oh…I…was just doing what I could to help."

"Thank you."

Shuichon clasped her hand with his.  "Glad I could help."

****

Juri was partly wrong about Ruki.  She was too tired to fight but she wasn't asleep still.  Ruki was already awake but didn't come down stairs. She had to get away from the tavern.  She looked around the room and found a clean set of clothes already laid out for her.  Juri took hospitality very serious and left items for her guests.  Ruki took off the soiled prison garments off and dressed in the clothes Juri left for her.  Ruki groaned distastefully.  She didn't approve of the garments.  It was a dress.

"I hate dresses," she muttered to herself. "But at least it's clean."

Ruki walked to the window and opened it.  Before she jumped out, a voice spoke.

"Where would you go?"

"What?" she spun around.   Jenrya stood in the doorway.  He walked inside.  "You."

"Where would you go?" he asked again.

"I do not know," Ruki replied.  "Just…away, far away from here."

"You have to stay," Jenrya said.  "A woman named Alice will be coming soon.  It's important that you listen to what she has to say.  You're part of a clan called the demon seekers."

"I can't stay," Ruki grumbled.

"Why not?" Jenrya asked.  "Juri has healed you."

"She left me a dress to wear too."

"I like it."

Ruki grunted.  "I need to go away."

"But the evil spirit that possessed you is gone now."  Jenrya said, confused.

"Perhaps," Ruki said, turning back to the window.  "But there is something else that can't be trusted."

"What's that?"

"Me," she answered.  "Don't you see?  I can't stay here.  I used to be the gladiator queen and an assassin. I've…killed so many people. I must go."

"Don't worry, Ruki, that's over now."

"You trust me?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.

Jenrya nodded.  "Of course."
She turned around and folded her arms, "but how can you trust me, when I don't even trust myself?  I'm still dangerous. A part of me still wants to fight.  I was a horrible person.  I would've killed you and I wouldn't have cared!"

"I don't believe you," Jenrya said.

"What?"

"It wasn't you that killed all those people, it was the demon using your body as a weapon. You wouldn't have killed me if you could help it."

"You're wrong!" she hissed. "I can still kill you now…but…I'm so tired…too tired to keep fighting.  I have to leave. I don't know who I am anymore."

"I can tell you who you are and are not," Jenrya said.  "You're not the gladiator queen and you're not midnight fox.  Those days are gone.  You're Ruki."

"Just Ruki?" she asked.  "But…that's not enough!"

"If you join us," Jenrya suggested, "you'll be Ruki the Demon Seeker. Listen," he walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders, making her gasp in surprise, "I understand that you're confused and if you need some time to find yourself, I think that would be wise.  I trust that you'll come back to us when you're ready."

"You're--you're letting me go?"

Jenrya smiled. "Yes. I won't tell the others I let you go.  I'll just say I found you gone."

"Thank you…er.."

"Jenrya," he told her.

"Jenrya.  Jenrya, thank you."  She climbed into the window and looked behind her shoulder.  She smiled unintentionally and she couldn't believe it actually felt good.

"Good luck."

Ruki jumped out of the window and took whatever path would lead her to herself.

***

"Ruki's gone," Jenrya said when he came back down the stairs.

"Gone?" Kenta asked.  "I hope that she's not going to attack anyone."

"They unarmed her when we took her in," Hirokazu said. "She doesn't have any weapons."

"She made her weapons," Kenta reminded, "and she can make them again."

"We don't need her," Shuichon snorted.  "I couldn't trust her."

"Shuichon…" Jenrya scolded.

"I wouldn't worry," Juri said, "if she really is a demon seeker, then she should be able to take care of herself just fine.  Maybe she'll catch up."

Ryo looked over at Jenrya doubtfully.  'If he found her missing,' he thought, 'then why didn't he come sooner?  What is it that he's not telling us?'

"It's finished!" shouted a voice, scaring everyone in the tavern.  Hurried footsteps came up the cellar stairs and into the bar.  "It's finished!"  Takato held up his flag over his head and laughed. 

"What is that?" Kenta asked.

"it's our flag!" he exclaimed.  "See, there's me, Juri, Jenrya and Ruki…where is Ruki?"

"She left," Jenrya said.

"Maybe she saw how badly you drew her and decided to leave," Hirokazu said.  "What the--you fool--you didn't draw me with a nose!"

Juri leaned forward, "oh, I think it's wonderful."

"Thank you," Takato said.  "I'm glad that someone likes it."

The front door flew open.  Shuichon screamed and Ryo stepped in the doorway ready to fight.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"Greetings, demon seekers."  Said a mysterious voice.

"Wait," Takato ran up and put his arm in front of Ryo.  "It's all right.  She's a friend."

Alice walked in with her giant dog behind her.  Shichon gasped.  "I never saw a dog like that before--Jenrya--it's one of those Devas!"

"Don't worry," Alice said. "He won't hurt you.  He's not like the others."

"He's friendly?" Shuichon asked.

"Yes."

"Good dog," Shuichon walked to the large dog and started to pet him.  "Oh, he likes me!"

"All animals like you, Shuichon," Jenrya said.

"There is four Devas left, Jenrya."

"I know."

"You're wrong," Juri said quickly.

"What?" Jenrya looked over at her.  Juri was shaking. 

"Juri, what's the matter?" Takato asked.

"There's three left." Juri corrected.  "Just the boar, dragon and rooster.  I destroyed the rat."

"You never told me this!" Takato exclaimed.

Juri let out a loud sigh and clenched her fists.  Takato sensed that something was very wrong.   Whatever happened when she destroyed the rat that day, must've been very bad.

"I didn't expect to use my powers," Juri said, "but then our village was attacked by the giant rat. It was rabid. The rat killed my father and Masahiko's mother.  We used to own a lion.  You see…Shuichon isn't the only one with a love for animals. Masahiko and I found the lion when it was a cub in the wild and we took care of it.  It tried to protect Masahiko and me…but it was still young.  The rat deva was a magical creature unlike our lion and it killed it. Masahiko and I were left alone to defend for our selves.  I had no choice but to use my cards on the rat.  Something changed in me forever…"

"What elment was it?" Shuichon asked.

"Fire," she replied.  "So I couldn't use any fire spells.  I had to use cold spells."  Juri closed her eyes, remembering what happened that day three years ago.

****

Flashback

Sixteen-year-old Juri held her half brother to her as she watched her lion be slain before her very eyes.

"No!" she screamed.  "No!"

The rat jabbed its hand into the young lion's body.  The rat's claws were very long and sharp.  He flung the young lion aside. 

"Was that your kitty cat?" the rat asked, licking the blood off his fingers.

Juri tried to keep her tears from running. "You're…you're just evil!  He was just trying to protect us and you--I'll never forgive you! Why you monster! Who are you?" she patted her crying brother's head, stroked his hair as she stepped in front of him.  'It's up to me to protect my brother and my village,' she thought. 'I wish there was another way.  Be strong, Juri.'

Juri reached into a purse she had on her belt and pulled out a card.  "I will banish you…with fire!"

"Bring it on!"

"Neeeeaaaarrrgggghhh!" she threw the spell card toward the monster and it changed into a bolt of fire.  It hit the rat, ingulfing him in flames. 

He started to laugh. "Foolish little girl!  My element is fire. You cannot destroy me with fire.  By using a fire spell you just added to my power!"  he slashed the air, sending three waves of fire toward her and Masahiko.  Juri held on to her wits and courage as she used another card.  Just before she and her brother were barbequed, water swirled around them, drowning out the flames.

"Then…I'll just have to put out your fire!" she exclaimed.  She took out a card and held it out in front of her.  It became very windy and everything was flying around.  Masahiko held on her in shock.

"Juri, what's happening?" he cried.

"I'm just using wind to put out this fire," she replied quietly.  The wind hit the giant rat while he was in his elemental stage of fire and the wind spread the fire onto trees and houses.

"No!" she shouted.

"You'll have to try again," he said.  "Go on, pick a card, any card."

Juri knew what she had to do.  She needed to use all her cold spell cards.  She hit him with a shower of ice, which he melted into water droplets.  She tried a fog card, but he was able to thin it with his fire breath. She used her rain card but the rain evaporated before it reached the flames on him. "Three cards left…" she said to herself, "one of these must stop him!"

"Give it up girl!"

"I'll never give up!" she shouted.  "I'll use up all the cards I have until you are gone!"  She held out a card in front of her with a symbol of a river.  There was a loud noise coming from behind the rat.  It sounded like a waterfall.

"What is that?" the rat turned around to see a giant wave of water heading for him. "No!" he shot at it with fireballs, creating steam but the water kept coming. He heard another sound coming behind him.  He looked over his shoulder to see a giant ice crystal.  It ripped through his torso and the water crashed down on him. The ground underneath him became a hole, which he fell through. After being torn with an ice crystal, drowned out with water, he was buried underneath the ground.

Juri sighed and slumped forward. "I did it…" she hurried over to where the rat was pulled through the ground, finding steam evaporate.  She used a card to spread out the dirt. The rat was gone.  He was dead. 

And all from a young card mage that just refused to give up.

"I did it…" Juri said again.

****

"It was a hard fight," Juri said.  "But I was able to defeat him with the right spell cards."

"That's amazing," Shuichon said, "I would've been too afraid to fight him."

"But you and your brother killed the others," Juri said.

"I know…but the others were different."

"The dragon is the strongest out of all of them," Juri stated.

"Correct," Alice said.  "After you'll defeat him, you'll be able to find the door to the demon's world."

"I thought you said we had to meet Shibumi," Jenrya said.

"Yes.  He'll have weapons for you."

"We have weapons," Hirokazu grunted.

"Your mortal weapons aren't good enough," she explained.  "You need enchanted ones.  Shibumi can tell you what the amulets mean.  They hold great powers."

"How do we find him?" Ryo questioned.

"Don't worry," Alice said. "He'll find you."

TBC