A Legend Reborn
Chapter 12
Her eyes opened wide, Misao stands silent,. The weight of Chisa's words slowly sinks in. She takes a few steps back and turns to face the opposite direction.
"All of you, leave... please...," she mutters after a pause, "I... I wish to speak with her privately...."
"Mistress....?"
"That is not possible, miko.... It is not safe for-..."
"That's an order...."
"... but priestess..."
"I said go!!" her voice echoes off the high ceiling.
"... yes... miko..."
Reluctantly, the guards rise and the seven warriors begin to walk single-file through the doors at the end of the throne room.
One of the seven stays, the one named Ongaku. He stares at Misao with tender eyes.
"I'll be okay, Ongaku... Please leave...," Misao replies softly to his stare, seeming to read his thoughts.
He shoots Chisa an evil glare and turns to leave.
As soon as they have all cleared the threshold, the giant doors are pulled shut, meeting in the middle with a loud slam.
Chisa looks at the floor beneath her, as though suddenly fascinated with her shoes. After a few hour-like moments, she raises her head. Misao's back is still turned.
"I've always been able to read her emotions, but now my heads swimming too much for me to even be able to even stand well...," Chisa thinks, "What is this...? Why do I feel so.... strange....? ... the pain..."
"I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through...," Misao says, her back still turned.
"Wha-...?"
"Did they hurt you, Chisa?" Misao is now at her friend's side, deep concern clearly displayed on her face, "How did they force you to be their miko? I swear, if they did anything to you... anything..." Misao's voice quivers as she begins to cry again. "Chisa..., I'm so sorry.... I tried so hard to find you, but....," Misao suddenly breaks into sobs, "I'm sorry... You've been put through so much.... It's all my fault, Chisa.... I can't expect you to ever forgive me...."
Chisa puts her hands on her friend's shoulders, "Calm down... I don't understand....," she takes a step back, "You're shaking..... Misao.... What's the matter?"
"You were taken by the evil Suzaku and it's all my fault!"
"Evil....? You're not making any sense..."
"The people of Konan are evil, Chisa... I have seen the devastation that Kutou has withstood because of them... I've seen the graveyards full of people they have slaughtered. Tomokazu told me all about it. He said that they rape women and kill little children. He said they'd surely do something horrible to you if they found you," Misao continues. "The people here... all they want is peace, but Konan won't allow them even that... I was so afraid that they had gotten you Chisa, but you've managed to escape them...," a somewhat triumphant smile begins to form on Misao's face, "I don't know how you ever managed it, but you're here.... you're safe now... You can stay here and we'll fight the evil powers of Suzaku and then we'll be able to go back home.... together!"
She reaches for the chain around her neck and pulls the necklace out, "See, Chisa, this is Seiryuu..... Tomokazu told me that it's a sign... I'm the chosen one, destined to save Kutou... The people here need me... They worship me and adore me, Chisa... I am their savior... I will destroy Konan and finally bring peace to Kutou... It is my destiny...."
Chisa opens her mouth to say something, but this new information causes her head to swim even more. Her knees are weak and the migraine has returned in full force. Her knees give way, causing her to stumble.
"Are you okay, Chisa?" Misao asks, grabbing hold of her friend and helps her to stand.
"Misao...," she begins, slowly regaining her composure, "This Tomokazu.... He's lying to you.... he's manipulating you... Suzaku is the good god and Seiryuu the evil one...."
"...He told me you might say things like that," Misao says, "Chisa, you're the one that's being manipulated. The people of Konan are like that... They're evil, sly, and devious... Suzaku is an evil and murderous god... and he must be stopped... as the Seiryuu no Miko, it is my duty to-..."
"Could you stop being the drama queen and listen?" the pain becomes worse with every word, "You've got it all backwards! Didn't your mom ever tell you those stories? Did she ever tell you about the book?"
"What book? What stories?"
"My mom used to tell me fairy tales of two battling empires, each ruled by a powerful god. It was about two girls.... best friends... who were taken into another world... through a book... and became the priestesses for each of the gods to obtain the power of the gods and joined with their seven celestial warriors, fought against each other in order to save their empires... It was about the love they found... and lost... and the many people who sacrificed of themselves to make this peace...," Chisa says. "That's all I thought they were... fairy tales... But now we're living the fairy tale, Misao! It's real... just as it was for them...."
Misao's face melts into confusion, "I... I don't understand...."
"Don't you remember, Misao....? Have you already forgotten....?" Chisa reaches for the chain of her necklace and pulls the red bird charm out into view, "....matching jewelry...."
The look on Misao's face turns from confusion to utter astonishment.
"Our mothers, Misao...," Chisa says, "Our mothers were once the Seiryuu and Suzaku no Miko... They were the first... We have to get home... before we're at each other's throats. Misao, you don't know what went on in this book... You don't know how they all suffered... Your mom was brain washed into this, too... She became full of hate and jealousy towards my mother and tried to take my father from her... he was one of the Suzaku seven... We are the destined Suzaku and Seiryuu no Mikos, but..... Misao, I could never be against you... I don't want this to happen to us! You're my best friend... We've got to do something... We can change this, Misao... We ca-..." Chisa suddenly drops to the floor.
"Chisa!" Misao cries running to her friend.
Chisa is down on her hands and knees, shaking, sweat dripping out of every pour on her body. "What's come over me....? ...the pain... it's overwhelming...," she thinks.
"Are you all right? Chisa, speak to me!" Misao rushes to her side, "I'll go get somebody to help you, Chisa. Just stay right there! I'll be right back." She rushes to the end of the room and pulls the door open.
Chisa throws her head back and screams as a red light bursts from her body and fills the room.
Misao shields her eyes against the glare. The light disappears in a matter of minutes and Chisa falls flat on the floor.
"Chisa!" Misao cries out. She tries to run to her, but is cut off by a troop of soldiers. Storming into the room, they surround Chisa. Chisa can see the many angry faces yelling at her, but she can't make out what they are saying. Their voices are a blur.
"They're going to take me away...," she thinks, "What's happening to me...? All of my strength is gone... I... can't fight them off... Help me... somebody... I can feel myself dying... I've gotta get out of here..."
Just then, a fog fills the room causing the guards to hack and cough, sending them to fumble around in confusion. Suddenly, Chisa senses something, an arm perhaps, wrapped around her waist. With one quick movement it lifts her up into the air.
The seemingly disembodied arm whisks her over its shoulder and out of the room. She can now see a familiar quiver of arrows strapped over the opposite shoulder as the back of the person comes into her view.
"Arrows...." she thinks.
He quickly ducks into a room and sets Chisa down.
"Can you stand?" he asks quietly.
"I-I think so...." Chisa tests out her legs. She is surprised to find them steady. "I was so weak a few moments ago... Now that I'm out of that room... I feel fine...," she thinks.
"Get back!" his arm stretched out against her chest, he pushes her back against the wall. Pounding feet can be heard as several soldiers march by the door.
"Long time no see," he turns to her and whispers with a wink after they have passed.
"Shinta... right?"
"Glad you remembered, Suzaku no Miko."
"You don't have to keep calling me that. My name is Chisa...," she says. Something on the floor suddenly catches her eye. She looks down at Shinta's foot to see a red symbol. "No way!" Without warning, she grabs hold of his foot and brings it closer to her face, causing Shinta to fall on his head.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" he yells as quietly as he can.
"The symbol... on your foot...," she says, "Let's see... We've already found Mitsukake, Tamahome, Hotohori, Chichiri, Tasuki, and Nuriko... that means the only constellation left is...."
"...Chiriko...," Shinta finishes her sentence, "That would be me..." Hearing more soldiers approaching he stops. "This really isn't the time to discuss this. We've gotta get outta here," he says, "Listen, as soon as the coast is clear, we have to make a run for-..." He is interrupted by noises coming from outside, fight noises. Several men's voices can be heard between gasps, slams, crashes, and other violent sounds. There's also the distinct sound of fire, like the crackling flames in a fireplace.
The fighting noises come a little closer. Chisa peeks out the door. She sees nothing but shadows of the men against the wall across from her, but then suddenly, one of the fighters comes into view.
"Ryunosuke...," she gasps, recognizing him immediately. She pushes the door open wide and darts out.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Shinta asks in vain.
"Ryunosuke!" she cries.
Ryunosuke turns his head in her direction. As he is distracted, one of the guards makes a surprise attack and throws a punch at him, but Ryunosuke dodges it just in time and returns his attack tenfold. The guard lies unconscious on the ground.
Her arms outstretched, she runs to him. They catch each other and embrace. "Chisa...," he says quietly, both surprised and happy, he pulls her in a little tighter.
"No time for happy reunions now, no daa!" Chichiri says appearing with Tasuki next to Ryunosuke. He turns to Tasuki, "You got the scroll, no daa?"
Tasuki presents the scroll with a nod.
"Good, no daa! Here, everybody inside, no daa!" he throws his kasa to the ground. Ryunosuke leads Chisa by the hand into the kasa and Tasuki follows. "You, too, no daa! Go on, get in, no daa!" Chichiri says pushing Shinta.
Shinta nervously steps into the kasa and disappears. Chichiri casts a quick spell as more guards rush towards him, freezing them in place. "See ya later, no daa!" Chichiri escapes into the kasa and it vanishes.
Chapter 12
Her eyes opened wide, Misao stands silent,. The weight of Chisa's words slowly sinks in. She takes a few steps back and turns to face the opposite direction.
"All of you, leave... please...," she mutters after a pause, "I... I wish to speak with her privately...."
"Mistress....?"
"That is not possible, miko.... It is not safe for-..."
"That's an order...."
"... but priestess..."
"I said go!!" her voice echoes off the high ceiling.
"... yes... miko..."
Reluctantly, the guards rise and the seven warriors begin to walk single-file through the doors at the end of the throne room.
One of the seven stays, the one named Ongaku. He stares at Misao with tender eyes.
"I'll be okay, Ongaku... Please leave...," Misao replies softly to his stare, seeming to read his thoughts.
He shoots Chisa an evil glare and turns to leave.
As soon as they have all cleared the threshold, the giant doors are pulled shut, meeting in the middle with a loud slam.
Chisa looks at the floor beneath her, as though suddenly fascinated with her shoes. After a few hour-like moments, she raises her head. Misao's back is still turned.
"I've always been able to read her emotions, but now my heads swimming too much for me to even be able to even stand well...," Chisa thinks, "What is this...? Why do I feel so.... strange....? ... the pain..."
"I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through...," Misao says, her back still turned.
"Wha-...?"
"Did they hurt you, Chisa?" Misao is now at her friend's side, deep concern clearly displayed on her face, "How did they force you to be their miko? I swear, if they did anything to you... anything..." Misao's voice quivers as she begins to cry again. "Chisa..., I'm so sorry.... I tried so hard to find you, but....," Misao suddenly breaks into sobs, "I'm sorry... You've been put through so much.... It's all my fault, Chisa.... I can't expect you to ever forgive me...."
Chisa puts her hands on her friend's shoulders, "Calm down... I don't understand....," she takes a step back, "You're shaking..... Misao.... What's the matter?"
"You were taken by the evil Suzaku and it's all my fault!"
"Evil....? You're not making any sense..."
"The people of Konan are evil, Chisa... I have seen the devastation that Kutou has withstood because of them... I've seen the graveyards full of people they have slaughtered. Tomokazu told me all about it. He said that they rape women and kill little children. He said they'd surely do something horrible to you if they found you," Misao continues. "The people here... all they want is peace, but Konan won't allow them even that... I was so afraid that they had gotten you Chisa, but you've managed to escape them...," a somewhat triumphant smile begins to form on Misao's face, "I don't know how you ever managed it, but you're here.... you're safe now... You can stay here and we'll fight the evil powers of Suzaku and then we'll be able to go back home.... together!"
She reaches for the chain around her neck and pulls the necklace out, "See, Chisa, this is Seiryuu..... Tomokazu told me that it's a sign... I'm the chosen one, destined to save Kutou... The people here need me... They worship me and adore me, Chisa... I am their savior... I will destroy Konan and finally bring peace to Kutou... It is my destiny...."
Chisa opens her mouth to say something, but this new information causes her head to swim even more. Her knees are weak and the migraine has returned in full force. Her knees give way, causing her to stumble.
"Are you okay, Chisa?" Misao asks, grabbing hold of her friend and helps her to stand.
"Misao...," she begins, slowly regaining her composure, "This Tomokazu.... He's lying to you.... he's manipulating you... Suzaku is the good god and Seiryuu the evil one...."
"...He told me you might say things like that," Misao says, "Chisa, you're the one that's being manipulated. The people of Konan are like that... They're evil, sly, and devious... Suzaku is an evil and murderous god... and he must be stopped... as the Seiryuu no Miko, it is my duty to-..."
"Could you stop being the drama queen and listen?" the pain becomes worse with every word, "You've got it all backwards! Didn't your mom ever tell you those stories? Did she ever tell you about the book?"
"What book? What stories?"
"My mom used to tell me fairy tales of two battling empires, each ruled by a powerful god. It was about two girls.... best friends... who were taken into another world... through a book... and became the priestesses for each of the gods to obtain the power of the gods and joined with their seven celestial warriors, fought against each other in order to save their empires... It was about the love they found... and lost... and the many people who sacrificed of themselves to make this peace...," Chisa says. "That's all I thought they were... fairy tales... But now we're living the fairy tale, Misao! It's real... just as it was for them...."
Misao's face melts into confusion, "I... I don't understand...."
"Don't you remember, Misao....? Have you already forgotten....?" Chisa reaches for the chain of her necklace and pulls the red bird charm out into view, "....matching jewelry...."
The look on Misao's face turns from confusion to utter astonishment.
"Our mothers, Misao...," Chisa says, "Our mothers were once the Seiryuu and Suzaku no Miko... They were the first... We have to get home... before we're at each other's throats. Misao, you don't know what went on in this book... You don't know how they all suffered... Your mom was brain washed into this, too... She became full of hate and jealousy towards my mother and tried to take my father from her... he was one of the Suzaku seven... We are the destined Suzaku and Seiryuu no Mikos, but..... Misao, I could never be against you... I don't want this to happen to us! You're my best friend... We've got to do something... We can change this, Misao... We ca-..." Chisa suddenly drops to the floor.
"Chisa!" Misao cries running to her friend.
Chisa is down on her hands and knees, shaking, sweat dripping out of every pour on her body. "What's come over me....? ...the pain... it's overwhelming...," she thinks.
"Are you all right? Chisa, speak to me!" Misao rushes to her side, "I'll go get somebody to help you, Chisa. Just stay right there! I'll be right back." She rushes to the end of the room and pulls the door open.
Chisa throws her head back and screams as a red light bursts from her body and fills the room.
Misao shields her eyes against the glare. The light disappears in a matter of minutes and Chisa falls flat on the floor.
"Chisa!" Misao cries out. She tries to run to her, but is cut off by a troop of soldiers. Storming into the room, they surround Chisa. Chisa can see the many angry faces yelling at her, but she can't make out what they are saying. Their voices are a blur.
"They're going to take me away...," she thinks, "What's happening to me...? All of my strength is gone... I... can't fight them off... Help me... somebody... I can feel myself dying... I've gotta get out of here..."
Just then, a fog fills the room causing the guards to hack and cough, sending them to fumble around in confusion. Suddenly, Chisa senses something, an arm perhaps, wrapped around her waist. With one quick movement it lifts her up into the air.
The seemingly disembodied arm whisks her over its shoulder and out of the room. She can now see a familiar quiver of arrows strapped over the opposite shoulder as the back of the person comes into her view.
"Arrows...." she thinks.
He quickly ducks into a room and sets Chisa down.
"Can you stand?" he asks quietly.
"I-I think so...." Chisa tests out her legs. She is surprised to find them steady. "I was so weak a few moments ago... Now that I'm out of that room... I feel fine...," she thinks.
"Get back!" his arm stretched out against her chest, he pushes her back against the wall. Pounding feet can be heard as several soldiers march by the door.
"Long time no see," he turns to her and whispers with a wink after they have passed.
"Shinta... right?"
"Glad you remembered, Suzaku no Miko."
"You don't have to keep calling me that. My name is Chisa...," she says. Something on the floor suddenly catches her eye. She looks down at Shinta's foot to see a red symbol. "No way!" Without warning, she grabs hold of his foot and brings it closer to her face, causing Shinta to fall on his head.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" he yells as quietly as he can.
"The symbol... on your foot...," she says, "Let's see... We've already found Mitsukake, Tamahome, Hotohori, Chichiri, Tasuki, and Nuriko... that means the only constellation left is...."
"...Chiriko...," Shinta finishes her sentence, "That would be me..." Hearing more soldiers approaching he stops. "This really isn't the time to discuss this. We've gotta get outta here," he says, "Listen, as soon as the coast is clear, we have to make a run for-..." He is interrupted by noises coming from outside, fight noises. Several men's voices can be heard between gasps, slams, crashes, and other violent sounds. There's also the distinct sound of fire, like the crackling flames in a fireplace.
The fighting noises come a little closer. Chisa peeks out the door. She sees nothing but shadows of the men against the wall across from her, but then suddenly, one of the fighters comes into view.
"Ryunosuke...," she gasps, recognizing him immediately. She pushes the door open wide and darts out.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Shinta asks in vain.
"Ryunosuke!" she cries.
Ryunosuke turns his head in her direction. As he is distracted, one of the guards makes a surprise attack and throws a punch at him, but Ryunosuke dodges it just in time and returns his attack tenfold. The guard lies unconscious on the ground.
Her arms outstretched, she runs to him. They catch each other and embrace. "Chisa...," he says quietly, both surprised and happy, he pulls her in a little tighter.
"No time for happy reunions now, no daa!" Chichiri says appearing with Tasuki next to Ryunosuke. He turns to Tasuki, "You got the scroll, no daa?"
Tasuki presents the scroll with a nod.
"Good, no daa! Here, everybody inside, no daa!" he throws his kasa to the ground. Ryunosuke leads Chisa by the hand into the kasa and Tasuki follows. "You, too, no daa! Go on, get in, no daa!" Chichiri says pushing Shinta.
Shinta nervously steps into the kasa and disappears. Chichiri casts a quick spell as more guards rush towards him, freezing them in place. "See ya later, no daa!" Chichiri escapes into the kasa and it vanishes.