Chapter 9: Darkness Beyond Twilight
Part I
"Why don't you just give it up?! Juri's heart will forever belong to only me and harden to everyone else!" Shiori yelled, lunging towards Tia violently.
"You do not deserve the love she feels for you! Tell me, do you even care for Juri?" Tia cried, nimbly dodging Shiori's blows.
"No."
As Shiori approached her, Juri stood still, as though time for her had stopped. A slight tear fell from her darkened eyes. The part of Juri that was still alive was slowly dying.
"I won't forgive you!" Tia cried, her own tears now flowing from those beautiful ice blue eyes.
Shiori smirked evilly, caressing Juri's face, and then placing a hand on her chest. This had been done once before. Suddenly, a bright light appeared and Shiori pulled out a shining sword – Juri's sword. At that moment, Juri let out a blood-curdling scream. Tia's eyes widened, but she was determined now more than ever.
"Give it up, Tia. Juri will never grow to love you. You will never possess her heart!" Shiori laughed, dashing towards Tia, who blocked the attack. Tia knew that if Shiori won, Juri would never be free. Tia, herself, would also fade as well. She could tell that the shadow inside Shiori would kill her, yet she could not bring herself to kill Shiori to get to it. What could she do?
"The only one who should possess Juri's heart is Juri!" Being thrown down, Tia staggered to her feet, leaning on her sword. "I…it does not matter if Juri does not return my love. I will always love her and care…" Tia stood up, her aura glowing a bright blue.
Even in her trance-like state, Juri's eyes widened.
"Die!" Shiori yelled as she rushed at Tia.
But Tia had other plans. Quickly, she rushed at Shiori as well. They clashed, but it was Tia who knocked the sword out of Shiori's hands.
A demonic voice now spoke from Shiori, "You cannot save this vessel. Just kill her."
"No. I will save her without harming her," Tia folded her hands in front if her. "Celestial light, grant me the power to purify this weary soul. Destroy the vile creature that has taken over Shiori's body!"
As Shiori attempted to strike her, Tia gently touched her with the light in her hands. The shadow inside Shiori felt such pain that it escaped the body, causing the girl to collapse. Tia took this opportunity to dash towards the shadow, over Shiori, and slice it with the blade of her sword. Finally the shadow faded.
At once, life returned to Juri's emerald eyes as she looked around, then at Tia's form. The once shy Tia had changed. Juri could tell by the way she stood with her sword, in a confident stance. Quickly, Riko ran up to Tia.
"Tia! You did it! You have become so strong!"
Tia just nodded. Juri then finally spoke.
"Tia…"
Cold blue eyes glanced into Juri's direction. Why was Tia acting so…distant? The normally cheerful girl usually had more life in her eyes. Now, it seemed as though she had given up on something. Perhaps it was true.
Part IIFinally, the cherry blossom festival had come to Ohtori – a well-loved tradition. Tia had been practicing for a long time the dance that she would perform. She still kept away from Juri, not wanting to give herself a false hope. Juri, on the other hand, kept trying to find the young guardian.
"Tia, are you ready for the ritual dance?" Tristan asked.
"Yes. It is important that every step is correct…" she replied.
In fact, there was a completely different reason to the dance that Tia was going to perform. The traditional dance was meant for the "miko" to call upon the other guardians to appear. It must be done on a full moon. If Tia were this "miko," then they would find out soon. The festival, coincidentally, fell on such a night with a full moon.
Gracefully, Tia stood near the wakes of the lake, dressed in soft, light flowing garments and a dancing staff decorated with tiny bells in hand. Out of nowhere, Juri approached her, firmly grabbing Tia's small shoulders to keep her from running away.
"Juri…stop! You're hurting me!" she cried, not wanting to look into those beautiful emerald eyes that were upon her.
"Tia, why have you been avoiding me as though I were a plague?"
"I do not want to interfere with…"
"Shiori? Nonsense. She is nothing, Tia. Not anymore."
"But you love her..."
"I did once. But…I…"
Softly, Tia sighed as Juri loosened her grip. Moving her hands gently to caress Tia's face, Juri looked in to her guardian's blue eyes.
"Shiori means absolutely nothing to me any longer, Tia. You have shown me the power of love…the power of miracles."
"If…if this is so, then why do you still bear that locket?"
"Would you care to remove it for me?"
Tia nodded, lifting her small hands to the locket's fastener. At the moment she touched it; the locket disappeared.
"Now do you believe me?" Juri asked.
Tia fell in Juri's arms, hugging tightly. The image of Shiori's lips on Juri's finally faded from memory. Crying softly, Tia replied, " I'm sorry I ever doubted you."
Juri ran her hands through Tia's golden hair. "None of that now. You have a dance to perform and everyone is waiting."
Nodding, Tia picked up her staff. "Juri…?"
"Hmm…?"
"I love you." Tia had finally said it.
Juri's emerald eyes widened slightly at that statement. Tia…loves her? She then smiled softly, and replied, "I love you."
Those normally icy blue eyes softened as she turned towards the lake. Many of the students had gathered for the festival, especially to see Tia. Adonis, Riko, and Tristan had also arrived, hoping to see the final two guardians appear.
The crowd hushed as Tia took her first step onto the waters. No one expected her to remain standing on the surface, but most blew it off as a trick of the light.
yami no yozora ga futari wakatsu no wa yobiau kokoro hadaka ni suru tame kazari nugisute subete nakusu toki nanika ga mieru |
The dark night sky separates us to lay bare our hearts as they call out to each other. Cast off your useless trappings. Some things can only be seen when you've lost everything. |
kaze yo watashi wa tachimukau yukou kurushimi no umi e to kizuna kono mune ni kizande kudakeru nami wa hatenaku tomo |
Oh wind, I will stand and face you! I will go to the sea of anguish, though bonds cut my chest, and the crushing waves are endless. |
nani wo motomete daremo arasou no? nagashita chishio hana wo sakaseru no? toutoki ashita kono te ni suru made deaeru hi made |
What does everyone seek by fighting? Does spilled blood cause flowers to bloom? Until the precious tomorrow is in my hands... Until the day we meet... |
kaze yo watashi wa tachimukau yukou kagayaki wo mezashite inori kono mune ni dakishime samayou yami no you na mirai |
Oh wind, I will stand and face you! I will go and head for the brilliance. Embracing prayer to my heart, I wander the seemingly dark future. |
kaze yo watashi wa osorenai ai koso mitsukedashita kiseki yo kimi wo shinjite'ru yorokobi arashi wa ai ni kizuku tame ni fuite'ru * |
Oh wind, I am not afraid! Love is the miracle I have found!It's my joy to believe in you. The storm blows so that we might realize [our] love * |
As the music played, Tia twirled gracefully, dancing with her staff, allowing the tiny bells to ring once in a while. When the top hit the water, everything turned to a starlit sky—only to the duelists and guardians. Tia's aura began to glow as a form appeared next to her, resembling her dressed in sacred garments.
"Is Purity the miko?" Riko asked, leaning on Adonis.
"It seems so. And here I thought that she was just the messenger…" Adonis replied.
"The miko will awaken soon if we can see her now," Tristan said.
Two more transparent forms appeared near her. Male and female. They kneeled before her, and then disappeared as the dance ended.
"Perhaps they will show themselves soon," Riko said.
*~ "Kiseki no Umi" from Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight courtesy of animelyrics.com. I just thought that it would go well with the dance.
A/N – Heh. It's been a while for an update. School has kept my male counterpart and me quite busy as well. But rest assured, those who are still reading, that I am currently writing the last chapter. ^.^ Please review. It really helps when I am writing. Thank you!