Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi belongs to Watase.Y & the respective companies.
Scroll 7 - Byakko no miko – Tunnels and Riddles (第七章：トンネルとなぞなぞ）
The underground passages beneath the Royal Palace of Sairou were dank and dimly lit with its airless blanket hovering over Kazuko, Toroki and Tatara. The trio breathed through their mouths as they endured the oppressive stench that was coming from the sewers. At times, they climbed down iron ladders or crawled through narrow winding tunnels, all the while working their way towards the watchtower where its prisoners await for their execution. Above them, they could hear the footsteps clattering endlessly.
"It seems like they are busy preparing for the execution," whispered Toroki. "So, here's the plan. As soon you get the girl, we leave immediately. No fuss, you hear me?" Kazuko nodded solemnly.
"As for you," Toroki continued, turning next to Tatara. "While I deal with the guards, you better be there to cover my back. When Kazuko is with the girl, you must the first to open the hidden passageway. From now on, everything we do is timing. The faster we get out of here, then longer we stay alive."
"Agreed," Tatara responded. "The whole palace is crawling with the Kage Kemono's minions." Brushing away some cobwebs, he slid his hand into a crack of a wall. A clicking sound was heard and a section of wall moved, revealing a doorway leading to a stairway.
Moving lightly and swiftly, the trio went up the stairway and passed through an unlocked door. Toroki felt very disturbed at the palace's security. If a prisoner were to be sent to execution within a few hours' time, the security would have been tighter. Then, she felt a dark presence behind her. She turned around and saw shadows advancing towards them. Releasing her Byakko chi energy, Toroki had them burned to ashes. Their howling broke through the walls like a flood and soon, shouts were heard. Tatara urged Kazuko to proceed on as he pulled Toroki towards a door.
Kazuko entered the door and into a hall studded with doors. However, they were all unlocked and unbarred. Tatara and Toroki followed behind her. Carrying a huge block of wood, Tatara barred the door, their only solid barrier against the army of Kage Kemono soliders. Kazuko gasped at the realization that the execution story was a fake. Wheeling around, Tatara pressed his hand against a wall and fumbled through the cracks. Toroki stood behind, reserving her energy for the coming battle. The trio heard the soliders hacking their swords through their only barrier, the sounds of bolts and metal gates all falling into their metal fitting. It was deafening but it clearly state their present condition.
Taking out a seed, Tatara transformed it into an axe and hammered it into one of the cracks. Immediately, the wall split apart. Grabbing Kazuko by the hand, he shoved her inside. After Toroki entered through the split wall, Tatara went in. Using a handful of seeds, he changed them into thick vines, covering the hole entirely.
"This way," Toroki urged, scurrying ahead of them.
Once more, the trio was in the darkness. Running down the hallway, Kazuko felt something seizing her from behind, holding her in its whirlpool. She struggled and tried to fight against it. Tatara shot his vines at the vile creature, tearing it to bits. Kazuko collapsed onto her knees. Tatara yanked her to her feet and hauled her down the passageway.
Moving right along the wall, the trio hurried to the secret door that Tatara's ancestors used to escape during the wartimes. They were almost to the door when they saw shadows moving. They froze, their hearts pounding. One of the shadows moved forward. Then, Toroki stepped forward, relaxed and smiling at it. The shadow stopped and hesitated. Smiling, Toroki flung herself upon the shadows and hit them with such lightening speed that Kazuko could barely see them. She rose and opened the door.
"Let's go," Toroki quietly said as the door swing opened.
Suddenly, an unknown force hammered her in the chest. Crying out, Toroki flew backwards and knocked Tatara and Kazuko to the ground. The trio rolled over. Kazuko shook her aching head and waited for the dizziness to pass. Opening her eyes, she sees a red haired woman standing menacingly over her.
"How nice of you to drop by. I didn't expect you to buy that story so easily." She smirked, her red hair glowing with her own chi energy.
"Lita…" Kazuko felt a sharp blow across her face.
"On the other hand, I knew that you would come since you care so much about the people of Sairou that you didn't want history to repeat itself." Walking over her, she lifted Tatara's chin with the tip of her right boot. "Welcome back, Emperor Shiro Shimo. Your absence has made the palace in a total uproar." Stamping her boot down, Lita smiled with satisfaction at the sound of his moan.
"Get them ready," she commanded. "The execution will proceed as planned." The caped creatures moved. "Wait." She paused. "As soon the Maiden is dressed up, bring her to me."
Noon came and its heat soon tormented the people of Sairou as the Kage Kemono soliders forcefully gathered them into the courtyard. Many kept silent as they bear the heat. A few started to cry but were quickly hushed up by the others in fear of being send to the dungeons. Lita stood at the balcony, watching them. To her, they were pathetic fools that could be manipulated to anything she pleased. Useless weaklings who could never contribute to the goals of the Kage Kemono, they would be a burden and such burdens must be disposed of.
Turning around, she sees Kazuko kneeling down. Her arms and legs were chained and she was dressed in a dress made of sackcloth. Lita decided to take the moment to study what was so special about this girl whose presence had made such a rowdy commotion in Sairou. With wavering green eyes, Lita found her to be very ordinary. Purple hair, pink lips, smooth skin but her eyes had a disturbing effect on them. They were black, as black as the eyes of the guardian Byakko as she had seen in the drawings. So fierce, so determinate and so full of life and energy - a sight that she had never seen for a long time during the past years of her conquest. Somehow, Lita wasn't sure why this girl was remaining calm with the few minutes of her pitiful life.
"The legendary Byakko no miko," Lita said slowly. "How do you feel knowing that you are about to be executed within the next few minutes?"
"How do you except me to feel?" Kazuko glared at her. "What do you feel?"
"Nothing." Lita replied, moving her left hand to lift her cloak. "Even though my last battle with your seishis (star warriors) was setback, I still feel nothing because I have nothing to lose."
"Lita…" Kazuko's eyes widened. "Your arm…"
"Yes," Lita went closer to her. "When Tatara hit off my hand, poison from his vines had entered into my body. In order to complete my task set by my Master, I had to remove my arm."
Kazuko felt a shriveling sensation as she felt Lita stroking her back in small circles her green eyes boring into hers. In them, laid such emptiness, a weary that chained the soul in damnation. A hardness that seemed impenetrable. Lita titled her head, said in strange softened voice.
"Why?" She caressed her cheek. "Why is it that so many people are willing to protect you? What is it that you have that makes them want to give their lives for you? What do you have that makes you so different from me?"
"I don't take lives like you do," Kazuko hissed.
"Take lives?" Lita repeated eerily, she smiled devilishly. "You're wrong, dear Maiden. You are the one who caused their deaths. I'm just the sword that is in your hands. After all, aren't your hands that struck the blow?"
Grabbing Kazuko's hands, Lita pressed and squeezed them, Kazuko filched. "Your hands… they are so soft." Lita stared. "Why is it? It should be coarse and rough after using swords for a long time. They shouldn't be soft and so clean."
Holding out a dagger, Lita slit it across the lines of Kazuko's palms. Kazuko cried out in pain and even more as Lita pressed the wounds. She felt warm blood oozing all over.
"There. You see," Lita lifted Kazuko's hands high up in the sunlight. "Your hands are as bloody as mine. So, there can't be any difference between you and me. See, your blood is glittering in the sunlight like the rubies of the empire treasure." Laughing insanely, Lita's face turned stern.
"Of course, your blood has to shine brightly like rubies because mine is not the blood of the Maiden." Her voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. "I'm supposed to have dog's blood like those blasted Byakko priests said." Using her chi energy, Lita lifted the bloody dagger and had it silting her own palm. Thick red blood flowed down her arm. Roughly grabbing Kazuko's bleeding palms, Lita continued.
"See? You see your blood and mine. They are both red." Her green eyes grew darker as her red hair glowed ominously. "See? Tell me, Maiden. What's the difference between my blood and yours? Tell me, Maiden." Her voice insanely higher, "Tell me Kazuko Somekawa! What's the difference between you and me? Why is it that people believe in you and Byakko so much? What is it that you have that set you apart from others? Tell me! Tell me! TELL ME!"
"I don't know!" Kazuko screamed back, her heart pounding endlessly as she breathed rapidly. "I don't know why I was chosen. All I did was to open a book…"
"Do you think that I'm foolish enough to believe that?" Lita slapped her, her red hair flaming all about her. Kazuko felt herself being thrown against the wall. "A book? You came to this world through a book?"
"It's the truth…" Kazuko groaned. "Whether you like it or not."
"Wretch!" Lita cursed, brutally pulled Kazuko by the hair. "Do you expect me to believe that nonsense? This is no fairytale, Maiden. People die and they die horribly. And so will you."
"Guards!" She screeched. A shadowy creature appeared. "Take her down to the execution ground. Make sure that she is cut to pieces or you'll be taking her place."
The sky was becoming gray and oppressive; the air was still, making everyone in the courtyard irritable and weary from the heat. There was hundreds of Kage Kemono soliders lining the walls and gates of the palace, all dressed in dull black and caped for they had lost all their physical appearance and humanity of their previous lives. A feeble wind came from the south and rustled the leaves of the trees, stirring the banners. Then, the drummers began to beat upon their drums and the awful creaking of the metal gates screeched into the lifeless atmosphere.
A wagon was arriving, drawn by horses and surrounded by Kage Kemono soliders. The horses stamped and trodden upon the ground as the people watched with sweat upon their brows. The soliders remained at their stony posture, feeling absolutely nothing of the heat. Their spears and axes glinted dully.
Kazuko lifted her head up, refusing to be taunted at the fact of facing death. Her eyes were hard and fierce. A few met her gaze and looked away instantly. Mothers quickly covered their children's eyes and spoke in lows voices. The men kept quiet and tried to shift their attention elsewhere.
The wagon rode on till it reached a wooden platform strategically place in the middle of the courtyard. Tatara was there, dressed in his royal garments of silver that corresponded the gray oppressive skies. His face was drained of all its colors unlike Lita who looked like a little girl looking forward to a grand performance, Kazuko's execution. The drums continued to roll on as Kazuko was brought forward towards a table covered in leather. Lita held out her hand and the drumming stopped. The crowd hushed into an unbearable silence.
"People of Sairou!" Lita dispassionately greeted. "Today is a memorable day for Kage Kemono. The execution of one of the most important figures that stand in our conquest, an obstacle that must be kicked away! People of Sairou," Using her chi energy on Kazuko, "I present to you, the Maiden of Byakko." Kazuko felt herself moving forward against her own will.
"And the every man who is going to carry out the execution is your beloved Emperor Shiro Shimo, also known as the Byakko seishi, Tatara," Lita took the leather cloth and swept it aside. With her hand, she held an exquisite purple sword with jagged edges, with a protruding crystal on the hilt. Lita smirked and held it towards Tatara.
"With this sword, you will execute the Maiden," Walking closer like a cat. "Just to make precaution that you will not miss her vital organs." She pressed the crystal, out came long sharp spikes from the sword, glimmering. "I have added a few modifications to this unique sword." Her green eyes bored deep into Tatara's gray eyes. "Do it, Tatara, it is your destiny to become part of the Kage Kemono."
"Go to hell, Lita," He spat out, anger flushed within him. "I'll never kill Kazuko."
"No?" A scroll materialized by her hand, turning to the people, she said, "People of Sairou, I have there a scroll that contained the Emperor's agreement to join the Kage Kemono. In here, he has renounced his Byakko heritage and completely disowned Kazuko as the Maiden." The crowd murmured. "Your Emperor has done the right thing for his people. After all, what has the Maiden done for you during the 7 years of the great drought? Though you all have prayed continuously, nothing happened for the past 7 years expect seeing your loved ones dying of dehydration and heatstroke."
"You lying bitch!" Tatara burst out. "I have never made such a ridiculous agreement with you and never will! This isn't about Kazuko or me or Sairou. You and your Kage Kemono never care a damn thing at all. You just want to destroy everything!"
"Did you hear that, people of Sairou?" Lita flared, her eyes shined. "Your Emperor has called the Maiden by her name, Kazuko. Your Emperor has been bewitched by her and is willing to sacrifice his people for her. What kind of an Emperor will let his people suffer based on one girl who claims to be the Maiden when in fact she did nothing for you? After 7 years of drought and suffering, this wretch just appears from nowhere and expects everyone to treat her with some reverence just basing on her words? All we want from Sairou is her life." She smiled. "It's simple request. If your Emperor truly wants you to be prosperous as you were before, then he will execute the Maiden by his own hands. In any case, why should you suffer on the account of one insignificant person?"
The crowd continuing murmuring, stirred up by Lita's speech. One by one, they cried out angrily.
"Kill the Maiden!"
They pressed forward, like a mob, throwing up their hands and gesturing wildly. The soldiers held them away with their spears. Lita stood, with intense satisfaction. She turned and smirked at the speechless Tatara. Lifting the sword to his face, she mouthed to him to take it. Tatara stepped backward as Lita grew closer. The shouts continued to rise up louder and stronger. His throat went dried at the sound. Lita's green eyes glittered vilely at him. At that moment, a chilling unknown force went through his body. Like a puppet, Tatara found himself automatically taking the sword from Lita, moving forward towards Kazuko, shaking uncontrollably.
Rising the sword, Tatara stood before Kazuko, his gray eyes widened at the prospect of killing the only person that he truly loved. Something was controlling him, something was whispering in his mind to give the blow. He couldn't stop hearing it and his strength was swaying towards it. Kazuko's eyes were locked onto his. Then, she closed her eyes with tears streaming down her face.
Goodbye, Yumi, Miwa and Chiaki. Looks like that I will not be able to get out of this book…
Warm blood splattered onto her face.
Sharp cries.
Kazuko feebly opened her eyes, gasping in horror. For the blood was not hers. Standing in robes stained in blood, was Tatara. His hands grasping the hilt of the sword, his face was immensely colorless. His eyes portrayed tremendous pain, then emptiness as his body collapsed and stayed still.
Lita stood still, completely taken back. This was not she was wanted. Gazing at Kazuko holding the lifeless Tatara, crying. Mixed thoughts and emotions were churning deeply in her. She couldn't understand what had happened. She was so sure that she had Tatara under her control. He was supposed to kill Kazuko. But… how did he break free of her grasp? Why… why did he choose to kill himself? What did he give up everything for her? Why… why… why…
Spinning around, she could see the shadows merging from the platform and advancing towards the Maiden. Their coldness were sweeping past her, allowing her to feel their hunger, the blood thirst to kill the Maiden. A hard realization slapped harshly on her. She had failed again and the creatures of the Kage Kemono weren't going to let that to continue.
The crowd was frightened seeing the creatures. Panicking, they began to flee. Chaotic and out of control, they ran for their lives. Then, she saw more shadows oozing out though the walls, as the skies grew darker. They morphed into their hideous insect creatures and pounced onto the crowd, crushing them under their weigh, snapping their bodies into bits in their frenzy to satisfy their hunger.
Lita stood, lost and devastated. Turning her attention onto Kazuko, she saw light glowing within her body. It was white, transparent and its heat was fiery like the flames of a newborn fire. The light grew stronger and brighter, spreading across the platform and courtyard. A strong wind blew from the ground beneath her and encircled wider, catching the shadowy creatures in its invisible grasp, tearing them apart. Lita's red hair was whipping about her face as she shielded herself against the light. The light terrified her; the howling of the wind was tormenting her ears.
Then, she heard a roar. She looked up and saw a majestic white tiger standing protectively over the Maiden and her seishi. Its fur was white as new snow with black stripes across the muscled body. From it nostrils, whitish fumes were blown out. The pointed fangs sparkled against the fumes. Lita felt completely paralysed and couldn't move an inch. Paw by paw, the white tiger set its eyes on her. It wasn't the way that the tiger looked at her. It was the eyes themselves. The eyes not of an animal but of a man, the piercing look into her inner soul. Suddenly, the white tiger jumped right at her.
Lita screamed as she felt its strength encircled her, knocking her to the ground. The ground shuddered at the impact and then, all became silent as the grave. When she opened her eyes, she found herself alone in the courtyard. The leaves brushed aside her as a gentle breeze flew by. The grey clouds were breaking away, allowing rays of lights to enter. Dragging herself back to her feet, Lita found herself doing something that she hadn't done for a long time.
She was shaking.
Kazuko had a dream. She dreamt of being at school with Yumi, Miwa and Chiaki, chatting during recess time, having study groups at each other's home and go shopping at the malls. Occasionally, she would do or say something wrong that triggered off Miwa's sarcastic remarks. Yumi would always be the peacemaker and avert their attention to something else. Chiaki, as usual, follow them quietly without any fuss. Everyday was their day to seize without hesitation. Nothing would stand in their way. Nothing would stop them from doing anything. It was always the four of them till kindergarten and had always been that way. No matter what happiness or sadness that came, there was nothing that the four of them couldn't be defeated.
Until now…
"Kazuko, do you really know what we are getting ourselves into???"
"Relax, Miwa. This will be the adventure of our lives! It's not everyday that we get to be heroines and save the day. Besides, it will be exciting!"
"Exciting?" Miwa gave her an annoyed look. "What can be exciting to be in a foreign land where we might face dangers and even get ourselves killed? I know that I will be able to stay alive but as for you…" She smirked. "You can't even survive being on your own."
"What was that? Ha! Isn't what most stories are based on? Heroines aren't very powerful in the beginning but later they will be. Till then, I'll show what I can do."
"Oh really? And when will that be?" Miwa mocked. "When someone gets killed because of you?"
"Miwa," Yumi interrupted. "Don't say such things before we depart. Nobody is going to die."
"But Taiitsukun said that seishis sacrifice themselves to save the Maidens," Chiaki softly said. "What if that will come to pass?"
"Chiaki… don't so pessimistic! Like Yumi said, nobody is going to die. Not when I'm around as the Maiden of Byakko…"
"Just because you are the Byakko no miko, it doesn't mean that that seishis will be willing to serve you as my sister and I. Remember what I said just now about the banning of worshipping Byakko and countless of lives who had died in your name."
"I know stories about the Maiden and her seishis but it is impossible that I should one of you"
"Kazuko, you are my… the Emperor's last hope in defeating the Kage Kemono. I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you. And so now, I swear upon my life that I will protect you always."
"Why is it that so many people are willing to protect you? What is it that you have that makes them want to give their lives for you? What do you have that makes you so different from me?"
"What kind of an Emperor will let his people suffer based on one girl who claims to be the Maiden when in fact she did nothing for you? After 7 years of drought and suffering, this wretch just appears from nowhere and expects everyone to treat her with some reverence just basing on her words? All we want from Sairou is her life. It's simple request. If your Emperor truly wants you to be prosperous as you were before, then he will execute the Maiden by his own hands. In any case, why should you suffer on the account of one insignificant person?"
"Kill the Maiden!"
"Kill the Maiden!"
Miwa was right…I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Reading stories and being into one are different. Reading is one thing while experiencing it is another. Though the people are characters, I feel so much pain… it hurts… it hurts…
"Kazuko… Kazuko…" said a chirpy voice. Kazuko stirred, rubbed her eyes and sees a little green-haired girl, smiling at her.
"Nyan-Nyan?" Kazuko sat upright. "What are you doing here?"
"Taiitsukun sent me here to help you. We have been watching you for some time till Taiitsukun decided to send me."
"Taiitsukun…" She gasped. "Tatara! Tatara, is he all right? Where is he?"
"Shinpaishinai you (don't worry), Tatara is at Mt. Taikyoku receiving medicinal attention. His injuries are pretty serious and he lost a lot of blood. Taiitsukun felt that his chances of survival would be better if he's brought to Mt. Taikyoku… Kazuko?" Nyan-Nyan blinked her eyes.
"Sore de ii you (That'll be better)," Kazuko started to cry. "After all, I didn't do anything except getting myself into trouble and dragging everyone into this mess. Throughout the entire time, I didn't do anything. As a result, those around me get hurt. Tatara, Toroki, Kokie, Subaru, Tokaki and Ameturi… they were injured and lost their loved ones all because of me… I'm useless, Nyan-Nyan!"
"Kazuko…"
"It's true, Nyan-Nyan!" Kazuko's tears streamed down even faster as her voice shook with emotion. "It's true. I may be the Maiden of Byakko but in fact, all I did was to hurt people. Lita was right. I don't deserve to be different from others. I don't deserve it… Oh, why am I so foolish and selfish? Look at what is happening due to my stupidity, everyone is gone. Even Tatara is gone too... "
"Nobody is gone, Maiden of Byakko." Nyan-Nyan interrupted, her face was grim. "Nobody blames you. It's all in your head!" The little girl stood up with her arms crossed. "You judge yourself too harshly. You set too high expectations for yourself. Nobody said that you must have super duper powers or do some spectacular magic. All you need to do is to find the 7 seishis, the mirror of Byakko and summon Byakko himself. These are the 3 things required of you."
"But…"
"So far, you have gathered 6 seishis and on your way to find the mirror of Byakko," Nyan-Nyan continued. "It's true that the seishis have scattered far and wide in Sairou but that doesn't mean that they have left you. They'll be back. Every single one of them, including Lita."
"But…"
"But what?" Nyan-Nyan leaned closer to her. "If this will relieve you, I'll tell you now. Right now, Tokaki & Subaru are traveling in Central Sairou; Ameturi is on his way to Ouion Town to catch up with Kokie; Tatara will be resting at Mt. Taikyoku till his injuries are fully recovered; Toroki will be safe with the Kage Kemono since Lita is her captor. During her captivity, Toroki may be able to convince Lita that she is also a Byakko seishi. Till then, it is solely up to you to find the Mirror of Byakko that will be required for the summoning of Byakko. Do you understand?"
"But…"
"Enough buts, Kazuko, Maiden of Byakko. When you find the Mirror, the seishis will return. Do you understand or do I have to knock some sense into you?"
"One question," Choosing her words carefully. "Why is the Mirror of Byakko missing? Shouldn't it be at Mt.Taikyoku?"
Nyan-Nyan pouted her lips, rubbed her chin and then said, " It was 600 years ago that Tsuonie Kasaru, a Byakko seishi, vowed to keep it in remembrance of the Maiden of Byakko, Suzuno Oosugi. Due to a time technique, Tsuonie was able to keep it for a century till the Maidens of Suzaku and Seiryuu came for it. Eventually, the Maiden of Seiryuu was the one who obtain it. Together with the necklace of Genbu, she summoned Seiryuu. During the summoning, the entire area surrounding the old temple of Byakko was destroyed and thus, both the mirror and necklace disappeared."
"I see. Then, why did the Maiden of Seiryuu have to use the mirror and necklace to summon Seiryuu? Didn't she have all the 7 seishis with her?"
"Well, that's because…" Nyan-Nyan shook her head till her plaits flew. "No no… We don't have time to chitchat! You better get going to find the Mirror. From my reliable resources, the Mirror should be somewhere around here…"
"Here?" Kazuko looked around and saw nothing but gray sands stretching as far as her eye could see. "Err… where are we in the first place?"
"In the wastelands of Sairou," Nyan-Nyan replied, taking out a curled stick. "Let me see," Tapping the ground three times and chanted.
"Mirror mirror of the wind
Answer to the sound of my voice
And show me a sign of where you are!"
The gray ground shuddered and trembled beneath their feet. Then, cave merged out of the gray sands, its mouth big enough to enter. A whiff of staleness blew against their faces. Kazuko bent down and looked into the dark tunnel. Nyan-Nyan moved close, her childlike face smooth and emotionless but her eyes were filled with terror.
"There's something down there and it has the Mirror of Byakko!"
In the bright-lit room of shining crystals walls and pillar, laid a bed made of the softest cotton and wool sheets. On the bed, Tatara laid sleeping peacefully, his gray hair flowed across the fluffy pillows. He was breathing rather normally despite the bandages wrapped on his body. Gradually, he opened his eyes and smelt the sweet scent of flowers. He attempted to get up but forced to lay back. His face grimaced at the sting of his wounds.
"Did you have a good sleep?" asked a tiny girl, whose face was so childlike that Tatara found it incredible hard to determine her age. She walked closer, holding a tray filled with tiny cups in her hands.
"Yes, thank you," Tatara said slowly. He looked around. "Where am I? Where's Kazuko?"
"You are at Mt. Taikyoku and the Maiden of Byakko is at the wastelands, in search of the sacred mirror. Taiitsukun has ordered one of us to accompany her."
"Taiitsukun? The almighty Taiitsukun?" Tatara forced himself to sit up. "One of us?" His face showed confusion.
"That's right. I'm one of the Nyan-Nyans, servants of the mighty Taiitsukun. She has been watching you and the Maiden for some time. She is proud of what you did at the palace courtyard. So proud that she decided to help you and Kazuko."
"Indeed, I am," boomed a loud grandmotherly voice. Tatara looked up and saw an old woman with an oversize head upon her skinny shoulders. The cheeks of her face were fat and sagging at the corners. Thick lines deepened across the foreheads and at the lines of the sausage lips. When she parted her lips to speak, he thought that she sounded like a toad.
"Your willingness to sacrifice your life for Kazuko has touched me deeply. I can see that you truly love her. However," Her face turned stern. "You severely reminded that your relationship with Kazuko must be strictly a Maiden and her seishi. No more no less."
"Then, as her seishi, you must send me to the wastelands. Kazuko can't be alone all by herself. Toroki has been captured Lita and the rest are all over Sairou. She needs one of us to be with her."
"Kazuko will be fine on her own. Your injuries won't be much use to her." Taiitsukun pointed her finger at him. A book materialized in front of Tatara and landed upon his lap. It looked very old with its fray pages and faded letterings. "This book is the dairy of Tsuonie Kasaru, a Byakko seishi, by the name of Tatara, like yourself. It records his events with the Byakko Maiden, Suzuno Oosugi. Read it well and you'll understand what I said."
Kazuko blinked and stared into the dark tunnel, listening. She couldn't hear a thing. Nyan-Nyan drifted, suspended lightly above the ground.
"It's no good. It has the Mirror of Byakko."
"Who is 'it'?"
"A creature that has lived the underground for thousands of years. A creature that loves to toy with its victims till it gets bored. Then, it'll eat them."
Kazuko stared into Nyan-Nyan's eyes and knew that she wasn't bluffing. She felt a chill sweeping through her body and settle in her throat. "A creature of the Kage Kemono?"
"No, it's something else and you'll have no choice but to meet it. The bad part is that I can't go with you. Once I entered the tunnel, my powers will be immediately sealed. Shikata ga nai (that can't be helped)."
"Soredewa (then), hotori de ikimasu (I'll go by myself)," Kazuko took a deep breath and stepped into the tunnel. It was darker and colder with each step she took. She turned and bravely waved at the worried Nyan-Nyan. Turning around, she took another breath and walked into the darkness.
With each step, Kazuko wondered if she was very silly not to bring a torch with her. The surroundings were pitch dark and she couldn't see where she was going. Luckily or not, the surroundings seemed to getting smaller and smaller until Kazuko was forced to crawl on all fours. Slowly with her bare hands, she touched every inch of the ground. Then, she felt something scaly. Something clammy. Something slimy.
"Who is that touching my feet?" whispered a witch-like voice. Kazuko froze.
"Answer me," Kazuko felt a slimy three-fingered hand touching her hand. "You creature of 5 fingers."
"My name is Kazuko. I'm looking for a mirror that I have lost years ago," Laughing nervously. "Have you seen it?"
"Mirror?" The witch voice responded. "You lost a mirror?"
"Yes… I've been looking for it," Kazuko squinted her eyes to see the creature she was talking to. "Have you seen it?" She asked again. "It's something hard and flat with a smooth surface and it reflects your image."
"Yes, I know what a mirror looks like and does," The witch voice sounded irritated. "And I do have one but it's mine! I found it thousands and thousands of years ago!"
"I realized that but I'm afraid I've to take it back."
"Need it?" The voice went higher, emphazing on the last word. "What do you need it for?"
"To see my reflection."
"Why not get yourself another mirror?"
"Because it's the only one that reflects my appearance. It has magic, you see."
"Magic?" The voice grew interested. "What kind of magic?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"It's a secret that must be kept."
"Why must it be a secret?"
"Why do you always ask so much questions?"
"It's in my nature. As a matter of fact, you are the first person I have spoken to for at least a century ago. The last one was a poor talker. So, I ate him."
"You ate him?" Kazuko's throat went numb.
"Why not? I was hungry then." It became quiet and then it giggled. "Come to think of it, I'm getting to a bit hungry myself. Hmm… judging from your voice, you must be very young and young creatures have very soft flesh. So much the better."
"Wait a minute," Kazuko stammered. "Remember the magic I told you about. Well, the mirror makes me young every 1000 years and if I don't have the mirror back, I'll become too old and my flesh will be too dry and stiff to be eaten…"
"The mirror makes you young?" It asked skeptically.
"Yes, it does," Kazuko tried her best to sound convincing.
"Then, didn't it work on me?"
"Because you need to chant some magic words to activate it."
"What are the magic words?"
"I can't tell you that?"
"Why not?"
"It's a secret that must be kept."
"A secret…" It hissed. "Then…" It kept silent for a while. "Then I proposed something."
"Like?" Kazuko didn't like the sound of its voice.
"Let's have a game. I'll ask you 10 riddles to solve. If you can't solve a single one of them, you'll have to reveal your secret to me before I eat you. If you solve all my riddles, you can ask me back 10 riddles. If I can't solve any one of them, I'll give you the mirror."
"That's unfair!" Kazuko protested. "Besides, how do I know that you really have the mirror?"
"I'll bring it to you. Just stay put for a moment."
"Don't worry. I won't be going anywhere in this darkness," Kazuko sarcastically replied.
Kazuko heard its footsteps echoed in the tunnels in a wispy washy rhythm and all sorts of clanging and banging. She frowned and wondered how many things did the creature have in its possession? After a loud clanging and loud cries of joy, the footsteps went louder in her direction. Then, she felt its clammy hands upon her fingers, inserting a flat and hard object in her hands.
"There!" It said satisfied. "The Mirror that takes you young every 1000 years. Touch it."
Stretching out her hand, she boldly touched the mirror. Barely touching the smooth surface, an incredible force raced through her arm and into her body, filling her strength and power beyond her mortal control. She gasped in shock, too stunned to release her hand at the sharp bright images flashing in her mind. Gradually, her pulse became steady, her heartbeat slowing down.
"Well?" It asked impatiently. "Is it the mirror you seek?"
"Yes," Kazuko replied faintly.
"GOOD!" It chuckled wickedly. "Then, let's start out riddle game! What should I ask? Time has taken a toll on my skull… let me see… let me see… let me see…"
"Higher than the trees
So high it touches the clouds in the skies above
Yet it has no roots."
"Mountain," Kazuko found herself saying, holding the mirror tightly in her grasp as the creature scowled and hissed.
"Dances in the day Dances in the night
Giving comfort with all its light
Destroys beauty and life with all its might"
"Fire," Kazuko replied. Her heart beat double. Once again the creature scowled.
"Flows and flows and flows
Deep down in the earth and up to the mountaintop
Shapeless it is and yet visible to the eye
Touchable and untouchable
Tasteful and tasteless."
"Water," She answered, her heart beat triple times faster. The creature screeched, scratched its head and snarled.
"Surrounds and warps us in its grasp
Mortals break out from it till they succumb to it."
"Darkness," Kazuko once again found herself answering very calmly despite the rapid beatings inside her chest. Then, it suddenly came to her that she wasn't answering the creature's riddles. Grasping the mirror closer, Kazuko had a strong instinct that the mirror was helping her. Meanwhile, the creature was banging its head against the tunnel walls, cursing and swearing. Suddenly, it gave a high-pitched cry at the thought of another riddle.
"Knocking upon the mortal's doors
Looking for companions
Seeking out someone to fill its emptiness
When found, it'll stay till its time runs out."
"Loneliness."
"ARGH!!!" The creature screamed, pounding its hands on the walls. "How could you know this one? It always works!" Screaming further like a spoilt brat, it took a deep breath and continued.
"Shatters the soul and kills the heart
Makes the strong weak
Strangles you and enslaves you
Till it takes your dying breath."
"Fear."
"ARGH!!!!! IMPOSSIBLE!" the creature howled with disbelief. Kazuko couldn't help smiling. "Smile all you can, for this one, you'll surely fail!"
"A small step takes a big leap
Can't be bought Can be found
Can't be controlled Can be consumed
Like an illness needs a host
Sustain life Kills life"
"Hate."
"What sorcery do you possess that enables you to figure this riddle in seconds?" The creature hissed fiercely. "Tell me, wretch."
"The tone of your voice has told me so."
"Really," it calmed down. "Then, how about this one?"
"Chills the bones Chills the skin
Chills the heart Takes the soul
Leaves the shell behind."
"Death."
"Sorcery!" It accused loudly at Kazuko. "You are using sorcery."
"So what if I am?" The creature frowned at the deep tone of the voice.
"Why has your voice deepened?"
"Does it matter whether my voice changes or not? Does it matter whether is it Kazuko answering you or not? Does it matter whether your riddles are answered or not? You, foul creature of the underground, know that neither of these things mattered. So, be gone in your cold and stinky hole and let Kazuko continue her quest."
"Sorcery…" It started to scream as it felt something blowing against it. The wind was brewing continuously and rapidly, as it grew stronger and stronger. "You trick me!" Then, a wave of wind burst out with stunning speed and fury, hammering the creature over and over, knocking it further and further away. The creature wailed so horribly that it made Kazuko cringed. The wind then changed its direction to the tunnel ceiling and cutting through the layers of earth till a ray of light greeted in its path.
Kazuko looked up and found a hole big enough for her to climb out. Without delay, she heaved herself up and scrambled out of the hold. Taking in a deep breath of the fresh air, Kazuko looked around and surveyed the area. She was still at the wastelands with all its endless gray sands. Yet, the skies seemed to be in a lighter shade of blue. She heard a child-like voice calling out to her.
"Kazuko! Kazuko!"
"Nyan-Nyan!" Kazuko responded, extremely happy to see the bubbly little girl. Holding out the mirror, "See? I've got the Mirror of Byakko."
"That's wonderful," Nyan-Nyan congratulated, handing out a piece of cloth. "Here, take this to clean the slime off. My goodness, you surely didn't take much time to get it."
"The Mirror helped me," Kazuko wiped its round surface carefully, touching the white jaded frame, craved with images of Byakko and its silver stringed hem, "The moment, I touched it, we somehow became connected. Nyan-Nyan, tell me. What else can this mirror do?"
"I don't know. This is the first time I have seen it."
"Would it be able to show me where everybody is and how they are doing?"
"Maybe," Nyan-Nyan looked sharply at her. "Why do you ask?"
"I just want to know what they think about me," Kazuko's lips trembled. "What do they really think of me? Besides, I want to know whether Toroki is safe and unharmed." She heaved heavily.
"I see. Then, I suggest that we go to the temple of Byakko before we use the Mirror. Such magic may be sensed by the Kage Kemono spies."
"Then, you know where it is?"
"I just found it when you were dealing with the creature. It's not far from here. Come on let's get going. It's not safe to be in the open."
Not far from the two girls, behind some gray ashen rocks of the wastelands, a shadow detached itself from its hiding place and moved silently away.
Go to:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Book 2: Genbu no miko
Book 3: Suzaku no miko
Book 4: Seiryuu no miko
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