Chapter 6
The present
She tailed her master, her unusually coloured hair, a musky grey in a ragged bunch, dressed in simple clothes too. He walked slowly in front, when he was about to detect her presence, she would move away. It had been a really long time when she had revealed her human side to him. Why was she fearful then?
Tomo sat down, carefully sweeping his hair aside and gulped down water from the skin he carried. The noon sun sweltered. Weike wished that she could jump forth and hug him tightly, for he looked extra vulnerable, without his formidable wear, only his miserable sword.
He had passed it to her and hadn't generated enough strength to make another one.
"Is someone there? You can quit hiding now, come here." The wolfchild cursed herself mentally for being so obvious and tiptoed out. He stared not unkindly, relaxed visibly, motioning for her to sit beside him.
"It is rather sticky weather now, right?" when she was tensed for a beration, for the illusionist had extreme moodswings. He proceeded to drink more and offered her a sip. She smiled.
[I thought you wouldn't know me. Don't be mad, I know I am disobedient but. don't say that you have to leave me. I won't, you know that. it's my nature to stop people from hurting you, master.] Tomo was now patting off the perspiration from his brow and neck with his sleeve and took out a small bread. He chewed it, she drank and blew a spell for the water to recharge.
"I really don't know if I will reach Kutou, cos I am seriously dying of this heat. So if I collapse, you'll get help while I wait?" he said peeping at the dull gold of the scrolls. Weike considered asking him to turn back and let her go instead. After all he was human even if he was seishi and connected to the gods. The gods were cruel. At least she had the proper stamina. They watched a few farmers carrying and selling their wares. They looked haggard only energized by the customers flocking to them.
[I am waiting for a cart that will be going to the palace to deliver. We shall hitch a ride.] Tomo replied at length. [Don't bother to stop me. If you want my forgiveness you can follow me and be bodyguard.]
Weike slapped her forehead. He laughed, remarking that he was smarter than she thought. [Seriously, I might faint. I trust that you'll know what to do.]
[Of course! I have sworn to take care of you.] The cart stopped, she realized that her master was speaking and gesturing to the farmer. The guy nodded, and her master took her hand and helped her up the straw-cart. They each laid back against the stack, it shielded them from heat.
They must have dozed off, Weike awoke first and peeked out. The countryside rolled lazily by, pastures, goats, cattle, plots and plots of farmcrops. Golden maize. Rice. They looked so incredibly straight and orderly. Then she glanced at her master still sleeping.
[master, can I tell you something?] He grunted. [I love you.]
Tomo slitted his eyes and nodded, adjusting slightly to be comfortable. [I know that. you always express it so much. Don't you think I am aware?]
She hastened to apologize, her hand reaching out to touch his face, damp skin. Her master's eyes widened, he tried to speak and suddenly she kissed him on the lips. [Don't-don't---stop I am - I already told you-no--]
[Gay.] Weike hissed in annoyance, he crossed his arms over himself and took deep breaths, chiding her to be decent and save- it- for- her- own species, for her future husband. She retorted
[It doesn't matter, Tomo-sama. Why do you get so flustered?] She laid back staring at the cheerful sun, even though it was glaring.
"That's because I won't fall for you, no matter how much you love me. My target is one man." The wolfgirl chewed on her fingernail, retorting again that he was too ungrateful and she was unrequited.
"But, I can't help it! So I don't want you to get all deceived and have this illusion that I love you in this form. It can never be! So stop this, we can only be friends," Tomo spoke in a tired voice and tried to get her to look at him but she ignored him. The scenery was scrolling by so quickly, it wasn't possible for anyone to enjoy the leisure. No leisure. Hurt pain anguish sadness unrequitment of love for people whom you thought loved you.
The 21-year old man had stopped explaining and gone back to napping sleep. He coughed painfully at one point, she offered him a sip, but he could not stifle it until she hit his back. "Thanks. Weike, please understand. We can be close friends, but not lovers. I only love one man, Nakagosama."
She scowled so angrily that he lowered his piercing look to his lap, allowing her to answer [I understand, but not like how you said it, I told you before that I don't care about your gender, I just love you. Can't I? Is it a sin to love you? Then I have been wrong all this way, and you too and we shouldn't be fated to meet. Bah! All this crap!]
She clenched her fists, stop don't cry he doesn't deserve to see me cry I hate him, but I can't control myself. Tomo looked at her sadly then kissed her cheek. "Then I am just as stupid as you not to recognize your love. I am being hurt but I go anyway. Let's stay friends, can we?"
Yeah, about the promise that was so long ago, that I would never leave you. her master was now crying silently, sniffing, pained and vulnerable. Weike hugged him and he reciprocated. He said he was sorry, she too found herself forgiving him despite the agony.
The cart jolted. They were here. Tomo jumped down and caught her, now set for the mission before him.
The past
No more innocence. Her master was fighting a losing battle with a horribly disfigured mean guy, the general of one of the smaller states. Tomo cried out, an arm dangling uselessly. The man laughed pointing a sword at his face.
"The painted freak. Ha! Fancy you leading an army. Look at all the deaths you caused!" The dead spread out all over, only the two left standing, some soldiers who were not friendlies. Tomo chewed his lip, his energy spent he couldn't use his shin.
[master.] She screamed, tearing the throat of one minion. His companions fled.
[stay back, I can handle him. You should take cover.] He took a step forward, closed his eyes, roots rushing fast to cover him and the vines lunged at the man. The general dived, aimed a kick to Tomo, slashing off the roots easily.
Now was the end, Tomo fell to his knees, his shin wilted. "So, prepare for death. Last prayers?"
[The goddess of lightning lend me your strength.] Weike chanted softly, white light enveloping the scene. Ripped apart the whole place, and the battlefield was cleansed, leaving only ashes, burnt. She smiled [Yes! I managed to change!]
Her master was gaping, still kneeling. She touched his arm, soothing it a bit while entertaining his shock and bewilderment at her identity. [You are Weike?] when he was coherent at last.
[Yep the answer is correct. You are my master of Illusion.] She helped him to stand up and they headed for a horse. Tomo's arm was injured but not maimed, he wound the reins with his good hand, still in shick. She had morphed again.
Then the Seiryuu seishi looked at her once and said "Arigatou gozaimasu." With a hint of respect.
The present
She tailed her master, her unusually coloured hair, a musky grey in a ragged bunch, dressed in simple clothes too. He walked slowly in front, when he was about to detect her presence, she would move away. It had been a really long time when she had revealed her human side to him. Why was she fearful then?
Tomo sat down, carefully sweeping his hair aside and gulped down water from the skin he carried. The noon sun sweltered. Weike wished that she could jump forth and hug him tightly, for he looked extra vulnerable, without his formidable wear, only his miserable sword.
He had passed it to her and hadn't generated enough strength to make another one.
"Is someone there? You can quit hiding now, come here." The wolfchild cursed herself mentally for being so obvious and tiptoed out. He stared not unkindly, relaxed visibly, motioning for her to sit beside him.
"It is rather sticky weather now, right?" when she was tensed for a beration, for the illusionist had extreme moodswings. He proceeded to drink more and offered her a sip. She smiled.
[I thought you wouldn't know me. Don't be mad, I know I am disobedient but. don't say that you have to leave me. I won't, you know that. it's my nature to stop people from hurting you, master.] Tomo was now patting off the perspiration from his brow and neck with his sleeve and took out a small bread. He chewed it, she drank and blew a spell for the water to recharge.
"I really don't know if I will reach Kutou, cos I am seriously dying of this heat. So if I collapse, you'll get help while I wait?" he said peeping at the dull gold of the scrolls. Weike considered asking him to turn back and let her go instead. After all he was human even if he was seishi and connected to the gods. The gods were cruel. At least she had the proper stamina. They watched a few farmers carrying and selling their wares. They looked haggard only energized by the customers flocking to them.
[I am waiting for a cart that will be going to the palace to deliver. We shall hitch a ride.] Tomo replied at length. [Don't bother to stop me. If you want my forgiveness you can follow me and be bodyguard.]
Weike slapped her forehead. He laughed, remarking that he was smarter than she thought. [Seriously, I might faint. I trust that you'll know what to do.]
[Of course! I have sworn to take care of you.] The cart stopped, she realized that her master was speaking and gesturing to the farmer. The guy nodded, and her master took her hand and helped her up the straw-cart. They each laid back against the stack, it shielded them from heat.
They must have dozed off, Weike awoke first and peeked out. The countryside rolled lazily by, pastures, goats, cattle, plots and plots of farmcrops. Golden maize. Rice. They looked so incredibly straight and orderly. Then she glanced at her master still sleeping.
[master, can I tell you something?] He grunted. [I love you.]
Tomo slitted his eyes and nodded, adjusting slightly to be comfortable. [I know that. you always express it so much. Don't you think I am aware?]
She hastened to apologize, her hand reaching out to touch his face, damp skin. Her master's eyes widened, he tried to speak and suddenly she kissed him on the lips. [Don't-don't---stop I am - I already told you-no--]
[Gay.] Weike hissed in annoyance, he crossed his arms over himself and took deep breaths, chiding her to be decent and save- it- for- her- own species, for her future husband. She retorted
[It doesn't matter, Tomo-sama. Why do you get so flustered?] She laid back staring at the cheerful sun, even though it was glaring.
"That's because I won't fall for you, no matter how much you love me. My target is one man." The wolfgirl chewed on her fingernail, retorting again that he was too ungrateful and she was unrequited.
"But, I can't help it! So I don't want you to get all deceived and have this illusion that I love you in this form. It can never be! So stop this, we can only be friends," Tomo spoke in a tired voice and tried to get her to look at him but she ignored him. The scenery was scrolling by so quickly, it wasn't possible for anyone to enjoy the leisure. No leisure. Hurt pain anguish sadness unrequitment of love for people whom you thought loved you.
The 21-year old man had stopped explaining and gone back to napping sleep. He coughed painfully at one point, she offered him a sip, but he could not stifle it until she hit his back. "Thanks. Weike, please understand. We can be close friends, but not lovers. I only love one man, Nakagosama."
She scowled so angrily that he lowered his piercing look to his lap, allowing her to answer [I understand, but not like how you said it, I told you before that I don't care about your gender, I just love you. Can't I? Is it a sin to love you? Then I have been wrong all this way, and you too and we shouldn't be fated to meet. Bah! All this crap!]
She clenched her fists, stop don't cry he doesn't deserve to see me cry I hate him, but I can't control myself. Tomo looked at her sadly then kissed her cheek. "Then I am just as stupid as you not to recognize your love. I am being hurt but I go anyway. Let's stay friends, can we?"
Yeah, about the promise that was so long ago, that I would never leave you. her master was now crying silently, sniffing, pained and vulnerable. Weike hugged him and he reciprocated. He said he was sorry, she too found herself forgiving him despite the agony.
The cart jolted. They were here. Tomo jumped down and caught her, now set for the mission before him.
The past
No more innocence. Her master was fighting a losing battle with a horribly disfigured mean guy, the general of one of the smaller states. Tomo cried out, an arm dangling uselessly. The man laughed pointing a sword at his face.
"The painted freak. Ha! Fancy you leading an army. Look at all the deaths you caused!" The dead spread out all over, only the two left standing, some soldiers who were not friendlies. Tomo chewed his lip, his energy spent he couldn't use his shin.
[master.] She screamed, tearing the throat of one minion. His companions fled.
[stay back, I can handle him. You should take cover.] He took a step forward, closed his eyes, roots rushing fast to cover him and the vines lunged at the man. The general dived, aimed a kick to Tomo, slashing off the roots easily.
Now was the end, Tomo fell to his knees, his shin wilted. "So, prepare for death. Last prayers?"
[The goddess of lightning lend me your strength.] Weike chanted softly, white light enveloping the scene. Ripped apart the whole place, and the battlefield was cleansed, leaving only ashes, burnt. She smiled [Yes! I managed to change!]
Her master was gaping, still kneeling. She touched his arm, soothing it a bit while entertaining his shock and bewilderment at her identity. [You are Weike?] when he was coherent at last.
[Yep the answer is correct. You are my master of Illusion.] She helped him to stand up and they headed for a horse. Tomo's arm was injured but not maimed, he wound the reins with his good hand, still in shick. She had morphed again.
Then the Seiryuu seishi looked at her once and said "Arigatou gozaimasu." With a hint of respect.