Chapter 3
After breakfast, Touma wished his friends luck and groaned at the amount of
dishes to be cleaned. However, that was another person's job.
"Oh Jun?"
"Yes, Touma-sama?" The boy obediently ran out of the kitchen and bowed to
his master.
"Clean these dishes," He pointed to the cart full of dirty dishes piled high
above the cart. "And don't break a single one."
"Yes Touma-sama," And Jun pushed the cart quickly back into the kitchen
without a single crash. Seconds later, the sound of running water could be
heard.
"It's good to be me," Touma smiled.
* * * * *
"Now we head out," Shuu hesitantly said. The trip would be long and tiring
on foot.
"Going where, may I ask?" Sage's twin urgently asked them.
"None of your business." Shuu snapped.
"I can tell you're in need transportation."
"Yeah," He reluctantly agreed.
"Say no more, except 'I'll take him', for I have the answer to your
problems!" He whistled and a white tiger calmly approached them.
Shuu took a step back, fearful of the animal.
"Now I know what you're thinking, 'He's a wild animal!' Byakuen is a
completely tame tiger, his one purpose to serve his master in anyway he
can."
Mia rolled her eyes at the bull 'Sage' was selling them, but she knew
Byakuen was like the White Blaze she knew at home. "Shuu, he's safe, trust
me."
"Believe the lady, Shuu," The salesman encouraged.
"I trust her more then you, pal." Shuu said with disgust, pulling out a wad
of cash from his pocket. Sage's twin grabbed it straight from his hand.
"You won't be disappointed. Spread the word about Seiji, the traveling
salesman!" And he wildly ran off.
"Come on," Mia jumped on Byakuen's back. "That thief's not getting away."
Shuu uneasily climbed on behind her and grabbed her torso when the tiger
bolted off. He marveled at the speed of the cat and how Seiji's lead was
quickly disappearing.
"I'll take that!" Shuu grabbed his money from Seiji's hand. Byakuen turned
on a dime and sped right past the dumbfounded Seiji, laughing as only a
tiger can laugh.
"You OK back there?" Mia called.
"I'm fine, just not used to riding tiger-back." Shuu said a little
fearfully, still holding on to Mia as his life depended on it.
"Hold on tight," She warned as Byakuen kicked it to full speed. The city
disappeared as the tiger ran across the grassy field; Shuu's fear slowly
diminished as Byakuen provided a smooth ride and he was cautious of his
riders. They arrived at Shin's cabin less then an hour later. Shuu hammered
on the door only to find nobody answering.
"Maybe he's out on the lake," They walked out onto the dock behind the cabin
and watched Shin, the fish man, swim with his buddy Suiki, a killer whale.
He noticed his friends on the dock, waved to them, and rode Suiki over
there.
"Hello," He greeted, "Who's your friend, Shuu?"
"This is Mia. We're looking for Anubis. Ryo and Touma said he was here with
you."
"Well, he was, but he went father down the shore to see Kaos at a temple."
"Here we go again," Shuu said offhandedly, "Thanks Shin."
"I hope you find him soon, he was pretty anxious to see her again."
"Does he know I'm here?" Mia asked him.
"No, he thinks you're still at home."
"What a surprise I'll give him then," Mia smiled as she mounted Byakuen.
"I'm sorry for not staying longer but I want to see him again so much."
"Don't worry about it. Go ahead and find him. He loves you."
Mia smiled and felt her heart ready to burst with joy. Shuu quickly climbed
on back, and nearly fell off when Byakuen started so fast. He sensed Mia's
desire and tried to help her the best he could.
"This temple is a ways away, we should be there by nightfall, even at this
speed." Shuu said, a hint of fear in his voice. He marveled at Mia's ability
to ride a tiger bareback and direct him without the use of reins. For him,
tiger-riding would take a while to get used to, much less master.
They stopped twice for meals from a large doggie bag that Touma gave them.
Byakuen fed himself from rabbits living on the plain.
The last stretch of road before the temple was thru a small patch of forest
that had grown along the shoreline. The darkness of night hid the shadows of
creatures watching them from above, some friendly, some not.
Byakuen tensed as he felt a strange presence near and slowed to a jog. The
feeling spread to Mia and Shuu, who fingered his triple-jointed nunchuku
underneath his coat. He didn't have time to use it. Swiftly and silently, he
was carried off of the tiger's back and into the foliage.
"Shuu?" Mia looked behind her and saw he was gone. Byakuen growled at
something in the distance. Mia slid off his back and got into a defensive
stance. Three armored men appeared from within the darkness, Mia recognized
them as the warlords from her world, but here who knows who they were. She
was sure of one thing, they weren't friendly. The men circled around her,
laughing under their breath.
"Your friend is gone," Dais's twin growled at her.
"He was too easy to kill," Sekhmet's twin laughed. "Hardly worth my time."
Mia's eyes widened but she said nothing. She didn't believe them, no way
they could kill Shuu. There was just no way!
"And now his whore is ours." Kale's twin licked his lips. Byakuen dove at
him, claws outstretched. He slashed the breastplate of Kale's twin's armor,
and his teeth tore open an armored arm.
"You can't kill the masho!" He yelled. "Naaza, teach her a lesson about how
to handle her cat."
"With pleasure," He smiled evilly. Mia, knowing what he was about to do,
stole one of his katanas, and swung it at him. His helmet was sliced in two,
and fell down his face. Mia didn't waste a second, cutting up his body with
the katana. She saw Dais's twin sneaking up behind her, and she stuck her
sword deep into his stomach. Byakuen left Kale's twin unconscious on the
forest floor, bleeding from various places. The other masho were lying
helplessly on the ground beside him. She kicked Dais's twin in the head.
"Where is Shuu?" She demanded.
"A woman can't get Rajura to tell anything."
"Let's test that theory, Rajura," She spat his name and place the blade tip
on his neck, slowly lowering it into his neck. "Well?"
"You can't do it," Rajura said undaunted.
The sword pierced his neck and a drop of blood slid out. "Try me. You
threaten Shuu and myself, and try to kill me when all I want to do is see
Anubis again. Shuu is alive, for if he's not, I'll be sure to kill you and
the other masho."
"He's up a tree, unconscious." Rajura said.
Mia kicked him back to unconsciousness. "Byakuen, give me a boost."
He stretched out as far as he could up a tree trunk and fastened his claws
into the bark. Mia climbed up his back and leapt to the nearest branch. She
found Shuu leaning against the trunk sitting on a branch. He was breathing,
but slowly.
"Good, he's alive," Mia sighed in relief, then started to gently shake him.
"Shuu, wake up. Shuu!"
"Ow my head," He woke up and rubbed the back of his head. "What happened?
Why am I in a tree?"
"Long story. Can you climb down?"
"Yeah," He followed Mia down to the ground. "What happened here?" He pulled
out his weapon.
"They're knocked out. Byakuen and I handled them after one of them stole you
from us and put you up in that tree."
"I never thought the masho were out here, I should've been on guard."
"It's OK, we're fine, and Anubis is close. I can feel him."
"In that case, let's go!" Mia and Shuu climbed on Byakuen and raced towards
the temple. They stopped at the entrance. Mia stared at it for a minute
before going in. Anubis was in there, and after years of wishing she could
see him again, here was her chance. With support from Shuu and Byakuen, she
took a deep breath and marched inside.