Hello minna!!!!!!! I'm so sorry that I haven't updated for sooooo long! For the complete list of horrible reasons, you all can read my blog (http://draconsis.blogspot.com/). Actually, I'm still really sorryyyyyy… So everyone is free to hurt, maim or almost kill me with any weapon they can drag up. Note the ALMOST in "almost kill me".
Also, I would like to introduce my muses! *Drags them out*
Fuurin: HELLOWWWWWW!!!!!! I'm Fuurin, and he is Akito-chan! *Looks around* Eh? Where is he?
I think he's locked himself up in his room again. Either that or he's using the Bazooka XIIV on Writer's Block-san.
Fuurin: You should never have lent him that… Oh well… We have our own blog too, since we took over Draconsis for a few minutes while she was sleep deprived!
Don't tell them that!
Fuurin: Nyeh *Sticks out tongue* Neways, it's here: http://akito-fuurin.blogspot.com/
Akito: *Wanders in* Fuurin, I'm still trying to dissolve the virus that Byakko threw in… *Pauses* What are you doing? Did you just tell them the location of our plans to take over the Fanfiction world?
Fuurin: Ehehehhehehhe…
(Chase scene)
Mou, Fuurin-chan! Watch out for the heavy book of doom!
((WHUP))
(The book misses Fuurin and whacks into Virus-chan who has been happily prancing around the room for the last couple of weeks)
[System OK. Begin program "Wars Fanfiction"?]
Hehehehhehe…*Hits enter button*
Oh yeah, I've finally figured out the Arcs (sections) of the fic, and the current arc we are in is "Flowers of the Sand"! Also, the fic has been reformatted… no changes to the storyline though.
Akito: Inspiration-sama! I want a new job!
Akito. Shut up.
Fuurin: *Whacks Akito*
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Review response:
CLAMPraven: Nooooooo…come back! I don't mind your rants; they make my review page look better! ^_^ And yes, Sanzo is –hot- *drool*
Otaku Pitcher: The spelling mistakes have been corrected! ^^;;; And er, yea, I did kill Tasuki…Full explanation in the end notes! Sansele says "Oh." to your answer.
Chibigreen Tanuki: Thanks for reviewing! ^_^
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Thanks to Sansele for beta reading.
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"……" Speech
(……) Authors Notes/ Comments
[……] Thoughts
((……)) Sounds
*……* Actions/Emotions
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[Fushigi Yuugi Belongs to Watase Yuu]
[King Lear belongs to William Shakespeare, or whoever inherited it]
[I do not own Initial D]
[I do not own Slayers]
[Original characters, plotline, etc are the intellectual property of Draconsis]
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Draconsis Presents:
A Draconsis Fanfiction
The Great Wars of The World
~ Flowers of the Sands Arc / Sabure no Hana Enko ~
[Chapter 08 – Meetings]
"Peace to this meeting, wherefore we are met."
~William Shakespeare, "King Lear"
"On the road of meetings and partings,
While we're being hurt, we keep on walking, don't we?"
~Initial D, "Kimi ga iru", sung by Seki Tomokazu
"And continue our respective journeys under the same sun
For the sake of the happiness and chance meetings for us that tomorrow holds."
~Slayers, "Secret ~ Dareka no Message"
Year 1488, Seishuku 61, 108 years from the present
Tasuki did a good job no da.
The fire engulfed everything in a two-kilometer radius, and many Hokkan soldiers died. Looks like the fire was bigger than Tasuki imagined. But strangely, none of our troops in that radius was hurt. A red light warded the fire off from them they say.
That's good na no da. When I get up there, I must remember to thank Suzaku-seikun. Tasuki wouldn't want to hurt one of his friends, or his allies.
There. All of the ground barrier points are in place.
I hope Houki-sama forgives me, and Boushin. I've already helped her select many good advisors, all of them loyal to the throne. Boushin's got many more doting "uncles" now too. Maybe Houki-sama will understand. It will get lonely, being the last one left.
I know Amiboshi – Iya, Kaika – has died. I found him in Sairo shortly after Miaka left us for the second time, after our battle with Tenkou. Kaika doesn't remember anything at all. He was happy with his life, even though he confided in me that he felt something was missing. When I left, I placed a small amount of Ki within him. I felt it when he died.
I suppose Tasuki thought he was doing the right thing. In a way, he was. After all, the Seishi are supposed to protect their country. Like Nuriko, Hotohori, Chiriko and Mitsukake. All of them gave their lives in an attempt to save Konan. Nuriko in the bleakness of Mount Black, Hotohori against Nakago, Chiriko to save us from Miboshi, and Mitsukake to save others, though they were not Seishi. People like them are few and far between.
But not everything can be solved by a death or deaths. This…this is just one of the few that can.
Taiitsukun is going to give me an earful when I next see her. She told me never to use Zenmenteiki Kuchiku, but there isn't any other choice. A large portion of the troops were badly injured in today's skirmish, and at current count, the Hokkan soldiers outnumber us five to one. Morale is also running low due to Tasuki's death. Hopefully, Zenmenteiki Kuchiku will turn the tide.
Now to cut the link between the barrier points and myself. Wouldn't want them to go out if …something… happens to me. After all, who knows what happens, when we pass from this world to the next?
Zenmenteiki Kuchiku, the complete destruction. Apparently the user is not spared the effects.
Now how did it go again?
Hi Sui Fuu Chi Nan To Sai Ho…
-~=*[^]*=~-
"Can't we take a rest?" Kokie complained. She squirmed impatiently in her saddle, and then clung on with a renewed effort, trying her best to remain on her horse. Having grown up only a short distance from the city, walking had been her main mode of travel, and she was still unfamiliar with a horse. "Even a short one?"
The trio had been in their saddles since dawn, and had set off for Hanasaru Village at a brisk canter. Galloping would stir up too much sand; without face veils to protect them, it would be a most uncomfortable trip. Rocky outcrops dotted the horizon, and the trees had finally stopped altogether.
"No, we should be arriving soon." Amefuri replied. She checked the maps again, not paying any attention to Kokie's murder threats. Kokie normally forgot them after a day or two. Besides, she was used to the saddle, having been part of the Vanguard since she was nine. It was not her fault if someone was not accustomed to the saddle. Nope. Not at all.
True to the map, Hanasaru Village came into view a few minutes later. A cluster of stonewalled buildings that surrounded a large oasis, Hanasaru looked like many of the other villages in the desert. Streets were lined with houses and shops, the inhabitants taking shelter from the sun under large awnings jutting out from the dwellings.
An old woman pointed them to the address they sought, and the trio led their horses there. Tethering the horses outside the manor house, they stepped inside, and were escorted to the central courtyard.
-~=*[^]*=~-
Kokie and Amefuri halted abruptly as they spied a head of vivid purple hair, the familiar voice begging an equally familiar figure clad in elegant robes. Their eyes widened as the figure continued to cross the courtyard, not vanishing into their imagination as they had expected.
Subaru, however, was more interested in the task at hand. She raised her voice slightly, hoping to catch the attention of the two inhabitants. Completely ignoring the fact that her companions' eyes were practically popping out. "Excuse me, but is there a Tora-", she began. However, a loud crash interrupted her, and she spun around to face the source of the noise.
"Oops." A rather casual voice, tinged with a hint of laziness drifted over from the pile of overturned arrows. Sapphire eyes framed by black hair that glinted green turned onto the Seishi. "Would you be looking from me?" A raised eyebrow. "I am Hitoku Byakuya, though I am sometimes known by other surnames."
Amefuri and Kokie did another double take before looking at each other. That was the man they had seen through the mirror in the Byakko shrine, the new Byakko no Miko! Another memory also triggered in Amefuri's mind.
"Hold on…wasn't Byakuya the name of the person we are supposed to find?" Amefuri asked. The letter addressed to "Tora Byakuya" was still safely in her saddlebags, with strict instructions to hand it directly to the addressee, the white wax seal bearing the sigil of House Tora and the Court of Sairo still intact.
"Then I believe you are looking for me." Byakuya smoothly replied. The patter of feet on cobblestones alerted him, and he turned around gracefully to meet his friends.
"Konnichiwa. I am Sennatsu Saihitei." The brunette flashed the trio a dazzling smile. He gestured to his companion, who was eagerly inspecting the trio. "This is Miharu Ryuuen, my friend." Ryuuen waved at them, no doubt eager to make friends already.
Byakuya rolled his eyes slightly. In between his normally loony friends and the trio of girls who were staring at them, he could tell that this was going to be a long day.
-~=*[^]*=~-
The letter from the empress lay to one side; opened, read, and forgotten for the moment. Byakuya leaned back as far as the chair could allow, his eyes surveying the trio who fidgeted nervously in front of him.
"So…I'm the Byakko no Miko?" he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the tabletop, one hand supporting his chin. "And Mother sent three Seishi to escort me home?" A slender eyebrow raised itself, sapphire eyes surveying the three Seishi.
They fidgeted again. Really, was the atmosphere of the room that scary? Maybe it had to do with the impressive collection of sharp, pointy swords on the wall. Or maybe it had something to do with him… Byakuya mentally shrugged. It was their problem. Now if only they would answer him without acting scared out of their wits. It would save a good deal of time.
"Um…Yes. Heika-sama requested that we escort you home as soon as possible." Amefuri replied. Under the piercing gaze of those piercing eyes, plus the added knowledge that he was the Prince of Sairo, it would take a rock not to feel even slightly afraid. She nervously fiddled with the hem of her coat, waiting for the next question.
"I would like some proof that you all are Seishi. Seals and letters can be easily forged, but not so Seishi symbols." Byakuya leaned forward a bit more. He had never seen a Seishi symbol before, and probably would not know what it looked like, but the many descriptions of them from Byakko Den could not be too far off the mark. The legend of the Byakko no Miko and her Seishi was one of the most popular pieces of Sairo literature, right up there with Chronicles of the Ultimate Journey and A Dream of Red Mansions.
He was blinded for a second as three Seishi symbols winked into existence, then blinked out again. However, he did not miss the slight flicker that imposed itself onto his consciousness, tickling at the back of his mind, that somehow, these girls were the Seishi, and the flicker proof that he was the Miko. Byakuya sighed mentally. [More responsibility.] He rose up from the chair, noting that the Seishi scrambled to rise after him.
"Very well." He announced. "Amefuri, Kokie, and Subaru. We leave tomorrow morning." He could visibly see them relax. Really, was he that overwhelming?
"Hai, Tora-sama!" The three chorused in unison, nearly breaking down into giggles at the unexpected coincidence. Nearly. But the atmosphere lightened considerably.
Byakuya winced. They would have to stop the "Tora"-ing. No one knew that he was the prince, and that he had been hiding in this village for quite some time. It would cause a political scandal, a prince hiding away from such a major war. Byakuya twitched at that thought. Not good. Very not good.
"Ladies, please. It's Hitoku-san." Byakuya said. On second thoughts, he would be stuck with them for quite some time… "Or Byakuya-kun if you prefer." He walked towards the door, looking around for a servant to prepare some guest rooms for the Seishi. Where did they all disappear to?
The trio were still standing stock-still in the room, no doubt a little – or a lot – surprised by him allowing them to use his first name. They glanced at each other before shooting more disbelieved glances at his back.
Byakuya stifled a grin. It was fun to scare people on some days. "Oh yes." He threw over his shoulder. "Saihitei and Ryuuen will be coming too." And with a further grin to himself, he was gone.
The Seishi were left gaping even more.
-~=*[^]*=~-
Kokie sat down on the bed next to Subaru, and across from Amefuri sitting on a chair. The trio had gathered in Subaru's room after dinner to discuss the day's happenings, and to enlighten Subaru as to the previous identities of Ryuuen and Saihitei.
"What's surprising about Ryuu-chan is that he's a guy, and he's quite happy about it." Amefuri supplied from the chair. Subaru had been thoroughly enlightened, and was more or less aware of the former Seishi. The trio and Ryuuen had hit it off during dinner, and "chan"s were now liberally flung all over the place.
Ryuuen and Saihitei had both agreed to follow them to the capital, after making sure that their parents in Konan were duly notified. Amefuri wondered what two high-ranking Konan officials would think of their sons going to the Sairo palace… They probably wouldn't take it very well.
The former Seishi had not changed a bit in appearance or character as far as Kokie or Amefuri could tell over dinner, going by the Manga and Anime. Ryuuen, still bubbly and as cheerful as ever, Saihitei with a continuous air of elegance and practically reeking of nobility.
Byakuya on the other hand, had unveiled a rather sarcastic disposition, as well as a dry sense of humor. He also had a disturbing fascination with ancient torture techniques, not to mention blood and gore.
"It's not that unusual…" Kokie replied from the bed. The evenings were always warm in this part of Sairo, and falling asleep was sometimes hard if the night was too hot. Tonight however, was a cool night, with the desert breeze tapping gently on the paper window screens.
Subaru yawned loudly. "I'm tired… And we have more travel ahead of us tomorrow." She reminded the other two Seishi. "Can we continue this in the morning, or do I have to listen to more Anime recitals?" She stifled another yawn. Unlike Amefuri and Kokie, Subaru was not a fan of Anime or Manga. She preferred music to any other hobby.
Kokie turned her 'crazed fangirl' look on to Subaru. "But Subaru-chan! Anime is good for your health!" Her eyes widened with a seemingly innocent look onto Subaru, who backed away from Kokie.
"That's right! Come over to the dark side with us!" Amefuri chimed in chirpily. She stood up and advanced towards Subaru, who had by now backed into a corner. Amefuri broke into a grin and started rubbing her hands gleefully.
"You know, I deeply regret making that dark side and anime joke." Subaru wailed. The corner had run out of space, and the two evil fangirls were probably going to tickle her until she told them some anime nugget they had been trying to fill her brain with.
Amefuri and Kokie laughed evilly and advanced.
-~=*[^]*=~-
The following morning dawned bright and crisp, the oppressive desert heat barely present. The group gathered in the main courtyard after breakfast, and soon they had left Hanasaru village behind.
"What I want to know is why Ame-chan almost laughs when ever she sets eyes on Byakuya-kun." Kokie whispered to Subaru and Ryuuen. "It's not like he wore his coat back to front or something…" She looked at Byakuya again.
Byakuya, astride his white gelding, paid no attention to them whatsoever.
"Ne, Ame-chan." Subaru started. Amefuri tilted her head at them. Subaru and Kokie pointed simultaneously towards Byakuya.
Amefuri cracked a grin. "Not really the stereotypical 'Prince on a white horse' is he?" She motioned towards Byakuya and his horse.
Subaru groaned and buried her head in her hands, muttering something about corniness. Kokie started looking for something to hit Amefuri with. Ryuuen laughed and nearly fell off his horse.
Saihitei gave them rather blank looks. "Do you think we should as them what was so funny?" he asked Byakuya, who was riding beside him.
Byakuya kept his eyes on the path ahead of them. "I wouldn't recommend it." His hands twitched slightly. [They are –so- gonna pay when I next get my hands onto them.]
(Draconsis notes: Ehehhehe… Immediate explanation time. "Prince on a white horse" is a Chinese phrase (Bai Ma Wang Zi). Basically, it refers to the hero of each story (but not always!), you know, the type that swings in at the right moment, saves the day, and lives happily ever after. Thrown into the deal is also power; either political, or super powers or whatnot, and more often than not, the heroine (if there is one…-_-;;;) So, Byakuya is a prince, and he's riding a white horse, so… Erm, you geddit…right? ^^;;)
(Draconsis note part two: That's what happens when I eat Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. *Nod nod* It's the muses' fault! *Points to muses* *Muses: Kick Draconsis*)
-~=*[^]*=~-
Inami regarded the image on the screen with a cold and calculative gaze. "So, that's the new Byakko no Miko." He walked closer to the image, as if to memorize every detail of his features. "Uruki, how is our own search progressing?"
Uruki bit her own lip. "Those search parties turn up nothing, day after day. Even if Byakko's Miko is from our world, ours might not be. What if-"
Inami cut her off. "No. Genbu-seikun would not hamper the efforts of his own Seishi." The Miko was vital to any god. Why would Genbu-seikun need a girl from another world, and why would Byakko use a person, a male, from this world. People from the other world would not have any alliances to people from this world when they came, and thus better suited to making fair and impartial decisions. Females could also be counted to use more compassion in their judgment, and if need be, were easier to influence.
Striding across the room, Inami sat down in one of the heavily glided chairs. "Uruki, increase the search parties." She had to be here already. She had to be!
Uruki nodded, and gathering her skirts, she left.
-~=*[^]*=~-
Evening was approaching, and the group kept a lookout for any campsites. Trees had begun to appear on the terrain once again, at first consisting of thin leafless branches clawing the sky, and now taller trees spreading barely covered branches providing some shade. The dust had lessened, and some patches of yellowish grass had even appeared, casting lengthening shadows with the setting sun.
The group had used a longer route than the one the three Seishi had used to reach Hanasaru Village, due to Byakuya's insistence that they avoid human habitation. After all, he might not be the only noble to have taken refuge, and living amongst the commoners. And if one of them recognized him…
The group stopped next to a faded sign, the characters barely visible on the boards they had been written on. Written in the Old Script from the days of Byakko no Miko, the handwriting was vigorous and in the cursive style, and written in a hurry, as if a warning about something.
"Byakuya-kun, can you read that?" Ryuuen asked him. Nobles and other highly born people were taught the Old Script as well as the New Script, but due to variations of some of the characters in each of the four countries, it would be difficult for anyone of a different country to read another country's script.
"I can recognize some of it." Byakuya rode closer to the sign, studying it intently.
A silence fell on the group, an unspoken agreement to give Byakuya more concentration on his task. The horses shifted uneasily, and Saihitei's mount even snorted and paced, before he brought it under control.
A howl broke through the calm. All over the sandy terrain, low black shapes appeared, tails swishing. Another howl joined the first one, then another, and soon an entire symphony was resounding throughout the evening air.
The group had moved into a circle, back to back. Saihitei drew a broadsword from his packs, and Ryuuen stood in an attacking stance, bow left behind in Hanasaru Village. The Seishi drew their own weapons, Kokie wearing her necklace, Amefuri ready to expand the Fan-sword, and Subaru nervously clutching her scroll. Throwing knives suddenly appeared in Byakuya's hands, collected from various parts of his person.
There was a menacing snarl from the creature closest to the group. Now that it was closer, they could make out the yellow eyes of wolves. Gray fur so dark it was nearly black, each one was bigger than the huge dogs that the camel herders used. Saliva dripped from yellow fangs, and the pack edged ever closer.
"Y'know, we shouldn't have let Chibi-neko run off." Kokie said, all the while keeping her eyes on the approaching wolves. The cat that could transform into a tiger had run off when Byakko-seikun appeared to the three Seishi, and had been missing ever since. "It would be really useful right now."
Byakuya spoke up. "I guess this is a bad time to tell everyone what the sign said." He hurled a dagger at an approaching wolf, and the dagger embedded itself in a furry shoulder. The wolf snarled, and paused for a few seconds before resuming its deadly march towards him, regardless of the murky red blood that flowed from its shoulder.
"It can't get any worse." Amefuri said. Her fan expanded into its sword form with a flash of white light, and she held it ready in front of her. The wolves were nearly in sword range now, yellow fangs even clearer to the eye.
"Yes, you might as well tell us." Saihitei responded from Byakuya's left. His eyes picked out each potential target, noting the scars of aged fighters and the inexperience of younger wolves.
Byakuya flicked another knife at a wolf, this time using a spinning motion that slashed the wolf's face open from ear to chin. It howled and collapsed in a heap, blood blooming from its open face, paws scrambling upon the dry ground in the grasp of death.
"Caution. Rabid wolves in the area." Byakuya said in a flat voice.
And then the wolves were upon them.
-~=*[ Tsudzuku To Be Continued ]*=~-
Story Guide
Barrier points – The concentration points in a barrier. If a barrier has one concentration point, and it is broken, the barrier goes down. The more barrier points, the more power is needed to break each barrier point, and thus the longer the barrier will stand.
Zenmenteiki Kuchiku – Means "Complete Destruction" in Japanese.
Byakko Den – The story of the original Byakko no Miko, written by the remaining seishi after her departure.
Chronicles of the Ultimate Journey – It's the name of an anime, transliterated…guess which one it is! (Sansele, no guessing. I told you.)
A Dream of Red Mansions – One of the Four Chinese Classics. (Hong Lou Meng)
"Dark Side" Joke – The Byakko Seishi shall explain it…
Scripts – This idea is based on the Chinese language, since the two in use right now, the older version (Fan Ti Zi, used in Taiwan and in Japanese language) is more complex than the newer version (Jian Ti Zi, used in China and Singapore). By a lot. Example: My surname in 'new' Chinese consists of 12 strokes (-_-;;;) in 'old' Chinese, it's around 20+ strokes… according to my aunt… And there were a lot more versions before the older version of Chinese used now. You do not want to know how many.
Rabies – Errrr…it's really catching ya know…^^;;;
Kai's explanation on sword length and weight
(Draconsis: Kai is perfectly reliable on this topic. (Not necessarily on others…) Wushu (Chinese Martial Arts) is her Co-curricular Activity. She just happens to be in the sword section as well…)
The most basic way to see the length of the sword is to hold it against your back as my teacher says and it should be about the height of your ear. As for the weight, well… It has to be a weight you can handle!
So that's it for this chapter minna-san! And I'm sorry I had to 'kill' off Chichiri, Tasuki-chan, and Amiboshi, but, that's how they died before. If I didn't, they would all be old men in this fic. . Ewww right? Since Seishi live for pretty long…
Oh yeah, and the anime and the dark side joke…
Kokie + Amefuri: *Shove Subaru into the spotlight*
Subaru: ME!? Why me?
Kokie: You made the joke…
Subaru: *Sigh* Okay, so Ko-chan and Ame-chan were trying to convert another one of our friends to the anime side. In a fit of desperation, I yelled out that she shouldn't go over to the dark side with them. You know, the entire 'laugh evilly and hentaily and freak out your friends' bit? Yeah. That was a longggggggg time ago… And they're still at it!
Amefuri: *nod* *nod* So, Su-chan. *Evil grin* Are you coming over to the dark side with us???
Subaru: Oh no…
Amefuri: Ne, can we chuck her into the palace pond if she says no? ^_^
Kokie: *Whacks Amefuri* No, we'll just strap her to a chair and force her to watch Yami no Matsuei.
*Teleports the trio out*
As a side note, I am –not- responsible for what my characters do…*sweatdrop*
And a lame joke courtesy of me…
Q: What car does the Bishonen Mitsukake drive?
A: A Mitsubishi! See! Mitsu=Mitsukake, Bishi=bishonen! ^_^
Geddit?
*Silence. Longer silence. Seasons change. Dee-chan finishes "Fushigi Yuugi: The Next Chapter" (not yet!). Draconsis actually gets above 75 for a test…*
Mr. Voice-in-the-asterisks, shut up.
*Okie Dokie…*
So that's all for this chapter minna, I'll try to write MUCH faster next time!
As always, read and review, ask me if you're unclear, and review my other stuff if you have time! Just click the pretty blue "Draconsis" at the top of the page…
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Signing off,
~Draconsis
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