Sansele wins again ^^ Um...I'll give you another cameo, as promised...just not the cameo I intended since your character already has a place in the world. Yes Serevy is from Akazukin Chacha (Red Riding Hood Chacha), except it's spelled Seravy :p Even Sakata missed it while she was editing, though, so that's ok. Anyway, people should watch Chacha if possible. It's a fun series.

Sorry this chapter's a little late. Damn school work .

Now on with the chapter.

Firey Remembrance

Chapter 7

"How...how could dis a' happened?" Kouji grumbled. They had entered the shrine in order to speak with the shrine's guardians about the crystal. The enormous, amber-colored gem had been the source of Ifrit, the shrine's aeon's, power and, as some theorized, it's life force as well. For certain, however, the aeon could not exsist without it. That much was written in the ancient scriptures.

"Who was guardin' it?" he asked sharply, glaring at the nearest shrine guard. The young man took a step back nerveously.

"Ah, well...I was here, that I was," one of the guards responded, stepping forward. He had long red hair that was tied back and violet(?) eyes that were shaded by his loose bangs. He wore a fushia kimono-style top that was partly opened, white hakama, and a pair of simple sandals.

"Well, Kenshin*?" Kouji asked, folding his arms. Houjun looked up from his seat at the base of one of the statues of the summoners that had defeated Sin in the past.

"Well, you see, no one came in at all. It was a quiet night, that it was. It was nearly midnight when it happened."

~*~

'Hmmm...my shift is nearly over, that it is,' Kenshin thought, looking up at the nearly full moon. He sighed after a moment and began making one last check of the area. He walked around the amber jewel of the aeon's power and stopped to gaze upon it for a moment.

'Seems brighter than usual, that it does...' he thought, tilting his head slightly to the right. 'Prehaps he's being summoned into battle?' The shrine guard shook his head slightly and walked past it to the entrance. Just as he reached the door, he heard a loud cracking sound. The redhead spun around, his right hand flying to rest on the handle of his sword. His eyes widened as he heard the sound again, louder than the first time. He ran back to the crystal, standing over it in shock. Beneath the surface, several cracks had begun to form. The cracks lengthened and began to form on the surface as well. Kenshin stumbled backward, uncertain as to what was happening, let alone what he could do. The crystal emitted a fire-colored light and erupted, sending shards flying in every direction. The shrine guard had only enough time to shield his face from harm, but the force knocked him back several feet. He managed to look up after a moment and could vaguly make out a a shape emerge from the pillar of fire that rose into the the sky, but the flames flared brightly, and he was forced to shiled his eyes again.

~*~

"It just exploded, then? That doesn't make any sense," Hikou grumbled.

"But that is what happened," Kenshin replied, calmly. "I am as baffled as you are, that I am."

"So the bottom line is dat Ifrit is gone," Kouji said, casting a side-long glance at Houjun. The summoner slowly rose to his feet and looked up at the statue.

"I...I won't let this stop me," he announced. "I'm upset at the loss...but somehow...I don't feel that he's lost to me..." he shook his head. "No...I feel like he's still with me...just like him," he finished quietly, his gaze still directed up at the statue's face.

"But how can you, or anyone else, defeat Sin without all of the aeons!?" the shrine priest asked.

"It can be done with five aeons, and there were originally six so all I have to do is find the lost shrine, right?" Houjun nodded and smiled. "I won't give up. I will see this journey through."

"Houjun..." Kouji said and then smiled as well. "Yer serious, huh? Den I'll help ya however I can."

"Thank you, Kouji," Houjun replied. "Right now, I think I should talk to Alexander about this."

"We'll go with you," Hikou said.

"I'll see ya guys tanight den. I got some things ta take care of."

"Alright, see you later Kouji." With that, Houjun turned and left the shrine with Hikou in tow.

"So, your father's statue is in Reikaku," the water mage stated simply once they were outside.

"Yeah...I think it's because Hakurou was one of my father's guardians," Houjun replied softly.

"Probably." They walked in silence for a few minutes before Hikou spoke again. "You think that Ifrit's watching over you?"

"In a sense...sort of...it's hard to explain how I feel about it," the summoner replied, clasping his hands behind his neck. "It's kind of...a sort of calm, reassuring feeling...like...even though I can't summon him...he'll still be there for me...does that make sense?"

"Not really," Hikou admitted. "But as long as you're alright with it."

"I think I am...I just wish I knew why I felt like this..."

~*~*~*~*~

"You're telling me that the shrine's aeon no longer exsists and that it dosen't bother you?"

"That's right, Ayuru," Hakurou replied, folding his arms as he looked the master summoner in the face, unafraid of him.

"Then you are a failure to not only your village, but your liniage as well."

"Tell me, what should I have done? One of my best shrine guards was on duty that night and, from what he told me, there was nothing that could be done about it. It merely happened and there is no reversing it. I have already told the villagers to remain calm and that we can survive without the protection of the aeon. This village has stood for centuries and it will stand for many more."

"You take the word of a pathetic man who weilds a reverse-blade sword? And how do you suppose you can protect the village from Sin without an aeon's power?" Ayuru asked, narrowing his ice blue eyes.

"We are still protected by the spirit of the mountain," Hakurou said. "Besides, why are you concerned about us? Shouldn't you be more worried about making sure the same thing doesn't happen to Shiva's crystal?"

Ayuru closed his eyes. "Hmph, have it your way, Hakurou. I'll leave." He turned and left the room without another word.

"An' stay off our mountain," Hakurou muttered as the door closed behind him. He sighed and sat down. "Attendant," he called. The door opened again and young man entered. He had short, nearly black brown hair and eyes of the same color. He wore a white button up shirt open over a dark blue t-shirt and black pants.

"What is it Hakurou?" he asked quietly. Hakurou smiled and waved him closer.

"Shinji*, how are the preparations for tonight coming?"

"Oh, well everything is on schedule," Shinji replied, coming a bit closer, but stopping hesitantly five feet from the village leader.

"That's good to hear. Has the blitz ball team returned with the summoner and his guardian?" Hakurou asked, leaning forward slightly.

"They have. I believe Kouji went to the shrine with the summoner."

"Then he knows. That's fine. See 'master' Ayuru off for me, then," the older man said, standing up. "If he doesn't leave immediatly, let me know."

"Yes sir," Shinji mumbled. He turned and left the room quickly, leaving the door open. Hakurou sighed and stepped out into the hallway, pulling the door closed.

"The first two are blitz ball players and the third child's timid as a mouse. How did this happen?" he wondered. The dark-haired man shook his head and headed toward the exit. "Speaking of the first two, I should have asked if they won."

~*~

"They've arranged a dinner for you," Alexander said. He had calmed down quite a bit since the summoner had last seen him. They were out in the garden of the main house by a fountain. Sakata sat on a bench nearby under a cherry blossom tree cradling a baby fox, who seemed quite content to lay in her arms for the moment.

"That's nice of them," Houjun smiled.

"We're also going to see to it that you have all the supplies you're going to need to get you to Sairou," Sakata added.

"That will be a big help," Hikou nodded. "Are you going back to Eiyo, Alexander?"

"No, I think I should stay here for a little while," the blonde replied with a slight smile. "I think they need me here more than in Eiyo. I'll have to send a message to Muraki to let him know what has happened."

"Well, then...I'll see you tonight..." Houjun said, turning away and walking off. Hikou nodded to Alexander before starting to follow his friend, but the summoner stopped him. "Hikou...I need to be alone for a little while, alright?" The cerulean-haired man continued walking away from them, the weight of everything bearing on his shoulders.

"Alright, Houjun. I'll see you tonight, then," Hikou whispered, turning back to Alexander.

"The night before...is always the hardest," the violet-eyed man sighed as he sat beside Sakata. "He knows what awaits him. Will you do your best to help him, Hikou?"

"You know I will, Alex. We've been friends since childhood, afterall. This is something he feels he has to do, and who am I to stop him."

Alexander regaurded Hikou for a moment, a knowing look on his face. "You know what will happen too, don't you? That you might-"

"I'm ready to do whatever it takes to help him see this through to the end," Hikou snapped, cutting him off. "Even if I wish that he hadn't chosen this path..."

~*~

Houjun walked down the path before him, his eyes on the ground. He could feel a dull ache in his heart as he thought about the journey he was about to begin. His mind was supposed to be focused on nothing but the road ahead, but it kept turning to thoughts of a certain red head.

'Part of me wants to see him again...but part of me wants him to stay far away from me... What am I going to do...?' the summoner thought miserably.

"If it isn't the young summoner Ri," a voice spoke amost mockingly from the path ahead of him. He looked up quickly to find himself under the icy gaze of Ayuru.

"M-master Ayuru? Wh-what are you doing here?" Houjun stammered, shocked to see Kutou's famed summoner in the gardens of Reikaku.

"I was coming to check on Ifrit's shrine," the blonde replied, approching the younger man. "Are you having second thoughts about the journey ahead because of the loss?"

"You mean because Ifrit's gone?" Houjun asked softly before shaking his head. "No, I can't give up this easily."

"Even you must know that you can't defeat Sin without five aeons," Ayuru said, stopping before him. "What is it you intend to do?"

"I..." the young summoner began, heart pounding. "I'm going to find the lost shrine."

"And what exactly do you hope to accomplish by going on this journey? Surely you know what will happen after you summon the final aeon."

"I do, but I have to know what happened to my parents," Houjun replied, his gaze lowering.

"Ah yes, your parents. They should have known better, really. It's a pity," Ayuru sighed, circling around the smaller man. "However, if you should wish to forfeit your title as summoner, you are always welcome in Kutou. I'm sure I can find a place for you."

"And I thought you'd be offering me words of encouragement," the younger man huffed, glancing back at the blonde. "I'll be going to Kutou, but only so I can attain Shiva."

"So be it, young Ri. Perhaps you'll change your mind before then. I pray you do," he murmured, smirking in an almost predatory way. Houjun glared back, pulse speeding as he steeled himself, not wanting to back down.

"Ayuru! I believe I asked you to leave," Hakurou bellowed, breaking the tense atmosphere as he came running towards the two summoners.

"I was just doing that, Hakurou," the blonde replied cooly, continuing on the path as though nothing had happened. The village leader stopped before Houjun and looked at him.

"Are you alright, summoner?" he asked.

Houjun continued to stare after Ayuru's retreating back a moment before tuning to Hakurou with a pleasant smile. "I'm fine," the younger man replied cheerfully.

"I'm glad. I was worried that he might have been putting ideas in your head," Hakurou sighed. He placed a hand on Houjun's shoulder and smiled. "Come on, everyone is waiting for you."

~*~

The dining hall was full of mirth and laughter as everyone sought to enjoy the evening. The blitz ball players sat together near the head of the table, making the most noise. Haruko and Nasch had engaged in a drinking contest, the latter being to busy getting drunk to notice that Viollet had stuck a little paper umbrella in the top of his absurd hair style. Sanosuke was sitting quietly, his arms wrapped possesivly around Kenshin, who leaned back against the taller man. Watari had five different bottles of wine in front of him and was combining them in various ways, a hobby of his that Kouji had mentioned to Houjun and Hikou before. The summoner and his two guardians sat at the head of the table with Hakurou, making them the center of attention for the evening. Alexander and Sakata were sitting somewhat apart from everyone else with a bottle of amazake(1) and trying to act like they weren't love birds, although everyone could see something was definitely between them.

Houjun picked at his food, his confrontation with Ayuru still bothering him. He looked up when one of the half-drunk villagers stood and raised his glass.

"Here's ta da blitz ball team and dere future winnin' streak!" Other glasses rose into the air as others answered the toast with a vibrant cheer.

"Here's ta Kouji in hope that he doesn't get his ass killed out there," one man laughed.

"Yeah, we're gonna need him next year," Haruko replied, raising her glass for a moment before downing it and pouring anotehr shot. Hakurou cleared his throat and rose to his feet before raising his glass.

"I believe that now is as good a time as any to offer a toast to the young summoner and wish him well in his journey."

"Yeah, not to mention that if it weren't for him, we wouldn't have won," Watari pointed out, raising his latest concoction towards Houjun. The rest of the team agreed and Houjun found himself smiling.

'Everyone's been trying their best to make me happy tonight...,' the summoner thought. He nodded at the team and held up his glass before bringing it to his lips. 'I won't worry about what lies ahead, then. This might be the last time I can have fun, so I'm going to enjoy myself too.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The people with asteriks (*) after their names are the two cameos. Whoever can correctly identify them both first gets the cameo.

(1) amazake is sweet sake

And now, because you know you want it (and because my muse told me to ;) ) here are some akugis!

Number 1

"Yes sir," Shinji mumbled. He turned and left the room quickly, leaving the door open. Hakurou sighed and stepped out into the hallway, pulling the door closed.

"The first two are blitz ball players and the third child's a puss."

"I heard that!" Shinji's voice yelled back. "Eva unit 01!"

Hakurou looked up as a gigantic shadow fell over him. "Oh shit..."

Number 2

"And what exactly do you hope to accomplish by going on this journey? Surely you know what will happen after you summon the final aeon."

"I do, but I have to know what happened to my parents," Houjun replied, his gaze lowering.

"Houjun, it's futile. Join the dark side." The Kutou summoner's voice deepened ominously. "I am your father!"

Houjun fell to his knees, a look of horror on his face. "NOOOOOOOOOOO! Oh wait a minute, my father's dead!"

Number 3

"We're also going to see to it that you have all the supplies you're going to need to get you to Sairou," Sakata added.

"That will be a big help," Hikou nodded. "Are you going back to Eiyo, Alexander?"

"No, I think I should stay here for a little while," the blonde replied with a slight smile. "I think they need me here more than in Eiyo." Sakata suddenly jumped up and lifted the blonde off his feet. "In fact, I think they need me right now!" he said as the blitz ball player hurried into the bushes with him. After a moment, the foilage stared shaking and strange noises could be heard from within.

Both Houjun and Hikou sweat dropped and slowly began backing away from the bushes.