Chapter 40
The alley way was empty. There was no sound of life whatsoever within the street behind the pub. Kristin looked far down the ends of the alley in both directions, but couldn't see any trace of Caitlin or Tasuki.
"Where could they be?" she wondered, as her remaining Seishi walked behind her out of the pub, down the street full of people.
"Kristin-sama," Chichiri asked. "Where do you suppose we go now? Caitlin and Tasuki have gone missing, and we have no clue as to where the next Shinzaho might be."
"No," Kristin said, "we might have a clue." She stared up the road, and looked far off into the distance where mountains overlooked the West City. A large building stood atop that mountain, sun glinting off of its surface.
"I believe that's the Temple of Byakko," Kristin exclaimed.
"It is," Chiriko said, nodding his head while he rode on Mitsukake's back.
"Are you suggesting we go there for the Shinzaho?" Chichiri asked.
"It seems like an obvious choice," Kristin said, her eyes set on the Temple far ahead of her. "I think we should be able to reach it by sun down."
"How do we know that Seiryu Seishi aren't there yet?" Mitsukake asked. Gosh, he's quick.
"We'll know once we get there," Kristin said. "Don't let them frighten you. Just don't get in Nakago's way, I guess. You can easily beat any of the others, seriously, you can. Even Chiriko . . . oh!"
Kristin stopped, and everyone stopped with her.
"What's wrong, Kristin-sama?" Chiriko asked.
"N-nothing," Kristin stuttered. How could she warn Chiriko about a demon possessing his body? She was going to have to take precautions that they didn't kill the demonic baby known as Miboshi (for Kristin doesn't know that he has had a body change yet).
The group began walking again, their eyes fixed on the Temple sitting atop the mountain rising before them.
Indeed, it was when the sun had reached the horizon of the land, streaking the sky with red, orange, and pink lights. Chichiri doubled back before the giant doors of the temple, alarming the Priestess.
"What's the matter, Chichiri?" she asked anxiously.
"The Seiryu are definitely here," Chichiri said. "I can sense their life force, but . . . there is a very strong life force very close, on the other side of this door, but it is not a enemy's force!"
Mitsukake slowly creaked the doors open for them, and they all crept out into the giant hall way of the Temple. Chichiri looked around, then gasped, pointing at a door a little ways from them.
"In there," he whispered. "It seems like a friendly life force, but it's very strong - as though two bodies have coupled into one!"
Mitsukake, once again, took the honor of gently creaking the door open, and then, took a sharp breath. He motioned for the others to look.
What Kristin saw made her flush and put a smile on her face. In a little bed on the other side of the extremely heated room, where clothes littered the ground, Caitlin and Tasuki lay under the sheets, Tasuki holding gingerly to her hand, placing it near his chest, and a smile on his usually rough face. Caitlin was smiling in her sleep, pressed up against him, and both of their faces were flushed.
"It's exactly what we think," Kristin whispered, before she and the other Seishi closed the door, to leave the two alone.
As they left the room where Tasuki and Caitlin lay, Kristin heard a voice in the distant halls, and recognized the low, thick accented Japanese voice of Makiko shouting, "I GET IT!!"
"Makiko?" Kristin wondered. She hadn't known Makiko was there in the World of the Four Gods. She knew nothing about Makiko's doings with the Seiryu Seven.
"You recognize that voice, Kristin-sama?" Nuriko asked, carrying the bag with Soi's body over his shoulder.
"Yes," Kristin said. "That's Makiko, my friend from my world. But, what is she doing here?"
"Perhaps we should go and find out," Chichiri said, and the group began to make their way through the dark halls of the Temple. It was eerily quiet, and Kristin noticed she couldn't hear Makiko's voice anymore. What had happened?
They continued to walk cautiously, until Kristin saw a shadow on the wall far ahead of them. Coming towards them.
"Something's there," Chichiri whispered, "and it seems to have the aura of a Seiryu!"
All tensed up, Kristin pulled out her sword, and walked along the wall, her body pressed against it. The shadow could not see them, as it walked in an opposite hallway, and just as the figure reached the corner, so did Kristin and her sword was under the figure's chin with a gasp.
"Who goes there?!" Kristin bellowed. The figure gasped, and stammered out, "K-Kristin?"
"Makiko!" Kristin shouted happily, dropping her sword. The two girls appeared infront of each other, Makiko exposing herself to the Suzaku Seishi.
"What are you doing here?" Kristin cried, throwing her arms around Makiko.
"Uh. what are you doing here?" Makiko said, her voice a bit shifty.
"Chichiri thought he sensed something Seiryu with you. Doesn't that make you. . . ?" Kristin asked.
"Uh, gotta go," Makiko said, and tried to run off, but Kristin grabbed her by the sleeve.
"It's okay, Makiko," Kristin said. "I'm not mad at you for being a Seiryu."
"You have to understand," Makiko said, "the book I found . . . the Universe of the Four Gods . . . it told me that when you said that phrase I told you guys about, you know, to Wish upon the Seven Stars of whichever beast god you wanted, then the celestial Warrior most connected to you would appear. I meant to say Suzaku, I swear to you I did, but for some reason Seiryu came out of my mouth. I was drowning you see, and I didn't really think it'd work . . . but it did. I summoned Miboshi."
"You summoned Miboshi?!" Kristin cried. "You summoned that demon?!"
"He's no demon," Makiko cried in defense. "His original body has been given back to him by Naiidoska, and for your information, he's my fiancee! He promised to make me his bride as soon as everything has been finished around here. Now, if you don't mind, I have to go warn Nakago about the Lone Wolf Warrior and the Suzaku Seven!"
"Uh, Makiko . . . "
"Nevermind!" she cried, pulling herself away from Kristin's grip. "Ochi ha ko bot a tee!" she cried, her words a bunch of nonsense. But, nevertheless, a giant cheez it appeared before Kristin, a wide gaping mouth on it with two red eyes glaring.
"Sorry, Kristin," Makiko said, "but there's no better way to delay you." And Makiko ran off down the halls.
Kristin stared up at the cheez it towering over her.
"This is going to be a long fight."
Meanwhile, the Seiryu had settled themselves into the Temple, and Martha sat by Nakago's side, who was forcing himself out of bed, his face drenched with sweat, and his head throbbing in pain.
"Nakago, please," Martha said, holding his arm gently. "You're ill at ease. Let me do this. We'll get the Shinzaho and everything will be fine. Don't push your self, you're too weak right now."
"I'm never weak," he said, his cheeks greatly flushed. His eyes were closed and he was taking in deep breaths. He was not fine, and everyone knew it. The Twins sat on the ground before him, waiting for their next move. Tomo, Kailein, Miboshi and Makiko were no where to be found.
A frown formed on Martha's face, and she pushed Nakago back into bed.
"No," she said, her voice stern. "You're not going. You are going to stay in bed, mister, and you're going to have plenty of rest and fluids so that you can feel better in the morning. I'm going to get the Shinzaho with the help of my other Seishi, and we're going to summon Seiryu first, and all will be done and well on our behalf. Then, Kristin can summon her Suzaku, and all will be in peace."
"But," Amiboshi said, "Won't Kristin's wishes effect the Emperor's wishes?"
"The Emperor is not getting any wishes," Martha said flatly.
Nakago turned on her with a straight face, sitting back up rather violently.
"Are you insane?" he said, almost yelling. "The Priestess is supposed to come down and save her land! If the Emperor knew that you weren't going to grant his wishes . . . "
"Nakago, you know full well that the wishes of the Emperor will not save anyone of Kutou."
Nakago stared at Martha, his eyes narrowing. Then, he gave a sigh, and fell back into bed. "You're right. He only wants land of Konan. But still . . . he'll hurt you, or even worse, kill you for not granting his wishes."
"I can deal," Martha said. "I have to do what is right. No matter if we were labeled the bad guys in this whole thing. I'm going to save the people of our land from war, and all will be in peace."
"And what are your other wishes?" Suboshi asked. He was still injured, but had enough strength to stand. He was not going to fight for a long time, though.
"My first is for the land of Kutou," Martha stated. "My second is to give one wish to every member of the Seiryu Seven."
"You would really do that?' Amiboshi said, his face lighting up.
"But of course," Martha said, smiling. "You know I love you all."
"And what about the third?" Suboshi asked.
"That is a personal secret of mine."
The alley way was empty. There was no sound of life whatsoever within the street behind the pub. Kristin looked far down the ends of the alley in both directions, but couldn't see any trace of Caitlin or Tasuki.
"Where could they be?" she wondered, as her remaining Seishi walked behind her out of the pub, down the street full of people.
"Kristin-sama," Chichiri asked. "Where do you suppose we go now? Caitlin and Tasuki have gone missing, and we have no clue as to where the next Shinzaho might be."
"No," Kristin said, "we might have a clue." She stared up the road, and looked far off into the distance where mountains overlooked the West City. A large building stood atop that mountain, sun glinting off of its surface.
"I believe that's the Temple of Byakko," Kristin exclaimed.
"It is," Chiriko said, nodding his head while he rode on Mitsukake's back.
"Are you suggesting we go there for the Shinzaho?" Chichiri asked.
"It seems like an obvious choice," Kristin said, her eyes set on the Temple far ahead of her. "I think we should be able to reach it by sun down."
"How do we know that Seiryu Seishi aren't there yet?" Mitsukake asked. Gosh, he's quick.
"We'll know once we get there," Kristin said. "Don't let them frighten you. Just don't get in Nakago's way, I guess. You can easily beat any of the others, seriously, you can. Even Chiriko . . . oh!"
Kristin stopped, and everyone stopped with her.
"What's wrong, Kristin-sama?" Chiriko asked.
"N-nothing," Kristin stuttered. How could she warn Chiriko about a demon possessing his body? She was going to have to take precautions that they didn't kill the demonic baby known as Miboshi (for Kristin doesn't know that he has had a body change yet).
The group began walking again, their eyes fixed on the Temple sitting atop the mountain rising before them.
Indeed, it was when the sun had reached the horizon of the land, streaking the sky with red, orange, and pink lights. Chichiri doubled back before the giant doors of the temple, alarming the Priestess.
"What's the matter, Chichiri?" she asked anxiously.
"The Seiryu are definitely here," Chichiri said. "I can sense their life force, but . . . there is a very strong life force very close, on the other side of this door, but it is not a enemy's force!"
Mitsukake slowly creaked the doors open for them, and they all crept out into the giant hall way of the Temple. Chichiri looked around, then gasped, pointing at a door a little ways from them.
"In there," he whispered. "It seems like a friendly life force, but it's very strong - as though two bodies have coupled into one!"
Mitsukake, once again, took the honor of gently creaking the door open, and then, took a sharp breath. He motioned for the others to look.
What Kristin saw made her flush and put a smile on her face. In a little bed on the other side of the extremely heated room, where clothes littered the ground, Caitlin and Tasuki lay under the sheets, Tasuki holding gingerly to her hand, placing it near his chest, and a smile on his usually rough face. Caitlin was smiling in her sleep, pressed up against him, and both of their faces were flushed.
"It's exactly what we think," Kristin whispered, before she and the other Seishi closed the door, to leave the two alone.
As they left the room where Tasuki and Caitlin lay, Kristin heard a voice in the distant halls, and recognized the low, thick accented Japanese voice of Makiko shouting, "I GET IT!!"
"Makiko?" Kristin wondered. She hadn't known Makiko was there in the World of the Four Gods. She knew nothing about Makiko's doings with the Seiryu Seven.
"You recognize that voice, Kristin-sama?" Nuriko asked, carrying the bag with Soi's body over his shoulder.
"Yes," Kristin said. "That's Makiko, my friend from my world. But, what is she doing here?"
"Perhaps we should go and find out," Chichiri said, and the group began to make their way through the dark halls of the Temple. It was eerily quiet, and Kristin noticed she couldn't hear Makiko's voice anymore. What had happened?
They continued to walk cautiously, until Kristin saw a shadow on the wall far ahead of them. Coming towards them.
"Something's there," Chichiri whispered, "and it seems to have the aura of a Seiryu!"
All tensed up, Kristin pulled out her sword, and walked along the wall, her body pressed against it. The shadow could not see them, as it walked in an opposite hallway, and just as the figure reached the corner, so did Kristin and her sword was under the figure's chin with a gasp.
"Who goes there?!" Kristin bellowed. The figure gasped, and stammered out, "K-Kristin?"
"Makiko!" Kristin shouted happily, dropping her sword. The two girls appeared infront of each other, Makiko exposing herself to the Suzaku Seishi.
"What are you doing here?" Kristin cried, throwing her arms around Makiko.
"Uh. what are you doing here?" Makiko said, her voice a bit shifty.
"Chichiri thought he sensed something Seiryu with you. Doesn't that make you. . . ?" Kristin asked.
"Uh, gotta go," Makiko said, and tried to run off, but Kristin grabbed her by the sleeve.
"It's okay, Makiko," Kristin said. "I'm not mad at you for being a Seiryu."
"You have to understand," Makiko said, "the book I found . . . the Universe of the Four Gods . . . it told me that when you said that phrase I told you guys about, you know, to Wish upon the Seven Stars of whichever beast god you wanted, then the celestial Warrior most connected to you would appear. I meant to say Suzaku, I swear to you I did, but for some reason Seiryu came out of my mouth. I was drowning you see, and I didn't really think it'd work . . . but it did. I summoned Miboshi."
"You summoned Miboshi?!" Kristin cried. "You summoned that demon?!"
"He's no demon," Makiko cried in defense. "His original body has been given back to him by Naiidoska, and for your information, he's my fiancee! He promised to make me his bride as soon as everything has been finished around here. Now, if you don't mind, I have to go warn Nakago about the Lone Wolf Warrior and the Suzaku Seven!"
"Uh, Makiko . . . "
"Nevermind!" she cried, pulling herself away from Kristin's grip. "Ochi ha ko bot a tee!" she cried, her words a bunch of nonsense. But, nevertheless, a giant cheez it appeared before Kristin, a wide gaping mouth on it with two red eyes glaring.
"Sorry, Kristin," Makiko said, "but there's no better way to delay you." And Makiko ran off down the halls.
Kristin stared up at the cheez it towering over her.
"This is going to be a long fight."
Meanwhile, the Seiryu had settled themselves into the Temple, and Martha sat by Nakago's side, who was forcing himself out of bed, his face drenched with sweat, and his head throbbing in pain.
"Nakago, please," Martha said, holding his arm gently. "You're ill at ease. Let me do this. We'll get the Shinzaho and everything will be fine. Don't push your self, you're too weak right now."
"I'm never weak," he said, his cheeks greatly flushed. His eyes were closed and he was taking in deep breaths. He was not fine, and everyone knew it. The Twins sat on the ground before him, waiting for their next move. Tomo, Kailein, Miboshi and Makiko were no where to be found.
A frown formed on Martha's face, and she pushed Nakago back into bed.
"No," she said, her voice stern. "You're not going. You are going to stay in bed, mister, and you're going to have plenty of rest and fluids so that you can feel better in the morning. I'm going to get the Shinzaho with the help of my other Seishi, and we're going to summon Seiryu first, and all will be done and well on our behalf. Then, Kristin can summon her Suzaku, and all will be in peace."
"But," Amiboshi said, "Won't Kristin's wishes effect the Emperor's wishes?"
"The Emperor is not getting any wishes," Martha said flatly.
Nakago turned on her with a straight face, sitting back up rather violently.
"Are you insane?" he said, almost yelling. "The Priestess is supposed to come down and save her land! If the Emperor knew that you weren't going to grant his wishes . . . "
"Nakago, you know full well that the wishes of the Emperor will not save anyone of Kutou."
Nakago stared at Martha, his eyes narrowing. Then, he gave a sigh, and fell back into bed. "You're right. He only wants land of Konan. But still . . . he'll hurt you, or even worse, kill you for not granting his wishes."
"I can deal," Martha said. "I have to do what is right. No matter if we were labeled the bad guys in this whole thing. I'm going to save the people of our land from war, and all will be in peace."
"And what are your other wishes?" Suboshi asked. He was still injured, but had enough strength to stand. He was not going to fight for a long time, though.
"My first is for the land of Kutou," Martha stated. "My second is to give one wish to every member of the Seiryu Seven."
"You would really do that?' Amiboshi said, his face lighting up.
"But of course," Martha said, smiling. "You know I love you all."
"And what about the third?" Suboshi asked.
"That is a personal secret of mine."