~ Chapter 6 ~
Progeny of the Beast God
(10 minutes afterwards)
It had been 10 minutes since the incident in the kitchen when Sakura's pet cat attacked me, and when Sakura counterattacked Tasuki's flame with a surprise spell. Tasuki and I forced Sakura to sit; even right where she was, and tell us; from beginning to end; exactly what was going on. Tasuki and I sat side by side, in front of Sakura, to begin interrogation. She didn't seem at all comfortable with this, and decided to clamp her mouth shut, and very tightly.
"Sakura-chan no da … you have to tell us, onegai no da," I pleaded nicely, smiling genuinely, for I had long forgotten about conjuring up a new mask to wear. My old one was ripped to shreds not too long ago. Tasuki nodded stubbornly, arms crossed, and a look practically screaming of tenacity. I looked at her hopefully; her eyes showed much compassion when they met mine, but also firmness as well as apprehension. I softened on reflex.
"Okay … but can we do this individually?" She must have been very nervous, because she started to shiver faintly. I wondered how this could be so secretive that she must worry like she was doing so now.
Her request was simple – and would most likely make Sakura a lot more comfortable in the situation at hand. I accepted, but I wondered about Tasuki. I turned my head slightly so my good eye could glance at Tasuki. He was already looking at me, a look of disapproval on his face, which I had to correct. I nodded firmly – and Tasuki looked more at me. He softened and gave me a fanged grin.
"Hai … whatever makes you comfortable no da."
"Great," she put her two index fingers together, "let's do this orderly, shall we? Chichiri will come in with me first, of course ---"
Tasuki frowned.
"No offense Tasuki, it's just he was here first – anyway, let's go Chichiri," Sakura sighed heavily and led me to her bedroom. Tasuki, unknowing as to what to do with himself for the time being, sat where he was and polished his tessen with a part of his shirt.
"Jus' don' take too long, Chiri," he mumbled, already bored with himself.
"Okay Chichiri, I give," she sighed longingly and slumped rather low where she sat, on the floor. I sat next to her. "I'll tell you, even though it's against my task to tell anyone."
"Don't mind what Tasuki said out there, about hurrying … take your time," I patted her shoulder comfortingly as to help her along.
"All right," she began. "But first I want to show you, rather than tell you." I nodded and took off my mask.
Sakura stood up from her spot, something I didn't expect her to do, and closed her eyes. Her whole body glowed an eerie emerald color, the same color her fingers were when she counterattacked Tasuki. The glow swirled around her body like flames licking wood in a fire, and out of her back, nearest her shoulderblades, grew wings. The wings were huge, with silky feathers, with a crimson shade to them. She arched her wings and folded them some so she could stand upright and move around without knocking this over from their shelves. When she opened her eyes, they were brilliant emerald, just like the color of her extraordinary Chi. She looked at me warily at first, fear in her eyes of how I would respond.
My eye, I felt, was as wide as it could get, and I had been gaping. She saw this and giggled lightly somewhat, and I snapped my jaw closed, giving her an impressed smile. As I did so she breathed a sigh of relief and fell to her knees. I scooted closer and put an arm over her shoulders.
"Gomen ne Chichiri for not telling you – or Tasuki – but I actually know about just as many spells as you, and more …" she trailed off.
"Who are you, Sakura-chan, ne no da?" I tightened my hold and she shuddered.
"Don't be too surprised, Chichiri, because I'm actually related to The Red Bird of the South: Suzaku-sama," she folded her hands in her lap and stared at them, tears threatening to fall. I could not believe what I had just heard.
"You are … the Progeny of the Beast God?" I immediately let go and bowed my head to her in respect. I was in the presence of the Beast God Suzaku-sama's half child! How would Tasuki react to this? "Sakura-sama, gomen ne for everything – I did not know …"
"No, no Chichiri, it's quite alright. You don't have to call me '-sama' or anything like that, it's actually kind of unsettling, really," she perked up and giggled. Her wings swished as she practically lifted me up with her prodigious strength, one of her qualities and powers of being the descendant of Suzaku, and hugged me rather tightly --- just like that fateful morning when she woke to find me in her same bedroom.
"I am the progeny of Suzaku, and I have all of his powers – and then some. The powers you and the rest of the Suzaku Seishi obtain presently, I have and in which are upgraded to a supernatural level. Really, if I were to engage in battle in this very moment with all of the Suzaku Seishi, I would defeat you all within minutes," she pulled back, and I gasped for breath momentarily.
"You mean, you have all of my powers … and Tasuki's – and the rest, even though they died?" I looked at her skeptically. She nodded triumphantly and grinned. "How will we tell Tasuki no da?"
"Well, we can both tell him I guess --- I don't know how he would take this news, with his temper and all …"
"Hai no da, I'll get him, but first …" I paused before I left. "I never did get my drink no da."
I kneeled in front of Tasuki and outstretched my hands, palm facing up.
"Gimme ten!"
Tasuki stared at me for a second or two and lay his palms out the same as I did.
"You're it!" I slapped his open palms with mine. "No da!" I then walked back to get my drinks, leaving Tasuki to stare in confusion as he made his way to Sakura's room.
"All right, Sakura, tell me what's goin' on," he plopped onto the floor and stared at Sakura for a long while, taking in what he saw.
He saw two large crimson wings protruding from her back. Familiar wings …
"Tasuki-san … I'm – not who I seem," Sakura began.
"Yeh, I know tha',"
"Really Tasuki – listen," she collected her breath. "I'm the child of Suzaku."
I had just about mastered the art of getting the water faucet to bring forth water into my cup, when I heard a cry from Sakura's room. I sweatdropped and prayed to Suzaku-sama for him to keep his temper in control – even if he was Tasuki, and his behavior and language were like an arm and a leg to him.
"Daa …" I sighed and went back to my work.
"What the fuck do ya mean by that, huh?" Tasuki raged in Sakura's face. "I don' believe it!"
"Then how would I have these wings, Tasuki, enlighten me." Sakura crossed her arms, clearly agitated.
A short pause. Tasuki just stared at her wings blankly.
"Tasuki …"
"But why? Why are ya here, instead of inside the book?"
"I … I'm not exactly sure myself. Suzaku told me, a few years back, that it was my destiny to be in this modern world. He didn't specify, he just told me that I just had to live my life as it is, and let everything work itself out."
"So … what'll we do now?"
Sakura threw her arms up into the air, flustered. "Were you in a coma just now?? Did you hear nothing that I just said?!" Sakura calmed down a bit and cleared her throat. Tasuki stared with very wide eyes.
"Why don' we jus' go see what Chichiri's doin' …" Tasuki said timidly, walking towards the door.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sure …" Sakura shook her head and followed Tasuki.