All Standard Disclaimers apply
AN: Shibaraku desu ne! (Long time no see!) Back again~ back again~ Do you like where this fic is heading? Sorry about my consistently short chapters, I know its satisfying to read long chapters . . . BUT, think of this as a consolation - quality over quantity, yeah? The update took a long while, gomen nasai. I am currently studying Japanese in Tokyo (summer programs, hurrah!). As you can imagine, its quite hard to reconnect with English, living here is so difficult. I wager that my language abilities have dropped quite a bit since I've had to readjust my grammar to fit Japanese. . .sigh. . . lets see how this goes eh? Fuuko is back!! Fuuko is back!! Sorry about that cheesy poem in the middle, forgive me, onegaisimasu. . . ^^
Xabie My sole reviewer! Muwah! "Great writer"? Me? So flattered, but I think you're going to change that point of view after reading this chapter. Sigh. What to do? What to do? At least Fuuko's going to appear, oops. Shouldn't have given that away. Oh well, it was going to be given away anyway. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 12: Facts and Healing
Yanagi sneezed as the dust that arouse from Tadesako sensei's storage space hidden beneath his dojo's floor tickled her nose.
"Most of the Hokage items I collected were destroyed after that incident. . ." Tadesako sensei smiled as he recalled the joy he experienced when he discovered that Hokage was more than mere legend and relief when he learned that all had ended. "I forgot about that scroll that contained the descriptions on all the madogus, I assumed it vanished like everything else." He paused in contemplation as he stuck his head underneath the floorboard. ¡§Well, look! Here it is¡¨ He handed the scroll to Recca, who eyed the item as if it were the plague.
"I don't know about this" Recca untied the loosely knotted string that held the scroll in place. "Here goes nothing. . ."
To everyone's surprise all that remained on the scroll was a short poem. The rest was blank, merely a canopy of white with black letters. Recca examined the poem and furrowed his brows in confusion. . .
" 'As one who has lost you might regain,
Shall you these acts entertain.
Visit the sources of your owes
Prove worthiness unlike previous those
Fight the shadows of the past
What you gain will always last
Everything seems to fall into place. . . Why did I not see these connections before?" exclaimed Kageoru in distress.
"You never had the need to" said Mikagami quietly as he sat in silent contemplation. Domon scratched his head and wondered how everything fit in with each other. Recca's glaze locked into Mikagami's as they both reached the same point in understanding.
"If we pair this poem up with the myth" Recca scratched his temples "We can easily assume that we are the ones who have 'lost' because we no longer retain the power to manipulate our elements at will. Well, at least without the help of madogus" stated Recca, earning a encouraging smile from Yanagi and an approving smirk from Mikagami.
"Going in line with that assumption, we have to visit the 'source' of our woes in order to break that curse and regain our powers." Mikagami furrowed his brows while pondering the many truths hidden behind the poem "We will probably have to go to the source of our element, whatever that could be, and prove to it that we deserve its powers, unlike our predecessors who abused it" Mikagami crossed his arms and leaned back on beam upholding the dojo's roof.
"Fight the shadows of the past," continued Recca, his mind churning a mile a minute along Mikagami's logic. "I guess we are up for some combat in order to overcome the tests that will show our worthiness to regain the lost powers" Recca pronounced, eyes ablaze with determination. "When we gain it, it will stay with us always, unlike the powers in the beginning, confined only to the day and not to the night"
Yanagi kept silent. If everyone's role in the myth was based somewhat in reality, what was she supposed to be in this adventure? What part was she destined to play? An insurmountable task presented itself in front of her. Was she, no, she couldn't be. . .she wondered if anyone else noticed her role in Kageoru's story. Daughter of. . .? No. She shook her head furiously. . . then again, as Mikagami sempai stated earlier, all myth is based in fact. She sighed and decided instead not to think anymore. All will be revealed in due time.
"You surprise me sea monkey" commented Mikagami sarcastically "I seriously did not think you were capable of rational thought" Recca huffed, ears twitching in annoyance.
"I am not going to dignify that condescending remark with an answer" Recca sat up indignantly.
"You just did"
Recca looked as if he was ready to pounce Mikagami and set all his used-to-be-extent dragons loose on him.
"Recca-kun, I¡¦m sure Mikagami-sempai was only joking, was't he?" Yanagi's silently dangerous tone raised hairs on Mikagami¡¦s head as he nodded slightly in agreement to her statement (although he disagreed inwardly. . .)
"Where do we go from here?" Mikagami questioned no one in particular. He accidentally voiced an inward concern out loud. They glanced at each other in confusion, all previous epiphanies seemingly useless. So what if they knew about the myth and potential courses of action, where do they begin?
Yanagi sensed the sudden drop in the confident atmosphere and reached out to comfort Recca, her fingers unintentionally gracing the surface of the scroll. In an instant, light spilled into the cramped dojo, illuminating the ancient map with letters and symbols. Mikagami squinted his eyes and raised his arm to block out the strong rays. Domon shut his eyes because of the sudden onslaught of gold. Ganko scampered behind Kageoru. The light retreated in the instant that it came, leaving everyone baffled and Yanagi silent.
"What. . ." stammered Recca, his voice unsteady "What just happened? Are you all right?" He then consciously released his protective death-grip on Yanagi.
"I. . ." Yanagi glanced around. She was unsure of what to say. In that one instant of illumination she had been given many truths. Mikagami noted the change in Yanagi's demeanor. Even if she wasn't willing, as he observed from her hesitant expression, he had to find out what had just transgressed in that split second.
"Yanagi san" Mikagami questioned firmly "Tell us what just happened, onegai. For your sake, for our sake and, most of all, for Fuuko's sake." Yanagi's eyes watered at the mention of her friend's name. She glanced glanced around the room, observing everyone, searching. Mikagami's assured lean on the dojo's beam, Domon's eager eyes, Kageoru's aloof figure and most of all, Recca's reassuring grasp on her arm gave her strength. She drew a deep breath.
"You may not like what I am about to tell you" Yanagi began, her voice soft with reluctance. She clasped her hands together and fixed her eyes on tip on her thumbnail. It was easier if she didn't have to look at anyone.
"In that one moment, I was taken back, back to my source. I guess you could say that was what it was. Nothing but golden rays surrounded that place. Upon entering that place I was greeted by a woman, clad in a simple yet colorless kimono"
"I will not lie to you, the woman said. If you fail this, you will not be able to return to wherever you came from. Seeing the confusion in my eyes, she reassured me 'if you are who I think you are, you have nothing to be afraid of'"
"She then directed me towards a flame and asked me to describe whatever image I observed. What I saw. . ." Yanagi broke off, voice shaken and breath short. Recca squeezed her arm gently, his concerned eyes locked into hers.
"I saw Fuuko." The mention of this name startled everyone. Mikagami's snapped up in sharp attention and Domon¡¦s eyes widened.
"Fuuko was, she was. . ." Yanagi breathed in deeply "She was lifeless, sitting at the corner of a dark place, like a doll. Her eyes, her purple eyes were grey. I saw nothing in her. It was awful. . . She was alive, but not far from death." Yanagi realized that she, much like Mikagami, found that unpleasant things eased out of her system after she begun talking about them.
"That short glimpse of Fuuko was all the flame showed me. When the woman asked me what I saw I did not answer her. She pressed me but I still could not say anything. After a while she became irritated and demanded to know the reason of my silence." Yanagi glanced up, her eyes filled with tears.
"I asked her 'why is it that every time my friends need help, I can do nothing?' Upon hearing this, the woman raised her eyebrows in amusement."
"There is a way, she said, to save your friend. But that way will not weigh lightly on yourself, are you willing?"
"I asked her what I needed to do. The woman handed me a dagger and said 'a life for a life.' I accepted the dagger with resignation and Fuuko appeared in the flame again. The woman muttered a couple of words Fuuko glanced in my direction."
"Fuuko, I called, are you all right?"
"Fuuko, hearing my voice, cocked her head in my direction and the smallest ghost of a smile graced her lips as she asked me 'what about yourself?'"
"I miss you and I want you back, I told her, there is a way to get you back. All I have to do is. . .Fuuko cut me off before I could even tell her what I had to do."
"No, replied Fuuko. I see what you hold in your hand, she remarked, my life is not worth half as much as yours. I can't believe that idea even crossed your mind. She grinned at me. You don't want to be here. At least you are allowed to. . .she glanced down at her palms, not finishing her sentence."
"Fuuko, what am I supposed to do? I asked her, out of desperation."
"Stop crying over me for starters, she snapped. I may look like I'm dead but I'm still alive. She grinned. Smile some more, she remarked, well, at least Recca will be happier that way. She frowned suddenly, its coming back again."
"What's coming back, I asked her. She did not reply. Her eyes were beginning to glaze over. She looked me in directly in the eye and said 'Listen to yourself, you know who you are and what you have to do. Gambatte ne!' She squeezed her countenance into a smile and her image disappeared as the flame died away."
"The woman stood silently behind me. What do you do now, she asked me."
"I don't know, I told her. All I know is even though I feel that I should have exchanged places with her, I know I did the right thing by listening to her. . .and to myself. Hearing this, the woman touched my forehead and smiled.¡¨
¡§Listen some more, she told me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the beating of my heart. All of a sudden I understood."
"I can't do anything to help her can I, I asked this woman. But we could, my friends and I. She smiled upon hearing my words."
"You're allowed to have it back, she told me, the power of healing."
"I do not want it, I told her. I do not want the power of healing. I did nothing to earn it and well, couldn't I have Fuuko back instead?"
"Why? She pressed, many would kill for what I offer to you freely right now"
"The only good thing that came out of my having the power of healing is meeting these friends of mine. . .other than that, it has brought me nothing but misfortune. I do not want it back"
"She frowned. What do you want then, she asked me"
"As stupid and childish as this may sound, I told her, I want my friends to be happy. Seeing them happy makes me happy. I don't see how having the power of healing and not having Fuuko would help that situation."
"You really don't want it, she asked again. You could aid your friends in danger if you had it. Didn¡¦t you want that earlier?"
"Yes. But not without. . .No, I replied."
"I'm sorry, the woman said suddenly. Fuuko's well-being I cannot give you. You know this too, I can see it in your eyes. This is a task that you and your friends are destined to work through. In all this I cannot give you the wish of your heart, but I can give you this, the power of healing. Not only will I give you the power of healing others, I will also grant you the power of healing yourself. Don't look so shocked, you have earned it. Your predecessors could only heal themselves because they were too selfish to care about others. I have seen your past, I know what you have been through and I know your character. I just hope that you will not disappoint me. After saying that she touched my forehead and blessed me." Yanagi paused thoughtfully, glancing at the tip of her shirt.
"Then she said 'goodbye my daughter.' When I opened my eyes, I was back here again. No time seemed to have elapsed." Yanagi heaved a huge sigh. It took a lot out of her to recall everything, but once the story passed her lips, she felt much relieved.
"Minna san, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Fuuko. I could not do anything I'm. . ." Yanagi chocked back a huge sob ¡§Why? Its not fair. . . might as well be anyone of us.¡¨ The reality of Fuuko's present condition hit Yanagi full force as the tears that she held back earlier began to spill.
"She was so sad, but she smiled when she saw me. . .I'm sorry I couldn't do anything" She dug her face into Recca's arm.
"Hime. . . " Recca interrupted, brushing away the tears that rolled down Yanagi's cheek.
"No" Mikagmi's sharp voice cut off Recca. Recca faced Mikagami, extremely agitated by his tone of voice. Mikagami looked Recca and Yanagi straight in the eye "No" he repeated. Without another word, Mikagami drew the pocket knife hidden in his shirt, his serious eyes locked into Yanagi's worried gaze.
"This is all I need. Prove yourself" was all Mikagami muttered before plunging the sliver pocket knife into his wrist, setting free a jet of blood that splattered across the dojo floor.
"Idiot! What did you do that for?" shouted Recca, ready to pounce Mikagami for hurting his hime more. Domon could utter no words, his mind not registering everything that passed in front of him.
Yanagi hastily wiped away her tears. She clasped her hand across Mikagami's bleeding wrist. A warm light enveloped them and blood ceased flowing.
"I'm sorry" she breathed. "Sempai, I'm sorry about Fuuko" Mikagami turned his face away from Yanagi.
"Its not your fault," he whispered. "Don't think that way. It was something that was meant to happen" A phantom of a smile passed Mikagami's lips as he rubbed the wrist that he cut earlier. "All I needed to know was whether or not Fuuko was dead or alive. Thank you. I'm sorry you had to experience that."
"Mikagami. . ." Recca stared at the ice-man in amazement. Of all the reactions one expected from him, this was the most unlikely. What happened to him? Where was the usual snide bitterness? It was not like him to be optimistic. At any rate, whatever that was happening inside of Mikagami the world could use more of.
"Recca," Kageoru interrupted suddenly "Hand me that scroll" Recca glanced at his mother quizzically as he dusted off the scroll and passed it to Kaegoru. "I can't see anything" she remarked,"I was sure I saw symbols and words on this map earlier"
"Kageoru san," Yanagi tapped her shoulder gently "We don't need to read the scroll for guidance anymore. We know what we have to do. We just have to look inside of ourselves to find it"
Reality hit. Suddenly, they all understood. The next phase of this adventure, or whatever else you may call it, is clear - they each had to face a different obstacle before they could move on together. This short second of light gave each of them hope. . .it wasn't going to be easy, but they knew it is possible.
AN: Someone shoot me before I run this fic into the ground. Good grief and hoppin Hannas, what did I do? Ahhhhhhhh!! It must be the separation from fic writing that has caused this. . .this, this abomination. Well, at least Fuuko appeared, right? At least Yanagi got to do more than stand beside Recca and smile, right? At least, well, at least. . . at least this chapter came out, right? Next chapter --- tasks galore! Gaining back elements and possible return of Raiha. Come on, I need some help! *heaves great sigh and banges head against rock* Thanks for readin¡¦
