Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters of Blue Seed, I only own
Akina, Kisho, Kameko and Katsuhiro. Everyone else is borrowed either
from the series Blue Seed or from Japanese mythology.
Note – While I am writing this for fun and as a vacation from the other stuff
I am working on in the so-called "real" world, I would greatly appreciate
it if people would let me know how I am doing. Whether you like the
Story or hate it I would love to know what you think. Keeping in mind
that suggestions are always welcome.
Chapter 2 – And it begins to begin –Susano-oh had barely finished speaking when they appeared in he middle of the TAC's weekly meeting. Before anything could be said Kusanagi stepped in front of Momiji, with his blades out daring someone to try to hurt her. At the same moment Akina plucked a sword our of thin air and blades popped out of Katsuhiro's forearms (His is Murakumo's brother remember) and together they settled into defensive stances in front of Susano-oh and Kaede. The room was so quiet that you could hear every breath taken. Kaede finally had enough and broke the silence.
"Everyone STOP IT!! We came to offer help. Murakumo and those arigami who follow him are waking and preparing to wreak havoc upon Japan. They will be stronger than before; you will not be able to defeat them without help. Akina and Katsuhiro have agreed to help you as much as they are able, to buy you enough time to find a way to defeat them permanently."
The wide-eyed members of the TAC all took a step back, away from those around Kaede and if possible Kusanagi looked even more ready for a fight. Sighing Akina stood all the way up, not that at 5' 2" she had very far to go, and beside her Katsuhiro did the same, retracting his blades as he stood.
"Uncle, it might be best if you and Lady Kaede left. Every moment brings Murakumo and his minions closer to waking and as much as I will enjoy going head to head with him, it would be difficult with you involved."
"Are they that close to waking Akina?"
"I am not sure, but I want to error on the side of safety and as long as you and Lady Kaede are here you pose a danger. You are a God Uncle, but you have never been fond of a fight."
"I believe that you are right Akina, but do all of us a favor, be careful Murakumo can kill you. I would rather not have to explain why everyone must attend your funeral."
"I know Uncle and so I shall try to be careful, but I can not promise anything. Now get ye gone before they wake and we have to fend off an army of minions."
In yet another flash of light Susano-oh and Kaede were gone. Leaving Akina and Katsuhiro with some very shocked TAC members.
"Well he certainly has gotten flashy when it comes to translocation. I remember when it was hard to notice when he came or left. Wonder what changed his mind…."
In an action that was quick from practice Akina sheathed her sword in its scabbard. Looking at the members of the TAV she defiantly looked each of them over, finally meeting Kusanagi with a challenging look.
"Well? Do all of you plan on being standing here looking like fish out of water when Murakumo and his Minions show up? Or would you rather be ready for them? Either way is fine with me. I mean I won't matter in the end, either way I will still get to kick his ass. The only unknown variable is when and how long lasting of an impression I leave on him…hopefully it will be permanent."
"Who are you?!" This was from Kusanagi.
"Who are we? I'm the person that our friend the God of Storms and Protector of the Arigami called in to make sure that you were safe from Murakumo and his minions long enough to find a way to deal with them."
"That still doesn't answer my question of who you are! Why should we trust you when we know nothing about you?"
"I am the Goddess of Fighters and of Animals. I am the wife of he former King of the Arigami. I am the disowned daughter of the Goddess of Life and the God of Fire and more importantly I am your new bodyguard for the time being. Oh and my name is Akina."
"I've never heard of you Akina so why should I believe any of what you just told me?"
In the blink of an eye Akina was behind Kusanagi with a knife to his throat. As the rest of the room watched in shocked silence as Akina made he dagger disappear and walked back to stand by Katsuhiro. Katsuhiro mean while buried his head in his hands with a loud sigh.
"Akina was that really necessary?"
"What would you rather I had done? There isn't much time left, Murakumo and his minions are fighting their way awake even as we speak. As I know this, I know that as soon as they have even partially recovered from the effects of waking they will try to attack the Kushinada. Even if he doesn't try for the Princess Kushinada he will try to end your life again Katsuhiro, he will know that you have been given back your body and allowed to return to earth. He killed you once; he will no hesitate to try to kill you again. I will not lose you to Murakumo again Katsuhiro!"
" Akina you won't lose me. I will not let Murakumo take away our happiness again!"
"Katsuhiro you don't understand! It was because of me that he was able to kill you the first time. I CAN'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!"
"Akina look at me, Damn it! It wasn't your fault! I knew what would happen if I fought Murakumo but I did it anyway because I thought I had to prove something to you, I though I had to be the best or I would lose you, but I was wrong and my mistake cost us so much. But we have been given another chance and I am not about to watch you go after Murakumo alone, we will do this together."
"You may not have a choice in that matter. Out of everyone here I have the best chance of killing Murakumo. I'm a Goddess Katsuhiro; I trained the majority of my life as a fighter. I may not have been in a fight for a while but that doesn't mean much."
As they stood, eyes interlocked in struggle, Kusanagi cleared his throat effectively getting their attention. They both turned to look as him as he began to speak.
"Just who in hell are the two of you? I realize that you're on our side, but that doesn't exactly explain who you are."
Akina and Katsuhiro looked at him like her was a moron before Katsuhiro started explaining again.
"The woman standing next to me is named Akina. She is my wife and the Goddess of Fighters and Animal. I am called Katsuhiro, I was once the King of the Arigami, but my brother Murakumo killed me so that he could rule."
As Katsuhiro finished the room filled with chatter as each member of the AC talked over the others, trying to understand why they now had a Goddess and a former King of the Arigami helping them. Akina and Katsuhiro just looked at each other with disgust as the din rose, as each member grew louder in the race to be heard. Finally Akina had had enough.
"ENOUGH! We have precious little time for this."
As the noise died Katsuhiro walked over and quietly started talking with Kusanagi and Mr. Kunikida trying to decide what they would do. Mean while Akina was pacing and fidgeting, every so often she would reach for something hat no one else could see. As the planning between the men was ending Akina suddenly disappeared.
"WHAT THE…!?"
"Hmmm….looks like her family is trying to interfere in her life again, or maybe they are just going to help with this mess…not likely."
"How can you know that, you didn't even see her disappear!"
"I didn't have to see I happen to know. There are only a few entities in the Universe that can summon Akina to their presence and for the most part they are her family. My guess is that her brother or her father doesn't want her involved in this mess."
"How can you be so FLIPPING calm, if Yaegashi disappeared like that, even if I knew why I would be just a tad worried and angry!"
"I am worried about her, the last time she and her brother saw each other she nearly killed him. As for her father they can barely stand to be in the same room after the last time he summoned her. I believe that she spent ten years trapped on her island after that incident. I trust her though, to get herself back her safely, in this instance there…."
Katsuhiro was interrupted by the reappearance of a very angry and armed Akina. When she had disappeared she had been wearing a red sundress, with her long hair lose down her back. Now she was in back and silver. She had on a backless silver tank top with hip hugging black leather pants and boots. Her long black hair was braided and coiled 'round the back of her head. More importantly she was armed, with at least three long daggers, one strapped horizontally to the back of her belt and one on the outside of each thigh, hilts a bright blue. The member of the TAC all looked in askance to Katsuhiro.
"Well Akina?"
"My Father and brother cannot understand my fascination with the mortal world and must therefore ask that I not involve myself in such a crucial matter as a fight between the Princess Kushinada and Murakumo the Leader of the Arigami. Arrogant Bustards I hope that Kisho gets eaten by a dragon and father gets hit by the next rock to pass his way!"
"Akina! There are more important matters than what should happen to your family, to attend to!"
"What? Oh yes. There is little time as I though earlier. Murakumo and his minions wake tonight, by moonrise if Mother is correct."
"Any ideas how we can hold them off Akina?"
"Ummmmm….possibly but I need to think about it."
"What is going on Akina? What did you hear that you aren't telling us about?"
"Nothing is going on…and they didn't say anything of importance they just reminded me about something."
"Tell Me Akina!"
"They just reminded me some things that could be of use, I just have to make sure that they are willing to help fight a battle that isn't theirs."
"Akina, these secrets are getting exasperating!"
"I know they are, but there is no help for them, they are what could prove most useful in the end. For now I think we should prepare for tonight. Sunset is three hours away and time moves faster than one wishes in times like this. Did you ever figure out what was going to happen?"
"To some degree. It was decided to wait upon the Arigami at Kusanagi and Momiji's. Hopefully as we fight Matsudaira can collect enough information on Murakumo or his minions to help devise a way to defeat them."
"Good plan, while you guys do that, I think I shall go pay a visit to some old friends."
"Akina you are not going to go looking got Murakumo, for all you know he could be stronger than you. You are a divine being but a lesser divine being while he is the King of the Arigami!"
"I am still a goddess Katsuhiro and he is not a god. Even if I went looking for him the chances of him beating me in a fight are small, I am too old to fall for his tricks. Besides there is something that is needed that I have to find."
With a small wave in Katsuhiro's direction Akina took a step and vanished in a flash of silver and blue flame (she disappears differently than the older gods and goddesses). Leaving behind an agitated Katsuhiro and a laughing Kusanagi. After a moment Katsuhiro turned to Kusanagi and leveled a look that should have killed at him
"And what pray tell is so funny?"
Kusanagi had to make several attempts to before he was able to calm his laughing enough to reply to Katsuhiro. "It's just laugh that you wife seems laugh to be able to take care of herself laugh, it also seems like the two of you argue more about laugh her being able to hold her own than anything. That and the look on you face when she left was indescribable" At this point Kusanagi got to laugh for a moment more before Momiji leveled a loaded glance at him, effectively getting him to calm down.
"It isn't funny! Akina, despite appearances, cannot always take care of herself. She frequently forgets that there are some much stronger than she and that enemies often come in pairs or more. Besides I cannot help but worry about her, she is my Wife and I love her."
"She loves you, which is all the more reason to trust her judgment and her determination to come back to you."
Meanwhile –While Kusanagi and Katsuhiro argued Akina was wandering around her island home, possibly for the last time. She had not intention of seeking Murakumo out she had little doubt that he would find her this night. And there was nothing in existence that could keep her from killing him, not even Katsuhiro, she could not allow Murakumo another chance to kill Katsuhiro. Besides no one knew what she was capable of. As she sat there upon the sandy shore of her island, her lap was suddenly filled to overflowing with mice and a rabbit, the branches above her filled with songbirds, a finch, a hawk, a falcon, a pair of eagles, panthers and leopards. Akina was delighted to see her friends of the animal world, but saddened at the likely hood of this being the last time she saw them. It grew dark as Akina sat in the comforting company of the animals. Suddenly as the sun sank below the western horizon in its brilliance of red and scarlet and blue and orange and yellow and green and pink and purple, the birds burst out in song and two deer appeared to either side of Akina. Akina sighed it was time for her to be going, the fate of all resting in what would come next.