The Secrets that Last
Chapter two
Tasuki stared at Touji blankly. "Huh?" he asked, ignoring the shocked faces of his fellow seishi and priestess. "I said," Touji glanced awkwardly around. "There's someone I think you'd like to meet." Tasuki frowned.
"And who's that? Are they here?" he demanded. Miaka looked up at Tamahome worriedly. "You don't think it's a trap from Nakago do you?" she whispered. Touji gave her a glare. "A trap?! I don't think so Miaka. Listen, this is purely between Tasuki and me. It only concerns the bandits ok?" he glared. Tasuki was taken aback by the ferocity of his friend. "What is it Touji? Is something wrong?" he asked. "Did something happen?" Worry filled his fiery eyes at the prospect.
Touji sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yes and no. It's just that.well," he took a deep breath. "Ren-came-back-and-he-wanted-to-see-you- so-I-brought-him-along-with-me-but-I-lost-track-of-him-at-the-last-town-and- he-said-he'd-meet-me-here-but-he's-not-here-so-I'm-not-sure-where-the-hell- he-is." He rushed in one breath. Tasuki stared at him.
"Ren?" his face betrayed his shock. Everyone else looked at the two confused.
"Umm.who's Ren?" Miaka asked innocently.
**Flashback
"Hey Genro! Would you like to spar with me?" Ren smiled at the bored red head.
Tasuki nodded, breaking into a grin. "Sure thing Ren, let's do it." He caught the pole that Ren tossed to him and they began their 'fight'.
Fifteen minutes later a sweating Tasuki landed on the ground with a thud. "Damn it Ren! Don't you ever loose? Haven't you ever heard of warrior's compassion?" he grumbled as Ren, completely unscathed sat down beside him. He looked surprised.
"Genro, do you really believe that, when the time comes for you to fight, your enemies will listen to that kind of talk? It's up to you to prepare yourself for the future. I'm doing the best I can, but come on and lend me a hand, K?" he smiled. Tasuki blinked, not understanding, then shrugged.
"Alright Ren, but just because you're my best friend." He sighed, lifting himself up to spar again.
"Great!" Enthusiasm sparkled in the younger man's eyes.
*****End flashback
"When, when do you think he'll get here?" Tasuki choked out. Touji shrugged.
"I dunno. Prob'ly a day or so, if he takes the same route we agreed on. Then again, might be longer.if you know what I mean?" he smirked at the confused/suspicious looks he received on that one.
"Touji?"
"Yeah?" The bandit glanced questioningly at his fiery-haired friend.
"Well, um, I was kinda wondering, err.how he urhm." he stumbled over the words.
"He's fine. Uh.actually, he's grown his hair out, and his eyes are darker, and he's taller, and he's buffed up a lot, and."
Tasuki's eyes widened like saucers at Touji's words.
"I've missed him for three whole years, without contact or anything." He thought aloud. All eyes fell on him.
"He was.my best friend, like a brother to me.But then, one day, he just.left." Tasuki stared into space, memories making his eyes misty.
Touji sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Tasuki, he never forgot you. And none of us ever forgot him." he said seriously. "Now that he's finally returned, we can try to return to the old ways. Don't you think so?" he asked
Tasuki nodded absentmindedly. "Hai, demo, is he really back?" he whispered.
Touji grinned.
"Yep! Said he got bored and wanted to come home!" he flashed a peace sign. "Even said some shit 'bout missing us all so much that he 'couldn't bear the separation', the old softy!"
Tasuki smiled slightly. "Great, I mean, this is really great.it's the best news I've heard in forever." He smiled genuinely.
Touji's face grew suddenly serious. "Oh yeah, I'm supposed to give you this." He grumbled, handing a surprised Hotohori a blue scroll and glancing behind him uncomfortably.
"What's this?" Hotohori blinked.
Touji scowled.
"Well how the hell am I s'posed to know?!" he shouted crossly. "Ren wouldn't even give me a peek, the jerk. Said, and I quote, 'It is for the emperor's eyes alone.'" He crossed his arms over his chest indignantly. "Far as I know, the baka could be asking for some salt." He grumped.
Hotohori blinked. ".Ok." he pulled the scroll open, blinking at the delicate silver print. "It says," he paused, eyes roaming over the text. "Nani?! Is he crazy?!"
This uncharacteristic outburst gained everyone's attention.
"What's it say Hotohori?" Miaka asked curiously, peeking over his shoulder.
"Yeah, tell us what it says already! I've been dying to know for over a week!" Touji whined.
Hotohori frowned. "It says that he wants me to gather an assortment of items that he intends to use against Kutou. He wants me to tell you all to prepare for an oncoming battle with true darkness. It says that Chaos is coming and he was called back in to this realm to fight it. I think he's not quiet sane." Hotohori finished, frowning.
"What's it mean?" Tamahome asked blankly, naïve confusion blanketing his features.
"That's a good question, do you know anything about this?" Hotohori glanced at a blank Touji and a pale Tasuki.
"Did you say.Chaos?" Tasuki breathed.
Hotohori nodded. "Hai, that's right. Nande?"
***Flashback***
"Ren? What's that?" Chibi-Tasuki pointed at a small black orb that was hovering a short distance ahead of them.
Ren glanced at it, his cornflower eyes scanning the glowing object. "It's called a C-cell, for Chaos." He answered, taking up the sword at his side.
Tasuki blinked. "Chaos?"
Ren nodded, splitting the orb in two with his sword. "Hai, Chaos is a powerful entity composed of pure negativity and darkness. It feeds off of the raw fear and pain of mortals to become stronger."
"So what's a C-cell then?" Tasuki asked softly, poking at the steaming halves with a stick. He grimaced as the stick melted in his hands.
"C-cells are egg-like orbs that contain unborn youma. Youma are demons born from Chaos that carry out the biddings of their parent. They destroy humanity by taking human form and influencing people to give in to the darkness. Chaos prefers its prey to go willingly you see. It is the ultimate form of evil and one day I will destroy it. Until then though, I will try to annihilate Chaos's minions. You should do the same."
***End flashback***
"Tasuki? Do you know something, no da?" Chichiri asked, snapping said man out of his thoughts.
"Uh.Iie, not really. I mean, Ren used to talk about some type of evil shadow creature that could turn in to a god known as Chaos. But he said that Chaos had to get enough negative energy before it could take a solid form. I mean, assuming that this thing is really out there, it couldn't have gathered enough dark power in such a short amount of time, ne?" he glanced around nervously.
"That does seem unlikely, demo, didn't Ren say that he was fated to defeat Chaos?" Touji crossed his arms over his chest in an attempt to look smart. "Ne, so anyway! I'm starved! Got any chow?" he grinned at a pensive Hotohori.
The emperor nodded. "Hai, why don't you all go to the dining hall and help yourselves to some food? I will join you shortly." He mumbled, walking off to the gardens.
Miaka grinned. "Yah! Food!"
Everyone sweat-dropped as they headed for the dining hall.
"Doesn't she ever think of anything besides food?" Nuriko whispered to Chiriko.
He shrugged. "Probably not."
Tasuki sighed to himself. "Ren, why have you returned after so long? I've finally managed to cope with life without you and you show up again. If Chaos has truly risen, then how will you defeat it? You know it's invincible when it reaches godhood." He thought in frustration, trailing behind the rest.
Chapter two
Tasuki stared at Touji blankly. "Huh?" he asked, ignoring the shocked faces of his fellow seishi and priestess. "I said," Touji glanced awkwardly around. "There's someone I think you'd like to meet." Tasuki frowned.
"And who's that? Are they here?" he demanded. Miaka looked up at Tamahome worriedly. "You don't think it's a trap from Nakago do you?" she whispered. Touji gave her a glare. "A trap?! I don't think so Miaka. Listen, this is purely between Tasuki and me. It only concerns the bandits ok?" he glared. Tasuki was taken aback by the ferocity of his friend. "What is it Touji? Is something wrong?" he asked. "Did something happen?" Worry filled his fiery eyes at the prospect.
Touji sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yes and no. It's just that.well," he took a deep breath. "Ren-came-back-and-he-wanted-to-see-you- so-I-brought-him-along-with-me-but-I-lost-track-of-him-at-the-last-town-and- he-said-he'd-meet-me-here-but-he's-not-here-so-I'm-not-sure-where-the-hell- he-is." He rushed in one breath. Tasuki stared at him.
"Ren?" his face betrayed his shock. Everyone else looked at the two confused.
"Umm.who's Ren?" Miaka asked innocently.
**Flashback
"Hey Genro! Would you like to spar with me?" Ren smiled at the bored red head.
Tasuki nodded, breaking into a grin. "Sure thing Ren, let's do it." He caught the pole that Ren tossed to him and they began their 'fight'.
Fifteen minutes later a sweating Tasuki landed on the ground with a thud. "Damn it Ren! Don't you ever loose? Haven't you ever heard of warrior's compassion?" he grumbled as Ren, completely unscathed sat down beside him. He looked surprised.
"Genro, do you really believe that, when the time comes for you to fight, your enemies will listen to that kind of talk? It's up to you to prepare yourself for the future. I'm doing the best I can, but come on and lend me a hand, K?" he smiled. Tasuki blinked, not understanding, then shrugged.
"Alright Ren, but just because you're my best friend." He sighed, lifting himself up to spar again.
"Great!" Enthusiasm sparkled in the younger man's eyes.
*****End flashback
"When, when do you think he'll get here?" Tasuki choked out. Touji shrugged.
"I dunno. Prob'ly a day or so, if he takes the same route we agreed on. Then again, might be longer.if you know what I mean?" he smirked at the confused/suspicious looks he received on that one.
"Touji?"
"Yeah?" The bandit glanced questioningly at his fiery-haired friend.
"Well, um, I was kinda wondering, err.how he urhm." he stumbled over the words.
"He's fine. Uh.actually, he's grown his hair out, and his eyes are darker, and he's taller, and he's buffed up a lot, and."
Tasuki's eyes widened like saucers at Touji's words.
"I've missed him for three whole years, without contact or anything." He thought aloud. All eyes fell on him.
"He was.my best friend, like a brother to me.But then, one day, he just.left." Tasuki stared into space, memories making his eyes misty.
Touji sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Tasuki, he never forgot you. And none of us ever forgot him." he said seriously. "Now that he's finally returned, we can try to return to the old ways. Don't you think so?" he asked
Tasuki nodded absentmindedly. "Hai, demo, is he really back?" he whispered.
Touji grinned.
"Yep! Said he got bored and wanted to come home!" he flashed a peace sign. "Even said some shit 'bout missing us all so much that he 'couldn't bear the separation', the old softy!"
Tasuki smiled slightly. "Great, I mean, this is really great.it's the best news I've heard in forever." He smiled genuinely.
Touji's face grew suddenly serious. "Oh yeah, I'm supposed to give you this." He grumbled, handing a surprised Hotohori a blue scroll and glancing behind him uncomfortably.
"What's this?" Hotohori blinked.
Touji scowled.
"Well how the hell am I s'posed to know?!" he shouted crossly. "Ren wouldn't even give me a peek, the jerk. Said, and I quote, 'It is for the emperor's eyes alone.'" He crossed his arms over his chest indignantly. "Far as I know, the baka could be asking for some salt." He grumped.
Hotohori blinked. ".Ok." he pulled the scroll open, blinking at the delicate silver print. "It says," he paused, eyes roaming over the text. "Nani?! Is he crazy?!"
This uncharacteristic outburst gained everyone's attention.
"What's it say Hotohori?" Miaka asked curiously, peeking over his shoulder.
"Yeah, tell us what it says already! I've been dying to know for over a week!" Touji whined.
Hotohori frowned. "It says that he wants me to gather an assortment of items that he intends to use against Kutou. He wants me to tell you all to prepare for an oncoming battle with true darkness. It says that Chaos is coming and he was called back in to this realm to fight it. I think he's not quiet sane." Hotohori finished, frowning.
"What's it mean?" Tamahome asked blankly, naïve confusion blanketing his features.
"That's a good question, do you know anything about this?" Hotohori glanced at a blank Touji and a pale Tasuki.
"Did you say.Chaos?" Tasuki breathed.
Hotohori nodded. "Hai, that's right. Nande?"
***Flashback***
"Ren? What's that?" Chibi-Tasuki pointed at a small black orb that was hovering a short distance ahead of them.
Ren glanced at it, his cornflower eyes scanning the glowing object. "It's called a C-cell, for Chaos." He answered, taking up the sword at his side.
Tasuki blinked. "Chaos?"
Ren nodded, splitting the orb in two with his sword. "Hai, Chaos is a powerful entity composed of pure negativity and darkness. It feeds off of the raw fear and pain of mortals to become stronger."
"So what's a C-cell then?" Tasuki asked softly, poking at the steaming halves with a stick. He grimaced as the stick melted in his hands.
"C-cells are egg-like orbs that contain unborn youma. Youma are demons born from Chaos that carry out the biddings of their parent. They destroy humanity by taking human form and influencing people to give in to the darkness. Chaos prefers its prey to go willingly you see. It is the ultimate form of evil and one day I will destroy it. Until then though, I will try to annihilate Chaos's minions. You should do the same."
***End flashback***
"Tasuki? Do you know something, no da?" Chichiri asked, snapping said man out of his thoughts.
"Uh.Iie, not really. I mean, Ren used to talk about some type of evil shadow creature that could turn in to a god known as Chaos. But he said that Chaos had to get enough negative energy before it could take a solid form. I mean, assuming that this thing is really out there, it couldn't have gathered enough dark power in such a short amount of time, ne?" he glanced around nervously.
"That does seem unlikely, demo, didn't Ren say that he was fated to defeat Chaos?" Touji crossed his arms over his chest in an attempt to look smart. "Ne, so anyway! I'm starved! Got any chow?" he grinned at a pensive Hotohori.
The emperor nodded. "Hai, why don't you all go to the dining hall and help yourselves to some food? I will join you shortly." He mumbled, walking off to the gardens.
Miaka grinned. "Yah! Food!"
Everyone sweat-dropped as they headed for the dining hall.
"Doesn't she ever think of anything besides food?" Nuriko whispered to Chiriko.
He shrugged. "Probably not."
Tasuki sighed to himself. "Ren, why have you returned after so long? I've finally managed to cope with life without you and you show up again. If Chaos has truly risen, then how will you defeat it? You know it's invincible when it reaches godhood." He thought in frustration, trailing behind the rest.