The Secrets that Last
Chapter 12
Usagi brought her hands before her as if in prayer as she knelt before her young apprentice. He sat before her, eyes following her lips as they formed unheard words and phrases in some foreign language that only the two occupants of the room were fluent in. He understood her commands as she called upon the powers of Earth, Sky, Water, and Fire. Her lids emitted a soft violet glow until they opened to reveal burning crimson eyes, glowing a rich violet. He was not surprised to see this and he merely watched in transfixed silence as she continued her endless chant and began to move her hands. With each gesture an object would move or something would light on fire. At last, after this small display, Usagi closed her eyes and the glowing vanished. She reopened her eyes to an eager Chiriko.
"Teach me onegai." He whispered. "So that I may defend my people and my priestess.so that I may defend you and your cause."
Usagi smiled gently as she was accustomed to doing with him, and reached to touch his forehead. She hummed gently.
"Your powers are already strong. You need little training. All you must do is concentrate and the powers of telekinesis, telepathy, and all that you desire shall come as naturally to you as those books you have learned."
Chiriko smiled. "Then may I attempt?" he asked.
Usagi nodded.
And for the final month, the pair focused on perfecting the young boy's supernatural abilities.
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
Chiriko stood before his fellow seishi gazing at them with wise eyes. He had grown taller since the last time they saw him. Hotohori and Chichiri greeted Ren with huge smiles and chatted endlessly about the going-ons of the past three days. Ren smiled at the two affectionately.
Miaka stared at Chiriko curiously. The boy seemed to emit an aura of power and respect.he stood with his head high and his eyes knowledgeable beyond his years. She was awed by the change of appearance as well. He was taller, tanner, and seemed more calm and mature. His face was more mature and his youthful build was lined with lean muscles that kept him looking fit and clean. The muscular development was thanks to a little yoga and physical exercises that Usagi had helped him to use to calm his mind and body. That, and self defense techniques of course.
Tasuki grinned at the shorter boy and slapped him on the back. "Hey Chiriko- chan! Have fun in there?" He grinned even wider.
"Hai, as a matter of fact I did." Was the soft reply.
Tasuki crossed his arms over his chest. "Ne Ren-chan, ya gonna tell us whose next here or what?" He called to his best friend.
Ren smiled slightly and went to him. "Tasuki-chan.have you been able to control the fiery temper of Suzako's Warrior seishi?" he asked, his voice rich and warm.
Tasuki shrugged. "Ne.sorta.I think you'll have to be the one to work on him for that one." He shuffled his feet. "Uh.Ren-chan, I have a question."
"Shoot." Ren glanced at him sideways.
"Well," He blushed.
Touji jumped in between them. "Ren! Hide me!" he bawled. Tasuki immediately straightened and gave his friend an evil glare.
A raging Nuriko was the tornado that chased him.
Ren blinked. "."
Nuriko screeched to a halt at the sight of his blonde friend and immediately attached himself to his arm.
"Ren-chan!!! Touji-kun called me faaaaa-aaaaaaat!!!" he screamed in Ren's ear. Ren attempted to regain his hearing while telling Nuriko that such a notion was completely absurd and assuring him that he was very fit.
Touji and Tasuki sweat-dropped. "Yeah.So anyway," Tasuki began.
Tamahome stood beside Miaka watching the scene with a huge idiotic grin on his face.
"So who is the lucky one to be trained next?" Came the awaited question, this time sprung from Touji's lips.
Ren gracefully detached Nuriko from his neck and smoothly glanced at the Suzako seishi surrounding him. Chiriko was giving him an odd look which he noted and decided to question later.
"The next trainee to accompany me into the Zone shall be Mitsukake. Prepare yourself medicine man." He looked straight at the tall man.
Mitsukake nodded, silently heading to his tent to prepare.
Once inside he knelt before a painted picture of his love, Shoka, and prayed to Suzako. He opened his eyes to gaze at the lovely face that he had destroyed and a tear slipped down his chiseled features.
"Shoka," he whispered. "Ren-san is going to train me so I can help people better. I know you would want me to do this, so I'm going to do it for you. I'm going to do my best for you because I love you." He closed his eyes again and prayed to Suzako for assurance.
&*&*& Meanwhile
Ren stood before his most recent pupil with a curious eye.
"Nani?" he asked after a pause. "What troubles you my dear one?" he used the pet name Usagi had spoken so many times before.
Chiriko gazed at him for a long moment, finally walking toward him and standing a foot away.
"Usa, I mean, Ren-chan," His brow furrowed in thought. "How is it that I have aged a year along with the other seishi that you've trained and you have not aged a day since first we entered the Zone?" he asked slowly.
Ren smiled slightly at his curious young friend. "Is that all?" he grinned at the startled look he received.
"To honestly answer that, you should already know why. But I'll explain anyway. You see my dear one; I am the ultimate goddess in this world. As the only female companion of the gods you serve on this plane of existence, I am immortal. I do not age or differ from day to day. I am incapable of aging past the age in which I first drank from the cup of immortality. Since that night so long ago, my appearance has not been altered whatsoever."
Chiriko nodded. "I understand."
Ren patted him on the head like a big brother to his younger sibling. "Good. But I really must go now to speak to the others before I leave again. You practice your spells now ok?"
Chiriko nodded. He watched the blonde man disappear.
(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)
Mitsukake watched the Zone's entrance gape before him like an open mouth. He saw it as a creature greater than himself waiting for a victim to step into its mouth so that it could devour them whole. He despised the way it appeared to him.
Ren glanced at him, reading his anxiety, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Do not fret medicine man, it will not bite."
They smiled at each other in mutual respect and favor and stepped in together amongst the cries of adieu from their friends.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&**&*&*&**&*&*&*&* In the Zone
Mitsukake awoke to the callous smell of herbs he recognized as forms of smelling salts. He sat upright, eyes wide. Finding himself in an unfamiliar place he blinked and rubbed his eyes. He was sitting beneath a tent-like structure that resembled a market station. The apparent back of the large tent was a large shelf. Along with it, millions of herbs and potions were hung from the ceiling, found in jars or bottles on tables and shelves and several books of medicine. He eyed the items with wary curiosity.
A soft tinkling laughter caught him off guard. He looked around startled for the source of the amused voice.
"Silly medicine man," Usagi stepped into his line of vision, appearing out of seemingly nowhere. "You needn't search for me." Her eyes sparkled in amusement.
He bristled slightly at the tone she used, but chose to ignore the remarks.
"Usagi-chan," he greeted her cautiously, wary of any trap. "Where did you come from?"
Usagi smiled impishly. "Ne, do you really not understand?" She giggled softly. "I am Ren." She continued to explain herself as she always did, using a teasing, taunting voice of light carelessness. Mitsukake, well used to this tone of voice, listened to her with an interested look on his face. He seemed somewhat disconnected as he listened soberly to her words. She finally cocked her head to the side and gave him a sideways glance.
"So shall we begin?" she smiled.
Mitsukake nodded. "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it." He said hollowly. His voice was deep and dark, with an almost sad tinge in its monotone exterior.
Usagi smiled sadly at him for the briefest instant before nodding and composing herself into a grinning vixen.
She began teaching Mitsukake how to concoct the most potent medicines and potions. From poisons and sleeping potions to healing balms and spells, Usagi taught her old friend all of the healing techniques he could handle. She watched with subdued amazement as he, much like Chiriko, managed a slow bond with his Healing Stone. The green marble-like gem had become a part of him before Mitsukake even noticed its absence.
------------------------------------------
Usagi watched patiently while Mitsukake mixed several herbs together to create a poisonous concoction. She nodded her approval as he took the darts she had provided him and carefully dipped them in the poison. He whispered a short spell and the darts glowed briefly as any sign of the odd colored poison vanished.
"Well done." Usagi pronounced after inspecting the items. "That disguise spell will keep the poison from being a bother. It not only hides the red hue of the poison itself, it keeps it from rubbing off. And of course, this poison is as the others, having no affect on anyone with a pure heart." She smiled at her studious partner.
He nodded and allowed a small smile to pass over his features.
Over the past several months he had spoken few words and dedicated himself completely to the cause of learning the spells and such that Usagi taught him. He did not complain and he did not object to learning both ways to heal and ways to kill. He found Usagi to be a comfortable companion. Though she kept an attitude of dissatisfaction nearly constant in his presence, he learned quicker with the desire for approval. She had a strange way of speaking to him that he had noticed long before he'd entered the zone though. Since the first introduction in the Konan palace, Usagi had always acted as if dealing with him was stooping. She persisted in using a childish voice filled with superior amusement, as if she knew something about what he did that was so trivial that it amused her to no ends to exploit it with every word she said. It had originally been a source of great discomfort, but now it gave him a reason to strive for her approval even more. She taunted him with her laughter and scorned him with her frown. Every gesture, every impish smile, everything she did made him feel so small to her and at the same time, he grew to love her dearly. She was the daughter he'd never had. And in her eyes and her golden strands he saw the child that his dear Shoka could have bore if only she had lived.
Usagi's taunting laughter reached through his dream world.
"Mitsukake," she giggled, smiling wryly at him. "What plagues your mind so?"
He straightened. "It is nothing Usagi-chan. Shall we continue?"
Usagi gave him a knowing look, but nodded none the less. "Read the rest of your text for today and finish up the poisons. When we return, you shall carry them with you."
He nodded, taking up a large book and opening it to the center.
Usagi watched him closely. "He has a secret." She thought. She glanced at the sky. To her, it appeared that her four gods were peering down at her, all smiling. Her eyes formed identical pools of longing. She yearned for their company once more. Their smiling faces mere inches from her own.
A mellow sigh escaped her.She had four more to train, it was best not to consider these foolish yearnings. And besides, the image of a certain red- headed man with a look of pure joy on his face appeared in her mind. She smiled. Tasuki needed her for now. He needed to know that there were still people who cared for him.
Usagi laid back on the grass beneath the sun's gentle beams. Mitsukake worked diligently in his "lab" reading over the book and mixing poisons with the occasional spell attempt.
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
Ren grinned at Mitsukake. He smiled gently back, a fatherly look entering his eyes.
"I'm ready." He said confidently. He wore robes of deepest emerald with gold threading forming the shapes of Suzako and the Seven Pillars of Suzako. (The seishi symbols.)
Usagi had learned after the past year how to define between his detached emotions. She had learned how to identify his moody attitudes from his happy ones and she had learned how to see the smallest of smiles at the very corners of his mouth when he found her amusing.
Ren called upon the door to reality and the pair stepped through. The others were waiting for them on the other side.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Nuriko and Miaka gazed at Ren with huge pleading eyes.
"Onegai? Can I go next?" Nuriko and Miaka chorused.
Ren sweat-dropped. "Miaka will go next." He said carefully, bracing himself for Nuriko's wails.
Tamahome pounced on him instead. "You will not take Miaka in there with you before you take me you jerk!" He sat on Ren's stomach stubbornly, crossing his arms as if claiming his post.
Ren began turning blue. "Err.Miaka, forgive me, demo, Tamahome shall precede you." He coughed.
Tamahome jumped up proudly, grinning like an idiot, and did a little victory dance.
"Yay for me!" He flashed a peace sign. Miaka and Nuriko sweat-dropped.
Tasuki grabbed Ren and the two met Touji behind some bushes.
Ren looked between them. "What is it?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"We have a problem," Touji stated. Tasuki nodded, arms crossed.
Chapter 12
Usagi brought her hands before her as if in prayer as she knelt before her young apprentice. He sat before her, eyes following her lips as they formed unheard words and phrases in some foreign language that only the two occupants of the room were fluent in. He understood her commands as she called upon the powers of Earth, Sky, Water, and Fire. Her lids emitted a soft violet glow until they opened to reveal burning crimson eyes, glowing a rich violet. He was not surprised to see this and he merely watched in transfixed silence as she continued her endless chant and began to move her hands. With each gesture an object would move or something would light on fire. At last, after this small display, Usagi closed her eyes and the glowing vanished. She reopened her eyes to an eager Chiriko.
"Teach me onegai." He whispered. "So that I may defend my people and my priestess.so that I may defend you and your cause."
Usagi smiled gently as she was accustomed to doing with him, and reached to touch his forehead. She hummed gently.
"Your powers are already strong. You need little training. All you must do is concentrate and the powers of telekinesis, telepathy, and all that you desire shall come as naturally to you as those books you have learned."
Chiriko smiled. "Then may I attempt?" he asked.
Usagi nodded.
And for the final month, the pair focused on perfecting the young boy's supernatural abilities.
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
Chiriko stood before his fellow seishi gazing at them with wise eyes. He had grown taller since the last time they saw him. Hotohori and Chichiri greeted Ren with huge smiles and chatted endlessly about the going-ons of the past three days. Ren smiled at the two affectionately.
Miaka stared at Chiriko curiously. The boy seemed to emit an aura of power and respect.he stood with his head high and his eyes knowledgeable beyond his years. She was awed by the change of appearance as well. He was taller, tanner, and seemed more calm and mature. His face was more mature and his youthful build was lined with lean muscles that kept him looking fit and clean. The muscular development was thanks to a little yoga and physical exercises that Usagi had helped him to use to calm his mind and body. That, and self defense techniques of course.
Tasuki grinned at the shorter boy and slapped him on the back. "Hey Chiriko- chan! Have fun in there?" He grinned even wider.
"Hai, as a matter of fact I did." Was the soft reply.
Tasuki crossed his arms over his chest. "Ne Ren-chan, ya gonna tell us whose next here or what?" He called to his best friend.
Ren smiled slightly and went to him. "Tasuki-chan.have you been able to control the fiery temper of Suzako's Warrior seishi?" he asked, his voice rich and warm.
Tasuki shrugged. "Ne.sorta.I think you'll have to be the one to work on him for that one." He shuffled his feet. "Uh.Ren-chan, I have a question."
"Shoot." Ren glanced at him sideways.
"Well," He blushed.
Touji jumped in between them. "Ren! Hide me!" he bawled. Tasuki immediately straightened and gave his friend an evil glare.
A raging Nuriko was the tornado that chased him.
Ren blinked. "."
Nuriko screeched to a halt at the sight of his blonde friend and immediately attached himself to his arm.
"Ren-chan!!! Touji-kun called me faaaaa-aaaaaaat!!!" he screamed in Ren's ear. Ren attempted to regain his hearing while telling Nuriko that such a notion was completely absurd and assuring him that he was very fit.
Touji and Tasuki sweat-dropped. "Yeah.So anyway," Tasuki began.
Tamahome stood beside Miaka watching the scene with a huge idiotic grin on his face.
"So who is the lucky one to be trained next?" Came the awaited question, this time sprung from Touji's lips.
Ren gracefully detached Nuriko from his neck and smoothly glanced at the Suzako seishi surrounding him. Chiriko was giving him an odd look which he noted and decided to question later.
"The next trainee to accompany me into the Zone shall be Mitsukake. Prepare yourself medicine man." He looked straight at the tall man.
Mitsukake nodded, silently heading to his tent to prepare.
Once inside he knelt before a painted picture of his love, Shoka, and prayed to Suzako. He opened his eyes to gaze at the lovely face that he had destroyed and a tear slipped down his chiseled features.
"Shoka," he whispered. "Ren-san is going to train me so I can help people better. I know you would want me to do this, so I'm going to do it for you. I'm going to do my best for you because I love you." He closed his eyes again and prayed to Suzako for assurance.
&*&*& Meanwhile
Ren stood before his most recent pupil with a curious eye.
"Nani?" he asked after a pause. "What troubles you my dear one?" he used the pet name Usagi had spoken so many times before.
Chiriko gazed at him for a long moment, finally walking toward him and standing a foot away.
"Usa, I mean, Ren-chan," His brow furrowed in thought. "How is it that I have aged a year along with the other seishi that you've trained and you have not aged a day since first we entered the Zone?" he asked slowly.
Ren smiled slightly at his curious young friend. "Is that all?" he grinned at the startled look he received.
"To honestly answer that, you should already know why. But I'll explain anyway. You see my dear one; I am the ultimate goddess in this world. As the only female companion of the gods you serve on this plane of existence, I am immortal. I do not age or differ from day to day. I am incapable of aging past the age in which I first drank from the cup of immortality. Since that night so long ago, my appearance has not been altered whatsoever."
Chiriko nodded. "I understand."
Ren patted him on the head like a big brother to his younger sibling. "Good. But I really must go now to speak to the others before I leave again. You practice your spells now ok?"
Chiriko nodded. He watched the blonde man disappear.
(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)
Mitsukake watched the Zone's entrance gape before him like an open mouth. He saw it as a creature greater than himself waiting for a victim to step into its mouth so that it could devour them whole. He despised the way it appeared to him.
Ren glanced at him, reading his anxiety, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Do not fret medicine man, it will not bite."
They smiled at each other in mutual respect and favor and stepped in together amongst the cries of adieu from their friends.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&**&*&*&**&*&*&*&* In the Zone
Mitsukake awoke to the callous smell of herbs he recognized as forms of smelling salts. He sat upright, eyes wide. Finding himself in an unfamiliar place he blinked and rubbed his eyes. He was sitting beneath a tent-like structure that resembled a market station. The apparent back of the large tent was a large shelf. Along with it, millions of herbs and potions were hung from the ceiling, found in jars or bottles on tables and shelves and several books of medicine. He eyed the items with wary curiosity.
A soft tinkling laughter caught him off guard. He looked around startled for the source of the amused voice.
"Silly medicine man," Usagi stepped into his line of vision, appearing out of seemingly nowhere. "You needn't search for me." Her eyes sparkled in amusement.
He bristled slightly at the tone she used, but chose to ignore the remarks.
"Usagi-chan," he greeted her cautiously, wary of any trap. "Where did you come from?"
Usagi smiled impishly. "Ne, do you really not understand?" She giggled softly. "I am Ren." She continued to explain herself as she always did, using a teasing, taunting voice of light carelessness. Mitsukake, well used to this tone of voice, listened to her with an interested look on his face. He seemed somewhat disconnected as he listened soberly to her words. She finally cocked her head to the side and gave him a sideways glance.
"So shall we begin?" she smiled.
Mitsukake nodded. "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it." He said hollowly. His voice was deep and dark, with an almost sad tinge in its monotone exterior.
Usagi smiled sadly at him for the briefest instant before nodding and composing herself into a grinning vixen.
She began teaching Mitsukake how to concoct the most potent medicines and potions. From poisons and sleeping potions to healing balms and spells, Usagi taught her old friend all of the healing techniques he could handle. She watched with subdued amazement as he, much like Chiriko, managed a slow bond with his Healing Stone. The green marble-like gem had become a part of him before Mitsukake even noticed its absence.
------------------------------------------
Usagi watched patiently while Mitsukake mixed several herbs together to create a poisonous concoction. She nodded her approval as he took the darts she had provided him and carefully dipped them in the poison. He whispered a short spell and the darts glowed briefly as any sign of the odd colored poison vanished.
"Well done." Usagi pronounced after inspecting the items. "That disguise spell will keep the poison from being a bother. It not only hides the red hue of the poison itself, it keeps it from rubbing off. And of course, this poison is as the others, having no affect on anyone with a pure heart." She smiled at her studious partner.
He nodded and allowed a small smile to pass over his features.
Over the past several months he had spoken few words and dedicated himself completely to the cause of learning the spells and such that Usagi taught him. He did not complain and he did not object to learning both ways to heal and ways to kill. He found Usagi to be a comfortable companion. Though she kept an attitude of dissatisfaction nearly constant in his presence, he learned quicker with the desire for approval. She had a strange way of speaking to him that he had noticed long before he'd entered the zone though. Since the first introduction in the Konan palace, Usagi had always acted as if dealing with him was stooping. She persisted in using a childish voice filled with superior amusement, as if she knew something about what he did that was so trivial that it amused her to no ends to exploit it with every word she said. It had originally been a source of great discomfort, but now it gave him a reason to strive for her approval even more. She taunted him with her laughter and scorned him with her frown. Every gesture, every impish smile, everything she did made him feel so small to her and at the same time, he grew to love her dearly. She was the daughter he'd never had. And in her eyes and her golden strands he saw the child that his dear Shoka could have bore if only she had lived.
Usagi's taunting laughter reached through his dream world.
"Mitsukake," she giggled, smiling wryly at him. "What plagues your mind so?"
He straightened. "It is nothing Usagi-chan. Shall we continue?"
Usagi gave him a knowing look, but nodded none the less. "Read the rest of your text for today and finish up the poisons. When we return, you shall carry them with you."
He nodded, taking up a large book and opening it to the center.
Usagi watched him closely. "He has a secret." She thought. She glanced at the sky. To her, it appeared that her four gods were peering down at her, all smiling. Her eyes formed identical pools of longing. She yearned for their company once more. Their smiling faces mere inches from her own.
A mellow sigh escaped her.She had four more to train, it was best not to consider these foolish yearnings. And besides, the image of a certain red- headed man with a look of pure joy on his face appeared in her mind. She smiled. Tasuki needed her for now. He needed to know that there were still people who cared for him.
Usagi laid back on the grass beneath the sun's gentle beams. Mitsukake worked diligently in his "lab" reading over the book and mixing poisons with the occasional spell attempt.
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
Ren grinned at Mitsukake. He smiled gently back, a fatherly look entering his eyes.
"I'm ready." He said confidently. He wore robes of deepest emerald with gold threading forming the shapes of Suzako and the Seven Pillars of Suzako. (The seishi symbols.)
Usagi had learned after the past year how to define between his detached emotions. She had learned how to identify his moody attitudes from his happy ones and she had learned how to see the smallest of smiles at the very corners of his mouth when he found her amusing.
Ren called upon the door to reality and the pair stepped through. The others were waiting for them on the other side.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Nuriko and Miaka gazed at Ren with huge pleading eyes.
"Onegai? Can I go next?" Nuriko and Miaka chorused.
Ren sweat-dropped. "Miaka will go next." He said carefully, bracing himself for Nuriko's wails.
Tamahome pounced on him instead. "You will not take Miaka in there with you before you take me you jerk!" He sat on Ren's stomach stubbornly, crossing his arms as if claiming his post.
Ren began turning blue. "Err.Miaka, forgive me, demo, Tamahome shall precede you." He coughed.
Tamahome jumped up proudly, grinning like an idiot, and did a little victory dance.
"Yay for me!" He flashed a peace sign. Miaka and Nuriko sweat-dropped.
Tasuki grabbed Ren and the two met Touji behind some bushes.
Ren looked between them. "What is it?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"We have a problem," Touji stated. Tasuki nodded, arms crossed.