Chapter 6: Return of the Yokai
Whee! Boy that was a strain on me on the last chapter…@.@ Oh well, lets see what I have to do…*glances down at her notebook* Hm…hehehe…Read on!
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I'll protect you.
Cesia was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She could hear Kitchel moving around in the room behind her. She had agreed on letting her friend stay in with her, since both of their parents were gone. But even though Kitchel was there and brought some comfort into the big house, Cesia was still troubled and her head still ached from earlier that day. She had skipped dinner and gone straight to bed. She also knew Kitchel was probably worrying about her, but her friend had not come by, except to say "Good Night."
Cesia sighed and rolled to her side, staring out the window. What did he mean…? She thought back to after that crazy incident. Rath had been silent on the walk back and she had not been able to bring up anything to talk about, except on what had happened back in the park. What she wondered about now was how should she act now? How should she interpret what he had said? He…he probably meant it in a friendly way, she told herself. We're just…friends… Right? She drifted off to sleep.
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Kitchel finally heard her friend sleeping and sighed. She wanted to go over there and ask, but she knew better. She knew her friend needed to be alone to figure her thoughts out.
"What had Rath said to her…?" she mused. If only Thatz hadn't interfered! she thought furiously. "And I had to pay! The nerve!!" She noticed her voice rise and quickly covered her mouth. She gave a sigh of relief when Cesia didn't stir, still sleeping.
Kitchel sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. She had to admit, she did have fun that afternoon, even if Thatz had nearly eaten every single thing on the menu. She laughed a little and leaned back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. She knew it wasn't anything special…She raised her right hand and looked at it. He didn't let go until we were actually at the café… She felt herself blushing and shook her head. No, no, no! ARGH THE STUPID JERK! She rolled onto her side and sighed as she closed her eyes.
"…What's wrong with me…?"
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It was now midnight, and everyone was sleeping peacefully. Almost everyone. Rath was walking around his room quietly, so as not to wake the others. He knew he should be sleeping, but he could not fall asleep. Whenever he closed his eyes he saw Cesia in that death-like trance. He placed a hand to his lips, thinking.
What was it? What was she saying? He stared out the window. He could see Cesia's house from where he was. He turned away and sat at his desk, head in his hand.
Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Dragons?! What did that mean? He ran his hand through his hair, frustrated. And that wind! It was unnatural…Did she…? He strained to remember what Cesia had said. An invasion of…yokai…? He suddenly felt the need to grab his sword when he thought of the word. He could not explain it. Something was burning within him, a desire to go out and kill yokai. But there were none anywhere where he was. There was not even any on this planet!
"This is really annoying," Rath muttered. He stifled a yawn. Maybe I'll be able to sleep now… he thought as he went back to his bed and laid on top of it. He crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. He instantly fell asleep, a feeling of calm winds flowing through his body.
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Kitchel looked up as Cesia came down, who was stifling a yawn. "Ohayo, Cesia-chan!"
"Ohayo…" she replied sleepily as she sat down at the table. She blinked when she saw the food in front of her. "K-chan…did you cook all this?"
Kitchel smiled. "Yep! And I learned it from the master!"
Cesia blushed embarrassed. "I'm not that great…"
"Try it!"
"Okay!" She took a bite and blanched. "Er…"
Kitchel sighed. "Gomen nasai…I think I got the ginger and the pepper mixed up…"
Cesia nodded. "That's okay…it still looks nice!"
"Well, I did make soup in case this happened!" She walked back to the kitchen and came back out with a big bowl of miso soup. "There you go! I'm sure I got THIS right!"
Cesia laughed. "I'm sure, too!" She tasted it and she was right. "It's delicious, Kitchel!"
"Yay! I actually got it right! I was so afraid I'd get the vinegar and the corn starch mixed up…" She laughed when she saw the look on Cesia's face. "Just kidding!!"
"Oh Kitchel! You nearly scared me half to death!"
Her friend just laughed and picked up her school bag. "Well, I have to get to school a little earlier today. Since the epidemic cut the drama club in half, I have to work double time."
"Oh, you're in the drama club? I didn't know you joined!"
"Yep! Well, ja ne!" Kitchel waved and ran out the door.
Cesia glanced at the grandfather clock. It was five past seven. That's pretty early… She cleaned up the table, walked into the kitchen, and started cleaning the dishes. When she was finished and started making her lunch.
"Oh dear…Kitchel forgot her lunch…" She smiled. She was really worried about me…gomen ne, K-chan… When she left the kitchen, there was still plenty of time before she had to leave and meet with the guys. She sat on the couch and sighed, the grandfather clock ticking away.
Tick. Tock.
I wonder what Rath is doing…
Tick. Tock.
Cesia stood back up and stretched. She felt tired for some reason. Maybe it was from last night…
Tick. Tock.
Cesia…
She blinked and straightened. "Hello?"
I'm waiting…
She whirled around. W-What? "Hello? Rath is that you?! If it is, it's not funny!" Laughter. It made her shiver. The voices seem to echo around her now. Different voices.
Cesia…Look out! …AAAHHH!! …Cesia…help us…Run Cesia!
She clutched her head. "Stop it! Leave me alone!!"
It stopped. She stood there shivering for a moment but she was suddenly aware that she was not alone. She blinked and looked up. Someone with white hair was standing in front of her. He had two birds sitting on his shoulders and they were staring at her. She tried to speak but could not find her voice.
"Does it hurt?" The voice was smooth, yet icy and cold. "Does it hurt you so much?"
She found her voice and found it weak compared to the stranger in front of her. "Who are you?"
He placed his hand under her chin and gently tipped her face up so that she was now staring into his pale, green eyes. "Yes…you have a lot of power within you…"
She couldn't look away. "Power?"
There was a knock on the front door. "Hey, Cesia? Ready for school?"
"Thatz, don't bang so loudly! The neighbors might not be awake yet!!"
"Aw, chill out Rune!"
The stranger glanced at the door annoyed. "Hmph…looks like I'll have to talk to you later…" He released his hold on her and she fell to her knees, gasping for breath. He looked at her for a moment. "You will not be in pain much longer…though…the worst has yet to come…" He gave her a chilling smile and disappeared in a whirl of dark green and black wind.
"Cesia?" It was Rath's voice. "Cesia are you okay in there?"
"…You don't think she already left, do you?"
"Thatz, Kitchel already told us that she would either meet us and if she didn't we should go and pick her up. You should pay more attention!"
"Something isn't right guys…" Rath looked at his two friends, his pale red eyes troubled.
"I know what you mean, Rath," Rune said.
"I say we break it down!" Thatz said, already getting ready for the charge.
"NO!" Rune yelled.
"But what if she collapsed or something?"
"…That's the way to look on the bright side, Thatz," Rune said sarcastically.
Rath banged on the door. "Cesia! Answer me if you're there! It's us!!"
They waited a few moments in silence.
"We can't stay much longer or we'll be late," Rune said, starting to get agitated. "I'm starting to think we should go with your idea, Thatz…"
"All right!"
"No wait," Rath said as he placed an arm in front of his over eager friend. "I think I heard something."
They stood there a moment and heard the door unlock. Cesia came out, smiling apologetically. "Sorry guys…I was just doing some stuff and I didn't hear you guys knock…"
"Oh, okay. Good thing you answered! I was about to bust through that door…"
Rath stared at her. She's hiding something. "Are you sure you're okay?"
She smiled at him and nodded. "Really, I'm fine!" She walked out and closed the door. "Well lets go or we'll be late!"
The trio stared at her. They glanced at each other and walked after her.
Rath knew Rune could tell something was wrong, but he wasn't so sure about Thatz. He was never sure what went on in his mind, other than food, sleeping, and getting money. Cesia seemed weaker than yesterday. Was it because of what had happened at the park? Or did something happen during the night? And why did she take so long in answering the door? Something's not right…
He suddenly snapped back to attention. He sensed something. He wasn't sure what, but it wasn't something that he should ignore. He looked ahead and saw someone standing in front of the road with…flowers?
Thatz stopped and blinked. "What the heck?"
The rest of the group stopped as the person approached them. He had orange hair, a long lock of it coming from each of the sides. His bangs had a tint of red in them and his orange eyes were staring, to Rath's disgust, straight at Cesia.
Cesia blinked when he stopped in front of her. "Yes…?"
He kneeled down, handed her the flowers, and kissed her hand. "It is an honor to finally meet you…" He looked straight into her eyes, making her blush.
Thatz and Rune were having trouble trying to restrain Rath from bashing the stranger's head in.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!!" Rath yelled as he shook them off.
The newcomer looked at Rath and stood up. He grinned. "Now is not the time for us…" The ten-minute warning bell could be heard from the school. "We will meet again." He turned. "I bid thee, adeau." He walked off.
Rath was shaking with rage. "Why…that…"
Thatz was trying to calm him down. "Hey, hey! No harm was done…"
Cesia stared at the stranger's back. "What was…that all about?"
Rath stormed right to Cesia and grabbed her hand. "Come on, Cesia! We have to get going!"
Thatz and Rune stared in utter surprised shock as their friend dragged Cesia to school.
"I'd hate to be in that person's shoes…" Rune mused aloud as they continued walking.
"No kidding…Rath is going to mutilate him…" Thatz agreed.
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Bwahaha! Can you figure who THAT was? Should be easy! =D R&R!