Hagaromo
Chapter 4:
Mountain of chains
"Shun?" The tall man shoved Hyoga aside to see if it was true. "Shun!" The green eyed warrior squealed with delight and ran to him with out-stretched arms. The well built man grabbed him up with both arms turning him around in the snow and tossing him in the air like a child. The green haired man giggled as his brother caught him in a bear hug.
"I missed you so much, Ikki." He threw his arms around the other's neck and rubbed his cheek against his brother's.
Meanwhile in the castle of the evil princess Saori...
"I asked for a heavenly being, not too much and you fail me." The purple haired woman was displeased.
"My lady I took the hagaromo." Tatsumi defended himself. "He should have been here by now."
"But he isn't!" She shouted throwing a vase at him. He ducked barely avoiding the smashing splinters. Flowers and water spilled over the floor. "Tatsumi..." she approached him with arms outstretched as if in a trance. "Tatsumi tatsumi." she touched his shoulders and let her head rest on his chest. "You've always given me whatever I asked for."
"I..." the bald man was sweating.
"But I can't trust you anymore." She kneed him in the groin sending the wide eyed man doubling over whimpering.
"Jab!" She called and a man in armor with a small horn coming from his head piece appeared, kneeling before her.
"The pour heavenly being. I have his hagaromo." she stroked the silky fabric against her cheek as she wandered to the far end of this large thrown room. "He needs it and I need him." she narrowed her eyes making her point clear. "Bring him to me."
"Yes my lady." he bowed lower and disappeared.
Back at Hyoga's cabin...
"I was so worried when Seiya and Shiryu told me you were stuck here." Ikki told his brother who stood closely beside him. "I came as quickly as I could. I'm sorry you had to wait."
"It was hard, but I made it through these three days." he smiled, he was just so happy.
"That's right time passes differently here. Three days must have been like torture alone." the tall man's husky voice was so different from when Hyoga first heard him.
"I wasn't alone." Shun ran to Hyoga and grabbed his wrist to bring him closer to his brother. "This good man saved me from the snow storm and has been caring for me. His name is Hyoga."
"I owe you my thanks, Hyoga." Ikki grinned, that tough guy tone rejoining the husky part of his voice. "My brother is very important to me. I wish to repay you for your kindness. I'll grant you any wish you desire in return for your service. Name it and it's yours." Green eyes looked between the two men. He noticed something was wrong when the man's blue eyes hid behind blond bangs.
"Just leave." he turned away refusing Ikki's extended hand.
"Hyoga." Shun scolded him for being so rude. "He's offering you a great gift..." Those blue eyes shot a glare at him that froze him inside. The green eyed man touched his chest over his heart. What was this strange feeling? "I...I don't understand." he mumbled under his breath.
Evil princess Saori's castle...
"I always get what I want don't I, Mother?" The girl seemed hypnotized by something beyond the glass. The huge tank took up the section of the wall. The free floating creature inside seemed human and anything but free. Just around the corner her neglected bald servant schemed.
"She's become obsessed with heavenly beings. She should know they aren't so easy to catch, that's why we have warriors like you two. Nagi the Wolf," he referred to a short haired brunet with a wolf symbol on it, "And Hydra," a young man with a white Mohawk, "Hmm, I forgot your real name. It doesn't matter. You two will help me show the princess how to appreciate what she already has. Won't we boys?" Tatsumi chuckled maliciously and the other's chuckled with him.
Back to Hyoga's cabin...
"That's what I hate about people like you." the blond nearly spat, "You think desires are more important than people."
"How dare you..." Shiryu took a step forward but Seiya blocked him with one arm.
"Leave him alone. I think he's the kind of man that would rather have a handshake for your gratitude than gold. He values honor and compassion not treasure. He doesn't need anything we could give him." the young man spoke with wisdom and respect.
"Seiya..." Shun looked from the brunet to Hyoga. The blond called Ivanava into the house and started to close the door. "Hyoga!"
"Take care of yourself, okay?" the man shut the door. Shun felt like he cut their connection with the simple shutting of that door.
"Hyoga..." Shun uttered wanting to shed a tear but not sure if he could. Something deep down was still trying to figure out what just happened. He felt his brother's hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Shun." Ikki seemed to sympathize. "I didn't intend this but...maybe it's better this way. He's a mortal after all."
"Ikki," he threw himself against his brother, "I owe him so much. I don't want to leave like this."
"What are you talking about? You can't leave anyway, not without your hagaromo." a mysterious voice mocked them.
"Who's there?" Ikki pulled Shun closer to him.
"Who dares!" Seiya jumped in font of everyone and stood ready for battle.
"Jab the Unicorn has come to collect the heavenly being who bares no hagaromo." The short haired man in armor approached them.
"You can't have him." Ikki stood in front of his green haired brother.
"So it's that one, eh?" the enemy looked around Seiya at the green haired man. "What's with the dress? Oh well, come quietly now and no one gets hurt." Jab threatened.
"I'll take hurt, you that is. Yeeeaaaawww!" Seiya rushed at the armored man.
"What's all the shouting about?" Hyoga opened the door to see an armored man facing off with the Shun and his friends. "What's going on?"
"Stay out of this mortal." A second and third armored foe showed up. One had a white Mohawk and black eyes the other had really short dark hair with a wolf emblem on his foreheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeead. (oops, sorry fell asleep) The one sporting the Mohawk kicked Hyoga's gut, flinging him against the cabin wall and knocking the wind out of him. Ivanava attacked the other and was thrown into the snow bank.
"Hyoga!" Shun exclaimed separating from his brother without hesitation. The bald man, Tatsumi appeared out of nowhere and intercepted Shun on his way to help his blond friend. "Let go of me you brute!" He pushed on the man's arm, that grabbed his waist.
"What's with the dress?" the bald man asked.
"What did you say?" Shun was getting mad. These clothes belonged to Hyoga's mother. They're very elegant and...
"Be quiet for a while." the bald man growled as he did something intensely painful and rather tricky to Shun's neck making him passed out.
"Shun..." the blue eyed man coughed a few times trying to catch his breath.
"Shun!" Ikki turned around but was blocked off by Hydra and Wolf.
"Not so fast." Wolf told him.
"You're not goin' anywhere." Hydra taunted.
"I'll take the one on the right." Shiryu volunteered to help thin out the opponents. "We'll finish this quickly and save Shun."
"Let's do this." Ikki welcomed anything that could speed this up.
"What happen's to Shun in the meantime?" Hyoga forced himself to get up. He finally got his breath back and so he took after the bald menace.
"Wasn't that Shun's friend?" Shiryu got distracted for a moment and just barely blocked a three prong claw with his impenetrable shield.
"Better watch you're opponent or you'll feel the sting of my Hydra claws." the little man laughed in a thin malicious giggle.
Hyoga followed the man into the woods just beyond the cabin. He knew these woods better than anyone but even he was having a hard time tracking them. A muffled ringing sound led him to the foot of a mountain. In a brief moment he could here the sound clearly and then it stopped. He kept running until he found a gold glow reflecting in the silver snow. Hyoga picked up a small gold bell, the same as his, the same as Ivanava's. It was attached to his mother's garment, it must have come off somehow.
The blond felt responsible. What was he thinking just letting the green haired man go like that? He didn't even give his friend a proper fair well or anything like that. It was a very good possibility that the blond haired blue eyed man would never see his green haired friend again and he couldn't even say good bye. He was mad at Ikki's offer, but instead of politely turning him down and giving him a lecture about how to respect people, he acted like a spoiled kid who had to give back a really great thing that wasn't really his to begin with.
"Sorry Mama, you taught me better than that." Hyoga took in a breath and let loose a high pitched whistle. Ivanava who had been knocked out and collapsed in the snow bank by the cabin jumped up and shook off his coat. The great white animal saw the three battles there were taking longer than anticipated then howled for his master.
"Ivanava, good boy." Hyoga lifted the bell and rang it gently. The white wolf's ears moved searching out the sound. The animal dug his claws into the ground and launched himself in that direction. "Come on boy, lead me too him." He waited and didn't have to wait long. The wolf howled again as it ran through the woods. He'd stoop for a moment sniff in a circular pattern and howled again. Hyoga flew as fast as his feet could carry him to the sound of that howl.
Not far away...
"Ugh, my head." Shun lifted his head slowly. The wind was whipping past him at high speeds and from the scenery it was a mountain. This scenery was... "Where am I?" The green haired man tried to struggle but couldn't budge from the silver chains that bound him to a wooden pole. "This can't be happening, I'm dreaming...that's all this is, a dream."
"I'm afraid not my little heavenly being." Tatsumi chuckled.
"Who, who are you and why are you doing this?" The green eyed celestial's brow knotted from frustrated confusion.
"It's a little thing called revenge, sorry, nothing personal."
"But isn't revenge personal?" The green haired warrior asked, confused. "Tell me what I've done to deserve this?"
"Okay, yes revenge is personal but just because you're involved doesn't mean it's your fault or that you can do anything about it."
"Wha-that doesn't make any sense!" Shun struggled against the silver chain. "Just let me go. I just want to return to...wait. How do you know what I am?"
"That's the least of your worries now lad." the bald man shook his head. "You're about to be a sacrifice to the great animal."
"Great animal?"
"The village down in that valley between these here mountains put sacrifices up here to appease the demon they call the great animal so's it won't eat their sheep, chickens, ox, some times little goats..."
"But these are the bones of people." the celestial tried not to let those slippers touch the old bones.
"You know how sacrifices go. Virgins or just really beautiful women, silly superstitions get a lot of innocent people hurt but it keeps there sheep out of trouble if you know what I mean." The blond man nudged him with his elbow.
"But I'm not a girl." Green eyes blinked, not sure if he realized that.
"But you are a virgin right?" The man lifted an eyebrow at him.
"What? Agh! I hate this. I just want to go home. I wish I'd never..." Green eyes grew wide with the realization that he was about to say something he would regret. I wish I'd never come here? No that's not true. I'm grateful for meeting Hyoga. Even if I only knew him for a short time, I'm so happy I had the opportunity to meet such a wonderful person. I wish he was here now.
"Well, it won't be long now." Tatsumi had an animal skin normally used for holding whine or water. He started spreading the liquid around it was red like...
"Blood!" Shun jerked his feet up to avoid being splashed by the warm red fluid. It steamed into the air and sunk into the snow. The bones at this feet the blood covering them, although, he was dressed this time that was a good change. "Why are you doing that?"
"I'm sure a monster will come for the blood or maybe some wolves. I don't really care which as long as they kill you. Princess Saori finds out it was me I'll get in serious trouble. And I don't want even a scrap of evidence left." The bald man chuckled.
"You...you're so mean." Shun wanted to cry. There was a great howl of a wolf could be heard and it was coming closer.
"Oh, look there's a wolf now." Tatsumi welcomed predators that would dispose of his problems. "Right here boys there's plenty to go around." A white wolf came from the tree line growling and looking ravenous. It bounded after the blood.
"AHHHHHH!" That hideous shriek broke through the frosty air.
"Thanks, I'll just help myself." Hyoga emerged walking past Tatsumi who was still holding the bloody skin and now being attacked by Ivanava.
"Shun." the blond stepped through the bloody bones only worried about his green haired friend.
"H-Hyoga." He choked out his name past his tears.
"Are you alright, Shun?" the blond savior brushed his wind blown locks out of his face. "Shun, I'm sorry." the blue eyed man worked on the chains finding the bindings and loosening them. "I should have been clear, earlier with your brother. I wasn't angry I just..." Ivanava yelped so his blue eyes started to glance back, but he paused. He hesitated then leaned forward, onto the released prisoner.
"Hyoga." the green haired man blushed at the other's advances until he realized that the man's weight was collapsing onto him. "Hyoga!" Green eyes noticed four thin throwing knifes in his back. There was blood all over the ground where Tatsumi and Ivanava had been fighting, but the white wolf was no where to be seen. "What have you done?" Shun exclaimed. The bald man managed to stand even though one leg and both arms were shredded and bleeding. Tatsumi hand to hold his neck with one hand, limiting the amount of knives he could throw.
"I'll have to sacrifice you both." he growled sweat and blood dripping from his face. Shun had to act fast. The man held up another dagger to throw. Shun dove behind the wood pole pulling Hyoga with him, just in time and three knives embedded into the sacrificial pole. The green eyed man took the knives out of his friend's back as the blond began to tremble from his injuries.
"Just wait here for a second." The green haired man set Hyoga down to rest. The warrior of the Andromeda constellation came from behind the wooden pool. "You made a mistake when you kidnaped me, then when you hurt Ivanava and Hyoga," His green eyes and his angry voice spit malice on the fool. "but the mistake you're really gonna pay for is giving me a chain!" The man tried to throw another dagger but Shun had the chain, twirling it in a circular motion at super speeds making a shield from the momentum. His pitiful dagger bounced off and pierced the ground at his feet.
"Ugh!" Tatsumi exclaimed stumbling backward from fear. But his dreadful frown turned into a smile and he started to laugh. "Ah ha ha, AH HA HA HA!"
"This is the end." Shun prepared his chain.
"You're right. The monster is here! AH HAA HAA HAA!" The bald man cackled.
"What?" A heat wave suddenly hit the mountain top and a terrible shreek of a great bird could be heard. Shun looked to see a huge Griffin whose wings and crest were made of fire. "It can't be..."
"You're going to die! Both of you, ha ha ha ha ha." the bald man ran off into the woods and his laugh faded to nothing.
"Hyoga." Shun wrapped the chain around his arm and ran back to the pole. "Hyoga come on." He tried to help the blond up.
"Shun, get out of here." he mumbled, there was blood coming from his mouth and he reached out like he couldn't see.
"You're fine, you're going to be fine. We've got to get out of here. The blood..." he wrapped his arms around Hyoga and pulled him to his feet. He could feel the slick warm liquid draining from his friend's body. "It's attracting the creature so..."
"I'm bleeding and you can't make it carrying me. Just get out of here."
"No, I won't leave you." he tried to hobble away with his heavy load as the Griffin landed on the mountain top.
"Shun, you have to run." Hyoga could feel his limbs getting numb and his own body getting cold. He tried to walk a little but his feet tripped up and he fell.
"No, Hyoga! Get up!" The green haired man wasn't letting go of his arm so he pulled hard to get him to his feet but he wasn't budging.
"It's here just go and save yourself."
"Shut up!" Shun positioned himself between the monster and his blond friend and readied his chain for attack. "I won't let anyone have you!"
"Shun." Hyoga collapsed onto the snow.
Chapter 4:
Mountain of chains
"Shun?" The tall man shoved Hyoga aside to see if it was true. "Shun!" The green eyed warrior squealed with delight and ran to him with out-stretched arms. The well built man grabbed him up with both arms turning him around in the snow and tossing him in the air like a child. The green haired man giggled as his brother caught him in a bear hug.
"I missed you so much, Ikki." He threw his arms around the other's neck and rubbed his cheek against his brother's.
Meanwhile in the castle of the evil princess Saori...
"I asked for a heavenly being, not too much and you fail me." The purple haired woman was displeased.
"My lady I took the hagaromo." Tatsumi defended himself. "He should have been here by now."
"But he isn't!" She shouted throwing a vase at him. He ducked barely avoiding the smashing splinters. Flowers and water spilled over the floor. "Tatsumi..." she approached him with arms outstretched as if in a trance. "Tatsumi tatsumi." she touched his shoulders and let her head rest on his chest. "You've always given me whatever I asked for."
"I..." the bald man was sweating.
"But I can't trust you anymore." She kneed him in the groin sending the wide eyed man doubling over whimpering.
"Jab!" She called and a man in armor with a small horn coming from his head piece appeared, kneeling before her.
"The pour heavenly being. I have his hagaromo." she stroked the silky fabric against her cheek as she wandered to the far end of this large thrown room. "He needs it and I need him." she narrowed her eyes making her point clear. "Bring him to me."
"Yes my lady." he bowed lower and disappeared.
Back at Hyoga's cabin...
"I was so worried when Seiya and Shiryu told me you were stuck here." Ikki told his brother who stood closely beside him. "I came as quickly as I could. I'm sorry you had to wait."
"It was hard, but I made it through these three days." he smiled, he was just so happy.
"That's right time passes differently here. Three days must have been like torture alone." the tall man's husky voice was so different from when Hyoga first heard him.
"I wasn't alone." Shun ran to Hyoga and grabbed his wrist to bring him closer to his brother. "This good man saved me from the snow storm and has been caring for me. His name is Hyoga."
"I owe you my thanks, Hyoga." Ikki grinned, that tough guy tone rejoining the husky part of his voice. "My brother is very important to me. I wish to repay you for your kindness. I'll grant you any wish you desire in return for your service. Name it and it's yours." Green eyes looked between the two men. He noticed something was wrong when the man's blue eyes hid behind blond bangs.
"Just leave." he turned away refusing Ikki's extended hand.
"Hyoga." Shun scolded him for being so rude. "He's offering you a great gift..." Those blue eyes shot a glare at him that froze him inside. The green eyed man touched his chest over his heart. What was this strange feeling? "I...I don't understand." he mumbled under his breath.
Evil princess Saori's castle...
"I always get what I want don't I, Mother?" The girl seemed hypnotized by something beyond the glass. The huge tank took up the section of the wall. The free floating creature inside seemed human and anything but free. Just around the corner her neglected bald servant schemed.
"She's become obsessed with heavenly beings. She should know they aren't so easy to catch, that's why we have warriors like you two. Nagi the Wolf," he referred to a short haired brunet with a wolf symbol on it, "And Hydra," a young man with a white Mohawk, "Hmm, I forgot your real name. It doesn't matter. You two will help me show the princess how to appreciate what she already has. Won't we boys?" Tatsumi chuckled maliciously and the other's chuckled with him.
Back to Hyoga's cabin...
"That's what I hate about people like you." the blond nearly spat, "You think desires are more important than people."
"How dare you..." Shiryu took a step forward but Seiya blocked him with one arm.
"Leave him alone. I think he's the kind of man that would rather have a handshake for your gratitude than gold. He values honor and compassion not treasure. He doesn't need anything we could give him." the young man spoke with wisdom and respect.
"Seiya..." Shun looked from the brunet to Hyoga. The blond called Ivanava into the house and started to close the door. "Hyoga!"
"Take care of yourself, okay?" the man shut the door. Shun felt like he cut their connection with the simple shutting of that door.
"Hyoga..." Shun uttered wanting to shed a tear but not sure if he could. Something deep down was still trying to figure out what just happened. He felt his brother's hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Shun." Ikki seemed to sympathize. "I didn't intend this but...maybe it's better this way. He's a mortal after all."
"Ikki," he threw himself against his brother, "I owe him so much. I don't want to leave like this."
"What are you talking about? You can't leave anyway, not without your hagaromo." a mysterious voice mocked them.
"Who's there?" Ikki pulled Shun closer to him.
"Who dares!" Seiya jumped in font of everyone and stood ready for battle.
"Jab the Unicorn has come to collect the heavenly being who bares no hagaromo." The short haired man in armor approached them.
"You can't have him." Ikki stood in front of his green haired brother.
"So it's that one, eh?" the enemy looked around Seiya at the green haired man. "What's with the dress? Oh well, come quietly now and no one gets hurt." Jab threatened.
"I'll take hurt, you that is. Yeeeaaaawww!" Seiya rushed at the armored man.
"What's all the shouting about?" Hyoga opened the door to see an armored man facing off with the Shun and his friends. "What's going on?"
"Stay out of this mortal." A second and third armored foe showed up. One had a white Mohawk and black eyes the other had really short dark hair with a wolf emblem on his foreheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeead. (oops, sorry fell asleep) The one sporting the Mohawk kicked Hyoga's gut, flinging him against the cabin wall and knocking the wind out of him. Ivanava attacked the other and was thrown into the snow bank.
"Hyoga!" Shun exclaimed separating from his brother without hesitation. The bald man, Tatsumi appeared out of nowhere and intercepted Shun on his way to help his blond friend. "Let go of me you brute!" He pushed on the man's arm, that grabbed his waist.
"What's with the dress?" the bald man asked.
"What did you say?" Shun was getting mad. These clothes belonged to Hyoga's mother. They're very elegant and...
"Be quiet for a while." the bald man growled as he did something intensely painful and rather tricky to Shun's neck making him passed out.
"Shun..." the blue eyed man coughed a few times trying to catch his breath.
"Shun!" Ikki turned around but was blocked off by Hydra and Wolf.
"Not so fast." Wolf told him.
"You're not goin' anywhere." Hydra taunted.
"I'll take the one on the right." Shiryu volunteered to help thin out the opponents. "We'll finish this quickly and save Shun."
"Let's do this." Ikki welcomed anything that could speed this up.
"What happen's to Shun in the meantime?" Hyoga forced himself to get up. He finally got his breath back and so he took after the bald menace.
"Wasn't that Shun's friend?" Shiryu got distracted for a moment and just barely blocked a three prong claw with his impenetrable shield.
"Better watch you're opponent or you'll feel the sting of my Hydra claws." the little man laughed in a thin malicious giggle.
Hyoga followed the man into the woods just beyond the cabin. He knew these woods better than anyone but even he was having a hard time tracking them. A muffled ringing sound led him to the foot of a mountain. In a brief moment he could here the sound clearly and then it stopped. He kept running until he found a gold glow reflecting in the silver snow. Hyoga picked up a small gold bell, the same as his, the same as Ivanava's. It was attached to his mother's garment, it must have come off somehow.
The blond felt responsible. What was he thinking just letting the green haired man go like that? He didn't even give his friend a proper fair well or anything like that. It was a very good possibility that the blond haired blue eyed man would never see his green haired friend again and he couldn't even say good bye. He was mad at Ikki's offer, but instead of politely turning him down and giving him a lecture about how to respect people, he acted like a spoiled kid who had to give back a really great thing that wasn't really his to begin with.
"Sorry Mama, you taught me better than that." Hyoga took in a breath and let loose a high pitched whistle. Ivanava who had been knocked out and collapsed in the snow bank by the cabin jumped up and shook off his coat. The great white animal saw the three battles there were taking longer than anticipated then howled for his master.
"Ivanava, good boy." Hyoga lifted the bell and rang it gently. The white wolf's ears moved searching out the sound. The animal dug his claws into the ground and launched himself in that direction. "Come on boy, lead me too him." He waited and didn't have to wait long. The wolf howled again as it ran through the woods. He'd stoop for a moment sniff in a circular pattern and howled again. Hyoga flew as fast as his feet could carry him to the sound of that howl.
Not far away...
"Ugh, my head." Shun lifted his head slowly. The wind was whipping past him at high speeds and from the scenery it was a mountain. This scenery was... "Where am I?" The green haired man tried to struggle but couldn't budge from the silver chains that bound him to a wooden pole. "This can't be happening, I'm dreaming...that's all this is, a dream."
"I'm afraid not my little heavenly being." Tatsumi chuckled.
"Who, who are you and why are you doing this?" The green eyed celestial's brow knotted from frustrated confusion.
"It's a little thing called revenge, sorry, nothing personal."
"But isn't revenge personal?" The green haired warrior asked, confused. "Tell me what I've done to deserve this?"
"Okay, yes revenge is personal but just because you're involved doesn't mean it's your fault or that you can do anything about it."
"Wha-that doesn't make any sense!" Shun struggled against the silver chain. "Just let me go. I just want to return to...wait. How do you know what I am?"
"That's the least of your worries now lad." the bald man shook his head. "You're about to be a sacrifice to the great animal."
"Great animal?"
"The village down in that valley between these here mountains put sacrifices up here to appease the demon they call the great animal so's it won't eat their sheep, chickens, ox, some times little goats..."
"But these are the bones of people." the celestial tried not to let those slippers touch the old bones.
"You know how sacrifices go. Virgins or just really beautiful women, silly superstitions get a lot of innocent people hurt but it keeps there sheep out of trouble if you know what I mean." The blond man nudged him with his elbow.
"But I'm not a girl." Green eyes blinked, not sure if he realized that.
"But you are a virgin right?" The man lifted an eyebrow at him.
"What? Agh! I hate this. I just want to go home. I wish I'd never..." Green eyes grew wide with the realization that he was about to say something he would regret. I wish I'd never come here? No that's not true. I'm grateful for meeting Hyoga. Even if I only knew him for a short time, I'm so happy I had the opportunity to meet such a wonderful person. I wish he was here now.
"Well, it won't be long now." Tatsumi had an animal skin normally used for holding whine or water. He started spreading the liquid around it was red like...
"Blood!" Shun jerked his feet up to avoid being splashed by the warm red fluid. It steamed into the air and sunk into the snow. The bones at this feet the blood covering them, although, he was dressed this time that was a good change. "Why are you doing that?"
"I'm sure a monster will come for the blood or maybe some wolves. I don't really care which as long as they kill you. Princess Saori finds out it was me I'll get in serious trouble. And I don't want even a scrap of evidence left." The bald man chuckled.
"You...you're so mean." Shun wanted to cry. There was a great howl of a wolf could be heard and it was coming closer.
"Oh, look there's a wolf now." Tatsumi welcomed predators that would dispose of his problems. "Right here boys there's plenty to go around." A white wolf came from the tree line growling and looking ravenous. It bounded after the blood.
"AHHHHHH!" That hideous shriek broke through the frosty air.
"Thanks, I'll just help myself." Hyoga emerged walking past Tatsumi who was still holding the bloody skin and now being attacked by Ivanava.
"Shun." the blond stepped through the bloody bones only worried about his green haired friend.
"H-Hyoga." He choked out his name past his tears.
"Are you alright, Shun?" the blond savior brushed his wind blown locks out of his face. "Shun, I'm sorry." the blue eyed man worked on the chains finding the bindings and loosening them. "I should have been clear, earlier with your brother. I wasn't angry I just..." Ivanava yelped so his blue eyes started to glance back, but he paused. He hesitated then leaned forward, onto the released prisoner.
"Hyoga." the green haired man blushed at the other's advances until he realized that the man's weight was collapsing onto him. "Hyoga!" Green eyes noticed four thin throwing knifes in his back. There was blood all over the ground where Tatsumi and Ivanava had been fighting, but the white wolf was no where to be seen. "What have you done?" Shun exclaimed. The bald man managed to stand even though one leg and both arms were shredded and bleeding. Tatsumi hand to hold his neck with one hand, limiting the amount of knives he could throw.
"I'll have to sacrifice you both." he growled sweat and blood dripping from his face. Shun had to act fast. The man held up another dagger to throw. Shun dove behind the wood pole pulling Hyoga with him, just in time and three knives embedded into the sacrificial pole. The green eyed man took the knives out of his friend's back as the blond began to tremble from his injuries.
"Just wait here for a second." The green haired man set Hyoga down to rest. The warrior of the Andromeda constellation came from behind the wooden pool. "You made a mistake when you kidnaped me, then when you hurt Ivanava and Hyoga," His green eyes and his angry voice spit malice on the fool. "but the mistake you're really gonna pay for is giving me a chain!" The man tried to throw another dagger but Shun had the chain, twirling it in a circular motion at super speeds making a shield from the momentum. His pitiful dagger bounced off and pierced the ground at his feet.
"Ugh!" Tatsumi exclaimed stumbling backward from fear. But his dreadful frown turned into a smile and he started to laugh. "Ah ha ha, AH HA HA HA!"
"This is the end." Shun prepared his chain.
"You're right. The monster is here! AH HAA HAA HAA!" The bald man cackled.
"What?" A heat wave suddenly hit the mountain top and a terrible shreek of a great bird could be heard. Shun looked to see a huge Griffin whose wings and crest were made of fire. "It can't be..."
"You're going to die! Both of you, ha ha ha ha ha." the bald man ran off into the woods and his laugh faded to nothing.
"Hyoga." Shun wrapped the chain around his arm and ran back to the pole. "Hyoga come on." He tried to help the blond up.
"Shun, get out of here." he mumbled, there was blood coming from his mouth and he reached out like he couldn't see.
"You're fine, you're going to be fine. We've got to get out of here. The blood..." he wrapped his arms around Hyoga and pulled him to his feet. He could feel the slick warm liquid draining from his friend's body. "It's attracting the creature so..."
"I'm bleeding and you can't make it carrying me. Just get out of here."
"No, I won't leave you." he tried to hobble away with his heavy load as the Griffin landed on the mountain top.
"Shun, you have to run." Hyoga could feel his limbs getting numb and his own body getting cold. He tried to walk a little but his feet tripped up and he fell.
"No, Hyoga! Get up!" The green haired man wasn't letting go of his arm so he pulled hard to get him to his feet but he wasn't budging.
"It's here just go and save yourself."
"Shut up!" Shun positioned himself between the monster and his blond friend and readied his chain for attack. "I won't let anyone have you!"
"Shun." Hyoga collapsed onto the snow.