Chapter Seven: Summoning the Gods
Taka stood before Ren Shigyou brandishing the Holy sword and with a distinct frown on his face. Ren pulled out his own sword and smiled at him.
"What's the matter Tamahome?" he asked, "Lose something?"
"Where is Miaka?" he said angrily.
"I imagine right now that she is with my Master."
"With Tenkou?" his eyes became wide.
"That's right. And the only way to get to him Tamahome is through me."
"So be it then" Taka charged forward and he and Ren began an epic battle.
(Next Scene)
On the other side Nakago had just arrived at the top and spotted Miru strolling towards him.
"Why Nakago I didn't think that you would be the one who would come face me" she smiled, "I rather expected the little boy to come."
"I wouldn't have anyone else have the pleasure of killing you" he replied, "Where's Lady Yui?"
"She's with Master Tenkou right now. But I'm sure that you figured that much for yourself Nakago. So you're prepared to fight me then."
"Yes" he nodded, "I also am a Seiryuu warrior. And thus it is my duty to protect the Priestess."
"All right Nakago, you shall have your wish" she sent a blast of life force towards him, which he blocked.
(Next Scene)
Chichiri and Namame arrived at the watery surface and spotted Hikou.
"Houjun?" he said surprised.
"Hikou!" Chichiri called, "I will not let you do this!"
"Oh you have come to stop me have you?"
"That's right. Because you are my responsibility. No one else's."
"Where's Takako?" Namame demanded.
"The Priestess has been transported to Master Tenkou" Hikou replied glancing at him slightly, "I don't see how you can stop me Houjun. I'm too powerful now."
"Oh yea" Tasuki shouted from behind, "Not when he's got his friends on his side he won't fail."
"Tasuki? Nuriko?" Chichiri said surprised as he saw them.
"Hi there" Nuriko waved, "His majesty is taking care of everything down below and asked us to give you a hand."
"Actually this gives me an idea. Tasuki!"
"Yea."
"When I tell you, send a flame from your fan in that direction."
"What?" Tasuki looked at him confused.
"Just do it!" Chichiri shouted, "Hikou, I will stop you!" he ran forward.
"Chichiri!" they all shouted as he threw his cape over his friend who had begun a water barrier.
"Tasuki!" he shouted, "Aim for my cape! Do it!"
"But Chichiri?" Tasuki protested.
"Just do it!" he repeated.
"But."
"Do what he says Tasuki" Nuriko replied.
"What?"
"Just trust me" Nuriko looked at him determined.
"Right" Tasuki nodded, "You had better be fast."
"Mhm" Nuriko nodded.
Inside the cape Hikou was laughing at Chichiri.
"You are a fool Chichiri" Hikou laughed, "You're going to die along with me. Your body can't take much more of this barrier."
"Maybe so Hikou, but you won't die alone. I won't let go this time. All three of us will finally be together in heaven. Tasuki! Do it now!"
"Reka Shian!" Tasuki shouted as Nuriko ran forward and Namame watched in surprise, "Hurry Nuriko."
As the flames hit the cape Hikou could feel the heat and turned to Chichiri with a scared expression on his face.
"Let me go Houjun."
"No I'm not letting you go. I made that mistake once."
"But you have so much to live for. Let me go. Chichiri."
"Chichiri!" Nuriko shouted as he pulled him away from Hikou and the second set of flames came toward Hikou's body, pushing him backwards.
"Hikou!" Chichiri yelled, as his friend collapsed, not even letting go of his hand.
(Next Scene)
On the final side Tatara was in hand to hand combat with Yotsui, who was quite fast and moved around much like a cheetah that kept disappearing.
"Where is she Yotsui?" Tatara shouted, "Where's Suzuna?"
(Next Scene)
Tenkou looked at the small girl before him and chuckled a bit. Miaka frowned even more as he stalled.
"Do you even know the answer?" she shouted as Yui and the other two joined her at her side.
"Of course I know the answer" he replied, "It's really quite simple. No beast god can grant the wish of a Priestess and a warrior being together. Tatara and Suzuno Osugi wished for such a thing and it didn't occur. It's the one wish that the beast god can't grant. However you didn't wish for such a thing, even though it was your intention, you selflessly gave that up. And for that Suzaku took pity on you. He himself granted Tamahome's wish. Do you want to know why that is the one wish they can't grant Priestess?" Because I made it so they couldn't, but once Suzaku did it. Found a way around it, my power became weaker. He placed Tamahome in your time period. Something I never thought he could do. And thus my power was sealed away till the time I could find a way to separate you two for good. I tried months ago by using Tomo and the Priestess of Seiryuu to lore you here Priestess. I found the only way to regain my power was by use of the Shinzaho's. And yours was the only one that was missing."
"So that's why you had me brought here?" Yui asked, "Making me the Priestess of Genbu?"
"Temporarily yes. I knew how important you were to the Priestess of Suzaku as well as Tamahome. And I also knew that it would only be a matter of time till she appeared to find you both. But then you Priestess of Seiryuu you summoned all four of the beast gods and had me sealed away. Tamahome could no longer come to your world. Which made me happy because I had managed to accomplish something. However once again Suzaku found a way around it. He told Taitskuyn of a way that Tamahome and the Priestess could be together, by simply giving up his memories of who he was. Then he could be reborn in your world as Taka Suknami, thus making my power dormant and unable to use. But I had my own agenda. I used old friends and servants to help me. Long since deceased. By promising them ultimate power and a few special gifts on the side" Tenkou smiled at Miaka, "I want you Miaka Yuki and Tamahome to be separate forever so my power can live on and never be stolen from me again, and the only way to do that is to break your bond of love for good."
"I see" Miaka said slowly, "It now makes sense Tenkou. However" she looked up at him angrily, "Even if you separate us. Even if you kill us and we are no longer alive, our bond of love will never be severed. It's unbreakable. That's what you don't understand. I love Taka and nothing you do will ever change that. Nothing. And the sooner you realize that the better. Suzaku gave us a gift and I will not stand by and watch him be destroyed."
"Miaka?" Yuki looked at her confused.
"I will. I will save him!"
Miaka ran to the edge of the rock platform and looked into the heavens.
"Suzaku! "she called, "Suzaku if you can hear me! Take it! Take all my power! Give it to yourself! I no longer need it!"
"Miaka?" Yui held up her hand.
"Yui" Miaka said slowly, "You know I am doing the right thing. I don't need this power but Suzaku does."
"Foolish girl" Tenkou frowned, "Suzaku has no power. You're only wasting your time."
"Suzaku!" she shouted, "Take it!"
A bright red light glowed around Miaka's body, along with a blasting wind that blew her hair up.
"Miaka!" Yui shouted trying to run to her.
"Yui we have to do the same thing" Takako stopped her, "That's what she was trying to tell us."
"Okay" Yui nodded, "Seiryuu! Take my power!" she shouted.
"Genbu!"
"Byakko!"
The white, green, and blue light shone round about them. And Tenkou stared in disbelief in anger rising to the sky. His fingertips glowed and from out of them four red beams of light shot down to the earth.
(Next Scene)
Keisuke and Tetsuya watched below with the crowd as the skies became darker. Mrs. Hongo and Mrs. Yuki spotted them in the crowd.
"Keisuke" Mrs. Yuki called out.
"Mom" he said as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Where is she?"
"She's up there" he pointed, "With the warriors."
"And Yui?" Mrs. Hongo replied terrified.
"She's up there too," Tetsuya said.
(Next Scene)
The red beams crossed over Nakago, Tatara, and Taka's head. One by one they struck the four demon rulers all except for Hikou who was already down. Namame had blasted it to bits before it could reach him.
Miru fell before a shocked Nakago.
"Master Tenkou" she gasped as she collapsed, "Why?"
"Miru" Nakago ran forward as the Seiryuu seven appeared.
He stroked her hair and stared angrily above him.
"Tenkou" he whispered.
"Nakago" Suboshi replied.
"Ashitare."
"Yes Nakago?" he nodded.
"Pick her up and come with me. I have to find my brother."
(Next Scene)
Tatara saw as Yotsui fell from the skies once the beam struck him. Yotsui's eyes held such fear, but once more he was dead. Tokaki and the rest of the Byakko seven appeared behind Tatara as he looked above him.
"Tatara" Tokaki replied.
"Let's go Tokaki" Tatara stared at him determined, "It's only Tenkou who is left."
(Next Scene)
Chichiri held onto Hikou's hand as he slowly faded into the water.
"Houjun" Hikou said slowly, "You're still holding onto me."
"I told you I wasn't going to let go this time Hikou" Chichiri replied.
"But you have to. Your Priestess needs you and so do your friends. I now have to go. Return to the water from whence I came."
"Hikou. Don't" Chichiri could feel the tears starting to well up.
"It's okay Houjun" Hikou smiled, "We will be together, all of us someday. You know she loved you more than anyone in the world. She never meant to betray you and neither did I. I just wanted to know what it felt like to hold her. Just once to feel her lips on mine. This is my penance. You have always been the nicest person Houjun. And I will wait for you."
"Hikou!"
Goodbye" Hikou disappeared.
"HIKOU!" Chichiri cried, "I said I wouldn't let go."
Tasuki and Nuriko walked over and stood behind him just as the rest of the Genbu seven appeared.
"Chichiri we have to go get Miaka now" Nuriko replied.
"Yes" Chichiri nodded, "I know" he stood up, "Let's go. We have to find Tamahome and the others and get to Miaka" he picked up his staff.
(Next Scene)
When the red beam came down Taka dodged out of the way as it struck Ren right in the chest. Ren's eyes became wide as he dropped his sword.
"What?" he replied as the blood dripped from his mouth, "Why?" he fell to his knees.
Nakago appeared from out of the shadows and saw as his younger brother gasped for air. He ran forward with Ashitare nearby.
"Ren" he said as he knelt down.
"Nakago" Ren replied, "Why?"
"I could have told you that this would happen. It was the very reason I did not want to be with him anymore. Ren he killed me in the same way. That was when I stopped trusting him."
"Nakago" Ren gasped, "Miru."
"Ashitare" Nakago ordered him over and he placed her near her brother.
"Miru. My sister. Go get him Nakago" Ren replied, "Avenge us and save your Priestess. Forgive me brother. For being so foolish. For following your stupid mistake. I loved the Priestess of Suzaku, and in the end I have paid with my life. Tamahome" he looked at the stunned boy, "Go save her" he fell to the ground, "Miru" he said in his last breath, "Sister" he closed his eyes.
Nakago stared at his brother and frowned, then he turned to Taka as the Seiryuu, Genbu, Byakko, and Suzaku warriors.
"Tamahome" he replied, "Let's go" he stood up.
"Right" Taka nodded.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: This chapter ended up being longer than expected so I have to split it into two parts!
Next Part: Summoning the Gods
