The lack of centering annoys me SO much. Anyway, I apologize for the tardiness of this chapter. I'm been writing it for weeks and a lot of real life stuff just kept getting in the way. It was a difficult chapter too. There were SO many characters to work into it and a lot of action. I hope it is good. I hope you tell me what you think! But regardless, thank you very much. I hope you enjoy the story. I will delay your reading no further.
Evermore
Chapter 11
By Zapenstap
The main gate of the Sohma Main House creaked on its hinges as it swung from where it hung ajar on the inside. From what Arisa Uotani could see, the area inside was abandoned; there were no people, no voices, not even a whisper of life. Arisa motioned the others to step back on the outside of the wall.
"It's more deserted than it was for New Years," Tohru whispered.
Arisa didn't say anything. She had her thumbnail between her teeth, thinking furiously.
Hana turned to look at Tohru, blank eyes soaking up the last of the daylight and converting it into darkness. The sun had sunk beneath the horizon and the trees lining the gate were cloaked in shadow, a gray veil obscuring finer details in the distance. There was still light enough to see by, but it was getting dark fast, and cold. Arisa was glad now that they had gone back to Shigure's for their coats.
"It's not deserted," Hana murmured. "There are people inside. A lot of people."
"Magicians?" Kagura demanded in so loud a whisper she might as well have just said it.
Hana paused for a moment. "I think so."
The worry that consumed Tohru's eyes infuriated Arisa, not because Tohru angered her but because Tohru shouldn't have to worry about anything more than she already did. Disaster upon disaster had fallen upon that girl and it made Arisa livid with rage sometimes that someone so innocent and so good had to put up with so much. And she never complained. Not ever. Was it because she was so pure or did she just not want to confide in her friends about her worries? Was she keeping her feelings in because she was afraid of what would happen if she let them out? Why? Tohru, we are here for you! No one could really be that happy and selfless all the time.
"Yeah, they're in there," Belduine said in a mellow tone. "Farther on the inside, I think, by the feel of things." He hadn't protested their decision once it was made and hadn't spoken since they left Shigure's. His sudden complacency almost made Arisa suspicious, but her caution was obscured by a whirl of other emotions. Fear flogged her stomach hard enough to make her nauseous, but it was cocooned by anger and a sense of desperation. Part of her wanted to turn around and run, but the abrasive part of her nature wanted to burst through the gates, stride up to the Main House and yell at anyone who deserved yelling at, including Kureno, even if the thought of him twisted her heart into knots. And she would yell at Akito too. She didn't care if he was head of the household or some kind of God or that there was something so predominantly creepy about him that it made her nerves twitch. Comparatively, the magicians didn't faze her at all. All she could think about was the months she had spent telling herself to forget about that man—Kureno Sohma--when all along he had been right under her nose, and if Akito was the reason he hadn't come back to see her, well… she would just have to do something about that! They were selfish motivations for coming here. But she was also genuinely worried about the Sohma household, several of whom she was starting to get to know pretty well at school, and she just could not abide that expression on Tohru's face.
"Why is it so quiet if there are still people in there?" Kyo asked.
"A good question," Hana murmured.
Ritsu and Ayame hadn't said anything for awhile. Ritsu looked too terrified to speak up to the group. He was traditionally the kind of person Arisa loathed. She had never had any trouble speaking her mind herself, and it bothered her when other people couldn't do the same, but Tohru's acceptance of everybody for the way they were constrained her from making any comments. After awhile, she began to gather a better grasp for Ritsu, and in some ways her growing compassion annoyed her. Was she becoming soft by allowing people to be timid? Wouldn't it be better to push them to be stronger? Or was that cruel, pushing them to be something they were not, forcing them to take on other roles before they were ready? She wasn't sure anymore.
Ayame was a different matter. Arisa had found his boisterous storytelling and commentary amusing at first, but that was before it became apparent that he couldn't behave in a manner that reflected the gravity of their situation. He might have been doing it out of habit, worry and nerves, but Arisa was afraid his loudness would discover them to the enemy and he verbally plowed over anyone who tried to tell him so. She would pickle his head in a canning jar if he gave them away. When they got close to their destination, Arisa had taken the liberty to kick the flamboyant clothes designer in the shin to shut him up. He cut off abruptly in mid-laughter, taking note of those around him slowly, and after getting a good look at her face, Kyo's glower, Tohru's worried expression and Hana's blank-eyed stare, Ayame Sohma succumbed into a fidgety silence. Arisa was glad. If that didn't work, she had planned to hack off his hair to make a gag.
"Several hundred people live here," Kagura said quietly. "If there was trouble…"
"The magicians probably set some kind of wards or triggers," Belduine said dismissively. He stood at the edge of the gate, staring ahead of him with a lost, troubled look in his eyes. "I suppose they might have killed everybody, but I doubt it." He put the flat of his hand on the wooden gate. "I guess this is for the best," he muttered quietly to himself, looking at the ground between his feet. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the rest of them. "You'd better hurry if you want to reach them."
"Yeah, I guess we better had," Arisa snapped. "Okay, everybody, why don't we…"
The gate swung abruptly wide open, pulled inward from the inside, and a figure appeared in the doorway.
Belduine leaped back, stumbling at first and then falling into a defensive crouch close to the ground and half in the shadows. The others started back in alarm, but it was Arisa whose world flipped over. She froze stock still, unable to move a muscle, her heart ceasing to beat, the organ becoming nothing more than a lump in her chest.
Kureno Sohma was tall, clean cut and seemingly more startled by the lot of them then they were to encounter him. As beauty seemed to be a Sohma birthright, Kureno Sohma was blessed with symmetrical facial features, but he seemed almost ordinary in a lot of ways, save in the awkward way he observed the rest of them. His eyes scanned Arisa at least twice and there was something in his face other than surprise when he looked at her, but Arisa was no mind reader. She could hardly think at all. All she could do was feel, and her emotions swept through her violently.
Feeling heat rise into her face, she wondered what sort of explosion was going to come out of her. Anger preceded the rest of it, a self-righteous rage borne of hurt and worry and something she sure as hell wasn't ready to define as love. Her mouth opened and she felt the words bubble up into her throat, felt her expression constrict and her fists clenched and knew she was going to shout something unforgivable, something that came from the very heart of her wrecked emotional state, but before she could say anything, Kureno seized her unceremoniously by the wrist.
"What the…?" she protested, pulling back automatically.
"Come with me," he said. His eyes trapped her. "Quickly."
Arisa wrenched her eyes away and glanced behind her at the others. They were all staring, eyes round and mouths gaping, all save Hana, who politely studied the horizon over her left shoulder. Arisa looked back at Kureno, struck speechless, all of her fire and vigor and indignation spilling out her like water through a sieve.
"Quickly!" he repeated. "All of you!"
Pulled in by the wrist, Arisa followed Kureno inside and heard the others fall in on her heels. Beyond the gate was something like a village and she glanced at it even as she stumbled, her head swirling with thoughts and emotions and uncertainties. Kureno led them through deserted streets in silence, weaving between houses and avoiding open places as much as possible. Arisa's eyes darted everywhere but at Kureno's back. The windows of the houses looked dark and there was something she would almost define as sleepiness hanging over everything. She saw only one face in a window, of a woman on a rocking chair. Whoever she was, she didn't appear to take any notice of them.
"This way," Kureno whispered, and Arisa found herself being herded suddenly through the open door of a house. The others followed, their shoes clamoring on the stairs up to the porch and through the door. The inside was dark, darker than the gathering night outside, and from what she could tell this little house was empty even of furnishings. It was stripped bare from floor to ceiling, without even tatami mats to sit on. Once inside, they stopped moving, breathing in the darkness, finding each other by touch as their eyes adjusted to what little light seeped in through the windows.
"Where are we?" Tohru whispered.
"No one lives here," Kureno said. "It's been empty for months. Whatever they did to the other houses they did not bother to do to this one."
"The other houses?" Kyo asked. "What do you mean? What did who do?"
"Men in robes," Kureno replied. "They came in through the front gate. Since they entered, no one has come out of their homes. Sometimes they come to the windows and look out, but it is like they see nothing. I suppose it makes it easier for them."
Arisa could see the white's Tohru's eyes gleaming in the darkness. It made her angry again, the fury slicing through the veil of bewilderment that had dropped over her perception since Kureno's hand pulled her after him. What right did he have to jerk her around this way? First the store, visiting her while she worked, asking her to lunch, almost kissing her, and now physically…!
"Well what's been happening?" Arisa demanded, pulling her wrist out of his grip.
Kureno cast a glance at the rest of the group, all of them watching Arisa expectantly because she had chosen herself to be the leader. Before anything more could be said, Kureno grabbed her hand again and pushed open a door on the wall beside her. "This way," he said, and hustled her through it before she could protest, leaving the others to wait in the dark in the other room.
Arisa turned on him as soon as the door was shut. "Don't you have any manners?" she shouted. She turned her wrist out of his hand and shoved him in the chest, the two-hand solid push sending him reeling backward. "What? Were you raised in a barn?" He reached for her arm again and this time she pulled back angrily. "Stop grabbing at me! I want to know what's going on."
He was calm, unperturbed by both her rage and her anger, though he gave her the space she requested. "What are you doing here?" Kureno whispered. "Why are you here? Go back home."
"What? No! I know about the damn curse and the magicians already! We were attacked at Shigure's! What I need is to…"
"Go home," he repeated. He raised a hand gently to her face and she abruptly stopped trying to cut in and ride over him. There was something so pure and simple and open in his touch, like he didn't know it was out of social bounds to invade her personal space without warning that way. His fingers were cool on her cheek, but she flushed, more trapped than if he had grabbed her like before. "It can't have anything to do with you," he whispered. "When they surrounded the Main House, I was lucky to be outside. I was able to see them before they saw me. You must understand. I'm not usually allowed to be anywhere out on my own, but Akito was busy and I wanted time to myself to think. It is you I risk going outside to think about. Please… go home. I want you to be safe."
"I…" She was shocked to feel tears in her eyes. She was admittedly emotional, but she was usually more likely to be angry than to cry, to rage or fume or break things. But somehow this man turned everything upside down, perhaps precisely because he didn't know he was doing it, because she knew her rages wouldn't upset or make sense to him.
"Are you sad?" he asked. "…I'm sorry I made you cry. Please just go."
She bit her lip, struggling to be angry through her tears. "No. I'm not sad. And I'm not going! I want to help. Sohma…" She was rarely polite enough to address someone by their last name, but she wasn't thinking straight. She reached up to take his wrist and pull his hand away from her face where his touch was making her go all crazy. "Please tell me," she pleaded. "Why did you come to my store?" He was a blur in her eyes. Was her voice trembling? This wasn't what she should be asking him, what was most important, and yet… "And why did you stop coming? I don't… Who are you?"
"Too see you," he replied. His fingers touched her hair, threading through the edges by her face, pushing them back behind her ears to clear her eyes. She couldn't breathe or move. Her feet and fingers felt stiff and cold, but the rest of her was warm. Once he had touched her, he didn't stop or draw away or even seem to consider it. His hands held her head on either side of her face, his fingers playing idly with the blonde strands, smoothing it over her scalp and crushing it against her ears. She was tall, but he leaned slightly over her, and no matter how proud and confident she stood, she felt small and vulnerable under his eyes. She didn't understand why she felt so weak. "I'm just a servant," he told her, and the whisper came close to her face. Her hands clenched into fists and she closed her eyes. "I guard Akito. I'm with him all the time. It is my duty, my responsibility, my life to ensure his safety. I have to go to him even now."
She was trembling and she didn't know why. Jealousy and anger threatened to bowl her over. "But Akito… That man is a monster! And it's dangerous! I…"
He leaned in swiftly and his lips on hers surprised her, a gentle kiss that for some reason hit her straight in the gut and swept aside all reason. But the mildness of it strengthened to something sharp and forceful and needing. Desperate. She felt his fingers tangling in her hair and knew it was the same for him, unexpectedly powerful, overwhelmingly addictive. He broke away as if being drug, gasping for air. "This can never be."
She fought to hold onto him, wrapping her hands around the back of his neck, not understanding clearly where she was or what she was fighting for or how this had come about. "But I…" She stepped in a little closer.
He grabbed her arms below the elbow, holding her at bay. "It would be bad for us both if he knew. Please, Arisa, just go home and… forget. I'm not the kind of man who can love you."
She felt him sweeping past her like wind and opened her eyes to find herself alone. She almost felt like she had woken up from a dream, nostalgic and disoriented. When she came to herself the tears dried instantly on her cheeks. She scrubbed her eyes angrily, wiping tears away to clear them, and strode forcibly out of the room.
"Hey, you! This isn't over!" she snapped, and came up suddenly short.
Kureno was not in the room.
The others were still waiting, watching her with those same wide eyes. She had forgotten about them momentarily, and flushed in shame under their assessing gaze and her own selfishness.
"Where did he go?" she demanded.
"He didn't say," Kagura said. "You know, I can't remember ever having heard Kureno-san speak before. How do you…?"
Ayame clapped his hands together. "Are you in love with Kureno Sohma!?!?!" he exclaimed over Kagura. His tone of voice modulated, climbing high and sweeping low at every other word with increasing gusto. "I must say I had expected it from the start. I always thought he was such a curmudgeon, being so quiet and furtive and never around, I never knew what he was thinking, not to mention the boring way he dresses, not that everyone can be as stylish as me, of course, but you still must understand my complete and utter surprise. It seems so fantastically delectable that someone such as yourself, being as wildly erratic and unpredictable and fiery spirited as you are should fall for someone with such a low and uninspiring profile as that man! But on second thought, you might be good for him, and as I consider myself dedicated to all romance, I will be most happy to assist you in all your fantasy endeavors! In fact, I just thought of a splendid design for you that will have Kureno behaving at least like a normal person in order to win your illustrious favor…"
"Who's normal?" Kyo shouted. "I hope you don't mean normal like you!"
"…and awaken his dormant passions," Ayame continued. "Oh, this is a most happy day! I will have you in my shop where we can take measurements for your sabbatical with the love of your life. You will have to run away and elope, of course; Akito would break something if he knew, possibly Kureno's neck, or probably yours, but I am always here to help a romance in need! The more desperate the more beautiful, as they say. It will be an epic tale of danger and adventure! Ha ha ha! Someone amongst us has to be happy after all, and one should do one's best to secure the utmost happiness of others, even in their personal relationships, in which I will proudly and shamelessly interfere!"
"Shut up!" Arisa shouted. "I'm not…" She clenched her jaw shut and buried her feelings. "We're going after him. He said the magicians have the Main House surrounded. Don't you understand?"
Ayame cut off short, his expression almost seeming to collapse. Kagura lowered her eyes, his hands clenching around a fistful of her skirt. Ritsu bit his lip.
"Yuki…" Tohru whispered, and Arisa knew it was only the first in a litany of anxieties.
"We're not going to let them be taken!" Arisa said viciously.
Kyo's face was unreadable. Hana said nothing. She almost couldn't see her in the shadow she was standing in. Arisa surveyed her army silently for a moment, her chest heaving and her nerves tingling. They would do what they could. And if they were killed or captured themselves… It would be better than living her whole life having run away. There were seven of them…
"Wait a minute," Arisa said. "Where's Belduine?"
*****
Momiji's blonde curls were damp with blood when Shigure lifted him lightly into his arms and carried him back to where he had left Kisa and Hiro. The cloaked magicians paid him less mind then they might a real dog. As long as he stayed within the circle of green cloaks in front of the foremost entrance of the Main House, kept his eyes lowered and spoke to no one, he was ignored. They had dropped Momiji to the ground in front of their feet like a sack, careless of how he fell unconscious and bleeding into the dust. Nor did they seem to care when Shigure approached to take the boy from them.
Shigure was careful not to meet the eyes of his captors, but he watched them furtively. They were certainly men, though they kept their hoods up over their faces and some of them had their hands wrapped in cloth, though whether for warmth or fashion or disguise, he wasn't sure. They looked to be of more than one nationality and there was an almost militaristic disposition in the way they stood so still and silent, watching the doors. Still, Shigure knew it was hopeless to try and break out of the circle. He had seen them do magic, just as that kid Belduine had said, and he didn't dare risk it.
In the middle of the circle, Hiro and Kisa were holding up surprising well. They both had a few minor injuries. Hiro's shoulder had been wrenched and Kisa had a nasty-looking cut on her knee, but though they both had a few other scuffs and scrapes, neither of them needed immediate medical attention. Their faces were pale and they were clearly afraid, but they weren't hysterical and they appeared to have things under control. Shigure admired them. It was strange the way people threw fits over minor tragedies and yet became quiet and patient when things were really bad. Hiro and Kisa held hands, standing side by side, and every once and awhile whispered something to the other which clearly relieved both of their stress.
A shame, that such young love had such a small hope. He didn't want to see it die.
"Is the rabbit all right?" Hiro asked, and managed it without moving his mouth or speaking loud enough to be heard.
"I don't know," he answered in the same way. Shigure didn't know what the rules were with their communication, but it was best to be cautious. He was hoping that their captors were overconfident. It would be something at least, though he wasn't sure they didn't have every right to be overconfident.
Shigure knelt and lowered Momiji's still form softy to the ground just in front of him, keeping the boy's head on his knees. He looked like he had been hit with something. The bleeding was minor; he thought it looked worse than it was. Shigure was more worried that Momiji had a concussion, or that something had damaged his brain. There was no way for him to tell. He didn't even think Hatori would be able to do too much. They would just have to wait and see if he woke up.
The front doors of the Main House burst open and a procession came through in a line, headed by the man with the runes on the edges of his robe. In the gathering darkness, all Shigure could make out was that he was a stern-faced man with strong bones and dark eyes. Shigure stayed on his knees and after a moment Hiro and Kisa dropped down respectfully beside him. Though he assumed the forms, the look in Hiro's eye was rebellious, and for a moment Shigure was afraid the boy was going to do something stupid, but after a moment he relaxed. Hiro's attention occasionally strayed to Kisa and it was clear he would do nothing that might endanger her.
For himself, Shigure lowered his head and tried to look contrite and cowed, not entirely sure it wasn't acting. The wizard in the robe with the runes was followed by two other magicians with Yuki between them, each grasping one of his arms. Yuki looked scared but otherwise unharmed, and for that Shigure was relieved at least. If none of them made any sudden movements, perhaps they would not be considered a threat, and thereby come under a light guard under which they could formulate a plan to escape. He would think of something.
Shigure took a moment to meet Yuki's eyes.
"Haru and Rin?" he mouthed silently.
Yuki shook his head.
Shigure immediately understood. They hadn't run.
As if the thought had been a summons, Rin and Haru appeared momentarily on the porch, prodded outside by two more wizards, one guiding Rin and the other compelling Haru. Their captors wore dead-pan faces like masks, but Rin and Haru looked angry, their eyes glittering with almost identical stubbornness. Occasionally Haru struggled, his Black personality fighting to get out, but Rin walked proud and cold and aloof, ignoring the man who gripped her by the upper arm with a frosty countenance. Right behind them, Hatori stumbled without guidance, weaving dizzily, one hand pressed to his temple as if he had a headache.
The magicians released their charges within the circle and stepped back ritualistically to merge in with the rest of their number, ignoring their captives. Taking advantage of the moment, Hatori leaned over and murmured something to Haru. The younger man calmed down enough to listen, his fists clenched, but his head was turned toward Yuki and the flash in his eyes indicated a personality hovering in flux. Yuki looked back at Haru and the subtle bond seemed to indicate something, because after a moment Haru seemed to relax. Rin looked away from Haru and toward Hiro and Kisa, her expression showing evidence of relief, but then her eyes landed on Momiji. She stiffened noticeably. Haru and Yuki caught the direction of Rin's stare, and their heads turned simultaneously. Haru's eyes widened.
"Momiji?" Yuki mouthed. "Is he…"
Shigure met their anxious looks with as much assurance as he could muster, unconsciously seeking to diffuse the tension of the situation. When Hatori became aware of the object of the stares, he paled. Straightening, he walked across the inner circle to kneel at Shigure's side. Shigure gave Momiji over to Hatori readily, watching anxiously as his friend cradled the boy gently to his chest, lifting his eyelids to look at his eyes and then laying his head softly back on Shigure's knees. The rabbit still had not moved or made a sound.
"What happened in there?" Shigure whispered as Hatori checked Momiji's pulse and listened for his breathing.
"I can't remember," Hatori murmured quietly. "Akito went to check on Yuki and I was left alone. Then I heard this tremendous boom. I don't remember anything that happened after that until just a minute ago. I woke up under guard." He brushed sweaty blonde curls from Momiji's forehead. "What happened to him?" Though his voice was flat and logical as always, Shigure knew Hatori well enough to know he was worried.
"I don't know," Shigure said. "What about Akito?"
Hatori nodded toward the Main House and Shigure followed the trajectory.
Although he had expected it, Shigure felt his confidence crack as Akito emerged from the complex. He was led by no one and suffered no one to touch him, but he looked a small and shrunken replica compared to the imposing terror he sometimes was. He clung to his robes, coughing occasionally in his sleeve, and glared at everyone around him with eyes that pierced, weighing and judging with bitter anger. His eyes scanned the captured Juunishi first, assessing them individually, and his lips twisted when he saw Momiji, lying like a broken doll with his head in Shigure's lap. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking or feeling, but when he looked at Shigure, something in his eyes almost seemed to blame him for what was happening. And though he knew he could not realistically be held accountable, Shigure felt whipped by the accusation.
"Azaren!"
The call came from on high and rang throughout the open space, but its tone was closer to a salutation than a challenge. The man with the golden runes looked up, seeming neither surprised nor worried, and a slight smile twisted his lips.
Shigure followed his gaze and was startled to see Belduine leap from the roof of one of the surrounding houses to the center of the circle. He landed like a cat, booted feet striking the dust, knees bending to cushion the impact, his fingertips touching the ground for balance. A stir rippled among the magicians surrounding the captured Sohmas, but the man in the runes neither moved nor spoke, looking down at the boy with that same smile. Akito's head turned sharply, eyes narrowing on Belduine as if to bore holes through him.
Belduine straightened gracefully, and though there was something wary in his countenance, he did not look thoroughly alarmed. His dark eyes flickered toward Shigure briefly, and lingered on Momiji's unconscious state, but his thoughts were difficult to decipher.
The wizard who was presumably Azaren said something in his own language, a dialect that sounded like nothing Shigure had ever heard, but he said it coolly, almost mockingly, and Belduine flushed as he listened, his expression grim. It was clear they knew one another personally. It was also clear that Azaren was in the position of authority. The revelation sent a distinct chill down Shigure's spine. Is that boy with us or against us? Considering the way we treated him…It was a disconcerting thought. They had to be cautious and tread carefully, now more than ever.
"Yes," Belduine answered whatever question Azaren had asked. "I know."
Azaren's smile slipped and he turned from Belduine as if, upon learning what he wanted to know, he could cease to acknowledge the boy's presence. Strangely, Belduine did not look affected by the sudden lack of attention, neither belittled nor angry. But what struck Shigure most about the exchange was that it seemed both he and Azaren had understood Belduine's speech, and yet neither Shigure nor this Azaren understood the other, or hadn't when Shigure had tried to speak to these people before. He went over in his mind what Belduine had said, reforming the words, listening to their sounds. Yes. I know. That was what they meant, but he realized that the words were not what he had thought he heard. Shigure might be able to repeat them from having heard and understood it, but whatever Belduine had said, it wasn't Japanese, nor, he realized, was anything Belduine had ever spoken Japanese, and yet Shigure had understood him perfectly all this time, down to inflection and intonation and nuance. What subtle magic was this? And stranger still, why had Azaren not used it to communicate with them?
Azaren said something that Shigure would have taken from its tone as an afterthought meant to amuse, but whatever it was he said, Belduine did not laugh.
"There are some girls with them," Belduine said. "They're not cursed. You can let them go."
A chuckle issued from some of the magicians in the circle, the first verbal response Shigure had heard from them.
Belduine's face was stubbornly set. "The Esper has no need for them!"
Azaren lifted a hand and the laughter ceased. He murmured something and whatever it was, it made Belduine angry. Shigure saw it in his eyes and body language, his fists clenching and his head reeling back. But before the kid could move or speak, the tiger appeared on the porch in front of the Main House and drew all eyes. A low growl like a soft rumble of thunder issued from its mouth as it sat on its haunches, its tail curling about its legs. A collar of diamonds encircled its neck and a license of gold hung beneath its chin. Azaren turned to look at the animal, ignoring Belduine as he smiled with something like pride and gestured for the tiger to come closer. Shigure noted Kisa watching the creature avidly, clinging to Hiro's arm, and wondered what she was thinking.
As the tiger padded softly past Yuki and came to lie down at Azaren's feet, the Head Wizard turned his hand over to display a glowing globe of soft white light. The sphere emerged out of nothing and hovered above the magician's palm, translucent and ghostly beautiful in the twilight of the evening. Shigure felt it pull at him like an anchor, weighing his soul down. It was almost an echo of the bond between Zodiac members, the invisible chain that linked them together through space and time and memory.
"Kureno is here," Hatori said suddenly. He did not sound overly surprised.
Shigure looked up with everyone else as the outer circle parted and a man stepped through with both hands in the air, a gesture of surrender. Akito's expression was difficult to read, but his eyes bored through Kureno like hot pincers as the man crossed the distance to stand beside him. Akito looked away when he came close, his teeth bared in an angry grimace as Kureno knelt on the ground beside him silently. Azaren held out the orb, staring through it with unfocused eyes, and then nodded with satisfaction.
"It seems that he's keeping track of us with that," Hatori said. "It must tell him who we are, like a visual blueprint of our curse. That means he knows who he's got left."
How were they going to get out of this? Shigure looked again at Akito, weighing the temperament of their god. He was supposedly divine, but he was scarcely a child. He was a painful master to serve, but to serve loyally was a dog's nature. They could not allow Akito to fall into the hands of these people. Shigure was willing to take any chance.
*****
Tohru's heart fluttered in her chest like a bird as she ran after Uo and the others. She had never been so scared in her life, not even when Kyo had transformed for the first time. Her fear then had been similar, but not the same. She had been shocked, frightened by what she saw, internally disgusted and hating herself for it, but predominantly deeply worried about Kyo. But what she was feeling now was terror for herself as well as others. This was heart-shredding anxiety and basic fear of death. She was flying into danger, hoping to save the ones she loved more than anything else in the world, hoping against hope that they were alive and unharmed and would remain that way. She could scarcely think enough to even understand her fears. She just tried to make herself keep running and hope that others would direct her.
"What are we gonna do?" Kyo demanded of Uo in a harsh, panting whisper.
"Bash em all down!" Kagura said enthusiastically. "I'm so mad I could…!"
"No, really!" Kyo cut her off. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't like running," Ayame complained. "It's hard on my clothes. And it messes up my hair."
"What we're going to do is take them by surprise!" Uo said fiercely. "Hana, I'm depending on you to shock them. Let's see how well these magicians do magic with their brains addled!"
Tohru was not a warrior. She believed in fighting for what you believed in, but physically hurting people wasn't in her nature. Even if she was being attacked, the best she thought she could do was clench her eyes shut tight and flail. She remembered the time she had hit Kyo with her book bag in the woods and winced. She had no idea what use she was in this strategy. She just wanted Yuki to be okay. She was so worried about him. And everybody.
"What about Belduine?" Kyo whispered.
Uo didn't say answer immediately. "We can't just run away."
Hana hissed for them to stop suddenly and the seven of them skidded to a halt. Ritsu let out a petrified peep as he crashed into Ayame's back. "I'm so sorry! I'm so…!"
"Shut up!" Arisa rebuked. Ritsu subsided into a wide-eyed, hurt silence.
Tohru caught sight of green robes just ahead and silently followed Kyo, Uo and Hana into the shadows behind the wall of the last house. She danced nervously from foot to foot as they all crowded together, trying to control their labored breathing. Tohru suddenly wanted someone to hold onto, and for some reason she wanted it to be Yuki. But it was Kagura who grabbed her hand and squeezed it for reassurance. She squeezed back.
"They're in a circle," Hana said. "The Sohmas are on the inside. And there's a tiger."
"A tiger?" Kyo questioned. "Well, what's the plan?"
"Okay," Arisa said, breathing on her hands and rubbing them together for warmth. "It's getting pretty dark, so that's in our favor. Orange-top, you're a cat, right? Are you any good at climbing?"
"I dunno, I guess. Do you want us to go over the roof or something?"
"Yeah. Who else can climb?"
"Um," Tohru spoke up, "Ritsu can climb."
"No I can't!" Ritsu protested. "I'm not good at anything!"
"Ritsu can climb," Tohru insisted. "He's the monkey. I've seen him do it. He pulled himself up onto the roof at Shigure's. You can do it, Ritsu! I know you can!"
"That's right!" Ayame exclaimed. "You can do anything you set your mind to! That's what we all have to believe!"
Ritsu followed with a few more protests and disclaimers that he was really no good and that they should expect him to be clumsy, revealing everything to the enemy and getting them all captured or killed. But at length it was determined that Kyo and Ritsu would climb over the roof and jump in the middle of the circle to create a diversion while the rest of them crashed through the middle of the circle.
"The object is to disorientate them enough so that everybody inside can run!" Arisa said. "Hana will help with the magics."
"I will try."
"We may not get everybody," Arisa said, "but we can always regroup and try again. But we can't give up! If we surrender it's all over and we'll be their prisoners. That's not going to happen if we keep fighting! So don't give up!"
Don't give up! Tohru clenched her fists determinedly.
Kagura nodded resolutely. She actually seemed excited to lead the crashing group. "You and I will be the leaders, Kyo!"
Tohru's job was to encourage everybody to run. Arisa thought they would listen to her. Ayame and Kagura were supposed to guard Hana so that she could send out her electrical shocks to help out the others without having to worry about defending herself. Arisa was going to help with the rescuing and leading the escape party out of the area.
"We have to act quickly and we have to be forceful," Arisa said. "I know we can do this! We have to try!"
Tohru waited in the shadows while Kyo and Ritsu climbed up the drainpipe to the roof. Ritsu managed it without any apparent difficulty, even in a girl's kimono. Tohru's heart was thudding so hard she thought it was going to burst, and her stomach was so shaky she was afraid she might throw up. But she locked her knees and set her expression and was determined to do her best. Because whatever happened, Arisa was right: They couldn't just run away. They had to try!
I'm going to protect my family. This time… this time I won't let them die!
"Ready?" Arisa murmured, looking back at the rest of them. Tohru really thought she might be sick, but she nodded.
Kagura braced herself to run, setting her attention on the link between the nearest pair of wizards in the circle just ahead. Tohru thought idly that Kagura must have been a true terror in Red Rover.
They heard the scraping of the roof tiles as Kyo and Ritsu prepared to leap off the roof.
"Now or never," Arisa whispered.
"Run!" Kyo's voice thundered from above them. Tohru heard him hit the ground inside the circle of magicians, presumably on his feet.
"Go!" Arisa echoed in a harsh whisper.
Kagura charged.
Tohru propelled herself forward, but she shut her eyes and missed what happened. Shouts and screams erupted on all sides as she felt people steam past her. Robes brushed past her arms as she broke through the circle, and only then did she open her eyes.
She saw all the Sohmas, everyone she loved, gaping at her in astonishment. Her relief was so great she hardly noticed the magicians, the tiger, Belduine, Kyo standing defensively or Ritsu covering his ears with his hands. She counted her family members quickly, and gasped when she saw Momiji lying limp in Shigure's lap.
"Tohru?" Shigure mouthed.
After a moment, she remembered what she was supposed to do. "Run!" she shrieked, and flailed her arms above her head.
Near the entrance to the house, standing just in front of a two wizards with bewildered expressions was Yuki. His face softened in recognition of her, and she soaked up the sight of him, alive and well. He was beautiful and noble and when he smiled at her she felt herself melting. It lasted only a moment, and then the circle exploded. In the next instant Yuki's eyes narrowed and his muscles tensed as he became the sharp, cold and noble fighter that Kyo could not defeat. Before Tohru's eyes he flowed like water, his hands moved faster than she could see, catching the wizards behind him unawares, striking them across the face and throat and midsection. They crumpled at his feet.
Rin and Haru moved when Yuki did, dashing for the circle and the freedom beyond side by side. Turning, Tohru looked behind her to see what the others were doing. Shigure was on his feet, carrying Momiji like a baby in his arms. He and Hatori moved toward Akito as one, opening their mouths to speak, ushering him the way Rin and Haru had fled. Kureno trailed close behind, but he looked over his shoulder to see Arisa running after him.
But it was Hana that had the attention of the magicians. Tohru did not know what magic looked like, did not know if she would be able to see it, but either they weren't using it or it wasn't working. Perhaps it was Hana. She did nothing but stand still, hands hanging at her sides, back arched, her hair loose behind her back. But the magicians fell back from her, ignoring the commotion of the Sohmas, watching her warily.
For a moment, Tohru believed that they were going to do it, that they were going to get everyone away, but then she saw a man with the runes. He stood in the middle of the circle with a tiger at his feet, and he did not appear at all perturbed by anything that was happening. When he spoke, his voice boomed and whatever he said seemed to give the other robed men confidence, for several of them smirked. Those with what looked like bandages wrapped around their hands unwound them. The man with the runes said something else, a curt word that could have meant anything and then waved a hand in a meaningless gesture. But Yuki gasped, stumbled, and feel suddenly limp. One of the two wizards he had struck caught him as he fell, seized him by the arms and dragged him up to his feet. The other one produced what looked like a ceremonial knife from his belt.
"Yuki!" Tohru gasped, alarmed.
"Azaren!" Belduine shrieked. "You can't do this!"
Tohru's eyes widened. She had not seen taken much note of Belduine at first in all the confusion, but he was there, standing alone in an open space. Her mind raced. He arrived before they did. Why? Had he betrayed them?
She didn't care. She couldn't think past what was happening. Yuki wasn't struggling. Perhaps he wasn't able to, but his eyes were wide, helpless and stricken with fear. The man Belduine identified as Azaren nodded at the man with the knife and folded his arms in his sleeves. The magician with the knife raised it to Yuki's face and gripped his jaw with the other hand.
Tohru stared in utter disbelief, clasping a hand to her mouth in horror as the glittering edge of the knife bit into Yuki's left cheek and sliced down toward his chin. Yuki screamed and blood gushed up from the cut, obscuring how deep the wound. He shuddered in the grip of his captor, but whatever was wrong with him prevented him from being able to break free. He shut his eyes, but tears leaked from them. The blood covered the lower quarter of his face.
Everybody stopped moving. Tohru wrenched her eyes away only to see Haru turn and take several steps back the way he had come before he stopped, utterly horro-struck. Tohru could also see Kyo, his eyes wide and his movements frozen, Ritsu clinging weakly to his sleeve.
The knife lifted and Yuki fell limp, shaking in the hold of the other wizard, but the knife only moved to change positions, lowering to Yuki's neck. The magician's other hand seized Yuki by the hair and pulled his head back. The knife pressed under his chin.
"Stop!" Akito shrieked.
His voice rang out, reverberating throughout the village.
He stood with Kureno, Hatori, and Shigure holding Momiji, nearer to the edge of the circle but not out of it. The older Sohmas surrounded him like a guard and had seemed to have been persuading him to escape, but when he spoke they stopped. Shigure's mouth was parted, his expression aghast as he stared at Yuki. Nobody could look away from Yuki's marred and bleeding face. Tohru could not look at it.
"I surrender!" Akito shouted. His eyes swung from Yuki to Azaren to the rest of the Sohmas. His eyes were frightened. Tohru had never imagined him so terrified. "Surrender!"
The second was a command, and as it was uttered all the Sohmas dropped their guard, falling one by one obediently to their knees. By their expressions they were not opposed to the order, not even Kyo, but Arisa remained on her feet, her face flushed and her hands shaking. Azaren regarded them all coolly for a moment and then nodded at the magician holding the knife. Taking it away from Yuki's neck, the man sheathed it with neither expression nor ceremony. Yuki slumped forward, gasping for air, the cut on his face still bleeding. It looked bad; a scar that would never heal. Tohru clapped both hands to her mouth, feeling the tears choke her throat and her knees weaken.
Hana's face was curiously set. She looked directly at Yuki's captors and her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Belduine darted between the wizards, a blur of motion in an area of statues, ducking past Kyo and launching himself at Hana. "Saki! Don't!"
The other wizards got there first. Ayame and Kagura knelt on the ground from where they had been shielding Hana and the magicians stepped right over them. Hana turned her attention on them, but before she could do anything she was backhanded across the face.
"Hana!" Arisa shouted, jumping to her feet. She was seized before she took three steps. Another knife was produced, this one from a different magician.
"Stop it!" Belduine shouted. "Leave them alone! You've got what you want, Azaren! You don't need them. Let them go!"
Azaren ignored him. Arisa's head was yanked back and the knife pressed to her throat. A swarm of cloaks surrounded Hana, shielding her from view. Tohru stood alone in the middle of the circle, but she knew she was spotted as three magicians strode toward her from the outside circle. All she could think of to protect herself was her flower, but now she realized that she had no idea how to use it, nor how it would help Arisa and Hana, and even as it passed through her mind, she knew she was too terrified to say or do a thing.
"Miss Honda!" Yuki screamed. Kyo half rose from the ground.
Belduine snarled and Tohru's hair whipped around her face in a sudden rising wind. She turned to look over her shoulder in time to see Belduine lift a hand that crackled with jagged lines of pale green lightning. From his fingertips a flame appeared and lengthened into a bolt of green light. Sweat beaded on Belduine's face. With his other hand, he produced a dagger seemingly from nowhere, flipping it up to balance the end of the hilt on his fingertips. Cocking back his elbow, he snapped it with dead accuracy toward Arisa's captor.
The magician holding Arisa lowered his knife and stared at the weapon hurling toward him. It clattered to the ground in front of Arisa's feet. The next moment, the green rod of light in Belduine's hand splintered, fragmenting into a hundred pieces. The man holding Arisa raised a hand and Belduine's body was lifted off its feet and flung backward. He hit the ground hard, rolling onto his face, and lay still.
Azaren spoke softly, having watched the exchange with a smile. The man holding Arisa sheathed his knife, but Tohru didn't think it was because of anything Belduine had done. The men heading toward her also stopped, and looking around, Tohru slowly sank to her knees. Once on the ground she did not think she could get back up. Her legs felt like jelly and her heart was beating so fast she felt light-headed.
Hana emerged in the arms of two magicians. One look at the scene and she lowered her eyes in surrender, her face expressionless. No one moved or spoke.
Azaren crossed over the cobblestones to where Belduine lay. He spoke in a lilting voice, undulating in tone, and after a moment, Belduine managed to raise his head.
"Handmaidens," he said, and it sounded like he was repeating something said to him. He did not sound happy, but his voice was so weak and strained with pain that it was hard to tell. He pushed himself up onto his elbows. "One day," said, gritting his teeth. "One day I'll be able to…"
Azaren kicked him in the face.
The Sohmas watched with gaping mouths. Tohru did not know what to think, could not understand what was happening beyond the moment.
Azaren lowered himself to a crouch and spoke in a voice that chilled. Belduine hid his face in the ground, but it was clear that whatever was being said was hurting him worse than the physical blow. Tohru felt her compassion welling up suddenly and was confused by the feeling, confused by Belduine. After a moment, Azaren said something sharply, something that sounded like an order.
Belduine sat up slowly, rubbing his cheek. "He's asked me to translate," he said loud enough so that they could all hear him. "You're being taken to the dungeons of Cabadan, from whence you will be moved to Evermore and the Holdings of the Esper as soon as she can be informed of your arrival. You will be separated. You are not allowed to communicate. To protect the secrecy of the Key, you will be rendered unconscious for the journey out of this world. It will be easier if you do not struggle."
Tohru didn't see anything else that happened. As soon as Belduine finished speaking, a magician finished his trajectory toward her. She felt the pain explode in the back of her head and gasped, projecting forward from her knees as the lights blurred and then blackened before her eyes. The cold surface of the ground met with the flat of her hands. She didn't remember anything else.
End of Part 1
TBC
Feedback for feedback:
Grrl N: Thank you! Thank you very much for the feedback you have given me so far. I hope you are enjoying the story ^_^. It's my intention for the story to get even more intriguing. Please stick with me if you are liking it!
Calender: I'm glad you liked naked Kyo! I'm interested to hear response for this chapter as it's a bit… erm… worrying? I hope you liked Arisa and Kureno! There will be more of that to come, and many other things! I hope you stick with me! ^_^
Mizaya: You're my favorite person. Lots of stuff happened in this chapter. You gave me a kick-ass review last time. What do you think of this overdue baby?
Kyra Rivers: *glomps* I LOVE YOU. Okay, maybe that was a bit strong, but the sentiment had good intentions. THANK YOU for such an amazing response! I am sorry about Momiji! I love him too! It's difficult to respond to what wonderful things you have to say without giving away the whole story! I want to hear your opinion but not influence them. ^_^. Anyway, I can't express enough how wonderful a reader you are. I am so happy you are reading and I really hope you come back!
Sal-Chan: Oh no! Don't apologize. I hope people don't drift away is all. It's just nice to hear from readers. Really nice. I hope you are not too upset with the way things have developed, though some things are upsetting! But I know where I'm going so all I can ask is that you stick with me! I hope you come back to review. ^_^ I really do.
Sarlinia: *wince* This one was a bit slow. I feel bad! You should totally read the manga! Join the FruityGroup ML and look over the translations. It's worth it if you love the series. As for the story, I hope this new chapter was good and keeps you wanting more! I'll try to be quicker with the next one. I love your reviews btw. ^_^
Flirting with Incoherence: Yay! Another review from you! I hope something in this chapter made you laugh too. I don't want to get overly serious even if it is somewhat of a serious story. Comedy is important! Anyway, I'm thrilled to see you again. Ayame tickles me too!
Merryday: You forget? I didn't think about that! Sorry if I sounded demanding. I really don't mean to sound that way. I just want to hear if people are reading. The more readers the more energy I feel I should put into it. Thank you very much for your comments! They are appreciated!
Herflumpness: Oh wow! A new reviewer! And your comments are flattering. Thank you very much! I hope you enjoyed this most recent chapter. It's going to go into even more complex ideas… O_o. I hope you stay along for the ride! Anyway, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reviewing. Sorry for the wait.
R Junkie: I'm sorry if I made you feel guilty! That was unintentional. I work hard and I appreciate reviews as all writers do but I'm not about to demand anything of anyone. It's just discouraging to write without feedback. I reviewed a story for you, though! As for Yukiru, don't worry! I'll try to make sure they get equal screen time! The plot just made Kyoru happen for now. O_o More yukiru later!
Niana Kuonji: Lol. Yeah, naked Kyo is fanservice and quite fun! Akito captured=bad but what do you think now? ^_~
Melinda the Digimon Poet: Oh no! The comment on pacing was good. I appreciate that kind of information. Now that the action "appears" to be over, do you have any more thoughts to add? I really appreciate them. Thank you very much. The "Parts" has to do with a significant change in the story. I'm moving to another world now. I hope everyone can handle it! The emails are fine ^_^ It makes me happy that you're thinking of me!
Sakura Avalon or Kinomoto: Oh hey! I'm so happy you came back! I know you're busy but I appreciate it all the same. Thank you very much for the comments. I like the ghost impression. ^_^
Sushi-fishie: It's wonderful to see a new face! I'm sure that there are things that could improve the story, but the comment is flattering all the same. Thank you very much! I am so happy that you chose to look at this story and review it. I know my paragraphs can get long and that sometimes I can get wordy. I appreciate the constructive criticism. Please continue to help me improve! This review inspired me to get in gear and finish this chapter!
