The Journey to the Valley of Keiko-sama
By: Kaze Shinju

Chapter 4: The Maiden's Servants

Gon opened the curtain that was keeping the sunlight from lighting the room. Morning light was passing through the window that burned the sleeping Killua's eyes. "Close the window…" Killua mumbled and turned away from the light.

"Ohayo!" Gon said cheerfully.

Killua opened his eyes. He wondered why he was here. He thought he was already in the mansion… He thought that his brother would bring him home. He knew that his brother would never let him die because his father would kill him if ever he killed Killua. Killua sat on the bed looking at Gon, watching him.

"Maybe… a little bit of the sun would cheer you up!" Gon smiled.

"Gon, where's the stone?" Gon sweat dropped. Seemingly he did not want to answer. "Darn it!" Killua cursed.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to… to…"

"It's ok. If I were you I would do that too." Killua smiled. Gon sighed a relief.

"I am really sorry, Killua." Gon lowered his head waiting for Killua's response. Killua just patted his head and said nothing and started messing up his hair as he grinned evilly and stopped. He looked at Gon with a questioned face.

"So what do you want to do now?" Killua asked.

"I don't know Killua."

"Why is it always I'm the one who's deciding?" Killua sighed. Then there was silence.

"Why don't we go back to the circular monument… maybe we can find something." Gon smiled.

"Nice One!" Killua patted Gon.

"This is a really weird place." Gon said and then Killua nodded. They walked around the circle and started investigating the place. There were eight statues surrounding the circular plane. On Each foot of the statues there were writings. They examined each the writings on each statue even if they can't understand it. When they reached the biggest statue they were amazed by its look. Unlike the other statues it was a woman, a very beautiful woman. Her hair was braided on to her knees. Her face has distinct features, big eyes, small nose and has a heart shaped lips. While they were examining the statue a little more a big gush of wind came at the area when suddenly someone spoke.

"In the lights of the summer's eve, a descendant shall come to reveal a hidden image of the heavenly light. Blesseth the place that shall be opened with the key that shall be synthesized by the scarlet water." Killua and Gon turned around and saw Yanabel at the center of the circular plane staring at them. "That's the meaning of the writing on that statue's foot." She said to them.

"Oh… Hi!" Gon said naively.

"Hello Gon." She smiled.

"Why are you here?" Killua asked with demand.

"I missed you two." She said sarcastically, trying to change the topic. From the forest, a man walked towards them. It was Jim. Killua backed away when he saw Jim. He instantly remembered what had happen between them two. Jim stood beside Yanabel and greeted them both. "We're here to help you." Yanabel said to them.

"Help us?" Gon repeated.

"Yes… We decided to help when we saw you and Killua here fighting his brother."

"And you expect us to trust you after what had happened?" Killua interrupted. He remembered Jim demanding him to give him the stone.

"We are deeply sorry for that assault. We were just trying to protect the both of you." Yanabel said convincingly. She looked through their eyes trying to know how strong their nen are. She can't feel a slight power coming from them, it seems that they are using an advance form of zetsu, which is in. Basing from the fact that they can use in, she started to think that these boys aren't her regular prey, thinking herself as the predator. She analyze her situation as if it was a fight between 2 powerful beasts that have the same ability but then it us up to them when, how and where to strike.

"Or do you mean protecting stone?" Killua added with a provoking tone. Gon nudged Killua to cool himself.

"Speaking of the stone…" Yanabel continued. Jim eyes made a slight move indicating that he was more interested on discussing the next topic. "That stone is the key of the maiden, the stone of garlox, the key that will open the sacred valley." She looked around the place and used her en to see if there is someone watching or listening to them. Killua and Gon were alarmed when they suddenly felt Yanabel used her en. They backed way and the feeling of danger was there. Yanabel suddenly felt a strong aura 50 meters away within her radius. She wondered who it was. "I think it's better to talk about this inside the shrine." She said.

Gon and Killua were still on their guard as they enter the shrine. Jim locked the doors after Yanabel had entered. He stood there beyond the doors guarding it. The place shimmered with its golden color. The shrine is shaped like a pyramid but the difference is that it is made out of pure gold with smooth contours. It is located at the middle of the city surrounded by statues of legendary synthesizers. It was the same as the circular monument they went to earlier yet, it was not the plane that the statues were guarding but a shrine. The doors were huge around 12 feet or so full of engrave symbols. Within the interior of the shrine, there is a pathway that forms a cross, a pathway that is surrounded by blue water yet as you look into the water you can't see what is beneath it. In each corners of the pathways there are statues, it seems that these statues are guarding them and looking at their every move. At the middle of the cross there are carvings on the floor, similar to the carvings they found at the circular moment but there's a cavity within the center of the engrave. It is like a keyhole for the stone. Gon and Killua thought as Yanabel lead them towards the center of the shrine. "Welcome to the Shrine of Garlox." She said to them.

Yanabel stood at the center of the circle and started her incantation. It was a different language that Gon and Killua can't understand. They were astonished as she closed her eyes and lifted her head facing the ceiling. Her hands were closed together and then suddenly her image started to disappear that goes the same for the two boys who were watching. They were teleported into another place inside the shrine. The place has no waters to surround it yet there was still a circular pattern similar to they have stepped on at the entrance. There is a pathway surrounded by glass-like poles towards a glass-like statue similar to the woman statue that they saw at the circular monument. The woman was holding out a circular plaque that has cavity within itself. Another diamond shape-like cavity similar to what they saw have before. Yanabel walked towards the statue without saying a word the two followed her as they reached the statue Yanabel started to talk.

"Here is the keyhole for the stone that Gon had opened." Yanabel said.

"I opened the stone?" Gon asked.

"You cracked it didn't you?" she said.

"I think it cracked because it fell." Gon said smiling.

"Before it… Well you were floating with it aren't you?" Gon nodded at Yanabel to approve her question. "And you saw it flashing out light from you very hands." Yanabel continued. Gon nodded again. "That's an indication that you opened the stone and it's good thing that you happened to be in right place. It helped you to crack the stone into its exquisite form but you opened it in a bad time because your friend's brother was there."

"How in the hell you know all these stuff and who are you really?" Killua interrupted the two. Gon patted him on the back telling him to calm down.

"I'm a guardian of this shrine and at the same time it's very own priestess." Gon looked at Yanabel from head to toe and back again and started giggling. Yanabel slapped him on the face. "Don't judge a person by the clothes she wear."

"You don't have to slap me that badly." Gon said while touching his cheek.

"As I have said earlier Jim and I are here to help you. We will help you to get the stone back from Killua's brother."

"Why?"

"That stone is very precious to us, our village. That is the key that will open the path to the sacred valley. Once that stone had been unsealed the power of that stone could be used by anyone. If it were in the hands of an evil being, it would give danger in our civilization. It will bring imbalance to our country and the enormous power that stone has, could vanquish the half of the world."

"How come Gon opened the stone?"

"That we do not know." Yanabel sighed. She went to statue and examined it. She touched the statue's hand and closed her eyes. It seems that she was gathering her thoughts from the statue. She opened her eyes and started to talk. "According to the prophecy, a time will come when the next war will flourish. The stone will again be found from its lair and be unsealed. It will either stop the upcoming war or destroy the half of the world." She sighed. "But may I ask you question, why do wish to see the Legendary Synthesizer and how did you get the stone?" The two were silent it seems that they do not wish to answer her question. There was a pause within the conversation. Killua was gathering his thoughts to answer her question.

"We don't trust anyone that easily."

"But! Killua…" Gon tried to interrupt.

"Give us the whole day to think about accepting your help and answering your question."

"Very well then, as you wish." She stepped away from the statue and started chanting again. The two started to disappear beam of light started to surround them. It seems that they are being teleported out from the shrine. Later we will see each other again she said.

Gon and Killua were teleported outside the shrine. They looked around the place and saw the whole village in its normal shape yet they faced the shrine and tried to budge the door. "It's closed by nen." Killua said.

"I thought so." Gon answered. "The woman has a great power within her. She can use en to detect other's aura from a long distance. At the same time, she used her in efficiently. We didn't even noticed her strong aura at first." Gon said in amazement.

"Yeah…" Killua said as he started to walk away from the shrine. "I'm quite hungry. First one in the tavern is the winner." He challenged Gon and started running.

"Oi! That's unfair wait!" Gon yelled and started to run

A/N: Wow… several years I have finished the fourth chapter I hoped you liked it. please review. Thx.