The Order
Disclaimer: If you really want it, go back to the first chapter and retrieve it there
A/N: Whew, I was on a roll! I didn't want to end this chapter, really I didn't. I wanted to keep going. Now, I know it's a bit on the choppy side and you will have to bear with me, it really does have a good plot. But as they say "There are wheels within wheels turning" and this plot has many "wheels". I hope you enjoy it! Also, updates are coming at a slow pace, because as those know who have read GTOTC, school is basically my life. So, if you're expecting updates every other day it's not going to be that easy. But hang in there with me; I'm doing the best I can.
Now, on to my thanks yous!
Rhia: Hah, thanks for reviewing. And I know now not to ask what your favorite part was, because as you say…you can't pick one. You just liked it. Your review made me happy, thanks! I wuv you.
Midnight Shadow: Heh, I did find a mistake after all, but thanks for looking it over. I would like to know if there are mistakes in my stories, sometimes when I write I do it so fast and then I have no time to really proofread. Also, I'm glad you're interested; I hope this story continues to be interesting to you! Thanks for your review.
Nessa: Yes, research. I did it only for the Chinese Zodiac pairings and whatnot, but the fortunes about the elements are purely my own assumptions. It's better that way, makes things more interesting. You know I like tavern and market place atmospheres, from our LOTR notebooks. I hope you will like this chapter too; I liked the atmosphere in it as well. Thank you for reviewing, I love you.
yi wen1776: Oh wow, a favorites list already? You should give me your pen name so I can check out your own stories sometimes. Really, thanks for reviewing, you made my day.
angelz3rdwing: Wow! Another favorites list, goodness! I never thought I would make two in such a short span of time. You should give me your pen name too; I'd love to check out your stories as well. Thanks so much for reviewing; it made me cry with joy!
fiction fan: Heh, thanks very much. I'll try to keep you interested…
kristine: Sure thing, I hope this chapter makes up for my lack of updating since the first chapter…thanks for reviewing!
Kelly Nickerson: Really? Thanks so much! I hope this chapter meets your standards. I'll e-mail you as well, but only if you leave me another review for this chapter! Again, thank you for your review.
All right, if I missed anyone, please be sure to review again so I can get you next time. Thanks again to my reviewers; you have all made my day! I hope you enjoy this chapter, don't forget to leave reviews; THEY'RE MY LIFE'S BLOOD!
Lillia
Cool raindrops spattered against her bruised and bleeding skin, soothing the aches and stings that penetrated her hazy conscious. Her eyes fluttered against her cheeks as she felt her vision slowly fade away again, only to sharpen as she began to pull herself along the muddy stones, crawling towards any shelter she could find. Her clothes were stained with blood and trailing from her sash were the broken figurines of her twelve crystalline zodiacs.
How did this happen?
The third day of the Fresh Markets began amidst gray clouds and cool winds. It had not yet begun to rain, but the promise of it hung in the very air. Even so, the markets were bustling with high-spirited crowds and the venders were only too happy to play the game of barter. Tohru was well endowed with many hearty customers who paid well in gold and silver coin as she rambled off their fortunes. But then she received a young man who had an ill will about him, and an even darker attitude. With a flourish of his blue cape he seated his person on the shabby stool she provided.
Tohru smiled at him. "Please, place your hand over the star, sir."
He turned his nose up at the disgusting quality of the cloth, but did as he was told. Tohru immediately tapped one of the Zodiac symbols.
"You're the horse!" she announced proudly, but before she could continue, he snapped at her.
"I don't need a little wench such as you telling me what I am. Just get on with it. I came to have my fortune read, not to be told what animal I am," he seethed.
She blinked once, feeling an immense sadness diffuse through her body. Her shoulders hunched as she nodded, fingers fumbling to trace the path his splayed fingers took. She bit her lip, coming to the fire and soul talismans. Tohru remained silent for many moments, before looking up at him.
"Usually the soul and fire talismans by themselves mean you've been hurt in your past and you play jests on people to get attention. But combined together…" her voice tapered off as the blue in her eyes bled to black.
He bared his teeth at her in a snarl. "I have no time to be wasting with your pretty words, brothel girl!"
There came a sharp intake of breath from the crowds as they pulled away from him. She bowed her head, her fingers resting lightly on the edges of her table. Before her very eyes the market place faded away and images flashed through her mind's eye, images of death and decay and destruction. It pained her so, these blood-curdling screams that hurled through her ears and the images of this man standing against a bloodied sky.
"Combined, the fire and soul talismans foretell your death, your future. You will try to bring destruction, try to bring death…but you will not succeed. Your glory will be speared upon the edge of a knife…one such as I cannot see. But your arrogance, your blindness towards everything except your own power will be your greatest downfall," she whispered in a voice that echoed within the very winds that now slashed through the market place.
There was immense silence from the people that bustled around Tohru's cart, for the past three days they had come to see her derive people's fortunes never had they seen a true premonition spill from her lips. None noticed the lone figure at the back of the crowd as he broke away and continued on towards the Royal Stables. The man seated at the cart laughed loudly, a snarling cackle that made the fortune teller jump and raise her obsidian gaze to him.
"Do you expect me to believe such rabble, you stupid girl!" he laughed again.
She blinked once. "But it's true…"
"Your kind is false. Gypsies claiming they can see fortunes, how absurd!" He leaned towards her, a knife appearing in his leather-gloved hand. "The Kingdom of Zodia is weak and ready to fall beneath their sickly leader…"
Tohru felt fear curl through her stomach as he drew the silver blade down her cheek, its sharp surface tickling down her jaw to her neck. He grinned, baring white teeth in his dark face. A slender hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder, yanking him off the stool and spilling him onto the ground. The knife skittered out of reach as Uotani straddled the man, a long curved sword held to his throat.
"Make one more move," she dared, smirking.
Behind her, Hanajima glided to Tohru, resting a hand on the trembling girl's shoulders in comfort. The man looked down at the gleaming sword, before back up to Uotani's dark gaze, burning with intense hatred. After a few moments, she pulled back and planted a swift kick to his side.
"Get out of here, you low-life!" she snarled.
He scrambled to his feet, touching his neck and coming away with a smear of blood from the nick she had left. "Mark my words, that little gypsy will get what's coming to her!"
He suddenly jerked as if he had been slapped and searched the crowd for the one who dared to harm him. Hanajima was looking at him, her eyes narrowed upon his person as she inclined her head towards him. He fled, chased out by pursuing cart venders who always looked out for their own. Uotani sighed and shook her head, glancing at Tohru.
"Why…why does he hate me so much?" she whispered softly, rubbing her eyes.
"It's not you, Tohru," Hanajima murmured, "By the sound of it he hates all gypsies."
"No, that's not it," Uotani said.
Tohru looked up at her friend. "What do you mean, Arisa?"
"I mean he's one of the Bhatar, the Dark Hunters."
"What's a…Bhatar?" Tohru questioned.
Hanajima answered, her hand squeezing Tohru's shoulder. "A group of young noblemen with strong ambitions…they aspire to great heights of fame and wish nothing more than that. They are blinded by their own greed and love of strong wines and women, but their love burns greater if kingdoms are weak and ready to fall. They live to kill and conquer and ravage. The Dark Hunters are a source of great problems for all the countries…not just Zodia."
Uotani combed a hand through her hair, before shaking her head. "You are going to be okay Tohru?"
She nodded quickly. "Uh-huh, please don't worry about me."
"We'll meet you back here before you leave and take you out for dinner," Hanajima said.
"No, no I couldn't let you do that!" Tohru gasped.
Uotani smirked at the flustered girl. "We're not giving you a choice."
The fortune teller watched her friends walk through the crowds, disappearing with their hoods drawn up over their features. A timid woman approached, tugging on a lock of her curly red hair.
"May I have my fortune read, miss?" she asked.
Tohru blinked, and then nodded quickly, giving her a shaky smile. "Yes, yes of course! Please, sit down and place your hand over the star."
As the sky darkened with evening, the clouds grew thicker and the smell of rain permeated the market place. Venders were quickly packing up their stalls and carts, not wanting to be caught in the cross paths of a storm. Cool winds breathed through the air as light flashed in the sky above. Uotani looked up and shook her head.
"This is going to be a good storm," she said.
Hanajima nodded, eyes trained on the sky. "Indeed, the electrical currents are sizzling with excitement."
Tohru checked to make sure everything was packed, before rolling her cart down the path. The two thieves flanked her on either side as they began the trek to the outer city limits. As the lightning continued to flash and the smell of rain grew heavier, the sound of hooves fell sharply on the thieves ears. Tohru paused, blinking once, a flash of a vision spilling through her mind.
One of a splintered cart and torn cloth…and broken crystal.
Uotani yelled over the slash of lightning as a horse barreled down the path, its rider hooded and cloaked. Tohru felt her body react and shoved Hanajima and Uotani to the sides, before dodging out of the way. The horse trampled the cart, bits of wood scattering across the ground as the sound of breaking glass and torn cloth littered the path. Uotani was up and racing towards the rider, when two more horses galloped towards them. One stuck out a hand, gripping Uotani by the neck and flinging her off the dirt road. Hanajima turned her frightening gaze to the third rider and staggered his horse with a twitch of her fingers, throwing its rider to the ground where he screamed and writhed until his body jerked and saliva seeped from his mouth.
The first horsemen, who had trampled Tohru's cart, came for her. Terror bolted through her body as gloved hands tangled in her hair, jerking her to her feet. A knife glinted in the sudden flash of light as he tore it through her skirts. She cried out, struggling to free herself as the knife bit deeper, searing through the skin of her stomach. Its icy blade pierced the skin of her arms as he held her immobile and dragged it across her shoulder blades.
Hanajima was screaming as the second rider pinned her to the ground, and Uotani struggled to her feet. The curved sword flashed in her hands as she came for the first rider, knocking him to the ground, her blade digging deep into his flesh. Hanajima tore free of the second rider's grip.
"Run Tohru, get out of here!"
Tohru passed frightened glances to her friends, before scooping up the chain of her broken crystal figurines, clutching them to her chest as she disappeared into the darkness. Uotani staggered to the second rider, who Hanajima now pinned with her deadly gaze, sparking with lightning of its own.
"What did you want with Tohru, Bhatar?" Uotani demanded, planting a foot on his throat.
He choked, but dared not struggle. "We merely followed his orders. He was frightened of what she told him."
Her foot dug in deeper. "That not good enough! What would her death gain?"
"She knows…she sees his plans. Her death would take care of that."
"Tohru sees many things," Hanajima said as the rain began to splatter onto the ground. "Many things…"
"Kill him," Uotani said.
He choked as Hanajima's gaze found his own and he felt his lungs tighten and his throat close up. He clawed the air, then gasped softly and slumped to the ground. Uotani went to the splintered ruins of Tohru's cart, looking over the broken wood and jade bowls, the muddy sands and ruined tarot cards she had used. Her money scattered and the cloth torn, there was nothing left but bits and pieces of Tohru's life.
Hanajima stood and walked around, quietly gathering the spilt gold and silver marks she found. Uotani slumped to the ground, turning her face towards the sky.
"Tohru…"
She collapsed and sobbed softly, her entire body numb and cold. There she fell and there she slept, not knowing where she was or who would help her.
How did this happen?
Shigure drank from his mug, enjoying the mulled wine Hatori had bought him. "So, you don't agree with my plan?"
"I think it conflicts with the interests the Bhatar will have in our country now that they know Akito is falling ill more frequently," Hatori murmured.
"The Bhatar will be wiped out once The Order is brought about. Mark me on that," Shigure said darkly.
"How will an outsider help us? Do you have so much faith in this girl?" Hatori shook his head. "She is too innocent, like Yuki and Kyo."
"But innocence can be easily corrupted," Shigure said, looking to his friend.
Hatori sighed. "Do as you wish then. I only have so much power as to stand back and watch. Though I do admit being free… is something I have so wished…"
Shigure tossed a few coins onto the counter, paying off his long-time bed to the tavern keeper, then stood with Hatori and walked outside. The rain was light as the darkest part of the storm had moved on. Continuing to the Royal Stables, Shigure and Hatori retrieved their steeds and mounted them. Bidding the Royal Healer a good night, Shigure began the lengthy trek to the outer country limits, where his estate was situated.
As he neared the outer city limits, he spied a figure curled in the mud. He raised a brow, intending to go around it, when his sharp eyes picked out very clearly the bloody slashes on pale skin. He halted his horse, seeing the broken crystal tied to the sash of the figure's waist; he quickly dismounted and knelt beside the fallen person. Turning her over, he gasped sharply.
"The fortune teller!" he shook her lightly. "Wake up, please wake up."
She stirred slightly, a fluttering of her eyes. But her skin was icy to his warm flesh and he scooped her up, climbing back on his horse and galloping towards his estate.
TBC………REVIEW PLEASE, I WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE IF I GET A HEALTHY DOSE OF REVIEWS!
