(Lidia-Number 16. I feel proud. But I must say, that Fruits Basket anime I had planned on doing, I might not do, or might just put off doing for a while. Don't ask why. I have my reasons. fakes an evil laugh But directly after this one, I'll be doing another Pretear one. And as always, I must add my own original character. I try to make it a habit. Which means this one will be ending soon. Most likely in the next chapter. whimpers This is the first one I wrote in a while so I learned…something…I guess. I know next time…add more fluff! Lol
Reviewer Responses:
Magical Proof-You can have him later. I need him now! lol)
The Legendary Knight-Four Wise Men Provoke The Queen
Kai cleaned up and met the four older knights in the library downstairs. She plopped her self down on the sofa with a smile on her face, glad she felt better in time to meet such a beautiful day. That snowstorm melted away and it was said to have been the last snow of the season. Tomorrow would be the first day of Spring but it was already beginning to feel warmer in the outer-world. Though it always felt good in Lefaenia. Deep down she knew she was just a bit happier because she was going to go outside today. Even if she denied the fact in her mind that it was because Mannen was the one taking her outside. It made the conversation she was about to have a little more bearable. "We have to talk to you about something," Goh began.
"I wouldn't be here if you didn't. So what is I?" Like I don't already know.
"There's a lot of dead Lefae circulating around that island you used to live on. More importantly, from an underground cellar that you happened to be in if what I've heard is correct. We need you to tell us what's down there. If not, then we need you to come out there today with us."
Kai sighed. "I'm not going, and I don't know what's down there. It's not like anyone handed me a flash light."
"You had to have run into it right?" Hayate asked.
Kai looked at him as if he were the most dense person in the world. "If I had, I wouldn't be here now. Obviously everyone down there ran into something."
Hayate looked a little disappointed and sighed. "Fine, but we're going today and you're coming with us."
Kai now got out of her happy mood. "Why the hell should I have to?"
"Because you're the only one that's been down there. Himeno has to stay here and watch Lefaenia while we're gone. If something is down there, we need you around to pret with."
Kai sat there waiting for him to finish talking. Then replied slowly, "I'm…not…going."
"C'mon Kai-" Goh tried but was interrupted when Kai shouted.
"No!"
"Please understand," Sasame whispered into her ear from behind. "It's for your own good and ours as well that you come."
Being the knight of sound, the mere change in tone could put the wildest of beasts to sleep. "Sa…sa……me," Kai passed out and Sasame caught her before she hit the sofa.
"What's going on?" Mannen asked. He had slipped into the library just as Sasame was putting Kai to sleep.
"Nothing. We need you to stay here and watch after things. We're going somewhere. We'll be back shortly," Kei explained. Normally Mannen wouldn't approve of letting a bunch of men carry off an unconscious girl somewhere but this was different.
"Yeah, sure."
llllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"She's starting to wake up," Sasame said after the fifth time she tried rolling over in his arms. Kai yawned and stretched as if this were her first time waking today. Her eyes fluttered open and the first thing she saw was Sasame's nervously smiling face. Then she remembered.
"Put me down!" she shouted. Sasame set her up straight. She tried bolting into a random direction but Goh lifted her up into the air by her arm.
"Now where do you think you're going?" Goh smiled.
"Goh, do you remember the first time you did this when we first met?"
"Yeah."
"…Want me to aim lower?"
Goh got nervous and dropped her just in time for Hayate to scoop her up. "We're almost there. Calm down." Kai's mouth snapped shut and her eyes went wide when she saw the cellar double doors leading into the ground a few feet in front of her. Before, when she had come here with Sasame, it wasn't a problem because she knew she wasn't going back down. But now…now she was…afraid. Hayate could feel her shivering violently in his arms. He'd never seen her so frightened. "S-stop being such a baby," was all he could manage to say. They got closer and Kai freaked out.
"Let go!"
"Stay still. It's not like we're going to leave you down there by yourself!" Kai kicked at him and jumped around but he still wouldn't let go and he dragged her closer.
I don't want to…see it…I don't want to…hear it…I don't want to…talk about it…stop making me think about it! "Let go of me!"
Kei draped his sleeve over his nose at the disgusting smell of rotting flesh. He held his hand out and lit the area. Dead bodies lay across the floor like old carpeting, very few areas to stand. Kei tried to light a more grand area but for some reason it wouldn't. "Let's go," he signaled before floating inside.
DuhlhguhlsisioGo ahead. What are you waiting for? TralhgfiluhrtliuhslihrtrryouhtueiRun!gukhuysguyfksyfksuyfkusNow!fggiyfsygskyghsuygskyugfdkyudfskgysgkygf.
Kai looked around for a moment to see who said that. But after a while it didn't matter. She bit down into Hayate's arm so he let go, then scurried off. "Don't go down there!" Kai shouted, but it was in a voice so unlike her own. It wasn't her own. And it scared the others. Kei heard the voice and hopped back out of the cellar just before the doors closed on it's own. His sleeve caught in the doors. When he finally yanked his sleeve out, it seemed as though someone had singed the edges. "I-I want to leave now."
llllllllllllllllll(olden times. Four wise men provoke the Queen)lllllllllllllllllllll
"Bring the humans forth," one woman ordered.
Just then, four men scurried in with their noses to the floor. "Why is it you seek so badly our advise."
"Our world is that of a corrupt one, in which my eyes grow weary to the sight."
"Our world is that of a corrupt one, in which my ears wish to reject the sound."
"Our world is that of a corrupt one, in which my mouth dare not speak of it's filth."
"Our world is that of a corrupt one, in which my mind drive me mad at the thought."
"Do thy divine and wise men ask us to fix the world or themselves?"
"The world."
"What is to fix of thy world in which you dwell?" one woman asked with a hint of surprise.
"It cannot be done," responded the other with bland tone.
"Then help us fix ourselves, so that we may pass our wisdom to the next."
"Fix yourselves? But why? What is wrong? You my dear wise man have the sight of blessing. You can see this evil. Does that make you impaired? You are the way you are and there is nothing wrong."
The other woman spoke with a different view. "Fix yourselves? But of course. If you wish. I am here to save you. See no evil. Cover your eyes and I shall grant you the…gift… of the blind man."
The wise man did so and lost his sight. "My dear wise man, is not hearing the evil what make you wise? The blessing of hearing. You hear the evil, so fix the evil that plagues those ears. You are the way you are and there is nothing wrong."
"My dear wise man, if you wish, I shall save you. Hear no evil. Cover you ears and I shall grant you the…gift…of the def man."
The wise man did so and lost his hearing. "My dear wise man, is not speaking the evil to those who cannot understand what makes you wise? The blessing of speech. You speak the evil, so speak it until those of evil things turn way. Then you shall speak the words of peace. You are the way you are and there is nothing wrong."
"My dear wise man, if you wish, I shall save you. Speak no evil. Cover your mouth and I shall grant you the…gift…of the mute man."
The wise man did so and lost his hearing. "…my dear wise man…why wish you to stop thinking of the evil surrounding you. It is impossible to not think of when you live in it. Fix your surroundings and you will then fix yourself. The blessing of thought is the blessing of life. You grow weary of the evil, not mad from the thought. Purify your world and your mind in the process. But I bade you not listen to my sister, for only one other option awaits you…You are the way you are and there is nothing wrong."
"But if you seek fixing as your brother wise men, then I shall fix you my child if that is what you wish. Stand to face me, and I shall grant you the…gift…of an peaceful mind."
The fourth wise man obeyed the second voice without question, and fell to the ground soon after. Be grateful for the thoughtless mind…the gift of the dead man.
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"So there were no wise men, just stupid ones."
"What are you babbling about now?" Mannen asked.
Kai shook her head and smiled. "It's nothing." It was a new day and the four older knights had decided against going back today, or any day so far. What ever was down there were to stay down there unless it caused trouble.
"You still hungry?"
"Nooope. Just bored."
"Well, there's an arcade down the street."
"I know but I'm not allowed in there."
"Why not?"
"Let's just say the owner and my father never really got along."
"There's another back that way."
"Not there either. Every time I show up he freaks out thinking I'm there to kill him."
"…o..kay…there's a di-"
"Diner. Hideki's. Don't think so."
"How many place are you not allowed to go here."
"Lost count."
Mannen sighed. "The park. Is there anything wrong with the park."
"Besides the bugs?"
"Let's go."
The two sat down on a nearby bench. "It's not as cold as it was before but it feels pretty good outside."
Kai noticed the gap he left between them when he sat down, so she scooted over, making the knight a little more nervous. "Yeah-"
"Manny!" The loud shriek hurt Kai's ears and she looked to find the noise. Sure enough, it one of the girls she recognized from the restaurant. "Hey Manny!" She shouted while skipping over.
O god… What the hell does she want…?"I was going to drop by and see you a while back but it snowed so bad." She glanced over at Kai who only stared at her back. Obviously she knew who she was. "O…you…hi."
"I don't like you. You don't like me. Don't bother saying anything to me."
"Well do you mind?"
"What?"
"I want to sit down…next to Mannen."
"There's a nice grassy spot beside the bench where you can sit." Kai smiled at the woman who only feebly smirked back.
"Now's not a good time," Mannen said, trying to wave the girl off.
"Why not?"
"You always stop by his job right. Well talk to him there. Honestly, you don't even know him. What would you talk about? Your day? The news? It's not like he'd care. Would you?" Kai explained in monotone.
The woman winced at her and smiled back at Mannen before waving and walking away. "That was easy," Mannen said surprised.
"She's going to end up showing up at your job everyday now. Just to let you know."
"I didn't want to think about it."
The two laughed. "You're pathetic."
"And you're not?"
Kai thought about it for a moment. "Eh…no."
"O c'mon!"
"I'm not. I don't have crazy people stalking me like you do anyway. Tell the poor girl you don't like her so she'll just go away." Kai yawned and leaned on Mannen, whose face turned bright red. "I'm bored again."
"You're always bored."
"Not all the time. Just now. You're boring me to sleep."
Mannen sighed to keep back a shout that he new would start another argument. "Fine, go to sleep." Mannen wrapped his arm around her, which practically forced her to fall into him.
llllllllllllllllllllllllll
"I didn't come here to watch this crap."
"Relax my sister. I have something in store for them."
"What? Are we going to get to kill them?"
"Not that. The other thing."
"O the guy you got to ruin the moment right?"
"Yes, yes now hush."
Kana rolled her eyes at her sister Takata. So annoying was she and all her superior mind games. Force is better. So what if you're smart? You're too weak to defend yourself. I could kick her ass right now if I wanted to. But I'd be scowled for it. She looked back in Mannen and Kai's direction from where they spied in the forest. Good lord, they're talking again…maybe I can provide my self with a little mindless entertainment…let's see…(high pitched voice-Kai)O Mannen, what could you have possibly brought me out here for? (deep voice-Mannen)As if you don't already know baby. (-Kai)O Mannen I love you! (-Mannen)I love your bod. (-Kai)Take me right now! Right here in the park!
(-Mannen)Whatever you say babe… O great, they're actually making out. I think I'm going to be sick.
"Kana, pay attention. He's coming."
"Whatever."
lllllllllllllllllllllllll
Kai broke for air. "You don't have to try and eat my face!" Kai wiped her mouth and sat back down.
"You threw yourself on me," Mannen teased with a smirk on his face. Kai punched him in the arm. "Ow! Will you stop doing that!" Just then someone's dog ran up and jumped on the too. "What the hell!"
"Well isn't this the hottest dog I've ever seen." Kai pet the golden tan dog. "It's kinda big though."
"Don't touch it, it might have flees."
"Don't be so mean. It's cute doggie!" It held a red frisby in it's mouth that looked rather worn out and it kept poking Mannen with it, as if it wanted him to throw it.
"I'm not touching that thing."
"Go ahead and throw it Mannen. It's no big deal. If you want it to go away that badly then you'll do it."
Just as Mannen was about to, a guy rushed up and grabbed the dog's leash. "Sorry 'bout that," he apologized. "He'll just jump on any stranger that passes by now-a-days…wait…Kai…Kaisho Haritanzu?"
Kai looked away from the dog finally, at him. "Do I know you?"
"Don't joke around seriously…you don't know who I am?"
"Should I?"
Mannen stared at the boy curiously himself. How come it's always a guy that seems to know her?
"Akira Nanasei," he said in a more said tone. Kai looked shocked for a moment but quickly covered it up. "We…used to…go out…"
"You used to what?"
Kai elbowed Mannen's side so he'd shut up. "Of course I remember you. So…h-hey."
"Hey?…That's it?"
"…Pretty much. I don't have anything else to say to you," she responded coldly.
lllllllllll(flash back)lllllllllllll
"I'll get in trouble being out so late!' Kai whispered in a harsh tone, "What is it?"
He stopped her when they were in the middle of the woods, almost near shore, and spoke in a low tone. "I'm leaving."
"You're what?"
"I'm leaving. I can't stay here anymore."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm tired of having to be afraid of your f&# father! Do you really like staying here, killing people day after day just because your dad says so?"
"Don't ask me that."
"I want you to come with me."
"Hell no! I can't leave!" Kai lowered her tone so they wouldn't get caught. "Do you know what they're going to do to your family when you leave. What they'll do to my sister if I leave."
"My parents are who told me to go. And about Mao, she can come too."
"Akira, I'm not leaving. If you want to run away from him, then go ahead. But I'm staying."
Akira sighed and tried to give her hug before he left but she just slapped his hand away. "Bye," she smiled. I hate you…
lllllllllll(end)llllllllllllllll
After Akira walked away Mannen spoke again. "Well…that was awkward-"
"I want to go home." I just can't get a break…ever.
"Y-yeah, sure." Mannen stretched when he got up from his seat. Then he noticed two women staring at them from behind a bush in the wood. He immediately remembered who they were. Those two girls that stole from the fountain…They must have noticed him look because in the blink of an eye, they were gone. They probably did this on purpose.
"What are you staring at?" Kai asked when she noticed he wasn't moving.
"Nothing, let's go." He grabbed her by the wrist so she'd walk faster.
llllllllllllllllllllllllll
"Great. He saw us because you couldn't find a better hiding spot! They're probably on to us now." Kana argued.
"Just shut up and keep running. I've got a plan but we've got o beat them back to Lefaenia."
"We can't keep straining our power to get through that barrier. You of all people should know that."
"Just once more is all we need."
llllllllllllllllllllllllll
"Hayate, I have to talk to you," Mannen said as soon as he saw the brute.
"Not now Mannen," Hayate said a bit annoyed. He and Himeno were alone in the lower hall and obviously in the middle of something. But what Mannen had to say was more important.
"I saw Takako's children!"
"I said not-…what?"
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Kai was in her room with the door closed. Her eyes were fixed on the picture frame on her windowsill. Whether I had left then or when I did…they died anyway. They would have died with me there. Maybe not as fast if I were there but still. If only my idiot brother knew how to keep a group of people organized. They wouldn't have been so surprised and this wouldn't have happened. Interrupting her thoughts was a tap on the door. Only Sasame knocks so lightly. She got up from her seat on the bed and opened the door. There was no one out there. That's weird, must be my imagination. She closed the door, but didn't turn around. Something was there. She turned around, ready to drop kick whatever it was…but again…nothing. I could have sworn…Nah, I must be getting rusty. She leaned on the door with a small smirk on her face at the thought that maybe she might be getting soft living with these people, then suddenly it swung open and she was sucked out of her room. The door slammed shut seconds after.
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"So you're saying they're trying to change her themselves. That makes sense. Takako's trying to destroy the world, what better way than to resurrect the Queen of Destruction." Kei thought it over a while. "They'd need to perform an awakening though, and even then it's not positive that she'll awaken as the Queen. Maybe she'll awaken as the White Knight. It depends on her mental state, because right now I believe they've been tilting the odds in their favor."
"Where is she Mannan?" Hayate asked.
"I saw her go upstairs so she's probably in her room."
"Well go get her. We can't leave her by herself."
"I don't think she's up there," Sasame stated a bit worried. "I don't feel her presence of sound in the palace."
Hayate didn't want to believe it. Not now. Not until he looked. He ran upstairs as swift as the wind and tried opening the door but it was locked. So he rammed it in with his shoulder. To his dismay…it was empty. "Damn it!"
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"Untie me! I'll kill you both!" Now sister, don't make threats you can't follow through with. At least, not in this body. Who knows, maybe it will be you who awakens and not I. You speak of only heathen deception! Now I'm hurt. Truly hurt. Try as you like, you want untied, I want bound, our actions cancel out each other's. So we don't move anywhere. The girl's unconscious anyway. So we stay right here, just where I want to be.
"The Knight keeps running off at the mouth, so why doesn't she do something already?" Kana asked annoyed.
"How the hell should I know? While they were distracted, you got the youth fountain water for mother right?" Takata asked.
"She's drinking it right now. She said she'd be down in a second."
"Heeeeeelllooooooooooo my children! Hello!" Takako was practically bouncing. She looked her youthful self again. And just as evil as ever.
"Hello mother."
"What? No compliments? I'm stunning, no?"
"You look beautiful mother." The two twins always had a habit of replying to her in the same tone, with the same words, even thought they were obviously such different people.
"Alright, I'm here, the dark priests are here, the two best daughters in the world are here, let the awakening begin."
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"You're telling me she's not in the outer world either?" Hayate asked worriedly.
"I've tried hearing her out for the fifth time already, she's not."
"He can't keep this up Hayate. Sasame will get sick like last time," Himeno pleaded.
Hayate sighed. "Alright-"
"Wait I hear something," Sasame interrupted. "It's a bit faint, but I hear it."
"Take us there."
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"Are you sure she went down there Sasame?"
They stared at the open cellar door a while. The older knights remembering how it almost locked Kei in before. "I'm sure," Sasame said hopping in. The others followed. Hayate pretted with Himeno before jumping in, just incase something happened. They were surprised to see a pathway lit by torches down there. Rotting flesh singed their noses to the point when they wanted to puke. Shin did puke, so they told him to stay outside the cellar and keep watch. They walked further down it a while until they spotted a figure at the end of it. It turned to them with a grin on its face. It…was Kai…the Queen of Destruction. Her hair hung in a lengthy mess, a black crown sat on top of it. Her black gown was hugged by her outside corset, and in her hand was a long sword with a blade of fire. Her eyes matched the color. She looked like one from the demon world. She faced a grand wall, with a mirror just like that in the Lefaenian cave.
"What took you so long? I began to get bored. You won't like me when I'm bored." The rest just stood there shocked. There were two furry demon dogs lying at her feet. They raised their heads to look at the knights. Kai turned away from the wall, looking at them with an annoyed glare. "Come forth," she said in a more humble voice. "I don't wish harm on you yet." They did as told, though they didn't want to, and paused again. She saw what they were staring at and waved to them while saying, "Relax. I fed them already."
"F-Fed them what?" Hajime asked nervously.
Kai fully turned to them now. "Broccoli, I fed them broccolli."
"Huh?"
"People dumb ass now get over here," Kai demanded and Hajime ran up. But once again, he didn't mean to. Even in this form Kai sounded like her old sarcastic self.
"Get away from her Hajime!" Kei shouted.
"It's not his fault. He can't help it. I own him," she said, running a fingernail down his cheek. Then she smirked. "Or half of him anyway. But that's not why I'm not killing you right now. I just wanted to tease you for a while."
"You're not Kai. You're the one from the wall," Himeno said a bit scared. "Kai wouldn't feed her dogs people. She wouldn't even be down here." Unlike everyone else, Himeno, even while pretted with Hayate, didn't jump at her every command. She stepped forward more until she was just a few feet away. Himeno, don't. Back away from her. I can't Hayate. I'm not going to keep fighting innocent people. It's not her fault she's like this.
"You don't even know her," the woman scowled. But it soon turned into another smirk. "You don't know her like I know her. What she says and what she thinks. The two are completely different. Even know I can feel her suffering within me. I don't want to see it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to talk about it. But I can't stop thinking about it. Tell me…how not to think about it…I can help you Kai, my child. I'll make it so you don't have to think about anything ever again."
"Shut up!" Himeno shouted. "It's not like her to take the easy way out. Kai's strong. She doesn't need your help!"
"Don't you raise your voice at me!" Kai held out her hand and Himeno flew back, but Hayate took the impact. I told you to back away! I'm sorry.
"I apologize. I shouldn't have done that. It'd be no fun if I killed you now. Besides, Takako asked that I let her kill you Hayate, Himeno. As a thanks for my awakening, I thought 'why not?' We'll all be dead in the end right. I don't wish to kill you knights though. I can't. The most I can do is take half your Lefae. The half that belongs to me." Kai laughed before disappearing.
Mannen couldn't speak the entire time. That's what she's been muttering in her sleep. But what is that supposed to mean. I don't…want to think about it? She's been suffering and I didn't know…Is this my fault?
