Chapter 7: Dimensions

Ayane

"Reiji! I don't want to go back there! No! I'm free of it!"

My words were sliced by the confidence in his gaze. I felt as though my gate was absorbing me, as if it was taking me alive and showing me not mercy. Panic drowned the confidence I usually used to cover my fear. Then, as fast as the feeling of horror came, it faded. It was too late. A brilliant flash of light sprung throughout the room, my right hand being the source. A dull cry came from Miu, while a growl of not knowing exactly what was happening sprung from Satoka. I closed my eyes, but the flash from my hand still ate away at my darkened sight. I opened my eyes a moment later to a familiar scene.

I was here, again. The first time was a mistake. But now, I was here.

Reiji spook before I could. His cool words echoing slightly in my unwelcoming abyss, "Welcome, to Ayane's Gate of Wind."

Tears, unwanted tears of days forgotten, tears of the past, tears of pain, tears of anger, tears of frustration, unforgiving tears, they came all at once. I didn't sob. I didn't gasp. They were just there, running down my cheeks. "Reiji," I whispered his name quietly at first, and then it came out in a stressed scream, "This was his place, I never wanted to come back here Reiji!"

Satoka

My gate seemed to be pulling me. Not me into it, but more it to something else; dragging me with it like I was a dog on a leash. Yet the place that that feeling took me to, it was amazing; one of those simple places that you have to take the time to absorb to truly appreciate. Yet where was I? My reasoning was weaken by my confusion; I didn't know what to ask. Was this really what a gate looked like? Reiji seemed sure, and Ayane's reaction enforced that. Another question ate away at me, and subconsciously, I asked it allowing my voice to sound without my own permission, "I thought that that thing was only able to enhance a gate's energy, not actually take us in to them."

The amazement in my own voice surprised me. Who was to blame me though? This place was amazing. Everywhere was light shades of blue, each color gentle and warm. A warm, yet still refreshing breeze was blowing everywhere. There was no general direction that it was blowing; it just was there, surrounding me. I felt as though I was flying, yet it felt so natural that it wasn't that. It was more of a sense of being somewhere that you shouldn't be, yet enjoying it so much that there was no guilt. All the tension, anger, hatred, everything was gone. I was free to fly.

Reiji

It pains me to make her come back here. This was Shun's place. The one place that he came to. It was so long ago though, that Ayane over used her gate, that I'm surprised she remembers it. That is why she uses her gate so sparsely, so that she won't be forced to return here.

Though I've seen my gate of darkness many a time, I've often wondered what the Gate of Wind looked like inside. Satoka and Miu, I owe them an explanation, as do I owe one to Ayane. Satoka's question was a valid one. The machine was simply a gate enhancer until I used it for something different. I changed it. I'll explain that for now, they deserve to know where they are.

"This is the Gate Of Wind," I tried to keep my voice in a constant tone, for even I was slightly amazed that we were all in one piece. "You are now in the dimension that this gate resides in. When a gate absorbs something, it will end up in the gate's dimension. I modified the gate enhancer a long time ago. With this, I was able to stimulate the Gate of Wind to draw the powers of the gates around it. The suction that you each felt when I activated it was your gates releasing allowing Ayane's gate to absorb them."

Miu's squeaky voice broke my explanation, "So, we're actually in Ayane's gate? We've been absorbed?"

"What good will this do us? We're stuck here now." I had been waiting for Satoka's commentary, and I took the chance to complete my enlightenment of the three, "So you see, we can get out of here; we just have to have Ayane close her gate. It's hard for her to keep it open too long though. It can absorb her completely and trap us. We have to open our gates right when she closes hers in order to get out. She can hold on for awhile, that should give us the time we need to find what is causing the blockade in this dimension."

Rose

What was that? Something, something happened! Is something here? Has someone entered my world? I feel like something else is in this place other than me. Go away! Leave me alone! Stay away from me! I'm lonely, but I don't really want to go back unless you can take me to where I'll be happy.

Ayane

My gate is open. Reiji's machine was able to open my gate. Yet I can't seem to close it. That thing is still on my arm, pulling at my gate. I feel it. I can feel my gate straining to keep open. Reiji talks, but I won't listen. Why am I here? Why are they here? How was my gate able to open if it was blocked? Can Reiji actually surpass something like that after making such a big deal about the blockage?

Reiji glanced over at Ayane who appeared to be in slight pain. The perplexed look on her face was understandable, she, even with her knowledge of the gate, had no idea why they were there. She glared at Reiji, anger flowing from her in the form of her silent tears. "Reiji, how are we here? Tell me, tell me now! I want to know how you opened my gate when I couldn't. WHY ARE WE HERE?"

Reiji suddenly began moving, his hands guiding him. "In order to move in this dimension, you must summon energy from your gate. Be careful, though you can't be absorbed, you can still drain all of the power within your body. We don't have much time; Ayane can't hold her gate open for long."

They all looked at Ayane, whose anger seemed to be being thrown from her in waves of pain. She was trembling slightly. Reiji looked to Satoka and Miu who were testing their movement ability, "Both of you, we must hurry. We'll find the cause of the blockade before Ayane must close her gate. I'll explain things later."

Reiji felt an odd sense of excitement burst through him. Could they have found the gate with the power to instantly alter the user? The gate with the greatest gift, yet the worse curse? He wasn't sure if it was that at all. But either way, his anxiety ran high.

Miu

So, this is what a gate looks like inside. I didn't have much time to take it all in, because Reiji started explaining it all. While he was talking, I was looking at how much pain Ayane seemed to be in. I'm always a bit afraid, but… but Ayane seemed terrified. Not scared of the place, but of the memory of it. Has she been here before?

It's rather easy to navigate around here. Since my gate requires my control, I suppose it's a bit easier for me to move than it is for Reiji and Satoka. We soon had our navigational skills underhand and set out to find what was blocking Ayane's gate. Reiji said that Ayane must stay still, for fear that she might close her gate and trap us. I'm scared. I don't want to be trapped. If I were, I would never be able to see the moon again.

The three of them glided through the odd world; sometimes losing their hold on their gates and jerking off to the side. It was a long time before anyone spoke, Satoka being the first to boldly break the silence, "What are we looking for anyway?"

She glided around gently, her attention to the matter fading. Miu on the other hand, was staying close to Reiji, making sure that she wasn't to be lost in the gate. Reiji didn't even bother glancing at Satoka, but instead shifted his head to the right.

"That."