The scenes in here aren't too great, when I started out writing this
story nearly a year ago I was terrible at battle and fight scenes, but
apparently I've gotten better. You'll see this again in further chapters,
and yes, again I'm apologizing! I'll be confident once you reach say.
chapter 30 ^_^;;
On another note, I still have trouble with romance scenes, which is why you don't see any for a good long while.
Chapter 9 : Countries United
"Sire! Sire!" A guard ran into the throne room without being invited, running urgently to his king.
Hotohori stood up. "What is it? What is wrong?" He said, worrying he knew what it was.
"Kutou!" The guard said, panicked and out of breath. "It's attacking! The city of Ryoshin, Sire!"
A look of fear and anger filled Hotohori's eyes. He turned to the magistrates and other guards in the corner of the room. "Quickly, tell the prepared armies to recruit north!!!" He bellowed. "We must fight!"
And what was said, was done. Within an hour Konan armies were arriving at the battle. Sadly, the delay and time it took to arrive cost them most of the city of Ryoshin. Kutou was already half way into Reita.
~~
"Highness, I must insist..."
"No!" Hotohori strictly commanded. He was dressed in his battle armor, ready to lead his men in a fight. "You are to stay at the Palace, Ambassador. It is important that you stay safe."
Akue nodded.
"Chiriko, Saori, and Miaka will remain as well." Hotohori informed.
Just then, another armored man walked into the room.
"We leave now, Highness?" Taka asked seriously.
Hotohori nodded. "Our horses are ready. The others are waiting. Mitsukake will be in Hanshu, remember that if you need him."
Taka nodded. He and his Emperor ran out of the room, prepared to fight.
Akue, upset, turned and walked quickly the other way, her long hair waving behind her. She turned the corner into a large room, where Chiriko, Miaka and Saori sat. Saori was nervously moving a Nisuya piece across the board, Miaka tearing up on the couch.
"You, Chiriko, you are 16, aren't you?" Akue asked, a slight flash of anger remaining in her voice.
Chiriko looked up from the game board. He nodded.
"Then why are you here?" Akue questioned harshly. "You're the proper age to be a soldier, aren't you?"
Chiriko looked at the floor, then back at Akue with a confident look. "I am not a fighter, Miss Cheinun. I am simply a student, hoping to become a scholar. My assigning into a war would only result in an unnecessary death."
Akue looked at Chiriko for a moment, and nodded. "Then please forgive my rudeness." She corrected herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Onward men!" Hotohori yelled, pointing his sword forward from atop his horse. "We will not let Kutou over run us!
Blasts of cheer were heard as reinforcements triumphantly marched over the grounds, meeting with the Kutou soldiers who lied straight ahead.
~~~'Remember Highness, if you need aid, just tell me and I will send for Hokkan's help'~~~
Hotohori closed his eyes, remembering Akue's words. "Let us hope that we won't need it."
"REKKA SHINEN!!!!!" Tasuki shouted, using his number-one weapon to fight. He looked at the soldiers wailing, trying to put out the fire on their clothes and the dead plants around them. "Stop, drop, and roll baby." Tasuki smirked. He lifted both hands again. "REKKA, SHINEN!!!!!
Nearby, Taka fought with several soldier, using a sword. (Though he did find his fists to come in handy.) Taka was further away from the main battle, as Tasuki was, but he still found it somewhat difficult to keep the Kutou soldiers from advancing further.
A few miles off, Chichiri stood at the border of a neighboring city. His staff was held in front of him. His face expressed some struggling. He kept a barrier up, allowing any remaining citizens to run before Kutou came to them. Soldiers beat their swords, clubs, and hands against the magician's defense, making it harder for Chichiri to keep up.
"AAH!!!" Men yelled as a large log came in contact with their midsection. The force was so hard they went flying back, onto other men. Looking up, they saw the log flying onto them.
Nuriko brushed off his hands. "Just imagine what I'd do with a 20 foot sword!"
Despite the warriors' great efforts, the Kutou army vastly out numbered Konan's, by an approximate ratio of 3 to 1. Hotohori helplessly watched as smoke drew up on houses, and blood was spilled.
*********************************
"Hours and Hours went by as Konan's army fought desperately against that of Kutou's." Tetsuya read. He looked over the picture that occupied the page. It showed several houses being burned, and men fighting against each other. He turned back to the Chinese characters, which laid themselves out as Tetsuya read. "Though bravery and Courage was shown, Kutou slowly advanced against Konan, the innocent lives of civilians at risk..."
*********************************
Hotohori's horse galloped hard, The Konan Emperor plunging his sword into another man on horseback. Pulling it out and backing away, the blue- dressed soldier fell from his mare, clunking onto the ground.
Hotohori looked around the battle. It seemed to be slightly smaller now, with the casualty number growing ever higher. Hotohori then laid eyes on the last person he wanted to see.
"Nakago..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A red head turn the corner of the palace sharply, walking at a steady pace down one of the Konan palace's many outdoor walkways. She went with a determined and worried look on her face.
"Miaka, where ARE you going?" Akue asked, following the nineteen-year- old. Saori walked up beside Miaka, Chiriko behind Akue.
Miaka sniffed. "It's been too long. since they left, I mean. I thought, well. we can at least pray, can't we?"
Akue rolled her eyes. "Miaka, wars can last for days, weeks even!"
Miaka made a muffled yelp.
Chiriko tapped Akue on the shoulder. She turned around. Chiriko directed his eyes over to Miaka. Akue sighed and nodded. Seemed that she was going to have to be more sensitive about the matter.
Miaka finally reached the large double doors. She grabbed hold of one, pulling it open. She looked in. Saori marveled as she looked too.
The great gold statue of the beast god of the south, Suzaku, dazzled with all its might in the far back, perfectly centered and aligned with its surroundings. Unlit candles were placed at either side, a red velvet rug leading up to the statue. The walls themselves sparkled as well. Carved engravings of different designs adorned the walls, sparkling in the sudden flow of sunlight from the door.
Miaka walked in. "Chiriko," She questioned, not turning her head back, "We can light these candles, right?"
Saori poked her head in. "Are we allowed to be in here?" She asked, slowly walking in.
"Yes." Miaka stated. "We'll pray here, for Taka and all the others. We'll pray for their safety."
Miaka made her way down the smooth thick rug and knelt before the statue, followed by Saori, and Chiriko. After a moment Miaka turned to see the tall figure of Akue standing outside.
"Akue," she begged, "Please come and join us." Miaka's voice nearly pleaded, and after a minute she turned back to the statue.
Akue hesitantly stepped in. She looked around the beautiful room. Hotohori had done a good job of designing it, that was sure. There was a lot of gold, and it looked like it had been sculpted by holy men. She looked around and walked quietly down the carpet. It was near silent, and a few whispers from Miaka began to fill the room. However, the ambassador only made it halfway into the room when she choked.
All three others turned around at the sound. "Akue, are you all right?" Chiriko asked, putting his foot out, ready to stand up.
Akue had stopped moving forward and clutched the front of her robe as if in pain. Her head throbbed, and the gold band around her forehead glimmered. Her eyes shut as in trying to tolerate the discomfort. She dropped to one knee.
"Akue!" Chiriko exclaimed, running to the Ambassador's aid. Miaka and Saori followed.
Chiriko placed his hands on Akue's shoulders. "Cheinun-san, are you all right?" He shouted again.
Akue forced her leg back up, and stood up, still clutching the front of her robes. "I... I'm fine.... I'll... I have to go..." And with that, she quickly turned on her heels and ran out of the shrine, leaving behind three very confused teenagers.
She entered the outdoor hallway and turned the corner, taking in a deep breath as she slinked down to the floor. "That was close..." she whispered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Nakago!" Hotohori shouted across the field. "You of all people are NOT welcome in Konan!"
Nakago smiled from his high placement. "And you, Hotohori, are in no position to make any demands or threats."
Chichiri, who was now fighting with magic, looked up upon the small mountain overlooking the war too. Nakago and his horse disappeared, and reappeared in front of Hotohori.
"Haven't we been in this position before, Emperor of Konan? It is again here where your life will be put out." Nakago smugly said.
Hotohori pointed his sword out. "You will not pass into the lands of Konan!" he shouted.
Nakago's expression didn't change. "Really? It seems that I already have." He turned on his horse towards the men fighting for Konan. A blue symbol on his forehead flashed brightly, and a large, blue wave came over several soldiers, literally blowing them up on the spot. He focused back on Hotohori with a dead stare.
Hotohori's amber brown eyes sparkled with rage and hate. "You... you will die!" He shouted. He kicked his horse forward and charged at Nakago.
Nakago smirked slightly. He placed his hand out, a shining blue orb forming in his palm. It grew bigger and bigger until finally, a laser shot streamed out of its center towards Hotohori.
"S'ki HA!!!" Came a voice.
Hands petruding out of a floating hat shot out yellow bolts, barely disrupting Nakago's life force blast. The hat turned upright, and the blue haired Chichiri emerged into view.
"Highness!" He yelled. "I must please ask you to leave!" Chichiri held up his staff to Nakago.
"I will stay and fight beside you, Chichiri!" Hotohori shouted back.
Nakago once again hit Chichiri with a chi blast, Chichiri forcing his staff to keep it away. "Highness! Konan needs her Emperor! Leave!!!!"
Reluctantly, and with one last look, Hotohori turned his horse and left the scene.
Chichiri ducked, letting the Chi blast he was holding hit beyond him.
Nakago wasn't happy. "You shouldn't have interfered, monk." Nakago held up his hand again, his sign flashing.
"Sorry, no da." Chichiri fakely apologized, holding his hat out. "Maybe another time though, no da." Chichiri disappeared into the safety of his hat, leaving Nakago to himself.
Again mounted on his original spot over looking the battle, Nakago shot wave after wave of energy blasts across the Konan army, killing and murdering several soldiers at a time. That added with Kutou's attacks, the Konan army grew fastly smaller.
~
A few hours later, Hotohori looked onto the fight in the falling darkness with sadness on his face. He bowed his head, shaking it in dissatisfaction.
"Highness!"
Hotohori slowly looked up at the soldier before him. "Yes?" He said, sorrow hanging on his voice.
"Sire! I have just received word that the Kutou border and capital are being attacked!" He announced happily.
Hotohori looked at the soldier as if he had gone mad. "What? But how? None of our armies have advanced..."
"It's the Hokkan army, Sire! They showed up less than an hour ago, I've been racing all over to find you! Kutou is retreating!" The giddy soldier smiled ear-to-ear, awaiting orders.
Hotohori had a suppressed look of relief on his face. "Thank you for informing me. Please send a message to the Hokkan generals of our gratitude."
On another note, I still have trouble with romance scenes, which is why you don't see any for a good long while.
Chapter 9 : Countries United
"Sire! Sire!" A guard ran into the throne room without being invited, running urgently to his king.
Hotohori stood up. "What is it? What is wrong?" He said, worrying he knew what it was.
"Kutou!" The guard said, panicked and out of breath. "It's attacking! The city of Ryoshin, Sire!"
A look of fear and anger filled Hotohori's eyes. He turned to the magistrates and other guards in the corner of the room. "Quickly, tell the prepared armies to recruit north!!!" He bellowed. "We must fight!"
And what was said, was done. Within an hour Konan armies were arriving at the battle. Sadly, the delay and time it took to arrive cost them most of the city of Ryoshin. Kutou was already half way into Reita.
~~
"Highness, I must insist..."
"No!" Hotohori strictly commanded. He was dressed in his battle armor, ready to lead his men in a fight. "You are to stay at the Palace, Ambassador. It is important that you stay safe."
Akue nodded.
"Chiriko, Saori, and Miaka will remain as well." Hotohori informed.
Just then, another armored man walked into the room.
"We leave now, Highness?" Taka asked seriously.
Hotohori nodded. "Our horses are ready. The others are waiting. Mitsukake will be in Hanshu, remember that if you need him."
Taka nodded. He and his Emperor ran out of the room, prepared to fight.
Akue, upset, turned and walked quickly the other way, her long hair waving behind her. She turned the corner into a large room, where Chiriko, Miaka and Saori sat. Saori was nervously moving a Nisuya piece across the board, Miaka tearing up on the couch.
"You, Chiriko, you are 16, aren't you?" Akue asked, a slight flash of anger remaining in her voice.
Chiriko looked up from the game board. He nodded.
"Then why are you here?" Akue questioned harshly. "You're the proper age to be a soldier, aren't you?"
Chiriko looked at the floor, then back at Akue with a confident look. "I am not a fighter, Miss Cheinun. I am simply a student, hoping to become a scholar. My assigning into a war would only result in an unnecessary death."
Akue looked at Chiriko for a moment, and nodded. "Then please forgive my rudeness." She corrected herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Onward men!" Hotohori yelled, pointing his sword forward from atop his horse. "We will not let Kutou over run us!
Blasts of cheer were heard as reinforcements triumphantly marched over the grounds, meeting with the Kutou soldiers who lied straight ahead.
~~~'Remember Highness, if you need aid, just tell me and I will send for Hokkan's help'~~~
Hotohori closed his eyes, remembering Akue's words. "Let us hope that we won't need it."
"REKKA SHINEN!!!!!" Tasuki shouted, using his number-one weapon to fight. He looked at the soldiers wailing, trying to put out the fire on their clothes and the dead plants around them. "Stop, drop, and roll baby." Tasuki smirked. He lifted both hands again. "REKKA, SHINEN!!!!!
Nearby, Taka fought with several soldier, using a sword. (Though he did find his fists to come in handy.) Taka was further away from the main battle, as Tasuki was, but he still found it somewhat difficult to keep the Kutou soldiers from advancing further.
A few miles off, Chichiri stood at the border of a neighboring city. His staff was held in front of him. His face expressed some struggling. He kept a barrier up, allowing any remaining citizens to run before Kutou came to them. Soldiers beat their swords, clubs, and hands against the magician's defense, making it harder for Chichiri to keep up.
"AAH!!!" Men yelled as a large log came in contact with their midsection. The force was so hard they went flying back, onto other men. Looking up, they saw the log flying onto them.
Nuriko brushed off his hands. "Just imagine what I'd do with a 20 foot sword!"
Despite the warriors' great efforts, the Kutou army vastly out numbered Konan's, by an approximate ratio of 3 to 1. Hotohori helplessly watched as smoke drew up on houses, and blood was spilled.
*********************************
"Hours and Hours went by as Konan's army fought desperately against that of Kutou's." Tetsuya read. He looked over the picture that occupied the page. It showed several houses being burned, and men fighting against each other. He turned back to the Chinese characters, which laid themselves out as Tetsuya read. "Though bravery and Courage was shown, Kutou slowly advanced against Konan, the innocent lives of civilians at risk..."
*********************************
Hotohori's horse galloped hard, The Konan Emperor plunging his sword into another man on horseback. Pulling it out and backing away, the blue- dressed soldier fell from his mare, clunking onto the ground.
Hotohori looked around the battle. It seemed to be slightly smaller now, with the casualty number growing ever higher. Hotohori then laid eyes on the last person he wanted to see.
"Nakago..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A red head turn the corner of the palace sharply, walking at a steady pace down one of the Konan palace's many outdoor walkways. She went with a determined and worried look on her face.
"Miaka, where ARE you going?" Akue asked, following the nineteen-year- old. Saori walked up beside Miaka, Chiriko behind Akue.
Miaka sniffed. "It's been too long. since they left, I mean. I thought, well. we can at least pray, can't we?"
Akue rolled her eyes. "Miaka, wars can last for days, weeks even!"
Miaka made a muffled yelp.
Chiriko tapped Akue on the shoulder. She turned around. Chiriko directed his eyes over to Miaka. Akue sighed and nodded. Seemed that she was going to have to be more sensitive about the matter.
Miaka finally reached the large double doors. She grabbed hold of one, pulling it open. She looked in. Saori marveled as she looked too.
The great gold statue of the beast god of the south, Suzaku, dazzled with all its might in the far back, perfectly centered and aligned with its surroundings. Unlit candles were placed at either side, a red velvet rug leading up to the statue. The walls themselves sparkled as well. Carved engravings of different designs adorned the walls, sparkling in the sudden flow of sunlight from the door.
Miaka walked in. "Chiriko," She questioned, not turning her head back, "We can light these candles, right?"
Saori poked her head in. "Are we allowed to be in here?" She asked, slowly walking in.
"Yes." Miaka stated. "We'll pray here, for Taka and all the others. We'll pray for their safety."
Miaka made her way down the smooth thick rug and knelt before the statue, followed by Saori, and Chiriko. After a moment Miaka turned to see the tall figure of Akue standing outside.
"Akue," she begged, "Please come and join us." Miaka's voice nearly pleaded, and after a minute she turned back to the statue.
Akue hesitantly stepped in. She looked around the beautiful room. Hotohori had done a good job of designing it, that was sure. There was a lot of gold, and it looked like it had been sculpted by holy men. She looked around and walked quietly down the carpet. It was near silent, and a few whispers from Miaka began to fill the room. However, the ambassador only made it halfway into the room when she choked.
All three others turned around at the sound. "Akue, are you all right?" Chiriko asked, putting his foot out, ready to stand up.
Akue had stopped moving forward and clutched the front of her robe as if in pain. Her head throbbed, and the gold band around her forehead glimmered. Her eyes shut as in trying to tolerate the discomfort. She dropped to one knee.
"Akue!" Chiriko exclaimed, running to the Ambassador's aid. Miaka and Saori followed.
Chiriko placed his hands on Akue's shoulders. "Cheinun-san, are you all right?" He shouted again.
Akue forced her leg back up, and stood up, still clutching the front of her robes. "I... I'm fine.... I'll... I have to go..." And with that, she quickly turned on her heels and ran out of the shrine, leaving behind three very confused teenagers.
She entered the outdoor hallway and turned the corner, taking in a deep breath as she slinked down to the floor. "That was close..." she whispered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Nakago!" Hotohori shouted across the field. "You of all people are NOT welcome in Konan!"
Nakago smiled from his high placement. "And you, Hotohori, are in no position to make any demands or threats."
Chichiri, who was now fighting with magic, looked up upon the small mountain overlooking the war too. Nakago and his horse disappeared, and reappeared in front of Hotohori.
"Haven't we been in this position before, Emperor of Konan? It is again here where your life will be put out." Nakago smugly said.
Hotohori pointed his sword out. "You will not pass into the lands of Konan!" he shouted.
Nakago's expression didn't change. "Really? It seems that I already have." He turned on his horse towards the men fighting for Konan. A blue symbol on his forehead flashed brightly, and a large, blue wave came over several soldiers, literally blowing them up on the spot. He focused back on Hotohori with a dead stare.
Hotohori's amber brown eyes sparkled with rage and hate. "You... you will die!" He shouted. He kicked his horse forward and charged at Nakago.
Nakago smirked slightly. He placed his hand out, a shining blue orb forming in his palm. It grew bigger and bigger until finally, a laser shot streamed out of its center towards Hotohori.
"S'ki HA!!!" Came a voice.
Hands petruding out of a floating hat shot out yellow bolts, barely disrupting Nakago's life force blast. The hat turned upright, and the blue haired Chichiri emerged into view.
"Highness!" He yelled. "I must please ask you to leave!" Chichiri held up his staff to Nakago.
"I will stay and fight beside you, Chichiri!" Hotohori shouted back.
Nakago once again hit Chichiri with a chi blast, Chichiri forcing his staff to keep it away. "Highness! Konan needs her Emperor! Leave!!!!"
Reluctantly, and with one last look, Hotohori turned his horse and left the scene.
Chichiri ducked, letting the Chi blast he was holding hit beyond him.
Nakago wasn't happy. "You shouldn't have interfered, monk." Nakago held up his hand again, his sign flashing.
"Sorry, no da." Chichiri fakely apologized, holding his hat out. "Maybe another time though, no da." Chichiri disappeared into the safety of his hat, leaving Nakago to himself.
Again mounted on his original spot over looking the battle, Nakago shot wave after wave of energy blasts across the Konan army, killing and murdering several soldiers at a time. That added with Kutou's attacks, the Konan army grew fastly smaller.
~
A few hours later, Hotohori looked onto the fight in the falling darkness with sadness on his face. He bowed his head, shaking it in dissatisfaction.
"Highness!"
Hotohori slowly looked up at the soldier before him. "Yes?" He said, sorrow hanging on his voice.
"Sire! I have just received word that the Kutou border and capital are being attacked!" He announced happily.
Hotohori looked at the soldier as if he had gone mad. "What? But how? None of our armies have advanced..."
"It's the Hokkan army, Sire! They showed up less than an hour ago, I've been racing all over to find you! Kutou is retreating!" The giddy soldier smiled ear-to-ear, awaiting orders.
Hotohori had a suppressed look of relief on his face. "Thank you for informing me. Please send a message to the Hokkan generals of our gratitude."