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updates will come much slower!
Chapter 46 : Storm's Melody
"Hey there..." The man pulled back on the reins of his horse. "Are you all right?"
Miaka nodded. Her hair was up in two odangos, keeping them off her neck in the heat. "Nuriko, do you think she could have traveled this far? We still haven't found her."
"It is possible." Chiriko thought for a moment. "We have to believe Saori is still alive and out here, somewhere."
"That's one thing, Chiriko," Nuriko began, "But if we don't find her within, I'd say the next day, we'll have to head back."
"No!" Miaka piped up. "We're not leaving until we find her."
"Miaka..." Nuriko nagged lightly.
Miaka looked around the barren desert. There were a few trees lined up near them, but no other sign of any life, except the occasional plant or lizard they came across. "Let's rest here for now, and then we can set out again. Saori's waiting for us, I can feel it."
*******************************
"Looks like our little friends are back for a visit." Koki said as Ame let the men in. "Oh, new ones too!"
"Koki, please behave yourself." Ame said sternly.
"You shouldn't be tellin' me what to do, by all means, it's the other way around." Koki scolded lightly.
Ame smiled at the four men. He looked at Tasuki, bowing slightly. "I do not believe we've met."
Tasuki sighed. He hated being in these polite introductory situations, they made him uncomfortable. "Name's Tasuki." He stated.
Ame looked up at the name. "I see, you are also one of the Suzaku shichi- seishi."
"We came back to ask you a few more questions, no da." Chichiri explained, motioning his hands with his words. "You see, we think that the item we are looking for may be around here, no da."
Ame blinked. "Are you sure?"
"Not really." Hotohori added. "However, if you wouldn't mind, we would like to check."
Ame nodded. "I understand completely, please, feel free to." Ame motioned to the low table. "Please, sit down and have something to eat."
"We're fine, really." Tamahome said, getting a nudge from Tasuki in the rib.
"I insist. We have plenty."
*********************************
Saori knelt down on the sandy ground, grabbing another pathetic plant at the base and pulling it up best she could, putting it into her brownish- gray bag. Yet another night and day out here in the wilderness. Judging by the sun, it was about noon, though she could be wrong. Luckily, today didn't feel quite as hot as yesterday, and a few clouds were in the sky, though none came close to covering the sun.
Saori had been pulling up nearby plants for perhaps 20, maybe 30 minutes now. One or two she found had deep, thick roots, and she was sure she could get some water from them, seeing how her supply was vastly shrinking. There weren't a lot of plants out, so even finding a small, wilting one like this was good enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Falling...~
~Falling...~
Eyes opened, the images around them blurry and out of focus. Blinking a few times, the image cleared a bit, but it wasn't perfect yet.
It took a moment for Suboshi to realize he was awake, or at least somewhat. His entire body felt stiff and sore. His mouth felt dry, and his skin was hot.
"What happened?" He thought, trying to remember. It only took a moment for his memory to return. The Suzaku seven... he had been fighting them, and he fell. He couldn't remember hitting the ground, but he remembered waking up, feeling the worse pain he thought he had ever felt in his life. He remembered laying there, not moving... again, he couldn't recall how long, but he knew he was so weak he could barely breathe. Eventually something came over him and somehow he managed to get up, and he ended up out here...
"I'm still alive?" He thought. He tried to sit up, but felt a surge of pain run through him like scissors, and felt his energy immediately leave him. He looked around. There were two tall, large rocks, one on either side of him, and they shaded the sun out fairly well. The ground was hard and warm under him, and he could feel the grains of sand that seemed to cover him. He moved his head and looked at his arm, as surprised as one could be in his condition. The long gold armband on his left arm was torn and ripped, most of it missing. It its place was a short stick, tied to him with a long tie of some sort, a fabric he didn't recognize. "Where... am I?" He finally said, a bit hoarse.
"I'm not sure what I'll do with these exactly..." Saori sighed, running her hand through the bag and looking at the few plants she had. She needed a break, just to sit down. She slowly walked across the scorched ground back to her resting spot. "I wonder if grinding them up will do anything... what if one's poisonous?" She said to herself. "I don't even know if they're edible... heck, I'll probably die out here anyways if I don't start moving..." Saori stopped short, eyes wide. She cautiously walked under the two rocks, slowly.
"You're... awake?"
Suboshi focused his eyes on the unfamiliar voice, staring at the strange girl approaching him. Who the heck was she? What was she doing here? Suddenly, it hit him, almost in more ways than one as the memory crossed his mind. He remembered, he almost had the priestess in his grasps, and she was... Suboshi didn't know what to do, what he could do. She was... she was that girl who stayed with the Suzaku Seven!
Going on instinct, Suboshi reached down to his waist, feeling around.
"I took it."
Suboshi gave the girl another glare.
Saori took the parcel off of her neck and shoulder and walked over to him. "I took that thing away from you, whatever you call it. You shouldn't be fighting in your condition." She knelt down near him and pulled the plants out of their resting place.
"What are you doing here?" Suboshi tried to ask, his voice still quiet. It didn't have a very nice tone to it, but it was hard to determine any hidden meaning behind it.
"I found you." Saori stated simply, not daring to look over at the boy who presumingly was younger than herself. "I found you not far from here, and to say the least you weren't in very good condition, like you are now." Saori smiled a bit. "But it's good that you're awake, I really thought you were going to die for a while there... I didn't have much to help you out with." It was true, what bandages Saori had were used to care for Suboshi. She tore up her jacket too, and even her tie was being used to hold the splint in place.
Again Suboshi tried to sit up.
"Don't!" Saori called out, pushing him back down by his shoulder. Realizing her position, she quickly removed her hand. "I think you broke a rib... or two.... but you shouldn't move, not yet. You need to heal first."
Suboshi couldn't believe his ears. What was wrong with this woman? She was his enemy!
"Here." Saori held her hand out in front of his face, holding a canteen.
***********************************
The dead bolt turned and the door opened, Tetsuya barging in while Keisuke was still trying to get the key out of the door. He was also balancing a curious Hikari on his hip as he did so.
"I still don't get what you're trying to find. They don't wear their uniforms anymore, so that's not it..."
"They're best friends, Keisuke." Tetsuya called out from another room. "They've got to have something linked."
Keisuke stepped into the apartment and shut the door. "True, but the odds of finding something Yui currently has with her is slim."
Keisuke waited, but the only reply he got was the shuffling noises Tetsuya made as he searched around the apartment. Keisuke placed Hikari down on the floor and opened the book up to its marked place. He began reading silently, and it didn't take long for his eyes to widen in surprise.
"AGH!"
"What?" Tetsuya asked, poking his head into the living room.
"Suboshi's awake, and he's with Saori!" Keisuke shouted.
Tetsuya walked into the room, sitting on a loveseat across from Keisuke. "What else does it say?"
"Not much more than that, the scene changes." Keisuke kept reading silently for a moment. "It's on some of the warriors, the ones at that weird couple's house."
"Read out loud, brainiac." Tetsuya urged.
Keisuke sighed. "It's nothing important, it's just talking about them eating..."
***********************************
"How can you get a hold on such fruit like these?" Tamahome asked, taking another bite of the honeydew melon. There were also several pears and apples on the table.
"We, Koki and I, own an orchard near here. That is also where we get most of our income." Ame replied.
"How would you obtain all the water needed though, no da?" Chichiri asked.
Ame smiled. "We do find our ways."
Tasuki, who had an apple core in his hand, looked from the man who reminded him of Hotohori to the strange looking girl. "Are you two going together or somethin?" He asked out of the blue.
"Tasuki! You're such an idiot!" Tamahome raised his voice.
Koki laughed. "Iie, Ame and I are very close, but not in a romantic way."
Tamahome covered his face in embarrassment.
Ame tried to smile while Koki laughed. "I like this guy, he speaks his mind. Reminds me of, let's see..."
"Yourself?" Ame interrupted.
"Exactly."
Hotohori entered the room for the second time. "Thank you for your help, but I'm afraid we must be leaving. We have much more work to do, and we are expecting friends to be returning."
"Returning from where?" Ame asked, standing up with the others.
"They are currently on a search party." Hotohori replied.
"Not in the desert, are they?" Koki asked, brushing one of her four, thin braids behind her shoulder. "It's not the brightest idea to go out too long out there. But, then again... there have been survival stories..."
Hotohori nodded. "I am well aware of the risks, thank you." He paused for a moment, ready to leave. "Perhaps. we will meet again later down the road."
Ame nodded. "Please take care, and thank you for spending time with us. I'm sure Subaru and Tokaki would have appreciated it if they were with us."
A few more goodbyes and nods were exchanged, and the four warriors left the house of their two new acquaintances, never to set foot in the structure again.
****************************
"Huhh" Yui gasped for air as she felt another sharp sting in her chest, and she grabbed onto the cot for support. Luckily this was a shorter one, and it passed by after a few seconds. Yui wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead and slowly lay down on the cot, rolling onto her back and taking large breaths. "Miaka..." She managed to whisper. "Please, someone, help me..." She closed her eyes, tired. If, if only Suboshi were alive, perhaps she'd have some comfort.
~
"Lady Mayo."
Mayo looked up with an irritated expression, a lock of her red tinted hair twisted around her finger. She was obviously upset with the constant boredom dawning on her, making her a rather unpleasant person to be around. "What." She snapped.
Nakago smirked slightly. "Priestess, I will be leaving now. I will return shortly. If you are in need of..."
"Just go all ready." Mayo interrupted.
Nakago bowed. "Very well, priestess, but if you are in need of anything, just call for Tomo." And with one sweep of his cape, Nakago left the tent, the campsite, and went out to do the business even unknown to Mayo herself.
********************************
"The warriors headed out into the city, determined to find the shinzaho clue they had come so far to locate. They would have to comb the entire area, which would take days, even weeks. Beginning at step one, they would have to take trips back and forth among the city boundaries in hopes of an answer to their prayers. The mighty disk Taiisukun had given them still withheld light, telling the warriors they weren't close yet. Hotohori, the emperor; Tasuki, the bandit; Tamahome, the split warrior; and Chichiri, the magician, all wandered out on horses to the border of the city, not far from where they had entered. Inami, the Ambassador; and Mitsukake, the healer were back at the inn, waiting for any news themselves..."
**********************************
Tasuki again looked over the sandy plains in the late afternoon sun, hoping to spot what he was still looking for. He sighed, steering his horse a bit to follow after Hotohori and Chichiri's. On his right side was the city, which like always was bustling with people.
"Still no sign, eh Tasuki?" Tamahome tried to say lightly. "Of course, this would be the first day they'd show up, they may not be back until tomorrow, or the day after that." Tamahome himself was also worried, Miaka hadn't ever been this distant from him, at least not for a long time.
"Whoa." Chichiri called to his horse, pulling back on the reins and stopping it. He looked over the field of sand himself, furrowing an eyebrow.
"You okay Chichiri?" Tasuki asked.
"I sense it, it's very strong." Chichiri said seriously.
Tasuki looked out. "Nuriko and the others?"
Chichiri shook his head. "No, I sense a very strong Seiryu life force, not far from here."
Hotohori looked out. "Chichiri, are you sure?"
Chichiri nodded, turning his horse to face out into the uninhabited land. "I'm positive. One of the warriors is out there, and they are strong, no da."
"Nakago..." Tamahome cursed the name.
"Let's go." Hotohori instructed. He and Chichiri kicked their horses and began riding quickly into the edge of the desert, Tamahome and Tasuki close behind them. With each gallop of the horses' hooves against the dry ground, the intense aura became clearer. After a moment even Tamahome and Tasuki could sense it, and it was strong, like Chichiri had said. It wasn't long before the Aura was almost standing next to them.
"It's here, no da." Chichiri stopped and looked around.
"I dun see anything!" Tasuki shouted. It was driving him nuts, knowing an enemy was lurking about unseen.
Tamahome spun around. "Cowards, they probably lured us out here and now they won't show their faces."
"Chichiri." Hotohori held still from atop his horse. "Chichiri, listen."
Chichiri and the others stopped talking and sat quietly, straining their ears. After a moment in the near silent desert, only a short distance from the city, they heard it.
"A flute?" Tamahome asked.
"This tune... is too familiar." Hotohori said, looking up.
"Amiboshi?" Tasuki asked. "What's he doing out here?"
"There." Chichiri turned to a nearby low cliff on a line of large rocks. A silhouette stood, holding a small wooden flute to his mouth.
Finally, the music subsided and the young man looked up, his face now highlighted by the sunlight. "Suzaku seven, this is the last day you will ever lay your eyes upon a warrior of Seiryu."
"Huh? What's he talking about?" Tasuki asked, confused. Wasn't Amiboshi the good one?
"Amiboshi, what is the meaning of this?!" Hotohori shouted, dismounting from his horse.
Amiboshi's face expressed no mercy, so joy... nothing. "You will pay.... YOU WILL PAY FOR THE DEATH MY BROTHER!!!"
Those words seemed to ring throughout the entire land, piercing into the soul of all who listened.
Tamahome felt his stomach lurch, remembering the similar words he heard after the death of his family.
~"This is my rightful revenge for my brother!"~
"Amiboshi! Calm down no da!!" Chichiri shouted, raising his staff.
"You killed him!" Amiboshi shouted. "You killed him, and now you will face the same consequences!"
"No kid! You've got it all wrong!" Tasuki shouted.
Amiboshi ignored the words and leapt off the cliff, landing gracefully on the ground. "You will suffer." He remarked, bringing the small but deadly instrument to his mouth.
Remembering Amiboshi's attacks before, Chichiri raised his staff quickly. "Kai ha!" He shouted, a red light waving around his staff and shooting out.
The melody began. It quickened with every note. By the time Chichiri's attack reached the twin, it hit a blue barrier and repelled itself, dispensing into the air. Amiboshi opened his eyes, his fingers moving flawlessly among the open holes of the flute. His blue symbol was so bright it shined through his sleeve.
The four warriors covered their ears. Despite their attempt to drown the sound out, they felt a sharp pain sting suddenly through their heads, so great it felt like their skulls would crack.
"Amiboshi, stop!" Tamahome yelled, falling down to one knee.
Tasuki tried to reach back for his fan, but taking even one hand off his ears only intensified the pain more. He yelled out, feeling like his very brains were going to explode. All the warriors were affected, all of them were helpless, and all of them were at the mercy of the young Seiryu warrior, Amiboshi.
~~~~~~~
"Mitsukake?" Inami asked, startled. The man had suddenly dropped one of the glass bottles of medicine he was holding. Inami stood up from the chair, dropping one of her bobby pins. "Mitsukake, what's wrong?"
"I... I just had a bad feeling all of a sudden..." Mitsukake trailed off.
Inami walked over. "What do you mean?"
"I... I don't know..."
~~~~~~~
This... this couldn't be it, could it? Hotohori tried desperately to put his thoughts together, find some way out, but he couldn't. The images before him began to blur and mix together, making it so he couldn't think or see straight. He knew he was yelling, but he couldn't even hear his own voice.
Chichiri still had his cane in one of the hands trying to block out the sound. He stepped forward, the music almost like a strong wind pushing him back. He began muttering something, getting a better grip on his staff.
Amiboshi's eyes narrowed. So, the pathetic magician was trying something? Too bad. Amiboshi intensified his life force and quickened the fingering of the flute. The tune he played suddenly jumped up almost and entire octave, making the range of the power spread a bit more.
Chichiri fell down to his knees now, the sound putting a strong pressure on every inch of his body, making it even hard to take in air. The mask on his face shattered and broke like a clay pot hitting the ground, and the pieces were blown away in the sound waves, scattering behind him.
Tamahome had defeated Suboshi before, why was his brother so much different? Amiboshi, perhaps one of the strongest of the Seiryu Seven... he was killing him. Not only him, but his friends. He wouldn't be able to stand going out before ever seeing Miaka's face again... He winced, feeling the very fabric of his shirt tear in the magnifying sound waves, feeling one cut into his skin like a dagger.
Hotohori's mind suddenly became very dizzy, and the images before him were nearly black. He couldn't reach for his sword, he couldn't move.
The horses bayed wildly, two of them on the ground, shaking like mad. They couldn't run, they could only suffer.
"My head is going to EXPLODE!!!" Tasuki shouted.
~
A tune.
Amiboshi's flute was high, loud, fast, its rays of power were slowly breaking down the warriors like a small hammer on glass.
But, a tune.
Amiboshi continued his song, but his ears picked up on something else. So quiet compared to him, but it was there.
A tune. Unlike his. It was more gentle, more flowing, not sharp at all. It wasn't coming from him, yet the puny waves of this second tune slowly distorted his own. He felt his power weakening, despite his attempt to continue. That tune, that other song, where was it coming from? It was solid, no breaks in it, nowhere for Amiboshi to take full control again.
Tasuki felt some of the weight on his head lift lightly, enough for him to open his eyes and look around. What was going on?
Amiboshi began to panic a bit. Was it, was it Chiriko? The one who had stopped him from destroying the Suzaku Seven years before? Amiboshi's playing slowed, it was useless to waste his energy and continue. Enraged, he lowered his flute, the second tune coming in clearly now. It was smooth, never ending, and like his, flawless.
"What's going on?" Tamahome asked, removing his hands. He still felt dizzy and had a pounding headache, but the pressure was gone. His ears focused in on a new tune, but a flute didn't play it.
"Damnit." Amiboshi cursed to himself, locating the source of music. It was from a near cliff, like the one he was just on, a bit farther down. Finally the sun adjusted, and the player came into full view. Amiboshi furrowed his eyebrows. It was almost complete, and he had been fooled by a mere violin.
The fingers of the player gently held the bow of the instrument as she played, her eyes closed as she swayed lightly with the music. Her other hand held the string instrument up at the end, her fingers lifting and pressing down on the strings, creating the beautiful song.
Tasuki looked up. "No way man...."
Finally, the violin held out its last note, before it stopped all together. The woman opened her scarlet eyes, and looked out on the scene.
"Finally! That music was extraordinarily irritating!" She yelled.
Amiboshi took a fighting position, his flute clasped tightly in one hand. He watched as the girl put down the instrument, and he locked eyes on the other who was with her. "Who are you?!" He shouted. He lifted his flute up threatingly. "You two will pay for disturbing me!"
"Yare Yare." The second waved a hand.
The woman leapt off the small cliff, landing close to Amiboshi.
Chichiri felt strength slowly return to his legs as he watched with his good eye. "What's happening no da?"
Amiboshi stepped back, bringing the flute to his lips.
The girl ran forward, leaping to where Amiboshi stood. Amiboshi got a few notes out before having to dodge a kick headed straight for him. Another leg came flying at him, then a hand. This girl, this INSANE woman, was fast. Finally, she hit him on the hand and Amiboshi felt his flute fly from his grip, up into the air. He went for it, but was pushed back as his new, unwanted opponent caught it in her hand. She smirked at Amiboshi and turned around to her partner. "Ame-chan! Looky! I got it!"
"A...me?" Hotohori questioned, still knelt on the ground. Chichiri and Tasuki stood up next to him.
"You are a warrior of Seiryu then, Amiboshi?" The blue-haired man asked, raising a hand. "You will regret ever setting foot in Sairo." As soon as the line was finished, a bright, blue Chinese symbol flashed on Ame's forehead, a blue light forming in his palm. The light spun around faster and faster, growing as it did so. It splashed into the form of water. Ame turned his hand upside down, and the spinning water stretched out almost into a large saw blade, and it shot out towards Amiboshi.
"What?!" Amiboshi gasped. This was not going how he intended! He leapt off the flat rock he and the pink-haired woman was on, the rock being hit seconds later and exploding into pieces.
"Blue Symbols?" Tasuki asked, pulling out his fan. "That means..."
Koki landed just a few meters away from the group. "Are you guys all right?" She asked as the battle between Ame and Amiboshi went on behind her.
"Koki..." Tamahome asked. "Koki... e?!"
"Do not be so fast to assume victory, Suzaku Seven!" Another female voice called from above.
They all turned around to face sudden, darkening clouds swirling in the sky.
"Soi." Chichiri raised his staff.
"Friend of yours?" Koki asked.
Before anyone had time to answer, a large, wide bolt of lightening struck down, shaking the ground as it hit. They barely had time to avoid it, And Hotohori wasn't doing too well.
"Highness!" Chichiri called to the man.
Hotohori was conscious, but pretty out of it. "Chichiri, I am fine, please..." he spoke.
Another bolt of lightening shot down towards Tasuki and Tamahome. They dodged, but it hit one of the injured horses, making the animal's body nearly explode.
Amiboshi pulled out the second flute he had in his belt and began playing a tune to the strange man who he now found himself facing.
The symbol meaning "rain net" glowed fiercely on Ame's forehead, and he kneeled down and touched his hand to the ground. Swirls of water began whir pooling around him, and it shot out like a mad river towards Amiboshi. Amiboshi again had to stop playing just to avoid being hurt.
Soi's thunderstorm was now raining onto the hot desert. The entire sky was dark.
"Rekka, Shinen!!!" Tasuki shouted. His fire swept out, but it couldn't reach Soi's high position.
Chichiri turned at the sound of a growl. He saw another Seiryu warrior, Ashitare, prowling on all fours, coming closer and closer to him. Chichiri held himself ready for the large beast man to attack, which he did.
"Sou kin!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What in the world?!" Inami opened a window as the hot wind blew by. "Why is the sky getting dark so fast?"
"Storms like these don't occur too often here." Mitsukake stated, looking out the same window.
"I don't think this is an ordinary storm..." Inami trailed off. It looks like it's raining over there." She pointed out towards the left. "The others are in this..." Inami strained her eyes to see. She pulled back form the window a bit. "What's this. a life force? More than one." she thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~
A huge waved struck Amiboshi. The boy flew off his feet and back rammed hard into one of the large rocks, falling hard to the ground as well. Ame was trying to regain his breath, and he looked out onto the rest of the battle.
It was raining harder now. A woman was floating up in the sky, large bolts of electricity flying from her hands down to Tasuki and Tamahome. Not too far a large beast man, at least five times the size of a wolf, was attacking Chichiri, who was managing to fend him off fairly well with attacks from his staff. However, the Suzaku seven were moving slow and had lost a lot of energy from their encounter with Amiboshi, and it was obvious they couldn't keep it up, and Ame knew he wouldn't be able to for long either. And by the looks of it, though one was down, these new warriors were very strong.
Ame stood straight, his symbol fading a bit. "Koki! Koki!" He shouted.
"What did that guy do to you?" Koki asked as she tried to tend to Hotohori. "Stay awake man, don't go all passin' out on me." She instructed in her low voice.
"Koki!"
The woman turned and saw Ame calling her from a position a bit far off. Koki looked from him out onto the battlefield. She almost jumped when she saw Tamahome get skimmed by the lightening and fly a few feet. The Suzaku warriors looked weary, and this one, Hotohori, was barely able to stay awake.
She stood up, looking at the wolf man and the woman in the sky, who was causing most of the damage. Who knew intercepting one little warrior would result in this? They were Seiryu all right, and this psycho ((edited)) in the sky was getting glory-hungry.
"Kai ha!" Chichiri shouted again, sending a flash of red out. This time he hit Ashitare, sending the wolf man's heavy body tumbling a ways. Chichiri leaned onto his staff. He just couldn't get all his strength back, and his head was still pounding violently.
"Rekka.!" Tasuki was cut off as a thin bolt of lightening hit into his shin. He didn't fall down, but cursed as he limped out of the way. He was still trying to get Soi down from the sky.
"All right Ame..." Koki said to herself as she stood on top of another cliff, as close to Soi as she thought she could get. "Here goes nothing..." Koki closed her eyes, her four braids blowing like whips in the wind. She stood still for a moment, hoping the others wouldn't spot her. Finally, a blue symbol of "stomach" shone on her right cheekbone, and Koki almost seemed to glow a bit.
"Ta ra shi un pa do..." She began chanting.
"We can't keep this up, no da!" Chichiri shouted, Ashitare latching his jaws onto his staff.
Koki opened her eyes. Her eyes, even the whites, were glowing bright yellow, angrily looking over the field. The wind blowing now circulated around her, drawing the attention of the woman in the sky.
"What's this?" Soi asked. She lifted two fingers on her hand, white smoke forming around them, glowing into another bolt.
"Ta ra shi un PA DO!" Koki shouted, raising her hands forward. Her symbol radiated brightly and the dust on the ground rose up, creating a different storm on the area, a sand storm. It swirled violently into cyclones and twisters, raising up all the way into the sky.
Soi's lightening bolt flickered and vanished from her fingers. "What?!" She shouted, trying to form another. However, it didn't work.
Ashitare stopped moving, feeling his strength drain from his every limb. He looked at the magician as if in pain. Chichiri felt his own aura being disrupted.
Ame closed his eyes as he felt the waves of Koki's power flush over him as well, the symbol on his forehead finally vanishing completely. Tamahome felt slower and Tasuki felt his speed leave him, making him defenseless.
The clouds in the sky began shaking and sputtering, the rain completely subsiding. Soi lost her balance on the air and fell, barely catching herself as she did so.
The battle had stopped completely, no one was able to continue fighting.
Eventually, the winds slowed and stopped, and the sky slowly lightened. Koki's eyes returned to normal and her symbol faded.
"What is going on?" Tasuki asked, shaking his dizzy head.
Koki clutched at her heart in pain, stumbling from her spot and falling off the cliff.
"Koki!" Ame said, running towards the spot. He caught the woman in his arms; she was out cold. He turned to Chichiri, who was closest. "We need to get out of here, Chichiri!"
Chapter 46 : Storm's Melody
"Hey there..." The man pulled back on the reins of his horse. "Are you all right?"
Miaka nodded. Her hair was up in two odangos, keeping them off her neck in the heat. "Nuriko, do you think she could have traveled this far? We still haven't found her."
"It is possible." Chiriko thought for a moment. "We have to believe Saori is still alive and out here, somewhere."
"That's one thing, Chiriko," Nuriko began, "But if we don't find her within, I'd say the next day, we'll have to head back."
"No!" Miaka piped up. "We're not leaving until we find her."
"Miaka..." Nuriko nagged lightly.
Miaka looked around the barren desert. There were a few trees lined up near them, but no other sign of any life, except the occasional plant or lizard they came across. "Let's rest here for now, and then we can set out again. Saori's waiting for us, I can feel it."
*******************************
"Looks like our little friends are back for a visit." Koki said as Ame let the men in. "Oh, new ones too!"
"Koki, please behave yourself." Ame said sternly.
"You shouldn't be tellin' me what to do, by all means, it's the other way around." Koki scolded lightly.
Ame smiled at the four men. He looked at Tasuki, bowing slightly. "I do not believe we've met."
Tasuki sighed. He hated being in these polite introductory situations, they made him uncomfortable. "Name's Tasuki." He stated.
Ame looked up at the name. "I see, you are also one of the Suzaku shichi- seishi."
"We came back to ask you a few more questions, no da." Chichiri explained, motioning his hands with his words. "You see, we think that the item we are looking for may be around here, no da."
Ame blinked. "Are you sure?"
"Not really." Hotohori added. "However, if you wouldn't mind, we would like to check."
Ame nodded. "I understand completely, please, feel free to." Ame motioned to the low table. "Please, sit down and have something to eat."
"We're fine, really." Tamahome said, getting a nudge from Tasuki in the rib.
"I insist. We have plenty."
*********************************
Saori knelt down on the sandy ground, grabbing another pathetic plant at the base and pulling it up best she could, putting it into her brownish- gray bag. Yet another night and day out here in the wilderness. Judging by the sun, it was about noon, though she could be wrong. Luckily, today didn't feel quite as hot as yesterday, and a few clouds were in the sky, though none came close to covering the sun.
Saori had been pulling up nearby plants for perhaps 20, maybe 30 minutes now. One or two she found had deep, thick roots, and she was sure she could get some water from them, seeing how her supply was vastly shrinking. There weren't a lot of plants out, so even finding a small, wilting one like this was good enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Falling...~
~Falling...~
Eyes opened, the images around them blurry and out of focus. Blinking a few times, the image cleared a bit, but it wasn't perfect yet.
It took a moment for Suboshi to realize he was awake, or at least somewhat. His entire body felt stiff and sore. His mouth felt dry, and his skin was hot.
"What happened?" He thought, trying to remember. It only took a moment for his memory to return. The Suzaku seven... he had been fighting them, and he fell. He couldn't remember hitting the ground, but he remembered waking up, feeling the worse pain he thought he had ever felt in his life. He remembered laying there, not moving... again, he couldn't recall how long, but he knew he was so weak he could barely breathe. Eventually something came over him and somehow he managed to get up, and he ended up out here...
"I'm still alive?" He thought. He tried to sit up, but felt a surge of pain run through him like scissors, and felt his energy immediately leave him. He looked around. There were two tall, large rocks, one on either side of him, and they shaded the sun out fairly well. The ground was hard and warm under him, and he could feel the grains of sand that seemed to cover him. He moved his head and looked at his arm, as surprised as one could be in his condition. The long gold armband on his left arm was torn and ripped, most of it missing. It its place was a short stick, tied to him with a long tie of some sort, a fabric he didn't recognize. "Where... am I?" He finally said, a bit hoarse.
"I'm not sure what I'll do with these exactly..." Saori sighed, running her hand through the bag and looking at the few plants she had. She needed a break, just to sit down. She slowly walked across the scorched ground back to her resting spot. "I wonder if grinding them up will do anything... what if one's poisonous?" She said to herself. "I don't even know if they're edible... heck, I'll probably die out here anyways if I don't start moving..." Saori stopped short, eyes wide. She cautiously walked under the two rocks, slowly.
"You're... awake?"
Suboshi focused his eyes on the unfamiliar voice, staring at the strange girl approaching him. Who the heck was she? What was she doing here? Suddenly, it hit him, almost in more ways than one as the memory crossed his mind. He remembered, he almost had the priestess in his grasps, and she was... Suboshi didn't know what to do, what he could do. She was... she was that girl who stayed with the Suzaku Seven!
Going on instinct, Suboshi reached down to his waist, feeling around.
"I took it."
Suboshi gave the girl another glare.
Saori took the parcel off of her neck and shoulder and walked over to him. "I took that thing away from you, whatever you call it. You shouldn't be fighting in your condition." She knelt down near him and pulled the plants out of their resting place.
"What are you doing here?" Suboshi tried to ask, his voice still quiet. It didn't have a very nice tone to it, but it was hard to determine any hidden meaning behind it.
"I found you." Saori stated simply, not daring to look over at the boy who presumingly was younger than herself. "I found you not far from here, and to say the least you weren't in very good condition, like you are now." Saori smiled a bit. "But it's good that you're awake, I really thought you were going to die for a while there... I didn't have much to help you out with." It was true, what bandages Saori had were used to care for Suboshi. She tore up her jacket too, and even her tie was being used to hold the splint in place.
Again Suboshi tried to sit up.
"Don't!" Saori called out, pushing him back down by his shoulder. Realizing her position, she quickly removed her hand. "I think you broke a rib... or two.... but you shouldn't move, not yet. You need to heal first."
Suboshi couldn't believe his ears. What was wrong with this woman? She was his enemy!
"Here." Saori held her hand out in front of his face, holding a canteen.
***********************************
The dead bolt turned and the door opened, Tetsuya barging in while Keisuke was still trying to get the key out of the door. He was also balancing a curious Hikari on his hip as he did so.
"I still don't get what you're trying to find. They don't wear their uniforms anymore, so that's not it..."
"They're best friends, Keisuke." Tetsuya called out from another room. "They've got to have something linked."
Keisuke stepped into the apartment and shut the door. "True, but the odds of finding something Yui currently has with her is slim."
Keisuke waited, but the only reply he got was the shuffling noises Tetsuya made as he searched around the apartment. Keisuke placed Hikari down on the floor and opened the book up to its marked place. He began reading silently, and it didn't take long for his eyes to widen in surprise.
"AGH!"
"What?" Tetsuya asked, poking his head into the living room.
"Suboshi's awake, and he's with Saori!" Keisuke shouted.
Tetsuya walked into the room, sitting on a loveseat across from Keisuke. "What else does it say?"
"Not much more than that, the scene changes." Keisuke kept reading silently for a moment. "It's on some of the warriors, the ones at that weird couple's house."
"Read out loud, brainiac." Tetsuya urged.
Keisuke sighed. "It's nothing important, it's just talking about them eating..."
***********************************
"How can you get a hold on such fruit like these?" Tamahome asked, taking another bite of the honeydew melon. There were also several pears and apples on the table.
"We, Koki and I, own an orchard near here. That is also where we get most of our income." Ame replied.
"How would you obtain all the water needed though, no da?" Chichiri asked.
Ame smiled. "We do find our ways."
Tasuki, who had an apple core in his hand, looked from the man who reminded him of Hotohori to the strange looking girl. "Are you two going together or somethin?" He asked out of the blue.
"Tasuki! You're such an idiot!" Tamahome raised his voice.
Koki laughed. "Iie, Ame and I are very close, but not in a romantic way."
Tamahome covered his face in embarrassment.
Ame tried to smile while Koki laughed. "I like this guy, he speaks his mind. Reminds me of, let's see..."
"Yourself?" Ame interrupted.
"Exactly."
Hotohori entered the room for the second time. "Thank you for your help, but I'm afraid we must be leaving. We have much more work to do, and we are expecting friends to be returning."
"Returning from where?" Ame asked, standing up with the others.
"They are currently on a search party." Hotohori replied.
"Not in the desert, are they?" Koki asked, brushing one of her four, thin braids behind her shoulder. "It's not the brightest idea to go out too long out there. But, then again... there have been survival stories..."
Hotohori nodded. "I am well aware of the risks, thank you." He paused for a moment, ready to leave. "Perhaps. we will meet again later down the road."
Ame nodded. "Please take care, and thank you for spending time with us. I'm sure Subaru and Tokaki would have appreciated it if they were with us."
A few more goodbyes and nods were exchanged, and the four warriors left the house of their two new acquaintances, never to set foot in the structure again.
****************************
"Huhh" Yui gasped for air as she felt another sharp sting in her chest, and she grabbed onto the cot for support. Luckily this was a shorter one, and it passed by after a few seconds. Yui wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead and slowly lay down on the cot, rolling onto her back and taking large breaths. "Miaka..." She managed to whisper. "Please, someone, help me..." She closed her eyes, tired. If, if only Suboshi were alive, perhaps she'd have some comfort.
~
"Lady Mayo."
Mayo looked up with an irritated expression, a lock of her red tinted hair twisted around her finger. She was obviously upset with the constant boredom dawning on her, making her a rather unpleasant person to be around. "What." She snapped.
Nakago smirked slightly. "Priestess, I will be leaving now. I will return shortly. If you are in need of..."
"Just go all ready." Mayo interrupted.
Nakago bowed. "Very well, priestess, but if you are in need of anything, just call for Tomo." And with one sweep of his cape, Nakago left the tent, the campsite, and went out to do the business even unknown to Mayo herself.
********************************
"The warriors headed out into the city, determined to find the shinzaho clue they had come so far to locate. They would have to comb the entire area, which would take days, even weeks. Beginning at step one, they would have to take trips back and forth among the city boundaries in hopes of an answer to their prayers. The mighty disk Taiisukun had given them still withheld light, telling the warriors they weren't close yet. Hotohori, the emperor; Tasuki, the bandit; Tamahome, the split warrior; and Chichiri, the magician, all wandered out on horses to the border of the city, not far from where they had entered. Inami, the Ambassador; and Mitsukake, the healer were back at the inn, waiting for any news themselves..."
**********************************
Tasuki again looked over the sandy plains in the late afternoon sun, hoping to spot what he was still looking for. He sighed, steering his horse a bit to follow after Hotohori and Chichiri's. On his right side was the city, which like always was bustling with people.
"Still no sign, eh Tasuki?" Tamahome tried to say lightly. "Of course, this would be the first day they'd show up, they may not be back until tomorrow, or the day after that." Tamahome himself was also worried, Miaka hadn't ever been this distant from him, at least not for a long time.
"Whoa." Chichiri called to his horse, pulling back on the reins and stopping it. He looked over the field of sand himself, furrowing an eyebrow.
"You okay Chichiri?" Tasuki asked.
"I sense it, it's very strong." Chichiri said seriously.
Tasuki looked out. "Nuriko and the others?"
Chichiri shook his head. "No, I sense a very strong Seiryu life force, not far from here."
Hotohori looked out. "Chichiri, are you sure?"
Chichiri nodded, turning his horse to face out into the uninhabited land. "I'm positive. One of the warriors is out there, and they are strong, no da."
"Nakago..." Tamahome cursed the name.
"Let's go." Hotohori instructed. He and Chichiri kicked their horses and began riding quickly into the edge of the desert, Tamahome and Tasuki close behind them. With each gallop of the horses' hooves against the dry ground, the intense aura became clearer. After a moment even Tamahome and Tasuki could sense it, and it was strong, like Chichiri had said. It wasn't long before the Aura was almost standing next to them.
"It's here, no da." Chichiri stopped and looked around.
"I dun see anything!" Tasuki shouted. It was driving him nuts, knowing an enemy was lurking about unseen.
Tamahome spun around. "Cowards, they probably lured us out here and now they won't show their faces."
"Chichiri." Hotohori held still from atop his horse. "Chichiri, listen."
Chichiri and the others stopped talking and sat quietly, straining their ears. After a moment in the near silent desert, only a short distance from the city, they heard it.
"A flute?" Tamahome asked.
"This tune... is too familiar." Hotohori said, looking up.
"Amiboshi?" Tasuki asked. "What's he doing out here?"
"There." Chichiri turned to a nearby low cliff on a line of large rocks. A silhouette stood, holding a small wooden flute to his mouth.
Finally, the music subsided and the young man looked up, his face now highlighted by the sunlight. "Suzaku seven, this is the last day you will ever lay your eyes upon a warrior of Seiryu."
"Huh? What's he talking about?" Tasuki asked, confused. Wasn't Amiboshi the good one?
"Amiboshi, what is the meaning of this?!" Hotohori shouted, dismounting from his horse.
Amiboshi's face expressed no mercy, so joy... nothing. "You will pay.... YOU WILL PAY FOR THE DEATH MY BROTHER!!!"
Those words seemed to ring throughout the entire land, piercing into the soul of all who listened.
Tamahome felt his stomach lurch, remembering the similar words he heard after the death of his family.
~"This is my rightful revenge for my brother!"~
"Amiboshi! Calm down no da!!" Chichiri shouted, raising his staff.
"You killed him!" Amiboshi shouted. "You killed him, and now you will face the same consequences!"
"No kid! You've got it all wrong!" Tasuki shouted.
Amiboshi ignored the words and leapt off the cliff, landing gracefully on the ground. "You will suffer." He remarked, bringing the small but deadly instrument to his mouth.
Remembering Amiboshi's attacks before, Chichiri raised his staff quickly. "Kai ha!" He shouted, a red light waving around his staff and shooting out.
The melody began. It quickened with every note. By the time Chichiri's attack reached the twin, it hit a blue barrier and repelled itself, dispensing into the air. Amiboshi opened his eyes, his fingers moving flawlessly among the open holes of the flute. His blue symbol was so bright it shined through his sleeve.
The four warriors covered their ears. Despite their attempt to drown the sound out, they felt a sharp pain sting suddenly through their heads, so great it felt like their skulls would crack.
"Amiboshi, stop!" Tamahome yelled, falling down to one knee.
Tasuki tried to reach back for his fan, but taking even one hand off his ears only intensified the pain more. He yelled out, feeling like his very brains were going to explode. All the warriors were affected, all of them were helpless, and all of them were at the mercy of the young Seiryu warrior, Amiboshi.
~~~~~~~
"Mitsukake?" Inami asked, startled. The man had suddenly dropped one of the glass bottles of medicine he was holding. Inami stood up from the chair, dropping one of her bobby pins. "Mitsukake, what's wrong?"
"I... I just had a bad feeling all of a sudden..." Mitsukake trailed off.
Inami walked over. "What do you mean?"
"I... I don't know..."
~~~~~~~
This... this couldn't be it, could it? Hotohori tried desperately to put his thoughts together, find some way out, but he couldn't. The images before him began to blur and mix together, making it so he couldn't think or see straight. He knew he was yelling, but he couldn't even hear his own voice.
Chichiri still had his cane in one of the hands trying to block out the sound. He stepped forward, the music almost like a strong wind pushing him back. He began muttering something, getting a better grip on his staff.
Amiboshi's eyes narrowed. So, the pathetic magician was trying something? Too bad. Amiboshi intensified his life force and quickened the fingering of the flute. The tune he played suddenly jumped up almost and entire octave, making the range of the power spread a bit more.
Chichiri fell down to his knees now, the sound putting a strong pressure on every inch of his body, making it even hard to take in air. The mask on his face shattered and broke like a clay pot hitting the ground, and the pieces were blown away in the sound waves, scattering behind him.
Tamahome had defeated Suboshi before, why was his brother so much different? Amiboshi, perhaps one of the strongest of the Seiryu Seven... he was killing him. Not only him, but his friends. He wouldn't be able to stand going out before ever seeing Miaka's face again... He winced, feeling the very fabric of his shirt tear in the magnifying sound waves, feeling one cut into his skin like a dagger.
Hotohori's mind suddenly became very dizzy, and the images before him were nearly black. He couldn't reach for his sword, he couldn't move.
The horses bayed wildly, two of them on the ground, shaking like mad. They couldn't run, they could only suffer.
"My head is going to EXPLODE!!!" Tasuki shouted.
~
A tune.
Amiboshi's flute was high, loud, fast, its rays of power were slowly breaking down the warriors like a small hammer on glass.
But, a tune.
Amiboshi continued his song, but his ears picked up on something else. So quiet compared to him, but it was there.
A tune. Unlike his. It was more gentle, more flowing, not sharp at all. It wasn't coming from him, yet the puny waves of this second tune slowly distorted his own. He felt his power weakening, despite his attempt to continue. That tune, that other song, where was it coming from? It was solid, no breaks in it, nowhere for Amiboshi to take full control again.
Tasuki felt some of the weight on his head lift lightly, enough for him to open his eyes and look around. What was going on?
Amiboshi began to panic a bit. Was it, was it Chiriko? The one who had stopped him from destroying the Suzaku Seven years before? Amiboshi's playing slowed, it was useless to waste his energy and continue. Enraged, he lowered his flute, the second tune coming in clearly now. It was smooth, never ending, and like his, flawless.
"What's going on?" Tamahome asked, removing his hands. He still felt dizzy and had a pounding headache, but the pressure was gone. His ears focused in on a new tune, but a flute didn't play it.
"Damnit." Amiboshi cursed to himself, locating the source of music. It was from a near cliff, like the one he was just on, a bit farther down. Finally the sun adjusted, and the player came into full view. Amiboshi furrowed his eyebrows. It was almost complete, and he had been fooled by a mere violin.
The fingers of the player gently held the bow of the instrument as she played, her eyes closed as she swayed lightly with the music. Her other hand held the string instrument up at the end, her fingers lifting and pressing down on the strings, creating the beautiful song.
Tasuki looked up. "No way man...."
Finally, the violin held out its last note, before it stopped all together. The woman opened her scarlet eyes, and looked out on the scene.
"Finally! That music was extraordinarily irritating!" She yelled.
Amiboshi took a fighting position, his flute clasped tightly in one hand. He watched as the girl put down the instrument, and he locked eyes on the other who was with her. "Who are you?!" He shouted. He lifted his flute up threatingly. "You two will pay for disturbing me!"
"Yare Yare." The second waved a hand.
The woman leapt off the small cliff, landing close to Amiboshi.
Chichiri felt strength slowly return to his legs as he watched with his good eye. "What's happening no da?"
Amiboshi stepped back, bringing the flute to his lips.
The girl ran forward, leaping to where Amiboshi stood. Amiboshi got a few notes out before having to dodge a kick headed straight for him. Another leg came flying at him, then a hand. This girl, this INSANE woman, was fast. Finally, she hit him on the hand and Amiboshi felt his flute fly from his grip, up into the air. He went for it, but was pushed back as his new, unwanted opponent caught it in her hand. She smirked at Amiboshi and turned around to her partner. "Ame-chan! Looky! I got it!"
"A...me?" Hotohori questioned, still knelt on the ground. Chichiri and Tasuki stood up next to him.
"You are a warrior of Seiryu then, Amiboshi?" The blue-haired man asked, raising a hand. "You will regret ever setting foot in Sairo." As soon as the line was finished, a bright, blue Chinese symbol flashed on Ame's forehead, a blue light forming in his palm. The light spun around faster and faster, growing as it did so. It splashed into the form of water. Ame turned his hand upside down, and the spinning water stretched out almost into a large saw blade, and it shot out towards Amiboshi.
"What?!" Amiboshi gasped. This was not going how he intended! He leapt off the flat rock he and the pink-haired woman was on, the rock being hit seconds later and exploding into pieces.
"Blue Symbols?" Tasuki asked, pulling out his fan. "That means..."
Koki landed just a few meters away from the group. "Are you guys all right?" She asked as the battle between Ame and Amiboshi went on behind her.
"Koki..." Tamahome asked. "Koki... e?!"
"Do not be so fast to assume victory, Suzaku Seven!" Another female voice called from above.
They all turned around to face sudden, darkening clouds swirling in the sky.
"Soi." Chichiri raised his staff.
"Friend of yours?" Koki asked.
Before anyone had time to answer, a large, wide bolt of lightening struck down, shaking the ground as it hit. They barely had time to avoid it, And Hotohori wasn't doing too well.
"Highness!" Chichiri called to the man.
Hotohori was conscious, but pretty out of it. "Chichiri, I am fine, please..." he spoke.
Another bolt of lightening shot down towards Tasuki and Tamahome. They dodged, but it hit one of the injured horses, making the animal's body nearly explode.
Amiboshi pulled out the second flute he had in his belt and began playing a tune to the strange man who he now found himself facing.
The symbol meaning "rain net" glowed fiercely on Ame's forehead, and he kneeled down and touched his hand to the ground. Swirls of water began whir pooling around him, and it shot out like a mad river towards Amiboshi. Amiboshi again had to stop playing just to avoid being hurt.
Soi's thunderstorm was now raining onto the hot desert. The entire sky was dark.
"Rekka, Shinen!!!" Tasuki shouted. His fire swept out, but it couldn't reach Soi's high position.
Chichiri turned at the sound of a growl. He saw another Seiryu warrior, Ashitare, prowling on all fours, coming closer and closer to him. Chichiri held himself ready for the large beast man to attack, which he did.
"Sou kin!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What in the world?!" Inami opened a window as the hot wind blew by. "Why is the sky getting dark so fast?"
"Storms like these don't occur too often here." Mitsukake stated, looking out the same window.
"I don't think this is an ordinary storm..." Inami trailed off. It looks like it's raining over there." She pointed out towards the left. "The others are in this..." Inami strained her eyes to see. She pulled back form the window a bit. "What's this. a life force? More than one." she thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~
A huge waved struck Amiboshi. The boy flew off his feet and back rammed hard into one of the large rocks, falling hard to the ground as well. Ame was trying to regain his breath, and he looked out onto the rest of the battle.
It was raining harder now. A woman was floating up in the sky, large bolts of electricity flying from her hands down to Tasuki and Tamahome. Not too far a large beast man, at least five times the size of a wolf, was attacking Chichiri, who was managing to fend him off fairly well with attacks from his staff. However, the Suzaku seven were moving slow and had lost a lot of energy from their encounter with Amiboshi, and it was obvious they couldn't keep it up, and Ame knew he wouldn't be able to for long either. And by the looks of it, though one was down, these new warriors were very strong.
Ame stood straight, his symbol fading a bit. "Koki! Koki!" He shouted.
"What did that guy do to you?" Koki asked as she tried to tend to Hotohori. "Stay awake man, don't go all passin' out on me." She instructed in her low voice.
"Koki!"
The woman turned and saw Ame calling her from a position a bit far off. Koki looked from him out onto the battlefield. She almost jumped when she saw Tamahome get skimmed by the lightening and fly a few feet. The Suzaku warriors looked weary, and this one, Hotohori, was barely able to stay awake.
She stood up, looking at the wolf man and the woman in the sky, who was causing most of the damage. Who knew intercepting one little warrior would result in this? They were Seiryu all right, and this psycho ((edited)) in the sky was getting glory-hungry.
"Kai ha!" Chichiri shouted again, sending a flash of red out. This time he hit Ashitare, sending the wolf man's heavy body tumbling a ways. Chichiri leaned onto his staff. He just couldn't get all his strength back, and his head was still pounding violently.
"Rekka.!" Tasuki was cut off as a thin bolt of lightening hit into his shin. He didn't fall down, but cursed as he limped out of the way. He was still trying to get Soi down from the sky.
"All right Ame..." Koki said to herself as she stood on top of another cliff, as close to Soi as she thought she could get. "Here goes nothing..." Koki closed her eyes, her four braids blowing like whips in the wind. She stood still for a moment, hoping the others wouldn't spot her. Finally, a blue symbol of "stomach" shone on her right cheekbone, and Koki almost seemed to glow a bit.
"Ta ra shi un pa do..." She began chanting.
"We can't keep this up, no da!" Chichiri shouted, Ashitare latching his jaws onto his staff.
Koki opened her eyes. Her eyes, even the whites, were glowing bright yellow, angrily looking over the field. The wind blowing now circulated around her, drawing the attention of the woman in the sky.
"What's this?" Soi asked. She lifted two fingers on her hand, white smoke forming around them, glowing into another bolt.
"Ta ra shi un PA DO!" Koki shouted, raising her hands forward. Her symbol radiated brightly and the dust on the ground rose up, creating a different storm on the area, a sand storm. It swirled violently into cyclones and twisters, raising up all the way into the sky.
Soi's lightening bolt flickered and vanished from her fingers. "What?!" She shouted, trying to form another. However, it didn't work.
Ashitare stopped moving, feeling his strength drain from his every limb. He looked at the magician as if in pain. Chichiri felt his own aura being disrupted.
Ame closed his eyes as he felt the waves of Koki's power flush over him as well, the symbol on his forehead finally vanishing completely. Tamahome felt slower and Tasuki felt his speed leave him, making him defenseless.
The clouds in the sky began shaking and sputtering, the rain completely subsiding. Soi lost her balance on the air and fell, barely catching herself as she did so.
The battle had stopped completely, no one was able to continue fighting.
Eventually, the winds slowed and stopped, and the sky slowly lightened. Koki's eyes returned to normal and her symbol faded.
"What is going on?" Tasuki asked, shaking his dizzy head.
Koki clutched at her heart in pain, stumbling from her spot and falling off the cliff.
"Koki!" Ame said, running towards the spot. He caught the woman in his arms; she was out cold. He turned to Chichiri, who was closest. "We need to get out of here, Chichiri!"