Metajoker: You thought Kokie was the coolest character I've created? Aw..
too bad she's a secondary then. Oh, I mean a DEAD SECONDARY!! *evil
laughter* Heh heh.. just kidding. And a story ain't good without some
meaningful corpses in it. Yes, I do have fun. Thanks for reviewing!
BD the Pixie: I know the errors are far apart, but I do appreciate your work! Tasuki will pop up in this chapter, which I have a feeling Metajoker over here won't like. but man, will I have fun with him in chapter 60! *more evil laughter*
Amaya: I'm surprised I didn't get more I-hate-you-for-killing like I got with Ame! That's good though, because Ame still needs attention in the after-world.
Polynesia: Aw. I read your first paragraph and I feel warm and fuzzy. Thanks! Lol! Another anti-Inami? That makes two so far. I know two who really like her, and then I don't know how the others feel. I go in-and- out in liking her, but she was handy back in the 30-40 chapters. Thank you VERY much for your review, I enjoyed your comments.
Author's note: Thanks to everyone for reading this far. For some reason when I went through this chapter to post it I didn't like my writing. maybe it's just me, or maybe I'm losing my touch! This chapter is fairly short and is basically dedicated to pulling off one thing, which I'm sure all will notice. ^_^
Chapter 59 : Strike Three
A rugged, brute general smiled from his brown horse as he looked over the vast scenery around him. He had nearly 5,000-foot soldiers behind them, all armed with a spear or sword, some both. There wasn't a fault in sight.
A light wind blew, moving blades of green grass with it. A few snowy mountains could be seen in the far distance, and there weren't any towns around... not yet, at least.
"All right men!" The general turned his horse around to face the blue-clad soldiers of Kutou. "We'll march forward from here, the towns of Reikushu and Minli are close at hand. I want everything terminated, understand?!"
"YEAH!" the long, low cry from the army came. They readily began moving forward, crossing the low hills about them.
The general stopped mid-march, hearing a whistling sound from above him. Looking up, his face going stark white at the sight. A huge flock of soaring arrows peeked over him and his army, turning at the pull of gravity and flying down like a rain of hail.
"LOOK OUT!" A soldier shouted. People in the army began running is disarray as the arrows hit, random men falling to the ground from the strike.
After the hail, the General looked forward, his eyes focusing on the one, large hill ahead of them.
~
"Re-arm men!" A tall man in green ordered, raising his sword up.
A huge number of foot troops took out another arrow on their back and strung it onto their bows.
"Aim!"
The bows were pointed up.
"FIRE!"
Another massive hail of arrows came flying over the green hill.
"CHARGE!" The Kutou general ordered, his men running forward at the command while still some fell from the flying weapons.
~*BOOM*~
Two sets of wooden cannons fired off their ammo, striking at the advancing Kutou army.
The general of the Hokkan army smiled and turned around, the archers beginning to move aside. "It is time we show Kutou what is mean to draw swords with HOKKAN!!!"
A large cheer followed.
As the Kutou General galloped his horse valiantly forward, he looked up at his target, seeing something far worse than arrows.
Over the mound rode hundreds and hundreds of Hokkani Calvary men, the sound of their horses sending the roaring of thunder itself to its knees. Over the hill they kept coming, and coming, no end of their steeds in sight. The general of Kutou knew war, and he knew that even the proud foot soldiers of Kutou couldn't withstand an army on horseback.
Finally, the Hokkan army hit into their target, charging them down like tigers to flies, swords swinging alongside their animals into an outrageous victory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The large palace doors were pushed shut, the whipping of a snowstorm being sent out with them.
"Ah, Miss..."
Inami brushed some snow off her bangs and shoved a thick folder into the arms of the magistrate. "Give this to Sanoii-sama immediately." She said, walking by him in a near mode of urgency.
"Milady!" The magistrate called out. "His Highness is absent, he commanding..."
"Give them to Prince Seki then!" Inami shouted as she exited the main room of the Hokkan palace.
~
Inami pulled off the wool cloak tied around her shoulder and waist quickly and she entered her room, the snow from the outside melting into water that dripped off her hair. Inami swept her wet strands aside and went to the top drawer of her desk, opening it and quickly shifting through the dozens of papers it held. After a moment and a frustrated sigh she pulled open the drawer next to it, again full with nameless papers. She pulled one out and quickly skimmed over it, placing it on the desktop and returned to the drawer. She finally found a piece of parchment rolled up, and quickly pulled off the tie and read what it said. She took it and the previous paper out of her room, slamming the door behind her.
*****************************
A bright red light spread through out the room, dying down only seconds later.
Miaka opened one eye, and then the other. She gasped.
The seven objects they had worked so hard to collect were gone from around the harp frame, but now the golden item shined more brilliantly than before, and it now had seven, pearly strings.
Miaka carefully lifted it off the table, admiring it.
"Pretty..." Saori whispered.
Yui's eyes were wide. "Miaka, you did it."
"Lemme see." Tasuki said, grabbing the harp out of Miaka's hands.
"What the hell was that?" Tamahome shouted and the bandit.
"So this thing is the shinzaho, huh?" Tasuki asked, ignoring Tamahome and looking over the instrument.
"Yes." Tamahome snatched it back.
"His highness will be most delighted to see it." Chiriko announced. "He may return sometime today."
"Mitsukake will be glad too." Nuriko added, looking over Tamahome's shoulder at the item. "Miaka, you may want to keep that in a safe place."
"Hm?" Miaka looked up.
"He's right." Tamahome agreed. "Miaka, now that we have this, the Seiryu seven will be after it."
"Speaking of which," Nuriko spoke up again, "How are we supposed to get theirs? We can't summon Suzaku without both shinzahos."
It was silent for a moment.
"Well, first thing's first." Miaka took the harp from Tamahome. "Yui, come with me to find Boushin. I know he'll have somewhere we can keep it."
"I'll come too." Nuriko pointed a finger up. "I happen to know where his highness is."
Miaka smiled. "Ok, let's hurry!"
****************************
Inami winced, bringing her hand up to her temple as she walked through the marble halls of the palace. She carried a few rolls of parchment in her other hand, but that was it. It was fairly quiet, enough so that Inami could hear the purple silk of her robe brush against her legs as she walked. She continued on, trying to ignore the new start of a pounding headache. She reached a door finally and pulled out a key, fitting it into the lock, the door almost opening itself as the latch was released. Inami pushed the door open the rest of the way and entered the library, closing the door behind her.
Moving the rectangular table in the middle, she dropped the scrolls in her hand onto the top. She looked at the thin gap between the light violet curtains over the window at the end of the room, seeing a few stars twinkle in the dark sky. Sighing, Inami went to the shelves to her left, reading over the many titles before her, rubbing her head again. As she placed a hand on a fairly old book, her eyes widened a bit, and she looked back towards the door, scanning it.
"Itai..." She mumbled. She turned back to the orange cover on the shelf, but again looked around her. A sinking feeling suddenly over came her. Her eyes darted from corner to corner, then to the window again. "Who's here?" She asked.
No response.
"Am I being paranoid?" She thought. "No..." She whispered, "I know this...."
Inami turned back to the door, a look of anger on her face. "Come out! I know you're here!" She looked back to her window. "You think I wouldn't know the presence of you by now? Tomo!"
Then she heard it. A laugh.
Suddenly the darkness of the window exploded and fanned out across the walls, devouring the lanterns and pictures as they spread.
Inami felt the reassurance of cold metal fly into her hand, a thin blade slowing emerging out as the black began covering the books lining the walls.
"Coward!" She shouted, turning around. "Show yourself!" Inami looked down at her weapon, seeing that it had started to melt in her hands. She looked at it in disbelief before it sunk to the floor-a dark floor.
"Kis'ou." Inami muttered, looking around her dark surroundings. Her green symbol flashed brightly on her forehead, though it did nothing to lift the night around her.
Then it happened, the first blow.
Inami screamed and through both hands up to her head, kneeling down from the pressure. Her fingers went cold, tangling themselves in her hair. Her head... it felt like it was going to explode.
Next was her stomach. She felt sick to her very core. She couldn't think straight, and her symbol was flashing on and off under the strain.
Blow two.
Inami screamed again, louder this time, losing all balance and falling to the floor. She couldn't even see her own self, as if the darkness had flooded into her body. She felt cold, numb... yet the excruciating pain wouldn't lift.
The ground under her knees cracked and broke apart, little pieces rolling away from the fracture. The glowing "Ox" kanji disappeared completely, and Inami felt herself falling, nothing left to hold her up. She just fell into the cold darkness, not even the feel of air blowing by her as she descended.
***********************
"I told you that dance would jinx us." Tetsuya sighed.
"Hey, my victory dance is only good luck, it had no effect on that book."
Tetsuya read the next line on the page.
Keisuke finally got serious and sat down. "So, is..."
"I don't know yet." Tetsuya said, reading through his sunglasses. It was evening in Tokyo, and like always, the two men spent it reading the "Universe of the Four Gods."
"Well hurry up." Keisuke urged. "I gotta pick Hikari up tonight. I told my mom Miaka doesn't want her gone for too long. I only have three more excuses on the list I made for why she's been out of touch."
"This is not good."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"No, I mean this." Tetsuya looked up momentarily from the pages. "Keisuke... I think..."
Keisuke stared at Tetsuya.
"I think she's going... I don't..."
Keisuke looked at the floor. "Read it out loud, Tetsuya."
*****************************
Her lungs felt so heavy, her body so tired.
Inami finally closed her eyes as she fell in the weightless realm that trapped her. She never remembered death being this dark. Her breaths grew shorter and more hallow as a gentle sleep over took her. . . . . .
~"Ne Inami-chan, you're not done yet, are you?"~ . . . . .
A bright symbol began to glow in the darkness, it's green light forming into the sign of "woman" on the front of Inami's neck. The same light began to appear on her right arm, flashing into "roof top."
More light from behind the falling body seemed to push away some of the darkness as they shined through Inami's clothes--"Wall" and "Void." They were shortly followed by the mark of "room" glimmering on Inami's abdomen.
Inami's mind finally stirred. This warmth... it was so familiar.
"Minna..." She whispered, finally opening her eyes. Her right was dimmed out by the flashing of "dipper."
"Arigatou...." She whispered.
Suddenly a blast of wind and snow surrounded the warrior, shooting up into the never-ending abyss above her. Like a stone hitting glass, the dark encasement shattered.
Inami blinked hard, feeling ground beneath her, though the black surroundings were still present. She stood up slowly, and turned around.
Tomo stood in the same night, Shin glowing in his hand, a look of utter disbelief on his face. He stepped back. "How... how..."
"Do you really expect to win, Tomo?" Her voice was cold and low.
Tomo's eyes shook, and he grit his teeth. "You wench! I gave you a calm environment to die in! You throw my kindness away so easily!"
Inami lifted her hand. Tomo couldn't take his eyes off the single glowing eye watching him. He jumped, looking down.
"Ice...?" He whispered.
The cold solid grew from the black ground, growing up Tomo's legs, making cracking noises as it did so.
Tomo shifted his knees in one direction, and then the other. He couldn't move, and the cold touch of the ice began to become almost painful as it crawled up his hips.
"Stop it!" He shouted. "This is my illusion, my world!"
Inami didn't say anything, she just held her hand out.
Panic over came Tomo as he began to violently flail about, trying to break from his growing prison. His attempts were failing almost as fast as the ice grew. The frozen water finally waved over his shoulders and encased his neck, one side stopping at his chin while the rest of it crinkled up the back of his head. Now only his frantic face was showing.
Inami dropped her hand, lifting up her other one in an odd fashion. A dim light sparked and grew into an arch formation.
Tomo whimpered slightly as he tried desperately to move his hand. "You can't do this, it's not possible!" He shouted.
"Damare." Inami spoke. She brought up her other hand, the light shooting between it and the arch, forming a lean arrow of ice. Inami gave him one last look. "Sayonara, Tomo."
The arrow released itself from Inami's hands and flew toward the Seiryu warrior, hitting the dead center of the ice, shattering it into thousands of pieces.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Inami opened her eyes.
She was on the floor of her library. Everything was normal, not a thing out of place. Inami moved a bit into a sitting position. Her head ache was gone, and...
A very faint symbol on her arm glimmered and disappeared.
Inami suddenly got a very relaxed expression. Even now they were still watching out for her.
~*BOOM!!!*~
Inami looked up. What was that?
~
"Get the armies, NOW!" Seki's voice rang throughout the palace. "Get the people to safety, MOVE!" The prince ran through the hallway, grabbing the next man he saw. "Please, find Miss Cheinun quickly! The palace is under attack!"
BD the Pixie: I know the errors are far apart, but I do appreciate your work! Tasuki will pop up in this chapter, which I have a feeling Metajoker over here won't like. but man, will I have fun with him in chapter 60! *more evil laughter*
Amaya: I'm surprised I didn't get more I-hate-you-for-killing like I got with Ame! That's good though, because Ame still needs attention in the after-world.
Polynesia: Aw. I read your first paragraph and I feel warm and fuzzy. Thanks! Lol! Another anti-Inami? That makes two so far. I know two who really like her, and then I don't know how the others feel. I go in-and- out in liking her, but she was handy back in the 30-40 chapters. Thank you VERY much for your review, I enjoyed your comments.
Author's note: Thanks to everyone for reading this far. For some reason when I went through this chapter to post it I didn't like my writing. maybe it's just me, or maybe I'm losing my touch! This chapter is fairly short and is basically dedicated to pulling off one thing, which I'm sure all will notice. ^_^
Chapter 59 : Strike Three
A rugged, brute general smiled from his brown horse as he looked over the vast scenery around him. He had nearly 5,000-foot soldiers behind them, all armed with a spear or sword, some both. There wasn't a fault in sight.
A light wind blew, moving blades of green grass with it. A few snowy mountains could be seen in the far distance, and there weren't any towns around... not yet, at least.
"All right men!" The general turned his horse around to face the blue-clad soldiers of Kutou. "We'll march forward from here, the towns of Reikushu and Minli are close at hand. I want everything terminated, understand?!"
"YEAH!" the long, low cry from the army came. They readily began moving forward, crossing the low hills about them.
The general stopped mid-march, hearing a whistling sound from above him. Looking up, his face going stark white at the sight. A huge flock of soaring arrows peeked over him and his army, turning at the pull of gravity and flying down like a rain of hail.
"LOOK OUT!" A soldier shouted. People in the army began running is disarray as the arrows hit, random men falling to the ground from the strike.
After the hail, the General looked forward, his eyes focusing on the one, large hill ahead of them.
~
"Re-arm men!" A tall man in green ordered, raising his sword up.
A huge number of foot troops took out another arrow on their back and strung it onto their bows.
"Aim!"
The bows were pointed up.
"FIRE!"
Another massive hail of arrows came flying over the green hill.
"CHARGE!" The Kutou general ordered, his men running forward at the command while still some fell from the flying weapons.
~*BOOM*~
Two sets of wooden cannons fired off their ammo, striking at the advancing Kutou army.
The general of the Hokkan army smiled and turned around, the archers beginning to move aside. "It is time we show Kutou what is mean to draw swords with HOKKAN!!!"
A large cheer followed.
As the Kutou General galloped his horse valiantly forward, he looked up at his target, seeing something far worse than arrows.
Over the mound rode hundreds and hundreds of Hokkani Calvary men, the sound of their horses sending the roaring of thunder itself to its knees. Over the hill they kept coming, and coming, no end of their steeds in sight. The general of Kutou knew war, and he knew that even the proud foot soldiers of Kutou couldn't withstand an army on horseback.
Finally, the Hokkan army hit into their target, charging them down like tigers to flies, swords swinging alongside their animals into an outrageous victory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The large palace doors were pushed shut, the whipping of a snowstorm being sent out with them.
"Ah, Miss..."
Inami brushed some snow off her bangs and shoved a thick folder into the arms of the magistrate. "Give this to Sanoii-sama immediately." She said, walking by him in a near mode of urgency.
"Milady!" The magistrate called out. "His Highness is absent, he commanding..."
"Give them to Prince Seki then!" Inami shouted as she exited the main room of the Hokkan palace.
~
Inami pulled off the wool cloak tied around her shoulder and waist quickly and she entered her room, the snow from the outside melting into water that dripped off her hair. Inami swept her wet strands aside and went to the top drawer of her desk, opening it and quickly shifting through the dozens of papers it held. After a moment and a frustrated sigh she pulled open the drawer next to it, again full with nameless papers. She pulled one out and quickly skimmed over it, placing it on the desktop and returned to the drawer. She finally found a piece of parchment rolled up, and quickly pulled off the tie and read what it said. She took it and the previous paper out of her room, slamming the door behind her.
*****************************
A bright red light spread through out the room, dying down only seconds later.
Miaka opened one eye, and then the other. She gasped.
The seven objects they had worked so hard to collect were gone from around the harp frame, but now the golden item shined more brilliantly than before, and it now had seven, pearly strings.
Miaka carefully lifted it off the table, admiring it.
"Pretty..." Saori whispered.
Yui's eyes were wide. "Miaka, you did it."
"Lemme see." Tasuki said, grabbing the harp out of Miaka's hands.
"What the hell was that?" Tamahome shouted and the bandit.
"So this thing is the shinzaho, huh?" Tasuki asked, ignoring Tamahome and looking over the instrument.
"Yes." Tamahome snatched it back.
"His highness will be most delighted to see it." Chiriko announced. "He may return sometime today."
"Mitsukake will be glad too." Nuriko added, looking over Tamahome's shoulder at the item. "Miaka, you may want to keep that in a safe place."
"Hm?" Miaka looked up.
"He's right." Tamahome agreed. "Miaka, now that we have this, the Seiryu seven will be after it."
"Speaking of which," Nuriko spoke up again, "How are we supposed to get theirs? We can't summon Suzaku without both shinzahos."
It was silent for a moment.
"Well, first thing's first." Miaka took the harp from Tamahome. "Yui, come with me to find Boushin. I know he'll have somewhere we can keep it."
"I'll come too." Nuriko pointed a finger up. "I happen to know where his highness is."
Miaka smiled. "Ok, let's hurry!"
****************************
Inami winced, bringing her hand up to her temple as she walked through the marble halls of the palace. She carried a few rolls of parchment in her other hand, but that was it. It was fairly quiet, enough so that Inami could hear the purple silk of her robe brush against her legs as she walked. She continued on, trying to ignore the new start of a pounding headache. She reached a door finally and pulled out a key, fitting it into the lock, the door almost opening itself as the latch was released. Inami pushed the door open the rest of the way and entered the library, closing the door behind her.
Moving the rectangular table in the middle, she dropped the scrolls in her hand onto the top. She looked at the thin gap between the light violet curtains over the window at the end of the room, seeing a few stars twinkle in the dark sky. Sighing, Inami went to the shelves to her left, reading over the many titles before her, rubbing her head again. As she placed a hand on a fairly old book, her eyes widened a bit, and she looked back towards the door, scanning it.
"Itai..." She mumbled. She turned back to the orange cover on the shelf, but again looked around her. A sinking feeling suddenly over came her. Her eyes darted from corner to corner, then to the window again. "Who's here?" She asked.
No response.
"Am I being paranoid?" She thought. "No..." She whispered, "I know this...."
Inami turned back to the door, a look of anger on her face. "Come out! I know you're here!" She looked back to her window. "You think I wouldn't know the presence of you by now? Tomo!"
Then she heard it. A laugh.
Suddenly the darkness of the window exploded and fanned out across the walls, devouring the lanterns and pictures as they spread.
Inami felt the reassurance of cold metal fly into her hand, a thin blade slowing emerging out as the black began covering the books lining the walls.
"Coward!" She shouted, turning around. "Show yourself!" Inami looked down at her weapon, seeing that it had started to melt in her hands. She looked at it in disbelief before it sunk to the floor-a dark floor.
"Kis'ou." Inami muttered, looking around her dark surroundings. Her green symbol flashed brightly on her forehead, though it did nothing to lift the night around her.
Then it happened, the first blow.
Inami screamed and through both hands up to her head, kneeling down from the pressure. Her fingers went cold, tangling themselves in her hair. Her head... it felt like it was going to explode.
Next was her stomach. She felt sick to her very core. She couldn't think straight, and her symbol was flashing on and off under the strain.
Blow two.
Inami screamed again, louder this time, losing all balance and falling to the floor. She couldn't even see her own self, as if the darkness had flooded into her body. She felt cold, numb... yet the excruciating pain wouldn't lift.
The ground under her knees cracked and broke apart, little pieces rolling away from the fracture. The glowing "Ox" kanji disappeared completely, and Inami felt herself falling, nothing left to hold her up. She just fell into the cold darkness, not even the feel of air blowing by her as she descended.
***********************
"I told you that dance would jinx us." Tetsuya sighed.
"Hey, my victory dance is only good luck, it had no effect on that book."
Tetsuya read the next line on the page.
Keisuke finally got serious and sat down. "So, is..."
"I don't know yet." Tetsuya said, reading through his sunglasses. It was evening in Tokyo, and like always, the two men spent it reading the "Universe of the Four Gods."
"Well hurry up." Keisuke urged. "I gotta pick Hikari up tonight. I told my mom Miaka doesn't want her gone for too long. I only have three more excuses on the list I made for why she's been out of touch."
"This is not good."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"No, I mean this." Tetsuya looked up momentarily from the pages. "Keisuke... I think..."
Keisuke stared at Tetsuya.
"I think she's going... I don't..."
Keisuke looked at the floor. "Read it out loud, Tetsuya."
*****************************
Her lungs felt so heavy, her body so tired.
Inami finally closed her eyes as she fell in the weightless realm that trapped her. She never remembered death being this dark. Her breaths grew shorter and more hallow as a gentle sleep over took her. . . . . .
~"Ne Inami-chan, you're not done yet, are you?"~ . . . . .
A bright symbol began to glow in the darkness, it's green light forming into the sign of "woman" on the front of Inami's neck. The same light began to appear on her right arm, flashing into "roof top."
More light from behind the falling body seemed to push away some of the darkness as they shined through Inami's clothes--"Wall" and "Void." They were shortly followed by the mark of "room" glimmering on Inami's abdomen.
Inami's mind finally stirred. This warmth... it was so familiar.
"Minna..." She whispered, finally opening her eyes. Her right was dimmed out by the flashing of "dipper."
"Arigatou...." She whispered.
Suddenly a blast of wind and snow surrounded the warrior, shooting up into the never-ending abyss above her. Like a stone hitting glass, the dark encasement shattered.
Inami blinked hard, feeling ground beneath her, though the black surroundings were still present. She stood up slowly, and turned around.
Tomo stood in the same night, Shin glowing in his hand, a look of utter disbelief on his face. He stepped back. "How... how..."
"Do you really expect to win, Tomo?" Her voice was cold and low.
Tomo's eyes shook, and he grit his teeth. "You wench! I gave you a calm environment to die in! You throw my kindness away so easily!"
Inami lifted her hand. Tomo couldn't take his eyes off the single glowing eye watching him. He jumped, looking down.
"Ice...?" He whispered.
The cold solid grew from the black ground, growing up Tomo's legs, making cracking noises as it did so.
Tomo shifted his knees in one direction, and then the other. He couldn't move, and the cold touch of the ice began to become almost painful as it crawled up his hips.
"Stop it!" He shouted. "This is my illusion, my world!"
Inami didn't say anything, she just held her hand out.
Panic over came Tomo as he began to violently flail about, trying to break from his growing prison. His attempts were failing almost as fast as the ice grew. The frozen water finally waved over his shoulders and encased his neck, one side stopping at his chin while the rest of it crinkled up the back of his head. Now only his frantic face was showing.
Inami dropped her hand, lifting up her other one in an odd fashion. A dim light sparked and grew into an arch formation.
Tomo whimpered slightly as he tried desperately to move his hand. "You can't do this, it's not possible!" He shouted.
"Damare." Inami spoke. She brought up her other hand, the light shooting between it and the arch, forming a lean arrow of ice. Inami gave him one last look. "Sayonara, Tomo."
The arrow released itself from Inami's hands and flew toward the Seiryu warrior, hitting the dead center of the ice, shattering it into thousands of pieces.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Inami opened her eyes.
She was on the floor of her library. Everything was normal, not a thing out of place. Inami moved a bit into a sitting position. Her head ache was gone, and...
A very faint symbol on her arm glimmered and disappeared.
Inami suddenly got a very relaxed expression. Even now they were still watching out for her.
~*BOOM!!!*~
Inami looked up. What was that?
~
"Get the armies, NOW!" Seki's voice rang throughout the palace. "Get the people to safety, MOVE!" The prince ran through the hallway, grabbing the next man he saw. "Please, find Miss Cheinun quickly! The palace is under attack!"