Chapter 3

Counsel of Spirits

The counsel chamber was underground. It was the only chamber large enough to hold the many representatives that promised allegiance. Dragons coiled in the upper reaches of the room; spirits of all shapes and sizes littered the floor, milling about, whispering to one another of happenings, and updating the community on how the darkness to the South has spread like a virus across the landscape. Naaza crouched near the entrance, near a small gathering of his own people, the snake-like Yuan-ti. Anubis paced the floor, hurrying back and forth between delegates and emissaries.

There were only a few that he fully trusted: The Yosei princess, a swan-maiden, sat at the forefront of the gathering, carefully preening her silver-feathered cloak; his beloved Kaori, a fearsome yuki-onna, sat at the center of an empty circle, all the spirits around her wishing to avoid her wintry influence; and a single Tenshi who had chosen to grace the donjon with her presence, Seiya. She crouched in the rafters with the dragons, her ivory wings, tips dipped in scarlet, draped around her like a cloak of mystery. He could not forget Takara, but she had not yet joined the gathering, and perhaps wouldn't if his suspicions were true.

They only awaited Rajura, and his party. And the waiting was murderous. A toad spirit bounded through the crowd, almost jumping right into Anubis' leg. But his battle-trained reflexes saved the spirit from an untimely squishing; as his hand snapped down to catch him. The toad gasped and chuckled as Anubis lifted him to eye-level.

"Yes?" the Yami MaSho inquired.

"Rajura-sama has entered the complex… he makes his way here!" the toad croaked.

"Good, good." Anubis resisted the urge to simply drop the toad, and carefully lowered him back to the ground. "Everyone, our wait will be over shortly. The Troopers come!"

A rousing cheer circled around the room, bringing a smile to Anubis' features. Everyone still had high hopes, which meant that everyone still figured that the akuma and bakemono could be defeated. All eyes focused on the door. Naaza and the Yuan-ti edged out of the way, resting in the shadow of a feathered dragon.

The door opened. Rajura stepped through, shaking his head slightly in dismay as he spotted the crowd. One by one, the Troopers stepped in behind him, following Rajura's lead to the depression in the center of the chamber. The young men stared in unabashed awe and shock at the creatures surrounding them. But the last, the young woman that trailed behind them, Anubis found her a curiosity.

She did not seem awed by the presence of the dragons, or startled by the dancing wisps that came to inspect her. She gazed at everything with remote curiosity as if studying for some exam. Her eyes were black, as deep black as the endless night, and constantly shifting around. One thing Anubis was certain of, she was not Naste.

Naste had never carried herself with such confidence, such positive energy. This woman was strange, out of place almost among the five youths of the Nigenkai. Anubis wondered at Rajura's purpose in allowing her to come along. He was broken out of his thoughts by the sensation that he was being watched. Indeed… all eyes had settled upon him, as he moved to clasp Rajura's arm in a brotherly fashion.

"It's good to have you back," Anubis murmured, with a nod and a smile.

"It is better to be home," Rajura returned, in the same low tone. Then he turned with a slight flourish, straitening himself in the eyes of the crowd. "I thank you all for the warm welcome."

Dragons rumbled softly; various spirits showed their appreciation through applause. Rajura nodded and was silent until the gathered representatives fell quiet again, all watching him, and the six gathered with him, with intense curiosity.

"My search has come to fruition." Rajura continued, speaking loudly, and turning slowly in place so that none felt left out of his address. "Takara and myself have brought the return of the other five Legendary Armors." The five Troopers shifted uncomfortably as eyes shifted to them, some inhuman, some frighteningly true to the nature of men. Ashe… she remained unmoved by all this, content to simply watch as so much activity took place surrounding her. "With their help, we will send Keiji and his demons back into the hell from which they spawned!"

The chamber was drowned in a deafening cheer. Rajura smiled slightly, the hearts of the army were restored. He could imagine the tales that would spread through the Youjakai tonight. The war was nearly in the bag; victory could almost be tasted as Rajura inhaled the heady scent of contagious exuberance.

The Troopers huddled close to each other, forcing Ashe, once more, into their midst. But her eyes traveled the rafters of the great chamber, dancing over dragons, flitting over faeries, sliding past sylphs. Her outward calm was a farce, as inside she brimmed with curiosity. Her eyes danced with the inner light, the need for knowledge, and the thirst for every speck of lore she found within the room. Her hands clasped the Troopers shoulders, as she tried to move them out of her way to get a better view of things.

Anubis took up as Rajura filtered back to stand with the Troopers. "We all know what needs to be done over the course of the next month. I need a small group to travel with Hitomi, to check on the reports of bakemono activity in the east." Anubis gestured to the Yosei princess seated at the forefront. The swan princess rose quietly, and moved across the floor towards him. She held her folded feather-cloak protectively in her arms, while the tiny vestigial wings of her office twitched and furled at her shoulder blades.

Two dragons instantly volunteered, both uncurling from their rafters with a loud trumpeting call. A sennin also stepped forward, his ancient, transparent form leaning heavily on an oaken staff. Anubis smiled, as Hitomi nodded.

"Thank you," she said in a soft, fluting voice. "Gather what supplies you may need, we leave within the hour."

Aloft, the two dragons took flight and exited the chamber through the broad doors at the top of the roof. The sennin followed Hitomi's lead as she led him out the chamber door, past the awed faces of the Troopers. Anubis motioned to Rajura, and Rajura got the attention of the Troopers with a well placed ahem. They left as they had entered, one by one, with Ashe trailing behind them, her eyes everywhere.

"We have rooms in the East Wing set aside for you. They are quite near to our own chambers, set apart from the rest of the donjon." Rajura was saying as he led them through small narrow corridors.

"Wait a minute," Ryo finally spoke up. "This is all happening way too fast. You didn't say there was a full blown war going on here!" He had stopped in the center of the corridor, blocking all the other Troopers from gathering around him. Rajura turned calmly to face him, crossing his arms over his maroon body armor. Ryo, undaunted, continued his tirade. "What good are five more warriors going to do in a full blown war? I fail to see the purpose that we carry in having to come here!"

Rajura calmly took it all in stride. "This is a war of yoroi." He closed his pale eye and shook his head in dismay. "We need your power, and the power of Kikotei. I am afraid that we do not know how to defeat our enemy. We believe Keiji is a spirit, but he has resisted all attempts to banish or disperse him. Perhaps that is why Kayura has left, to travel to the Northern Temples in an attempt at finding the answers."

"I still don't buy it." Ryo muttered, echoing Rajura's stubborn stance by crossing his arms. "You four are powerful enough in your own right. Why us? And why bring Ashe?"

"Hey! Don't drag me into this. I chose to come of my own free will!" Ashe defended immediately. She pushed to the front, pushing off an attempt to hold her back.

Touma stepped forward slowly. "Ryo, I believe him. I mean, look at this place…" He gestured around. "There is fear all around. These people are in serious danger."

"Besides," Shin returned, gathering courage from the other voices. "If we don't stop this Keiji here, what's to say that he won't be coming to the real world after he's drained all he can here."

Ryo sighed, looking to Seiji and Shuu for support, but the two remained curiously silent, watching him with apologetic eyes. Who was he kidding? Like those two would take up sides against their best friends.

Rajura had turned away and was moving down the hall again. "Please, the hour is getting late… I will have food sent to your rooms once you have settled in."

Ashe pushed past Ryo, lingering a hand on his shoulder for a long moment. He failed to meet her gaze, and she shrugged, dropping her hand from his shoulder. Quickening her pace, she hurried up to Rajura's side, resuming her barrage of questions. Ryo sighed, and frowned as one by one, the other Troopers drew close and patted his shoulder. Suddenly, Ryo felt old… very, very old.

"Takara?" Naaza furrowed his brow in concern as he knocked for the third time on the wooden door. No matter how often he was told she had returned, he wouldn't believe it until he saw the fiery sorceress with his own eyes. He leaned against the door, closing his eyes to listen intently for sounds of movement within.

He couldn't hear anything, and pondered lightly if she could be asleep. With a slight frown, he pushed the door. It gave, and swung open wide enough for him to stick his emerald-haired head within. "Takara?" He asked again, his deep voice cracking with the gentleness of his tone. There seemed to be nothing within the darkness of the chamber, save a single candle lit within a tiny shrine.

Takara's room was reminiscent of a woodland glen; poles had been erected to support a sagging roof. The roof had become home to mosses and dangling ivies, all gathered by Takara's gentle hand. Cushions of every shade and fabric littered the floor, tumbled here and there with a few blankets. As Naaza quietly closed the door behind him, he concentrated, willing even his body-armor to fade from existence. Self-consciously he smoothed his hakama, and touched the pattern of scaled skin that wound itself around his ribs.

A cushion moved. Naaza's hard expression softened, and he stepped to the midst of the jumble of color and fabric. With a soft hand, he lifted the cushion, and could only smile. She was curled into a ball, tighter than he would have imagined she could make herself. One of her nine tails lay draped over her nose; her tiny golden eyes closed in a fitful slumber. Naaza carefully noted the position of her other tails, and proceeded to stretch out beside her.

"Takara," he whispered gently, reaching out to gently pat his hand across her muzzle. The kitsune moved against his hand, and gave a soft sigh. Gently whimpering, she edged closer to his cool body. As soon as she had nestled against his stomach, he curled protectively around her. Rubbing behind her triangular ears, the yuan-ti lent his silent strength to an ailing kitsune.

They had all gathered in Ryo's rooms, as if drawn together by a strange need for something familiar. The boys all sat around in the white hakama that all the rooms came outfitted with. The sashes tying the loose pants shut all coordinated with their armors. Ashe found that oddly amusing, but then again, each of the boys did show a marked preference when it came down to colors. She, instead, lay on Ryo's tatami mat wrapped in a plush robe.

"Are we sure we know what we're doing here?" Ryo asked, for the fifth time.

"We are here to help the MaSho save their world," Seiji answered, without looking up from his game of Go. Touma lay prone on the floor opposite him, pondering deeply about his next move on the game board.

"Personally, I think this stinks," Shuu muttered, rolling his neck and shoulders a few times. "I don't trust Rajura as far as I can throw him."

"I do." Ashe countered quietly.

"Come on, Ashe baby! You didn't see what he did three years ago! All three of them, they nearly killed all of us!" Shuu flexed, muscles pulling taut in his chest and arms. He pointed at her, and shook his head. "You weren't there for the fights; you weren't there for the end."

"Enough, Shuu," Seiji snapped. "She knows she wasn't there. But she's here now, and if she feels we can trust the MaSho, then maybe we should at least try to trust them!"

Shuu growled, and Seiji nearly rose to his challenge. Ashe pushed herself off the mat, pushing Seiji back down with a well-placed foot in his back. She crossed the room and slid the shoji back quietly.

"Don't fight over me, you know I would kick both your asses for it." She paused for a moment, her expression softening. "Shuu, just trust me, please? This place feels... it feels good. We're wanted here..." She sighed, frowning at the bewildered expression he wore. "I'm going to sleep. Good night, boys."

The shoji slid shut with a click. Shuu looked to the rest of the guys for support, but their eyes refused to meet his. Silently, he scowled. Not that he wanted to admit it, but she was right... they were wanted, even needed here. He thrust his chin between his hands, and sighed.

Touma moved his white piece with a soft tack on the stone board. Blue eyes met violet, and Touma grinned, challenging the other to counter the move.

"Hitomi has promised to return within two days," Anubis explained to Rajura. "She travels East, here, through the Daito Pass. We've heard rumors that the plague has extended from the South, out East, and West."

Rajura scrubbed his hand through his hair, rubbing his temple after disentangling some knots. "And of Kayura?"

"Nothing." Anubis grew quiet, glancing up as Naaza slowly made his way into the room. Takara leaned on his arm for support, her features drawn and tired, her cheeks hollow and eyes dark.

"Kososu is ill," Naaza murmured as he drew close to the wide table. Takara gripped the edge with her hands, leaning forward slightly upon it. Her eyes endeavored to focus upon the map, and all the little trinkets that represented the different armies.

"Ill?" the other two echoed almost in unison.

"Something is wrong in the West," Takara stated, pointing a shaky hand to the crudely drawn in provinces. "He claims he gorged near a small village of samebito, and ousted a pence of kappa."

"He is not just... overfull?" Rajura pressed.

"Ill," Takara pressed her hand to her stomach. "Right to his bones, as it were."

"In the morning," Naaza mentioned, gesturing to the upper halls. "We should get Suiko to cleanse him."

Anubis and Rajura both agreed quietly. Takara took Naaza's hand, and squeezed it gently. As they left, hand in hand, Anubis chuckled lightly.

"Thank the gods, she came back okay." The Yami MaSho shared a laugh with his compatriot. "He was impossible in her absence."

"It is amazing what a second chance at life will do," Rajura agreed, his eyes upon the shoji walls. "What sort of things you find, in such strange places."

Ashe awoke to bells, a symphony of ringing, chiming, and clanging all mixed together with odd trumpets, and whistles. Groggy, she forgot where she was for a few moments, and flailed wildly about for her alarm clock. Was it Wednesday? Did she have class this early? Thoughts flooded her mind, as she pushed herself up.

Only when the room came into focus did she remember anything. She smiled strangely to herself, wondering what manner of dreams she could have had. It was odd for her to feel so uneasy, so exhausted after a night's sleep. Her body ached all over, and she stretched as she slid into her borrowed robes. Opening her rice paper shutters, she was greeted with a most glorious sight.

Dragons.

All colors, all shapes, all sized, but the sky was full of them. The trumpeted and hooted, whistled and chimed, whirred, banged, clanged and sang all at once. It was a symphony, she realized, a symphony to the rising sun, a joyous song of greeting for the new day. Chilled and warmed all at once, Ashe stared in wonder at the radiant creatures darting to and fro in the early morning radiance.

Down below in the courtyard, Seiji had risen early, and was slowly going through his morning exercise. He seemed oblivious to the racket going on above him, or perhaps, the wonder had simply worn off on him. Ashe laughed, as he took long enough from his kata to look up, and wave. He smiled, as she waved back.

Finally breaking away from the window, she padded out into the hall, carrying with her the beat up old sneakers. She paused around the other doors, listening to the sleepers within. Shuu snored loud enough to drown out her own thoughts, and Ashe laughed softly. It had been one of the many reasons she had turned him away just last year. That and the fact that the Troopers were all like brothers to her, and she simply didn't see them in that light.

Sniffing, Ashe found the scent of onigiri; enticed, she ventured into the donjon fearlessly. She came to the round room that marked the intersection of the Four Winds. Pausing at the room, Ashe stared down the dark Western hall, and listened, as if someone was calling her name. She hesitated, oscillating between the call of food, and the call of mystery. Finally, after warring with herself for a few moments, she turned towards the food, figuring that the Western hall would still be standing later that day. Food however, would probably be a fleeting sentiment around here. She turned to the North, and padded down the hallway.

The dining hall was silent as a tomb. Ashe's bare feet on the wooden floor made no sound, no echo. Two long low tables were pushed side by side at the center of the room, twelve places set. Bamboo plates and reed mats, carved wooden bowls and plain chopsticks ringed the edge. Cushions lay scattered about, and steaming tea was already set in a bed of glowing coals. Peering around, Ashe looked for any indication on where she should sit, but found none. She circled the tables until she heard the sound of singing from the kitchen.

The shoji was ajar as she pushed it further open. The rich, full contralto of a singing female greeted her ears, and the traditional ballad was enough to make her homesick. Peering around a barrel of fruit, Ashe's eyes grew wide and astonished.

One creature took up nearly the entire room. She had a small round body, perched precariously atop two equally round, yet short legs. Atop the small round body, was a small round head, with six pairs of eyes, three closed, three open, that seemed to dart around and peer at everything. The voice that sang from between two pincer-like mandibles never faltered as a set of eyes came to rest on Ashe. In fact, there was a smile behind the mouth, a laughter that Ashe giggled nervously at.

The wooden barrel of fruit pushed out of the way, moved by one of the female's six arms. Six arms. Ashe still couldn't help but stare, as she straightened slightly. Drawing the robe tighter about herself, she stammered.

"Easy, child," the spider creature mused softly. "You shouldn't be afraid of dreams. Embrace us, welcome us, and your life will be as full as you wish it to be."

Again, Ashe paused. "You're... a dream?"

"Once," two sets of eyes blinked open, one of them remaining on Ashe as she stood nervously aside. Spider-like arms swung about, continuing to chop vegetables, and stir various pots. "A child dreamt a creature that could help their mother with house work. 'Saisu' was the name he gave to that creature. I am Saisu."

"So..." Ashe bit her lip, sneaking an apple from the fruit barrel. "The youjakai is populated by creatures of dreams." As if to punctuate her comment, the dragons outside finished their revelry with a blasting loud trumpet. The pots hanging from the ceiling shook with metallic clangs.

"Yes, and no," Saisu responded. She tsked softly, the mandibles clicking together. "You will ruin breakfast."

Ashe bowed, slightly. "Let me leave you to your preparation. But... first, can you tell me what lies down the western corridor?"

The spider woman's flurry of movement stopped for a moment, and her two small legs turned her slowly about. "The shrine lies to the west, child. But if you know what is good for you, you will not tread there."

Two three fingered hands rested upon Ashe's shoulders, and gently pushed her from the room. Weirdly amused by all this, Ashe stood outside the kitchen and chuckled to herself. It was about time to explore, while most of the place was still resting. Tucking her sneakers a little tighter under her arm, Ashe returned to the central chamber. The wood and rice paper structure seemed so ancient in the dawn, quiet and refined, reserved and gentle. Ashe liked the feeling, but couldn't help that her feet automatically drew her west from the central chamber.

She stopped before the wooden archway. She rested her hand against the aged wood, the veneer sunk so deeply that she couldn't name the wood, or fathom how old the structure was. She was simply, quiet, standing alone, listening to the sounds of awakening. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the wood.

"Are you scared of what's to come?"

Ashe didn't answer Seiji at first, resting silently against the frame. Then she shrugged. "I can't tell. It's... exciting, different." His hand came to rest on her shoulder, and she covered it with her own, smiling. "But thanks for worrying. I've got plenty of protectors, and remember who's been teaching me what."

Seiji chuckled, and wrapped both arms around her. With a sigh, she let him, breathing in his sunshine smell. Now, Seiji, she figured, Seiji, she could date. He released her, and turned her around to face him.

"Look, I don't trust the MaSho, and I probably never will. Please, be careful around them." He brushed back her flaxen hair, and grinned. As he opened his mouth to continue, a soft bell rang through the donjon, signaling breakfast. Ashe darted from his grip, and grabbed his hand.

"That's breakfast," she chirruped, raising her wall of good cheer again. "I'm starved!"