Equilibrium
00. A Fragile Teetering
The heavens reeked of impending discord.
Instead of allowing himself to pace – out of fear of showing intimidation – Byakko contented his fidgeting self by licking the edge of his metal bugnuk, tasting the sharp edge of the blade, all while continuing to eye the two, newly-awakened gods with an air of distrust. Unlike Genbu and Suzaku who supposedly had better things to do with their time, he shared Seiryuu's views concerning their sudden arrival, one that could be interpreted as a hostile take over.
"We talked about these changes sixteen centuries prior, Byakkoseikun." The unicorn god, Kirin reminded nonchalantly, "You, as our brother must keep true to your word."
There was a tense silence as the tiger god paused to study the two Kris that were sheathed behind Kirin's back, the blades taunting him with gleaming sharpness. Finally, he said, "I cannot hand over the Cardinal Point to you. It is madness. The Miko has already been chosen. The Shichiseishi already gathered. Heavens above! The Gateway has already been sealed! What more is there to be done!"
"An eye for an eye, Byakkoseikun. Besides, was it not you who was too weak to even give what his Priestess requested? It is my- no- our turn to take hold of the scrolls. You must not get in the way of fate."
"But what if this fate is misleading?" It was Seiryuu who had posted the question, one that silenced both rulers of the Cardinal Point of the West, "Remember that we were borne out of the collective subconscious of generations long past. What may have been truth eons before may not hold much substance now."
Byakko glanced at him only for a split second, right before returning his glare to Kirin. "The question that Seiryuuseikun poses is plausible." He snarled, all too harshly.
From the corner, a figured swathed in a grey cloak balanced a crescent scythe lazily in one hand, all while looking at all three of them with mild disinterest. He waited for the inevitably overwrought pause right before walking up to dig his blade into the ground, creating a perfectly symmetrical division between both Byakko and Kirin.
"Balance must be maintained." Panguseikun finally said, breaking his silence. The two other gods, Suzaku and Genbu nodded in conformity, suddenly making their presence felt, as well as making Byakko twitch uncomfortably. "If you do not wish to hand over your rule of Sailo to Kirinseikun then that can be arranged. New kingdoms can be created with the wave of a brushstroke, Byakkoseikun. And they can be destroyed just as easily. This, you must always keep in mind."
"But it is not under your discretion to change what has been written!" Byakko protested weakly. He already knew that he was on the losing side of the argument, but he refused to go down so easily. His role was that of Protector and Preserver and it was a role that he would hold until the day that the people had erased him from their memory.
Pangu licked his lips thoughtfully, already knowing the answer even before the flimsy reply was posted. Finally, he looked towards the deity seated in the corner, enveloped in quiet meditation.
"Taiitsukun." He said, his tone of voice calm yet compelling.
Her eyes fluttered open almost immediately; fathomless, black pupils holding the mysteries of a thousand and more universes in her gaze.
"Your decision, o Wise One."
The feminine voice that replied was unearthly yet soothing, as well as carrying a regal tone, "What has been agreed upon must be acted out, regardless of what has been said today, My Lord."
"Then let it be done, o Wise One."
And kowtowing once in accord, she disappeared, fragments of her robe tails fluttering momentarily in the imaginary breeze.