Chichiri Potter
and the
Sorcerer's Staff
Ch.5 By CuiEveryone was together now. They had all walked, what Tasuki complained must have been a mile, before stopping before two, huge marble doors.
The doors were brimmed at the top and around the right side with a golden bird, whose long plume of golden tail feathers stretched to reach the from the bottom of the bird to the bottom of the door.
On the left door stretched along its side was silver dragon. Its long curvy body shimmered with each of their reflections as it stretched itself, like the bird, from the top of the door to the bottom.
There were two handles to open each of the doors. On the door with Suzaku on its right side, there was a handle in the mouth of a stone turtle's head. On the door with Seiryu on its brim there was a silver handle in the mouth of a roaring, pearl, white tiger's head.
Tamahome grabbed the Byakko and Genbu handles in each hand, and pulled to open the doors….but the doors didn't budge. He groaned slightly in irritation, raking his hand through his teal colored hair and getting it stuck in his tangles.
Finally after staring at the door for what seemed to be a very long time, he turned to the children of Suzaku house.
"Ok. Who hasn't got their memories back?"
All of them looked at him bewildered, not understanding the question. As far as they were concerned they could all remember their whole twelve-year-old life just fine.
Tamahome sighed, " I don't mean 'do you remember your life now', what I mean is do you remember your life back in Conan," he turned to Hotohori, " do you remember, you were the emperor, and you," he turned to Mitsukake, "you were a great doctor." He waved his arms in the air trying to make a point, but stopped when it was clear they didn't remember.
He sighed again, " Alright, has anyone had any flashbacks, at least?" Tamahome looked prepared for the worst…when Chichiri suddenly shot his hand in the air.
Tamahome looked at him as though he were about to hug his brains out in joy. "You remember Chichiri?" he seemed too happy to word a well-placed sentence.
" I think so, no da." Chichiri raked his fingers through his long bangs, but unlike Tamahome, he made sure to keep his hair free of tangles, so his hand came out again with ease.
"I've been having dreams, ever since I was little na no da."
"Yeah? About what?" Tamahome knelt down on one knee to give Chichiri his undivided attention.
"Well, no da, I've been having the same dream for years, until I came here," a hazed look came over Chichiri's eyes.
"A man with bright golden eyes, and a face covered in a red glow, was holding me. I think, I was only a baby no da. I was wrapped tightly in blue robes, and was being cradled in his arms na no da. I couldn't speak, but he spoke to me no da."
"What did he say?" Tamahome asked as the half-circle of children behind Chichiri began to migrate slowly behind Tamahome to face the dream teller. All of them were eager to hear about his dreams. Especially Tasuki.
" He said he was sorry, no da." Chichiri gripped himself tightly. He was overcome so much, by the feeling…the feeling of sadness. His mask did not show his true feelings. It just kept smiling at the crowd of children, but he could feel it, his own god's sadness and sorrow, for him. Suzaku himself cried godly tears for him. Him, a twelve-year-old boy with no past and, according to his Aunt and Uncle, no future.
"Sorry for what?" Tamahome asked calmly. He knew Chichiri was on the verge of a break through, he was going to remember, right then, he was about to remember everything.
"My…my," Chichiri hesitated answering, " my scar…on my face."
All of the children looked at his face, exactly what he had been trying to prevent the whole time.
" But, you-you don't have a scar on your face Chichiri." Miaka stammered fearfully, "or, do you?"
Chichiri lifted his hand to his face, and Tasuki knew what was about to happen. He ran over, with the help of his newly regained Suzaku speed, and tightly gripped Chichiri's wrist.
" Ya don't hafta do that if ya don't wanna, Chiri."
Chichiri let out a gasp, along with everyone else in the room. Chichiri looked at him with a depressed and ashamed look in his none-visible good eye (behind the mask), " You-you knew, about my, my,"
"Yep, it was those dreams. Don't ya remember Chiri, I asked ya about that scar on the train, but I thought ya would think I was crazy or somethin' so I took it back." He raked one of his hands through his fiery locks, and pulled it back out before looking at Chichiri again.
Chichiri was overwhelmed with happiness to hear that familiar nickname again, and his face showed it.
Chichiri's face was exactly as Tasuki wanted to see it; Chichiri was smiling at him. Even with the mask Tasuki could tell that smile was genuine. It was the first real smile Chichiri had had since they first met (again).
He looked back toward Tamahome who seemed to finally understand. He wore a big grin on his face as he slapped Tasuki on the back.
" Alright Tasuki! It's good to see your reckless self again, man!"
Tasuki slapped him back, laughing. Chichiri laughed too, it was a happy reunion for each of them, but was soon interrupted…
"Sorry to break up the party, but" Nuriko seemed very angry and annoyed, "would you mind telling us what's going on!"
Tamahome straightened back up, and cleared his throat to regain his composure.
"These doors," he said to them as he gestured behind himself, "will only open for those who have proven themselves as faithful warriors to one of these gods." He gestured towards the animals carved into the doors.
"Yes, but, Tamahome-san, what we want to know is what you meant by our Conan memories." Chiriko said politely.
"AHH, I can't tell you that!" Tamahome put his hands on his head clearly irritated, "You guys have to remember on your own! That's the only way it'll work!"
Tasuki grinned at him, his fangs gleaming and his smile coy, "But Tama," he grinned bigger, he loved pointing out Tamahome's mistakes, "you've already told Hotohori he was the emperor, and you've told Mitsukake he was a doctor. That's two down, Tama." He held up two fingers to make a point.
Tamahome looked through his fingers at the two seishi Tasuki had mentioned. How could I have been so stupid! He thought to himself, we need Mitsukake's healing powers, and we definitely need Hotohori's fencing skills! DAMMIT ALL!
"We can't use them, Tamahome-kun no da." Chichiri said from behind him.
"Chichiri?" Tamahome looked at him unblinkingly, "you're…"
"I am familiar with this kind of magic no da. These are memory charms, and now that you've spilled the beans on the most important part of their memories we'll be lucky if they even have de ja vu now, no da."
Nuriko screamed and pointed at Chichiri…who was floating next to Tamahome's head.
"You're, you're….FLOATING! Your feet aren't touching the floor, Chichiri!" Chiriko stammered.
"AHH NA NO DA!" Chichiri blushed bright red, and quickly hovered down to the floor. "Sorry, no da! I…I didn't mean to na no da, ano…um…I just, with my memories back and all…ano..I'm sorry! Gomen! Gomen!" He was looking at Tamahome who had a look on his face like all hope was lost.
"That's it…now they…now they can't remember." Tamahome stammered chokingly.
Tasuki may have joked about it a minute ago, but was now feeling a little sick with nervousness.
"Ya mean…no, ya can't really…ya can't seriously mean that the rest of the Suzaku seishi aren't allowed their memories back, can ya?"
Tamahome nodded heavily.
"But, Miaka no da…" Chichiri's voice trailed off as the three of them realized their luck.
Miaka, moments ago, had passed out….from hunger!
Tasuki sighed, "So, it's the four of us then?" Tasuki asked looking at the other seishi sorrowfully, knowing they will never remember (at least not in this life) the adventures they'd shared.
But both he and Chichiri were equally unready for Tamahome's answer.
"No. I'm not allowed with you guys in there either."