Chapter Forty
Everyone was standing before the castle, the morning sun rising. The party spent the night at the castle once again after hearing Toroki's story, and had agreed to leave to journey back to Kutou. Inmetsu was their original destination anyway, even if everyone was quite sure there would be no more Toroki creatures.
"Well," Suzuno said, smiling at the Emperor before her and bowing respectively. Her school clothes were finally properly washed, and though worn and ripped from so many days of traveling the servants of the castle repaired and tailored them with skill. She loved the luxury in the palace so much; she almost wished they didn't have to leave. "Thank you so much for the hospitality!"
"For the Priestess?" the Emperor said, chuckling. He also bowed, surprising her a little. As he stood up, with a smile he gave her a tight hug. "Come back anytime you need it; Sairou is on your side, Priestess."
"Umm . . . Lord Amefuri?" Oku, who was standing next to the Emperor, turned a deep red as she looked to the young man she called. Her voice was quieter than ever and her face focused on the ground, one of her hands covering her mouth. She was mumbling the words they were so hard to say. "Please . . . c-come back whenever you wish it."
"I will," the warrior replied, nodding. He turned to Nashie on the other side of her Father, who was also looking to him. He smirked when he saw her prideful expression, waiting for her to speak. "Come on, I know you want to say it!"
"Say what?" the Princess snapped, crossing her arms and sticking out her tongue. Her voice was harsh, but still playful when she spoke. Lanva and Subaru giggled, and even Suzuno had to hold back from the adorable scene. Nashie put her tongue back in her mouth and walked to Amefuri, coming especially close to his ear and whispering so no one else could hear. "Please . . . If you ever meet Sousui, tell him I love him."
"Is that it?" he said, smiling and shrugging. As she back her face away so they could see each other he gave her a small peck on the lips, making her face turn far more crimson than even Oku's. "Sorry; you'll have to tell him that yourself!"
No one heard what she had said to him but at the same time no one could resist laughing out loud. Suzuno turned her head slightly behind her to see if Tatara was among the cheer, and her face lit was when she saw him covering his mouth politely as he laughed. Her chest warmed at the sight. 'Tatara . . .'
Suzuno was drawn away from her thoughts when she felt a tug on the outer cape she was wearing, one that for once wasn't part of the man she was gazing at. She looked down to see Toroki's eyes and her heat melted; Tatara was handsome, but this little boy was just adorable. "Please, can we go to my uncle now?"
"I guess that's our cue," Subaru said, waving. She was the first to begin turning around, and everyone else followed. They stepped off of the grass-filled ground and began to walk across the bridge, waving their good-byes to the populace of the kingdom. "We hope to see you again!"
"So, you guys," Lanva started as they walked along the wooden link over the water. "Are we gonna go to Hashi again to get to Kutou? I mean, it's probably gonna have Kutou soldiers all over the place waiting for us, but it's the fastest way there."
Their shoes were loudly clonking against the boards, alerting Teething fish everywhere to swim nearby and try to take a dive at them. They were met with new, thick, brilliantly white cloths covering their bodies; they were a gift from the Emperor to help keep cool from the sun, but the scales of the Serpent they defeated were so light and strong that the little water creatures didn't stand a chance.
"I think it would be best if we traveled another way," Tatara suggested. He wasn't looking directly at anyone, but at the water that seemed to spread as far as one could see at both sides; the only proof that it had an end were the woods on the far right side, the same woods Suzuno found the fourth warrior in.
Lanva scowled at the thought. "What other way is there? We can always go by boat or something, but that'll make it even easier to capture us once we dock!"
"Hashi is just the main entrance; there's still a borderline."
"Yeah, a borderline filled with Scorpion Fish and Croteal and who knows what else!"
"If it's okay with everyone," Amefuri started, waiting until all eyes were on him, "I want to go back to the Capital first. I want to go check up on my mother, to see if she's been alright these past couple of weeks."
"No!" Toroki said, stopping on the bridge and stomping his foot. Everyone else stopped as well, looking down. The little boy had a cute pout on his face, though he was clearly angry with Amefuri's idea. Cuddled up in his arms over top of the sheet of protection cloth he was wearing was Aoi-Yuki, who seemed undisturbed and resting. "Me and Byakko want to go home!"
"Actually," Subaru started, looking away from Toroki; like Suzuno, she was also very smitten with how tiny and cute he looked. She knew if she caught a glance of his big blue eyes she would agree with him. She instead, like Tatara, decided to look out into the water. "I think I want to go back to the Capital too. I miss my home."
Lanva nodded. "Yeah, nothing like home sweet home!"
Toroki stuck out his tongue at the both of them, though only an irritated Lanva saw. "Which is my point, stupid. I wanna go to my home!"
"Stupid! Why you-"
"And . . ." Tatara said to no one in particular, though he easily got everyone's attention, "I'd like to see the Haunted Mountain. It hasn't been too long, but I still want to see it."
Toroki turned to Suzuno with his large puppy dog eyes, his bottom lip quivering. Truthfully, she wanted to pull him into the tightest hug and give him the world if he wanted it. His Celestial Ability was his in tune with nature, but this baby look he had could have just easily been one too.
"Priestess," he said in a long, beginning tone, sounding as if he were going to cry. "I wanna go home. Pleeeease, please? I wanna see Uncle Shuri . . ."
'What do I say?' Suzuno thought, glancing around at everyone else before looking down at Toroki again. 'He's so sweet, but everyone else wants to go to the Capital. They all miss home.'
Suzuno jumped out of her thoughts when Lanva shoved Toroki a little, throwing him off balance and making him fall on the ground. Since the two were sharing coats Suzuno had to kneel a little as well, but she was more concerned if he was okay. Instead of sitting and crying, Toroki put Aoi-Yuki down and stood up to face Lanva.
"Hey!" he shouted, his face in a strong pout that looked more adorable than angry. "What was that for, you dumb jerk!"
"Oh, I'm so scared," Lanva retorted. "Stop trying to act like a baby when you don't get your way."
"You're so . . . so mean! You meanie!"
"H-How about this?" Suzuno began, a little nervous about interrupting. This was the first time they really had people who argued traveling with them; of course, Subaru and Lanva at times didn't favor each other, but they were also very close. "How about we stay the night in the Captial just once? It'll give us a chance to recover from a long walk and everyone will be able to go home."
Toroki, who had his back turned to her to face Lanva, had turned back around. She kneeled a little to match his height, her hands on her knees. He had a hard, determined frown, but after a moment even he couldn't stand turning down the request of the Priestess. He averted his eyes and muttered in a small voice, "Fine."
"Yes ma'am," Takao said, nodding as he spoke over the phone. He propped it between his cheek and his shoulder, both of his hands already occupied with a paper and pencil. He was writing down on a little notepad a street name and number, right underneath Puriti's scribbly handwriting of her own phone number. He smiled. "Thank you for understanding."
"Of course!" a rather worn female voice said, and he wanted to chuckle at the loud shouting of children on the other line. It sounded a bit hectic over there, so he was happy that the woman was so kind. "Puriti has always had a hard time making friends, so I understand that she was so eager to sleep over your daughter's house! I'm glad she asked you to call."
"It's nothing, really," he replied. He was curious about what Puriti's mother had said, however. "She has trouble making friends? She seemed like a very nice girl to me."
"Oh, well she has you fooled, my dear man! That young lady is a very rebellious young thing, just like her father. I'm happy she caused no trouble for you! So . . . I really feel bad for asking this, but could you pick her up after school today?"
"Today?" he inquired. "Of course! I'll gladly do it."
"Thank you! Oh . . ." Takao listened intently as he heard her talking to a child with a very high pitched voice, telling them to just give her a moment. "I'm sorry, I'll have to get off now. Kids are rowdy, you know."
Takao laughed out loud, remembering how much of a handful Suzuno was as a child. "Don't apologize, I completely understand! I wish you luck with them."
"Thanks . . . I'll be seeing you!"
Takao put down the phone on the kitchen counter when he heard the click, and smiled. She was a very nice woman, even in a household that sounded very loud. It was obvious from that one call that Puriti came from a very large family, unlike Suzuno who was an only child. 'No wonder she's so ready to grow up.'
He was glad that he would be able to pick up Puriti in the afternoon; she seemed like a very nice girl to talk to, even if she was a little rough around the edges. Even better, she showed some concern for Suzuno, who had never made any real effort to make friends. Of course she would put a smile on when she was home, but he wasn't blind. He knew how things were.
The thought of Suzuno and her shy attitude made him frown for once as he placed the paper and pen down on the counter as well. He remembered how she used to always smile and make friends easily as a child. But she couldn't do it anymore, and it was all because of him.
Takao physically flinched as he envisioned a car on the street, completely torn in half and tumbled over, the smooth black color of the surface now twisting into a crinkled plaster. Out of a shattered window was a bloodied, still hand. Once reaching out, the bruised, almost richly violet and navy skin was limp.
He always smiled for his daughter, always tried to make things better. He always thought of the positive side, but for that there was nothing positive to find. His hand that was lightly tracing the street address to Puriti's home with his fingertips had turned into a fist, his short nails digging into his palms. He shut his eyes.
'This was all my fault,' Takao thought, swiftly turning around to step into the hall. He approached the entrance door to his home and opened it in a rather jerky manner, pacing down the driveway before his home and getting into his car. He leaned back in the soft, cushioned chair, closing his eyes softly as he took in a deep breath. This depressing feeling was very hard on him, it happened so rarely. But with everything happening lately, it was hard not to forget.
"Takiko," Takao said aloud, turning on the ignition to the car and backing out of the driveway. Right now the thing he wanted to do was visit The Priestess of Genbu's very grave.
X x x x x
Yeay, new chapter! Sorry this was a day late than usual. XD School has been really catching up on me . . . it's tough writing or even uploading now. But don't worry; summer is close, and I'll have plenty of time to get ahead and be prepared by then!
Kaeru Soyokaze- lol! I'm so glad you like him. XD Yup, he and Lanva are going to have a fun relationship together that I'm going to enjoy writing. Hopefully they'll get along beter someday!
Suzuno Oosugi- Yup! –Sings the Lion King- It's the ciiiiiiircle of liiiiife . . . XD Okay, it doesn't really connect like that. Lol! I'm happy you like our new warrior! I luv him too. –Hugs-
Care- Thanks! Of course I'm right:D Nakago is a total sexay bombshell. Hmm . .. Toroki's age . . . it's a secret! XD lol!
RabidMantisGirl- lol! Toroki is spooky? You're the first to say that! I hope you'll be able to like him more in the future . . . Oooh, I need to put a quick picture up before everyone has a different image of him embedded into their heads. XD lol!
Queen of the Paperclips- -Hugs- Thank you so much! I really love the Byakko Seven, and I just couldn't wait for Watase-sama's interpretation. XD I can't believe I started this story last summer! And I'm still dedicated to it. Now that's love. :D lol!