Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters, sometimes the setting, and a few of my own creations.
Authors Beginning Note: A bit longer than most of my other chapters, so make sure you have some pop corn on hand!
Shout it outs!
Keetra: You know...I almost like your ending better. Well I decided to save you and all my other readers (they're so dumb struck w/ suspense they forgot to review-thats okay, I forgive them:P) by updating today. The next update may be Tuesday. I hope that it is. As long as nothing unexpected comes up.
Thank you much for the review!
Chapter 48
Hvita
Katsu's POV
I stopped and watched. My hairs rose and prickled. I have never seen Ahrima so calm…or scary…
She stood, levitated in the air. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her finger spread out so as not to touch each other. An invisible wind ruffled her hair and clothes. Her eyes were shut and her lips moved in a constant chant. Her voice was a hallow hiss that traveled through the body and echoed to every resounding corner possible. Even the mind.
The mirror spun in circles as it swept into a circle around her.
…A real live demonstration of planetary motionary stuff Master Aikia had mentioned…
Symbols were burned on the floors and walls with an angry red glow. Below her, a strange symbol was etched with perfect precision. Baubles lit the room and floated freely maing everything seem hazy and unreal.
I shamefully whimpered as I was glued in fear.
"Dear spirit Ti-Tsang Wang, have mercy upon me."
Chihiro's POV
I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist. I was raised up like a baggage of heavy vegetables. My thoughts like a hazy afternoon of humidity that only breeds insanity and illusions.
"Come on Dove! You have got to pull yourself together!" He cried desperately in my ear.
I looked down at the vast cavity in the ground. I could still see the rest of the ground shake. The image became unclear as a lake seemed to replace the crevice, only to vanish again.
"Vai…he…" I saw his broken body slip through my fingers over and over and over and over.
"Yes love. I know. We all know. He died saving you though! Don't let this second chance of life be wasted. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain. Please Dove." He whispered. I felt a tear drop on my cheek and looked into his eyes.
I too cried as we neared the castle. The wind burned my wet face and I tasted salt on my tongue, but I held myself together as best as I felt myself possible.
We circled the castle and entered through an open balcony of one of the higher towers.
I was useless at standing. With a helpless, maybe frustrated sound, Fox lifted me up onto his back and we all wandered through the halls with caution. Not a single guard, or servant was to be seen. Many things had fallen to the floors and scattered the place. Lanterns, cleaning utensils, split paintings, fallen scrolls, tipped over candles.
Occasionally Rin or Enuresis would open a door, cautiously.
How many more…how many more have to die…I shook my head.
I…I have to be strong though…don't I…Vai was strong…He was scared…and always nervous…but when it counted…he was always strong and brave…I will be like Vai…I will continue living…and what ever I do…or challenge I face…I will be strong and brave…
"Fox. Will you please set me down?" He stopped and turned his head to look at me over his shoulder.
"I can walk. Thank you though." I whispered. He nodded and gently let me down. Taking a deep breath, pushing my fears and my despondency aside, I walked straight ahead. Following Rin and Enuresis. Fox at my side.
Enuresis looked into a room and stepped in. When she was gone Rin stepped in to see what was happening, only to have Enuresis come out, her nerves looking frayed.
"What did you see?" She shook her head.
"Nothing good." She gulped and lead us into the room. It was a strange room. Books covered shelves of crystal. A desk of rose quarts. A bed of clear amythyst. The room was eerie and extravagant. It was bright and the colors soft. My skin itched with goose bumps every where. A door, hidden in it's form of a mirror was open and we stepped through
We stepped through and appeared on a small stage.
This looks like…the one behind the thrones…of the throne room in Atlantis…Pushing the curtain aside, I shivered. The air felt thick and humid.
Balls of light lingered in the air and a mirror swung in a planetary rotation. Markings burned on all of the walls. A single figure was placed in the room of partial darkness.
"Ahrima." I whispered.
Katsu's POV
I watched in horror as the image of the river guy appeared in the mirror. Exactly as he looked in the crystal room. The mirror stopped and seemed to become semi-transparent. A great beem of green light flooded from the mirror into her body. Her mouth and eyes opened.
I shrieked as I jumped back only to bump into someone. Swirling around I looked up at Master Aikia.
He looked aged, and tired. Like a new stray on the streets.
"Master Aikia?"
"It has begun."
"What's going to happen?" I watched her body radiate green power. Her eyes were like headlights, only the whites showing. A torment of wind seemed to rise.
"She is becoming the most powerful being in all of the world. Once she has achieved that, she will complete the union of the Human Realm, and this one."
"She plans on ruling them both?"
"That is her intentions."
"And what about you?" His face looked grim.
"Just watch."
Chihiro's POV
Rin unsheathed her Katana.
"Rin. Don't do anything." She trembled and seemed like a wild animal. I looked at Enuresis and she nodded. We went to restrain her, but too late she sprung into the air, like a wild cat. Sword swinging, I ran after her in horror.
She's going to kill her...
I looked at the other figure, also racing to Ahrima.
Aikia's POV
I raced to her, my body lithe and heart racing. A figure appeared before me, just as I went to plunge my sword through her. She turned and my eyes locked on hers. My hands were unable to stop. My sword went into swift forward motion.
I stood, rooted by magic as the two woman I love faught.
"Akiko! Stop this! Stop it right now!"
"You forget brother. She is the one who engaged battle."
"Stop! The both of you!"
Neither listened to my plees. Both had sweat dripping down their supple bodies. Both were in equal good shape, and both were taught the art of swordsmanship.
"you do well princess'
"not bad yourself!" She went in for the plunge. Akiko swiveled, and using fowl play, tripped her up. I watched as her weapon, the very one I had created, made a shear and bloody cut in a downwards arc. Feathers rained down and were stained by blood.
Taking advantage of the stunned pain that numbed her body, Akiko went to swing for the kill.
She was pushed forcefully, her arm only but scathed. My sword plunged into Ahrima's body. I deeply wedged it. Her eyes snapped and she gasped. I felt her breath swept away as she looked into my eyes. Her mind seemed to unravel as did she herself.
Her body fell uselessly to the ground.
…but a small barrier of magic blocked her. The sword that I had made for my love only a few days before, was clutched dearly in her beautiful fingers. It pulsed with a special magic I had placed in it. Her face was ashen and her eyes wide with a blank shock of white pain.
"Rin!" I screamed. I felt my limbs go free and I caught her as she fell into a heap.
"My dear, dear Rin. Arelinita. Rin." I swept the strands of hair from her face.
I pulled the sword out and left a gaping hole in her abdomen. She bled a river of blue ice. Tears pricked her eyes as they became a glazed honey.
"What have you done! Akiko! What have you done!" I screamed. Her eyes looked hurt and she kneeled down besides me.
"Aki. Aki! Please don't leave me alone." She whimpered. Her voice trembled and as her life ebbed away, the wicked woman that had been, disappeared too, and a child took her place. I knealt down and placed a hand on her cheek. She cried and leaned into its caress. Her eyes closed and her breathes became shallower.
"I will make it all better. I promise. You will hurt no longer. Instead, you will forget everything and every one. Except me. I will become so powerful that nothing will ever hurt you again." She whispered softly. I leaned into her and my world blackened.
"Akiko, no one will hurt you again. I promise." I cooed.
"Aki. I'm afraid of the dark. Please don't leave me." She whimpered like a helpless kitten. I gathered her in my arms and cradled her. Protecting her. For the second time in our lives, the roles were reversed. It was the younger brother once again taking care of his older sister.
I held her like that until the last whimper died and the last breath had collapsed out of her lungs. I cut a lock of her hair and set her body ablaze.
Turning around I looked into the eyes of the one who had saved her. The chocolate brown eyes of the human girl who wasn't quite human. I was half tempted to say something of gratitude but instead, I stared at the circle of drawings still in place.
I have a choice…I can join the worlds and rule them…just as I had planned…kill Ahrima and rule both worlds…using the very two catalysts she had used to turn against her…the spell can continue…I can have both worlds…I just need to finish the spell…
I stepped into the circle of markings and let the chant flow freely from my tongue. This is the fate I choose. I accept all consequences. After all, what is death to me. What is life?
The mirror crashed to the floor and reflected nothing as the crystal turned black as I held the sword into the air and let the lights of magic dance in a gay battle.
I felt a tug on my pant legs and looked down at Katsu. He looked fearful but I nodded. It seemed only fitting.
Chihiro's POV
"Rin! Rin!" I shook her. Her body was like dead weight. I saw blood and frantically looked for its source, my heart beating in a panic. I saw her arm, and determened it to be scar worthy and possibly needing stitches, no farther damage had been made. I tore the cloth on my pant leggings and quickly bound it as she came to.
"Chihiro." She whispered hoarsly.
"I'm right here." I said. She sat, pushing me aside when I tried to force her back down.
"Let me up!" She said forcefully. I could do nothing but comply to her demands. She leaned on me with her one arm. In her bad arm, she clung forcefully to her blade.
"Aki! Do you hear me!" A hitch in his voice was all the indication givin.
"Don't you dare ignore me! Aki! Not like last time. Not like all those years ago. And being under a spell is no excuse! Do you remember this! You gave me this! You gave me this cursed piece of rust! Do you remember it!" Rin screamed. I could feel her pain and sorrow carry through out her voice. She regained her balance on her own and stood powerfully.
"I loved you damn it! Why! Aki! I was alive! I didn't die! I am standing right here! You gave up on me! You gave up on us! You thought you were hurting? What about me? What about when I was so messed up, I was all but forced to abdicate my throne! I woke up abandoned! I had no wings, and I was alone! Do you know what it was like, seeing everyone look at me with nothing but pity! 'Oh look at the poor princess, her husband to be ran away with the enemy and she was left wingless in a kingdom where having your wings is everything'! Why didn't you stay! We could have endured it together! I know we could have! Why!" Her face was tear stained and blotchy red. Her body shook and convulsed as she butchered her heart and threw him the pieces.
His eyes slid open with effort. Tears softly fell from his cheeks. The chant stopped, but his body was held into place.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. The castle shook and cinders fell.
"Chihiro." I turned around and felt a large lump rise in my throat. It choked me breathless.
"It…it's…can it…" I drank in the sight of him as he leaned heavily on Fox's shoulder.
I took a hesitant step. One and then another. I tripped over a fallen piece of the wall but my eyes never left his. I got up and I stood frozen only but a breath away from him. He stood up straighter as Fox politely retreated.
"It-its not possible. How? It just can't." I whimpered. I looked into his pained face and wished for the image before me to truly be him.
He lifted up his hand and I looked back and forth between him and his palm.
"See for yourself." I felt hesitation. If he really wasn't real, and I touched him, then would he disappear? Would I yet once again be faced with reality. I lifted my hand shakily and swallowed. It was even worse as my fingertips neared his palm. When they were a mere hair breadth away I stopped again, bracing myself for the worst and pushed. Closing my eyes.
I felt flesh kiss my finger tips and chocked on a sob as tears started streaming down my face. I pushed harder and still I met resistance. He wrapped arms around me and I melded into his chest, shamefully weeping like a little girl.
"I thought…I thought…that I would never see you again." He stroked my hair and held me with a tight passion. I clung to him for dear life and in doing so, I felt his ribs ever so slightly thinned out.
I held him at arms length andfell into his eyes.
I felt his hand in mine and looked down at it. I spotted blood and before he could object I turned it over and held it up. His wrist was chaffed to a terrible condition. Dried blood caked his wrist and ran along his arm where it had dripped. I saw the same on his other wrist and arm.
"Kohaku…" He cupped my face and smiled.
"It's nothing to worry about. By the end of this week I may have a scar or two, but nothing more for the worse." I poked him in his chest at his arrogance.
"You better, or else I am going to personally make you a body cast that you will wear. I don't care where you are going." He smiled.
A huge cracking sound startled us. I looked up at the ceiling. Spider vined crevises were everywhere. The castle was collapsing.
Kohaku startled me, picking me up bridal style. He began running with that incredible speed of his across the vast hall.
"Where are we going? There's no way out!" I shouted.
"Trust me." He said, dodging a particularly large chunk of rock. I held on to him all the tighter. The other side of the wall was becoming dangerously close. I let my fear subside.
He has never let me down before…he has always protected me…I trust he knows what he is doing…but that doesn't mean I have to like his spur of the moment plans…
He freed one of his hands and the wall completely burst and made a gaping hole.
"Are you ready to go flying!" Kohaku ran all the faster, until he was running on air. My eyes grew big and my stomach turned.
"Kohaku!" I screamed as he let go, I fell and he disappeared from sight. I flipped so that I was facing the ground. I stared at the pointy tree tops in horror as my fear of heights just about gave me a heart attack My hands and legs outstretched as if to defy gravity itself.
Than a most splendid sight came and I safely fell onto Kohaku, though knocking the wind out of my lungs.
I righted my self so I could grab the two horns on his head so as to keep myself steady. He snorted, a deep rumbling sound that almost seemed menacing. And I smacked him.
"Don't you dare laugh at me after doing that! I was seriously scared for a moment! After all of the free falling I've done, I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't find myself in the air for quite some time." I said indignantly. He snorted again in laughter. We both knew that as soon as he was well, I would go flying with him, but that didn't mean I had to admit it.
I looked back to see the castle fall and crumble. A sinking feeling feel into my gut.
"Where are the others?"
"Right here." Enuresis said, pumping her wings as she flew on her back. Relief washed over me as I smiled up at my three friends. Fox gave me one of his playboy-charming smiles. I rolled my eyes.
"So you finally got your dragon back. Tell him he better have enjoyed his vacation because as soon as we get back, I won't tolerate any slacking!" Rin said seriously, pulling right up to me. I smiled. I know she had been worried about Kohaku too.
"I'm glad." I whispered. I relaxed against his warm body, feeling the air flow in and out of him. The wind rustled my air and I began to fall into a drowsy sleep.
For the first time in forever, I finally felt safe.
When I woke up, I was warm and comfortable. I hesitantly peeked open one eye. I was entangled in Kohaku's protective arms. My head rested on his rumbling chest that rose and fell softly. His head was set comfortably on mine. I gently sat up, with much protest to his sleeping self. I watched him sleep, a light frown on his lips. I swept away a stray lock of green hair from his face.
Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi…I stopped.
"You've changed. I don't know exactly how to pinpoint it. And your name doesn't fit anymore." I whispered. He let a lazy eye slide open.
"That happens when your river gets completely changed. You know I'm part of a place called Iceland now." He said drowsily.
"Iceland?" He nodded ever so much and closed his eye. His hand was on mine and he stroked it with his thumb.
…so he has his river back…or…has a new one…or…I don't quite understand…and its in Iceland…a completely different continent…
"I'm not the only one who's changed." He whispered, squeezing my hand, startlying my thoughts away.
I reminesced back to everything that happened, and placed myself snuggly back in Kohaku's embrace. He hugged me possesivly. One arm around my waist and the other across my shoulder.
I wonder where we are right now…"Where are we?" I mumbled. He chuckled.
"We are in the care of the race you call Atlantians, on a mini ship. Of course you were so attatched to me, that you wouldn't let go of me when I had to change back. That Kitsune friend of yours ended up catching you. As soon as I picked you up again, I had to even take you to bed with me." He purred.
"More like you just about bit anyone's head off for trying to do anything let alone get within five feet of me." If my eyes had been open I would have rolled them. My arrogant dragon.
"Can you blame me?" He whispered softly, an undertone of sadness. I held him all the closer, till the only smell that filled me was his, and it made me dizzy.
"I love you. Hvita, my Haku River." I whispered the name softly into his ear. It fit him perfectly. He sighed in agreement. My breathing became more steady and I felt like I was rocking in a gentle river.
"I love you too, my little one" Was the last lilting thing I heard.
Katsu's POV
"Now what master Aikia?" I said, brushing dust from my hair.
It's a good thing master Aikia has a lot of power…cause if he didn't…I would be one flat piece of bread…or a dried worm rolled over by a cart…
"So you still want to come with me."
"Well, der! You're my litter. No matter how small, a pack has got to stick together. Besides, you ain't got no one, and I ain't got no one, so I figure we make a good pair." I bushed out my tail and shook out the dust.
It feels good to be dirty again…I hope this means no more baths…Ganesha knows how much I just hate them…
He sheathed a strange sword into his sash. I shrugged as he began walking.
"Do you know where we're goin?" I pestered him.
"Until I can come up with a plan. No."
"Not gonna be another world domination gig is there?" He shook his head, and for a moment, his cool suave demeaner fell. He composed himself quickly and the look vanished.
"No." He said shortly and I gladly followed.
Ah…there's dust in my fur…adventure before me…new places…new things…no baths…life can only get better…