- : - : - INTERLUDE II -or- A Phoenix of a Different Color - : - : -
Genkai was experiencing one of her favorite things: a calm, normal day at the shrine. No demons, no demigods, no Reikai Tantei . . . just her and the trees and the wind.
She had woken at dawn, performed her morning cleaning duties, eaten her usual, light breakfast (tea and crackers), and done her normal exercises in the open meadow behind the shrine. After she was through with her katas, she retired to the porch of the main building to spend the hot midday hours meditating.
Well, to TRY to meditate, anyway.
There was an odd rustling sound, and then a large, all-too-familiar shadow fell over her, blocking out the warmth of the afternoon sun. "Prrruuuu!"
The aged martial artist twitched minutely. "Go away, bird."
"Prrruuu?"
Genkai cracked one eye open to peer up at the blue, feathered mass of Yuusuke's spirit beast, Puu, a phoenix that was roughly thirty to forty feet long from beak to tail-tip but usually stood at a height of around fifteen to twenty feet tall. "I said 'GO AWAY.'"
The phoenix ducked its head like a scolded child. A stray breeze ruffled through the thick mane of black hair that sprouted down the back of it's long, slender neck. "Prrryuuuu . . . ?"
"No."
"Rrryuuu?"
"You can hunt for yourself perfectly well. There's an entire haunted forest right behind the shrine. Go catch yourself an oni."
The phoenix pressed it's head --the size of a small boulder-- nearer to her, it's eyes wide and pleading, glistening brightly with what could have been unshed tears. "Purrruuuu?"
"NO, you big, blue buzzard. Now scat."
The head pressed closer, the eyes staring beseechingly into her own. "PUUUU- rrrrryuuuu . . . ?"
Genkai's lips pressed tightly together in a stern frown. Her eyes narrowed. If she had been a cat, her claws would have been out and her fur on end.
The phoenix pressed its beak gently against her chest, its warm breath fanning the fabric of her shirt. It trilled once more, softly.
Genkai drew in a deep breath.
"Oh . . . for goodness sake. FINE. Have it your way." She pushed the bird's head away roughly and stood, turning around to enter the shrine in search of the latest package of saltine crackers she had bought. She paused momentarily, however, to level a warning glare at the spirit beast. "But if you EVER teach Yuusuke that Look of yours, kami help me, I'll use you in a stew and stuff pillows with your feathers. Clear?"
"Prrrruuuu!"
- : - : - : - : - : -
Genkai sighed silently to herself as she brushed crumb after crumb off of her clothing. Puu paused momentarily from daintily preening the remains of his afternoon snack from his feathers to trill happily at the small woman.
Genkai's lips thinned as she picked an especially large cracker fragment from her hair. She eyed it balefully for a moment before flicking it toward the empty box and plastic sleeves that had until recently held a goodly number of crackers. "Damn bird."
"Prrrruuuu?"
"You heard me."
"Ryyyuuuu."
She scowled darkly. "You're worse than Yuusuke."
The phoenix drew himself to his full, twenty-foot height, as though affronted. "PUU-rryuuu!"
"Yes, I DO know that you're his Spirit Beast."
"RRYUUU."
She sighed. "AND a reflection of his soul. Yes, I know."
"Prruuu."
"Don't sound so smug."
"Rrryyyuuu."
Genkai glared up at the huge Spirit Beast. "I believe I would have liked you better as an egg."
- : - : - That Evening - : - : -
The small flame clung tenaciously to the tip of the long taper as Genkai carefully touched it to the wick of the lamp. A few seconds passed before the flame took hold upon the wick, and she was able to move on to the next lamp upon the wall. As she worked, the orange glow in the large, dark room of the shrine grew brighter, flickering over the dark bulk of the statue at the back of the room.
She finished with the last lamp in the room and carefully blew out the flame, clearing her throat mildly when some of the resulting smoke wafted into her face.
Dropping the still-usable taper into a small urn placed beside the door, the aged martial artist brushed several stray strands of her silver- streaked hair out of her face and stepped onto the porch of the shrine, feeling the evening air brushing against her cheeks.
Her eyes narrowed suddenly, her gaze raking over the shrine grounds.
The courtyard was empty.
Where was that damn bird?
Ever since the phoenix had returned from Makai --a few days after Yuusuke's departure,-- Genkai hadn't been able to pry him away from her side with a crowbar. He seemed to understand instinctively that Yuusuke's current location was Off Limits, and so he had adopted Genkai as his temporary 'pet human.'
True, he had usually stayed at the shrine before whenever he had happened to be in Ningenkai, but never had he acted so . . . open? affectionate? . . . with anyone other than Yuusuke.
Truth be told, she had grown attached to the big buzzard.
"Bird?" she called.
She reached out with her senses, searching for the wellspring of blue fire that was the phoenix's energy signature.
What she found was a blazing sapphire inferno.
Her breath hissed out through her teeth in surprise even as the hairs rose on the back of her neck. Without a second thought, she darted nimbly down the wooden walkway lining side the building, heading for the meadow that lay between the shrine and the dark forest.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Every inch, every feather, every strand of hair upon the huge phoenix's body was highlighted with blazing blue light. Puu's neck was arched, his head turned toward the east . . . toward America . . . and his eyes were an even more vibrant shade of blood-red than normal. His entire body was tense, and the light throbbed around him in time with a heartbeat that was not his own.
Genkai approached carefully, recognizing this as something beyond her experience. Yuusuke and Puu shared a bond of the souls, a bond that ran so deep that their emotions, their moods, their health, and even their likes and dislikes were reflected in each other --after Puu's transformation, Yuusuke had admitted to having odd cravings for things such as crackers and abnormally large servings of rice . . . and whoever had ever heard of a phoenix who enjoyed eating pocky?
Seeing as Puu's transformation to his phoenix form came about as a result of the awakening of Yuusuke's demon side, it was also clear that the pair had a bond so deep that the same energies were shared between them.
"Bird?"
A quiver ran the length of the huge spirit beast's body, and Genkai suddenly found herself the sole focus of those shining eyes.
Puu warbled forlornly, stretching his head down toward the small woman, and the blue glow of youki slowly faded from her sight, but she could still feel the fierce energy boiling within the huge spirit beast.
Genkai reached up to gently brush against the soft feathers around the phoenix's beak. "Puu? What's---?" She broke off, a lump settling in the pit of her stomach. ". . . Yuusuke."
It was a fact of life: the Dimwit could be locked away in a padded cell somewhere, and he would find SOME way to become entangled in a life-or- death fight that would save or destroy all Ningenkai.
The phoenix crooned an unhappy affirmative to her question. ". . . puuurrruuuuu . . ."
A troubled frown tugged at Genkai's mouth. "Well, you're still alive and conscious. That's always a plus."
The phoenix huffed in response, 'chrrr'ing in reproach.
Genkai tugged on a strand of the thick, black mane. "Sorry."
"Puuuu."
She ran her hands lightly over the phoenix's finely crafted head, tugging lightly on the long, slim ears dangling to either side of his skull. The gleaming, ruby eyes half-closed as Puu crooned softly, pressing closer for more attention.
Genkai sighed, looking toward the east, toward Yuusuke.
"Tell me, bird, do you have enough energy left in you for a quick trip to Reikai?"
- : - : - LATER, MINNA-SAN! - : - : -
Genkai was experiencing one of her favorite things: a calm, normal day at the shrine. No demons, no demigods, no Reikai Tantei . . . just her and the trees and the wind.
She had woken at dawn, performed her morning cleaning duties, eaten her usual, light breakfast (tea and crackers), and done her normal exercises in the open meadow behind the shrine. After she was through with her katas, she retired to the porch of the main building to spend the hot midday hours meditating.
Well, to TRY to meditate, anyway.
There was an odd rustling sound, and then a large, all-too-familiar shadow fell over her, blocking out the warmth of the afternoon sun. "Prrruuuu!"
The aged martial artist twitched minutely. "Go away, bird."
"Prrruuu?"
Genkai cracked one eye open to peer up at the blue, feathered mass of Yuusuke's spirit beast, Puu, a phoenix that was roughly thirty to forty feet long from beak to tail-tip but usually stood at a height of around fifteen to twenty feet tall. "I said 'GO AWAY.'"
The phoenix ducked its head like a scolded child. A stray breeze ruffled through the thick mane of black hair that sprouted down the back of it's long, slender neck. "Prrryuuuu . . . ?"
"No."
"Rrryuuu?"
"You can hunt for yourself perfectly well. There's an entire haunted forest right behind the shrine. Go catch yourself an oni."
The phoenix pressed it's head --the size of a small boulder-- nearer to her, it's eyes wide and pleading, glistening brightly with what could have been unshed tears. "Purrruuuu?"
"NO, you big, blue buzzard. Now scat."
The head pressed closer, the eyes staring beseechingly into her own. "PUUUU- rrrrryuuuu . . . ?"
Genkai's lips pressed tightly together in a stern frown. Her eyes narrowed. If she had been a cat, her claws would have been out and her fur on end.
The phoenix pressed its beak gently against her chest, its warm breath fanning the fabric of her shirt. It trilled once more, softly.
Genkai drew in a deep breath.
"Oh . . . for goodness sake. FINE. Have it your way." She pushed the bird's head away roughly and stood, turning around to enter the shrine in search of the latest package of saltine crackers she had bought. She paused momentarily, however, to level a warning glare at the spirit beast. "But if you EVER teach Yuusuke that Look of yours, kami help me, I'll use you in a stew and stuff pillows with your feathers. Clear?"
"Prrrruuuu!"
- : - : - : - : - : -
Genkai sighed silently to herself as she brushed crumb after crumb off of her clothing. Puu paused momentarily from daintily preening the remains of his afternoon snack from his feathers to trill happily at the small woman.
Genkai's lips thinned as she picked an especially large cracker fragment from her hair. She eyed it balefully for a moment before flicking it toward the empty box and plastic sleeves that had until recently held a goodly number of crackers. "Damn bird."
"Prrrruuuu?"
"You heard me."
"Ryyyuuuu."
She scowled darkly. "You're worse than Yuusuke."
The phoenix drew himself to his full, twenty-foot height, as though affronted. "PUU-rryuuu!"
"Yes, I DO know that you're his Spirit Beast."
"RRYUUU."
She sighed. "AND a reflection of his soul. Yes, I know."
"Prruuu."
"Don't sound so smug."
"Rrryyyuuu."
Genkai glared up at the huge Spirit Beast. "I believe I would have liked you better as an egg."
- : - : - That Evening - : - : -
The small flame clung tenaciously to the tip of the long taper as Genkai carefully touched it to the wick of the lamp. A few seconds passed before the flame took hold upon the wick, and she was able to move on to the next lamp upon the wall. As she worked, the orange glow in the large, dark room of the shrine grew brighter, flickering over the dark bulk of the statue at the back of the room.
She finished with the last lamp in the room and carefully blew out the flame, clearing her throat mildly when some of the resulting smoke wafted into her face.
Dropping the still-usable taper into a small urn placed beside the door, the aged martial artist brushed several stray strands of her silver- streaked hair out of her face and stepped onto the porch of the shrine, feeling the evening air brushing against her cheeks.
Her eyes narrowed suddenly, her gaze raking over the shrine grounds.
The courtyard was empty.
Where was that damn bird?
Ever since the phoenix had returned from Makai --a few days after Yuusuke's departure,-- Genkai hadn't been able to pry him away from her side with a crowbar. He seemed to understand instinctively that Yuusuke's current location was Off Limits, and so he had adopted Genkai as his temporary 'pet human.'
True, he had usually stayed at the shrine before whenever he had happened to be in Ningenkai, but never had he acted so . . . open? affectionate? . . . with anyone other than Yuusuke.
Truth be told, she had grown attached to the big buzzard.
"Bird?" she called.
She reached out with her senses, searching for the wellspring of blue fire that was the phoenix's energy signature.
What she found was a blazing sapphire inferno.
Her breath hissed out through her teeth in surprise even as the hairs rose on the back of her neck. Without a second thought, she darted nimbly down the wooden walkway lining side the building, heading for the meadow that lay between the shrine and the dark forest.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Every inch, every feather, every strand of hair upon the huge phoenix's body was highlighted with blazing blue light. Puu's neck was arched, his head turned toward the east . . . toward America . . . and his eyes were an even more vibrant shade of blood-red than normal. His entire body was tense, and the light throbbed around him in time with a heartbeat that was not his own.
Genkai approached carefully, recognizing this as something beyond her experience. Yuusuke and Puu shared a bond of the souls, a bond that ran so deep that their emotions, their moods, their health, and even their likes and dislikes were reflected in each other --after Puu's transformation, Yuusuke had admitted to having odd cravings for things such as crackers and abnormally large servings of rice . . . and whoever had ever heard of a phoenix who enjoyed eating pocky?
Seeing as Puu's transformation to his phoenix form came about as a result of the awakening of Yuusuke's demon side, it was also clear that the pair had a bond so deep that the same energies were shared between them.
"Bird?"
A quiver ran the length of the huge spirit beast's body, and Genkai suddenly found herself the sole focus of those shining eyes.
Puu warbled forlornly, stretching his head down toward the small woman, and the blue glow of youki slowly faded from her sight, but she could still feel the fierce energy boiling within the huge spirit beast.
Genkai reached up to gently brush against the soft feathers around the phoenix's beak. "Puu? What's---?" She broke off, a lump settling in the pit of her stomach. ". . . Yuusuke."
It was a fact of life: the Dimwit could be locked away in a padded cell somewhere, and he would find SOME way to become entangled in a life-or- death fight that would save or destroy all Ningenkai.
The phoenix crooned an unhappy affirmative to her question. ". . . puuurrruuuuu . . ."
A troubled frown tugged at Genkai's mouth. "Well, you're still alive and conscious. That's always a plus."
The phoenix huffed in response, 'chrrr'ing in reproach.
Genkai tugged on a strand of the thick, black mane. "Sorry."
"Puuuu."
She ran her hands lightly over the phoenix's finely crafted head, tugging lightly on the long, slim ears dangling to either side of his skull. The gleaming, ruby eyes half-closed as Puu crooned softly, pressing closer for more attention.
Genkai sighed, looking toward the east, toward Yuusuke.
"Tell me, bird, do you have enough energy left in you for a quick trip to Reikai?"
- : - : - LATER, MINNA-SAN! - : - : -