To Mary Tyson: Mm, fangirls are reincarnation of the devil himself. They deserve to be chased away. Happy that you keep reading my fanfic, I hope that it's enjoyable.
To Asillin Kheldarson: Hello there! Liked the story, well I hope that you stay for the full ride! Lemonades are what you call fuzzy lemons, or something that's sort of have tinnie lemonish bits in it.
Chapter Ten: ...As Time Goes By...
The storm had finally broken, growling rumbles of darkened clouds snarling in dejection as bright rays pierced through the clouded sky. It was hard to imagine that only moments ago rain ruled the skies, plummeting down upon the world in nameless fury, seeking to pound everything flat into the ground. It was especially vengeful against the library, the droplets of rain sounding more like solid hail rather than water. Watching the raging downpour, she was ready to give up when, bless the gods, it suddenly stopped. Seeing this abrupt end to the rain, the mid-aged man standing behind the counter laughed.
"You are a lucky one, Saiku. Looks like the heaven is allowing you to go home."
Luck? Yes, perhaps that is what it's called. But if she was lucky, then how come she was still here? A book lay beside her, musky pages opened to show the various runes that existed in this world. Surprisingly, similarities could be found between these runes and the ones she grew up with. Isa was there, and Dagaz as well. Raido could also be found. Interesting, perhaps this world was closer to hers than she thought...
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Stepping out, a delicious scent greeted her, one that only be found after heavy storms. The smell reminded her of home, clean and rich with the fragrance of the blossoming earth. Breathing in a deep lungful of the green scented air, her misted mind cleared slightly, the hazy thoughts sharpening with each breath. Glancing at her watch, she started walking towards the bus stop, one that will take her to the temple she was supposed to meet at.
The streets were bare of people and cars alike. The rain might have something to do with this rare isolation, but she guessed the cold weather also had its effect upon the humans. Walking past a duck pond, she stopped for a moment, gazing at the frozen surface of the water, the smooth layer of ice covered by a dusting of pure snow. Somewhere in the distance, a single sparrow chirped its song, the solitary voice floating across the still air.
It was strange, this silent isolation. She had nearly forgotten how it felt, this tranquil remoteness that only comes when the mind was still. Back home, it was easy to find; one only had to relax and look up at the infinite sky, to gaze into the stars and the darkness beyond, to drift in and out of waking consciousness. But that was impossible here, is the place. Even in the most unconventional of hours cars would still be driving past, humans still awake and creating some noise or other.
The right hand rose, the watch was checked again. Pushing the hand into its pocket once more, she started to walk again, apparently having found what she was looking for in the ticking machine. Reaching the bus stand, she leaned against a metal pole and closed her eyes, seeking for that seclusion of the mind. Instead, something else came up, a fogged scene drifting up from the misted depth of her mind.
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An eye twitched, and she bit down hard on the need to just punch the boy in the face and get this whole thing over with. But a part of her knew that this was for her own good, and like always, that piece of her mind continued to nag until she gave in. Glaring hard at Kuwabara, Roviel inhaled deeply. Her empty fists clenched, she missed having a weapon in her hands.
"You know, I could easily beat you in hand-to-hand combat. Explain to me again just why I have to go through this?"
Kuwabara gave a nervous laugh; having associated with Roviel for over a year, the orange-haired boy knew when the youkai's really being angry or was just acting. And this time the anger didn't look one bit fake. Just as well he wasn't alone; Yusuke looked up from whatever he was reading and yawned.
"Why? Simple. Because your Youki still isn't strong enough yet. So until any of your attacks, except from Quicksilver, can land a good enough hit on Kuwabara, I'm not letting you out of this room."
She ran her tongue lightly over her teeth, lingering over the two sharp incisors.
"Why do you care if my power's not strong enough? It's not as if my Youki being weak would affect you in any way."
"Maybe not now, but there just might be a day where one of our lives are in your hands. I'm not sure about you, but dying twice had taken all the excitement out of the process. I don't want to go through all the paperwork of reincarnation again."
Sighing into the empty air, Roviel turned to Kuwabara, who was looking distinctly nervous. Noting this, a crooked grin appeared on her face.
"Don't worry boy; I play by the rules, even if I do tend to sway on the borderlines. Ready?"
Nodding, a sudden burst of amber aura surrounded him, the fierce light gathering in his hands until a sword came forth. Shifting his stance, Kuwabara charged towards Roviel.
"Eclipse!"
A wall of emerald light appeared between the two, one that Kuwabara ran through in his assault. Where his form had touched the light, patches of green appeared all over his figure for a quick moment, some darker than other. Noting the dim areas, ones where the boy's Reiki was weaker than the rest of his body, Roviel prepared for the second attack. Ducking under his swing, jade mist gathered in her palms as she slammed one open hand up at one of the weaker spots.
"Daybreak!"
A serious of open handed attacks commenced, the Youki filled palms striking where resistance was less. Ending the attack, Roviel jumped away, crouching in readiness for the boy to come to her again. Recovering from her attack, Kuwabara gathered himself before rushing towards her again. Seeing the green mist gathering in Roviel's right fist, Kuwabara lunged, gritting his teeth for the Shockwave attack that she was preparing. Gathering as much Youki as she could, Roviel slammed the fist into the ground.
"Shockwave!"
But the attack never came, for abruptly she stood, frozen, the blank eyes blind to the sword coming down upon her, the ears deaf to Kuwabara's yells. For suddenly, she was no longer in the room, but in another world, in another time.
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A distant roaring rocked down the empty street, the metallic coughing of running engines hacking slowly towards her. Coming to a painful stop, rusty doors opened as the bus driver admitted her in. He took the money without comment, handing her the ticket and the due change without a single sign of life. Pulling on the gear, he stepped down on the accelerator, all the while looking as if he was a robot programmed to do all of this. Seating down towards the back of the bus, her clouded eyes drifted over the few occupants in the bus. An old man sat near the front, a pained look on his weathered face as one hand rubbed absently at his knees. Several seats behind him, a mother tried to stop her five year old son from crying, her shushing and threats of no TV useless. Behind the pair, a man was silently screaming into his mobile, the half whispered quarrel with his wife strangely loud. Turning away from the humans, she gazed out of the window.
A sudden flash of color caught her attention, the picture quickly zoomed past as the bus rolled on, but she could still see it; a small patch of wildflowers bloomed, tiny speckles of bright gold peeking out of the snow. Although it was gone from her sight, she smiled at the flowers, a smile that ended as the world around her faded, the bus and everybody in it. The sound of the man's fierce whispering ceased, falling into the same void that engulfed her before, back when she was training with Kuwabara. Then just like before, another scene appeared, one from her past. But this time it was different, a different flashback to the one she had before. Soon, she was totally surrounded by her memory.
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Someone knocked on the door, the sound followed by a particularly handsome young man entering; his hands burdened by a large teapot and clay cups. Setting down his handful, he poured out the steaming tea into the cups, he straightened, standing beside the table if any of the guests or his employer needed anything else. It was already late, near midnight, and he wished to sleep.
Lifting on cup, Roviel waved to the servant, the gesture telling him that they she no longer needed him, and that he could rest for the night. Acknowledging his bow, deep pools of shimmering emerald closed in pleasure as she breathed in the fragrance of the steaming tea.
"Ah, jasmine and rose tea, my favorite of all. Just smelling this clears my head."
Nodding absently at the comment, strands of teal wavered as Syra poked her head after the departing servant. Finally when the door closed did she seat back down, a exasperated sigh puffing out as Syra raised her glass of wine.
"He's cute."
Sipping at the tea, Roviel nodded.
"Mm. And he's also gay."
Syra stared at Roviel, white gold eyes gawping at the news.
"What?!"
Zyril chocked on his drink, coughing as elegant man tried to hold back laughter. Grinning into her cup, Roviel brushed loose tresses of red tinted gold from her sight.
"Why yes, and I do believe that our resident illusionist learnt of this first-hand."
Seated across Syra, Lailos glared down at the book he was writing in, muttering something along the line of "terrible memory" and "can't remember". Leaning against the crystal frame of the balcony, Zyril raised on hand, wine nearly tipping out of the cup. Roviel raised one brow. Zyril's drunk? She thought he was on the edge with that sixth cup.
"Since our Kirin has suddenly caught a very convenient attack of amnesia, I volunteer to tell of this story. And would our Griffin correct me if I happen to forget or mistake anything?"
Roviel nodded, lounging back her satin chair and relaxed under the stars. Clearing his throat, Zyril gestured to the now red-faced illusionist and began his story.
"This was before Lailos came seeking employment with my family. So before that, he was under contract with Roviel's parents. Anyhow, when that eye-catching boy you saw before was employed here, he was immediately taken to Lailos. And how could you not have. Look at that moonlight silver hair."
This time, Roviel decided to join the story.
"Indeed, and see how his brown eyes are exactly like that of a baby fawn's?"
"And may we not forget his tallness."
"Mm. And his mysterious origins."
"Not to forget that pair of adorable glasses, aren't they cute?"
Right, he's definitely drunk. Ending her attack at Lailos, Roviel watched in amusement as the illusionist sank lower and lower into the leather seat, trying to desperately to hide himself. Chuckling at the sight, Roviel continued the story from Zyril's intoxicated state.
"Anyways, one day that boy just took it into his head to approach Lailos. He might not look it, but that boy could be very persistent if needed. In the end, Lailos asked my parents to let him go, before running off and eventually began to work for Zyril. That's how I met him, actually. Lailos sent a message over saying how nice his new employer was, and I went snooping over to see."
Syra was now laughing at the top of her lungs, tears threatening to escape down her face. Zyril was now pouring himself a seventh cup of red wine. Where Lailos was, only an empty seat remained. But a flicker of shadow danced around the edge of that seat. Having been silent through the whole time, Vesniel was shaking his head in despair. Children... Pouring out his second cup of tea, the healer tried to change the conversation.
"So, where is Lord Windora? It has been a full day and we are yet to see him."
Kicking at the illusionist's seemly empty chair, Roviel was rewarded with a yelp, that quickly followed by the sudden appearance of its occupant. Seating herself on the balcony awning, Roviel looked over to Vesniel.
"My father? Oh he's out on the world Sehtelok with yet another treaty signing thing. He's been gone for four month, so it's going to be at most another eight month before he comes back. My mother's gone there as well, she always wanted to see a water based world."
The healer nodded, while eyeing Zyril in caution.
"It's hard, being an ambassador."
The sentence would have gone on longer, but Zyril's tuneless humming was getting on his nerves. Jumping up, Vesniel caught his drunken companion with one hand, the other weaving silver flecked patterns in the air. Catching one of the patterns in her eye, Roviel winced in sympathy. Midsummer's Dance? Ouch, that's one hell of an awakening.
The Words worked; one very satisfied looking Vesniel sitting down opposite a now mentally blinded Zyril. Muffing a giggle, Syra suddenly sat up.
"Oh yea, something I've been meaning to ask. Why is it that the maximum length of days one can stay off-world is a full year and one day?"
Roviel shrugged.
"Go ask the Kirin over there, he's supposed to be the expert at strange and bizarre questions like this."
Looking up from the book he was writing in, Lailos frowned.
"It's quite complicated, really. As you know, our world is bound by the endless cycle of the thirteen First Words. Thus everything within this world, including us, is bound within the cycle. But it's not only our world that's like that. Every other world, regardless of it's number of residence or if it's actually safe to live in at all, are all bound by the things that created it. The debate currently going on is the question whether these things that create their world are alive or not, do they have consciousness. But that's off the topic.
When the Roads and other worlds were first discovered, they immediately allowed movement of people between the worlds. But soon it was found that after a period of time, the minds of those people begin to erode. They eventually found that if the people return back to their home world within the time of a year and a day, the erosion would not occur. Those who could not return back in time suffer the erosion effect. This erosion of the mind occures because a living body can not be away from their world's bindings for long, otherwise their mind would slowly unwind almost. The extent and power of theeffect varies from specie to specie. Some go completely insane, while others just can't remember what their safe code was. The erosion could often be reversed when they return back home, but like I said before, it depends upon species. Out of all the species known, it's actually someone in our world that the erosion has absolutely no effect upon. Those Taken could stay in another world without the fear of the slightest effect."
Zyril, who was now sufficiently somber, perked up.
"Why's that? Does it have something to do with the fact that they have spirits living in them?"
Lailos shrugged.
"It's hard to tell, considering that only one out of a ten thousand that's taken over by a spirit survives. The pure absence in number makes their immunity hard to study. What is it, Zyril? You are looking awfully pale. Did Vesniel do something while he was curing you?"
Strange, Zyril was looking quite white, and not a healthy one either. Roviel turned one eye onto Vesniel, who shrugged his shoulders. So it wasn't anything to do with that... Setting down his crystal cup, Zyril gazed in sadness at the table.
"It just occurred to me that I have the risk of being mind-wiped. I've already decided to take up my mother's position, and that would mean I have to off-world. I don't want to lose my mind!"
Snorting at this sudden confession, Syra rolled her eyes.
"If you haven't noticed, every time you get drunk you lose your sanity. It's not as if it's anything new..."
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The bus came to a sliding stop, throwing everyone inside few inches forward. Blinking as she moved back into her seat, she checked the time. Only three minutes have passed. The temple was still twenty minutes away. What was her mind thinking over again? She tried to remember, but in that space of a few seconds, the memory had already faded clean from her mind. It was something from her past, with Syra and Zyril and... what where their names again? There were two more, she was sure of it. But what were they called again? She frowned, trying to remember their faces, but even that was being erased. As every moment passed, a tiny bit more of her pervious life slipped away. Soon, she gave up trying to think. It wasn't important, anyways, otherwise she would have remembered.
The cold air kissed her skin, biting into the nearly healed wound on her cheek. Silently, she gave thanks to Lady Luck again. A tiny bit more, and Kuwabara's Spirit Sword would have sliced more than just skin.
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Someone was shaking her shoulders, and yelling in her ear. Growling at this loud blaring, Roviel stood up, glaring at Kuwabara.
"Just what were you doing?"
Kuwabara stared at her. He was scared out of his wits just then, nearly slicing down onto her. At the final second he swung his arm, narrowly missing her neck and clipping one cheek instead. He was expecting her to start yelling at him, and was prepared to run for his life when the boy noticed that Roviel wasn't moving. She was just kneeling there, looking down at the floor in blank nothingness. Yusuke have noticed this as well, and was now running down the hallway of the Rekai castle, looking for anyone that could help.
But now, half a minute later, she was awake, and snarling as if nothing's happened. She couldn't even remember what her sudden coma was about. All Roviel remembered was seeing sudden blackness, then something. What the something was, she couldn't remember. Kuwabara was getting worried. Were Yusuke and he pushing the youkai too hard? Is that what caused this sudden loss of memory? He hoped not. Even if she's a two centuries old youkai, Roviel was still a lady. And his code prevents him from harming females in any way. He wasn't sure if this was harming, but still, better not to have it on his mind.
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It was a further ten minute walk to the temple, but Roviel didn't mind. The air here was free of the disgusting smells she had come to associate with humans. No cars came here, no stink of petrol, no reek of rubbish carelessly tossed onto the streets. Only trees could be seen here, gentle giants old enough to rival her age. Walking along the worn stone path, amber orbs narrowed as she tried to look through the trees. It better be here. Yusuke's directions were specific enough, but still...
To her relief, a clearing appeared before her, the towering guardians watching silently over the temple at the top of a very long line of stone steps. Sighing into the cold air, Roviel began the tedious climb to the top, one that was slowed by the layer of ice covering over the stone steps. It's going to be a long way up...
"Oh, Roviel. I'm so glad to see you again."
Seeing the figure of Yukina, Roviel grinned back. Dressed in her teal kimono, the okami's delicate features were only accented by the shimmering white around her. Climbing up the few final steps, Roviel let out a loud breath.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Yukina. Tell me, why are you out here for? Aren't you cold?"
Yukina laughed, ruby eyes closing as she shook her head.
"I am an ice apparition; this snow is kinder to me than summer. I have decided to be the welcoming party, as only Hiei and Kurama have arrived. Besides, and I wish to wait for Kazuma, I am worried that he might become lost."
Roviel laughed at that last comment. Yes, it would be like the boy to become lost. Bowing a goodbye to Yukina, Roviel stepped lightly into the temple grounds. It's nice, this place. A tranquil mood fell over this place, one that made it seem as if the world was empty except for here. It's not bad, how did the whelp find this place for the party?
"The temple's closed. I do not admit visitors."
One brow lifted at the speaker, a old lady whose considerable aura washed over her. The black eyes held onto the tawny ones, neither wavering nor blinking.
"I was invited by the whelp, I mean Yusuke. Is this your temple?"
A cynical grin appeared on the old lady's face.
"Whelp, huh? It suits the dimwit."
The sunlit eyes crinkled.
"Dimwit? Hum, that isn't bad..."
The two sets of eyes stared a moment longer, each acknowledging a mutual lull. Looking over Roviel, the old lady huffed into the air.
"I take it you are Roviel, the one that the dimwit and his crew made this party for? I'm Genkai, master of this temple. Kurama is inside, setting up everything."
With that Genkai strolled off, not giving a second glance at Roviel. Still curious over this Genkai figure, the youkai walked into the room Genkai gestured to. As the door slid open, Kurama lifted his head from the half set table. Seeing Roviel, the former fox smiled.
"I am glad to see that at least one of the two special guests has arrived. I was beginning to worry; there is only ten more minutes to eleven o'clock, and I see only three arrivals."
Stepping in, Roviel sniffed at the food. They smelt better than the stuff she buys for lunch and dinner. Who cooked all of these things? As hard as her imagination tried, Roviel found it impossible to see any one of the Reikai Tentai cook. Kurama, perhaps. But the fox spend almost all of his waking moments in school.
"If you were wondering, my kasan and Keiko both offered to help with the food. Botan offered, of cause, but we found a way to discourage her from coming into the kitchen by giving her various errands to run for us."
She raised one brow.
"Your kasan cooked for this party? Does she even know Yuki?"
"No, but if you care to remember, she does know you. If I remembered correctly, you had to cover up my absence from home. She found you to be a polite girl. I had said that this celebration was for you and one of your friends, and so she took it into her mind to cook something for you and Yuki."
She could remember some of what the kitsune was saying. Yes, that time when the red-head got knocked out and was in need of some serious medical treatment, she was the one who drew the short stick and had to tell the worried mother that her son was on a regional science competition. Polite, aye? The corner of her lips twitched. Humans can be so gullible, a few timely smiles, some agreeing murmurs, couple of kind comments. Didn't he tell her? Oh he must have forgotten, after all, it is hard keeping track of all these things while getting a near perfect grade.
"You know, it's actually more than a year since I first met your guys. Two month, to be precise. So why are we having an anniversary now?"
Kurama laughedat this, one hand to the back of his head.
"Yes well, we came up with the idea two weeks ago, and since Kuwabara could not wait until next year..."
"YUKINA!!!!! I'M COMING, MY LOVE!!!!!"
Even though he was at the bottom of the steps, Kuwabara's loud proclamation was still able to reach them. Wincing at the voice, her inspection of the food was cut short as two more figures came into the room. One ran into the warm room, shaking her pink hair free of white snowflakes before running over to greet Roviel and Kurama. The other had to duck for the door, silver furred ears scraping the wooden beam. Grinning that Yuki and Youko finally arrived, Roviel poked at one fork.
"Now all we are missing is Yus..."
"KUWABARA GET OFF ME YOU GREAT IDIOT!"
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOU PUSHED ME URAMESHI!"
"YEA, WELL IT'S YOUR IDEA TO RACE TO THE TOP YOU GREAT..."
"Hn, humans are such imbeciles."
The sulky voice of Hiei drifted from the wooden rafters. Shaking her head, Roviel chuckled. It doesn't matter if her memory's getting a bit clouded, as long as she remembers moments like this.