A/N: Update! Don't you just love me : D Anyway, was talking with one of my fave reviewers Suanne (who I owe so much to!) and she said she thought there was a few bits missing to the story. It moves on too quickly after they meet Shuichi, if you get what I mean. So my advice to you, is go back to Chapter II and re-read all the chapters before starting this one. Then you'll understand my very small changes. It's ONLY to do with Shuichi meeting Suguru and Hiro. Nothing else has been edited.
Well, it's here! Chapter V was a very difficult one to write but Final Fantasy music saved me and puts me in the right mood set! Plus, BlooDy-MaY finally updated 'The Game of Love' which totally rocks! I love the story! It's a complete inspiration to us all! Please go and read it: D
Anyway, to put you in the right mood set, the following songs should be listened to on repeat while reading the following sections of this chapter to put you in the correct mood. If you don't own 'em, don't worry 'bout it. If you do, put 'em on now!
Wandering Flame – Final Fantasy X Soundtrack – For the first section to the first rulered line.
Warping to a Different Dimension – Final Fantasy X Soundtrack – For the second section to the second rulered line.
Sprouting – Final Fantasy X Soundtrack – (the song I'm currently listening to) – For all the chapter that remains.
Those songs will put you in the right mood, as they were the songs I was listening to while writing this. Well, read on! Enjoy!
Those who dance with Darkness
Chapter V
He was drifting in between the darkness and light, a Gun Mage who could not find his path. He was stuck on the boarder of Life and Death, floating aimlessly still undecided. If he returned to Life, it was certain that he would still be stuck in the war of a thousand years past… an eternal war that would never end. A struggle between the darkness and the light. But he also felt there was a chance that many a year had passed since he had died and been left here, and that maybe light had won that seemingly eternal battle that raged between the two elements.
His other dilemma, was if he fully crossed over the boarder to Death, he was sure that he would be devoured by the darkness and consumed by it, no longer able to control his own will. The darkness would most surely manipulate him, bringing him back into Life anyway, but as a Lirui. He didn't want to return to Life in that way, however he didn't want to return to Life and find himself stuck in that continuous battle.
But he didn't want to drift here for eternity either.
He was usually a man of firm judgment, who had no difficulty finding his path. But he was now lost. Lost among the decisions he would have to make. Lost in between the boarder of Life and Death. Stuck in between the path to darkness and the path to light. His mind felt so clouded. He couldn't seem to think everything through straight. Just what exactly did he want anyway?
He had been a marvellous Gun Mage back in those days. He had even once been part of the Royal Guard for the King, who had been killed before his eyes just the moment before he died. He had failed his duties to the Kingdom and to his King.
He had felt so useless when he died.
But still, he had a choice to make here. He had been drifting for far too long and he needed to decide what he wanted to do with his remaining life. Because he had not been sent, he was given a chance to return to life now before his barrier keeping him from the darkness failed. The barrier created by his strong soul to keep him from falling into darkness. The barrier given to him from the light. His firm belief had granted him this barrier. His King had believed in the light too, yet he had died. All his family were probably dead now too.
He was a wandering flame, lost on his path to light.
The decision should have been obvious, but his mind was unable to focus. And he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"You must continue our quest to the light. You must finally destroy the darkness for us,"
K looked around at the source of the voice, but saw no one. And he knew who had called out to him, so he used his remaining time to throw himself over the boarder to Life.
His King was calling. He couldn't let him down.
Ryuichi finished the ritual with one final move and then simply stood, watching those final remaining souls be carried off by the winds. But one soul still remained, he noticed. He had felt this for some time now, but he could tell this soul was old. It seemed to have been here for a thousand years, from what he could tell by its unique colour. It had a golden aura around it, unlike any he had seen before. This person must have been a firm believer in the light in his life, and was still holding on to life because he was connected to this world.
But the biggest question Ryuichi couldn't answer himself, was how could this soul be here for a thousand years without being consumed by the darkness?
It was a strange phenomenon that he just couldn't explain. Even with his vast knowledge of Life and Death, he still had no idea how a soul could protect themselves from the darkness from such a long time, and still be connected to this world. Surely this soul would want to move on? Surely this soul would have decided after a thousand years of still being connected to the world?
The soul before him began to glow brighter and brighter. Ryuichi stepped back, stunned as it grew larger, forming the shape of a man older than himself. This man was surrounded by the golden aura, which then dissipated, scattering it to the winds, leaving the figure behind.
It was a blond haired Gun Mage as far as Ryuichi could tell, wearing a Gun Mage's armour and he had a strange crest on the breast plate.
"A Gun Mage of the Royal Guard?" Ryuichi asked, more to himself than the figure. The man before him opened his eyes, and looked round, taking in the scenery.
"I am K, of the Royal Guard in service to our King, the great Lord Daisuke Shindou. Where is this place?" he asked Ryuichi. Ryuichi blinked.
"You really are a soul from a thousand years ago!" he exclaimed, disbelieving the fact "The Kingdom collapsed over a thousand years ago!"
K's eyes widened "Who are you?"
"I am the summoner Ryuichi, of the Sakuma family," Ryuichi explained.
"The Sakuma family? I cannot say I have heard of them," K replied. Ryuichi was stunned. The Sakuma family had been famous for many years as the family of summoners who reigned over water and protected the city of Aquroya with their lives. It was simply impossible to encounter someone from this generation who hadn't heard of them.
"So, you must have been alive one thousand years ago…" he whispered. K looked confused.
"Explain to me why you keep drawing that conclusion. Just what is going on here?" he asked.
"You see, the Royal Guard existed over a thousand years ago, when this world had a Kingdom. The Kingdom collapsed after a war broke out and the King was killed; a war between light and darkness which almost destroyed the world. But the King's son, a young summoner, defeated the darkness with the power of love. And now… well, this is the result of a new feud. This battle between light and darkness has been going on for almost five years now, and there's been no hope for a saviour yet. I am on a quest, to find the light and the person who will lead us to the light, as the legend of the Seer says that the saviour who will save us all is an descendant of the King and also a summoner, with firm belief in the light," Ryuichi explained.
K stood for a few moments, in silence, taking all this new information in. He had been dead for a thousand years? It was completely unbelievable! He knew it would have been a long time, but he had lost all track of time in that area between Life and Death…
"I would like to join you on your quest. I was once a member of the Royal Guard, and it is my duty to protect any descendants of the King, no matter how far into history they go. And also, I wish to defeat the darkness too,"
Ryuichi gaped for a few moments, then regained his composure and smiled.
"Anyone who wishes to destroy the darkness is welcome on my quest. Thank you for your offer,"
And in that moment, a bond was formed between the two men of completely different generations. A bond called friendship, between these two with a single wish. To destroy the darkness.
A light of hope glimmered in the darkness. The two set off.
The believers marched on, continuing their grand journey to find the light and destroy the darkness. They kept their chins held high, and they had strong spirits, with wills of steel and hearts stronger than the toughest metal. They were an inspiration to many, but their inspiration was their Captains. Those Captains who had encouraged them to keep on their quest. Those two strong, determined Captains that everyone looked up to.
Fujisaki scowled at their new member for the fifth time that day. He didn't like this boy one bit. There was something very odd about him. His resistance to the darkness was more than incredible, it was almost indestructible. And not to mention he was a summoner! There were very few summoners left in the world, and any summoners there were left were very well known about. But he knew nothing about this boy's family or himself. There was not even an accent that might possibly tell them where he came from. All they knew about him was his name, that he had a powerful resistance to the darkness and that he was a summoner. That should have been enough. But Fujisaki just didn't like this boy. He gave off an odd vibe… something which Fujisaki knew Nakano couldn't sense.
Speaking of Nakano, he and the boy were chatting awfully comfortably… almost as if they had been friends all their lives. This was seriously annoying Fujisaki. He knew there was something not right about that boy!
"Captain Fujisaki, what you are experiencing is jealousy!" said one of the soldiers behind him. Fujisaki whirled round and sent a glare at the speaker, a young women by the name of Ayaka who was now grinning rather smugly after seeing the effects her comment had on her Captain. She always seemed to have fun teasing him, and she knew it got him annoyed so she did it all the more. Fujisaki growled and turned away. He couldn't hurt her or even shoot back a worse comment because she also happened to be Nakano's girlfriend… although Nakano would never admit that.
"Oh, and that's my girlfriend, Ayaka," Nakano said, pointing behind him and at Ayaka. Fujisaki growled. So now his fellow Captain was even telling this new boy about his love life? Just what was going on in his Captain's head!
"She's pretty Hiro," Shuichi replied, smiling and waving at Ayaka who waved back. More growling was emitted by Fujisaki. And now Nakano was allowing the boy to call him by his first name too? Just what was it with this boy that made the Captain feel so friendly!
"Suguru, come on! Quit growling and hurry up!" Shuichi called. Fujisaki nearly lost his control then. Now this kid was allowed to call him by his first name too!
"Yeah Suguru! Just because you're a Captain doesn't mean you can be slow! Set an example for these wonderful people!" Nakano added, grinning at Fujisaki who was positively fuming at this point. Even his fellow Captain was calling his by his first name! It was unbelievable!
Ayaka sniggered and brushed past him.
"Better hurry up Sugs!"
"Grrrrrrrr!"
The troops behind him laughed like never before. For once their journey was full of laughter and energy.
They strode on.
A/N: Whoops! Ayaka seems a bit OOC, doesn't she? Well she probably would have to get a little more backbone if she was going to be in the troops of Anaeria. They're a group of tough fighters, you know!
I couldn't help but have Suguru act the way he does at the end of the chapter. This story needs a bit of light somewhere, and this was totally the right thing to add to bring that light, I think. You can disagree with me, but I still enjoyed writing that ending piece. It seems as if Hiro and Shuichi are becoming very close, which exactly how they should be. And finally! K made an appearance! I was wondering how to add him in, and I was re-reading the Abhorsen trilogy and I got a brilliant idea! And then I blended it with a bit of Final Fantasy and my own world-ish randomness, and it just sorta fit. Although it's a bit confusing… might have to edit it later…
I'm planning to make a list of songs which are good for each section of the story, so you can be put in the right mood when you read it. The songs in the top Author's notes were the ones you should have listened to while reading each bit, and it should have put you in the right mood set for it afterwards. Those were the songs I was listening to when I wrote this, so it kinda works, you know? Final Fantasy Music always inspires me. It's really nicely written and planned out and I just love it! –hugs FF CD collections-
Oh, any ideas for a new title for this story? I don't like its current title and I'm thinking of changing it, so your ideas are very welcome!
Finally, a big thanks to all my friend on You are what made this story come alive! Special big hugs to BlooDy-MaY, who was the inspiration for this story, and to Dejichan4444, whose reviews are always encouraging and supportive and give me the confidence to stick with it. You two totally rock! –hugs- And I can't forget to thank Suanne for her constant help while I'm editing the chapters. Seriously the story wouldn't be half as good as it is without you!
Well, that's it from me!
Ja Ne!
- Hikari-kun -