Kaosuke and Ireika vanished out of sight. Decided they had nothing more to see, Kao concentrated and whisked them away to another memory. Darkness enveloped them, as if they were traveling through a long, unending tunnel. Just when Hayate was going to yell at Kao for how long they had been stuck in that place, a light appeared at the end of it, and without hesitating, Kao led them through it.
They arrived in another forest, only this one was dark, cold, and empty of any life except for the occasional demon larva. The trees were either black as night, or bare of any leaves. The branches reached towards the sky, as if begging the sun to shine. Himeno shivered, rubbing her upper arms trying to get rid of the dead feeling all around her. Then, all of a sudden, they all fell and crashed into the dead branches, creating a few snaps and cracks every few seconds. They all landed with a thud and glared angrily at Kao.
"Why the hell didn't we arrive on the ground?" Hayate barked, getting up and pulling the leafs and twigs out of his hair. "It would have been a lot less painful." Kao rose to his defense.
"Look, here, Air Head! You try carrying eight people on your back through time and see how worn out you get. Then we'll talk!" Kao shot back. His eyes were narrowed, angry with the accusation. Seriously, did these people even know the meaning of gartitude?
"Knock it off!" Go ordered, getting in-between the two and pushing them off of each other. "Save it for some other time. The sooner we get out of here, the better!" Kao and Hayate glared at each other around Go, before Kao started leading the way towards a dark palace on a cliff in the middle of the forest. Go groaned in frustration. These two couldn't get along if their lives depended on it.
"Well that looks suspicious." Kei mumbled sarcastically. One of his eyebrows was raised as he studied the raven colored castle ahead of them. Tall stone walls, towers as high as sky scrapers, and extremely large transport demons. If he didn't know any better, he'd say they had fallen into a fairytale.
"Don't tell me we're going in that!" Himeno exclaimed, pointing a quivering finger at the castle walls. She had never liked dark places. So secluded, so alone, so...dead.
"Fine, I won't tell you we're going in that." Kao shrugged, not waiting for anyone to follow him as he walked towards it. Shin whimpered and ran behind Go's legs, hiding behind them. Without even a pause to consider it, Go leaned over and picked up the child.
"Come on Shin." He muttered. Realizing that they couldn't change Kao's mind, and they didn't want to be left behind, the followed him reluctantly. Mannen and Hajime hid the scared expressions on their faces and walked as close to Go as they could all of the while trying to look brave and fearless. Sasame thought that they were doing a pretty good job, but walked at their shoulders to reassure them nonetheless.
Within moments, they were climbing the dark stone steps and arrived at the large, double doors. Pausing to look at the door, Kao tried out an idea. He reached out slowly towards the door. His hand passed right through it, and without another thought, he walked through it, as if it were an illusion. Himeno met the gaze of everyone before shrugging and walking through the door herself. She figured that if Kao thought it was safe, she'd believe him. Besides, it was all in the past anyways.
"Don't go leaving us behind Tulip Head!" Hayate cried, following her. "You'll get yourself into trouble as usual!"
"Well, we can either stand here with our jaws touching the floor, or we can follow them and hope we can leave soon." Kei spoke up.
"I vote we follow them. Hayate's right. Himeno will most likely find some trouble, and I want to make sure I'm there to help her out." Mannen declared.
"Of course you'd be the one to want to play hero again." Go muttered. Mannen glared before stomping on his foot. Go winced. "You damn brat!" Mannen ignored the comment and leapt through the doors.
"What's wrong with wanting to protect Himeno?" Sasame asked Go raised an eyebrow in annoyance before stepping through, with Hajime clutching onto his jacket. Sasame, who had taken Shin from Go, and Kei followed after them.
Footsteps echoed off of cold stone walls. No light spilled through the many windows littering the hallway walls and the small amount of candle light flickered in non-existing wind. Kao's cloak billowed behind him as he pounded across the floor, keeping his ears open, listening, searching, for what he had to show them next. He stopped suddenly, Himeno almost running into his back had Hayate not steadied her.
Muffled voices were heard from the other side of a door to their right and Kao turned to face it. Thinking for a few seconds, he rested his hand on the wall. Mumbling words beneath his breath, the wall became see-through, like a large window. Ireika and Kaosuke were seen inside, Ireika sitting in a large chair, her index finger rested on a map. Kaosuke leaned over the chair, to examine what she was pointing out to him.
"I can't hear a word they're saying." Himeno said, leaning forward and reaching out to touch the invisible wall. Sasame stepped up as well. "Can you Sasame?" She asked. He nodded wordlessly.
"What are they talking about?" Kei questioned. Sasame held his hand up in a silencing gesture and they all waited, watching him patiently.
"They're planning an attack." He muttered.
"An attack? On who?" Go whispered.
"I'm getting to that." Sasame replied. He paused to listen once more. His face fell, turning surprised and then unhappy. "They're attacking the Leafe Knights. Tomorrow." He told them.
"They're WHAT?" Hayate roared. He whipped around to Kao and would have strangled him had Kei and Go not held him back. Kao glared daggers at him.
"So now you're blaming me for something that happened in the past? Why don't also blame me for Himeno almost dying to?" He growled. Hayate's eyes narrowed as he still struggled to get free.
"Calm down Hayate! You know it's not Kao's fault!" Kei hissed.
"It's not worth it. Besides, you can't change the past." Go, continued.
"He's right, we can't no matter how much we may want to." Kao murmured. He looked up, to stare them all in the eyes, his own empty and emotionless. "We've seen all we need to see here, let's go." He pulled his hand away from the wall and it became solid colored once more. He led the way out of the palace and was followed eagerly this time.
They reached the bottom and Kao turned to face the double doors. He closed his eyes in concentration and they vanished from the spot and arrived back into the meadow they had seen Kaosuke and Ireika betray the Knights.
"Haven't we already been here?" Shin asked, climbing down from Sasame's arms. Kao nodded.
"Yes, but that was a different time. I'd say we're about one month in the future. We're about to witness the battle between my parents and the Leafe Knights." He told them. Himeno's eyes widened.
"A battle? We're about to see a battle?" She whispered. Hayate pulled her close. Again, Kao nodded.
"And it isn't going to be pretty."
"Alright!" Mannen cheered, "we get to see the Leafe Knights kick butt!" Go shot him a disapproving glance.
"You're happy about this why?" He growled. Mannen's nose wrinkled in distaste.
"Okay, okay, no need to get pissy about it." He muttered, crossing his arms over his chest in defiance. Go balled up his fist.
"I'll show you pissy!" He snarled, and then he hit Mannen on top of his head.
"Wait, look over there." Hajime pointed towards a group of people who appeared in the field. "The Leafe Knights have arrived." They all turned and sure enough, one by one, they all arrived in a flash of their respective colors.
"And they've got company." Kei told them, jerking his head in the other direction. Their gazes shifted to spot Ireika and Kaosuke leading a company of five demon larva.
"Thought we should make the odds even." Kaosuke called, creating a bow and quiver made of black light. "Wouldn't want it to be unfair or anything." The Leafe Knight's eyes narrowed.
"Be nice Kaosuke, they're still getting over the pain." Ireika added. Fed up with the insults, the Leafe Knights leapt forward.
"Like those bastards know how to feel pain. They caused your didn't they?" Kaosuke asked her. Furious now, the Leafe Knights gained speed. The Knight of Wind took Kaosuke on, The Knight of Sound attacked Ireika and the others, divide themselves up and began to assail the demon larva.
"Kaosuke!" The Wind Knight called, swinging his sword at Kaosuke's neck. Using his bow to block, Kaosuke pushed him off. "You will pay for betraying us!" He hissed. Kaosuke smirked.
"I will, will I?" He taunted, "we'll just have to see now won't we?" The Wind Knight growled. Then he pulled his sword back, to swing it again only to be intercepted once more.
"Well that's not very nice Daire, is it?" Kaosuke laughed, pushing him off and swinging his heal into Daire's chest. Daire stumbled back, clutching his midsection, but he recovered quickly. Clutching his sword tight, heels digging deep into the earth, he leapt forward once more. Anticipating the move, Kaosuke ducked and swung his bow to the back of Daire's neck. Daire dodged and dropped to the ground, sword still in his hand and he kicked his foot out, knocking Kaosuke's feet from beneath him.
"Sneaky are we?" Kaosuke hissed, doing a back flip to keep from falling.
"Quit with the mind games, they aren't working!" Daire snarled. Kaosuke laughed.
"But, I think they are." And the battle continued. Demon larva trapped knights, wounds were inflicted on both sides. Either way, Himeno couldn't stand it.
"No!" She cried, burying her head in Hayate's shirt. "Knights shouldn't have to fight former comrades! The fighting needs to stop!"
Hayate wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting on her head, soothing her.
"It's okay Himeno, it's that past, it's already over." He murmured. Kao paid them no mind, he just watched the fight rage on. He watched as the knights sacrificed their strength to kill the demon larva, falling to the ground until only the Knight of Sound and Wind were left. They retreated until they were back to back.
"We must end this Daire!" The sound knight hissed over his shoulder, his shield held up, fending off Ireika's attacks. Daire reflected a wave of arrows with his sword and a blast of wind from his hand. He nodded.
"You know what to do, don't you Sakero?" Daire muttered. Sakero nodded and they both leapt forward together, their weapons raised to strike down Ireika.
"No!" Kaosuke screamed and he dove forward, disappearing in a flash of black light, only to reappear in front of Ireika. His arms were spread wide, his bow still clutched firmly in his hands. Before they could stop themselves, Sakero and Daire struck him through the stomach. Their eyes widened. What had just happened?
Kaosuke's sucked in his breath at the impact. His grip on the bow loosened and the weapon clattered to the ground. Each breath was shaky, hard to draw. His knees buckled and he fell back. Sakero and Daire and not moved at all; their arms straight, still holding their swords out. Kaosuke' fell back and off the swords. Before he hit the ground, Ireika caught him.
"No! Kaosuke, Kaosuke, you can't die, not now. Don't leave me!" She called, her cheek resting on his head. He coughed, a small amount of blood pouring from the corner of his mouth. He looked up at her, light blue eyes met dark violet.
"I'm s-s-sorry." He choked out. Ireika shook her head furiously.
"No. Don't talk like that, you're going to be fine!" She insisted, pushing the bangs away from his eyes. He smiled and turned to Sakero and Daire who had come up to kneel next to them, sad expressions plain on their dirtied faces. He smiled at them too. "I'm sorry I, l-left you a-as well." He stuttered. Daire shook his head slowly.
"It's us who should be sorry, we never wanted it to go this far." Daire comforted, speaking both his and Sakero's thoughts.. Kaosuke turned to Ireika once more.
"Kao." He coughed. "My son, Kao." Ireika's face was full of confusion.
"Who? Who are you talking about?" She cried. Kaosuke raised his hand and pointed towards the trees where the others watched. They all followed his finger, but saw nothing. "There is nothing there." She insisted, turning back to him, except for Daire and Sakero. They continued to analyze the trees and the Leafe Knights and Himeno knew then that they could be seen, but felt
un-threatened. Sakero and Daire nodded respectfully and the others did the same.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen." Kao whispered. He raised a hand to Ireika's cheek and she grasped it in her own. "I love you." And then he was gone. Silent tears fell from her eyes, cascading down her face to fall on Kaosuke's skin. She cradled his head to her chest.
"No." Sakero breathed, grasping the hand of his friend.
"This can't be happening." Daire murmured. Ireika's head shot up and she blew them back with a blast from her hand.
"Don't you touch him! Don't you dare touch him!" She yelled. "This is your fault!" She cried. She looked around at all the unconscious knights. "All of your faults, and I will return one day to take back what you have stolen; my happiness!" And with that, she vanished, leaving the lone knights behind.
Sakero and Daire revived the others, and together, the all agreed that it would be better if future generations did not remember the Knight of Darkness and his betrayal. So they hid the memories from themselves, to be awoken when they were needed again.
Kao turned away from the scene, his face empty and cold.
"We have seen all we need to see." He muttered. "The next events are unimportant and unnecessary. I can explain them to you, another day. For now, we can all just come home." Not waiting for a reply, he created a portal and stepped through. The others followed suit minutes later.
They arrived back in the gardens of the Awayuki mansion. Kei glanced up at the sun and was surprised at what he saw.
"That couldn't have taken more than five minutes!" He cried. Kao nodded the affirmative.
"Part of the package deal." He closed his eyes and transformed back into his casual clothes. "Now if you please, I don't want to spend any more time with this Air Head than I have to." He grumbled. "Whether or not you guys choose to believe me, is up to you. I'll catch you later." He called, waving a hand over his shoulder.
Before Hayate could even open his mouth to argue, Kao was out of hearing distance, his hands in his pocket.
"That Bastard. I'll give him a piece of my mind." He muttered under his breath. Himeno tugged on his arm.
"Come on Hayate! Don't be so down on him. Let's go do something!" And she dragged him away. The others split up to go do whatever they wanted to do.
Kao walked along the path, thinking to himself and about what he had just witnessed. Sure he knew he had the ability to see the past, he just never had and watching his father die wasn't a very pleasant thing to experience. He kicked a rock with his shoe and leaned against a tree, sighing heavily and raking his shoulder length silver hair with his fingers.
"Tired Kao?" A voice from the other side of the tree asked. Kao groaned.
"You have no idea. You here for the update Kiru?" Kao asked. Kiru, the counter knight of light stepped out.
"Yes sire."
"I am seriously going to kill that Garu when the plan has been finished." Kao snapped. Kiru chuckled.
"About that report?" Kiru commented. Kao rolled his eyes.
"Such impatience. They've viewed the past and I think they have finally come to believe and trust me. Tell mother the plan can now be fully set into action. Begin the Himeno corruption phase, and kill who ever came up with that name for it." Kao ordered. Kiro snickered.
"I believe it was Garu." Kao snorted at the reply.
"Great, one person less to kill. I'll see you later." He waved and walked off again. Kiru bowed and vanished before he straightened.
- Dark Knigh, Flase Light -
My good that was so hard to type! I have like, no ideas right now, well actually, I have my main idea, just no way to connect them! Please read and review!