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Chapter 9
Lily's eyes snapped open, but were completely out of focus. She quickly found that she couldn't move because of two things. One, someone or something was holding her down, and two her body seemed to be slightly paralyzed. The later she figured was due to her lack of oxygen intake that was just starting to stabilize and from the throbbing originating from her neck.
'Had the dream been real!' Her mind screamed in horror.
"Lily are you alright?" the voice she recognized as Tasuki's asked, voice full of worry and concern.
Her eyes finally came into focus and she could see his very worried face looking down at her. "Genrou?"
"You had us worried," a mask-less Chichiri said as he came into her view.
"Wha-what happened?" Lily asked, but regretted it as her throat throbbed angrily.
"We have no idea," Tasuki told her, ""We jus' came in to get ya for supper and you looked as if ya were strugglin' 'gainst somethin'," he paused a moment, "Strangled even."
"And you were fading out," Chichiri added.
"Fading?" Lily asked in confusion.
"Hai," Chichiri told her with a nod.
Taiitsukun appeared in the room with two Nyan-Nyan's at her side, they quickly ran to Lily however with a cry of, "We'll heal!"
"You had an unfortunate meeting with the one behind the rising problems," Taiitsukun told her as she floated over.
"He seemed so nice at first," Lily said after the Nyan-Nyan's were done healing her.
Taiitsukun nodded, "He was undoubtedly trying to trick you to joining him so that the threat towards him would be done with." She smiled down at the girl, "But you were wise enough to catch onto this and even brave enough to stand up against him unarmed."
"Brave or foolish?" Lily asked, more to herself than anyone else.
"Brave," Taiitsukun answered. "Most people would have given in to him in fear, or would have died of their fright. Standing up to a demon such as him is no small feat child."
Tasuki released his grip on Lily's shoulders as she moved to sit up. "I don't get it," she began, "What do I have to do with any of this?"
"That is a question that will be answered very shortly," Taiitsukun told her. "Now come, you all must be hungry."
Lily didn't understand the answer, "How do you expect me to eat without an answer. Especially after that encounter!"
Taiitsukun said nothing as she floated out of the room with the Nyan-Nyan's running after her.
Chichiri frowned, but said, "She has her reasons, even though sometimes they don't make sense at first."
"She could have still said somethin' useful," Tasuki said a bit bitterly as he stood and helped Lily to her feet.
Lily walked to the door, unsteady at first, before sighing. She was really starting to get frightened with everything that was going on and it only seemed to get worse as time went on. There was now no doubt in her mind that she was somehow going to be involved in the endeavor, but for good or ill she couldn't decipher, especially after her dream. 'Encounter,' she mentally corrected herself.
Tasuki ruffled her hair, stealing her from her thoughts, "Let's go get somethin' to eat."
With a nod the three of them went off down the hall towards the dining area. No words passed between them, leaving an awkward silence to fall upon them.
As they neared the dining area the hairs of the back of Lily's neck stood on end. With a quick glace to the two seshi's at her sides she could tell they felt something as well. She figured, however, that the two of them were more in tuned to it than she, as they had powers from their god.
That's when she heard a masculine voice like none she had ever known enter her mind, 'I have been anxious to meet you Lily Katalien. There is much we must discuss, but there is little time left to do so."
Lily stopped and looked around, 'Who was that?' She became frightened that it might just be Fenrir trying to trick her once again.
"You alright Lily?" Chichiri asked as he looked at her in worry, his mask still off.
She looked to him and quickly nodded, "Just fine." She was lying and the look on his face proved that he knew it, but he didn't press the matter as he waved for her to keep walking.
As soon as they entered the dining are Lily knew just who had contacted her telepathically. On the other end of the room, standing next to Tasiitsukun, was a wondrous male being that didn't have the air of malice about him like Fenrir had. In fact the air about him felt peaceful, but strong at the same time.
The being had beautiful silver hair, golden eyes and a fair face. Upon his head was a golden circlet with a golden like tiger paw sticking out from the center of it (in the middle of his forehead) and silver armor that had golden details throughout it.
"Byakko," Chichiri breathed in disbelief.
"Sit," Taiitsukun commanded them. They all complied quickly and quietly.
"I am glad that Fenrir had not been able to steal you away," Byakko said with a small smile once everyone was seated. Everyone looked to him in awe, shock and confusion. "I haven't much time here and so I shall not delay any longer."
With that he went on to telling them the tale that would shock them to a degree that they had never before felt. "A few short weeks ago a dark and powerful shadow ascended upon the realm of the gods. Never before has such a feat been accomplished and the matters are far worse than even that detail, as the shadow had snuck in unnoticed by all four of us until it was too late."
"Genbu was the first to be captured by the shadow known as Fenrir, but he had not gone easily. Genbu was never one to fight, but he proved very capable of holding the enemy off for a great deal of time, however by the time we arrived the battle was over and both were gone."
"Our defenses, so to speak, were on full alert after the event. All attempts to find our fellow god were laid to ruin as not even a trace of either him or his captor was to be found. It seemed as if both had ceased to exist."
"Suzaku was the next to fall, but again, it was not without a great battle among them. Seiryuu had been closest to the battle and was quick to aid his fellow god. I, however, had been out in search of Genbu, as we had not given up on out hopes of find him, and was many leagues away when it had occurred."
"Upon catching wind of the strife I was quick to leave behind what I was doing and ran towards my battling allies. By the time I arrived Suzaku was gone and Seiryuu weakening from a strange force I could not locate. Upon sighting me Fenrir took off, knowing he could not take on a fully energized god after dealing with one and what would have been two had I not arrived when I had."
"Seiryuu was quick to recover. The two of us knew what had to be done; call for aid," he smiled to Lily before continuing, "My miko was deceased and Seiryuu's miko had lost all ability to summon him upon her summons of Genbu when Tenkou first presented himself two and a half years ago."
"We could not call for new miko's since our purpose through that matter of summons had come to a close and the shinzho's had all been used. Our only other choice was to try and contact another, one who would not serve as a miko, but rather serve as something even greater. It proved a very difficult task however as we learned we could not summon just anyone. We had to call upon a female who knew of the events that had occurred here and knew someone from this world that still existed within it, as they would be the medium for their summons."
At the surprised looks on everyone's face, except for that of Taiitsukun's, he nodded knowing what they were thinking. "Yes, Lily was just that sort of person. She knew of both the endeavors that had occurred within this world and a Suzaku seshi who still dwells here. It had not mattered that she had met you, Tasuki, in her world, all that mattered was that you were in this world when she was summoned."
"The events had not been pre-planned however. Tasuki's appearance in Lily's world had been an odd situation as none of us had sent him there. However it did not seem to be something that needed immediate attention as the world was calm, being that it was before Fenrir made his appearance. But when he had, Takuki was brought back for Suzaku knew all living seshi's, with the exception of Tamahome as he had become Taka, should be within their rightful world as their power might be needed."
He looked directly into Lily's eyes, not letting them to leave his, all traces of a smile gone from his fair face. "You're purpose here Lily goes far beyond your reckoning. The fates of millions rests in the actions that you will make in the near future, so you must be sure to think everything you do through to the dullest of aspects. Nothing should go over looked."
"I am not saying you have to aid us, but I ask you to consider it," he closed his eyes a moment, "I shall amend that statement as I know my allies would given this predicament. I, Byakko, the tiger god of the western region of Sairou, beg of you to aid in the release of my fellow gods."
Everyone, even Taiitsukun, was shocked beyond logical thought at that statement. A god was begging a mortal to aid him! Shouldn't it be the other way around? It didn't make sense to anyone. A god should not be begging for aid!
"H-How can I do- that?" Lily asked when enough shock had slipped away to think and speak, which had been many moments later. "I couldn't even stand against Fenrir in my dream, or whatever it was."
Byakko nodded, "I am aware of your strife with the him, but I am also aware of an ability that lies within you. I am afraid I cannot speak of it, as you must realize it on your own, much like all the seshi's had to." At Lily's very confused look he added, "You must believe in both yourself and in your allies. You must believe beyond that of your heart, but with your entire being. That is all I am able to say on that matter."
"Byakko…" Chichiri began, pausing to make sure he was allowed to speak. When Byakko turned his gaze to him he asked, "What became of Seiryuu?"
The tiger god in human form sighed, "He was captured just over a weak ago. I'm sure you remember the after effects of his disappearance."
"You mean the rain storm?" Chichiri asked in polite confusion.
Byakko nodded, "Within twelve hours after his capture all four countries felt the ripples of his disappearance, but none like the country of his domain, Kutou. "
Lily looked to be counting things on her fingers as she mumbled to herself, "Genbu is associated with stability, wisdom and longevity. Suzaku is associated with power and prosperity as well as love and aggression. Seiryuu is associated with inflicting fears and being invincible, and is surrounded by rain clouds." She looked up, not realizing she had just said all that aloud, "Why is it that Seiryuu was the only one to give of signs of being captured when the other two could have as well?"
"It's Seiryuu," Tasuki mumbled, earning a glare from Taiitsukun that shut him up.
"He was not," Byakko began to explain, "His were just more widely known. When Genbu disappeared stability began to fall in his province and it is quickly heading outward. With Suzaku, the capital of Konan is falling as its years of prosperity are now dying with his disappearance. The royal family is in trouble."
"Houki, Boushin," Chichiri breathed in worry.
Byakko nodded, "They have entered hard times now with Suzaku's disappearance, but it seems all problems as of yet are still within the city itself. However, I am not sure as to how long that will continue to last. Things are worsening by the day and I fear civil wars will soon brake out if something is not done and done quickly."
"Do we go to the capital first?" Lily asked the question that had been brewing on the minds of both seshi's.
"No," Byakko said quickly and firmly. "To go there will cause more trouble than you can possibly imagine. And you would be walking right into Fenrir's clutches as he seems to take pleasure in the chaos and disorder caused by the absence of the gods."
Lily gently bit the knuckle of her right index finger as she thought. Byakko seemed to have read her thoughts as he said, "First you should head to the north east."
Tasuki looked strait at the god, "That would take us right to-"
"Kutou," Byakko finished for him. "I have been trying to trace a region of origination from Fenrir, and I have gotten a small hint towards that region. I am not exactly sure on what you should be looking for, but perhaps you will know when you see it."
At that moment Byakko began to fade, "Before I leave you should know that while the powers Suzaku granted to you normally recharges themselves after every use you will find that now it will simply become less and less. Soon that power will cease to be if he and the rest of the gods are not released."
He looked to Lily, he was almost completely gone now, "If you wish to aid us Lily head towards Kutou. I shall hunt for more information and hope I am not caught. Please, I beg of you to give us your aid, it is all we have left." With that he was gone, his time on the mortal plane had expired, being that he did not want to attract unwanted attention towards himself.
Lily stood with determination of new accounts written on her face, "I guess we have a place to begin. We should set off at once."
"Nonsense," Taiitsukun said as she watched the girl. "You are already weary from travel, not to mention your encounter, and you must let all that you have heard sink in."
"We don't have time!" Lily yelled. She quickly realized she had raised her voice in something that wasn't a cry of fright and that both scared and startled herself.
Taiitsukun smiled, "It is good to see that you are more than willing to help the gods, but you will be of no use if you run in into this without understanding what information has been given to you. It is more than likely that you will get yourself killed by doing such a thing and then the gods would truly be left at the mercy of this beast."
Lily nodded and sat down, head bowed in embarrassment, "I'm sorry."
"Do not be child," Taiitsukun told her, "Your determination will come in handy when you leave within a day or two. For now," she clapped her hands, "You must all eat and regain your strength."
Nyan-Nyan's came in with many dishes of different foods and laid them out on the table for the trio to enjoy, as it would be one of the last large meals they would have for some time.
So Byakko is begging for help… very odd indeed for a god. What are they to look for? How will Lily face off with her enemy next they meet?
Find out as things progress.
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