I don't own FY
Just so you know this chapter is probably the shortest that will be seen throughout the entire story. This is due to the fact that this is the last chapter before we return to the present. Remember the first chapter led us to the past? If not just scan over the first chapter and you'll probably remember.
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Chichiri's Wanderer – Weakening might just become the least of his worries, but you'd have to be the judge of that in later chapters. We'll see if she can do what's needed as thing progress as well. It all shall remain a mystery for now… I'm feeling very evil. Lol.
Silver Pain – Sorry if the idea of 'paths' confused you. I just meant that she could choose to not help the gods and go home (one path) or choose to help and risk her very life (another path). And I'm glad you liked the battle.
Crimson Firefox – Thank you! I feel my battle scenes could use more work though. Lol. They're marvelous in my head, but when I try to write it down I seem to lack the proper wording. I've gotten much better, as the battle in this story came out really rather well, but there is always work that needs to be done.
Pil-z – Lol. I'm glad you liked it as well. I like wolves, though not as much as you it would seem. Lol. Well that makes a great villain isn't it. Someone you want to love (or like), yet hate at the same time. It seems that so many anime shows have that now that I'm thinking of it XP
Chapter 11
Lily sat herself down at the table quietly and helped herself to peach. As she took a small bite out of it she could feel a pair of eyes watching her, causing her to shift uncomfortably. "Genrou …"
"Nani?" The bandit smiled.
She shook her head and decided not to voice her discomfort, hoping he would figure it out. On a normal day she could have probably dealt with the steady gaze, but with her mind in disarray as it tried to figure out what she was going to do about the gods dilemma she could not handle it.
Chichiri easily noted Lily's discomfort and decided he had better try to distract them both before something happened. "It'll take a few days to get to Kutou, no da, and unless we are fortunate and find whatever it is Byakko wants us to quickly we'll undoubtedly spend a few days searching for it."
Lily nodded and took a larger bite out of the peach, relieved that Tasuki was no long looking at her. She couldn't believe that just the night before she had been all hyped up to go save the gods because now she was afraid of what could happen along the way. She took a sip of her water before taking another bite of her fruit, mind still contemplating what needed to be thought about.
"You're awfully quiet," Tasuki said as he placed down his cup. When Lily did not answer, just nodded, he frowned. "You alrigh'?"
"Ya," she said softly, not looking up to him, "Just thinking."
"It's alright to be afraid," Chichiri voiced, causing Lily to look across the table to him and find his mask removed. "I'd be worried if you weren't actually. You've never been through anything like this, neither have Tasuki or I for that matter, but we've been through tough battles. You just can't give up hope before you even get started."
Lily smiled faintly and nodded before she finished with her peach.
vvv
Taiitsukun hovered before the trio with a serious face. Their bags were all packed and lay at their sides, ready to leave in a moments notice. They had food, water and clean cloths as well as any other necessities for travel.
"The journey will only get tougher from here," Taiitsukun told then. "You must be prepared for anything the moment you leave the safety of this mountain."
"Taiitsukun," Lily began softly, "Has there been any news from Byakko?"
The elder lady shook her head, "I'm afraid not, but take heart in knowing that he has not been captured."
"How do you know?" Lily questioned.
"Just how Seiryuu disappeared with a sign in the form of rain, Byakko would give a sign of some sort should he too fall," Taiitsukun explained. "But worry not for him now. You're task is to go to Kutou and find a way to break Fenrir's hold on the other three gods."
Lily looked down at her feet uneasily. The feeling of a hand upon her head made her look to the bearer, only to find Tasuki giving her a reassuring smile, "Everythin's going to be fine Lil."
Taiitsukun came before her with a white ribbon in her hands. "Byakko wanted me to give this to you before you left." Lily gingerly took the object from her hands and held it in her own questioningly.
The elder smiled at her, "Hope is like a thread, one single strand cannot make anything useful, but when joined with others it can become something wonderful. You have your friends within this world, even if some are not accompanying you, to help you with whatever you need and that alone can create something beyond your recognition."
"Thank you," Lily softly said as she curled her fingers around the material with a small smile, though she had not understood what Taiitsukun had just said.
Taiitsukun nodded, "Now go and do what you feel is right, not what someone else feels is right."
And so they're off! Why did Byakko want Lily to have the ribbon? Was it just so Taiitsukun could give her speech, or does it have another purpose? Will Lily help the gods, or back out?
Find out in the next chapter when we go back to the present!
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