Disclaimer: I'm not the genius Yuu Watase. =)
Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated as quick as I used to. I'm now just really out of ideas of how to go on. I mean interesting and exciting ideas. The last chapter wasn't really even finished I just cut it off there, and it was pretty much nothing too, just a teensy bit to intro Kaishi and Boushin. This chapter will have more to it though, so enjoy. =D
Chapter Thirteen: Fate and Destiny
Ryo, Tasuki, Chichiri and Kaishi walked into the dining room. By that time, Reiko and Boushin were already done with their breakfast.
"What took you guys so long?" Reiko said amidst the empty plates.
"Sorry, we got a bit held up, no da" Reiko recognized the boy with the band on his head. The boy noticed she was looking at him and he immediatly went to her and knelt on his knee.
"Princess Reiko," he bowed his head. "I am truly sorry for what I had done last night. I didn't mean to frighten you, I had to do it Princess. For our country." Reiko was speechless.
"Kaishi," Ryo interjected. "Have your breakfast while I explain to the Princess."
The four men took their seats. Reiko and Boushin listened intently to Ryo. Ryo explained to her the plight of her people, of their losing hope, of their need for the presence of the Princess. Kaishi, Tasuki and Chichiri ate, but their attention was towards Ryo.
"But I can't go back," Reiko said.
"I know that," Ryo told her. "That's why I told Kaishi you can't because you've got other plans. You're still going to Mount Taikyoku right?"
"Yes, of course I am."
"Well, then since we all have already eaten our breakfast, we can go before noon." The others had already finished eating by the time Ryo had finished his story.
All of them were quite surprised by Ryo's eagerness.
"Master Ryo," Kaishi looked down. "May I... I mean if you would allow it... may I, could I go with the Princess? Since I can't bring her back to Hokkan, as you wished, I might be of help here with her."
"I thought you'd never ask. I need somebody to come along who knows the current news in Hokkan. But tell me, boy, were you sent here, or was your coming here of your own accord?"
Kaishi looked into the grey eyes. "The Captain sent me, Sir. I'm his right-hand man within the Militants, Sir."
"But you're just a boy."
"Age has no effect on my reliability and skill, Sir, no offence though."
Ryo nodded. "However, this whole business is very risky Kaishi, why didn't you stay home and take care of your family?"
"I have no family, Sir. My parents were involved with the Militants. They were killed when Nakuto caught them doing their duty. I have no brothers or sisters."
"So the Captain took you in?"
"Yes, Sir"
"May I ask something no da?" Chichiri said behind his smiling mask. "I felt you use magic to free yourself from the cell. How did you learn it?"
"Monks are not the only ones who have access to the Magic Arts. Any commoner in Hokkan can learn Magic."
"Kaishi," Chichiri said. "We both know Magic isn't something any other person can learn, no da. It requires more than just words and flicks of the hands. It took me 3 years to be who I am now."
"I don't mean to be disrespectful, but my business is my own." Chichiri kept quiet. The boy would not tell him anything. For a minute or two everyone else too was silent.
"So," Reiko broke the silence. "Ryo, I don't think you've met Empress' Houki's son Boushin."
"Good morning," Ryo gave a small nod.
"Good morning," Boushin replied cheerfully. "May I know when you all will be back from Mount Taikyoku?"
"We're not sure, no da." Chichiri told the Empress' son. "It all depends on Taiitsu-kun."
"Taiitsu-kun?" Boushin thought for a moment. "Is she that ugly old woman who looks more like a decaying bulldog? Mother told me about her."
Tasuki chuckled. Reiko giggled. Ryo and Kaishi were amused with Boushin's description. Chichiri just crossed his arms. "Sire, I do not deny she needs a facelift, but that was harsh, no da."
Boushin's face went pink. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. It's just that mother described her like that."
Tasuki and Reiko laughed hilariously.
Reiko, Tasuki, Chichiri, Ryo and Kaishi prepared to go to Mount Taikyoku. They said their goodbyes to the Empress and Boushin.
"You'll be back, right Rei-chan?" Boushin pleaded Reiko.
"Of course I will," Reiko hugged him. "Then when this is all over, I'll bring you over to Hokkan. We could watch the sunrise together."
Boushin nodded. "See you soon,"
"Very soon. I promise I won't take too long." Reiko smiled.
"Alright then," Chichiri motioned for them to come near him. "Hold on, it may get a bit bumpy, no da." Reiko shut her eyes. She felt a sudden rush of wind, then it died down to a small breeze. She opened her eyes and screamed.
Taiitsu-kun looked at her, irritated. "Don't tell me, what is it this time? A mutated chihuahua?"
"IT'S A DECOMPOSING BULLDOG!!" Reiko covered her eyes.
"Close enough," Taiitsu-kun told herself. "Chichiri, nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you too, no da."
"Tasuki," Taiitsu-kun floated towards the bandit. He shifted backwards a little, feeling uncomfortable just looking at Taiitsu-kun. "I see you haven't done anything with those teeth of yours." Just then, huge bubbles appeared and little green-haired girls popped out from them.
"We could fix it!" They all exclaimed. As they crowded around Tasuki's mouth, he sent them flying off in an instant.
"They never learn do they." Tasuki said casually. Reiko found it a bit disturbing.
Taiitsu-kun then went on to Ryo and Kaishi.
"Ryota, lay off fang-boy a little. He's not as bad as you think." Ryo looked at her, puzzled. How did she know?
"Kaishi... I know you." Taiitsu-kun looked at him gravely. "Choose your allies carefully, boy." Kaishi did not understand what she meant.
She then went back to Reiko. "Have you recovered from the shock, Princess? Or do you need time to get over it?"
"No. I mean yes, no no, yes." Reiko shook and nodded her head.
"Get a hold of yourself, girl!" Taiitsu-kun said impatiently. "The world isn't overrun with beautiful people." Reiko stood, still shocked.
"Let's move on, shall we?" Taiitsu-kun lead the five into a room. "As I understand, you have come here to seek my help."
"Y-yes," Reiko stammered. "I-i need your help. I want to be able to control m-my visions."
"I see. But you do understand that this isn't something that can be done overnight. It requires hard work and perseverance."
"Yes yes, of course. I'll do anything, anything at all." Reiko said, spreading her arms in excitement. A pain went up her elbow and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying out.
"We'll have to do something about that first," Taiitsu-kun looked at her bandages. "Nyan nyan!" The same little girls came running into the room.
"Gotta fix her elbow! Gotta fix her fingers too! Oooh, her fingers are in pieces!" Reiko winced in pain as the green haired girls tended to her injuries. "It'll heal faster like this! We fixed them!"
"Thank you Nyan nyan, you may go now." Taiitsu-kun instructed them.
"We'll fix your face too, Taiitsu-kun!" The little girls went flying through the roof. Reiko found this disturbing too.
"Let's carry on," Taiitsu-kun continued. "I can help you with your powers, but I would require your full devotion and determination. Learning to control your visions does not solely result from me, it would need to come from within yourself."
"As the Princess of Hokkan," Reiko nodded. "I will do it."
Reiko lost count of the days she spent at Mount Taikyoku. Her days were spent meditating and trying to concetrate on centering her thoughts on others. Taiitsu-kun had chosen Ryo as her first guinea pig. Ryo was very close to Reiko, so any insight into his life did not matter much. He was made to think of a certain event in his childhood. Reiko tried and tried but her efforts were fruitless.
"I can't do it!" Reiko almost gave up.
"Reiko, you have to believe that you can do it. Of course you can't if you think that way." Ryo told her. Tasuki, Chichiri and Kaishi just sat around to watch her. Reiko looked at them and went on trying.
She looked into her cousin's misty grey eyes. She concentrated and searched deeper and deeper into the placid grey pools. At first, she still couldn't get anything. She focused herself more. Then, quite suddenly, flashes of a girl and boy filled her mind. A green turtle, broken pieces. Her tears upon the rug, a comforting hand. A fateful step and an expected catch.
"Ryo! The day of my first vision!" Reiko's eyes were bright.
"Wait," Ryo said, thinking. "How would you know if it isn't just you recalling your own memories? How can you tell the difference between a vision and your own memories?"
"Good question, Ryo, how do you tell?" Taiitsu-kun asked, though sounding like she knew the answer. "I'll answer that for your cousin. You see, Reiko wouldn't have known which event in your life you were thinking about, would she? And she did See the right one."
"But then it's just like reading my mind." Ryo pointed out.
"You idiot," Taiitsu-kun grew impatient. "She Sees things when the event itself is in focus. For example, when you arrived in Konan, you were so intent on seeing Reiko again, and she Saw you talking to the Empress. Same thing. And now, you were thinking of that event, so she could See it. It's different from reading minds. Reiko can See things even if you were on the other side of the continent. She just has to learn how to focus her thoughts on a particular subject."
Ryo finally stopped his questions. "Ok then, good job Reiko. That's step number one."
Taiitsu-kun then sent Chichiri off somewhere quite far and told him to do something, anything, and concentrate on it. This took Reiko much longer, and she felt bad for making Chichiri go off for so long. Finally, she Saw Chichiri siting on a rock by a lake fishing. Reiko was estatic over her new found control. Her skills were improving.
Reiko then tried to See Kaishi's future. Taiitsu-kun had told her "This could prove to be even harder than Seeing the past and present because unlike those two, the future is not something one can focus on. However, it is possible as you have proved from your first vision. You saw yourself breaking the jade piece. That was the future."
Reiko took many days to glimpse into Kaishi's future. Finally, she Saw Kaishi standing before thousands of people applauding. This came to her in a sudden flash and she didn't See much.
Taiitsu-kun never considered to use Tasuki for Reiko's training. Reiko noticed it, but didn't mention anything.
"Taiitsu-kun, can I ask you something?" Reiko had another question.
"Yes child?"
"Well, my first vision was of the jade tutle breaking, but eventually, it didn't break. I thought what I Saw was the definate future."
"Reiko, that was your very first vision. If you recall, shortly before giving your father the gift, you had another vision. Can you remember?"
Reiko thought for a while. "Oh yeah! Just before tripping over my dress, I had another vision. I saw Ryo catch me an the turtle. But Taiitsu-kun... I thought the future was pre-destined. I thought it can't be changed."
"Take note of the word thought, Reiko. You thought that what you said is right. But they are all just common beliefs and myths. Yes, there is such thing called Fate, but the future can be altered by the slightest changes in the direction of any one person's life. The future is ever changing Princess, from your every step and every breath."
Reiko thought about it. She was still very confused over the concept of the future and of Fate. Taiitsu-kun then let her stop training and allowed her a few days rest.
Reiko spent her days getting to know the rest better. She and Kaishi got along very well despite their first encounter. Ryo did some catching up with his cousin and they realised how much they missed each other. Chichiri on the other hand, tried to teach Reiko how to fish. Reiko managed to spend time with Tasuki too.
"Gen-chan," Tasuki smiled at the familiar voice calling him. "Thank you for staying with me."
"No problem, kid."
Reiko still wondered why Taiitsu-kun never let her try to See Tasuki's past or present or future. She wanted to, but at the same time, she felt like it was an invasion on his privacy. It was just like how she Saw Reirei. It won't hurt if he doesn't know I Saw anything. Reiko reasoned with herself. As they stood there in silence, watching the clouds pass by, she focused her mind on Tasuki. As the flashes came to her, her heart became heavy, and she wanted to cry out.
She saw herself. The flame haired man in her arms. The blood, the tears. The last whispered words, the last kiss. A final goodbye and a smile before the amber eyes slept forever.
Yoohoo. New reviewer! Thanks Frenzane!
Rahrahrahrah. OH NO! What's gonna happen next!? You all know who's gonna die. MUAHAHA. lol. Alrightyy then. Reviews please? Thanks. =)