I am back! I can't believe it's been so long and I've been stuck in this chapter for awhile now. I just want be done with it lol. Tried my best to perfect it so hope it turns out ok. I'd be writing my first fighting scene for the next chapter. A big challenge for me so wish me luck:')
CHAPTER THREE
The next morning comes with Mokona cheerful voice, trying to wake everyone up. Fai isn't usually a morning person, unlike the ninja, who during their short stay in Hanshin City had always been the first to wake up. The ninja's piercing gaze had jolted him out of his slumber for more than a few times, before he realised it's from a companion, instead of a threat. Or — from his king, which is too depressing to think about this early in the morning.
But it brings Fai's mind to the teen that is still slumped into the futon at the far corner of their room, golden hair peaking out. Edward, the new member of their travel group, who is a total surprise and an enigma. Fai can still recall the moment he arrived the Dimension Witch's shop, when he saw a boy draped in olive cape holding a girl kneeling in front of him, and dark cloak billowing around a tall man beside him. In that moment, he'd felt the worst chill climb up his spine, freezing him in the cold rain with a dreading sense of deja vu. A memory from far, far away suddenly came to the surface. He remembered a man sentencing his fate with a tone much colder than freezing snow among sorrow and pain.
"…a princess who lost her memories as feathers…"
"…protect her and kill all obstacles…"
"…you need to fix your mistakes, save your brother…"
In that instant at the dimension shop, when the familiar warmth of his phoenix tattoo leaving his back floating towards the witch, he felt the gut-wrenching urge to vomit as he was brutally reminded about his origin.
Always a bad omen.
He felt like he had board a train with its speed steadily picking up rushing towards a violent deadly crash, and he'd be the cause of it. He hid it well from his companions and he hid it well from himself, but some part of him knew the ugly twisting at the bottom of his stomach and the dread has always been there since the start of their journey despite how hard he tried to smile.
So, imagine when the Witch told them about the new traveller. Fai is sure he has not heard anything about a boy with golden eyes as fierce as the wildfire and equally golden locks. It would be hard to forget such distinct features. However even after wrecking his brain on a past he does not ever want to think about again, he can't recall a drop of information about the blond kid. The fact that Edward is an unknown and the only one person who may not be a factor linking to Fai's own duty and fate makes him so curious. (And maybe wary, or relieved. He isn't sure.) There's a million questions in his mind.
Who is he?
Ed was cordial when they talked. Answering Fai's slightly probing questions with as much sincerity as he could give. Confident with his alchemical skills, too. Calling upon the power with ease. So far Fai hasn't seen him in battle but he's willing to bet his combat skills won't be anything below amateur level. From what he could see about how the boy held himself, he is capable. An unpredictable chess piece with power. A wild card that can change the whole game. Isn't that something?
Is the boy going to affect his mission? Does it means that he could be an obstacle one day and he'd have no choice but to — No. He tried not to think too much on it, but how could he not? When all these dark dirty secrets has been dragging him down since like forever.
Then he feels red piercing eyes on him again. He turns around on his futon to face the burning gaze with an easy smile. "Good morning, Kuropi!"
The effect of the nickname is instant, the ninja's looks like he'd be jumping up and down if it isn't so early in the morning. His death glare still makes Fai want to giggle. Because oh god, it is so easy to makes him angry.
"Good morning, Fai-san, Kurogane-san." Syaoran greets them with a smile before getting up to check on Sakura in the other room.
"Ed is still sleeping?"
"Oh no, it won't do!" Mokona jumps up on her feet. "The most useful skills among Mokona's 108 secret abilities: Instant Wake!" The white rabbit made the announcement as she bounces toward the face of the poor kid.
Edward wakes startled badly by Mokana's small fluffy feet stomping on his cheeks the next morning. And he is so close to bashing the thing to the opposite wall with his automail out of reflexes if his limbs are not so tangled under the thick comforter of the futon.
"Oooh, finally Ed is waking!" He grunts when Mokona keeps on poking his face. Said culprit is even squealing excitedly as she squishes his cheek muscle happily. Grabbing the rabbit with his hand, he detaches it from his face forcefully and launch it across the room over Fai's head into Kurogane's lap. The ninja doesn't seem happy with it but Ed doesn't care. Honestly he can understand the ninja's urge to suffocate this thing sometimes. He has half a mind to do so now. Then he notices the other occupants in the room.
"Good morning, Ed. Had a good night sleep?" Fai asks grinning, clearly entertained by the sight of his waking up episode.
"Could be better." Voice still rough from sleep, Ed says with a glare to Mokona. This earned a laugh from the magician and an amused snort from Kurogane.
"Let's get up and be ready. We are heading out at noon."
Right, they have a mission to do today. Fucking great.
Before they heads out though, Edward finds himself hands deep in fixing broken vases and mirrors. Chunyan dumped him a whole box of things that she didn't have time to fix between conspiring against the government and living by herself. Apparently the perfectly repaired rooftop was enough to convince her that Ed's skill can be of good use. And he is into half of it, when Mokona makes the video call to the witch.
"I see," Edward turns from his made-up working bench and see Mokona sitting on the floor at the other side of the house, Chunyan gaping at Yuuko's projection. "So you have to break the Jutsu to enter the castle?"
"Yeah, from what Chunyan told us." Fai nods.
"Why would you need to contact me? Fai has magic, doesn't he?" The dimension witch asks.
There's a slight pause before Fai says with a faint smile. "I've turned over my tattoo to you, Yuuko-san."
"You know that tattoo is not your source of magic."
The kids don't notice, too busy explaining to Chunyan about what the heck is a projection image. And the mage tries to school his expression, but Ed sees the flicker of something unreadable across that smile. Is it sadness? Ed can't be sure, he'd almost say it's resignation. Kurogane scowls as he watch on from his spot leaning against the door with hands folds against his chest. Silence stretches uncomfortably for a moment before the witch turns her head to address someone in the background — probably the kid with glasses in the shop — to retrieve something.
"This can break the Jutsu surrounding the castle, but to get this you need to pay."
"Would my staff do?" Fai gets up at once to take his long staff out from the corner of the room, where they stored their original clothes.
"Fai, wait." Ed intercepts frowning, standing up he walks toward the mage to take a look at the golden staff embroidered with sapphire crystals. "Isn't it valuable to you?"
When Ed had seen the staff yesterday he hadn't pay much attention to it due to disorientation and all the chaos. But now seeing the magic staff up close, he can sense the energy oozing out from the tip of it. It tickles his skin, almost urging him to clap his hands and channels the energy away. It is a powerful artefact.
"I mean, we should pay too. You shouldn't be paying it alone." It is a request made by all of them after all.
Blue eyes widen in surprise for a moment before Fai relaxes and gives him a grateful smile. "It's okay. I can't use my magic so it has no use to me anymore."
Ed thinks there's more to it and Kurogane definitely shares his opinion seeing his expression, but the magician is determined. Mokona opens her mouth and swallows the long staff, it is an impressive display if the shock on Chunyan's face is any indication. Then, Mokona spits out a dark swirling stone onto Syaoran's hand.
"How to use this?" Kurogane says, eyeing the castle with the stone in hand.
Ed suppresses a shiver as he looks up to the large wooden gate looming over him. The place is overflowed with power. He can feel miniature vibrations that touches his skin and makes his hair stands. They are like those electric sparks in the air just before a transmutation is activated. It gives him a feeling of something trapped inside ready to burst.
"Let's get on with it," Kurogane says grinning, eager to fight whatever is behind that door. "Should we knock or something?"
Edward gazes around the high stone walls and see there's nothing else they can try except to open the gate. The other seems to come to the same conclusion. "Let me," Syaoran volunteers.
Adjusting his white gloves in habit, Ed braces himself as Syaoran steps forward and pulls the handles. Loud creaks pierce through their ears before bright light reflected out from the opened gate. Despite his best effort, Ed feels himself tense at the sight of the opening gate. He think his reaction in seeing something as ominous as a gate opening in front of him has become instinctive by this point. Luckily, it only lasted a moment. Then the light dissipates into swirling colours, forming a translucent barrier revealing the main part of the citadel inside. An image of an inverted illusion of the castle greets them.
The sight itself is quite impressive if not totally out of his imagination. Ed stares at clouds floating right in front of their feets.
"Huh?" Kurogane exclaims when Syaoran takes a step back from the door confused.
"Ah, so that's how they protect the place." Fai squints as he inspects the citadel high up the sky, shielding his eyes from the sunlight with his hand. "The other entrances have the same feeling like this one. Guess no use for us to find another one."
"We need to throw the stone at the castle!" Mokona supplies helpfully when all of them except the mage just stares, still taking in the sight.
"That's pretty high up, can it reach that far?" Ed looks at the thing skeptically.
And Syaoran solves the problem with a perfect swirl of his body and a powerful left kick sent the black ball swirling upwards. The moment it hits the outskirt of the mirage, silver glow burst to the brightest. The transparent dome enclosing the upside down castle illusion breaks like glasses. Pieces falling down to reveal the true view of the citadel, connected by a stone bridge to the main building.
"Hyu!" Fai whistles.
"Here we go." Kurogane smirks.
And Ed grins. The kid is powerful despite how meek he looks sometimes.
As they marches across the bridge into the castle, Ed realizes the place has no other protection. He half-expected some monsters would spring out from the door attacking them, but none appears. "One would think with how big this castle is, they would find someone to watch the door." He deadpans.
"They have a way to monitor it, I suppose. Remember how they attacked us in Chunyan house?" Fai points out.
"Like security cameras, right?" Mokona says. "Yuuko mentioned them before!"
Inside the citadel is a gloomy hall with stairs leading upwards. The mouldy smell and creaks on the floor indicate just how neglected this place was. They climb on the stairs, dim light from the candles casting ghostly dancing shadows on the dark wall. Kurogane needs to grab one of the candle stand as their light source. Can't they make some windows? If Ed didn't know the bastard and his father are living inside the castle, he'd would almost believe it is for ghosts, not humans. And through the hallway they walk and walk and walk, it feels like…
"We've passed this part already," stopping the whole group, Ed's sure he had saw that stain on the wall thrice.
Syaoran bends down to pick up a small rock that he put down earlier, confirming Ed's thought.
"How? We've been walking straight ahead." Kurogane glances back.
"Ah," Ed turns and see Fai steps forward to the wall with a smile and intense gaze.
Ed watches with bated breath as the magician stretches out his hand and closes his eyes. Slight breeze grace their skin despite there shouldn't be any wind indoors. Pale blond hair floats as his hand hovers by the wall. Did he use magic? However Ed didn't have time to think on it. The moment ended as soon as it started. Fai's hair falls back down and he slowly opens his eyes.
"I think there's Jutsu concentrated behind this wall." Squinting at the wall he murmurs.
"Didn't you said you can't use magic anymore?" Kurogane asks. His eyes are unreadable as he watch the blond.
"It wasn't magic. It's more like an intuition thing?" Tilting his head, Fai points back to the wall with a perfectly innocent grin. "Seems like we need to get behind it, Kuro-sama."
"How can we do that?" Syaoran asks with a frown.
Pulling himself back from the stare contest, Kurogane suggests with a ruthless grin. "Break it?"
"Or," Ed steps forward and claps his hand before slamming them to the wall. "Just make a door."
After blue electric sparks and the dust settles, they step through the gothic-style wooden door to find themselves in a room with a large alcove in the middle of it. Purple silk curtains hang from the ceiling down to the elevated floor obscuring a silhouette sitting inside. Then the person speaks.
"Right on time, humans." Amusement and contempt drips from the female voice
That's how they met the first person trying to stop them from retrieving the feather. A woman with fingernails so long that rivals Lust herself. Ed nearly laughs at the similarity. They do have the same evil smile and she refered them as humans. Interesting.
Widening his stance, he prepares for a battle.