The world they know as Mokona as they were lightly dropped onto their feet for the first time in. Syaoran and Nero were at the top, Fai and Sakura to the left and Nakietra and Kurogane to the right. They waited for danger to appear, but it didn't. They were on a gently used dirt path. Nakietra looked around just like everyone else. Behind them was a thin forest and in front of them was a very modern looking city. Nakietra's eyes locked on a tanned man standing at the edge of the city. From here she could see his coal eyes and dark hair that was styled in a way she had known since she knew how to hold a pen.
Mokona bounced onto Nakietra's head but even that wasn't enough to shake her out of it. Her eyes were fixed on the man who was now jogging to them. As he got closer, her mind froze up more and more. She pulled her hood down and watched the sun shine off his black hair. She could never get that part right when she drew him. He stopped in front of them and surveyed their group.
"Toya?" She questioned softly and took a few steps forward. Syaoran ran back to Sakura and stopped her from calling out his name. They learned that calling out names can bring them so much trouble if they weren't careful. Nakietra knew that better than anyone else.
"You're Nakietra?" He asked. She took a step back in surprise. This wasn't her world and yet this Toya knows her name.
"Yes, and you're Toya," She responded, resuming her strong stance warily. Something wasn't right here she felt.
"My landlady said you would be here. You and your group are to come with me to see her," He said like it was an enormous chore.
"Who's your landlady?" Nakietra asked carefully. Nero himself looked confused as he moved around and examined Toya from every angle. Nero never understood the concept of encountering the same exact people but with them having different memories and different worlds. He sniffed Toya and found that the scent was a little different from his Toya that he knew.
"Emika Ah'Kon," He said and turned to leave. Nakietra froze and so did her group. No one moved because she didn't more. Her eyes were blank as she stared out into space.
"How do we know we can trust you?" Kurogane asked strongly. Toya sighed and turned around.
"She said to tell you 'I have what you seek and will give it to you when you prove…you…deserve it'," Toya said stumbling over the last part. His eye brows furrowed as he seemed to whisper the phrase out loud to make sure it was right. "That's right," He said and focused full on the group. Nakietra was out of it and didn't respond. Kurogane walked up next to her and saw that her mind wasn't completely there right now.
"It has to be the feather," Syaoran hushed with triumph from behind. Kurogane heisted and then nodded his head okay. This was still fishy but he would let it go until he could talk to Nakietra about what's going on.
"We'll trust you for now," He said. Toya turned around and started leading the way once more while the group followed. Nero had to push Nakietra's knees to get her moving and even then it was slowly. Eventually, she put a hand to her head and rubbed her eyes like she was regaining consciousness.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly. Nakietra looked up at him. Her eyes were still half out of it.
"Yeah…I just…I don't know," She stumbled along.
"Did you know this Emia?" He asked.
"Emika, Emika Ah'Kon" She corrected, pronouncing each syllable individually as Em-e-a. "It's my mother's name," She said very softly and gripped her shoulders. She was in pain he could tell. He paused.
"What happened to your mother?" He asked softly. She looked down.
"Not now," She said simply, her voice wavering. Stealthily, he cloaked his hand and took her own. She squeezed it tightly but didn't look up. They didn't speak again.
Toya stopped in front of the tallest brick building in the city. It was near the center of the city and was surrounded by children. In the windows on all five floors, there were children dancing around or playing games and in the spacious green backyard was even more children. Over the front glass door was a sign that read, "Kon Orphanage". Toya went inside and everyone followed. In a room to the left of what looked like a reception area was an area filled with children three and younger with older children taking care of them. Toya glanced over but then his head snapped the other direction when they all heard a voice.
"Toya," A sweet voiced woman called from a room to the right. It came from behind a rose carved oak door that was closed. Toya went to the door and opened it without knocking. He went to the side and held the door open for everyone to come in before shutting it.
Standing before them, in the light of an open window, was a beautifully thin black woman. She was short and had light blue eyes that examined each of them as they entered. Her hair was braided and hung over her right shoulder as she stood in a very familiar proud stance. Her white dress was tight and reached all the way to the floor. Her feet were bare and she kept her hands on her hips.
"I brought them Emika," Toya said with respect as he walked into her sight. The woman frowned at him and only him.
"Toya, I told you to call me Mother. Now go gather the children from the street. It's too dangerous for them out there," She gently waved off. Toya sighed but left without complaint.
"Please, sit," She said to the group as the door shut. She smiled as she watched the chairs each of them picked. Fai sat down first, taking a plain light wooden one in front of the door; Syaoran and Sakura took a blue, impossibly huge, hard backed chair that probably could have fit one more person; Nakietra curled up her legs on a rocking chair with Nero safely sitting on the floor close by, and Kurogane took a high back chair nearby her. There was silence as the woman examined them. Nakietra pulled up her hood as the memories of her mother started to eat her alive.
"Mrs. Emika-" Syaoran started but she cut him off.
"Emika. I'm not that old," She corrected, "and I know what you're going to ask." She reached into the folds of her dress and pulled out a perfect pink feather.
"The feather!" He exclaimed and jumped up. Emika returned it to her dress right away as she glared at the boy. Syaoran froze.
"I need to know that you are the right ones. This feather gives me the power to see certain things, and I want to make sure it will be used for good before I just give it away for nothing," She stated. The group was silent and she looked around to all of them. Syaoran took his seat again, watching the woman very carefully and feeling very much like a little boy. Almost like when Nakietra scolds him.
"I'll test you in my own way, one at a time," She said and looked to Syaoran, "I'll start with you since you're so eager. This takes a full day, and until I'm finished, I have other things for the rest of you to do," She looked to Nakietra, "I would like you to go to the fields near where you landed, and pick some flowers," She looked to Sakura, "And I want you to go shopping. One of you men will accompany each girl," She said and waved them away. The group looked around a second before Nakietra got up and started leaving. Everyone started following her, except for Syaoran.
Nakietra
My head was spinning with memories. I saw my mother giving orders to people in medical emergencies just as she had now. I keep smelling the herbs she used to dry in our house and keep hearing her voice. It's always sweet but direct. She never danced around anything. She never lied as far as I know. I hate these memories. I wish I was strong enough to not need this stupid knife.
I go outside and take three big breathes. My throat closes as I see Toya with Six children clinging to him. He stops and looks me over before heading inside.
"Wait here," He says tiredly and brushes past me. I move out of the way as more children follow behind him. Toya never did like little kids as much. Soon, Toya is back, holding some things as my group comes out. He talks to Sakura firs and hands her a deep basket and a piece of paper. Fai looks over her shoulder at the list and Nero hugs her side. He sent me singles that he wants to go with Sakura since she and Fai weren't good fighter. Something's wrong here he feels. I don't know whether to agree with him or not.
"Emika like all kinds of flower, but she doesn't like them wilting. She think you know what to do, so here," Toya says and hands me a square basket that wasn't as deep as Sakura's. "The field is just up the street. It's a straight shot, can't miss it," He finishes and leaves to gather more stray children. I watch him leave and clutch the basket. I miss Toya.
"Are you coming?" I ask Kurogane as I start to walk away. He watches Sakura start the other way before following next to me. I clutch the basket and stare at the ground.
"Someone has to keep you out of trouble," He says with a small smile.
"I don't get in trouble," I ask and smile slightly
"You always do," He responds.
"You make it sound like I look for trouble. It's not my fault trouble likes to snap at me," I tell him. I remember when Hiro came back from battles injured and when we were traveling and we just barely lived through something extremely dangerous.
"Sure," He says, his smile growing bigger. I stare at that smile. I like it. He doesn't seem so…strict or destructive with it. In battle it makes him look sinister though.
"I wouldn't lie to you," I say with my own smile getting bigger. The memories are starting to fade.
"I couldn't tell if you did," He admits as we dodged people on the side walk. My smile falls a little. I never liked lying, but it was always necessary. It's still necessary in order for me to stay sane.
"Race?" I question as we move around an old couple taking a stroll. He looks sideways at me before taking off. "Hey!" I yell and bolted to catch up. He's easily beating me with his longer legs and healthier body, but I have something he doesn't. I activate two Speed ruins on my legs and I blast past him. I reach the trees and look back as he's still running. I take a seat in the shade and lie down. The sky is beautiful today
"You cheated," He jokingly accuses when he catches up. I turned my head and look up at him with a smile.
"YOU were the one that cheated. I just used my available resources to win," I respond with a smirk on my face. He shakes his head and offers me a hand. I take it. He doesn't let it go through once I'm up. Instead, he leads me into the forest. I curl my hand around his. I hate not being able to touch people.
"There are some flowers," He states right away. He point to a clump of Blue-Eyed Maries. I guide him to it, letting the basket hang from my other arm. As we get closer, I let go of his hand and replace it with the basket. Ever so carefully, I break a few flowers away from the clump. I looked around for more and find some Dutchman's Breeches to accompany them.
"Is there anything in the basket?" I ask as I slowly walk over to the white flowers. I break a bunch away and slowly built a bouquet around my Blue-Eyed Maries. I hear him open it and then hear the chink of some glass.
"There ix a glass jar with sheets of tissue in it, some string, and a pocket knife," He names off.
"Can you cut some twine, please?" I ask and turn back to him. He has the basket on the ground and is kneeling down on one knee next to it. I kneel down on both knees and even out the flowers with my fingernails. He cuts the twine and holds it out to me. I take it and start tying the flowers together.
"That's nice," He compliments and I feel him watch me.
"Why don't you go find some other flowers?" I ask while I tried to focus on my one task. He hesitates but then says okay and leaves. I tie a simple knot around the flowers and then wrapped one of the tissues around base of the flowers to keep them fresh. I incorporated the extra tissue into a Boa knot then, letting my hands go on auto-pilot. The work was calming.
I remembered doing this for my mother so many times; both with herbs for healing, and flowers for the Queen's bedroom, who she attended to daily. The sickly sweet smell of the thin paper makes my stomach churn as usual, but it's familiar. While I wait for Kurogane to return, I inspected the basket. There are three removable boards. I have no doubts that my "mother" will want it packed with flowers.
It didn't take me long to make enough bouquets to fill the basket. Kurogane found several clearings abundant with flowers and brought them back by the arm loads. By the time we were done, only a few hours had probably passed at the most. I look back at the city and dread going back. I don't like modern cities, and I don't want to see the two people I know from my world.
Kurogane picks up the basket and I look up. He takes my hand and leads me away, deeper into the trees. He brings me to an untouched clearing that's both shady and sunny. I lie down in the grass and stare up at the available sky. Kurogane lies down next to me. I feel him playing with my hand. I start tapping a rhythm with my fingers. He seems to enjoy that. I look over to him and smile.
"Why are you playing with my fingers?" I asked.
"You have very small hands," He says. I give a small laugh.
"Tell me about your mother," He asks gently then. I stare up at the sky.
"My mother was a healer. She married into it through my father. Our village is only allowed to have one healer at a time because of the amount of work in the fields and it was my grandmamma for a long time. MY father and uncle had no talent for it, so she took on my mother. My mother was…she learned very fast…The queen of our village was always really sick. Since my mother was a healer, she was called in to take care of her. That was long before I was born. My mother took care of the townspeople too, but she only worked at night when everyone was supposed to be home. One night, she didn't come back. The next day, a friend of my father's told me that she and the Queen had been killed that night with a common dagger," I say. My mind was too numb from the earlier memories for me to cry or feel any pain.
"Did they ever find who did it?" He asks softly, gripping my hand tightly. Maybe I was the one gripping his hand.
"The armory in the castle wasn't locked or guarded that night because everyone had been deployed to fight a new battle on the border. Everyone was a suspect, but no one was ever accused. There were too many people," I say slowly. The funeral was running through my head now. I was trying not to remember it. I remember singing for her.
"On the other side of time, there is a city of wind
Come on, Take me with you
Make the white flower's dream come true
Take my hand with your sweet fingers
Come on, I want to be guided down the long road to your side
An unending song in the early afternoon
The two awaken and become one
Knowing the meaning of happiness for the first time
Take me with you
An unending say in the early afternoon
The two awaken and become one
Knowing the meaning of happiness for the first time
Take me with you
The other side of unseen dreams
Come. On the two of us can take that long road
To the city of wind"
I remember singing as the sky poured. It was freezing that day, but everyone showed up. The burning was held outside of town instead of in the graveyard because there were so many people. I was crying and soaking yet and my voice was breaking every other line. There was no way I could stop singing though because that would have been an insult to my mother's memory. Hiro was near the back of the crowd. His horse was near death and he only arrived near the very end. The King had allowed him to come back from battle just for the funeral.
The song ended and I couldn't help but look to the sky as the fire was lit over my mother's body in the shallow pit someone else dug. An oiled cloth had been spread out above it to keep the rain off, but still the fire sputtered and spitted as scattered droplets flew in with the bitter wind. Wind was always a good sign at funerals.
My eyes closed as the rain burned my eyes worse than my tears. Hiro came up to the front and lead me before I could collapse away before I could collapse. It was too much for me at the time. I hadn't taken my medicine, I was grieving, and the smell was awful. I watched my father burn from the back of the crowd, but I barely smelled the stench of burning flesh.
A rough finger wiped the tears away. "How old were you?" He asks.
"Ten," I answer simply and swallowed hard.
"I was about ten when my mother died," I hear him say quietly. I roll over in the grass to face him before opening my eyes. He looks. He puts a hand in back of my head and presses our foreheads together. I let out a shaky breath but I feel better.
"What was she like?" I ask. I picture a warrior woman with short black hair and tanned skin like his. Strong, proud, but acted like a mother when she needed to be. I picture her like my mother.
"She was a priestess. Our town relied on her to keep demons away with the barrier and it made her very weak. She could barely walk some days, and I wasn't allowed to see her most days. Everyone thought I had too much energy to be around her," He said silently, pausing before each sentence.
"Both our mothers were at the center of trouble," I note and smile through my tears. In families, mothers always seem to be the strong ones. Toya's mom (I remember from what he told me) died defending him when a rogue group of soldiers invaded their homeland. After that, him, his father, and baby sister came to stay with our King as his personal doctor.
"Hm," he mutters. "You mentioned once that your father was gone also," He states. I close my eyes.
"He died when I was eight. In war. He was gone a lot so I don't remember him much. He always smelled like smoke though, and his hands were three times the size of mine," I say softly, trying to draw up a picture of him in my mind. I can't. I always need the few sketches of him in my book, faded as they were, to remember him. I see Hiro though, riding on a horse behind father, both coming back from the war when I was young.
"Did you have any other family after…your parents' deaths?" He asks gently.
"I had Hiro," I respond, gripping his hand to stop more tears from coming. Hiro was still too much, and thinking of my cousins was also a lot. I was never allowed to see them again after their mother banned me from the house.
"Did you two stay in the palace after that? He questions.
"Yes…we didn't have anywhere else to go. My uncle and his wife hate me," I stumble along, feeling my face curl into frown. I take a few shaky breaths and clutch his hand. Another painful memory that won't stop haunting me; Axial.
"Why?" he asks.
"I killed their youngest daughter," I say. I squeezed my eyes as images of the fire filter into my mind. I felt the hand rest on my shoulder.
"I doubt you did. It was a situation that you probably couldn't control," He says calmly, pulling me into him.
"It was, and yet I am blamed," I respond softly. Neither of us could have known the house was going to get torched when we left.
We lay there in silence. My tears dried on my face and my mind faded into a state between sleep and being awake. There were no more memories. Kurogane's body tensed then and he tapped my back twice with his fingers. My eyes shot open and I felt him pull back his hands slowly. Something's wrong here. I put my hand on my knife.
I focus my ears; footsteps. They're careful, but you can still hear their feet moving through the grass as well as half crunches made from them stepping on tree roots/branches. There're multiple people. We lock eyes. He rests his hand on his sword and I eased my knife out of its sheaf on my hip. I have it all the way out and that's when they strike.
I jump to my feet, only a second behind Kurogane, but it cost me. An object smashed into the side of my head. I stagger and lost my knife. I feel a bag go over my head. I reach up but someone grabs my wrists and ties them tight with rope. I stagger into someone's arms. I'm dizzy but I try to work around it. They lift me up and try to tie my feet. I jerk my foot up and contact with someone's nose I know as they scream and shout.
I keep moving in their arms, not letting them get a good grip on me. I can't hear Kurogane fighting at all and it's bothering me. Someone grabs my head and jerks it to the side. I feel a shot and then liquid fire is blasted through my veins. My vision turns black and I know they have me.
Kurogane was left unconscious in the clearing while the men clothed in black picked up their limp bundle and headed into town. Nakietra's golden knife glinted in the sun as it lay perfectly untouched in the grass. An hour passed before Kurogane regained consciousness, but it was too late by that time. The group had already struck again.
In another part of the city, Fai and Sakura are assaulted by the exact same men. Fai is knocked out right away while Sakura is grabbed and taken away with the same drug coursing through her veins as Nakietra. Nero is able to bite and claw a few of them, but they are able to tie him to a post and leave him. By the time the men had regained consciousness and made it back to Emika, the trails was cold, Emika gathered the group in her special room along with Toya and some other older children.
"Do you know who did this?" Kurogane was the first to ask after everyone was settled. He touched the side of his head which was already turning purple. The woman's blue eyes looked down on him. She could see the suspicion coursing in his mind.
"No, I've never heard of a group in black kidnapping young women. Be quiet now and listen," She commanded. Kurogane didn't look happy at all, but he shut up. "Toya, you and the others look for clues at the scenes and report back when you find the smallest thing that you believe will help." The older boy nodded his head and the group silently left, letting the door click closed behind them. Emika watched them go before looking around at who was left, her gaze finally resting on Nero. "You have a powerful asset here, and yet you overlook him and turned directly to me it seems," She said and looked back at all of them. Suddenly, the group understood what she was saying.
"Nero, can you take us to Nakietra?" Syaoran asked, kneeling down next to the wolf. He patted the ground once with his paw; a single for yes.
"Why didn't he go on his own though?" Fai asked absently. His knockout was caused by a jolt of electricity running through his body. He still felt sluggish and his mind wasn't completely functional because of it.
"There's too many of them for him to take on his own," Kurogane responded understandably as he stared down at the wolf. Nero cried once and jumped to his feet. He wanted to go.
"I don't have fighters here, but I can try to get some authorities to find and follow you. There's no time to waste waiting for them to come here, so go now," Emika said and hurried out of the room, the door slamming against the opposite wall. With no further encouragement, the group headed outside where Nero hurriedly began to follow the trail.