Sorry it's taken me soooo long to update. I now have 2 jobs that are on opposite ends of the day and I'm still taking a few college language classes. I'll try to update whenever I can. So please stay with me, the results will be good. Please enjoy the newest installment of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. :)
Review from last Chapter:
Tambal placed his hand over the orb containing Sakura's feather and summond it's power. "I call on you're power, wake Kishimu, Princess of Shadows." he said as the orb began to glow. A woman suddenly appeared in the room. She was long and slender and extremely pale, in fact she was white. Her eyes were narrowed into slits and her thin mouth was coated in red lipstick. On her head she wore a magnificent headpiece with a purple gem in the middle of it that glowed along with the Sakura's feather. All this Tambal took in but what really fascinated him were Kishimu's fingernails. They were also long and slender but sharpened to a point at the very end. This was one of the many dangers about this woman; the most obvious one, but the really dangers lay hidden inside of her. She looked straight into Tambal's eyes and spoke in a smooth, seductive voice. "Need some help, my Lord."
~ Episode 9: Princess of Shadows ~
The sky was painted a gold with hints of red, blue, and purple here and there, signifying that the sun was not very far from disappearing entirely. Underneath this glorious sky three figures were walking toward the city that was under Tambal's tyranny. These three figures were none other than the Miteshu that the town's people were fervently hoping for. They came to a stop on a cliff top that over looked the suppressed town and were mildly shocked by what they saw. "A shield." said the head Miteshu.
"Yes, it's the work of Koryo's lord." said the second Miteshu.
"He's using hijutsu to prevent us from entering the town." said the third.
"We have a job to do regardless. As the Miteshu we must investigate this lord." said the leader. The other two nodded and began to talk about how they could possibly get into the town
- Inside the Fortress -
Tambal stared down into his pool and watched the Miteshu stand and talk amongst themselves. "Yes, stare all you want from your far away cliff. Makes no difference to me. You see my son." said Tambal turning to his son. "No one with the power of hijutsu is able to pass. As long as I have this." he continued extending a hand to the orb that held Sakura's feather. "They can only watch." Both father and son began to laugh confidently that their power was absolute.
- At Chu'nyan's House -
The sun had completely set and the moon was getting higher in the sky causing the calm quietness that engulfed the house. Syaoran, Fye, Kyoya, and Kurogane were over in one corner discussing what their next move should be. Chun'yan was sitting in another corner watching Sakura put some pure white flowers in a vase on the table. "Wow. Those are pretty flowers. Pretty, pretty just like you." said Mokona as he jumped into Sakura's arms. Sakura smiled down at him and Chu'nyan's eyes went wide. For a second Chu'nyan could have sworn that it was her mother smiling at Mokona. "Mother." she softly called out, but after she rubbed her eyes the image was gone.
"What did you say?" asked Mokona as he and Sakura stared at Chu'nyan.
"Oh, uh, it's nothing." said Chu'nyan quickly before staring out a window. "What was that? I know it's Sakura but why am I seeing my mother instead?" she thought. Her attention was shifted when she heard what Fye was saying on the other side of the room.
"Well, here's a different theory. I think Sakura was trying to get her feather back and that's what made her so receptive to that distress call."
"You mean, one of her feathers is being held somewhere inside that fortress." said Syaoran.
"Don't you remember what Chu'nyan told us. Tambal was a street act till he suddenly became strong a year ago. What if he some how got Sakura's feather and used it to enhance his own hijutsu."
"That actually makes sense." said Kyoya.
"Come on, are you guys even hearing yourselves talk." huffed Kurogane. "There's no way he could have gotten her feather a year ago, she didn't lose them until a little over a week ago." Syaoran stared over at Sakura (who was talking happily with Mokona) remembering when she lost her memory just like it was yesterday.
"We're traveling across dimensions maybe we just landed later on their time curve." said Fye.
"Uggg, I can feel my headache coming back." softly muttered Kyoya, referring to the confusion headache he had earlier that day when they meet Sorata and Arashi.
"I'm going to find out." stated Syaoran as he stood up. Kyoya was about to say something along the lines of 'sit back down you idiot' when Sakura hurried over to them and grabbed Syaoran's sleeve.
"No wait." Sakura pleaded. "Please don't go Syaoran; you're hurt."
"It's not to bad." he replied. "Yeah, that's what he said to dad when he broke his arm and when he was sick and when he sprained his ankle so bad he couldn't even put weight on it. Gosh, I never knew how often he actually says that. It's got to stop." though Kyoya. He didn't want his brother hurting himself and then injuring himself further cause he refused to get help or be a bother to anyone.
"But…" stammered Sakura.
"I'll be fine and if the feather's there I'll get it back for you.
"But Syaoran…" continued Sakura her eyes conveying the silent plea and worry she felt in her heart.
"Don't be too hasty." warned Fye. "Just think about it, how will you get into the fortress? You know that Tambal will be using his powers to keep us from invading again. What you need is something to counteract his hijitsu, break through so you can enter."
"And is that something you can help with?" asked Kurogane.
"Well… no." simply said Fye.
"Well, then why don't you stop acting like you have a better plan magic boy." huffed Kurogane.
"I know, why don't we ask Yuko." suggested Mokona.
"The dimensional witch?" asked Syaoran.
"You mean you can talk to her." said Kyoya in surprise. When Mokona nodded Kyoya continued with a devious smile on his face. "Good, then let's get to talking. I have some few choice words I'd like to say to her."
"Alright then talking to Yuko it is." happily chirped Mokona.
"And how might we manage that?" asked Fye.
"I'll show you. Come on, come on." With that Mokona bounced outside with everyone following behind. Once outside the gem on Mokona's head began to glow brighter and brighter until a pink orb burst from it and flew up into the sky. The brightness disappeared only to be replaced with a picture of Yuko (everyone later found out that Mokona called this a two way TV) "Good evening Mokona. Is something wrong?" said Yuko as she stared down at everyone.
"Whoa, who's that woman?" whispered Chu'nyan.
"Her name's Yuko. Just don't ask her to do any favors." whispered Kyoya. Chu'nyan looked at him confused. "It's a long story." simply said Kyoya.
"Well, I didn't think we'd see you again this soon." said Fye.
"You'd best be taking care of my sword." demanded Kurogane.
"Let me guess… you've run into a bit of trouble with a power called hijutsu, correct." said Yuko completely ignoring Kurogane's comment.
"You're good." marveled Fye.
"I know that, but why did you call on me for help? You have some magic of you own, don't you Fye?"
"Well I did until I gave up the source of my wizardry." said Fye referring back to when he had given the dimensional witch the tattoo off his back when she asked for compensation.
"The tattoo I received from you as a price from your journey." said Yuko remembering the exact same instance as Fye was. "But it only contained the ability to suppress magic. It was not the source of your magic itself was it."
"True, but still, I made a pledge to never use magic without that tattoos power."
"Well… how sad. Then I'll have to send you something that will break the fortresses' shield. But again… I'll need compensation." smoothly said Yuko.
"But you've already taken the things we valued most." said Syaoran. Syaoran and Kyoya both snuck a peek over at Sakura as Fye spoke.
"Will this do." he said as he held up his beautifully decorated staff.
"Fye are you sure?" asked Syaoran.
"Yeah… I mean that might come in real handy some day." said Kyoya.
"Yes, it's alright. You both need Yuko's gift more than I need the staff."
"That will suffice. Mokona will take it." With that said Yuko and the screen of light she was in vanished. Mokona then hopped to the front of the group as Fye's staff began to glow. He opened his mouth and seemed to swallow the staff, which had turned into a small ball of light. Not three seconds later he opened his mouth again but this time something round and dark shot out of toward the group. Everyone gathered around Syaoran, who had caught the ball, to take a look at the help Yuko sent.
"It looks like a mud pie to me." commented Kurogane.
"It looks like a hairball that Mokona just coughed up." said Kyoya.
"Hey, Mokona doesn't cough up hairballs. Mokona is not a cat." He said with a stomp of his little foot.
"Ohhhh… then what are you?" asked Kyoya with a smile.
"Mokona is Mokoda!" he happily chirped. Kyoya slapped his forehead with his hand. He was now positive that he would never know the answer to that question; not that he really wanted to know either.
"Well, lets just hope this does the trick." said Syaoran, ignoring everything around him, that is until Chu'nyan spoke up.
"I'm coming with you." she declared.
"No, you should stay here. It will be dangerous." calmly said Fye.
"I know that, that's why I should help."
"This could be a problem." quietly said Fye. Chu'nyan reached out and grabbed Syaoran's shirt in frustration and started to shout in his face.
"I have to go to the fortress to fight the lord and his son. I need to punish them for my mother's death. Please! I'm the one who has to set things straight. I am, you hear!" All was quiet as everyone stared at Syaoran waiting for his answer. Syaoran studied Chu'nyan before he gave her a smile and gently unhooked her hands from his shirt.
"I'm sorry Chu'nyan. Stay here with Sakura and wait for us to come back okay?" he calmly said. With that he gently pushed her to one side and he, Fye, and Kurogane started to walk out the front gate. Kyoya looked over at Chu'nyan and saw the tears forming in her eyes. He was going to comfort her but Sakura once again beat him to the punch. "Don't worry Chu'nyan. Tambal and his coward of a son will go down one way or another." he thought.
"Hey Kyoya." said Syaoran, who had stopped just outside the gate and was looking back at his brother. "Let's go." Without a word Kyoya ran up to them and they continued on their way. Back in the courtyard Sakura knelt on the ground holding Chu'nyan as she watched the four of them leave.
"Bye Syaoran." was all she said before her attention was drawn to Chu'nyan who was now talking into her chest.
"Why couldn't I go with them. Just because I'm a kid he thinks I'm weak and will get in the way, but I'm not afraid of battle.
"I don't think that's the reason." softly assured Sakura.
Meanwhile, as the group of 5 (Mokona went with them too) walked toward the fortress when Kyoya suddenly realized something. "Hey, you didn't tell me to stay at the house. Why?" he asked Syaoran.
"Cause I know you. Even if I had told you to stay you'd still follow us into the fortress." he replied with a smile.
"Yeah, you're right." Kyoya said with a smile of his own. His brother knew him all to well.
"I do wish that you could have let Chu'nyan come too though. I know how much she wants to take part, but I don't think she understands the danger she's in from lord Tambal" said Fye.
"So we just use that thing Yuko gave us to get into the fortress, then we find the lord." said Kurogane completely changing the subject to the issue at hand.
"And see if he really has been using Sakura's feather and if so…" continued Fye.
"Then I'll get it back." said Syaoran.
"You mean 'We'll get it back'. Remember Syao, you don't have to do this alone. You don't have to carry this burden alone." thought Kyoya as he stared at his brother. Before long the group of 5 were standing in front of the fortress. Kyoya looked up the giant, solid wall that was connected to the door he and Sakura had entered that afternoon. To be completely honest, Kyoya was afraid of the door and the fortress. That purgatory place he and Sakura had entered had scared him, even though he wouldn't admit it. He just couldn't seem to get the image of that eye peering down at them out of his mind.
~Flashback~
"Kyoya, you're here too." she said a smile on her face. She knew that if either Syaoran or Kyoya were with her she'd be alright.
"Duh, of course I am. I couldn't let you have this adventure without me. Don't worry we'll get out of here no problem." he replied but came to a screeching halt when he saw what was up in the sky. It was a giant eyeball sticking through the stormy sky and it was trained right on Sakura.
~End Of Flashback~
Kyoya's thoughts were interrupted when he saw Syaoran take out the strange round, brown ball that Yuko give to them. Kyoya stared over Syaoran's shoulders and stared into the ball and then blinked he; he could have sworn that the swirls patterns in the ball had moved.
"Well…I'd say we're close enough. It's time to put Yuko's gift to work." said Fye.
"Riiiight…except we don't know how it works now, do we." said Kurogane.
"Optimistic as always Kurogane." said Kyoya sending a sly smile over to the tall man.
"Shut up kid before you find yourself crawling back to the house." he replied with a sly smile of his own which made Kyoya shut up and concentrate on the task at hand.
"Mokona knows how to use it! Just throw it. Get it close and it will take care of the rest. It just needs to touch the shield." Mokona chirped.
Everyone looked at the wall, which was a good ways off from where they were standing. "Can you get it that far?" asked Fye.
"We're about to find out." said Syaoran. With that he calmly tossed the orb high into the air. Kyoya watched his brother's face and could tell that he was centering himself; getting ready for one hell of a kick. The orb fell back to ground and was just about to hit it when Syaoran gave it a mighty kick. The orb soared back up toward the wall but only made it half way before it struck an invisible barrier. The barrier immediately began to crack until it collapsed all together.
- Inside the Fortress -
Tambal and Bugal were staring into the orb with Sakura's feather, watching all that was going on outside. But, as soon as the orb Syaoran kicked had broken the barrier a crack appeared on Tambal's orb. The power surrounding the feather was failing. "They've broken the barrier around the fortress." gasped Bugal. Tambal stared in shock at the crack. He was in shock, "Who are these travelers? How can they break through my barrier? What secret powers do they hold?" he thought. He felt his heart skip a beat as he realized that these travelers were a real threat to his power, but he quickly composed himself.
"Stay calm boy. I have other defenses in place." said Tambal.
- Elsewhere in the Fortress -
After the barrier was down the group of 5 wasted no time in entering the fortress. When Fye opened the door Kyoya slightly cringed and hid behind Syaoran. "Kyoya, are you alright?" asked Syaoran looking back at his brother in mild concern.
"Oh… I'm alright. I just wasn't sure if this stupid lord put some traps behind the door. That's all… I guess he didn't. Hahaha." nervously laughed Kyoya.
Syaoran smiled at his brother. He knew that Kyoya was scared about this whole thing; especially about the door considering that the last time he entered this door he entered a nightmare-ish place.
"Alright then…why don't you go first Kyoya." said Kurogane, he could also tell that the boy was scared, but he couldn't help teasing him. "Think of it as pay back for the optimistic remark earlier kid." he thought.
"Me? Oh no… I mean…. I'm not… I'm hardly… someone else should go first… please." said Kyoya in a fluster, the word 'please' softly added so that only Syaoran could hear it. Everyone looked at him sympathetically (that is except Kurogane, he was smirking), after that flustered speech they all knew he was scared. All was silent for a minute before Fye finally spoke.
"I'll go first. Syaoran, you follow me, Kyoya, you follow Syaoran, and, Kurgy… you bring up the rear." With a nod from everyone, they moved into the fortress. Once they were in and the door was shut behind them they took in their surroundings. They were standing in a long, dark corridor that seemed to go on forever. Without a word they began to walk down the passage. They walked and they walked and they walked, until they stopped… 45 minutes after they entered the fortress. "Well we're in at least, but this corridor feels wrong. We've been walking forever." stated Kurogane.
"You tired Kuro-buro. Poor little boy." happily teased Mokona, who had been sitting on Fye's shoulder ever since they entered the fortress.
"Oh shut up I don't see you walking." grunted Kurogane.
"Our cheerful swordsman might have a point Mokona. We haven't gotten anywhere." said Fye as he looked around the corridor. "And there aren't any doors." he added.
"And this passage has a strange echo." said Kyoya, who was staying suspiciously close to Syaoran.
"We've come back to where we've started." said Syaoran.
"Oh and what makes you think that?" questioned Kurogane. "It does all look the same, but we've been going in a straight line."
"I thought this place might be confusing so I left this stone on the floor when we first came in." said Syaoran, bending down and picking up the stone he was talking about.
"You mean we've just made a big circle even though we've been walking in a straight line." said Kyoya, his fear slipping away by the second when he realized that they weren't going to fall back into that purgatory place. "So this fortress is playing mind games on us. Of all the cowardly moves for the scaredy cat lord to pull. He doesn't want to face us, he's scared of facing us cause he knows he'll lose so he leads us on this wild goose chase." Kyoya continued to rant but no one was listening to him.
"Wooo, placing that stone was good thinking Syaoran." said Fye.
"What do you mean 'Wooo'? Come one seriously who says that." commented Kurogane.
"Well… I've never learned how to whistle." said Fye with a smile.
"WOOOO!" shouted Mokona. The sound echoed up and down the corridor and caused everyone, including Kyoya, to become silent.
"Great now look what you have done. You've probably alerted them to our presence." said Kurogane before softly grumbling, "I cant believe we walked all that way for nothing."
"That's what I said!" shouted Kyoya but he was cut off from ranting again when Kurogane slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Shut…Up!" fiercely whispered Kurogane. While all this was going on Fye walked over to the wall of the corridor and put his hand up against it. He suddenly sensed something… the wall was hiding something. "There's something here." he calmly said. Everyone looked over at him.
"You mean the lord's behind that wall?" quickly asked Kurogane, anxious for action.
"I'm not really sure, but I do sense a very strong power coming from the other side of it." replied Fye.
"I thought you made some promise not to use your magic Fye." comment Kurogane in a deadpan voice.
"I wasn't using magic really… let's just call it intuition." said Fye with a smile as he reached inside his shirt and pulled out the mallet he had used on the roof earlier that day. He then placed it into Kurogane's hand. "Care to do the honors?" he asked.
"Huh, what's this for?" asked Kurogane.
"Well… it's normally used when something breaks and you have to put it back toge…" sarcastically commented Kyoya but was cut off by the 'I will seriously kill you' glance Kurogane was sending him.
"To break the wall of course." said Fye who was trying not to laugh.
"I appreciate the thought." said Kurogane, moving his glare from Kyoya to look at Fye. "But I don't need a mallet to do that." Kurogane calmly put the mallet inside his own shirt, closed his eyes and took in 3 deep breaths. He suddenly opened his eyes and with a yell, punched the wall with all his strength. For a second nothing happened and then the wall began to crack till it finally fell apart all together. Everyone looked inside and saw that Fye was right; something was there. A large gazebo that reached all the way to the roof, was sitting in the middle of the room. A giant lantern was hanging from the top of the gazebo, which caused light to shine down to the floor, but only within the confines of the gazebo. The light did not fill the entire room. Down the centered of the gazebo there hung a clear veil that reached from the ceiling to the floor. But no of this caught their eye; the first thing that the group saw was the person sitting on the floor surround by the clear veil. The person was a beautiful, slender woman who wore a black and gray dress. On her head she wore a gold crown that covered her ears and came down the middle of her forehead. The lady's hair was purple and it reached down past her back. From her hair hung gold pendants that dangled near her long throat. There was also a purple jewel centered in the middle of the lady's crown. The lady slowly moved her head to look at them with her black eyes. "Hello children." she said in a cool, menacing tone. "Welcome to the fortress."
- In the Main Room of the Fortress -
"They've discovered the secret of the corridors!" said Bugal as he watched by his father's side.
"It's going just the way I planned it." said Tambal as he looked at the lady under the veil. "Kiishimu is the most powerful practitioner of hijutsu in the entire country. She's even more gifted in the secret art than little Chu'nyan's famous mother was and I control her." He then gestured to Sakura's feather. "Thanks to this power source I've been able to keep Kiishimu trapped inside the fortress. I don't care who these strangers are; they can't beat her."
- In the Room with Kiishimu -
"I'll ask once… who are you?" demanded Kurogane.
"Judging from your rude tone I should remind you who you are, miserable bugs who live short little lives, lives I can easily crush. So you shouldn't speak to me that way."
"Well, you can't speak to us that way either. I mean, who do you thi…"
"Quiet Kyoya." said Syaoran. He didn't know what it was about this person but he did know that she was not one to make angry.
"But… I am not without mercy." said Kiishimu with a cold glance toward Kyoya and Kurogane. "I'll let it pass this time."
"Yea, great that's such a relief." sarcastically said Kurogane. "Listen lady, tell us where Tambal is and you can live."
"Kuro-pu, control your temper." warned Fye.
"Kuro-pu's so big and manly. Ooo I'm scared." joked Mokona with a little laugh.
"You two talk way too much." grunted Kurogane.
Kiishimu watched this interaction with an emotionless face. "What entertaining children." she commented.
"I think she likes us." happily said Mokona.
"Can't you tell she's mocking us. I mean it, shut your mouth or I'll use your ears as a gag."
Syaoran took a step forward and stared at Kiishimu. Kiishimu returned the stare and they stayed with that for a minute, before Syaoran spoke. "Sorry about my friends and brother, but we believe that there's something in this fortress that belongs to us. We need to know where Tambal is. Is there anyway you can help us find him?"
"Syaoran! What are you doing asking her that. She's probably working for him and will sound the alarm." said Kyoya.
Kiishimu continued to stare into Syaoran's eyes. She then lifted up one of her hands and that's when everyone noticed her long nails. They were almost like long, slender knives and Syaoran was standing a mere few feet from those nails. But Syaoran didn't even flinch; he stood his ground and stared right back at Kiishimu. "You have nice eyes child." she finally said. "But still, you've asked me a question I'm not allowed to answer. Sorry, but I can not permit you to pass either."
"That is unfortunate." said Fye. "Does that mean if we try to keep moving forward you might do something, well, not very nice to stop us from succeeding."
Kiishimu gave a laugh that sent chills down Kyoya's spine. "It's possible." she said. With that she raised her hand and her fingers gave a slight twitch. Suddenly they weren't standing in a room with a giant gazebo and large lantern. The room was now a massive chamber with different size pillars of rock scattered around the room. Syaoran, Kyoya, Kurogane, and Fye weren't standing on the ground any more either. They were spread throughout the room, each standing on a different pillar. In the air around them were orbs of what looked like to be made of some kind of liquid. "You saw this coming didn't you Fye." called out Kurogane.
"Basically yes." he called back. "Though I was imagining something a little more subtle." They all looked around the giant chamber and watched as the orbs of liquid floated by them.
"It's an illusion." called out Kurogane down to where Kiishimu was standing under a much smaller gazebo.
"No, this is my hijutsu." she said, her voice echoing around the entire chamber. "It is quite like an illusion but with one important difference. An illusion is merely a visual creation while my hijutsu…" she gave another twitch of her fingers and a liquid orb shuddered and flew straight for Syaoran. He brought his arm up to block his face but when the orb exploded on his arm it ate away at his clothes leaving a burn on his skin. Kiishimu gave a sly smile before she continued to speak. "As you can see my dears this is no optical trick. Your wounds will be quite real."
"So you mean if we get hurt badly enough, we'll die." said Fye.
"Yes." bluntly said Kiishimu. With that she raised her arms and gave her fingers a flick. This caused all the orbs to shudder and fly toward the group of 4. Immediately they all started to dodge. Kyoya and Syaoran began to jump from pillar to pillar and Fye and Kurogane calmly dodged from the pillars they were on. All was going well till Kyoya jumped down to a smaller pillar but as soon as he landed on it the pillar disappeared. He fell the short distance to the liquid that was floating on the floor. "Has that liquid always been there?" he thought, but was interrupted by a intense pain in his foot when he landed on the liquid. "OOOOWWWW!" he yelled out in pain as his foot began to smoke. He quickly jumped back up to another pillar. He dropped to one knee once he was safe and watched as the hem of his pants disintegrated. He gritted his teeth at the pain.
"Kyoya!" he raise his head as could see Syaoran standing on the closest pillar looking concerned. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah…I'm fine." he said through clenched teeth.
"What happened?" asked Syaoran, but it was Kiishimu who answered his question.
"The lake it filled with the same acid that is contained within the spheres, oh and I wouldn't trust every rock you see. Not all of them are real." she said.
"So I guess swimming's out." stated Kurogane.
"Kuro-pu! Break this for me!" called out Fye who was sitting on top of a very tall lamppost.
"What? Why should I?"
"Think about it." said Fye. "We can't dodge these spheres forever and we can't strike them with our hands."
Kyoya smiled and yelled out. "Man don't you wish you had your staff now Fye. I told you that you'd need it one day, who knew that it would be today." Everyone smiled at that comment but didn't say anything else. Kurogane immediately jumped and, with one giant punch, he broke the lamppost in two. Fye leapt off the top and caught one half while Kurogane caught the other. "That's much better. Let's see how we far now." said Fye as he watched on orb fly toward him. He swung the pull around and hit the orb causing it to harmlessly explode away from his body. Before long Kurogane and Fye were gaining the upper hand in defeating the orbs. Kiishimu watched them in anger but then she saw Syaoran and Kyoya standing defenseless. With a cruel smile she sent a batch of spheres toward Kyoya. Kyoya watched in fear as they got closer to him. He couldn't jump out of the way considering that his foot was hurt. But before they could reach him Kurogane jumped in front of him broke them with his staff. "Woooo, Kuro you're good." said Fye as he landed in front of Syaoran to protect him as well just in case.
- At Chu'nyan's House -
Chu'nyan stared in shock at the crowd of villagers in front of her. "You're… you're doing what?" she asked.
"We've decided to attack the fortress." said Arashi who was stand at the front of the group with Sorata by her side. "It's time we defeat Tambal."
"Right, we're going to win our freedom back with our own hands." added Sorata.
"Good, then I'm coming with you." said a determined Chu'nyan.
"No Chu'nyan, you're not. You're staying here." said Sakura from the doorway of the house.
"But… Sakura." said Chu'nyan, her voice sounding desperate.
"That isn't your place. You have a different path to follow." replied Sakura.
"What do you mean?" said Chu'nyan the desperation becoming deeper but her attention was drawn to Arashi as she began to speak.
"Those words are from God's beloved daughter. You should do as she says and stay here with her Chu'nyan."
"What? But why?" asked Chu'nyan. She looked over at Sakura and saw her eyes. She calmed down a little when she saw her look. There was something in Sakura's look that was comforting and safe. It reminded Chu'nyan of the way her mother would look at her when she wanted Chu'nyan to do something difficult.
- In the Giant Chamber -
Fye and Kurogane were becoming pretty good at bursting the orbs before they did any real damage to their bodies, but it was getting harder and harder to do so. Fye saw Syaoran jump to another pillar. "Syaoran, go! Take Mokona and Kyoya with you and find lord Tambal."
"I can't. We haven't settled things with her yet." he said with a gesture down to Kiishimu.
"True, but I don't think it will hurt us much with only one less person to fight and you need to get Kyoya out of here. He can't dodge the orbs with that hurt foot of his. Just remember Syaoran… you're the one with the real job to do. And don't you worry, I'm sure Kuro-pu can handle everything in here." said fye with one of his signature smiles.
"Oh, is that right." said Kurogane.
"Thanks I owe you." said Syaoran.
"Me too." said Kyoya. He was huffing, trying to catch his breath. All this dodging and jumping was putting a strain on his foot and making it hard for him to move.
"The magic appears to be much weaker on the ceiling, you'll be able to break through if you can reach it." said Fye.
"It's a long way to the top." said Mokona as he stuck his head out of Syaoran's shirt. "Think you could reach that high?"
"There you are fuzz ball. I was wondering where you had gotten to." said Kurogane.
"Falling is icky." said Mokona.
"Oh Mokona, you'll be fine." said Fye.
"Whatever you're talking about children I do hope you'll hurry. I'm afraid I'm beginning to get bored." said Kiishimu. The group looked down at her before Kurogane yelled out. "Come on, let's just finish this! Syaoran you first." With that Syaoran jumped and landed on Kurogane's staff. He balanced himself as Kurogane threw him up toward the ceiling. Syaoran jumped at the height of the throw and soared up to the ceiling. Once he was in touching distance of the roof he gave a strong kick and broke clean through to the other side. "Alright Kyoya, your turn!" yelled Kurogane and Kyoya jumped, repeating the same actions as Syaoran. When he reached the hole Syaoran had created he grabbed on the edge and, with Syaoran's help, pulled himself into a standing position.
"Well, that was fun." said Kyoya. He turned to yell something back down the hole but Syaoran stopped him.
"We have to keep moving. Who know what else is here." he said. Kyoya nodded at his brother, slightly disappointed that he couldn't taunt Kiishimu about escaping her 'illision'.
Back down in the chamber Kiishimu looked up at the hole in the ceiling. "So… the young ones got away. Oh well nothing to do about it now that only gives me more time to spend with the remaining children. This should be amusing enough." she said in an eerie calm voice. She raised her hand and gave her fingers a flick, which caused all the orbs to come together to form bigger ones. To top it off rain started to fall on Fye and Kurogane.
"Is it just me or does this rain sort of sting." said Fye.
"I'm sure it's like the acid that's in the spheres and the lake that seems to be her style." said Kurogane.
"I won't let you two get away like your other friends did. You'll stay with me." said Kiishimu so softly that Fye and Kurogane almost couldn't hear her. The orbs then began to make their attack once again. One flew straight for Fye who swung his staff to break it, but this time the orb reformed so that the staff wouldn't touch it. For a second the world seemed to slow down for Fye. He was sure that he was doomed. The orb came at him, as if to swallow him whole but at the last second Kurogane swung his staff. The staff connected with Fye's stomach and sent him flying backward from the fatal orb, which landed harmlessly on the pillar. Fye landed on another pillar and immediately clutched at his stomach. "Kuro-pu… that hurt." he grunted in pain.
"Oh, I'm sooo sorry about that." Kuragane said sarcastically. "Did you want me to let you die?"
"No, but couldn't you have been a bit more gentle about it, you big brute."
"You children are much better at this than I expected. You're clearly no ordinary bugs, but I'll doubt you'll last much longer." said Kiishimu giving another flick of those dreaded fingers, causing the orbs to grow even larger.
Fye looked around at the growing spheres with true concern in his eyes. "Things are starting to look rather serious Kurgs. Kurogane looked over at him but didn't say anything. he didn't need to, they both knew what was going to happen if they couldn't get the up hand soon.
- At Chu'nyan's House -
Chu'nyan and Sakura sat in the living room in the dark. Chu'nyan started to speak softly while staring at the ground. "Sakura, I really think I should join the others at the fortress gates." She looked up and was surprised to see Sakura glowing. "You're… you're glowing." she stammered.
Sakura looked deep into Chu'nyan's eyes before softly saying, "We must go Chu'nyan."
"Go where? To do what?" She watched as Sakura stood up. "Sakura?" she asked. Sakura didn't say anything; she just stared down at Chu'nyan. Once again Chu'nyan had the feeling that her mother was staring down at her.
- In a Corridor -
Syaoran, Kyoya, and Mokona had been walking for a good 10 minutes but hadn't come across anything suspicious yet. They stayed pretty quite afraid that if they spoke to loud they would alert someone or something to their presence.
"Syaoran." softly said Mokona, who was comfortably sitting on Syaoran's shoulder. "Did that jump hurt you?"
"No I'm fine." he replied. He looked over at Kyoya in concern; even though his brother didn't visibly seem to be hurting Syaoran was sure that he was in pain. "Kyoya, are you sure you're alright."
"For the tenth time Syao, I'm fine. Would ya stop worrying. Geesh, you're as bad as a mother." he joked.
"Well someone has to look out for you or else you'd break every bone in your body and not stop to even rest." said Syaoran.
"Yeah, well, the same goes for you Syaoran." Kyoya smiled over at his brother, which Syaoran returned. Kyoya looked back at the ground as they continued to walk. "Syao, I just wanted… well, remember what I said in Hanshin… well, I… uhh." "Shit this was easier in my head. Why can't I tell him that he's not alone, that I'm always there for him. I said it before so why can't I say it now." he thought in frustration. He was just about to continue talking but a voice from the shadows of the corridor cut him off.
"Well, well, I've been waiting for you." Kyoya immediately recognized the voice… it was Bugal.
"Ha, I'd know that pathetic voice anywhere. Where are you stupid-hat-coward who hides behind his daddy." shouted Kyoya.
"What? Why you…" Bugal growled from the shadows.
"Yeah you heard me you dumbass. You're a no good daddys-boy, all your good for it cleaning horse shit off of the streets."
"Kyoya!" shouted Syaoran. He sent a glare at his younger brother, not so much for his use of language but to tell him to shut up so he could assess the situation. Suddenly from the shadows in front of them Bugal appeared and flexed his muscles causing his shirt to rip. "Alright you smart mouth brat." he said staring down at Kyoya. "I'm going to finish you for good this time."
"What did you do… take steroids to make your muscles grow." said Kyoya, completely unimpressed at the sight in front of him.
"No, it's hijutsu." said Syaoran.
"That's right; my father's power. With his hijutsu boosting my muscles you don't have a chance." Bugal took a might swing at the wall with his arm leaving behind a gapping hole from where his fist hit the wall. Syaoran and Kyoya stared up at Bugal, both were now slightly impressed at what they had just seen, but Kurogane had caused a whole wall to break away so it really wasn't all that impressive.
Bugal laughed and looked straight at Syaoran. "Sooo, kid what do you think of my new power. Starting to regret your meddling now." he smugly said.
Syaoran didn't say anything, he just prepared himself for a fight. But Kyoya stepped in front of him. "He's mine." said Kyoya.
"Kyoya no, I'll deal with…"
"No Syaoran… I've wanted to knock this dummy on his butt ever since I've met him, besides… he made Chu'nyan cry."
"Kyoya I…"
"Syao," said Kyoya calmly as he looked behind at his brother. "I can do this. Trust me."
Syaoran stared into his younger brother's eyes and saw the determination. He gave a sigh and a smile. "Alright. Be careful."
"Aren't I always." playfully said Kyoya but when he saw the concern on Syaoran's face he quickly amended, "I'll make sure to be extra careful." Syaoran gave Kyoya a pat on the shoulder before he and Mokona took off down the corridor. Bugal watched them run away and gave a sly smile at Kyoya. "You're probably wondering why I'm not stopping them." But Kyoya didn't give him an answer so Bugal continued. "Cause I'll defeat you quickly and have plenty of time to catch up with your friends and defeat them too. They won't even make it half down the corridor. What do you think of that?"
"I think that you're a slimy coward and that you look fat with those bulging muscles." said Kyoya.
"Why you… I'm not fat and I'M NOT A COWARD!"
"Ohhh yeah… cause relying on your daddy to make you stronger and facing down someone who is not only younger, but smaller and weaker than you, makes you the biggest coward in my book."
"Shut up."
"You're still hiding behind your daddy's power just like that day we met in the forest. You'll never anything except a cowardly bully who wears stupid hats, has weird hair cuts, and has a stupid face." Kyoya could practically see the steam coming from Bugal's ears. He knew that the angrier he made Bugal the more likely his movements would become sloppy; he would only be able to think of his anger toward Kyoya and not on his punches.
"SHUT UP!" With that Bugal took a swing straight for Kyoya's head. Kyoya smiled. It was pay back time for Chu'nyan.
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