Chapter 5: Ouryuu Baby

Voices chiming like tiny bells had a baby boy with bright blue eyes quieting as the sandy haired woman who had birthed him only moments ago, shivered with fever. "A boy." she sighed, a wrinkled hand took hers as another touched the boy's head. "Zeno, after you papa." she said with a shake to her voice.

The old and withered hands picked the child up from her bosom causing the babe to lose concentration on the soft chiming sounds. Whimpering at the loss of his mother's warmth, the baby began to softly cry against his name sake's shirt as he was removed from the sickened woman's room. Soon the sound of a heartbeat had him lulling off to a soundless sleep.

When he woke hours later it was to the bell-like voices that were in his mind. "Hiryuu...humans...foolish." The words made no sense to the newborn. Suddenly those old arms picked him up from the basket he laid in. He was wrapped in a soft fur blanket before suddenly a bright light seemed to blind him. Whimpers escaped his lips. He felt heat against his skin, opening his new eyes, everything seemed to sparkle. The warmth from the sun seeming to warm his cool skin.

He wasn't sure how long he was out in the light, but he was certain the bell chiming sounds would never stop. He was then suddenly handed over to someone else, a woman not his mother, but one whose milk filled his belly easily. "She...good woman." he heard the voice of his grandfather. "Take...him. His...Zeno." it would be a long time before Zeno saw his grandfather again. As it turned out, there was a fever going through the lands, one that had no prejudices against old or young. It killed when one was weakened. His mother would die, like his father months before, leaving only his grandfather and him the last of their family; but it would be awhile before Zeno learned of this.

As he grew, Zeno learned what the voices were. The Kami. He could hear them speaking. At a year old he could speak fluently without stutter and could understand those around him easily. Sickness was rampant around his village, along with bandits and warlords. If people weren't dying from sickness, they were dying because of murderers or wars. It was no an easy life, it was extremely hard; but if you were lucky to forge something out in this life, you had to learn to enjoy it before it was snatched away from you.

Lifting his head to the sky, Zeno looked at the blueness that made up the heavens. As the wind blew around him, Zeno could hear those voices again. "Don't go!" one Kami cried to another.

"Don't cry Seiryuu." the gentle voice Kami whispered.

In his mind Zeno could see a blue and white dragon weeping against a red and golden dragon. He didn't understand why the blue one was crying against the red one, but it made him sad. Fat tear drops began to fall down his cheeks. He suddenly felt somebody pick him up. Looking through bleary eyes, Zeno saw that it was his adoptive mother. The black haired woman nuzzled the top of his head as Zeno cried against her shoulder.

"Why are you crying sweetie?" she asked, Zeno sniffled.

"Seiryuu is crying." he whimpered as he clutched onto her.

Her chuckled made him confused. Why was that funny to her? "Why is he crying?" she inquired as she tried to understand the child she held in her arms.

"I don't know." he said sadly.

"Could Seiryuu be crying because he is lonely?" she prodded.

Zeno shook his head. "Hiryuu is with him." he mumbled softly as he snuggled into her arms.

Sighing the woman decided to stop poking and prodding on this subject; instead she picked the boy up and held him on her hip before walking away. The rice fields wouldn't be harvested without her working them, she'd just have to bring the boy along.

Four months after Zeno's third birthday, Zeno found himself feeling bored as he was stuffed inside the log cabin home by himself. Outside it was snowing heavily as his mother went into the shed to gather wood. When she came back, she was being carried by a withered faced man with deep blue eyes and greying hair.

"Mama!" he cried out as she was laid in front of the fire. He watched the man place a warm pelt blanket over her body before standing, leaving and coming back with logs to burn in the fire. Zeno wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her. She shivered as she tried to warm up.

"Foolish girl, it's a blizzard out there." the older man muttered.

"I know elder." she said as she laid in front of the fire.

The elder looked at Zeno who was frowning as he tried to understand things around him. "He looks just like her." the elder said softly.

"Will you be taking him?" she inquired with sadness dripping her voice.

"No." he simply stated as he tried to warm up next to the fire as well. The chill sticking longer to his old bones.

Zeno whipped his head back and forth between the two. "Mama?" he questioned only to have her run her fingers through his soft sandy hair. Zeno sighed as he loved the affectionate gesture.

"He's really leaving." Zeno suddenly heard. In his mind he saw a green dragon talking to a white dragon. Ryokuryuu and Hakuryuu? he wondered. He'd been seeing the dragon Kami more and more in both his dreams and thoughts. Some days they're words were louder than other days. When they were being emotional, he really could hear and see them.

"I'll leave after the storm." the elder stated simply. "I just wanted to make sure he was well." Zeno felt the man touch his shoulder causing him to focus his attention upon the elder. "You take care of your mother, you hear?"

Zeno nodded enthusiastically. "I will!" his voice was filled with joy causing the older man to chuckle.

"Good." that ended the conversation for the evening as the three took comfort in each other's presence as Zeno played with his wooden toys until he fell asleep.

The spring of Zeno's seventh year of life was when things began to get interesting. First a rumor that the red dragon Kami, Hiryuu, had descended from the heavens to help humanity. This led to more warlords appearing and searching for the dragon Kami. They didn't find him and those who did were never seen again. Next a drought hit his village, along with it came disease that hit the animals. The birds vanished along with the hind and soon the forests were empty of any game. The trees turned brittle. Some fell as others withered and died where they stood.

The elder showed up with others with him. Zeno found himself being taken and placed in a wagon with other children as his mother walked along side it, carrying some of their things that they were able to bring. Everything else was left behind.

They traveled for days until they came upon a temple where warrior monks were. The elder spoke to them as everybody was given some time to rest or play as the children did. It was as he played that Zeno came across a red haired older teenager. He had bright violet eyes and was watching Zeno and the others play. Being a kind boy, Zeno approached him.

"Wanna play?" he asked the older boy.

The red haired boy blinked in surprise at him before laughing. "Thank-you, but I'm too old to play games; or so I'm told." he answered Zeno, a grin appearing on his face. In his hands a cup tinkered against the plate it was on.

Zeno's eyes widened. "Too old?" he asked, surprise in his voice. "Mama says that your never too old to have fun and play games every so often; because if you don't have fun in life, what's the point of living it?" Zeno said causing the older boy to look thoughtful for a moment.

"I believe your mother is right." he agreed before he placed the cup off to the side. Standing, the older boy took off his red outer robe, leaving him in long black slacks and a light kasode shirt.

Zeno laughed as he took off in a full run, the other boy chasing after him. The two joined the other children who were chasing after a ball that the elder had made for them out of hide from an animal. The children kicked the ball around with the older boy whose laughter seemed to be contagious. After playing for several long minutes, the older boy stopped running after the children, having tired himself out. The younger children looked at each other before approaching the boy and tackling him to the ground. Laughing as they found a new game from tickling him.

Their loud laughter garnered the attention of the adults. Most smiling at the older boy entertaining the small children. The head monk, however, was not smiling when he saw the children on top of the young man. "Lord Hiryuu." he called to the youth causing the red haired teen to smile at him. "What are you doing?"

Hiryuu who had Zeno and two other young children clinging to him laughed. "Having fun!" he answered simply. "If you don't have fun once in awhile, what is the point of living?" he asked the monk who sputtered at such a simple answer.

A day later it was decided that a village would be built below the foothill of the temple. The village would later gain the name of Kuuto; which later would become the capital of the new nation of Kouka. That, however, was many years away yet.

At ten years old, Zeno sat listening to the Kami once again in a field away from the loud sounds of his village. His mother had revealed to him the truth about his true mother only a few weeks back. That his grandfather was the elder of the village; which meant he would soon inherit the job of leadership from him. Zeno didn't want that responsibility though. He liked helping in the wheat fields, harvesting the fruit trees and helping those of his village; but to have the burden of every life thrusted upon his shoulders; Zeno wasn't sure he could do it.

Then there was Lord Hiryuu. He'd been seeing more of the red haired man around the village. Hiryuu seemed to love coming to village to play with him and the others his age, even though he was a grown man now. He also had been bringing a new face around lately, a man named Guen who had been living in the northern territory as a lone warrior. He was a nice, but a bit rough with the kids Zeno's age.

"Test him." Zeno suddenly heard in his mind. He suddenly saw all four dragon Kami. It was the golden one, Ouryuu, who had spoken.

Test? Zeno thought. Who are they going to test?

"Humans are weak." Ryokuryuu stated. "We should have forbidden this!" he yelled causing Zeno to wince at his words.

"Nobody will help him." Hakuryuu stated, his body floating near Ryokuryuu's. "He'll then realize his mistake and come home."

"Idiots." Seiryuu's voice echoed with annoyance. "He'll defend them, no matter what they say or do."

"His test is coming soon." Ouryuu told them. "We shall see. If no one comes to his aid, we will protect him." The others seemed to like this idea before finally going silent in his mind. Leaving Zeno to wonder who they were talking about.

Seven years later Zeno knew exactly who the dragon Kami were always talking about. Hiryuu had become a warrior, then a leader of an army of freed slaves and finally a King of a nation. As he fought to keep the peace or bring peace, Zeno bore witness to those who would bring the Kami King to his knees. It was here that Zeno's fate would change. He prayed to the Kami. "Please save Hiryuu." when he saw the red haired man drug upon a platform and was about to be killed. He never expected his prayers to be answered the way they were.

After drinking the dragon blood Zeno found that the voices of Heaven had vanished from his mind, his hair color had changed from sandy to blond and now he had the job of protecting Hiryuu. The problem was that not only did Hiryuu not want him to fight, but he had no idea what Ouryuu's power was. It frustrated him more than anything, but still, as long it meant he'd be by Hiryuu's side, Zeno would be happy. What he didn't know or understand was that by accepting the Ouryuu blood, he no longer would age, nor die; which meant, his soul couldn't return to the heavens above when everyone else around him would. Finding this out brought tears to his eyes as he alone would wonder the earth while his brothers, Shuten, Guen and Abi would go to heaven with Hiryuu. It would be close to two millennia before he'd have brothers again and this time he'd be able to protect Hiryuu who reincarnated as a cute little girl.

After wondering the country and protecting it from the shadows, Ouryuu Zeno was finally about to be reunited with his family. A couple of thousand years had passed since Hiryuu had walked upon the earth. He had first seen Hiryuu when he was an infant. Yona was his new name and he had been reborn as a she. Perfect violet eyes, tiny fingers and red hair. It made Zeno want to cry out with joy. He watched her grow, protected her from the assassins that took her mothers life by order of her uncle. Saw her get snatched in the market place when she'd been separated from her cousin and friend. Saw her grow from child to young woman and saw how naive and selfish she'd become. She was spoiled and self-centered, with only thoughts of herself. She had no idea of the danger that lurked around the corner.

He had been there in a nearby tree that night when she and her childhood friend, now turned Wind general, Son Hak, had escaped the palace into the hills. He watched from afar as the two traveled from Fuuga into the canyon and watched helplessly as they fell into the gorge. He was relieved when he found them at the home of the priest and Lad. He stated near and watched her first journey to Hakuryuu village, then to the Seiryuu village and finally Awa Port. He witnessed how she saved the port from Kum-ji and saw how she had killed the traitor. He was very relieved when he saw Ryokuryuu join her group and knew it was nearing the time to reveal himself to them.

The smell of food was too great to resist and seeing the Missy pray to the heavens in thanks was too much. Zeno snuck into their camp, sat next to her and prayed too. He was happy at how easily they allowed a stranger to come and eat with them. He was certain it had to do with how dirty and hungry he was that they took pity on him.

"Ouryuu?" he heard his name said between bites of meat.

Looking up from his meal he looked at his brothers and Missy and smiled. "Yes?" he answered and from there the excitement grew.

From that moment on Zeno was never alone again. He had one or more members of his family with him. Lad took care of them like a mother hen. Mister kept them safe by ensuring they camped in safe area's. Ryokuryuu and Seiryuu took over the hunting. Hakuryuu was protective of Missy and he provided entertainment; at least until they learned of his true strength, but he was hoping that day would be a long way off.

M-Angel: I decided to update this story tonight instead of my Time in Collision. I'll work on that story this weekend.