Discalimer: I don't own nothing but the plot bunnies in my head. Really I don't.
AN: Many things happen under the light of the Moon. Our Hero's are getting closer to leaving this dimension.
Chapter 16 - Moonlight
Karumi Tanaka had arrived at the Doumeki Family Temple shortly before night fall, not long after the events of that afternoon. She could still feel the lingering energies from the earlier battle and subsequent healing. After placing her bags in the room she normally used, she went straight to the Shrine. There she poured blessed water into one of the sacred bowls, saying the proper words for the scrying spell. She waited for the images to appear on surface of the water. She watched in silence the afternoon Birthday Party and the traumatic events that interrupted it unfold. She was about to break the spell by disturbing the water when another vision was played across the surface, this one was far different but just as disturbing because it was a glimpse of the future and what these four children would need to become if all was to be saved.
The spell ended, Karumi sat back upon her heels to contemplate all she had seen in the scrying bowl. Her grandson was getting quite strong that was clearly evidenced by his ability to manifest both bow and arrow, but he would need to continue to build his strength. He had barely scratched that Demon and had then been too drained to fire anymore arrows, he would need more strength enough to fight such a being and to fire as many arrows as he needed. The Mage was strong and a far more skilled fighter than Karumi had expected, but she needed to learn a little caution, someday the Witch may not be there to save her. She was a little 'to quick' to sacrifice herself whenever there was trouble, forgetting that those she cared about, returned those feelings and that her loss would hurt them. Karumi planned on having a nice long talk with the Mage about that.
She had also finally seen the other teenagers that were tied to her grandson. The other girl with the long dark hair, there was something about her, something deadly, hiding there under her cheerful disposition. Then there was the boy, Watanuki. That boy had magic running in his very blood she could see why he attracted the ayakashi to him right and left. To an evil spirit his blood and energy would be a royal feast. Poor boy, his life must have been very hard until he had finally managed to meet up with her Shizuka.
The Warrior, the Mage and the Destroyer, these three were all here for the sake of that one slender boy, the Seer.
It was going to be a long hard road for the four young people, Karumi would help as best she could with her limited abilities. For now, that meant watching over the children and giving guidance whenever she was able. Being teenagers she wondered if they would listen to her. Her purpose clear, she went to look in on her grandson. Cracking open his bedroom door she peered in to see him wrapped about the slender form of the mage, both of them sound asleep. From the vision, she suspected the Mage had been asleep the whole time and had yet to wake up. She closed the door softly so as to not disturb them. Then went next door to the bathroom Shizuka used, and there she found the horrifying mess left by her grandson as he had cleaned up the bloodied girl. Picking up the clothing, Karumi took it to the laundry room to see if she could salvage any of it. Then she headed off to bed with some soothing Tea.
She was relaxing in a chair by the open window sipping Tea and enjoying the night sky, when she saw the pretty blonde Mage come out of Shizuka's room and sit on the top stair. A few minutes later her grandson joined her bearing a Tea tray, which he placed next to the girl. She wondered what he was up to when he went back in and then came right back out again. But as she watched he sat behind the girl and started to brush the young woman's moonlit hair.
Oh, how sweet, she remembered her own dear husband Soun brushing her hair for her just like that, usually after a bath. They were wonderful memories, she still missed him every single day of her life. He had better be waiting for her just like he said he would. She did not want to live her next life without him. The thought was unbearable.
Ut-oh, maybe she had better close the drapes now there were just some things that it was better a grandmother did NOT know about her grandson. But before she could draw the blinds her 'sight' showed her something she hadn't expected, as the two bonded together their elemental energies flared to life, engulfing the two. Fire and air, the energies swirled around the couple. It was a stunning sight to behold, all the vibrant colors of fire mixed and blended with the blues of air. She closed the window on the pair and went to bed. She had even more questions swirling in her head now, time hopefully would answer those questions eventually.
Under the same moon that watched over the two teenagers, Yuuko stood in the center of a circle of power. Eight of the precious magical crystals floating in the air before her, four of them she would use to locate the special items of each youngster. For the other four she had quite different plans.
Mokona sat just outside of the circle watching Yuuko work. He needed to be able to follow where the crystals went so he could transport Watanuki and his friends to the correct worlds, and to find the items they needed. That and he always liked to watch Yuuko work, she was a very skillful magic worker, and afterwards they would drink sake together.
After giving instructions to the four crystals that were to be sent in search of the magical items, she released them. One went straight to her storeroom and merged with the Monkeys Paw. Ah, I see, that is where Himiwari's item is at, Yuuko was not very surprised she had already suspected that the Monkeys Paw had belonged to Himiwari ever since the incident with the student teacher. Only Himiwari seemed to have the power to open the sealed container that usually began the fiendish process that was the 'Monkeys Paw' without the usual consequences. The other three rushed off moving thru the worlds to locate the other three items. The Staff, the Bow and the Dagger. The Staff for the Seer, the Bow for the Archer and the Dagger for the Mage.
It was time to send her charges on their own quest thru the worlds. First though she would call the White Mokona and those that traveled with to her, they needed a respite from their troubles as well some time to allow their hearts to heal and come together even more. Someplace that was safe for them. And with the White Mokona here she would be able to keep in contact with the Black Mokona and his charges. Not to mention the added benefit of all those video opportunities the Ninja and 'his' Mage would afford her, for the web site, of course.
WHoahohoho.
Ahem, okay back to work.
She took the remaining four crystals and one at a time infused each with one of the four elements. Then she created magical rings from those infused crystals, the elements themselves choosing the forms the rings took, then she bound them together. Water, Earth, Air and Fire, one for each of the four elements, one for each youngster. Once created the rings fell into the palm of her hand, which she then placed in the velvet lined box she had prepared for them. Her nights' work complete she dropped the kekki barrier and released the magic circle. Mokona had the Sake warmed up and he was already heading to the table to pour her a cup.
"Well Mokona" Yuuko took a healthy drink of the Sake. "It is done, where you able to track the crystals to the worlds where the items lay hidden?"
"Yes, I should be able to transport them to the right worlds and tell them when we are close to one of the objects. Which do you think we should locate first?"
"That neither you nor I can control, we can only make sure they land in a world that holds at least one of the objects."
"You know, Himiwari-chan is going to be 'really' pissed off when she finds out that she is not going with the others."
"Well then we will just have to make sure that Watanuki 'Steps up to the Plate' before he leaves won't we." (wink)
Yuuko made her famous Cat Face and Mokona giggled and bounced, they drank Sake until dawn.
Watanuki found them passed out in the living room floor the next morning, with a sigh he hung his apron back up and headed off to the pharmacy to stock up on bottles of hangover medicine. He might as well do some grocery shopping while he was out, making a list in his head as he walked down the street, it wasn't long before he found himself in front of Doumeki's Family Temple. Perhaps he should stop in and find out how Aya-chan was doing. With Yuuko out cold he hadn't heard anything yet.
The sun streamed into the room waking Doumeki, he gazed on the sleeping face of the woman in his arms. It was late morning and they needed to get up soon, but he took an extra moment to enjoy this feeling. He waited just a little too long….
"WHAT THE….WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE!"
Completely caught off guard the Archer hadn't had time to protect his ears from the screaming slender teen. The sleeping girl startled into wakefulness, fell off the bed and onto the floor, taking the covers with her. Now depending on who you asked, either unfortunately or happily, they did not cover her very well. The Mage attempted to wrap the covers about herself. While the Seer ranted at Doumeki.
"What kind of ASSHOLE are you, that you take advantage of an unconscious girl." Ah, that's why he's yelling this time.
"Kimi-chan, Shizuka didn't take advantage of me, honest." Watanuki calmed down a trifle at Aya's words.
"But-But…." Aya reached out a hand to Watanuki, blushing a deep cherry red he took it and she pulled him down to sit next to her, she leaned her head onto his shoulder, taking his hands in both of her own. Doumeki for his part took advantage of the seer's distraction to grab one of the discarded towels from earlier, wrap it around his waist and escape out to the garden to retrieve the Yukata's from last night, dressing in the one he had been wearing, before reentering the room.
"Kimihiro, how can you be sure it wasn't me who took advantage of Shizuka?"
"Oh come on Aya-chan, your sweet and wonderful, while Doumeki is well.. Doumeki. Oh crap, I guess that means he didn't take advantage of you, he is Doumeki after all."
"Are you angry or perhaps, jealous? Of which one? Huh huh huh or is it both of us, maybe, Hmmm." Aya teased the gentle and still rather innocent seer. Blushing profusely Watanuki's gaze slid over the curvy form of the girl wrapped in the blanket, and he had also taken note of the archer as he left the room wrapped in nothing but a towel. Damn he was fine.
"W-well, um, maybe a little jealous, but it's more like, cause, I-I w-wish I could have been here too." Oh god, did I just say that! Watanuki would have panicked more, but the blonde Mage gave the Seer a sweet kiss on his cheek, to let him know she understood what he was trying NOT to say.
"Oh Kimi-chan, there will be time for all of us eventually. Do not fear your turn is right around the corner. I believe Himiwari is waiting for you on the other side of that corner." At the mention of Himiwari's name the raven haired teen leaped to his feet and began his Happy Himiwari Dance of Joy.
"Oh yes, my perfect Himiwari-chan and I will have a truly moving experience together, I just know it. She is soooo perfect and wonderful and CUTE-CUTE-CUTE. Weeeee"
"Idiot"
Doumeki had returned from the garden he was at least dressed now and with the second Yukata draped over his arm.
"Goodness! Children what IS the all the racket in here about?"
"Obaa-san? How, When..."
Thud.
"Shizuka dear?"
"Ho, what a complete Idiot, he passed out." Watanuki was patting his pants pockets. "Where's my cell phone, I need to take a picture of this."
"Kimihiro!"
"Hey, Yuuko-san would kill me if she found out I hadn't gotten a picture of this."
"Good point, can you send me a copy?"
Click.
"Sure thing, just give me a moment."
Click, this was just TOO good, the Seer was NOT going to pass up such excellent material with which to torment the Archer. Maybe he could get the Archer alone while they 'bargained' about the pictures. Watanuki shook his head Yuuko was really starting to rub off on him. Well he'd just have to use 'Yuuko Logic' again. Yuuko Logic had its uses after all.
The Magic pulls our friends ever closer and closer together, the quest is about to begin. Can they find the Items they need to restore the Balance to the worlds?