Darkness pooled around Jeremy like a cell of some sort that he was forever bidden to be locked up in for the rest of his life. Jeremy lay down with my eyes half open, not sure of whether he should fall asleep or stay awake. It seemed so hard to even make that kind of decision now. The sheets lay at Jeremy's side like a mound full of soft, pale comfort. His bed was far from the door, where darkness seemed to cover that part f the room like a blanket.
Jeremy thought hard, not wanting to believe what his final thoughts were telling him. It seems that more and more now… he realized. As time passes on, they seem more concerned with the Minors, and less and less concerned with me. Jeremy sighed as he ran his fingers down the mountain of sheets. It felt soothing to his skin, yet felt like sandpaper to his heart. Then, he picked up his hand and ran it down the cold gold of the locket, its structures cragged and icy. He caressed it until he felt the ruby red crystal sphere that was embedded in the middle of the front of it. It all meant nothing… he thought.
It was bad enough for me to feel insecure about everything in the beginning, but now this… Jeremy thought. Jeremy sighed both inside and out and closed his eyes, deciding to go to rest and leave the current world he knew for now.
From far away, there seemed to be a distant knock. It interrupted Jeremy's resting of eyes and forced him to reopen the pure white orbs and turn his head to peer hard into the darkness, yet find nothing. A visitor…? Jeremy thought quietly, not making a move to get up.
The door suddenly opened a crack delicately, spilling light into the room and sweeping away the webs of darkness that had covered in like a blanket. Framed with the light was the figure of Hyoumaru, holding the doorknob in full control. His smile shone into the room, forcing an inviting look in Jeremy's eyes.
PoVS to Narrative Jeremy
"Hyoumaru…?" I whispered out, my voice weak and unenthusiastic.
"Ah, Jeremy-san. How are you doing?" Hyoumaru said, flashing a friendly smile with closed, crinkled eyes, talking as if he had just run into Jeremy on the street.
"What're you doing here?" Jeremy whispered lowly, so low that he made sure Hyoumaru didn't hear him.
Even so, as if Hyoumaru had the best hearing in the world, he replied, "I hope you're not too tired. It's time for the second part of their training to begin."
"Second…part?" Jeremy spoke wearily. His eyes were wide and slanted with wonder, trying to search hard in his memory for what he was talking about, finding the answer almost immediately.
After another smile and a blank stare, I got up quickly from bed and pushed all my thoughts from before into the back corners of my mind. Those were the last things I needed to think about, I realized. I kicked the sheets away from my legs that seemed to hold on to me, like not wanting to let me go just as I felt about the Council. The darkness was cold against my warmed feet, and to be truthful, I felt a bit guilty for doing the same thing to the bed sheets as what I didn't want the Council to be doing to me. But if I even said anything about my extended metaphor, everyone would think I was crazy. Plus, no one needs to know about my thoughts. They'd see me for the real, insecure being for who I am and always will be. I once wished that I would change, but sometimes, I learned along the way, that things aren't meant to be changed just yet.
I rushed out through the dying cobwebs of darkness and ran to open the door wider, letting more light in. I forced a smile at Hyoumaru who gave a meaningful one back. I put a crooked grin as I closed the door behind me and we started walking in whatever direction he wished to.
The hallways were dimly lit with candles. This was one of the lucky parts of the labyrinth part of the dimension. It actually had candles instead of flickering lights, but even then would the hallways be barely lit. The kindling flame held an orb of orange light on its head. Its face flickered violently, an unstable expression on its face. Tiny sparks now and then floated into the sky, and the tiny flames seemed so alive. We paced down the hallways together, his shoes clicking loudly while my steps were delicate and unnoticeable like a mouse.
I cleared my throat in case I needed to talk for later. Hyoumaru gave me an acknowledged look, thinking I had called upon him. I decided to pretend I was since I was put under the impression all ready.
"So uh…" I began, not knowing what to say. I looked hard at the darkness ahead, trying to lose myself in an appropriate thought. What to say…What to say? "What do you mean it's time?" I choked out randomly, my voice not fully cleared yet.
Hyoumaru seemed to sigh tiredly. I wonder what he's been going through lately, I thought mockingly. It was a good thing Hyoumaru wasn't the one who could hear thoughts. That ability belonged to the much more advanced Minoa. But even so, she was never one to eavesdrop on others' thoughts.
He didn't seem to be answering so I began speaking again. "I mean, I thought they had a chance to rest up or something. It's only been a day, barely," I pointed out, trying to make myself smarter for asking the question before.
This time, he seemed more satisfied. "Yes. But it seems they are so amazing they rested up in less than a day," Hyoumaru said quietly. He finished his sentence as we turned the corner to find the other end of the hallway.
I looked down to find even more darkness ahead, and just when I thought it was getting to be finally over, more comes out of nowhere to represent its distance to me. "I see," I told him, looking hard on the floor. Ebony surrounded it, blinding without lights to my eyes. They really are amazing… I thought depressively.
Moments later, I found myself in the midst of a half lit up room, the wide, spacious area barely set alight. All the Minors and councils, and me, were gathered up in that room. The place was tinted with darkness, flickering brightness, and orange plaster. The air there seemed to be cooler than the rest, and everyone seemed to be in a high emotional state for some reason. How much could half a day do to them? Just what kind of people are they if they can heal in half a day from injuries from a council, and become so seemingly emotionally unstable?
The Council was backed up to the front of the room, where everyone was watching them. Hyoumaru had left my side to join the rest of his fellow mates, and I stood next to the group of Minors whom were listening very closely and carefully, knowing that whatever they had to say as a group was very important/
I looked around to find all the Minors staring hard in different ways with different expressions. Eric, the Fire Minor had a serious lock on his face, as if sealing away any emotion of his, like he was thinking as hard as I was from before when I was alone in the privacy of my room. Walter had almost the same look with serious eyes that seemed to be meaner and narrower than Eric's, and Dylan had a cheerful smile on his face, confident that he was going to pass whatever they threw at him. They all looked so different in their old style Japanese clothing. They almost seemed… special. Something they really were. This would be a sight to remember, all of them grouped together like this, I thought.
Rick stood by Marissa proud and strong, while the Sound Minor had reddened, wet eyes as if she had just been crying a million tears. Teresa lost her straightjacket for another kind of long sleeves type of clothing, and had a glistening face that seemed she had a set of tears on her face as well, even though her eyes were as normal as could be. She looked down in deep thought as well.
Derek stood next to Zack, looking as if he were on watch like a patrol officer. Zack was on one knee solemnly, rubbing his ankles as if he had just lost them, muttering something under his breath that seemed to make Derek get madder by the second, his face growing comical. Lance stood in the corner of the group silently and by himself, sketching something in his book as he whispered words to himself, his silver hair falling to the front of his face, the Metal Minor not caring to brush them behind his ears, and last but not least, the Takiato Brothers stood next to each other, making it obvious that they were close. Daniel had a serious, tough look on his face and Kenneth put a friendly smile that would make anyone warm right down to the heart.
Hanabikai cleared his throat in a call for attention. Everyone followed, including me. We all looked up to find the twelve councils standing up against the wall, all aligned next to each other as if we were about to examine them, looking more powerful than us for some reason like they really were.
"Wow," Hanabikai muttered loudly into the room. "You guys sure healed fast," he complimented. He cleared his throat yet again and put a fist to his mouth. "Anyway, aside from that fact, the second part of your training begins now."
After he said so, there were a few given moans and groans throughout the room, Hanabikai waiting respectively. Zack was especially the loudest. "Listen," Derek muttered loudly. "Be quiet before I stick you halfway through the wall again. You're lucky I even let you out the first time. If it was up to me, you'd be stuck there for an entire month. Maybe even more. Got it?" he said, making sure everyone heard him.
A few people peered to see what was going on. Zack made a large gulp down his throat and quietly muttered reluctantly, "Yeah."
"Anyway," Hanabikai continued. "There's a few concepts to this part than to the last part, so I say we go there first, and then explain," Hanabikai announced, tracing a symbol against the wall behind him with his fingers artistically and quickly, as if shuffling randomly on the orange plaster. Seconds later was found a glowing portal that was framed by a Japanese-looking temple that glowed with a ghostly light. The red gate had paper lanterns at its side and was glowing red with much ominous. Everyone seemed to stare in awe with silent mutters that seemed noticeable in the eternal silence.
Hanabikai made a hand motion for them to go in, and shuffled his feet inside, disappearing immediately. The rest of the councils at his side followed, and the Minors followed soon after. And I, lastly, with a huge gulp of wonder with hints of fear, stepped in, and lost myself in the swirling portal.
Moments later, I found myself with the rest of the group in a cold surrounding; colder than the Inner World. For sure, I knew that we were in the Outer World by now, and we were surrounded by sunlit ground on one side, and lush, dark trees on the other side. The air felt cool and refreshing to my legs, yet thick and poisonous at some point as well, like the air had an aftertaste. The hot sun was on our backs, hanging like an emblem in the azure world above. Birds chirping and snake hissings were surrounding us, and the councils stood in front of the Minors once again with Hanabikai in the middle.
A few Minors found themselves murmuring about the place and how they haven't been to the Outer World in a while, almost two complete days yet still feeling somehow different.
"Okay!" Hanabikai called for attention. The murmuring immediately stopped and eyes turned to find Hanabikai and the rest of the councils standing in front of a fenced forest. The metal fence seemed like a net that trapped everything inside, as if locking something up in there. Darkness filled the depths of it when you peered inside it, even though it was a very sunlit afternoon. Hanabikai cleared his throat once more and began to talk. "This is where it all begins," he explained, making an obvious point. "…and this is how it works," he said, motioning a hand sign by his side, putting on a friendly, instructor like smile on. "This place is not known to many, and is a place where many of the few who know of it are banished because of their danger to society. Why are they so dangerous?" Hanabikai asked a rhetorical question. "Because and only because of the fact that they have amazing strong powers, just like you guys, but use it completely the wrong way from an unexplainable source. Most of the ones who live in the depths of this swamp behind me are psychotic in the mind, so watch out."
"Many of them also have lots of hate, and kill for the fun of it. They don't care about human lives and at this point, you shouldn't care either for other lives except for your own and each other's," Tsukansu explained, clutching two long things held together by his waist in his fist tightly. "Killing most likely will be essential, and watching your back while remaining a cool head is as well essential," he explained.
"This place is known as Swamp of Mystery. You will be forced to stay here for seven days exactly," Minoa announced by herself.
"Seven day-!" Zack was about to outburst but was soon found held back by Derek, a hand cupped around his mouth with his eyes wide open, his limbs moving frantically as Derek's available arm held his stomach to keep him from moving.
"Really, this guy…" Derek said tiredly, sighing an exasperated sigh with his eyes closed, wishing he could go to sleep.
Raikettei cleared his throat for attention. "The atmosphere of this area is deadly, not to mention the dangerous animals that live in this swamp as well," he said. "You will be separated into four groups of three, each group covering one of four gates to stay in for the task. You will be assigned a fixed amount of food to each team to last you the whole week."
On cue, four different councils threw four different colored backs in between them and the Minors. I watched carefully and in awe as to what their task was. Even I didn't know of this place, I realized.
"You are to use nothing but teamwork, understand?" Shihou said in a demanding voice, making that decision clear and final.
"Pretty easy thing to do if you just look at the task at hand," Madasora said friendlily, the twittering bird at his shoulder doing a dance or parade of some sort.
"Now," Kanadou said creepily through his frightening mask. "These will be the four groups and which gate they are assigned to," he announced.
Muttering took place, shuffling through the Minors part of the group. "Kahibi Eric, Kasumi Walter, and Samakuro Mark consist of Team One," Kanadou rasped out. "They will be taking the West Gate, otherwise known as the Gate of Shirotora, the White Tiger Gate," Kanadou explained.
The members of the group gave solemn looks on their face. Mark gave a confident nod and a smile afterwards.
"Group Two," Dirondo said, taking over. "…will consist of Kumoyama's Rick, Kawarimi Marissa, and Souzoku Lance. They'll be heading for the Gate of Doragon no Emerarudo, also known as the Gate of the Emerald Dragon located in the east" Dirondo said declaratively. She made a victory sign by the side of her face and smiled a beautiful smile, the two beaded strands of brown hair falling over her face, somehow making the wide grin even more elegant.
The recent team's announcement spread both agony and happiness for Marissa, sighing at the fact she had to be stuck with Lance, and smiling at the fact she could be someone she was all ready close with and was sure who wouldn't let her down.
"Group Three," Hyoumaru said, clearing his throat. "…is going to be made up of Yomi Derek, Nonbiri Zack, and Kokori Dylan. They'll go for Hebi Gate, or the Serpent Gate in the north.."
"Damn it." Derek muttered, crossing his arms in front of his chest and closing his eyes in an annoyed way. "I really have to be stuck with that guy?" he said, motioning a finger slightly towards Zack.
Zack blinked twice in stupidity before realizing what exactly had happened. "Hey!" he shouted. "What's that supposed to mean?" he cried out in a comical anger.
"What do you think it's supposed to mean?!" Derek said in an even stronger comical anger, his arms still crossed in front of him. Dylan formed a humorous sweat drop down the side of his face and smiled eagerly, snickering as he thought what kind of trouble being with those two will cost him.
Mindlessly, the Council continued. This time, Shintenmaru spoke. "Lastly, Group Four is made up of Takiato's Kenneth and Daniel, along with Miroku Teresa, whom together will be aiming for the Gate no Tori, also named as the Vermillion Gate of the South."
The two brothers gave a knowing smiled to each other as Teresa just looked up and sighed aimlessly, as if not noticing her name had just been called. Her wandering, violet eyes peered up into the also swaying sky and glimmered brightly in the faint sunlight. Her sigh was peaceful to hear yet despairing to experience.
"Now that everything has been settled, does anyone have any questions?" Hibiyomi creepily said with his body surrounded by a mysterious dark aura in the dead sunlight.
"Yeah, just one," Walter mentioned, raising his hand slightly. Everyone looked in his direction to find his expression toward the floor and his eyes closed with a smirk. "Why is this place called the Swamp of Mystery?" he asked, letting out his question high under his breath.
"Because…" Raikettei chose to answer. "Things happen in this place… that are completely unexplainable," he bluntly said coolly.
That moment, Zack stopped moving his limbs in a craze but let his wide eyes remain even wider, his mouth and stomach wrapped in Derek's restraining arms.
Zack soon began to resume his indistinctive moving of his arms and legs, and closed his eyes, as if trying hard to do something. "Ow!" Derek cried out seconds later, removing his hand from Zack's mouth quickly and letting him fall back to the floor, shaking his hand frantically, putting an expression of pain on his face. "You bit me!" Derek cried out, wiping spit on his Japanese Style coat with a comical frantic look on his face, his expression also locked with a bit of disgust.
"Hold on just a second!" Zack cried out just as humorous, Derek behind him in pain and agony. "You're saying that all we have to do is just survive in the place of wackos for a week without dying and eating as much as we want, and we pass immediately?" he cried out, pointing a finger at Hanabikai.
"Yeah, that's basically it," Hanabikai answered, stuffing his hands into his robe pockets and closing his eyes.
"Ha, then that means it's going to be an easy task after all," Zack said with a wink.
"Okay, if you say so," Minoa said with a smile. Zack opened his eyes widely with a puzzled expression, expecting a reaction different from what they gave him. "Just make sure that… you don't die," Minoa said finally. Zack's expression went all obvious again and slumped down towards the floor.
"Anyway," Shintenmaru said, clearing his throat. He pushed open the gate behind him and it opened widely with a creak, entering into the darkness with the sunshine fading away from it. Darkness seemed to pour out of the entrance. "You guys should hurry in. We're entering from the southeast, so some of you have a long way to go. Let's start moving!" he declared, initiating the second and final part of the Minors' training.