Chapter Nine – Fondness of the Heart

In the innards of a dark room, amidst billowing flames from torches all around and the sounds of the night within trees, a council of three sat brooding a dimly lit triangle, though in such a fashion that it appeared to have once been a square. It was in the air that, for sure, a great distress hung over the three figures that drove deeper than the thin appearances they wore, and the shaded brows and half-closed eyes were true enough as to the mood that had developed over them. After all, it had been a long time since they had come together in such a manner. Each now flew free, boundless in their joy and very rarely looking backwards. Had it not been for their common bilge, carefree living would have been their marquee.

"I don't know which is worse, really. I almost want to see her sad and stuff," said one, his voice hanging with varying tones that betrayed his standard animated self and seemed almost unreasonable, that he could speak with such a purpose.

However, the others, equally proven as great emancipators, were just as grimly lit in the midst of the flickering torches and sprays of sparks into the cool night air. "I cannot justify her logic," replied another, the torchlight iridescent across glasses in the dark, "though it is not necessarily detrimental to her. Perhaps it is some kind of defense mechanism. Or perhaps…" At this point, he trailed off and his head canted a bit, to let his eyes fall upon the silent, stolid third that had yet to offer much of anything in the council since the night had begun.

This figure remained motionless, knitted hands pressed against pursed lips and eyes closed to the room around him. The other two looked to him intently, as if hanging upon every moment like it would be the one that brought his opinion and that, apparently, was something of great value. Yet, thus far, he had not offered it. However, as if the presentation had admirably satisfied him, this third opened a set of endlessly onyx eyes that grew red slivers of flame from the torches, though his whole seemed to remain rooted in place and unable to move in his voice's wake.

"Perhaps he really will come back," he said in a voice cut from silence. Even now, after his story had unfolded and some great power within him had disappeared, the torches swayed and shimmered at the voice of Kurobashi Yamito. There was no reason for it, besides simple tradition that had grown from his former days. Yet, at that very thought, Yamito's eyes visibly flinched. This return would not bode well for him. He knew that. Out of all, he was the one that benefited most from the absence, yet even beyond the obvious threat to his safety, his heart hoped that Kage would return. It was the stupidity of love; of his love for Kage. Despite all that had come between them, he was part of their team. He, like the three in the peaceful light, was the last of an entire Universe; the last of the former Scion. That easily forged a bond for them all.

"Keh," the first snorted sharply and shifted on his rump, rubbing his fingers viciously through a mop of blonde hair, "that guy is the stubbornest, most wacked out guy I know. He's stringy, rock-headed and just as likely to clip your gourd off rather than shake hands with ya. He hates us, then fights us, goes cookie-cutter in the head, then somehow changes altogether and has new powers. Then the ditch monkey runs off after finallyfinding out he's a good guy, just to make us worry about him! Mou! If he wasn't such a T-bone, I'd knock some sense into that block of wood on his neck." Hoshi 'Suteki' Hitoshi had always been on another level, from his opulent lifestyle in former days to his wild and deviant behaviors in any type of subject. Even in the worst of moments, he had always a charming word to say. Now, with his world's empty segment on his mind, the whimsical flights of his crystal blue eyes were directed to the task of trying to navigate the time until his friend and companion would return.

The last, being the observant of the group, smiled in spite of himself. Agawa Kurai had always been the thinker, the scholar to Yamito's mystic, Kage's fighter and Suteki's inamorato. It had been his calling to analyze, interpret and infuse any and all information into the simple, undeniable truth that would support them in their ways. Yet, despite all of his calculations and predictions, it was not in him to simply weigh the odds against his friend of Yamamori Kage. In truth, he cared more deeply for his friendships with these three others than he could freely admit. In moments of darkness and despair, they had been the only ones that he could rely upon, day after day, moment after wretched moment. War and hell had come and gone, yet he remained attached to them beyond. It was a very durable, if not elastic, bond for them. "Yes, I miss him as well. I'd like to think, despite our recent unpleasantness and stressed relations, that our Kage considers that he has true friends waiting for him," Kurai said timidly. The others were silent in agreement, but a sudden and unexpected chuckle from Kurai caused them both to regard him with raised brows. "Yet, we may not be the most potent reasoning behind his potential return. Whatever has our Kage become in these few, topical days?" he said, almost musing to himself and the workings of his mind.

"Amor vincit omnia," he mused vocally.

Yamito and Suteki looked at him awkwardly. Kurai knew the tongue was foreign, yet he left it to linger around them just as the ambient heat of the torches did, as if enhance the air and make the meaning all the more concise. Then, slipping his glasses from his nose to regard them both with his shining blue eyes and warm smile, he shrugged slightly and spoke as if it were common knowledge – as if they should feel foolish for not knowing by sheer implication. "Love conquers all," he translated.

The translation brought a great reaction in Suteki, who had always been the champion of love, and he nearly jumped up from his mat, rocking a fist through the air in perfect rhythm with his heartbeat. "That's what I'm talking about! Even that bone-headed sour-puss can't deny the power of love, baby! It's like dynamite packed in an A-bomb blown in by a typhoon during an earthquake!" he howled, grinning widely and rooting about in the depth of his admiration for the subject. His antics were the burning of his deepest thoughts and while Yamito shook his head in reaction to the overwhelming passion, Kurai felt the deep and churning envy for Suteki's ability to embrace the honesty, inward and out.

The absence of Kage truly exhumed Kurai's character. The loss of such a close friend was devastating for him, though only Ami truly knew of it. Even with the nature of his relationship with the brooding, jaded figure, Kurai felt a part of him departed when Kage did, like a great piece of him that had endured a world-splitting war was just torn away without regard or reason. Kage had always been the strength Kurai desired, the strength to endure anything with the same unwavering resolve that had always left him tall and proud – a beast of glory. Kurai admired him, idolized even, despite the fact that Kage had been lost inside his own madness and nearly became the greatest villain to them all. However, despite his great flaws, Kage had ascended, grown to become a man with unbelievable power. Kurai had never been powerful. He knew it. But through his friends, he had always felt empowered and able to contend with anything that might come his way. Now, as a great shard of his security had been lost, he was unsure, even in the wake of his growing family of people dear to him. He hid it, speaking softly about Kage and pushing his feelings back with schoolbooks, but the one dearest to him saw right through it – saw the denial. Friendship, he knew, transcended all bounds of common sense. Despite everything, he just wanted Kage to return.

"He will return," said Yamito suddenly, freezing the moment with all eyes on him. They all knew, as did many others, Kage's feelings towards him. It wasn't enough to say that Kage disliked Yamito, or even hated him. Kage denied him. From the moment they all knew Yamito was different to the last fleeting moments when Kage was visible, they had been in deep, unrestricted conflict. Sometimes, Yamito believed Kage's reasoning. The resolution of his destiny had proven that what Kage claimed was true, that he could have used his unnatural power to end the suffering on their world long before Kage's sister was killed. Then again, Yamito only conquered his destiny with the help of Rei, the ivory soul that he met only after coming to this world. Still, he wished for nothing more than to set things right with his estranged friend, even though he had now lost his only defense against the wrathful vengeance still churning in his heart. Before, Yamito's power had dwarfed Kage's. That was not the case any longer. In fact, Yamito considered Kage's new powers to be on par with the chosen soldiers of the world, whereas his own had simply faded away, leaving him only armed with his spiritual awareness and ability to conjure charms. If Kage returned, he would be totally at his mercy. Yet, he still spoke fondly of that time, remitting himself to serving his time at the Hikawa shrine and with the one that had so selflessly illuminated his path. "I believe we have all learned that the most relevant power in the universe is the bonds between people, or the power of love, to appease Hitoshi," he said, closing his eyes and basking in the warm conduct of the room. When the group was whole again, he would suffer whatever revenge Kage had in store, just as long as it meant having him close again. "And despite the hole in his heart, I think we all know that Kage truly, deeply loves that girl. What else do we need to know to expect his return?" he finished.

There was silence. It was a strange time for Suteki, who had always been lively and on the curl of the action. He was no different than the others, for he missed Kage terribly, but probably was the one that felt his absence the most. In him, despite his wild behavior and constant stretching of limitations, there was the most exaggerated grief and longing, mostly because it was Kage that had always been the one that put down his flirtatious jaunts or hormone-induced rants. Now that his limiter was gone, Suteki felt bored. Of course, his wildly passionate relationship with the goddess herself reduced his previous jubilance, but there was no one that could cap his flights of arousal as wonderfully as Kage, leaving him almost resentful for the freedom. But also, Suteki had been the closest to Kage, before and after the death of Mika. He had seen each moment of wrenching change, from the reverent seeker of the sacred style of Ryushuuken to the flagrant villain that crushed anything within reach. He had tried to stick by him, but he had spiraled too quickly for Suteki to hold on. Now, knowing that he was somewhere in the world, struggling to come to terms with himself, he wanted to be there with him, to show him that in all of the times that they had spent together, they had suffered together. He wanted to show him that he loved him, just as they all did. That love, he mused, was as powerful as the one he felt for Minako.

"Yamito-kun?" said a voice, drawing all of their attention to a single shaded figure in the doorway, "Jin-chan and Kurai-kun too?" It was her. Her eyes were wide and bright even in the low light and she looked around at the three of them with a slight surprise apparent. To see the three of them together like this, she knew what they were talking about. It was obvious in their expressions. Because of it, she smiled lightly, overjoyed that her absent lover was still powerfully in the minds of his friends. "Sorry to bother you, everyone. I was looking for Rei-chan. Do you know where she is, Yamito-kun?" she asked and she was holding a basket tightly in her free hand.

They all felt sorry for her, if only because she seemed so sad in spite of her cherry tidings. This girl had been in the worst of the storm, tossed about by her love for their companion and further denied as he left. Hers was the greatest loss. Hers was the greatest pain. Yet, she carried it with the most grace, sparkling beautifully in the night even as all other lights had seemed to fade from her life. "I believe she is speaking with her grandfather. You will have to wait until they have concluded, Makoto," Yamito said, watching her eyes intently for some kind of hint as to her secret power.

Her eyes dimmed a bit, but she was still smiling and she bowed slightly, placing her hand on the screen door to close it. "Thanks, everyone. Again, sorry to bother you," she said and began to close the door. However, a voice caught from the inside and caused her to stop, looking to the three of them with a curious glance.

"Won't you sit with us?" asked Yamito, gesturing to the empty place testing the semblance of their group.

It was unusual. When the three of them were together, they nearly always preferred to be alone, mostly because they were talking about their past and the lives that had been lost. Her and her friends knew to give them space when that world was spoken of, but now they were inviting her, allowing her enter because of the common empty place existent in each of their hearts. Together, they could come a little closer to filling it. She was surprised at first, then smiled widely and nodded her head, speaking with a happy voice, "Of course!" After entering and closing the door behind her, she moved into the place that had been created, kneeling down gracefully with the smile retained on her beautiful features. This place was her lover's, but she would keep it warm for him. It felt wonderful to have this piece of him with her, if only for a moment, and she then went into her basket and pulled three wrapped pieces of sweet, homemade manju, placing one for each of them before leaning back onto her knees. She took a moment to look at each of them, the three greatest friends in his life. Each one brought some greatly needed thing to his fragile soul and she felt deeply appreciative to them, smiling happily in their presence and beginning the conversation that they each needed to hear. "Let's talk about him. I want to hear everything you know about Kage," she said, glad for the opportunity to be with him, even if it was through the memories and affections of his closest friends.