Chapter 8: What They Feared
A/N: Guys sorry for the delay. My PC for the countless time crashed so I wrote this story in an internet shop. So tell me if you notice something wrong in my writings okay? It's in the pc I think. You know the feeling that you're at ease with the pc and you get to type away all you want but sometimes there are just some that doesn't give you that aura. Huh I miss my obsolete PC. Oh sorry for the drama, here we go with chappie 8 of Desert Rose. Please R n R.
The pair arrived in Kagura's office in about the start of the afternoon. Kagura immediately began their briefing with the village's small territory. It was all well until Sakura couldn't hold her curiosity any longer, "Kagura, tell me who's Ken and what have you both done to Reika?" she asked fearlessly as she looked intently into Kagura's purple eyes seeking for the truth. Gaara on the other hand, looked at Sakura's emerald eyes and was surprised by her solid determination reflected. "How did you know that?" Kagura was now stammering for words. "W…Who told you a…about him? You must not know I'm sorry. The meeting is over." With that she immediately left her office, leaving the two to answer their own questions.
"How did you know about that?" Gaara asked. "The dream…I dreamt about it. She was there so was Ken and Reika…the one known now as the blood countess…" Sakura related her dreadful nightmare with every single detail she remembered. After she finished, "I think we can't trust her just yet." He decided. She only nodded in reply. As soon as she did so, the doors of the office slowly opened to reveal Kouga; Gaara faced him as if he was a threat but "Please don't doubt her. She's just afraid that's all." "What do you mean?" Sakura wondered as she touched Gaara's shoulder to calm him down and he did. "I'll answer all your questions. Just don't ever doubt us again." "Agreed." Gaara reassured.
"Ken, Kagura and Reika were childhood friends. He was a Scyon, Reika was a Luna and Kagura was a Xenolith. It was a friendship that strengthened the alliance of the three villages but they can't be friends forever it seemed… Reika grew fond of Ken. Ken on the other hand didn't feel the same way. He became irritated with Reika's closeness so he planned something. That night he called for Kagura, he told him that he needed her help. Kagura thought it was some case of emergency so she came. His plan was revealed to her, she strongly disagree knowing that it would hurt their friend but Ken somehow told her that she owed him so she in turn must help him. After their little play, they never expected that she would react that way. Kagura didn't attend the gathering hosted by Reika purely out of shame. She never expected that she would be thankful for not coming." Kouga related.
"And what of the Prophecy? What did it say for her to fear her so?" Gaara continued asking. "You better come with me," Kouga said as he now walks towards the door. "Where are we going?" Sakura inquired. "To the person who can answer you questions… to the oracle," Kouga finished as he left the room. The two looked at each other and simultaneously nodded and followed him.
They arrived in front of an old manor that was built a distance away from the town and near a sparkling lake. Kouga knocked thrice and the laid his palm flat against the door. It opened by itself. Proceeding inside, the manor seemed to have no occupants until, "Kouga, I missed you." A girl with long light blue hair lunged forward to embrace Kouga. "Seiya, not now. We have guests." Kouga whispered as he blushed rapidly and gestured towards the visitors. "Oh, then they are the ninjas… I was expecting you." The girl named Seiya calmly said as she led them into the room.
"You came for answers you seek regarding the past, am I right, Sakura-san?" Seiya immediately inquired as they enter the room. "How did you…?" "I am Seiya, the oracle and the priestess of the moon." Sakura and Gaara could only look at each other in disbelief. How can a girl like her be the oracle that gave the famous prophecy? She's too young compared to Kagura. Sakura asked herself as she stared at the also wondering Gaara. "Looks are always a hindrance in solving a mystery. Kagura is older that me I am but 300 years old when I made the prophecy." Seiya giggled as she revealed her secret.
"What does this prophecy contain for it to have such effect on the Blood Countess?" Gaara quickly changed the boring topic. "Gaara, impatient as always just like your ancestors." "When I reveal a prophecy, I go into a trance. In short I am not aware of anything that I am doing or saying while doing so." "But…" Sakura interrupted. "Some one recorded it right before she died in the hands of her heartless soldiers." She replied as she got up and took something from the drawer and presented it to them. The package was securely covered with an old cloth and as they opened it they saw that the prophecy was written in blood that has now dried up.
It was written as…
Beware you who have gained eternal beauty, when the red moon appears and bathes the earth. The blood-stained purity of the petals will sunder your shadows and render them useless.
Heed my words, when the cherry blossom withers the tainted earth shall reclaim what was theirs from the very beginning. You who cannot die shall kneel before the power of the angered sand. Only the warmth of the risen phoenix can quell his wrath…
After reading out loud what was written, Sakura and Gaara looked at Seiya. Their mental question was heard by the oracle, "it was my sister who wrote that. She was also a victim of the blood countess and right before she died but she did not die in vain. She made a curse "From this day forward, the mark of your terrible deed will be visible to all. The ashes of your innocent victims shall remain fastened to your skin. Never to be removed." Those were her very words… that was the last thing I remembered but they did say that the countess hid because even though she still possess her ethereal beauty her skin were as white as ash. " Seiya confessed.
"But it doesn't end there," Kouga finally spoke. "Though the prophecy speaks of her doom, it must also speak for her salvation. The prophecy is not yet finished. Her redemption has not yet been foretold and that's what they're after." he continued. "The faithful servants of the Blood Countess are now after me to hear the rest of the prophecy. Though they were men before, they are only empty shells now. Their humanity robbed from them, the day they decided to follow the Blood Countess' most dreadful order." Seiya added. "When we fought with them, they seem to feel nothing at all. The only solution to stop from attacking is to kill them." Kouga finished.
With all the information they got, the two fell silent as Seiya and Kouga revealed all the truth they know. "Seiya…have you ever seen the Blood Countess?" Sakura curiosly asked. "I have seen Reika but never the Blood Countess because when I entered her castle my trance began and it ended when I was on the forest far from her tower."
Sakura and Gaara left in the early hours of the night and proceeded to their room. Too occupied with too much thinking, they spent the night in silence.
Until…Sakura woke up from her dream. Something didn't feel right. She looked over to his side seeing that he was already dressed "What are you doing, hurry up let's go," Gaara ordered. She changed her clothes quickly. They headed towards the only location that must be protected… to Seiya's manor.
Upon their arrival, the ruins of a past battle were evident. The broken walls, disarranged furniture and blood welcomed them. They quickly searched for Seiya. They saw her… sitting in one corner of the room… trembling scared. "I…I'm s-sorry. I…I tried to hold it back b-but I…I came into a trance again." She stammered. "They got what they wanted. The prophecy is now complete." "I'm sorry, I failed you," Kouga spoke as he barely walks towards the room. Things are now very complicated. Gaara and Sakura thought.
A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the long absence. Hope you like this chappie there's not much conversation between the two but still please R n R.