Chapter Twelve: Oda's Search – The Eye of Hinotama
"Takaya… how about this one?"
The boy in question, who looked very out of place amongst the racks of women's shoes, socks, gloves and other accessories, turned to face his friend a few steps away.
The blonde with the solemn eyes held up a large, bright gold handbag with sequence and dangly, sparkly, fringe. One golden eyebrow was arched slightly upward as he waved the purse back and forth. "Well?" he asked his voice slightly hopeful.
With a snort Takaya shook his head. "Yuzuru… you're mom is not a hooker."
Puzzled Yuzuru eyed the item. "You think this is hooker-ish?" The sparkles caught in the light and momentarily blinded him. "Huh… I guess you're right." Sighing in defeat he placed it back on the rack and continued his search.
Smirking Takaya turned away from his friend. "Are you sure she wants a purse for her birthday?" He wondered towards the wallet section and gazed, in some wonderment, at the different sizes, colors and shapes.
"Oh yes…" Yuzuru muttered.
Takaya suddenly heard the ringing of bells and was about to shout that thatwasnot a good choice regardless of how "cute" the item was. The sound, thankfully, quieted just as quickly as it had started. Obviously Yuzuru agreed.
"She mentioned needing a new pocket book so many times in the past month… oh!"
Stopping his intense analysis of women's wallets, Takaya glanced up to see Yuzuru's latest choice. It was a rectangular shaped purse with large silver buckles and lime green alligator skin. Takaya could not suppress the shiver that ran down his back.
"No," he firmly said.
"No?" the blonde asked once again examining the bag. "But it has these funky buckles. I think mom would like them."
"Yuzuru… its alligator print."
That eyebrow arched again. "So?"
"So… it's lime green alligator print. Put it back."
"But Takaya…" he shook the bag for good measure, "the buckles…"
Chuckling he shook his head. "You go stand out on the corner with that purse and see how many creepy dudes in black cars pull over and ask you for a ride. Do you really want your mother to have that?"
Pausing Yuzuru gazed at the purse for a long moment then cautiously put it back. "Ah… I guess you're right. Gods this is so complicated!" Grumbling he moved deeper into the forest of handbags. "At least I have you with me, Takaya. I knew you would be a good judge of these things."
"And what's that suppose to mean?" he snapped rather defensive. "You think I'm gay or something'?"
Yuzuru faced him and snorted. "Heh… no… of course not. I simply said that 'cause you have a sister. I thought that some of that might have rubbed off on you."
Blushing slightly in embarrassment he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his bomber jacket. "Yeah… well… I guess my only thought on any of this stuff is what I would and would not let my sisters wear."
"Sisters?" the blonde blinked.
"What?" he choked out not having noticed his slip.
"You said sisters. Do you have another besides Miya?"
Flustered he shook his head. "What? No. I fucked up. I meant sister… as in one. Not sisters as in two."
Chuckling softly Yuzuru turned once again and walked into the sea of purses. "Okay then. I was a little concerned there."
Takaya watched him as he, himself, slowly left the handbag area. He let out a deep breath and cursed himself for being so stupid as to say "sisters". He had not told Yuzuru of Hanairo and he had no plans of doing so either. She did not go to school regardless of that one time she had shown up in uniform. Yuzuru, thankfully, never asked about that day several weeks ago and the strange girl they both had met.
Oddly enough, even after their slightly intense and very strange tea ceremony, the pair had bonded. Oh it was not immediate of course, but over the past two weeks Hanairo had made herself a constant in his life. Somehow, by continually popping up like an annoying gofer, she had wheedled her way into his heart. Well… about as close as anyone could get, he supposed.
For a while he was always so surprised that she seemed to end up in the same place he did: the arcade, the park, and his apartment – sometimes Miya was there and sometimes she was not. It dawned on him one day that her powers were that of a spirit tracker so of course she would know his whereabouts, perhaps even before he did.
Not only did she incessantly appear out of thin air, she was full of never ending chatter. She talked about her love of food, the daily trials and tribulations of her job, Helena, and of course Chiaki. He was frightened, more often than not, when she spoke of Chiaki. There were just some intimate things that he did not want to know about his men. However, her chatter of her lover almost always brought out his surly side. It made him think and brood over Naoe and the last time he had seen him.
Damn that man and his intoxicating kisses; and damn him for abandoning him. He had not heard a single word from his "loyal" manservant. Nor had anyone else, he supposed. No one brought him up or mentioned that they had spoken with him. He did, on a level, suspect that Hanairo talked to him, but was wise enough not to mention his name in Takaya's presence.
Well fuck Naoe! He thought bitterly stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat as he paced the walk in front of the accessories section. Love and relationships were bullshit, as far as he was concerned. Love was painful and twisted, not pure and flowery like the poets described. Naoe was, apparently, "desperately in love" with him. What good,truly, has come from that "love" - and their relationship for that matter? Pah! What a load of crap.
Snorting he tossed his head and glanced away from his friend. Yuzuru, he admitted, was the only person alive – and or previously dead and reincarnated into a body stealing, soul purifying exorcist from a nether world army – which he felt he could trust and rely on. Their relationship was the only one that made any sense. And he hoped it always would.
Sighing deeply, he dragged a hand down his face then into his hair. Turning to make his way back to Yuzuru, a bright yellow blur caught his eye. He wondered, cautiously – this was the women's hosiery section after all – towards the color. Blinking he stared down at a pair of electric yellow socks with happy, brightly colored limes and oranges on the ankle. The toes were a shocking pink.
Grinning softly he picked up the socks and glanced at the price tag. His phone vibrated against his thigh causing him to jump. An animated, feminine, happy face with big lips winked and grinned at him.
Sighing he flipped open the device. "What?"
"Takaya!" was shouted in a rather singsong tone into his ear.
"Yes, Hanairo?" he grumbled sounding very much like a disgruntled older brother.
"Whatcha doin'?" she asked drawing out the words in a way that both amused and annoyed him.
"I'm at the mall with Yuzuru. I told you that."
"Iknow where you are, silly. I just wanted to know what you were doing?"
"I'm helping him shop for his mom's birthday. I told you that, too!" he half shouted half grumbled into the phone.
"Oh well that's nice. Say, hey, Takaya… are you almost done?"
"I dunno…." He muttered leaning his hip against the table of socks, lemon colored ones still dangling in his fingers. "There's a lot to choose from. Why…?"
"Oh… well… do you want to swing by the restaurant? I got this great side of blue-fin tuna in and I want you to try some."
"Is it free?" he asked knowing the answer. Said question, however, would undoubtedly make her laugh.
And so it did. Giggling she said, "Of course."
"Good. Then I'll stop by."
"Excellent. Wonderful… I'll see you then." At that she hung up.
He could not seem to wipe the wispy smile from his face as he went to find Yuzuru and check on his progress. The lemon-colored socks were still in his hand.
Once more he was entranced by the dance of smoke. Twisting and turning and wafting high into the air, swirling around the frosted glass that hung above his head. He would need a lot more than this one lone cigarette to calm his frayed nerves. He would need at least ten packs, no, wait, twelve. Oh fuck it… twenty! Sighing deeply he pinched the bridge of his nose as the sickening sound of bone against metal echoed in his ears.
It had been two weeks and three days since "The Kiss" and damn him for thinking it had been only hours ago. He had his master right where he wanted him. Moaning and breathless, squirming for more, practically begging for it, and so desperately wanting himto release that need and yet… he ran away. He ran away! What a coward! What a dog! The cracking sound happened again only this time it was sawing. Metal grated against flesh emitting a wordless scream from its victim. He watched, momentarily transfixed as pale skin was ripped from flesh, not a drop of blood spilt. The victim's innards lay casually to the side bleeding across the wood.
Why did he leave? Why did he run away? He could have had his way with the boy right there in the front of his car with no regrets. That is what he wanted, wasn't it? He had desired his master for more than four hundred years and he had him in the palm of his hands. He was right there, ripe for the plucking. Why?! Why didn't he take like the cold-hearted bastard he was? He could have had him!
He pressed his palm into his forehead cigarette still grasped between his fingers. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to drown out the little voice in his head; the little voice who had been tormenting him since he had pulled away from those sweet, tender, virgin lips. You love him. You respect him. You could never take him while he was intoxicated and not in his right mind. You want him screaming your name while he is fully coherent. You want him, as he is – surly, rude, innocent and coy, dominating, overbearing and deliciously sexy. There is no other way.
Just like that damn mirror… Letting out a breath he did not realize he was holding in he drew his eyes towards the bones of that poor creature, ripped apart and gutted right there on an exquisite bamboo board. They lay, dotted with pink-ish flesh, right next to his face. That poor creature had to watch its own torture. Damn how he knew what it felt like to be a fish.
"Naoe-kun," she grinned placing a small plate of beautifully sliced salmon before him.
Straightening in his seat he replaced his cigarette with chopsticks and took a bite. The sweet flavor assaulted his taste buds and he smiled in approval. "Delightful."
She beamed at him.
For all of his suffering over her brother, for all of the mistakes he had made in the past, that one bright smile made everything seem worthwhile. Unfortunately he knew his euphoria would not last long. Takaya would soon arrive at the restaurant and they would have to face each other for the first time since their little tryst in the car. Oh and how he loathed the thought of that moment. His insides were knotted and he felt ready to vomit all over the bar, but of course, he would never do so. Instead he reached for some pickled ginger hoping the slightly sweet item would calm his nerves and settle his stomach. It did not work, of course.
"Hanairo-chan, may I try the tuna now?" Haruie pleaded holding out a lovely porcelain bowl.
Naoe, Haruie, and Nagahide arrived at the very empty restaurant close to an hour ago. It was decided amongst them, without their lord's knowledge, that the Flying Fighter Fish would be the best place to hold their meeting. Oda's plans in Toyama were finally discovered and their next move needed to be planned and executed as quickly as possible. And so the small ban of Uesugi possessors had gathered together to put a stop Oda's devious plans before it was too late. First off, however, they had to wait for their lord to arrive from his shopping excursion. So they patiently waited while eating free sushi.
Grinning Hanairo shook her head. "No, sorry, not till Takaya arrives. I promised him first dibs."
Haruie cast her gaze towards the large slab of toro - the fattiest, richest, cut of tuna - just off to the side of the bar covered in layers of ice. "I know… but it looks so yummy. I can almost hear it calling to me."
"If you start hearing the spirits of dead fish, Haruie, I'm going to have you committed," Nagahide remarked taking a bite of rice.
She snorted. "Heh… we should all be committed with our backgrounds."
"She does have a very valid point, love." Hanairo grinned at him, twirling her tako hiki – sashimi knife – around in her hand.
"How many times did you stab yourself learning that little trick, sweetness?" he asked gazing at her. His eyes were like liquid earth, deep and dark.
She squirmed slightly under that intense gaze, but at the same time felt empowered. "None, my love. You were, after all, the one who taught me to handle a sword… or knife," she whispered breathlessly her words suggestive. Grinning seductively she leaned over the bar and pressed her lips to his, slipping her tongue into his mouth. They drank from each other for a moment before they were interrupted by the scrapping of one of the bar stools.
"I need some air," was murmured gruffly as Naoe left the empty restaurant.
"Was it something I said?" Hanairo asked cheeks flushed.
"Oh brother…" Haruie muttered returning to her meal.
Outside the restaurant Naoe lit another cigarette. The bitter cold felt good on his flushed and nervous body as an icy wind kicked up spraying the dust of previously fallen snow. Damn those two! They were ridiculously nauseating and he was ridiculously jealous. He needed some more ginger.
Snorting at his own state of pathetic, he paced up the street letting the wind nip at his body. Having arrived at the restaurant from the office, he was dressed in a dove gray suite with silky red tie. He paused in his walk at a lamppost a few paces from the door. Tilting his head toward the sky he sighed deeply then ground the cigarette into the snow. The spiritual energy of his master shot up his spine making him whip his gaze towards the boy standing a foot from the door.
By gods but he was utterly glorious. His body was ridged, hands fisted at his sides, a small brown-bag in his left. Dressed in dark jeans, a pale green tee shirt and the ever-present bomber jacket, those light eyes held his gaze. His skin was illuminated in the wintry, afternoon sun; his cheeks a lovely shade of pink. Dark hairs danced across his forehead like fairies. Their soft wings fluttering against thick lashes, which shielded honey eyes. Those dangerously alluring, tiger-eyes flashed and Naoe felt his knees weaken. Those eyes were always his undoing.
"Ka… Takaya," he whispered the wind carrying his words to the boy.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he growled so softly Naoe flinched; he would have preferred him yelling those words. Yelling was anger, a whisper meant emotional hurt and the slight hitch in his voice meant pain. Fuck me, he thought wanting to crawl into a hole and rot.
"We are all here," he said and watched, momentarily transfixed, as those lush lips – lips that he had drank greedily from – formed a harsh line.
Without another word Takaya walked into the restaurant.
Naoe followed like the dog he was.
Their master was greeted with joy and a hug from Haruie. "I'm so glad you're here! We can have tuna now!" she beamed at him and he chuckled softly.
"Takaya! I'd hug you but I've got fish guts on my hands." He watched as she leaned over the bar, much as she had done to her lover, and kissed both of his cheeks in a traditional French greeting. She then pointed to the bar stool next to his own. Naoe knew that would not go over well, but the teen slid into the seat placing his package atop the bar.
"Did you buy a purse, Takaya?"
"Shut up, Chiaki! Asshole."
They chuckled.
"Well what did you buy?" Haruie asked trying to steal the item.
He evaded her with ease. "It's nothing much," he muttered thrusting the parcel in his sisters face.
The blue-eyed girl blinked at the bag. "You bought me something?"
"I saw them and thought you would like them."
She blinked at him again and then her whole face lit up. "You bought me a present, Takaya-san!" She practically ripped the package from his hands in excitement. Quickly she washed her hands then reached into the bag and pulled out the socks.
"Oh my… Takaya!" she squealed in delight. "I love them!" she practically jumped onto her work surface as she grabbed the back of his head and kissed the corner of his mouth; her lips close to his. "These are the best socks ever!" She waved them about and giggled. "Look at the little oranges and limes!"
Nagahide chuckled and shook his head at she handed the socks over to Haruie. "Just what you need, sweetling, another pair of ridiculous socks."
"I know! Aren't they great?!"
"They are pretty cute," Haruie agreed. "But why did dancing citrus fruits remind you of Hanairo?"
"Well… 'cause she always smells like lemons," he said with a bit of a blush. "Why do you smell like lemons, sis?"
She chuckled and plunged her hands into the bin of ice containing the side of tuna. "Because I stink."
"What?"
"Lemon juice gets rid of strong odors like fish," Naoe answered as he rejoined the group.
He slid into his seat uptight and ridged, as his master flinched and moved away. Sighing deeply he picked up the chopsticks and tapped a tiny finger bowl. Hanairo blinked and gazed at him. Something in her eyes made his insides flip. She was too perceptive. Silently she refilled the bowl with pickled ginger.
"So… are we here to just sample some tuna or is there another reason? Its odd for us to be together like this. And… no one consulted me on this meeting, so something must be up. Hmm?"
His men and sister paused for a long moment and then Nagahide spoke. Pulling his glasses from his nose he proceeded to clean them on the edge of his shirt.
"Remember my little trip to Toyama a few weeks ago?"
How could they forget? It was during Nagahide's absence that Hanairo had reentered their lives.
"Oda's forces were quietly gathering there and… they seemed to be in search of something. While there I couldn't find any solid info, but recently I did some deeper digging and I think I figured it out." Placing his glasses back on his face, Nagahide reached into the messenger bag at the foot of his stool. He pulled out a map of Toyama and passed it down the table. "The area I circled has been giving off a strange energy as of late, so I looked into what was around there. I was able to find the Hokudasuto Shrine. It is rumored that the priests there are not allowed to leave the temple… ever. Infant boys are brought there and raised so that they will be untouched by the influences of the outside world."
"Sounds like a sick type of cult if you ask me," Hanairo muttered placing samplings of tuna in front of everyone.
"It would be, sweets, except for what the priests are protecting."
"And that would be…?" Takaya asked savoring the rich piece of fish in his mouth.
"That would be an amulet of sorts. A jewel… I suppose. They call it theEye of Hinotama. They say that a god who lived in the stars fell in love with a human. But since he lived amongst the cosmos and the human lived on Earth, they could never be together. So, frustrated with simply watching his love from such a great distance, he plucked out his eye and sent it to the human so he could watch over and protect them, always."
"May I just say," Haruie interjected, "That if a man ever, ever, sent me his eyeball as a token of love, I'd run away screaming… and as quickly as possible, too."
"Van Gough cut off his ear for a woman."
Haruie shook her head at the female standing behind the bar. "That's just as sick. Truly… what is wrong with men these days? Flowers are too cliché… let me cut off a body part and give it to you? Bleck… gives me the willies," she said with a shiver.
"Oh! Napoleon had his woo-woo cut off and given to a woman he once loved. But that was after he had died, of course."
A thick silence suddenly fell on the group, four pairs of eyes blinking wildly at her. "What? It's true."
Nagahide cleared his throat and shook his head. "I don't want to know how or why you know such random information." Chuckling softly he said, "At any rate… whether that little legend is true or not the actual jewel does exist. It is an item of immense power rumored to amplify the holders power exponentially."
"So… Oda's found it?" Takaya asked his tone grave.
"No… not yet. You see… apparently the monks have a barrier around the eye hiding its power. It is also rumored that the eye does not even reside in the temple, but somewhere else entirely. Which is why they are still searching for it."
"But if they can't find it… what makes you think that we can?"
"Ah ha! I wasn't sure of that at first either, but… if the eye once belonged to a being of immense spiritual power than, surly, someoneshould be able to track said spiritual power."
Once more four pairs of eyes locked on the woman standing behind the bar, a wriggling rainbow trout in her hands. "Um… pardon?"
"That's right!" Haruie interjected smiling at her friend. "You should be able to track down the spiritual flow of that eye and lead us straight to it. Then we can destroy it. Sounds pretty simple to me."
"Well… there's a catch."
"Isn't there always?" Takaya muttered munching on his meal.
"The reason the monks isolate themselves is because, well, how to put this… anyone who touches the eye becomes possessed by its power."
"Pardon?" Naoe asked.
"From what I understand the eye amplifies the spiritual power that one already possesses. It is rumored that anyone who merely holds the eye in his or her hand will become possessed by its power. Since it forces an unnatural amount of power to flow forth from the holder's body, eventually the host is destroyed by the overflow of spiritual energy. So… in essence… I think they implode from too much power."
"Well that's kind of karmic if you ask me, "Haruie muttered laying her head in her hand.
Finally, his stomach still doing the tango with his intestines, Naoe spoke. "It will not be an easy mission, I'm sure. Oda's clan members will be on the prowl and perhaps even the Hojo. But… if all that you say is true, Nagahide, the means to destroy the jewel are in our power, and without laying a finger on it. Unless… of course… it is indestructible, which would explain why the amulet has remained in the care of isolated monks as well as the grave expression on your face."
"Yes..." he sighed deeply shaking his head. "That's the rumor anyway. No one has been able to destroy it, too tempted by the power it holds. I heard that the monks have tried on several occasions to destroy it, but it seems they are not powerful enough to do so. That is why they keep it hidden and away from outsiders. Never having experienced a life of greed, anger, lust, the monks are immune to the affects of the jewel and whatever whispers of power it holds."
"So maybe… with all that said… it's in better hands with the monks and we should leave well enough alone?" Hanairo suggested.
"No," Takaya interrupted shaking his head. "Oda is ruthless in their quest for power. If someone were to get their hands on the Eye of Hinotama, it's hard to say if we could even stop them; if it is as powerful as Chiaki says." He paused, his tiger-eyes flashing and said, "We will destroy it."
"Of course, Lord Kagetora," Naoe said. "Hanairo you have one day to locate the eye. We need to leave as soon as possible."
"One day…?" she blinked, baffled. "But what if I can't do it by then? Truly… perhaps this is not a good…"
Takaya silenced her with a dark glare. "I have spoken, sister. You are a member of the Uesugi, are you not?"
Quickly she cast her eyes towards Nagahide who stared back at her in stony silence. He and her brother may have their differences, but he was ridiculously loyal. Sighing she nodded, "Yes. I am."
"And when the leader of your clan says something you obey, right?"
She sighed and nodded again. "Yes. I will locate the eye in less than a day."
"All right… so it's settled then. We're going to Toyama and theHokudasuto Shrine."
Authors Note:crawls out of the abyss she had fallen into Oh my goodness… it's been AGES! I'm so, so, SO sorry for that. I am a pastry chef and I – back in June – went to help open a hotel. Now that is truly no easy task, I assure you. I was there 16hrs a day if not longer. Terrible, terrible! That, of course, left me no time to think about anything other than my pillow for months. It has FINALLY calmed down to a point where I now get 2 days off a week and work between 8 and 10 hrs everyday. Which means… I can write again!! Whoot! Let's all stand up and cheer. I know you don't care, per say, but I wanted to make sure you knew that I didn't abandon this thing. The characters are still kicking about my head, as is the will to write it all out.
I know this chpt wasn't that exciting (and frankly I just wasn't that pleased with it – not enough emotion)… but I'm leading up to things… to the "epic battle" so to speak. Heehee! I know there is a slightly random personality switch in Takaya near the end and it's just that I noticed, when faced with battles and plans for said battles, he always seems to be more in "Kagetora mode". I don't know if that was just me or what. But that's what the anime seemed to say… so that's what I did. Plus Hanairo seems meeker… that is also cuz of "Kagetora mode". She is to obey her ruling clan member at all costs even if she does not like it. That is, technically, her lot in life.
Random food fact, by the by, ginger – pickled as well – is thought to calm the nerves and stomach. That's why Naoe ate some earlier on and kept downing it. Haha! I think, regardless of how it's to settle one's stomach, I'd have thrown up if I ate as much ginger as I made him eat.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you to all of you who reviewed and left words of encouragement during my long, long absence. I'm so appreciative. If it weren't for you, my darling readers, I'd have no reason to do this. So thanks. I promise… chpt. 13 will be up soon and very interesting. Until then! Happy Reading. Ana
PS: I'm thinking I want to commission an art piece – or perhaps several – from my fic. I definitely want one of Hanairo and maybe a Naoe x Takaya point in the story. Anyone willing? Drop me a line and let me know.
Next Chapter: The Temple & the Priest
"This place is lame. I want some Dairy Queen."