Author's Notes: This is my "writer's block" chapter... so I'm sorry if it fails to impress you, or if some parts totally don't make sense (sniffs). Well, I didn't go to where I wanted to with this either, seeing as the pacing seems a tad too fast. Okay, moving on... so, time for my shout outs! X-) Special thanks to lola123 for the very touching review & for favorite-ing this story. I'm happy you guys like it!! And by the way, Suboshi won't be making any appearances here yet. Maybe, the next chapter?
CHAPTER 2: "Hanging by a Moment"
Seven o'clock the following morning found Yui, Miaka, and Taka standing outside the subway, waiting for Keisuke Yuuki and his friend, Tetsuya Kajiwara, whom will be supervising them in their trip to Odaiba. The Shibuya Subway station was always jam-packed with people, but since it's Spring Break, it was even busier than usual. Miaka gleefully perches on Hachiko the dog statue (a statue built in memory of Hachiko, a faithful akita dog), straining hard, trying to search for her brother, while Yui and Taka sit patiently on the benches. The trio had been waiting for some while now, until Yui finally spots the two.
"Oh, there they are." She points out to a tired-looking Keisuke.
"Gomenasai!" Keisuke shouted over an impressive distance, sprinting up the steps as Tetsuya followed after him.
Miaka pouted. "You're late, onii-chan."
"We were," Keisuke panted, "getting the tickets ready, so we better get going in now." He smiled tentatively and Tetsuya shrugged.
"The train leaves in a few minutes. You guys should go ahead to the station. I'll go get the trolleys for our bags." With that, he dashed across the street, grabbed a trolley or two and rushed to follow up with the group. The train bound for Odaiba was announced shortly afterwards, and the five quickly got on as it settled off for departure.
Yui sat at the far end of the train, a few meters away from Miaka and Taka. She gazed out the window, silently, deep in thoughts about Seiryuu, about the dream and about the 'Universe of the Four Gods'. ''Seiryuu… the dream.. I don't understand… maybe it wants me to go back inside that book.. no, that can't be possible. It's all over. Me and Miaka finished the story already… there's no way…' Her mind wandered a long way from the train ride, back to days spent inside the other world, back to nights where she spent alone with endless sighs and regrets. They seemed so long ago; they had always seemed to be never-ending nightmares, as though it had been dreamt, over and over again.
"Yui-chan," Miaka glanced at Yui with a worried expression on her face. "Ne, Yui-chan!"
Yui didn't respond. Miaka turned at the uncharacteristic silence and waved her hand in front of Yui's glazed eyes.
"Yui-chan! YUI-CHAN!" She repeated over and over again.
Something penetrated at last, and Yui stirred a little. "Oh… hi Miaka.." She said, smiling oddly before settling back to her immobile posture, silent and distant.
Miaka let out a small sigh. "Is something wrong, Yui-chan? You could always tell me, I'll be glad to hear you out. We are bestfriends after all, aren't we?"
Yui hesitated for a moment. It cost her something to tell the truth at this time, though Miaka would never know how bad she felt at that moment.
'Should I tell her about the dream with Seiryuu? No… maybe not.. I don't want to rely on her anymore… I can't. I won't…'
Yui forced a smile on her face. "It's nothing big… really." She said tonelessly. "It's just that… well, to tell you the truth, even though I hated every moment being inside 'The Universe of the Four Gods', I can't help but miss it somehow…" her voice trailed down a bit. "Especially Nakago… and, Suboshi…"
'This is all I can say… for now… she doesn't need to know about Seiryuu appearing to me.'
Miaka goggled at her for a few seconds and smiled. "I think it's natural to feel that way. Taiitsukun told me that once you become Priestess, you share a special bond between you and your seishi. And no matter how far apart you are, you'll still be drawn to them. To tell you the truth, I still feel that my seishi are watching over me from a distance… and they're still there to protect me when I'm troubled."
Yui felt a little comfort from the hopelessness she's felt a while ago.
"Arigatou, Miaka." She said.
"Not a problem! That's what friends are for, after all, right?"
Yui smiled. "Agreed."
"We've reach Odaiba, everyone. Please gather your belongings and head out the exit once the train has come to a full stop." The operator's voice echoed inside the train. The train stopped in a certain track, as it opened its doors. There was a flurry of noise and activity as passengers jostled to get their things and raced towards the train's exit.
Keisuke turned towards the four.
"Okay, from here, we'll be taking the bus to South Odaiba. That's where Neo Geo World is. As soon as we finish checking in the hotel, we'll be free to do anything we want." He concluded.
Tetsuya gave a devious smile. "I've heard they've got the biggest Ferris wheels there. Let's go give it a try!"
Keisuke nodded, switching back to his immaturity. "Heck yeah! And we can play in those gigantic arcade buildings, ride the roller coasters and eat!"
"This is gonna be the best Spring Break ever!" Tetsuya exclaimed.
Keisuke chuckled. "The best, so far."
"Umm… Keisuke-san, Tetsuya-san…" Taka tried to snap them off of their absent-minded-state, considering their bus has arrived.
'The immaturity of those two… it never fails to get on my nerves.' Miaka wondered aimlessly if her brother and Tetsuya really were twenty-one year old men. They seemed more like ten-year olds. No offense there, seeing how childish the two can be.
"Onii-chan! No time for daydreaming! Our ride's here!"
It was a pretty short ride from the train station to the Neo Geo World amusement park - probably about ten to fifteen minutes or so. Upon arrival, the group flocked the park entrance, amazed by the display of brilliant attractions. There were tons of people crowding, so it took them forever to get in front of the line at the counter. And after hours of agony, they finally reached the front counter.
"How can I help you?" The attended peeked out from a small glassed-window that divided her from the five.
"Well, we're here to enjoy 2-weeks of Neo Geo fun!!" Tetsuya gave a devious smile. "Here are our tickets." He grabbed the tickets from Keisuke and slipped it at the small glass opening.
The attendant gave him a wink. "Okay. Just give me your hand," she placed a blue wristband on his wrist, "and you're all set to go in. These are Neo Geo World's all-you-can-ride wristbands. They come free with the tickets."
Keisuke gave her a flirty smile. "Thanks, miss!"
"No problem." She said, allowing the group to enter the amusement park.
"Wow! This place is amazing!!" Miaka said cheerfully, eyeing the colorful Ferris wheel.
"I know, eh? But before you wonder around idiotically, we have to find the Neo Geo Hotel. Hmm it's around here somewhere…" Keisuke paced around in circles.
"I think it's that one." Tetsuya said, pointing out to a building, which was marvelously luxurious in his standard, and incredibly exotic.
"Wow! That's the hotel?!"
"Yep. It even says Neo Geo World Hotel on the top. See?"
Miaka and Keisuke cheerfully jump around with joy. "An incredibly nice and exciting hangout –
restaurants everywhere – a luxurious hotel to top it off! This is gonna be amazing!!" They raved, still jumping around, hand-in-hand.
Yui and Taka exchanged looks and sigh.
"Like brother, like sister. Must be in the genes." Yui said, sarcastically. Taka nodded his head in agreement.
"Well, in any case, me and Mr. Irresponsible are going to have all of us checked in, right Keisuke?" Tetsuya tapped his friend on the back. "And we're going to do it now."
"H-Hai." Keisuke mumbled. "Well, you three better get going! Just give me a quick call on your cellphone if you need anything. We should be having dinner by 6. Understand?"
"Of course, sure thing!" Miaka replied. With that, the two headed off towards the hotel building.
Grabbing Yui in the left arm, and Taka in the right, Miaka dashed joyfully on the middle of the park. There was nothing she loved more than places like this, and everybody seemed to be in the mood to have fun. There were roller coasters to ride, shrieking with terror and laughter at the same time, and the far more mellow carousel. A stop at the photo stand was practically obligatory. Yui grudgingly posed awkwardly, as Miaka and Taka pushed her to the very front of the camera. They tried on balloon crowns, with ice cream to snack on, and road the whirling swings that, if you've never experienced riding it before, made you feel like you were flying.
"Oh, that was fun!" Miaka exclaimed, when they were all back on the ground and walking to the next attraction.
"Demo, Yui-chan, you could've ridden the swings with us."
"No, it's fine." Yui, muttered. Miaka wrested her gaze at Yui, who forced herself to smile.
"Well then, Miaka," Taka says. "Where should we go to now?"
"Umm… Let's see…" Her eyes strained about, searching for something exciting.
"Alright! We'll go there next!"
All of them looked to where she was pointing, to a small isolated booth that said "Fortune Telling: Know Your Future, Know Your Dreams".
"Eh? The fortune-telling booth?"
"Yep. We're going to have our fortunes read!" Miaka suggested with a smirk. Yui and Taka didn't complain. Instead, they followed her every command, as not to argue.
The group made their way to the festive grounds and into the small booth. Yui and Miaka approached the open shutters, their vision adjusting to the relative darkness inside.
"Sumimasen! We'd like to have our fortunes read, please!"
The fortune-teller turned to look at the three with an emotionless expression. Her dark-colored hair covered her left eye, holding an old fan to her right and she was wearing an old-fashioned yukata. Her lips curved slightly to a grin.
"Sure, go ahead. One by one, please." She concluded, raising the shutters.
"If that's the case then, I'll go first!" Miaka said, without elaborating.
She disappeared out of sight with the fortune-teller, as Yui and Taka waited outside the stand. She came out a few minutes later with a seemingly satisfied expression.
"So, how was it?"
"This is great!" Miaka said aloud. "I've got good luck! She said I'm going to get everything I wish for this month!"
"So, who wants to go next?" Asked the fortune-teller, dully.
"I will." Yui volunteered.
"Then come this way, please."
'I hope I don't get any bad readings.' Yui thought hastily, as she stepped into the booth.
It was pretty dark inside; you couldn't see anything, except for the fact that the fortune-teller carried a small candle that slightly illuminated the shadows. They reached a certain room, wherein an old dusty table wrested on the floor and a creepy-looking crystal ball was placed neatly on top. The fortune-teller placed her palm upon the crystal ball and instructed Yui to do the same. The crystal ball emitted a blue light and fogged up as the fortune-teller began reading the words that appeared on the glass.
"Very soon, the fated moment will come. You will only meet up with sorrow, anger, pain and regrets. Blood will continue dripping, innocent lives will be lost, and with betrayal and revenge, you'll be taken over by vast evilness."
The crystal ball slightly cracks, and the tone of her voice grew as she spoke. It's as if someone had taken over her body, and she was saying those words on behalf of someone else.
"Cries of misery and pain – that's all you'll be bound to hear. There will be a savior destined to protect you. When the moon and stars cross, the God of War will lose power and everything will come to an end."
Yui gasps in shock. 'Is what she saying true?' She could feel the pulse of her heart beating rapidly.
"Two worlds, two portals – they will crumble. Once lightness and darkness collide, you're true power will awaken."
"W-What?" Yui could feel her body trembling, her hands shaking and her mouth quivering.
"T-This must be some kind of sick joke, right?" She said, trying not to yell. But she knew the fortune-teller wasn't lying. How else would she know about the other world? 'This must be the reason why I've been having nightmares… everything she's saying is linked to the dream.'
The fortune-teller looked at Yui with sorrowful eyes. "Endless days of sighs and regrets await you, dear child. Please… be careful. You cannot change destiny."
"Ne, Yui-chan! How's your fortune?" Miaka rushed to her bestfriend as she walked out the exit.
Yui tried her best to smile and to hide the fear she was feeling, but to no avail. "I'm not feeling well… I guess I'm kind of tired, so I'll just head over to the hotel." She said with a frown, trying to change the topic.
Miaka blinked. "Eh? D-Demo, we're supposed to ride the Ferris wheel together! C'mon Yui-chan, you promised. You already missed out on the swings!" Miaka exclaimed.
"Gomen ne, I just want to rest. So please tell me our room number."
"Fine. If you insist." Miaka pouted. "705. That's our room number, and here's the key." She said, handing Yui a small golden key chained to a wooden keychain.
"Okay, I'll head over there now." Yui said tonelessly, walking away. "You and Taka enjoy."
"We'll meet you there in a while! After all, we're going to this fabulous restaurant later tonight. So be sure to feel better then!" Miaka said aloud, shoving Taka as they headed towards the Ferris wheel. "We're going to ride that one, okay Taka?"
Taka groaned.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the amusement park, Keisuke and Tetsuya are enjoying themselves to a nice snack break after riding the roller coasters for more than a dozen times!
"That was a pretty sweet ride!" Tetsuya exclaimed, taking one big bite off his pepperoni pizza. "The more we ride it, the more it gets better. Shall we go and ride the 'coasters again?" Keisuke grinned and leaned on the bench seat. "Sorry, but I'm gonna stop. I just promised myself to an enternity of the never-riding-roller-coasters-again vow. I've never felt that queasy since Ojii-chan (Grandpa) invited me to a volleyball game at the Senior's tournament back in the old days. Believe me, their wrinkled skins were bouncing more than the voleyball's."
Tetsuya blinked. "Don't tell me that, I didn't ask!" He said, disgusted. "You were the one who wanted to ride that thing in the first place. And it was your idea to ride it repeatedly."
"Hey, I have my limits too, y'know. Case closed." Keisuke stated, simply. "Oh, by the way, I wanted to ask about you and Yui-chan."
Tetsuya narrowed his eyes and let out a miserable sigh. "Well, for one thing, we're not going out anymore. She made it clear that she already had someone special to begin with."
Keisuke goggled at him. "Well, do you still like Yui-chan?"
"To be honest, my feelings for her haven't changed. And I'm still willing to do anything for her. I love her, Keisuke. And sometimes, I wish our relationship wasn't so complicated. I mean, we don't even talk anymore. And she's always busy…" Tetsuya leaned onto the bench seat, and looked up at the orangey-filled sky.
"She's a girl, Tetsuya. And girls are hard to understand. First they date you and then they break up with you. They're very confusing." Keisuke pointed out.
Tetsuya nodded. "Yeah, I agree with you there, buddy. Anyways, who do you think this "special person" is?"
Keisuke chuckled. "I'm guessing it's that "psychotic yo-yo boy" from the book. You know, the one with the twin brother."
Tetsuya gave a look of disdain. "Maybe…"
Another world away from the chilly mist that had blew over Odaiba, Japan, drifted through the peaceful Makan village – a quiet little village inside 'The Universe of the Four Gods'. There lies a small cottage, the home of three. A hard-working father – whom worked as a farmer and breadwinner to provide the needs of the family, a loving mother – whom took care of the family – and their adopted son, Kaika, whom they found drifting in a river one day, close to dying, and decided to take him in as their son. But what they didn't know was that Kaika is a Celestial Warrior, known as Amiboshi, of the Seiryuu Seven; and he will be forced to a future he is not willing to choose.
The family was in the kitchen, doing the usual – cooking, cleaning and setting the table. 'Kaika' finished washing the last plate needed to be washed, and placed it on the table to dry.
"Kaika, why don't you go to the market and buy us some fish?" The father said wanly, placing his cup of tea on the table. "We'll be having a good supper tonight! You've earned it."
"Hai." 'Kaika' replied with a smile, dashing off outside. 'Something's coming… I can feel it. A strange aura... I've felt it before. But what?' He wondered, walking off.
The wind blows slightly, as delicate cherry blossom leaves drift through the air. While some minds drift away into deep thoughts, like Yui, for example.
'I don't understand.. Miaka and I already completed the story of The Universe of the Four Gods. Why does it want me back there? Why?'
She gazed miserably, her head hung low, as she opened the door to her hotel room. The hotel room was quite handsome – (two queen-sized beds, a giant television, complete with a mini living room and a small kitchen), but Yui was lost in thought, she didn't seem to notice. Maybe it was all a coincidence. Maybe the fortune-teller was just fooling around. Maybe she was just being paranoid. She rested on the bed, closed her eyes shut, as she clutched tightly onto the sheets. 'I don't know what to think anymore…'
Just then, she heard a vague rumble from down below. A grumbling sound, which made Yui's heart skip a beat. And it was coming from inside her backpack. What was in there? She didn't remember stuffing in any unusual things – let alone things that make grumbling noises. She sat up, and as quietly as she can, zipped open the bag. And there it was – the book – 'The Universe of the Four Gods'! Yui gasped in shock, and she froze in thought.
"T-The b-book! Why is it here?" She seemed to talk almost conversationally, as if someone was there with her.
The book suspended in midair, glowing with a blinding sapphire-blue light, watching her. It beckoned her forward. Yui trembled, but couldn't resist the force that was pulling her in. And then she heard something – something quite apart from the book's blinding blue light turning into a foggy darkness. It was a voice, a voice to chill the bone marrow, a voice of breath-taking, ice-cold venom.
"Come forth, Priestess of Seiryuu." A cold, murderous voice whispered from within the pages. "Come forth, and let me rip you to pieces. Kill you… tear you… feel your blood dripping.."
Yui jumped in shock, clutching her face with horror. Her heart thumped rapidly, as she tried to pull away.
"NO! I WON'T GO THERE – I WON'T!! I WON'T!!" She shouted, aloud.
But before she knew it, everything inside the hotel room disappeared and faded into the darkness, which drastically lit up to the same blinding blue light again. It felt as though she was being sucked down a giant drain. She felt fear and coldness. It's like she was falling into nothingness.
And then another voice called out.
"Don't give up hope, Priestess… for your sake, and mine… you will fight!" The voice she heard this time was hopeful and comforting, it warmed up the icy-cold sensation she was feeling, and wrapped her body up with warmth.
Yui opened her eyes. She felt dizzy, and her eyesight blurry. She was quite alone, but where she was, she had no idea exactly. All she knew was that she was no longer inside the peaceful, quiet hotel room in Neo Geo World. She was inside the world of the book. The one place she never wanted to go to. She quickly got up, only to find herself in the peaceful Makan village, in the Sairou Empire. She walked on, hardly aware of the route she was taking. Every few steps she glanced back over her shoulders, just to be cautious of her surroundings. She turned on to a narrow alleyway, only to be unsure of where to go. 'I'm lost… if only someone would come and help me.'
"'Ey you!" Someone called from behind her. A fat bellied middle-aged man tapped her on her right shoulder. "Yer in my territory, and those who sneak in my place, never get out alive." He smiled deviously and grabbed her right arm. Yui gasped.
"Ya ain't from around 'ere aren't ya? A good-lookin' foreigner, eh? – I could sell ya and make plenty. But you've got a pretty face. Why don't I keep ya all to myself? Let's have a little fun, shall we?" He pushed herself to her, giving her a forcefully painful kiss. Yui quickly pulled away, giving the man a slap on the face. He grab hold of her backpack and tightened his grip, when she tried to run away.
"Let me go!!" She yelled, trying to run away. The man called for his other fellow bandits to join him.
"Oh, you've caught a good one, but she's too whiny." The other man complained.
"Well, let's knock her before we do her." The next man suggested. "Then we can steal her clothes and that strange basket she's wearing on her back."
The three men cornered her and reached for her sleeve, tearing a part of it off, Yui struggled to get out of the situation, but her efforts were futile. 'Oh no… not again. No.. please.' Yui's mind exploded. She didn't know what to do. No one was there to protect her – where's Nakago? Where's Suboshi? They were nowhere in sight. Her heart beat frantically, fear taking control of her. "Stop it.. G-Get away from me!" She yelled, trying to call somebody for help. The first man muffled a laugh and placed his left hand over her mouth to stop her from shouting. "Don't worry, dear. It'll only hurt for a minute."
'Maybe if I closed my eyes shut, I wouldn't be able to see what they do to me..' Yui felt a dull, sinking sensation in her stomach and, before she knew it, the feeling of hopelessness that had plagued her all along rolled over her once again. But suddenly, blue flames wrapped around her, and a mysterious Chinese character appeared on her forehead – as well as six other characters appearing on her body. The three bandits squealed a yell, as a sapphire-blue wisp of vapor shot out of Yui's hands.
The moment the life force hits the three bandits; the whole truth reveals itself to 'Kaika'. The truth that was hidden from him shoots him like a jolt of lightning. And in a blink of an eye, he remembers his former self, his past, his family and Seiryuu. He felt his right shoulder sting, as though it had been cut. He lifted his sleeve up and his eyes widened. There was a Chinese character that emitted a blue glow, but then quickly vanished in a few seconds.
He was in the outskirts of Makan Village, in the markets to be exact. He came to buy some fresh fish for his foster parents, but decided to go to where his instincts are telling him.
"Umm, excuse me, sir, that would be five gold pieces please." The saleswoman handed him a bag of newly caught fish. Amiboshi grabbed it in a second and rushed off.
"Hey wait a minute! You still have to pay!" The saleswoman yelled.
"Sorry I've got something to do!! I'll come back later!!" Amiboshi yelled back, dashing off into the corner.
"I can feel her presence. She's here. And she's nearby. I have to find her! If it's the last thing I do!"
The star-strewn indigo sky was suddenly pitch black and lightless. "GET AWAY FROM ME!!" Yui's voice sounded dim and distant. Like it wasn't her at all. A blue electrical shock erupted from her fingertips and caught the man in the place where the heart should have been. He was thrown backwards, along with his two companions, unconscious. Everything burst back to life again, and the sky wasn't so dark anymore. The characters on her body suddenly vanished. She felt her surroundings blur, and everything from her view went pitch black. Amiboshi arrived as she slowly lost consciousness, and caught his priestess in his arms. "S-Suboshi…" She murmured, as her sight turned horribly black.
"Don't give up now, Priestess… Believe in yourself! Open your eyes at once! You'll see that everything's alright."
"Are you alright?"
Yui opened her eyes and saw that she was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar, lamp lit bedroom. She felt her body aching with pain, as though she had fell over a skyscraper and been stabbed in the back. Amiboshi was watching her anxiously. "You're finally awake." He said, placing a wooden tray of food on the chair near the bed. His voice was very familiar. She's heard it before. Yui sat up quickly, despite the pain.
"Easy there." Amiboshi said, helping her sit up. Yui's eyes widened in shock, and she could feel her tears trickling down her face. "S-Suboshi!" She felt her heart rise as she leaped into his arms and gave him an embrace.
Amiboshi blinked. 'Suboshi? She's talking about my twin brother.' He thought to himself.
"Umm, I'm not –"
Yui clutched onto his sleeve. "I missed you… so much…."
Amiboshi sighed, as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm here now, don't worry."
Yui leaned her head on his chest. For the first time, in a long time, she felt safe and protected. Completely oblivious to Yui, however, is that who she was embracing wasn't the boy she loved. But his twin brother.
Extra Notes: Ahh, it was horrible, right? I'm stuck - very, very stuck!! So I really (desperately) need your suggestions & I'm willing to take any!! Constructive criticisms are especially welcomed. Anyhow, that amusement park I'm using in this fic, namely 'Neo Geo World' is a real amusement park in Odaiba, Japan.