Miraculous Taboo
A fanfic by Setsumi-san
Chapter Seven: Virgo, Isis, Weakened Mother
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"Please go back! We can't leave my brother wounded!" Jun begged.
He planted her down and exclaimed, "Listen! You must accept that we had to leave him behind for the sake of our unborn children! I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is. Ren's not a boy anymore; I assure you he can take care of himself."
She breathed deeply a few times and then leapt on the plane with him. He was right. She just had to have faith in her brother. He'd already died once before, so how hard could this be?
"Mistress Jun, why the spontaneous journey? Where do you need to go?" the pilot asked.
"Somewhere you can never tell anyone else about," she responded.
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Hours later they landed on a three-mile long private island not too far from Siquijor, The Philippines. (4) Palm trees dotted its snow-white shores and a sapphire lagoon graced the middle. Of course, it would have been a lot more beautiful if it were not immersed in fog.
We might as well be in The Odyssey, Pyron mused, My pregnant partner has no one but me to depend on, and we're in a place that could easily pass for the ancient Greek Underworld. The only differences are that we're still together and there are no blood drinking spirits around.
No sooner had he made that last assumption then he spotted a transparent old man floating in tattered rags!
"My gosh! Jun, where are we? Is this island haunted?" he questioned.
"Yes," she answered, "That's why no one else wanted to buy it. It was a present for my seventh birthday. We'll be staying in a cabin across the lagoon, but I need to conceal our whereabouts first."
"How? Since this was a present your family will know where we are for certain," he pointed out.
"Not if I can pull this off," she said while pulling four ofuda from her satchel.
"Pull what off?"
"You'll see. Just stand back."
His eyes shot open in alarm as his girlfriend picked up a sharp stone and slashed her palm. But before he could run to her she spun around and splattered the blood in a circle. Next, the charms were placed at northern, southern, eastern, and western points on it and she traced an arc in the air with her clean hand. Then, with all her strength, she trilled the name Lu Dongbin. Slowly but surely, the ofuda began to glow.
"I, N, R, I. Yod, Nun, Resh, Yod! Virgo, Isis, Mighty Mother! Scorpio, Apophis, the destroyer! Let the divine light descend!" she chanted.
All of a sudden, a great golden column fell onto her and seemed to melt across the entire island. (5) The zombie shielded his eyes and grunted painfully as the ground quaked. What on Earth had she just done? Once everything cleared he only saw dust…and his love lying on the ground. Nauseous with horror, he rushed over and cradled her in his arms.
"Jun! Oh no, Jun!" he exclaimed.
She presently stirred, and he wasn't sure whether to kiss or shake her.
"There. That's…the strongest…cloaking spell I know. Neither the most advanced technology… nor the…most powerful magic…should be able to detect us," she said weakly.
"Well, why didn't you just do that in the first place instead of being anywhere near your family?" he said mildly disgustedly.
"Takes…two-thirds of…my furyoku," she murmured.
He crinkled his face in stress and then softly said, "Come on. I'll row us over to the cabin."
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The one room two-story cabin was rustic and charming. A ladder took the occupant up to the second floor, which was really just a floorboard with a large hole in the middle that was barely big enough to walk vertically or sleep on. Many of Jun's old dolls were up there, including a favorite Cinderella one. It was a perfect place to escape; the dao-shi couldn't think of any place she would rather be than on the velvety downstairs couch.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked.
"A little," she lied.
"Good," he replied listlessly.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing. I'm just bored."
A weight of shame suddenly attached itself to her. The White Dragon had been bottling in anxiety the whole time, and she hadn't even noticed. For the last few months he had loved, soothed, and spoiled her. What had she contributed to the relationship?
She beckoned him over and embraced him.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I know," he replied.
"I mean it. Please forgive me for my childish behavior. You've been so patient with me and I know you'll make the world's best father."
"Thank you, but I wouldn't call it chil-"
She put a finger on his lips and pressed him against her shoulder.
" I am a master of spells, Lee Pyron, but you are the one thing that can enchant me. I swear I'll take care of you… forever," she whispered.
"Jun…"
Comforted by her promise, he closed his eyes and let her rock him gently. Her love baked him from inside out, and for a second he could have sworn she made his heart beat one more time. Pleasant memories of their relationship swirled around his brain: their first kiss, watching the waterfall on the way to Patch Village, and countless Valentine's Days. Little did they know that mother and twins would know the true meaning of the word panic tomorrow.
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"Good morning," he greeted her happily.
"No morning is good for a five-hundred kilogram (6) heifer like me," she sulked while snatching the orange juice from the icebox.
Uh-oh, she's having another mood swing, the zombie realized.
"It's barely noticeable," he said innocently.
"How is this unnoticeable?" she moaned softly.
The priestess slapped her basketball-sized belly for emphasis. Pyron could see why she was upset, but did not dare speak again. What she saw as a sack of blubber was an extra cuddly tummy to him, but it was futile to try to cheer a pregnant woman up. She needed a distraction.
"You know, I'm curious about the lagoon. Do you want to go there after breakfast?" he offered.
"I don't know," she sighed.
"Think about it. You can take a swim while I meditate on the beach or we could watch the waves."
"Well…a swim does sound refreshing."
"Then it's settled. Let's get ready."
Jun finished eating and her head slumped forward as though an invisible chain was dragging it down. Dammit, why was she still so weary? Even though the cloaking spell was draining a good night's sleep should have recharged a furyoku supply for a shaman as powerful as she. Her pregnancy books said that fatigue was a common symptom for mothers of multiples, but she had never been this tired before.
Oh well, the water will rejuvenate me, she decided.
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It did indeed. The tropical lagoon was as warm as summer sunshine and perfect for collecting seashells or exploring coral reefs. A school of tiny emerald and silver colored fish swam past her thighs, and the light glimmered off of fuchsia coral. It surprised her that such a tiny ecosystem could literally house all colors of the rainbow. What bliss!
It's not home, but it's a very nice temporary solution. I think I'll add two extra cabins for the girls for when they get big enough, Jun thought.
She floated on her back and shielded her eyes with one hand when they met the harsh sun. Dammit, why hadn't she brought sunglasses? Facing the light made her feel like a weak newborn kitten.
Should I wade again? Hmm…no. I'm bound to eventually drift out of the sun. Besides, these waves are more comfortable then my goose-feather cushions back home…and I'm still…so…tired, she decided.
Unbeknownst to either her or her children's father, the Tao woman became so exhausted that she slipped soundlessly underwater.
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4. I am well aware such a place does not exist, but it was the best hideout I could imagine. I almost had them hide out in Siquijor since they'd be at home with all of its supernatural history, but realized it would be too populated to be a logical choice.
5. If you think this spell sounds familiar, you're right. I abridged the Rose Cross Ritual and added a few differences.
6. A little over a thousand pounds
