A/N: Sorry this one took me so long; I really haven't had time to get working on this. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 4: Distorted Truths
Fai was wild eyed, having lost the woman once they reached the borders of the village. He was shaking heavily as he thought of what this could mean. Would anything be said? Would he, Kurogane, Syaoran, Mokona and Sakura be driven out? Fai slowed, seeing Kurogane with no such luck as well.
Kurogane glared over to Fai and frowned, grabbing onto the vampire's wrist and tugging him along towards the inn. Amiya had said that the town would probably have a bad reaction, so he wanted to confirm. He felt Fai struggle slightly. "Kurogane, what are you doing?" The ninja ignored him however, quickening his pace as he threw open the door to the inn. Syaoran, Mokona and Amiya all spun to where the disturbance was, Amiya's eyes widening.
"They found out, didn't they?" Her voice trembled as Kurogane let go of Fai and nodded slowly.
Kurogane glanced out a window, not seeing anything too suspicious just yet. "Yeah, now what will they do?"
The blonde girl bit her lip and thought quickly. "Try to chase you out of the town at the minimum, and the worst they'll try to kill your vampire friend.
Fai sucked in a breath, and looked to Syaoran. "Wake up Sakura-chan." Syaoran nodded and went to fetch the princess. "Will they come after us in here?" The question was directed at Amiya.
She nodded slowly, her eyes falling to the ground. "They'll probably go after me too, because I knew. I'm sorry; I have to leave right now."
Both Kurogane and Fai nodded as she began to gather things. Kurogane turned to Mokona, his eyes narrowed. "Any idea where that feather is, meat bun, or do you still not know?"
The small fluff ball shook its head, causing its whole body to move. "No."
There was a small knock on the door and they all froze, tension hanging in the air. Amiya glanced out a window and breathed out, opening the door slowly.
"Got caught I see. Well, looks like we'll have to do things the hard way. On the base of the mountain there is a cave, in the cave lies a beast with fur, fangs and feathers. I'd suggest we go there." Kiouku stood there, eyes narrowed in annoyance.
Syaoran, who had just made it downstairs noticed the red head and blinked, recognizing the long purple robe. He then heard what Kiouku said, and his eyes widened. "Feathers? Like a white feather with red markings?" Syaoran rushed up to the sage, Sakura tagging along.
Kiouku nodded lightly. "A few of those ones, just the ones you are looking for, like in Eriis, correct?"
Sakura blinked. "You're... the same one…?" She was surprised, but then again it was the same with Kyle Rondart from the country of Jade. A nod as he began leading the way, the group quickly following with little room for argument.
*~*~*
"You know, you don't have to forgive someone in order to be alright with them. Not forgiving doesn't mean you have to hate… mind you it's all your choice but it would be… easier, no, more… suitable for the situation if you weren't so neurotic about this." Kiouku waved his hand around, glancing over at Fai who walked beside him. Sakura walked with Amiya, behind him and Kurogane and Syaoran took up the rear. Fai let out a silent pout, glaring ahead, keeping silent. There was a sigh from the red head sage. "Antipathy, bitterness, dislike, umbrage, loathe, detest, abhor. All of these emotions are the same thing, the opposite of what you once felt; say what you will but you cannot change what were once your own feelings. I can see you breaking at the seams, wanting to feel human, wanting to be allowed to have fault." He frowned some, thinking deeper. "Adoration, adulation, esteem… love; these are things you have a right to feel but choose not to feel. These are things that you refuse yourself just for a belief." He had spat the last statement, glaring at Fai with certain distaste.
Fai glanced over at Kiouku, stunned for the time being. He shook it off with a question. "You would know this how?" Kiouku merely glanced off to the side, a poignant expression written across his face. This caused the vampire to go on the offence. "No one can predict and determine another's feeling unless the feelings are shared. The moment you even begin going off about another's feelings without knowing the person is the moment you make a mistake."
The sage gave a small chuckle, holding a docile appearance. "What one doesn't know cannot be their fault but the fault of the one keeping the secret." Fai huffed, frowning in agitation. Evidently he wasn't going to get any answers from the prim red head.
They stopped suddenly, and noticed the sage pointing a finger to the cave. "It's here. I bid you a farewell and try not to get hurt. He turned and paused for a moment, glancing at the blonde girl who had tagged along. "I shall lead you elsewhere; it's too dangerous here and I do not wish to see you injured." He glanced over at Syaoran and smiled. "You'll find what you're looking for; I know you will… and Sakura-hime… I have faith in you."
The brunette blinked, amber eyes muddled with confusion. "Pardon me, but what?"
Sakura held a quiet determination in her eyes as she nodded. "Thank you."
"And you… I trust that you will do the right thing… she wouldn't let you stray…" Kiouku smiled as he began walking away, waving gently. "Good bye everyone… may good news be delivered to your hearts in the future…"
Syaoran watched as the red head dragged the blonde girl along, his eyebrow shooting up. "He's… quite the person." Sakura nodded slowly glancing up to the cave. Time was running out. She knew this but she didn't know what the timer was for. Was it for the curse or for their time here? "Let's go." Syaoran's voice broke the princess out of her thoughts as she nodded once again. It didn't matter what the timer was for; she'd stop anything bad from happening.
She went to walk forward with everyone else when she heard it. Angered chatter and heavy foot falls and banging of metal on metal. If they had stayed any longer at the inn they would have been caught up in the mob, as it was they were running short on time to collect the feather. Syaoran gave an urgent glance to Kurogane and Fai as they began to pick up the pace; they didn't want to charge straight in but they were running low on options at the moment.
The first thing that was noticeable as they approach the cave was the smell. The repulsive stench of rotting flesh and decaying bones was enough to make Sakura gag. The smell was horrid, and every time she went to breathe through her mouth she would taste the death. She reached out and grabbed onto someone; she felt nauseated to the point where she felt like she was going to pass out.
Syaoran held onto Sakura's shoulder, doing his best to block out the surroundings. Blood was splattered around the entrance of the cave, and he could see bones around the entrance, stained red with blood. It took most of his willpower to keep him from retching let alone to keep Sakura and himself on their feet as they inched forward.
Kurogane was the first to reach the mouth of the cave, eyeing the dark insides of the cave. The ground was covered in a fine white dust; his best assumption was that it was crushed bones. He blocked out the smell, and focused on any movement or noises from the cave. Nothing so far; there was a thought that the red head had lied but he shook that away; the sage had seemed reliable enough. The surroundings weren't too bad but then again, he'd seen death before and this wasn't too much different. Whatever was in there wasn't too different then a demon from his home world.
Death; the smell and sight of it held little horror for him anymore. After his past in Velaria and after what happened in Tokyo this wouldn't affect him that much. Yes, it was disgusting but the senseless slaughter of innocent people was more disgusting. Fai was too used to the smell and sight of death… something no one should be used to. Fai heard a shifting noise from inside the cave and he felt a magical presence flair of magic. Yes the creature was here, pronouncing itself with a loud roar, still hidden in the shadows of the cave. "Syaoran-kun, guard Sakura-chan!"
And the monster lunged forward with a loud snarl.
Cliff hanger! Reviews make me stay up to type~!