Lunarmercury Presents:
Collision
Chapter Three: Gathering
The morning dawned wet and cool, small wisps of clouds permeated with red light from the emerging sun. Kaguya crept into Akeno's room, gently shaking him awake. He mumbled something unintelligible, clearly not happy despite the fact that he normally awoke not much later than this on his own.
"Akeno-chan, you have to get up," Kaguya cooed in her sweet voice.
"Whyyyyyyyy?" the boy whined, burrowing further under his covers.
"I have someone here for you to meet," Kaguya coaxed. "You'll think he's amazing, I promise."
Akeno grumbled some more, but eventually conceded, padding sleepily into the living room, lit brightly with candles. In the flickering light, Akeno could see the bags neatly lined up by the wall leading to the entry hall, their boots scrubbed and ready to go. The sacks were stuffed full, standing there as if waiting for someone to come by and pick them up, and Akeno couldn't help but stare. He knew that his mother carried bags with her when she went to the market to buy supplies or sell her wares, but she never had this many bags, nor did were these bags the smaller satchels or larger totes she typically used.
"Mama, where are we going?" he asked softly, still distrustful, unhappily eying the family's version of suitcases.
"To visit old friends," came Kaguya's equally soft response. She knew her son would be excited to meet his mother's friends, as he had never met anyone from Kaguya's old life with the exception of Bambi and Meishie and Gaviesu, the last two of whom only stopped by occasionally "First, though, there's someone I want you to meet." She gently pushed him farther into the living room, until he saw the figure sitting on the couch. Akeno squeaked and hid behind his mother, clinging to her skirts. Normally, the boy was very mature for his age, but sometimes, especially around strangers, he acted very young. Perhaps it was his parents' paranoia rubbing off on him, but strangers scared him and made him nervous, especially adult ones.
"Mama, who's that?" he cried quietly, gripping her yet tighter.
"Why, Akeno-chan, that's Mama's older brother, Kagami!"
"Ka-Kagami?" Akeno whispered. He then overcame his shyness, running towards him, suddenly wide awake and as excited as any child ever could be at meeting a story-book hero that turned out to be real. "Wow! Wow! Are you really Uncle Kagami? Mama told me soooooo much about you, but she said I wasn't eeeeever gonna meet you!"
"Well, we didn't think you were," Kagami admitted with a smile. "But something changed, and I managed to make it here to stay with you. You don't mind if I stick around for a while, do you?"
"No way! No way! That'd be so cool!" Akeno began bombarding him with questions, until Kaguya came up.
"That's enough, Akeno. We have to go. We have a long trip, and if we want to get there within the month, we have to leave."
"Aw, man," Akeno pouted. He instantly brightened though. "I can talk to Uncle Kagami on the trip, right?"
"Of course you can, Akeno-chan," Kagami answered, bending down slightly so as to be on eye level with the child. "I'll tell you lots of really cool stories, maybe even some stories about your Mama!"
"All right!" Akeno cheered. He instantly ran outside, yelling, "Come on, Mama, Papa!"
Kaguya sighed, but began collecting the bags before strolling outside.
Once outside, all the adults had at least one bag slung over a shoulder and one bag in hand. Akeno, too, carried a small bag with his favorite possessions in it.
"This is going to be a long walk, Akeno-chan," Kaguya murmured, bending down to fiddle with first his coat, then the straps of his backpack. "You may get tired, but try to keep going, okay? We'll stop and rest sometimes."
"Okay, Mama," Akeno chirped in reply, thrilled at traveling and excited from his meeting with Kagami, his enthusiasm dampened none by the early wake-up he had received earlier that morning. He was normally awake at this hour anyways, having inherited his mother's sleeping habits as well as both of his parents' schedules. For the couple, sleeping too much reminded them in some distant way of the times when Seeu would do little but sleep, and those were uncomfortable memories.
As they trudged through the door, shutting it softly behind them and walking away, Kaguya and Seeu paused briefly. They simply stared at the small cottage that had housed them the last five years, serving as a cozy home for them and their small son. He would by sad, they knew, the farther they traveled, the more it sank in that they would be away for a long time. He didn't have as many friends as other children due to the fact that his parents were more cautious about being recognized and lived so far away from town, but he had fond memories of frolicking in the meadow and about the pond, chasing rabbits and frogs and catching the occasional small fish. As they stared at the building that had been their shelter, their home for the past half decade, Kaguya and Seeu had matching expressionless faces. They had both experienced the loss of a home before, and though both had been hoping to stay there for a while, they hadn't really been expecting it.
"What shall we do with Waseda-san?" Kaguya questioned softly, glancing at her husband out of the corner of her eyes without moving her head.
"He shall be fine," Seeu responded. "He is well hidden and well-stored, and there is water that will not evaporate waiting for him should he wake up."
"He'll be confused," Kaguya commented lowly. "He'll want to know where we've gone."
"I cannot help that," Seeu answered his wife. "He has been separated from us before, and we are not planning to leave permanently. We will see him again."
"I hope so," muttered Kaguya.
The pair turned from their house, walking up to the two that had been waiting for them.
"Say good-bye to our house, Akeno-chan," Kaguya instructed as they walked away.
"Bye, house!" Akeno shouted joyfully behind him as they trudged away. "I'll see you later!"
He began to prance up ahead of them then, ignoring Kaguya's calls to calm down or he would be sorry later when he was tired and still had to walk, marking the true beginning of their journey.
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It was over twelve hours later after several breaks that the travelers stopped for the night. They were in the middle of a field, with no towns in sight, and as the night was clear, they opted to simply lay out the bedding they had packed and sleep under the stars.
"Ne, Bambi, this is just like old times!" Kaguya commented cheerfully. "Right after we met and we had to live out in the wild, collecting berries and rabbits…"
"Oh! Mama! Tell me that story again?" Akeno begged. Unfortunately for him, his voice was so lacking of its normal vigor that it always had when he requested the story, Kaguya ruled him too tired and ordered him to bed. He pouted for several minutes, before finally agreeing to go to sleep.
After the sound of Akeno's soft breathing had filled the air for several minutes, Kaguya turned to Bambi. "How are we going to get to Geo? You said you had a plan, we need to hear it."
"I didn't know about Kagami," Bambi started with a glance towards the black and gold haired boy. "So I made plans to meet with Meishie and Gaviesu, by that small town." By "that small town," Bambi referred to the one that seemed so much like the fishing town Meishie had been so taken with. "From there, Meishie will transport us to Geo." Meishie had lost a great deal of his power with the salvation of the universe nearly a decade and a half ago, but he still could transport with some effort. So it was now with all of the sages – they had their powers, but needed much concentration and effort to make them work.
"What then?" Kaguya inquired softly. Though she didn't hate Kura, there was little love lost between them, and even less between Kura and Seeu. She really didn't know if he would be willing to help them without a price… and she was neither willing nor able to pay many prices. If he was involved, as he almost certainly would be, and did demand payment, she would have to hope the argument that it was to save his people would be enough to sway him. It normally was – though he was a dictator, and could be quite ruthless, he cared a good deal for his subjects, and would go to great lengths for them.
"We do need to see Kura," Bambi said, as if reading Kaguya's thoughts. "Once we meet him, he can use the collapsers and his many scientific resources to see what can be done. Now that we have Kagami and will have the living weapons, our task will undoubtedly be easier. We should probably round up at least two more people." Bambi's face twisted into a scowl. "As much as I hate to admit it, Damien does have a clever mind. He wouldn't be bad. And…" here Bambi paused, apparently drifting off into thought.
"Bambi-chan?" Kaguya pressed worriedly, slipping back into her old use of the honorific in hopes of catching her friend's attention. It worked.
"Don't be so formal," Bambi reprimanded her. "It sounds strange." She shook her head, then composed her thoughts. Seeu and Kagami watched this process with interest, but did not interfere. "Another person who may be good is Idou's old soldier, Sarita. She…" Bambi paused. "She was also trained in strategy and fighting. She's young yet, but so was Kaguya when she was involved the first time around. Besides, Idou dedicated his life to this cause. Undoubtedly, she'll want to be involved in something that was so important to Idou."
"And if Kura doesn't have a solution?" Seeu questioned. Judging by the look on his face, he considered this likely.
The fire crackled as they small group pondered this solemn conclusion. A sharp pop from the flames made Kagami, with his enhanced senses, jump. He spent several moments contemplating the stars, gem bright in the smooth, dark sky, before speaking up.
"Gold may have a solution," he offered hesitantly. "It would be far better if Kura had a solution, but, as Seeu thinks, this may not happen." He glanced around. "If we chose this option, it is very risky, and I'm not sure we could even begin it. I… I think it depends on whether or not we can revive the living weapons." He studied the world around him; the grass, the dew, the sheets, appreciating his world and giving his teammates time to digest that piece of information. He then lifted his head, gazing at them with clear, unblinking blue eyes, confidence painted across his face and radiating aplomb. "But I'm confident we can pull it off. When we call the living weapons, I'll tell you all about it, and then you can decide if you want to try."
They all lay down then, trying to drift off to sleep, though all of them would stare up at the stars for some time before finally falling asleep.
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"You're late," was the first comment out of Meishie Laracotte's mouth when the bedraggle group arrived in town nearly a week later. Seeu carried Akeno on his back, the boy asleep, while Kagami carried the extra bag.
Kaguya frowned. "Maybe if someone had agreed to meet us a little closer…" Kaguya hinted rather unsubtly.
Meishie shrugged. "This is the best spot for travel. I can't help that." His attempted deferral of blame made no impact on the three glares leveled at him, and he held up his hands, chuckling nervously at the heated looks he was receiving. His attention was quickly caught, though, by the only conscious member of the group staring at him rather than glaring.
"Well I'll be…" he breathed. "Is that…?"
"This is Kagami," Kaguya explained. "We'll tell more once we meet up with Gaviesu and Kura." Kaguya paused, realizing what she had said and the fact that Gaviesu wasn't there. "Er… Gaviesu is with Kura, yes?"
"Yes," Meishie huffed. "After one trip, he said he didn't want to endure it again."
Kaguya eyed him nervously. They trooped out of the city, then lined up as a rippling sensation overcame them. Kaguya was just thinking that the trip was nice, gentle enough that it wouldn't even wake Akeno, maybe, when the reason Gaviesu didn't want to travel twice kicked in and a feeling of nausea and dizziness kicked in as her world dissolved around her.
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When Kaguya regained awareness, she was in a soft bed of grass, being held by Seeu. She sat up, blushing heavily, then glanced around her. Bambi was holding her head, looking severely annoyed – judging by her wobbliness at sitting up, she had regained consciousness not too long before as well. Akeno was also asleep, though whether that was a side-effect of the collapser, simple exhaustion, or a combination of both, Kaguya was unsure. She stood carefully, shaking slightly and clinging to her husband as he helped her up. Bambi managed to stand as well, without anyone's help, and Kagami – apparently more vulnerable to modes of transportation not his own – accepted Meishie's help in standing. Seeu carefully gathered Akeno, Kaguya too weak and unsteady to safely carry her son, and they strode in the direction of Kura's castle.
It was exactly as Kaguya had remembered it: bustling with life and activity, people rushing to and fro, shouting orders and fulfilling duties, a perfect, frenetic example of an efficient leadership. As they passed through, there were a few that attempted to stop them, but inevitably someone else would recognize the group, pull aside the meddler and begin chastisement, before stopping in the middle of berating his co-worker and bowing courteously, apologizing for the interruption and promising the perpetrator would be suitably punished. Kaguya started several times to insist that that wasn't necessary, the hinderer was only trying to do his job, but she was always stopped and pulled along.
When they finally reached the throne room, Kura was, unsurprisingly, expecting them.
"So, you want me to help you fix the universe again?" he inquired merrily. "Decided you hadn't had enough of playing hero and wanted another go, eh?" He rubbed his goatee, nodding and chortling.
'…He hasn't changed at all,' Kaguya decided, and she wasn't the only one.
"We need to have more people than this," Bambi started with no pleasantries. "Sarita and," she grimaced perceptibly, "Damien would be helpful."
"You think I should help you?" Kura began laughing uproariously.
"Your people's lives will not be spared should the collision occur," Seeu pointed out quite calmly.
"And will you force me to join your cause, Prince?" Kura asked mockingly. He did not, however, make the mistake of underestimating Seeu again, nor did he still consider him a doll. "Hmm… Sarita and Damien have both proved to be invaluable to my service. Who shall I leave in charge if I join you on your noble quest?"
"Surely you have found someone else by now, Kura," came an amused voice from the back of the group. Kagami stepped into view, cerulean eyes sparkling with mischief and cheerfulness, mouth curved into something between a smirk and a smile.
"But how…?" He breathed, before turning to glare at Seeu. "And here I thought you had moved beyond dolls, Prince," he spat, venom dripping from the last two words.
"I'm insulted, Kura," Kagami said, voice smothered in mirth. "I thought I was distinguishable from a doll, but it seems I had less of a personality than I thought."
"You can't be Kagami. Kagami was obliterated, soul and all," Kura insisted, displeased at being proved so wrong, at being so lacking in information the past years.
"Please, Kura," Kaguya requested softly. "Gather Damien and Sarita and we will tell you the story."
"And there are plenty of people waiting to hear it," Meishie added under his breath.
"Very well," Kura acquiesced, giving no indication that he had heard Meishie. He signaled to a guard, who bowed and disappeared. Some minutes later, Damien and Sarita entered the room. While Damien was mostly unchanged, Sarita had certainly grown, looking to be in her early to mid-twenties. She had grown taller, though she had kept her same hair length, and was dressed that day in a tunica and comfortable cotton pants. They both stopped immediately inside, staring at the group.
"What are they doing here?" Sarita demanded. Kaguya smiled at the girl in a placating manner.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," she requested, ignoring Kura's indignant expression at having someone else issue orders in his throne room. "Kura, could you please have everyone else step out?" she requested, turning towards the emperor. He gave a small "humph" of offended pride, but agreed. Soon, the room was empty.
"Well," Kaguya began, "I have quite a story to tell you. It may take a while, so please, really make sure you're comfortable. Maybe we should distribute the cushions so that everyone can sit close together?"
After some shuffling and rearranging, everyone was settled in, Kaguya began her tale.
"More than three hundred years ago, Kagami sacrificed his life to save Seeu…"