Chapter 3.
It was a typical weekday morning in the Republic of Hanshin. Fai, Kurogane and Syaoran were all ready to go outside and take a stroll around, looking at the place to know about the kudan and maybe, to find the feather. They were all waiting for that other girl in their group, which take slightly longer to appear that morning.
When she was finally ready, Nazaiya stepped out of the hotel's front door and joined the guys, and Arashi came along. The three finally were able to see her true form when she's in normal clothes. As they actually began to notice, Nazaiya had a straight hair that went past her shoulders a bit, and she had a pair of pretty deep pink eyes. She was wearing a plain, pastel pink blouse with a pair of jeans, something that she felt very comfortable the first time she tried them. She decided to just go with a simple look that day, anyway.
"Now that everyone's here, I guess you guys are good to go. I should be going now too!" Sorata said, and he went to Syaoran, before giving the boy a purse shaped like a frog. "Here, there's lunch money in it. Use it wisely alright?"
"Hey, why'd you give that to the boy?" Kurogane asked, annoyed.
"Because he looks the most trustworthy!" he answered with a happy smile, which made Fai and Nazaiya giggling at the side.
After Syaoran was assured by Arashi that she would take care of Sakura, they all began to venture in the city. The busy city was very crowded, to their amazement. Nazaiya looked around, always in search for someone familiar… just in case.
"Nazaiya-chan! Are you amazed by these tall buildings too?" Fai asked, surprising her for a bit.
"A-Ah, well sort of." She was half-lying.
"What about you Kuro-tan? And Syaoran?" he asked more.
"Don't call me that!" the 'black' guy got angry, again.
"No, I haven't seen anything like this scenery…" Syaoran answered.
They then continued on walking, till they met a fruit vendor.
"Welcome! Come and buy some fresh apples!" he spoke loudly.
Syaoran looked at the apple in confusion. "This is an apple?" he asked.
"Of course it is, child!" the fruit vendor answered.
Fai was confused as well. "Eh? Is the apple in your country different, Syaoran?"
After some argue with what apples look like, from pears to laki fruit, they all decided to buy some apples and ate it at a bridge. Surprisingly, everyone was impressed with the taste.
"Wow, this is really juicy…" Nazaiya said, letting out her thought for once.
They were somehow surprised.
"How are apples in your country then, Nazaiya-chan?" Fai asked, taking a bite from his apple.
"Well… Fruits in my world are all black and taste like… I don't know, tasteless?" She answered, staring at the apple in her hand.
"Well, guess we are from different worlds after all." Fai shrugged happily. "Oh, I forgot to ask, how did you guys came by to the dimensional witch's place?"
Syaoran looked at the wizard. "I was sent by the priest in my country…"
"Ah, then that means the priest is really something! What about you Kuro-rin?" Fai asked Kurogane, and he was yelled at again because of the name.
"I was sent forcefully by the princess of my country." Kurogane then said.
"Oooh, you must have done something bad~" Fai cooed, making the said ninja pissed more than he already was. "And you?" Fai asked Nazaiya, tilting his head to the side.
Nazaiya bit on her apple, chewed on it, and look up at the tall blond.
"The crystal I gave to the witch contained enough power of transportation. I don't have that much power in me, I guess?" she answered, "And what about you, Fai-san?".
"Wahh, you finally called my name!" he clapped happily. "I went there on my own. No matter how strong a magic one has, they could only use the power of transportation once. That's why the priest in Syaoran's country transferred him and Sakura to the dimensional witch instead." Fai was talking seriously, and Nazaiya observed that other side of him intently.
"...I know you can do more than that, though." Nazaiya mumbled, before nibbling on the apple once more. Luckily, the others didn't hear it, except for Fai. He blinked in surprise for a bit, before putting a finger on his lips with a wink, signaling her to keep quiet about it. Nazaiya nodded with a smile. Well, there must have been reasons why he kept it a secret, right?
Syaoran was quiet for a moment, as if reminiscing over something.
"Sakura…" he muttered slowly.
Suddenly, there was a loud commotion nearby and everybody looked up. There, stood proudly on top of the buildings is a huge gang in black, with some sort of goggles on. Apparently, as the people around said, they came to fight for territories… again.
"Hyuu~ So cool!" Fai whistled. It happened in almost a flash, when everyone let out their kudans and a fight started. A huge one, which is a battle between kudans. Nazaiya backed off a bit and remained unnoticed, not wanting to get involved with all the mess.
As the leader of the group unleashed his kudan, she heard gasps of amazement. She was surprised as well, that a kudan could be that huge. And another thing that happened was, Syaoran saved a kid. Around his age, maybe? Nazaiya looked as the two kudans tried to defend their owners; one of a fire element, and the other is water. And it didn't take long before the leader declared that he likes the boy because of the power Syaoran had.
"Hey, the police are coming!" one of the members shouted, making the other members alarmed. Shougo, as the leader said his name was, somehow cursed under his breath. "Everyone, separate!" he shouted, before turning to Syaoran. "I can't wait until I see you again." He then left, alongside his friends.
Syaoran's kudan went back inside him, and he felt really warm as he held his chest. He was truly amazed.
Nazaiya then began to walk near him, alongside Fai and Kurogane.
"Wow, was that all your doing? That was great!" Fai praised Syaoran.
Syaoran shrugged. "I don't really know…" he said, before remembering about the other boy he saved earlier. "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, helping that boy to stand up. He was then surprised when he found out that the boy's kudan appeared in the same form of its owner.
"Anything is possible." Kurogane said.
"Um… where's Mokona?" Nazaiya asked. Just then everyone noticed the disappearance of the fluffy ball of cuteness.
"Ah, there it is!" Fai pointed towards a group of girls who were hugging Mokona, squealing happily at its softness.
Nazaiya came over to the girls, and Mokona then hoped on to her. The squealing girls stopped as they saw her, somehow sensing a scary aura around her for no reason. They then began to leave, waving Mokona as they went by.
"Where were you, Mokona?" Fai asked.
"I was on Kurogane's head…" Mokona spoke, "but then he threw me off!" it made a sad face, which was ignored by Kurogane.
Mokona then began to tell Syaoran that it sensed the feather's presence, but at that exact moment, Nazaiya felt like she was being watched. She turned around, staring directly at a building behind her. She looked up, glaring at the top of the building, as if she knew someone was looking at her. That particular person was hiding right now, and she could feel it. She knew she had to do something.
"Can I be excused for some time?" Nazaiya spoke softly, with a gentle smile on her lips.
"Ehh, where are you going?" Fai asked. "Won't it be dangerous for you to be out alone?"
"I'm fine. Just gonna look for things… I'll meet you guys at the hotel later alright?" she grinned.
"Hmph, just go." Kurogane said, uninterested.
"….Thanks." She said, before turning around and walking away through the crowd.
When she was sure she was out of sight, Nazaiya looked up on top of the buildings again, trying to sense where the observer was. Being trained since she was a child, tracking someone she knows was a piece of cake. Without hesitation, Nazaiya ran through the crowd and busy city towards the abandoned building. It was surely creepy, but she was more than used to this sort of place.
She slowly entered the building, fully aware of the dim surrounding.
"Come out." She simply said, which came out more as an order.
A figure appeared before her. A male, someone who knew her well and vice versa. Someone who resembles the one she needs to search for. The biological brother of the person she seeks. This person had a slight hidden fang in his mouth, and that what makes it easier for Nazaiya to recognize him.
"My, aren't you eager to meet me?" the male said, smiling from ear to ear.
Wicked, as she always had thought of him.
"Not really. What are you doing here?" she asked, with deep hatred within her eyes.
"Can't you ask something else? Like how I got here… Or why I'm here…"
She frowned in disgust."Then tell me, Ryoji. Why, and how, did you got here?"
"Firstly, I'm here to check up on how the girl's that had killed her comrades is doing. Is she happy now, living with new people? And secondly, that's none of your business." He smirked.
Unfortunately, his answers weren't satisfying enough for her.
"Get out of my way, Ryoji. You wouldn't dare to stop me." She challenged him.
"I don't mean to stop you, but since our paths crossed, I thought I should pay you a visit... Now and then."
"Now and then? You mean, you've been observing me since before?" she scowled.
Ryoji doesn't answer. He smirked, before letting out a low chuckle.
"Careful there, Nazaiya. If you don't watch it, you'll fall into that endless trap of love my brother just because you love him? That's bullshit. Sooner or later, your heart will change. And you'll find out the truth. And then you'll be crushed."
"…What do you mean 'the truth'?" her frown grew deeper.
"Well, that's for you to find out. My job here is done. Ryuu is never coming back to you." he smirked.
"I don't understand what you're saying, but I do know that I will find him, and I'll bring him back. That is none of your business, and I will never let you stop me." she spat with determination.
Ryoji let out a low chuckle, which then turns into a wicked laugh.
"Believe what you will, but you can't change fate. You'll fail, and I'll make sure to be there to see it."
With those words, a sudden darkness swirled around Ryoji and swallowed him, as he smirked with challenge at the female in front of him. Nazaiya was about to counter his words, but he was gone before her eyes. She bit her bottom lip in anger, as she clenched her fists tightly.
She knew it. Ryoji was the Demon Lord's son, alright. He was pure evil, and had always hurt her since they were kids. On the other hand, Ryuu was the kindest to her. He was gentle, he was sickly, but he was full of love and affection, but he disappeared without Nazaiya ever could tell him about her true feelings. It's been years since he was gone, but she knew that this is the only chance she had to find him.
And she will succeed, no matter what. As long as her feelings don't waver.
Nazaiya breathed in, determination filling up her heart. "I'll prove how wrong you are, Ryoji. Just you wait."
To be continued…