Chapter 9 Mountain High, Valley Low
It was late at night again. Two guards walked alertly about the tent keeping an eye on the surrounding countryside and the sky. All the men were secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of their god Suzaku on their own shifts. It was exciting, it was daring, and it was definitely helping to keep the men alert.
There was no way to confirm the sighting, but two of the guards swore that during the darkest hours of the night they heard the call of a giant bird of prey, and saw red sparks drifting down from the heavens. Personally, Chichiri doubted the tale the next morning upon hearing the excitement. Surely, if Suzaku had descended from on high, he would have visited Mia in his corporeal form as he had before. Not being one to dampen morale, Chichiri kept his disbelief and snickering to himself. He did hear Mia mutter about how Suzaku kept popping in but she hadn't seen him yet. It didn't matter that his first, and only REAL visit, had been for her benefit.
The column set off at a fast pace as the sun rose and warmed the land to almost freezing. If they rode hard, they could reach the summit of Mt Koko before mid-afternoon. They all had the desire to get out of the cold and head back to their next destination. She hadn't told all of them that they would be braving the desert after this. It was almost cruel, but she knew in a week or more, they would be wishing to be back in the snow fields.
As Tank literally plowed his way through snow drifts that reached his chest, Mia gazed at the beautiful landscape. If she ignored the cold nipping at her extremities, it was almost pleasant. She wondered how she had managed not to freeze to death the first time she trekked this way when she was 15. Maybe it was her younger metabolism. Maybe she was just clueless. She felt guilty, leaving her younger self to be the target for the Kutou assassins. There really wasn't much she could do without totally derailing the timeline completely. She didn't want that. As much as she wished to change large parts of her journey, she couldn't do too much to interact with her former self. It was the very hardships that she encountered that made her into the woman she was today.
She looked at the men traveling with her now and wondered what would happen to them if she managed to change her past. Would they live on? Would they have a happy ending? Would they cease to exist? It was a strange feeling looking at someone and wondering if you had the power to change them. She wouldn't want that. She liked all these hearty men. They had proven themselves to be versatile and trust-worthy.
Mt Koko loomed ever larger as the distance between them and their destination dwindled. Part of her was happy to draw nearer, to complete this leg of her journey. But the other part of her wanted to never reach the place of sorrow. She knew it wasn't anything yet, as far as Nuriko was concerned, but still, the image of the grave in the snow haunted her.
She tried to redirect her mind towards her enemy. Nakago. How had he known about her enough to not only send a storm to hinder them, but to send out a tendril of his power to track her? Perhaps he was sending his power out after Miaka, and part of it sensed her as the same person? She snorted to herself, "I hope it confused the Hell out of him and made him doubt his own abilities." The arrogant general needed his ego deflated a few notches as far as she was concerned. In the very recesses of her mind, that she didn't even truly acknowledge, part of her hoped she would be forced to battle the sadist and she could fry him with Suzaku's loaned powers. "It would serve him right!"
By noon the column was at the foothills of Mt Koko. She glared up at the sparkling heights and tried to seek out the cave. She vividly remembered the ice serpents and ice arrows she encountered there the last time. It was rather ironic, or maybe it was poetic justice, that the Genbu Shinzaho was guarded in an ice palace by ice warriors. It made her wonder if Okuda Takiko, the Priestess of Genbu, was a frigid woman. Though, it wasn't nice, she laughed at her own humor.
At one point, Mia leaned over to Chichiri and whispered, "Hey, Chichiri, wouldn't it be quicker to just transport us to the top of the mountain?" The blue haired warrior looked shocked at her suggestion and replied in a slightly offended voice, "Well, yes, but I don't have enough power to transport everyone and the animals, you know. That would take a lot out of me. I could carry you and me, but then we would be left without any protection or provisions, you know?" Mia just looked slightly disgusted and huffed, "Well, I was just trying to think of a way to speed this up. It seems like we've been climbing the side of this stupid mountain for days!" Kanai leaned over and added his thoughts, "Sounds like you were just trying to find a way to get off you horse for a while." His eyes twinkled as he teased this woman who was pretending to be a new recruit.
By mid afternoon the band had reached the summit of the mountain. The advanced guard of five soldiers reached the cave entrance and moved to the far side of the area to create a zone of protection. She had already told them of the wolf-like monster that had attacked her friend at this location. They were all hoping to avoid a repeat of that day. The archers behind her party moved up to flank her with their bows already loaded and waiting in their left hands; ready to be drawn at a moments notice.
Mia approached the last bend with trepidation. Her heart was racing and the sweat of fear was pouring off her body, despite the cold. In her minds eye, she could see the grave as she rounded the last turn. Her breath caught in her throat and she fought to still the sob that threatened. Yet, when she blinked, the sight was gone. All that reached her eyes was a pristine field of untouched snow. There was no frozen blood, no mound of sorrow, no stick of remembrance.
Tank followed Kanai's warhorse into the middle of the group where the men were tensely dismounting and creating a temporary camp. Half the men were still stationed on the outskirts of the area, facing outward, scanning for any trouble. Feeling a bit numb and out of touch with reality, Mia slid gracelessly off her horse, and staggered to the spot where Nuriko had fallen.
With the last bit of energy she possessed, she sank to her knees and buried her shaking hands deep into the snow. The events of that far off day replayed in her head like a bad movie. She watched him fall as she ran towards him, calling his name. She listened to his last words as he stroked the tears on her face, calling her names. She heard the strangled gasp of Tamahome as their friend left them. Then she remembered the disbelief and anger that swelled within her until she ran away. Somewhere in the middle of her memories, she felt the cold of the present day seeping into her chest and freezing the organ that used to feel. She bowed her head and a few crystalline tears fell from her cheeks to melt a hole in the snow before freezing into diamonds.
Chichiri watched his friend with worry clearly etched on his face. She had handled everything as well as could be expected up until this point. But this was something different. Up until now, the past had been distant and abstract in her mind. He knew that by the way she spoke. She had been subconsciously distancing herself from the experience of her first quest when she was 15. She treated it like a story she read of someone else's adventures. But this was real. This was concrete. This was unavoidable, and no amount of denial was going to chase this horror away. She would either have to work through this, or she would be consumed by it.
He knelt in the snow beside her bowed body and watched as the soldiers about them stilled their movements and looked on. Each knew that this was the future grave sight of one of her warriors and good friends. They felt like they were intruding on a cemetery. It was evident in their eyes and stances.
Chichiri held up his hand and chanted a prayer for this friend whom he had only grown close to recently. He said a prayer to keep his friend Nuriko safe from any future harm. He even toyed with the idea of placing a talisman in this spot that would repel the strong cross-dressing warrior from even approaching this location. But, if Mia's mission was not successful, then the other Miaka would need to travel here to obtain this Shinzaho.
In a quiet, somber voice, Chichiri spoke to the heart of Mia's sorrow. "Mia, he's not here. He's still alive and traveling about loving life. Do not mourn for some tragedy that has not occurred. You are changing your history so it will not happen. And if things do not go exactly as you've planned, you have given his Emperor Hotohori and myself enough information that we can make corrections in your stead. Please, do not let this sorrow consume you. There is no body beneath the snow under your hands. There is only snow." He stopped to gauge her reaction and listen to the sorrowful wind whistle about the opening at the top of the mountain.
Mia opened her eyes and saw the truth in his words. She was mourning over a pile of snow. Her beautiful, beloved warrior was running around, fighting zombies, and dressing like a woman still. Mia imagined what the others were doing at this moment. Miaka was struggling with the sickness, and Hotohori, Nuriko and Tasuki were begging Mitsukake to come heal her. A slight smile warmed her down turned face as she imagined all the men bowing before the long-haired, hermit and begging for his aid.
Chichiri reached out and gently touched Mia on the shoulder as he added, "You know that Nuriko would not die for no reason. He's too contrary. And, if he were here now he would fuss at you for such a display of silliness. He'd yell at you to get up and get back to work."
Mia smiled even larger and released a breath she had been holding. Then she inhaled a huge gulp of icy cold air and sat up on her heels. She laughed and announced, "Well then, what are we waiting for? This isn't a funeral! Can't have a wake without a body. Right? Besides, we've got some dragon butt to kick. I'm sure not going to let that arrogant ass Nakago win this time around. And he's not going to lay a finger on any of my friends!"
With her determination bolstered by the lack of a grave under the snow, Mia accepted the hand up that the smiling Chichiri offered her. With a quick swipe to erase the tracks of the silly tears she had shed needlessly, she turned to Kanai. "Ok, Lieutenant. Now's the time we need Deguchi and Ishiyama. Think they can move that annoying boulder blocking our path?"
Kanai called the giant men over and they began assessing the impediment. While they were working on that, Suitani, the assistant commander, set the archers at either side of the cave entrance. Then he arranged the remaining men in a closer arch around the opening.
Mia was starting to get excited. This would be the first real test of her ability to change her past. The first time, it had been Nuriko's bracelets that had saved her by shattering the ice that encased her. Even though the guardians had said it was her own power as a priestess that had manifested. Well, this time, it would be all her. She didn't have Nuriko's gauntlets or his incredible strength.
Mia had planned on how this would go for the past few days. When the door was opened, she knew they would face the Genbu guardians. The spirits of Hikitsu and Tomite who had guarded the Shinzaho for 200 years. None of their conventional weapons would work against the ice spears, ice snakes or barriers. There was truly no point in even allowing any of the regular soldiers to accompany her. For that matter, there probably wasn't that much that Chichiri could even do for her in this battle. So, she decided to enter the cave alone.
She stepped up to the area where Kanai, Deguchi, Ishiyama and Chichiri were assessing the boulder. She scanned the huge rock and was amazed that Nuriko could have moved that small mountain even when he had been fatally injured. In a reverent manner, she walked up it, and stoked a hand across the rough surface. In the back of her mind she could still hear the echo of Nuriko's dying words. "Don't lose." And she would not.
Backing up a few feet, Mia knelt again in the snow. But this time, it was in prayer, not in sorrow. As the giant soldiers wedged themselves between the wall of the cave entrance and the boulder, she sent up a silent prayer for Suzaku's strength in their endeavors. As if in response, the two giant men groaned and pushed with all their might, and the stone rolled away down the hill. Pain swarmed up through her body as she again changed her past. She was almost getting to where she appreciated this excruciating pain. It represented her success in fighting against history. Though it still hurt like crap!
After swallowing down the gasp from the receding pain, Mia stood and faced her friends with determination. She knew they were not going to accept this part. "I have to go on alone for the next part." Complaints started from all corners of the camp. She faced Chichiri and explained, "I need to be tested by the Genbu Guardians to see if I'm worthy to wield the Genbu Shinzaho. None of you will be able to help, or defend me. You will only get hurt and be a distraction." She turned towards the massive doors and called over her shoulder, "But if I'm not out in thirty minutes, leave without me. You will then need to read that letter I gave you, and pass out the other letters that are in my bag." She took off her watch and handed it to Kanai as she passed him. "That's when this bigger piece of metal is pointing at this mark." She winked at the Lieutenant and continued towards the giant gray metal doors.
With a creak and a moan, the gates opened to expose the dark interior to the harsh light of day. Mia closed her eyes and tried to remember all the details from her other experience in this cave. She knew it would be dark. She knew it would be cold. She knew there would be bones scattered about on the floor.
How could there be human bones on the floor? The stone had been placed to guard the entrance. It looked like it had never been moved. Was it possible that others had gained admittance by moving the stone, and the guardians had replaced the stone after vanquishing the invaders? Not that it mattered. She did not intend to join the number of corpses scattered on the floor.
Still, she walked in and waited for the loud clang that signaled the blocking of her only exit. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could hear the frantic poundings of the soldiers on the other side of the door. She smiled at their determination and loyalty. Even though she explained she had to go alone, they still were trying to extricate her from this mountain.
Before her, the long ice cave stretched seemingly forever. She picked out her path gingerly, to avoid the piles of bones that she clearly remembered. It was no time before she found herself well into the cave, near the area where the Genbu Guardians had appeared before. Knowing what was to come; she calmly sat herself down on the frozen ground and gathered her thoughts. "I will not lose. I will prove my worth. I will collect the Shinzaho, and I will save my world and my friends."
Suddenly, a volley of ice spears launched out of the darkness to surround her seated form. She didn't even so much as flinch, but she did open her eyes. Just a bit farther ahead of her, a green glow started to shine, and a deep, masculine voice echoed in the cavern, "You who seek the Shinzaho…"
But Mia interrupted in a loud irritated voice, "'Will find only misfortune.' Yea, yea, yea, 'We shall never surrender the Shinzaho.' Blah, blah, blah. I've heard it before. Let's just get on with this."
She rose gracefully from the painfully cold ground and glared at the two startled guardians. She continued, "You are Hikitsu and Tomite, the Guardians of the Priestess of Genbu's Shinzaho. Yea, I know you've been here for over 200 years and you abandoned your bodies so no physical attacks can hurt you."
She slowly approached the spirits. The warriors looked taken aback for a moment. The one with an eye patch lifted his hand in a praying pose which had previously indicated that he was going to create an ice snake or a barrier. She waved her hand dismissively in the air and demanded, "Oh, no point in showing me your ice snakes or ice arrows. I've seen it before. You're gonna tell me you…" Mia made her voice deep and mocking, "'show no mercy to thieves' then you're gonna test me. You want to know if I'm worthy of the Shinzaho. So, let's cease with the theatrics and threats and get to the test."
The spirits looked rather shocked and angered as Mia walked within five feet of them and folded herself on the ground in a meditation position. The archer with the strange hat turned to the eye-patch warrior and they conversed in whispers. This was definitely not how most of their invaders proceeded.
Mia sat with her eyes closed, composing herself. She remembered the biting ice that engulfed her before. The pain was excruciating at the time, but she had experienced worse since then. Child birth was worse. Breaking her arm in the dojo was worse. Changing her history was twenty times worse. She was confident she could survive a little ice. In her mind, she centered her thoughts on the memories of all those she had lost. She imagined them all in the same place, and surrounded them with the flowing red power of Suzaku. In her mind, she relived the moment in the in between world where Suzaku had weighed her heart and mission and allowed her to attempt this quest. She would not stop now. She was so close to being half way through with her plan to rescue her world and friends.
The Genbu warrior with the eye patch mentioned to his companion, "Such disrespect. And such spirit. She just might survive the test." Mia added as a side comment, "Oh, and I'm not getting naked. You perverts can just freeze me with my clothes on this time. Besides, this uniform doesn't do anything to keep out the cold."
The archer lifted his hand and told her to remain still. A sparkling green glow enveloped his hand and shown throughout the cave as a green energy ring formed around her waist and began constricting. Next a block of ice formed from her feet up. Since she was in a sitting position, the encasing took less time than before. In only moments, she was a frozen block of ice.
Mia could feel the sting of the cold and the crushing sensation of the energy ring encircling her. No matter the discomfort, her mind wandered off in a daze. Images of her happy life played against her eyelids as breathing became impossible. As the ice fully engulfed her, she realized she could no longer breathe. But for some reason, this didn't bother her. It was as if her spirit was already drifting away from her body. Was she already dead?
Moment after moment passed as the ghostly warriors watched nothing happen. They listened as the woman's heart beat pounded, then slowed to finally stop completely. Hikitsu, the one with the eye-patch sighed, "I guess she was just a plain girl after all." The other one, Tomite, almost laughed, "She wasn't even much of a challenge. I hoped we could play more with her before her demise." In truth, the two enjoyed torturing and killing these unworthy invaders. It was all they had to look forward to in their imprisonment here. Hikitsu smiled, "Now we can return to our rest until the next threat approaches."
The glow that had illuminated the cave dimmed and surrounded the two Genbu warriors as they turned and walked back towards the back of the cavern. Then they winked out of existence and the light died completely. Behind them, the complete darkness swallowed the form of Mia encased in a tomb of ice.
Outside of the entrance to the cave, Chichiri and the Lieutenant were frantically working to pry open the doors using magic and muscle. It had been too long since their friend had departed from their company. Chichiri's brow was covered in sweat from his efforts. It was one thing to break Nakago's barrier, it was another to combat the combined power of a Priestess and her warriors. Deguchi and Ishiyama had already broken one pike and seriously bent another by trying to pry the portal open with brute force.
Finally, with the combined effort, the huge metal doors opened with a loud protest. Ishiyama wedged his huge sumo-wrestler sized body into the door opening so the others could climb over him and into the waiting darkness. Once the Lieutenant, Chichiri, Deguchi and the five soldiers who made up the front guard were inside, Ishiyama moved and allowed the door to slam closed. Suitani and the rear guard had been chosen to remain outside to protect against any ambush.
Complete and utter darkness and silence met the group. The bone chilling cold stole their breaths and their momentum. Deguchi called out in his deep baritone, "Lady Mia? Can you hear us? Make some noise so we can locate you." But no sound was heard except the strange echoing of the deep, rumbling voice. Yamane swiftly struck a flint to the torch that Tashima, the furry-faced old man, was holding to create some source of light for the search. Yamane grumbled, "Leave it to the old man to think to bring a torch. And leave it to the 'princess' to need rescuing." Behind them, the long legged Morishita tapped Yamane on the shoulder and reminded him, "Don't you remember? 'The name's Mia, not princess!'" Yamane couldn't help but smile at the reminder as he turned to help look for the strange woman.
Chichiri scanned around and admitted, "There was a great outpouring of celestial power coming from this cave, but it wasn't Suzaku's. It felt almost like Nakago's powers, but stronger. Now I'm sensing absolutely nothing. Not even Mia's life force." The men looked stricken at this news and fanned out to find the tiny woman who had made their past week interesting.
The search revealed a strange long cavern with what appeared to be columns of pure ice supporting the ceiling. To either side of the walkway were piles of human bones; most likely from previous pilgrims in search of the Shinzaho. Chichiri thought this rather odd since Mia had said that there was very little known about the existence and location of the Shinzaho, and even fewer who could read the ancient text.
The men fanned out in a pattern very similar to the one they traveled in on horseback. So, it was no wonder that Yamane was the first to locate the ice-encased form of Mia. He unconsciously let out a distressed sound that echoed in the cave like a shout. All the men converged on his position and gazed on in horror.
Chichiri knelt beside the block of ice and tried to assess Mia's condition through the ice. Her face was pale as death, and her lips were a deep blue to rival Chichiri's own hair. In disbelief, he called out to her repeatedly. His voice took on a tone of distress and grief as he began to realize that his friend was no longer breathing. "Mia! NO! You said this was no problem for you. You said you would not lose. You can't quit! You said you were going to change history and save your world and friends! What about Nuriko? What about Hotohori? What about Tamahome and Hikari? How can you quit now?"
Lieutenant Kanai and the round soldier Ohara withdrew their swords from their sheaths and began swinging with all their might, trying to chip away some of Mia's ice prison. Between sword swipes, Deguchi and Ishiyama used their gigantic fists to punch at the ice. Nothing happened. Not even the swords could chip away at the magical ice.
From further down the cave, a green glow appeared, but it did not distract the determined soldiers. The efforts to free Mia did not cease until green ice spears came flying down the cavern. All the men scattered to avoid being skewered. Chichiri hastily formed a barrier before Mia and himself. He continued to destroy the ice with his magic while the soldiers dodged and fought.
Mia found herself watching as the soldiers explored the cave, then found her body. It didn't feel like she was looking at herself. It was like looking at a stranger. She had experienced something similar once before, when she had floated between worlds. She had been transparent, and could see Yui in the library, reading the Universe of the Four Gods book. But Yui had been unable to hear her, or see her. "Am I just a spirit now, like the Genbu warriors? Or am I dead? It doesn't hurt anymore." She floated around and watched the soldiers trying to free her body. In her complacency, it didn't matter if they succeeded.
As she floated along the ceiling of the cavern, she heard the cries of Chichiri reminding her why she was doing this. Then the Genbu warriors attacked her friends. "Look out! Normal attacks won't work!" she tried to warn them, but only Chichiri's barrier saved them from being killed. "No one can hear me." She lamented. With a growing determination, she flew at the spiritual warriors at the other end of the cavern. "No one hurts my friends!" She cried as she rammed her spirit self directly into them, and they fell back.
Hikitsu, the eye-patch wearing warrior spirit, showed shock plainly written on his face. "What was that? Some new attack? How it this possible? We have not had physical bodies for over 200 years! How can something touch us?" His partner Tomite pulled himself up to his feet and drew an arrow to nock in his bow. "It matters not. We will eradicate these invaders like the vermin they are!" His eyes scanned the room frantically, trying to see what was going on.
Mia rounded on the ghost warriors again and reached to grasp the bow right out of Tomite's hands. With all her might, she threw the weapon as far towards her friends as she could, then launched into an attack onto their persons. Her kicks and punches connected with their forms and the two ghost warriors were driven back. A smirk formed on her lovely face as she realized these warriors couldn't see her either. "There's something said for being invisible."
Behind her, Chichiri and the soldiers were confused by what they were witnessing. Or rather, what they were not seeing. All they could see was the warriors writhing in pain, and convulsing as if they were being stuck.
Mia was in the middle of whaling on the spirit warriors when a glowing red mist pulled her back away from them. She found herself being dragged back towards her body. "Wait! Wait! I'm not done hurting those two for threatening my friends!" She struggled and twisted to try and escape what held her. She was shocked into stillness to see the glowing form of Suzaku staring at her. His head was cocked to the side in confusion, and his celestial robe was wound about her waist, holding her in place.
His deep, echoing voice resounded in her mind as he asked, "Priestess, why do you do this?" She was not exactly sure what "this" he was talking about, so she asked. Her voice was quiet and subdued, "What do you mean?" It struck her as odd that she was questioning a god.
His eyes still shone with confusion. "Why do you subject yourself to such punishment? Would it not be easier to accept your death and join me in the heavens?"
She stopped for a moment and pondered over the being before her. He was a celestial god. He only appeared when summoned. Did he not know of life and love and sacrifice? "I do these things because of love. Maybe it's selfish to want my friends, family and world to be revived, but that is what love does. Love cares, sacrifices, fights and struggles. I would give my life for my friends. These warriors of Suzaku that died to protect me and their nation should be rewarded. They deserve to experience love and have families and children and to grow old without strife. For that matter, all the past warriors deserve the same."
The beautiful, masculine face of Suzaku still reflected confusion. A frown creased Mia's forehead. She asked, "Have you never experienced love? Devotion? Sacrifice? Or have you always been so distant that you never saw the struggles of average people? Have you been so far away all this time, only to appear when summoned?"
Suzaku pulled her closer with the ribbons of his celestial robe and reached an elegant hand out to touch her face. She closed her eyes as the tingling fingers brushed along her cheek. A blinding white flash pained her eyes even through her eyelids and she felt drained all of a sudden. She slowly opened her eyes to notice a changed expression on the deity's regal face. His eyes shone with a sense of wonder and discovery. A small smile grew on his face and its radiance stole the strength from her body.
His hand moved again and skimmed down the sleeve of her left arm to reach for her left hand. He grasped her hand and raised it to be even with his eyes. There, he studied her engagement and wedding rings with understanding. All he said was, "Your memories show beings that I have never known that relied on my distant protection. You have feelings that I have never experienced. You survived situations I never realized existed. You seek to save a world that was always distant from my home. I see now why you are fighting with all your might."
A sad feeling overwhelmed her as she looked at this incredibly powerful being that had never experienced love, hate, hardship or joy. What a horrible existence. She reached out a hand of her own and returned the gesture of brushing the back of her knuckles down his flawless cheek. A large masculine hand grasped hers and his smile seemed to widen. "You must return to your quest. If you do not free your body soon, you will not be able to restore your world and realize your wish. I will be watching."
Pain doubled her over as images of the tragedies of her past flashed before her eyes. She squinted her eyelids as tight as possible to try and stop the images. In her mind she started screaming, "No! I won't lose them again. NO! I won't lose to a pair of ghosts! I won't lose to Nakago! I WON'T LOSE!"
A red glow began to envelope her unmoving frozen body within the ice sculpture. Chichiri and the soldiers jumped back startled at the visible evidence of Mia's unleashed power. They had seen it twice before already, and knew that being too close to the epicenter of her release of power would be hazardous.
The ground began to shake and toss like in an earthquake as power built in the frozen form before them. Chichiri was shocked at the amount of power that was rising from a seemingly dead woman. In the distance, even the untouchable warriors of Genbu were shaken, though not on a physical level.
Tomite's eyes were as large as saucers as he gasped, "What is this power? I have only felt something similar when the beast god Genbu was summoned!" Beside him, Hikitsu's one visible eye scanned the cavern for the source, "This is different. This is the pure flame of Suzaku!" Then, their three ghostly eyes turned to the figure of the woman that they had already dismissed as dead. Red lightning seemed to crackle from the ground up and a dome of red fire exploded from her body to engulf the area and beyond.
Cracks appeared in the ice columns supporting the ceiling. Chunks began to fall from the surrounding mountain as the supports weakened and crumbled. Without a seconds hesitation, Deguchi flung his massive frame against the pillar just to the left of Mia's still huddled form, while Ishiyama threw his considerable weight into holding up the pillar just to the right. Chichiri quickly gestured with his hands and created a giant barrier about them that kept most of the ceiling from caving in on them. At the head of the tunnel, Hikitsu and Tomite summoned their powers to shore up the sagging supports beyond the barrier.
The red glow dimmed as residual waves lapped at the walls like a ripple in a puddle. In the middle of the disturbance, Mia stood and looked around like a child just waking from a nap. She called out, "Whatcha doin guys?"
Chichiri exclaimed, "Mia! Are you alright? We thought you were a goner, you know." Yamane grumbled, "Show off." which earned him a whack on the back of the head by Kanai and quite a few promises of pain from the other soldiers.
Mia ignored all the concerned exclamations and turned to march over to the Genbu warriors. She cocked her head to the side and smirked, "Good enough for you? Or would you like me to do some more? I'm sure I could collapse your little cave if that is what it takes to make you happy. Course that would just slow down my quest. I mean, having to dig your butts out of the snow, and then find the Shinzaho in the rubble…."
Hikitsu smiled and explained, "That will not be necessary. Please accept our apologies, Priestess of Suzaku. We will gladly lead you to the Shinzaho." With that, both warriors smiled and turned to lead the band towards even larger doors at the far end of the cavern.
Mia walked beside the two and wondered, "What will you do now that your 200 years of protection have come to an end? Will you simply return to heaven? Tell me something. If you had the chance to be reincarnated into the world of your beloved Priestess of Genbu after you were finished with your purpose in this world, would you accept? To live with your loved ones and protect her world?"
The warrior spirits looked at each other. Hikitsu smiled, "After 200 years of serving her faithfully, it would be nice to see her again." The smile crinkled his eyes even under the eye patch. Tomite looked off into the distance and chuckled, "I would like to have had a family. A son to carry on my name." The procession ended before the pedestal that housed the glorious necklace of gold, amethyst and pearl. Hikitsu explained, "This was given to the Priestess of Genbu during the ceremony to summon Genbu. It houses her power to summon the beast gods."
Mia reverently lifted the sparkling necklace off the regal pillow it had rested on for centuries, and immediately placed it in a pocket on one of the multiple shirts she wore under her uniform. There was no way anyone was going to get it out of her possession this time without killing her and stripping her body! She spun on her heel and walked back towards her friends waiting at the inner doors. Behind her Tomite started to explain where the next Shinzaho was located. But Mia interrupted him. "It's alright. I know the Byakko Shinzaho is in Sairou being guarded by a warrior named Tatara."
Hikitsu gaped at her, "Are you a seer? Someone with prescience? How can you know so much that is unknown by the average person?" Tomite leaned over and looked at her, waiting for a response to the question he had obviously wondered about too.
Mia laughed, a deep, rolling laugh that echoed in the cavern and surrounded everyone with mirth. "No, I'm not a seer of the future. It's hard to explain. Maybe, if I succeed on my quest, I'll be able to tell you when we meet in my world. Until then, I hope you enjoy the peace you have so richly deserved." And she leaned over and kissed each one on the cheek, which they could actually feel. Their eyes grew wide with shock and wonder since they had not felt a physical touch in centuries.
Chichiri watched from the inner doors and gestured for the woman to hurry up. His strength was being taxed by maintaining the barrier that kept them from being crushed. With a sprint across the tunnel, Mia joined them and kept running towards the main portal. She called over her shoulder, "Come on! What are you waiting for? Now we need to head for the desert!" Eight masculine groans trailed after her as she burst through the massive doors into the glaring sunlight of late afternoon.
The detail that had been left behind to guard their exit was shocked to see her run out with a huge smile plastered on her face like a lunatic. Soon, the others that had 'rescued' her from the cavern were exiting, and the ceiling collapsed down onto the now empty cave. Mia was bouncing next to Tank as one of the pike-carrying soldiers, Arata, was hefting her saddle up onto the patient warhorse. "Come on! Hurry up! Come on! I've had enough of snow! I can't wait to get to the desert where I can thaw my poor bones!"
Chichiri laughed at her exuberance and wondered aloud, "From the display we saw in there, it seems ice does not affect you, you know. Um, is there anything we should expect in the desert? Like, I don't know, fire breathing dragons or anything? At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if the desert turned to an ocean, you know. Strange things seem to happen around you."
Mia just smiled over her shoulder and quipped, "That's just part of the wonderfulness of me!"
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Thank you for reviewing my last chapter. I'm glad I could touch your emotions. That means more to me than kind words, because that means I'm doing something right. Thank you so much.