Edge 2: I and the Sword on the Stone

"Ah…Shin?" she uttered…

"Hi…ka…rou?" he uttered back. Time stopped when their eyes met each other. Hikari caught up and saw her staring blankly. Panting, he tapped her shoulder.

"Hey… who are you looking at now?" Hikari looked instantly on the direction where his sister is looking. As he looked, her reaction looked like she knew him. "That's…" before she could tell it, Hikarou was interrupted.

"Nothing… I didn't see anything. Let's go inside." She said in a serious tone. He just kept quiet, probably sensed his sister's serious aura. She went inside first, and he followed her. Suddenly, the guy rushed to her direction and touched her wrist. "Wait…" She looked back at him, expressionless and forcefully took his hand off of her wrist, and said.

"Sorry, I don't talk to strangers." And she proceeded inside the National Library. Hikari, a bit shocked, didn't make a scene and just followed his sister along. Questions raced through his mind.

"What's going on?"

The guy was shocked, left behind the library. He just watched as the siblings went inside.

"Stranger… huh?"

The siblings went to the Ancient History section, about two feet away where the exhibit is being held. Hikarou just placed her bag on the table, got a book to read, and seated. Hikari followed suit. "Am I not mistaken that guy is…" Suddenly, Hikarou interrupted.

"I beg thou lips shall not speak that thy stranger's name." Then, she continued reading the book.

"Alright then. Let's say I'm mistaken, but you shouldn't talk to him that way, even though you don't know him."

"Mom taught us since we were kids not to talk to strangers and I'm implementing that rule to myself. Okay, sorry if I became so cold to the guy, but what can I do? I really don't know him."

"But still, sis, that isn't the proper way…"

"I'm making this clear out." She took a deep breath hand, closing the book. "I don't know him; therefore I don't want to talk to him."

"You know him, but you're denying it." Hikari replied back sternly. Hikarou pretended not to hear what her brother said as he continues, "You really have a stubborn head, as stubborn as a big boulder found on a sea shore," he just sighed, leaving his things on the table and his sister alone reading while he went to buys some coffee at a nearest coffee stand.

Hikarou's mind was flooded with perplex thoughts.

"Is it really him…? If it is… why did he come back? Hikarou Sukunami, you're stars are very lucky now… "

As she sighed, she sensed a presence again. It is the same presence that she felt a while ago, but it is much stronger now. It is a like a strong attractive force coming from nowhere. The problem is that she can't determine where it is coming from. But she never put much attention to it and resumed reading.

The former mikos of the Universe of the Four Gods, Miaka and Yui, sensed the presence also, but they cannot describe it.

As Yui felt this, she felt something might happen. "Mother... are you alright?" Yuri asked as she accompanied her mom out of the car. Her husband and son went inside the house.

Yui just nodded. "It's nothing," she smiled back not to tell the feeling of uneasiness she's having. "Why am I feeling so uneasy since I didn't sense any danger at all?" she thought.

Miaka was preparing dinner when Taka arrived. "Hi dear, you're early today," she greeted and kissed him on the cheek.

"Yeah." Suddenly, Taka heard a loud thunder roar outside. He took a glimpse on the window to see the sky's condition. "Looks like the weather's going to be pretty bad today. That's weird. The weather forecast says that it'll be sunny. I wonder why…"

Miaka felt the odd presence, "Why am I feeling this? It's like there's an omen coming… did the… no it can't be… it had been sealed a long time ago… nothing's going to happen. Taka shouldn't know what I'm feeling. Weathers change always, right… or is it?"

She felt that something has been placed on the table. Without looking, she spoke, thinking it is her brother who came back from the coffee stand.

"Thanks for the coffee, but I'm not into caffeine, bro. I'm suffering a slight insomnia…" as she looked up, her eyes widened in shock.

"Can we talk?"

Hikarou hurriedly closed the book and grabbed her bag, fleeing away like a soaring bird. The guy ran after her.

Thoughts appeared in her mind.

"I don't want to see…

I don't want to hear reasons…

I don't want him to enter my life…

He's the reason why I'm like this…

I already felt the bitter anguish of being lonely and alone…

And I don't want to have that feeling once more…

But why did he appear just only "now"?"

She stood at the door where the exhibit is being held. Those who were assigned forgot to put the "Under Construction: Do Not Enter" warning outside. So, without thinking, she went inside to hide from the "stranger".

Amazed and displayed with wonder, she was astounded by the beauty of the ancient scriptures displayed. She then explored the whole room, looking at the displayed scriptures one by one, forgetting all of her worries. She has been a lover of ancient Asian history since she was little, especially on Korean, Japanese and Chinese history.

"Wow, so this is the exhibit! I might praise Uncle Keisuke for this." She suddenly saw someone coming inside. It was him. She tried to escape but he quickly grabbed her hand.

"I came a long way just to talk to you. Would you just give me some time to explain?!"

She struggled to take his hand off her wrist. "I prefer not to see your damn face instead of seeing you again! If you really care, please unhand me this instant!"

"I'm not letting you go not until you listen to my reasons!"

"Reasons? You left me for three long years without any reason and you're just going to poof out of nowhere just to explain!? I have no time to listen to that good-for-nothing explanation of yours! Unhand me now!" But the grasp got tighter.

"Just give me a chance! I beg you"

"Never!!" She shouted. "Onii-chan! Tasukete!!" Out of the blues, a guy carrying 2 bags appeared on the scene. It was her brother, Hikari.

"Unhand my sister, creep!" The stranger stood still, suddenly losing his grasp. Hikarou sees a golden scroll placed on top of the table beside her. She quickly took it and tried to hit him with the scroll on the head.

Unexpectedly, the scroll glowed brightly, as bright as the rays of the sun. All of them were blinded by the light. Hikarou tried to grab it from her hands when the ties on the scroll opened by itself. The scroll was floating in the air as it shone brightly.

"What the heck is happening?!" Hikarou exclaimed. She was suddenly grabbed by the wrist. It was her brother.

"Onii-chan!" She called out as she shields her eyes from the intense brightness.

"No matter what happens, don't ever let go of my hand!"

Then a voice echoed on the whole room.

"It is thou time to save my creation… for thou are destined to save hundreds… I seek thou help from you… my golden myna."

Hikarou uttered, "Golden myna?" The light shone more intensely, covering the whole room, absorbing the three of them. Within a flash of events, the light disappeared as it absorbed them, before returning back to its original form. The voice echoed…

"You shall never come back to your homeland unless you fulfill the task… a task that could result to your death but will save thousands of lives."

"I feel numb…. What is happening around me?" Hikarou voiced out her thoughts.As she opened her eyes, she saw a vision full of flowers and realized she was lying on the ground. She stood up and looked around the place.

"What beautiful scenery! Where am I anyway?" She saw a sword on the stone, just like the Excalibur of King Arthur was placed on the stone. The sword's handle had jewels on it, which made her more curious.

"Sword on the stone, huh?" She tried to reach the handle but she heard someone proclaiming, "Never touch the sword, trespasser! Strangers who attempt to touch that sword shall be perished immediately!" She looked back and saw an angry woman, dressed like an ancient Chinese female warrior, aiming an arrow on her. She poised herself in a fighting pose. Gladly, she inherited some of her dad's talent in martial arts, but she's more skilled in swordsmanship.

"Looks like I have to fight her with bare hands…" she thought and tightened her fists. "Alright, I don't know who you are or where this place is, but if you still point that arrow at me, I'm not going to back out!"

"Very well, then, stranger. May I remind you to look also behind you… just in case."

She did and saw another soldier, raising her sword in the air and ready to slash Hikarou. Hikarou realized that she was beside the stone.

"I'm not planning to be King Arthur but I need you to save my precious life! I don't want to die yet!! Help me please!" she shouted as she closed her eyes, trying to pull the sword from the stone. Suddenly, she successfully pulled it out and hit the enemy's sword with it, making it soar high in the air and fall to the ground meters away from them. She opened her eyes and realized she was holding the sword, and her enemy stood in front of her, stunned.

"Sheinai! I warned you!" The angry general aimed her arrow and shot Hikarou from behind, wounding her shoulder.

"AHHH!!" Hikarou shouted as she was shot and fell unconscious on the ground. Little did she know… the arrow was poisoned. The lady warrior checked if the stranger is dead. Unknown to her, the Emperor and Empress witnessed the whole thing and they rushed to the unconscious Hikarou. The Empress quickly checked on her.

"What have you done, Leisu?!" The Emperor berated his trusted general.

"I was just following your orders, your Grace! She's an intruder." she bowed down.

"Your Majesty, we must cure her immediately! The poison's flowing fast in her body and she might die any minute! Kaishen, get the shaman immediately! We must not lose this girl!" The soldier accepted the order and quickly she left, while the Empress, assisted by her maid, gives first aid to Hikarou.

"Intruder?! Are you out of your mind?! Have you realized that the one you shot is the one who is destined to save the five kingdoms?"

By hearing this, the general was shocked. "I… shot…" she looked at the pitiful situation of the girl, who was battling the circumstances of life and death.

"the sword keeper… of… Nu Kwa?"

Notes:

Shienai – a swear word meaning "Damn it!" It's exclusively heard only on the country of Liu Guo.