To Tora Macaw: I really have to thank you for your support I really appreciate it.
Chapter 5
Dark, slanted eyes gaze down at the army officer with contempt, watching the way the man was quavering in his seat with thinly veiled terror. Such pitiful fools… Then again—a cruel smile tugged at the corners of his mouth—that was part of what made his job so enjoyable. The fear that oozed from them in tangible waves—it was perfect.
Pity he had business to attend to.
"So tell me again," he drawled, placing one hand on the officer's desk and leaning on it casually, "exactly what it was that made you agree to a simple outcast's conditions?"
"I—I—I just…" the man stammered nervously, "h—he would have—"
"Are you telling me that you were afraid?" he cut the shaking officer off with a disgusted sneer. "Pathetic. To think that so many armed and trained soldiers are scared of one little sorcerer and a healer of all things. Ch, the standards are falling rapidly I see."
"But Sir—"
"Absolutely ridiculous, don't you think?" he tossed a glance over at his assistants but didn't wait for an answer before returning cold eyes to the officer's pale face. "You fail at such a simple task as catching a thief, then you prove yourself unable to deal with lowly outcasts. Well, you know what? I think I'll be reporting this."
The man's eyes widened in horror, "No! Plea—"
"Shut up, Fool—or do you wish to argue with me?"
The officer shrunk down into his chair as though he could burry himself into the hard wood, "N—no Sir."
"Good. Now, I will be taking over this task from now on, since it appears that you people are incapable of even the most simple of jobs."
Finally releasing the trembling officer from his icy gaze, he turned and strode out of the room without a backward glance.
It was time for the hunt to begin.
x-X-x
"Are you sure you don't want to tether the horses?" Oishi asked, glancing to the side where said animals were munching quietly away on the grass.
"Of course not," Eiji wrinkled his nose, "it's rude nyah. And anyways, I already told them they should stay here."
"Ah, well…they…might not have understood…" he trailed off uncertainly, not sure whether or not it would be considered offensive to point out that animals could not speak or really understand human languages.
"Nah," the redhead waved him away dismissively, "I'm a Speaker nyah. I'm absolutely sure they understood me."
"Oh…okay…"
A Speaker… Oishi thought, I didn't know they still existed! The last were said to have died in the battles that ended the Alliance.
His thoughts were interrupted as the redhead dumped his last load of firewood down beside the crackling flames. Giving an exaggerated sigh of relief, he dusted off his hands and turned to face the healer.
"Are you sure your friend isn't one of the Elite? He was obviously using magic."
Oishi sighed, rubbing absently at the back of his head. He had already assured and reassured Kikumaru several times, but he could see that the redhead still didn't completely believe him. Granted, he supposed he couldn't be surprised.
"The powers used by the Elite aren't the same as those used by sorcerers," the healer pointed out patiently. "Tezuka's a sorcerer."
"Different? Don't they all use magic?"
"Not quite."
"Right then," Eiji plopped himself down on the ground and tilted his head to one side, "so what's the difference between the magic the Elite uses and the magic the sorcerers use?"
"Well," Oishi frowned slightly, staring into the fire, "I'm not exactly sure. But I was told that magic was the innate ability to shape the power inside and outside of one's self—all natural sort, you know? On the other hand, I believe that the Elite draw upon a different source, a kind of core of darkness that lies beneath the other forces. You know how nothing is ever purely good or purely evil?"
Eiji nodded silently, listening intently.
"Well, that dark core of power is—or so I've heard—a pool of all the negative energy from the world that has gathered together over the centuries. A long time ago it was said to have flowed freely like the other powers, but it tainted them—and all who came in contact with this tainted power changed…"
"And…they're the Elite?" the redhead asked hesitantly.
Oishi nodded, feeling a strange wave of sadness wash over him, "In a way—but that was only a tiny hint at the beginning. It made them stronger—gave them powers beyond what was previously know. But the power came with a price… I guess to put it simply you would say that it brought out the darkness in their own souls, and lit in them the desire for more, as power has a tendency to do… The Sorcerien Council of the time realized what was gong on, and together they cast an enchantment that bound the dark powers."
"The problem was that, even though it prevented the majority of those born with the ability to use magic from being 'tainted', it also concentrated all that dark power in one place. Few people ever managed to find their way to it—but some did. It started with those who were originally changed as they sought the power they craved—and they brought others. The concentration of power was what created the Elite that eventually toppled the Seishun Alliance."
"But that still makes them sorcerers nyah," Eiji pointed out, trying to lighten the somber mood that had settled down around them while he wasn't looking, "right?"
"In a way, I suppose…" the healer sighed, "but they aren't the same."
"Are you all right nyah?" the redhead asked, feeling slightly anxious at the sorrowful expression on his companion's face.
"I'm fine," the other smiled slightly, "I just wonder sometimes… Those old tales really make it sound as though people in general are…I don't know…so susceptible to darkness…weak spirited or the like."
"Don't think that way nyah!" the redhead exclaimed emphatically. "It makes everything feel so gloomy!"
Oishi couldn't help but laugh, marveling at how quickly they had managed to go from mistrustful enemies to being able to talk comfortably, "Sorry, I guess I'm just tired."
Eiji made a face at that, "Thinking like that would make anyone tired nyah! I say you can look at the world in two ways; all dark and gloomy so that you just want to leave it all behind, or bright and cheerful nyah, so that you know you can always find something good! Isn't that better nyah?"
"It is," the healer laughed, "it's just that not many people can think that way. It's only human to look towards the bad side, I guess."
"Then people are stupid nyah," Eiji declared decisively. "Life should be lived!"
"Life should be lived…" Oishi repeated, smiling. It was such a simple statement that could mean a million things, but somewhere within its four short words there was something more—a promise, if you will, that one day, things would get better.
Mom, Dad… he thought, gazing up into the star spangled heavens above as the music of the crackling flames echoed in his ears, I'm going to free you one day… And when we're all back together again maybe we can find somewhere away from this place where we can all live as though the sun could shine forever.
"Oh lookie here!" a sudden, unfamiliar voice broke into the peaceful silence. "What do we have here, do you think?"
"Hard to say really," a smooth, calm voice replied, "but I do believe they pass quite admirably as suspects."
"Should we alert the others?"
"I don't believe we need to bother."
Breaking out of the shock the unexpected voices had caused, Eiji bounced to his feet and stared out into the darkness, primarily in the direction of the trees and the unpleasant voices. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The first voice laughed nastily, "Aw, the commoner thinks he can actually speak to us! How amusing."
"Ah, you know they do not know better," the second voice replied smugly. "Want hmm? Well, why don't we just…show you?"
"What the—" Eiji yelped and leapt back as a streak of light and dark silver flashed past him. Oishi jumped up at about the same time, spinning around just in time to see the streak resolve itself into the shape of a man with dark, bluish hair dressed completely in silver and pale gray.
The man pivoted as he skidded to a stop near the edge of the ravine and flung up his right hand as his left dropped to press down against the ground, fingers splayed. Silver light flashed around him before spiraling into a pinpoint just before his open palm. Then it streaked forward once more, lance of brilliance that left violet after images in all their eyes.
The horses reared and whinnied in alarm, their eyes wide and their manes whipped up in the sudden blast of wind that came with the attack. Eiji threw himself out of the way, crashing into Oishi and sending them both sprawling across the dewy crass as their campfire exploded in a fountain of sparks to shower the ground and vanish.
And just as the last spark died, another figure appeared, jumping out of the treetops. It cartwheeled in the air, the moonlight catching on dark red hair as a blaze of pale orange followed the figure's movement, tracing a circle of flames in the air. The silver light from the previous attack twisted as though caught in an overpowering wind and arched gracefully up to combine with the circle of orange.
Then the combined spells flashed and erupted outward, leaving ghostly images of orange and silver flames dancing in two pairs of wide, horrified eyes.
x-X-x
Deep, cerulean blue eyes snapped open as Fuji sat bolt upright, ignoring the way his head spun violently in protest. Pushing away the nausea, he turned his gaze upward to where the pale, gray fingers of predawn light were just barely starting to creep through the skies. He was sure he had sensed something…but no matter how hard he squinted up at the jagged rim of the ravine all he could see was bare rock and open sky.
"You felt it too."
Blinking at the unexpected statement, he remembered belatedly that he wasn't alone. Glancing over his shoulder and across the fire, which had apparently been allowed to die down some time earlier, he caught the sharp, brown gaze that had been looking in the same direction towards the cliff tops moments ago.
There was nothing there now—no lights and no movement, nothing to suggest that something might have happened. But the lingering traces of power continued to thrum through the air, a silent signal to those with the right senses.
Tezuka stood up, brushing off his coat and adjusting his glasses. Scanning the surrounding cliffs of sheer stone and jagged ridges, searching for the quickest route upward.
Fuji's eyes narrowed, "Going somewhere?"
"To investigate."
"I'm coming too."
The other sorcerer only looked at him skeptically, elegant eyebrows rising slightly.
Ignoring the look, Fuji concentrated on getting to his feet. The mad spinning in his head and eased somewhat after his nap, but he still swayed slightly before he found his equilibrium again. Closing his eyes briefly, he imagined a river of molten light then took hold of it with his mind. Twisting it, he guided the light towards the ache in his head, envisioning it as a bright red flame.
Feeling the pain fade, he opened his eyes again and smiled in satisfaction. That should take care of it for the time being.
Sharp eyes watched him in some surprise. He could sense what the other sorcerer was doing, but there had been no actual spell—no guidelines for the power used. It was…strange…
Shaking his head slightly, he turned back to his examination of the cliffs. Their next step should be to find Syuichiroh and the redheaded friend of Fuji's. Then they could deal with their current…issue.
He wasn't rude by nature, and he definitely was not sink to the level of a thief, but he also had a mission to accomplish. How to do so, however, was going to be a tricky problem.
x
Biting his bottom lip in concentration, Fuji secured his left hand in the thin crevice of rock before releasing the cliff with his right. Trailing long fingers lightly up over the rough stone, his question hand discovered yet another small ledge. Testing it to make sure it would hold his wait, Fuji inched his way a little farther up the cliff.
He hadn't expected the climb to be easy, but it had far exceeded his predictions. His muscles were starting to complain about the strain, and he could feel a trickle of sweat sliding snail-like down his spine as his headache nudged at the back of his mind insisting on coming back, but to even think of letting go now would be equivalent to voluntarily jumping off of a fifty-foot tower—not smart. But it didn't mean he couldn't briefly lament the fact that using enough power to levitate all the way up the very tall cliff would probably bring whatever had caused the power surge earlier down on them faster than anything else they could possibly do.
They…
Casting a brief, sideways glance at his silent companion, he had to wonder why Tezuka didn't just go on ahead. It was pretty obvious that the other sorcerer was quite skilled at this kind of activity, but he continued to remain level with Fuji, monitoring his progress and occasionally giving tips—probably didn't want Fuji to fall and take the pendent with him, the brunette thought wryly. He had even offered to help at first, but Fuji had declined, having always preferred to rely upon his own strength.
And plus, he wasn't entirely sure he liked traveling with the man who had caused his initial fall off of the cliff in the first place. No one could honestly expect him not to be on guard really.
Still, sometimes, when he wasn't thinking about it, he found himself relaxing anyway. It disturbed him slightly.
x-X-x
"Drat it all, stop hissing!" Momo's frustrated bellow could be heard for miles around as he brandished the short bow he was clutching at the slouching figure that was glaring back at him with snake like eyes. "I can't catch anything this way! If you have something to say then just say it! Can't you speak! Maybe you're just a snake, Snake!"
"Fshuuu."
"Argh!" yanking at his hair—not exactly suitable for the action—in frustration, Momo dropped his bow altogether. "You probably don't even know what I'm saying! Where in the world did you grow up anyway? I stayed in one tiny village my entire life until now and can talk!"
"Fshu," the other youth rolled his eyes and turned away, stalking off into the tree line in the direction from which they could hear the sound of running water. The gentle chuckling of water over river stones was far preferable to the loud blabbering from the warrior whose voice he was disgruntled to discover could still be heard by the riverside.
Kneeling down on the soft, mossy bank, he dipped his hands into the cool, quick water, he splashed some of it over his face. The chilled liquid was soothing and helped to settle his nerves.
He was seriously considering just leaving. He had his own business to attend to… And anyway, he couldn't even figure out how he had wound up traveling with these strangers in the first place. He had only been picking a fruit from a tree that he hadn't known belonged to someone—how could someone own a tree especially when it wasn't even in their yard?—and got arrested for stealing.
It was really quite ridiculous, now that he thought about it.
Shaking his head in bemusement, he let one hand trail in the water, feeling the way the strong river current swept around it.
"Am I right in assuming that you are a Speaker?"
He jumped violently, spinning around so quickly that he nearly tumbled backwards into the river. Catching himself just in time, he stared, wide-eyed, at the tall man with the thick, square glasses and freaky grin—the one they called Inui. Had he said…?
"It's all right if you do not wish to speak to me," Inui said lightly, adjusting his glasses. "I was simply curious as to why one such as yourself was doing in the city jail. I was under the impression that Speakers have a tendency to stay away from places highly populated with humanity."
The snake-eyed youth considered for a moment before speaking hesitantly, "I am…searching for someone."
"Ah," Inui nodded, accepting the fact that their new companion wasn't quite ready to share his reasons for travel just yet. "Then, before I stop bothering you, may I inquire as to what I may address you as?"
Frowning slightly, he shrugged and turned back to the river, "Kaidoh, Kaoru Kaidoh."
x
"What do you mean it's easier just to scavenge! How can you even suggest that! Scavenging is for cowards!"
"No, it's for people who are intelligent enough to realize that it is far more practical than running around and trying to shoot some random animal—which apparently, you are not," Ryoma snapped.
"But hunting takes skill!"
"You can't eat skill. And at this rate we're all going to starve before your skill actually comes in handy!"
"That's uncalled for!" Momo pulled an indignant face at his friend. "I mean, it's not my fault that snake guy kept scaring the animals away."
"And what were they supposed to do? Stand there and let you shoot them?"
"Ye—I mean, no! Of course not."
"Precisely, and there's no way you could have caught anything otherwise."
"Wha—"
"I would suggest you do as he says," Inui's voice floated through the clearing, interrupting the warrior's attempt to defend himself and his skills. "You are not going to catch anything, after all."
Huffing, Momo crossed his arms and glared sulkily off into the trees. He was so not going to go rooting around in the underbrush.
Why, Ryoma had to wonder grumpily as he snapped his fingers to light the campfire, did he have such strange companions? Why couldn't he have had useful, smart ones instead?
TBC
A.N. Well, there we go. Now I'm going to have to do a lot of thinking because the plot isn't cooperating with me… Ah well.