Author's note - my sincerest apology for not updating at all this year. this school quarter just killed me but so did a huge case of writer's block. instead my artist block came undone so i've been dabbing in that field these past three months. i've done alot of drawings lately but nothing worth while since my preferred medium for coloring is acrylic paint not photo shop or Paint X( therefore, my digital art sucks like crap. haha, sorry i'm rambling. anyhoo, big thanks to Panda-chan31 and WolfRunner326 for the reviews and RaineyLolita for the Story Alert. You guys remind me that i've gotta get my butt moving on this fic and motivate me to break down this writer's block of mine. And another round of thanks to everyone who's stuck with this story for so long! thank you and i'd love to hear what you guys think! Enjoy!
p.s.
HAPPY π DAY! :D
Chapter 12: the Brewing Storm
Night. Day. Night. Day. Night. Day.
Night.
Three days passed and the rain never ceased, but there was no longer a single streak of lightning or a clap of thunder resonating in the sky – at least, not since the first night. It was unsettling how quiet the skies were yet Shizuru sensed phenomenal energies swirling in the air, restlessly. Something was going on up there… something big.
"This is one hell of a storm," commented Kazuma, glancing away from the TV and out the living room window. "Think it'll end anytime soon, sis?"
Shizuru frowned, also eying the window critically. For some reason this storm didn't feel right… it gave her the chills and her arms kept tingling as if they were being electrocuted by something in the air.
"D-does it normally rain this much in the Human World?" asked Kikume in a meek voice. The reaper was huddled on the sofa – as far away from the living room window as possible. The girl had been very quiet these past few days. There was a strange, inherent fear in her grey eyes and she walked around with her head bowed, like she was desperately trying to stop herself from instinctively fleeing – but fleeing from what?
"Well it is summer so we tend to get a lot of rain and I've seen some storms that last for over a week," said Kazuma. "But you know… I think there's something weird about this storm..."
So her baby brother felt it too. That's good. It meant Shizuru wasn't being paranoid and imagining things. Something was up with this storm and it was creeping the hell out of all of them.
Shizuru glanced back at Kikume, who was watching the evening news with an almost desperate focus – like she was trying to forget about the rain by distracting herself – but it was obvious to both of them that it wasn't really working. Shizuru wasn't sure which she should worry about more – the storm outside the house or the storm inside, within Kikume. That girl has been acting funny. She wouldn't go anywhere near the windows or the front door and she kept dragging around her comforter, like she was always cold. She reminded Shizuru of a frightened child – scared of the flashes of lightning and claps of thunder… only there hasn't been any these past three nights. So what the heck was she afraid of?
I'm pretty sure this all started after Kurama found her by the river… just what the hell is making her so jumpy?
Maybe I should talk to her, thought Shizuru, but then she hesitated after taking a step towards the girl. The psychic shook her head, changing her mind. Maybe she was just making a big deal out of nothing. For all she knew, this could be the first time Kikume had ever experienced a storm. After all Shizuru had no clue what the weather was like in Spirit World.
I'll ask Botan when she gets back…she should know what to do.
Shizuru glanced once more out the window, half-hoping to see her blue-haired friend flying across the sky but she knew she was being ridiculous. For one thing, there was a storm outside; for another, Botan had been absent these past few days because she'd been called back to Spirit World.
There better not be a crisis up there because I'm starting to worry there might already be one right here under my roof…
oo00oo000oo00oo
Botan covered her mouth as she sneezed for the hundredth time that morning. The dust in the archives was making her sinuses run wild and it made concentrating twice as difficult. Plus, at that moment, Hikari had said something to her but she didn't hear any of it.
"What?"
Botan moved from the dusty shelf she'd been scanning to the large square table where Ayame and Hikari were huddled over. The table was normally used for study work – allowing people to sit down and read whatever material they were searching through. Normally there were only one or two scrolls littering the table, but today an enormous map was laid out from corner to corner. It was a map of Demon World – well, actually it was more of a map of the known parts of Demon World. Botan doubted Spirit World would ever be able to obtain a complete map of that hellish world.
"Could you repeat that Hikari? I didn't catch what you said."
"I said, TALAT."She pointed to the map. [I said, take a look at this.]
"T-take a… look at this?" asked Botan hesitantly.
"Yeah. Duh. I've said it 2x now. DUNMTSI 100M?" [Yeah. Duh. I've said it two times now. Do you need me to say it a hundred more?]
Botan sighed, exasperated. "Sorry Hikari, but I'm already exhausted from all this work. Could you please just speak like the rest of us instead of having me guess at what you're trying to say?"
"Hmphf. Fine, fine, fine," Hikari pouted. "Better?"
"Yes. Thank you. Now what was it you wanted to show me?"she asked, moving to stand next to Hikari and they both turned to the map.
"I've plotted out four routes," explained Hikari using a wooden pointer to trace out each path. "Three of them go through the upper reaches of Demon World like so, and the last one loops along the edges of the deeper depths – just as Koenma-sama ordered."
"Good work, Hikari." Botan gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
Just then Ayame spoke up from a separate set of desks with a huge mass of papers and files stacked one on top of another. There were so much papers, it was starting to look like Koenma's desk when he got behind with his stamping. They couldn't even see Ayame when she was sitting.
"I haven't worked out the specific details of the schedules yet but here's what I have so far…" She stood up and came over to show them her work. In her hand was a thick notebook and she quickly flipped to the beginning before continuing her explanation.
"Rotation starts at noon and midnight of each day. There are four reapers assigned to Demon World and each will be accompanied by two SDF members at all times. Botan, you've been assigned the deepest route. It has been confirmed that Captain Shunjun will be your escort but your second escort has not been determined at this time. I'll give you an update once I hear from Koenma-sama."
"Well I'm in no hurry to be shipped off to Demon World so take your time," said Botan and glanced back at the map in order to get a better grasp of what she was getting herself into. She was very nervous about her new assignment though she was determined to not let the others know. Ayame and Hikari would only fret if Botan showed any sign of fear, but she was going into a basically uncharted territory of Demon World and she had no idea what she was going to find there. The number of times Kikume had returned to Spirit World complaining about having to fight off a crowd of hungry demons was now starting to make Botan's heart lurch with fright.
She was not a fighter. That was a given – a well known fact to everyone that knew her. So how in the name of Kami was she supposed to fend off demons? What if an S-class demon came at her? The entire SDF could be escorting her and they would still be nothing but a fly compared to one S-class demon!
How did Kikume do it? How did Suiren-senpai and Tsubaki do it? And all by themselves too? Weren't they scared for their lives? wondered Botan. But then…they had powers. They had powers to protect themselves…they had been born with the inner strength to fight.
But not Botan.
She only had the power to heal and even that ability was only average. It was becoming clearer and clearer to Botan that she was not suited for this job; but who else was going to do it if not her? Now that Kikume was out of commission for the next year, Botan was the obvious candidate to take over as Chief Pilot of the Acheron. But she and Kikume were two completely different reapers. Kikume was headstrong and fearless; Botan was brave too but she wasn't strong. She can't fight. The enormous gap that separated Botan from Kikume, Tsubaki and Suiren-senpai was a blatant sign that those three reapers were in a whole other league; and Botan knew she was completely incompetent to take over any one of their positions.
Botan sighed inwardly at the same time Hikari sighed out loud.
"Okay I've about had it with this dingy room! It's way too depressing! I'm going to take a break and grab some coffee. You girls want anything?" she asked. Her loud complaint was so unexpected it threw off Botan's depressed mood.
"Er…sure?"
"I'd like some green tea please," said Ayame from behind her wall of paperwork.
"KK BRB!" [Okay be right back!]
Hikari waved and dashed out of the archives as fast as she could. Botan shook her head at the reaper's ever cheerfulness and then returned to her brooding. But she had barely begun to analyze her designated map when the door to the archives burst open and a green ogre entered carrying a huge black, three-ringed folder.
"Chief Ayame-san! Are you in here?" he called in a loud voice, making Botan flinched instinctively.
"I'm over here." Ayame waved the ogre over and as he passed by Botan, he gave her an apologetic nod.
"I've got the numbers for this month's Check In, ma'am."
"Excellent, well done. Let me review it and you may submit it to Koenma-sama," said Ayame as she took the notebook from her subordinate.
Botan was always amazed at how fast Ayame was able to carry out her duties as the Chief of the Intelligence Department. It was a division that dealt with many things such as criminal profiles as well as documenting the number of souls brought in from both worlds. They were also in charge of scheduling the reincarnation cycles. With all those responsibility, it takes a person with excellent organization skills and a quick, logical mind to lead the department.
How does she do it? wondered Botan. Numbers were never really her friend – which was something she could relate to Yusuke about – but she at least knew basic geometry.
He's saved the world at least three times and he's off in Demon World training with S-class demons but he still can't do high school math…Dear Kami!
Botan shook her head as she chuckled under her breath before turning back to her own work. She moved back to the shelves she'd been browsing earlier and had just pulled out two scrolls on demon species when Ayame began muttering really fast under her breath.
Curious, Botan peeked through an empty shelf where a scroll was supposed to be to see the ogre standing nervously behind Ayame's desk.
"Is something wrong, Chief?" he asked.
"No…and yet….maybe…." Ayame stood and began searching her desk frantically for something but then she suddenly stopped. "Oh, of course! It's back in the office..."
"What do you need, ma'am?"
"The Daily Register. I need to check something. Would you bring it to me please?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Quickly, if you would," she added and the ogre dashed out of the archives, nearly running into Hikari who'd returned from her coffee run.
"Whoa! Watch it!" exclaimed Hikari as she almost spilled her tray of cups.
"Sorry! Excuse me, Vice-Chief!" The ogre quickly bowed to her and was gone.
"WGO? DIMS?"exclaimed Hikari. [What's going on? Did I miss something?]
Botan racked her brain to translate Hikari's questions faster but by the time she understood her friend's outburst, Hikari had already crossed the room and was handing Botan her cup of coffee.
"We really need to break that bad habit of yours, Hikari," said Botan as she accepted the drink. "I can't even have a civil conversation with you without feeling like I'm doing some sort of complicated math equation."
"Sorry, Botan. I'll try N change."
Botan sighed and sipped her coffee. A little too sweet but that was because Hikari was the one that made it.
"So, what happened?" asked Hikari.
"Well… I think it's best to ask Ayame. Even I'm not really sure..."
Hikari nodded and sauntered over to Ayame's desk. "Here's your tea, Ayame. So where's the fire?"
"Thank you. Would you please set it to the side," said Ayame, sounding distracted.
Botan and Hikari exchanged confused looks and Botan shrugged. Neither of them knew what to do since obviously Ayame was too absorbed in her work to answer them.
But before the awkward silence could settle in, the green ogre returned, bursting into the archives as loudly as last time – only this time two more ogre's were trailing behind him, one red and one yellow.
"Here it is, Chief," panted the green ogre as he handed Ayame an identical black, 3-ringed folder.
"Thank you, Greg." Ayame didn't waste any time and began flipping fervently through the pages, scanning each page filled with numbers and names – always searching…searching…but searching for what?
Botan and Hikari stood back and watched in curiosity behind a shelf while the three ogres stood around Ayame looking a bit nervous. They began whispering to each other in low voices behind their hands and it seemed like they were worried they'd recorded the numbers wrong. Since they were from the Intelligence Department, a single miscalculation could mean an instant demotion.
"I wonder how badly they screwed up," whispered Hikari.
Botan shrugged.
Suddenly, Ayame froze and stood up to face her subordinates. In her hands were the two three-ringed folders. From their hiding place, Botan saw that Ayame's eyes though normally a deep navy, were now an icy dark blue and cold – which was kind of scary. Botan had never seen this side of her before. Usually Ayame was very forgiving and kind, but she supposed she was finally getting a glimpse of the real Chief of the Intelligence Department.
"Who did the numbers for last week's Check In count?" she asked sternly.
"Er…"
The ogres all glanced at each other as sweat broke out on their forehead. Finally Greg, the green ogre, spoke up, "We all did, ma'am. We double checked the numbers fifty times! All the senior Recorders looked over the report."
"Yes, I expected at least that much from you. But did you double check with the Daily Register?" she asked, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized each ogre with serious eyes.
All three gulped in fear. Their answer was obvious.
Ayame gave each of them a reprimanding scowl, making them flinch visibly. "There is a reason we have a Daily Register. It sends information to all the reapers of the names and location of the scheduled souls to die that day. The Check In list exists in order to document the names and register number of the souls that have arrived at the Gates of Judgment while the Check Out list contains the names and destination of the departed souls."
"Er, but ma'am. Ain't the Daily Register and the Check in list the same thing?" asked the red ogre.
"No, they're not but they should be two identical lists. However, starting last week, that is not the case."
"What do you mean, Chief?" asked the yellow ogre.
"According to the Daily Register, there are 4,390,710 souls due this month from Human World and 3,247 souls from Demon World; but if you compare the counts, the Check In's count states that there were 4,390,710 souls from Human World this month and 3,245 souls from Demon World."
"Er… but they're just off by 2," said the red ogre. "It can't make that much of a difference, can it?"
"Ask that again and I'll have you fired and sent to work in the Ink Pits of the lower regions of Spirit World," said Ayame in a soft but deadly voice.
The red ogre jumped a foot in the air in fright and hastily bowed muttering long strings of apology as sweat broke out over his horn.
Ayame ignored him and turned to her other two subordinates and handed the folders back to Greg.
"These numbers are supposed to match up. I want all of you to find the error in the records and correct it immediately."
"YES, CHIEF!" They saluted in unison and made a mad dash to the door, desperately climbing over one another in an attempt to flee the room.
Hikari and Botan watched on in amazement.
"Phew! Never knew Ayame could get so worked up over the number 2," commented Hikari.
"I guess she takes her job very seriously," said Botan as they stepped out of their hiding spot and approached their friend cautiously. "Is everything all right, Ayame?" asked Botan tentatively.
Ayame, who focus was still on the two notebooks, sighed and shook her head.
"Maybe I'm just making a big fuss over nothing," she muttered wearily.
"Will being off by two souls really make that much of a difference? Maybe there was a pair of triplets from Demon World and they got the ogres at the Register section confused," said Hikari.
Ayame chuckled dryly. "I highly doubt it. Still, it is possible for it to be a simple error in counting – but that hasn't happened in a while… I should have caught it the day of but I've been so busy creating the new schedules for Demon World that I haven't been paying that much attention to the Register like I used to…"
"It's okay, Ayame. We're all tired. Why don't we all take a break?" suggested Hikari cheerfully. "I think getting out of this musty old room will do you some good. Maybe a hot shower and some lunch?"
"But you just got back from your coffee break five minutes ago –" Ayame began to protest but Hikari cut her off.
"Yeah but you didn't take a break yet. Come on, what's the rush? Koenma-sama said he'll be out all day. No one's going to complain if we relax a while."
"Hikari's right," said Botan, jumping in. "I say the three of us head off to the Ferry Wing for some R&R. We can ever watch a movie and eat popcorn!"
"Yeah! Great idea, Botan!" nodded Hikari.
"Oh, well I suppose…" Ayame let Hikari and Botan steer her out the door but as they left the archives Botan noticed that there were still lines of worry in Ayame's eyes.
Were two missing souls really that worrisome, Botan wondered. It was only two. Either someone miscounted or…
Botan frowned.
If they were lost…then…where could they have gone?
The troubling thought followed her out into the hallway.
Botan glanced at the window out of habit and immediately noted the dark clouds hovering over the horizon – which managed to distract her from her previous train of thoughts. It seems they were hovering over the River Styx. There must be a large storm raging in Human World, she concluded. It was during these times that Spirit World was more attuned with the Human World than normal. Water was Life's river and all living things needed water. And just as Life is connected with Water, so is Death.
Botan paused to continue studying the clouds. She'd seen storms hovering over the Styx many times in the eons she'd piloted the River of Sorrow. This one didn't look any different than all the other storms but at the same time…
"Hey! You coming?" asked Hikari from the other end of the hall.
Botan tore her eyes from the window and nodded. "Yeah."
Perhaps she was only imagining things. Like Ayame said, they've all been stressed out with working overtime creating the routes and schedules for Demon World. Hikari had the right idea, it seemed. They all needed some rest. They'll go back to the Ferry Wing and relax on a mountain of plush pillows and watch the latest comedy romance from Human World.
Yes, that's the ticket. Some rest and relaxation and they'll all be right as rain.
Hmm… somehow that did not feel at all encouraging…
In fact, Botan was starting to feel a deep sense of foreboding and she couldn't shake it off.
Puzzled, she caught up to her companions and was still brooding over the gray storm clouds when they reached their rooms and slipped inside.
oo00oo000oo00oo
"Is this it?"
"Yes. This is it."
A heavy silence filled the temple as the two occupants sat across from each other on the wooden floor in near darkness. The lone candle flickered feebly as it fought to keep the darkness at bay. Outside the storm continued to rage – winds blowing chaotically and rain pelting the tiled roof relentlessly.
"It can't be kept anywhere else?"
"No. It must be kept here, safe and hidden away."
"Who's coming after it?"
Another long silence filled the room. The taller figure sat with his back rigid with tension, knees stiffly tucked under him, and his hands clenched into fists on his lap.
The other figure waited impatiently with arms and legs crossed, temper slowly rising. "Well? Who are we up against this time?"
"Its…it's not certain for now. Nothing has come up yet to warrant caution but–"
"You're still worried," finished the first figure and growled unhappily. "Demon World is already a mess. Whatever happens there will affect all three worlds by the year's end."
"Which is precisely why this must remain here – where it'll be safe," said the second figure as he pushed a wooden box across the floor towards the first figure. The box was completely wrapped in old cloth bandages with strange black characters written on them. The box was tightly bound and a large talisman was taped right over where the lock should have been – sealing the content from the outside world.
"Do you honestly think it'll be safe here?" asked the first figure
"There is nowhere else."
The first figure's scowl, which had been present since the start of their meeting, deepened. "Are you going to tell me what's in it or just make me blindly protect it? I'm not a fool. Those bindings and the talisman are proof that whatever's inside this box is something damn important. Only an idiot would think otherwise."
"I assure you, it is important – very important. And it must not be discovered, ever."
The seriousness in the second figure's tone was as powerful as the howling wind outside the temple. It was the first time she had ever seen him this serious about anything. The first figure was slightly taken aback by it, but it was enough to convince her.
"Fine. I'll keep it safe – for our friendship's sake. But you owe me an explanation later, when this Demon World business is over with. Got it, Koenma?" snapped the woman, standing up.
Koenma smiled, relieved. "Thank you."
The woman nodded and picked up the box with gnarled, aged hands before disappearing into the heart of the darkness that filled the enormous temple.