Chapter 31

The tree like man froze.

The moment that energy was expelled, he glared at Choso. "What… did you just do!?" he demanded.

The ground trembled once more, the pressure built again. Those who were prostrated on the ground, remained there. Choso lowered his head as she appeared.

The great lady.

"Yuuji!" she rushed to his side, Yuuji was out cold, as he appeared to be trembling.

"Great lady, what's happening to him?" Choso asked as gently as he could.

She inspected him from top to bottom. She put her ear to his stomach and then nodded. "It's time for his second feeding." She stated, but then paused. "I cannot feed him like this, he is too big… Choso, with me please." She was very careful, yet effortlessly, she lifted Yuuji from the ground and brought him outside. Choso was quick to follow along with Kitsune and the medicine men.

"Great one, you are jumping to conclusions! He's not in need…"

Choso felt fear for the first time from the great lady, she turned on this medicine man, her eyes aglow with a look that she would tear him apart instantly if he crosses her again!

She carried Yuuji to a clearing. From there, she eased him to the ground. Choso could see the look of pain etched on his face, he felt to too in his core. Something was eating away at him and he couldn't make it stop. "We have to hurry," the great lady announced. "If he is not fed soon, his body will start to break itself down from the inside. Choso!" she called.

"Yes miss!"

"Be at the ready… I need you to position him."

"Position…" before he could question her, the great lady burst into a plume of black fire and smoke, she turned into her true form and peered down at Yuuji.

"Now!" she called.

Choso was quick to grab his brother. Kitsune came from the other side as they were careful to pull Yuuji over to the side of the black dragon. From there, she positioned herself. Choso froze as he swore she was sitting on him! And yet, she was so gentle and his brother wasn't the least bit crushed. If anything, he began to feel… at ease. A sense of warmth started to fill him as the urge and pain began to vanish from him. She kept him there, and didn't move from that spot.

"I wish I could offer you something to eat or drink…" Choso said innocently enough.

"Oh? You tend to the great lady in such a manner?" Kitsune asked.

He nodded. "Fresh tea and sweets, sometime sandwiches, mainly sweets though."

The great lady giggled. "It's quite alright this time Choso, but I shall take you up on that next time. However, after this, Yuuji won't be able to move about as much. I suggest you don't allow him to enter his room. He won't be able to leave it."

"So outdoor accommodations are needed…" he muttered.

"I have already sent some of my people on ahead…" she paused as her glare came down to the medicine man. The one who refused to believe what he was told.

"Oh… great one, I didn't know…"

"You were fully aware of this!" she snapped back. "Be gone with you. This instant!"

He froze, and yet the look of fear etched on his face only made him nod and flee quickly. Choso didn't like the vibe he got off of him, for one, he didn't believe what anyone was saying to him about Yuuji, if this is a divine doctor, he needs to listen and understand each situation is different.

"Choso…"

Peering up he looked into the eyes of this magnificent dragon. "You did the right thing to call for me. But, how did you know how to do such a thing?"

He paused as he stared at his hand that carried the dragon seal. "I know, you care for my brother, very much. Just as a mother would, and I doubt you wouldn't have sense my call for you if it was urgent enough. I felt… there is a respectability between us to allow such a thing to occur. But, I was also desperate and didn't know if it would work either…"

"It did, and I am glad you have done so," she said gently. They fell silent to each other until she peered at her side where Yuuji was. "He is nearly done, I will keep a far closer eye upon him from this moment on. He became hungry very quickly and without warning…"

Choso merely nodded to her. "I will do the same as well."

"You also must keep an eye on Suiryu, no doubt he is experiencing some hardships as we speak."

"Suiryu is?"

"Not to worry, Yua is tending to him now. Such a kind woman, then again, it is to be expected of a Tooru. They always tend to help those in need…"

#

Back at the village.

"GAH!"

Suiryu had to stop, his hand grabbed on to his chest as he felt his heart beat oddly. It was as if it skipped a beat for a moment, and then came to a complete stop! Yet as soon as it began to beat once more, he caught his breath and sighed aloud to it all. "Ugh, this is happening again… why is this happening?" he muttered.

He had to take a moment, resting against the side of the wall, he calmed his heart once more as it fell back into it's usual rhythm.

"Suiryu?"

He peered over and saw Yua was worried. "Are you okay?"

He paused to consider his answer, but his hesitation was all what Yua needed to know. "Come here, let's get you somewhere comfortable for a moment."

He didn't fight her on the notion, he willingly went back to her residence. She eased him to the couch where he took a moment to catch his breath. "Something is wrong with me…" he said bluntly. "My body… it's acting weird…"

Yua sat and listened as he explained, ever since he found out about Ryujin's soul being part of him, his body has altered oddly. He could feel it change and at the same time, it's painful for him to endure. "I can take a hit, I know that, but this… this is something different, something unfamiliar to me…" he said.

"You've finally acknowledged the fact that you are changing, you have the soul of a dragon trying to fuse into your own. And it's painful now, since you cannot resist it. But you are trying to, aren't you?"

He sighed and nodded his head to her. "Why me?" he asked bluntly. "If you were a dragon, would you have given your soul to me to become one?"

There came a small smirk to her lips. "If I saw everything you have done, yes," she said without hesitation.

"Yua…"

"Actions speak louder than words." She stated before he could argue back. "Suiryu, I know you have killed people, I have as well for the sake of not just survival, but out of protection for those around you. I am not comfortable taking a life, but one cannot help it in our profession. I have seen you, spoken with you and helped as best as I could for you to find your own way. And you have."

He was silent for a moment. "I don't think I have found my way yet…"

"That in itself is a moment of clarity. Suiryu, no one knows their way. Not even me. I came back to help you and now, what do I do now? I've done what is asked, and yet I am still alive. I am meant to do more? But what is it? No one has the answers, no matter how powerful you are, power does not give you the clues or the acknowledgement as to where you should go, what you should do with your life. Some may consider that to not be true. When one obtains power they believe they should rule over others. Did you have that thought?"

He shook his head. "I've already seen what the bastard did, I am not following his footsteps."

"That's what makes you Suiryu." She said proudly.