Chapter Five
No Tabi Ni Ikou [5]

"I guess the intermittent spells of waves we've been encourtering have rocked the little sense you may have had right out of that priceless head of yours, eh, lad?"

- Jack Sparrow (to Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III) - Pirates of the Caribbean JACK SPARROW: The Siren Song

"Oh great now there's an angry lady after us," Ritsu sighed, moving towards the exit. "Shall we go before she catches up?"

"I like that idea," Haruhi said, watching nervously as Ayanokouji's hands sparked with an electric blue current. "RUN!"

They scrambled out of the palace, slipping and sliding on the still wet ground. A crack of thunder overhead sent Haruhi stumbling to the ground. Takashi dropped his end of the chest and lifted her without any effort. Tamaki grabbed the end of the chest that hit the ground and began to run behind Ritsu.

"Move it!" he shouted, looking behind at the advancing girl.

They made it to the shore, cuts from falling and stray branches covering their limbs and faces.

"STOP!" Ayanokouji screeched, tossing out a hand. Everyone leapt out of the way as a blast of lightning hit the ground where they had stood seconds before.

"She's insane," Haruhi moaned, burying her face in Takashi's shoulder as another crack of thunder boomed through the skies. Tamaki noticed her fear.

She needs to be inside somewhere, he thought. She's terrified of storms and we'll all get sick if we stay out in the rain much longer. Not to mention this lady is trying to murder us.

He grinned as an idea popped into her head.

Ayanokouji advanced, moving first to Ritsu, who was clutching the chest with a defiant look.

"How dare you!" she snarled, pointing two fingers at his throat. "Didn't you see what I did to the village. They defied me and died! Now you can join them!" Ritsu squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the attack.

It never came.

"Now princess," Tamaki whispered in her ear, the crown atop his head giving him the impression of a king. "Please calm down. This anger is not befitting of someone with beauty such as yours."

Ayanokouji froze, gaping at the blond slightly. She squealed and ran away, red as a rose.

"EH?" Everyone asked the smirking blond.

"At times it's such a curse," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "These good looks both attract and stun people with awe."

"Narcassist," Haruhi grumbled, squinting into the sunlight which broke through the disappearing storm clouds.

"Is it over?" Mitskuni asked, head buried in the sand, voice muffled. Takashi's eyes widened, and he let go of Haruhi, lunging for the the small blond's legs. He pulled the boy out with a pop, sand sticking to his childish face. "Yuck!" He spat out a mouthful of dirt.

"So," Ritsu said, pushing himself up. "Can we go now?"

"The sooner we get away from this island the better." Haruhi grumbled, standing up. Tamaki grinned and picked up his end of the chest.

"Let's go on another adventure!" he shouted, pointing to the horizon. Ritsu laughed.

"There's never gonna be a dull moment with you guys around, is there?" Haruhi smiled.

"That could be considered a hassel." she commented.

"But it'll be a fun hassel!" Mitskuni said, beaming.

"You're coming with us?" Haruhi asked, raising her eyebrows.

"It's fun being with you guys," he shrugged, still grinning.

"Yeah," Takashi said quietly.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Ritsu asked, splashing to the ship. "Let's go!"

They climbed aboard and tied the mast down securely.

"We need a new ship," Tamaki commented, peering up at the sails.

"What are you talking about?" Ritsu sniffed, annoyed that Tamaki was insulting their means of transport. "This ship saved your life. Don't forget that!" Haruhi shook her head as the red head and blond began to argue. Her carmel colored eyes landed on a figure moving rapidly on the beach.

"WAAAAAAIT!" it cried. A boy, about the same age as herself, leapt into the water. Mitskuni tossed a rope off the side, helping the boy up. "Thanks," he panted.

He had bright orange hair and golden eyes. A small budle, the same shade as his hair, poked out of his shirt.

"Why did you want us to stop?" Tamaki asked curiously.

"I had to get off the island." he said, looking up at them with sincere eyes. "Ayanokouji is after us."

"Us?" Haruhi asked.

"My brother and I," he said, pulling the bundle, a cat, out of his shirt and setting it on the deck. "She turned him into a cat."

"Why?" Ritsu asked, staring at the cat, which glared at him with amber eyes.

"Hikaru insulted her." The other red head explained. "She got angry with him and turned him into a cat to feed the wolves. I got him out of there before she could touch him."

"Well, we can't leave you there knowing about her." Ritsu said, the recruiting gleam in his eye. "So, you can come with us."

"Thanks!" he said happily, sticking out a hand. "I'm Kaoru Hitachiin, and this is my twin brother, Hikaru."

"Nice to meet you," Haruhi said, smiling. He flushed. "I'm Haruhi. This is Ritsu, Tamaki, Mitskuni and Takashi."

"Where're we going?" he asked.

"No idea," Ritsu said, pushing his tricorn hat back and grinning out at the horizon. "Wherever we hit land next, I suppose."

"Sounds good to me."

Next:
And so, our heros leave the island, Majo Igirisu (Witch Kingdom), and head out for a new adventure, ending the No Tabi Ni Ikou (Let's Go On A Journey) arc. They make landfall on an island of dreams, only to find it's an islnad of nightmares ruled by an evil Shadow King!