A/N: My little nod to Ray Bradbury in this chapter is Zellen's psychic ability. Bradbury was my inspiration to start, and keep, writing. My favorite character of Bradbury's is Cecy the Traveler. I love what she does in Uncle John the Terrible and Unjust in the short story "The Traveler." If you haven't read the book "From the Dust Returned" I highly recommend you do. Really, any of his works are wonderful, and I love them all.

Part Sixty-One:

After Zellen had experienced way too much information about the sex lives of Celians living in Valeria, he decided to take a walk. Not a normal walk. He decided he wanted to use his one psychic ability just to look around.

This land was strange, and it was the first time he had experience the place Yuui came from. He wanted to see if it was as evil as Yuui and Fai claimed. The only way to do it was to use his rarely used psychic ability: astral projection, but it was extremely dangerous to use.

"Sergei, I want to take an astral walk. Would you guard me?"

"That's right. I forgot you had that. Sucks for you. The one psychic gift that can't be used very much. Why would you want to?"

"There was something I saw earlier that caught my attention. I just want to make sure I wasn't seeing things."

"Okay. What time limit?"

"Thirty minutes."

"And the sign you can't get back into your body?" Sergei asked grimly.

"I'll twitch my right index finger. It'll be all I can manage."

"Your aunt was horrified when she found out you were an astral projector. When you were two and left your body for for the first time, we panicked and thought you'd died. Good thing you came back right away, before we moved you, or else that would have been bad news. If Tanya finds out you died that way just sight seeing around Valeria..."

"I won't be long, I promise. I just need to know something. Out of my body I see all the residual psychic energy and magic residue clearly. Please Sergei. Help me make sure my friend is not in the hands of a bad man. Yuui is still hanging around that reanimator. Wouldn't it bother you?"

When Zellen used his ability, his body couldn't be moved in the slightest, or he wouldn't be able to get back in. Many astral projectors had passed away because no one was guarding them as they walked. The advantage was that his spiritual eyes could see so much more without the fetters of the flesh.

"Okay, okay. Lay down, but hold on. I'm going to set up a boundary so things don't attack you while you're out of your body. Are just going to walk around the castle?"

"I won't leave the castle. Thanks for doing this." Zellen said.

Sergei held out his hands and formed an orange ball in the center. It grew faint as it expanded and hit the walls of the castle. Zellen then lay on the floor and relaxed. He drifted higher and higher. He turned in midair and saw his body and Sergei below him. He launched himself down through the hallways, back towards that door with the word catacomb on it. If he were still embodied, he'd shiver at the idea of the idea of keeping a corpse around.

He drifted down a staircase, passing by several people who couldn't see him. He overheard some nasty griping about Vlad D Klaus, but he didn't pause to eavesdrop. His aunt had always pressed on him how this gift was not to be used for casual spying on people; it was entirely too dangerous to be used in a flippant manner.

He looked over the walls and saw the residual psychic stains on the walls left behind from pain, sorrow, and wrath. It was certainly a haunted place, full of misery. To think of someone gentle like Yuui living here made him sick; it made him horribly sad for the twins, and it explained them totally.

Zellen paused by the door with the word catacomb on it and was about to make himself drift through, in spite of his trepidation of corpses. He paused when he saw a purple haze around the door; he couldn't have seen it when he was embodied. There was indeed something odd, but it was the door, not the room with the dead like he first thought. Zellen floated through the door and examined it carefully. The faintest of purple outlines could be seen.

He passed through the door again, but paused in the middle. He could see strange ridges and silver lettering: Necromancy, A Definitive Authority. Zellen passed through the door and now could see what was hidden. It wasn't a door at all. It was three books magically reshaped into a door.

He quickly returned to his body. Sergei let out a tense breath. "So did you find what you were looking for?"

"Nope, not a thing. I'm starving though."

"Let's grab some dinner."


"I'll never tell!" Kyle declared with an arrogant sneer at Kurogane.

Kurogane just slapped the scrawny, little man, getting annoyed with his games. Lord Suwa sent Kurogane to ask where Fei-Wang was after breakfast, and his father hadn't specified how he should get the information out of the little twerp.

"You better talk, or else."

They were in a stockade where the Suwas detained people who violated laws and were waiting to go to Edo. Sedji and three of the other men were with him.

"Or else what?" Kyle said and then cackled.

Kurogane hauled off and punched the aggravating man. "Or that and more of it. Cough up where Fei-Wang is or start spitting out teeth."

"No, Kurogane. Let me chat with him."

Kurogane was stunned to hear Ran's voice. Ran was dressed in a stiff, black mofuku and now he had a leather, red eye-patch to cover his left eye socket. Kurogane noted Ran was not armed; Kentaro probably wouldn't let him. Ran was now in deep mourning, but Kurogane didn't know exactly what for. No doubt, Kentaro helped him find that eye-patch, but the color was an odd choice with the mofuku. Black was the tradition.

"Cousin, your complexion is wane and you look exhausted. Get some breakfast and rest. I'll handle this man."

"Kyle is not yours to handle. He's mine. He drugged me and caused me to harm..." Ran shook his head in profound mortification. He struggled for breath a moment and then he got control, but there was an intense, cold fury there. "...an innocent soul. I'll have justice for myself and for the twin of your mage. I'll never speak his name again. It would only defile him further."

Kurogane smirked. "I'm sure Father would turned a blind eye to any justice you want to mete out to this slimy jerk."

"He owes me his left eye," Ran said coolly. "I'll take that. But he also tainted something I can never get satisfaction for."

That's when Kurogane knew that Ran had developed very strong emotions towards Yuui. Somehow, over the last couple of days, Ran had fixated on the blond healer. It was a tragedy, really. It must be true that still waters ran deep. Of all the people Kurogane knew, Ran had a such a stubborn pride that wouldn't allow him the least gentle or tender emotion. And Yuui was the very picture of gentle and tender. Ran was craving what he didn't have in his make up.

"Cousin, it's your right, but I think this one you need to wait out. Let's go after Fei-Wang and then you can take whatever body part you please off this slime," Kurogane urged.

Ran nodded. There was a subtle red haze that drifted into to the room. A red, clay solider formed and quickly ran at Kyle. Its arm lofted a blade. Kyle's eyes grew wide in terror. "No! Don't kill..."

The blade sank into Kyle's chest and the doctor fell to the floor right as Kurogane drew on it. He sliced its red, clay head from the body and it tumbled to the ground in a pile of sand. "Damn it!" Kurogane swore. "Sedji, go get my father!"

Minutes later Lord Suwa came in with the twins and Boris following. "What happened?"

"Fei-Wang sent one of his clay soldiers. I wasn't in time to save Kyle," Kurogane said. "Now we'll never know where that old goat is hiding."

"Not necessarily, Kuro-wa," Fai said, crouching by the heap of clay. "It's a magical construct. I can repair it and get it to lead us to its home."

"Good. I'm ready to finish Fei-Wang," Kurogane said.

"Not if I get to him first, Kuro-rin," Fai said.

"Knock off the dumb nicknames and repair the thing already." Kurogane looked over at Boris. "Want to come along for some fun? We could use another mage."

Boris looked at Yuui. The healer nodded. "I'll be fine. Lady Suwa and I are going to go find the herbs I'll need to heal Ashura. You'll be of more use to Kurogane."

"I'll have two of my retainers escort them," Lord Suwa assured Boris and Fai.

"We do have to hurry before Mayor Dayken decides we've been gone too long," Fai pointed out. He smiled and lofted a finger in the air. "So, you work on getting Ashura better, and I will go help Kuro-gee bring Fei-Wang to justice, too."

"Lord Suwa," Ran said, bowing at the waist. "Allow me to escort my cousin and his mage to arrest Fei-Wang. I wish to atone for the dishonor I've brought the Fujimiya name."

"Are you feeling up to it?" Lord Suwa asked.

"Yes, sir," Ran said.

"Then come with us, but you will have to come back and serve penance for your crime."

"I vow I will come back and answer for myself," Ran said, straightening up and turning to Kurogane. "Will you have me in your hunting party?"

"We'll need help with Fei-Wang. How about it, reanimator? Fai?"

Fai scowled and crossed his arms, but didn't say a word. Boris shrugged and said, "It makes no difference to me. My business with him is settled, so long as he keeps his distance from Yuui."

"Please, be careful," Yuui said.


Zellen waited until he was sure Sergei was asleep before creeping down the hallway with his staff. He went to the catacomb door and glanced around. He assumed Boris had cast this spell, because he had seen a residual purple haze on his astral walk. And if that were the case, Boris was a bigger, mad genius than he'd thought. Celians would naturally be adverse to coming anywhere near a place like this and would avoid it like the plague.

Boris may be a mad genius, but Zellen was a master trickster. He'd used a similar spell on a statue to scare the snot out of Fai two years ago. He chuckled at remembering the look on Fai's face as the statue turned from stone to water and drenched the combat mage. Of course, Fai retaliated by putting prickle powder on the towel he was using for a hamam.

He sighed and shook his head. Could this be how Boris learned necromancy? If so, these three books could be used to rescue Boris from insanity. He was terrified for Yuui being so fixated on Boris; he had do something to cure Boris, so Yuui could be free to love him. Yuui deserved to have the person he loved without all the complication of necromancy. If Zellen could help his friend be happy in love, he was more than willing to fight for it.

Now he had to free the three books. He remembered the liquid statue spell. He remembered how he unleashed it on Fai. He had to be careful, though. Zellen cast three runes and saw the bright glow that indicated Boris put some very heavy protections on the door. Zellen sighed, but wasn't discouraged.

"I'm going to beat you, you jerk, and make Yuui happy," he snarled and unleashed a spell to see what he faced. It was a lot of grunt work, and he didn't have a lot of time. He put his all into it.


"This will work," Yuui said with a blue, magic glow from his hands as he held begonias and blood root. Lady Suwa put the glowing herbs in her basket. Yuui readjusted the large straw hat Lady Suwa had loaned him to keep the sun off his skin. "So far, every element I need has a corespondent plant. I hope our luck holds out. I guess, on to the next ingredient."

Lady Suwa turned to the two swordsmen following them in the compound's garden. "We need to go a little ways into the woods."

They bowed to Lady Suwa and replied with, "Yes, ma'am."

She then led Yuui into the nearby wood and gave him a warm smile. He could see why Fai thought so much of Lady Suwa. She was kind and dignified. He wondered if Chii had been like her and the grief of bearing twins had just smothered any strength she had. He felt Lady Suwa's emotions, she was feeling very concerned over something as they came to the tree line.

"So while we look for the moss you need in the woods, can we talk about your brother?"

Yuui's stomach sank. He had a feeling this was going to be an awkward conversation. "I guess so," he said, already feeling choked up. So he ventured, "If Fai stays in Nihongo, or if he comes home with me and Ashura, either way there will be pain."

"I know, and I understand that you and he are closer than most twins because of your circumstances. But in our culture, it's time for both of you to find mates and adjust to others that may come into your lives." She took a deep breath and shook her head. "I know Fai has had his own struggles, because he now loves Nihongo and Celes. He also loves my son and you and the ice king. But he does know those loves cannot be in the same place. He hurts trying to weigh this out, and I'm hoping to gain your support so that he'll feel better about embracing Nihongo as his future home.

"How do you feel about it? Him coming to live with us? I'll tell you, I've grown so fond of Fai that I'd hurt seeing him going back to Celes. I really want him to consider Nihongo home. And trust me, my husband hasn't been in favor of it, but he's come around and is willing help Fai adjust to our society. We want to make a home for him here."

Yuui felt sick at his stomach hearing this. He didn't lie like Fai, but he didn't share his own emotions easily with people. To share his feelings, he'd have to rely on the good nature he sensed from Lady Suwa. "This hurts me. The idea makes me sick and very afraid. Fai is who I rely on for protection and comfort. I've lived without him for a year, but that was only because I knew he'd come back to me after the time was served. I was also dealing with my father's illness, so I had a distraction."

"I was afraid of that, that you may be anxious about the impending decision. Does it help you to know that Kurogane has never once wavered from his devotion or affection towards Fai? I have to say, his father even made the greatest threat a province lord's son could face: disinheritance. Not even with that shame over his head would he back down from his affection for Fai. What he feels for Fai is incredibly strong and real."

"I can tell, and I know Fai feels the same. I knew it would take someone especially stubborn to love Fai. He's well liked, but some of his ways can be a challenge."

Lady Suwa giggled and nodded. "His table manners leave a lot to be desired."

"Father taught him better. He's just trying to get attention. More than likely, Kurogane's. He used to slurp soup when Father had been away too long. Ashura would then bribe him with extra desert to get him to stop."

"Well, thank goodness he hasn't done that. Kurogane would fly over the moon in a rage."

Yuui snickered. "Just don't remind him. He'll start, just to test Kurogane."

They exchanged smiles and then fell silent while they quested for moss. After a while they found a collapsed tree.

"So, healer, do you think you'd be able to entrust your twin's care to my son?"

Yuui took a quivering breath and tried to fight off the ache in his chest. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks, and all he wanted to do was run away from this wonderful lady, because he found himself wanting to resist her gentle request so hard. He needed Fai like he needed air.

Yuui lowered his head and shook it. "I don't know that I can do that right now. I was so angry at Kurogane when he told me, and I let him know. I just don't know how to let go of Fai. It'll hurt more than I can bear right now."

Yuui was shocked when the woman put her arms around his shoulders and gently embraced him. He felt warmth and compassion radiating off her. He felt so compelled by her kindness he felt his body melting into her of its own accord.

She whispered into his ear, "Then little by little. You are more then welcome to stay here as long as you need, or I'll urge Kurogane to spend some time in Celes with you and your brother. I don't want you to hurt in the least, but I know this transition can cause heartache. I just want to make this as comfortable for you as possible. You've been through so much."

Yuui felt as though a damn broke, and he slumped against her, sobbing uncontrollably. He was so ashamed letting his emotions go in front of a stranger, but he just couldn't stop it. This woman compelled him to feel safe and comfortable. This was so long and so built up that there was no stopping his emotions any longer.

"Don't struggle, healer. Just let it go," she urged and rocked him as they sank to the ground. She cradled him and rocked him as he wailed on her shoulder. And he did. He didn't know what all of his sobbing was for; there was so much weighing on him, and he felt himself so confused about his life. Once he started weeping, he couldn't stop. Finally, he was drained and limp on her shoulder.

He raised off her shoulder and swiped at his eyes. "I'm so..."

"No, don't be embarrassed. You're a very gentle soul that's been through too much. My family is asking a great sacrifice on your part. I know that. I just ask that you find a way to accept this situation and be a part of it, so that it doesn't hurt you so much."

Yuui nodded, feeling so glum. She patted his cheek and smiled. "While we hunt the rest of your items, let me tell you about when he thought he was five again and bit my husband's hand. It's really funny, looking back on it."

"Fai never did know how to keep his teeth to himself," Yuui said, now feeling a little lighter and able to return her smile. However, his heart was still extremely heavy at the idea of parting from Fai.


"Okay, it's ready," Fai announced. The magical, red, clay construct was once again together and standing out in the compound's courtyard.

"Took you long enough, Princess Fai," Boris teased.

"I didn't see you volunteering, Count Canker," Fai replied with aloofness.

"Father, if I ever complain about Fai's nicknames again, just remind me of the reanimator," Kurogane said quietly to the older ninja at his elbow.

His father smirked. "They're both in need of a good, swift kick in the ass."

"Can we get going," Ran snapped, sheathing his sword after examining it.

Fai spared a hot glare at the redhead, but refrained from saying anything. He lofted his staff, traced pink runes, and swung his topper towards the red clay construct. His magic infused the construct and it came alive again. It balled up in midair and disappeared in a red haze.

Fai then held out his hands and formed a pink, glowing ball. It grew red and expanded to engulf their hunting party. They were teleported to the edge of a swamp. Fai gasped in pain and hunched over. Kurogane held him for a moment until he could resist the pain of his phoenix binding.

"What kind of terrain is this?" Boris asked. "Valeria has bogs and they're a lot like this, only very cold."

"It's a swamp," Kurogane explained. "People typically don't live around here because conditions are harsh."

Boris lofted his hand and lowered it, palm up. Purple fire erupted from it and broke into hundreds of tiny flames of differing brightness. His eyes grew wide and he chuckled. "Well, I have one very nice backup plan." He waved his hand and the flames disappeared.

"Over there," Kurogane pointed.

Across the damp, mossy land and through the cyprus trees was a small red shrine. Before the shrine were countless stones with kanji.

"And let me guess, this is what a graveyard looks like in Nihongo," Boris said. "I saw them in Valeria. Just as chilling."

"Yeah, but don't think about it, reanimator. We don't like any of that raising the dead stuff, either," Kurogane warned.

"Don't worry. I won't. I doubt there's anything that'll need those kinds of numbers," Boris said. "I have plenty of combat hexes before it'd come to that."

"So you've finally arrived, Lord Suwa, and brought guests." Fei-Wang said, appearing in front of them with a smarmy smirk in a swirl of red. He had two of his red clay constructs at either side, but they were giant, reaching seven feet tall. He nodded towards Ran. "It looks as if you had an accident, Fujimiya. Maybe you should have stuck to scroll work, like your father, rather than a blade. But than again, falsifying reports to Edo did get him killed, rather than just losing an eye. Guess you're better off."

"And you'll pay for this," Ran said, clenching the hilt of his sword.

Fei-Wang chuckled. "Seems like you're going to be the one on the way to the stockades for taking a bite of the forbidden. I hope the taste was worth the time; too bad you didn't get further. He looked like sweet, tender prey. Yes, I saw everything and spied on you the whole time."

Ran's body shook slightly in wrath. "And you'll pay for hurting the healer of Celes, too. Trust me, I care more about that than getting back at you for my eye."

Fei-Wang shook his head, gloating. "Now that you're effectively gone from Tsukiyono, I just have Kudou and Hideka to get rid of so I can get at Takatori. But they won't be a problem for my upcoming plan. Then, the march on Edo."

"March with what, sorcerer? You have no resources," Lord Suwa sneered.

"Take a look over that hill," Fei-Wang bid them. The five of them went a ways from the graveyard and shrine and peered over a small hill leading away from the swamp. There were red clay soldiers, at least five hundred of them, all over seven feet tall, all in formation and ready to march.

"That's not good," Kurogane mumbled to his father.

"And guess what! I've tamed something just for you, Lord Suwa," Fei-Wang said. Thirteen dragons walked out of the shrine, fooshing their tails and breathing fire.

"And that's really not good. That won't be easy by any stretch," Lord Suwa said, rubbing his left arm's colorful tattoo.

"So I'm marching on Tsukiyono's capital city now and killing anyone in my way. Women, children! I don't care. They'll all die!"

The red clay soldiers came to life when Fei-Wang raised his hand. Boris turned to Lord Suwa, "I was just teasing before, but I'm thinking I should take those things out. We need numbers and I can give them to you."

"But then have dead roaming around afterwards?" Lord Suwa asked and shook his head. "I can't condone that."

"No, sir. I'll dessicate the dead after they take out those magical constructs. Protecting the living is more important."

"Father, those things are headed straight towards Tsukiyono's capital. They could kill hundreds of unarmed, innocent people. If we don't do everything we can to protect them, we'll be at war with Tsukiyono," Kurogane pointed out.

"Fai, you and the reanimator take care of those magical constructs. I believe you two can do it with your magic; you're both strong enough. Ran, Kurogane, follow me. We'll go arrest Fei-Wang and take out those dragons."

"Great, stick me with the Regent of Rot," Fai said with a deceptively jaunty tone.

"Just get to it," Kurogane snapped. The group split off to handle their differing task.

To be continued.

Beta-Hubby Note: The next chapter's gonna be FUUUUUUUUUN!