STAND STILL by Danielle Winters
Chapter 9: Hour Glass
Botan saw her feet slowly disappearing and all she could do was close her eyes and swallow whatever emotions she was feeling at that moment. She knows her time was coming, she had used too much of her remaining life force to ensure the safety of everyone. She had no regrets. She lived a full life in Reikai. But Botan's thoughts nagged at her. She did have regrets – one to be exact - but it was too late to linger on the bitterness that welled up in her. If she was going to disappear, she promised herself that only the happy thoughts would occupy her mind until the very end of her fruitful existence.
Sanzu could feel that his mistress is slowly disintegrating. They should hurry and retrieve the soul of Koenma for its only Koenma who can restore her. He needed to teach Koenma the ritual to call back the deity who sacrificed herself to wake up the sleeping guardian of the river. "Mistress, please hang-on." Sanzu said. An image of a disappearing Botan smiling at him flashed on his mind. Sanzu gripped the scythe tighter. He knew that every second counts. Everything was hanging on a balance.
Kurama on the other hand could feel his heart would burst with so many emotions he had kept on bay. The brief exchange he had with Botan was enough to draw-up emotions he thought he was not capable of feeling. It took a chaotic situation to stir up the emotions he had pushed back on his unconsciousness. Ah! The unfairness of it all! Kurama clenched his fist. He'll make those bastards pay. He didn't care if he would be punished in his afterlife as long as he can satisfy the unspeakable anger brewing inside him.
"We are nearing the cave of Iwadayo." Sanzu announced. Everyone heightened their alertness again.
"Lord Brat's soul must be near. I can feel this unspeakable heat radiating" Yusuke said.
"We should expect for attacks and traps along the way." Hiei commented.
"I agree with you but if those sacred guardians were smart enough, they should have attacked us the moment we stepped in the eastern territory of Reikai." Raizen mused. "But if it was their intention to unleash Izanami from the cave, then there's really no need for that. No one will be spared from her wrath."
"That's what's bothering me the most." Mukuro offered her thoughts. "Even if it was part of their plan to unseal Izanami from her cave, what can Enma do to stop her? It took the river guardian to subdue her before if I remember the legend correctly." Mukuro added.
"Enma has no power over me anymore. Koenma-sama and Botan-sama are the only ones who can give me orders; however, if both of them disappears, I will gain full control and consciousness. I would subdue Izanami again but I won't be doing it for them." Sanzu explained. "Unless he holds the symbol of power again, he cannot control me."
"What is this symbol of power anyway?" Kuwabara finally asked.
The Spirit Guards held the mystical artifact that Enki saw in the satchel of sacred guardian he defeated. Enki could only chuckle at the stupidity of the head of the sacred guardians for entrusting such an important artifact to their weakest member. They were really brewing a full scale war just to ensure the reinstatement of Enma as head of the gates of judgment.
"Enki-san!" one of the spirit guards called. Enki looked at the reigen with a smile. "One of our ferry girls wishes to talk to you. She has opened the communication lines from Botan-sama's office. Enki held the communication device that was handed to him.
"Enki, leader of Makai here."
"Yukinaya, a servant of Botan-sama here." Came the voice from the other line. "I have some urgent matter to relay to you."
"Yukinaya…where did I hear that name before?" Enki mused loudly. "Anyway, if you are going to talk about the Quill of Life, it's safely on the hands of your spirit guards. I defeated one of the sacred guardians here and in his mangled state, I stole his satchel near him. I was surprised to see the Quill of Life inside. These morons are really aiming to start a full scale war." Enki explained.
"The Quill is safe!" Yukinaya exclaimed on the other line. I shall relay this good news to Sanzu-sama and his companions."
"Sanzu? Isn't he the river guardian?" Enki questioned.
"Indeed he is. Botan-sama had woken him up." Yukinaya answered briefly.
"The situation is indeed as bad as I anticipated it to be. Please keep us posted in any development in Reikai. Rest assured Makai is free from these sacred guardians." Enki assured.
"I will. Thank you for your cooperation."
Yukinaya let out a deep breath that she didn't know she was holding. She may have been known for her calm demeanor and sharp tongue when she was alive but now that her allegiance is in Reikai and to her mistress; her concern was more of restoring the balance among the three realms. Running towards the window, Yukinaya looked outside and saw Genkai and Toguro still on guard by the river.
"Genkai-sama! Toguro-sama!" She yelled. The spirit masters looked at her. "Do you know anyone who is agile enough to follow Sanzu-sama and the rest?"
"Agile you say?" Came a voice from above Yukinaya. Looking up, he saw a handsome being clad in black hovering. He had bat-like wings and on his hand was pocket watch which he was playing as if it's a pendulum. "I can fly to them quickly if needs be. Just tell me what I'm supposed to tell them." He said while smirking at her.
"That light of yours is very bright." Koenma heard. He looked around him and saw no one. He knew it wasn't Botan's voice. His best ferry girl had a sing-song like voice.
"Who's there?" Koenma questioned.
"It doesn't matter. Your light…could you shine it once more?" the voice requested.
"What I did is enough to let those idiots know where I am." Koenma answered confidently.
"But they could be running anywhere you know? Reikai is a huge place after all." The voice reasoned out.
"You need not tell me what I already know." Koenma rebutted.
"Oh kind deity, your light is my hope. Please, let you light shine once more." The voice pleaded. Koenma, while moved by the utter need of the voice had a strong feeling against it. While the voice was mellow and sweet, it carried an eerie feeling to it, a feeling that behind that mellow and sweet voice lies something or someone sinister.
"Who are you?" He asked. In his helpless state, as much as he wanted to prepare, no amount of powers he had can actually save him. He was formless after all. Only his will empowers the bright soul that summoned the pillar of light earlier.
"I am a hopeless creature trapped in the darkness. Your light was my only hope." The voice answered. "Your brightness was enough to pierce through this darkness that had envelope me. Please, shine your light once more."
"Beings who have committed transgressions should be cast in to darkness." Koenma answered.
"But even the darkest gate have a little light in their path. Where I am, not even a single candles has been lit for me." The voice countered.
"What a pitiful existence you have then." Koenma uttered.
"If you feel pity for me, you can at least shine your light once more."
Looking at his reflection on the crystal blue waters, Koenma closed his eyes. Yes, he was brat but he certainly was not a heartless creature. A being had just pleaded to see his light. He wanted to help her but deep down, there was a strong opposition with the idea he had. "It would help them locate me faster…" he said to himself as he willed himself to summon another pillar of light. But even before he could begin to will his soul to shine, he heard a sing-song like voice in a state of panic.
"NO, KOENMA-SAMA!"
And the next thing Koenma knew, clear blue waters beneath him started move, covering him as if forming a shield. The water below him and his shield turned red like blood and everything that was around him.
Sanzu froze. Yusuke and the others stopped and looked at him as he began glowing. 'He is radiant' as per Kuwabara's description. The ground was soon filled with water that reached their ankles. Botan's scythe fell from his grasps as he fell on his knees and began weeping,
Kurama on the other hand had an eerie feeling. The anger that was inside his heart was replaced by a sense of loss he couldn't explain. His mind on the other hand projected one thought, a name he wanted to say…"Botan."
"Gomenasai Kurama." He heard Botan say. He didn't like hearing those words from her.
"We are coming." He assured her.
"Please save Koenma-sama. He is in danger however he is safe for now. Please, hurry! Follow the pillar of water you will see in a minute. Koenma-sama is in there," She pleaded.
"When all of this is over, you and I will have a very lengthy discussion." Kurama said and he imagined how Botan would smile at him.
"I'd love that but my time is up."
Kurama felt his heart clenched and his gut churn. Before he could even ask what she meant, a pillar of water rose not far from where they were and it was soon followed by the desperate cries of the river guardian who had fallen on his knees.
"Oi, Sanzu, what the hell is happening with you?" Yusuke asked impatiently. "You're glowing." His questions had fallen on deaf ears however as Sanzu continued to cry. The water seemed to have followed his mood as it soon began to sway a bit violently.
"More importantly, what is that pillar of water?" Kuwabara said as he pointed to it.
"That is my mistress." Sanzu answered.
"What do you mean that is your…." And Kuwabara did not dare finish his sentence for he perfectly understood what the guardian said.
Botan's gone and this time, gone for good.
With what little strength she has, Botan summoned everything she could to stop Koenma from giving-in from the temptations of Izanami. She had to do something before his soul summons a pillar of light. She knew the repercussions of her actions but she had to do it. She had to. The first pillar of light from Koenma's soul was enough to put a crack on the boulder sealing the entrance of Iwadayo. The crack was enough to allow a fraction of Izanami's powers to creep out of the cave.
How did she know? The waters of the river showed her.
Her resolve was firm.
"NO, KOENMA-SAMA!"
Botan reached for the water, her soul slowly dispersing and merging with the waters.
"When all of this is over, you and I will have a very lengthy discussion." Kurama said and he imagined how Botan would smile at him.
"I'd love that but my time is up." And Botan finally disappeared. She had become one with the river's water and with the last ounce of will and strength, she formed a protective pillar around Koenma's soul to prevent Izanami's voice from reaching Koenma.
"There's no time for us to stop and weep." Kurama said coldly. Sanzu looked at him confused. "Stand up guardian! Don't let your mistress' sacrifice go in vain." Kurama then began running towards the pillar of water. He knew, when he sees any of the sacred guardians, he'd kill them, beg Koenma to have them resurrected, and kill them again.
Kurama was not angry neither not sad. Those were not appropriate descriptions to describe what he had been feeling. Kurama had a violent streak in his past and he wouldn't mind tapping the pent up violence his youkai form had been keeping.
And when all hope seems lost, a creature clad in black descends in front of Kurama. It was Kurama's turn to halt and froze. The creature had bat-like wings and he had a smirk on his face.
"And so the ruthless king of thieves had finally awaken." Kuronue teased. Though he knew it was not a good time to do so.
"Kuronue…" Kurama said in astonishment.
"I can't help but overhear your conversation but I'll save that for later. All hope is not lost…at least not yet. The Shinigami named Yukinaya sent me to tell you guys that Makai's out of danger. They defeated the sacred guardian in Makai and is rounding up the guardian's servants. More so, the Quill of Life is safe on Enki's hands. He had turned it over to the spirit guards assigned in Makai." Upon hearing this, Sanzu stood and began walking forward. He held Botan's scythe firmly on his hands. Yes, he would not allow the sacrifice of her mistress to go in vain.
"The symbol of power is safe. We need to get Koenma's soul now." Sanzu said as he led the way. Kuronue followed him and soon the rest of the team followed suit.
Kurama watched the pillar of water. He'll find a way to return Botan.
From the office of the head of reikai, Enma and Satotsu saw another pillar rose from the east, this time it was a pillar of water. The water seemed like protecting the soul Koenma. However, they did not make any move for they believe they still have the upper hand.
"Your highness, Masayoshi will soon be here. Soon you will return to power." Satotsu said in a pleased tone.
"Good because in my state right now, I cannot fight neither nor command the whole of reikai to follow me."
"Masayoshi is just trashing the whole of Makai now." Satotsu said with a satisfied smile. Upon hearing this, Enma froze.
"Are you mad?!" He billowed. "Masayoshi is no match for Enki, Makai's current leader."
"Surely you are jesting you're highness. We the sacred guardians are much powerful that any youkai." Satotsu assured his distraught master. Somehow, Enki didn't feel assured at all.
While his surroundings turned blood red, Koenma couldn't hear the voice who had been speaking to her earlier. He watched from his shield how his surroundings had violently changed. The waters raged as if trying to crack open the shield that envelope him. He felt like his surroundings was shaking and beginning to crumble. Some unknown force had caused this violent change.
The Reikai Tantei and Mazoku together with Kuronue and Sanzu reached where the pillar of water is. Sanzu immediately noticed the crack on the boulder that sealed Iwadayo Cave.
"Sanzu, I can sense you." Came a voice from within the cave. Everyone heard it.
"Izanami-sama…" He answered.
"Free me from this prison." Izanami said.
"I'm sorry I can't. I know you will never forgive me but I cannot allow you to leave Iwadayo." Sanzu answered.
"Free me at once! I'll get my revenge on Izanagi." Izanami's shrill voice was enough to make the ground shake.
"Gomenasai Izanami-sama." Was Sanzu's simple reply. Holding on Botan's scythe, he walked towards Kurama and handed it to him. "Pierce the pillar with this scythe, it will disperse and reveal Koenma's soul. I would need help in reinforcing the seals on Iwadayo." He said.
"I can help!" Kuwabara eagerly said. Yusuke did not say anything but he followed Kuwabara in helping the river guardian.
"Looks like we need not fight at all in this mission." Raizen said as he sat down and watched the kitsune do as what he was instructed.
"But we still need to be vigilant." Came Mukuro's comment.
"I think Enma and the Sacred Guardian are waiting somewhere. They are nowhere to be seen here." Yomi added.
"In his current state, he cannot fight at all. He has been imprisoned and weakened in all those years of captivity. A very foolish warrior will only fight us when he knows that the stakes are against him." Raizen assessed. "They are either in hiding or are waiting in a place where they can take power." He added.
"Koenma's Office." Yomi finished.
"Kuronue." Kurama called. The bat-like creature descended beside Kurama as if waiting for his order. "Could you please go back to Yukinaya and tell her to send word for Ayame and Enki. Koenma's soul will be returned to his body. Tell them to be in the boarders of Reikai and Ningenkai."
"I am off then. Let's save the chit-chat later." Kuronue said as he flew away towards the headquarters of the Shinigami.
"Since you lot can take care of everything here, the three of us have some cleaning up to do." Raizen said as he rose from his seat. Hiei looked at them as if trying to read their minds.
"No need for that Hiei." Mukuro began. "We will just put an end to the very beings who threw our worlds in chaos."
"I'll remember to save the mastermind for your Kurama. You do have a score to settle." Yomi smirked and soon, the Mazoku disappeared.
Kurama looked at the water reverently. Taking a deep breath, he held the scythe and used it to pierce the pillar of water. Immediately it dispersed revealing a golden flame enclosed in a translucent orb.
Koenma's sould was finally in their hands.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Oh my gosh, it's been months (or a year already) since I last updated this fanfiction.
As always, thank you so much for the readers who patiently waits for an update. I will make sure to finish this story no matter what.
Thank you, thank you and thank you!