Vol 2 - Chapter 5 : The Koryu Seven
Hikari sighed, this isnt exactly what she expected when she first entered into the book.
First of all, she didnt exactly expected to be venturing on a long journey with her parents and their friends. A group of highschool looking people with superpowers. Not to mention, a group of warriors who could easily pass as celebrity and models on her world. Reminding herself to take a group photo with them before they go home.
"Here" A glass of water was handed to her.
"Thank you Lady Nuriko" she blushed. The purple haired warrior's beauty is the perfect definition of the term exquisite. Her long hair, slender frame, long lashes that she usually batted to tease Tasuki and her Dad, is more than a woman can take.
" the formalities Hikari, call me Nuriko" she said. They are now eating lunch on the Imperial Palace of Konan. Together with the Suzaku and Genbu seven.
"Say, so Uruki, is also the former Emperor of Hokkan right?" Tamahome said.
The wind warrior nodded. "You've heard of our legends before right? Now, why dont you tell us, why your
Suzaku and Seiryuu priestesses went on a rampage and went distrupting the balance of this world?" Uruki said seriously.
"Hey grandpa, watch it. It wasnt our fault. Its the Seiryuus who tried to harm Miaka and tried to kill all us."Tasuki angrily retorted.
Nuriko pulled him down. "Calm down you flamehead. Seat down" she said.
"But Nurikoooo" The bandit seethed.
Uruki laughed at the two.
"Takiko and I, We're much like you and this lovely lady Nuriko when we're younger, Dosukoi" Uruki said.
"Who in the freaking hell is Dosukoi?! Its Tasuki! Tasuki! You grandpa!Grrrr" he angrily replied.
"Settle down Mister." Nuriko said.
"So, where should we start looking for the Priestess?" Urumiya asked.
"Hokkan, will be the first option. Since she's the priestess of Genbu..Its only natural that she will be sent into the land guarded by her beast God."Hotohoru said.
"That's right, no da. But, the problem is the drift. We definitely dont know by where the other lands of Hokkan looking for Takiko will be a bit hard."Chichiri explained.
"This is the only clue we have by now."Uruki said as he looked at the mirror Taitskun gave.
"We'll set out tommorow morning. If its okay with you guys. We better go to shrine of Genbu is there, so we definitely have a high chance of getting clues there." Uruki said.
The Suzaku warriors looked at Nuriko, in which she returned with a soft reassuring smile. Which of course the Genbu warriors did not understood.
Arriving at the peak of , everyone was entranced to see the lone cherry blossoms which miraculously grew in front of the gate of Genbu shrine.
The life it gives to the lonely mountain, somehow reminds the Suzaku Seven, how the star buried there, gave life to their cause as well.
They watched as Reisshun,no, Nuriko placed a hand at the trunk of the tree.
Paying respects to his..her past self, laying under the frozen snow, which is miraculously stays unmelted regardless of the change in climate and season.
She turned to her side to see Tasuki, with his eyes closed. The flame haired bandit is praying as well.
She smiled. A few second after, the other Suzaku Seven, joined their prayers as well.
"Please allow us to finish this mission, without harming everyone. Please allow us to find the remaining priestesses and save this world from impending watch over us" a silent prayer from Miaka.
As soon as they're done, Suzaku Seven joined the Genbu warriors.
"May I ask, why did you offer prayers to that tree?" Tomite asked.
Nuriko smiled warmly at them.
"I was buried there when I died on my previous life." she explained.
"O..oh. I-Im sorry" he said
Nuriko smiled at him.
"Its okay, nothing to worry about" she said.
Before they can even come close to the gate, a wave of sharp black crystalization came from behind them blocking the path.
"What the hell?!" Tasuki sharply turned to the source.
There,standing in front of the tree is a man with jet black hair and red eyes.
"Who the hell are you?!" Uruki said. Releasing his life force and aura and preparing to fight. Somehow, the man has a visible dark aura around him.
The unknown man smirked before waving his hands. An attack came soon after. Again, crystalized waves came in for the warriors.
They were able to dodge each waves, not until it shattered and each sharp shards began attacking them.
Chichiri was quick to create a protective barrier around all of them.
"What's all this about damn it! Rekka Shinen!" Tasuki enchant and a fire tornado was released as he waved his fan, effectively countering the crystallization.
Uruki created a cyclone as well. Much like how the others used their abilities to encounter the attack.
The warriors Uruki, Tomite, Hikitsu, and Urumiya along with Tasuki, Chichiri and Nuriko landed around the mysterious enemy. The remaining warriors protected Miaka and Hikari.
"Who are you?" Uruki spoke.
"My name is Hakuren" He answered.
"And I shall not let you pass." He continued then launched an attack on the direction of the warriors.
"This evil aura."Nuriko said. Unleashing the spiritual butterflies that countered each shards.
She leapt for the enemy with her bracers intact. She attempted to punch the enemy but a crystallized wall appeared from the ground. Good thing, she surrounded her fist with her spirit energy, which allowed her to pierce through the barrier, effectively hitting the enemy, pushing him back to the tree.
The enemy glared at the purple haired warrior. Which she returned with a staredown. For some reasons she cant comprehend, the aura he's giving is somehow familiar to her.
"Nuriko!"Tasuki and Uruki appeared beside her.
"You.." the man spoke.
"I know you.." he said. Suprising the warriors.
"What do you mean you know her?!" Tasuki fumed.
"You.. your life force.." The man known as Hakuren said.
"I dont know you"Nuriko replied.
"No..you do" with that a crystallized pentagon appeared from the ground.
Everyone was shocked to see what.. or who's frozen inside.
"Nuriko.."Miaka said with a terrified look.
The body that was suppossed to be gone long ago, was beautifully frozen and preserved inside the crystal. With not even a single indication of death. The frozen body seemed to be alive and just sleeping.
Nuriko, on the other hand, felt an overwhelming mix of emotions and feelings coupled with memories from her past life, how she lost her sister, how she spent almost her entire life living on her sister's stead. Her life as a seishi, her journey with her friends. How her life ended and began once again. It was enough to make her a bit disoriented.
She smiled with anger at the perpetrator. "Curse you" she said. Whoever he is, she sure doesnt appreciate him messing with her past self.
"I've been guarding this ethereal place for the past ten years. We met a few times Celestial Warrior. Most of the times you visit your final resting place, as a spirit that is" he said.
Nuriko has a blurred memories of what she did during her times as a spirit, but a jolt of memories came flooding in as Hakurens eyes emitted a familiar ki.
Nuriko's eyes widened in realization. She remember the guy.
"Hakuren" she spoke.
As soon as she does the crystal with her frozen body glittered away and was seemingly returned to its original resting place.
"Im sorry, I just had to see if its really you Nuriko." he said.
"Nuriko.. this man.."Miaka was cut of as Nuriko went in front of her.
"Miaka.. this man is undoubtedly ome of our enemies." she said.
"Wh-what?" Tamahome said
"I remembered, back when I was still a lingering spirit, I usually come into this place. I dont know, a small hope of returning back to life perhaps, or a very much needed confirmation that Im indeed dead. During those times I was able to meet him. He can see me though even if I dont have my corporeal body anymore. We talked about things.." she said, summoning unusual numbers of butterflies, which is an ominous sign of her preparation to fight.
"One of which is his identity.. it didnt bother me before, cause I thought he was just some lingering spirit much like me and it was all a bluff, but I guess I was wrong." she said.
"I remember now..This guy, Hakuren... he said.. he is one of the protectors of the middle kingdom.." she said, causing her companions to look wearily into the dark haired man.
"One of the Seishi's that protected the first priestess."
The mystery man smirked at the recognition.
"That's right.. I'am Hakuren of the Koryu Seven" he said attacking the group of warriors once again.
"Koryu? The yellow dragon of the guardian of the middle kingdom"Uruki said while casting a tornado.
"That's right, and by our priestess' comand. I shall not allow you, Genbu and Suzaku seven to pass" He said intensifying the attack.
"Your priestess.."Miaka said in disbelief.
"You're just some sick old bastard. Why dont you just come back inside some stuck up history books where you belong!"
he said, creating fire around the red eyed man which he avoids by teleporting in front of the gate.
"Lets have some fun Celestial warriors." he said, tapping the gate.
Before anyone could blink the entire cave was engulfed in black crystals.
"If you can find your priestesses before we do, I will return this shrine along with the portion of the shinzaho you need very much."he said.
"Before you do? Portion of the Shinzaho? What kind of sick and twisted game this is!" Tamahome said
"Just what I said. If I were you, I would start searching every corners of this universe to find her. We, the Koryu seven was instructed to look for her as well. And do you know what'll happen if our priestess got a hold of her?" he looked down at the warriors with grave threat.
"She'll forever erase her existence, along with your beloved beast Gods." he said with a taunting smile.
"You wont dare!" Uruki is now angry to the umpteenth level. How can they possibly think, they can take Takiko away from him for the second time, much less forever?
He attacked the enemy. But before he can even touch him, Hakuren disappeared along with the shrine.
"No! Get back here coward!" he screamed.
Everyone was so upset. With the outcome of their journey. So indeed, that they we're not the only ones looking for the reincarnated priestesses.
The dark priestess is on her quest also to find the other two. Not to mention, the first seishis to be summoned are their enemies as wel..
"So.. there's more to come" Urumiya said.
'Dang it, we're so close to the shrine! If only that bastard didnt get in the way!'' Tomite exclaimed.
They went down the mountain, frustrated, but as soon as they went down on the other side, they were welcomed by a different location.
"W-woah!" Uruki said, upon seeing the wide plain field of flowers with wide variety and colors.
"It's a flower field!' Hikari happily exclaimed.
The warriors walked around, there were hardly any houses or people around, it's just a vast field of flora and fauna.
"This is the Hanabi City, the largest cradle of flowers among the four countries." Chiriko explained.
"The City of Blooms, in Konan? Argh! this is too much!" Tasuki said in frustration.
He crumpled whatever map he had on hand and stomped on it.
"We're never gonna find the Shinzaho nor Takiko with all this confusing landscapes!" Tomite agreed.
"H-hold on you guys!" Uruki suddenly exclaimed getting the attention of the warriors.
He presented the mirror with a character saying, "Blue Rose".
"Blue Rose? What does that mean?" Inami questioned.
"I remember!" They turned to Chiriko.
"During our quest with Mitsukake, we met some travellers who told us the story of a magical blue rose that's on the cave, located at the heart of the Hanabi City." Chiriko explained.
"A magical blue rose?" Hotohori asked.
'Hmmm" Chiriko nodded to the Emperor.
"They said that the flowers and vines around that blue rose seems fiercely alive. Serving as protector of the magical rose, whoever tried to go near it was attacked by the vines. Some says that the way through the blue rose was blocked by large trees and thick thorns." The warriors listened intently.
"We should go check it out. It's a clue given to us by the mirror, maybe the magic involved with this blue rose you spoke of, had something to do with the Shinzaho and Takiko" Uruki encourages which the warriors agreed.
Somewhere behind a tree, a shadow figure was following the group of warriors.
"The Celestial Warriors..."
To be continued..