THE KING'S RETURN (9)

"So are we going to talk about it?" Tadaaki asked as they reached the tunnel's exit. It was raining outside by the time they got out, and Tadaaki had to raise his voice in order to be heard.

"Talk about what?" Asagi asked.

"About what those two fairies said about that prophecy and Gamera?" Tadaaki said. "I'm just curious. What do we have to do with that? And why did they seem so interested in you?"

"You wouldn't believe us if we told you," Ayana said.

"After what we just saw? C'mon try me," Tadaaki continued. "I'll believe you."

"It's complicated," Asagi replied after giving it some thought. "We'll explain once we get back to the village, alright?"

"That sounds fine," Tadaaki agreed, before pulling out two rain ponchos. "Here take them, I didn't think I'd need to use them both, but I brought them just in case," He said as he gave them to Asagi and Ayana.

"Thank-you." Asagi said as she slipped the plastic covering over her.

"What about you?" Ayana asked.

"Little rain never hurt anyone," Tadaaki said before stepping outside. The storm was stronger than anticipated. Tadaaki had seen the forecast and was told that the storm would only be moderate. This felt more like a small typhoon.

"It's stronger than I thought." Tadaaki said as he held his hands in front of him to keep the wind from blowing in his face.

They were right by the edge of a cliff, but they had plenty of room to walk about without fear of falling. Curiously, they looked down.

"That's a long way down." Ayana commented uncomfortably.

"I'm guessing it's about fifty feet," Tadaaki said.

"Come on, guys. Let's keep moving," Asagi urged. She was also feeling nauseas looking at it.

A couple moments later Tadaaki asked, "Hey, did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Asagi asked.

"I heard something," Tadaaki said.

"It's the wind, Tadaaki. It's making you hear things," Ayana responded. She didn't want to be out in the rain any longer than she needed to.

"But I swear I heard something," Tadaaki insisted.

"Ayana's right, Tadaaki. You're just..." Before she could finish Ayana silenced her.

"Wait... I can hear something..."

The trio paused and paid attention. The only other noise they could hear were the sounds of the rain and wind.

As the trio listened they thought they could hear something. They couldn't tell what it was, the rain was beating too heavy. As the three looked out over the ocean beside them, Ayana noticed a series of rocks off in the distance. Asagi and Tadaaki noticed them as well. A flash of lightning came giving them a clearer view. The rocks were oddly shaped, it was almost like they were in a pattern, and they looked white. They dismissed it as a trick of the light and continued forward.

Just as they were about to do continue, another flash of lightning came.

"Wait," Asagi said as she looked back at the rocks. They seemed closer than they were before. Tadaaki and Ayana noticed it as well and stayed.

"Are those rocks?" Ayana asked, "Are they moving?"

Asagi didn't respond, neither did Tadaaki. They just kept watching as the weird rocks kept coming closer and closer. Another brief flash of lightning came. In the short moment he saw them, Tadaaki thought to himself. The shape of the rocks were oddly familiar to him. Then a thought came... Is it him?

Just as the realization hit him, they felt the ground begin to tremble. It wasn't very powerful but they could feel it.

"Earthquake!" Tadaaki exclaimed, before they ran. As they did, they didn't see where they were going. Tadaaki and Ayana tripped over something, and Asagi was thrown from her chair.

"Asagi!" Ayana screeched as she saw her friend roll over the edge of the cliff. "Asagi!" Ayana screamed again as she and Tadaaki hurried to the edge. They looked down and saw Asagi clinging to a small overhang.

"Don't move! We're coming down!" Ayana told her. Tadaaki held Ayana by her legs as she grabbed Asagi.

As they recovered the quakes gradually intensified. As they did the trio began to hear pounding noises. They looked back at the rocks and saw them rising out of the ocean. They were attached to a large black form.

They aren't rocks at all! Asagi thought as the massive creature stood up. Another flash of lightning came, giving the trio a clear picture of the monster's visage. As they saw it, it let out a deafening roar.

AAAAAHHHEOOOOOOONGK

The sound was loud enough to deafen the wind and the rain. Its resonance was unmistakable.

Tadaaki smiled when he saw the monster.

"Godzilla!" Asagi gasped.

AAAHHHEOOOONGK

"We've got to go now!" Ayana exclaimed as she helped Asagi into the wheelchair. She briefly looked back and saw Tadaaki. He was frozen. "Come on!" She exclaimed as she grabbed onto the back of his collar and pulled him back.

/

The trio hurried back to the village as fast as they could. By the time they made it back though, everything was in pandemonium. Everyone was scrambling to evacuate. They must have heard Godzilla coming.

The three were met by a swarm of people. Everyone was so desperate, they didn't care where they went, just so long as they got away from Godzilla.

As the trio, was about to evacuate with the rest of the crowd, they noticed some people were retreating up the hill. Suddenly, Godzilla's head loomed over the hill.

AAAHHHEOOOONGK

"Gojira!" They could hear the terrified people's screaming over the sound of the monster's deafening roar.

The kaiju trudged over the hill, as some of the people tried to get out of its way. Unfortunately, some of them couldn't move out of the way fast enough.

The three looked back at the dinosaur, they were to focused on him to see in front of them. Suddenly, Tadaaki and Ayana tripped over something. They both fell, accidently pushing Asagi out of her wheel chair. The three kept their arms over their heads as they were kicked and trampled on by the fleeing crowd. After a few moments passed, the crowds passed.

"Are you guys, okay?" Tadaaki asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Asagi responded. "Ayana?" Asagi called for her when she didn't answer.

"Still alive," She replied with a painful grunt.

AAAHHHEOOOONGK

The trio turned around to see Godzilla trampling on the village below. Houses were flattened under the monster's feet, and buildings were knocked away by the sway of its long tail. Asagi could not help but feel sorry for the villagers as she watched their homes being destroyed. She hoped that everyone had managed to make it out of the village in time, and she prayed for those who couldn't.

AAAHHHEOOOONGK

Godzilla stopped. The kaiju turned to the right and stood there for a short moment. It was almost like something stopped it or something caught its attention.

AAAHHHEOOOONGK

The creature gave another mighty bellow before turning to the shore. As the monster returned to the ocean it crushed the tour boat.

"Looks like we aren't leaving anytime soon." Ayana remarked with a dispirited sigh.

/

"This way everyone! Move in an orderly fashion!" Someone with a megaphone said as the military helped escort everyone into the evacuation boats.

Someone managed to contact the JSDF and they were able to send a couple of ships out to help. Once they arrived they were informed about the danger, and evacuations were set in place.

Before everyone could get on the evacuation ships they needed to be tested for radiation poisoning. Despite how tiresome the check ups were, the trio was just grateful that they'd managed to survive the ordeal and had a way off the island. Once everyone was onboard, they set out.

Although the danger had passed, everyone was still on edge. Godzilla could come back, and attack them at any moment. Tadaaki didn't think so. He didn't think the monster was inherently hostile like its predecessor was. He believed that Godzilla was an intelligent creature, one that reacted based on need, only resorting to violence when he felt threatened. Even when he attacked the village last night, it wasn't really an attack. It felt more like he was just curious. He was probably watching over his territory, or looking for food.

Whatever the cause, it didn't matter. Godzilla was a threat to Japan's safety, and the JSDF would undoubtedly do whatever they could to bring the monster down. Tadaaki felt a little disappointed by that, but he couldn't disagree. Lives were at stake, and Godzilla had to go.

"What's that?" Asagi asked.

Tadaaki jumped, as she interrupted his thought. "What?" He asked.

"What's that in you're bag?" Asagi questioned curiously.

"Oh, this... It's just a ceremonial dress, I bought from one of the villagers," Tadaaki replied. "Kind of the only thing that survived last night," He said with a nervous chuckle.

"What's it for?" Asagi inquired.

"Oh, nothing... just a souvenir..." Tadaaki began, "The elders told me that they would wear them to preform a exorcism ceremony. Whenever the fishing was poor they'd preform the exorcism to pacify Godzilla because they believed he was causing all the fish to die."

"Sound's pretty dumb if you ask me," Ayana commented.

"Well, at least it beats tying a girl to a boat and sacrificing her out at sea. That was how they used to do it," Tadaaki explained.

"That's cruel," Asagi said.

Tadaaki shrugged, "Just the way things were I guess."

"I can't see why you admire it, Tadaaki. I'm sorry, but how can you still be interested in a monster that's so destructive." Asagi spoke.

"I don't think he means to hurt anyone intentionally," Tadaaki said.

"What?" Asagi asked.

"I don't believe he's as aggressive as everyone thinks he is. Dangerous yes, but not hostile. I think he's an intelligent being driven by basic needs. We're so small and insignificant, that I don't think he really cares about us at all," Tadaaki explained.

There was a pause. "I'm sorry, Tadaaki. I guess I'm just not as understanding with it like you are."

"It's fine," Tadaaki excused her. "I can understand. Everyone's shaken up, and so are you. I can't blame you for being scared." They paused.

"Hey... mind if we talk about last night... in the cave?" Tadaaki whispered to Asagi.

"What about it do you want to talk about?" She asked.

"When the faries talked about Gamera and the prophecy, they seemed very interested in speaking to you. I'm just curious."

Asagi sighed. She did say she'd give Tadaaki an explaination. "I used to be Gamera's priestess," She began. "When Gamera and the Gyaos woke up, my dad was involved with an expedition. The found a strange atoll out at see and when they went to investigate they found these," Asagi explained as she showed Tadaaki the magatama she'd taken out of the cave.

"Magatamas?"

"They aren't ordinary magatamas. We believe their made out of orichalcum."

"The metal mentioned in Critias, the story of Atlantis."

"Yes," Asagi replied. "I believe they created these to link themselves to Gamera to act as his priests and priestesses." She paused. "I could feel his thoughts. I could be able to speak to him," Asagi said as she thought back to when she was linked to the kaiju. "You don't believe me do you?" She said when she saw Asagi staring.

"No, I do. I mean it. We live in a world where Godzilla, Gamera, Gyaos, and those faries exist. What you just said doesn't sound too far fetched to me," Tadaaki replied with a smile.

"Thanks," Asagi said. "I don't know what the shobijin may want from me, but I'm guessing that Gamera will need me. Something is coming. And I have a feeling this is just the start of things to come."

There was an ominous pause. Asagi was scared, so was Tadaaki, they could tell by the way they looked at each other. Suddenly Tadaaki spoke.

"Hey, things will be okay." Tadaaki said with a brave smirk. "If you need my help with anything, I'll be right by your side, if that's alright with you." Tadaaki didn't know why he said what he said. He just felt like he had to. He felt pretty embarrassed about it, but he made an effort not to let it show.

Tadaaki's confidence and offer to help made Asagi feel at ease. Things were bad, but they were still alright, for the moment at least. That and it helped to know she still had friends who were by her side. "Thank-you." Asagi replied with a smile.

/

As The King swam away he felt an odd presence. It was familiar, but he wasn't able to remember it. Although he wasn't sure of what it was, he decided to investigate. Maybe it was another member of his species or perhaps a creature similar to him. Or maybe it was one of his ancient rivals perhaps.

He wasn't sure of anything. He couldn't be. He knew too little. If it was an enemy they would be dealt with swiftly. He did not allow trespassers on his territory.