Chapter 13: The Light in the Dark Part IV
Matt grimaced when he felt a searing pain in his sides. Although Kitsune wasn't doing much to aggravate his injuries, she wasn't gentle with him either. Ironic as it was, the spider silk that Jurogumo had spun to bind him was also protecting him from further injuries. Matt bit his lips and silently cursed his luck. His broken ribs must be scratching against a tissue! He'd been lucky they hadn't punctured his lungs, or else he would be having difficulties breathing. Matt knew if the Guardians didn't rescue him soon and get him medical treatment, he would be in more trouble than he was now.
"Oh, so close, Guardian, but still so far!" Kitsune laughed. "You'll have to be faster if you want your precious human pet!"
"HE IS NOT A PET!" Will screamed.
Kitsune feigned a hurt look. "So sensitive…" The fox yokai grinned as the lightning shot through her with no effect. Will seethed through her teeth in frustration. Another illusion. She looked up to see the real Kitsune and Matt as they disappeared into a glen. Kitsune tsked at Matt. "Honestly, what did you ever see in her? Surely not for her looks."
"As if you're any prettier with that bandage over your eye!" Matt retorted, earning himself a backhand that sent stars exploding behind his visions.
"I'd watched that tongue of yours, boy," Kitsune huffed as she yanked him hard after her. "Or else I'll change my mind and drop you off with Jurogumo. Frankly, I don't care for that spider harlot but trust me when I say you're better off with me than with her. She has a thing for ripping men's hearts out before devouring and feeding them to her children. As for girls…well, don't worry about that. Jurogumo won't kill the Light Guardian, at least not yet. After all, we still have our orders from Lady Seiryuu," she added with a sickening sweet smile.
A cold shiver ran down Matt's spine. After his re-capture, Matt had overheard Seiryuu speaking to her lieutenants before she left for the siege. He knew that one of Seiryuu's orders was to bring Kimi to her so she could seize her chance to steal both the Twin Guardians' Talismans. Matt turned his head to see the girls still chasing after them. Squinting his eyes, he could make out Orube's silhouette and Will, Taranee, and Cornelia. No doubt Hay Lin and Irma are lagging …but he couldn't find Kimi. He hadn't seen her for the past half hour! Dread coiled in his stomach. Matt and Kimi may not have gotten along well, but that didn't mean he wanted her hurt! Does her disappearance mean that the other yokai…that spider demon…had caught her while the others were distracted with him? No…he'd tried to warn them. He'd tried to warn W.I.T.C.H.
But now…
Kitsune noticed his despair and smirked. "Ah, look on the bright side, better her than you, right?" She let out a giggle as they finally exited the forest.
Matt slump his head down, silently cursing himself. Damn it! If it weren't for me, none of this would have happened…I'm an idiot…what will the girls say when this is my fault?
"STOP, AKUMAKO!" Orube bellowed from behind.
Kitsune froze as though an invisible forced took hold of her. Matt heard a swishing sound and held his breath when he saw Orube's sword landed near Kitsune's feet. A warning! Matt blinked, and tried to glance between them, wondering what was happened. He could feel Kitsune's nails digging into his flesh as she slowly turned to face Orube and her friends. He arched an eyebrow.
"Surrender!" Orube said in a low, calm voice. Shinrinkage was so eerily silent that even from this distance, Matt could hear her voice as clear as day. "Give it up, Akumako!" Orube repeated as she took a step forward. "Even you can't keep this up forever."
"You'd be surprised at what I can do now, Orube," Kitsune sneered, taunting her rival's name as Orube did to her.
Without waiting for her to finish, Orube lunged towards them, but Kitsune held up a hand and knocked her back with a fireball. She threw a chakram as an extra precaution to distract her rival, but Cornelia appeared and protected Orube with a wooden cage. Seeing her chance to escape, Kitsune tightened her grip on Matt and dashed away.
Curse that Orube! Kitsune thought. They say that names are powerful things. Bless an inanimate object, such as a katana, with a great name that can slice through irons as though it was made of paper! Learn a demon's true name; you can hold enough power over it. That was what had happened to her all those years ago. It was how Orube defeated her. Akumako was a name that meant 'little evil spirit'. Kitsune hadn't been born with that name when she was a cub. But as she grew older and matured into her cruelty, she'd taken on Akumako as her true name and kept it secret as best she could. It wasn't a unique name for most evil spirits, but it had helped Kitsune gain power. Yet, somehow, Orube learned it and used it against her to trap her within that cursed temple! It's been years since, and Kitsune had grown more powerful and resistant since becoming one of Seiryuu's trusted lieutenants, but she couldn't stay here and risk having Orube and the Guardians violate her true name!
I have to get out of this forest! I need to get to the lake! Kitsune blinked. Without questioning the voice in her mind, she grabbed her hostage and dashed back to the edge of the village.
Matt gasped and bit his lips as he fought against the flaring pain. All this jostling and being dragged around wasn't just uncomfortable; it was downright harmful to his well-being, not to mention the humiliation! As he jostled up and down, he could spot Orube and the Guardians closing in from a distance.
"WILL! ORUBE!" he cried. He knew it was fruitless, but he had to try. Unfortunately, his broken ribs were rubbing against his lungs again, causing him to choke and cough violently.
"Hold on! We're coming!" Will cried.
Taranee scanned the distance ahead. "Look! They're heading towards the lake!"
They were coming up to the edge of the lake. The lake was eerily quiet like Shinrinkage with its surface as still and smooth as glass. Out of nowhere, a fog appeared. It was so thick that the opposite shoreline couldn't be seen.
Kitsune skidded to a stop and whirled to face her opponents. Orube was already behind her, while Will, Taranee, and Cornelia flanked her on all other sides. Kitsune was trapped again, with only the lake against her back.
Orube pointed her sword at Kitsune. "There's nowhere else to run, Akumako," she warned.
A chill went down the yokai's spine, but she ignored it. Kitsune smirked. "After all these years, haven't you learned anything about me, Orube? There's always a place for me to escape to!" Before Orube could make a grab at them, Kitsune jumped into the lake with Matt still under her arm.
Matt braced himself for the shocking cold water, but to his surprise, it never came. Confused, he blinked his eyes opened and saw the landscape sliding by.
"Wha–?" he gasped, too stunned for words. How was this possible?
Matt's eyes fell and saw Kitsune running on top of what looked like thin, silvery threads! Condensation from the fog gathered to create lines of dew on them, creating a beautiful spider-web pattern hovering several feet over the water. Matt blinked again and recognized them as Jurogumo's handiwork! Seiryuu's other lieutenant must have spun it before the battle, just as she had with his bindings!
A delighted chortle escaped from Kitsune's lips as she ran across the enchanted thread like an expert tightrope walker. "So much for true love!" she teased, reveling in her victory.
Matt's head slumped against his chest. The thought of defeat barely crossed his mind when suddenly, a tornado appeared from nowhere.
"What the—?!" Kitsune cried, but her words were cut short as the twister slammed into them. It knocked them into the water and sucked up the remaining spider threads. Matt gasped for air and tried to get away, but Kitsune's grip on his binding was still tight.
The twister faded as quickly as it appeared, and a rumbling sound followed suit. Kitsune and Matt turned to see a wall of lake water rising over their heads. It was enormous! The wave crashed down on them, plunging them into the watery depths. Kitsune cried and tried to lash out but her fire attacks didn't work underwater. She watched as her chakram sank to the bottom, and her fire was but a cloud of bubbles.
A dark silhouette of a girl with long hair appeared with glowing blue eyes. With a flick of her hand, water tentacles wrapped around Kitsune, dragging her further down and away from Matt.
Matt sighed in relief but quickly regretted it as he was releasing precious oxygen! He clamped his mouth shut, but choked when water filled through his nostrils. Down below, he could see a pair of amber eyes glowing at him. The girl swam closer and mouthed something unintelligible and began to cut away his bindings. Swiftly, she conjured an air bubble like hers and slapped it over his head. Relieved, Matt took in a sharp gasp, filling his starving lungs with air.
"I-Irma?" he gasped.
The Guardian of Water nodded. "Hang on!" She wrapped an arm around his waist and propelled them out of the lake on a swirling water column. Their bubble air helmets popped as it was no longer needed. Matt coughed and sputtered a few times, but he'd never been so grateful to be free.
"Matt! Irma! Are you guys all right?"
Matt turned to see Hay Lin.
Irma nodded but strained from trying to keep Matt in her grip. With his clothes drenched, he felt a lot heavier. "Help me get him to shore, Hay Lin!" Irma grunted.
"Right!" replied Hay Lin. Together, they supported Matt on both sides and flew him to shore.
As soon as their feet touched the sand, relief and excitement washed over them. Matt gasped, rubbed the remaining water droplets from his eyes, and began to sniff as though he was crying. He couldn't believe he was finally free! Exhausted, he lay flat on the sand with his knees bent up.
"I can't believe your idea worked, Irma!" said Hay Lin.
Irma preened. "Was there any doubt? Nice touch blowing in that fog, Hay Hey! And your twister was spot on!"
"I can't believe your mind-control power worked on a yokai! Way to convince that fox to go to the lake!"
Irma laughed. "I haven't used that trick in a while! But honestly, I don't think it would have worked on Kitsune if I hadn't gotten my Power Girl. I had to push the thought into that fox's mind without letting her know it was me."
Remembering Matt was lying down next to them, Hay Lin turned to check up on him. "Sorry about that. Are you all right, Matt?"
He opened his mouth to reply, but he was interrupted by Will bellowing his name from the top of her lungs. They all turned to see her, Cornelia, Taranee, and Orube approaching.
"MATT! Oh, Matt! You're okay!" Will cried as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. She couldn't care less that he was soaking wet.
"Will! Boy, am I glad to see—OW! OW!" Matt cried when Will's arms pressed against his broken ribs.
"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to be so rough!" Will said, immediately releasing him. Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "All you all right, Matt? Did they hurt you?! Honestly! What were you thinking?! Disappearing on us like that?! You had me worried sick!"
Irma rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Hey, Wilhelmina! Chill! Give the guy a break! Let him breathe first! I did almost drown him, after all!" Will shot her a look. She hated it when people called her by her full first name. Irma shrugged and giggled. "What? I said almost!"
Cornelia shook her head and elbowed Irma in the side.
Shaking her head, Orube leaned in. "Step aside, Will," Orube ordered before shoehorning herself between them. Ignoring Matt's protest and the redness on his cheeks, she lifted his shirt to inspect his wounds.
Matt grimaced as he could hear the collective gasps from beneath his wet shirt. The Guardians gaped with horror when they saw the many cuts and bruises all over his body. It wasn't as unsettling as the scar on Kimi's back, but it was enough to make their stomachs churn. Orube, who'd seen her fair share of injuries, kept a cool head. Gently, she pressed her fingers over his bruises, making a note whenever Matt winced. She could tell how nervous her friends were but paid them no mind as she focused on her task. Finally, Orube finished her assessment and lowered her hands and Matt's shirt.
"Matt Olsen, you were very foolish to come here on your own! Lusteria isn't safe!" Orube began, her stern voice low but sharp like a cut from her sword. "Do you realize what went through our minds when Verlona showed us the footage of you sneaking into our house to use a portal?! And for what?!"
Matt scowled and bit his lips. He hated being talked to like this. Orube may be older than him, but he wasn't a child! "I'm not the same defenseless teenager you used to know! I just wanted to be helpful!" he snapped.
Orube pointed to his injuries. "And how is getting captured by one of the most powerful demigods helpful?!" Orube retorted. "Matt, I get it! It's hard to sit back, but these adversaries are different! They're not like Phobos or Nerissa or even Cedr—" She stopped as she caught herself almost saying Cedric's name.
Matt felt a wave of guilt and lowered his head, remembering that if he hadn't been captured by Ludmoore and imprisoned in a book, Cedric might still have been alive. "I'm sorry," he said, trying to sound sincere. And he'd meant it. "I'd never meant to cause any of you more trouble, let alone—"
"I didn't ask for your pity, Matt, nor do I need it," Orube said sternly but not unkindly. "I need you to stand back and trust us to do our jobs."
The others exchanged glances. Finally, Cornelia shuffled closer and said, "Orube's right. The Celestial Warriors and their minions are on a different level, Matt! You were recruited to train us when we achieved our New Powers…"
"…But it took most of us to get our Power Girls to succeed," Irma added. "Even when we got these new powers, we still had some difficulties controlling them!"
Will nodded and turned to him. "Matt, I get that you wanted to help us, but put your pride aside and let us deal with all this! You've trained us before, but now you have to trust that we can and will succeed in our missions." She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "Forgot what Kimi said before! Believe me, Matt, you are useful in other ways."
Matt stared at Will for a moment and let out a long sigh of defeat. After the day he had, how could he argue? "Okay, I trust you girls. But that doesn't mean I'm going to apologize to Kimi—" Matt's eyes widened as he suddenly remembered something important. He glanced around, and just as he feared, Kimi wasn't among them. In all the excitement, he'd forgotten what happened to her and cursed himself. He quickly turned to face the girls. "Crap! I almost forgot! Kimi's been taken by Jurogumo!"
The Guardians blinked, taken aback.
Cornelia tilted her head. "Who?"
"She's a spider demon and one of Seiryuu's top lieutenants! Using me had been a ploy to keep you here in Shinrinkage, but it was also a distraction to get Kimi away from you long enough to be captured by Jurogumo!" When Matt saw the confused looks, he moaned. Holding up his hands, he urgently said, "Just listen! I learned a few things when I was trapped in Seiryuu's fortress."
Matt began explaining everything he'd learned as quickly and clearly as he could. He told them about Kishimoto Kenji and how he was working with Seiryuu and the shogun. He explained how their enemies had orchestrated everything, from getting the Guardians into the Dark Forest to working with the shogun so they could take over the kingdom and dispose of him afterward. Matt told them why Seiryuu wanted Kimi and how Kitsune's game had been a distraction to not only keep the Guardians occupied while the capital was being attacked but also as a ploy to kidnap Kimi and steal both Twin Guardians' Sacred Talismans. But the most incredible part was how close Matt got to saving Kyochi.
"You…you've found him?! You found Kyochi?" Orube gasped. "He's still here?"
Matt shook his head sadly. "I've lost him when I was recaptured. But listen! We have to get going, or Kimi will wind up in Seiryuu's clutches and join her brother!"
"We can't lose both of them! Not to her or anyone!" Hay Lin cried.
Will nodded but frowned at Matt. "Why are you so eager to help Kimi? You both hate each other!"
Matt gave her a look. "Kimi and I may not have seen things eye to eye, but she's one of you, isn't she? If she's worthy enough to be a Guardian, then maybe she's worth saving, just like her brother." He paused. "If we do find Kimi, please don't tell I said that."
Will arched an eyebrow but nodded. "Your secret is safe with us."
"We'd better get you patched up." Turning to the others, Orube ordered, "Taranee and Hay Lin, use your powers to dry Matt. We don't want him to get sick after your little dip in the lake. Irma and Cornelia, use your healing powers on him. I'll help guide you to the more severe spots. And Will, use your power to re-energize him."
Will blinked, surprised to be included. "Me?"
Orube nodded. "From the looks of things, we're still in for the long haul against Seiryuu, and Matt needs to be at his full strength."
Without another word, the girls scrambled to perform their jobs. They worked swiftly, and within the next minute or two, Matt was dry and cleaned, and his cuts and bruises vanished like magic. Unfortunately, he still had a dislocated arm at the shoulder that needed to be mended physically. After a quick examination, Orube determined that it was fixable, which was good news. The bad news? It was going to be very painful.
Matt signed but resigned himself as he leaned against Will, turning his head away, shutting his eyes tight, and bracing for the pain. He squirmed and stiffened when Orube barely grasped his arm. She frowned and thought, This is no good. I need him to relax a bit. Irma, can you distract him?
Irma blinked in surprise at first, but grinned mischievously and leaned closer to Matt as she whispered, "So tell me, Matt, was Seiryuu a good kisser?"
The question caught Matt off guard. Scandalized, his cheeks flushed red, and for a moment, he'd forgotten about the procedure. "What? NO! Of course, I—AAARRRHHH!"
Seizing her chance, Orube tightened her grip around Matt's arm, positioned it at the correct angle, and popped it back into its socket as quickly and expertly as she could.
There was a loudPOP, followed by the Guardians' collective grimace. But just as Orube had promised, the procedure was over. "Done!" Orube declared, dusting her hands. "I suggest you get some ice on that shoulder when we return to Heatherfield. And try not to strain it."
Matt groaned as he rubbed his sore shoulder. "I'm going to be feeling that for days."
Will huffed as she got to her feet and pulled Matt up. She placed her hands on her hip and said, "Normally, I would say 'serves you right' for doing something incredibly stupid, but since you are already in so much pain, I'd say you've learned your lesson."
With Matt safe and sound and by their side, it was time to find their lost friend.
"Taranee, can you get a reading on Kimi's location?" Orube asked, turning to the Guardian of Fire.
Taranee nodded, closed her eyes, and tried to reach for Kimi's mind but found nothing. She tried again. Nothing. Taranee creased her face with worry. "No…I still can't find her! It's like Kimi has left Lusteria!"
Everyone exchanged worried glances. Matt was right. This wasn't looking good.
"Oh, I hope she's all right," Hay Lin said, clasping her hands together. "Kimi could be in trouble after what happened with the Kinomoto elders."
"Oh, trust me, she's not safe…" said a familiar, low voice that sounded like a feral snarl.
Everyone bristled and turned to see a drenched Kitsune emerging silently from the water. She looked worse than before, with her damp hair and clothes clinging to her skin. With her bandages gone, the burn marks Zhu Que had left on her face made Kitsune look more monstrous and terrifying than before. Orube sensed a cold chill down her spine as her old rival lifted her head and gave them an adder's smile.
"In fact…" Kitsune spoke again, her voice growing louder. "NONE OF YOU ARE SAFE!" Kitsune screamed, and a fiery purple aura flared out from all around her. It flickered wildly like a living thing, saturating the atmosphere with its evil presence. The Guardians' eyes widened as they recognized it as Seiryuu's Deadly Sin of Lust.
"What's happening?!" Matt asked, but Will was already grabbing at his sleeves.
"Get back! It's dangerous!" she cried.
The purple mist enveloped Kitsune, fueling her rage with its power as it seeped into her skin and took hold of her heart. The yokai reared her head and let out a terrifying scream. It sounded more animal than human. Kitsune bent over and dropped on all four as her limbs turned into paws. Her silk robe ripped loudly as she grew larger and larger. White fur began to grow from her skin, her nose and mouth grew into a muzzle, and her teeth sharpened into a set of canines. The Guardians' mouths dropped as they beheld the giant fox yokai before them. She was as large as Zhu Que in his firebird form but with bristling furs, terrifying sharp teeth, and a murderous glow in her eyes!
"Woah! Someone's been taking her vitamins!" Will gasped.
"By the fires of Kandrakar…" Orube breathed, unable to hide her awe and terror. "She's a kyuubi!"
Cornelia turned to her. "A what?!"
Hearing them, Kitsune turned her head on them and let out a chilling chuckle. She fanned out her nine tails, each tipped with a purple fox fire as large as a boulder.
Hay Lin and Taranee shot Cornelia sardonic looks.
"You had to ask?" Taranee retorted. She held up her hands and tried to deflect the oncoming fireballs. But they refused to obey her command. "I can't control them!" she gasped.
"Everyone behind me! Irma! Help me make a shield!" Will barked. She turned to erect a protective energy dome around them. Irma immediately slid in next to her and infused Will's energy shield with cooling ice. To their collective relief, Kitsune's fire dissipated upon contact with the shield and turned into hissing steam clouds. Firelight and steam swirled all around them from the other side of the dome like a raging sea of fire.
"Taranee, can you draw away the heat?" Will grunted. She and Irma can maintain the shield thanks to their new transformation, but even so, they cannot stay in this position indefinitely.
Taranee held up her hands and tried to concentrate, focusing on drawing away the heat from the fire around them, but then winced as if someone had slapped her. There was too much evil in these purple flames. "I can't! Kitsune's fire fueled by Seiryuu's Deadly Sin!"
"So counter it!" Matt suggested. "You've done it before!"
Taranee glared at him. "News flash, Matt! This is Lust, we're talking about! I haven't gone through an ordeal to earn a new transformation, let alone discover the Virtue to counter this!"
"Then what about those other monsters and demons you've fought before? The tengu? The Tracker and that Miranda girl in Meridian?"
Irma glanced over her shoulders to shoot Matt an incredulous look, all the while maintaining her hold on the shield. "Those guys were small fries compared to this vixen! You were Seiryuu's prisoner! Didn't you notice that Kitsune is her close lieutenant?"
Cornelia huffed and rolled her eyes. "Irma's right. Doubtful that our enemies would lend so much of their powers to small monsters like Miranda!"
Matt shook his head and cursed himself. Of course! Seiryuu would only grant the biggest portions of her Deadly Sin to her highest-ranking lieutenants like Kitsune and Jurogumo.
An idea struck Hay Lin and her expression lifted. "Wait! There is something we can do!' she turned to her friends and asked, "Remember what we were talking about in the diner? About the chakras?"
Taranee's eyes widened and she pounded a fist into a palm. "Of course! There's another way to counter these Seven Deadly Sins! The seven chakras are weak points!"
"Great! So where would Kitsune's weak point be?" Cornelia asked.
Taranee frowned and placed a hand to her forehead as if that could rack her brain into remembering the right answer. "Um…hang on…let me think…"
"The heart," Orube said calmly. Her friends blinked at her, surprised that she remembered it. "The heart chakra is also the air chakra, correct?" Orube asked Taranee who nodded slowly. "Good. If Kitsune is using the same Sin as her mistress, then she'll have the same weak spot." Orube tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. "We need to put an end to this once and for all. I'll aim for her heart, but I'll need you girls to use your powers to distract her while I go in."
Everyone exchanged glances as their elemental powers glowed at the tips of their fingers. "We've got your back, Orube," Hay Lin assured her. "Leave her to us."
Will nodded and turned to Matt. "Once we let go of the shield, I want you to find some cover."
"But—!"
"We talked about this, Matt!" Will said, cutting him off. "I can't fight while worrying about you. Trust us to do our job, remember?"
Matt sighed and nodded reluctantly.
"Um, girls? Is it just me, or has Kitsune gone silent?" Hay Lin asked.
Everyone exchanged glances and saw that the purple flames had subsided. Hesitantly, Will and Irma lowered the shield and readied themselves for an attack. Silence passed, and all around them was the remaining veil of smoke from the fire.
Wait, Matt…don't move just yet, Will ordered. It could be a trap.
Matt nodded and glanced around, trying to see if there were signs of Kitsune. But all was still and silent as the grave.
Don't let your guards down, Orube warned as she slowly drew out her sword. She closed her eyes and tried to send out her senses. Nothing. All she sensed was the surrounding nature and the still silence of the village. It isn't possible…It's almost as if Kitsune had disappeared off the face of this world!
Cornelia blinked at her. Are you serious?
We're talking about a thirty-foot-high fox demon with nine tails that can shoot fire and create illusions. You could probably spot her a few miles away! Irma thought, sounding sardonic as before. She rolled her eyes. Honestly, Orube. How could anyone like you lose track of her?
Orube turned to glare at Irma. I don't know, but I'm telling you, I can't pick up anything from Kitsune when—
Hay Lin's spine chilled when she heard the smallest footstep from behind, followed by a coming whoosh! LOOK OUT! Hay Lin instinctively cried.
Heads turned her way and were met by an oncoming force that crashed into them like trees. Orube gasped and dropped her sword. She blinked, wondering what had hit them. A second later, Kitsune's illusion dissolved like mist. The smoke from the fire had been part of her trick! Empowered by Lust, Kitsune used her power of illusions to cloud even Orube's other senses! Silent and invisible, the kyuubi swiped her tails at them and trapped them in her clutches.
"WILL, NO!" Matt cried from below. Furiously, he picked up Orube's sword and tried to run at Kitsune, but the kyuubi swiped a tail at him as if he was a fly. The sword fell out of his hand and he went flying and landed in the water.
"Matt!" Will cried. She tried desperately to reach him, but Kitsune's tail was wrapped around her like a boa constrictor.
Kitsune laughed maniacally, sounding like a beast playing with its prey. She tightened her hold on her six captives and drew them closer. Orube could feel her ribs threatening to crack from the pressure. It was getting harder to breathe. She glanced at her friends and saw that they were struggling to use their powers to free themselves. Unfortunately, their magic sputtered as Kitsune overwhelmed them with her mistress's Deadly Sin. It didn't help that they couldn't move—they could barely breathe in the kyuubi's tight grip. Orube could feel herself starting to black out.
"How pathetic!" Kitsune chuckled. "Even with all your powers, you Guardians can do nothing against me. And as for you, Orube…" her eyes turned to Basilíadian. They glinted with sadistic glee. "...I intend to make you suffer for all those years you've left me to rot in that gods' forsaken temple."
Orube matched those cold, murderous eyes with her own. "You…won't win…Akumako…" Orube grunted, but her words of defiance barely fazed the kyuubi.
"Oh, I think I will, Orube Kitsune replied, letting out a deep, rumbling chortle from her throat. "I have more than enough powers to eliminate you all, and I'll do it by tearing your minds apart! But take heart, and be grateful you'll never have to suffer alone…"
"W-What are you—?" Orube gasped, but her last few words died like a smoldering flame.
Kitsune's evil aura, empowered by Seiryuu's Deadly Sin, flared from her like a living, writhing dark flame. Alarmed, the Guardians tried to free themselves, but there was no escape. It swallowed them like a wildfire consuming the forest.
Orube screamed, but no sound escaped her lips. She was surrounded by fire and darkness. Kitsune, her friends, and the surrounding Dark Forest disappeared like sand blown away by the wind. Orube gasped and blinked, wondering what had happened to her. Glancing around, she found herself in a cave. A dark, cold, and very familiar cave…
Orube's heart tightened. She heard a gasp and looked down to see Cedric lying on his back, facing her. Weakly, he reached out to caress her face.
"Cedric?!" Orube gasped. She reached out to take his hand in hers. Their hands touched for a moment, and Cedric smiled sadly at her before he dissolved into a pool of black ink.
Orube could feel thorny vines intertwining themselves around her heart and shattering it. "No! No…no…no…Cedric!" she wailed.
Orube didn't know how long she'd been sitting there in the dark, mourning over the loss of Cedric. A dripping and fluid-like sound rippled, and she looked up to see the ink pool reforming into Cedric. Orube gaped and stared in surprise. Cedric still wounded and in pain, turned to her and whispered something, his hands reaching out to her again. Orube couldn't hear his words. They were as muddled and unclear as smudged ink on paper. She was too shocked to see him before her. She began to wonder if he was a phantom or if it was all in her head. Had she missed him so much that her consciousness is showing their last moment together? Or is a part of her consciousness still guilt-ridden and is replaying Cedric's death as a form of self-inflicted punishment?
Orube's mind began to wrestle with all the conflicting emotions and thoughts. Cedric is here, isn't he? He looked as real as that day in the cave within the pages of Ludmoore's book. Hesitantly, Orube reached to clasp his hand in hers again. He smiled, whispered his last words to her, and dissolved into a pool of black ink once more, leaving her lonely, cold, and filled with pain..
The scene replayed itself repeatedly, each as haunting and traumatic as when it had first happened. In the back of her mind, Orube knew it wasn't real, but it's difficult to remember and differentiate what's real when it's a dream or a nightmare.
In the distance, Orube could hear Kitsune's shrilled, maniacal laughter. It taunted her, taking great pleasure as she drowned in her purgatory. She could even hear the distant cries of the Guardians. Like Orube, they were all prisoners of their illusions, each crafted from the root of their fears and insecurities: love.
"Nigel…Nigel, I'm sorry…I didn't mean…" Taranee sobbed.
"Caleb…no, don't do this to me…" Cornelia gasped breathlessly. "Please, don't make me choose again…"
"Martin, I didn't mean to…I…no, I'm the loser…please, you're my friend…don't go…" Irma cried.
"Eric…I'm sorry, but…you left me…you left me…"
Orube's lips quivered, and she could feel herself breaking. She was no warrior. She was shattered glass.
Matt grunted as he struggled to his feet. Wiping the muddy lake water from his eyes, he looked up to see the Guardians slumped as though in a stupor. He coughed out the water he had swallowed and desperately ran towards Kitsune, not caring how close he was getting. His head turned frantically until he spotted his girlfriend with her red hair in one of the kyuubi's tails. "WILL, SNAP OUT OF IT!" Matt bellowed.
To his dismay, Will didn't hear him. "Matt…you said you would never leave me…you used to say I was special…that you loved me…" A tear trickled down her face.
Matt tightened his fist and shook his head. He glared at Kitsune. She's using Lust to bring out their worst fears and insecurities based on their loved ones! Matt realized. He turned back to Will and shouted, "WILL, WAKE UP! NONE OF THAT IS REAL! I'M HERE! I'LL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU!"
Kitsune stared down at him and laughed at his pathetic attempt. "So much for love," Kitsune said mockingly. She drew Orube and Will closer to taste their pain and sorrow. "Love has made them weak, dear Matt. Love has made them all weak!" She turned her eyes on Matt and flashed him her sharp teeth. "Take heed, dear little human boy, for it will kill you, just as it had with Lord Zhu Que!" she mocked. "Now, let's end this for good," Kitsune said, drawing them closer as she brought up a razor-sharp claw to their exposed throats. "A lovely way to die, wouldn't you say? Farewell, Orube. You and the Guardians are done for!"
"NO, DON'T!" Matt cried desperately.
CLOSE YOUR EYES, MATT-BOY!
Matt froze and glanced around. K-Kimi? What? Where are—?
If you don't want to be blinded, then I suggest you shut up and close your eyes!
From the corner of Matt's eyes, he caught the sight of an oncoming comet. It was bright and coming in fast for the kyuubi. Remembering Kimi's warning, he braced himself and turned away, burying his face in his arms. Kitsune's claw barely touched Orube's neck when, suddenly, the blinding light appeared before her.
Kitsune faltered. "This isn't possible…"
The comet stopped before Kitsune and revealed itself to be a glowing figure of a girl—no, a Guardian! Watsuki Kimi held out her hands and lifted her head to glare daggers at the kyuubi. Her eyes glowed with a cold, righteous fury. Her white aura was encircled by a halo of infinite colors. The Guardian of Light grew brighter until she shone like the sun and became painful to look upon with the naked eyes. Blinded, Kitsune screeched as she recoiled. Twisting this way and that, her hold over her victims began to hover. Slowly, Orube and her friends came to.
"W-what happened?" Hay Lin moaned, but immediately closed her eyes shut when all she saw was a brilliant white light.
"What's going on?!" Irma gasped, but quickly averted her gaze from the brightness, too. "Urgh! That light! Taranee!" she cried, turning to what she hoped was the direction of her fiery friend.
Taranee, being the Guardian of Fire, was the only other Guardian who could withstand staring into a light source as brilliant and painful as the sun. Squinting through her eyes, she gasped. "That light…it can't be…"
Kimi's light subsided and she glanced over her shoulder, smiling at them. Will's jaws dropped. "Kimi! Is that you?"
Kimi nodded. "Konbawa, minasan."
Now able to see, Hay Lin blinked and stared at Kimi's new transformation. "Oh, my gosh! Kimi, you got your Power Girl?!"
Cornelia nodded in agreement, staring at her with awe. "Kimi…you're gorgeous…" she breathed.
"How?" Irma gasped. "What happened to you? Where did you—?"
"Later," Kimi said, cutting her off. She held out her hand and manifested a giant spinning saw blade. Without another wasted breath, Kimi brought her construct down, cutting off four of Kitsune's tails, and setting Will, Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Orube free.
"We're free!" Taranee cried.
"Finally!" Orube huffed as she landed on her feet like a cat. She grabbed her fallen sword and went in fast to slash at Kitsune's feet.
"Now, Hikaru!" Kimi shouted over her shoulder.
The kyuubi let out a blood-curdling scream as she writhed and thrashed about. With Kitsune distracted, a young man clad in white robes weaved himself through the chaos. Will and her friends blinked, at first thinking he was a phantom or one of Kimi's solid illusions. He came closer, the light from Kimi glinted on the blade of his katana. As swift as the wind and silent as the forest, Hikaru slashed through the yokai's hair, freeing her remaining prisoners.
They all turned to Kimi, expecting an answer, but with the kyuubi still thrashing wildly behind them, they decided to ask later as they readied themselves to take her down.
"Let's put an end to this madness!" Orube cried.
With their morale renewed, the Guardians turned to Kitsune with fury in their eyes. They stretched out their arms and beckoned their elements to their side.
"All right, ladies, time to show this fox demon what real powers are!" Will cried. She concentrated her energy together into the shape of her claymore. It sizzled and crackled with pink energy. With a furious cry, Will flew down and cut off two of Kitsune's tails. The kyuubi howled and tried to swipe a paw at her, but Will's kinetic shield repelled all of her oncoming forces. "That's for my boyfriend!"
Kitsune snarled and tried to attack with her demonic fire. Without their Power Girl transformations, Taranee and Hay Lin used their talents by being creative and converging their magic. Taranee managed to draw enough heat away from the blades of fire, diminishing them enough for Hay Lin to funnel them back at Kitsune with her tornadoes.
"And this is for all those people you've killed in Annam!" Taranee declared.
"And for messing with our heads with your sick mind games!" Hay Lin added with contempt.
Kitsune hissed and tried to rely on her illusions again. To her frustration, they fell apart and slipped through her control, intangible as water and fire.
"You're good with illusions, kyuubi, but I'm better!" Kimi declared snidely. "This is for my twin!"
Kimi easily weaved through the flailing tails and claws, ignoring Kitsune's venomous eyes. Positioning herself from a higher vantage point, her aura illuminated visibly with a halo of every color imaginable, followed by a ring of floating crystalline fractals that appeared before her like a mirror. Making a circling motion, those fractals reflected and channeled her auric light until they became dancing sunbeams. Kimi released her attack, pummeling Kitsune hard into the ground.
Irma whistled, impressed. "Rainbow power, huh? Cool!" She was so busy admiring her friends continuing their onslaught that she didn't notice a rogue fireball coming her way until Hikaru swept in and slashed it with his sword.
Calmly, the young man glanced over his shoulder. Seeing his face in a clearer light, Irma couldn't help but stare. He looked exactly like Kohaku, only younger and with aqua-green eyes. She remembered Kimi had called him Hikaru, but who exactly was he? Where had he come from? He was clearly on their side, but Irma was hesitant to trust him, especially after what happened with the Kinomoto elders.
"Take care to watch your surroundings, Guardian," the young man warned.
"I'm sorry, but who are you supposed to be?" Irma asked, trying to sound curious and playful to put him off guard.
"You're welcome."
Irma faked an insulted expression. "Wow, talkative, aren't you?" Still, Hikaru wasn't moved. "Okay, Let's try this again. Hi, I'm Irma, Guardian of Water, and you must be one of Kimi's illusions. Thanks for the assist, by the way."
"I'm real, not an illusion," he replied. There was a slight hint of annoyance in his tone.
Irma couldn't help but smirk. She'd gotten a reaction! Behind him, Irma could see her friends converging their powers to rain down a fiery tornado and glowing crystals on Kitsune, but she ignored it. Gleaming more information from this boy was more important. Tapping a finger to her chin as if in contemplation, Irma guessed, "Hmm… are you Kimi's cousin?"
"No."
"A long lost half-sibling, then? Because I gotta say, you look a lot like Kohaku, except younger—Oh! Are you his secret love child from another marriage?!"
Taken by surprise, Hikaru's stoic expression disappeared as he blinked at her. "What? N-No, I'm not!"
"Well, you can't be her evil twin brother because that position has already been filled! By that, I mean the twin brother part, not the evil part, because Kyochi's not evil, just dark because, you know? He's a shadow-wielder and the Guardian of Darkness…so…your sudden presence here totally lost me, buddy."
"My name is Watsuki Hikaru. And you, Lair-dono…" he began but turned when he noticed a giant debris approaching them. Swift as lightning, he grappled his sword and swung expertly; his weapon glowed and released a crescent-shaped white light. The tree split cleanly into two. "...talk too much for a Guardian." Without another word, he leaped into action, dodging and cutting the debris the battle threw his way.
Irma scowled and stomped her foot. She had never felt this insulted! Who the hell does this Hikaru think he is? Telling me that I talk too much?! Irma fumed. I don't care how cute he is! The nerve of him! Kimi flew by, repelling Kitsune's attack with a shield of prism light crystals back at her. Irma scowled. Kimi, where the hell did you find this guy?! If Kimi had heard her, she ignored it as she had more pressing matters.
As the others managed to knock Kitsune down, Cornelia seized her chance and slammed her hands to the ground. Giant vines with thorns burst from the ground, each coiling themselves around the kyuubi by her limbs. "You've been nothing but a thorn in our sides! Let's see how you liked to be pricked!" Beads of sweat trickled down Cornelia's forehead as she could feel Kitsune fighting to get free. With just a thought, the thorny vines jabbed themselves into the kyuubi; all the while, giant rose buds began to bloom. Cornelia's spell was big and spectacularly beautiful but also taxing on her concentration and power, as Kitsune fought back ferociously. She's going to break free! Spotting Irma a few yards away, Cornelia sent her thoughts, Irma! What are you doing, just standing there?! Can't you see I could use a hand here?!
"All right, already! Hold your horses, Corny!" Irma sighed exasperatedly. She cracked her knuckles and flew to the lake's edge behind her. She held out her arms and pulled out tendrils of water. With a clap of her hands, the water tendrils shaped themselves into silvery chains. Holding her hands towards Kitsune, her giant water chain construct reached out to support Cornelia's great rose vines, their manacles clamping down on Kitsune's wrists, feet, and her remaining three tails.
Kitsune thrashed about some more, but the extra bindings were doing their work well. She turned her head and glared venomously at the Water Guardian.
Irma matched Kitsune's glare with her own as her expression darkened. "This is for Zhu Que! For our mentor, Ngọc Long!"
"Irma's right! You broke Ngọc Long's heart!" Cornelia seethed.
"She was family!" Hay Lin added furiously. "No, she IS family!"
"And when you mess with our family, you get burned!" Taranee said.
The kyuubi struggled with all her might, but it was useless. The opposing forces have four Guardians with newly awakened transformations! "Fools! I am a lieutenant of Lady Seiryuu! I will not be defeated by inferior beings plagued by some disease of affection!"
"Love isn't a disease, Akumako," said Orube. Kitsune turned to see her standing on Kimi's floating construct. The young warrior aimed her sword at her heart, her eyes cold and steely. For the first time in a while, Kitsune was afraid and realized that she was staring at Death. "Love is a force as infinite and powerful as all the elements in the universe. You may mock us for our hearts and destroy what we love, but that love will never die. It can transcend and evolve into something greater…something more! It empowers us to fight back and rid this world of evils like you and Seiryuu!" Orube tightened her grip on the hilt and lunged forward, the blade reflecting the lights from around her.
Kitsune opened her mouth and breathed fire, but Will, Kimi, and Irma had anticipated the attack and converged their powers to create a protective shield around Orube. There was no escape this time! A piercing howl reverberated through the night as Orube landed on the kyuubi's chest and plunged her sword into her heart. Orube should have felt something from this execution. Instead, she felt nothing. There was nothing as she passed through the fur and the skin and landed on the ground. She lifted her head and glanced around, but the kyuubi was nowhere to be seen.
It had all been another illusion.
Kitsune was breathless as she slowly ran along the lake shoreline towards the trees. The forest was thicker several hundred yards ahead, and if she could just make it there, she could escape through the portal and return to Seiryuu's side.
Pain flared in her side, causing Kitsune to gasp as she tripped and fell to her knees. Desperate to relieve the pain, she crawled into the lake, hoping the water would help. She stifled a hiss and grimaced when she saw a bit of her blood flowing out. As the water stilled, Kitsune stared at her reflection: half her face burned away. She slammed her fists into the water. Curse Orube and those Guardians! It was bad enough that she was scared from her encounter with Zhu Que, but Orube and those Guardians had cut off several of her tails! And curse that Jurogumo! That spider harlot probably got herself killed and allowed the Guardian of Light to escape, and with a newly awakened transformation, no less! Although none of this had been Kitsune's fault, Seiryuu would undoubtedly turn her ire on her now that Jurogumo was gone. The Celestial Warrior would never let Kitsune forget her place.
Struggling to her feet, Kitsune shuddered to think of the punishment that awaited her through that portal. Still, it would have been better than meeting her end at the hands of Orube and the Guardians. Having realized she was trapped, Kitsune had resorted to using her illusion as a desperate attempt to escape. Shrinking and reverting into her human form allowed her to slip through the vines and the water chains. While Orube and the Guardians still see a giant kyuubi struggling to break free, the real Kitsune has discreetly disappeared.
She'd been humiliated, but Kitsune had fought well and did whatever was necessary out of self-preservation! She clenched her fists and vowed to return and end Orube for good.
A chill ran down her spine as Kitsune glanced over toward the village. Her ears pricked at the sound of Orube's scream. The warrior must have figured out she'd escape. Time to make a run for it. I am Seiryuu's lieutenant! The likes of them will not defeat me! Kitsune thought.
Kitsune barely walked five paces when the water behind her suddenly began to bubble. Kitsune froze and turned around with her blue fox fireballs at her disposal. How did that Guardian of Water find her so quickly? Kitsune cursed herself for getting into the lake earlier to relieve her pain. She should have gone straight for the portal! Kitsune was about to turn tail and run for it, but the water suddenly stopped bubbling and grew quiet again. Confused, Kitsune raised an eyebrow and glanced around. The Guardians have not found her yet. They must still be scrambling around the other side for her.
She waited a few more seconds, but the lake was as quiet and still as before. It must be a natural phenomenon under the water, Kitsune decided. Lowering her defenses, the yokai turned around and approached the portal.
Something flew out of the water, sending a wall of spray and mists down on her! Before Kitsune realized it, a powerful force slammed into her and knocked her back into a tree as hard and fast as being hit by a rolling boulder. Kitsune let out a startling gasp. The attack happened so fast that she didn't register pain until several seconds later. It exploded in her arms and torso. The impact had broken several of her bones in her arms and cracked several ribs! She could barely move!
Kitsune sat there and struggled to sit up. With shaky breaths, she lifted her head to see a great dragon with iridescent green scales staring at her with murderous fury. Kitsune gulped, feeling like a frog petrified under the gaze of a snake. At first, she'd thought she'd disturbed the dwelling of a dragon, but as those amber eyes bore into her and at the rumbling sound deep in its throat, Kitsune's eyes widened further as she realized who this was.
"The Jade Dragon…" she breathed.
A powerful gust of air encircled the Jade Dragon, her scales scattered around her like sakura petals in the wind. As they subsided, they revealed a beautiful woman standing before Kitsune, her hair long and black as ebony and her lips red as fire. She wore a green-colored áo tứ thân with a light embroidery of a dragon on the silk, and a nón ba tầm rested on her head like a crown with a veil covering her face. And in her hand was Zhu Que's famous sword. Even in darkness, it seemed to glow and gleam with its own fire; the phoenix that encircled it appeared as though it was alive.
Ngọc Long, the Jade Dragon, barely lifted her head at the pitiful yokai before her as she lifted her husband's sword.
Kitsune struggled to her feet and tried to escape. With her husband's sword, Ngọc Long drew a circle above their heads, creating a ring of emerald fire that encircled them like a cage. The yokai stiffened and winced. She was trapped!
"And here you are, little fox, brought before me like an act of providence," Ngọc Long said. Her voice, while soft, was tinged with darkness and pain. "Unlike other kitsune, you are vile and full of hatred. Just like Seiryuu, you are a heartless creature who knows not of the pain and suffering in my heart when you killed my husband." Coming closer, the Jade Dragon aimed Zhu Que's sword at the yokai's heart. "I will deal with you the same courtesy as you would have done to those around you. I will reduce you to ash with this blade until nothing is left of your existence. This is the end for you, little vixen. And soon, your mistress will fall."
No, this can't be how it ended for her! With almost nothing but her life to lose, Kitsune whirled to face her opponent and sneered.
"You're the vixen!" Kitsune snarled. "You ensorcelled Lord Zhu Que with your love and made him weak!" She spat the word 'love' as though it was a disease. "Look at you! I can see your hands trembling! Even with me at your mercy, you don't have the strength to end me! Is your hatred not strong enough?"
Slowly, Ngọc Long lowered her sword and lifted her head high. She removed her palm hat, allowing Kitsune to take in the sight before her. She wanted this little yokai to see her pain, anger, heartbreak, fury…and conviction. Her steely eyes turned from amber to green. Ngọc Long shook her head and gave her a pitiful and contemptuous look.
"While you may have had a hand in my husband's death, I won't kill you, little fox. Rest assured, I will avenge Zhu Que's death."
Kitsune stared at her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're letting me go?!"
She'd expected the Jade Dragon to deflate in defeat. Instead, a thin smile curled on her lips as she shook her head, giving Kitsune a sense of dread and foreboding. "No, little fox. You are not mine to kill."
Before Kitsune could comprehend Ngọc Long's meaning, the slightest scuffling sound on grass caught her ears. She wiped around in time to see Orube emerging through the emerald flames.
Orube, her long-time rival…her enemy, looked like an avenging warrior goddess. The embroidered flames on her robes seemed more alive as bits of Ngọc Long's green fire lingered around her silhouette. Orube's eyes seemed to glow as brilliantly as her sword. Everything about her was ablaze–her fury, perseverance, and heart! As swift as lightning and ferocious as fire, Orube plunged her sword straight into Kitsune's heart.
For a moment, the world around them froze. It was as though only Orube and Kitsune—no, Akumako—existed, and the outcome of their long rivalry was all that mattered.
Orube's breathing grew heavy. Her body felt heavy. She could feel her hands shaking but maintained her grip, refusing to let go of her sword, fearing her rival would disappear. But the yokai did not.
Not this time.
Leaning in, Orube whispered in her ears, "This is for you, Akumako."
Akumako tried to gasp, but her breath came out like a sputtering smoke. Her gaze fell to Orube's blade that was still embedded in her chest. Instead of blood, there was a dark and whispy purple mist leaking from her wound. Orube's sword had pierced through her heart and deeply into her core. Seiryuu's Deadly Sin writhed in agony and dissolved into the air. To Akumako, it felt as though a fire had finally died within her heart. The flame of her existence snuffed out. Even with the assistance of Seiryuu's Deadly Sin, Akumako's fire paled in comparison to Orube's. Her fire was too dark and filled with shadows, while Orube's fire was like a light in the darkness.
Orube didn't move. She dared not breathe as she watched Akumako dissolve away like ashes in the wind. She watched as the fox yokai dissolved away, her last disappearing act. It felt like an eternity, but still, Orube did not move and continued to hold her breath until there was nothing left of Akumako.
Orube gasped and fell to her knees, her sword still in her hand. It's over! Orube realized. It's finally over.
Orube didn't know how long she had been on her knees like that after the yokai had disappeared. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and her name being called in the distance. She could imagine the vexation on her friends' faces as they were about to chide her for her recklessness. But chasing after Akumako had been worth it.
"Orube! There you are! Where is—?"
Will skipped to a stop. The others nearly crashed into her once they realized Orube wasn't alone. Silence fell on the group with only the softest rustle of the trees and the sound of little waves on the lakeshore. Regaining her senses, Orube shot to her feet and turned to face the Jade Dragon with a look of disbelief painted on her face.
Orube couldn't believe it. None of them could! Earlier, when Orube had caught up to Kitsune, she'd found her rival trapped by someone within a circle of fire and had a sword held up to her heart. At that moment, Orube paid no attention to who it was. She'd only had eyes on Kitsune and wanted nothing more than to thrust her sword deep into the wicked demon's heart! For days, Orube had searched for Ngọc Long. She'd never imagined it would be their lost mentor!
Orube stared at Ngọc Long with a look of disbelief still carved on her face. The Jade Dragon looked as she had since she'd abandoned them a little more than a week ago: tired. There were faint strands of white in her long, black hair and lines under her eyes as though she hadn't slept. Ngọc Long was still beautiful, but mourning for her husband seemed to have aged her. Yet, when all seemed lost, when it looked as though Kitsune was on the verge of slipping through their fingers again, Ngọc Long appeared and prevented it.
As Orube's adrenaline disappeared, she suddenly remembered Kitsune's last moment before she killed the demon with her sword. Their mentor had the yokai at her mercy and could have killed her right then and there. Instead, she'd lowered her sword and allowed Orube to end her. She could have taken her vengeance. She had every right to! Orube thought. Her gaze fell to her sword before glancing back at the Jade Dragon. Do I truly deserve such an honor? Orube thought.
It was Kimi who stepped forward, albeit hesitantly. Ngọc Long turned to her, and upon seeing her charge's new transformation, looked on in surprise. "Lady Ngọc Long…is it you?" Kimi asked, her voice soft.
Ngọc Long studied her for a bit. She turned to survey the others and finally nodded. "Yes, child. I am here and wretched whilst you…" a small, sad smile curled on her lips, "you've awakened your third form."
Unable to take it anymore, Kimi and Orube ran forward and flung their arms around their mentor, squeezing her tight as though afraid to let her go. Zhu Que's sword fell out of Ngọc Long's hands as she stumbled back in surprise. This affectionate behavior isn't like them, but like a chain reaction; the other five Guardians joined in the group hug and cried joyfully.
"Ngọc Long! We missed you!" Hay Lin cried.
"It is you! I can't believe it! I thought we would never see you again!" said Will.
"Please don't leave us again like that!" cried Taranee. "Don't you see? You're a part of our family, too!"
"How is it you're here? How did you find us? Where did you come from?" Cornelia asked.
"Where have you been all this time?" Irma demanded.
Hikaru watched the scene in amazement. Such a display of affection towards another in a public fashion is considered unbecoming for the elites and the warrior class. As a young warrior himself, he'd been taught to guard his emotions. Curiously, his sister retained her cool elegance even as she buried her face in the Jade Dragon's breasts like a child embracing her mother.
Hikaru asked Matt, "Are all Earthlings like this?"
Matt blinked at him in surprise. He'd forgotten about this newcomer in all the chaos and excitement. "Um…" Matt began and shrugged sheepishly. How was he supposed to answer that to a stranger? "Well…I wouldn't say all of us, but the Guardians are…"
Ngọc Long's voice cut him off. Matt and Hikaru quickly turned their attentions back in time to hear her explanation.
"...after what happened…after what I almost did to you, I knew I couldn't stay," Ngọc Long said softly. She bent down and picked up her husband's sword. "I had to get away. I had to escape to a place far away from everyone and everything. I needed to drown myself in my pain and let the darkness take me." She paused and turned her head over her shoulder towards the lake. "And so, I came here. I've been here since."
"I looked almost everywhere on Lusteria for you," Orube said. "And you've been under Shinrinkage's lake all this time?"
Ngọc Long nodded solemnly. "This place is full of pain and haunted memories. It drew me as I flew over. In the water, all was still and dark and calm. Here, I could be with my thoughts and memories…" she smiled sadly and glanced at Irma, "until you dove in and pulled that yokai under the surface."
Matt blinked. "It was you! That was you I saw underwater! I thought I was seeing things because of lack of oxygen!"
Ngọc Long turned to Matt and blinked in surprise. She turned to look at Will as if expecting an answer. Then, Ngọc Long noticed Hikaru standing far to the side and turned to Kimi. She glanced at them all and sighed. "It would seem much as happened in my absence."
The Guardians and Orube exchanged glances and breathed collective sighs of mental exhaustion. Irma rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You have no idea."
"I don't even know where to start," said Hay Lin.
Will was about to suggest the beginning, but suddenly, explosions in the distance could be heard. At first, it sounded like rumbling thunder, but the dark clouds above their heads didn't appear to be storm clouds.
"What the hell was that?" Matt asked.
The six Guardians exchanged glances again and flew higher, hoping to get a good few. In the distance, they could see faint lights and explosions of warm colors.
"What is that?" Cornelia asked as she squinted her eyes to see better. "Don't tell me the sun is rising!"
"That's not the sun," Kimi said darkly. "Those lights are explosions and cannon fire."
"The siege!" Will cried. "Seiryuu's attacking Edo! She must be near the castle!"
They lowered to the ground and quickly relayed what they saw to Ngọc Long, Matt, Orube, and Hikaru. Grim expressions crossed their faces.
"The siege began long before I came here to help you," Hikaru said. "Seiryuu's forces must be knocking on the palace walls as we speak."
Straightening herself, Ngọc Long turned to face her Guardians. "Then let us go. Your mission in Nihon is not yet over."
To be continued…
Author's note: Happy holidays! I'm tired. I need a break after this chapter. Yes, Ngọc Long has returned! She's been in Shinrinkage this entire time! Originally, this chapter was supposed to be shorter, but because Kitsune has been such an important villain, even a side character, I think she deserved an entire chapter where she meets her end. Besides, Kitsune, whose real name is Akumako, has had a history against Orube. The two of them fought long before the start of this story, so it was fitting to have Orube end her rather than the Jade Dragon.
This arc is almost over! I can't believe it took me this long! I need a vacation after this. Life has been busy, but this story is slowly approaching its finale! Anyway, I'm working on a few W.I.T.C.H.-related fan art, so check out my Deviantart page or Instagram!
yokai - Japanese demons
kitsune - a fox spirit
kyuubi - a nine-tailed fox.
"Konbawa, minasan." - "Evening, everyone," in Japanese.
áo tứ thân - a traditional Vietnamese outfit consisting of several layers.
nón ba tầm - a Vietnamese round palm leaf hat
