Chapter One Hundred Eighteen
The island research facility had multiple layers of security, as Yuna had learned. It was not very large, but its layout was confusing. This, she assumed, was one portion of the security measures her father had taken when creating the movable island. In most ways, its design mimicked a large naval vessel, requiring someone traversing the base to ascend and descend narrow flights of stairs to multiple different floors simply to find their way from one side to the other. The hallways were labyrinthine, nothing was marked, and patrols marched or were stationed at frequent, sometimes unexpected, intervals.
So far, and quite luckily, Yuna and her tengu bodyguard had gone unnoticed. Standing currently with her back pressed flush against a metal wall to one side of a rounded doorway, the tengu tucked flat opposite her on the other side, she could hear the raucous noise of battle happening outside. Enishi and the female tengu were fighting her sisters, and though it had offered them great cover, it squeezed her heart with worry. While the stone golem had expressed confidence that she could trust him to hold them off, Yuna had seen her sisters spar before. They were wicked in their tactics and unremorsefully deadly. So far, Yuna had not once witnessed Enishi fight. He seemed well-trained and carried himself confidently, but such evidence was hardly confirmation of his skill or experience.
All that I can do is finish my portion of this mission as quickly as possible. The faster this is done, the faster we can be gone from this place.
Enishi had trusted her to take care of infiltration and sabotage. In return, she would have to trust him to defend and secure their escape route.
With one finger, the tengu guard signaled for her to stay quiet before pointing to indicate two approaching watchmen. One quick nod said she understood, and three seconds later, two guards came into view. While her tengu counterpart knocked out the guard closest to him, Yuna waved her fingers gracefully and watched her target slump to the ground. For some reason, her ability had impressed the older, more imposing tengu guard, but Yuna found his praise uncomfortable. There was very little power behind her ability. Yuna was not strong in any type of offensive way. She was exceptionally adept at creating barriers, but the extent of her sky elemental power was limited to the manipulation of air pressure. Of course, pressure could be dangerous if used to the extreme, but Yuna was much too squeamish to utilize her power in such a way. The most she could bring herself to do was force a state of unconsciousness onto her opponents.
"This place is confusing. I wish we knew where we were going." Whispering her concern to her companion, she listened as he exhaled an agreement, but his attention was clearly focused elsewhere. After a moment, his eyes darted to her and he jerked his head towards a closed door they were passing by. Through the thick metal, she could hear two voices speaking informally to one another and with a satisfied intonation.
"The boss shouldn't have been so worried. We went through the calculations hundreds of times. Of course, it was going to work."
"Yeah, but you know how scary the Emperor is. If anything had gone wrong, we would have paid for it. I'm still too young to die, unlike your old ass."
"Maybe look at a calendar sometime. You were born first, in case you forgot." Noise like liquid pouring into a ceramic cup suggested they were getting coffee, like someone in the midst of a routine work day. Their topic of conversation, however, proved to be neither routine nor appropriate for small talk. "Besides, nothing went wrong. That fire demon didn't stand a chance against our barrier seal. Not with how many fire demons we put into making it."
Yuna's features creased lightly as she strained to hear everything that was said. A derisive huff of laughter issued from one of the speakers.
"I still think using the extracted power of a thousand fire demons just to trap one was overkill. He can't be that strong."
A thousand?! Where did my father get a thousand fire demons? I thought they all died out in the war with the humans. Honey-colored eyes frowned, and she realized the answer did not matter. Whether he had imprisoned them all, faked their deaths, or simply tricked them with false orders during the war with the humans, her father had proven that he was capable of doing anything he deemed necessary to get his way.
"Supposedly this one's dangerous, or at least I heard his father was. Fire demons are bad omens anyway. I say good riddance. He's as good as dead so long as the barrier seal stays up. That much pressure cutting off his power must have felt like getting sucked into a black hole."
A traded glance with the tengu guard confirmed they had heard exactly what they needed to. It was startling to realize that the Emperor had already moved forward with his plans, but that only meant they would have to act fast. One of the tengu's hands wrapped around the door knob to prepare for entry, but then the second voice spoke again, this time in a lower tone that sounded curious yet nervous at the same time. Instead of twisting the handle, they paused to hear what else they might know.
"Hey. I heard they did something weird with the dead bodies of all those fire demons after we used them up."
The room grew quiet long enough for Yuna to worry they had left, but then the voices resumed in a hushed whisper.
"Yeah, they condensed them all and used what was left to synthesize some kind of faux creature. I saw it once. Looked like a fire demon, but you can tell it doesn't have a soul. Its eyes were… empty like. Vacant. Like a doll or…"
Violent shaking abruptly rocked the entire island, and Yuna was forced to catch herself on a nearby rail for stability as the vessel pitched and heaved under the build-up of inertia. The pressure released with a loud rumbling boom followed by the scream of something shooting through the air away from them.
"What the hell was that?!"
The exclamation came from inside the room, but Yuna was still attempting to gain her balance when the door jerked open. With surprising grace for his size, the tengu guard showed little trouble with maintaining his equilibrium. In a gravity defying twist, he pushed off from the wall with his feet in time with the sway from the metal island, and kicked himself through the open doorway directly into the chest of the exiting researcher. Unfortunately, the rough jerk of the floating vessel also threw Yuna face first into the handle she desperately clung to, stunning her with the blow and dropping her to her knees in the narrow hallway. At the same time, the second researcher came sliding out on her backside due to her own loss of balance, and they ended up staring at one another dazedly. Upside down as she was, the researcher blinked at Yuna's kneeling form with unexpected concern.
"Are you alright, Miss?" Yuna pulled a hand away from the handlebar as the rocking lessened and gingerly touch her forehead. Her fingers came away with blood. It was only then that realization came over the researcher's face, and she struggled to sit up. "You don't belong here. How did you two get in?!"
Still dazed, Yuna watched the tengu come back out of the room, flip the female researcher on her stomach, and pin her arms behind her back.
"Hey! What the hell is going on?! Who are you?!"
Weakly, Yuna peeked around the door jam to find the other researcher tied up and unconscious. When the tengu asked if she was okay, she offered him a smile and a small nod, but kept her hand pressed over the wound on her forehead. Satisfied enough with her response, the tengu returned his attention onto their captive.
"We just need some directions."
"What?! I'm not telling you anything!" The female researcher fought the restraining hands holding her down to no avail. Swallowing, Yuna leaned forward on shaky limbs.
"The barrier seal. Tell me everything you know about it, and where we need to go to destroy it."
Voices echoed down the hallways, hinting that others would soon be upon their position. The female researcher smirked.
"What are you going to do, torture it out of me? You'll be caught before you could do enough to make me cry out…"
Forming her hands into a ball, Yuna conjured a barrier around them. It was milky and pinkish in color, and the female researcher instantly went slack-jawed in complacency.
"Barriers are the only power I excelled at more than my sisters. This one in particular forces anyone within it to speak only the truth." The tengu's expression once more held respect, but this time, Yuna did not feel quite so unworthy of it. At least with her barriers, she was confident in her own abilities. "Now, once again, tell me everything you know about the barrier seal you helped to create."
X
Something heavy and oppressive was restraining him. Like the cold, dark world at the bottom of a glacier. Like he was back in that Arctic Lab once again. Chained. Unable to move. Unable to protest. His body vulnerable to the torment and curiosity of the humans there. His fire barely able to combat the frigid chill of the dry, icy air miles deep in frozen rock. Fear choked his throat. Air strained passed the tightened passageway and into his lungs. He was not in control. He was trapped; weak; helpless. Once more only a frightened child in a world much larger and more dangerous than he had imagined.
"OPEN YOUR EYES."
Red lashes parted slowly, wearily, to find himself lying within the sphere of his core. Though the flames of his core still raged, they did little to combat the chill soaking him through. Next to him, the Kagu-tsuchi sat cross-legged. One of his hands was pressed flat over Kenshin's chest, and his otherworldly blue irises stared at him intently. Eyes that reminded him of Kaoru… and now of Kenji.
"What happened?" The words croaked from his throat. "Why can't I move?"
"THERE IS A BARRIER SEALING AWAY YOUR POWER. WE MUST BREAK IT, AND QUICKLY. MY VESSEL IS NEARING FULL TERM."
"Kenji?" Kenshin struggled to sit upright, but was unable to do more than flail his arms. "Is Kaoru alright?"
"SHE IS HOLDING ON, BUT YOU HAVE ONLY HOURS. BE FOREWARNED." Anger, like Kenshin had never before witnessed the higher being display, contorted his face and deepened his already powerful voice. The majestic blue of his eyes sparked with starbursts. "I SENSE ANOTHER OBSTACLE IN YOUR WAY. IT IS MADE OF FIRE, BUT IT IS NOT ONE OF MY CHILDREN, AS YOU ARE. IT IS AN ABOMINATION. A DETESTABLE PERVERSION OF WHAT WAS ONCE PURE. MANY OF YOUR BRETHREN WERE SLAUGHTERED FOR ITS CREATION." The hand pressing into Kenshin's chest was tense, but the Kagu-tsuchi made certain not to hurt him in any way with his wrath. "YOU WILL BE FORCED TO DEFEAT THIS OBSTACLE FIRST, BUT I ADVISE YOU TO DO SO QUICKLY. THE BARRIER MUST BE DESTROYED, OR YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO SAVE EITHER MY MOTHER OR MY VESSEL. I CAN LEND YOU A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MY POWER TO FIGHT, BUT I CANNOT RESTORE YOUR CONTROL OVER YOUR BODY."
Panic squeezed his heart as the impossible task laid before him seemed to come with no solution. "Then what do I do? Please. Tell me what I have to do."
"First off, you can stand up." The voice of a third presence jerked Kenshin's shocked gaze to his right, and his red lashes widened as a tall man squatted down next to him. His outline was hazy, like soot or ashes had smudged his appearance, but the line of his features was clear enough to be recognizable. "Sup man? You taking a nap?" The sarcastic quip was said with a smirk before the man extended one lanky arm. "Need a hand up?" An amused huff pushed from Kenshin's chest before he accepted the offered hand without hesitation.
X
A strange, oily flavor coated Okina's tongue as he stood guard before the white sphere of flames encasing Himura Kenshin. There was something extremely unnatural about the fire fiend the Emperor had named Amaterasu. While Himura's fire burned clean, this creature reminded Okina of the old smell of rampant industry and pollution from the human age. Several of the kijin Aoshi had left behind coughed into singed hands or seared elbows, their lungs unused to the taint. The beast was strong, too. Stronger than they were. Five of his own Oniwabanshuu already lay dead in the rubble of the broken Sky Palace, and more than half of their combined fighters were severely injured. At least the royal guard had dispersed as soon as the Emperor had left.
This is not what I had hoped to expend my energies on. Looking their opponent over, Okina sighed before glancing over his shoulder. Perhaps I should have gone instead of letting Aoshi go for now. A frown formed along his thin mouth. He would not have listened had I ordered him to stay. The frown transitioned slowly into a small smile. But that is good. If I am to entrust him with my only grandchild, then I prefer he be willing to drop everything for her if needed.
"Stand your ground." Giving orders to those remaining, Okina lifted his chin and hefted the one steel tonfa he had left. "This overgrown torch is begging us to be put out. Shall we oblige it?"
"Yes, sir!"
The fact that the fiend did not speak or seem to be affected in any way by the battle was unnerving, and solidified the Emperor's claim that it did not have a soul. It was only a tool to be used, and a well-made tool it was. They would not last for very much longer against it with their numbers already dwindling. Attempting to divert any more casualties, Okina faced off against the beast personally. Straining against its fire-power with wind and physical force, Okina grunted as it pushed back on his tonfa. The palm of his hand stabbed with pain as the metal of his weapon heated to unmanageable temperatures. Nearing his limit and about to retreat, Okina caught his footing just seconds after someone else from behind him slammed into the fire fiend and pushed it back.
Pristine steel breathing white flames held Amaterasu at bay, and Okina was surprised to find Himura up. His skin was paler than normal, and his red hair looked dull like barely heated charcoal. Four shots of dark red fire extended from his back, like flame spikes from a jet engine keeping him mobile and quick. Upon closer inspection, the fire almost appeared to be feathered. A grunt of exertion followed through with the sword strike, and while the fiend was off balance, Himura threw a punch with his free hand directly into the creature's chest. The blow propelled the fiend into a broken, leftover portion of the palace, which crumbled on top of it. With only two hits, Himura had forced the fiend onto the defensive. A feat none of the warriors present had achieved, not even Okina.
"Leave this abomination to me!" The command was thrown over Himura's shoulder, but his voice was strangely uneven. Two tones that did not match echoed in his words. Finally, his eyes connected with Okina, and their once pearlescent violet shifted with tones of dark green. "Can I trust you to get rid of the barrier?!" One tone dominated, and then shifted to the second almost immediately. "And evacuate anyone left nearby!"
All remaining warriors still standing saluted him at that same time, in recognition of his strength. Fisting a hand over his own heart, Okina half bowed. Their kind responded to the strong, and although Himura had failed in his transition to dragon status, he was still well above anyone there. Truth be told, between the flame celestial and the sky emperor, Okina knew who he would bet his money on. His voice joined the others as they shouted.
"Leave it to us!"
X
A/N: My apologies for the long interval between posts. I got caught up in the madness known as Palworld, lol. I also do have a lot of trouble writing and envisioning fighting portions, which is why I end up going through so much trouble trying not to actually write them. It's cool to think about what they might look like if they were animated or something, but I don't think I could write them well enough to be that interesting to read. Since this is a love story, I'm also hoping the fight sequences aren't strictly necessary. I do wish I was a better author, but I can promise that I will always do the best that I can at this point in time.
On another note, I'm obviously so oblivious to a lot of things, most of the time, but I just learned that you can have chapters read to you on the mobile FFN app. It was certainly something special to hear my story being narrated, even by an AI voice. (Although, it was also embarrassing to actively hear the typos. Ugh.) Kind of felt like those audio books with the special narrators. So cool. Now I'm curious, though. Does anyone reading my stories use this feature? I think it's great that it's offered. (I wonder if it's always been there or if it's a new feature.)
Thanks for sticking around and reading this long story! I hope you still find it enjoyable. Please cheer them on until the very end. Next up, Misao and Yahiko find their arrival to be late, Sōzō takes on a great burden, and Kaoru decides to face Sōjirō alone.