The Mystic Chronicles
chapter 4
by Morgan
Hi ya! Here is the chapter 4. Hope you'll like it!
(insert disclaimer)
Chapter 4
Separation
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As soon as the portal close behind them, darkness surrounded them. “This is great! How are we going to see where we’re going?!” asked Kuwabara, sarcastically. At those words, Mokaram muttered some words under her breath and four sticks, that were hanging on her belt, lighted on. Kurama noticed they were standing on a kind of bridge, suspended in mid-air. Celest looked around her. Sorchania was readjusting some locks of hair, which had escaped from her twisted knot. Her mask was glowing softly under the dim light. Mokaram and Damia were talking together, as usual. Kurama appeared to try to calm Hiei down. This one seemed to be ready to kill Sorcha, again, while Yusuke and Kuwabara were waiting for the following. “What have you done this time?” whispered Celest to her best friend, when Sorcha came beside her. This one opened big innocent green eyes; “I have done nothing!” Her friend glared at her, suspiciously. “He started first!” said Sorcha, as if it was an explanation.
“He’s part of the team, remember?”
“It wasn’t my idea!”
“You’ll have to excuse yourself.” said Celest.
“Over my dead body!” whispered Sorchania, dryly. A little
*Sweatdrop* appeared over Celest’s head. Then, she looked back at Kurama.
The tall red-haired boy seemed to have been able to calm his friend a little. Of course, Hiei totally refuse to take notice of Sorcha. This one was ignoring him as well, keeping staring at the road ahead of them, waiting for the following. “Before we start, there is a rule you MUST obey.” said Mokaram, turning towards the YYH team. “The Ways are extremely dangerous. You fall over this bridge and, if you are lucky, you’ll die. If not, you’ll be lost forever.” she continued. Yusuke and Kuwabara looked uneasily around them. With the light, they were able to distinguish other bridges around them. Some seemed to go on and on forever, whereas some appeared to start or finish nowhere. Others were crossing with some. Lots were broken. ‘Spooky!’ thought Yusuke.
“Any questions?” asked Damia. The team’s members shook their heads. “We better team up. We don’t have enough torches for everyone.”said Mokaram.
*Just don’t team Sorcha with Hiei.* said Celest.
*It’ll be preferable if each of us team up with each of them.*
*Do you want the Ways burned to the ground?* asked Celest.
*No, but...* “Hey!” cried the Mage, as she discovered that Sorchania had just stole one of the torch. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Settling down the argument.” answered casually the Amazon, while hanging the torch on her belt, beside her dagger.
“Well, well... Our dear little princess is coming back home...” said Mystram, looking in the Dark Mirror, incastred into the ground. “We have to send her a welcoming committee...” she continued, putting out a little black bottle from her pocket. Humming to herself, she smiled as she poured the contain of the fiole onto the mirror. “Welcome back, Princess Celest.” she said as the glass absorbed the dark liquid. The youkai laughed.
The procession finally gets going. Celest and Sorchania were leading, followed by Kuwabara and Damia, then by Kurama and Hiei. Mokaram and Yusuke were forming the rear guard. Kurama swiftly looked at his friend, who was walking beside him. Even under the dim light, the torches provided it just enough to see where you were going, the red-haired boy could see that Hiei was still furious over something. The half-Koorime’s was closed and anger was darkening the colour of his eyes, from rubies red to the dark colour of blood. «So, you’re okay?» Kurama asked. “Hn.” was the only reply he got.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Nothing!” said Hiei, dryly.
“So... You’re in a fool mood for... Nothing?” Hiei didn’t answer back. After a few minutes, Kurama started again; “I think that your Amazon is more the cause than, nothing.”
“She isn’t MY Amazon!” gritted Hiei, between his teeth.
“I still think she’s the reason...”
“SHUT UP!!!” the half-Koorime almost shouted. From the front, Sorcha turned towards them and pressed one finger against the silver lips of her mask, motioning them to keep quiet. Hiei’s face was a mask full of tension. At the front, the girls laughed.
Meanwhile, at the front. “So... What happened?” asked Celest. The little Amazon only shrugged. “Come on! You know you can tell me...” the princess continued.
“It’s none of your business!” answered Sorchania, keeping her eyes on the road.
“Sorcha...”
“Hn.”
“Tell me...” said Celest, with a cajoling tone.
“No.”
“Come on...”
“No.” Sorcha was trying to hold back her laugh. “Pretty please?” Her friend shook her head, trying hard to not laugh. “With sugar and spices?” Celest said. Sorchania looked at her; “I hate you sometimes, do you know that?”
“Why?” her friend asked, with big wide innocent sea-green eyes.
“You know why. So, stop playing the innocent little girl.”
"OK. But, tell me what happened.” ordered Celest. The Amazon drew an exasperate sigh; “Do you ever let go?” she asked. Celest seemed thoughtful for a moment. “No!” she answer finally.
“Thought so.” said her friend.
“So, what happened?”
“I don’t know! I think it’s because his male pride cannot take the fact that I beat him during the challenge.” she said.
“Shut up!” the two girls heard from behind. Sorchania turned and motioned them to keep silent. “Babies!” the girls said in the same time. Then, they burst out laughing.
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Part 2
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Kurama looked at the Fire Youkai, as Hiei sat down beside him. “Feeling better?” he asked. Hiei only shrugged. Kurama, satisfied with the ‘answer’, walked toward Celest, that had been left alone. “Hey!” she said, as she noticed his presence.
“Hey yourself!” he answered. Then, glancing around; “Where’s Sorcha?”
“She went to pick up the stuff for the fire. Celest said, pointing vaguely toward somewhere.
“Oh... Do you need help?» he asked. The princess shook her head; “I just sent Sorcha away for that. It’ll be ready soon.”
“Do you mind a bit of chat with me, then?” the boy asked. Celest lifted up her head and her gaze dived into the dark green pools full of mysteries. “Depend about what.” she answered, turning her eyes away from the eyes of the gorgeous tall red-haired boy in front of her.
“How did you all manage to escape?” Kurama asked, bluntly. The girl nearly drops the knife she was holding. Her hands were slightly trembling. Obviously, the souvenirs of that day were still hard.
Celest drew out a deep long sigh. ‘He has the right to know. After all, he is part of the team.’ She shut her eyes tightly, ‘It just so hard!’
The red-haired boy was watching intensely every move the girl in front of him was doing. Every inch on his being wanted to protect her. ‘She seems so vulnerable!’ thought Minamino Shuuichi.
‘Oh! Shut up! You’re reacting like a pup, which had never saw a female before!’ thought the Yokho’s part. Kurama winced inwardly; ‘I must be the only being in the three worlds that possess two personalities in continual conflict in his head!’ he thought. Then, Kurama opened his eyes and his gaze met Celest’s one. “Do you still want to know?” she asked. The boy nodded cautiously. “Better start by the beginning then.” the girl sighed.
“The Silvery Realm hadn’t been took when Demon left you, but some 300 or 400 years before.” Celest smiled a little at Kurama’s shocked expression. “When Mokaram had to go, it wasn’t because of the invasion, but because Sorcha and I were about to wake up.” And, as the princess told her story, hated memories came back into her mind. The smell of burn. The sight of blood staining the white marble floor and the destruction of the magnificent garden where she use to play when she was a little girl. The cries of her friends and relatives falling around her. The panic when she saw Kaim and when she discovered that she was totally immobilised. The terror that took her when she saw him coming towards her. “If he had touched me, he would have consume me mind, soul and body.” she said. The relief when the sight of her nearest and dearest friend, Sorcha, jumped in front of her to protect her. A fight between the Amazon and the Vampire started. At the end, the feeling of strong arms dragging her still immobilised being to the hibernation chambers. The yields of Sorchania, fighting fangs and claws, vainly trying to free herself from Htaed’s strong embrace. “I wanna fight!!” the Amazon shouted, before they froze her. “She never forgave herself for letting Htaed dragging her to the chambers.” Celest said.
Kurama said nothing. The girl had just showed him an unbelievable thrust, which he’d never saw in his 400 years of existence. The boy reached for her and whispered as he took her in his arms; “I’m sorry, I should have known better...” And he hugged her, without uttering another word.
“The fox is stealing your place.” said Mokaram to Sorcha. The black-haired girl turned quickly and saw Kurama hugging her best friend. She smiled under her mask; ‘It was about time she caught him!’ she thought. Sorcha turned back to the Mage; “The important is that we stay friends.” she said.
“You are not worry?” the red-haired girl asked, a little surprise. The little Amazon shook her head; “Celest is strong enough. I don’t think she’ll let him overpower her. No matter how handsome he is and how interesting his behind is.”
“Don’t tell me that you’re after him, too!” said Mokaram.
“Who? ME?! No way!! He is TOO tall for me!” Sorcha claimed.
“But, he still has a great body.” noticed Mokaram, calmly.
“Oh! I have a victim already!” said Sorcha, shrugging.
“Spiky?” Demon asked, glancing at Hiei, who was watching Kurama and Celest, with an air of disbelief. “He doesn’t look to keen about it.” she said, turning back to Sorcha.
“Of course not! If he was, I wouldn’t call him my victim, would I?” asked the Amazon.
“You got a point.” agreed Mokaram. “There.” she said, throwing the logs of wood for the fire at her friend. Sorchania caught it easily and walked away.
Hiei looked away from Kurama and Celest. ‘At least, I’m not the only one who is under the spell of those girls!’ he thought. His eyes widened slightly at this thought; ‘Stop it!’ he said to himself, ‘I’m not under ANYBODY’s spell!’
‘Oh…? Was it for that reason you were so angry with Sorchania?’ asked the part of the mind that always appeared to nag him.
‘Shut up!’ Hiei said tensely. But the nagging voice just laughed at him, before it disappeared. Hiei, then, noticed he was clenching his fists with an incredible strength. The half-Koorime took a very deep breath and forced himself to relax. He was so tense that he could let the Kokuyuha go at any time. That would have certainly destroyed the “island” they were on and kill everyone. And, finding an explanation for Koenma about why he’d destroyed the Ways, was just too much trouble for nothing. Hiei lifted up his head, when he sensed the ki of Phoenix. His back stiffens, ready for another argument. But, the little Amazon didn’t take any notice of him; she seemed to be puzzle by something.
Hiei watched her as she dropped the wood on the ground. Then, Sorchania shook the dust off her hands and kneeled down in front of the pile of dry branches she had time to make while he was “arguing” with the voice. ‘Odd.’ he thought as he saw the Amazon lighting up the fire manually. ‘Why isn’t she using her powers?’ Slowly, Hiei removed his bandanna that covered his Jagan and closed his eyes. Gently, he scanned Sorcha; he didn’t want her to discover what he was up to. ‘Shit! Her youki is far too low! How did that happen?’ Images flashed in his mind; the Amazon hugging her friend, then the whistling and Celest, falling asleep. “You didn’t have to hit her that hard, you know. She was already weak…” Genkai’s voice echoed in his head. The boy gasped when he understood that Sorchania had absorbed all the deadly energy in the attack of the Lady. ‘I didn’t know she was THAT weak!!’ he thought.
‘Why? You’ll have knocked her less powerfully?’ asked the nagging voice.
‘Maybe not. She WAS annoying after all.’
‘Oh? It certainly doesn’t have any connection with the fact that she seems to kiss you whenever she gets the chance, does-it?’ the voice asked. Hiei’s jaws were aching since he was squeezing them, again. ‘If you keep on going like this, you’ll need a Ningen dentist. And, you know they won’t be very gentle with your teeth.’ chipped the voice. ‘Well, I must admit that you FINALLY found a way to get rid of Sorcha!’ it continued, a few minutes later.
‘SHUT UP!’ grounded Hiei. The voice laughed again, then disappeared. The boy looked at the Amazon. She hasn’t been able to light up the fire yet. Annoyed, more about the nagging then about the girl, he threw a fireball on Sorcha’s wood pyramid.
The little Amazon was puzzled about the fact that her energy was so low. ‘By the Fires! How did that happen?’ She had done it before! Celest was a prized gift that any Youkai that had enough brains (situation that was very rare!) and powers (Too often!). Kaim was only one in a million. The only difference with the others was that this guy managed to get the first place on her black list. Sorcha sighed. Then, she caught something at the end of her peripheral vision and quickly jumped out of the way.
The wood burned as soon as the fireball hit it. Sorchania looked at the wood, which was finally burning, then to the only Fire Demon in a perimeter of X km around and with who she had the bad luck to find herself with, although he was totally gorgeous, but that was a detail. The girl took a deep breath. For once, she didn’t want any fight with him. *Thank you* she told him, mentally. Then, she brings her attention back to the fire.
The thanks surprised Hiei, a little. Yukina, Kurama and Yusuke excepted, nobody ever thanked him, especially not a girl of that kind! Hiei looked at Sorcha. Her gracious little body was bending toward the fire, while her little hands, such little hands for a warrior, were replacing some branches his fireball had knocked off. The girl lifted up her head, probably sensing that she’s been observed. Her dark green cat-like eyes were questioning his reason for watching her so intensely. *Why did you come to fight when you knew your ki was so low?* he asked.
*You scanned me!!!* gasped Sorchania, accusingly. Hiei only “humped”; *Your ki must be very low if you couldn’t sense me when I did it!* Sorcha didn’t say anything and turned her head to watch the fire; she obviously didn’t want to keep on talking. *You haven’t answered my question.* said the boy calmly. Sorcha looked at him, eyes wide with astonishment. *I don’t let go easily.* Hiei said, as if it was an explanation.
*Me neither, Spiky!* answered Sorchania, dryly. Hiei smirked; *It appears it’ll be an interesting evening.* The Amazon lifted up her chin as a challenge. Hiei laughed silently, for once, he had the last word!
Angel laughed as she looked into her mirror. Her plan was perfect and was going extraordinarily well! Soon, the song of the Lost Souls will reach them, and it will finally be the end of the Mystics! Mystram laughed evilly; they will finally pay for what they dared done in the past! Something caught her eye in the mirror. ‘He is GORGEOUS!!’ she thought as she gazed at the image of a little spiky haired youkai. “I want him!” she whispered. Quickly, she sends an image of the youkai to the Lost Souls; *Bring him to me!* she commanded. Then, she looked back at the mirror; “Soon, very soon, you’ll be MINE!” she promised, as she passed a light finger on the Youkai’s picture.
The Dark Angel was so absorbed in the contemplation of the image in her mirror, that she never noticed the other command that reached the Lost Souls, soon after hers. In the mind of the spirits, the image of a girl had been formed, and the order was; “Bring her as well!”
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Part 3
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Dinner was very silent that night. Kurama looked around. Celest was lost in her thoughts, probably thinking of what happened to her kingdom. Damia and Mokaram were discussing about some plans. Sometimes, Yusuke or Kuwabara were joining in. As for Hiei and Sorcha, for once, their situation was reversed. It was Hiei’s turn to be happy and Sorcha’s one to be annoyed.
Kurama sat down beside his spiky haired friend. “What happened? You look dammed pleased with yourself.” he asked Hiei. This one only answered by a smirk. Kurama looked in Sorchania’s direction. She was watching the fire intensely. Then, probably thinking she wasn’t watched, Sorchania passed a quick hand in front of her suddenly tired eyes. The red-haired boy looked at the youkai beside him. ‘What was in Hiei’s eyes? Worry? Concern?’ Kurama asked himself. The little Amazon suddenly gazed in their direction. Then, she stiffens her back and arrogantly lifted up her chin, when she probably saw the unusual emotion in Hiei’s eyes. Hiei frowned and looked away, mentally admonishing himself for being stupid. Kurama smiled, he found the situation VERY amusing!
Later in the evening, Mokaram decided it was time for everyone to get some rest. “I’ll take the first watch.” said Sorcha, getting up.
“You should rest, you’re too weak to fight anyway!” said Hiei
“Shut up, Spike!” Sorchania answered back, dryly.
“Don’t tell ME to shut up, woman! If you think I’m going to let you get killed because you don’t have enough strength, you can just dream on!” replied Hiei, getting more and more furious at every word. The other YYH team’s members were looking at them with bubbly eyes. It was the first time Hiei was showing feelings (if you can call it like that) for somebody, except for Yukina and Kurama.
Celest broke the fight; “Enough!!” she shouted. “We don’t have time for those childish stupidities! Since both of you want to take the first watch, you’ll do it together! Don’t even think to protest Sorcha, I’m really not in the mood!” she continued, when she noticed that the little Amazon was going to say something, as usual. This one closed her mouth, with her mask on, it was hard to tell, and disappeared into one of the tents.
A few minutes later, she came out with two rolled wool cloaks. “There.” she said, nearly throwing one into Hiei’s face, “Nights get cold around here.” Then, she sat back where she was before, wrapped in her cloak. Satisfied, Celest entered one of the tents and went to sleep. Mokaram, Damia and Kurama did the same. Hiei sat down near of Sorchania, while Yusuke was dragging away a still bubble-eyed Kuwabara. Silence fell on the island.
A bad feeling woke Sorcha up. She opened her eyes to see Hiei, standing beside her, his sword out, looking around him. He too had sensed something. Passing over her desire to bang his head for letting her sleep, Sorchania got up and pulled out her sword. Hiei looked at her; the burning sensation on his Jagan told him that the Amazon had opened her third eye. *You’ll be alright?* he asked.
*Don’t you have other things to do than being worried about me?* she asked him, annoyed. Hiei didn’t answer back, even if he knew how weak and tired she was. A long minute passed without the two of them moved. *Shit!* shouted Sorcha, mentally. But, before she had the time to alert the others, the Lost Souls attacked.
An inter-dimensional tornado ravaged their camp, taking everyone by surprise. Sorchania fought to get to Celest. Hiei, seeing that Kurama had reached the princess, easily caught up with the little Amazon. “You won’t be able to attain her! She’s too far and you’re too weak!” Sorcha didn’t answer and struggled to break free. Seeing that he had no other choices, Hiei knocked her out. As he took her in his arms, a strong wind flew them away from the rest of the group.
When Hiei woke up, he was in a dark chamber, in a place he didn’t know, with a fainted girl in his arms. ‘Great! Now what am I doing?’
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That's all folks! See you at chapter 5!
