Yohji awoke the following morning to find Aya still asleep in his arms. He gazed at the beautiful Fire Vessel and wondered, not for the first time, what it was that Aya saw in him. He was nothing special, not compared to the man in his arms.
He had never regretted becoming Aya�s lover and had been completely faithful to him since their first getting together. He found that he didn�t feel the need to be in control with Aya either and that he was content to play a more submissive role.
His thoughts were interrupted as Aya stirred and opened his eyes, blinking at him as he came to full awareness. "Good morning."
Aya glanced round the unfamiliar room, frowning until he settled again, obviously realising where they were. "We should get up. It wouldn�t be polite to keep the old ones waiting."
Yohji nodded. "I was afraid you�d say that. You�re right though. We need to listen to what they have to say. After that we have a flower shop to rebuild. Quite a busy day."
"Kudoh�" Aya growled warningly, apparently not in the mood for silliness. "Let�s go."
"Yes sir!"
They dressed quickly and went to look for their hosts and the other Vessels. They found them sat round a low table ready to eat. The old ones smiled as they joined them.
"Welcome, sit, eat, be comfortable and listen to what we have to tell you."
Yohji found himself obeying without even thinking about it. He helped himself to rice and fish and listened as they spoke in turn.
"You have met and even been assisted by the Adepts that once worked for Takatori Reiji. You even consider them your friends. This is a possibility but there are others."
"Debts owed to them will have to be repaid. They strive for freedom and must be allowed to win it."
"One of them may fall into the abyss. If that happens then woe to the world. You must prevent that."
"Get in the way of their quest for freedom and you could die at their hands. They must be freed from their shackles."
This was all well and good, Yohji thought, but what did they have to be freed from and what was this talk of an abyss about? Seeing the frown on Ken�s face and the look of bemused concentration on Omi�s, he realised he wasn�t the only one who was confused.
"We are prepared to help them and to repay our debt to them," Aya said, "but we need more information."
Their hosts seemed to relax at his words and the one he always regarded as their leader spoke. "There are always Adepts in the world when there are Vessels. Sometimes they work with the Vessels, sometimes against them. It always depends on those who brought them forth."
"This time they were brought forth by the elders of a strange, magical group called Essett. There were originally four of them, but one, their leader, died at the hands of the last group of vessels."
Yohji gasped. "But that would mean they�re over two thousand years old."
"Yes, they are well over that. Nearer three thousand. The last Vessels killed both their Adepts and their leader, weakening them considerably."
"And the Adepts that we know work for them?" Omi asked.
"Yes, but they are different to most Adepts that have come before them. They actually want freedom from these elders. Instinctively they feel the evil that bringing back the elders� leader would unleash upon the world."
Another of the old ones took up the tale. "Doubtless the Elements have informed you of the Balance. If it tips too much one way or the other, then the whole fabric of nature falls apart. The world ends. Takatori Masafumi called forth a demon that eventually controlled him. He would have toppled the Balance one way. If the elders get their way, they will topple it in the other direction."
"You must aid the Adepts to achieve their freedom. You must destroy the rest of the elders between you."
And that gave them a lot to chew over, Yohji realised. While he was able to acknowledge how useful the Adepts had been to them, trusting them was another matter entirely. He glanced around the other Vessels and saw they were as confused and uncomfortable as he was.
"They are mischievous spirits, we know, but there is no reason for you to distrust them on this matter. Believe us when we say that they will need to trust you, that they will need your aid."
"But for now, you have a much loved shop and home to rebuild. Listen to your Elements through the stones. They will not lead you astray."
The four elderly men rose to their feet and left them to finish their breakfast in peace. None of them spoke, but Yohji could feel their minds working, just as his was, taking in this new information and wondering how best to proceed.
* * * * * * *
It was upsetting to see the burned out wreck of what had once been a thriving flower shop and their home. So upsetting, in fact, that Omi was almost in tears. Ken placed a comforting arm round his lover�s shoulders. "Don�t worry, Omi, we can soon rebuild. Maybe even make some improvements."
"You really think so, Ken-kun?"
"Of course I do! We saved all our belongings, didn�t we? And our savings. Some good seasoned wood and we�ll be well away, right Yotan?" He caught Yohji�s eyes, frowning direly at him as he tried to get his thoughts across, upbeat for Omi�s sake.
Yohji appeared to catch on. "Yeah, with any luck we�ll be sleeping under a roof tonight."
Aya turned to stare at them both. "Don�t be ridiculous. It�ll take weeks to rebuild. But we have enough to stay at an inn in the meantime."
"Aya!" Why couldn�t the Fire Vessel play along and help to cheer Omi?
"What? You expect me to lie for you just to save Omi�s feelings? He can see for himself that it will take time."
"Yes, I can," Omi said, straightening his sagging shoulders and looking very determined. "So instead of standing here talking about it, we need to be visiting the builders and getting quotes and materials, don�t you think?"
Suitably abashed, Ken agreed and they headed off to look into the rebuilding of their home.
~TBC~