Omi frowned when Aya returned quite a considerable time later with the still untouched tray. He was just about to ask what on earth the Fire Vessel had been doing for so long when a tousled but otherwise happy Yohji appeared. Realising it was a good start and having a good idea as to why Yohji was so tousled he shut his mouth on whatever blighting remarks he�d been about to make. Instead he smiled happily.
"Glad to see you up and about again, Yohji-kun, although I do wish you�d eat something."
Yohji grinned at him and he only just ducked in time before his hair was ruffled. "I�m sorry, chibi, the food went cold. I�ll eat dinner tonight, though."
"I�m glad to hear it." Omi snatched the tray out of Aya�s hands and bounced off towards the kitchen. Dumping the untouched food, he smiled to himself. Finally, his two friends had sorted out their disagreements and had shared a bed for the afternoon. Perhaps now they could all concentrate on the serious matter of Takatori Masafumi.
He was putting away the last of the dishes when the first flashback hit him. The rice bowl slipped out of suddenly nerveless fingers to shatter on the floor.
The noise brought the others to the kitchen and he came back to himself to find them hovering round him in concern.
"What happened, Omi?" Ken asked.
"I�m not entirely sure, Ken-kun. One minute I was putting things away, the next�well this is the next.
"Do you think something tried to attack you?" Aya asked.
"No�o. It was more like a buried memory."
"A memory?" Yohji asked. "Has it come back to you?"
"I�m not sure, Yohji-kun. It seems to have happened a long time ago and all that I saw was a dark place and some very large and frightening men." He sighed. It was time to tell the others the truth. "I�ll make some tea, and try to explain."
He turned to find Aya already calmly making tea for them and, sighing, sat at the kitchen table.
"As Ken knows, I was found in an orphanage when I was about twelve years old. I was fascinated by the idea of the Vessels and was only too happy to go with those old guardians and test for Air. What I don�t remember is how I came to be in the orphanage in the first place, or how long I�d been there."
Aya placed a cup of tea in front of him before sitting down with the others to listen.
"Thanks, Aya. I think that whatever it was I�ve remembered is from the time before the orphanage. What I can�t understand is why it�s happened now."
"Not a lot we can do unless more memories return to you, chibi."
"I know, Yohji-kun." He stared down at his tea, still unnerved by what he�d seen. "The guardians said this might happen, that I might get my past returning and that it might be difficult for me. I suppose the fact that Aya is now here and that we�re working together is the reason."
"As long as it doesn�t happen while we�re dealing with whatever Takatori Masafumi has become," Aya said slowly.
"Yeah. And now Yotan�s stopped sulking, we really need to think about that one. My stone is counselling haste."
Aya nodded. "Mine too."
Omi sighed. His stone had also been pointing out the need for haste.
* * * * * * *
Kyouno Nanami yes, that�s who she really was. Tot was his name for her. She shuddered, trying to remember more; trying to stop the feeling of drowning that he always engendered in her.
The door opened and the cute boy came in balancing a tray in thin air. She giggled. That was so clever and she wished she could do it. Her giggle brought a shy, answering smile to the boy�s lips and her stomach did a sudden somersault. "What�s your name?"
"Naoe Nagi. What�s yours?"
"Kyouno Nanami. I�I�" But then she was drowning again and screamed at him. "Go away and take your stupid tricks and your tray with you!"
Nagi�s shy smile vanished and she felt ashamed at letting him take over again. "I�m sorry, Nagi, really I am."
Although the smile didn�t return, Nagi nodded and placed the tray on the floor before leaving. She edged over to it and started to eat the food. She would need her strength. He told her that.
* * * * * * *
Takatori Masafumi was in pain. First one of his beautiful creations had been snuffed out like a candle and second his little Tot was trying hard to defy his will. "Betrayed! I am betrayed on all sides! There is no room for more betrayal. I must stand alone!"
Fury washed through him, and he swelled up in size until the human casing he had worn could no longer stand the strain and fell away revealing him in all his glory.
Schon screamed and ran but he reached out a tendril and caught her easily. "Why did you return when the others are gone? Why do I need you anyway?" And he began to squeeze.
Hel attempted to reach him through the repeated calling of the name of the fool human he had used but he had no use for such pathetic sentimentality and snared her in a second tendril.
* * * * * * *
There was a wave of something unearthly, inhuman and totally evil that made Yohji shudder.
"Dear Gods! What was that?" Omi cried.
The Vessels joined as One and the disruption in the very fabric of nature made even the Group Mind stagger.
/Takatori Masafumi is no longer even vaguely human/ Yohji sent over the link /Though what he is exactly�/
/A demon/ Ken sent with conviction.
/Weapons! Now!/ Aya snapped.
Although still joined as One three of the Vessels ran for their weapons. Yohji was glad that his was always on his wrist as there was no time to lose. Then he wondered how they were supposed to get their physical bodies and weapons to Takatori Masafumi�s estate
/Our weapons are magical, Yohji-kun, and so are we/
Yohji was about to argue when a flash of pure will flowed through the link. Suddenly realising exactly what Aya was attempting he added emotion to the working as a desire to confront the demon. He felt Ken and Omi add their elemental strength to the mix and suddenly he felt like he was flying. Seconds later he was in the main room of Takatori Masafumi�s castle facing a huge, black and scaly monstrosity with tendrils that were still crushing the lives out of two of his women.
It got confused after that. Omi fired his crossbow and a dart hit the demon and made him howl and let the women go. Yohji flung out his wire and sliced off several tendrils while Ken and Aya got closer and stated hacking at the thing.
A tendril snaked around Aya and lifted him off the ground but the Fire Vessel hacked it off and, rolling, hit the floor again. Omi took the opportunity to fire another bolt into the demon�s hide and Ken ducked under several tendrils to slash the creature�s midriff.
Yohji sent out more wire, this time looping it round the demon�s neck and snapping it taut. Aya regained his feet and raised the katana, stabbing into the demon�s chest where it�s heart should have been.
There was a puff of acrid smoke and then all that was left was the body of Takatori Masafumi. Yohji shook his head to clear it and checked the women. Both were as dead as their erstwhile master.
He glanced up at the other Vessels and wondered if he looked as shocked as they did. Even Aya was wide-eyed with the realisation of what they�d taken on and defeated. Ken was the first to recover. "All right!" he exclaimed and punched the air.
Omi smiled a little unsteadily. "Come on, Ken-kun, let�s go home."
Yohji glanced at Aya. "Can we get home the same way as we came? If not it�s gonna be a long walk."
Aya nodded. "We need to rest up a bit first."
"Let�s take the opportunity to see if there�s anything here to tell us what that�thing was planning," Omi suggested.
Yohji grimaced. "Go right ahead, chibi."
* * * * * * *
Nagi was about to collect the tray as the world seemed to tilt. He glanced at Crawford to find the older Adept frowning. Just about to ask what was happening, a scream of agony from Nanami had him running to her room. He found her unconscious on the floor.
Crawford entered the room behind him. "If you want to save her, you�ll need to break the link to her master."
"I�ve tried. All I could do was weaken it." Nagi was desperate. He could still see the link in his mind, like a black, slimy trail sending its poison into Nanami�s body. He fought to stop it used every bit of his strength in the endeavour until exhausted he collapsed.
He came round to find Nanami smiling down at him and stroking his face. He blushed as he realised his head was resting in her lap. "What happened?"
"You weakened the link enough that her master didn�t take her with him into death." Crawford did not sound very enthusiastic. "Which means, I suppose, that we�re stuck with her!"
He almost giggled as Nanami glanced up at Crawford and poked her tongue out at him. Crawford sighed and rolled his eyes.
* * * * * * *
/Congratulations!/
/What the hell do you want?/
/Just to thank you for saving the world as we know it./
/Hn!/
Schuldig sighed. There was just no pleasing some people. He tried again. /I mean it. You did a fine job. Just a pity young Nagi got attached to one of the women. Well, she�s little more than a kid really, but she�s been singing like a lark./
/Oh?/
/Ah! Now that got your attention! Yes, she�s been telling us what happened to those women and how Masafumi�s magical experiments had backfired on them all./
/I assume he conjured a demon he couldn�t control./
/Spot on, Fire-boy, that�s exactly what he did. Then thought he was using the demon when it was the other way round./
/Stop calling me that! So, is this where we become enemies? You realise, of course, that I will attempt to get my revenge./
/That might not be the problem you think it is. Reiji is getting far too big for his geta!/
/Says who?/
/All in good time, Fire-boy, all in good time. Crawford wanted me to let you know that we still need each other and that you will get your revenge./
/Good./
Schuldig chuckled. /So single-minded./
/Get out of my head!/
/Okay! I�m going! Sheesh!/ Schuldig opened his eyes and smirked at Brad. "I�ve passed on your message."
Brad crossed his arms and glared back. "And no doubt upset the Fire Vessel while doing so!"
"I�ve gotta have some fun!"
* * * * * * *
Aya wasn�t nearly as upset by Schuldig�s message as he�d pretended. If the adepts weren�t intending to get in his way over Takatori Reiji that could only be a good thing. Then he got to thinking about it some more and realised that there might well be a catch and that the adepts would want something in return. He shrugged slightly to himself. He�d deal with that particular problem when it arose.
He picked his katana up from its stand and sat with it across his knees. If his elemental stone had any information for him on the subject, now would be the time to hear it. /What do I need to do?/
/You have a situation to deal with./ The stone�s response was immediate.
/Another demon?/
/One human demon, working on behalf of another. His father�s captives are taken to him and hunted like animals./
Aya�s eyes narrowed. /Who is this monster?/
/Takatori Hirofumi. I told you, all roads lead to the same destination./
Aya nearly dropped the katana in surprise. /Thank you./
/There is something else. The link between you all has strengthened the Air Vessel�s will and memory. You will have to be strong when he learns the truth./
Aya concentrated hard, desperately wanting to know more about this subject but the stone remained dark and silent. "Takatori Hirofumi," he said aloud. "Prepare to die."
~TBC~