by: Asurahime
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| False Light of the Four Gods by: Asurahime |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter 10- Resolution Before the Blaze of Battle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiboshi, caught off-guard, gasped with shock that Azeruse actually attacked him, and he felt his bangs sway as he moved his head. Azeruse left, but to his surprise, a heartbeat later, his headband fell on his hand, sliced neatly at the center. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Soi, please take Amiboshi out of my room right now. I... need to think over a few things.", said Azeruse as she brought a confused Soi into the room. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soi glared at Amiboshi and raised her fingers up into the air. "Amiboshi!! You're coming with me!! Don't you know that girls have to be alone sometimes?", yelled Soi as she zapped Amiboshi with small, painful flashes of lightning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiboshi took one final look at Azeruse as he saw Soi with a hunting look in her eyes. He turned SD and ran as fast as he can out of the room; Soi following hot on his heels. The blue-haired girl suppressed a smile and locked her door tightly. She went back to Asura, who seemed to be glowing in an outraged state. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -Wake up!! You can't just throw every damn thing that you care about away!! You may not be showing it right now, but I know that you're doing what I told you not to do.-, screamed the sword. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse's expression was fierce, and her gaze was colder than ice. What do you mean? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -My child, you are shutting off all your emotions. You may be denying this, but you know as well as I do that you are beginning to do so beyond your control.- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse bowed her head, she knew that Asura was right. "I know that, but it hurts so much. I saw in the list that I am to go against Tasuki, who is now my brother. What am I going to do. This is all beyond my control, and I can't do a damn thing about it!!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -...... I don't have to answer that question. I don't have to because I know that you know the answer better than anyone else. Dear heart, don't cut yourself off. You have been given a difficult road to take, love and trust will lessen the burden.- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But I don't know that love is!! I thought that I knew before, but I lost that feeling!! Now, I don't know if I'll ever revive its meaning.", choked the seishi. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -Azeruse, the answer lies within you.- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The sword broke off the connection and left the girl to think over its last words. Asura felt deep sympathy for its wielder, but its contract does not allow it to say anything more. Azeruse doesn't know that the power that she is looking for is also binding her soul and her heart. And it will remain so until she finds someone who will let her recover that memory. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The answer lies... within me?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ~*~*~*~*~ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The next day went much better. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiboshi walked along the terrace leading to Azeruse's room to check on her. Did I say something wrong that got her angry? Man, she uses that sword really well... sliced my headband in half. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Before he even reached the room, a blue blur ran past him, checked its speed and stopped in front of him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The green-haired seishi blinked his eyes in surprise. "A-Azeruse-san??" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse blinked back, looked up at Amiboshi and actually turned a pale pink. She took out a piece of cloth from her pocket and handed it over to him. "Ohayoo Amiboshi. Uhm, I'm very sorry about what happened yesterday and cleaving your headband and all. I was just stressed out, I guess. Will you forgive me?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiboshi put the bandanna on and ruffled the girl's hair gently. "Of course I forgive you Aze-chan. You can't say that I was behaving so charmingly either." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The blue-haired seishi looked up, smiled brightly, and hugged the flutist. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Arigatoo Gozaimasu Ami-chan!!" cried the girl as she let him go. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Ami-chan', now my name sounds feminine. Amiboshi thought as he blushed . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse was about to go when Soi and Yui came running towards her and Amiboshi. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ne, what's wrong with you two?", asked Amiboshi. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse looked at the two women and sighed, frustrated. "They found out that it was us, didn't they?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soi and Yui nodded frantically as Nakago, Tasuki, and Suboshi came rushing down the corner of the veranda. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The three women and Amiboshi turned around and face-vaulted at the sight. Nakago, Suboshi, and Tasuki's hair was braided into complex patterns and had tiny ribbons woven into them. Talk about cross-dressing.... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Soi, did you do this to my hair?", asked Nakago, his eyes glinting coldly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I look like a damn female!! Why in the hell did you have to do this??", growled Tasuki as he fumbled with the task of restoring his hair. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Suboshi muttered. "How did they do it? My door is always locked tight and..." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This is our last day of being friends nii-chan. Let's at least make it a happy memory for us both, thought the blue-eyed girl darkly. Then she went over to Tasuki, forced his head down and started to untangle the many small braids in his hair. "I need to talk to you, Tasuki nii-chan." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This was said in a whisper, so Tasuki replied in kind. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So do I." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse finished, then she took him by the hand and started heading for her room. Unfortunately, she was stopped by Amiboshi. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where do you think you are taking him Azeruse?" asked Nakago, his ki starting to flare. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I need to speak with him alone, if it's not too much trouble. So we're going to my room." The girl was about to resume, but was still blocked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki glared at Amiboshi. "What in the hell is your fuckin' problem?!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You can't go into her room unless you have a chaperone.", hissed the normally easy-going flutist. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Suboshi tried to calm his brother. "Aniki, we have a treaty still. As much as I am against it, you have to trust Azeruse." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yui and Soi jumped and silenced Suboshi, who seemingly just made it worse. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse and Tasuki were still being blocked by Amiboshi and Nakago. "Fine!! I understand it when I am not trusted to be alone with my nii-chan. We won't go to my room. Let's go Tasuki." The blue-haired seishi dropped the Suzaku Seishi's hand and approached the balcony. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Before anyone could say anything, she had already climbed up to the roof. Tasuki followed without a word. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yui got off of Suboshi. "Amiboshi, I am surprised at you. You should trust Azeruse-chan. She's not the type to do anything that will disgrace her or us." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiboshi knew that she was telling the truth and bowed his head in shame. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soi went over and began unraveling Nakago's hair. "I understand that you love her Amiboshi, but you have to understand. Girls have minds and and the will to choose just as men do. She has a hard enough life to live, being torn between two rivaling groups; try not to complicate it too much." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiboshi faced everyone. "What is wrong with all of you? Your personalities have changed so drastically over such a short period of time." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yui shook her head. "I know what you mean. You apply to this too. Azeruse is Miaka and I'm supposed to hate her for that.... but there is just something about her change that makes me forget my anger. I don't understand it, I don't really want to understand it. Especially if it means fighting my battle with Miaka all over again. If that should happen, I will not fight... I can only forgive her and beg for her forgiveness no matter how much she despises me." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She greatly calms my temper. "Soi's hands began forming electricity. She then slapped the wall facing her. "Azeruse's sweetness is making me lose my killer instinct and my edge. She is so innocent when I first saw her, and that reminded me of the innocence that was taken from me at such a young age. I knew that she was Suzaku no Miko, and I would have destroyed her then celebrated, but now... she lost her memory... Dammit!!! Why did Seiryuuseikun choose her?!! I can't bear to see the young sister I never had be harmed again." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiboshi turned to Nakago. "Nakago-sama?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nakago had been quiet for quite some time. "The same as Soi and Yui-sama."He said those words and just looked towards the horizon with a frown on his face. Azeruse has regained her memory, I know it... what else would explain why her eyes turned a shade of green just before she jumped to the roof? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As soon as the five of them left, a green-haired man appeared on the veranda. His violet eyes were snapping with intensity and the smile on his face was evil. Tamahome... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But then again, Tamahome's ki was crimson. This Tamahome's ki was a purple so dark that it was almost as black as a starless night. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will get you yet Priestess of Suzaku. Know this, I knew I soon as I saw you that your life belongs only to me." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ~*~*~*~*~ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On the roof of the palace, Azeruse and Tasuki were sitting back-to-back, but were not saying anything. The heavy sense of dread was enough to describe what the two of them felt. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Of all the things Tasuki hated, being uncomfortable in silence has a place near the top. He couldn't bear to see his 'younger sister' unhappy, so he turned and wrapped both arms around her, resting his chin in her hair and trying his best to forget about the fighting that the new day will bring. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Onii-chan, what are we going to do? I don't want to have to fight against you-- guys." Azeruse's eyes were dark with despair, she almost told him that it was she that he was going up against. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki sighed. "Aze-chan, don't give up. I don't give a damn if you ar a Seiryuu Shichiseishi; you still mean more to me that anyone else in this fuckin' world." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Demo, nii-chan.... no matter how this turns out, the two gods won't be summoned, you know? Because I am torn between being the 'Priestess of Suzaku' and 'Azeruse, Seiryuu Seishi'. Well, right now I am more of Seiryuu than Suzaku..." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't care... dai suki da yo. Nothing can and will change that. I don't care how long I have to wait, be it two years or twenty. I won't let anything happened to you.", whispered Tasuki. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The girl shivered, just thinking about what might happen on the morrow. Opening her mouth to reply, another thought flashed like lightning through her mind. "Nii-chan, is there something wrong with Tamahome? I still remember being hurt by him... and being loved by him. I-I don't know. It's not like him to just give up on his personal beliefs." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki's expression hardened at the mention of the other seishi's name. For the first time, he came to realize that Tamahome has been strangely peaceful lately. That itself began to irk Tasuki, who knew that the ogre-boy doesn't give up easily, is as stubborn as hell, and once he has something on his mind, will not keep it to himself. Quietly to not betray any emotion, the amber-eyed seishi made a remark. "You still love Tamahome, don't you? Even though you changed greatly, you still retain memories of him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse grew pale and bowed her head, making her blue locks fall like a curtain to shield her face from Tasuki's gaze. "................" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Suzaku's Seishi sighed and got up to leave. "I can't tell you how you feel. That is something that people have to discover for themselves. I can only guide and protect you from those types of bastards who should try to take advantage of you." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It's not that... I don't even know what love is anymore. At least not the forever kind. My past experiences with that kind of emotion left me broken and extremely vulnerable to other's opinions. Although, I don't want anyone to be pained by unrequited love because of me, should that ever happen..." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| With a start, Azeruse and Tasuki took note for the first time of their surroundings. High above the palace were birds the color of pure snow hovering about the clouds. Coming from the western horizon, the sky has slowly began to change into the color of Tasuki's flames. Without a visible or explainable signal, dusk approached the land in a furious, silent storm. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| _~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preview of Chapter 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A True Heir of Fire and Ice | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The blue-haired seishi was grateful for a moonless night, that she might weep her heart out and Tasuki not see. She refocused her eyes on the horizon and listened to the sound of the sky turning overhead, the fiery vision has darkened to the color of the shadow of death. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I must go.", Azeruse said lifelessly, choking back the sobs which threatened to betray her feigned coldness. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki nodded. "We will meet again tomorrow." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She almost could not say the words. "Please take care, my brother." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oh gods... "Yes. Please go quickly, for I can't bear this.", Tasuki didn't have as much control as the girl and his voice was soft and breaking. He couldn't meet Azeruse's eyes, but he kissed her forehead in a gesture of parting. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Notes: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| So sorry that this chapter took so long minna... I seriously injured my right wrist and could barely type at all. I just hope that you liked it. I'll have Chapter 11 up as soon as I write it... this is harder than it seems, and I'm just happy that I don't have a deadline like some authors... once again, sorry. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disclaimers: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Standard disclaimers apply. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho^^Chapter Nine^^Chapter Eleven | |||||||||||||||||||||||||