by: Asurahime
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| False Light of the Four Gods by: Asurahime |
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| Chapter 12- It's Just a Fading Dream | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki woke up the next day, fully aware of what is about to take place. It shamed him whenever he thought about how he could have prevented all of this from happening. In the end, it did occur, and he blamed no one but himself. He looked out the window and at the bright scene before his eyes: the bright sun, the sunny expanse of land about him, which totally belied the theme of the day, which is about to commence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At least this will be a good day to die.... but it would only be a better day to live.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The red-haired seishi looked at the tray containing his breakfast at the desk near his bed. It was amazing, they were about to combat, but the servants of the palace are still obliged to feed them. Not even touching his meal, he picked up his tessen and looked at his reflection. Amber eyes stared back at him, but to his extreme surprise, they quickly dissolved and he saw violet eyes which held more than a spark of evil in them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What in the hell is this?!! .... Wait.... it can't be..." Tasuki looked again and saw that indeed, they belonged to Tamahome. "What in the hell does this mean??" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A frantic knocking emanated from his door, which echoed someone's distress. Most likely because of the fight about to take place. Sighing in regret, Tasuki opened the door and was surprised to see that no one was there to meet him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Damn, this is not the time to be playing around....." The seishi just closed the door and turned to stare at his breakfast once again, but another surprise awaited him. The tray filled with food which rested on the table near his bed just a few seconds ago has evanesced into thin air. In its place was a small hand mirror and a necklace which reflected light into all the corners of the room, making the quarter even brighter than before. He approached to artifact and picked it up; but, as soon as he did, it also vanished, leaving behind a thin, immaculately white piece of parchment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This... where did this come from? I don't need to be seeing things when I'm about to go into combat..." Tasuki turned over the paper. "Matte, there's something written on it..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A phoenix... and serpent... of fire... and ice... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A journey to revive... a journey to destroy... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The stars... the sun... the moon... are their only guides... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To seek the truth... or seek the illusion... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three virtues remembered... one virtue gained... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friendship be thy protection... or incredulity be thy downfall... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One of the fire... living to protect one... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One of the ice... shall be of the fire again... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A crimson edge striking the darkness shall take its last stand... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elements shall merge their power into one light... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A warrior shall rise... in one stroke shall save both worlds... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shall ne'er again be parted.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By ties of blood... nor ties of power... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki growled, puzzled at the riddle, so he simply folded it in half and put it in his pocket. ".... I'll ask Chiriko. Maybe that kid will be able to explain what the hell this thing could be saying." He had just resheathed his tessen, when his door was opened violently. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nuriko had wrenched the door from its frame, and was currently in the task of holding the door as the others of the Suzaku Shichiseishi filed in. "Tasuki!! I swear, you have your head up in the clouds today!! I've been knocking for Kami-sama knows how long, and I had to result in ripping your door out!! You can't be like this on the battlefield or else you won't last seconds!! " | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The emperor of Konan placed a strong hand on Tasuki's shoulder. "It's time to go my friend. I don't like this any more than you do... but you must understand that it must be done!!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No it doesn't..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Everyone turned to face Tamahome, who stood leaning on the door frame of Tasuki's room. "It wasn't our idea to start this... it's just our job to end this fiasco. Then, me and Miaka could once again be together." The violet-eyed seishi looked up coldly, almost arrogantly at the other seishi. Then, he left without another word. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is wrong with Tamahome-san?? Why is he acting so coldly at everything?" Chiriko muttered this under his breath as he petted Tama-neko. Tasuki glanced around at the older seishi, who were discussing about the best thing to do once on the battlefield; his gaze rested on Chiriko. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taking out the piece of paper from his overcoat, he approached the child. "Ne, Chiriko. Do ya happen to know what thi-----" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Before anything else could be said, a bell deeply tolled throughout Kutou Palace. It was the signal for the beginning of the judgment. The seishi glanced at each other and revealed each of their characters, which were glowing with a radiance which did not seem possible. Before anyone could make a move, a searing, soul-tearing pain shot through each of them wherever their characters were. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What does this mean?" asked Mitsukake as he stared at his palm, which felt as if it was being held into the core of a white-hot flame. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "An omen, na no da... something is going to happen to someone... soon." said Chichiri as the pain dissipated as if it was never there. He looked at the others and shook his staff. "It's time to go." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hai, we cannot escape fate." replied Chiriko. "Minna-san, gambatte!! We will all survive this." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki looked on as Chichiri spread his cape on the ground. There was no escaping this, Azeruse is the most important person in his life, but fate is fate. And if fate be willing, she will survive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He stepped on the edge of the cloth as the monk planted the end of his staff on the ground. Little did he know that it was his life that he should be worried about at that very moment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *~*~*~*~* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Suzaku Shichiseishi appeared with a sudden rush of air in front of seven figures draped in black. The silence was so thick that you could have cut it with a knife, for no one spoke, and the bright heavens from before have transformed in a color opposite of the light of day. A brilliant flash of light and the sudden blast of thunder did nothing to ruin the composure of the moment. More than lives were at stake... what was at stake was the freedom of two worlds and the Pillar which connects them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We shall begin.... Tamahome, you will fight against me." Nakago stripped off his cloak and the character on his forehead gleamed with a cold light. He glanced at the others and waved his hands, causing walls of light to spring forth from the ground. "Each of us has already been paired off with an opponent of equal power. This area will be our battle grounds. Suzaku Shichiseishi!! Each of you must enter through one of the magic circles; one per person and your adversary will follow afterwards." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Suzaku's Shichiseishi glanced at each other in disbelief and suspicion. Unfortunately, they didn't have a choice as an icy rain began to fall from the heavens. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki entered the center most circle and unsheathed his tessen. Already, he could hear the sounds of battle, flash of magic, and war cries of the others as their own combat ensued. Who will I have to fight? ..... I don't want to destroy anyone. I just want Azeruse to be Miaka again, so that all of this will stop!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He looked up when he heard the sound of steel against steel. His eyes widened when they rested on the crimson blade with a silver hilt. It was Asura... Azeruse's sword. No... it- it can't be!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Looking further up, he looked at the figure's face. Expecting to see the calm, clear, blue-violet gaze of his beloved, he was disconcerted at seeing the unaffected vermilion glare of a stranger. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Who are you?? What in the hell are you doing with Azeruse's Asura!!??!" Tasuki's fangs gleamed in the darkness, his teeth were clamped down, his fingers were in fists, and his tone was vicious. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -Tasuki, this girl is Azeruse.... but then again, this girl is not Azeruse....- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But Tasuki couldn't hear the sword's weak answer. Instead, he folded his tessen into a single blade and charged the person in front of him, slicing the air in front of the person with an arc too rapid to see. He knew from the beginning that this was a foolish move, for the enemy was probably as agile as he is. But he looked at his tessen again, and saw that he didn't miss the charge altogether. A stream of crimson dripped from the edge of the diamond weapon and fell upon the cobblestones of the circle. He looked at his enemy once more and saw that a thin streak of red was making tracks along a pale, white cheek. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why are you fighting us? We have done nothing to you, and how did you get that sword? That sword belongs to Azeruse!!" Tasuki was screaming now, unaware that the others around him were dropping like flies; both ally and foe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am not here to answer your questions... my job is to obey what I have been told to do. And that means destroying you." Asura was once again up and ready. Tasuki dropped his tessen when he heard the voice of the speaker. It was impossible, but it was a voice that he knew so well. Azeruse did not have ruby eyes, and neither did she wear black; but, she alone can wield Asura, and that is enough evidence to prove the theory. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No... no, it's not possible!! Azeruse is someone who would never hurt anyone!! You are not her, you are just an impostor or an illusion! You can't be my little sister, because she is someone I love and who cares about me and others before she even considers taking care of herself!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It seems you are mistaken. Take up your weapon. Defend yourself, or by the Four Gods of Sky and Earth, you will be dead on the floor at my feet." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will not." Tasuki turned and looked squarely at his opponent. Dead or not, he will not fight until he knows the truth of the situation... and maybe not even after that. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So be it..." The figure seemed to evanesce into thin air, with nothing marking on how it could have been done. Then, the seishi with the crimson blade reappeared ten feet in front of the red-haired boy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A pained cry of someone with Chiriko's voice pierced the air, following it was Amiboshi's voice. The heated fight has dwindled along with the fire of the others' life force, which are all down to a dim glow from exhaustion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki looked around him to see that everyone has fallen, struck down by their opponents attack. It made him uncomfortable to see that all were looking at him and his mysterious foe. He looked back at the figure in front of him and cringed when he felt a searing pain rush through his body. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It can't end like this.... I won't let it.... Aze--- no..... I cannot die... not now... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But it was too late, looking down, the red-haired seishi saw that he was impaled by a sword, crimson by nature, and crimson by the blood which stained the radiant surface. His blood. Falling to his knees, he looked up to his slayer; he saw nothing but emotionless vermilion eyes staring straight into his own. Trying to make out a feature more familiar, he took hold of the person's black cloak and slowly pulled it away. Strangely, he met no resistance as the person viciously pulled the sword out of his body and sped up the process of removing the disguise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki fell to the floor with a strangled cry of pain, but he still managed to look up. Although, as soon as he did, he wished he could have been blind for the person who he loved most is the one who tore him apart.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Foolish, that was a foolish move by you.... I warned you again and again, but you just didn't listen..." hissed Azeruse. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki's face was pale with grief and bloodloss. "Why.... Azeruse, why!!!??? What have I done, and what have they done to you? What has happened to my little sister with the clear, calm, and beautiful eyes the color of the night sky who told me all her fears and insecurities just last night?!! You aren't her! You may look like her, but you'll never replace Miaka!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse raised her sword above her head, about to deal the final blow. Although, the sword was pulsating with a steady white light... something it has never done before. "As I have told you before, I am not here to answer your questions, but only to accomplish my mission. Goodbye, Suzaku Shichiseishi..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The red-haired seishi closed his eyes as the sword quickly descended. Seconds passed, but he had not felt the cold blade even pierce through him. Instead, he saw a radiant silver light burst into life even though his eyes were tightly closed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I.... I.... can't do it..... Not to my... Aniki...." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening his eyes, he saw that Azeruse was still poised over him, with Asura still above her head. Despite the icy rain which was falling, he felt a single drop of warm water drop on his cheek. Looking up, he saw that the girl's sword had white flashed of light running along its surface, reviving everyone around him, including himself. More so, he examined his beloved and saw that no longer were her eyes the scarlet color of a dying star, but has been restored to the color of the ocean at dusk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tasuki... I can't... I can't kill you. I'm sorry..." Azeruse let go of Asura, but the sword remained suspended on the air. "I'd never kill you... I can never kill anyone as important to me as you!!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki wrapped his arms around the girl as she buried her face in his coat, muffling the cries and shedding the tears which broke even the spell of two gods. "Shh.... it's okay.... I know that it wasn't you... so don't cry... you know that I don't like to see you cry..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse looked up at the seishi and he wiped her tears away. "Tasuki...." She hugged the boy even tighter as the others around them sighed. Not even death or betrayal can tear these two apart... Tasuki kissed the girl's pale cheek, signifying that he did not think less of her, but then a dark violet orb of power struck the girl. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "AZE-CHAN!!!" Tasuki and the others of the Seiryuu Seven screamed the girl's name as the orb struck home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Knowing that the combat was not important anymore, the Seiryuu Shichiseishi and Suzaku Shichiseishi ran to the couple and formed a circle around them. All but one of them was on guard and ready to protect the fallen girl with their lives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Mitsukake healed the girl with his power, an evil laugh pierced through the silence of the storm. Tasuki was furious, he picked up the unconscious girl and raised his tessen to where the laughter originated, but Nuriko and Soi held him down. "Who in the hell are you?? What do you want from us!!?!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nothing... just what is mine.... Miaka is mine..." Tamahome walked up to the others with an evil smirk across his features. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "TAMAHOME!!! WHY DID YOU---- You said you loved Miaka, but why did you harm her?!!" Tasuki was screaming in anger at the former. His ki was reaching extremely dangerous levels and formed a barrier of red around him and the girl in his arms. ".... You're not Tamahome, aren't you?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| _No he is not, look at the color of his character... none of the Four Gods have dark violet._ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A crimson phoenix, a blue dragon, a white tiger, and a green turtle materialize in front of the the seishi. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| _He has been possessed by a demon._ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| _Which is controlled by a higher power... _ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| _Tamahome has been possessed by a dead seishi.... once of Seiryuu._ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yui came out of the palace, escaping the guards which were supposed to keep her safe inside. She came into the scene just as the illusions of the Four Gods told of Tamahome. "No... Azeruse!!" She ran over to her friend and was relieved to see that the blue-haired girl was still alive. Turning around and looking straight at Nakago, she clearly stated her mind. "Tamahome has been dominated by a dead seishi, and that seishi can be none other than Miboshi." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Tamahome' smiled evilly and raised his right hand. To everyone's surprise, a golden prayer wheel appeared and began to form a dark violet barrier around the owner. "This isn't the last.... we will meet again..." Then, he disappeared as silently and quickly as if he had never been there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preview of Chapter 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Phoenix, a Serpent, of Fire, and Ice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| _You must seek the most prized treasures of the Four Kingdoms... only then will we be able to save both worlds._ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But isn't there supposed to be a war against Konan and Kutou?" asked Azeruse as she bandaged her left arm. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| _Yes, there is supposed to be a war...._ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiriko's character appeared in a flash. "But I don't think that would be a reasonable thing to do right now, for we have more important things to worry about. Who knows when Tenkou will strike again, and if we fought against each other while that demon is loose, we won't even be fighting for anything." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The kid is right... we must begin the journey as soon as possible!!" said Tomo as he looked into his 'Shin'. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Four Gods looked at the seishi strangely and shook their heads. _No, this journey can only be taken by two of you. The one of fire, and the one of ice..._ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Notes: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *yawns as she ducks the death notices, angry people and hate mail which must be headed her way* Sorry minna, I'm awful... I know. But shikatta ga nai... it can't be helped. I've been sick, tired, and overworked for the past couple of weeks. My teachers are giving me so much work that I can barely even put in a few minutes for a few lines for my fic. I'll try my best, but I don't know... I have two sites to update, a war to battle, a club to run, a fencing, archery, and jujitsu class to teach, homework to do, three fanfics to write, six fanarts to draw, essays to start, books to read, a cult to reign over, and a *horrid* guy to put in place *unsheathes Asura* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disclaimers: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Standard disclaimers apply, once again.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho^^Chapter Eleven^^Chapter Thirteen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||