by: Asurahime
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| False Light of the Four Gods by: Asurahime |
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| A Journey to Revive, A Journey to Destroy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A tall man paced along the perimeter of a raised dais in a room void of anything but the darkness of grief and the emptiness of despair. The only things visible in the room were the being, a warped throne, the floor stained with battle and death, and a crystal sphere which reflected an eerie light of a violet-gray color. This was not a place one would normally think of as a location where someone could reside, for the silent screams of the damned seemed to bounce off the darkness and introduce your soul to an agony so profound and long-lived that even death could not end the pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The man's footsteps stopped in its tracks and turned around to face the crystal sphere in the center of the room. An image of silver hair, pale complexion, and the yellow eyes of one who has committed a sin which not even the penalty of death could compensate was visible on the inside. The very image of the Majin Tenkou was the appearance of a human who has sold his soul to himself-- one who believes himself as a god. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Majin." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If I didn't need your services, I would have sent you to burn in the hell which you belong to, Tamahome. What do you have for me?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A familiar cerulean haired man appeared behind Tenkou and knelt down on one knee. Although the gesture was one of respect and reverence, the evil smirk on the former seishi's facade was one of mockery and complacency. "Forgive me, Tenkou-sama. The journey has begun, and the Light and the Fire are on their way to Hokkan, to search for the Shinzaho of Genbu." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenkou's gaze remained on the sole light source in the room as he contemplated on what Tamahome told him. "The Shinzaho of Genbu... the hand mirror of the Priestess of Genbu. Do you know where it is?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We are already searching for it. I have already dispatched Renhou to search for the location in Hokkan. It won't be long until we have set the trap for the Light and the Fire. The won't succeed... they cannot. Now..... what else must I do to regain my freedom? I refuse to know that I am acting as your vassal without knowing that I'll have my own will again." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The white-haired man moved to the right of the violet sphere so that its light outlined Tamahome's features. "There is only one thing that I ask of you. When the task is finished, then you are free to do as you choose." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tamahome looked up suspiciously at the demon. "And what is this task which you risk the lives of others to accomplish?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Destroy the Light, destroy the Fire, and help me regain the power that is rightfully mine..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tamahome rose to his feet as a violet symbol appeared on his forehead. It was a familiar symbol, but the fact that it was a different color made the character achieve an even more sinister meaning. "You can order me around, condemn my soul, even harm me both physically and mentally, but that is one order which I refuse to obey. I will destroy the Fire, but the Light belongs to me. I will not accept to have anything befall her." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Dare you speak to me at that tone?! Foolish mortal! I have given you power and that is more than enough to what you are entitled to! Destroy them both and I will give you more powers beyond your wildest dreams." Tenkou faced the corrupt seishi and fixed his yellow gaze intently at the stubborn face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Che, I don't care about power. I don't give a damn about them, for the only thing which escapes me is the object of my desire." The seishi pointed a finger to the violet crystal globe of power before the demon. A figure with blue hair, bright blue-violet eyes appeared; but the girl seemed to have noticed that she was being watched, so she swiftly unsheathed her blood-red sword and chanted a few words. White light erupted from the globe and the image faded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The demon approached the crystal. "I see why you so covet that girl, with that much magical power and a will that strong, her potential is incalculable. Fine, destroy the Fire, but bring the Light to me. She will not be harmed, but her power will be mine." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ~*~*~*~*~ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Azeruse... is something wrong?" asked Nuriko. He saw the girl whip up her sword and whisper a charm just a few seconds before. Never has he seen Miaka or Azeruse this wary, for the seishi seemed to have all of her senses alert. "Are you feeling all right?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "..... I'm fine, Nuriko... I just had a feeling that something was watching me. Some strangely powerful, yet familiar life force which I have encountered in the past. It's hard to explain, because it seemed to be the equivalent of both light and dark, evil and good, black and white..." Azeruse counted the comparisons on her fingers and stopped to look out of her window. She and her companions have now spent two days out in the open sea, making their way to Hokkan. The seishi of both sides were still not convinced that Azeruse and Tasuki would be able to undertake the journey alone, so they sent Nuriko, Soi, Chichiri, Mitsukake, and Tomo with them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "......... I was kind of expecting you to say 'red and blue' instead of 'black and white', to tell the truth. So many things as going on at the same time so quickly that I can't help but admire how you have handled all of this pressure. One piece of advice from me... when we reach Hokkan, you and Tasuki will be on your own. I really don't like having to put either of you in this position, but none of us have a choice or a say in the thing." Nuriko picked up a piece of parchment containing the riddle from the table. "Never forget that this riddle is unlike anything that you have tried before. It must be solved line-by-line to uncover the true meaning. Since the gods have been the one to give it to Tasuki, it means that you fates are dependent on these words." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse took the paper from Nuriko and placed it flat on the table. "It doesn't quite make any sense... how could my future rest on this piece of parchment? But since it is our only hope... I'll take risks.... wait..... " The girl placed a finger on two of the lines of text on the paper. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A phoenix... and serpent... of fire... and ice... | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A journey to revive... a journey to destroy..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Another voice replied rather than Nuriko's. "Have you figured out the meaning of those two lines?" Soi entered the room and sat down on the chair on Azeruse's left. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where is Tasuki?" asked the blue-haired girl. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm over here. What is everyone doing in here? Is it all right if I joined? I can't find a damn thing to do in this whole damn ship and I'm damn bored!!!" Tasuki took the chair beside Nuriko and fixed an intent gaze on his 'little sister's' face; so caring and sympathetic, yet capable of being filled with the berserk rage of battle. It truly hurt Tasuki to know that Miaka has been changed, but neither could he get rid of the satisfaction that his feelings have actually been returned and freely by a faithful heart. Now, more than ever, anxiety and hesitation clouded the cheerful features of the former priestess; however, that altered nothing in the way the red-haired seishi felt about her, if anything, he grew even fonder of her. "Aze-chan?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A phoenix... and serpent...." Soi brought a finger up to her lips in a gesture of thought. "Do you suppose that those are Suzaku and Seiryuu?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It's possible... but that doesn't solve anything..." replied Tasuki. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nuriko resisted from punching the impudent seishi into the wall. Instead, he stepped on Tasuki's foot, causing the other to cry out in surprise and pain. "Ne, Tasuki.... you should be more courteous, since being a pessimist doesn't solve much either." rejoined Nuriko. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Suzaku is the phoenix god of fire, and Seiryuu is the serpent-dragon god of ice and water.... I am positive that those two are what the first line is talking about. Still..... we know what that does it mean by 'of fire' and 'of ice'? We know the gods, but is the passage speaking of a person or an object?" asked Azeruse. "If solving this is the only way that things would get back to the way they used to be, and to defeat the Majin.... then that is what I will set my heart and mind in doing. I won't stand for anyone to suffer the desperation which Tenkou will force upon the people of this world. The only way to stop that from happening is by defeating him." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But how will you do it? How do we even know if it is within these words that the fate of the world and the lives of all humanity rest in? You and Tasuki are going alone into a battle in which your enemy has the power to summon the very surface of the earth to crack and engulf you in a matter of seconds...... but you still won't turn back." Soi slowly got up from her chair and walked back out into the deck of the ship. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "...... Soi has a point. This journey you two are taking is one that is dangerous... all of us can't help but worry if you will survive or not. Just remember to take care of each other and to think before acting." said Nuriko, but then he looked at Tasuki. "Well, both of you will take care of the other, but only one of you will think before acting..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A blue-haired monk suddenly entered the room with his staff in hand and his perpetually smiling mask was off, showing the scar on his left eye. "Nuriko, Azeruse, Tasuki.... we have reached Hokkan, na no da. You two," he said, nodding to the girl and the boy. "ki o tsukete, be careful. Nuriko, Mitsukake is asking for your assistance on deck, no da." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The violet-haired man nodded and left with a smile as a parting gesture. When Nuriko was gone, Chichiri focused the sight of his one good eye on the two teenagers before him. They seemed so young, vulnerable, and untrained, yet the fate of every living thing rests on their cooperation and determination. Their life..... is like a fire, so brightly burning... but it can be extinguished when then wind blows upon them.... or.... it can be that the wind will only fan the flames brighter... "Despite that I cannot come with you... I will remain here to keep watch. Tenkou is a dangerous enemy, and my power will never be sufficient enough to even scratch his cape... but both of you must find the way to defeat him, no da. Your journey will be long and harsh, but I know you'll be all right, no da." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Chotto matte kudasai, Chichiri-san..." Azeruse held on to the monk's staff before he could leave. "When you say that Tasuki and I are going on a journey... is it a journey to revive and a journey to destroy?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki glanced worriedly at his companion. "You know..... that's true... We are travelin' to revive this world from a certain bastard's tyranny, and we're off to kill him as well." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chichiri brought down his staff on top of Tasuki's head. "I think I liked it better when you were less crude in your words, na no da." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse smiled and folded up the piece of paper. "No use getting complacent around Chichiri-san, Tasuki. Let's go! We know at least a little bit about the riddle now, but we still have a long way to go. Chichiri-san, do you know what the Shinzaho of Genbu is?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The monk shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Aze-chan. I don't know what it is, but you'll gain valuable information by asking around, no da. Just keep your wits about you and you'll be all right. I'll put a barrier around the two of you to protect you as well as I can." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So, let's go!! .............." Azeruse blinked and noticed that Tasuki didn't answer. She looked around the room, yet still no Tasuki. Finally, she looked on the floor and noticed that her companion was out cold and had a massive bump on his head. "Chichiri-san.... just how hard did you hit Tasuki?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I didn't hit him that hard, na do da." replied Chichiri as he sweatdropped like crazy. "Oi, Tasuki. Wake up!!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As the monk prodded the seishi with his foot, Azeruse caught up his tessen and came up with an idea. "Chichiri-san, please stand back." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why, no da?" Chichiri saw the girl lift up the tessen, and quickly scrambled away from her. "Be careful!!!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Rekka Shinen!!!" Azeruse brought down the diamond weapon as flames erupted from the blades. The inferno never missed in Tasuki's capable hands, and they didn't miss in Azeruse's hands either as the red-haired seishi jumped up off the floor with all attention focused and ready for battle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Such an easy way to get one's attention, don't you think, Tasu-chan??" The girl smiled as she handed the weapon back to its owner. "We have to go now, we're in Hokkan's port." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasuki stopped glaring at Chichiri, who was in SD form, levitating around the room, and pretending to be in a deep state of meditation. "Kuso.... I'll make you pay for that you sadistic monk!!! But not right now... Let's go, Azeruse." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Both of you take care..... and come back to us safely." Nuriko, Soi and Mitsukake appeared inside the room and were looking at the two teenage seishi who were about to leave. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We'll come back.... I promise..." Azeruse hugged each of them one last time as she and Tasuki started their journey to find the Shinzaho. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soi and Nuriko were standing on the deck of the ship as they watched two figures disappear into the horizon. The two people in which the fate of the world lies on. Such a burdensome task given at such a young age... | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soi looked unhappily at Nuriko. There was a certain fear and mournfulness in her facade. "Nuriko..... what are their chances of coming back? They are fighting against a god-like power, and I need to know if they even have a probability of surviving the encounter. Not only that, they also have to fight the other lackeys of Tenkou and people who will prevent them from taking the Shinzaho of both countries. Nuriko!! Please answer me!" The Seiryuu Seishi dropped to her knees upon the floor and buried her face to stop her tears in her hands. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You know as well as I do that they don't have a chance against the Majin. But they'll come back one way or another." Nuriko glanced at the sobbing Soi and refocused his gaze at the setting sun, which tainted the sky a terrifying shade of red. Miaka and Tasuki WILL come back. "..... remember, because.. you promised..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| _~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preview of Chapter 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Stars, The Sun, The Moon, Are Their Only Guides | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Itai!!!" Azeruse fell upon the floor as a young boy knocked her over and wrapped his fingers around Asura. Then he jumped up and sprinted off. "Yamete!!! Tasuki, he's running off with Asura!!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| _Unhand me!!!_ Asura sent forth a blast of white light which blinded the boy and knocked him into Tasuki's waiting hands. _No one, but no one harms my mistress! Especially not petty thieves like yourself!_ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The thief, and Tasuki looked at the sword in shock and amazement. "That.... that sword talks??" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azeruse picked herself up off the floor, dusted her clothing, focused her blue-violet gaze at the motionless men, and retrieved Asura. It was not everyday that Asura handled a situation by itself, but it seems that this was one of those times. -Are you all right, Asura? Thank goodness that he didn't get a chance to run away with you... What did you do with them??- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| _I didn't do anything.... neither of them are used to a common-looking artifact like myself being sentient and speaking as if I was a normal human being. Besides, I was worried about you. You took quite a nasty fall when that uncaring cretin knocked you down._ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -Don't be harsh on him, Asura. You have seen how things are here in Hokkan. It's always snowing and he most likely didn't have any other way to survive.- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| _It doesn't matter if you sympathize with that boy or not, we are still lost and in dire need of help._ replied Asura. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Notes: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yay!! Another chapter I struggled through!! And today is November 26, my not-so-long-awaited b-day!! *calms down* I don't believe this... I keep on forgetting that it IS my birthday... I am pathetic as usual. Thank you for all of those who read this fanfic/mini-novel/story thing!! Love to all of you!! I finally got a frikkin' scanner, so I will be able to put up an art gallery of this novel. Forgive me, but I have to say that I am a terrible fan artist.... oh well... I tried. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disclaimers: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Standard disclaimers apply...... as always. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho^^Chapter Thirteen^^Chapter Fifteen | ||||||||||||||||||||||