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~Continuation of Book 1 Chapter 5~.
Part 5b: Indecision 2
by Virgo-chan
"Miko-sama," Yari whispered between tightly clenched teeth, the curls of chocolate bangs falling in front of enchanting green eyes. He had been limping badly as the two ran, his spear strapped to his back, the blade dripping gray and red from both the blood of the creatures and the splashes of his own. "Miko-sama, you have to trust me on this. If there is any inkling of a doubt, I'll never be able to pull this off. Do you trust me?"
However, she couldn't say a thing as the first of the creatures were nearly upon them. Without a moment's hesitation, Yari pulled Umiiro on to his back, making sure she wrapped her arms tightly around his broad shoulders. One deep breath later, he leapt across the chasm, freedom and life just on the other side. That is, if the creature hadn't dug its claws into his legs.
She cried out as she felt the painful trembling beneath her. Yari crashed into the jutting ledge, a stone breaking one of his ribs, nearly puncturing a lung. The creature began its climb up the Seishi's legs as he trashed about, trying to shake it off.
"Yari-san!" She cried. "Yari-san, onegai!" With a grunt, he roughly shoved Umiiro on to the ledge. "Yari-san, please don't die!" She raised her voice, hoping the other Seishi would come in time. "Dareka! Minna tasukete!"
"Miko-chan..." Yari grunted as he struggled to keep from falling into the yawning gap below. His fingers dug into the ground, leaving ten thick trails of blood in each new groove. Fear and helplessness filled her large eyes. He smiled; the black mask had long fallen from his face and hung at his neck. He ignoring the pain as the creature struggled to find a good hold within his hip as he reached out with a shaking hand. He brushed away a wild strand of her hair and brought her lips to his own. Then he whispered in her ears the words she would never had imagined from someone who was like a brother she had always wanted. "Anata wo...ai...shiteru..." With one last smile, Yari let go of the ledge, with Umiiro's voice fading behind him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Umiiro! Umiiro!"
"Oi! Give her some space, baka!"
"Stop her trashing about, will ya?"
Umiiro let out another scream, flailing her arms at her attackers.
"Oi! Umiiro, get up!"
Her eyes shot open. The concerned faces of her debate team focused in, reflecting her own confusion. One of them, a raven haired, violet-eyed girl named Karasu, held tightly to Umiiro's wrists. Her sister, Okami pinned her ankles to the floor, shaking her chin length, deep violet bangs from out of her midnight blue eyes. The Kinu sisters looked at each other, then slowly released her when they decided by a silent agreement that Umiiro was now in control once more.
Karasu reached out, brushing back some of Umiiro's hair. "Ne, Umiiro-san, daijoubu?[Are you alright?]"
However, that simple act of concerned friendliness only got her riled up again. Hastily Umiiro scrambled to her feet, looking at the two girls in shock. Everyone backed away slightly, nervously fidgeting.
Once more those flashes distorted the world around her. A sharp, peeling wind that knocked her off her feet. Then suddenly, the wind stopped, though its roaring still filled her ears. Two familiar, smiling faces, suddenly broken and twisted in a ferocious snarl. Strong arms hefted her up and away as she cast a final look at the Tsurara sisters before fragments of the large, domed ceiling fell around them.
One of her closer friends, a bulky, lightly tanned brunette, Jin, shook her back to reality. Everyone began to talk at once, frightening Umiiro even further. She suddenly felt suffocated; the incredible urge to bolt gripped her chest.
"I-I gotta get out of here." She shrieked, sending everyone into silence. Without another word, Umiiro shot out from the room, tears of confusion and frustration threatening to overcome her.
It is all right a voice said from inside her mind. I know that it may seem confusing, but this is all of who and what you are, Genbu no Miko...
-Who are you? What do you want from me?- Her thoughts shouted.
I just need you to remember... That's all. It rumbled back to her, like rocks shaken from the core of their roots.
-Need me? What do you need me for?-
The voice just chuckled, making her angry.
-What are you laughing at?! Get out of my mind! -
Ah, yes... Just the fire and determination I need... I see that my Miko has chosen well... And so many convenient connections as well...
-What are you talking about? What is all this about connections? What do you want from me!? -
You will see in due time... But now all I need from you is to remember.
Once again, a lifetime of events, impossible events, drilled in to Umiiro's mind. Yari, the young man who treated her as if she was one of his little sisters. The look of peacefulness as he hurled in to the dark pit below. Meiyo, with her supermodel looks and long, silken hair, her barrier faltering for the once and only time. Yuki, that ever confident smile flashing one last time before she destroyed the ceiling above her and Meiyo in desperation to stop their pursuers. Then Bakuhatsu with her quick temper and harsh judgment, taking on her responsibility as a Seishi by giving her life for her Miko. And the strong, conceited Kobushi, fighting till his last ounce of breath and last burst of chi faded from his cooling body. Hikitsu, his powerful Ryu no Kori giving away from the billowing fire that hurtled toward them. Then Tomite. Strong, brave handsome Tomite. The man she loved, the man who protected her. Shielding her with his own body until her wish to Genbu Seikun were completed.
-No... No, please...- Umiiro reeled back, head clutched between her fingers. -GET OUT OF MY MIND!!!- But her screams went heedless as a green symbol and piercing eyes cut through her brain.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was a long day for the others. The place was almost repaired, and they added a barrack to help train people to fight in case more barbarians tried to attack once more. Also, an irrigation system and a well were created by the new granary to aid in the farming.
Needless to say, after all that, everyone was tuckered out. Some of them didn't even make it to their beds. Well, actually, none of them did.
Young Ryo's form was resting half on a table where he was hunched over blueprints that he had been studying before he crashed. Hanako and Kouji were sprawled on the floor; the former curled up snuggly next to the younger man. Then Chichiri and Tasuki both propped up against the wall with Tasuki resting his head against Chichiri's shoulder and snoring loudly in the monk's ear. Amazingly everyone in the hut - let alone poor Chichiri- could sleep through that.
Then Kaiku came barging in. In a second, everyone jolted awake. Well, Ryo and Chichiri did, Tasuki woke shortly after he bonded with the hard wooden floor while the other two just turned their backs to the racket.
Chichiri blinked the sleep away from his eyes, stumbling to his feet. "Nani yo, Kaiku-kun no da? Is there trouble again, no da?"
The youth shook his head quickly. "Chichiri-san, I had this dream... I don't really remember what it was about, but the faces are just so vivid and it feels like I know them." He shivered lightly. "But, what's really frightening is there's someone that has the same face as I do." His blue eyes sought an answer from the monk. "What does it mean?"
A heavy silence filled the room as Chichiri and Tasuki exchanged glances. Slowly, the monk stepped forward, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, Kaiku-kun, it's hard to explain, no da. The easiest way would be to give you back your memories no da."
The boy stepped back slightly. "You mean... there's no other way?" Chichiri shook his head.
"Ah, fuck it, kid. Why don't you wanna know?" Tasuki asked, impatience underlying his words. It was hard to tell who would have told Tasuki off first, Chichiri or Kaiku. But whatever they were going to say was lost when voices rang out loud and clear from the northern outpost.
"WE'RE BEING ATTACKED!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well, I'm sorry if I got any information screwed up, I'm terribly sorry, but give me a break, please? Also, if there's any problems understanding some of the Japanese (I finally got an English-Japanese dictionary), then just give me a letter and I'll tell you. -K-? Bye!
~Virgo-chan