(Chi)
I finally understood why Amaterasu had truly asked me if I would be able to do this. It was not because of all the demons I would have to slay to get here, or even the retched curse itself. She'd known, as soon as she looked at me, that when I got to this precise moment, that I would be staring straight at a modicum of myself. It was disturbing to see. Once I mustered up the courage to raise my voice, it was an irritated growl rather than a shaken boys' voice.
"You WILL let her go."
Both remained unbothered by my sudden rage. As if they had expected it. Expected me. That only made my anger rise as Misaki still lay silent behind me. The one I now knew was Susanoo, stepped forward, ahead of his silent and straight-faced brother.
"I am so delighted to see that you have arrived here safely, Chi-san."
I gripped the blade tighter in my hand and narrowed my eyes at him. This bastard…
I would only say this one last time. "Let her go."
Tsukuyomi moved forward. And as he did, I slid my left foot back behind my right, closer to Misaki.
"we simply want our sister mortal."
He turned his focus for the first time to his brother. "Susanoo, who is this human and how has he passed all of the demons that have been ordered to guard the sacred entrance?"
"He is my son. Our sister was not the only one to fight unfairly. I created six boys from that wretched necklace. I thought it would be good to possess an asset in both realms. A chess piece if you will. I believe that is what you humans call it yes? His mortal mother was barren, caused by futile human disease. I gave them him," he nodded toward me, "As a gift."
It did not take much to widen my eyes in mock surprise. Ama had told me this already. But to hear it come from his own lips still hit me like a sack of weights. But I had to seem more devastated than that in order to convince Susanoo that Amaterasu had not told me such things. I needed him to believe that I was here to gain some sort of knowledge or understanding from him.
"W-what?"
His straight expression directed itself at me.
"You are my son," he sneered.
Internally, I was battling the rage and the growing screams and pleas. I watched as a true expression of surprise and confusion marred the brothers face. That had to be no other than Tsukuyomi, the eldest of the three siblings.
I stood blocking the way between them and Misaki. Every few inches I slid further back towards the princess. When I was close enough, I bent down, keeping my eyes on the brothers. My hand found her cheek. It was extremely cold to the touch.
Also, why was she clutching so tightly at her eye in this way?
I wrapped my hand around her thin wrist and pulled her hand away from her face. As it began to move, she screamed as I'd never heard her scream before.
"NO NO PLEASE! PLEASE NO MORE!"
My eyes filled with tears of anger as I had never heard her voice in such a tone. I shifted my body behind her, keeping my blade up and ready. I pulled her small frame to me, cradling her. "Hime…. I'm here."
(Misaki)
Could it be him? Could it really be him, or was this just another vile trick? But I did hear his voice. As clear as a bright morning I heard his voice. But I did not see him.
"Chi-san?"
He continued as if he did not hear my whisper. "Princess, I've got you. Please wake up."
His pleading voice brought me to my feet, my legs almost unable to hold my weight. But still, there was only darkness. "Chi-san!" I screamed.
"Open your eyes your highness…I need to see you."
I wanted to see him; I did. But I was afraid and did not trust myself. If I opened my eye and he was not there, it would truly break the last of me.
(Chi)
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" I roared.
Susanoo rubbed at the back of his neck nonchalantly. "She is in the abyss. I may have broken her spirit marble just a bit, so she will not wake. She trusts nothing in the dark."
My blade raised an inch higher, turning the air around the edges a reddish hue. My anger flowed into the blade through my palm. The sting in my shoulder grew but I held fast. I would slay both of these men, gods or not.
"Princess, it truly is me. I've come to take you home to your father. He waits for you. I know that there may be many things you do not understand now, but I promise to be by your side through any and all chaos. Please Misaki…I need see those eyes," I whispered over my shoulder. I despised lying to her. Even though the detrimental thing was to save her life, I had never wanted to be one who lied to her.
Her mumble sent a fracture through my panic. "Chi…."
(Misaki)
It had to be Chi-san. He had promised me. With my heart lodged in my throat I pushed against the pain and my fear. I pushed hard against it all and fought to only focus on Chi in my mind. I was in the dark, but I allowed his voice to guide me as I stumbled blindly through the nothingness. I screamed his name again and again until I was hoarse. I could hear the two brothers speaking, laughing, and antagonizing tones. I then realized that this had to be real. And that if I did not do something, they were going to hurt Chi. Anger flared anew in me and when I looked down, the palms of my hands glowed a warm
bright yellow light. Immense heat graced my arms and my palms and as I thought of Chi, seeing his face in front of me, the light shot up from my hands into the darkness. It grew until the darkness dispersed completely and the space was filled with nothing but white light.
When my eyes finally opened, I saw him. His armor was covered in black liquid, he sported cuts and bruises along his cheeks and neck as well. I sucked in a breath and raised my shaky hand to him.
Please be real, please be real….
His skin felt soft beneath my fingertips and when he whipped his head down to look at me, I could see him with both eyes! His dark irises were like glass as he stared down at me with concern.
"Kitsune…" he breathed.
"Chi-san…"
"There are those beautiful eyes," he chuckled, while sporting a smile. I thought I would never see that bright smile ever again.
(Chi)
Her hand found my cheek and just like that I was at a loss for any words. I reveled in her touch as it came, she sat up quickly and wrapped her arms around my neck in a tight embrace.
"Chi…I've missed you terribly," she sobbed. I clutched at her back, pinning her body to mine with no intention of letting go. Our moment was broken as Susanoo's voice rose and my mind took note of how Misaki's body went rigid. What had he done to her?
"So, the girl has a bit of willpower after all. This certainly has grown interesting. Hasn't it brother?"
"Yes quite. She seems to have some attachment to the boy."
Susanoo snickered at the comment made by his brother. "I expect nothing less of my son. He has kept the enemy very close."
Misaki's eyes widened as she listened to his words. "Chi, what is he-"
"I will explain later Kitsune. For now, we need to get out of here."
It was Tsukuyomi's turn to belt out laughter as he pointed to the wound on my shoulder and the sword in my hand. Using what strength, I had left in my left arm I pulled myself and Misaki to our feet. I pushed her gently behind me as I stared down the two in front of us, blocking our way of the door.
"He has been bitten Susanoo. How is it that you are still alive…" he tilted his head in true curiosity. It made my stomach turn.
"And you must not forget Tsuku, he wields the cursed blade of Muramasa Sengo." He took a step forward. "tell me boy, have the voices taken hold of your mind yet?"
I gave no reply, keeping my expression emotionless. I felt Misaki's hand on my arm, but I could not lower my guard now.
"You have surely gone to great lengths to save her. Even sold your very own soul to the Muramasa. The curse will quickly turn you into something other than yourself. The man you are now will disappear, and all of your…" his eyes shifted minutely to Misaki, "worldly possessions will fade out of importance. You will seek to find solace in calamity."
"Chi-san what…"
"I can teach you to control it. You are my son after all. Pledge fealty to me and I will educate you in all the ways of the gods."
Smirking, I flicked my wrist and the blade turned outwards. "There is nothing that I want from you. However, if you want to kill her, you'll need to go through me to do it."
A sword formed from black smoke and took solid form in Susanoo's hand. "Ungrateful wretch. No matter. I will kill you both all the same. And then I will destroy my sister for her treachery."
Susanoo pivots forward, moving quickly across the cave floor, his feet barely touching the ground. I grabbed Misaki's wrist and shoved her back hard before bringing the screaming blade quickly up to deflect Susanoo's blow. The blade in my hand began to pulsate as my hatred grew. This god would never be my father. I knew who my father had been, I needed no other.
He came at me again, this time unrelenting in his blows. They were quick and powerful, but the sword was strong in hate against his power.
(Misaki)
No, none of this could be true. Chi was cursed? And
Tsukuyomi seemed surprised that he was not dead already. And what voices was this tyrant referring to?
I got no chance to ask these questions before the fighting ensued. While Chi-san fought of Susanoo, I watched Tsukuyomi. His eyes were fixated on the fight. When Chi landed a blow to Susanoo's shoulder Tsukuyomi's eyes narrowed and I saw a thin long blade, hidden in his right hand. He was going to try to kill him while he fought his brother.
Seeing what was happening before me I remembered what he'd shown me while in the dark. I mimicked her movements as best I could, quickly forming the symbols. Yellow mist, like the one I'd seen form around Ama in the clouds took shape around me.
Mother… if you can hear me, please, gift me the protection you possess in this war. Allow me to defend what I love, as it defends me.
Tsukuyomi paused in his advance towards Chi as I struggled to control the rapidly growing mist as it swirled between my hands. It was warm and strong, almost like raging fire breathing life into itself. In the mist, a broad sword materialized and solidified. Quickly I grabbed a hold of it, pulling it from the mist. The color dissipated until it was like it had never been there at all.
"That cannot be!" Tsukuyomi yelled. "She does not have the power to call forth this weapon!"
Susanoo paused and looked at the sword in my hand before he roared in anger. "That blade belongs to me!"
"The grass blade of Susanoo…our sister seems to have some tricks of her own," Tsukuyomi grimaced.,
Chi's body disappeared only to appear beside me. "Princess…"
"Don't. do not tell me to run. I will help you in this Chi-san.
Please…"
I saw the worry in his eyes. He wanted no harm to befall me and I wanted no harm to befall him. I nodded to him, understanding to stay close at his side. As we looked to the brothers we lunged forward together into battle.
(Chi)
I watched in astonishment as light smoke surrounded the princess. I watched her pull a blade from thin air as if it were nothing and I realized that I was in awe of her. I thought it not possible to be anymore awe stricken by this strange monarch, but here I was, heart pounding so hard in my ears that it mixed with the screaming of the voices in my mind.
As she held the weapon her features changed. They grew more serious and even more calculating. The air around her sizzled with tension.
I remained close at her side as we flew forward, swords clashing with the brothers. To my surprise, she knew how to handle a sword, and wield it well. She was holding up against Tsukuyomi. He was growing angrier and angrier with every blow she deflected. We worked with our backs against one another as we fought back. She ducked low and I swung the blade cleanly over her head, knocking Tsukuyomi back a few steps. I heard a yowl leave Susanoo and as I turned the princess turned from Tsukuyomi and ran full force, sliding between my parted legs and brought her sword up as her body seemed to lift itself to its feet. She nicked him quickly in the shoulder.
My attention shifted to Tsukuyomi, using aggressive offensive blows to continuously knock him backwards and further away from Misaki. I noticed that every step I took Misaki took one with me. She moved so fluidly; it was almost too beautiful to tear my eyes away from.
Susanoo slid to the right too quickly and his sword slashed the right side of Misaki's face. She screamed out in pain as blood dripped through her fingers and her skin split apart from the tip of her hairline to her jaw.
"Misaki!" I wrapped my free arm around her waist as it began to fold in on itself, pulling her flush against me as my vision turned red. The gash was thin, but I knew that it would leave a scar. All rational reasoning left me, and my body moved in a blur.
"I'm alright," she murmured reassuringly, before unexpectedly spinning out from beneath my arm and advancing upon Susanoo once again. She drove him backward with extreme force. She spun and I heard metal cut flesh seconds later. Susanoo had made a wrong step and Misaki anticipated it. Her blade now passed through the gods chest. His hands hovered around the blood drenched sword and his eyes were wide with anger and fear as she forced the blade deeper.
"Brother!" Tsukuyomi shouted. He was quick and was advancing on Misaki before she could react. Coiling my muscles I pushed myself off the ground, flying over and pushing Misaki to the ground and out of the way. She looked to me as Tsukuyomi's blade pierced my shoulder, a short gasp leaving me as I realized I felt no pain. I saws the shock in Misaki's eyes as I pivoted around, his blade still lodged in my bone. I bought the Muramasa up much quicker than he moved to knock it away and the tip of it broke his unflawed skin. Blood curdled in his mouth as I watched it turn from red to black. I used my palm to force the metal deeper into his body. My knees gave out with his as he crumpled at my feet. On my hands and knees I reached behind me and pulled the blade free. I dizzily heard the sound only are large amount of blood leaving the body could make.
"Chi-san,"
The split skin of my shoulder, nor the demon bite that was now searing hot beneath my tattered Kimono brought me nearly as much pain as the sound of her sobs. I clambered to my feet and turned. Susanoo lay in a puddle of his own blood nearest the entrance. I pulled the Muramasa from the dead gods body and sheathed upon my back once more. My speed was incredible as I thought of being at the princesses side and then there I was, without even a step taken. I bent down in front of her, grabbing her face with both my hands, examining the damage done. It was coated in a thin layer of her quick drying blood. Her hand wrapped around one of mine at her cheek and her smile was tender and sweet, even now.
"What took you so long ah?" she teased.
I laughed for but a second before yanking her to me and hugging her tight. I buried my face in her matted hair. "I came as fast as I could."
(Misaki)
As quickly as it had begun, it was over. The two gods lay dead before us and I was wrapped in Chi-sans arms once more. My sigh was long as I closed my eyes and allowed myself to enjoy his embrace and his voice as I wished.
I never held a blade before, but when I'd held that one, I felt power flow through me. It took hold of me and I did its bidding. I never felt so alive and powerful. When I prayed to Ama for help, I expected no answer. I was surprised when my prayer was answered, and the light began to form in my hands.
So, I was the daughter to the great goddess. My mind could not fathom that the one I had prayed to my entire life, the one my country coveted so dearly was the one who made my life possible at all. And Chi…Chi was Susanoo's own secret hidden within the mortal realm from Ama. One day we believed that we were simply a princess doomed to marry for everything but love, and a Samurai eager to complete his fathers legacy in protecting the royal family. Who knew that we would end up here in this way? Where the hell was here anyway?
"Chi-san?"
He pulled back to gaze at me, inviting me to ask my question.
"Where are we?"
He seemed to consider telling me before he actually did so.
"We are in Yomi, Kitsune."
The-the underworld?! All of this time trapped in this dark room and really it was just a piece of the underworld?! My eyes widened before they narrowed as I stared at him in new light. He..he traveled all the way here…to save me.
"How did you know where to find me? One moment I was in the palace at prayer and the next thing I knew I was standing on a bridge…speaking to Ama…" My head tilted to the side as I worked hard to remember. "In the midst of speaking to her, I was yanked over the bridge and down into the water."
He nodded slowly. "That is how she found me. The palace fell into an uproar when you were not found inside your rooms. We searched for you all throughout Hiroshima. I had a notion that you had not been taken by any mere thing. I read your journal…I am sorry. I found the passage on your nightmare and your initial dream of standing on the bridge. I'd had the same dream while I had the fever when I first arrived. I thought nothing of it until you. That is when
Ama summoned me. She told me of how to find you. We formulated a plan to deceive the brothers into thinking that Ama, hearing of your capture would become so grief stricken as she did long ago and result to hiding as she did long before us. They wanted to ambush her and kill her to start the world anew."
"I heard Susanoo say something along those line as well when he was rambling on in the dark. They wanted to gift the new world and Ama's power to their father, Isanagi," I replied.
His sigh was deep. "I am sorry Kitsune."
"What could you possibly have done to be sorry about?"
"For not arriving sooner. You have suffered."
I scrambled to my knees and took his grime covered face in my hands. "You have come for me all in the same, Chi-san. You have battled the underworld for me. How could I ask anything more of you?"
But now as I gazed at him, I felt that I did want more. When I opened my eyes to him, I felt a large sense of relief. I dreamed of him all through my suffering. He kept me alive through all the torture. As I inched closer to him his body going still, the walls began to shake and rumble. Bits of rubble fell from the ceiling as Chi pulled me to my feet. He gripped his head in pain and his eyes were squeezed shut. I tightened my grip on his arm as we limped together towards the stone doorway. A hiss broke through him as his legs almost completely gave out.
"Chi, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing your highness."
I wanted to smack him. "It is not nothing!"
Before he could argue with me further, we were pulled into a blur of speed before falling to our knees at the entrance of Yomi. The sky was dark and there were no stars or moon present. The trees swayed in the breeze breathing hard and staring up at the sky. We were free. We were finally free.
(Chi)
My thoughts raged out of control. I still felt the rage coursing through my veins and it almost made me want to laugh. But the voices in my mind were running rampant and I fought to keep a grip on myself. I felt my sanity slipping through my fingers as I lay here. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. But if it wasn't the rage it was the pain in my shoulder. It only grew worse as the minutes passed. But all of that was forgotten when Misaki crawled over to me. She lay beside me now, her head resting delicately on my chest.
"Susanoo…he stole my right eye. At least, I thought he'd
stolen it. I could feel every piece of muscle and tissue holding it in place tear as he pulled it from its socket. I-I thought I was going to die. But in my pain, I found solace in memory."
She raised her head to rest her chin on my chest.
"Our memories."
I remained quiet as we held each other's gaze. I just wanted to enjoy the way she was looking at me now. I was so used to her silver tongue and observant eyes. But this view she gave me, one where her eyes were soft and sweet nearly made my heart leap from my chest.
"Were they the ones where you dragged me everywhere?"
"Dragged?!" she scoffed. "You never refused."
I sighed contentedly, pushing hair from her face. "No, how could I when those adventures brought such a sweet smile to your face?"
She rose up on her elbows and before I knew what she was doing, her lips met mine.
bình luận đoạn văn
Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.
Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.
ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC