The Night n Gale II Chapter 3

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After the brief stay in town with Yamato and the others they had set sail late afternoon expected to reach the city of Amyala the following day to deliver cargo.

Taichi was at the steering and looked head into the setting sky; he got another man to take over from him then walked over to her sister who still was a little distant. “Hikari, what are you thinking about?” he asked sitting next to her on a wooden create. 

She smiled halfheartedly then looked at him, “I miss Takeru.”

“I see, there will be other times where you will be able to see him again. I’m sure of it.” Taichi said draping his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

“But it’s just not that, he knows magic like me. After being held captive in a parrot body for so long.” She said looking out into the ocean.

There was a bell ringing, “Looks like dinner is ready come on.” Taichi replied getting up off the cerate he was sitting on.

Hikari got up as well and the two head down to the gully. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“This ladies and gentleman is a specialty that my mom thought up,” Sora replied placing the tin pot on the table.

“What’s so special?” Koushiro asked confused as she poured a scoop of what ever was in the pot into his bowl.

Sora eyed him, “It’s called, for your information, vegetable soup.” She replied then began giving everyone else a scoop of vegetable soup.

 
Everyone took a bite of the soup Sora waited for the compliments for them telling her how good her cooking was. But the faces of everyone else told a different story.

“Well?” she inquired staring directly at Taichi.

He started to sweat a bit, and then managed to swallow. “It’s very good…”

She looked at Taichi then to Koushiro who did clearly not like the soup she had made but before he could see she was looking at him. Sora had already dropped the scoop into the soup pot and went above deck in a hurry.

Taichi frowned so did Hikari, “You guys are not very nice.” She said getting up from her plate and followed Sora up to the deck.

Taichi let out a sigh then looked over at Koushiro, “You do realize you are going to have to apologize to her.”

Koushiro sighed as well, “It’s not like I wanted her to get upset.”

  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hikari found Sora sitting at the front of the ship looking down in the water. She approached her slowly then spoke up, “Sora, it was really good effort.” She said patting her on the shoulder.

“Nothing but effort…” she said gingerly still not looking directly at Hikari.

“I know how it feels; it took a long time till I got the hang of magic. It wasn’t till last year that I could throw fireballs large enough to knock out an entire fleet of harpies.” She said trying to sympathize with her.

“Thanks for the effort in comforting me, Hikari.”
  
Hikari smiled at her and put a hand on her shoulder, “Now shall we go back down to the gully?” she questioned.

“Yeah might as well.” Sora said agreeing with her then they both headed down where the other three were. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Taichi and the others cleaned their plates before heading up on deck. Taichi took the tiller and was stirring the ship once again. “We should be arriving to port of Ismala in a bit,” Taichi said looking straight ahead.

“Actually, Taichi I would say it is a least another half and hour,” Koushiro said eyeing the island from his telescope.

“Sorry, another half and hour,” Taichi said rather sarcastically.

“Facts that’s all Taichi,” Koushiro said then laughed and headed back down in the galley to finish up an invention he was working on. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“MAHHA, HA, HAHAHA!” there was a loud pop out of no where Seroas looked at him with rage, “You bafone!” he shouted angrily.

Scratch simply laughed again, “What’s the matter Seroas? You can’t capture’s Taichi’s soul for me?” he asked.

“I am working on it,” he said simply.

“Well try harder. You are trying to win back your daughters life aren’t you not?” he said happily as he twiddled his fingers together in anticipation.

“Well how about you give her life back that way you will half more souls to collect,” Seroas said.

Scratch shook his head, “I’m afraid it does not work like that,” he said quickly.

“You come here and hackle me constantly, leave so I can think of an demise for the crew of the Night n Gale in PEACE,” Seroas growled at him.

“Fine, remember what I want,” Scratch said and disappeared in a poof of smoke.

“Damn goat,” he muttered under his breath. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Night n Gale was docked in Ismala as expected. They were unloading some cargo while Taichi and the others were walking in the city looking for supplies and food. “Why do I get the feeling people are staring at us?” Hikari questioned her brother.

“Staring like how?” he asked, “We are just new comers of course they are going to curious and look.”

Jyou walked up to a vender looking at the merchandise displayed on his table. The objects all resembled a rams head with a black jewel embedded in it, “This looks familiar for some reason,” he said out loud.

Koushiro stood by him too, “How we have never run into that kind of stuff before,” he said reasoning.

“What are you guys looking at?” Sora asked as they all looked down at the various trinkets on the table. Taichi and Hikari hadn’t noticed the three of them stopped at the vendor and continued to walk together and turned the corner.

“They are trinkets I picked up from the Skull Mountain. After it’s demise mind you,” said the vendor who was smiling at them hoping for them to buy one or may two of them.

“Skull Mountain…You are kidding right?” Sora questioned her one eyebrow raised at the man.

“Why would I lie about something like that?” he asked.

“Well…for one thing Skull Mountain is destroyed,” Koushiro jumped in, “And as a matter of fact why would these trinkets be there?”

The vender kept his smile, “Because I happen to know these trinkets bring great treasure and fortune like you wouldn’t believe.”

“If they all came from Skull Mountain, its evil,” Jyou said eyeing the gentleman carefully. 

“Why are you so suspicious of these trinkets, they are merely something that will bring great fortune to you,” the vender said again.

“Black magic is everywhere and by the looks of those ‘trinkets’ as you call them. It looks like bad luck,” Sora said as she picked one up for a closer inspection. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Wait a minute,” Taichi said he stopped and looked behind him and the three of them were gone, “Where did they go?” Taichi asked confused.

“I don’t know, lets trace back our steps,” Hikari suggested.

Hikari and Taichi turned around and started back the way they had come then they two collided with the other three. The trinket Sora had bought to show Taichi and Hikari fell from her hands and on to the ground in front of Hikari.

Hikari bent down to pick it up, “Where did you get this?” she questioned.

“I saw a stand back there with strange vendor and he had these trinkets of a sheep’s head with a black jewel in the middle of its forehead. So Sora bought one to show you two,” Jyou said.

“You shouldn’t have,” Hikari replied as she took the trinket from her, “This is the devil from the west. He rules the underworld and lives to feed of souls,” she said.

“Definitely not good,” Jyou said, “Let me go back to the stand,” he turned around and the other followed. But when they got to the place where the stand was it was gone.

“It was there,” Koushiro said pointing to the barren area where the man had all those trinkets.

Hikari closed her eyes and held her hand out in front of the area where Koushiro was pointing to and moved her hand side to side then up and down. She shook her head in a disapproving gesture, “Definitely the black magic,” she said quietly as she turned to her brother.

“So it appears that we are being targeted,” Taichi said, “But for what reason? We never had a run in with a devil.”

“Maybe something happened on Skull Mountain that we aren’t aware of,” Koushiro said.

“But how do we find out?” Sora questioned she was now concerned.

“Remember we felt that surge of evil after Skull Mountain exploded?” Hikari asked them.

“ARREST THEM!” a large male voice shouted out.

The five soon found themselves surrounded by guards who had long swords pointed out at them.

“I’m sorry but what did we do wrong?” Taichi asked confused.

None of the guards answer him but shortly a man came through the circle of guards, “You are the crew of that ship,” he said pointing southward toward the docks.

“There are many ships there mister, you have to be more specific on that,” Taichi said sounding a little smart the head guard didn’t seem amused at his answer.

“The biggest ship in the port at the moment,” guard said a little angry.

“Yes it is,” Taichi replied.

“Well I’m afraid your wanted in the city of  Ismala, you all have to come with me,” he said strongly.

“That is crazy; we are only merchant sailors how did we get wanted in the first place?” Jyou questioned.

“Unknown for you the king requests all vessels to write before they are to deliver anything to the port of Ismala. You have broken that rule and as a result you are going to jail,” he said. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Sir I have arrested them as you’ve wanted,” the guard who had capture the crew said as he walked up to the thrown to a man seated in a large thrown with a crown of small size on his head.

“Good,” the man replied he tapped his fingers on arm rest. “Make sure also that you search the ship and cargo for anything that looks like it can contain the obelisk.”

“Yes Sir,” the guard said quickly then marched out of the room. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Down in the dungeon’s the crew sat in the sell trying to think of the reason why they were arrested. “Amazingly odd,” Koushiro commented as he looked out the small window of the jail cell.

“Nothing is amazingly odd,” Jyou said annoyed as he was staring just outside of the cell watching the guard, “Why are you holding us?” he asked again for what seemed to be the millionth time.

There wasn’t a response from the guard but Jyou sat there patiently staring at him. Hikari sighed, “It’s not use,” she said.

“Well there has to be a liable reason,” Sora said with confidence. “Maybe they are searching for treasure or something.”

“What treasure do we have on our ship?” Taichi asked with a frown as he paced back and forth in the cell.

The guard suddenly moved and left them, “Hey!! Where are you going!” Jyou exclaimed he then pounded bars making a rattling noise.

“Jyou come on, we have to think of another way other then shouting and yelling,” Taichi said still pacing anxiously.

“I know why you are here,” a female voice said.

“You do?” Jyou said shocked, “Wait…who are you and how do you know?” he asked.

“My name is Izumi,” the girl replied.

“What have you done to be put in jail?” Hikari questioned.

“I don’t know really, only that when I awoke I was in here and no one would answer me as to why I was here,” she said.

“Don’t worry once we free ourselves we will help you,” Taichi said.

Sora was looking at Hikari who had her eyes closed, “Hikari?” she opened her eyes then looked at Sora, “I sense a magical presence from the moment I stepped into the dungeon area” she whispered to her.

“But from whom?” Sora questioned.

“Izumi,” she replied.

Taichi turned around to the girls, “what did you say?” he whispered back to them.

“Taichi she has magical powers of some sort,” she said.

“Maybe it is a trap,” Jyou said coming into the conversation.

Koushiro shook his head, “Why would it be a trap we are already in one anyways,” he said.

Taichi turned around again facing the wall where they heard the girl’s voice from, “Izumi, do you know magic?” he asked cautiously.

“I don’t remember….” She said trailing off. “I only know my name and that is all,” she finished and was quite. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the thrown room the guards came back, “Sir there was nothing on the ship, no obelisk, but we know there is a sorceress aboard because we found numerous magical books,” he explained.

“I see, bring the sorceress here I want to talk to her,” he said.

“Yes sir,” the guard said then left with out hesitating. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The guard had come down the stairs and everyone quickly quieted, he then stopped in front of the Crew looking at the two women, “Which one of you is the sorceress?” he asked.

“I am,” Hikari said stepping forward, “Why do you want to know?” she asked.

“Come up with me now,” he said he began to open the gate.

Hikari went with the guard the he shut the door locking it; he directed her up the stairs soon they were gone.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Koushiro grinned, “This is just the moment to show you my latest invention,” he said digging in his pockets.

“is it going to get us out of a predicament?” Jyou asked.

“Yes it is,” Koushiro said reassuringly still rummaging through his pocket until he felt what he was looking for and pulled it out a small oval shaped object everyone stared at it for a moment.

“What is it?” Taichi asked.

“A pocket knife,” he exclaimed happily.

“There is a knife in that little small thing?’ Sora questioned.

“Yes, and it also has a lock pick on it too. I thought if you need help and ur lock up u can just use the pick to get out.” He said thoughtfully then walked to the lock and started to try to unlatch the locking mechanism that was in the lock on the door. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What is you’re name?” the king asked Hikari as she was standing before him now.

“Hikari,” she said calmly.

“Nice to meet you Hikari, I sense you possess a strong magic about you,” he said.

“I guess you can say that,” she replied.

The king made a nodding motion with his head to say that he understood she didn’t want to talk that much, “I shall get down to want I really want to say,” he began, “I ‘m looking for obelisk of Basra and someone on your ship has it in their possession.”
“Obelisk of Basra…That is crazy we don’t have anything like that aboard the ship,” she said.

“Why do you lie! You must have it on the ship somewhere, we already searched it top from bottom!” he said insisting to her that she tell him now.

“I’m telling the truth! Why would you think we have the Obelisk with us?” she questioned angrily now.

“I sensed its magic near by! It has to be from your ship because that is where it’s energy remains the strongest!” he declared.

Hikari shook her head, “The Obelisk has not touched the ship, we have docked in Basra maybe that explains why you think it is on the ship.”

The King glowed red with fury, “You insult my intelligents!” he growled he shot his hand toward her and before she could do anything she felt herself go flying backwards and onto the ground.

The king approached her and drew his sword, “And for that you shall pay for your life,” he raised his sword up above him but then flames leaped from no where and divied on to him setting his clothing a flame.

Taichi, Koushiro, Sora and Jyou entered with Izumi behind them she was short girl with blond had she had a brown dress on with a beaded necklace hanging around her neck.

“You will pay for this!” the king shouted at them.

Hikari reached both hands out in front of her then sent lighting blots in the kings direction, “That’s what happened when you mess with White Magic,” she said smartly.

The King fell onto the ground with the guards attending to him and trying to put out the flames on his robes at the same time.

“Pay back it not really in our schedule at the moment,” Taichi said, “Guys let’s go,” he replied.

The crew took off out of the door and headed for the exits but they were blocked with guards.

“Great and just when I thought things were easy,” Jyou said annoyed.

“Let’s show them a thing or two guys,” Taichi said as he with drew his sword, the others followed suit.
Sora and Hikari protected Izumi; both Hikari and Sora were fighting two different guards Hikari kicked hers in the stomach then another came to attack they clashed swords, “You know you shouldn’t have blocked our way out,” she said.  The guard didn’t answer and attacked her again she blocked the sword.

Sora had two guards that were attacking her, she slashed one then clashed swords with the other and kicked him back which sent him flying.

Taichi was bouncing from guard to guard; they were significantly out numbered.

Koushiro slashed one guard and kicked him out of they way, “Taichi here comes more,” he said.

“I don’t know how much longer we are going to be able to last,” Taichi said as he dealt a blow to the next guard with his sword.

“I agree any plans guys?” Jyou said as he two was fighting with two guards. Blocking shots and trying to get shots at them himself. Then he kicked on and slashed the other.

Izumi watched the fighting she was anxious she didn’t like fighting herself and watching the other fight while she stood to do nothing. She looked two and forth she just wished all the soldiers would stop so they could have a chance to escape.

But then the King showed up, “You are outnumbered give it up!” he declared.

“Not a chance,” Taichi replied as he kicked another guard away from him.

“No, leave us alone!” Izumi shouted.

“You, who let you out!” he cried he went towards her. By then Sora and Hikari weren’t close enough to her so they could protect her.

“Izumi!” Hikari cried she drop kicked a guard and started to her but before she could make it a strong gust of wind evolved the entire room knocking the guards of their feet and the king fell down as well.

Hikari watched wide eyed, “Whoa…” she exclaimed, “elemental magic.”

Taichi and the others took the opportunity to escape the castle. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meanwhile Seoras was watching from the tube of water he had in front of him he remained quite as he watched.

Scratch appeared then in a puff of smoke, “Seoras have you thought of a plan to get my souls?” he said with a muffled laugh.

“No, forget about your souls,” he said quickly.

“What happened? You have a change of heart or something?” he asked bitterly.

“None of you business goat, I have some place to go,” Seoras vanished leaving Scratch with Catherine’s body.

“You can’t just leave me here!” Scratch shouted angrily into the air. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Night n Gale had set sail yet again, this time with a new crew member Izumi Orimoto who herself had a mysterious past as it seemed.

“That is some strong magic you possess Izumi,” Hikari said.

Izumi simply shook her head, “I don’t know how it happens, just that when I’m nervous, scared or anxious, it just happens,” she explained.

Sora looked on her left hand and saw a rainbow bracelet, “How did u get that?” she asked.

Izumi shrugged, “I had it when I woke up. I don’t know how it got there though,” she said.

“Then we will help you regain your memory,” Taichi said with a promise.

“Thank you Taichi,” she smiled at him then the others, “Thank you all of you for rescuing me from the dungeon.”

“We will do all it takes, right Taichi,” Jyou said looking it Taichi direction.

“That’s right,” he agreed.

“And maybe one of my inventions will help out as well,” Koushiro said smiling. They all laughed with him.

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