The Night n Gale II Chapter 5

The Crystal of Lore Part II

They were shortly arriving to the Isle of Lore the crew of the Night n Gale encounter strange visions just off the cost of the first island. The visions consisted of the illusion of flames gliding on water seeming as though the water its self was on fire. Hikari watched these visions carefully and all were illusions of magic. They were all attempts to ward off people who were after the crystal.

Izumi stood next to her watching how Hikari sensed the magical aura. She was saddened though how ever hard she tried she couldn’t do it. The Vibrant Kingdom had sounded familiar but perhaps it was only her wishing it was familiar. Then at least she would be familiar with something and not just nothing. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sora found Taichi sitting below at the table looking at the map, “Taichi you know this scares me a little bit,” she confessed.

Taichi looked up at her, “I will have to admit that I am scared too. We don’t know what we are getting into but I promise to keep you safe,” he said.

Sora smiled, “I know you will, but even you can stop everything from happening.”

Taichi stood up now, “Sora, Izumi and Hikari both know magic,” he explained.

“But Izumi has amnesia, she doesn’t remember how to use it,” she cried.

“You’re worrying for nothing, Sora,” Taichi replied.

The ship jolted and sent Taichi forward into Sora then sending them onto the floor, him on top of her. They remained like that for a few moments then slowly inching forward to kiss her until they were startled by Jyou, “Taichi! Come quick we have a problem!” he cried.

Taichi and Sora quickly got up and ran to the top of the deck, “Jyou what’s wrong?” he asked quickly.

“The ship has run a ground,” he explained perplexed.

“How? we are out in the middle of no where,” he said he walked to the star board side of the ship and peered down but saw nothing.

Koushiro came up on deck shortly, “Taichi what was that?” he asked he was almost asleep when he was woken.

Hikari and Izumi both came up to Taichi, “We should do a sound test,” Taichi said.

Jyou picked up a rock and threw it overboard it was deep water still, “This is very wrong,” he replied nervously.

Shortly after having done that the water started to bubble, “EVERYONE OTHER SIDE!” Taichi shouted as he retreated to the other side of the ship.

Out of the water emerged a sea serpent, “You got to be kidding me,” Jyou cried annoyed slightly.

“Hikari! Do something,” Taichi called to his sister.

Hikari frowned she couldn’t taking something that big down with her magic alone. She looked at Izumi who was terrified at the creature that had just appeared, “Izumi grab my hand maybe we can help you expose your magic,” Hikari said to her.

Izumi watched her carefully, “Okay,” she said grabbing a hold of her hand.

“Now, we are in trouble so think hard Izumi, think like you we are going to die,” she said pleading with her.

She closed her eyes quickly then thought hard as she could to bring the powers out, she couldn’t feel anything. Hikari closed her eyes too she was chanting a spell she rose her free hand up in the direction of the monster and zapped it caused the monster to flinch. It growled and roared in agony but it did not go anywhere. It just got angrier.

The giant serpent thrashed its tail in the water then quickly went in and took a bite of one of the crew members and swallowing him as he screamed.
“Back away!” Taichi shouted at his crew members who were too close to the serpent.

Izumi watched horrified then closed here eyes again this time she was determined to help somehow. If she didn’t the monster would have the upper hand and would take the ship down then they would never find out where she had come from. She closed her eyes, “I WON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!!” she shouted out loud then opening her eyes they glowed blue then the monster began to struggle and thrashing about as it was descending back into the water.

As soon as it appeared it was now back in the water Taichi carefully approached the side with the rest of crew behind him and looked over board. There was a vortex that swirling still and bubbles rising up from the middle of the vortex.

Hikari let go of Izumi’s hand and looked at her astonished, “she did it on her own.”

After a while the bubbles stopped reappearing and the vortex died away, “it drowned,” Koushiro said watching as the remaining of the vortex disappeared.

Izumi eyes returned to normal then she collapsed Hikari catching her, “Izumi! Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah….I’m just a little weak,” she whispered.

“How did you do that?” Taichi asked he was perplexed yet amazed.

She shook her head the truth was that she herself didn’t know.

“Taichi, she has elemental magic she can control, earth, wind, fire and water,” Hikari explained to him.

Sora walked over to them, “How are you feeling Izumi?” she asked worried about her.

“Just a little weak,” she sat up now, “Thank you, Sora.”

Sora smiled back at her. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jyou and Taichi were at the tiller near the back Jyou was stirring the ship toward is course, “What happened?” he asked out of the blue.

Taichi looked confused at him, “What happened about what?” he asked.

Jyou looked over where Sora was standing with Hikari and Izumi the girls were laughing at something then Taichi looked over then turned to look at Jyou.
“It was nothing, when the ship jolted we fell…awkwardly like that,” he said being truthful but yet blushing at the same time.

“So you don’t just stay there for a long period of time,” Jyou said.

“Well…” Taichi was lost on want to say because he himself didn’t know what he was doing or how it looked like anyways.

“It’s okay the secret is save with me,” he replied.

“Yeah but there is nothing going on,” Taichi said firmly this time.

“Koushiro!” Jyou called the scientist over.

Taichi sighed, “What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m going to ask Koushiro a question lets see what he says,” Jyou  then saw him coming, “Between us three don’t you remember the time when we went to the place were we all disappeared. Then when we came back Taichi and Sora kissed would you say that there something going on?”

Koushiro thought for a moment, “Yeah I do remember that, Taichi it was obvious by the way. Everyone knows about that.”

Taichi sighed, “We are friends that is all.”

Koushiro and Jyou began to laugh then Taichi having enough of the criticism walked away from them to the other side of the ship. He didn’t have to listen to them make up stuff.

FLASHBACK
Taichi walked over to pile of ashes and kicked it. He quickly turned around and saw that everyone was back. They were all back.
Sora ran up to Taichi she hugged him then she pulled away slightly and planted a kiss on his lips, the two had their arms wrapped around each other and were kissing quite passionately.

Hikari smiled watching then held her hand out. “Okay Koushiro pay up.” she said. Koushiro sighed. He didn’t think they would be kissing like that this soon. He reached into his pocket. “Although it’s best that Taichi moves on.”Jyou said
“Very true,” Hikari replied. “This only makes me have less fortune,” Koushiro replied.
END FLASHBACK
He shook his head, “Okay that was then this is now,” he said then walked up to the girls.

“Hey, Taichi,” Izumi said as he approached Sora and Hikari both turned to face him.

“Hey, how are you doing?” he asked.

“Better, thanks. I am wondering if it is worth us going the isle to find the Crystal of Lore,” she said her take was that these people from the Kingdom of Vibrant were seeking something more devious from the Crystal other then a simple three wishes to which they can better their kingdom.

“Well it’s kind of too late to back out,” Taichi said.

“Yeah…I’m sorry, I just worry,” she then looked behind him at the isles just off in the distance. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The ship was in rowing distance of the first island the crew put the anchor down and then waiting for a moment to prepare for a dangerous journey.

Taichi, Jyou, Koushiro, Sora, Hikari and Izumi boarded the row boat then it was lowered into the water by the crew remaining on the ship.  Slowly rowing the small boat toward the shore Hikari looked on wearily feeling strong magical power continue to build as they approached.

Once they reached the shore everyone disembarked they stood there looking around and observing the island.

“Hikari what do you think?” Taichi asked as he was still looking about.

Hikari walked toward the forest line and stopped just before reaching it, “There is no doubt that there is a strong magical presence. Taichi if we are going to go we are going to stick together.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After what seemed like hours the crew was about halfway through the forest. It was eerily quite, nothing except the song birds with their chirping and the cicada with their loud shrill sound that could be heard through out the entire trip.

Hikari felt like the magical aura that had evolved the island was fading rapidly. She stopped causing everyone else to do so, “I don’t know about everyone but something big has happened.”
“What do you mean?” Taichi asked.

“I think we’ve been beat to the Crystal,” she replied.

“But that’s impossible…the queen said we were the only help she thought was able to get it in the first place?” Jyou said quickly he looked at Hikari with worry.

“When you talk about a Crystal being as powerful as the Crystal of Lore there is ought to be a person that will seek its power,” Koushiro said.

Sora frowned, “Then who is it that has it now?” she wondered aloud.

“That is my thought exactly,” Taichi answered.

Soon after finishing the crew was greeted by sword point and surround by seven individuals, “Well that would be me,” said a similar voice that Taichi recognized instantly.

“What are you doing here?” Jyou demanded angrily before Taichi could even say anything.

“Jyou, Taichi, Koushiro…long time no see,” a guy came out into view making them now eight people.

“Someone I would gladly not want to see again,” Koushiro said looking at him angrily.

“The harsh reaction when greeting and old friend,” the man said again.

“Friend isn’t something I would call you,” Taichi replied coldly toward the man; the girls were a little confused about who this person was but chose not to say any thing.

“You have some good looking women right here,” he said.

“What do you want Tsukasa, and stop dancing around,” Taichi demanded angrily.

“Nothing,” he went into the bag he was carrying with him and pulled out a large crystal, “But I’m assuming your looking for this.”

“If you assume correctly for once,” Taichi then looked at his men, “Call them off of us.”

“Oh I don’t know, I’m not sure I trust you,” Tsukasa replied.

“Okay look we won’t do anything, you guys out number us,” Koushiro said quickly.

“Driving a hard bargain I see,” he thought for a moment, “I guess your right about that as well.”

“We won’t do anything,” Taichi said.

“Okay, men and ladies put your weapons down. We are going to have a nice chat with Taichi and his crew.”   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

&ldq uo;So you two have been recruited by the King of Queen of Vibrant,” Tsukasa repeated he was really fascinated that they just happened to meet on the same island at the same time for the same object.

“It doesn’t make sense, why did she call us when she already assigned you to her case on getting the Crystal,” Taichi said he scratched his head.

“Never the less, why don’t we go our separate ways? Who really cares about the reason as to why?”

“There is always a reason why things are done.”

“Taichi, with all do respect, maybe they were counting on one of us failing and hired the other in assurance that they do get their treasure,” Jyou said.

“Good assumption Jyou, well I’m pretty sure you were second request of help,” Tsukasa said he looked over to his crew who were sitting quietly talking to one another.

Taichi narrowed his eyes at him, “Look, Tsukasa this doesn’t mean we are friends again. We have bigger fish to fry lets go back to the kingdom of Vibrant and ask them for ourselves instead of waiting here.”

 “Okay so be it,” Tsukasa got up from the stone he was sitting on and walked to his crew when they talked for a minute.

Taichi turned to his own crew, “Let’s go back and find out what is going on,” he said. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Back on board the Night n Gale…

“Taichi who was that?” Hikari questioned.
“Someone from the past, which I prefer not to talk about at the moment,” he said going over to Jyou who was sailing the ship.

“That is not fair, if you can’t tell us then may be Jyou will tell,” Hikari looked at the blue haired man for a moment and he sighed.

“I will tell you,” he said.

“Finally someone that will tell us who he is,” Hikari said that as she looked at her brother before turning away and following Jyou. They headed into the galley where Sora, Koushiro and Izumi were waiting.

“Tsukasa is…” Sora said trailing off as she looked at Koushiro who obviously not saying anything much about him.

“He was at one time apart of our crew,” Jyou said this startled Koushiro he looked at Jyou as he came in and sat at the end of the table.

“This goes back to when Taichi’s father was still the captain. Tsukasa gained everyone trust on the ship where then he tried to run a mutiny against Taichi’s father,” he looked at Koushiro who simply shook his head.

“No wonder you were so hostile about him,” Izumi said.

“Yeah but that is not all, he also tried to kill Taichi once,” Koushiro explained.

Sora and Hikari looked at each other, “Why?” they asked carefully.

“Lila,” Jyou and Koushiro said simultaneously. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

With in a matter of minutes the ships both returned to The Vibrant docks. The King and Queen had given each of the ships a special medallion that helped them move ten times the normal speed of the ship. Once arriving there and the same as the last time guards had greeted them then escorted them to the castle but this time to the thrown room where the King and Queen awaited with their presences.

“Welcome back Taichi, Tsukasa,” the king and queen said.

“We know that you are a little perplexed at the situation that had arisen we decided that if two crews go the chances that we would get our crystal would increase instead of just sending one after it,” the King replied he looked at his Queen.

“Never the less you both get the reward because you both did accept the quest in the first place,” she said.

“So I guess we will be leaving,” Taichi said.

“Yes thank you for help. With out this crystal we will be able to give our people an extraordinary way of living,” the King told them.

“So you intend to use it for good?” Koushiro asked.

“Yes to help our growth and to help near by villages strive to live excellently,” the queen said with a smile.

“We are glad to have helped somewhat,” Taichi said.

“Yes so am I,” Tsukasa replied looking at his former crewmate, “Until we met again, Taichi,” he said then waved his crew and they all left.

“Not likely,” Taichi muttered under his breath. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A board the Night n Gale…

There as promised the delivery of a king ransom was on the deck the crew was hurrying to put it into the cargo hold. Once they had finished putting away the trunks and all they lifted the anchor and set sail once again.

Sora had seen Taichi take the tiller he was alone and took the chance to go and talk to him, “Hey,” she said smiling softly at him but he looked a little distant.

Taichi shook his head then looked at her returning her smile.

“Taichi, I didn’t know about him,” she said quietly.

Taichi only looked at her, “Don’t worry, I am okay.”

“If you say so…if you ever want to talk about it I am here to listen. Remember,” she replied putting her hand on his then gently taking her hand off she turned around and walked back to the galley were everyone else was.

Taichi just watched her as she descended into the galley and then smiled.

To Be Continued…

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