Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ The Light That Shines Down Upon Us ❯ Kurai ( Chapter 2 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Athena--Chibi 
Not much action, but there is a lot of talking in this one. Wizards and evil crazy boo-boos abide within.
Anime/Manga: Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Comedy / Fantasy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.16.2003 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 176 | Status: Completed
Not much action, but there is a lot of talking in this one. Wizards and evil crazy boo-boos abide within.
Anime/Manga: Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Comedy / Fantasy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.16.2003 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 176 | Status: Completed
Rating: R
Disclaimer: No. I don't own them.
Notes: All right, I haven't updated in like...forever, mainly from the obvious lack of interest from the people who give feedback: REVIEWERS. So, hey, look, if you've been reading this story and not reviewing with some sort of commentary then I gotta ask you to PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW. I want to know what's getting what reactions, so that I may be able to improve my writing.
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"Come on Chiharu, he didn't mean anything. DID YOU, NIKO?" Tai said pointedly at the young man, who was still rubbing his sore body in numerous places. Chiharu refused to even spare him a glance.
"Right. Except...that, like I said, it's tradition. When someone of our tribe sees someone that they want they claim them. It's just a precautionary measure. And, like I've said a billion times, it's because of the uneven ratio between the males and the females. There's like-" Nikolai Fenrir was explaining his story for the fourth time that day.
"A 10 to 1 ratio of males to females. We know, we know." Tai interrupted, rolling his eyes towards the blue sky above them, which was currently mostly hidden by the tree that they were lodged in. Niko, as he was usually called, glared at Tai. He really didn't like Tai, and he didn't know what it was. He just didn't like him. Right about now he was sort of wishing that he hadn't cast that barrier...his hair flared up in anger. And even Tai raised and eyebrow at this. Niko shrugged like it was no big deal, nah, it happened all the time...this whole finding the girl that looked like the one in his dreams, and finding that there was already a male there...getting attached to her...and...stuff. Grrrrr...
"Look. It's getting dark, perhaps it would be best if we all just went inside and talked rationally? Please, Chiharu-sama let your hate and anger towards our lovely Nikolai fade away in the face of our dilemma." The calmer young man said, his voice dry and yet comforting. He was obviously the voice of reason in the group of the three men who traipsed the forest together. He was also the reason that Tai was still alive, even though Niko had fired off the barrier. His name was Kieran Tilne and he looked just a little older than 16-years-old. His companion smiled, knowing that although it seemed like Niko was the playboy and Kieran the level headed polite type, he was really flirting shamelessly with Chiharu. He simply did it differently.
"Excuse me, it's Kieran isn't it?" Niricia asked politely, and Kieran turned his opaque ice blue eyes on her. With his deep-sea blue hair and narrow blue eyes that had no pupil, he looked exactly the picture of an Ice Wizard. "Why did you help us?"
The third companion, a dark boy that seemed at least over 20 came forward from the shadow of the willow that they were perched in. Well...it looked like a willow anyways, although the tree was much taller than any willow from our world.
"Well...that's not too hard to explain. We dislike Shira, and all her doings. I think she's crazy, and so far we've found six bodies of young teenagers, like you, dead. And we know that its Shira's doing. So, when I perceived that someone new was here, we acted." The boy stopped, smiling at Niricia, who was apparently deep in thought.
"Wait. What do you mean, "perceived"? That sounds awfully weird to me...just...who are you guys anyway? And what the hell is your name?" Tai demanded of the third companion.
"My name is Rounin Chirifi. And we, Kieran, Nikolai and myself will be more than willing to explain if you will just come inside." Rounin gestured towards the middle-sized hut built into the tree. Niricia didn't even look up from her thoughts, and Tai just looked at Rounin as if Rounin had just asked how Tai felt about diving off a cliff with only a piece of shoelace to act as a bungee cord.
"Hey, I'm all for it." Chiharu said, suddenly standing up. Her auburn hair swirling in random directions, giving her an air of frenzied activity. "I'm sick of sitting here, in the cold, waiting for someone to explain." Niko smiled brilliantly.
"Hey, if you're cold...I could warm you up..." Niko approached Chiharu with a giant goofy grin on his face, his hair lighting up to blaze seductively.
"KI!" Chiharu yelled as she jump-kicked Niko in the gut. After he was allowed to fly backwards three feet, the obviously strong Rounin caught him. Chiharu strutted past Niko and Rounin into the hut where Kieran met her.
"Well done, Niko, well done." Rounin said into Niko's ear as he helped to straighten the other man. Niko shook his head, smiling after Chiharu like a man who's met the woman of his dreams. Which, he had indeed.
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"So...all three of you are Wizards?" Tai asked, raising his eyebrow at the last speaker, Rounin.
"Yes. Like I said...there used to be more in this part of Shin'nen...but...they're gone now. All that's left is Kieran, an Ice Wizard; Niko, a Fire Wizard; and I, an Earth Wizard. That's it. The rest have either died...or been destroyed."
"Wait. From what you've been saying...shouldn't there have been over hundreds of wizards? Since you said that you're the Forest Wizards and you inherited the powers of the things around you...where are things like Water, and Air, and stuff?" Chiharu asked. Kieran turned to her with his icy eyes, and smiled.
"So, there is a mind behind that pretty face after all." He gave a small bow from his sitting position, and while Chiharu hastily shifted her gaze to the floor, Niko glanced at Kieran sharply. "Yes," Kieran continued, not seeing Niko's glance, "you're right. There should be. And, at one time, there was. It's been a long, long time...but, at one point there was.
"In the time of our fathers, there were many Wizards, Sorcerers, and Sorceresses. And in my grandfather's time, there was an entirely different set of rules. Back then, each kind kept to it's kind. The Fire Spirits mixed with the Fire, the Water with the Water, and the Air with the Air...never was there a combination. Never. People did not get their magic at birth, but were chosen by the magic around them. Anyone could learn...but, they could only learn one type of magic. There were no set Wizards or rules. However...this was a long time ago.
"Another thing that's no longer in use is the idea of having one person with a strong will rule the entire world with that will. No, don't stare like that Tai. It's true. Here in Shin'nen, formerly known as Cephiro, everything depends on one's will. More so then than now, but still, it is there. Back then, there was something known as a Pillar, and like I said, that person controlled everything. However, if the Pillar could no longer keep only the world's happiness in mind, then they were told to eradicate themselves." At this, Chiharu gave a small gasp, and both Kieran and Tai looked at her. She took a deep breath and motioned for Kieran to continue.
"Well, as you can imagine, the Pillar needed to always be safe otherwise. Therefore, the Pillar could not take his or her own life, nor could anyone in that world harm him or her. So, therefore, when the Pillar needed to be killed off, that Pillar could summon people from another world. These people, usually three, would then either revive the legendary mashin and prevail or fail. The mashin were needed to help the three defeat the Pillar. Well, in the time of my grandfather, these three were summoned."
"Wait. If they killed the Pillar...then, who would rule the world?" Niko looked up at Chiharu's comment, and it was he who answered.
"Well...that's the thing. Whoever had the strongest will in Shin'nen...er...Cephiro would go through a test with the other strongest will people and whoever came out victorious of whatever goes on in there would become the new Pillar. It was supposed to be the perfect plan. But, when The Great Pillar Hikaru and her companions Ryuuzaki Umi and Hououji Fuu were summoned...things changed. After they were forced to kill the previous Pillar, Princess Emeraude, Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru returned to their world. But, not too long afterwards, they were called back. You see, the world was breaking up because the strongest will wasn't there. Hikaru and a man known as Eagle were. To make a long story short, Pillar Hikaru changed the system. She made it...so that there would never again be a need for Magic Knights. All wills would rule as one, together. For a long time, that worked out. Hikaru is known as the Greatest Pillar and the Magic Knights are really, truly Legendary." Niko explained, looking serious for this moment, as if he were in reverence of the legend.
Something about this story rang a bell in Chiharu's mind...only...she...just couldn't remember what it was ringing for! This was going to drive her crazy until she figured it out! Kieran glanced from Niko, who was staring at Chiharu, to Chiharu, who was staring at the ground, and back again. He took a deep breath to draw attention to him again and continued the explanation.
"Yeah. So, things were find and dandy and the new Cephiro was called Shin'nen. However, things didn't last so great for so long. In my grandfather's time...things changed. He watched as Pillar Hikaru grew older and older...and then...one day...she just stopped coming. She never came again. The world didn't fall apart like it would have without a Pillar. They had changed it all for the better...or so they thought. I don't know why...I don't know how...but for some reason...magic stopped being available. Not just anyone could learn anymore. Only select people. And...well...Elemental Beings began to interbreed. It may seem harmless...but, what it does is it messess with who they are. They become...something different. They're strange.
"Well...then...in my father's time...things changed even further. People who had magic began to become more and more like that element. You can see that in us, their children. Me, it's obvious that I'm an Ice Wizard. I mean, hey, look at Niko! His hair never turns out...and it never burns anything either. You can tell any Wizard from a normal person from their eyes and hair. We don't have any visible pupils...just...eyes the color of our element. It sucks...but...yeah.
"We aren't stupid, you know. We know that we're different...that in their minds, we're freaks. So, we realized that those who were born for a certain place had a certain mark on their palms when they used their magic. Watch." Kieran held up his palms and both Tai and Niricia leaned forward slightly. Chiharu folded her arms across her chest.
"Kouri no ya." Kieran chanted softly, and an arrow made completely of ice formed above his outstretched hands and lay suspended in the air. Even more impressive was that as he spoke the words "Ice Arrow" a small, green, leafy tree appeared in the center of each palm. "I am a Forest Element. Same with Niko and Rounin here."
"Yeah. When we were born, our parents sent us here. Not just because of the mark...but...also to keep us safe. Yes, safe Chiharu." Niko said in response to Chiharu's half-open mouth. She closed it, and looked thoughtful. "It would be a hell of a lot safer out here than there...there it's...well. Let's just say that we're not liked by much."
"Niko speaks the truth. Our presence is not appreciated in many circles. The small clan that we have of people who have mild magical talents that belong here is over to the West." Rounin said, speaking slowly and evenly. "Even they, our own people, prefer us to be out and about rather than there. You see, we're a potential threat to them. We're much more powerful than them, and they dislike this, you see." Rounin stretched out his long legs and sat back, his speech finished. His long brown hair was tied back in a tight braid and his dark brown eyes were warm and gentle, but slightly forebodding. After giving a small sigh, Niko shook out his fiery red hair with his fingers. After letting it flare up a bit, he rolled his shoulders and lay against the wall. Kieran busied himself with taking of the soft boots that he wore, letting the deep blue hair fall over his forehead like the ocean crashing upon the shore. A small silence ensued.
"Okay. Now, as great as that was...do you mind if you actually explain stuff? Look. I've seen enough Anime's to know how this all goes. You tell us the problem, we go out, search for things and stuff, flaunt our panties and get into some provacative positions, aquire magic powers, find our true loves, solve the problem, go home, end of story, and the credits roll. And you know what, I don't want that to happen. I don't want an Anime for a life. Look, just tell us how to leave and I'll be on my way, okay? Because, as fun as your planets history lesson was, I don't really give a shit, okay?" Tai said bluntly, placing himself in front of the three Wizards.
"Wait. Tai-san, one moment please." Niricia intervened. "If you don't mind me asking a few things first?" Rounin opened his large brown eyes and gestured for her to continue. "Well...if what you said was true, which I don't know if it is or not, then you'd be impossibly old. What you described took place over time much too long for it to have happened only in your 'grandfather's time' as you said that it did." Rounin smiled.
"I see we have a sly one in this group of young people. You're right though, for our story to make sense we'd have to be impossibly old." Another smile. "Well, Niricia, you're right. We are." Niricia's face showed obvious disbelief but Rounin continued. Tai threw his hands up in defeat and went to sit down next to Chiharu, where they carried on a whispered conversation. "I, personally am the oldest. I am 860-years-old this next fall, although I'm sure you wouldn't have placed me older than 20, ne? We age strangely, us Wizards...we live long lives, but we do not grow old. I will be dead within the next 70 years, and I will never have experienced a gray hair. Nikolai is 820-years-old, with the body of an 18-year-old. If he lives as long as his brother did, then he will survive to 950 or so. The youngest is Kieran, and he's 788-years-old this upcoming summer, and he looks to be 16. We don't know why this started happening...but it did. My grandfather died at 361. My father at 788. And I will not live past 930. My children, if I have any, will live even longer than I." Rounin rose from his position and walked over to Niricia. He paused when he was a foot away. Niricia seemed calm, but her chest rose and fell much quicker than usual. Rounin placed one long fingered hand on her shoulder, and leaned down slightly from his 6'2" height. "Believe us, please."
"Uhh...well. I..." Niricia started, for the first time seemingly at a loss for words. "I...um. Sure. I believe you." She said finally, holding her dark head up high, and drawing herself up to her full height. Rounin smiled at her, not the smile that he had given her earlier, that of a superior adult speaking to an ignorant child, but a genuine smile of equals. It was a very beautiful smile, but, there was something about it that was a little crazy. Niricia would have smiled back, except that she didn't really trust herself to move right then. Something kept her riveted to the spot, and she couldn't look away from Rounin's eyes.
"Ahem." Tai's cough sent Niricia spinning from the world that contained only a dark haired man with the darkest of brown eyes that held more depth than the deepest of oceans. She felt a little dizzy, and then lonely as Rounin backed away from her, retreating to his corner. "Yeah. Okay. We, Chiharu and I, have a question. Who is 'Shira'? Why are we here? There's no Pillar to kill."
"Ah. Right. About that." Niko said, his face more serious than it had been so far. "She's a dangerous bitch. She's a Sorceress...sort of. I don't know why, but she's a human-formed Spirit. What type? She's a mix. A real mix. She's Fire, and Air, with some bits of Earth and Lighting. She's crazy. And, even worse...she's got it into her head that the King Kensuke can still be saved. You see, he's dying. He's only 678, so it's not from old age. We don't know why...but, he's our leader. He has no heir...We don't know what to do. Shira wasn't always crazy you know. She used to be very sane and beautiful. She fell in love with the King the day that she was transferred to the castle...and he fell in love with her. However...when he started dying, he realized that he didn't love her any longer. And he told her so. She went nuts. She believes that it's the mysterious disease, and that if if goes away, he'll live and realize that he loves her still. Well, it got into her head that this disease is from another world, brought by The Great Pillar Hikaru. So, what's the way to fix that? Bring the Magic Knights. That was her plan. She tried twice before you...we know that the first time they were killed on impact of the ground, and the second time she killed them herself. But...you guys...well. You made it." Niko said, with a wry smile as he stated the obvious.
"Shira contacted Doushi Clef too. He's also a big one in Legend. He trained the Magic Knights and he was one of the first to live very long. He's over 1000 now, and no one sees him. He stays inside this old tower and doesn't venture out. He has outlived every single friend and love, and he's tired of watching people die. Some people think that he's immortal. Either way though, he knew Hirkaru and the Magic Knights. If we go to see him, then maybe he can tell you how to get home...because well...we don't know how you're supposed to get home." Kieran said, his voice apologetic and sad. Tai's eyes flared up in anger, and he moved quickly in front of Kieran and grabbed the front of Kieran's loose sea-green shirt.
"What the hell do you mean, you don't know?! There's no way that we're stuck here! That never happens in Anime!!" Tai screamed out, an irrational edge seemed to have crept into his voice.
"Well. You know Tai, it does happen in Manga you know. What about Fushigi Yuugi? Yuki Miaka was stuck there for a long, long time in the manga, but in the Anime she wasn't." Chiharu said calmly. Tai looked at her as if she were a giant dung beetle that was speaking fluent Russian while gargling.
"And fanfics! Crazy things happen in fanfics, and they're usually poorly written!" Niricia piped up. Tai gave her the same look.
"WHATEVER! MY LORD! So! What are we supposed to do, huh?!" Tai said, the last statement addressed to Kieran.
"Look. That's why we need to go see Doushi Clef! In the legend the Magic Knights awoke the Mashin, donned the Mashin, went to the Pillar, granted their wish of death, and they were flung home. That's how it went...but...that's not what you were summoned for. In fact, you weren't even summoned by the Pillar! You were summoned by a freak element! We don't know how! Okay?! Release me, please." Kieran said, a dangerous edge to his voice. Tai let go of Kieran's shirt and backed up, his eyes shut. He was starting to feel faint.
'I can't believe this is happening...I can't believe it...My whole life could be over in this piece of shit world...stuck with freaky geezer-aged-kids and stupid legends...' Tai thought, and as he leaned back a little too far, a pair of small, but strong, arms caught him.
"Hey." It was Chiharu. "Look, this has been a lot for us to absorb, okay? Do you think that maybe we can sleep on it or something? Please?" She was adressing the Wizards.
"Of course. Follow me." It was Niko. God, Tai REALLY didn't like that guy. Although, it was hard to decide who was worse...Niko or Kieran. Both sucked. And so did Rounin. In short, he didn't like any of them. And Niricia fit neatly into that category. The only cool person in the whole matter was Chiharu.
'She's pretty awesome...for a girl. And cute too...again, for a girl." Tai thought, wondering what that odd feeling of attraction was coming from.
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"He y. You asleep?" Niko whispered gently into Chiharu's ear. Chiharu's eyes opened slowly, a sign that she too had been thinking with her eyes closed as she waited for dreams to come.
"What?" Chiharu asked indignantly, her voice no louder than a breath.
"Come with me." Niko stretched up, his body making no noise.
"No way." Chiharu said...well...she would have if she could have. But, something about the way Niko was looking at her wouldn't let her say it. "Okay." That was all that would come out. So, keeping to her word, she got up, making considerably more noise than Niko had. She followed the absolutely silence Niko out of the hut, trying her best to keep her knees from cracking.
The cool night air greeted them as they walked outside. Niko walked to the far edge of the platform that the tree-hut was built on. With only the light of the stars to see by, for it was a new moon that night, Chiharu could only just barely make out where he stood. He was there, in that corner, that darker black against a light black. Chiharu walked forward until she was far away from the hut's closed door that if she spoke in a normal voice she would not disturb anyone. She turned and faced Niko.
"What do you want?" Chiharu asked, her voice full of scorn.
"I only wanted to give you a small heads up. Oh, and a word of caution." Niko's voice was as light as ever, but there was a strange undertone that Chiharu didn't recognize.
"Okay..."
"Listen. I know that you must be feeling like the whole world is out of control. You feel like every rule you've ever known has just been broken easily and now you don't know where your supposed to stand. You've just been snatched out of your world, thrown into a new one with a thousand problems, and you've encountered more people with more history than it seems you can handle." Niko's voice had lost the lightness that seemed so customary with him and the undertone had prevailed above it. He spoke with intensity, and a deep bartone that should have repeled Chiharu but did the opposite. She was intrigued by this Niko, he seemed to be different from the prankster of daylight hours.
"Yes...that's sorta how I feel. Except...well...umm...I didn't really want to admit it to Tai, because he seems to be, like, the only person of us three that's really happy with his life...but, well...in my world...I'm not really happy. I mean, um, my life's good and all...it's just, sometimes...I just feel like it's all just...boring. Like, nothing will ever happen to me, I'll never be able to really do anything no one else has done before. And...I guess...that secretly I always wanted to go to another world...you know? Be like an Anime character and stuff. But, I didn't think that it would be like this! I don't want to have to just figure things out from no where! I want someone to tell me what I'm supposed to do! I don't...I don't want...to be...lost anymore..." Chiharu couldn't control herself anymore, and the tears ran so freely down her face that stopping them would have taken more energy out of her small body than she felt she could handle. She cried as she remembered all the strange feelings that had coursed through her body when she and her former best friend had held hands...the shock and horror on her former best friend's face after Chiharu had kissed her...all the taunting faces that told her she was a freak...the desolation of having no one there who understood what she felt for other girls...it all came rushing back with the tears. That fear of being lost once more opened it's gaping mouth and threatened to swallow her whole. Just as she was about to fall forward into that abyss...Niko's strong arms caught her.
"It will be all right." He whispered into her ear. His seemingly young body holding Chiharu's with ease. He was bending down to whisper to her. "Please...trust me. I'm not a bad guy, really. I swear to you...I will protect you...with my life. You don't have to feel alone anymore! We, Rounin, Kieran, and I, will protect you! We're here for you! We've all had to go through more than what we feel we deserve because of the way we were born...we know desolation and abandonment...we know them. Look, you can stay with us until we find you a way back home. I swear by the Pillars of lore." Niko straightened, and in doing so, pushed Chiharu up a bit and held only her shoulders.
"Okay...thanks..." Chiharu said, sniffing and wiping away the tears quickly, trying to act like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Ah. Two things for you now. One: You are never safe alone here. Shira may be one crazy-ass-bitch, but she's a POWERFUL crazy-ass-bitch. Don't go wandering off without some warning. With me as your sworn protector, anything fire will at least attempt to help you...but...that will not be enough to stop Shira. So, a word of caution...don't leave without someone of power with you or knowing where you are. And two: Don't take this the wrong way, but, I can promise you this. By the time this moon is full...you will not want to leave. I know this. So...that's your heads-up. Be careful with what you promise...because, you won't want to go."
"What are you talking about?" Chiharu asked, her mind spinning with too many things at once to keep up with Niko's voice.
"You'll understand later...all right. I'm going back in." Niko said, and walked to the door.
"Wait! Niko...um...I'm sorry." Niko turned slowly back to Chiharu.
"For what?" He asked gently.
"For thinking that you were a heartless jerk whose leading mind was between his legs. I know now that you're more than that." Chiharu admitted, her voice serious, but her expression was a smirk.
"So...I'm a heartful not-jerk whose leading mind is between my legs?" Niko asked, also seemingly serious.
"Yes. Good, we understand each other." Chiharu said with a small nod of her head that was supposed to indicate agreement, but was used here to hide her silent laughter.
"Yes, of course." Niko looked to the side, his shoulders heaving slightly from his own suppressed laughter.
When they went back inside, both slept easy...but, the small white figure below the hut never let her eyes shut. Her wide amethyst eyes stared unseeing at the tree-hut.
"I will save you my prince...I will save you...I will..." The white figured chanted, her voice not above a whisper.
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AND! That's chapter three! YAY! Excitement! And STUFF! Whee!! So, many things have just happened! Who will end up with who? And what did Niko mean by saying that Chiharu won't want to leave by the time the moon is full?!?!? We don't know yet...but! hey, if we're lucky, maybe we'll find out next chapter~!! Please review!!
Disclaimer: No. I don't own them.
Notes: All right, I haven't updated in like...forever, mainly from the obvious lack of interest from the people who give feedback: REVIEWERS. So, hey, look, if you've been reading this story and not reviewing with some sort of commentary then I gotta ask you to PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW. I want to know what's getting what reactions, so that I may be able to improve my writing.
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"Come on Chiharu, he didn't mean anything. DID YOU, NIKO?" Tai said pointedly at the young man, who was still rubbing his sore body in numerous places. Chiharu refused to even spare him a glance.
"Right. Except...that, like I said, it's tradition. When someone of our tribe sees someone that they want they claim them. It's just a precautionary measure. And, like I've said a billion times, it's because of the uneven ratio between the males and the females. There's like-" Nikolai Fenrir was explaining his story for the fourth time that day.
"A 10 to 1 ratio of males to females. We know, we know." Tai interrupted, rolling his eyes towards the blue sky above them, which was currently mostly hidden by the tree that they were lodged in. Niko, as he was usually called, glared at Tai. He really didn't like Tai, and he didn't know what it was. He just didn't like him. Right about now he was sort of wishing that he hadn't cast that barrier...his hair flared up in anger. And even Tai raised and eyebrow at this. Niko shrugged like it was no big deal, nah, it happened all the time...this whole finding the girl that looked like the one in his dreams, and finding that there was already a male there...getting attached to her...and...stuff. Grrrrr...
"Look. It's getting dark, perhaps it would be best if we all just went inside and talked rationally? Please, Chiharu-sama let your hate and anger towards our lovely Nikolai fade away in the face of our dilemma." The calmer young man said, his voice dry and yet comforting. He was obviously the voice of reason in the group of the three men who traipsed the forest together. He was also the reason that Tai was still alive, even though Niko had fired off the barrier. His name was Kieran Tilne and he looked just a little older than 16-years-old. His companion smiled, knowing that although it seemed like Niko was the playboy and Kieran the level headed polite type, he was really flirting shamelessly with Chiharu. He simply did it differently.
"Excuse me, it's Kieran isn't it?" Niricia asked politely, and Kieran turned his opaque ice blue eyes on her. With his deep-sea blue hair and narrow blue eyes that had no pupil, he looked exactly the picture of an Ice Wizard. "Why did you help us?"
The third companion, a dark boy that seemed at least over 20 came forward from the shadow of the willow that they were perched in. Well...it looked like a willow anyways, although the tree was much taller than any willow from our world.
"Well...that's not too hard to explain. We dislike Shira, and all her doings. I think she's crazy, and so far we've found six bodies of young teenagers, like you, dead. And we know that its Shira's doing. So, when I perceived that someone new was here, we acted." The boy stopped, smiling at Niricia, who was apparently deep in thought.
"Wait. What do you mean, "perceived"? That sounds awfully weird to me...just...who are you guys anyway? And what the hell is your name?" Tai demanded of the third companion.
"My name is Rounin Chirifi. And we, Kieran, Nikolai and myself will be more than willing to explain if you will just come inside." Rounin gestured towards the middle-sized hut built into the tree. Niricia didn't even look up from her thoughts, and Tai just looked at Rounin as if Rounin had just asked how Tai felt about diving off a cliff with only a piece of shoelace to act as a bungee cord.
"Hey, I'm all for it." Chiharu said, suddenly standing up. Her auburn hair swirling in random directions, giving her an air of frenzied activity. "I'm sick of sitting here, in the cold, waiting for someone to explain." Niko smiled brilliantly.
"Hey, if you're cold...I could warm you up..." Niko approached Chiharu with a giant goofy grin on his face, his hair lighting up to blaze seductively.
"KI!" Chiharu yelled as she jump-kicked Niko in the gut. After he was allowed to fly backwards three feet, the obviously strong Rounin caught him. Chiharu strutted past Niko and Rounin into the hut where Kieran met her.
"Well done, Niko, well done." Rounin said into Niko's ear as he helped to straighten the other man. Niko shook his head, smiling after Chiharu like a man who's met the woman of his dreams. Which, he had indeed.
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"So...all three of you are Wizards?" Tai asked, raising his eyebrow at the last speaker, Rounin.
"Yes. Like I said...there used to be more in this part of Shin'nen...but...they're gone now. All that's left is Kieran, an Ice Wizard; Niko, a Fire Wizard; and I, an Earth Wizard. That's it. The rest have either died...or been destroyed."
"Wait. From what you've been saying...shouldn't there have been over hundreds of wizards? Since you said that you're the Forest Wizards and you inherited the powers of the things around you...where are things like Water, and Air, and stuff?" Chiharu asked. Kieran turned to her with his icy eyes, and smiled.
"So, there is a mind behind that pretty face after all." He gave a small bow from his sitting position, and while Chiharu hastily shifted her gaze to the floor, Niko glanced at Kieran sharply. "Yes," Kieran continued, not seeing Niko's glance, "you're right. There should be. And, at one time, there was. It's been a long, long time...but, at one point there was.
"In the time of our fathers, there were many Wizards, Sorcerers, and Sorceresses. And in my grandfather's time, there was an entirely different set of rules. Back then, each kind kept to it's kind. The Fire Spirits mixed with the Fire, the Water with the Water, and the Air with the Air...never was there a combination. Never. People did not get their magic at birth, but were chosen by the magic around them. Anyone could learn...but, they could only learn one type of magic. There were no set Wizards or rules. However...this was a long time ago.
"Another thing that's no longer in use is the idea of having one person with a strong will rule the entire world with that will. No, don't stare like that Tai. It's true. Here in Shin'nen, formerly known as Cephiro, everything depends on one's will. More so then than now, but still, it is there. Back then, there was something known as a Pillar, and like I said, that person controlled everything. However, if the Pillar could no longer keep only the world's happiness in mind, then they were told to eradicate themselves." At this, Chiharu gave a small gasp, and both Kieran and Tai looked at her. She took a deep breath and motioned for Kieran to continue.
"Well, as you can imagine, the Pillar needed to always be safe otherwise. Therefore, the Pillar could not take his or her own life, nor could anyone in that world harm him or her. So, therefore, when the Pillar needed to be killed off, that Pillar could summon people from another world. These people, usually three, would then either revive the legendary mashin and prevail or fail. The mashin were needed to help the three defeat the Pillar. Well, in the time of my grandfather, these three were summoned."
"Wait. If they killed the Pillar...then, who would rule the world?" Niko looked up at Chiharu's comment, and it was he who answered.
"Well...that's the thing. Whoever had the strongest will in Shin'nen...er...Cephiro would go through a test with the other strongest will people and whoever came out victorious of whatever goes on in there would become the new Pillar. It was supposed to be the perfect plan. But, when The Great Pillar Hikaru and her companions Ryuuzaki Umi and Hououji Fuu were summoned...things changed. After they were forced to kill the previous Pillar, Princess Emeraude, Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru returned to their world. But, not too long afterwards, they were called back. You see, the world was breaking up because the strongest will wasn't there. Hikaru and a man known as Eagle were. To make a long story short, Pillar Hikaru changed the system. She made it...so that there would never again be a need for Magic Knights. All wills would rule as one, together. For a long time, that worked out. Hikaru is known as the Greatest Pillar and the Magic Knights are really, truly Legendary." Niko explained, looking serious for this moment, as if he were in reverence of the legend.
Something about this story rang a bell in Chiharu's mind...only...she...just couldn't remember what it was ringing for! This was going to drive her crazy until she figured it out! Kieran glanced from Niko, who was staring at Chiharu, to Chiharu, who was staring at the ground, and back again. He took a deep breath to draw attention to him again and continued the explanation.
"Yeah. So, things were find and dandy and the new Cephiro was called Shin'nen. However, things didn't last so great for so long. In my grandfather's time...things changed. He watched as Pillar Hikaru grew older and older...and then...one day...she just stopped coming. She never came again. The world didn't fall apart like it would have without a Pillar. They had changed it all for the better...or so they thought. I don't know why...I don't know how...but for some reason...magic stopped being available. Not just anyone could learn anymore. Only select people. And...well...Elemental Beings began to interbreed. It may seem harmless...but, what it does is it messess with who they are. They become...something different. They're strange.
"Well...then...in my father's time...things changed even further. People who had magic began to become more and more like that element. You can see that in us, their children. Me, it's obvious that I'm an Ice Wizard. I mean, hey, look at Niko! His hair never turns out...and it never burns anything either. You can tell any Wizard from a normal person from their eyes and hair. We don't have any visible pupils...just...eyes the color of our element. It sucks...but...yeah.
"We aren't stupid, you know. We know that we're different...that in their minds, we're freaks. So, we realized that those who were born for a certain place had a certain mark on their palms when they used their magic. Watch." Kieran held up his palms and both Tai and Niricia leaned forward slightly. Chiharu folded her arms across her chest.
"Kouri no ya." Kieran chanted softly, and an arrow made completely of ice formed above his outstretched hands and lay suspended in the air. Even more impressive was that as he spoke the words "Ice Arrow" a small, green, leafy tree appeared in the center of each palm. "I am a Forest Element. Same with Niko and Rounin here."
"Yeah. When we were born, our parents sent us here. Not just because of the mark...but...also to keep us safe. Yes, safe Chiharu." Niko said in response to Chiharu's half-open mouth. She closed it, and looked thoughtful. "It would be a hell of a lot safer out here than there...there it's...well. Let's just say that we're not liked by much."
"Niko speaks the truth. Our presence is not appreciated in many circles. The small clan that we have of people who have mild magical talents that belong here is over to the West." Rounin said, speaking slowly and evenly. "Even they, our own people, prefer us to be out and about rather than there. You see, we're a potential threat to them. We're much more powerful than them, and they dislike this, you see." Rounin stretched out his long legs and sat back, his speech finished. His long brown hair was tied back in a tight braid and his dark brown eyes were warm and gentle, but slightly forebodding. After giving a small sigh, Niko shook out his fiery red hair with his fingers. After letting it flare up a bit, he rolled his shoulders and lay against the wall. Kieran busied himself with taking of the soft boots that he wore, letting the deep blue hair fall over his forehead like the ocean crashing upon the shore. A small silence ensued.
"Okay. Now, as great as that was...do you mind if you actually explain stuff? Look. I've seen enough Anime's to know how this all goes. You tell us the problem, we go out, search for things and stuff, flaunt our panties and get into some provacative positions, aquire magic powers, find our true loves, solve the problem, go home, end of story, and the credits roll. And you know what, I don't want that to happen. I don't want an Anime for a life. Look, just tell us how to leave and I'll be on my way, okay? Because, as fun as your planets history lesson was, I don't really give a shit, okay?" Tai said bluntly, placing himself in front of the three Wizards.
"Wait. Tai-san, one moment please." Niricia intervened. "If you don't mind me asking a few things first?" Rounin opened his large brown eyes and gestured for her to continue. "Well...if what you said was true, which I don't know if it is or not, then you'd be impossibly old. What you described took place over time much too long for it to have happened only in your 'grandfather's time' as you said that it did." Rounin smiled.
"I see we have a sly one in this group of young people. You're right though, for our story to make sense we'd have to be impossibly old." Another smile. "Well, Niricia, you're right. We are." Niricia's face showed obvious disbelief but Rounin continued. Tai threw his hands up in defeat and went to sit down next to Chiharu, where they carried on a whispered conversation. "I, personally am the oldest. I am 860-years-old this next fall, although I'm sure you wouldn't have placed me older than 20, ne? We age strangely, us Wizards...we live long lives, but we do not grow old. I will be dead within the next 70 years, and I will never have experienced a gray hair. Nikolai is 820-years-old, with the body of an 18-year-old. If he lives as long as his brother did, then he will survive to 950 or so. The youngest is Kieran, and he's 788-years-old this upcoming summer, and he looks to be 16. We don't know why this started happening...but it did. My grandfather died at 361. My father at 788. And I will not live past 930. My children, if I have any, will live even longer than I." Rounin rose from his position and walked over to Niricia. He paused when he was a foot away. Niricia seemed calm, but her chest rose and fell much quicker than usual. Rounin placed one long fingered hand on her shoulder, and leaned down slightly from his 6'2" height. "Believe us, please."
"Uhh...well. I..." Niricia started, for the first time seemingly at a loss for words. "I...um. Sure. I believe you." She said finally, holding her dark head up high, and drawing herself up to her full height. Rounin smiled at her, not the smile that he had given her earlier, that of a superior adult speaking to an ignorant child, but a genuine smile of equals. It was a very beautiful smile, but, there was something about it that was a little crazy. Niricia would have smiled back, except that she didn't really trust herself to move right then. Something kept her riveted to the spot, and she couldn't look away from Rounin's eyes.
"Ahem." Tai's cough sent Niricia spinning from the world that contained only a dark haired man with the darkest of brown eyes that held more depth than the deepest of oceans. She felt a little dizzy, and then lonely as Rounin backed away from her, retreating to his corner. "Yeah. Okay. We, Chiharu and I, have a question. Who is 'Shira'? Why are we here? There's no Pillar to kill."
"Ah. Right. About that." Niko said, his face more serious than it had been so far. "She's a dangerous bitch. She's a Sorceress...sort of. I don't know why, but she's a human-formed Spirit. What type? She's a mix. A real mix. She's Fire, and Air, with some bits of Earth and Lighting. She's crazy. And, even worse...she's got it into her head that the King Kensuke can still be saved. You see, he's dying. He's only 678, so it's not from old age. We don't know why...but, he's our leader. He has no heir...We don't know what to do. Shira wasn't always crazy you know. She used to be very sane and beautiful. She fell in love with the King the day that she was transferred to the castle...and he fell in love with her. However...when he started dying, he realized that he didn't love her any longer. And he told her so. She went nuts. She believes that it's the mysterious disease, and that if if goes away, he'll live and realize that he loves her still. Well, it got into her head that this disease is from another world, brought by The Great Pillar Hikaru. So, what's the way to fix that? Bring the Magic Knights. That was her plan. She tried twice before you...we know that the first time they were killed on impact of the ground, and the second time she killed them herself. But...you guys...well. You made it." Niko said, with a wry smile as he stated the obvious.
"Shira contacted Doushi Clef too. He's also a big one in Legend. He trained the Magic Knights and he was one of the first to live very long. He's over 1000 now, and no one sees him. He stays inside this old tower and doesn't venture out. He has outlived every single friend and love, and he's tired of watching people die. Some people think that he's immortal. Either way though, he knew Hirkaru and the Magic Knights. If we go to see him, then maybe he can tell you how to get home...because well...we don't know how you're supposed to get home." Kieran said, his voice apologetic and sad. Tai's eyes flared up in anger, and he moved quickly in front of Kieran and grabbed the front of Kieran's loose sea-green shirt.
"What the hell do you mean, you don't know?! There's no way that we're stuck here! That never happens in Anime!!" Tai screamed out, an irrational edge seemed to have crept into his voice.
"Well. You know Tai, it does happen in Manga you know. What about Fushigi Yuugi? Yuki Miaka was stuck there for a long, long time in the manga, but in the Anime she wasn't." Chiharu said calmly. Tai looked at her as if she were a giant dung beetle that was speaking fluent Russian while gargling.
"And fanfics! Crazy things happen in fanfics, and they're usually poorly written!" Niricia piped up. Tai gave her the same look.
"WHATEVER! MY LORD! So! What are we supposed to do, huh?!" Tai said, the last statement addressed to Kieran.
"Look. That's why we need to go see Doushi Clef! In the legend the Magic Knights awoke the Mashin, donned the Mashin, went to the Pillar, granted their wish of death, and they were flung home. That's how it went...but...that's not what you were summoned for. In fact, you weren't even summoned by the Pillar! You were summoned by a freak element! We don't know how! Okay?! Release me, please." Kieran said, a dangerous edge to his voice. Tai let go of Kieran's shirt and backed up, his eyes shut. He was starting to feel faint.
'I can't believe this is happening...I can't believe it...My whole life could be over in this piece of shit world...stuck with freaky geezer-aged-kids and stupid legends...' Tai thought, and as he leaned back a little too far, a pair of small, but strong, arms caught him.
"Hey." It was Chiharu. "Look, this has been a lot for us to absorb, okay? Do you think that maybe we can sleep on it or something? Please?" She was adressing the Wizards.
"Of course. Follow me." It was Niko. God, Tai REALLY didn't like that guy. Although, it was hard to decide who was worse...Niko or Kieran. Both sucked. And so did Rounin. In short, he didn't like any of them. And Niricia fit neatly into that category. The only cool person in the whole matter was Chiharu.
'She's pretty awesome...for a girl. And cute too...again, for a girl." Tai thought, wondering what that odd feeling of attraction was coming from.
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"He y. You asleep?" Niko whispered gently into Chiharu's ear. Chiharu's eyes opened slowly, a sign that she too had been thinking with her eyes closed as she waited for dreams to come.
"What?" Chiharu asked indignantly, her voice no louder than a breath.
"Come with me." Niko stretched up, his body making no noise.
"No way." Chiharu said...well...she would have if she could have. But, something about the way Niko was looking at her wouldn't let her say it. "Okay." That was all that would come out. So, keeping to her word, she got up, making considerably more noise than Niko had. She followed the absolutely silence Niko out of the hut, trying her best to keep her knees from cracking.
The cool night air greeted them as they walked outside. Niko walked to the far edge of the platform that the tree-hut was built on. With only the light of the stars to see by, for it was a new moon that night, Chiharu could only just barely make out where he stood. He was there, in that corner, that darker black against a light black. Chiharu walked forward until she was far away from the hut's closed door that if she spoke in a normal voice she would not disturb anyone. She turned and faced Niko.
"What do you want?" Chiharu asked, her voice full of scorn.
"I only wanted to give you a small heads up. Oh, and a word of caution." Niko's voice was as light as ever, but there was a strange undertone that Chiharu didn't recognize.
"Okay..."
"Listen. I know that you must be feeling like the whole world is out of control. You feel like every rule you've ever known has just been broken easily and now you don't know where your supposed to stand. You've just been snatched out of your world, thrown into a new one with a thousand problems, and you've encountered more people with more history than it seems you can handle." Niko's voice had lost the lightness that seemed so customary with him and the undertone had prevailed above it. He spoke with intensity, and a deep bartone that should have repeled Chiharu but did the opposite. She was intrigued by this Niko, he seemed to be different from the prankster of daylight hours.
"Yes...that's sorta how I feel. Except...well...umm...I didn't really want to admit it to Tai, because he seems to be, like, the only person of us three that's really happy with his life...but, well...in my world...I'm not really happy. I mean, um, my life's good and all...it's just, sometimes...I just feel like it's all just...boring. Like, nothing will ever happen to me, I'll never be able to really do anything no one else has done before. And...I guess...that secretly I always wanted to go to another world...you know? Be like an Anime character and stuff. But, I didn't think that it would be like this! I don't want to have to just figure things out from no where! I want someone to tell me what I'm supposed to do! I don't...I don't want...to be...lost anymore..." Chiharu couldn't control herself anymore, and the tears ran so freely down her face that stopping them would have taken more energy out of her small body than she felt she could handle. She cried as she remembered all the strange feelings that had coursed through her body when she and her former best friend had held hands...the shock and horror on her former best friend's face after Chiharu had kissed her...all the taunting faces that told her she was a freak...the desolation of having no one there who understood what she felt for other girls...it all came rushing back with the tears. That fear of being lost once more opened it's gaping mouth and threatened to swallow her whole. Just as she was about to fall forward into that abyss...Niko's strong arms caught her.
"It will be all right." He whispered into her ear. His seemingly young body holding Chiharu's with ease. He was bending down to whisper to her. "Please...trust me. I'm not a bad guy, really. I swear to you...I will protect you...with my life. You don't have to feel alone anymore! We, Rounin, Kieran, and I, will protect you! We're here for you! We've all had to go through more than what we feel we deserve because of the way we were born...we know desolation and abandonment...we know them. Look, you can stay with us until we find you a way back home. I swear by the Pillars of lore." Niko straightened, and in doing so, pushed Chiharu up a bit and held only her shoulders.
"Okay...thanks..." Chiharu said, sniffing and wiping away the tears quickly, trying to act like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Ah. Two things for you now. One: You are never safe alone here. Shira may be one crazy-ass-bitch, but she's a POWERFUL crazy-ass-bitch. Don't go wandering off without some warning. With me as your sworn protector, anything fire will at least attempt to help you...but...that will not be enough to stop Shira. So, a word of caution...don't leave without someone of power with you or knowing where you are. And two: Don't take this the wrong way, but, I can promise you this. By the time this moon is full...you will not want to leave. I know this. So...that's your heads-up. Be careful with what you promise...because, you won't want to go."
"What are you talking about?" Chiharu asked, her mind spinning with too many things at once to keep up with Niko's voice.
"You'll understand later...all right. I'm going back in." Niko said, and walked to the door.
"Wait! Niko...um...I'm sorry." Niko turned slowly back to Chiharu.
"For what?" He asked gently.
"For thinking that you were a heartless jerk whose leading mind was between his legs. I know now that you're more than that." Chiharu admitted, her voice serious, but her expression was a smirk.
"So...I'm a heartful not-jerk whose leading mind is between my legs?" Niko asked, also seemingly serious.
"Yes. Good, we understand each other." Chiharu said with a small nod of her head that was supposed to indicate agreement, but was used here to hide her silent laughter.
"Yes, of course." Niko looked to the side, his shoulders heaving slightly from his own suppressed laughter.
When they went back inside, both slept easy...but, the small white figure below the hut never let her eyes shut. Her wide amethyst eyes stared unseeing at the tree-hut.
"I will save you my prince...I will save you...I will..." The white figured chanted, her voice not above a whisper.
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AND! That's chapter three! YAY! Excitement! And STUFF! Whee!! So, many things have just happened! Who will end up with who? And what did Niko mean by saying that Chiharu won't want to leave by the time the moon is full?!?!? We don't know yet...but! hey, if we're lucky, maybe we'll find out next chapter~!! Please review!!