Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Shadows and Flame ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

 

They were led into the throne room where EnmaDaiOh sat. The four men bowed low to their superior.

 

Hisoka noticed that Blaze didn't bow to him. She stood with her feet slightly apart and hands on her hips. It was a combative stance if Hisoka had ever seen one. He glanced over at Tatsumi, who seemed to have noticed as well.

 

“Edana-sama, to what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?” the king of hell asked.

 

Hisoka and Tatsumi's heads both whipped around toward Blaze so fast she was amazed they hadn't gotten whiplash from it. She sighed heavily, knowing the use of her real name had registered to both of them. It would have been comical if she hadn't been so annoyed.

 

“I'll thank you not to call me that,” she said. “You should know since you summoned me here. You and I need to have a conversation without these gentlemen present.”

 

“Blaze, what are you doing?” Tsuzuki said, seeming a little panic stricken. “Do you even remember who you're talking to?”

 

“Perfectly well aware. Tsu, sweetheart, its fine,” she said, stretching up to kiss him on the cheek.

 

The King of Hell bristled a bit but backed down. “You are probably correct in the presumption that we need to converse in private first. Gentlemen, would you please wait outside for a few moments,” it was an order and they all knew it.

 

As they turned to walk toward the door they all heard Blaze say, “Would you prefer me to address you in my true form?”

 

“If that pleases you.”

 

“Oh, it does,” she said and shifted.

 

They had all turned to look back at her when she said this. All of them blinked then stared in surprise before being forced out the door. Scarlet and golden wings had unfurled from Blaze's shoulders and the light cast from them was nearly blinding.

 

“Watari,” Tsuzuki said when the door had closed behind them. “Did you know that Blaze had wings? Big, scary, Suzaku looking wings no less.”

 

“Nope. That was a new one on me.”

 

“Shut up, you two! I'm trying to hear what's going on,” Hisoka said.

 

“You can't hear what's going on in there. There are several spells on the room that block empaths,” Tsuzuki said.

 

“I know that. But Blaze is my grandmother and we're . . . connected.”

 

Blaze felt Hisoka's subtle nudge at her mind. He's really good, she thought proudly before directing her attention back to EnmaDaiOh.

 

I can not believe that you failed so miserably at the one and only thing I have ever asked of you. Tsuzuki has been under my protection since the day he came across, the same with Watari. Hisoka is my grandchild. And Seiichiro is just mine. If you can't manage such a simple task as watching out for them, I'll take all four of them now.

 

And just how have I failed you, Edana-sama? The thought was somewhat chilly but slightly afraid all the same.

 

You let that monster hurt not one, but two of my boys. What's more, as I understand it, you've allowed him torment them off and on for ages now. If there is some sort of strategy to it, then by all means, inform me of it. I'd sincerely love to know why you permitted this to happen. This had better be good, EnmaDaiOh, or I'm taking them tonight.

 

Hisoka pulled back from Blaze's mind. She was utterly furious and it was painful to be inside of her thoughts just then. The power she wielded far surpassed anything he had ever felt. That included the shikigami Tsuzuki summoned. The vast majority of it was kept well hidden from everyone she knew.

 

How lonely it must have been all these centuries for you, Great Mother of Flame. To have to hide your true self from those around you so you didn't frighten them with who and what you truly are. I'm not afraid of you. Not even now, knowing who you are. None of us are afraid of you. Tsuzuki still doesn't fully get it. Watari has known forever hasn't he? Tatsumi-san is too much in awe to feel anything else at the moment. You aren't alone anymore.

 

Blaze stopped mid rant and smiled slightly to herself. Then picked up where she had left off chewing the King of Hades.

 

Hisoka leaned against the door facing and slid to the floor, resting his head against the cool wood. His head hurt and every nerve ending felt like it was on fire.

 

“Hisoka? Are you okay?” Tsuzuki asked, kneeling down beside him.

 

He nodded. Even that hurt.

 

“What's happening in there?” Watari asked.

 

“She . . . she challenged EnmaDaiOh.”

 

The collective shock that ran through the group was a distraction from the pain in Hisoka's head.

 

“Do you know why, Kurosaki-kun?” Tatsumi asked. For once in his after life he seemed genuinely bewildered.

 

Hisoka's green eyes seemed to take on a glazed look.

 

“For us,” Hisoka said, holding his head in his hands. “She challenged him for the four of us.”

 

“That doesn't make any sense,” Tsuzuki said, sounding slightly panicked. “Why would she do that? How can she do that? She's a shinigami like the rest of us. She can't have that much power.”

 

“Perhaps she does have that much power. Edana-sama,” Tatsumi said softly. There was reverence in his tone. He was staring at the door as though he could see through it. “It makes sense now. Kurosaki-kun, are you certain she said the four of us and not three?”

 

“Yes. She mentioned us all by name.”

 

Tatsumi stared at him for a moment. “I can see where she'd claim you three but I don't understand why she would endeavor to claim me.”

 

“She said, and I quote, Seiichiro is just mine. Whatever that means.”

 

Tatsumi looked as though he was about to faint.

 

“Wow. Two mine's in the same day. This has to be a record for Blaze,” Watari said, grinning.

 

“Huh?” Hisoka said, puzzled.

 

“Blaze only says that about certain people. Tsuzuki and I were fortunate enough to have been claimed by her early in our afterlives. She's been extremely protective of us ever since. She claimed you this afternoon when Saya and Yuma were trying to play dress up with you. I think Tatsumi has been unofficially claimed by her for a long time now. I'd imagine she's thoroughly pissed off about what happened to you and Tsuzuki. I'll almost guarantee she'll send her wolves out after Muraki before the end of the night.”

 

“Only to observe,” Blaze said from the doorway. “I want him alive for a while longer so I can torture him.”

 

They had all been too distracted to hear her come out.

 

“He says to send you all home for now and that he'd call you back here later. This is likely to take awhile.”

 

“Blaze, what's going on? Are you okay? Why did you . . .” Tsuzuki was crying when he was trying to question her.

 

“Shhh. Its okay, Tsu,” she said hugging him tightly. She reached up and wiped away the tears. “I'm fine. I'm perfectly safe.”

 

“But he could just ascend you, Blaze,” Tsuzuki wailed. “And we'd never s-see you again.”

 

“He won't. It really is okay, Tsu,” she said, stroking his face. “Look, I know none of you will sleep until I get back and explain a few things. Why don't you all pick a place to congregate and I'll find you as soon as I'm free here. Okay?”

 

“Sure. We'll all camp out at my place until you get done here, Blaze,” Watari said.

 

“Yutaka, are you certain you remember where your apartment is? If I recall correctly the last time you were there was over a year ago,” she said, smiling.

 

“It's only been a couple of weeks. Hmm. Good point. Any other ideas?” he asked, looking around at the rest of the group.

 

“We can hang around my apartment,” Tsuzuki said enthusiastically. “I'll cook!”

 

“NO!” was the resounding answer from the entire group. He pouted.

 

Tatsumi sighed and adjusted his glasses. “We'll be at my place. I'm the only one who has enough room for everyone.”

 

Blaze nodded and was about to go back inside the throne room when Tatsumi grabbed her hand.

 

“Come back to us soon.”

 

She smiled up at him. “I will. I promise.”

 

He let go of her hand and watched her walk back into the room, the doors swung silently shut behind her without her touching them.

 

Hisoka cleared his throat. “Well, we should get going then,” he said, standing up. “We'll let you lead the way, Tatsumi-san, since we're going to your home.”

 

“Hmmm? Oh, yes. Certainly,” he said, sounding distracted. He was still staring at the closed doors. “I'll meet you all outside of the apartment complex.” The shadows swirled up around him and he disappeared.

 

Hisoka's eyebrows shot up almost to his hairline and Watari and Tsuzuki exchanged a smirk.

 

“He's got it bad,” Tsuzuki said. “I wonder if he's been this crazy about her the whole time and we've just never noticed.”

 

“Probably. Since we've only ever seen the two of them interact within the confines of an office setting, Tatsumi would have kept everything professional. Well, all except for the fighting. And I think that's because she's the only one who doesn't back down from him.”

 

“I think you're right,” Hisoka said. “Come on. If the feeling I was reading from him is correct, we'd better go find him before he starts banging his head into the nearest wall.”

 

“Probably,” Tsuzuki said and disappeared. Hisoka left right after him.

 

Watari stood and grinned at the closed doors for a moment.

 

“Seiichiro, my friend, you just may be in for the ride of your after life.”