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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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 Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 11:40 pm
"I hope you hurt as badly as I do. In fact, better than death, I'm going to make sure you do. I'm going to make sure you are as absolutely and utterly alone as I am now... I'm telling Po-ar everything you did. After I do that, I'm leaving... I will never bear your children... I will never love you again. I won't ever let you sleep. I won't let you dream of a better time or place... Everything you love will melt like snow from your hands, and disappear."
Those words, spoken a year ago, still felt like a knife in the playwright's heart.
"You have no right to make me leave this room." Ainsu spoke, that strange holy symbol appearing on his forehead. "If Aled is alive, there is a strong chance the Muse is alive. And I am NOT about to leave you in this room with him again."
Hikaru winced slightly, the magic in his body feeling... odd... uneasy with the holy power flowing around the dark-haired man.
"Ainsu-san?" the adviser asked, having picked up the name from Kaguyo's exchange. "Such strength could be thought of as a threat. I ask you to relinquish your..."
But those blue eyes focused intently on Hikaru, and the man stopped speaking for a moment.
"Your blood, like Aled's, will probably react badly to this power." Ainsu spoke, the glow dying away.
A glow that HAD kept Aled's body warm, even through Kaguyo's frozen temper tantrum.
"Stop being a child about this, Kaguyo. Get angry and you'll cover the room in ice. You know it." the man's tone was clipped yet somehow calm.
In truth, Ainsu was just trying to bring some sort of order to this chaos. He knew Kaguyo wanted him nowhere near Aled... but he hadn't MEANT for all those things to happen.
Things that, no doubt, he was going to have to discuss with the Emperor before long.
Why he knew that however...
Perhaps it was foresight?
Because a few moments later, everything in Ainsu's vision went dark, and he collapsed to the floor.
A few feet away, hands just barely apart, palms facing one another, fingers splayed in opposite directions, was Hikaru.
Between his palms... was a very tiny light, an almost shadowed light.
"I rendered him unconscious." the man spoke softly, canceling out the light in his palms before looking back to Kaguyo. "Forgive me... but he possesses a holy gift. He can not be allowed to roam free. GUARDS!"
Of course, Hikaru fully intended to explain himself and this strange law, but right now, he was far more interested in getting Ainsu secure.
As the guards entered the room, as they realized what Hikaru had done, one of them pulled a strange metal neck ring from their belt and locked it around Ainsu's neck.
"That will keep him from using any holy magic, or any Tarnb-jin ability for that matter." his red eyes focused back on Kaguyo. "Don't be alarmed. He won't be hurt. This is just a precaution until Akatsuki-dono may speak with him and judge his power for himself."
Of course... the people of that age had no idea regarding ki.
That was always a perfect ace up the sleeve...
"The guards will take him to a holding cell." Hikaru continued, as said guards picked up Ainsu and carried him off. "Besides, if you are an enemy of his... it would be best to keep the two of you separated, no?" he asked with a slight smile.
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 11:56 pm
Kaguyo seemed to calm herself the second Ainsu was unconscious; it was palpable in the temperature.
A warm summer breeze blew through the room, as if to confirm this for Hikaru.
"He doesn't deserve to be hurt." her voice softened, staring at the man's unconscious body. "If he is harmed.... let me put it this way. No one here has any right to harm him, except for me, Aled-kun, Aoikage-san, or the others. Seeing as he hasn't wronged you... Enemy or not, if I hear harm has come to him, you'll pay for it."
Despite the coldness in her words, the ice had melted, and her breath was no longer drifting through the air like smoke... Clearly, Hikaru had done something right.
Then again, perhaps it had something to do with Ainsu's holiness that made her serene.... It was hard to tell. Maybe even a bit of both.
She sat down next to Aled, frowning. "I'm sorry, my dear..." she whispered, "I... I'm... It's not so easy..." she sighed deeply, unable to express herself.
It didn't matter whether she could or not. Aled was at least conscious in there, and he could feel what she meant to say without any problems. She was scared and frustrated; having been without her powers for so long, she was frightened of powerlessness...
But... Having her powers back, she had forgotten what it felt like to handle them. It was as if she was trying to lift the heaviest of weights, except she was....
Well, in Aled's condition, and unable to even lift herself. The slightest shift in concentration or emotion sent everything haywire...
"Forgive me..." she sighed deeply, "Please, forgive me for leaving you all this time, for all of this, Al-kun..."
For a few moments she forgot about Hikaru again, gazing longingly at Aled's face. "Al-chan... Al-chan... I heard you, those first months, dreamt of you every night..." she rested her forehead against his, "I know you're in there... That you can speak with me, somehow... Just think, Al-chan... Reach out for me, like you did then. I'm right here..."
All she wanted was for the tiniest sign of consciousness from him... It was a lot to ask, she realized, but if anyone could come back from the dead....
Well, leave it to someone who had already done it before, right?
"What about the Tree?" she asked suddenly, looking to Hikaru, "Could the Tree help him?"
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JojoMonkeyPandemonium Vice Captain
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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 6:46 pm
Hikaru carefully held his hands up in front of him in a gesture that said he clearly didn't want trouble over the matter.
"No one will touch him without consent by the Emperor. Since Akatsuki-dono is on his way to Chikara-jinja, then there is no worry of that happening." the white-haired man replied, watching the way that Kaguyo acted around the sleeping man.
The idea of the Tree helping though...
"I would rather heal him myself but... if you wish to use the power of the Tree, then I don't see why it would be such a bad idea. The Tree's leaves have healing properties, though it is considered a grave offense to plug leaves from the Tree directly." walking back toward the window, he looked out over the city toward the great Tree itself. "But... our healers collect fallen leaves to use as medicine. It isn't as powerful and may have less of an effect, but they would certainly help matters."
~ ~ ~
Meanwhile...
The caverns of Konton were immense, and at first glance, Po-ar wondered how they were going to find anything in their labyrinth.
Until something caught his eye.
Kneeling, the Tarnb-jin Ouji gently touched a strange green crystal-like substance.
It hadn't been there before.
"Kazu-kun!" he shouted, hoping to draw the boy's attention to the green crystal and the direction of it. "This is different, even though everything else remains the same. Perhaps... we should follow it to find where it leads, hmm?"
Of course, unknown to the both of them, there was a separate entrance to the caverns.
An entrance that Akatsuki Ishida was currently walking through in the back of the complex.
A far shorter route to the "angel" as those of Tarnbsei now called him.
The blond Emperor went into the caverns alone, as was custom, though on occassion he had been accompanied by Hikaru.
Today though, it was just himself.
Kneeling before the immortally preserved visage of the sleeping Aoikage, Akatsuki bowed his head and began to pray.
"The prophecy you foretold a thousand years ago has come to pass, Aoikage-sama." the Emperor spoke humbly. "Those of the stars have arrived in this kingdom. I pray for guidance in handling these diplomats from another world... for I fear I am not the Emperor I should be... that I am not ready for such a task." he sighed slightly, continuing. "The woman knows of you and of one named Aled. She has gone with Hikaru to find this Aled, gone to the ruins known as Kage-jinja. I hope I have made the right decision in letting her walk freely... especially on such sacred ground..."
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 6:55 pm
Kaguyo nodded and sighed. "Well... I wonder... Use your powers first. We'll save the leaves for a last ditch effort unless your healers see fit to attend to him as well. Don't use too much though..."
She looked incredibly tired all of a sudden, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Unless you want to start healing him now, I think I'll take care of him for a bit."
Kazuhiko nodded. "I noticed. Goes that way.... But do you sense that life-form?" he asked, creeping forward, "There's someone else here!"
He began scampering forward, following the pale green glow with a rising joy in his heart.
"KAGE-KUN I'M COMING!" he laughed, "You won't be alone anymore!"
But when he came closer, he began to hear a voice.
"Oh..." he whispered, peering out curiously, "That's not Kage-kun...."
But he didn't seem bad. His aura was purer than most peoples', in fact....
He did his best to keep hidden, floating up and out of sight, observing the Emperor silently... but with the smile on his face, he might as well have been the Cheshire Cat.
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JojoMonkeyPandemonium Vice Captain
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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 7:06 pm
"I would heal him now, if you wish." Hikaru replied, heading back toward the bed. "But, as I said before, Kaguyo-san... you will need to leave the room for a short time. Just until I am finished."
He was adamant about that fact.
Secrecy was an important thing to the white-haired man.
And he wasn't about to let an outsider in on his own secrets, least of all the extent of his innate abilities...
~ ~ ~
Po-ar dashed after Kazuhiko, knowing that it would be easier to use his ki.
Except one problem... sharp edges.
The walls of the cavern were sharp as knives, thanks to the strange sort of obsidian. He would've just used a portal to get there except for the added problem that he didn't know where 'there' really was.
So... he had to rely on his legs and nothing more.
Skidding to a halt however, Po-ar didn't mean to startle the robe-clad young man who was kneeling before a very odd green rock.
Nor had Po-ar counted on said blond man turning and aiming a katana at his throat.
Raising his hands in the air, the Tarnb-jin Ouji made an obvious sign of surrender.
"Who are you?!" both himself and Akatsuki demanded at the same time.
Of course, confused by the stereo-type effect of them both speaking at once... neither answered the other.
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 7:31 pm
"He's the Emperor, Da." Kazuhiko spoke up from above them, beginning to float down. "No need for weapons, kiddo. Put your toy down."
It was his way of warning that if fighting broke out, there would be hell to pay, and he wasn't going to discriminate. "Neither of you are enemies."
He landed gingerly on the ground, approaching Aoikage's rock with a quiet sternness. "Kage-kun... what... what did you do to yourself?" he mused, pressing his fingertips against the crystal, "I mean, I CAN teleport in there and yank you out... but.... well, what the hell am I supposed to do? WAKE UPPPPP!"
The sudden change in demeanor was startling, but Kazuhiko just starting banging on the crystal with both his fists wildly. "WAAAAKE UPPPP! Baka! BAKA! What are you DOING!?! I came to SEE you and you don't even want to PLAY!?! Quit SLEEPING you lazy jackass and COME OUT!"
Kaguyo paused, sighing deeply. "Hai hai..." she murmured, rising wearily to her feet. "I'll be waiting outside."
She exited quickly, sitting down near enough to hear; she WAS curious... but...
It didn't take even five minutes for her to fall asleep, leaning against the wall.
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JojoMonkeyPandemonium Vice Captain
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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 7:42 pm
Hikaru, during that first five minutes, was checking Aled's vitals. He felt the man's pulse, listened to his heart beat and that there wasn't any wheezing sound when the man breathed.
Aled seemed perfectly healthy...
Once Hikaru was sure that Kaguyo had fallen asleep, he gently pulled the blankets back and opened Aled's robe.
"This may hurt, but bear with me." the white-haired man spoke softly, before placing his palms on the Ou's chest.
A strange dark light grew between Aled's skin and Hikaru's palms. It stayed like that for a time, before seemingly absorbing itself into the skin.
Over and over again, Hikaru repeated this process. A full rotation about every five minutes... for an hour.
When he was finished, the adviser pulled the robe closed once more and replaced the blanket.
"I know you can hear me... at least I believe you can. Give it an hour, Aled-san. Then we shall see if your eyes open once more, hmm?" turning, Hikaru went to check on Kaguyo in the hall.
~ ~ ~
"Emperor?" Po-ar asked, raising an eyebrow at his son. "How can you be... so... sure..." his words trailed off as Kazuhiko went toward the crystal.
Meanwhile, Akatsuki had lowered his blade, even though his rational mind had told him not to.
The boy had flown! Well floated, but still!
It wasn't until Kazuhiko began banging on the crystal that both men reacted.
In pretty much the same fashion too.
"Kazuhiko! Stop it! That isn't helping!" Po-ar shouted, grabbing his son from behind and trying to calm the boy down.
At that same moment, Akatsuki was semi-panicking. "What are you doing?! He's a sacred being! He's been there for a thousand years! Doing something like that could destroy the crystal and him!"
Well, he DID have a point...
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:02 pm
Kazuhiko paused, looking up at both men perfectly innocent. "He can't hear as well as you think." he suddenly frowned. "You wouldn't either encased in two feet of this stuff..."
He broke apart in typical Aoki fashion, reappearing atop the crystal instead. He was learning very quickly how to manipulate that trick into an invaluable tool. "I'm going to wake him up." he explained. "He hears but he doesn't hear. He sees, but he doesn't see. Do you understand?" his brow furrowed, "He's awake, but he's asleep. He's in between...." he paused, before beaming. "In a way, he's like me! We fay love in-betweens... just ask Mum..."
He was peering into the crystal, his thoughts and moods visible in his rapidly changing expressions. "Baka, how am I supposed to wake you up...?"
Opening a portal, he slowly turned to look at the two men, scowling. "I'm going to need the two of you to sit down and shut up for fifteen minutes at least. Do not touch me. Do not talk to me. Do not disturb me, lest I kill us all." he warned them, staring intently. For a little boy, his eyes were like icicles, sharp and cold and deadly serious. "I promised Aoikage I wouldn't let him be alone... Even if it means I have to catch his soul and wake him up later..."
He took out a small jar, just in case.
"I don't know what's in this, but I'm rescuing him. I'm keeping my promise."
He was silent for a minute more to make sure his elders got the point; once they were settled, he began to raise a barrier. If Aoikage went crazy, he didn't want innocent bystanders involved---and that was only one of MANY risks. An air-tight dome of ice solidified around them, clear and transparent as glass.
Now Kazuhiko could get to work.
He began to open the second portal into the crystal, diving down in and trying to get a good hold on Aoikage.
Kaguyo awoke with a start, a small blast of ice bursting out with a small boom. From the way she was breathing---very quickly, and holding her heart---and the way her eyes darted about, it wasn't hard to tell that Hikaru had surprised her.
Once her eyes leveled on the man, however, she calmed down very quickly.
"I'm sorry," she bit her lip, rising to her feet, "I didn't mean to fall asleep... How is he?"
She was already making her way into the room, barely breathing. "Did you sense anything odd about him?"
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JojoMonkeyPandemonium Vice Captain
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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:16 pm
"I sensed nothing, to be honest." Hikaru spoke, not the least bit surprised by her sudden icy outburst.
To him... she was rather skittish...
"I think that is part of the problem. Give his body an hour to merge with what I've done. He should be able to open his eyes at the very least."
~ ~ ~
Akatsuki was about to argue, but Po-ar held a hand out to stop the man from going toward Kazuhiko or Aoikage.
"It's alright. Trust him." the Tarnb-jin Ouji replied with a smile.
It was then that the blond got a better look at the man. "You've the same eyes... you're from this world but the boy..." Akatsuki was rather dumbfounded by this. "He has the hair of the Fuchouin line, but not the eyes. Who are you? Who are either of you?"
Sighing, Po-ar lead the Emperor over to the other end of the cave to allow Kazuhiko to better work. "It's a long story, your Highness. My name is Po-ar Tarnb. I was the prince of this world... a thousand years ago. That boy is my son."
Of course during this entire process, Kazuhiko wouldn't be able to hear them very well... especially with the ice shield.
But inside the crystal... well...
'I've been waiting for you!' came Aoikage's voice, though his body didn't move at all. 'You really did come back, Kazu... I thought you'd forgotten...'
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 9:03 pm
"Baka, how could I forget about you?" Kazuhiko replied, his voice sad but warm, "I've been planning for this every day for the past year. I couldn't leave you here..."
He pulled a bit harder, having to use his ki in addition to his strength to have him settled on his lap. "I'm going to make sure you're never alone again, not for the rest of your years." the boy hugged him tightly, "I could never break my promise to you... You're the one friend I have."
He exerted more ki to lift the angel into the air, closing the portal that led into the crystal. He kept close to Aoikage the entire time; with another burst of ki, the icy dome collapsed, water gushing out like a popped water balloon.
But Kazuhiko was using his energies for another purpose as well.
"Shhhh." he signaled to Po-ar and the Emperor, before holding his hands over the angel's body.
Without warning, a blinding flash of gold illuminated the caverns...
"I'll give you your strength back, Kage-kun."
Kaguyo nodded slowly. "I really am sorry for being so nervous." she sighed deeply, "I haven't been able to sleep very well... and with Ainsu here, well... even if he is taken care of, I still can't help but expect to see him around every corner. I... Thank you for being so polite... but... Well, it isn't hard to notice that I am on edge. While I wait for Al-kun to heal, would it be possible that someone could please bring me some tea? I haven't had a proper cup in over a year... No planet has herbs that compare with this planet." she smiled sadly. "I've missed Tarnbsei very, very much..."
Not as much as she missed Aled, however. She paused outside the door, thinking before turning to Hikaru. "Are... are there any records, anywhere, of what happened the past thousand years? Any family trees, or history books? Anything?"
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JojoMonkeyPandemonium Vice Captain
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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 10:54 pm
Hikaru frowned, "There are... histories... but they only go back as far as the Ishida Ascension." the man lead the way back into the bedroom. "Our recorded history only dates back to the first Emperor Ishida, and Akatsuki-dono is the thirteenth. However... there are... prophecies. Priests and Priestesses who have made their own predictions over the ages... and of course the writings of the angel. Those however, are preserved in the palace vault."
The guard near the doorway had apparently left, bidden silently to go and fetch some tea for Kaguyo.
~ ~ ~
Po-ar covered his eyes, feeling the surge of holy power.
It was akin to Ainsu's... to a power that had destroyed and yet saved.
"Kazu-kun..."
When the Tarnb-jin Ouji could open his eyes, he was amazed at the voice.
It wasn't his...
No...
It was Aoikage's voice.
Reddish hazel eyes focused on the boy who had brought him back, and the daemon smiled slightly. "You'll have to tell me what I've missed... Kazu-kun."
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 11:02 pm
Kazuhiko shook his head. "A thousand years of something or other, but for me, a year could've been a MILLION it was so boring! I couldn't stand it."
The boy hugged him tightly, heaving a soft sight of relief. "That guy next to my dad is nice though. The planet is happy, all things considered, she's really f#cking healthy, you have NO idea..." he held his head, "There are a lot more plants trying to talk to me about how cool they are, 'I heal this, I heal that!' It drives me crazy sometimes. But the mountains told me! So did the Tree! They knew where you were. Mr. Mountain called you his heart in a way, a child. I guess you are. You've been reborn in a way, don'tcha think? Born out of the mountain."
He smiled, clearly content with this image. "I think I would've rather been born out of a mountain than out of a cauldron. Lucky b@stard! Hey, can you stand up?"
The boy could hardly contain his excitement; even now, he was beaming so wide he was literally glowing.
"I missed you Kage-kun..!" he sighed happily, "I'm so happy you're back..."
He started to run towards his father and the Emperor, Aoikage in tow; oddly enough, he was still glowing the same brilliant green of the crystals. It wasn't hard to tell after a few moments that something wasn't quite right; he stopped running around only halfway, frowning and shaking his head. "Kage-kun? Otousan??" he rubbed his left temple, and then his forehead, "Otousan, something feels weird. My wiring's messed up..."
If Morrigan had been present, that phrase would have send her ballistic... but with good reason. It was the beginning of every parent's nightmare.
"I don't think I can carry him Otousan. I healed him but my wiring is just... Just weird, it's shorting out. The circuits break when they should be connecting..."
He frowned, looking at Po-ar and then his hands, hoping that one of them could understand. "Otousan...? I think I made a mistake...."
Without another word he lowered Aoikage quickly to the ground. Another second and he would've dropped him on his head.
"Gomen nasai...!"
Kaguyo tilted her head. "The vault, hm... I... I don't suppose I could get access to that, could I?"
She lingered near Aled once she entered the bedroom, stroking the man's cheek. "I want to be able to explain to him what's happened, you see... I hope I'm not asking too much of you, Hikaru-san."
In truth, it didn't matter whether he gave her permission or not; she intended to get into the vault regardless of what it took. The Muse was on this planet still, somewhere; Ainsu's arm said that well enough. It wouldn't heal until the b@stard was taken care of...
But if not there, where else could she get information? If Hikaru's lineage was of daemon blood... Perhaps he had ancestors older who would know...
She already knew she had ki to her advantage, but that was something she would save---her ace up her sleeve. So far Ainsu was the only person who she could sense with any strength ki-wise, although she could faintly pick up Po-ar and Kazuhiko...
Suddenly, the fact that Ainsu was locked up didn't strike her as very reassuring. If she planned to use her ki in the event someone attempted to cut off her Tarnbjin abilities, Ainsu was probably planning the same... The ironic thing was, the ability-nullifying cuffs didn't even block the part of Ainsu that made him strong.
It was like trying to cage off a tiger with rice paper, or blocking a bullet with bare hands. If anything, he was just indulging them with their little game of guard and prisoner.
She would have to be painstakingly careful to avoid him. Even now she was keeping her ki as low as she could manage. Until he received his empathic abilities back, she would be a phantom to him...
Except for Aled. She knew Ainsu still felt for Aled on some level; it was strange they both were so attached to him after trying that coup. He'd come back; if there was one thing she could count on more than him following her, it was that---that, and that he wouldn't try to kill him again. She had given him enough hell for possibly killing Aled that he would know to seize this second chance...
"I need all the information I can get." Kaguyo sighed, deciding to be blunt and open, "I'm looking for someone else... but... Well, he's absolutely ancient by now, I'm not sure he'd even remember me... and... well, his form changes. He's probably had... maybe ten? new forms at most over the past thousand years. When he was in Aled, he made his eyes continuously red, like yours... before, they were only that color when he was angry. He's very strong, as well... Frighteningly powerful. Do you know who I'm talking about? Has he survived as well?"
Even though she already knew the question's answer, she watched the man like a hawk, looking for even the slightest facial cue that he knew what she was talking about. "He was a magnificent playwright.... well, magnificent in the arts in general... In our era, his name was the Muse.... Do.... do you know where I can find him?"
It was a dangerous gamble to show her hand so early, but Kaguyo was impatient and thirsting for blood. Wherever he was, she would kill him, destroy him utterly; at least then both Aled and Ainsu could be free. She had trained tirelessly in anticipation of the moment....
"I absolutely cannot rest until I find him, Hikaru-san."
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JojoMonkeyPandemonium Vice Captain
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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 pm
Maroon eyes darted back and forth over the scene.
It wasn't that Po-ar couldn't believe what his son had done... far from it. It was more the fact that he was seriously having second thoughts about letting the boy break the seal.
Not because of Aoikage, not because there was a man there who claimed to be an Emperor, and not because this was the old lair of Konton.
No...
It was because he had the creeping feeling that something bad was going to happen.
So when it did, Po-ar reacted fast.
In fact, he reacted so quickly, that Akatsuki couldn't even SEE him.
A tiny burst of ki put Po-ar at Aoikage and Kazuhiko's side, the Tarnb-jin Ouji taking the daemon's weight off his son, while his other arm carefully supported the boy.
Of course, his grip on Aoikage slipped a bit, and the daemon landed on the ground with a thump.
"Ittai!" Aoikage complained, reaching one hand up very very slowly and rubbing his head.
Po-ar threw the daemon a semi-glare before snapping his fingers and opening a portal.
Dozens and dozens of pink elephants flew out, each one immediately using it's trunk to suck up as much of the strange gas-like substance in the air, as they could.
Each one also ended up fainting straight out, only to be replaced by another.
This went on for about ten minutes, a time in which the Emperor was quite baffled by this strange power, until the air was clear once more.
"What was that?" Po-ar asked, his attention focused on Kazuhiko.
He held the boy in his arms, hoping at the kid wouldn't pass out like the elephants.
Aoikage shrugged, "Stasis... he wasn't exactly supposed to open it like that..." the daemon replied with a tiny winced as he stretched his wings out fully... slowly...
Everything he did seemed slow, almost like a movement half-frozen. The daemon, of course, knew WHY he was reacting this way... he needed to overcome his stasis.
For now though, he was stuck sitting on the cavern floor, looking up at the Tarnb-jin father and son duo.
"And how was he supposed to open it?"
Once more, the daemon shrugged, "Beats me. I just knew he would. I didn't expect him to release it into the air like that... this gas kept me frozen for a thousand years, Po-ar. It isn't exactly something that needs to be exposed to everyone... even if you both are Tarnb-jin."
Sighing, Po-ar pushed Kazuhiko's bangs out of the boy's eyes. "Lets get you outside..." he whispered, opening another portal before looking over at the Emperor. "If you would be kind enough to help?"
At this, Akatsuki blinked in slight confusion at first.... until he realized that Po-ar wanted him to pick up and help Aoikage out of the cavern. "Wait, I..."
"Gomen nasai, Koutei-sama. Demo..." the Ouji looked back down at his son in his arms, before focusing his maroon eyes intently on the Emperor. "Koutei-sama, douzo tsuite kite kudasai."
This... was a bit disheartening for Akatsuki. While he wanted to know more of these very strange people... including how this one moved so quickly, he needed to follow them.
But to where?!
"Akatsuki-sama?" Aoikage spoke carefully, drawing the Emperor's blue gaze. "Watashi-tachi ga oshinji nasaimase onegaishimasu."
It took just those words, words from an angel which had been a guiding force for the Ishida lineage for generations, to spur Akatsuki into action. Carefully, the young man pulled Aoikage up, one arm over his shoulders to keep him steady, before following Po-ar into the portal.
Once they were all inside, the Tarnb-jin Ouji closed the portal and laid Kazuhiko down on one of the chaise lounges in the study... which they just happened to pop up in.
"Kazu-kun, I need you to tell me what's happening. Tell me in a way that I can understand." Po-ar spoke softly, not wanting to freak the boy out anymore than he already was.
~ ~ ~
TRANSLATIONS:
Gomen nasai, Koutei-sama. Demo... = I am sorry, Emperor. But...
Koutei-sama, douzo tsuite kite kudasai. = Emperor, please follow me.
Watashi-tachi ga oshinji nasaimase onegaishimasu. = Please trust us. (Imperative Formal conjugation)
~ ~ ~
"No."
It was a simple, one word reply.
But it was a reply to a myriad of questions.
'No' Kaguyo couldn't have access to the vaults, at least not without the Emperor's permission.
'No' Hikaru hadn't seen nor heard of anyone by the name or description of The Muse.
Smiling slightly, the white-haired man turned back to Kaguyo. "If such a person existed, surely they would hold a high social position for an artistic contribution. But as you can see, this kingdom doesn't quite pride itself on art... we are... a new kingdom, in a sense. There have been but thirteen Emperors on this soil, Kaguyo-san. We struggle to keep the kingdom functioning properly... we have little time for such things... but..." he tilted his head slightly, staring up at the ceiling in thought for a few moments. "Yume-dono may know the answer to your question. She is the priestess in Jinjashi, actually she is the leading spiritual leader of the kingdom and heads a council of priestesses and priests all over the land. If anyone knew of this Muse... she would."
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 10:08 pm
Kaguyo nodded solemnly, although she had left out one detail about the Muse:
As of late, his creative side was focused more on ways to destroy and control people. A high social status was, at least in her mind, a stipulation; the Muse would never let himself become powerless. Failure just wasn't in his dictionary....
But...
Well, part of her couldn't help but wonder if the priestess would end up being the Muse him---or her---self.
"If I wanted to ask her about him," she crossed her arms, stepping away from Aled and towards Hikaru, "how exactly would I arrange a meeting?"
Kazuhiko shook his head, cuddling up to his father and closing his eyes. "Ok. So. When your energy goes through you, it's a circuit... You can direct the energy through channels. You should know this. It's how we work. My circuits aren't working. The rivers are dammed. The faucet's turned off when it should be on. The highway should be connected on each side of the river, but the bridge is flooded and torn away. It's broken. The paths are all blocked, cut short. I hear the voices of spirits speaking, but it's mostly static... I just feel fuzzy. Everything feels fuzzy and broken. I can see everything clearly... I can think straight, but it's hard... My mind feels cloudy..."
He took a deep breath, shaking his head again as if trying to dispel the fog from his mind. "Sometimes I feel very light-headed." he added as an afterthought, "Like right now...Things almost white-out on me... but... I don't want to go there. It just feels like something is messing up my wires... I can't make copies of myself either... I can't open the portals... Not even my own energies..."
He sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Kit-Kat would have my head for being so foolhardy... Can I sleep somewhere please? I'm having a hard time keeping myself here."
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JojoMonkeyPandemonium Vice Captain
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Nileregwen DoUrden Captain
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Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 5:32 pm
"Simple." Hikaru replied kindly as the servant reappeared and offered Kaguyo a cup of tea. "She can easily be summoned to the palace in a matter of a day. Yume-dono's advice has always helped Akatsuki-sama in the past, so I am sure she would be more than happy to answer your questions, Kaguyo-san."
~ ~ ~
Po-ar nodded, "You can sleep here, Kazu-kun. You're safe here." the Tarnb-jin Ouji sighed slightly, looking to Aoikage who was sitting in front of the fireplace.
His wings were stretched out behind him, each feather shivering of it's own accord as he strengthened his wings.
"He'll be fine after a while." the daemon replied seriously, watching Kazuhiko with a slight frown. "He just got too much of the substance in his system. His body is fighting it off, much like a virus. Until it does though, he's going to need to NOT use any powers... Tarnb-jin or otherwise."
Maroon eyes focused on his son once again. "Did you hear that, Kazu-kun? You have to take it easy. No powers..."
MEANWHILE, Akatsuki was standing near one of the room's bookshelves, looking over the various titles. He was listening to the conversation, but he felt it would be wrong to intrude.
Plus, some of the books, especially the ones in his own language, went right over his head.
Books that Tarnbsei had lost centuries ago...
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