|
|
“Who was murdered? Fuuko and Cassius, or Fuuko and me?!”
I heard Tokiya’s unusually flustered voice breaking the silence. Kagerou looked up, and stared around the small band of Hokage members, plus Cassius, who was well, really bewildered.
“It’s a long story, I think we should go some place else to sit down.” Came a perfectly logical reply from the immortal lady. I agreed with her, my legs could barely hold me up anymore.
We were back in the house, all of us about a little back table, with Kagerou in the middle. The atmosphere was so tense, I guess I could cut it with a knife. I looked around, seeing Tokiya, his beautiful lithe body backed against the wall, eyes closed, but I could tell, in full concentration. Cassius was less dignified, but how could I blame him. With a twist of fate, he had been flung headlong into a world where supernatural powers existed, and people lived forever. Kagrou cleared her throat, and I focused all my attention on her.
“It was 400 years ago. When I was just a very young girl, something happened, that threatened to split up our clan. I can’t really remember since I was only a young child, but what I can confirm was that there was a love triangle. A girl, and 2 boys. One boy was from my clan; the other was from Water. The girl was from Wind. What exactly happened was hushed up by the elders, but what I gleaned from gossipy old women were that Wind and Water were in love, until Wisdom, my clansman, came along. She couldn’t choose, and in the end, by a freak accident, all of them died, murdered my each other, with help from fate. Don’t ask me how, that was how the story went. But I did know Wisdom, and he had these amazingly silver eyes, full of depth and knowledge.”
Kagerou paused, and looked at Cassius, at his all too familiar silvery orbs, and continued…
“Wisdom couldn’t fight, he had no madogou. His power was the same as mine - the one of wisdom and ability to categorize madogous, their owners, their history and such. He didn’t stand a chance against Wind or Water, both who were trained in the art of combat. Anyway, time passed until 200 years ago, where I supposedly met these youths again, on my journey searching for Recca. They belonged to their clan again, Wind, Water and Wisdom. All “W”s, if you’ve noticed. The girl, young, bubbly, charming, simply irresistible; the young man, strong, lithe, cold; and again the one with the silver eyes. To make a long story short, I befriended them, mainly out of curiosity, and I saw them destroy themselves out of love. Water was arguing with Wind, when Wisdom appeared with me trailing behind. Wisdom and Water fought, and one died. Water was always the strongest warrior. Wind was devastated, and attacked Water, out of grief. Water refused to retaliate, and Wind accidentally killed him. Wind was so broken-hearted, she then killed herself. I couldn’t stop her, and I could only attend to their funerals.”
I was stunned, shocked. I felt myself gasping for air. Was history going to repeat itself? Yanagi burst into tears, but I could barely note Recca comforting her. Tokiya looked pained, upset even, which was very rare. Cassius took it the worst, though I don’t blame him. He stood up, casting a dazed glance around, and muttered, “You are ALL insane. I’m getting out of here!” With that, he strode out into the streets. I wanted to go after him, but I caught Kagerou’s glance, her meaningful gaze, the slight shake of her head, and stopped. I understood, he need time to understand.
Just then, Joker burst in, hands full of food.
“HELLO! I’m back, I’m sure you all missed me, huh?”
Even though I was seriously worried at that time, Joker’s antics put a grin to my face. He was called Joker for a reason.
“Hey, that guy who ran out, who’s he?” Joker asked.
“A friend of mine,” I replied in a monotone.
“Oh really?” An (unseen) eyebrow arched, “Well, you had better be careful with your future friends.”
“What do you mean?” Tokiya cut in.
“Well,” Joker shrugged, “I mean I saw that guy was Mori Kouren before, at the mansion. He was there to discuss our weapons and stuff, and well, he was real chummy with boss…” Joker trailed off, as Tokiya whipped out his ensui, ready to pursue Cassius.
“He is the enemy, taking us for idiots!” Tokiya snarled, looking deadly calm, but I knew he was furious inside. Who wouldn’t be? I was too. Did Cassius play a huge joke on all of us? By the time I awoke from my reverie, Tokiya had gone, but somehow, remembering Kagerou’s story, I feared for Cassius’s life, and proceeded to follow. I heard the others trail behind me, but as I reached the door, I slammed into a whirl of red and white. Neon, wearing a white jacket.
“Hey,” Neon cried out, “Be careful!”
“Sorry,” I apologised, “But Mori Kouren’s sent a spy, and we have to get him.”
“He did?” Neon’s eyes’ dilated in fear, but I knew she wasn’t frightened for herself, more for Kurei. I knew she adored him, but the Neon-Kurei-Joker love triangle was taking its toil on her.
“Don’t be frightened honey,” Joker replied, “It was just that nerdy anthropological geek; the one with silver eyes.”
“Him?” Neon let out peal of laughter, “You’ve been fooled by that idiot, Joker! Cassius isn’t a spy, he was just a student interested in our weapons. He seemed really knowledgeable about them… What happened?” Neon trailed off as she took note of our pale and ashen faces.
“Tokiya thought he was a spy and chased after him…” Kagerou spoke now, urgency apparent in her voice.
Chibi-Neon grabbed Chibi-Joker and hit him on the head repeatedly, screaming “BAKA!” at least 10 tens. The rest of us just sweat-dropped.
Knowing that we didn’t have time to lose, I ran out, looking for Tokiya and Cassius, prayng I wouldn’t be too late. I knew the others would slow me now, and using the fuujin, covered more distance through leaps and bounds. Finally, I located them somewhere deep in the woods, and to my horror, saw that Tokiya had his ensui drawn, face full of fury. As I swooped down on both of them, I saw that I had only one chance, or else Cassius would die.
Tokiya had the ensui in full power, pointing it at Cassius’s throat.
“You spy! You thought us for fools, didn’t you?”
“Mikagami, I don’t know what you are talking about!”
“I am sick and tired of your lies; do you know how much pain you caused Fuuko?”
“If you think killing me will get you Fuuko, go ahead and try!”
Tokiya didn’t answer, but lunged straight for Cassius. He moved away fluidly, with speed and grace, but Tokiya was just too quick and experienced for him, and with a twist, he came down on Cassius. I didn’t have time to think, I activated the kamikaze, and focused it straight towards Tokiya. But to my horror, the moment I issued the command, I knew I had miscalculated, and the curse would be awakened again. I saw Tokiya, caught unaware by my power, being propelled toward the tree, and with a sick thud, collide with it. But that was not all, the remnants of the kamikaze uprooted the tree, and it toppled on Tokiya, and somehow, I heard the crunch of his ribs and the silence of his heart.
I ran towards him, tears in my eyes. How could I have killed Tokiya!? My God! I was so preoccupied with getting to my beloved’s corpse, I missed the Hokage’s arrival. And Tokiya’s ensui, rushing in my direction. Tokiya was dead, but the spirit of his ensui wasn’t. It was bent on revenge- me. I heard the deafened sounds of voices crying caution, but I didn’t take notice, and then suddenly, a body dashed out of nowhere, and blocked my view. I finally found focus in the blur of tears, and saw the ensui sink straight into Cassius’s back. I watched in pain and pure grief as those silver eyes bored into mine, and Cassius whispered something. Then closing his eyes forever, he toppled back onto the ground. I screamed, reaching for him, clutching his body to mine. As he hit the ground, its impact drove the ensui deeper, straight through Cassius, and its blade found my body. I welcomed the feeling of the cool water against my skin. I knew that my humanities teacher was right. History did repeat itself. The blade, now fuelled by blood, was stained a deep crimson, but I knew it could wash away all my sins. I felt hands try to pull me up, but I knew it was too late, my life force was ebbing away from me. Once more inch, and my heart would be pierced. But my heart was already dead, with Tokiya and Cassius gone. Because of me. It was all my fault. Tokiya, Cassius, I’m so sorry. Yanagi, you needn’t try to save me. I was predestined to die. ‘Tis is thy sheathe, there rest, and let me die.