--Chapter 05: “Somewhere Far Beyond”--
Nanase stood in the alcove partially hidden by the waterfall that roared behind her. The cool spray drenched her body, matting her hair to her face and neck. Her pale skin shined, slick from the small droplets that pattered against her. Sighing in contentment, she ran the lather from the coarse soap over the curves of her slight frame.
The following days had been rough, but dealing with her agent could – at times – be rougher. The attacks had been mainly from the air – projectiles fell in rabid precision upon some unfortunate souls below – and then there would be a lull for days, giving the forces time to heal, retrain, regroup…Not that she was complaining. All of the spare time gave her amble occasion to hone her skills in hand-to-hand combat and otherwise.
Letting her dark eyes slip closed, Nanase inhaled the scent of water, of ferns and flowers…She sighed again, one hand clutching the white soap, the other the stone walls of the niche.
A sudden cry splintered her reverie, shattering the tranquility around her. Her eyes snapped open as she whipped around just in time to see and feathered form burst through the sheets of falling water and crash-land into the recess behind the waterfall. The form groaned and, shaking, rose to its hands and knees.
Snatching up a lose rock, Nanase lobbed the stone at the newcomer, successfully striking its head. As it fell to the ground again, the young woman moved quickly to her clothes to retrieve her discarded dagger which glinted lavender in the misty light.
The stranger murmured in a struggle for consciousness. Nudging its shoulder with her bare foot, she demanded, “Who are you and what business do you have here?”
The form rocked back on its haunches, its face still hidden in strands of blond hair. He – for by this time, Nanase was almost positive it, whatever it was, was male – wavered, appearing unsteady, almost dizzy.
“Well?”
Reaching into his cloak, the stranger withdrew a packet of stained and tattered papers. Looking up he was revealed as a man. Dark shadows circled his eyes. He stretched a hand forward. It trembled with exhaustion. “I have a message for your Commander, Taka.”
“You’re awfully dirty to be a messenger…”
“And you’re awfully nude.”
Nanase’s eyes widened suddenly, remembering her current state of undress.
The envoy continued, “Can I trust you to give this to him?”
In a daze, Nanase took the packet of envelopes from the other.
“And now miss, if you wouldn’t mind…I really need some sleep.” And thus, the courier passed out.
*****
Koji and Takuya watched Taka pace back and forth in the medical room as the officer read and reread the message from Gackt brought by the other’s courier, Kyo. The contents of the letters were kept secret from all those present, making the waiting unbelievably dull. Koji turned and walked back to the cot on which the younger man lay unconscious and fussed over him a bit before returning to his seat next to his partner.
“He’s not going anywhere ya know…”
Koji sighed. “Yes, I know Takuya…it’s just…I feel so…”
“Useless?”
“Yeah.”
“Go with the feeling,” the other man grumbled, bringing his knees up to his chin as he regarded the goings-on around them.
Taka turned to them abruptly. “How soon will he be awake?”
Koji shrugged. “Anywhere from a day to another week…”
“…because somebody just had to skewer him…” Takuya finished, glaring over at Ayumi and Ami [1], both who glared right back.
“Oi…leave each other alone…” Sugizo stated.
“It’s better to error on the side of caution. Besides, at least now we know that somebody is watching over the front line…” added Hakuei, winking playfully at the two women.
Ayumi smiled her thanks as Ami inquired, “So…he will be okay?”
Koji nodded, “I’m sure Ami-go [2]. The hole in his stomach has healed up just fine and there shouldn’t be any scarring, so…yes, he should be alright…”
“Considering he was shish-kabobbed with a pike…”
Taka sighed. “So you’re not really sure when he’ll be awake.” The healers shook their heads in unison. “Alright…Call me when he is conscious, then…” Lifting the canvas flap that was the door, he stepped out, the others following.
Takuya sighed and stood, groaning, his back popping as he stretched. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head and he looked back at Koji. “Have you tried taking his platforms?”
*****
Kyo sat huddled on his cot, wrapped in a ratty blanket someone had seen fit to lend him. His stomach was sore and pained him often and his wings were undeniably stiff but operational. Bringing the mug of hot water to his lips he carefully drank the scalding liquid, swallowing in haste before it could do any serious damage to his pallet. The green stuff everyone else seemed to be downing didn’t appeal to him much, not when compared to the “blessed” stuff back home…
…Home…
The southern encampment wasn’t his home – he considered the very act of comparison heresy – and yet he felt a sort of longing to return. He…missed it. Kyo gave a dark little laugh before drinking more water.
The flap of the medical room lifted and, looking up, Kyo discovered Nanase standing at the door. A peculiar smile spread across the man’s lips as the woman approached him. “Morning, Beautiful. Long time no see…”
The other smiled. “It’s good to see you’re alright. The others were worried.”
“Oh really? They shouldn’t have…”
“Yeah, that’s what Ryuichi said…” Noting Kyo’s indignant expression, she continued on to the real reason she had come. “Taka sent me. He wants to talk to you in the war room…if you’re well enough of course…”
Kyo nodded and, setting the mug down on a block of stone, which had fallen from the ceiling some time before, stood on shaky legs. Motioning to Nanase, he stated, “Lead the way, ma’am…”
Taking the man’s hand, the woman led him down the twisting, torch-lit hallways and spiral staircases of the castle ruins.
*****
Ami [3] sat in a secluded corner of the base’s courtyard thinking. Her sword was thrust into the ground beside the boulder she rested upon, her flail rested across her knees. There she sat and toyed with her wedding ring. Oh, Teru… She sighed and buried her face in her hands. Where are you, koibito? Are you alright? Are you still at home wondering where I’ve disappeared to from our bed? Are you here…laying face down…dead…?
Before long, the young woman felt another sit beside her. Warm arms wrapped around her trembling shoulders. Funny – she hadn’t realized she’d been crying. As she looked up, her dark eyes met those of her friend and confidant. With a morose smile, she murmured the other’s name. “Yumi…”
“Aa…” They sat in silence for a bit. “You okay?” Ami lifted the ring for her to see. “Oh…” Seeing her friend’s melancholy, she hurriedly assured, “Ami, I’m sure Teru’s fine. Just because he’s not here doesn’t mean anything. Maybe you could talk to Kyo before he returns and ask him. I’m positive that’s where Teru is – with Gackt and the rest of GLAY…And you’re not the only one that was separated – J and Inoran aren’t with Ryuichi and the others; they’re most likely with Gackt too. So stop being so morbid, smile.”
Ami looked doubtful until an idea popped into her head. “Maybe he’s fighting right now…gallantly…heroically…”
“…in a far off land…”
“…so he can come back…”
“…and rescue his fair wife so they can run off together as
soon as they get back to
Ami looked at Yumi. For the first time since arriving, she offered up a genuine smile for her partner in crime. Fluttering her eyes, she said, full of whimsy, “We’ll elope to some far away kingdom and live happily ever after too! And have five kids and -- ”
“Honto? Five? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
Grimacing, Ami, indignant, retorted, “It’s my fantasy, girly…I can have as many kids as I damn well please.”
Yumi laughed. “Well, good luck to you and I hope labor isn’t too bad…”
Ami punched the other playfully on the shoulder as the giggles returned.
*****
BANG
Kyo jumped, startled, as dust drifted down from the ceiling of the War room. Looking up, he expected to see a large dent from…whatever that had hit them had struck. Nothing.
They were being besieged. The messenger could hear the war cries and angry shouts of the human combatants and the shrieks of the enemy outside in the courtyard, above on the ramparts, outside the castle walls…he turned to Taka. “Why won’t you let me out there to fight? I could help.”
The other turned, folding a collection of papers and binding them within a leather satchel. “I need you to deliver this with utmost haste. I’ll join my soldiers once you’re safely out of harm’s way.” He handed the case over to the other man. “This is to be given to Gackt and him alone. Do you understand?”
Kyo nodded.
“Good. Now…” he began as he drew his twin blades from their sheathes on his back, “Follow me.” Taka leapt through the doorway and into the courtyard, lopping off heads and arms as he went. Kyo watched as the other man shouted orders to the archers to clear the sky, which was easier said than done. Bats, griffins, and Hellish things infested the heavens, launching arrows, stones, and pikes at random humans below, sending the smaller opponents running for cover. “Kyo! Go! Fly!”
The courier shook his head, clearing his mind, ran a few paces and leapt into the air, his black wings exploding out of his back and lifting him higher, higher…into the maelstrom…
*****
Die sat nursing a wound on his shoulder. Damn griffins…one of these days… The other’s claws had almost ripped his arm clear off a few days before during their second battle. No…not a battle…a mere skirmish. If it HAD been a real battle, I’d probably be slowly bleeding to death… Looking up to regard the sky, he squinted into the sun.
There. Something…black…winged…heading towards them. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the others present also saw it. A few of them slowly pulled their swords from their sheathes and drew their arrows to their bows. Well, at least I’m not hallucinating despite all the sleep I’m lacking…That’s always nice to know…
“I could probably drop it from here,” he heard one of the archers say as the other man aimed at the unfamiliar object. “Shall I, sir?”
Die looked away from the archer and instead, up at Gackt who had suddenly appeared by his side. God…that’s creepy how he does that…
Gackt stood silent, staring off at the silhouetted thing that was quickly coming closer. He seemed to not have heard the archer. “From the north…” he whispered to himself. Die’s brows furrowed and he looked back at the black-winged thing approaching.
“Sir?” the archer inquired.
Gackt slightly shook his head. “…no….No. Don’t fire.” The archer relaxed his grip on the bow and replaced the arrow in his quiver. “Get a stretcher ready.”
“A stretcher sir?” Gackt nodded. The archer replied as he saluted and sprinted off to Inoran’s tent.
Turning to regard Die, Gackt stated, “Looks like your friend’s back…” before turning and walking away.
Die looked back at the approaching winged form. “Kyo…”
[3] Ami = Ami Suzuki, NOT Ami from PuffyAmiYumi
[4] “Ami-go” = Ami’s nickname
[6] Okay, NOW it’s Ami from PuffyAmiYumi