Divine Worlds

By: S.R. Shinohara

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Chapter VI

Celebration of the Faeries

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Ryu kept staring at her back, chills running down her spine. Half the reason was because he didn’t trust the goddess, but the other half was because a set of angry silver eyes kept staring holes at his back. Bad enough he’d woke up that morning in a bad mood, but now he had to deal with this?

Hiiro was not happy. By the huge frown on his lips and the angry glare in his eyes, it was easy to tell. Why hadn’t Saori told him the boy’s father was YOUNG? He’d thought the MORTAL man would be and ugly, living in Illusian to serve his half-brother Kosuke, but he was IMMORTAL and YOUNG and, as much as he hated admitting this, HANDSOME. Every goddess on Tengoku was going to want a piece of him!

Saori was oblivious to it all. Or, rather, she just chose to ignore it. What was Hiiro so angry about anyway? He had no right since he’d made no move to pursue her respectably as a suitor, nor had she made any attempt at finding a husband. It was none of his business if she happened to like the insufferable mortal turned immortal’s handsome face. He was pretty to look at.

Brushing another stray tree branch aside, she finally spotted the first of many archways which signaled the entrance to Illusian was near. “We’re almost there. “ Pointing to the archway she muttered, “There are 7 archways which lead to Illusian and mark its entrance. This is the first, covered in pink blossoms. You’ll notice the blossoms on the next 6 archways we’ll see are the colors in the order they appear on a rainbow.”

Though he had a guess, Ryu asked his question anyway. “Any reason?”

“It’s easier to note your distance from Illusian,” she said mildly, oddly calm. It was scaring him a little. Maybe the magic which drifted heavily through the forest was the reason since he was feeling oddly at ease. Hiiro, who’d he quickly learned was as loud and eccentric as his new master’s daughter, was even silent for once in the short time he’d met him. “The archways are about 25 yards apart.” Her light blue eyes rolled as she snickered, “And one of my divine half-sisters is the goddess of rainbows. She visits the most, so she insisted upon it. They serve more then one purpose though. Should there be a reason of danger, they give off a screen which connects them and creates a barrier that extends to the mouth of Illusian Forest which we entered. A protective tunnel in front of Illusian’s entrance. Should you be outside at the time, you only have to step inside it to be protected from any threats.”

His eyebrow arched high, walking under the first one curiously. It was light, but he could feel a wave of magic wash right over him. “You mean there are actually threats which merit such protection?”

Surprisingly, it was Hiiro who answered, though his glare never wavered. “The Nayami sometimes choose to or are sent to cause trouble here.” His glare hardened, but for once it wasn’t because of the youth in front of him. “Kakure’s as bad as his hounds.”

“He is not,” Saori scowled hotly. It was relieving to see the goddess he knew back. The mellow, almost sane one was just too unnerving for him. “Grandpa Kakure isn’t bad at all!”

“How can you defend him?!” Hiiro was back to being himself too, though Ryu was more interested by the magic around him that intensified rather then their rapidly growing argument which he tuned out enough so that it wouldn’t disturb his observations. Illusian Forest was definitely something he’d have to explore further. “He’s tried to total Tengoku multiple times, Saori!”

“Because Lord Joutei was being unfair to him!”

“My father, if anything, is too KIND to him!”

Ryu expected her to angrily lash out with words or fists but instead he heard nothing, turning around to see why it had gotten silent.

The sight which greeted him made him freeze, face paling 20 shades whiter.

Though the figure wasn’t tall, it was completely draped in dark colors, mostly black and a mix of dark blues and dark violets. They sat atop a horse of the same colors, its dark blue eyes and dark violet mane blending with its pitch black body. In its mouth he held an unconscious Hiiro by the back of his shirt, Saori being held in a slightly more comfortable position by its rider who motioned for him to take her, a sickly pale and thin finger appearing to make a silencing motion.

“They’re too noisy…” The voice, a female’s, which echoed in his head nearly made Ryu jump, fighting back his shudder. “Take them to Illusian…they’ll awake once they pass through the violet archway…” Slowly, her head raised up just enough so he could see blood red lips curling into a frightening smile behind her finger.

If possible, he went even stiffer then before.

Lowering her head so that her lips were hidden from sight again, she lowered Saori who’d been nestled semi-comfortably across her lap into his arms. “Help my niece first…” With a vague pat to the dark stallion’s neck, he dropped Hiiro roughly to the ground with a snort, his rider’s shoulders shaking in silent laughter from under the darkness of her cloak as they disappeared into the darker parts of the forest.

Ryu stared from the spot where the rider disappeared to Saori to Hiiro and back again in and endless cycle before a vein finally began throbbing on his forehead in annoyance.

What the hell had he gotten himself into?

~*~ : * : ~*~

Kosuke had been outside Illusian awaiting his daughter’s return with Kayoko eagerly, so imagine his surprise when Ryu came with her passed out in his arms under the violet archway. As the dark cloaked woman had said, however, she awoke once they passed under it, breaking out in veins when she noticed their positions.

“WHAT THE HELL!?” BANG! CRASH! SLAM!

He either has a resistance to pain or outstanding recovery, Kosuke decided as he watched Ryu slowly pick himself off the ground, anger swelling around him as Saori scowled darkly at him, vein covered fist held up in plain view while Kayoko held her back with nervous laughs. “My, you two get along so well. I take it you’re Ryu?”

With one last glowering glare at the fuming goddess, he nodded and took a knee before Kosuke, bowing his head respectfully. “Hai. You are Lord Kosuke?”

His position dropped, however, when he fell over twitching with huge sweat-drops as Kosuke broke out in boisterous laughter.

“Oh goodness,” he laughed, honestly amused as he slapped his knee in outrageous laughter. Ryu couldn’t help note he was as nuts as his daughter. “Don’t be so respectful! You’re of mortal blood, are you not? There’s no need to be that way with me!” The statement made him curious but Ryu pushed it back into the depths of his mind for another time. “Say, wasn’t Hiiro with you?”

Saori seemed to finally notice his absence. She’d wondered why it was so quiet. “Where DID he go?”

“He’s still in the forest,” Ryu muttered, “I couldn’t carry both of you after that woman knocked you both out for being noisy.”

“Weird woman?” Kayoko’s eyebrow arched as she took his bag, noting in quiet surprise, “No one but Lady Saori roams Illusian Forest. Lady Isako never leaves Elusyian that is in the dark parts of Illusian Forest, does she?”

“Not that I know of,” Kosuke murmured, “Unless it’s a very special reason. When she does on those rare occasions she’ll ride her black stallion and shroud herself completely within her dark cloak so no one knows she’s there.”

“That’s who approached me.” Ryu was mildly amused by the expression on Kosuke’s face. It was as wild as his daughter’s sometimes got, if not more so. He’d definitely have to explore the many faces of father and daughter much deeper, but at a later time. “Lord Kosuke, could you tell me where I’m to sleep…?”

“I’ll show you,” Kayoko offered, thankful for an excuse to go back inside. The magic in Illusian Forest always made her uncomfortable.

Ryu could tell, watching as she uncoiled her tense muscles, that she’d been as skittish as he was deep down inside. The magic was just so powerful. Larger then anything a mortal knew and almost choking in its density. “Are they always like that?”

Kayoko blinked, pointing behind them to where father and daughter were speaking, sometimes loudly, about something. “Lord Kosuke and Lady Saori?” Her smile was fond as she nodded. “Always, but when alone Lord Kosuke is actually very silent. Lady Saori has been concerned about his loneliness for a while now, so I’m very happy you’ve come to Illusian as his companion.”

With a happy smile that made him blink, Ryu wordlessly followed the beaming elf who practically danced up the stairs and down the huge corridors which branched off every so often into another corridor which also branched off into more wings. They looked all the same too, filled with rooms and flawless marble floors, except for the vases of flowers spread about on various polished wood tables which were placed sporadically in all the cream colored corridors, different color blooms in each wing and never repeated in two wings. Must be because of the same half-sister that demi-goddess mentioned.

Kayoko finally stopped in front of the room at the very end of the main corridor. At least he wouldn’t have to get lost finding his room. The place seemed like it was made to be like a labyrinth. “Please picture what you wish the room to look like before I open the door.”

She’d obviously been expecting his clueless stare by the smile which went higher as he looked at her blankly.

Thankfully, Kayoko was apparently unlike her masters and kindly elaborated for him. At least there was one person in the place who wouldn’t aggravate him. “Illusian’s rooms are only as beautiful and grand as its masters choose them to be. Since this is your new room, you are its master, and as such must decide how it will look – what size, its shape, and how it’s decorated, etc. – before I open this door.” Her laugh was light as she chuckled, “If I were to open it now you would see nothing but a void. So please picture what you wish the room to look like.”

Ryu closed his eyes, biting back his sigh of exasperation. The day had been frustrating and he just wanted to sleep a little. But he couldn’t even do that yet; he had to create a room for himself first. A house just like its masters – frustrating. Figured. Silently, he pulled an image he’d buried under years of frustration and emotion, his lip twitching into the smallest of smiles as it became crystal clear to him.

Kayoko waited until she could feel the magic in the room stop before she opened the golden handled white door, her eyes widening slightly. It wasn’t a big room he’d imagined, the floors and walls wood instead of stone or marble as she’d thought. The bed was tucked in the far left corner, the foot of the bed right under a window which gazed out into the Illusian Forest and let a cool breeze float in. On the other side was a half bookshelf, half dresser type piece, the top being filled with various books. On the wall across from the window there was a sliding door to what she guessed was a closet, and in the right corner there was a simple table and two chairs with an oil lamp for light. Very modest, simple, and clean. So utterly different but somehow the same as yours, Lady Saori, she wanted to laugh but chose against it as she saw his eyes open. “Go ahead inside now, Ryu. Rest yourself up until dinner, ne?”

Ryu nodded, shutting the door behind him while Kayoko’s footstep became faint echoes, a smile twitching his lips. Good. It looks exactly the same. With a rare relaxed sigh, he fell back onto the sheet laden bed, soaking in the silence. If it stayed like this, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Kosuke seemed like a tolerable man, Kayoko seemed pleasant enough, and that demi-goddess would be away a lot if what he’d learned from Ruko was correct. So her mouth would only be there as an irritation a quarter of the time at most.

Just as he was about to succumb to his dreams, a knock on his door made him growl a curse as he got up to open it, an equally as annoyed looking Saori on the other side. For once, it didn’t seem like he was the cause of it though. Odd. “Kohaku has sent me a letter saying he’d like me to join them on Celestia for Ruko’s welcome home celebration…he’d like to know if you would join as well.” Was it just him, or did she seem hesitant to say whatever else she had to say? Saori hadn’t struck him as one who could be awkward with her words. “Your son will be attending…and I’m told he wishes to see you…”

Ryu had just been ready to shut the door in her face but stopped the moment she said that. His son wanted to see him? Hadn’t he, not even a day ago, basically said he had no right to even be in his presence?

Maybe Ichiro really was like him. The child was starting to give him a headache.

“I doubt it matters much,” Saori muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest, “But if anything, seeing the Faeries and their parties might prove…beneficial to you.” Louder and less awkwardly she snorted, “They know better then anyone, surprisingly, how to keep things lively.”

The notorious workaholic Faeries threw the best parties? He sorely doubted that. But he was curious as to why Ichiro suddenly wanted to see him. “I’ll come then…” With that said, he shut the door in her face, listening with a smirk as she growled profanities and left to do whatever it is she did. And with a sigh of contentment – something he hadn’t felt in ages – Ryu fell back onto his bed again feeling much…lighter…and succumbed to his dreams for a nice long nap.

The magic in the area really was getting to him.

~*~ : * : ~*~

“He seems like a kind young man,” Kosuke observed lightly, smiling wider as his sweat-drop grew when Hiiro’s muttered cursing became louder. The two of them had gone into Illusian’s huge study once Saori had dragged his body to their hall, Kosuke browsing the shelves which were filled with every book he could get his hand on over the years. Hiiro, on the other hand, nursed the throbbing lump on his head. “It seems you’ve made my daughter angry again, Hiiro.”

“She never told me he was YOUNG!” he half whined with a scowl, face twitching irately.

“Worried he might steal her away since he’s living under the same roof as her now?”

The glare Hiiro shot him pretty much answered his question.

Kosuke, in true Kosuke fashion, was unbothered by it. He was too used to it. “So pursue her as a suitor would…but in a way she would respond to.” Though he wanted to say more, Saori would kill him if he let it slip. It didn’t mean he couldn’t drop hints though. “She might not mind that, if you do it right.”

His blank stare made a huge sweat-drop run down his violet head. Was his half-brother really that BLANK? He actually couldn’t TELL?

“She’d knock me to Soujiro or Dayu’s world, depending on who is lighting the sky at the time,” Hiiro growled, and, dare he say it, looking almost defeated. It was scary, Kosuke not bothering to hide the chill which shot down his back. A defeated Fire & War god was a BAD thing. “I’ve tried Tetsuo’s advice and all I’m seeing is a goddess who has lost her trust in me, where once she would’ve never have thought twice of my intentions behind a simple gesture like an extended hand.”

“Hiiro, this is Phylos?”

“Un…Kingdom of the Humans. It has a bunch of cities which are ruled by what the mortals call ‘royal families’. The one who rules Kizu, the biggest and most popular city of Phylos, is also the one who pretty much controls everything that goes on in the kingdom. Kizu’s ruler has the most power in this kingdom below the sky.” He extended his hand to her, a kind smile on his face. “Come now, we should get going. The fighting shall start soon and it’s not someplace you should be.”

Saori took his hand without a thought, smiling in laughter as she watched everything around her with eager eyes. “It’s beautiful…Can I accompany you on a trip down here next time, Hiiro?”

“I only come down here when I need to readjust populations though,” he chuckled.

“Then I’ll become strong so I can assist you!” Clutching his hand with both of her small ones which couldn’t even cover it, she bowed slightly and asked, “Will you teach me how to fight?”

“If you wish, but why not learn it from someone else like my father? He’s much stronger then I am.”

“Because I trust you more then I do Lord Joutei.” He smiled, but what really made him freeze and his chest tighten were the words she spoke next, an odd look in her eyes that he couldn’t place when she grasped his arm in a firm hold, head leaning on it slightly with a smile that seemed to speak more then she was saying. “I’d get to see you more often too. I never get to see you enough, Hiiro…”

Her last words as the memory faded into the depths of his mind made him scratch his head viciously in confusion. When had that trust changed?

Sympathetically, Kosuke put a hand on his shoulder and frowned slightly. He didn’t like seeing Hiiro like this. He was the only son of Joutei he could actually tolerate since the majority of his time had always been spent hanging around his daughter rather then Joutei’s other…Kosuke frowned deeper as he thought of them. Hiiro had never gained their habits, and those he had gained weren’t as bad in him as they were in his brothers. “Just clear your mind and think, Hiiro…you know how my daughter is, and what has since happened to her. She acts differently now, but I can tell you with much confidence what is on the inside has never changed. Approach her as you would’ve before she changed…you might get a different response.”

“Ah…” His eyes shifted slightly, lifting his head once he’d gathered himself. “Thanks, Kosuke-ani…I’ll do that.”

~*~ : * : ~*~

“Kohaku, can I…”

“Nope!” Firmly, he pushed Ruko back into her lounge and back onto her homes couch with a wide smile. Celestia was back to normal and he was more then happy she was home. “You are not to lift a finger to help!”

Ruko gave him a pious look. She hated not working or doing anything. It made her restless. “Kohaku, I’m perfectly capable of-”

“Nope!”

“But-!”

“No~” Kohaku was looking much too happy then was healthy, though he sobered up as he said seriously, “You must entertain our guests, Ruko-sama, until the feast is ready.”

“Guests…?” Following his finger as he pointed ahead, she let out a bright smile. “Ah, Ichiro-kun!”

Ichiro smiled nervously as he approached, dressed in some less elaborate and chafing attire for once in his life. Seeing Ruko sitting upon her dais, smiling as she always had, seemed to feel more intimidating now that she was at her home where she was QUEEN. That fact hadn’t ever really sunk in until now. “Your Kingdom is beautiful, Ruko-san…” His eyes softened as he mused, more to himself then anyone, “I can see why you would be homesick…”

“I’m glad you could come, Lord Ichiro,” Kohaku murmured with a bow, “Please enjoy yourself.” He disappeared as soon as he said that, back to work in the bustling kitchen.

Ruko admirably ignored the various clangs and crashes which echoed from the kitchen with only a huge sweat-drop. “So how are you, Ichiro-kun? Your eyes seem sad to me…”

“I’m confused, Ruko-san…” With a sigh, he was glad as she wrapped a comforting arm about his shoulders. “I finished reading my father’s journals…”

A smile threatened to twitch her lips. “And…?”

“…He…before he went into seclusion…” Ichiro sighed, breathing deeply. He was still shaken. “He recorded something in his journals before he left…”

Ruko nodded. She knew. She’d recommended he do so.

“What?”

“I believe you should…as a last entry.” She’d smiled when he gave her a perplexed look. “You haven’t written in your journals in ages. It would be nice, wouldn’t it? To write what you can’t say before you go…something for your son to read if he reads your journals?”

She’d left that thought hanging in the air and she could tell he got the hint, shooing her away lazily as he drew out an ink bottle and pen. “Fine, fine…I guess I should…”

“…He said he always wanted the best for me…he sounded like he cared…”

“Every father cares…” Ryu’s voice echoed, even though he’d spoke lowly when he, Saori, and Hiiro entered Ruko’s home. “Even selfish ones.”

Saori was growing annoyed. Father-son bonding was good and all but damn it to hell, they were grating on her patience now! Pinching Ryu hard on his arm and making him yelp she scowled, “Must you be so damn self-pitying?”

“Self-pitying…” Ryu was sufficiently incredulous.

“Yes, self-pitying! You did what you did and all I’ve heard you do is wallow about it instead of just saying what you want to say to your son!” She pointed a finger towards Ichiro who was listening with rapidly growing eyes. “Just say it you royal pain in the ass!” That off her chest, she went over to find Kohaku, Hiiro smiling a laughing smile the whole way as he followed her.

Veins were throbbing on Ryu’s forehead as he crossed his arms over his chest. The damn demi-goddess didn’t know anything. Well, not the whole story…OK, so maybe she was half right…aw, hell, how the hell did she figure it out? Rubbing his head in pain, he glanced at Ichiro who’d made his way towards him silently, looking up with serious sand eyes. It was honestly like looking into a mirror and vaguely disturbing. “You wanted to see me, Ichiro?”

“Did you really care at all…?”

“I thought I answered that,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair which covered his left eye, “Every father cares. It’s impossible not to.”

“So then WHY…?”

The look he gave him made Ichiro cringe and want to go hide. Softening his gaze, Ryu muttered, “How many times have you ever contemplated running away from the palace?”

A huge sweat-drop fell down Ichiro’s head. There were too many to count.

“You’ve read my journals, haven’t you?” His lip twitched into the vague beginnings of a smile. “You’re a smart boy…to you, what did it sound like?”

“In the great halls I met the King…he took me in as his heir…”

“…constrictive…so many rules and regulations to abide…”

“…It’s like being a bird clipped of its wings…”

“Stifling…must sire an heir for him to breathe…”

“It is my wish for him to be stronger then I was…for him to never lose himself…”

“It is my wish that he have the best in life. He’s more capable of ruling Kizu and still being himself while doing so then I ever could be…he can be free and still rule…and I want him to continue to be strong…”

“Did I care? Every father cares about their children…I’m no different…even when I’m going to be above the clouds…”

~*~ : * : ~*~

“So?”

Ryu smiled slightly as he watched Ichiro sleep, the wine of the Faeries having gone to his head. Hell, it had gone to his head a little too, but he was used to the effects and hadn’t passed out in the feast hall like most others had. “We worked things out and understand each other I believe…”

Saori snorted slightly. She was the only one besides the Queen who hadn’t touched the Faerie wine and had all her wits in order. “I couldn’t see how you couldn’t. The poor child is unfortunately almost exactly like you.”

He only coughed in response. It was the sad truth.

“And don’t you feel lighter now?”

“It’s the wine…” He sloshed the remainder in his goblet around, staring at it thoughtfully. “What do they put in it…?”

Saori resisted the urge to smack him in the head. The huge hangover he’d have in the morning would be retribution enough. Though it didn’t appear so, Faerie wine was even stronger then the wine of Tengoku. Any who dared to drink it felt twice as worse the next morning. “So you’ll be able to do your job then, I hope. Keep my father company and assist him with anything he needs. No more moping about your son, right?”

“Nope…” Setting the wine down, it’s spinning motions beginning to make him sick, Ryu still looked incredibly composed. “For a goddess, you aren’t half bad…”

He didn’t understand why his words made her snicker but decided he probably didn’t want to know why either. “You won’t be saying that after tomorrow morning.”

Yep, he definitely didn’t want to know.

“Saori, you should bring the boy back to his home,” Hiiro said lightly, motioning to Ichiro, “I can bring Ryu here to Illusian for you.”

“…” Saori went dot-eyed as Ichiro gave a snort, turning in his sleep with a goofy face and a bubble coming from his nose. “He really is like a damn child…right. I’ll do that, but I expect Ryu in one piece and without injuries when I get home, Hiiro.” Her glare was menacing as she told him, “No funny business.”

The smile he gave her was innocent yet still managed to look menacing. “I give my word; he shall be in good health, physically and otherwise.”

Even to his wine intoxicated mind, that didn’t sound good.

With one last suspicious glance she gathered Ichiro up gently, the cerulean haired boy curling up into her chest mumbling. Growling something under her breath with a slight scowl, Ryu watched them disappear in a stream of water which shot up from the ground around them, bursting into tiny particles of shining blue droplets once they were gone.

“It seems Saori has gotten used to your presence,” Hiiro noted as he got him to his feet. Though his face remained amiable at best, the tone of his voice was laced with something that told him otherwise. “I’ll tell you right now, I don’t like it. I won’t let anyone take her from me.”

“You seem to have the wrong impression,” Ryu snorted. He hadn’t lost all his wits to the wine…yet. “I’m not interested in that loud mouth goddess as you obviously are. Her presence has merely become slightly more tolerable to me, perhaps because of the wine. I should at least be able to be around her considering who I’m working for.”

“Good.” As they disappeared and reappeared outside the archways in Illusian Forest, Hiiro guided him through each one with a feral smile. “Then we should get along just fine, pretty boy.”

“Pretty boy?” Ryu had the vague urge to hit him.

“You’ll see,” Hiiro laughed. The first time he accompanied Kosuke to a party he’d see.

Groaning as the effects of the wine began kicking in, Ryu leaned over slightly to appease his sick feeling. Hopefully, he’d remember to ask someone about what Hiiro was saying tomorrow. Mentally, he also noted to find out what they put in that Faerie wine before he succumbed to the darkness pulling at him. If he remembered anything tomorrow, of course.

He had the funniest feeling he wouldn’t though.

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