Part 3 of S3 (Revised Version): A Classic Tale
By Snow Moon
GldnJewl@aol.com
********************
"Hyaa... KYAAA!!" Yuushou yelled, slashing through an Akurei. It was
killed in a burst of white light, leaving Yuushou to catch his breath.
"Yukiko, are you okay?" Kakou asked the brunette girl as Hikaru
went to Yuushou.
"I'm fine! Actually, I feel kind of useless..." Yukiko admitted.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you're here for a reason." Kakou reassured
her.
"You know, you're right?" Yukiko smiled. She didn't entirely believe
it, though. Well, at least I get the chance of a lifetime! She thought
to herself as they started up again.
They were walking down a long passage, when two Reijin ran around a corner.
"I told you that was a dead end!" The girl said. She had two large,
round ears on top of her head and buckteeth.
"You did not!" Argued the man, who had fox-like ears and was
carrying a large bag over his shoulder.
"No point in arguing now, the soldiers are coming!" The mouse
answered. Both of them talked with British accents.
"Right!" The man said. He looked around and spotted Yuushou, Kakou,
Hikaru, and Yukiko. "You there! Can you help us?" He asked.
"Umm..." Kakou said, blinking.
"Who are you?" Hikaru asked. "And what's in that bag?"
The man laughed. "You mean you haven't heard of me?"
"What rock do you live under? That one?" The girl asked, pointing to
a pebble. Kakou blinked.
"Never mind, we'll tell you later. Will you help us?"
"All right." Yuushou said. "This way!"
They ran back and around a corner.
A few minutes later, a group of soldiers came out. They looked
around. All was silent.
A skinny soldier scratched his head, tipping his helmet. "Well," He
spoke in a cockney accent, "They seem to have gotten away while we
weren't looking."
The fat soldier next to him bashed his helmet with the hilt of his
sword. "You idiot!" He also spoke with a cockney accent. "Of course
they got away! Unless they turned invisible or something."
"Oh, the sheriff isn't going to be happy about this..." The skinny
soldier replied, not even shaken by the loud ringing in his ears. He
was used to it.
"Would you shut up?!" His large companion demanded, banging his
helmet harder.
The skinny soldier fell over.
"And get off the ground! You're not a stick or something!"
The group of soldiers turned and left as one.
After a moment, the group came out.
"Well, are you going to introduce yourselves now?" Hikaru asked.
"Of course!" The man gave them a sweeping bow and said, "My name is Robert."
"I'm Negumi-- Neg for short. Charmed.
"Well, I'm Kakou. This is Yuushou, Hikaru, and Yukiko." Kakou said,
pointing out each person.
********************
"Yuushou!" Hikaru said quietly a moment later, as they were walking
back down the street aways. "I wish you hadn't done that, we don't
know if we can trust him!" She frowned in Robert's general direction
to show him what she meant.
"Don't worry." Yuushou reassured her, "I have a feeling about
him..."
"Feeling? Gosh, Yuushou, that just makes me feel soo much
better." Hikaru's voice was dripping in sarcasm. Yuushou chose to ignore her.
Ahead of them, Kakou was worried about the same thing. Yukiko
noticed her frown and whispered, "Kakou, are you okay?"
Kakou nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about why we're
here." She lied.
Yukiko smiled. "Ah. Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine."
Kakou nodded and grinned. "It kinda reminds me of that commercial..."
Yukiko tilted her head. "What commercial?"
Kakou started to sing. "Chocolate thrill! Chocolate thrill! A
mystery in a box! To get to the treat inside, you must solve the puzzle
locks! Chocolate thrill, chocolate thrill! A yummy chocolate riddle!
You have to solve the puzzles to get to the treat in the middle!"
Robert applauded her. "Terrific!
Hikaru rolled her eyes. "You and you dumb commercial jingles..."
Yuushou sweatdropped. "Well, I guess it is sort of the same... In a
childish kind of way..."
Robert suddenly stopped. Yuushou, Hikaru, Kakou, and Yukiko looked
at him.
"Well, I suppose that's far enough. We can find our own way now." He
took his hat off as he bowed again. "We are eternally grateful." He
and Neg turned to leave.
"Wait!" Kakou said. Robert and Neg stopped and turned around. "Um...
Well, could you help us get to the palace, please?"
"You mean that's what you're doing?" Neg asked.
"Yeah... So, how about it?" Yuushou said.
"Well... I don't think we can do that." Robert said. "But, if you'll
let us blindfold you, we can take you to our hideout. Maybe we can find
someone to help you there."
"Um, just a minute." Hikaru said. "Yuushou, Kakou, can I talk to you
two for a minute?"
"Sure!" Kakou chirped.
"I suppose..." Yuushou said.
"Great!" Hikaru turned back to Robert and Neg. "It'll only be a
minute."
The three Reijin stood a few feet away.
"What did you go and do that for?!" Hikaru hissed at Kakou.
"What are you so mad about?" Kakou asked.
"We can't trust that guy!" She snarked.
Yuushou sweatdropped. "Look, why don't we..."
Yukiko looked at her three new friends, who were discussing the
matter in hushed voices. She wondered what they were talking about...
"M'lady, you look worried. Are you all right?" Robert asked.
Yukiko blushed little. "Oh, sorry. Pease, Yukiko. And I'm all
right."
"Do you mind us asking why you're here? You're not from this
dimension, that's clear." Neg asked.
"Well, I'm not sure. We were told to get to the palace and see the
queen." Yukiko explained.
"Aha. Well, it's all right. I'm sure there's a good reason behind it
all." Neg said with a smile. Something about this girl...
Robert didn't say anything, but wondered what they were doing here.
At least the other three were Reijin Knights, and could travel between
dimensions whenever they wished. They could also take the girl, so
there was no reason to see the queen...
Before much else had a chance to happen, Yuushou, Hikaru, and Kakou
walked back to them.
"Well? Have you made a decision?" Robert asked.
"Yes, we have." Yuushou said. "And we decided to trust you."
"And if you betray it, we'll fry you." Hikaru said.
"Yes... We'll keep that in mind..." Robert promised, inwardly smiling.
"Not that we'd do anything in the first place." Neg said, glaring at
Robert.
"Of course not!" Robert laughed, nervous under his partner's glare.
********************
That night, the four friends found themselves deep in a forest with
two giant trees that had houses built into them. It was like a small
village, and everyone was partly a different animal. Right now everyone
was gathered around a bonfire, laughing and talking. It looked like a
party.
Robert climbed up onto a rock and yelled for everyone to be quiet.
Everyone stopped talking and gave him their attention.
"Today, we had another victory over the evil sheriff and his
minions!" Robert announced. Everyone cheered. "Four people who helped
us greatly are visiting us. However, they are traveling through the
city and to the palace. They need a guide, if anyone would help
them..."
The people talked among themselves, trying to decide who would do
it. Before long, a tall man with bright red hair and fox ears spoke up.
He bore a great resemblance to Robert. His face was turned away.
Everyone fell silent.
"I'll do it."
"Jonathan..." Robert looked at him. "You don't have to, we can find
someone else."
"I said I'll do it." He looked up angrily. He had a scar on the side
of his face. It went through one of his eyes, leaving him half blind.
Robert didn't answer, but looked down, worried. Neg walked up to him
and said something in a hushed voice.
Jonathan smiled at her. "Thank you, Negumi. You're the only person
who actually understands me here." He looked at Yuushou, Hikaru, Kakou,
and Yukiko. "We leave first thing in the morning. Get some rest, it's a
long journey."
He turned and left. Robert looked up again. "Well, I guess that's
it."
After a pause, everyone went back to the party, and the forest
became full of life again.
Robert left and went into the room he shared with his brother. It
was a poor looking room. The only furniture was two beds, a broken
dresser, and a small table. His brother was in the room, sitting on one
of the beds, against the wall.
"You're not coming back, are you?"
"You know what I have to do."
"Why? I don't understand what's wrong with here, this life."
"Listen." Jonathan closed his pack and looked at Robert. "I'm not
you. You must have realized that by now. The only problem is, I don't
know who I am. If I don't find out, I'm not going to be able to be
happy with anything."
Robert sighed and sat down on his bed. It was true, they had grown
up here, their parents were originally in charge of the band of
theives. Jonathan was older, but had always preferred to let Robert
have the glory-- and the responsibilty and leader ship that came with
it.
Jonathan moved his mattress and pulled a small bag of out. Robert's
eyes widened in shock. "Jonathan!"
"Yeah, I know. But I'm leaving tomorrow." He put the money into his
pack. "And I'll need it."
Robert hesitated, but agreed. "You're right. Just... be careful, all
right?"
Jonathan nodded, but didn't say anything.
********************
Later that night, Neg lead Hikaru to a room similar to the one
Jonathan and Robert were in.
"You'll stay in here with me." She said.
"You've been very kind to us..." Hikaru said.
"Yeah, well, it's the least we could do. You know, you saved me and
Robert back there."
Silence.
"You like him, don't you?" Hikaru asked.
"What?" Neg was surprised by the unexpected question. "Robert? Oh,
well, he's a good friend..."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it!" Hikaru said, sweatdropping.
"Uh... well... I guess... I mean..." Neg stammered.
"Come on, just say it. I won't tell." Hikaru promised.
"Well, yes, actually." Neg sighed. She felt like a weight had been
lifted from her chest.
"Then you should tell him." Hikaru told her. "You might regret it
otherwise."
"What happened?" Neg asked.
Hikaru blinked. "Pardon?"
"What happened?" She repeated. "Something happened to make you say
that. No use hiding it, dearie. I can tell." She grinned smugly.
Hikaru shrugged. "It's a long, detailed story, and I'd rather not
get into it."
"Oh. Well, then, you don't have to."
Silence.
"Well, I guess we'd better get to bed now." Neg said after a moment.
"You've got a long journey ahead of you."
Hikaru nodded and blew out the candle.
********************
"What's taking so long?!" Electra demanded.
"I... I don't know, my queen..." Lock answered.
"You brought them here, didn't you?!" She yelled.
"Of course, my queen. I owe you my life..."
Electra started to pace. She hated to wait.
"We have to get them here soon!" She growled. "I can't wait much
longer..."
"M-my queen, are you all right?" Lock managed to stammer. He was
worried.
"Of course I'm all right!!"
Lock winced. He had made her angrier...
Electra seemed to calm down as she walked to her golden throne and
sat down. "And how is the situation?"
"It's the same, my queen." Lock answered. "Though it looks to be
improving." He quickly added. He didn't want to make his queen even
angrier at him.
"Fine, then. You may go." Electra said.
Lock blinked. She was completely calm... "Y-yes, my queen." He
disappeared in a flurry of silver petals, and reappeared in his room,
which was decorated completely in silver.
"What is wrong with my queen? She seems to have changed..." He
wondered. "She is only concerned about the three foreign Reijin, and no
matters of the court..." He sighed and decided to go to bed for the
night...
********************
The next morning, Yuushou, Hikaru, Kakou, and Yukiko were
brought to where the forest began to taper off and the city, though
still abandonded, began to show more. They were with Jonathan, Robert,
and Neg.
"Well, looks like this is good-bye..." Robert said. "Yuushou,
Hikaru, Kakou, Yukiko... don't give up. And brother... Be careful. You
know where to find me if you ever need anything..."
"Thank you, Robert. You've been very generous." Yuushou thanked him.
"You're welcome." Robert said with a charming grin and his trademark
bow.
"I'll remember what you said, Hikaru." Neg said with a wink. Hikaru
smiled at her.
After a few more farewells, the five left.
"Oh!" Kakou said after a little while.
"What is it, Kakou?" Yukiko asked.
"We haven't been introduced to our guide." She said.
"I no longer have a name." He said shortly.
"Then what should we call you?" Kakou asked.
He paused. "Kaijin. You may call me Kaijin."
"Oooh... mysterious..." Kakou said. Hikaru rolled her eyes. Kakou
continued, "I'm Kakou! This is Yuushou, Hikaru, and Yukiko." She said,
pointing to each respective person.
Kaijin didn't answer.
Yuushou shrugged. "Well, looks like another chapter in our story..."
********************
End of Part Three
Notes
Negumi: Mouse
Kaijin: Stranger
Yeah, this whole thing is just a big Robin Hood tie-in with a really bad ending. Shut up.
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