Post by Raiki on Aug 14, 2012 8:26:01 GMT -7
//Prologue
The mist rolled through my window once I opened it; the frost making a crackling noise outside.
"Don't worry, stay here. II'll be home at morning."
"Do you promise?"
"Promise."
The promise had hung in the air for years.
And I still wait for him.
I checked the dull, still working click in my room which was an attic.
It was around 9:00 AM the time to finally leave.
The bag I grabbed was a gray, leather slip on kind; one with two straps and spacious pockets.
Leaving dirty trails of footprints, I walked down the stairs with an eerie creak. I exited silently with a blank expression, a brisk cold wind washing past me.
"It's time." My voice quivered quietly, my pale sking shaking in fear and cold. I haven't been wearing any thick clothing ever since the first snowfall. The bag dropped down with a thump on the shallow sno. My hand digging for my jacket and slipped it on my body. I let out a long sigh of relief and warmth. My jacket was gray and no other color but it suited me.
I placed my bag back on my shoulders and walked forward, away from the house.
//Moon Stone
The morning was bright, a bit too bright for me to handle.
Let me rephrase that; it was scorching hot, hot enough for me to wake up in the middle of the night and sleep in the lake. Literally.
I dried myself with a towel until a loud noise startled me. My hair only partly dry, I dropped my towel in the water. "Dammit." I muttered with a sigh.
Having long silver hair (And I mean all the way to my ankles) and piercing blue doll eyes, I don't think the store I often go would like to see me.
"Hey, you! You shouldn't be here!" A voice called out.,
Turning around, I found a guy with messy brown hair and amber eyes. Huh. He threw his arms up as he approached me.
I stared at him. "Why is that?" I asked, immediately uninterested.
He hesitated. "It's a hazard zone." The guy stuttered.
Eyes in doubt, I swung my bag over a shoulder. "Okay." I said anyway, walking out of the water. Oddly, I felt drained once I did.
"Wait!" He exclaimed, staring at my hair. "Did you dye your hair?"
I sighed. Why does everyone ask me that? "No, it's natural. And in case you're going to ask about my eyes, so are they." I replied calmly, continuing my journey.
"Umm-" The boy called out and I halted. "I was actually expecting you. Please follow me?"
I felt uneasy at that point but at least I brought pepper spray. "Okay, but make it quick." I replied.
"No promises are made or broken." He chuckled, guiding me.
I knew I hated him there. But I also noticed he was wearing a beige vest, brown shirt, dark green pants and black boots. Why?
It took a while to get there and it was unfamiliar. Then, we reached a large area with two people at the front with black vest, shirt, pants and boots.
Is this a group?
The guy I had just met rolled up his sleeve which wasn't much and beneath was a tattoo; Kanji I suspected. I didn't have a good look but it was definitely Kanji.
After he did, one of the guards[?] glanced at me and whispered.
The one in beige whispered back and the other nodded.
"Open the door." The guy with brown hair said and the door slid open.
Inside was a wide field of bare dirt; no people. But at the end was another building with a glass door.
"I'm Ryu." He told me and I jumped.
"Escuse me?" I asked, blinking and he laughed.
"I said my name is Ryu. And I'm expecting you to introduce yourself." He chuckled.
I arched an eyebrow. "I thought you were expecting me, shouldn't you at least know my name?" I replied to stall some time. He was suspicious.
Ryu just smiled. "In a way, but no."
"Snow." I told him.
"Snow? Fits you so well." He laughed.
I didn't get it. "What do you mean?" I asked before another guy came waving to Ryu.
"Haida!" He greeted.
Aparently he didn't hear what I said.
"Hey." Haida said with a smirk. He had the same things as Ryu; brown hair, amber eyes, beige vest and the other clothing but he had a camoflauge bandana around his head. Brothers?
"Do you have a Winter vest?" Ryu asked. abruptly.
"Winter? What for-" He glanced at me. "Another arrival?"
"Haida, the last one was found months ago and he's still unconscious." Ryu sighed and brought me in front of him.
I blinked at Haida and he blinked back. Was he just mocking me?
"Hey, I'm Haida." He greeted as he stuck his hand out, obviously for a handshake. "What's your name?"
"Snow." I muttered, rejecting his hand offer.
"Yup, has to be a Wintervene." Haida decided.
"See? Now where's the vest?" Ryu urged.
Haida pointed at the glass doors. "You know where. Go check with her." He told him.
Ryu shrugged. "You know how touchy she is though." He muttered and Haida laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Go."
I was confused by their conversation. What were they talking about?
Ryu held my arm and lead me to the doors leaving Haida behind. In those doors was a long hall.
He let go of my arm and signaled for me to follow him. Once I did, we kept on walking in the hall until another room appeared; a circle one. Walls of steel, there were 10 doors and each was decorated by elements. Obviously, this place was huge.
There were numbers on them in Kanji,
Ryu took me to number 5, an ice decorated kind. Opening the door, inside was huge, decorative, and unbelievable.
Somewhat familiar, it was all made out of water, snow and ice. There was a huge fountain too an in the center of the ice fountain was a woman, an icy look with a ball in her hands that shined. Water shot out from the top.
I hid my surprise and glanced at Ryu. "Where are we?" I asked.
"Midnight Snow." He replied with a smirk over his shoulder.
Curious eyes were laid on me and him, they had silver hair like me and icy blue eyes; I felt welcomed. I had thin clothing on so I was obviously freezing but it didn't bother me. The way most people travelled were boats. There was a canal that webbed around everywhere like roads. The boats weren't ice this time, it was a light brown wood with tribal signs on it. And the people who rowed the boat, isn't have an oar. I halted but quickly staggered before Ryu who looked at me.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I don't know." I admitted. "This is my second time seeing people like me, silver hair and abnormal blue eyes."
"Snow, it's okay. Do you want me to help you?" Ryu asked worriedly and I nodded without hesitation. He supported my arm and with my other, held it. It was like this until we reached a large building of ice. I noticed that Ryu had puffs of white clouds coming from his mouth, awfully cold. The building was like the Emerald City in the Wizard if Oz, except with tribal decorations like on the boat and a pale blue.
Inside was a dark blue carpet laid on the icy floor up to a three leveled stairs that cured to make a half circle before meeting the wall. It was a large building, don't forget. On the top of the stairs was a chair out of ice obviously with faint carves to make it unusual and not simple. Though, no one was there.
"Huh. She's not here." Ryu scoffed softly.
"Who's not?" I asked, wanting a definite answer this time.
He looked at me. "The Queen if the Palace." Ryu simply said and I bit my bottom lip.
Was I going crazy? This better be a dream.
"The Queen is arriving, all hail!" A deep voice announced and I jostled in surprise before Ryu took me to the side, of the wide carpet. A woman with long silver hair, which was partly tied up, had cold yet warm eyes. She had a white coat on except was more grand than the others I saw.
It took a while until she settled on the chair up front and people lined ip in front of her with the vest outfit.
Ryu took me to the woman, supposedly the Queen. He crouched down sincerely but I only made a shallow bow. I instinctively done it and was surprised.
"Who is this young lady? A newcomer?" The Queen asked, her voice bold. She was confident alright.
Ryu nodded once he arose. "Yes, my Queen." He replied and looked over to me and mouthed, 'Introduce yourself.'
I barely read his lips but did. "I am Snow. I an honored to be in your presence." I said smoother than I thought it would.
The Queen nodded. "I am Blue. Queen Blue." She introduced. "I am pleased to meet you, so are the other Wintervenes I suspect."
"My apologies but, who are these Wintervenes?" I asked and Ryu nudged me nervously but I ignored him. I didn't get this Queen and Wintervene things. Better ask her.
Blue chuckled. "They are the citizens of Midnight Snow." She replied happily.
I nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Queen Blue."
Ryu sighed in relief and I bit my bottom lip.
"Well, isn't she a darling? Snow is a Wintervene I believe." Queen Blue asked.
Ryu nodded. "I believe so."
I blinked. I get that we all share equal features but really? I really am going crazy.
"Send her to the guest chamber. And clothe her as well." Queen Blue ordered a nearby female maid. The maid was sort of plump with blue eyes of course and a bob of silver hair.
"Yes, your majesty." She replied as she scuttled to me and guided me away along with Ryu. I didn't even get to see the place around me since the maid was going too fast. We reached a room that was equally as amazing (ish) and fairly large. At least this room wasn't snow and ice well, some ice. The bed wasn't water related, that was the only thing actually.
Ryu stood outside as the maid put me on a ice chair. The maid looked through the closet and pulled out a kimono. It was all white and the waist part was a pale blue. There was a big bow attatched to the back of the waist strap which was a darker blue.
"Excuse me but please change into this." The maid requested, leading me into the bathroom. The bathroom was just as big as the room. Wow (Sarcasm). All of ice, except for the tub which was white marble, it kind of did surprise me though. But I had no time to explore, I changed into it. Once I finished, I went outside and found Ryu inside.
Ryu stared at me. "It looks great on you." He said nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
I was embarrassed. Naturally, I said, "Thank you."
The maid put me on the ice chair once again and started doing my hair.
"Well, I guess I'll go now, enjoy. I'll see you later." Ryu said, walking away but stopped once I said, "Wait wait wait wait. Don't leave yet. You're the only person I know and I'm not going to get lost because you wanted to leave."
I said it quickly but he heard it all and when I looked through the mirror, he sat on the bed.
The maid finished my hair quickly. All she did was brush my hair and about 8 inches above the tip of my hair tied a stone. "What is this?" I asked, examining it.
"It's called Moon Stone, my lady." The maid replied curtly. It suited her.
I nodded. "Moon Stone..." I whispered.
Just a History
"What?!" Looking over to Ryu, I furrowed my eyebrows. "This is a joke, isn't it."
He shrugged with a grin. "I don't know. Blame your parents." He chuckled.
I rolled my eyes. "But you said I get granted by it from chance!" I huffed.
"But if your parents never had you, you wouldn't have had it." Ryu replied quickly.
Biting my bottom lip, I sighed through my nose.
If you don't know what happened, here:
Ryu had just told me that not only am I a Pureblooded Wintervene, I also have the ability to control mist, water, ice and snow. Not or, and. Isn't that terrific?
I laid on my bed with my frontside down on the bed. With the pillow under my chin, I groaned.
"Snow, c'mon. Everyone else here has the same thing. Not only in Midnight Snow but in the other dimensions too." Ryu reassured me. But once I heard 'other dimensions', I looked at him dumbfounded.
"Wait, shut it. Did you just say other dimensions?" I asked him, eyes grim.
Ryu seemed to hesitate but ended up nodding. "You know how there were ten doors?" He asked me and I nodded slowly. "There's 10 dimensions in total. Each with their own enviroment, element, laws, and name. Including the ranks." Ryu explained and I wanted to drop dead. And, let's not forget, he kept on going on and on. "Number 1 is Earth, where I'm from. It's everything related to nature and stuff including wood. 2 is Light. It seems pleasant but most of them are really strict and annoying. You're lucky you're not from there. The next one is Fire. They're more of the Warrior type of people but friendly. I heard. 4 is Darkness. It holds demons like Vampires, Werewolves and such but they have an additional thing to them. They control nightmares. They know you're worst fear and you don't want to meet them obviously-"
"Wait." I stopped him, holding up my hand for him not to continue and I stood up to face him. "Really?" I asked him sarcastically and scoffed. "This is really amazing." Continuing my sarcasm.
Ryu licked his lips. I guess he was going to continue. "5 is Midnight Snow. As you know. Wintervenes are proud and confident. This place is known to be comforting. Dimension 6 is Mystical. They hold Faeries, Spirits of the good and creatures. The Mystical people there are called Virtues. But never call them by their names. You may not know but if you call them by their personal names, they'll come to kill you. The Virtues never tells us why but seriously. Don't." Ryu warned and then went on. "Dimension 7 is supposedly the Heavens. It's not where you die but, where Angels live. Their names are all kinds of languages. Greek, Hebrew, Japanese and so on. Their history is amazing. Most of it are wars ironically with Dimension 4. They're called the Angel Wars. Dimension 8 is Lightning. They aren't friendly either. They like to stir trouble with other dimensions and their pranks aren't very good. Dimension 9 is Wind, like monks. They're pretty decent. They talk rarely but when they do, it isn't good. The last Dimension is called Unknown. They wear cloaks that covers they're faces and body. That's all I know. All of these Dimensions are called the 10 Celestial Dimensions"
When Ryu ended, I felt uneasy. "All this. It's all in one building. But all of the functions are completely different. How am I supposed to get used to it? It's too..." I never finished the sentence and sighed. "I'm not sure if I can call this home yet." I decided, glancing to him
Ryu nodded. "Of course." He said and then paused. "When we first arrived, you said this is your second time seeing someone like you? What did you mean?"
I didn't answer for a moment. But I trusted him a lot. He guided me here without hurting me or threatening me. It was nice. So I guess I should tell him. "He was gentle and friendly. He also talked about things I didn't know about." I started. "He was my first love. I didn't realize that until I lost him. When my neighborhood burned down, my father and I ran far away like the others. And he was gone. I don't know if he's still alive but if he is, I would like to tell him I love him."
Ryu was silent like I was. "What was his name?" He asked me and I felt hurt. Just saying his name ached me.
"Ren." I replied. "Ren Tachibana. You would like him." Glancing over to him, Ryu shrugged.
"Maybe. Maybe not. At least, not until I meet him." He told me.
I laughed. "Yeah, I guess so." I said weakly.
The maid opened the door before he could reply. "My lady, Ryu, the Queen requests for you to come for dinner now." She said crisply.
I was wondering why she told me, My Lady and Ryu, just his name. Curious, I stood up and so did he. "Tell her we will be on our way." I said and the maid nodded, walked off.
I looked over to Ryu and went up to him. "Why was she like that?" I asked.
Ryu arched an eyebrow at me. "What do you mean?" He replied.
"Calling you just Ryu." I explained before going towards the door.
Ryu smiled weakly when he came up to me. "It's a normal thing. Don't worry about it." He chuckled before leaving first.
I blinked. I still didn't get it but I followed him. I noticed how the walls of ice of this building had drawings of a Fountain and people drinking from him, looking proud. Like a story. The word Fountain repeated in my mind. By the time we went to the dining hall, the food was already served and was on a silver plate. Obviously, the Queen sat at the very front and three people; a teen, a kid and a young adult sat next to her. The table was a long rectangle which was clear with a tint of blue. The other seats were occupied by other people whom I didn't know.
There was one seat left meaning on Ryu or I can sit. The same maid opened the chair and stared at me but I shook my head. "I won't be eating." I said and looked over to Ryu. "You sit and eat. I'll just be in the room but he rejected the offer by lightly pushing me forward.
"My lady, people from the Earth Colony or any other dimensions can sit and eat with us. That is how we show our pride." The maid told me gruffly but I snapped.
"Why? I don't care about that. I will not be eating and he will, therefore, let him sit and eat." I snapped at the maid and she winced.
The Queen glanced to our direction and stood up. "What is the meaning of the quarrel?" The demanded in a calm tone.
The maid scuttled next to her and whispered of what happened.
The Queen looked at me with those blue eyes and laughed. The maid seemed disappointed. "Let it be then. Have the Colonian dine with us but the girl must as well as a welcome gift from the Wintervenes. Bring another chair." She ordered.
Ryu bit his bottom lip and leaned towards me. "You really didn't need to do that. It's unappropriate for me to." He whispered but I glared at him.
"I don't care. It's just, I can't stand you being gone." I blurted quietly and blushed in embarrassment. If you think about it, it sounded like a confession; an accidental one.
Ryu seemed to caught it as well and averted his eyes. "Fine." He gave in before sitting down next to me. Flustered, the Queen told us to eat and so we all did. They talked about different stories and such but Ryu and I were quiet most of the time until a girl came to me. It was the teen next to the Queen.
"Hey," She greeted me and Ryu with a smile. "Snow, right? I'm Kori. And you are Ryu I've heard?"
Ryu nodded respectfully. "Yes, Crown Princess." He replied and I glanced over to the girl.
"Crown Princess? Meaning your her daughter?" I asked, uninterested. I just wanted to get out of here.
Kori nodded. "Yes. Shall I give you a tour tomorrow morning? I'll see you at the Yuki No Niwa by Sunrise." She said before skipping back to her seat.
When she left, I was determined not to go but I would probably leave the Palace. "What's the Yuki No Niwa?" I asked, looked over to Ryu.
He looked at me. "It's a Snow Garden, the largest of them all." He replied before looking away. "Um, now that we're done, we should go."
Sheepish, I nodded and we retreated quietly to the Chamber. The night was closing in and the maid told me to change into the sleeping gown which was another kimono that was plain white. It was comfortable and not hard to move in so I was fine. She untied my hair (Just taking off the Moon Stone) and I slept. Ryu was in another room and we didn't see each other. So I drifted off to sleep.
__________________________________________________________
The morning was still dark when I awoke. Ryu was at the foot of my bed just staring at me and yelped. "Oh no. You scared me. When'd you come?" I asked.
"Just now. You have an appointment with Kira. I'm coming too." He replied and I nodded.
"Fine." I replied.
The maid once again got me changed into a kimono that was pale pink with cherry blossom patterns except on the waist strap which was a rich red. She tied my hair into a bun with a braid over my head.
Once we went to the Yuki No Niwa, she was waiting for us. "Oh, Snow!" She called out and went to me. "There's someplace I really wanted to show you. It's my favorite place." Kira was in a blue waist strap and pale spring green kimono with her shoulder length hair in a ponytail.
"Yeah? Where is that place?" I asked politely with a tired smile and she laughed.
"The hospital. It's wonderful. I want to study medicine and all." Kira said and held my hand. I noticed the garden then, how large and amazing it was. Most of it were flowers, made out of snow. It's hard to explain but it was all out of snow. Kira led Ryu and I to the hospital. It was directly in front of the palace but there was the canal in between so we had to go a while side, over a bridge and inside.
It was all white, snowy and ice of course. "C'mon, I want to see the patients. Who's there." Kira said and pulled me to the room. It was on the second floor and we climbed the staircase to the place.
Glancing over to Ryu, I asked, "Is she always like this?"
Ryu nodded with a grin.
We reached the room quickly. Kira was greeting all of the patients there but one caught my eye. He wasn't awake with a tube stuck in his arm which had a burn mark on it but it was faint. I slowly approached him and Ryu and Kira didn't notice. My eyes widened.
It was Ren Tachibana.
//Pool of Silver Leaves
It was him, definitely him. The eyes, face shape, nose, hair length... But his hair color and style changed.
I stumbled backwards and Ryu caught me. "Snow? What's the matter?" He asked worriedly, sweat beads rolling down my cheek. He followed my gaze and found Ren. Silent, he eventually asked me, "Do you know him?"
Instead of answering, I caught my balance and went up to Ren's motionless body. This was something I never wanted to see, never a way to find him again; but it was.
Falling on both knees, I held his hand gingerly, not knowing that tears were streaming down in regret of leaving him behind in the fire. All alone. Holding his hand to my face, my grip tightened as I sobbed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I never wanted to leave you but I did. I regret it. Please, wake up, I want to hear your voice again and talk to you, ask questions of what happened. Why? Why did this happen?" My voice cracked, drowning into silence.
There was a hand on my shoulder and I flinched, looking to see who it was and it was Kira. "Snow? What's happened?" She asked calmly, going next to me as my eyes averted over to Ren. It seemed that the Princess looked over to him. "Is this the one you're crying over for?" She asked.
I reluctantly nodded. Still holding his hand, I let my head fall on it.
Kira nodded in understanding. "Ah, he was a mysterious man. I found him in a river a mile away, literally. He was still awake then. He had told me that he knew what he was. I was confused. Then he suddenly fainted and in the water, his hair gradually became into this beautiful blue color." She explained, touching his hair and I bit my bottom lip.
Why was I being so greedy? I didn't have the right to. But I didn't want anyone to touch him, not even a single hair on his body.
Kira pulled me up and I let her. "Come, we must move on." She told me and set me away from Ren. Ryu was tailing behind us but I didn't notice.
What did she mean by that? Was she saying that mentally or physically going to the next location? Either way, I wasn't going to let him go. Never.
Ryu went beside me. "What's his name?" He asked me and I partially glared at him, quickly feeling regret right then.
I didn't want to tell him, not anybody, not even myself. But my mouth moved on its own. "Ren. Ren Tachibana."
His eyes slightly widened and averted his eyes. He didn't reply, no sound or sign. Why'd he just do that?
"He was the one I was talking about, my first love." I reminded him and he sighed.
Kira heard our conversation. "Oh? You're first love?" She asked me and I nodded softly. I didn't want to talk about this anymore.
"Well, where's the next place?" I asked, forcefully smiling.
Quickly lightening up, Kira clasped her hands together. "It's a wonderful place. You would like it as well though never have physical contact with it or else a curse will be upon you." She warned, narrowing her eyes in a far off distance.
I felt uneasy when she told me that.
Ryu nodded. "Well, we don't have all day." He said, pushing us forward.
"Ryu, shouldn't you get back to the Earth Colony?" The Princess scowled playfully.
He stuck his tongue out. "Nope. My instructor told me I can stay here until Snow officially gets her Spirit Name." He told her.
I arched an eyebrow. "Spirit Name?" I asked, sllightly tilting my head.
Kira looked over to me. "Oh, the celebration is wonderful. When you recieve your Spirit Name, there is a celebration for 5 days and nights. You get notified of your Spirit Name on the third day." She sighed dreamily.
I was still confused. "Well, is it anytime or so?" I asked again.
"No. Everyone who does get their Spirit Name gathers beside the Pool of SIlver Leaves. When midnight's full moon is upon you, you get a message from the God." Ryu added.
"Oh." I replied. "It's a waning crescent tonight though."
"Yes, two more days until the celebration starts." Kira agreed.
'Hopefully Ren will be awake by then.' I thought, sighing through my nose.
In a few minutes after we finished our conversation, we reached a cave.
"Um, where are we, Princess Kira?" I asked uneasily.
"Well, I wasn't supposed to take you here already but here is the Lunation Cavern. It's where the Pool of SIlver Leaves are." Kira sheepishly chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. "Let's go." She said, pulling on my arm.
"Princess, I don't think it's necessary to go in there..." Ryu muttered but Kira ignored him. It was a short trail until we reached a luminous light. A pool about the size of a lake was there along with a tree in the exact middle. Under the light (There was a hole made on the top of the cavern), the tree appeared silver both the wood and leaves.
"It's beautiful." I said, breaking the silence. A stream of lights floated in the air. Fireflies?
"Snowflies." Ryu said with a smile. "They adapted to the cold and therfore, Snowflies."
"It's really pretty indeed." Kira giggled, going closer to the water, pulling out a bottle. It was shaped in a crystal with a glass ball. She dunked it in the water, careful of not having physical contact with the water and closed the bottle. "There. Now to take it to mother."
"Why would she need that? Wouldn't she have a curse?" I asked, following her. Something caught my eyes. It was a woman. Very familiar. But who...?
Kira widened her eyes and dropped her bottle. "Lady Yuki No Joo." She solemnly mumbled, stumbling back.
"You," The ghostly woman said, pointing a finger at Kira and she flinched. "You have done the unforgivable. Be gone!"
The Princess ran away leaving Ryu and I behind. I felt cold eyes on me and turned to see the woman staring at me. "You..." She muttered, going closer. Her kimono was grand. It was the unspeakable though. "You're that girl from before. The one who brought that boy..."
What?
"I believe you have been mistaken-"
"Silence fool! I'm never mistaken! How dare you accuse me of false accusation? You're just as bad as the other." She snapped and I flinched. "I remember like it just happened.
A boy about eight inches taller than you that had long silver hair was with you. Both of you came and went inside this lake. When you guys came out, you ran out with strange shadows behind you."
Once she paused, I widened my eyes. Was she talking about Ren?
The ghost continued, "Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you caused?! You were cursed! And will always be. Both of you had two lives, one of the Midnight snow and the other in the Demon Lair. Do you know how much trouble you've been?"
"I, what?" I raspede, my expression blank. This isn't true. None of this ever happened. Why?
"I see that you don't remember, Rieu. Come." The ghost told me and my legs moved on its own.
Who's Rieu? Why am I doing this? Why me?
Ryu grabed hold of me and pulled me back. "No." He said, glaring at the ghost.
She let out a disappointing sigh. She used a finger to get me to her. Being binded by nothing, I was floating next to her and she smirked, handed me water. I tried to resist putting out my hands in a cup shape but her force was too powerful. I wanted to go away but couldn't.
"Give this to him. Let him drink it. He has the memories." The ghost said.
The water turned into a sphere. A glass case shaped in a circle wrapped around it and I looked at her. "Why're you doing this?" I asked but she silenced me with her hand. That was when I noticed her malicious looking eyes, with blood lust but it was warm.
Then everything went blank.
//The 10 Celestial Instruments, Silver Mirror
When I woke up next to Ryu, we were in the snow and there was no one around. "Ryu?" I rasped, sitting up.
"Snow? Are you all right?" He asked me, sitting up.
I nodded as a reply and noticed the water from the Pool of Silver Leaves. I snapped. "Why? Why is this happening to me?" I exclaimed and threw the case against a tree but it only fell with a thump. Ryu went to pick it up and there wasn't any marks on it, it wasn't even cracked.
It's impossible to just give it to Ren." Ryu muttered, cupping his chin and examining the water. He turned to me. "Snow, let's go. I know where we are." He told me and helped me up.
Blank eyes, I followed him. If I did go in the water and have a shadow in the Demon's Lair, why don't I remember it?
"Because I erased it."
I whipped my head around and found the ghost once again.
"Snow? What's wrong?" He asked me, arching an eyebrow. Does he not see her?
"I'm only visible to you. Don't you know better?" She scoffed, settling next to me as I narrowed my eyes at her.
"What is it that you want?" I asked coldly and Ryu called out my name. But I ignored him.
"I forgot to tell you. You need part of each Celestial Instruments, mix it with the dew and serve it to him. Or else he'll die right then and there." She told me calmly, laying a hand on my head.
Before I reacted, a bolt of electric shock hit my head. Of course, it was from her. Falling on my knees, I put my hands against my head and winced.
"I'm sorry but that was the only way to get you to know the Instruments, Rieu." The ghost apologized and for once, she looked sorry.
A stream of items listed through my head. I even knew where and how it looked like. But again, why was she helping me? What's her identity?
"Snow! Are you all right?" Ryu asked but I didn't answer.
"What's your name? Why're you helping me?" I asked her but Ryu answered as if I was insane. I silenced him by puting my hand to his mouth.
The ghost looked amused. "Lady Yuki No Joo. I am the Protector of Midnight Snow. And you may ask who Rieu is? It's you. Your Spirit Name."
I widened my eyes. I'm Rieu? But I wasn't supposed to know that now!
"Why're you helping me?" I asked again but she didn't answer.
"You had your question and answer time. I want to know, are you willing to do this? For the sake of someone who made a shadow of you?" Lady Yuki No Joo asked me.
I didn't reply. Is she saying that Ren took me to the Pool of Silver Leaves? But why? "Yes," I answered. "I'm willing to."
Lady Yuki No Joo nodded. "Correct answer." She told me and faded away.
"Snow, what happened?" Ryu asked me and I faced him.
"I'm not Snow." I told him gravingly. "Rieu. My name is Rieu."
He narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about? Rieu is the Legendary Slayer. She and her sword Korinotsurugi slayed the demons." He told me. "It couldn't be that it's....Your, Spirit Name?"
I turned to him and nodded lightly and he widened his eyes. "What? How'd you know?"
"There's no time for that. We need to get the 10 Celestial Instruments to wake Ren up. I know what they are. We need to hurry." I urged him and he stopped me.
"I thought we needed to give him the water though. What happened to you? You were out of your mind just now." Ryu said in confusion so I took a deep breath and told him everything.
He seemed to be shocked. "You and Lady Yuki No Joo talked to each other? But, only Rieu could do that."
"I don't know but we need to go now." I told him.
Ryu nodded and we ran back to the Ice Palace.
___________________________________________
Once we got there, the Queen was worriedly going back and forth before she spotted Ryu and I.
"Oh, Snow!" She exclaimed. "I've heard you and Kira had gone somewhere but Kira hasn't come back. Where is she?"
I was taken aback. She didn't come back? "Queen, when we were together, she had a bottle with a golden butterfly stamped on it and filled it with the Pool of SIlver Leaves and said it was ready for you. But Lady Yuki No Joo appeared and casted Kira away but she didn't come here?" I explained.
The Queen gasped and so did the ones that heard what I said. "How dare she!" She said. "She knows that if a Snow Spirit drinks it, that person will die! And if with contact, they will be cursed for life. DId she intend to-" The Queen gasped. "Was she intending to kill me? To take my throne?"
I never seen this side of he Queen. Shaking that thought out, I told he Queen about what happened to me and how Ren took me there and we went in and the Instruments as well. When I finished, she nodded. "Very well. That is a horrendous action indeed. Go to it. Take whatever you need." She said and faced a maid. "Go help the two."
When we got packed up, Ryu and I immediately went.
"We need to hurry. According to what she gave me, it said it needs to be done in 10 days. This is the only year the Ray of 10 Suns arrives." I told him and he glanced at me.
"How do you know all this?" He asked me and I replied, "The Protector sent me this. All of it. I know where it is, the order to recieve it, how it looks like and the dangers we'll face."
Ryu nodded. "You're a strange one." He told me and I grinned.
"Thank you." I said.
Streaming by the Wintervenes, we made it past the fountain and through the door. A rush of warm air welcomed us but I felt drained.
"Rieu. What's our first place?" Ryu asked and I snapped out of it.
"Oh, um, it's the Silver Mirror of the Unknowns." I told him and he turned to me.
"We don't even know what they really are though!" He exclaimed and I snapped my fingers.
"Exactly my point. Then you can have your own little friends." I told him sarcastically and grinned. Ryu returned the grin and said, "Insane or brave, I'm going."
"Glad to know." I replied and we walked through the tenth door. The door was plain metal but once we went through, we were at a dead end.
Oh, that isn't correct. What I mean is that; in front of us was a bottomless pit. What a pity, maybe if we jump, we can glide ourselves through. Heck, might as well die.
"Seriously?" Ryu gasped.
I face palmed myself. I should've seen this coming. But, how're we supposed to get to the other side?
"Hey! You there!" A voice called out and a girl with blond hair and blue eyes landed in mid air in front of us.
My eyes widened. Am I going crazy?
"You have good wits I have to admit. But stupid thinking. You didn't even try to go across? Geez. Stupid." She sighed in disappointment and I glared at her. "In other words, it's only an illusion." The girl added.
She was wearing a black cloak that almost covered her feet and her blond hair went up to her thigh. She seemed to be around 12? Compared to me who was 19, she was only a kid.
"I'm Nazo." She introduced and smiled. "Why're you here?"
Ryu and I looked at each other and I shrugged. "I'm Rieu and this is Ryu. We're here for the Silver Mirror."
Nazo halted to a stop and stared at me as if I was crazy. Maybe I was.
"The Silver Mirror is the only thing that's silver out of all the Celestial Dimensions and you want to take it to Midnight Snow or the Earth Colony? Rubbish!" Nazo scowled and pushed us. "If that's the case, go away."
"But we need it! Only a small part." Ryu begged and Nazo thought about it.
"A small part? How're you supposed to break it?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"We'll try what we can do with it." I told her but her eyes widened.
"Oh, no no no. If it falls out of place, me and my people are going to lose our abilities. And besides, if you can get through Michino Ryu, think of a way of breaking it while it's still on the wall and break it and come back in a split second, I would let you. But no you can't." Nazo explained.
I sighed. I forgot to tell RYu about the Michino Ryu! I really am stupid. "Wait, abilities?" I asked her.
"Yeah, we have supernatural abilities. I have the power of illusions. Only works on the Celestial beings." She explained.
"And isn't Michino Ryu a Celestial being?" Ryu asked.
Nazo opened her mouth but nothing came out. Slowly closing it, she held up a finger. "Yes." She answered carefully.
"Can't you use it on the dragon?" I asked.
Nazo looked at her feet and shifted them. "Yes." She replied once more.
"Then all we need to figure out is how to break the silver." Ryu told me and I nodded.
"Hey, but I never agreed to help you guys." Nazo snapped and we stared at her.
She seemed stubborn. I had no choice but to threaten her with the water we need to use for Ren. I took it out and looked over to Ryu who nodded. He got the idea.
Ryu pinned Nazo down and she yelped. "Hey! What are you doing?" She exclaimed and I shushed her.
"Nazo, do you know what this is?" I asked her and she reluctantly nodded. "I can use it on you. Make you drink it unless, you help us." I was lying of course. I would never do that.
"Try me!" Nazo squeaked.
When I mean squeak, I mean she literally did. Ryu snickered and I punched it on the arm weakly. "I will." I told her and pretended to try opening it. I did it slowly to make it dramatic and she yelled, "No! I'll help, but, please don't kill me!"
"Don't tell anyone about this though." Ryu wanred her and Nazo nodded. He let her go and she sighed in relief.
"We'll do the plan once we find out how to break the silver." I announced before sitting down. Ryu sat down next to me and we needed to know how to chip it off.
"Can't we use a knife or something?" I asked but Ryu shook his head.
"The Silver Mirror is really strong though." He told me and Nazo interrupted by clearing her throat.
"I know how to break it." She muttered and my face brightened.
"How?" I asked, standing up.
Nazo opened her mouth to speak but we were all pushed to the groun by force.
"What is the meaning of this?" A deep voice exclaimed and found a guy who was about 20 or so in front of me.
"Yuzuru!" Nazo said. "Please, don't hurt them!"
The guy's name was apparently Yuzuru and he pulled me up by my kimono's collar and I winced. "Silver Mirror? As if I'm letting you!" He said, furrowing his eyebrows. This guy had messy black hair and brown eyes.
"Yuzuru, don't!" Nazo pleaded.
Yuzuru ignored her. "What did you do to her?" He asked gravingly and I scoffed. He slapped me hard when I did. Head to the side, I glanced to him. Ryu was still on the ground, unable to move or make a sound but his eyes looked worried. I mouthed to him, Don't worry.
"Why should I answer to you?" I asked with a smirk. My cheek was aching in pain.
Yuzuru held up a hand to slap me again but a cloud of white smoke covered us. Quizzical, I felt someone pulling me away from him. When we were out of the fog, I found Nazo and Ryu.
"Nazo? Did you do that?" I asked and she nodded.
"But, why? We even threatened you." Ryu reminded her.
Nazo turned to him. "I wanted to trust you guys. I knew you didn't want to kill me. I may be annoying but I'm not stupid. I wanted to help you guys." She explained.
"Nazo." I said, sad that even though we did that to her, she helped us.
"Our clan are originally ninjas. We gained our abilities when the God of Pleasure gave us the mirror. This happened centuries ago." Nazo said.
I smiled. "Thank you." I told her and she nodded.
"You want to come with us? We're going through all 10 Celestial Dimensions." Ryu invited and Nazo immediately nodded.
"Yes!" Nazo replied and smiled brightly. For a 12 year old, she was really kind. "Now, to Michino Ryu!" She exclaimed.
//Michino Ryu and the Silver Mirror
"But we still need to find out how to break the mirror, Nazo." I reminded her and her enthusiastic aura dropped.
Nazo pouted. "At least I can distract the dragon. That's a good thing." She said.
"But the big problem is how to chip it." Ryu scowled. I nudged him at the side.
"Nazo, is there a way to chip it?" I asked and she was quiet. Obviously she was thinking about my question.
"Well, there is a legend about the Michino Ryu and the Silver Mirror." She told me and sat down.
"Care to share it?" I asked with a smile and she nodded.
"Come on, we just need to know about the Mirror!" Ryu exclaimed but I pulled him down to sit.
Nazo ignored him and started the story. "It's about the God of Pleasure how it created the dragon. No one know's what the Michino Ryu looks like, or at least haven't lived."
Michino Ryu and the Silver Mirror
In a dark cave, there is a spot where natural heat comes from and produces many kinds of minerals, in this case, Silver.
Many men mined for the mineral until it ran out. Men go back in to find more but if they try to go deeper, they never came back. Ever. The God of Pleasure descended when the ninjas mourned on the 100th day and told us that this is the only Silver out of the 10 Celestial Dimensions and that it helps us gain our abilities we have today. If we use it for evil and power, he will kill off the person. And no one would be able to steal it because there lies a dragon of the Unknowns that will kill them.
But one brave soul went in to see the dragon just to see how the mirror looked like. When he went in, he couldn't see the beast and only saw shining scales. He saw the mirror, broke a piece of with his sword made out of crystal and came back alive. The crystal sword is in the House of Mournings with his picture but the silver piece was never found. Rumor has it that the Silver Mirror is cursed.
Nazo finished it and I arched an eyebrow. "But, that doesn't make sense. A crystal sword? I understand diamond and stuff and the fact that he broke it when the beast was there?" I questioned and she answered with a shrug.
"Well then, we only need a crystal sword?" Ryu asked, crossing his arms.
"I guess so." Nazo agreed and added, "But, my illusions only last for an hour."
"That's enough time, Nazo. It's fine." I told her and she shook her head.
"No, I forgot to tell you but he came about months later. So it's not fine." Nazo said, biting her bottom lip.
I looked at her dumbfounded. "What?!" I exclaimed and sighed. "But we need the Silver Mirror piece now and soak it in the water."
"Oh, so that's what it was for?" Ryu asked me.
"And for the Evening Flower." I added, something catching my eye. It was a golden butterfly about the size of a hair pin. It had two strings of gold behind it with moon stones at the end. "Lady Yuki No Joo?" I whispered and she appeared before us.
"Well done, Rieu." She praised and glanced over to Nazo.
Apparently this time they could see her. Why?
"Lady Yuki No Joo." Ryu said and dipped his head. Nazo did the same.
"A ninja girl? I didn't think she would help you. I've been watching you the whole time. Come, you must go to the cave now." Lady Yuki No Joo warned and went back into the butterfly and flew away.
"Hurry, we need to follow her!" I exclaimd and we all darted towards her. We went back trees, roots and bushes until a cave appeared before us. Inside was pitch black so we halted to a stop but Lady Yuki No Joo went inside and she glowed. Glowed as in became the sun.
We followed her through a labrynth, seeing bones of animals on the floor as we got deeper. When we stopped, she left a crystal sword in front of me. Me?
"I wish you good luck." She said and flew away.
"The Michino Ryu's is over there." Nazo warned and Ryu and I nodded.
"Get ready, Nazo. Here's your time to shine." Ryu muttered.
A shivering growl echoed and we stood silent. It was like nails against a chalkboard when the dragon screeched.
"Hurry, Nazo!" I exclaimed and she was flustered but ended up putting up an illusion. The Michino Ryu didn't seem to faze at all so I panicked.
"Rieu!" Ryu called out. "Michino Ryu, it's nearby, be careful!"
Not able to reply, I went where there was a faint light. When I looked around, Ryu and Nazo were there.
"Ryu and I will distract the dragon, go check the walls!" Nazo told me and my grip tightened on the sword with a nod.
I bursted forwards from the opposite side of the dragon. You couldn't see it well since it hid in the shadows but you can see a glimmer of light from it. Like a star in the sky.
I looked at all the walls but the mirror wasn't to be found. "It's not here!" I yelled.
"But that's impossible!" Ryu said, running all over the place.
'The Michino Ryu is here but the Mirror isn't. Wait, could it be?' I thought, eyes widening.
"Ryu, Nazo!" I called out, running towards where there was light. "Lure it where we can see it!"
Nazo came to the middle and so did Ryu. Even a glimpse would be good.
I heard Nazo gasp when we saw the dragon. My hunch was correct, it was the Michino Dragon that was Silver. Then we only need a scale...
"What?" Ryu gasped and pushed them away from getting eaten.
"Listen, we need a scale from the dragon!" I exclaimed.
"How?" Nazo asked, panicked.
"If it's lived that long, it has to be immortal. Stab it with the sword." I told her.
"I hope it works." Nazo muttered, grabbing the sword.
"So do I." I replied and we parted.
Ryu kept on running and we were all tired.
"Now, Nazo!" I yelled and we heard another one of those terrible shrieks from the Michino Ryu. Obviously she stabbed it somewhere. Ryu and I went on the dragon. "Grab a scale and just rip it off." I told him and he nodded.
He pulled it off and the dragon flinched. It was tough, it looked and we ran away. Back to the dirt where there was direct sun, we gasped for air.
"Water, water..." Nazo begged and I couldn't talk. It took a while for us to calm down.
"So it wasn't a Mirror?" Ryu asked and I nodded.
"It was the dragon. But why didn't the guy from the legend say that?" I replied.
"He wanted to save the dragon." Nazo gasped, finally clicking into our minds.
That made so much sense now. He might've lied so no one would hunt the dragon down.
"We cannot tell anyone this." Ryu said.
"I second that." Nazo agreed and I nodded in agreement. "Hey, it's almost sunset. Come over to my house and rest for the night. Wash up and stuff. Then we can leave!"
Ryu and I looked at each other. "I don't know. Seeing how that guy attacked us..." Ryu said, picking up his bag and I did too.
"We might not be welcomed." I added.
"Don't worry. They won't check my house or anything." Nazo reassured.
______________________________________
"I still don't think it's necessary though." I sighed, laying my bag on a wooden bench in her house. All of the houses were made out of straw and wood. It was typical but comfortable. Nazo's house (Inside) was simple. I liked that.
"It's the best though. It's close to sunset and we're tired from running." Ryu replied, taking out the Michino Ryu's scale.
"That's right." I said, getting hold of the scale, opening the case and dropped it inside. Once it hit the water, some kind of force made us fall over.
"Ow, what the devil was that?" Nazo cursed, rubbing her back.
I was wincing in shock. "I don't know. But hopefully no one else was like that. It would've brought attnetion." I mumbled a reply. When I looked over to the water, the silver scale was floating in midwater. That was very strange.
"Anyway, what's next?" Ryu groaned and I snapped out of my daze.
"Oh, well, um..." I answered, thinking what it was. "The Virtues. Virtue's Dust."
"Ergh. That's kind of hard to get and dangerous. Since if you have it, you can get whatever you want." Nazo said, standing up.
Ryu shook his head. "That's only the one from the Shifter, Goddess of Wishes." He stared at me. "Don't tell me...."
I nodded reluctantly. "That's the one." I sighed. "Going to be a rough day tomorrow."
"Let's wake up at sunrise. Sharp. We might see the other Unknows if we stick around too long." Nazo suggested and Ryu nodded.
"I'm fine with that." I agreed. "But we need to sleep now. I'm dead on my feat."
I laid on a bed and closed my eyes.
"Don't you want something to eat?" Nazo asked and I shook my head.
"I'm fine." I replied and coverd myself it a blanket. After a few minutes, I went into a deep sleep.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Let's go now." Ryu said and Nazo nodded.
I bit my bottom lip. "Let's go it is." I said. The sun hasn't even rose yet so it was pretty dark.
When we reached to the end of the forest, there was a rustle and I whipped my head around suspiciously. "What was that?" I asked.
I waited for a moment and didn't hear a reply. Worried, I turned around and a man in a black coat pushed me down on the floor and I was pulled up in a net tied to a tree. Stuck, I found Ryu and Nazo the same. Ryu had his mouth sealed and along with his hands and feet.
"Good job." The man said, cutting Nazo out of the net. "You've done well to lure them out."
Nazo diligently landed on the floor with a curt nod. Staring at me, I widened my eyes.
Nazo was with them the whole time?
"Nazo." I said in disbelief.
"What you've done was horrid. Unforgivable. You must pay the price." The 12 year old told me, smirking cruelly. "Leader, let me fight her. I want to kill her with my own hands. And the boy."
The man nodded. "Very well. You deserve it."
I was appalled. "Nazo." I repeated and was cut down. Landing on my feet, I stared at her. "What is the meaning of this?"
Nazo glared at me and I flinched. "Prepare to die, Rieu. Or should I say, Mistress Rieu?" She chuckled, taking out a shuriken. "Hand to hand combat. No abilities."
I couldn't bring myself to kill her, even if she tried to kill me. "Nazo, don't be foolish." I said sternly.
"Bring out Korinotsurugi. If you want to live." Nazo demanded and went at me.
I didn't know what she was talking about. But even if I knew how to, I wouldn't had.
And then she stabbed me.
