Impossible Fantasy

By: Dyaoka

Disclaimer: I don’t own Prince of Tennis! I don’t own Final Fantasy! I own nothing! Go sue someone else!

Warnings/Notes: Hangovers suck. Not that I have any experience with it—I’m still underage. I talked to a friend of mines that *did* drink before…and she said hangovers suck. ^_^ Good reason as to not get drunk, ne? And this chapter was kind of hard to write. But, I finished it nonetheless! =P

Scroll Eight: Fallen

“Fuji! Get off!” Ryoma had, more or less, squeaked in a very high voice finally. He had no idea how much time had passed, but the only thing that he did know, was that time did pass. Fuji only chuckled, his eyes seeming to glow an unearthly sapphire in the dark room illuminated by the light of the stars and moon.

Ryoma was not blind, knowing that Fuji was very attractive. His voice was nice and smooth; his eyes were like pools of azure; flawless skin; hell, the list could go on forever! Yet, why was Ryoma so desperate to get away? One, the normally not drunk Fuji would never act like this! Two, Fuji was scaring him. Three, do people honestly need a reason to try and run when someone has you completely cornered? (Or rather…completely pinned down on the bed.) 

“Now why would I do that?” Fuji asked, his voice sultry and low as he nibbled gently on Ryoma’s earlobe. He felt the boy below him quiver at this. Besides the fact that it was very obvious Ryoma had never been in a relationship before, Fuji could also tell that Ryoma had never had contact with someone else at such proximity.

How cute.

“Fuji…!”

However, any other sounds were muffled as Fuji continued to ravish the boy below him.

A little while later, Ryoma was wondering if he should be thanking his lucky stars that Fuji had stopped, or hating Fuji because he had stopped. Somehow, Fuji had fallen asleep; leaving a very awake Ryoma whose heart was beating quick and loud in his ears. With Fuji draped all over him, it didn’t really help as Ryoma just seemed to have noticed the position Fuji had him in. Shoving the sleeping youth off of him rather roughly, Ryoma grabbed his coat and placed his shoes back on and left the room. He probably wouldn’t have been getting much sleep that night anyway.

Besides, Fuji was drunk. He didn’t want to stay in a room that held the smell of alcohol. Even more, Ryoma didn’t want to deal with Fuji when he woke up.

Walking outside yet again, Ryoma decided to wander the small town.

The small village was lovely, really, to an even homely extent. But Ryoma wanted nothing more than something to take his mind off of Fuji and his kisses. As Ryoma turned a corner, he found himself being knocked back onto the ground by the unexpected force of walking into someone.

“Oh—sorry” Ryoma said as he got up from the ground. He looked up into the face of a stern Tezuka.

“What are you still doing up?” the bespectacled youth asked.

“I don’t think it concerns you whether why I’m up or not” Ryoma retorted, walking away from Tezuka. However, a hand reached out and grabbed him by the shoulders, effectively stopping him from moving any further.

“Come” Tezuka said, letting his hand drop back by his side. He didn’t wait for Ryoma to follow—he knew the golden-eyed boy would follow just out of plain curiosity.

They walked and walked until they were in the outskirts of the city, they walked into the golden field of dried grass and stopped somewhere just before the city’s rooftops were out of sight. It wasn't much walking, considering that the field itself slanted downward for some unexplainable reason.

“What are we here for?” Ryoma asked impatiently when they had stopped.

“What do you know of your past?” Tezuka asked, ignoring Ryoma’s question.

“My past? What about it?”

“What do you know of your past” Tezuka repeated.

“I was raised by Seer Nanjirou. He was my teacher and guardian. I think that explains everything” Ryoma said.

“Yes, it does” Tezuka said. “You truly don’t know anything of your past.”

Ryoma glowered at the older youth. “And I suppose you know?” Instantly, Ryoma regretted his words.

Cold, sharp eyes behind those spectacles were lit with some sort of fury that Ryoma would never comprehend. He won’t ever understand because he won’t ever remember. “I suppose you can say that” was all Tezuka said. They said no more on such issues, but Ryoma wasn't obtuse. If Tezuka were genuinely telling the truth, then the child in Ryoma’s dreams would really be…him.

“Tell me, do you really don’t know anything of your past…?”

“Only what my dreams tell me” was the cryptic answer Ryoma gave.

“Ah…but I’m taking no chances” Tezuka said, raising his hand so his fingers just barely brushed against Ryoma’s forehead. There was a bright flash of light and Ryoma suddenly found himself whirling into oblivion called unconsciousness.

~*~

Eiji blinked warily at his surroundings. He didn’t know why, of all people, did he have to deliver a message to Gakuto. Eiji hated being down in the dungeons, where Gakuto was usually found. The sadistic youth liked to torture the prisoners—he caused pain in many different forms. Shivering, Eiji continued his trek down the spiral staircase to the dungeons. The moment he opened the heavy doors, he was greeted by shrieks and screams. Of the twenty prison cells, each of which could hold up to ten people, three were filled. And of course, the dungeon more than stank of the smell of old blood and rotting flesh.

“Ah…Kikumaru” drawled a voice. Eiji looked over to the torture-master, who had currently been sewing the arms of two people together with piano wire. The prisoners looked over at Eiji, their eyes pleading and filled with pain and fear. But Eiji couldn’t do anything for them. They were not his people, he had no power to help humans.

“Enjoying yourself, Gakuto?” Eiji asked, handing the message over to the torture-master. Gakuto frowned when he briefly scanned the contents of the message. With a scowl, he flung the message at the wall and then, before it could fall to the floor, Gakuto had viciously stabbed a small dagger into it, pinning it to the wall.

“He’s wasting his time. I hold no pleasure in torturing my own kind. I prefer…the humans” Gakuto’s face lit up with a sadistic smile. Eiji rolled his eyes.

“You’ll get in trouble for that.”

“When have you started to care?” Gakuto sneered. “I’m going to get that fool one of these days…for seizing control of the throne…I will gut him, slowly and painfully…” Gakuto lifted one of his daggers, it’s handle decorated in the most eloquent design. It was his most precious dagger, one that he rarely used as to not wear it out. “And when he’s on the verge of death, I will sew him up and make him live for another day. Then I will do it again and again and again…” He unsheathed his precious dagger; it was quite sharp. “I will make him eat his own brain…I will make him wish that he placed that spell on us…” Gakuto’s voice has lowered to a whisper. The light in the room swayed, creating dancing shadows across Gakuto’s features. The torture-master smiled. “I will make him wish he never existed…”

Eiji shivered and hastily fled the dungeons, slamming the heavy oak doors behind him. Though he and Gakuto had never been friends, so to speak, they weren’t enemies.

Climbing the spiral staircase quickly, Eiji soon found himself in the cold, stone halls of the castle. Pulling unconsciously on his robes, Eiji walked on. The place was lonely and quiet, and so very eerie. The reason for that was the many servants that served in the castle had fled, deciding to go with the villagers into hiding. There was only a handful that stayed in the castle; among them were Eiji, Gakuto, Jiroh, and Kajimoto. But also, there were others that had moved in. However, either way, there were still probably only twenty people total in the large castle, not counting the prisoners.

Eiji sighed as he turned down one of the corridors that lead to a door. Looking around, hoping that no one was there watching him, Eiji took the key from his pocket and inserted into the knob. Soon, the locked door was not locked anymore. Eiji walked into the room, closing it and locking it after him. He wouldn’t want anyone intruding in his…private area, now would he?

The dark room had just about a fraction of light leaking through it, coming from an unknown source. It had always been like that, for as long as Eiji could remember. Taking a match and some flint from his pocket, Eiji lit the closest torch to him. With that, he walked forward, lighting the rest of the torches as he went.

The room was dark and huge, almost as large as the grand ballroom on the first floor of the castle. But this wasn't the ballroom. In fact, this was…

“Eiji! What are you doing here?!” came a surprised voice. Eiji jumped back at the sound of the voice. He turned around and saw that it was only Kajimoto Takahisa. Dressed in a formal uniform that should have been burned ages ago, Kajimoto was to be Eiji’s advisor when he inherited the throne. Unfortunately, that had never happened, because of His coming.

“Nya! Kajimoto, don’t scare me like that!”

“Ah…sorry” Kajimoto said, bowing slightly, a shy smile upon his lips. “I was here to pay my respects…since I’m not allowed out on the cemetery…”

Eiji nodded in understanding as he placed the torch in his hands back to where it had originally been. “But…in the dark?”

“I heard someone outside and had to extinguish all the lights rather quickly…That’s why there’s the smell” Kajimoto said. Eiji sniffed at the air. Yeah, there was the smell of fire alright. How could he not notice that? “So, Eiji, what are you doing here? You rarely come in here…”

“I was just missing the faces of my family, nya…” Eiji said, looking up at the large portrait that hung on one of the walls. This room was completely untouched by Him and his magic. It remained unchanged throughout the years. It was the playroom for the royal children. But when the older children grew out of it, Eiji, being the youngest, took the liberty of claiming it as ‘Mine! My playroom! Nyahahaha!’

“It must be lonely” Kajimoto said, also looking up at the portrait. In the middle of the picture, were the late King and Queen, dressed in their grand and majestic robes. Standing a bit behind the royal majesties was a girl that faintly resembled Eiji. She was the first daughter of the King and Queen. Besides the Queen, stood a shorthaired girl with a brooding expression, like she didn’t want to be in the portrait at all. That was the second daughter of the King and Queen. Next to her stood another girl that looked almost exactly like her, except with longer hair that was done into a complicated hairstyle. Eiji remembered distinctly that he was the one that was forced to help her with her hair. That girl was the third daughter of the royal family. The fourth daughter stood a bit off to the side of the King, looking very young, yet held the same regal air as her family. Eiji, who had just grown to become eight at the time, stood next to his father, clinging onto the hem of his robe. It was his very first portrait he had to stand in.

“Yeah…” Eiji found himself agreeing. “But He is weakening. I can feel it. It won’t be long now…” Eiji looked down at his hands then looked over to Kajimoto. “I found his lost heir.”

Sharp eyes looked back at playful azure eyes.

“His…lost heir?”

“Ah. They look nothing a like, though. Except the eyes—it was the only thing that told me it was his heir. Apparently, he’s traveling this way” Eiji said. Kajimoto looked back at the portrait.

“His heir…hm. He did say once that he had a son…but didn’t he say that he was dead?” Kajimoto asked.

“No. His heir is very much alive, nya! Listen to what I say!” Eiji whined.

“I’m listening” Kajimoto answered honestly, his shy smile coming out again. Eiji found himself pinching Kajimoto’s cheeks.

“Well, you’re not!”

Kajimoto lightly slapped Eiji’s hand away and rubbed at his cheeks. “Please refrain from doing that.” Eiji pouted.

“Well, whatever. As I was saying,” Eiji emphasized the last bit. “He’s coming here, from what I gather. And as for what I know, the kid pretty powerful, nya! I can just feel it radiating off of him, you know? But the majority of it is still dormant. Anyway! Since you’re here, you might as well listen to what I have to say…”

“I’m listening” Kajimoto said again. Eiji sent him the Look before he started to pace around the playroom, walking over random toys that were scattered in the room. It was rather dusty in the room, and cobwebs hung from some of the toys. But there was no other sign of life in the room.

“I was talking to that Seer from Bevelle, the blind one, nya. Apparently, he’s moving somewhere to the very, very north where it’s really cold because the Earl Mizuki wants him there. Probably has to do with political plans or something, I don’t know, but someone doesn’t usually do that unless there’s a person blocking their way of a goal or something, nya. So I was thinking, Kajimoto, could you go and get him? Just make sure he doesn’t die or whatever…He can be useful, you know. Though he is kind of cryptic, nya…”

“Do I bring him back here? You know He won’t approve. He’ll just probably kick the Seer out before you know it.”

“Unya…forgot about him. Hm…Oh! Oh! I know! Just go and find him, make sure he doesn’t die, and send him a message from me! Come to my room later to pick it up. To anyone that asks, just say that I sent you out on an errand or something. Oh, and Oshitari is out at the moment…be sure to not run into him, okay?”

All that was said in a rush and Kajimoto blinked twice and nodded, still trying to comprehend what the red head was trying to say. “Alright…as you say.”

“Nya, I’m going to go now!” Eiji said. “Don’t forget to extinguish the torches, nya!” Opening the door quietly, the red head peeked outside. There was no one in the halls and he quickly slipped out there, closing the door after him and locking it.

~*~

Ryoma woke, looking up at some unfamiliar ceiling. Hell, the whole room was unfamiliar. It wasn't the room that he and Fuji shared either…Who’s room was this…? He ran through his memories quickly, trying to figure out where this place was.

Last night, Fuji had gotten drunk and Ryoma had run out of their room…and encountered Tezuka. After a small conversation, Tezuka offered him to stay in his room and. The golden-eyed boy furrowed his brows, deep into his thoughts. Something just didn’t seem right…something was missing. Ryoma rolled over just in time to see Tezuka disappear through the door, closing it behind him. With a small groan, Ryoma rose from the bed and stretched. He didn’t want to go back into the room with Fuji…Ryoma flopped back down onto the bed and buried his head into the pillow.

That stupid Fuji…! Ryoma felt his face flush as he thought back to the events of last night. He was going to have a hard time facing the blue-eyed genius. With a small sigh, Ryoma rolled over onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. Why was his life so screwed up? Why couldn’t it have been someone else’s? He didn’t ask to be landed with Nanjirou of all people, as his guardian. He didn’t ask to be on this stupid journey. He didn’t ask to be kissed. He didn’t ask for any complication in his life! But it couldn’t be helped; all these things had already happened. Anything else in the future would probably happen…as according to fate. 

“Why me…?” Ryoma murmured softly to no one in particular.

Scratch. Scratch.

Ryoma looked over at the window and brushed aside the curtains to reveal a rather dirty looking Karupin sitting on the window ledge. Opening the window, he pulled Karupin in. “Where were you?” Ryoma asked.

“Here and there” Karupin answered. He then noticed the direction that Ryoma was going in. “I don’t need a bath” the cat said quickly.

“You may think that, but you do need one” Ryoma said, his grip on Karupin growing a bit tighter as the cat tried to struggle from his owner’s grasp.

For the next half hour, yelps and loud splashes were heard from the bathroom. But in the end, Karupin became clean. At least that was what counted.

~*~

It was just a little before noon when Tezuka returned to his room to find Karupin and Ryoma conversing on his bed. Ryoma had the sheets wrapped around him, seeing that his clothes were wet and hanging for them to dry. Ryoma just shot the older youth a look that barely acknowledged him. “We’re leaving” was all Tezuka said. He dropped something at the foot of the bed. It was Ryoma’s pack. With that, Tezuka left, almost closing the door on a Karupin that just streaked past him.

With a small sigh, Ryoma got dressed and placed his still-drying clothes into his pack. He heard somewhere that if he did that, his clothes would grow mold! But that wasn't proven (yet, in his case) so Ryoma could care less.

Closing the clasp on his pack, Ryoma walked out of the room. He walked silently down the hall to where he could hear Momo’s incessant chatter and whining.

“Ryoma! What took you so long?!”

“Packing” was Ryoma’s one word answer.

Momo rolled his eyes. Ryoma sometimes could be so…impassive! But Tezuka would beat the boy by a long shot if they were ever compared at that.

“Whatever. So, are we going to go now?”

“Momo, weren’t you just complaining of a hangover just a moment ago?” Fuji asked, a wry grin upon his lips.

“Eh…yeah, but still!” Momo said. Fuji just continued to grin, though he too, had turned to acknowledge Ryoma. Blushing, Ryoma turned away from the blue eyed genius, as the memories of Fuji’s lips upon his own ran through his head.

“Ryoma, are you ok?” Oishi asked from where he stood. He didn’t look at least effected by the alcohol last night. “You seem rather flushed.”

“I’m fine” Ryoma answered curtly, brushing Oishi’s hand away from his forehead. “Momo’s right. Let’s go.” He glanced over at Tezuka, who stood next to the door and nodded. In a short while, the group of seven were on their way, out of the small, peaceful village.

“We go through this” Tezuka said, gesturing towards the golden field. Momo made some sort of choking sound, as if disbelieving Tezuka. He stepped forward, already setting a unusually quick pace for them.

With a sigh, Momo followed, but could not help but look back at the dainty little village.

“Momo, don’t fall behind” Inui warned as he passed by the shorter boy. Once again, Momo marveled at how tall Inui was. Before, when Momo was captain of the king’s guards, he had seen many tall people and had bested them in hand-to-hand combat. Absently, his hand wandered to the small, simple sword that hung at his side. His skill with the sword wasn’t to be mocked, either.

“Momo! Hurry up!” Ryoma called out, his voice sounding rather irritated.

“Yeah, yeah!” Momo called back, running a bit to catch up with his companions. Yet again, Momo glanced back…and caught sight of someone that hadn’t been there before.

Dark, dark ebony hair flowed freely in the wind as dark eyes looked on. Tears escaped silently from the girl’s cheerless eyes. She met Momo’s gaze evenly and managed a small smile and wave. And just as quickly as Momo had blinked, she was gone, nothing but a shimmer of light. Shaking his head, the violet eyed youth walked on with his companions, never glancing back again. 

~*~

The group had been traveling for at least a week and everyone, especially Ryoma, was in a cranky mood. Fuji was irritable because Ryoma was ignoring and avoiding him at all costs…and Fuji didn’t even know why, though he did suspect it had something to do with the night where he had become (more or less) drunk. Fuji had tried to corner Ryoma into telling him what was going on, but the golden-eyed boy always turned pink at the cheeks and managed to squirm away with Tezuka’s help. It seemed that their bespectacled guide was keeping a very sharp eye out for Ryoma, something that Fuji didn’t seem to find to be very comfortable about. He didn’t trust Tezuka at all.

It was their eighth night out in the wilderness; they had long been out of the golden field that was next to Dali Village, but had gotten into a forest. Age old trees stood tall and proud in this forest, their branches were large and entwined together.

“Hm…a deciduous forest” Inui had said upon entering, though no one knew what he was talking about.

Tezuka had continued to lead them onward, though it seemed to be no end to the trees. Momo had even voiced aloud his thought of Tezuka had gotten lost. Their bespectacled guide had only leveled a glare at Momo and the violet eyed youth had quieted for the moment, only to break into chatter a moment later with Taka and Oishi.

“Karupin” Ryoma whispered quietly as he spoke to his cat. “Just what is happening…? I feel so confused…”

Karupin looked up at his master, who seemed incredibly sad.

“Why did the old man make me go onto this stupid adventure…”

“Because, he feels that you are ready for the world” Karupin answered, nuzzling Ryoma’s palm. It was warm, unlike the cool, crisp night forest air that was cold, even though they had a fire going. “Otherwise, he would have never let you go.”

“How would you know?” Ryoma’s voice came out so softly, it was almost inaudible over the cackling of the fire.

“I’m a cat” Karupin said, in an equally quiet voice. Ryoma’s eyes lit up a bit as he smiled at Karupin, his oldest companion and friend. He was only too glad to have a conversation with Karupin again, just like old times. “And whatever is on your mind, you can take my word on it that it will be solved.”

“I hope so” Ryoma whispered, scratching Karupin behind the ears.

The two fell into comfortable silence and Ryoma shifted so he rested more comfortably against the tree he sat at. It wasn’t before long that the voices of his companions became nothing but sound and the cackling of fire lulled him to sleep. But it wasn’t a peaceful sleep.

‘I had thought you were more intelligent than this.’

Ryoma looked up, but only saw darkness.

‘He will come for you, and you will die.’

“Who are you?” Ryoma called out into the darkness. The growing sense of dread gnawed at his heart. “And I am not so weak as to die! How dare you insult me!”

‘You will die.’

An image flashed before his eyes, almost reminiscence of an earlier dream. Ryoma and his companions were in a dark dungeon with blood splattered everywhere. Off to the side, Momo laid limply, a dark pool of liquid forming beneath his still body. However, his violet eyes were awake and attentive. He was not yet dead.

Among them, Ryoma’s many companions were all in a battered condition, but nevertheless, very much alive. But among them, a figure with a tattered black cloak with golden linings was hunched over someone, his body quivered with silent sobs. Ryoma knew who it was. It was Fuji, crying silently over him. It was he who had died. But he was not the only one.

Abruptly, he was pulled from the vision. ‘You will die’ the voice said again, but this time much sadder. ‘Do you have the power to change this? Can you change the future?’

Undaunted, Ryoma answered confidently; “Of course.”

Immediately, Ryoma had awoken from his dream. He noticed that the fire was still going and that chatter was still going around the fire. It seemed that he had only drifted off for a little while. Karupin was awake in his arms, looking up at him with those wide, knowing eyes.

“Bad dream?” Karupin asked. Ryoma felt no need to answer.

~*~

After half a day of traveling, they came to a quick flowing stream. The water was very rapid, needless to say. However, Tezuka did not stop. He took off his pack and held it above his head, wading slowly into the shallower part of the stream. He turned around to face the rest of the group, giving them a nod. Uneasily, the rest of them did the same as he; taking their packs off of their backs and held them above their heads.

“Don’t go to far into the stream” Tezuka directed as he waded into a part of the stream that went up to the waist. “Or you will be washed away.” The last part seemed to be directed towards Momo, who stood the closest to the deeper part of the stream. The violet eyed youth only gave a nervous grin before backing away.

“Yeah…I’m always careful” Momo said boastfully. Ryoma rolled his eyes at the ex-captain. Momo was so transparent at times. This moment being one of them. “But why are we standing here if we’re not allowed to go into the stream?”

“I didn’t say anything about that” Tezuka said.

“Could have fooled me” Momo muttered.

“Momo…” Oishi warned, having overheard the last comment.

Tezuka walked on a bit, brows furrowed together in concentration. Taking one hand off of his pack, he reached over the water, a small light gathering in his palms. In an area right in front of him, still in the water, glowed. “Over here” he said, stepping forward. He immediately disappeared, but the light did not fade. Everyone blinked.

“A new sort of magic…?” Taka said.

“No, I doubt it” Inui said. “It’s probably just some sort of transporting device, only activated through the use of magic. Let’s see…” Inui took one step towards the glowing spot and disappeared, just like Tezuka had.

“Jeez…I don’t know whether to be suspicious or what” Momo said. “I mean, it’s fine and dandy that he’s leading us to Eiji but do we really know that he’s leading us there? And Inui just jumped ahead into god-knows what!”

“So you do have some brains” Ryoma remarked.

“Hey!”

“Well, it’s no use just standing around” Fuji said. “I’ll see you all on the other side…wherever the other side is.” He too, stepped forward and went through the light. Like Inui and Tezuka, he disappeared.

“What Fuji said was right” Taka said. “We’d better hurry up too, since we don’t know how long this will hold up.”

“Of course” Oishi said. Taka stepped through and Oishi stepped through, after Taka. That left Momo, Ryoma and Karupin.

“What’s wrong? Let’s go already!” Karupin whined from his spot around Ryoma’s shoulders.

“I don’t know” Ryoma said softly. “I guess…all that comes down to this. Do we really trust him or not” Ryoma said.

“And it seems that you don’t” said a new voice. They looked up, near the top of the trees where a figure resided there. He had glasses and dark hair; an arrogant smirk was placed upon his face.

“Who are you?” Momo demanded immediately, thinking that the stranger looked familiar.

“Why, no one of great importance” the stranger said.

“You!” Ryoma cried upon recognition. “You were the one that took the Wishbringer!”

The stranger smiled sadistically. “Oh…so you do remember me. I am honored” with a graceful leap, he dropped from the tree and landed. “I am Oshitari Yuushi, His right hand man, since Tezuka is so…incompetent.”

“Who is this…His…?” Momo asked, curiosity getting a hold of him.

“Why, He is Him. You will see…if you live to see Him, that is” Oshitari said with a chuckle. “But you’ve met Him already…why would you want to meet him again?”

“Leave us alone!” Ryoma snapped. “We’ve no time for your useless words!” Snagging Momo by the wrist, Ryoma trudged towards the light. He was distinctly aware of Oshitari letting out a villainous laugh before the two of them disappeared through it, packs and cat and all.

The light in the water diminished, yet Oshitari did not leave. He continued to look onward with a sadistic smile upon his face. It seemed that Tezuka had become a traitor and no one, not even Him, could take this moment of glee from him.

~*~

“Argh! Damn it!” Ryoma yelled the moment he got through the light. He had just nearly tripped over someone’s misplaced pack that was on the ground. Ok, make that a lot of people’s misplaced packs…

“Have a nice trip, Ryoma?” came Fuji’s teasing voice.

“No” Ryoma muttered as he picked himself up. Karupuin scampered off the moment he had the chance. The cat just hated water…

Momo came out of the light after him, nearly tripping over the packs the same way Ryoma had. “Damn it!”

“That was pretty much Ryoma’s reaction all the way” Taka commented. “You two must think a like.”

“Don’t put your packs right there!” Momo and Ryoma said in unison.

“Hm…seems I was right” Taka teased. Fuji snickered while Momo and Ryoma glared.

“Well, anyways,” Momo said. “Where are we?”

Indeed, they were in some foreign landscape. There was no sign of life anywhere, quite the contrast to the forest that they had been in. It was bleak and dry, the earth beneath them cracked and old and dusty, unusable and dusty. It was almost like a desert with no life in it, except without the huge masses of sand. Some distance away, there was a deep crevice in the earth. Overhead, the sky was a cloudy gray color, yet no rain fell.

“Don’t know” Oishi said as he squinted into the distance.

“Somewhere to the far north” Inui said suddenly, looking up from one of his green notebooks. “Am I correct, Tezuka?”

Their bespectacled guide nodded silently.

“Oi, Tezuka” Momo suddenly said. “Who’s Oshitari?”

Tezuka turned sharply to the violet-eyed youth. “What?”

“Back there…me and Ryoma ran into some…well, it wasn’t really trouble, but the guy gave off a interesting impression…Kind of like a lunatic?” Momo said.

“You met Oshitari back there?” Tezuka asked. He closed his eyes and sighed. “It would be best to forget him.”

“No” Ryoma said defiantly. “He was the one who stole the Wishbringer. It rightfully belongs to me.” Rebellious golden eyes bore into Tezuka’s skull. Tezuka made no effort to give any explanation.

“Do you wish to find your friend?” Tezuka asked instead.

“You’re changing the subject.”

Tezuka only repeated the question. Glancing over at Oishi, Ryoma answered with a ‘yes.’

“Then follow and ask no more of me” Tezuka said as he lead them towards the deep ravine. Everyone else hastily picked up their packs and followed their guide’s quick and hurried pace.

Apparently, the ravine was farther away than they had thought, because it had taken over two hours to get there. Momo was glowering at Tezuka for evading his questions, just like Ryoma. However, Fuji kept trying to question Ryoma about something and the golden-eyed boy only shied away, this time hiding behind Momo rather than Tezuka. Oishi finally came to Ryoma’s rescue and told Fuji off.

“Tezuka” Oishi said cautiously. “Why would Eiji be out here…?”

“He’s here” was the only answer Tezuka gave. They soon came to the stop at the crevice, and they looked down into the dark, dark chasm that was the crevice’s opening. “Kaido!” Tezuka called.

The rest of them exchanged looks.

“Kaido!” Tezuka called out again, his voice a bit louder and gruffer than before.

“Ssss…What?” came a voice from nowhere.

“Is Eiji there with you?”

“And what business is that of yours?” came the rather indifferent answer. “Sss…leave me alone. I am the ravine’s guard, after all. No one makes it pass this place without me seeing them. Leave, Tezuka, if you know what’s good for you.”

“He is there” Tezuka said decidedly. “Well, tell him to come out. His companions have come a long way, seeking him.”

There was sound of something hitting stone, and a hand reached up and grabbed the edge of the earth. The person pulled himself up. A well-built youth with a green bandana looked back at them all with a rather ferocious stare. “Ssss…” He slouched as he walked over to Tezuka, barely glancing over at the group of people behind the bespectacled youth. “That them? Well, tell them they're not invited.”

“Oi!” Momo exclaimed, anger suddenly flaring to life. “Don’t talk as if we’re not here!”

“I talk however I like” the stranger called Kaido shot back, his voice full of venom. But Momo was angry too.

“Well, not around me, you don’t talk like that!” Momo snapped. “You can at least show some respect…viper!”

“Viper? Ssss…” Kaido hissed. “Don’t compare me to some snake!”

“So? You hiss like one and look like one!”

“How dare you! Sss…”

“Kaido” Tezuka snapped, and then turned his glare to Momo. “Stop arguing. You two are ridiculous.”

Both Momo and Kaido looked to the ground simultaneously, eliciting a snicker disguised as a snort from Ryoma. Fuji chuckled. “Well, I guess children will always be children” Fuji said with the ever-present smile upon his face. “But we should be getting to the point here. Please, Kaido, let us see Eiji.”

Kaido turned his piercing stare over to Fuji and looked him up and down, evaluating the human youth. With a small hiss, Kaido turned around, facing the deep crack in the earth where he had climbed out of. “Ssss…you may want to see him, but he doesn’t want to see you. I’ve been given orders not to let you pass. Even you, Tezuka” Kaido said, looking over his shoulder pointedly at Tezuka.

“Very well” Tezuka said, closing his eyes for a moment as if contemplating what is the next course of action. “We make camp here. He will come back out sooner or later. Kaido, bring up some timber and flint, if you’d please.”

~*~

Kaido climbed his way back down, to his dwelling, which resided inside the ravine. The entrance was a hollowed out cave on the side of the ravine’s walls. Not many were able to have easy access to it, since the stone walls were steep and high. If one made a mistake, they would fall below, into the darkness of the deep chasm.

Entering his home, which was lit with torches, Kaido nodded towards a red head that sat huddled over at the corner. “Ssss…it was them.”

Eiji nodded, not looking up at the ravine’s guard.

“Why do you not want to see them?” Kaido asked, taking a seat on the rug-covered ground. The rugs had belonged to Eiji’s family, and had been given to Kaido ever since they found out that he lived there, in the tiny hallowed out cave in the ravine. The rugs were soft and cushiony, and some were real fur rugs. “Ssss…they are eager to see you. You should at least face them. Ssss, now they’re camping out up there.”  

“They’re…what?”

“Camping up there.”

“Oh…darn” Eiji said lifelessly. “I guess…I can’t get out without them seeing me, nya.”

“Ssss. Just go greet them. What have you got to loose?” Kaido asked quietly as he reached over his shoulder to grab his coverlet. He wrapped the warm material around his lithe body. It was quite chilly there, in the cave. “Ssss…”

“I…Nya, I don’t want them to see me” was all Eiji said. Kaido looked over to his friend. The red head seemed really down. Kaido sighed. In some aspects, Eiji would probably never change or grow out of.

“Well…er, you know…you can always sneak out at night…” Kaido muttered, feeling rather awkward at telling a former royalty that. “Ssss, you’re good at sneaking around…”  

“Hm” Eiji agreed halfheartedly. “Nya…I’ll leave at night then. But before that…” Eiji turned to Kaido. “You got any food?”

~*~

Eventually, even the gray skies turned to a dark, dark navy color. A fire was started when Kaido brought up timber and flint. The youth had barely even spared them all a second glance before going back to his lair. It seemed that he had wanted nothing to do with them. When they questioned Tezuka about it, their bespectacled guide had answered; “He’s always been like that. He’s quite independent and difficult to get along with at first.” But beyond that, Tezuka would say nothing else.

They had taken out the last of their rations and finished it off. Tezuka had been the one to propose that and Momo seconded it. Whatever it was, Tezuka had obviously thought that it wasn’t necessary to have their rations anymore. It just made the others a bit more wary, while Momo just wanted to gorge himself upon the food. The ex-captain had a bottomless pit.

“Momo, if you eat too quickly, you’ll choke” Taka warned.  

“Let him choke” Ryoma commented as he chewed on his piece of dried meat slowly. He stood up and walked a bit away from the group, deciding to sit down at the edge of the ravine. He dangled his bare legs over the crack. Ryoma barely heard the indignant cry of Momo, his mind having decided to wander off. For some odd reason, there was a calm breeze flowing through the crevice. It drifted upwards, tickling Ryoma’s toes. His shoes and socks had been taken off to dry, since he and the others had been walking in water.

For some odd reason, Karupin wouldn’t go anywhere near the ravine, so he didn’t accompany Ryoma. Well, the place was completely dark too, except for the fire that they’d started. So this was a strange moment for him to be alone, but it was treasured moment. After all, traveling with such a large group, it was a wonder to be able to get some time to one’s self.  

With a small sigh, Ryoma let himself fall back, so he was lying down. His golden half-lidded eyes stared up into the dark heavens, not really thinking of anything. He just enjoyed the peaceful moment. Even if he was right next to a particularly loose cleft in the rocks.

“What are you thinking about?”

Ryoma didn’t even turn his head to know who it was. It was Fuji.

“…it’s quiet” Ryoma said finally. His limbs felt so…tired. They were almost unwilling to move. But Ryoma was content to just lie there for the time being.

“Ah. It is. But this is a desolate wasteland” Fuji said, doing the same thing as Ryoma, dangling his feet over the edge of the crevice and lying down. “Mm…this is quite calming.”

Ryoma didn’t answer. He closed his eyes, lethargic to the world. For some odd reason, this ‘desolate wasteland’ as Fuji has put it, was very, very calming.

“Ryoma?”

“…uh?”

“That night…that night at Dali Village, what did I do?”

“…nothing” Ryoma lied smoothly. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Please tell me, Ryoma. Those were my actions and I intend to find out” Fuji said, his voice full of determination. He would find out from Ryoma one way or another.

“Do you really want to know…?” Ryoma asked, opening his sleepy golden eyes.

“Yes.”

“…you kissed me” Ryoma said finally after a pause.

“I…I did?” came a shocked reply. “I…I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Oh well. It’s ok…” Ryoma said. “I don’t really mind, since you were drunk and all. You didn’t really mean it.”

“But…what if I did mean it?” Fuji asked suddenly. Ryoma looked sharply over to Fuji, who had sat up. “What if I really…really want to kiss you?” Fuji leaned over Ryoma, their noses almost touching.

“I…” Ryoma felt his eyes slip close as their lips touched. It was a sweet, yet brief kiss; completely unlike the other ones that Fuji had given him. “I guess that I wouldn’t really mind” Ryoma found himself whispering, with a silly smile upon his face.

Fuji chuckled softly as he closed the distance between the two of them again.

It was too dark for the others to see them anyway.

“Come, we should be heading back to the others. Or otherwise they’ll be getting worried” Fuji said, rising to his feet, though they were a bit unsteady. Ryoma nodded dumbly, letting himself be pulled to his feet. Stumbling a bit, the sleepy golden-eyed boy stood on his own and stepped forward, after Fuji who had started back to the brightly glowing fire that was off some distance. However, his foot came in contact with a loose cleft—the ground didn’t hold.

Fuji abruptly turned around, when he heard a sharp gasp from behind. He saw just in time that Ryoma fell.

“Ryoma!” Fuji called out, reaching for the boy. He didn’t make it in time and the blue-eyed youth only watched as Ryoma was engulfed by the darkness of the chasm below. “RYOMA!!!”

~*~

Kaido was abruptly awoken from his sleep as he heard something. Someone had just yelled really loudly. Glancing around the darkened cave, Kaido decided to get up. Eiji had left, probably not more than just an hour ago, from seeing how his cot was left. “Ssss…could have at least woken me up” Kaido muttered to himself. Scratching at his head that was without the bandana now, the snake-like youth stretched and prepared to leave his dwelling. God knows what those humans above him were up to.

Even though it was completely dark, Kaido knew his way around the particular ledges. After all, this was his home. He should know it like the back of his hand. “Ssss…” the youth hissed as he hoisted himself up onto the earth. There was no one around the fire. ‘How curious…’ he thought. However, a jumble of noises was coming from somewhere right of the campfire.

“Ssss! What’s the problem?” Kaido hissed.

“He fell!” was the frantic reply he got from a blue-eyed individual with dirty-blonde hair that was a close color to tan.

Kaido eyed the part where the earth seemed to have given away critically. Well…everyone always kept telling him that the ridge was extending everyday and that the earth from above would become unstable. “Ssss…that’s no surprise. It’s so low in visibility, it’s a wonder how you could see here” Kaido retorted.

“Do you not care?”

“So he fell, like countless others did. Ssss…what do you want me to do about it?” Kaido snapped. “You people know magic, right? Use it to save him.”

“How deep does this go?! Can our magic even reach him?!” Fuji snapped in return.

“Fuji, calm down” Inui said. “Think—Ryoma also knows magic. It is probable that he is safe. He has a good mind and will, he wouldn’t die this easily.”

Upon hearing these words, Fuji seemed to be calmed a bit. However, Oishi’s fears were not. “That may be very well and true, Inui, but what if he’s hurt? Or unconscious? He’ll need help! We’re just up here, arguing…We should be trying to get down to help him!”

“But how will you help him?” Momo asked. “We don’t even know how deep that thing is! It’d be like sacrificing two at one time if we climb! And the viper’s got a point—the visibility is very poor.”

“Do not call me a viper” Kaido hissed dangerously.

“You! You live here, don’t you? You must know a way down!” Oishi exclaimed.

“Ssss…Indeed, but the way down is at least two days climb. And it’s nearly impossible to get through with an invalid.”

“But it’s a way, right?” Taka asked. “Then, there will be a chance to do it. One would have to climb down, and wait till the injured is healed…”

“Move” came a cold voice. It was Tezuka. “Was this the spot he fell from?” he turned to Fuji. Fuji nodded, glaring slightly at Tezuka. Sighing tiredly, Tezuka raised his hand slowly, so it became parallel with his chest, his palm facing outward. “Ixion” he called out. Lightning started to flash and thunder started to boom overhead. From the skies, the same unicorn from the competition descended.

“That thing is still alive…?” Momo breathed, incredulous. “Unreal…”

The unicorn came forward, towering completely over them and Tezuka. “I am sorry for this” Tezuka whispered to the unicorn, patting it’s flank. He then got on top of it, urging it to go downwards, into the chasm at a gallop. The two disappeared from sight too soon for comfort.

“Sss…he’ll be back” Kaido said. “In the meanwhile, go wait by the fire.”

Between Kaido and Inui, the two who managed to retain their senses, had ushered the group back to wait before fire.

It wasn’t before long when they heard the sound of hooves against the earth. They looked up to see Tezuka and Ixion, back from their descent into the chasm. Tezuka’s dark cloak was taken off, and wrapped around a smaller bundle in his arms.

“He is hurt, but not dead” Tezuka said, getting off of Ixion gracefully. He set Ryoma to lie down near the fire. “He needs medical attention.”

“Unfortunately, I cannot do what is beyond my abilities” Inui said with a sigh. “I am not a doctor, but I will see what I can do for him.” The bespectacled youth grabbed his pack and pulled it over next to Ryoma, by the fire.

“Kaido, you will lead them to Haven” Tezuka said gruffly. Kaido paled.

“B-but…my post!” he protested. “And…Eiji. He doesn’t want to see them. Ssss…I tried to persuade him. I did” he said again, noticing the distrusting glance he was getting from Momo. “He only said…he didn’t want his companions to see him the way he was. He would be most displeased.”

“I will go ahead to inform him of your comings. Then, I will go and retrieve a substitute for you. By then, you should be at Haven” Tezuka said sternly. “Hurry.”

Kaido sighed. “Very well. Ssss…there’s no winning against you.”

Tezuka gave a nod of farewell and got onto Ixion again, then galloped away, flying over the large crack in the earth.

…To Be Continued