"No, my name is Suzume. I am... I guess I'm Kazue's reincarnation." She shrugged. This has taken a strange turn. A few seconds ago he was ready to kill us all, now he's bowing?
The guardian looked up at Suzume and his expression shifted. Gone was the blank stare of a mindless puppet, and the expression that replaced it was one of unadulterated fury. Something had snapped inside of him, it seemed. He yanked his sword from the ground and swung it at her.
Kaito grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back in time to save her from being sliced in half.
"What was that for?" Suzume shouted at him. "I thought we were calling a truce?"
"I have been chained to this desolate place for nearly five hundred years! What do you have to say for yourself, Kazue?" He did not seem to hear Suzume; he was blinded by his anger.
Suzume took a step back, her hands up. "Hey, I'm not here to fight you. Just show me to Kazue's remains and I'll be on my way."
The guardian pointed the blade at Suzume. "You will not be going anywhere until you prove you are worthy of the prize."
Suzume swallowed past a lump in her throat. If Kaito couldn't beat him, how could she expect to?
"You see, I'm more of a pacifist, really." She took a few more small steps backwards, Kaito at her side, but he did not transform and his sword lay at the feet of the guardian.
She tried to catch his eye to silently signal him to defend her, but he was staring at the guardian with a fixed expression. She looked to Rin and Tsuki.
Tsuki clutched at the wound on his shoulder. He did not move either. Rin's hand was frozen in midair as if she was going to yell out. He froze them somehow. I guess I am on my own. Just the prospect sent nervous tingles racing up and down her spine. Her power coalesced around her in a maelstrom of fire. It was not the same inferno as back in the forest, more like a controlled blaze.
Suzume drew the staff and for once it came out smoothly and flawlessly. For a half second, she felt powerful. The energy coursed through her veins. But the moment was short lived as the guardian swung at her. She shrieked and threw up the staff on impulse to block his attack. His blade sliced through the flames and, unlike when Akira tried to touch her, the flames did not try to burn him.
"Did you think the holy fire would harm me? You are mistaken, I was formed by holy fire. You cannot harm me with it," he said, then swung at Suzume.
She held up the staff to take his blows. The force of it rattled her arms down to the sockets and her footing slipped. He hit her again and again. The guardian came at her, his expression grim as he pushed her backwards, closer and closer to the edge of the courtyard, towards the archways that opened up onto the sky. It took all the minimal skill she had just to block his attacks and even that seemed like an impossible feat. She tried to stay away from the edge, but he kept pushing her back. Her arms trembled from the effort of keeping the staff in front of her and the force of the guardian's blows.
"If any of you want to step in and help at any time, that would be great," Suzume said, knowing full well the others could do nothing to help her. It helped her feel less alone to talk to them. I think this is it, this is how I am going to die. I was so close to going back, it's not fair.
"They cannot help you now, Kazue. They will only awaken when one of our blood is spilled, and I intend for it to be yours."
"Yeah, here's the thing. I share a soul with Kazue, but I do not really have the same goals as her," Suzume said to the guardian between strikes of his sword.
He did not respond to her but kept hacking at her with his blade. If she had a moment to concentrate, she might be able to erect a barrier, but it was taking all her concentration to not lose her head, literally.
The edge was getting ever closer and Suzume's body could only take so much of a beating. When she had a brilliant plan.
"I can understand why you would hate Kazue. Believe me, I have a few bones to pick with her myself, but maybe we can come to some sort of agreement."
The guardian had his blade held up, but he lowered it half an inch now. "What sort of agreement."
"I can tell just being near me has brought you out of whatever zombie trance you were in."
He nodded his head and his brow was furrowed. "Yes, when I saw you, it was like waking from a very long sleep, one full of nightmares."
His tone was haunted and Suzume wondered how many people had tried and failed to retrieve Kazue's remains. "Well, that guy over there is your son, and he is trapped in the same body as your daughter."
The guardian turned his head to look at Tsuki, who stood frozen in place, clutching the injury his father had given him.
"That cannot be possible... I sired no children."
"If you don't believe me, release your spell and ask him yourself," Suzume said.
The guardian glowered at her. "How do I know this is not a trick?"
"You don't. But I know you're curious; just release him and ask. I promise I won't attack."
The guardian looked over to his son, his expression full of longing. He debated silently for a moment before he drew his blade and slashed it against his palm. Blood welled there and he strode over to Tsuki and dropped a few droplets at Tsuki's feet.
Tsuki lowered his arm from his wound, looking from his father to Suzume. "What happened? The last thing I remember you were about to cut into Suzume."
"He sealed you and the others to stop you from helping me," Suzume said. She waved her arm, which was still flickering with flame.
Tsuki nodded. "Ah."
While Tsuki and Suzume bantered, the guardian studied Tsuki. He tilted his head from one side to the other as if he were taking in a painting.
"I can see it now, you are my son."
If Suzume had been hoping for a heartfelt reunion, she was not going to get it. The guardian still held his weapon at his side as he regarded his son.
Tsuki smiled. "I am. We have been looking for you for a long time, Father."
"We?" the guardian asked.
"My sister and I, we share this body."
The guardian was not fazed, he only stared at his son a moment longer without speaking. "How did this happen?" he said at last.
Uh-oh, this talking thing might not have been my best idea.
"It was Kazue," Tsuki said in a matter-of-fact tone.
The guardian turned back to Suzume. "What game are you playing at? Are you trying to enrage me, Kazue?"
"Stop calling me that, I'm Suzume," she corrected with a huff.
The guardian gripped his sword tighter and Suzume amended her statement. "We are seeking Kazue's remains to save your children from their curse and you as well," Suzume lied.
Tsuki did not move to correct her. None of them knew about her real motives. She felt filthy lying in front of them. When before she would have done anything to get her way, now she felt guilty for tricking them.
The guardian lowered his head and contemplated her words. He never took his eyes off her. From the corner of her eye, Suzume spotted Kaito creeping closer. While she had been fighting the guardian, he had been making tiny steps towards the sword on the ground. He knelt down behind the guardian and picked it up.
"Do not move, or I will kill Kazue." The guardian pulled a dagger out and had it trained to throw at Suzume.
Kaito growled in his throat and Suzume was not sure if she should be scared or flattered that Kaito was trying to protect her. Why didn't he move to protect me sooner?
She glanced over at Kaito and the expression she caught made her stomach twist in knots. There was real concern on his face. He's getting sentimental because the guardian keeps calling me Kazue. He's not really seeing me.
She turned back to the guardian. "Show me to Kazue's remains and I will use the power to save you all."
The guardian lowered the dagger. She felt a wave of relief until he said, "I'll let you pass if you tell me what happened to Satsuki. Where is she? If you have my children, then you must have her as well."
Suzume's eyes grew large.
She had no idea what Kazue had done with his wife, if she had done anything at all. She could be dead for all she knew. How could she? Everything she knew came from what the others told her. She looked to Kaito; he shrugged. He knew less than her, having been sealed for so long. She looked to Tsuki, who only shook his head. It was Rin who stepped up. When the guardian spilled his blood, it had broken the spell on all of them.
"She was sealed away," Rin said, addressing the guardian.
"Why?" the guardian asked Suzume. She had no idea how to answer, so she made something up.
"Kazue was trying to save her. There's a dark power that is gathering and she wanted to save them. She knew that she wouldn't be able to save everyone in her lifetime, so she sealed you, your children and your wife to prepare for my arrival. I am the hope for the future, but only if you can get me to Kazue's remains."
No one spoke against her, they were all set on getting to Kazue's remains. They were willing to go along with her ruse.
"Is this true?" The guardian looked to his son.
Tsuki met Suzume's gaze. She nodded her head infinitesimally. "It's true, Father. Will you help us?"
The guardian sighed before sheathing his sword. "I will show you, but only Kazue may enter the holy shrine."
Kaito looked prepared to argue, but Suzume spoke before he could. "Good, it would not be proper for anyone else to go." I am so close to freedom, I can taste it. The others will scramble to explain to the guardian once I am gone, but I am sure he'll forgive Tsuki and Akira.
He turned on his heel and walked towards the clouds that covered the other half of the courtyard. Now that the threat of a fight was over, the fire died and she was back to normal. Despite what the guardian had said, Kaito joined her. He walked beside her, not touching but close enough to do so. The guardian walked ahead of them, his arms swinging. Kaito leaned into Suzume and whispered, "Nice cover back there."
His breath was warm against her neck, and though she wanted to push him away, she couldn't help but enjoy the feel of his walking next to her. When it was just the two of them, it felt normal and natural to walk together and even his compliments felt genuine. But it's all an illusion. He is just reliving his life with Kazue through me, but I'm not her, not really.
The clouds were so thick she could barely see the guardian but for the impression of his body moving through the clouds. She did not realize it at first, but there was a maze of arches and pathways hidden behind the cloud cover.
"Stay close, one wrong step could be your last. This area is heavily warded," the guardian said from a few feet away.
Suzume skirted around a hole that fizzled and sparked when she got too close. Kaito grabbed her hand and pulled her close to him. She thought about protesting, but for once her body did not light up at his touch. Instead his hand felt warm against hers, large and enveloping. She was glad she could not see his face or she might have had second thoughts about what she planned to do. This was just an indulgence, a short trip into a land of fantasy where Kaito was a normal decent man, the type a princess could marry, not a maniac dragon who would most likely get her killed. After this she would never see him again. She was surprised by how sad that thought made her.
They wandered down the twisting pathway, following after the guardian. Eventually they came to a halt. A red arch loomed in the mist and Suzume let go of Kaito's hand. It felt cold when he stepped away from her and crossed his arms over his chest.
"This is as far as I can take you; from here, you journey alone."
Suzume looked past the arch into a cave that was dark and bottomless. She was tempted to turn back around. But she had come this far, what was one more step? She went through the archway. There were no explosions or dangers lurking within. The tunnel was dark at first, but her eyes adjusted enough that she could navigate through it. It seemed to go on forever, dipping down, twisting and turning. Eventually it emptied out into a large chamber. Her footsteps echoed as she entered.
Light came from a hole in the ceiling and in the center of the room sat a pedestal wrapped in charms. Suzume took a step towards it and then waited. Part of her thought her impure intentions would set off some magical defense or that the actual artifact would be warded so no one could touch it. When nothing happened, she took a few more steps.
The pedestal held a single object, a ruby stone that glimmered in the single shaft of light. She hovered over it, staring down at the blood-red stone. It was nothing special, really. It was even hard to believe this had once been a human heart. It looked an ordinary stone.
Suzume's hand trembled as she reached out and closed her fingers around it, and then a bright light erupted from between her fingers. Suzume used her free hand to shield her eyes. She closed her eyes against the rush of air and light that was pelting her. When she opened them, she was no longer in the dark chamber but in a field of wildflowers. A woman stood nearby looking out across the mountain scape. She had ebony hair that fell to her waist.
She turned to look at Suzume. It was Kazue.
Chapter Forty-seven
Suzume stood in mute shock. Kazue turned, but she did not seem to see Suzume. Kazue walked down the hill and past Suzume before Suzume realized what she was seeing was not the living Kazue but a vision of the past.
The field they stood in was strewn with crimson flowers, which swayed in the breeze on long leafless stalks. The bright petals curled inward and were surrounded by thin tendrils, which flickered like flames as Kazue swept through them. Pollen clung to Kazue's red pants and sprinkled them with golden dust. Kazue, attired as a priestess with her white tunic top and red pants, stopped to pick a flower and rolled the long stem between her fingers. She looked up at the sky, as if waiting for something.
Then Suzume heard a rumble like the crash of thunder. Kazue smiled at the sky and Suzume followed her gaze. Kaito, in his dragon form, weaved through the clouds, his serpentine body disappearing behind clouds and reappearing moments later. He twisted through the sky before tilting down towards the ground at an incredible speed. Kazue laughed.
"Enough drama, come down here. I have something exciting to tell you!" Kazue rested her hand against the flat of her stomach.
Kaito came down at a sharp angle towards Kazue. Had it been Suzume, she would have turned the other way and ran. Before he could collide with Kazue, though, he transformed in midair and hit the ground. He rolled head over heels then popped up in front of Kazue. He threw his hands up in the air with a flourish.
Kazue clapped. "Very nice," she said with a roll of her eyes, but she was smiling all the while.
"I will not stand you rolling your eyes at me, Priestess."
She shrieked in reply and ran away from him. He ran after her and caught her easily enough. He gathered Kazue up in his arms by her waist. He swung her around as she giggled. Just seeing them together made Suzume's stomach twist with jealousy. She knew it was the past, but it might as well have been the Kaito she knew flaunting his love for Suzume's past life in front of her. Is Kazue trying to torture me? Why do I have to watch this sappy scene? When they were done kissing, Kaito set Kazue down on her feet.
"Now will you let me tell you my news?" Kazue said, eyes dancing. Her hair was a tangled halo around her head and a few crushed red petals clung to the strands.
"In a moment," Kaito said as he plucked a petal from her hair. "I want to drink in your body a bit longer." He nuzzled her neck and kissed it. Suzume had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. How much longer is this going to go on?
Kazue pushed him away gently. "First let me tell you what I was going to say."
Kaito nodded, but there was a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Suzume knew that look, he was going to try something any moment. Kazue continued onward, ignoring Kaito's mischievous smirk. "You know we've been talking about the future--what we will do once I die..."
Kaito's smile faded and he frowned instead. "Kazue, we've talked about this a hundred times. I cannot make you immortal." He took a step away from Kazue
. His shoulders were tense and Kazue's posture changed, she was tight and alert. I get the feeling this is an old argument--they're both ready to fight.
Kazue crossed her arms over her chest. For Suzume, it was like looking in the mirror. She herself had done that same thing hundreds of times, seeing Kazue do it was familiar, like déjà vu or a half-remembered song where the lyrics were lost but you still had the impression of the melody. Maybe we are more alike than I thought. Suzume took a moment to study Kazue. They did not look alike. Kazue's face was more round, with a bow-shaped mouth and petite nose. Her eyes were larger than Suzume's as well. We don't look much alike. At least I am prettier, Suzume thought with mild satisfaction.
"How can you stand to watch me wither away and die while you stay the same? Today I am young and beautiful, but what about ten years, twenty and thirty years from now? I will change and you will stay forever the same, unchanging... What then, will you love me when I am old and ugly?"
Kaito reached out to brush his hand against her cheek, but Kazue slapped his hand away and scowled at him.
Kaito was visibly angered. His brow creased and his mouth had white lines surrounding it. "Kazue, I love you, and I still will when you look like a pickled plum." He attempted a smile to coax her out of her sullen mood.
Kazue lowered her lashes. Her hand hovered over her stomach, but she did not rest it there. Instead she let her hands fall to her sides. "What about children? I always dreamed of becoming a mother."
He sighed. "It is forbidden, such a child could never live."
Tears gathered along Kazue's lashes. "Is that why you forced me to become a priestess? So you could have your way with me and never fear siring a child? I was married. I had a life prepared for me that I gave up for you, Kaito!"
He threw his hands up and Suzume involuntarily flinched, even though his anger was not directed at her. Kazue, however, held her ground. She looked at Kaito with a defiant lift of her chin. Once more echoing Suzume's own mannerisms.
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