The Saviours

If I have missed out anyone, forgive me…T.T (I tried…)

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Part 4

6:00am, the next day. Yoshiki’s mansion.

Die got up, dressed himself impeccably in his old, but spotlessly clean kendo uniform. Taking his dear old shinai in his hand, he quietly stepped out to the garden, trying not to wake anybody up.

He absent-mindedly played with his shinai for a while.

It was a good, antique bamboo sword, but looked a bit too weathered and battered to be owned by this young, dynamic player.

Nevertheless Die was very fond of his shinai, of which he owned since he had first started kendo at the age of six.

Die closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and tried to concentrate.

He was nearly there when suddenly, and unexpectedly, an image of an extremely beautiful face sprang into his mind.

‘Shinya…’

He sighed.

It was such a weird feeling that the priest stirred in him. He had never experienced this… outburst of emotions before.

So hopeless and insane… yet he felt so happy and alive.

‘Christ, I’m behaving almost like that sheepish Kaoru around Totchi…’

Die shook his head with a very convincingly sheepish grin. (*>_<*)

With an immense effort, he was finally able to empty his mind; then he started to practise kendo with his usual intense concentration.

Kendo to him was like a second nature. He felt more comfortable when he was doing it than not.

Die effortlessly moved about, with his shinai flying and cutting through the air. He was under the cherry-blossom tree, and the pale pink petals danced around him. His movements were not only so graceful and splendid, but also powerful and swift.

This unlikely combination of a kendo player and sakura petals produced a strange, yet strikingly beautiful sight.

This awesome sight was being appreciated by one person, who had come out for some fresh air before his morning prayer.

Terachi Shinya stood there, admiring the strength and dignity of the red-haired kendo player’s movements.

He looked so different.

Yesterday’s Die was gentle, funny, and even cutely clumsy from time to time. When their eyes met, Die would quickly look away.

Once, when Shinya’s hand accidentally touched his, Die’s whole body jerked up and stiffened, making everyone laugh.

Shinya didn’t know why he was acting like that ("How could you not know? It’s so obvious!" *Sarah cries*) but he could feel that it wasn’t out of hostility.

Die seemed quite happy to have him around, and Shinya liked him. Die made him laugh. He seemed to be a good person and… well, that must be the only reason. There can’t possibly be anything else.

Shinya put his confused thoughts aside and kept on watching Die.

As much as he liked the cheerful, loud and easygoing Die, this completely different side of Die – serene, deep and powerful - also fascinated him.

He was so… strong.

After quite a while, Die finished his practice and Shinya was still standing there, his mind having drifted off somewhere else.

Die was first to recognise Shinya.

"Ohayo, Shinya."

Die said with a smile, slightly blushing.

"Ohayo…"

Shinya replied, surprised that Die found him first. His face also turned red.

"How long have you been here?"

Die asked, trying to act like a man, not like Kaoru. ("Hey, what’s wrong with Kaoru?!" *Sarah protests in spite of herself*)

"Not long… I was just about to start my prayer and then I saw you, and oh… Die-kun, you are just so amazing!"

Shinya shouted with enthusiasm, forgetting his shyness for a while. Die couldn’t help smiling from ear to ear.

"Oh, it’s nothing, really…"

Die put on his macho front, swinging his shinai a few times just to show off.

Shinya couldn’t but notice the taller man’s well-developed muscles; he blushed again.

He didn’t know what exactly was the matter, but Die evoked something in him that was so unfamiliar and… forbidden.

This was wrong. He should not be feeling like this.

Shinya felt somewhat guilty.

"I think I’d better go. See you around."

He spoke calmly, trying not to betray his emotions.

Then he left Die quickly, avoiding eye contact and not even giving him a chance to respond.

Die was puzzled. He felt so close to this bishonen just a moment ago, but now they were distant as ever.

Why did Shinya suddenly turn cold?

"Damn!"

Die kicked the poor innocent cherry-blossom tree, which shook under the sheer power.

Shinya had an extra long prayer session that morning.

*******

3 days later. 5:00pm, May 22. Yoshiki’s oh-so-luxurious room.

"Today I want to give each of you a special device that will empower your magical abilities and protect you from danger… Yes, Kaoru-kun?"

Yoshiki pointed at Kaoru, who had raised his hand like a bright, good student.

"But Yoshiki-san, didn’t you say that we were expecting another member?"

"Um-hmm."

"Then wouldn’t it be rather unfair to him if we all got special weapons and he didn’t?"

"Oh Kaoru-san, how fair and righteous you are!"

Die exclaimed with an impression of fake respect.

Kaoru scowled at the redhead.

The redhead smirked.

These two were wrong from the beginning. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please refer to part 2… Sarah)

They always argued and fought with each other, although there were no real hard feelings. (Just like elementary kids, you know…^^;)

"Hey, leave Kaoru alone!"

Toshiya pushed Die jokingly, but it happened to be nonetheless powerful.

Die fell onto Shinya’s lap.

Both blushed and Die quickly moved apart.

Yoshiki smiled at Kaoru.

"It’s nice to know that you care about the new member, Kaoru-kun. But you shouldn’t worry because he wouldn’t really need upgrading his power at all. His power is already awakened, and he’s stronger than any of you at this present moment."

Die made some grumbling noise.

His ego was hurt.

How can he be not the strongest? He’s the warrior for god’s sake!

Yoshiki ignored this and continued to explain.

"And another thing is that he will join you later, which means that you’ll have to fight the first battle without him. So I thought maybe you should get used to your own devices and ready for the battle, which will come pretty soon."

The members exchanged looks of apprehension and excitement.

Toshiya and Kaoru were whispered to each other.

Die and Shinya were discussing it rather seriously.

Yoshiki smiled.

"Okay, are we ready?"

He then pulled a huge iron box from the cupboard and unlocked it.

"First of all, Shinya-kun. This is for you."

He pulled out an antique cross-shaped pendant.

"This is beautiful…" gasped Shinya, gently caressing it.

The cross was made of platinum; in the middle was a red, transparent crystal which gave out an eerie sort of aurora.

"Put it on."

Yoshiki instructed. Shinya nodded and tried to put on the pendant, but couldn’t, so he asked Die who was sitting next to him.

"Can you help?"

"Sure."

Shinya swept his flowing hair to the front, exposing his lean, delicate neck.

A very red-faced Die put the pendant on him.

As soon as it was on Shinya, the red crystal suddenly started to sparkle and gave out colourful beams.

Yoshiki explained.

"The pendant will provide a protection for you. It’ll make the evil powers weaker and also give signals when dangers are ahead. Keep it on all the time."

Shinya nodded.

"It really suits you. Very… beautiful."

Die managed to say.

"Thank you."

Shinya gave him a heart-melting smile.

"Next, Die-kun! You’ll like this one…"

Yoshiki winked at Die, and produced a magnificent golden sword.

"Wow…"

Everyone gasped, except Die, who was totally speechless.

"Now you’ll use it instead of your shinai. This is a magical sword, which can attack both humans and spirits. It is said that this sword used to belong to the greatest warrior in history, and that it’s still possessed by his spirit to this day."

Die carefully stroked it, and the sword produced a faint, longing sound.

"Now Kaoru-kun. You’ve been reading all the books on spells and potions I gave to you. I told you not to attempt them yet, but surely you have tried to test some of them?"

Kaoru blushed and nodded guiltily.

"Don’t worry, I’m not angry with you. Curiosity can be perfectly healthy, even though too much can also kill."

Kaoru flinched, and Yoshiki smiled.

"Have you ever wondered why it didn’t work, though?"

"Er… I thought maybe I wasn’t experienced enough." answered Kaoru.

"No. You’re one extremely talented magician, Kaoru-kun. Your magic couldn’t work because you didn’t have your wand!"

With this statement, Yoshiki picked up a 12-inch-long stick from the iron box and handed it to Kaoru.

The wand was made of beautiful mahogany and embellished with small, but nevertheless incredibly valuable jewels.

"You can try it."

Yoshiki whispered, smiling at the amateur magician.

Kaoru became thoughtful for a moment. With a faint smile, he suddenly turned to Die, and mumbling some words, pointed the wand at him.

"What the hell-"

Die couldn’t finish the sentence as he was suddenly transformed into a cat.

The fur was red.

"So it works!"

Toshiya burst out laughing.

"This isn’t funny!"

Shinya shouted angrily, taking the red-furred cat, Die, in his arms.

Nobody has seen him angry like this before. Shinya was always calm.

"Okay, Kaoru-kun. You can now transform him back."

Yoshiki said, trying hard to keep a straight face.

However, Kaoru looked rather baffled.

"Er… I can’t reverse the spells, yet."

"What?!" cried Shinya, apparently panicking.

He gently stroked the red cat, and it seemed for a moment as though Die was quite happy to be a cat. He purred. (*Sarah, hentai laughter*)

Yoshiki shook his head, and borrowing Kaoru’s wand, brought Die back to human.

Die was sitting on Shinya’s lap.

"Um… we seem to be in this position quite often recently… I’m so sorry."

Die stammered, but Shinya didn’t seem to mind.

In fact, he was so concerned about the red-furred -oops, I mean- red-haired man. (*Sarah, evil grin*)

"Are you okay?"

Shinya looked as if he was going to cry in any moment.

"Sure, I’m fine…"

Die said as if mesmerised, glad that Shinya cared.

Kaoru was relieved that Die wasn’t angry with him as he had expected.

Toshiya looked at Die and Shinya rather wearily.

"And lastly, Toshiya. You have two things."

Yoshiki announced.

"What are they?"

Toshiya soon returned to his usual happy-go-lucky self, and looked at Yoshiki with his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"A whole new box of make-up kits." jeered Die and Toshiya punched him lightly on the stomach.

"Firstly, this is a crystal ball through which you can see all the events happening around the world without actually being there. This will be useful for all of us, but only you’ll be able to use it. Just concentrate on the ones you want to see and you’ll see them wherever they are."

The crystal ball was half-transparent and some mysterious mists seemed to fill it inside.

"Oh, I can see my parents in the living room. They don’t look… very happy."

Toshiya’s voice cracked, and a big tear rolled down on his cheek.

Everyone panicked.

Kaoru touched Toshiya’s shoulder gently.

Toshiya managed a weak smile.

"So, what’s the other one?"

Toshiya asked Yoshiki, trying to sound cheerful.

Yoshiki pulled out a small glass bottle, which seemed to carry a dark, dangerous secret.

"This bottle will be needed for later use, Toshiya. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but you’ll use it only once to capture a very difficult, wandering soul in this bottle. I can’t tell you more, because I also have no idea why you need it. But you just open the cork, and concentrate on the soul you’re aiming at. Once you seal it, the soul will be captured forever. This is very powerful, so be careful when you use it."

Toshiya shook a little and stared at the bottle, almost scared. He didn’t know why he was feeling like this.

Toshiya then took the bottle from Yoshiki and quickly put it in his pocket.

"Now everyone’s got their devices. Get to know them, and practise using them until they become part of you.

You’ll altogether fight seven battles, which will test your courage and even your lives. I was once in it. Like you.

I survived. Two members were severely injured, one lost his mind and… one died……"

Yoshiki paused.

There was a heavy silence.

It was hard to tell what he was thinking, but Toshiya knew that Yoshiki’s eyes behind the black, opaque sunglasses would be wet.

Yoshiki soon cleared his throat and continued.

"Hard and dangerous it might be, it’ll also be a very rewarding and invaluable experience for all of you. As I told you before, you will fight the first battle without the last member. I am not allowed to fight although I can help you through my advice. It won’t be an easy task, but I believe you can do it.

As you know, I don’t like admitting my mistakes. So gentlemen, prove me right…"

Yoshiki said with a faint smile.

"Of course we will!"

Die exclaimed loudly, uncomfortable to see his hero looking so downcast.

"You’ll be proud of us." said Kaoru confidently.

"We will do our very best." added Shinya.

"You just wait and see!" finished Toshiya with a wink.

Yoshiki smiled more broadly, making Toshiya’s and even Shinya’s hearts throb.

"Okay, guys… now go and practise. Dismissed!"

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Now, let’s go and meet our Kyo-kun in the next part!