Drive Yourself Insane Tonight - Chapter Two | Part One| I Bring To You This Sacrificial l Offering
THIS IS IN RED! IT MUST BE IMPORTANT!! ---- Please note that this story is a companion piece--SORT OF--with our 'trilogy' stories. What are those? Well they are titled God Bless Catastrophe, Mercy Me, and It's Not That Far Away. Do you have to read those to understand this? NO! Not at all. But story lines and character information in those stories (which are one cohesive storyline) will be part of this story. That is to say the fantasy world in those stories is the same (more in depth though) in this one. We will try to fill in all the holes we can and, at the same time, keep from repeating ourselves. Don't be afraid to read this if you haven't read those three stories--we promise its still good. :D We hope. :D
And if you are new, we are not afraid to show you OCs. Be warned--this isn't just Alice Nine, its Alice Nine and OCs too. If you've read those other three stories, get ready for some familiar faces. ^_^ And some new.
Pairings (IN THIS CHAPTER): Tora/Saga
Pairings (IN WHOLE STORY): Nao/OFC, Tora/Saga, Shou/OFC, OMC/OMC, maybe others (who knows?)
Rating: R (solid)
Genre: Fantasy, mystery, action, romance, suspense, chaptered fic
Summary: What if your reality became your dreams? What if time moved as fast as a day but only a minute had actually passed? What if you were plunged in the middle of a war and you couldn't get out? The power of a man--both mortal and magical--comes not from the strength designated to them, but the way they wield it. Anyone can perform magic--only the strong can save the world with it.
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Saga was shaking.
His hands were filthy and his heart was hammering against his ribcage with force strong enough to smash through his sternum so that it would land with a thud on the floor in front of him. He could feel his soul atrophying and his spirit hemorrhaging to near death as he tried to pull himself together. It proved to be an impossible feat, however, as he only managed in making his body tremble and his heart pound faster with each passing second. He couldn’t hear over the pounding blood in his ears and the sheer amount of panic that filled him, torturing his body.
“Saga.” Someone knelt before Saga; the bassists eyes were situated in the ground as he took in the naked feet that had moved lightly and gracefully across the tatami floor. He knew they belonged to Kisho before he’d heard the man’s voice. Kisho was a dark haired man who seemed only to own a linen vest and pants to match while his feet were without shoes no matter the weather. Beyond that, Saga knew he had power and access to the very magical world that he and his friends long ago found themselves involved in. Kisho Yamada was part of the magical world hidden underneath the mortal one, wielding a pouch of crushed roots and plants that served as one of the channels available for his magical powers.
Saga felt a hand lightly fall on his shoulder, softly squeezing it in an effort to comfort the shaking man. Saga’s eyes flickered upwards momentarily, but when his eyes met the dark, inky pools set in Kisho’s face, he diverted his eyes to the ground once more. “Tell me what happened.” Kisho urged the bassist in a soft, calm voice that was representative of the naturally mellow man.
Saga was silent, just as he’d been since he arrived - alone. Words alluded him mostly out of panic than out of actual loss at how to answer. He could feel bits of blood clinging to the fabric of his clothes and in his hair, but he was oblivious to how disturbing it could be under different -- and perhaps thes -- circumstances. He could see one of the longer spears of his bangs trembling before his eyes, indication of how much he was truly shaking. He hated the helpless feeling that overwhelmed him right then; it overtook his entire body, forcing him to be at its mercy rather than taking control of his emotional distress. His breaths exited his mouth in little frightened puffs and he had the frantic urge to throw something to alleviate some of the stress.
He didn’t want to feel as hollow and scared, like a child, as he did right then. It was that feeling that had the words finally tumble from his lips before he could stop them. “Teach me.” His eyes cut back to Kisho and the dark haired man, though still obviously stoic in expression, drew his head back and lingered in silence at Saga‘s seemingly misplaced words. “I’m not joking nor am I saying it fleetingly. I mean it. Teach me, Kisho-san. Teach me something to protect myself and my friends. Teach me the things you and your kind do.” He felt a strangled sob work its way up against his throat and his eyes welled up with tears. “So this doesn’t happen again…or anymore. If it means I’m submerged entirely in your world, then so be it. But…please…”
Kisho’s hand fell away and he rose slowly, gracefully, and turned away from the emotionally wrecked man. His head tipped forward and his hands slipped behind his back as his fingers laced together. “I can’t.” He said softly. “Magic - Saga-san, is not something that you can simply be taught. It’s something that you’re born with or you're not. I can only help you learn to wield it if you already have it flowing through your veins. I can not grant it to you.” He tipped his head to the side to glance over at Saga whose eyes were glued to the magical man.
Saga sputtered for a moment and his cheeks filled with heat as he stared at Kisho. “But who says I don’t - I wasn’t…how do you know I don’t have it!? Who decides which of us can defend ourselves and which have to sit and watch? Who throws people into this world that can’t protect themselves? This…is not fair…TEACH ME!” Saga lashed out before he could stop himself; his blood boiled over the surface and he was on his feet, with a surge of adrenaline, in an instant. Rage filled him in the same level his panic had, only this time it was translated into sheer aggression, something Saga rarely found himself with. There were details, however, involved now that were out of his control and certainly pushed him to such unprecedented lengths. “Prove to me that I can’t learn it. Show me I’m incapable. Show me. Otherwise, teach it to me so that I can…get Tora back.”
Kisho was still silent. He let Saga rage at him. The barefooted man’s face remained placid and he didn’t budge from his spot. Instead, he still stood strong and tall, his hands clasped together behind his back until Saga stopped shouting.
A sob finally broke through Saga‘s anger. Snot slipped from his nose and tears welled in his eyes; Saga didn’t hesitate to wipe it away as he tried to find some semblance of control over his wild emotions. It was very unlike Saga to lash out like that as he was so typically reserved and flighty. Now, however, he had no concept of what came over him, but Saga was not ashamed - yet at least - that he’d verbally assaulted Kisho. Kisho, the man who was standing quiet in his place, still calm and lacking in danger.
“It’s not fair that you…live like this.” Saga gestured around the extravagant palace they were inside. It had been about a year and a half since he and his friends had been there. It was just as pristine and elegant as it was then. “And we’re always the ones in danger.” Saga was speaking with passion, but not with true honesty. It was his helplessness that made him speak unfairly at Kisho and a life Saga actually knew little of.
“Do not speak of things you do not know, Saga-san.” Kisho said calmly. “You assume too much. Nothing about my life is…as it seems to you now. I have had my fair share of danger. War in fact -- one you and your friends were oblivious to. Had you known, the world would be very different than it is now.” He commented quietly before he drew his open chest vest back to reveal a large scar on his bare side. It looked as it if had healed considerably since Kisho had earned it, but it was shockingly large on Kisho‘s torso. “You misjudge. I have many wounds from my defense of this life I lead and have faced death dozens of time - but never have I blamed others for what the world has handed me. Now stand up and listen to me.”
Saga’s head had already dropped in shame in response to Kisho‘s words Yet he could still feel turmoil beneath his breast and anger continued to well in the back of his mind. His shame, in his unjustified attack, merely held his feelings at bay. Saga, however, made no attempt to apologize for what he’d said--he felt shame only for his ignorance regarding Kisho, not his demand for the mage’s help.
“I will teach you as much as I can” Kisho’s songish voice filled Saga up with hope in the mage’s offer. “But only if you bear the gift of magic. You must tell me, however, what has transpired to bring you to the palace in the first place. In order to do that, we will test this theory of magic. You will show me.”
“Show you?” Saga echoed, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion.
Kisho nodded and waved Saga forward. “Come here.” He took Saga’s hand and held it palm up; Kisho then took silvery dust from the pouch on his hip and poured it into Saga’s open palm. “Do not move. Not yet.” He said looking down at the magical powder. “Clear your thoughts and then focus on what brought you here. Close your eyes. When you’ve latched onto it, blow this from your palm. If you have magic - this will do the rest.” He told Saga who was trying to focus on the words. A nervous pang shot through the bassist as he understood what Kisho was telling him. Saga wanted nothing more than for this to work; if there was a way he could learn to help his friends and himself, to help keep them all safe from the perils of the magical world, he would do anything to do it. Learning magic itself was included.
“But Saga…if you do this, you must accept that part of you will be forever changed. You will have to embrace it and not simply live with it; but live in it. You cannot simply turn away from magic once it is a part of you. Think about that before you ask me again to educate you more than you already have been. This is a dangerous path, perhaps more than the one you already stand on.”
Saga’s eyes opened and he looked at Kisho in shock. He, of all of them, embraced magic the most. He wanted to learn from Shiki, a man of natural magic, before he felt betrayed by him. He had been more open to the idea of visiugo, magical beasts who were one with nature as they took the forms of animals as well as their human bodies, and changelings, creatures spawned from creativity and imagination. And certainly mages too, those that channeled magic. He didn’t endorse the existence of vampires, creatures of malicious intent, but it never distracted from his deep seated interest in the beauty of magic.
Standing now on the precipice change, of diving into the pool of the unknown, Saga shuddered. Tora, however, flashed before his eyes; his beloved Tora that had only earned more and more of Saga’s affections over the past year. He recalled the pain of what had been done to Tora before, when they were at the mercy of vindictive and ruthless vampires. Similarly, the memory of Nao quitting the band because he was too numb to care anymore was still fresh in his head, even though it happened so long ago. Joey’s limp body from the doll she’d touched was enough to remind him that they were still not out of danger, no matter how many years separated them and their last encounter with magic.
He gave didn’t hesitate any longer, the memories of what once was and what would be encouraged Saga to push past his nervousness. He drew his palm up, focusing on the memory as he was instructed to, and gave the pile of shimmering dust a blow. It showered the room around them like a shining rain storm. The second it hit the air, however, it absorbed quickly and disappeared in the vast room around them.
Saga’s heart seemed to stop entirely as he waited, awed by the glittering and its subsequent disappearance. He was hopeful for the help he could offer his friends. However, he felt all of it sink when nothing seemed to happen; panic flooded him at the idea that he wouldn‘t be able to learn what Kisho could teach.
“I don’t remember it being this far last time.”
Saga spun in his spot and Kisho looked over his shoulder at the translucent recreation of Nao that seemed to be trudging up a hill. See-through trees and the familiar path that led to Shiki and Daichi’s home appeared suddenly around them. “What’s happening?” Saga’s breath caught in his throat as he recalled, mere hours before, when Nao had said those very words, moving just as he did right then.
“Shhh.” Kisho stepped forward and pressed his fingers against Saga’s lips. “Don’t distract yourself from the magic or the memory will be lost.” Kisho glanced at the nearly invisible form of Nao. He looked tired as he climbed through the foliage. In Nao’s hands was the doll that looked uncannily like Shou; he clutched tightly to it, with both of his hands, as if that would ensure the doll’s safety in the drummer’s hands. Saga remembered, before they left, that Nao had insisted on taking it and caring for it in order to distract himself from his beloved Joey’s unconscious form.
Hiroto followed behind him, only a few steps behind Nao as he commented back in a ribbing snide manner, “You weren’t with us last time, how could you possibly remember?”
Tora’s voice answered with a gruff chuckle just as he crested the translucent hill and seemed to walk right through where the real forms of Saga and Kisho stood. All of Saga’s memory had sprung to life magically around them - entirely out of his control as if it were a 3D movie they were plunged in the middle of. They couldn’t alter what was going on and they weren’t actually a part of it, but it felt as if they were. Saga himself was there, in the same spectral manner as the rest of them, while the real Saga stood watching.
Between the translucent forms of Tora and Saga was Joey, laid out on a makeshift gurney that they carried. Nao’s head periodically flickered back to look at them, though Hiroto easily nudged him to keep moving forward. “Come on--the sooner we get there, the faster we get their help and sort all this out. You can complain to Shiki and Daichi about the long trek. Though I’d be careful--they do have talons.” Hiroto told Nao in an attempt to distract him. It worked for a moment, as Nao chuckled and the echo of his laugh bounced off the trees; it was a hallow and feeble attempt at a true Nao laugh, but it was all he could bring forth right then. A moment later, when he heard a twig snap under Tora’s foot, his head snapped backwards at them again just to be sure they hadn’t dropped the gurney.
Kisho glanced over his shoulder to where they were going. It was somewhat hard to make out form the way the room, inside of the actual palace, was still visible around the translucent memory projected around them magically. Kisho immediately recognized the home where the two raven visiugo once resided and with Aiko before she died. It was dilapidated now for the lack of care it had in the past year and a half. Bits of the thatch roof were missing.
The four projected band members slowed to a stop before the empty home; it had, previously, resembled that of a nest as both Shiki and Daichi were very dedicated to their magical life as ravens. The once humble but comfortable nest was destroyed so that the insides could be seen outside. A heavy awe filled the air and Nao was the first to speak. “Are you sure it’s the right place? He asked, fear laced in his voice as his eyes fell once more to where Joey lay unconscious.
“Of course it is. We were here--there is no where else like it in the trees. Surely they wouldn’t have abandoned it…” Saga heard the projection of himself answer Nao and a shiver ran up his spine at the oddity it was to hear himself. The building was clearly empty and dangerously battered but it didn’t stop Tora from passing through the missing door of the entryway. The rest of them waited outside for Tora‘s confirmation on the nest‘s emptiness.
“Hello?” was the last thing they heard Tora say before a snap rang out in the still air and a thud was followed by several smaller thumps. The room around them changed, as the perspective did for Saga and Kisho, when the other three darted quickly into the abode. Joey had been left on the gurney which Tora and Saga carefully lowered to the ground seconds before.
Tora came into view as they entered the nest and it was clear the guitarist’s foot had caught against a virtually invisible trap. It had seemed to send a series of darts into motion, from various parts of the open room, that all landed in any exposed flesh they could. When the other three arrived, the darts were lodged deeply into Tora’s skin, puncturing all sorts of holes across the entirety of his body. He was still upright, but he wobbled for a moment, as something inside the darts seemed to sink into his body, and he then fell into a heap on the ground.
Saga, the translucent one, was the first to act in response to Tora‘s sudden unconsciousness. He shot forward in a panic, paying no mind to whatever might be ready to attack him just as Tora had been. The real Saga had moved too, in the same reflex that had made him move when the memory was reality, but Kisho caught him around the middle. In the same instance, a hand appeared from seemingly nowhere and suddenly stopped the memory of Saga, catching him around the neck before he could reach where Tora lay crumpled on the ground.
Saga’s see-through copy choked and coughed as he hit the ground. Three oversized black birds fluttered down from perches above. A moment later the birds seemed to be replaced, from absolutely nothing, by human counterparts. They were clearly not just human but visiugo, Corax specifically as their animal forms were that of a large raven. The three new bodies, however, had massive, black wings proudly protruding from their backs. It was a blatant display of their magic before mortals, though it was clear, by their smug faces, that they didn’t care much for the natural rule separation between magic and mortal worlds.
“Friends of the traitors, I presume! It serves him right, I hope he dies quickly.” One was a female and hissed into Hiroto’s ear from behind, the wings on her back making it so she towered high over him despite her body being naturally shorter. Kisho’s eyes flicked all around at the transparent visiugo, ravens just as Shiki and Daichi had been, who seemed to surround them. The mage was holding firmly still to Saga, intent on keeping him in his spot and away from the memory that he could make disappear.
“Where is Shiro Takka?” A more proud and demanding voice cut in and both Kisho and Saga looked over to him. Hiroto and Nao’s eyes had followed too but Saga, the one lying on the floor in the memory, was coughing still from the tight hand on his neck. He was too distracted to care about the other visiugo. He, instead, was trying to scramble over to Tora, but the bassist was being prevented by one of the large males that seemed to be entertained by his struggle.
The raven-man that had spoken was tall and handsome, with golden hair seemingly unnatural for his Japanese features. “If you are truly friends of…Yoshiki Honami and Daichi Yoshida, you will know where they’ve taken the emperor as they ran like cowards after their failure in successfully assassinating him. A soft hearted decision no doubt made by a soft hearted fool, I never should have trusted such a tight lipped assassin. However the mistake is now on their part, I can assure you. And it will be a mistake on yours should you…refrain from sharing what you might know.” He clucked his tongue shamefully and shook his head with a sly smile. “Shiki, my friend, had so much potential had it not been for his being poisoned by that…Daichi’s more…” he hesitated and cranked his neck around to look at the girl-raven behind Hiroto; she nodded with a broad smile on her deceptive face, “…liberal ways.”
“We came looking for them…for help.” Nao said, his eyes were glued to Tora though as he spat out his words hastily. He was clearly desperate to find help now that both Joey and Tora were so clearly hurt and in need of it. A new bird-man appeared carrying the limp form of Joey, as if on queue to Nao's worry.
"Look what I found outside Jener, not one of ours - must be a changeling." he commented smoothly and Nao stiffened in his spot.
The leader gave a pleased little smirk. “What a pity for you then, ne? As help is far from what you’ll receive. We weren’t expecting you - we were expecting them.” he leaned down next to where Saga was heaped on the ground, still trying to get passed the large visiugo to get to Tora’s body. The blonde visiguo offered Saga a mocking bow, a smile still echoed on his face. “I’m sorry about your friend. When he dies, at least his pain will be masked by his unconsciousness--for now. However…if you could help me find those traitors…I might help him live.”
Saga’s head turned to the man, his chest heaving up and down as the blonde visiugo had clearly gotten the frantic man’s attention. The Saga by Kisho looked away, no longer struggling against Kisho‘s grasp on him. “I’ll do whatever you say so long as he lives.” Saga told him before he could stop himself. Kisho felt Saga's words brush his ear as he too repeated what his nearly invisible counterpart said.
The smile on the visiugo‘s mouth widened; Hiroto had moved to say something but the female visiugo had easily covered his mouth and restrained him from speaking. She was exceptionally strong despite being smaller in stature than even Hiroto. Nao too had been taken by one of the male visiugo‘s, a strong hand digging into his arm to keep him from moving forward. “Good…then, clearly you are friends of those two cowards. You will not regret helping us in our endeavors--they are truly treacherous men. I enjoy doing business with you and am absolutely giddy for your delivery--“ Saga had started to try and get to Tora again but the blonde had quickly grabbed his arm to stop him too. “…but to ensure you don’t turn tale on me, I’ll be keeping these ones. Its nothing personal, I simply find that all mortals are…untrustworthy.. Therefore all of your friends stay here, with us, until you return with Shiki and Daichi. I will also keep them alive until you return with my bounty. Are we clear?”
“STOP!” Saga panted and the entire memory melted away, the blonde‘s words still echoing in the cavernous room. “Stop…Kisho…I can’t…” he was panting heavily as tears formed in his eyes again, slipping silently down his cheeks as Saga had no way to stop them. His head was on fire and his knees were weak; in fact, Saga’s whole body felt like it was going to melt into a small puddle of absolutely helplessness and despair. He felt like he’d exerted every bit of force he had and was about to collapse on the floor from the lack of strength in his muscles.
Kisho, however, helped him stay upright, only to ease him down to the floor after he’d gathered himself. “You can…you did.” Kisho said softly. “That is how it should feel, you are not mistaken. But now you’ve had a taste of what sort of taxing effects what you ask of me will have on you. Physically and emotionally. I can educate you on leashing this - but this is only the beginning of what you’re asking. In the meantime, we must find these two; Shiki and Daichi fled the country when Daichi was nearly murdered by those terrorists for freeing Emperor Takka rather than assassinating him. I’m afraid the visiugo flight leaders are extremists, Saga-san.
“They always have been and have given our magical community trouble with their more intense ideals on magic. Shiki once believed in them and worked with them; it was Daichi, behind the scenes, who openly disagreed with their rather outlandish plans. Over time, he brought Shiki to see the error of their ways, but in it he nearly lost him his life. The final time he actually understood and they abandoned our home here in Japan. I’m uncertain of their exact location as it was how they meant it. It will take time to find them, but I’m sure that I can.
"Jener Rinji, their leader, the one who made this bargain with you, did he give you a time frame? We will not answer to terrorists, but we will need those two Corax visiugo to get your friends back. Nori, Shiro’s handler - as that man needs more than one set of eyes on him -- is a good friend of mine. I suspect we can find them through him; though Daichi is a good friend of mine as well, it will be Nori that can lead us to Shiki and Daichi.”
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Authors' Note
Jackie & Mandy: Thank you so much for reading to the end of this. :D We hope that it makes sense as much as it should make sense--we also ask that you continue to trust us. :D Pretty please. This story, we've decided, will be written as two parts per chapter. Perhaps three for some, we'll see. :D You'll see why it is necessary in the end. :D So we hope you're stoked, and ready for some crazy stuff because its coming. :D Chapter Two, part two should be up fairly quickly. :D
Thank you for reading!!!!!!