Ryuu to Sakura: Prologue (KamiShi)
Italicized words are either the past, or thoughts.
Title: Ryuu to Sakura: The Last Life
Characters: Kamiki Ryunosuke, Shida Mirai, Ohgo Suzuka, Kanata Hongo, Yamada Ryosuke, Fukuda Mayuko, Nakajima Yuto
Note: Started off with this manip by kat_desu. Then cie_chan made this epic trailer video. Remember 7faces? Well, this was made the same way. It's a cowritten fic. AND YOU COULD GIVE YOUR SUGGESTION TOO :D
Prologue - The Tragedy and The Wish
There is that one person you find that, no matter what happens, you will never be able to forget. Sometimes it is someone who has been there all your life, and sometimes it is someone who came unexpectedly, but all the time it is someone special. Someone you're comfortable with. Someone who will always stay wth you. Someone you will be happy to offer your life to.
She meets him that day, right beside her beloved trees. It was springtime, and she was once again being looked at by everyone. It is her day. The day to celebrate the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms. Everyone is gathered around her trees, celebrating with her.
It is during these times, when she is never alone, that she realizes how alone she really is. She looks around to see father and sons, mothers and daughters, grandparents, uncles and aunt; families who spends their days together.
But she doesn't have someone like that. (Until he came.)
Sakura, The Cherry Tree Spirit, graceful and beautiful and strong, but also fragile and "short-lived" and weak
There are those days she is revered, but there are days when she is forgotten.
Unlike him. Unlike the Dragon God.
Ryukami, The Dragon God, strong and majestic, just and eternal. The guardian of the Kingdom.
From the start, it was supposed to be impossible.
From the start, he was not supposed to notice her.
From the start, she was not supposed to talk to him.
The cherry blossoms shall bloom, but they shall also wither. But the Dragon will always stay strong, flying across the heavens to protect the people of this kingdom. Forever.
~*~
"You've been interested in mythology lately," Kamiki Ryunosuke, 19 years old and an incoming 3rd year high school student, looked at his best friend with a curious expression. "What's with that?"
Kanata Hongo, same age and the aforementioned guy's classmate for two (going three) years, shrugged and sat down in front of him. He smiled easily and put his books down. "I'm just interested. Besides, we only got a month left til school starts. Let me do whatever I want."
Kamiki rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say" He said, sighing tiredly. "Why am I friends with such a geek anyway?"
"Oh what?" Kanata smirked. "Would you rather be friends with the cool kids? Like, i don't know, Yamada Ryosuke and Nakajima Yuto of the other section?" His tone of voice was obviously teasing as he looked at his best friend.
He groaned, showing annoyance. "Gods, you really have to bring it up?" He looked at the book Kanata was reading. "Must be nice being a god, they're like one big happy celestial family."
Kanata raised an eyebrow. "It's not like that at all"
~*~
It started with him watching the cherry blossoms. He liked spring, he said. Unlike what everyone thought, it's not summer that was his favorite. It was really the spring. Everything is alive and the cherry blossoms are beautiful. "They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen." He looked her in the eyes, smiling gently as he always does.
She blushed and looked away, embarrassed. "I try my hardest" She smiled as well before looking back at him. "After all, it is all that I have."
Despite the factual tone she used, he felt sadness. "Surely, there must be others that you-"
She shook her head ever so primly, standing up and raising her hand to catch one petal falling. "Ryukami has a family; a sister, a brother and you experienced being taken care of by your parents. You are loved by all. I, on the other hand, only have them." She motioned towards the trees. As if in greeting, a wind blew and shook the branches lightly. "And this, for me, is my happiness."
"But you are loved, as well." He replied, eyes full of question. "Why must the beautiful Sakura utter this sadness?"
She turned to him, with a mature smile and sad eyes. She then spoke with a quiet tone. "The Cherry Blossoms only bloom during the spring, my dear lord. Soon, numerous things shall happen and I will be forgotten. Until the next spring, as they say."
"You can have me." He stood up and stared right at her, serious and determined. "I will not forget you."
Her smile widened, her eyes shone, and the cherry blossom petals danced around them. "Thank you."
~*~
"Why is it the old Japanese mythologies though?" Kamiki frowned at the numerous books Kanata has open in front of him. "Why not something more interesting, like Greek or Norse?"
Kanata laughed quietly, eyes darting to the librarian who was busy sorting books. "You're not nationalistic at all, are you?"
"I just don't like them." Kamiki looked at the illustrations on the book of a woman in a kimono staring at the moon. "That moon princess is pretty but I'm scared of her."
"Scared?" This time, Kanata couldn't help but laugh a bit louder. "What are you, a grade-schooler?"
Kamiki frowns and throws his pencil right at Kanata's head. "They are freaky. Shut up."
"Whatever, whatever." Kanata goes back to reading, finding a whole chapter dedicated to bird gods.
~*~
Ryukami was the first child of one of the Highest Gods. As with most of the families in heaven, he had half-siblings: Chiyo, the heavenly Crane Spirit, and Kumabushi, the warrior Bear Spirit.
Chiyo, the youngest and the only girl, is fond of playing with Ryukami. She would make him things and wait for him to smile at her in approval. She danced around him and flew with him around the skies. She adored him. She idolized the majestic Dragon God.
But unlike other young gods, she was not the type to get jealous or to get angry. She was pure-hearted and loving. When Sakura came into Ryukami's life, Chiyo welcomed her with open arms.
"You make him stronger," Chiyo observed one day, as she and Sakura watched Ryukami practice his archery. "He is even more amazing than before"
Sakura giggled. "Well that is dangerous, is it not? The Dragon God cannot be more amazing than he already is!"
Chiyo laughed as well before taking her hand into her small ones. "He is determined to stay by your side, and that determination is making him stronger than ever. He has found the one person he could offer his life to, and that is you."
Blushing, Sakura smiled softly.
"And you, my beloved sister," Chiyo fondly looks up at her, eyes showing both great innocence and deep wisdom. "My new sister, you are glowing more than the power of spring allows. And that is because you have found happiness."
To this, Sakura nods solemnly. "I could not believe it was possible to be this happy." She smiled lovingly at Ryukami's direction. "It was because of him."
Kumabushi, however, was colder towards Ryukami's decision. "You are the guardian of this palace, my lord. You are not just some spirit like us. You..." His expression hardened. "You were given this task and you shall fulfill it."
"I do not see why you should have any qualms." Ryukami answered. "My dear brother, I am stronger than I have ever been. Sakura gives me strength, and this strength is what I give our people."
"Your people, my lord." Kumabushi corrected, putting severe emphasis on the words. "They are your people. Me and Chiyo are your people."
"Brother, you shall not utter such nonsense."
Kumabushi laughed a humorless laugh, hands playing with the hilt of his sword. "It is true and you shall accept it. You are my half-brother but that does not change the fact that I am merely a soldier to this court, that me and Chiyo are simply Animal Spirits and not high gods like you are." Before Ryukami could disagree with him, he bowed down respectfully and said "My lord, you are to serve the court. Yamainu thinks you might become King when it is time. He reveres you, did you know? The rogue wolf, as strong as you perhaps... he admires you! He and all of his pack! Do you not see? You symbolize the strength of this kingdom." He turned his back promptly. "I shall go back to patrol duty now." As he walked away, he added "Do not betray us."
~*~
Kanata borrowed one book, the one specializing on animal spirits and animism. For some reason, he felt like it. As they walked out of the library and went towards the bike parking lot, he opened up a conversation. "Oh, by the way, how are things at home?"
As if what Kanata said was offensive, his face contorted in anger. "Ugly, really. My mom doesn't let me see dad or Suzuka. She barely does anything but drink. That bitch."
Sighing, Kanata placed his book on the bike basket and unlocked his chain. He put one leg on the other side, and then stopped. "How long has it been since you've seen your dad? Suzuka is your... step-sister, right? The one from your dad's remarriage?"
"Un." Kamiki groaned as he rode his bike too. "Life sucks. It would be nice to have someone accompany me in this sad, sad life instead of just you."
Laughing, Kanata playfully bumped his bike unto his. "You can't get a girl even if you want to anyway! Remember that time when I saw you picking flowers in the school garden and you said it was for a girl?"
"Shut up." Kamiki frowned. "Don't even mention that. I suck at it, I know. I'm not romantic at all, fine!"
~*~
Sakura and Ryukami spent more and more time together. There was truth in his words.
After spring was summer, and they celebrated with the whole court the growing power of the sun. Ryukami was strongest during the summer, the fire elemental giving him more vigor than usual. But this summer was his strongest, because she was right by his side, watching him fly through the sky.
"I like seeing you from the ground." She said one time after he flew through the whole kingdom as usual. "You are amazing."
He smiled gently, sitting right beside her. "Your admiration baffles me, my dear Sakura. I think the delicate and yet strong Sakura is much more amazing than I am."
She laughed softly. "Oh my lord, you are a sweet talker but I must disagree. The sight of the Dragon God in the sky always put the heavenly beings at ease, did you not know? It is the symbol of our strength, the symbol of our protection."
"Everyone thinks too highly of me," He answered. "I could only fly because I know people are waiting for me at the ground. I could only have the strength to fly higher because I know Sakura will be waiting here once I come back."
A light blush appeared on her face as she looked away, right at the trees by the side. "I could only marvel at your flying form because I know you would come back to my side."
The autum season signalled death, and for Sakura it meant her slow weakening. It was one season away from winter, the fatal season when she could not even stand on her own two feet.
Chiyo would visit her, and gather up leaves for her. "My dear sister, do not be sad" she said, holding her hand as they walked. "You know that death is not the end, right? It is another beginning!" She smiled widely. "My brother always told me, I have one thousand lives and I could make use of it any way I want! Is it not great? One thousand beginnings!"
"Oh yes it is." Sakura answered, smiling fondly at her. "If you have so many lives, you could always stay with your brother, because gods do not die, right?"
"How about Sakura? Would you stay with us too?" Painfully innocent eyes stared at her.
The Cherry Blossoms shall bloom but they shall also wither. Fragile and strong, can she live forever?
"Of course she will." Ryukami landed right behind them, surprising the two. Sakura looked at him in surprise, almost losing her balance as she let go of Chiyo's hand. "You will, would you not?" He easily took hold of her hand, pulling her closer and supporting her.
"If my lord shall allow me." She humbly replied, smiling at him.
"Then stay forever, I say."
Even though she was weakened by winter, he stayed right beside her bed, talking to her and describing what the other places in the heavenly kingdom looked like.
"The outer castle is enveloped in snow, young spirits play on the ground. There is an eerie quietness when the sky darkens, and the Moon Goddess shines her ethereal light more shinely than ever." He would explain. "From up above I could see everyone going home, tired and in need of a warm home. But there are smiles on their faces that humbles me, the smile of someone whose day has been well spent."
She would smile and close her eyes, imagining what he could have seen; using his imagery as her eyes. "I wish I could fly." She would whisper as he held her hand tighter.
"I will take you when winter is over." He would reply.
The Dragon God always kept his promises.
But sometimes there are circumstances we cannot change. The Dragon God is strong, is loved, is admired, but he is not the law. There is a being more powerful than him: The Heavenly King, Tenji.
It was just a few days before winter ends, and Spring would come again. Ryukami's mind was full of images of the sun and of the breeze, and of the trees. He was happy to welcome Spring with Sakura by his side. He had spent most of his times with her, talking to her and making sure she never feels alone. As he found more and more reason to protect her, he also became stronger and more able to protect the whole Kingdom as its guardian.
While he was wondering what to do for spring, the messenger bird spirits arrived. [You are being called by the King] they told him.
He was greeted by a feast, with the King at the center of the large table, food everywhere you could see. He sat down opposite him and said his greetings. They dined together.
Soon enough, the reason why he was called became clear.
"You, the strongest and the bravest in the kingdom, shall be the next king!" Tenji puts his wine chalice down on the table, laughing merrily. "You shall be my son-in-law! And you shall marry my only daughter!"
His eyes widened and he put his chopsticks down. "But sir-"
"You are to agree with the King at all cost!" Tenji interfered, eyes blazing blue, aura flaring and making the things around him get swept by the strong force. "It is your duty." He added, now more calmly. He clapped his hand, the sound thundering across the hall.
Then, the big double door opened, revealing a beautiful girl with skin as white as the full moon and her long beautiful hair as dark as the night sky. Her eyes were clear, like a pond reflecting everything around. "Father?" Her voice was gentle and quiet. A princess, that is who she is. The Moon Goddess.
"Oh my dear child!" He motioned for her to step closer. "Show your beautiful face to our guest. You will be betrothed to him!" The King stood up and made her sit beside him. "Tsukihime, my daughter, eat."
Tsukihime looked at Ryukami with a shy smile, and nodded in greeting. The Dragon god bowed down respectfully.
For the rest of the night, Ryukami barely spoke, mind thinking of ways to get out of this arrangement. He must go. He must choose another path. He must find Sakura at once.
It was not easy. The King refused to let him out of his sight. Ryukami, for all his strength, was caged by his own mission. He could not escape. He had a duty to the King, and to the people. He had to stay until he is told otherwise.
If he had to escape, he must do so with utmost caution. Being the guardian meant that he could never hurt another member of the court unless in war. If he did, the consequences would be severe. The only way to escape was to slither out of their grasp.
As he waited for that chance to come, he listened to the servants and to the other spirits. Their chatter told him of what was happening outside.
"Yamainu's pack of mountain wolves were assigned as main protectors" A servant told him. "While my lord is preparing for the wedding, they shall protect the land."
Ryukami nodded. He had trust on the pack. They were strong and fiercely loyal. They were not gods, but they had unity that made them stronger. Besides, they have Yamainu. A fearless warrior, once a rogue spirit but was tamed by the princess herself. There was no better protector than he is. "How... How is my brother?" He then asked.
"Kumabushi was given a higher post in preparation for Ryukami's wedding with the princess." The servant answered, filling his cup with more wine. "He would serve side by side with Yamainu"
He kept silent, knowing that Kumabushi would rejoice to be of a higher rank, and yet also knowing that stopping the wedding now would tarnish all their names.
"They are the most loyal of soldiers, are they not?" The servant continued as he cut through the pork in front of him, serving some to the dragon god's plate. "It is just expected, to have the strongest mountain wolf and his everyday companion Kumabushi to be inducted as the protectors now that Ryukami would become the Kingdom's prince."
Ryukami kept quiet, knowing full well that he could not let the wedding happen no matter what.
A day before winter ends, he finally found a chance. He slipped out of his room and went directly outside the heavenly castle.
"Sakura!" He went right to her home, to the forest. "Sakura!" He frantically looked around and yet he could not see her. She never leaves this place. It is still winter. She is too weak to travel on her own. Fear washed over him. Did the King know about Sakura? Would he sacrifice her for his plans?
"Brother!" Chiyo, hand clutching a single stem of cherry blossoms, ran to him. "I found this on her bed! What does it mean? It's not Spring yet! Why did she make this bloom?" There was a look of panic in her eyes as she searched his face for any answer. "What happened to Sakura?"
He did not have any time to answer, he went to her bed and searched around for any kind of clue. Any thing to show where she might have gone to, or whether she was abducted or not. "Sakura..." He looked at the floor, and there it was. A black mass of fur, barely unidentifiable but clearly seen through the white snow. "Wolves..." He picked it up and stared at it, smelling for any scent he could recognize.
Yamainu. There was no other wolf with this type of strong scent of blood. Being Kumabushi's best friend, Yamainu was always around Ryukami. He surely knew about Sakura. He was also someone who would do anything for the Moon Goddess. He was a chaotic spirit, but only the moon could calm him down. His loyatly lied with the princess.
Everything was pointing towards him. "Yamainu..."
~*~
Kamiki and Kanata biked together home from the library, watching the familiar neighborhood scenery pass by them in silence. As they turned a sharp corner, the two had to clutch their break as another pair of bicycles almost came crashing towards them.
"Watch where you're going!"
Just their luck. "Yamada." Kamiki's eyes were wide as he uttered his name.
Yamada looked at the beautiful girl sitting behind him. "You okay, Mayuko?" There was an obvious change of tone. Gentler, was it?
Mayuko nodded cooly, lightly brushing her fingers on her hair to fix it. "We didn't bump into these idiots, thank god." She barely looked at them, and simply stared at the surroundings.
"Yuto, you didn't get a bruise or anything?" Yamada asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at the other biker.
Yuto shook his head, glasses gleaming as he did so. He stared at them with a not-so-kind look on his face.
"Sorry." Kanata did not have any choice but to act sorry despite not feeling like that at all. It was safest to step down whenever talking to these people anyway. "We will look properly from now on. Sorry, Yamada, Nakajima, Fukuda."
"Tsk." Yamada spat on the road, glaring at the two of them. "You better not cross paths with us again." He looked at his taller companion. "Come on, Yuto."
Yuto simply nodded and drove away quickly without even speaking.
"He was glaring at me pretty badly, that Nakajima Yuto." Kamiki sighed, irritated but not in the mood for useless fights.
Kanata sighed as well as they started moving again. "Isn't that because they hate you?" He glanced at his best friend and laughed. "Your face probably annoys them."
Kamiki groaned but he smirked and said "You better be ready then. Your face is definitely more annoying."
"Shut up, stupid." He stuck out his tongue and waved his hand. "Bye!" He stopped right in front of his house and waved as Kamiki said goodbye as well. He immediately went to his room, tired and eager to sleep. Maybe he'll see something new today.
~*~
"Yamainu..." Ryukami refused to believe that the honorable wolf he knew would do anything so rash. Even if he was loyal to the royalties, would that mean he would do something as unhonorable as killing a helpless tree spirit? "He wouldn't..."
As he stepped on the bridge connecting the spirit town and the castle, he was surrounded by white-faced women all wearing red kimonos. The assassins of the court. They all stared at him, eyes trained on his every movement.
"Is the King calling me back?" He asked as he stepped back with wide eyes. He tried to be as calm as possible, but it was hard. These were the assassins of the court, and no matter what they do, he cannot fight.
"You are under suspicion of betrayal, my lord." Kumabushi stepped out of the group, tone polite but expression showing anger. "You will be confined in the castle until the date of the marriage ceremony."
"Kumabushi!" He stepped forward, eyes trained on his half-brother. "Are you-"
"My loyalty is with the kingdom." He replied quickly, completely serious. "Now, please calmly join us. You know you cannot fight."
"Why?" He asked quietly, walking to him obediently but with his face showing an expression of defiance. He will not back down. "Do you know where Sakura is?"
Kumabushi frowned. "My lord, should you not think about yourself? We are taking you in now. There is no time to worry about your woman."
"I can only worry about her." He replied sadly, offering both hands to be tied. "She is more important than my life."
"More important than your duty? More than your family?" Hurt was evident in Kumabushi's tone as he slowly tied the Dragon god's hands.
Ryukami looked straight into his eyes but did not answer.
"I'm sorry..." Sakura walked towards the ocean, tears streaming on her face. "I'm sorry..." Memories flashed inside her mind. The first time they met, the spring days they spent together, the autumn he first held her hand, the summer he showed her how high he could fly, and the winter season he spent supporting her. "I'm sorry..." She stepped further and further into the ocean, feeling the waves pushing and pulling, pushing and pulling. "Thank you." The water was now up to her chest.
"The ocean... is the pathway to the other world, isn't it?" She asked, walking further. "If I die, would that mean we'll meet again?"
She laughed. A laugh packed with bitterness and despair. A laugh you would not expect to come from this particular spirit. "I hope so. You... were the best being I have ever met. I..." She stopped, water already reaching her chin. She looked at the night sky, hoping that the wind will carry her wishes and let him hear it. "I am lucky to have met you, my lord. You gave me happiness. You stayed by me, and it was the only wish I could ever have. You were my happiness."
She stepped further. "Goodbye."
Then there was darkness. And as the waves pushed and pulled, pushed and pulled, there was no more of Sakura left to be seen.
"Where is she?" Ryukami was slowly losing his composure. He prided in having the most patience in the kingdom, and yet he is slowly getting angrier. "Tell me, Kumabushi... This is the only thing I would ask of you, please..." He put his hands around the bars separating them. "I would not try to escape. Just tell me she is safe, please."
Kumabushi refused to answer, eyes trained on the other door. He sat on the chair a few meters away from Ryukami's cage, making sure that Ryukami would not escape again.
"Can I speak to him?" One of the wolves, a small one with gray fur, entered and walked to Kumabushi. "Yamainu has a message for him."
Eyes softening, Kumabushi nodded and walked outside to guard the door from there.
The wolf spirit, younger than Ryukami, fiercely looked at him, eyes glowing bright. It was as if his eyes were both growing darker as it glowed brighter, a certain aspect clear to all wolves. He took out a branch from his pocket, and threw it on the floor. A cherry blossom branch. The same one on Sakura's bed. "Is this enough proof?" He sneered. "Your woman is safe- well, not safe, but she's with us." He stepped closer, peering into the prison cell. "She will die. Be torned into pieces." He laughed quietly, careful not to let Kumabushi hear. "Your beloved Sakura, I wonder how she would taste? Well, I would just need to go home to-"
Before the young wolf could finish his sentence, Ryukami already had his claws on his throat. "Say anymore and I will rip your throat out." His voice was low, deep, unlike his usual self. His eyes were glowing green, aura flickering around as if ready to kill. Instead of a God, you could only see a beast. Aura enveloping him, it was obvious he was transforming out of anger. "WHERE IS YAMAINU?" He shouted, slowly transforming into his real form. "WHERE?" His grip tightened, and his eyes reflected the wolf's fear-stricken face.
Kumabushi, alarmed by the noise, ran to the cage, took out his sword and pointed it towards Ryukami's arm. "You would have to let go of him, or else I shall have no choice but to fight." Despite his determined voice, his hands were shaking ever so slightly. It was the first time he saw his brother like this.
"BE QUIET!" Turning more and more into a dragon, Ryukami's voice sent shockwaves towards the two. He was flying just above them now, intimidating and showing how powerful he was. His voice made the air shake, as if the very room was shaking in fear. Kumabushi was thrown back, sword flying to the other side of the room and impaling on solid rock, while the young wolf whimpered in fear. "WHERE IS HE?"
"In the mountains, my lord." the young wolf answered, voice wavering as he had difficulty breathing. "Please do not kill me!"
He let go of the wolf, and then easily ripped off the bars. He turned back into his normal form (and yet Kumabushi could see in his eyes that he was still a beast, a frightful beast who could rip anyone's throat at any moment), then ran quickly towards the exit. He disappeared, and the two beings remaining in the room could not even follow after him.
It was a disaster.
Everyone was crying, and everywhere you could see blood. There were dead bodies right in front of the heavenly beings. And they knew exactly who did it.
The guardian has gone insane and killed eight wolves in one night. The Dragon god, the one who should be protecting the heavenly kingdom, was the one who brought fear into the heavenly beings' hearts. Their protector was now an enemy.
"RYUKAMI!" The Heavenly God's voice echoed through the whole heaven, shaking the ground as it travelled across the fields. "YOU SHALL STOP!" And from no where, a large thunderbolt came out and struck a certain area inside the forest, burning trees here and there. Then, with a sudden burst of light, the Dragon God emerged from the fire and...
With a single explosion, he was gone.
~*~
"Aah!" Kanata sat up, eyes still seeing the bright, bright light he just saw in his dream. It was that scene again. Out of all his dreams, this was the most terrifying for him. To see a love so pure, then to see a god grow insane... well, isn't it just too much for someone like him? "Why that again?" He wondered out loud. Ever since he was a child, he has always seen those visions, but they were never clear, and he never understood them.
But lately, somehow he's getting interested. He sees more. He hears more. He feels more. The visions are getting clearer.
He has a feeling that it will all be clear soon. He will understand why he is plagued by these visions. He will understand who they are, and what they are to him.
Not now, though. The creatures of his dreams still looked like blurred images. He sighed. "Better sleep some more."
He's used to this. Used to the awful feeling of seeing life and happiness and love turn into death and hatred and despair. He's used to seeing gods turn insane. Used to seeing war zones and suicide circles, and just about every kind of bad in this world. His dreams were filled with them. And with the same couple, always the same couple. Ryukami and Sakura, they were called in one life. In another, they have other names. But they always felt the same: the boy was strong and just, the girl was delicate and kind, and they always fell in love. And they always died in the end.
He's used to it. To all of it.
But despite this particular dream being the most terrifying for him, it was also the one he always waited for. Because the next part of that vision was always his favorite. The next part symbolized hope, symbolized a chance for the tragedy to end. He wanted to see it again. To see her again.
~*~
The Heavenly Crane Spirit, Chiyo, ran through the temple, racing to the bell at the end. With a solemn expresson, she rang the bell and put her hand together in prayer.
"Please, the Heavenly King, the Moon Goddess, this is my only wish." She closed her eyes. "Give my brother another chance, give Ryukami and Sakura a chance at happiness. They have served you for their whole life, and I shall serve you with all of mine. Please answer my prayer."
"And what shall you offer?" The wind gave her their message.
"My King, I offer you my life. The Heavenly Crane Spirit, proud of her One Thousand Lives, shall offer her everything." She looked up at the bell and smiled, as always showing both innocence and maturity. "Each and every one of my lives for their chances."
The wind blew harder, and the bells around the temple all rang. "Then that is what shall be"
There was thunder and the clouds darkened. Then, as if being taken into a higher place than heaven, the glowing pieces of the Dragon God flew over to the clouds, over and high above where no one could see it.
Chiyo bowed down. "Thank you."
When she looked up, she looked right in front, as if she knew someone was watching her. As if she was looking right into Kanata's eyes. "The time has come. It is now your chance, my young raven."
~*~
Title: Ryuu to Sakura: The Last Life
Characters: Kamiki Ryunosuke, Shida Mirai, Ohgo Suzuka, Kanata Hongo, Yamada Ryosuke, Fukuda Mayuko, Nakajima Yuto
Note: Started off with this manip by kat_desu. Then cie_chan made this epic trailer video. Remember 7faces? Well, this was made the same way. It's a cowritten fic. AND YOU COULD GIVE YOUR SUGGESTION TOO :D
Prologue - The Tragedy and The Wish
There is that one person you find that, no matter what happens, you will never be able to forget. Sometimes it is someone who has been there all your life, and sometimes it is someone who came unexpectedly, but all the time it is someone special. Someone you're comfortable with. Someone who will always stay wth you. Someone you will be happy to offer your life to.
She meets him that day, right beside her beloved trees. It was springtime, and she was once again being looked at by everyone. It is her day. The day to celebrate the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms. Everyone is gathered around her trees, celebrating with her.
It is during these times, when she is never alone, that she realizes how alone she really is. She looks around to see father and sons, mothers and daughters, grandparents, uncles and aunt; families who spends their days together.
But she doesn't have someone like that. (Until he came.)
Sakura, The Cherry Tree Spirit, graceful and beautiful and strong, but also fragile and "short-lived" and weak
There are those days she is revered, but there are days when she is forgotten.
Unlike him. Unlike the Dragon God.
Ryukami, The Dragon God, strong and majestic, just and eternal. The guardian of the Kingdom.
From the start, it was supposed to be impossible.
From the start, he was not supposed to notice her.
From the start, she was not supposed to talk to him.
The cherry blossoms shall bloom, but they shall also wither. But the Dragon will always stay strong, flying across the heavens to protect the people of this kingdom. Forever.
~*~
"You've been interested in mythology lately," Kamiki Ryunosuke, 19 years old and an incoming 3rd year high school student, looked at his best friend with a curious expression. "What's with that?"
Kanata Hongo, same age and the aforementioned guy's classmate for two (going three) years, shrugged and sat down in front of him. He smiled easily and put his books down. "I'm just interested. Besides, we only got a month left til school starts. Let me do whatever I want."
Kamiki rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say" He said, sighing tiredly. "Why am I friends with such a geek anyway?"
"Oh what?" Kanata smirked. "Would you rather be friends with the cool kids? Like, i don't know, Yamada Ryosuke and Nakajima Yuto of the other section?" His tone of voice was obviously teasing as he looked at his best friend.
He groaned, showing annoyance. "Gods, you really have to bring it up?" He looked at the book Kanata was reading. "Must be nice being a god, they're like one big happy celestial family."
Kanata raised an eyebrow. "It's not like that at all"
~*~
It started with him watching the cherry blossoms. He liked spring, he said. Unlike what everyone thought, it's not summer that was his favorite. It was really the spring. Everything is alive and the cherry blossoms are beautiful. "They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen." He looked her in the eyes, smiling gently as he always does.
She blushed and looked away, embarrassed. "I try my hardest" She smiled as well before looking back at him. "After all, it is all that I have."
Despite the factual tone she used, he felt sadness. "Surely, there must be others that you-"
She shook her head ever so primly, standing up and raising her hand to catch one petal falling. "Ryukami has a family; a sister, a brother and you experienced being taken care of by your parents. You are loved by all. I, on the other hand, only have them." She motioned towards the trees. As if in greeting, a wind blew and shook the branches lightly. "And this, for me, is my happiness."
"But you are loved, as well." He replied, eyes full of question. "Why must the beautiful Sakura utter this sadness?"
She turned to him, with a mature smile and sad eyes. She then spoke with a quiet tone. "The Cherry Blossoms only bloom during the spring, my dear lord. Soon, numerous things shall happen and I will be forgotten. Until the next spring, as they say."
"You can have me." He stood up and stared right at her, serious and determined. "I will not forget you."
Her smile widened, her eyes shone, and the cherry blossom petals danced around them. "Thank you."
~*~
"Why is it the old Japanese mythologies though?" Kamiki frowned at the numerous books Kanata has open in front of him. "Why not something more interesting, like Greek or Norse?"
Kanata laughed quietly, eyes darting to the librarian who was busy sorting books. "You're not nationalistic at all, are you?"
"I just don't like them." Kamiki looked at the illustrations on the book of a woman in a kimono staring at the moon. "That moon princess is pretty but I'm scared of her."
"Scared?" This time, Kanata couldn't help but laugh a bit louder. "What are you, a grade-schooler?"
Kamiki frowns and throws his pencil right at Kanata's head. "They are freaky. Shut up."
"Whatever, whatever." Kanata goes back to reading, finding a whole chapter dedicated to bird gods.
~*~
Ryukami was the first child of one of the Highest Gods. As with most of the families in heaven, he had half-siblings: Chiyo, the heavenly Crane Spirit, and Kumabushi, the warrior Bear Spirit.
Chiyo, the youngest and the only girl, is fond of playing with Ryukami. She would make him things and wait for him to smile at her in approval. She danced around him and flew with him around the skies. She adored him. She idolized the majestic Dragon God.
But unlike other young gods, she was not the type to get jealous or to get angry. She was pure-hearted and loving. When Sakura came into Ryukami's life, Chiyo welcomed her with open arms.
"You make him stronger," Chiyo observed one day, as she and Sakura watched Ryukami practice his archery. "He is even more amazing than before"
Sakura giggled. "Well that is dangerous, is it not? The Dragon God cannot be more amazing than he already is!"
Chiyo laughed as well before taking her hand into her small ones. "He is determined to stay by your side, and that determination is making him stronger than ever. He has found the one person he could offer his life to, and that is you."
Blushing, Sakura smiled softly.
"And you, my beloved sister," Chiyo fondly looks up at her, eyes showing both great innocence and deep wisdom. "My new sister, you are glowing more than the power of spring allows. And that is because you have found happiness."
To this, Sakura nods solemnly. "I could not believe it was possible to be this happy." She smiled lovingly at Ryukami's direction. "It was because of him."
Kumabushi, however, was colder towards Ryukami's decision. "You are the guardian of this palace, my lord. You are not just some spirit like us. You..." His expression hardened. "You were given this task and you shall fulfill it."
"I do not see why you should have any qualms." Ryukami answered. "My dear brother, I am stronger than I have ever been. Sakura gives me strength, and this strength is what I give our people."
"Your people, my lord." Kumabushi corrected, putting severe emphasis on the words. "They are your people. Me and Chiyo are your people."
"Brother, you shall not utter such nonsense."
Kumabushi laughed a humorless laugh, hands playing with the hilt of his sword. "It is true and you shall accept it. You are my half-brother but that does not change the fact that I am merely a soldier to this court, that me and Chiyo are simply Animal Spirits and not high gods like you are." Before Ryukami could disagree with him, he bowed down respectfully and said "My lord, you are to serve the court. Yamainu thinks you might become King when it is time. He reveres you, did you know? The rogue wolf, as strong as you perhaps... he admires you! He and all of his pack! Do you not see? You symbolize the strength of this kingdom." He turned his back promptly. "I shall go back to patrol duty now." As he walked away, he added "Do not betray us."
~*~
Kanata borrowed one book, the one specializing on animal spirits and animism. For some reason, he felt like it. As they walked out of the library and went towards the bike parking lot, he opened up a conversation. "Oh, by the way, how are things at home?"
As if what Kanata said was offensive, his face contorted in anger. "Ugly, really. My mom doesn't let me see dad or Suzuka. She barely does anything but drink. That bitch."
Sighing, Kanata placed his book on the bike basket and unlocked his chain. He put one leg on the other side, and then stopped. "How long has it been since you've seen your dad? Suzuka is your... step-sister, right? The one from your dad's remarriage?"
"Un." Kamiki groaned as he rode his bike too. "Life sucks. It would be nice to have someone accompany me in this sad, sad life instead of just you."
Laughing, Kanata playfully bumped his bike unto his. "You can't get a girl even if you want to anyway! Remember that time when I saw you picking flowers in the school garden and you said it was for a girl?"
"Shut up." Kamiki frowned. "Don't even mention that. I suck at it, I know. I'm not romantic at all, fine!"
~*~
Sakura and Ryukami spent more and more time together. There was truth in his words.
After spring was summer, and they celebrated with the whole court the growing power of the sun. Ryukami was strongest during the summer, the fire elemental giving him more vigor than usual. But this summer was his strongest, because she was right by his side, watching him fly through the sky.
"I like seeing you from the ground." She said one time after he flew through the whole kingdom as usual. "You are amazing."
He smiled gently, sitting right beside her. "Your admiration baffles me, my dear Sakura. I think the delicate and yet strong Sakura is much more amazing than I am."
She laughed softly. "Oh my lord, you are a sweet talker but I must disagree. The sight of the Dragon God in the sky always put the heavenly beings at ease, did you not know? It is the symbol of our strength, the symbol of our protection."
"Everyone thinks too highly of me," He answered. "I could only fly because I know people are waiting for me at the ground. I could only have the strength to fly higher because I know Sakura will be waiting here once I come back."
A light blush appeared on her face as she looked away, right at the trees by the side. "I could only marvel at your flying form because I know you would come back to my side."
The autum season signalled death, and for Sakura it meant her slow weakening. It was one season away from winter, the fatal season when she could not even stand on her own two feet.
Chiyo would visit her, and gather up leaves for her. "My dear sister, do not be sad" she said, holding her hand as they walked. "You know that death is not the end, right? It is another beginning!" She smiled widely. "My brother always told me, I have one thousand lives and I could make use of it any way I want! Is it not great? One thousand beginnings!"
"Oh yes it is." Sakura answered, smiling fondly at her. "If you have so many lives, you could always stay with your brother, because gods do not die, right?"
"How about Sakura? Would you stay with us too?" Painfully innocent eyes stared at her.
The Cherry Blossoms shall bloom but they shall also wither. Fragile and strong, can she live forever?
"Of course she will." Ryukami landed right behind them, surprising the two. Sakura looked at him in surprise, almost losing her balance as she let go of Chiyo's hand. "You will, would you not?" He easily took hold of her hand, pulling her closer and supporting her.
"If my lord shall allow me." She humbly replied, smiling at him.
"Then stay forever, I say."
Even though she was weakened by winter, he stayed right beside her bed, talking to her and describing what the other places in the heavenly kingdom looked like.
"The outer castle is enveloped in snow, young spirits play on the ground. There is an eerie quietness when the sky darkens, and the Moon Goddess shines her ethereal light more shinely than ever." He would explain. "From up above I could see everyone going home, tired and in need of a warm home. But there are smiles on their faces that humbles me, the smile of someone whose day has been well spent."
She would smile and close her eyes, imagining what he could have seen; using his imagery as her eyes. "I wish I could fly." She would whisper as he held her hand tighter.
"I will take you when winter is over." He would reply.
The Dragon God always kept his promises.
But sometimes there are circumstances we cannot change. The Dragon God is strong, is loved, is admired, but he is not the law. There is a being more powerful than him: The Heavenly King, Tenji.
It was just a few days before winter ends, and Spring would come again. Ryukami's mind was full of images of the sun and of the breeze, and of the trees. He was happy to welcome Spring with Sakura by his side. He had spent most of his times with her, talking to her and making sure she never feels alone. As he found more and more reason to protect her, he also became stronger and more able to protect the whole Kingdom as its guardian.
While he was wondering what to do for spring, the messenger bird spirits arrived. [You are being called by the King] they told him.
He was greeted by a feast, with the King at the center of the large table, food everywhere you could see. He sat down opposite him and said his greetings. They dined together.
Soon enough, the reason why he was called became clear.
"You, the strongest and the bravest in the kingdom, shall be the next king!" Tenji puts his wine chalice down on the table, laughing merrily. "You shall be my son-in-law! And you shall marry my only daughter!"
His eyes widened and he put his chopsticks down. "But sir-"
"You are to agree with the King at all cost!" Tenji interfered, eyes blazing blue, aura flaring and making the things around him get swept by the strong force. "It is your duty." He added, now more calmly. He clapped his hand, the sound thundering across the hall.
Then, the big double door opened, revealing a beautiful girl with skin as white as the full moon and her long beautiful hair as dark as the night sky. Her eyes were clear, like a pond reflecting everything around. "Father?" Her voice was gentle and quiet. A princess, that is who she is. The Moon Goddess.
"Oh my dear child!" He motioned for her to step closer. "Show your beautiful face to our guest. You will be betrothed to him!" The King stood up and made her sit beside him. "Tsukihime, my daughter, eat."
Tsukihime looked at Ryukami with a shy smile, and nodded in greeting. The Dragon god bowed down respectfully.
For the rest of the night, Ryukami barely spoke, mind thinking of ways to get out of this arrangement. He must go. He must choose another path. He must find Sakura at once.
It was not easy. The King refused to let him out of his sight. Ryukami, for all his strength, was caged by his own mission. He could not escape. He had a duty to the King, and to the people. He had to stay until he is told otherwise.
If he had to escape, he must do so with utmost caution. Being the guardian meant that he could never hurt another member of the court unless in war. If he did, the consequences would be severe. The only way to escape was to slither out of their grasp.
As he waited for that chance to come, he listened to the servants and to the other spirits. Their chatter told him of what was happening outside.
"Yamainu's pack of mountain wolves were assigned as main protectors" A servant told him. "While my lord is preparing for the wedding, they shall protect the land."
Ryukami nodded. He had trust on the pack. They were strong and fiercely loyal. They were not gods, but they had unity that made them stronger. Besides, they have Yamainu. A fearless warrior, once a rogue spirit but was tamed by the princess herself. There was no better protector than he is. "How... How is my brother?" He then asked.
"Kumabushi was given a higher post in preparation for Ryukami's wedding with the princess." The servant answered, filling his cup with more wine. "He would serve side by side with Yamainu"
He kept silent, knowing that Kumabushi would rejoice to be of a higher rank, and yet also knowing that stopping the wedding now would tarnish all their names.
"They are the most loyal of soldiers, are they not?" The servant continued as he cut through the pork in front of him, serving some to the dragon god's plate. "It is just expected, to have the strongest mountain wolf and his everyday companion Kumabushi to be inducted as the protectors now that Ryukami would become the Kingdom's prince."
Ryukami kept quiet, knowing full well that he could not let the wedding happen no matter what.
A day before winter ends, he finally found a chance. He slipped out of his room and went directly outside the heavenly castle.
"Sakura!" He went right to her home, to the forest. "Sakura!" He frantically looked around and yet he could not see her. She never leaves this place. It is still winter. She is too weak to travel on her own. Fear washed over him. Did the King know about Sakura? Would he sacrifice her for his plans?
"Brother!" Chiyo, hand clutching a single stem of cherry blossoms, ran to him. "I found this on her bed! What does it mean? It's not Spring yet! Why did she make this bloom?" There was a look of panic in her eyes as she searched his face for any answer. "What happened to Sakura?"
He did not have any time to answer, he went to her bed and searched around for any kind of clue. Any thing to show where she might have gone to, or whether she was abducted or not. "Sakura..." He looked at the floor, and there it was. A black mass of fur, barely unidentifiable but clearly seen through the white snow. "Wolves..." He picked it up and stared at it, smelling for any scent he could recognize.
Yamainu. There was no other wolf with this type of strong scent of blood. Being Kumabushi's best friend, Yamainu was always around Ryukami. He surely knew about Sakura. He was also someone who would do anything for the Moon Goddess. He was a chaotic spirit, but only the moon could calm him down. His loyatly lied with the princess.
Everything was pointing towards him. "Yamainu..."
~*~
Kamiki and Kanata biked together home from the library, watching the familiar neighborhood scenery pass by them in silence. As they turned a sharp corner, the two had to clutch their break as another pair of bicycles almost came crashing towards them.
"Watch where you're going!"
Just their luck. "Yamada." Kamiki's eyes were wide as he uttered his name.
Yamada looked at the beautiful girl sitting behind him. "You okay, Mayuko?" There was an obvious change of tone. Gentler, was it?
Mayuko nodded cooly, lightly brushing her fingers on her hair to fix it. "We didn't bump into these idiots, thank god." She barely looked at them, and simply stared at the surroundings.
"Yuto, you didn't get a bruise or anything?" Yamada asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at the other biker.
Yuto shook his head, glasses gleaming as he did so. He stared at them with a not-so-kind look on his face.
"Sorry." Kanata did not have any choice but to act sorry despite not feeling like that at all. It was safest to step down whenever talking to these people anyway. "We will look properly from now on. Sorry, Yamada, Nakajima, Fukuda."
"Tsk." Yamada spat on the road, glaring at the two of them. "You better not cross paths with us again." He looked at his taller companion. "Come on, Yuto."
Yuto simply nodded and drove away quickly without even speaking.
"He was glaring at me pretty badly, that Nakajima Yuto." Kamiki sighed, irritated but not in the mood for useless fights.
Kanata sighed as well as they started moving again. "Isn't that because they hate you?" He glanced at his best friend and laughed. "Your face probably annoys them."
Kamiki groaned but he smirked and said "You better be ready then. Your face is definitely more annoying."
"Shut up, stupid." He stuck out his tongue and waved his hand. "Bye!" He stopped right in front of his house and waved as Kamiki said goodbye as well. He immediately went to his room, tired and eager to sleep. Maybe he'll see something new today.
~*~
"Yamainu..." Ryukami refused to believe that the honorable wolf he knew would do anything so rash. Even if he was loyal to the royalties, would that mean he would do something as unhonorable as killing a helpless tree spirit? "He wouldn't..."
As he stepped on the bridge connecting the spirit town and the castle, he was surrounded by white-faced women all wearing red kimonos. The assassins of the court. They all stared at him, eyes trained on his every movement.
"Is the King calling me back?" He asked as he stepped back with wide eyes. He tried to be as calm as possible, but it was hard. These were the assassins of the court, and no matter what they do, he cannot fight.
"You are under suspicion of betrayal, my lord." Kumabushi stepped out of the group, tone polite but expression showing anger. "You will be confined in the castle until the date of the marriage ceremony."
"Kumabushi!" He stepped forward, eyes trained on his half-brother. "Are you-"
"My loyalty is with the kingdom." He replied quickly, completely serious. "Now, please calmly join us. You know you cannot fight."
"Why?" He asked quietly, walking to him obediently but with his face showing an expression of defiance. He will not back down. "Do you know where Sakura is?"
Kumabushi frowned. "My lord, should you not think about yourself? We are taking you in now. There is no time to worry about your woman."
"I can only worry about her." He replied sadly, offering both hands to be tied. "She is more important than my life."
"More important than your duty? More than your family?" Hurt was evident in Kumabushi's tone as he slowly tied the Dragon god's hands.
Ryukami looked straight into his eyes but did not answer.
"I'm sorry..." Sakura walked towards the ocean, tears streaming on her face. "I'm sorry..." Memories flashed inside her mind. The first time they met, the spring days they spent together, the autumn he first held her hand, the summer he showed her how high he could fly, and the winter season he spent supporting her. "I'm sorry..." She stepped further and further into the ocean, feeling the waves pushing and pulling, pushing and pulling. "Thank you." The water was now up to her chest.
"The ocean... is the pathway to the other world, isn't it?" She asked, walking further. "If I die, would that mean we'll meet again?"
She laughed. A laugh packed with bitterness and despair. A laugh you would not expect to come from this particular spirit. "I hope so. You... were the best being I have ever met. I..." She stopped, water already reaching her chin. She looked at the night sky, hoping that the wind will carry her wishes and let him hear it. "I am lucky to have met you, my lord. You gave me happiness. You stayed by me, and it was the only wish I could ever have. You were my happiness."
She stepped further. "Goodbye."
Then there was darkness. And as the waves pushed and pulled, pushed and pulled, there was no more of Sakura left to be seen.
"Where is she?" Ryukami was slowly losing his composure. He prided in having the most patience in the kingdom, and yet he is slowly getting angrier. "Tell me, Kumabushi... This is the only thing I would ask of you, please..." He put his hands around the bars separating them. "I would not try to escape. Just tell me she is safe, please."
Kumabushi refused to answer, eyes trained on the other door. He sat on the chair a few meters away from Ryukami's cage, making sure that Ryukami would not escape again.
"Can I speak to him?" One of the wolves, a small one with gray fur, entered and walked to Kumabushi. "Yamainu has a message for him."
Eyes softening, Kumabushi nodded and walked outside to guard the door from there.
The wolf spirit, younger than Ryukami, fiercely looked at him, eyes glowing bright. It was as if his eyes were both growing darker as it glowed brighter, a certain aspect clear to all wolves. He took out a branch from his pocket, and threw it on the floor. A cherry blossom branch. The same one on Sakura's bed. "Is this enough proof?" He sneered. "Your woman is safe- well, not safe, but she's with us." He stepped closer, peering into the prison cell. "She will die. Be torned into pieces." He laughed quietly, careful not to let Kumabushi hear. "Your beloved Sakura, I wonder how she would taste? Well, I would just need to go home to-"
Before the young wolf could finish his sentence, Ryukami already had his claws on his throat. "Say anymore and I will rip your throat out." His voice was low, deep, unlike his usual self. His eyes were glowing green, aura flickering around as if ready to kill. Instead of a God, you could only see a beast. Aura enveloping him, it was obvious he was transforming out of anger. "WHERE IS YAMAINU?" He shouted, slowly transforming into his real form. "WHERE?" His grip tightened, and his eyes reflected the wolf's fear-stricken face.
Kumabushi, alarmed by the noise, ran to the cage, took out his sword and pointed it towards Ryukami's arm. "You would have to let go of him, or else I shall have no choice but to fight." Despite his determined voice, his hands were shaking ever so slightly. It was the first time he saw his brother like this.
"BE QUIET!" Turning more and more into a dragon, Ryukami's voice sent shockwaves towards the two. He was flying just above them now, intimidating and showing how powerful he was. His voice made the air shake, as if the very room was shaking in fear. Kumabushi was thrown back, sword flying to the other side of the room and impaling on solid rock, while the young wolf whimpered in fear. "WHERE IS HE?"
"In the mountains, my lord." the young wolf answered, voice wavering as he had difficulty breathing. "Please do not kill me!"
He let go of the wolf, and then easily ripped off the bars. He turned back into his normal form (and yet Kumabushi could see in his eyes that he was still a beast, a frightful beast who could rip anyone's throat at any moment), then ran quickly towards the exit. He disappeared, and the two beings remaining in the room could not even follow after him.
It was a disaster.
Everyone was crying, and everywhere you could see blood. There were dead bodies right in front of the heavenly beings. And they knew exactly who did it.
The guardian has gone insane and killed eight wolves in one night. The Dragon god, the one who should be protecting the heavenly kingdom, was the one who brought fear into the heavenly beings' hearts. Their protector was now an enemy.
"RYUKAMI!" The Heavenly God's voice echoed through the whole heaven, shaking the ground as it travelled across the fields. "YOU SHALL STOP!" And from no where, a large thunderbolt came out and struck a certain area inside the forest, burning trees here and there. Then, with a sudden burst of light, the Dragon God emerged from the fire and...
With a single explosion, he was gone.
~*~
"Aah!" Kanata sat up, eyes still seeing the bright, bright light he just saw in his dream. It was that scene again. Out of all his dreams, this was the most terrifying for him. To see a love so pure, then to see a god grow insane... well, isn't it just too much for someone like him? "Why that again?" He wondered out loud. Ever since he was a child, he has always seen those visions, but they were never clear, and he never understood them.
But lately, somehow he's getting interested. He sees more. He hears more. He feels more. The visions are getting clearer.
He has a feeling that it will all be clear soon. He will understand why he is plagued by these visions. He will understand who they are, and what they are to him.
Not now, though. The creatures of his dreams still looked like blurred images. He sighed. "Better sleep some more."
He's used to this. Used to the awful feeling of seeing life and happiness and love turn into death and hatred and despair. He's used to seeing gods turn insane. Used to seeing war zones and suicide circles, and just about every kind of bad in this world. His dreams were filled with them. And with the same couple, always the same couple. Ryukami and Sakura, they were called in one life. In another, they have other names. But they always felt the same: the boy was strong and just, the girl was delicate and kind, and they always fell in love. And they always died in the end.
He's used to it. To all of it.
But despite this particular dream being the most terrifying for him, it was also the one he always waited for. Because the next part of that vision was always his favorite. The next part symbolized hope, symbolized a chance for the tragedy to end. He wanted to see it again. To see her again.
~*~
The Heavenly Crane Spirit, Chiyo, ran through the temple, racing to the bell at the end. With a solemn expresson, she rang the bell and put her hand together in prayer.
"Please, the Heavenly King, the Moon Goddess, this is my only wish." She closed her eyes. "Give my brother another chance, give Ryukami and Sakura a chance at happiness. They have served you for their whole life, and I shall serve you with all of mine. Please answer my prayer."
"And what shall you offer?" The wind gave her their message.
"My King, I offer you my life. The Heavenly Crane Spirit, proud of her One Thousand Lives, shall offer her everything." She looked up at the bell and smiled, as always showing both innocence and maturity. "Each and every one of my lives for their chances."
The wind blew harder, and the bells around the temple all rang. "Then that is what shall be"
There was thunder and the clouds darkened. Then, as if being taken into a higher place than heaven, the glowing pieces of the Dragon God flew over to the clouds, over and high above where no one could see it.
Chiyo bowed down. "Thank you."
When she looked up, she looked right in front, as if she knew someone was watching her. As if she was looking right into Kanata's eyes. "The time has come. It is now your chance, my young raven."
~*~