Steam clouded the area... but unable to hide the shadow of their brother standing in front of them...
Kiyoshi's silhouette sways forward his right hand extended, inching his dagger closer.. he cant carry himself any further and falls face first onto the ground.
Footsteps can be heard rushing in from the other end of the garden towards us.
Akuma fell to his side at the last moment, arms wrapped around Shinahs head and body protectively sealing her in a film of ice, against his chest.
"Akuma... Akuma get up... second brother ... no ... this is all my fault. No ... akuma." I knock my head against his chest repeatedly.
I press my ear to the skin covering his heart, my own heartbeat ringing in my ears so loud its blocking out everything else.
Damn it I can't hear his heartbeat.
Relax damn it! ..just listen!
-Silence-
Fuck ...no... no I don't believe this no ... he was innocent... they didn't deserve this.. no ...
I fight back the urge to vomit, and try to wiggle out of Akuma's icy death grip, I manage to grab ahold of the edge of his robe.
It's no use I can't move Kiyoshi's poison is still in my system.
"Stop it, don't die big brother ....Kiyoshi.. you idiot... get up! Can't you see Akuma's hurt. Just kill me then, and bring him back. XiaoLong rewind time ...give me back my brother! I rather die again! Help me ... please I won't ask for anything ever again please help him. Somebody! Ahhhhhhh!!" She lowered her head, crying soundlessly..not having the strength to speak anymore. Her stomach full of disgust with herself. She felt so pathetic she was reborn and couldn't even save the ones closest to her. Her shoulders shook with rage and self loathe. It was a misunderstanding... it's always a misunderstanding... no ... no...NO!
Her spirit energy inside thrashes back and forth... till it forcefully unlocked; outlining her in a halo of chaotic spirit energy... the halo breaks in half sucking all the surrounding natural spirit energy converting into two snake like tornados.
The tornadoes grew larger swirling together and clashing-transforming all the natural energy into green swirls of pure earth energy... shooting directly into Shinahs eyes.
Her pupils expanded accepting the massive swirls of condensed energy, the green glow flowing into her eyes along her meridians through her Direct Line filling her heart to the brim with healing energy. It slinks back up cleansing every vein and muscle purifying her bloodstream and pulsating in her hands.
She coughs out the poison, black blood dripping down her lips... she gently places her fluorescent green hands on Akuma. Placing one on his chest and the other on his back she shoots a stream of healing energy into Akuma.
The entire process of converting natural spirit energy into- pure earthly elemental energy-into healing spirit energy ..lasts less than a five seconds.
The shock of energy briefly resets Akuma's heart rhythm.
The green glow begins healing his cuts and burns from the inside out, restoring his back to its original smooth and pale appearance.
She releases a hand to connect Akuma and Kiyoshi's hands and released another burst of energy to heal Kiyoshi, before falling from exhaustion... at the center of their joined hands.
——
Rai Shen finished the meeting with his father and ambassador of the Spirit Beast Kingdom and was carrying a pink cloth full of cookies for his cute little sister.
Halfway to his mothers courtyard he felt both his brothers spirit energies clashing ... feeling Kiyoshi's spirit energy becoming more unstable he rushes forward.
This brother of his always causing trouble..
"I'll definitely punish him later, Little Shin better be safe." He arrives at his mothers door nearly running into Ya Ling.
"Ya Ling don't let anyone enter." Then Shen closes and locks the door shut.
"—WASNT STRONG ENOUGH TO SAVE YOU BOTH SOONER! ...THE WEEPING WILLOW KINGDOM SENT... WE... I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE STILL ALIVE... ..... please... forgive me."
That's Shinahs voice... she's crying again... just how much pain has she endured to cry so sorrowfully...
They must be in the garden. I feel Kiyoshi's spirit energy spiking... what's going on?
Chaotic clashes of spirit energy destroys the garden, patches of fire erasing the once beautiful flowerbeds.
"Stop it!!! Akuma's hurt! Stop it Kiyoshi! STOP! Please just stop!"
Listening to Shinah's heartbreaking sobs, were equivalent to bathing in a smoldering vat of lava for Shen... he felt an overwhelming sense of anguish.
He reacts instinctively tossing his sword towards his brother, nailing his sleeves to the barrier halting his attacks.
Unfortunately the barrier couldn't withstand another heavy attack and shattered on impact.
As the steam lifted, Shen rushes over to check on his siblings.
Akuma's really bad... his heart beat was faint but there was enough time to administer some healing elixirs.
Kiyoshi's emotional unstable but fine nonetheless...
Now Shinah... she's ..
Shen reaches out for Shinah when she screams out. Her spiritual energy knocking him a few steps back...sending the garden into chaos again.
"..."
Shen stood looking over his siblings laying together with a complex expression.
She has the ability to control and meld different spirit energies into elemental spirit energy and in... its purest form ..... in seconds? My god my adorable Little Shinahs a genius... and she only cultivated for the first time today....but I have so many unanswered questions... Who's XiaoLong, is that her master ...and he can stop time.. what were Kiyoshi and her arguing about. What's the Weeping Willow Kingdoms roll in this.. Why is she sharing secrets with Kiyoshi and not me? Does she like Kiyoshi more? Is he threatening her? There's definitely more to all this... and I will find out!