The day would soon be over. Tomorrow, they will be in Clorina again. Tsukiyomi wondered how long Lazhu had waited to get these letters. He loved Lazhu a lot. He thought about how caring she was, how similar to Rose she was.
The group sat out on the bow of the ship under the setting suns. Auquirious was strumming a lyre and Mei hummed along. Fukuro joked with Karasu and Kiri. Qingse seemed to be looking over the railing. Tadashi and Tsuki just sat and listened, enjoying living for once. Qingse's face lit up as the ship passed over something bright. They jumped up, a frightened look on their face. Everyone got up and looked over the edge to see a pit of fire underneath them. Flames climbed the side of the walls, screaming and burning flesh came from the pit.
"Holy Rose…that's wall Claudonia…what the hell is happening?" Mei exclaimed, all of the laughing before had stopped, all of the joy had gone away. Fukuro had become completely serious.
"It has to be the Chi clan. Their taking over walls. Wall…after wall, after wall, after wall. That's what happened to our wall. Destroyed, and taken over. They killed everyone, taking only the money and the men, yokai and demons. All the humans were killed. He takes and takes and takes, making an army. For what? He takes the men back to Dakai and brainwashes them. Soon, that Yokai King, he'll have all of Moonrose in his grasp. Until there's nothing left for him to take." she said. Karasu put his arm around her as they stared at the flames. Everyone's face was lit up, they stayed silent for a moment, just hearing the crackling of the climbing flames and the screams and cries of helpless people who were dying. There was nothing they could do and it was only a matter of time before the Chi clan would reach other walls.
Mei Lian whispered something in Auquirious's ear. She nodded and the two went to grab the lyre.
"Well, I bless every soul who dies tonight. I bless that they find their way to wherever it is we go when we pass." Auquirious said, placing her fingers on the lyre's strings. It seemed she had memorized a melody to Mei's singing. Mei began to hum along to the melody. The rest of the group made their way back over to surround them. And the moment Tsuki heard his sister's voice, nostalgia filled his head, his mothers voice returned to his memory. And the song sounded familiar. He never expected she could sing, and it was beautiful. But half of it, Tsuki couldn't understand. It was in japanese. But Tadashi translated it. The original words were; 'Akai Ito, Akai Ito, Akenai You Wa Nai. Akai Ito, Akai Ito, Please Never Let Me Go. Watashi No Koto O Wasurenaide. Kako Wo Sutesarou, Soba Ni Itekudasai. Rose Take Thy Soul And Make It Strong.'
It Translated to; Red String, Red string, There's Always Light Behind The Clouds. Red String, Red String, Please Never Let Me Go. Don't Forget Me. You Shall Shed Your Past But Stay By My Side. Rose Take Thy Soul And Make It Strong.
Tsukiyomi couldn't quite put his finger on where he heard the song before. But when Mei finished, everybody dragged themselves to be. Tsukiyomi got back to the room, staring at the locked chest on his bed. He couldn't help but be curious about it and open it again. Inside were many letters. Folded, some ripped, some intact still and some in pieces. But they were all either addressed to Rose or him. He dug his hand in there and pulled out a fully intact letter. The paper was soft and felt used. He looked back into the chest, reading the covers of most of the letters. 'My Dear Loyal Apprentice' 'To My Apprentice' 'My Tsuki' 'To His Blessed Soul'.
Tadashi knocked at the door, spooking Tsuki. "You alright?" He asked calmly, he came over and sat next to Tsuki on their bed, putting his arms around him. Tadashi rested his chin on Tsuki's shoulder.
"I was curious, and I wanted to read some of these. I'm surprised at the condition some of these are in." Tadashi nuzzled his chin on tsuki's shoulder, Tsuki chuckled slightly.
"What?"
"Nothing, Tadashi, you've just been very touchy lately."
"Is that wrong?"
"Of course not," Tsuki put his hands on Tadashi's arms. "It's perfectly fine."
"I love seeing your smile." Tadashi says, picking up one of the letters and looking at it closely. Tsuki picked up an older looking letter with a drawing of a horse on it. He read the first part of it. 'I've learned many things about you, Tsukiyomi. Your preferences, likes, dislikes, what you like to eat and don't eat. You are very picky, I must say. I went to the stables today and groomed your horse for you, as a thank you for helping me train. Kyousuke is a very strong and very good horse. She is very well behaved.'
The name 'Kyousuke' stuck with Tsuki. Tadashi read the letter. He could tell Tsuki's mind was on that one. The name to be specific.
"This must be talking about your warrior horse. There's a story about that horse being spiritually magical. That's why you, in your past life, were so powerful next to Rose. Kyousuke was its name."
The name left a stain on Tsuki's tongue, then again so did a lot of other things he thought were familiar. Wall Claudonia crossed his mind, making his hairs stand. The thought of all those deaths made his arms tingle. He was scared. What if that happened to Whither? His thoughts were interrupted by Tadashi.
"It surprised me when your sister started singing."
"I guess I was a bit surprised too. I knew her voice was good, but I didn't know that good. She's kinda like Lazhu, their both really good-"
"Something else is on your mind, isn't it? You're thinking a lot."
Tsuki pushed the letters aside, lowering his head against Tadashi's arms that were still wrapped around him.
"What if what happened to wall Claudonia tonight happens to the others? Like Glorophina, or even Clorina. What about Whither? All of those innocent people, they would all be dead."
"Tsuki, You can't save everyone. But we can try. We just have to stop you know who and the Chi clan."
There was a lot more Tsukiyomi wanted to say, so much he was thinking about. But really, there was nothing else to be said. He had read enough and learned all he could. He was put at ease with a goodnight kiss, as the night passed. He dreamed of the song his sister sang, but it wasn't Mei singing. It was Lazhu.
The sun shone through the small window along with the smell of wine. It was something he hadn't smelled in a while. He sat up slowly only to feel a tug on his arm, bringing him back down. Tadashi's eyes slowly opened next to him.
"You're up before me, did you sleep alright?"
Tsukiyomi nodded, their temples touching and meating with a kiss. They both got up, getting dressed and out of their room. Tsukiyomi followed the smell of wine down the hall, he had forgotten to put his hair up. Tadashi stopped him, the replacement ribbon for the lost green one in his hand.
"Love, what's your rush?" Tadashi said, putting Tsuki's hair up.
"I smell wine."
"Wine? Tsuki You're far too-"
"It's been too long!" Once his hair was put up, he pulled away from Tadashi and ran to the kitchen. Sure enough, there were flasks of sake and wine and other alcoholic beverages. It seemed Auquirious was cleaning stuff out and drinking some herself.
"Mornin' Tsukiyomi!"
"What's with all of this?"
"Eh, just stocking the kitchen with more wine. We was runnin' out. You want some?" She began to pour him a glass. He took it and gulped it down. Tadashi came into the kitchen. He looked disappointed.
"Woah, ye really know how to drink! Where'd' ye learn that from?" Auquirious laughed, seeing as Tsukiyomi was indeed very good at handling a drink. He finished and wiped his mouth.
"Kibishi." Tsuki said, Auquirious almost choked. Tsukiyomi tried to go for another sip but Tadashi had taken away the cup and bottle and gave them back to Auquirious.
"Oh, Come on, Tadashi! Let the boy drink some! It's light, he'll be fine! We'll be in Clorina soon. Last night, uh… we passed over wall Marigold only ter see it was all in flames."
Tsukiyomi slammed his fist on the table, "Bullshit!" He exclaimed, his sister entered the room.
"It's true," she said, "The sound of screaming rang through our ears all night. It was terrible. Who knew the Chi clan could destroy something so big so fast."
Auquirious threw one of the bottles, breaking it. "That Damned bastard Yokai King. I'LL KILL HIM! Thinkin' he can take anything he wants!"
Tsukiyomi realized everyone was affected by Kibishi too. Not just him. Not only has the man ruined his life but everyone else's as well. He felt it was partially his fault. Kibishi was looking for him, he wanted him back. And he'll do anything he wants. Not only to destroy everything but to take and take until there's nothing left.
"We'll stop him!" Mei exclaimed, "All of us together! Me, you, Tadashi, Auquirious, Kiri, Qingse, Karasu and Fukuro, All of us! We'll stop him!" Mei looked at Tsuki with such innocence and determination in her eyes, his spirit lifted. But he didn't keep his hopes high. He still blamed Kibishi's doings on himself. None of this would have happened if Tsuki had just stayed with him. No one would've gotten hurt, no one would've died. If Kibishi got to Whither, that would be it. All of the people he had met, the place he called home, it would all be gone. And it was his fault so he had to fix it.
A shock of pain burst through his veins as the area around him turned to dust and was replaced by darkness and water. He was pushed, the black water getting into his eyes. But something hit his lips, pushing him down into the water. His sight returned only to be frightened by the sight of Kibishi. He pushed the figure away and screamed. His voice echoed through the endless void of darkness. 'Kibishi' laughed. "I finally have you!" Tsuki continued to scream. He screamed for help, for Tadashi. He kicked Kibishi, but his figure faded into the black water, splashing all over him. He heard his own voice laugh. He plugged his ears trying to block out the sound of The Reflection.
"DON'T IGNORE US!"
"There is no us!!" Tsuki screamed back. A sharp hand wrapped around his neck and pushed his head into the water. Tsuki felt like he might actually drown as he struggled and reached for the Reflection. It smiled down at him, empty red eyes and a face resembling his, only with fangs and scales and pointed ears and horns. A distortion of his own body. It laughed psychotically again, Tsuki gasped as he found himself back in his own world. His head spun and he backed into the table, falling down.
"Mina, what happened, you completely blacked out there!" Mei asked, concerningly. Tadashi helped Tsuki up, Tsuki held back tears.
"As far as I'm concerned, it was another 'episode'." Tadashi said, Mei looked upset and confused.
"Mina, what are you not telling me?" She exclaimed, "Do you not even trust your own sister?!"
"Mei Lian, Not now, alright? Calm down!" Tadashi fought back. Auquirous pushed the two apart, running to the window. She looked panicked as her face lit up.
"Not to make anything worse, but ye might want to come see this." Tsuki pushed away from Tadashi and looked out the window. Below the ship was Clorina, in flames. Smoke rose over the wall. His legs trembled as his blood boiled. A rush of adrenaline and something else that came over him made him run to grab his katanas. Tadashi called after him. He didn't listen. The only person that was on his mind was Lazhu. He grabbed his katanas and put on sky gear and headed for the bow of the ship. Everyone had chased after him. Mei was furious.
"Mina, what the hell, you're crazy! You can't go down there! Only a suicidal psychopath would do something like that!"
Tsukiyomi looked at her, standing on the edge of the ship ready to glide down. He was going to save Lazhu and end Kibishi. "Well, if that is what it means to save someone who I love then I will gladly take that title."