Back at the lagoon's edge, the standoff continued. The Elder stood her ground, her small frame belying her indomitable spirit. Etsuyo's muscles were coiled tight, ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation. And behind them, Kaname remained silent and hidden, the weight of the moment pressing down on her young shoulders.
The air stood still as the two groups faced each other. The intruders, confident in their strength, savored the fear they inspired. The women, determined to protect Kaname at all costs. And in the shadows, a group of children grappling with a situation far beyond their experience or understanding.
Zei raised his hand in a placating gesture, his voice deceptively calm. "Look... Ladies, we mean you no harm. Just hand over the child, and we'll leave." He motioned to his comrade, silently urging him to stand down.
Etsuyo energy levels spiked, preparing for the unavoidable fight ahead. "Stay back, you foreign bastards. The guards will be here shortly! Now, leave!"
The second intruder bristled at Etsuyo's words. "Bastard!!! ....Why you..." He stepped forward, his hand tightening on his sword hilt.
"Lee, stop!" Zei commanded. His voice low and hostile, yet his face displayed a twistedly intimated smile. "Let's not cause a commotion for the remaining guests."
The Elder's eyes widened at Zei's words. GUESTS??!! Her mind raced, momentarily distracted from the immediate threat. She scanned the area, her senses reaching out. A faint aura of fear tickled her awareness, and with a jolt, she recognized it as Yasushi's. Her eyes darted to Etsuyo, a silent communication passing between them.
In the underbrush, the children struggled to process what they were hearing. Yasushi felt a cold dread settling in his stomach. He looked at his friends, seeing his horror reflected in their wide eyes.
Taichi's hand, still on Yasushi's shoulder, tightened painfully. Koba's face had gone pale, while Megumi and Sachiko huddled closer together, trembling.
The Elder and Etsuyo exchanged quick glances, reassessing their options in light of this new information. Kaname, still hidden behind them, remained silent, but her small frame was tense with fear.
Etsuyo's thoughts whirled in panic. FUCK. WHAT IS HE DOING HERE??! …AND HOW! HOW DID THEY GET HERE?!!... DAMMIT! WHERE ARE THE GUARDS??!
As if in response to Etsuyo's unspoken question, Zei's ominous next words fell like hammer blows, a cruel smile playing on his lips."They're dead."
"HUH!?!" The shock spread through Etsuyo and the Elder's faces, their composure visibly cracking for the first time.
Zei's voice dripped with malicious amusement as he continued, "That's what you ladies are stalling for, right? Those two entryway guards?" He took a step forward, his confidence growing. "Ya see... we paid them a visit on our way here. Such weaklings. They didn't even put up a worthy fight."
The taunt proved too much for Etsuyo. "LIAR!" she screamed, her control snapping. In a fluid motion, she summoned her power, unleashing a water attack that formed into a deadly whip.
The Elder, realizing the danger of escalation, tried to intervene. "Etsuyo, no!" But her words came too late, unable to halt the guard's impulsive action.
Yasushi peered out from behind the brushes, his heart pounding. What should we do... What should we do... His mind torn between the instinct to help and the paralyzing fear of the situation.
Catching a glimpse of Yasushi from the corner of her eye, the Elder, stepped back instinctively, pressing Kaname closer behind her. How did they know where we were and about the child?! Ugh...It's useless to ask these questions right now. FOCUS! I must protect the children! I need to stall for time.
Etsuyo's water whip sliced through the air, aiming straight for Zei. But the intruder's reaction was shockingly casual. With a smirk, he raised his hand and effortlessly slapped the attack away, dispersing the water into a harmless spray.
The ease with which Zei deflected the attack sent a chill through everyone watching. Etsuyo's eyes widened in disbelief, her confidence visibly shaken.
Zei shook his hand, flicking off droplets of water. "Is that the best you can do? I expected more from a Chika guard."
Lee laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Maybe we should show them what real power looks like, Zei."
The Elder stood firm, but the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her fear. "Who sent you?" she questioned, her voice steady despite the dire situation.
Zei's face twisted into a sneer. "I bet you're full of questions, you old hag. But you're in no position to require answers." He took another menacing step forward, his hands beginning to glow with a sinister light. "Now, let's try this again. Hand over the child! ...Don't make me repeat myself." As he spoke, flames erupted from his palms, the heat distorting the air around him.
The Elder, realizing the inevitability of their situation, leaned close to Etsuyo. "We are no match for them, Etsuyo," she whispered urgently. "So get ready! …Kaname…remember what we practiced. On my command, escape."
Kaname gave a slight nod, tension visible in her small frame. The Elder then turned to Etsuyo, "Etsuyo, tend to the others."
Etsuyo's face was grim as she nodded. "Understood."
Their whispered exchange didn't go unnoticed. Lee's patience unraveled. "Stop your whispering and hand over the fucking brat!" he shouted, leaping into the air with his sword drawn.
"NOW!" the Elder commanded.
In a fluid motion, she shed her outer robe and spun around. As the fabric billowed, a thick, misty fog began to pour forth, quickly enveloping the area.
Kaname, responding to the signal, sprinted towards the lagoon, her small figure soon swallowed by the rapidly thickening mist.
Etsuyo sprang into action. Her hands moved in a blur, conjuring a series of water daggers that she launched at the intruders. The projectiles whistled through the air, finding their marks with unerring accuracy. As they struck Zei and Lee's arms and legs, the water instantly froze, immobilizing them.
The mist continued to grow, becoming blindingly thick. Zei and Lee's angry shouts were muffled by the fog, their flames hissing as they struggled against their icy bonds.
With the intruders temporarily restrained, Etsuyo raced towards the treeline where she had sensed Yasushi's presence. She found him frozen in place, paralyzed with fear.
"Young Master, run!" Etsuyo ordered, grabbing Yasushi's hand and carrying him away from the danger, out of the thick fog that enveloped the area.
As they ran, Yasushi's mind cleared, panic giving way to concern for his friends. "What about the others?" he inquired, his voice tight with worry.
Etsuyo's steps faltered, shock evident in her voice. "The others?"
"Sachiko, Taichi, Megumi, and Koba are still back there!" Yasushi shouted, his panic resurging.
Etsuyo skidded to a halt, her face a mask of frustration and determination. "Shit! Wait here, Young Master." Without another word, she turned, bolting back towards the depths of the forest.
Minutes that felt like hours passed before Yasushi saw movement. Megumi and Sachiko burst from the treeline, running towards him. "Megumi! Sachiko! Go back to the palace and get help!" Yasushi instructed, his voice cracking with urgency.
Sachiko hesitated, flustered by his friend's instruction. "Whatta bout you?"
Gathering every ounce of courage he had, Yasushi placed a comforting hand on Sachiko's shoulder, boldly looking into his eyes. "I need to stay here for Taichi and Koba. Now go... Please."
Sachiko nodded, grabbing the reluctant Megumi's hand before dashing towards the palace. As their footsteps faded, an agonizing scream tore through the forest, chilling Yasushi to his core.
OH NO, KANAME!
Without thinking, Yasushi plunged back into the fog, charging towards the source of the scream. The mist clung to him, disorienting and blinding. As he pressed forward, the fog began to thin, revealing a scene that stopped him dead in his tracks.
Terror gripped Yasushi, rooting him to the spot. He fought against the tears welling in his eyes as the horrifying tableau before him came into focus.
Etsuyo lay face down on the ground, Zei's foot crushing her back with cruel force. The intruder's hand was clenched around the Elder's throat, lifting her off the ground. Tears streamed from the Elder's eyes as she struggled for breath, blood trickling from a wound on her forehead.
Zei's face, the embodiment of sadistic pleasure, pulled the Elder closer, his tongue lashing out to lick away her tears. The Elder, defiant even in her agony, spat in his face. Her dissentious act caused Zei to release an unsettling laugh that echoed through the clearing.
Yasushi stood frozen, his young mind struggling to process the brutality before him.
At the peak of his excitement, Zei emitted heat into the hand gripping the Elder's throat, its intensity slowly burning the flesh around her neck, steadily crushing her windpipe. The Elder's eyes became bloodshot, desperately clawing at his hand as she fought to breathe.
Thrilled by the Elder's futile attempts to cling to her life, he gripped tighter, inhaling the aroma of her fleeting life.
*CRUNCH*
- -