Written by: Siona
Yeah! I finally started on this again! ^^ Now everyone’ll stop bugging me to do it!! Whoo hoo!! *clears throat* Well, anyway. Last time we saw Atarashii, she had been transported to a world not our own. *creepy music starts to play* Who’s the chick calling Atarashii Ichi? READ AND FIND OUT!!!
“Welcome back…Ichi. I’ve waited so long for you to return.” Atarashii was stunned. This woman thought she was Ichi! Maybe she knew where her friends were. “Who are you, and where are my friends?!” The woman raised her arm slightly and pointed behind her. Atarashii gasped out in horror. It was the Kaioshins, along with Judaiko and Taihen! They had been tied to the wall with vines. From the look of it, they were unconscious, but unharmed. Atarashii looked up at the woman and yelled, “Let them go! What do you want with them anyway?” The lady smirked, sending chills up Atarashii’s neck. “I will use the Kaioshins’ immortality to become immortal myself, and absorb your and the other two Guardians’ magic to become more powerful!” She suddenly stopped smiling, frowning. “Now I can have my REVENGE!” The woman raised her arms and the setting changed. The glass, water, and stone faded away and became a beach. But instead of sunlight and hot lifeguards, the water was dark, moving slowly. A mist hung over the sand, making it hard to see. “This is definitely not Miami.” Atarashii murmured to herself. She looked back at the witch and said, “Why have you taken us here?” “Because my element is the Sea. You know that, or have you forgotten, Ichi?” “Why is she going on about Ichi?” Atarashii said quietly. She took a quick glance around her and was relieved to see that the woman had brought her prisoners with her. Now all she had to do was figure out how to rescue them. She looked down at her staff. Maybe… Suddenly, the woman yelled and a great wave began to rise up, coming straight at Atarashii! The young girl barely had any time to dive out the way, drenched by the water crashing on the beach. The woman smiled and raised her hands again, causing two more tsunamis to emerge. “Now Ichi, you shall release me, or die!” Atarashii had a split second to act. Holding her staff in hand, she cried, “Bow and arrows!” The staff glimmered and shape shifted. “No, no! Arrows with ropes!” The staff shook, as if it was miffed, but then it did as she said. “Ha!,” the woman yelled as she sent the waves roaring towards Atarashii. “Have to hurry!” Atarashii loaded the bow and pointed it at the wall where the others were held captive. The bow let loose and the arrow flew straight and true. “Yes!” Atarashii grabbed the rope, snapped up as she sailed upwards and landed by the prisoners. Pulling the arrow out, she yelled, “Sword!”
Below, the woman said to herself, “Strange, Ichi. Last time we met you wouldn’t have given those gods a second thought and battle me…” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “You have certainly changed…”
Atarashii busily chopped away at the vines holding Taihen and Judaiko. As soon as she was loose, Taihen began to regain consciousness. “Ohhhh, where am I?” Atarashii was overcome with joy. “Oh, you’re okay! Can you stand?” Taihen tested her legs. “I think so. Hey! We’re at the BEACH!?” “Yeah, it’s a long story. Come on, help me with Judaiko!” “Oh, sure.” The pair cut at Judaiko’s bonds and the young woman collapsed into their arms. She groaned, apparently not able to stand, let alone escape. Atarashii turned to Taihen and said, “Taihen, we’ve got to get out of here, NOW.” “But what about the Kaioshins?!” “We can only take one more…” Atarashii turned to the gods, knowing even if she spared one, they could be useless. Wait a sec… “Rou, it has to be Rou.” “Are you SERIOUS!?” “Yes. I think Rou knows who this woman is and what to do about her! He recognized that book I had, remember?” “Oh, I forgot about that. I guess you’re right, let’s go!” “But Taihen, how DO we get them out of here?” Taihen looked up at the sky and gasped. “Look! The sky has holes in it!” “Um…those would be clouds.” “Just LOOK!!” Atarashii looked up and almost fell over in shock. Taihen was right; the sky was full of holes. From the looks of it, there were flowers up there…flowers very familiar-looking… “Taihen, we’re in the well! Those patches are flowers from Minami’s garden! I think if we go upwards, we can escape!” “But-but…what about the others!?” Atarashii turned to the others. They couldn’t take all of them…but what would happen if she left them? Her gaze caught Minami’s almost peaceful face; he almost looked like he was sleeping. What would Minami have done…? “We…we have to go Taihen! They’d want us to, I know it! Get Rou, I’ll take care of Judaiko. Use my staff. ” Taihen seemed startled, but she went over and began to cut at Rou’s bondages. As soon as the old man was free she gave Atarashii her staff back and picked up Rou. “Okay, NOW what?” Swinging Judaiko’s arm around her shoulder, Atarashii pointed up. “We have to avoid that wacko and get out of here!” “Alright, let’s go!” The pair leapt into the air with their companions in their arms when two enormous tsunamis threatened to overcome them. “Watch ooooooooooooooooooout!” Atarashii screamed as the wave came down. Below them, the sea-witch said, “You will not escape, not this time, my love.” The teens darted to and fro, avoiding the water bearing down on them. Atarashii yelled out occasionally words of encouragement, mainly to herself. “Come on, you can do it! Just a little farther now!” The four got only a few feet from the surface when Oki shot up another tidal wave. It stretched higher and higher until they could feel the water on their heels when… “It’s…its going back down!” Indeed, the water had begun to reside. Atarashii was surprised, but quickly realized what was happening. “Ha! That woman’s powers over the sea only work IN THE SEA!! She can't get us in the air!” The pair flew quickly up and into the air and a bright flash blinded them… The woman stood, not believing that Ichi had abandoned her…again.
Meanwhile… “OW!!” The girls and Rou had landed outside the well in a heap. It seemed now that they were out of the dimension, Rou and Judaiko had regained consciousness. Rou moaned, “Oh! I think I’m paralyzed!” Judaiko pushed the old man off her chest. “Yeah, everything but your hands and mouth, unfortunately!” Atarashii couldn’t have been more relieved. “You’re alive!” Suddenly, the floor underneath her moved, dumping her onto the floor. “Aah!” Taihen looked at Atarashii grumpily. “Do I LOOK like a bed?! EVERYONE OFF!” Taihen leaped up, tossing everybody here and there. Atarashii rubbed her head. “Ohhhh, pain!!” She looked around and gasped. “Yes! We did it, we’re back!” Judaiko stood up, brushing dirt from her dress. “Back from where, and why are you in uniform?” Taihen smirked. “YOU have some explaining to do, Atarashii!”
“So…this chick seems to think you’re Ichi?” Atarashii nodded, glad she had friends with quick wits. “Yep. She went wacko on me. I don’t know why.” “Weird. Like Stephen King weird.” “Oki.” The girls turned around and looked at Rou, who looked very strained. “Oki…thinks you are Ichi because you both look alike and you have her ki. She will not stop hunting you until she finds you, Atarashii.” Atarashii turned to face the old man. “Why is she after me? Did Ichi do something to her?” Rou said, “Ichi…Ichi was…library…” Suddenly, he moaned and fell forward in Atarashii’s arms. “ROU!! GET OFFA ME!” Then Atarashii noticed a bloody bruise on Rou’s neckline. “Rou! Guys, what should we do?!” Judaiko bent down and picked up the old man; being so old and frail, he wasn’t very heavy. “We should get him to bed. He said something about the library, so we’ll look in there once we take care of Rou.”
“Do ya see anything, Chicken?” Taihen yelled up at Atarashii. They had spent the past 3 hours looking for a clue. After drawing straws, Atarashii was the one who had to climb the 10-foot ladder to look at the top shelves. *Imagine the library from Beauty & The Beast!! XD* Atarashii moaned as she looked down. Oh why WHY did she have to be so afraid of heights!? “N-n-n-n-no! CAN I GET DOWN!?” Judaiko motioned for her to come down. “Sure.” Atarashii sighed and quickly scaled down the ladder. “Guys, we have searched this entire library and found nothing! Zero! Zilch! Nadda! NOW what!?” “Atarashii, settle or your head’s gonna blow up from the stress. We can’t panic. Rou clearly said library and Minami is the only Kaioshin with a library. *He seems to be the reading type, okay!?* So whatever Rou wanted us to find has got to be in HERE. Spread out and keep looking!” “Right!” “Yes ma'am!” The girls spread out, looking under desks and rugs. Dust flew everywhere as they moved books that hadn’t been touched, much less cleaned, in a millennia. Suddenly, Atarashii noticed a small box wrapped up with shipping paper and tied with a ribbon before under a shelf. It seemed to be supporting it, but she guessed that the shelf would stay up if she removed it. “Hey Taihen, Judaiko! I found something, might be what Rou was gonna tell us about!” She bent down and wrenched the box from under the legs of the shelf. Bonk. “Nani?” Atarashii looked up and saw several hundred books falling from the top of the tilting shelf. “OH CRAAAAAAAAAAP!!” The avalanche completely enveloped Atarashii till only the hand holding the box could be seen. A small voice could be heard: “Owie.” Judaiko and Taihen walked over. As Taihen dug Atarashii out of her mountain of books, Judaiko plucked the box from Atarashii’s outstretched hand. “Ooh, what’s this?” She ripped the paper to shreds, revealing a small yellow book. “Hey! A book!” Atarashii stood up. “Gee thanks for helping me up Ju!” She said sarcastically. Judaiko was flipping through the book and waved her hand at Atarashii. “Yeah yeah, sure. Hey, look!” A handful of photos had fallen out of the book. It was of Ichi and that woman!! They were… kissing!? “WHA?!” Atarashii grabbed hold of the book and started reading: Nishi Kaioshin’s, or Rou as I am called, records for the year of 0389 . *Author’s Note: Actually, this is Rou, but in my mind he was once the Nishi Kaioshin before he fused. Minami Kaioshin was a girl called Nasai and he loved her. I’ll write a fic on this sooner or later. Okay? Just didn’t wanna confuse ya*
Date: 01-28-89 Weather: calm, breezy Time: close to noon I haven’t been feeling well, so I forgot to write. A few weeks ago, Ichi met her true love; the sea-mistress Oki. The two are very close, seldom apart. I think they are to be wed sometime this month, if not sooner. I thought it was weird that two girls fell in love, but I learned from the Dai Kaioshin that all of the First were females, only having children through…well, you don’t wanna know. Anywho, the preparations are being made for them to be wed. I hope there is cake!! Hee hee!
Date: 02-16-89 Weather: A morning rain shower Time: evening Oki and Ichi were wed today!! Oki had no family to come to the wedding, so Dai Kaioshin and Ni offered to be her maids of honor, while Minami Kaioshin and San were Ichi’s. It was all very well, the food was absolutely fabulous!! I just wish that there had been a girl popping out of the cake or something… Atarashii turned the page. There was water stains on the page, but it was still readable:
Date: 09-30-89 Weather: Floods Time: Unsure I’m afraid. The floods caused by Oki have been raging now for days, and even our Guardians are unsure. They have tried to fight Oki, but Minami Kaioshin, Nasai, my love, was lost to us and I have been unable to eat nor drink in mourning for my beloved. When she was gone, I went mad and tried to destroy Oki myself, but the other gods stopped me. Her body was buried in my garden. We are hatching a plan not to destroy her, for we cannot. Instead, we will seal her away in the only place she can: The well in my garden. I despise the fact that her soul will rest where my lover’s ashes lie, but her death will not go unavenged…
Date: 10-02-89, New Years’ Eve. Weather: normal Time: Early morn We have done it! Oki was sealed away today with the combined powers of the gods and Guardians. At last, Naisa, my love, your soul can rest in peace. I will meet you again, someday… Ichi and I have something in common now; we both mourn those who we cannot bring back. She still does not understand why her lover turned against her. Ichi was the one who had to create a new dimension in my well to trap Oki. She cannot be consulted, keeping to lonesome in her room. I believe that she still hears Oki through their psychic bonds, screaming out revenge and hate to one who loves her still.
Atarashii closed the book. “So THAT’S who that woman is! Oki! She thinks I’m Ichi because I’m her reincarnation and wants me to set her free!! I understand!” Taihen scoffed. “Well, I’m glad we know who she is, but HOW do we get Kaiobit and the other Kaioshins away from her!?” Atarashii scratched her head. “Good question…I suppose we have to go back into that well. It’s the only way we can save the Kaioshins!! Are ya with me?” She put her hand forward. “You bet!” “Yeah!” The three girls put their hands together. “I think we’d best dress for the occasion.” All three concentrated on their staves and took on the appearance of Guardians. Atarashii looked at her two best friends. She knew that together they were unbeatable, and that they would rescue the gods. As they rushed out to Minami’s well, she murmured to herself, “Minami…I’m coming for you…”
~ A rescue mission, cool! *watches Ryan go by* I love rescue missions! See if the trio is able to rescue their godly lovers!! Ja ne for now!! ~Siona
