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Continue from Book 8, Izarku and Keimos are engaged in a fierce fight. "Why are you hiding/shunning from me, Izarku? Are you really that afraid of me??"
Keimos cast a blow to Izarku, who rebounced the blow back to him. Suddenly, Izarku's forehead split an opening . It showed a faint sight of his horn. "Urgh!" Izarku screamed in pain. < I must leave here. If I continue to waste time, I'll never get to Noriko.> Izarku felt the wall for any exit. Any way that he could blast apart. "Not bad, you can reflect my blow back. But, it's different this time," His hands fueled with black flames.
Izarku felt a tight grip on his chest & grimanced in pain. "Urgh..." < My body is tightening up, this is the symptom that heaven's ghost strength is starting to overcome my conscious. However, if I am to defeat that fellow, and head for the exit, I must once again expand to that limit.>
Izarku felt uncomfortable.
In the meantime Noriko was locked up in a room at the top of a 3-storey high building. She was thinking of escaping. A window was wide open, but she dared not jump. Noriko tried the door. It was stubbornly locked. She pounded hardly at the door. The guards outside ignored her. Back to Izarku.
He was being 'electrocuted' by Keimos, who had grabbed his arm, flexing him down. Izarku flipped Keimos aside, throwing him hard against the wall. His horn had grown out from his forehead. Rachef was at a side, watching. "You can never defeat Keimos, Izarku. If you keep on thinking about Noriko, you can never use Heaven Ghost's powers. What's more you're trapped here, and Keimos's strength, is far more than you can win," By that time Keimos had stood up, giving a wicked smile as his face revealed a more devilish look. He had his hands on the biggest root ( the roots that are part of him/ listen to his commands) and it started to travel to where Izarku was. Keimos rode on it, laughing out loud. Izarku was shocked to see roots emerging from all places. "Izarku! You think you can run away from me?"
Pain striked Izarku again.
< Just a few distance.... away from the exit, just a bit more...>
"Urgh!" A sharp root had pierced Izarku staright through his body. "Bingo!" Keimos shouted in triumph. "Urgh!!!!!" Izarku was pinned onto a larger root. "Give me your life!" Keimos shouted again. Smaller roots pierced through Izarku's body, two on his arms and one on his left thigh. Izarku spilt blood . "I've won! I'm the winner!!!!" Keimos laughed. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~!!!!" Izarku cried out painfully.
"NO!!!!!!!!!" Noriko screamed. She had saw what happened to Izarku. "Izarku!!!" Noriko covered her ears in horror and disbelief. "Heaven Ghost has just been captured. 'Awakening' should know about it, right?" Tazashina said, laughing with triumph.
"Izarku, Izarku!!!" Noriko screamed in sheer distress. Later she stopped her cries, and stood up.
Back to Izarku.
"Looks like Keimos has subude him." Rachef said. Izarku had changed his old human form back, but he was fatigued, drained out of energy .
Back to Noriko.
There was silence in the room. Tazashina and the guards paused in puzzlement.
"I have a bad feeling about this. Open the door!" Tazashina commanded.
When they got into the room, they couldn't see Noriko. "Look! That window's open!"
They rushed towards it and found Noriko standing on the window ledge, preparing to jump over to the nearest tree. She was shivering with fear and anxiety. Fearful because she was afraid to miss the tree, anxious because she had to get to Izarku fast.
"Doros! Lend your chimos to us!" Tazashina commanded. Doros hesitated. The rest of the guards started pressing him as well. Doros thought of the unpleasant comments made by Keimos, Rachef and the rest, and then made his decision.
By that time Noriko had jumped, but she missed the tree by inches. She was about to fall to the ground when Doros suddenly appeared using his last pair of chimos and saved her.
"I'll take you to that guy!" Doros, with Noriko in his arms, flew to where Izarku was. The guards went frenzy but they could do nothing. In the meanwhile Doros and Noriko had reached a village but it is difficult to fly with two at the same time.
They're proceeding far too slow. Doros wanted Noriko to use one of the chimos but that one wasn't trained yet, so they still have to depend on the other trained one. Noriko was worried about Doros as he was heavily breathing, and asked him why he wanted to help her. Doros spoke of the how they made use of him, bully him, and make him feel like a dummy. He wanted to rebel to prove his integrity. Back to Izarku.
Keimos grabbed Izarku's hair and jerk him up. " You are in such a sorry condition, Izarku. Coming to think of it, you're still not dead even in this manner, how truly a monster you are. Anyway you're just a tool for us. A monster with no freewill. Hey, Did you hear that voice? It’s summoning you. Let's go. So that you will become our slave," Izarku said nothing, as he was thinking. He was carried to where Rachef is. Izarku was worried for Noriko, and apologised in his heart for not being able to protect her.
Meanwhile, Noriko and Doros reached an open ground. "This is really different from just now. We've really flown half the distance...." She paused as she saw Doros panting sickly. Later he collasped. "Doros!" Noriko kneeled beside the collasped Doros. Doros struggled to get up.
"No, don't. You'll die if you do! I can cover the rest of the distance myself. I know the way," She cried as she hugged Doros.
"But you still have a long way to go...", Doros raised his feeble hand in an attempt to stop her. Noriko held his hand tightly and said, "Thank you. You've exhausted yourself to bring me here, and now I have to leave you behind, I'm so sorry. Thank you, I really thank you!"
Noriko stood up and ran off. Doros struggled to stand up. Suddenly a voice spoke,"It's impossible. You'll die if you continue,"
Doros turned his head in surprise. "Who... who is that?"
Noriko cried as she ran. She wanted to be with Izarku no matter what happens. That's the only thing she can do for Izarku.
"Noriko!" Doros caught up with her. "But how ?" Noriko asked in surprise. "He helped me!" Irku appeared. Noriko was happy to see him. "I've got help from my fellow friends so that both of you can fly together," he said. "Let's go!" Doros shouted.
< Don't come, Noriko!> Izarku said in his heart. < You'll only get involved.>
Noriko and her company reached a cave.
"This is the entrance to where he is, but we can't accompany you further. Doros can't either, because he will faint if he loses our support, " Irku explained. "You have to go alone, you understand what I mean?"
Noriko smiled, "I'm not alone. Because I am going to meet Izarku now. Thank you for taking me here!" She waved and entered the cave.
Izarku felt Noriko's presence at once. < Noriko, why do you like me so much? My parents avoided me since I was a kid, so are the others. Wonders what kind of a person I am in Noriko's eyes. This me.....Me? What is wrong? Deep in my heart, this unnatural feeling? Feel a little bit of difference, as a Heaven Ghost. Is it because I wanted to run away from my fate, that all along I am unable to face it? But no matter how I struggle, I'm still here. Why is this so? Frustration, agony, people I've first met, natural evolution, Gloominess, my acquantance with Noriko, healing of my loneiness. 'Heart', what is it actually? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? >
"Hey people, look! The mirror shows some images!" Zena touched the mirror. "In the darkness, there seems to be some ray of light. Rays....in the midst of darkness....they look as if they want to struggle free...."
Back to Izarku. Keimos and Izarku had arrived at Rachef's place where there was a huge black pool on the ground. Rachef told Keimos to throw Izarku in it. Noriko, who appeared from above, shouted. "Izarku!" Upon seeing Izarku falling, she jumped down as well.That really made Izarku glare in astonishment . "Get her, Keimos!" Goriya shouted.
I'm not Heaven Ghost!
Keimos moved to stop Noriko.
I am who I am! Instantly, brillant light burst out in the midst of darkness, which shone the whole place so brightly that all the people, either in the cave or looking at the mirror, was blinded by the overwhelming light.
Noriko, who opened her eyes again from the bright light, saw Izarku flying towards her with a pair of angelic wings on his back. "Izarku!" Noriko hugged him in happiness. Izarku had shattered the chains that was locked on him by the Darkness. Izarku, who carries Noriko, kept flying until they are out from the cave. The wings on his back diappears as they touched down. However, when they reached the ground, Izarku collasped at once. He coughed out some blood. "Izarku!", Noriko was shocked and dreaded. "You must hang on! You mustn't die!"
"I'm alright," Izarku grabbed her arm and spoke with gratitude and relief. Irku found them and urged Doros to take them to a safer place. Keimos, who managed to get onto the surface, roared in frustration when he couldn't find them. In the meantime, the Darkness vows to get rid of Noriko.
Back to Noriko. She was cleaning the wounds on Izarku. "Wings?" Izarku said in confusion. The wounds are healing by themselves.
"Yes, how to say.... I saw a wing-like glowing thing appearing behind your back," Noriko gently careless him on his forehead.
"I.... don't remember," Izarku closed his eyes. "It's alright now. You can take a good rest," Noriko watched Izarku as he rests.
Back to Rachef.
Rachef asked Goriya to find Izark and Noriko, but he couldn't because a barrier is shedding their presences; which they didn't know it was the work of Irku and his fellow friends.
Doros came with some food and headed to the nearby river to wash them clean.
"Can you eat, Izarku?" Noriko asked Izarku.
"No, I don't feel like eating, go ahead yourselves," Izarku spoke.
Noriko looked at the wounds on his chest. She had wiped away the blood but the wound-marks are still on his body.
Noriko turned her head away as she couldn't bear to see the wounds.
Izarku said nothing but pulled her skirt. She turned to face him. "Face me. I'll feel lonely if I don't see your face."
Noriko flushed at once, but realised he was poking fun of her when he smirked.
"There you go again, Izarku! Humouring yourself with my responses," Noriko growled in disapproval.
Izark laughed out loud, but stopped as he had aggravated his pain. Noriko paused, and laid down beside him, "You're fine now, aren't you? Recovered until you can start joking, phew...." Noriko heaved a sigh of relief.
Izark rummaged her hair in affection.
"Frankly speaking, I’ve never been as grateful as now that you are Heaven Ghost. If you are an ordinary person, you would be dead long ago. Although you suffered from such serious wounds, it is Heaven Ghost's powers that brings you safely back to me. I'm really thankful for it," Noriko said gratefully. Izarku listened with a slight smile.
"That’s right. This fate, is a part of me, but not my nature. Noriko, I think all along we're finding a way to escape from this fate, and it really does exist. Just as you brace up to face it, at the same time challenging it..... At that time, in the deepest place of my heart, I saw something; and in that spilt second, astonishing powers burst out from there. When I regain my senses, the only thing I knew was that I am desperately flying out while carrying you. But that feeling vanishes very fast. If I could ever firmly get a feel of it, that would be really great....." Izarku turned his head, only to find Noriko already fallen asleep. Doros appeared shortly. Izarku explained to him Noriko's little 'problem'. Doros smiled and started cooking their food. Izarku showed concern as he spoke of Doros's betrayal and that he couldn't go back. Doros replied that he was willing to do so and he had no regrets either. It is Noriko that brought him to his senses that being alive is so great, after being treated like a dummy under Rachef. He told Izarku not to feel indebt to him.
Time passed. Izarku bent down to call Noriko up.
"Noriko, wake up. It’s getting cold, you'll fall sick,"
Noriko opened her eys and saw Izarku. Izarku stood up in front of her. "Izarku! You can get up already?" Noriko exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yes. Doros has kept your share, go and eat them quickly," Izarku turned and walked towards the river. He went to wash his sword’s sheath.
Noriko ate happily. Doros interrupted her thoughts by asking her if she still have some money to buy new clothes and basic necessities. Noriko felt her pocket but she didn’t have it with her.Their money was left in the bag on the horse. Now they had to find a way to get money.
They arrived at a village, where
Doros exchanged the sword’s sheath for some clothes. He had made up a story that they had been robbed, and they're penniness now. The villagers chattered noisily as they were curious about their arrival and background. Most of them are dubious about the robbery, because there ought to be a sword for the sheath. Also they've never heard of robbers in the region either. So they thought that Doros and the rest had accidentally dropped their belongings into a swamp, and didn't dare to tell them the truth as they are afraid that the villagers will laugh at them. All of them are curious how Izarku and Noriko look like so they ran to take a look (probably they're thinking that Noriko and Izarku may look a bit 'dumb dumb' like Doros ^^) . Noriko noticed them, and tugged Izarku’s arm together to greet them. Izarku looked across the field, which stunned the villagers. The female villagers were blushing, thinking how different Izarku and Noriko looked from what they imagined.
Late at night, everybody had gone asleep. Noriko too was sleeping. However she had a nightmare. She dreamt of Keimos in his alien form, screaming at Izarku not to run away, while Izarku was pierced by tree branches. Noriko, on the other hand, was held back by many pairs of hands in a desperate attempt to run to Izarku. Noriko exclaimed as she opened her eyes in fright.
"What's wrong?" Izarku asked, who was sharing the same bedroll with her. Noriko remembered they had taken shelter in the village.
"Just had a nightmare?" Izarku asked again, now with deep concern on his face.
"Ah, it’s alright. Sorry to wake you up, I’ll sleep quietly," Noriko turned her body to face away from Izarku.
She was still very worried about the incident they had with Keimos and Rachef, and thought of what to do when they came looking for them again.
Izarku, half sitting, pulled the blanket to cover Noriko. he then lay down beside Noriko, his face grim in thoughts.
Am I able to protect him? I've always been trying my best to do what I can. But, in face of such fearful and powerful enemies, how much can I do for them? I receive help from Doros, Izarku uses his powers to get out from there, both of them are battled, and it was Iruku and the rest that saved them. But for me, I know nothing. What if, if anything goes wrong, what am I going to do? My power is so little..... too little to be noticable.
In the morning, the villagers, as well as Noriko, Izarku and Doros, begin to start work. Noriko tried to tie up her hair.
"Hey, Gina. Your hairstyle is different from yesterday. You look fresh," said the uncle’s (who provided the shelter for the night for the three of them) son.
I call myself as Gina and Izarku as Kaizak. "Hmmmm," Noriko made some sound as her mouth clasped a string (for tying her hair) .
Izarku appeared from behind and took the string. "Let me help you,"
"Thank you, Kaizak," Noriko flushed a little. The uncle's son beckoned Izarku to follow him. He wanted Izarku to carry the loads back to the store room.
Izarku took up a load, and was surprised to find it very heavy. The uncle's son add another load to Izarku's, which made Izarku stumbled onto the floor at once. The uncle's son asked why Izarku was stooping, not getting up. Izarku flushed as he told him he can only take one load at a time. That uncle's son laughed and said,"Ah? Really? You can even carry this little load?" Noriko, who was not far away, saw what happened.
Hiding behind the bushes, three female villagers watched them.
"Did you see that?".
"Yup, yup. How weak he is,"
"How can he swing a sword in a condition like that?"
Another man was up in the tree where the three villagers were. "Looks like that person (referring to Izarku) is nothing to worry about."
Noriko became worried for Izarku. She knew Izarku will force himself to work under the hot sun. He was too stubborn, and always endure all hardships alone by himself. He don't really care about himself. Three villagers, who were carrying a cart, saw Izarku in the wheat field. One pointed and said," That's the swordsman everybody's talking about."
Another replied," But I've heard that he may possibly not a swordsman, but an actor." Then they began to make up a story that Izarku and Noriko were having a forbidden love, and that Doros was in charge of the props, who later helped them to escape from the drama troop because some town hooligans had taken fancy of Noriko, while Izarku was too weak to defense.
The next moment, Izarku, who was harvesting the wheat, collasped. Noriko, who was keeping a close watch not far away, ran to help him. She pleaded to one of the villagers to let Izarku rest, and she'll take over the work Izarku haven't finish. Izarku said he would recover soon, and reach out to take his fallen hat. Noriko, seeing Izarku being stubborn again, tapped his stretched hand in anger.
" No way! Listen to me!"
Izarku was stunned, and froze in his action. And so were the villagers who were watching them.
The villagers began gossiping again. This time they reverse the story, saying that it was Noriko that saved Izarku from bad hands. Noriko helped Izarku to a big tree. She told him to rest there. Izarku said nothing, and he's still haven't got out of his daze. Noriko sweated as she thinks she's being arrogant to tell Izarku to listen to her.
While resting, Ewan, the uncle's son approached Izarku. "Hey, did you faint? Don't know what to do with you."
"Sorry", Izarku's face coloured with embarrassment.
"Here, eat this," Ewan gave Izarku some fresh vegetables. Izarku took it with astonishment, and ate them while Ewan watched.
Someone approached them. It was the same man who watched Izarku from the top of the tree. He introduced himself as Rokie. After a brief conversation with Ewan, he went away.
At night, Noriko and Izarku were preparing to sleep. Noriko said something about Jeda's words, saying she couldn't remember much. Izarku wanted to recite what Jeida said but made a face when he found Noriko fast asleep.
"Noriko, come. Sleep here," Izarku carried Noriko and put her on the bed. "You must be tired working so much for today. Oyasumi."
In the morning, Noriko was asked to buy some things. Izarku told her to summon him if anything happens. Noriko was still dubious about Izarku being fully recovered (his strength). Ewan, who was behind, unbearable by their inmidacy and Izarku's 'boasting', edged Izarku's head with his elbow. Izarku was puzzled. Ewan told him to follow. They walked to the unstored piles of crops, and Ewan pointed with his thumb, " Can you take two at one go?"
He thought Izarku was boasting again when he said that he had strength to finish up all the undone work.
He faded when Izarku easily lifted two piles. "I can, with one hand."
Noriko arrived at the destination and talked with the lady shopkeeper. While she was halfway done with the purchasing, Doros appeared.
"Gina," Doros greeted.
"Barago (Doros), what are you doing here?" Noriko asked curiously.
"I would like to buy a new shovel," he replied. Doros gestured the shape of the shovel he wanted to purchase, but the shopkeeper didn't understand him. She asked him to find it by himself, while she continued with Noriko. When Noriko was about to leave, the lady, with a twinkle in her eye, attacked Noriko with some branches out of a sudden. Noriko screamed in shock, which alerts Doros and Izarku. Izarku wasn't sure if Noriko was calling for him, but nevertheless advanced to find her.
Back to Noriko.
Doros ran out of the store immediately to Noriko's rescue. It appeared that the lady was just testing Noriko. The lady was being pulled back away from Noriko by her daughter. Her daughter apologised about her mother's weird behaviour. "But I just want to test her capability since all the villagers say that she's a swordswoman," the lady said meekily.
"Swordwoman.......Me?", Noriko pointed to herself in surprise.
"That’s just a rumour," The daughter scolded her mother.
"Ah, Kaizak", Noriko gasped in surprise when she saw Izarku. She didn't know Izarku will come.
"Ah, Hanna, look! He is the actor," said the lady.
"Actor?" Izarku looked confused.
Doros went back to the field, leaving Noriko and Izarku behind. "Let's walk a little. It's such a fine weather today," Izarku said to Noriko. Noriko happily agreed.
While they walked, Noriko told Izarku that Doros had referred Noriko as his saviour when he came to her rescue.
"That’s because he is thankful to you. He said that while you were asleep the day before."
Noriko became nervous. "Huh? Why? Why? Isn't that natural? I mean, anyone will do the same if they come across that kind of situation....."
"You are right. But...We know nothing about him. Perhaps it is something that you've said stimulate him," Izarku smiled at her fondly for a brief moment before continuing,"I was saved by you too. Since I was a child, I was rejected by all the people around me, even I cannot face myself, and only thought of escaping. Only you are willing to show care and concern for me. Thanks to you."
Noriko blushed furiously. She stammered, "That’s..That’s because the power comes from both of us. I just did what I think proper...." Suddenly she paused, remembering Jeida’s words. Feelings were so overwhelming that tears began to swell.
"What’s wrong ?", Izarku sweated.
"Thank you, I feel courage building up in me this instant," Noriko said happily.
In the shop, Hanna and her mother were talking.
"Hope to see him again," her mother sighed.
"There will be a chance, Mother. Brother Rokie is in the town collecting information for us," Hanna said.
Meanwhile 3 newcomers arrived in the town.
"This smell.."
"There is a peculiar smell given out by this town."
"I’m sure they had been in this town a year ago."
"Former Primier Jeida De Girene’s wife and the Guardleader, Aref Erazard."
"The huge reward are definately ours."
Finished for book 9.
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