But by seeing truth he now saw more. He saw that Draco and Rage were fighting out of fear, a fear of failure. In the short time since he had returned to this world he saw much. The betrayal of one time friends was sad but to be expected in this new world. The darker souls needed to be tested, to be given a chance to come back to the side of good.
The figures were slowly moving across the board as he watched. The statues that symbolized Time, Minerva and Earth had managed to move Unicorn past the castle gates. He quietly interrupted his friends rising argument. “Excuse me brothers but you should take a look here.”
Rage and Draco broke off looking up startled. They both forgot Oak was standing on the other side of the table. He was so still that most time they ignored him like his namesake tree. “What is it Uhanzee?” Jaeoh looked down at the table. For a moment it didn't register but then he looked confused, “Did you move these/”
Oak shook his head. “Your symbols seem to be enchanted Jaeoh.” He watched as the shadow general and his master moved across the board. “and our friends are escaping the castle.”
“What are you doing with these?” Gregor looked confused. “These are Hana’s. How did they get here Jaeoh?”
"Hana asked me to keep this chess set here last week. Said it was from her family.” Jaeoh sounded as confused as his Kouhei. “I thought she didn’t have any living family but I told her she could put it here.” He leaned over the table, resting his fingers on the glass just above the palely glowing unicorn figurine. “This isn’t a chess set, the number of pieces are wrong.” He quickly counted, as he added up the pieces it sunk in that each was a direct correlation to a major player in the current drama.
***
“The door is this way.” Earth continued to the left, avoiding the shadow patrols somehow. Once they made the outer hall, Samuel paused to let the Minervan senshi move ahead. The uproar toward the inner bailey of the castle seemed to distract the guards. She gestured for Time and Earth, then carefully opened the large door. It lead to a small garden, or what had once been a garden. The tree and bushes had been affected by the shadows here, their leaves were shaded from a dark green to black and had a waxy texture.
The three mobile members dashed from cover to cover. Once they got more than 500 yards from the castle, Earth felt a change in Unicorn. She no longer hung limply. He could feel a full body tremble before a hand lifted to his chest. “Put me down please,” a quiet voice asked politely.
Debating for a moment, he dashed behind a larger tree and set Unicorn on her feet. She swayed perilously for a bit, letting Earth steady her with a hand. Time and Minerva watched, waiting for the Star Knight to open her eyes.
“You three should have left me there you know?” Her voice was calm, matter of fact. “By taking me out of the pocket you have let Kaneda know where I am.” She smiled weakly. “Not that I am ungrateful.” She moved her arms carefully and hissed as she made fists.
“There was no way they would leave you there, Star Knight. Time and Minerva would have found any way possible to save you. This time it was me.” He pointed a large thumb at his chest. Minerva started to protest but he held up a hand. “It is all right, Minerva. I know that Time and yourself would have helped me any way but it was better that I was there.”
Unicorn ignored the little byplay. Very carefully she reached for her powers. Being in the shadow realm, or this pocket of it, was muffling her. Her soul power flowed sluggishly. It took her full concentration to pull even a small ball of light into her fingertips. She kept pulling, trying to use her light to clear out the shadow taint but it was not working. She started to sway again. Once more Earth placed a hand on the wounded Knight. “Whatever you are trying, stop it Knight. You are starting to attract attention.” Unicorn sighed, wincing and nodded.
***
Inside the shadow hall things were heating up. Aki had swept into Kaneda’s chamber, feeling smug. He had managed to capture the Star Knight along with another Kouhei and a senshi. While he didn’t get the information he wanted, turning over the women would give him more status with the shadow court.
It was too bad he had to damage his former teacher. He couldn’t understand loyalty to a brother she didn’t know. Her apology was maddening. He had harmed her, burned her pretty white skin and filled her with pain and she still felt sorry for him.
It was too bad but he would trade her in heartbeat for power and control. No one would tell him what to do anymore. He smiled as Seiya oozed over to his side. The former Kouhei was defiantly a plus. Sexy as hell and she enjoyed inflicting pain. She was a tool that he found useful. She leaned against him, running newly sharpened nails over his exposed skin. With a hiss, he shook has head. “It isn’t time to play. I need to let his Darkness know we have his prize.”
Seiya whispered in his ear as Kaneda turned to speak to his general. “The Light bitch has escaped with little Hana, big Sammy and that other girl. They are on the ground, heading toward the wall.” Aki’s eyes widened and then narrowed, as he calculated how to save the situation.
“My lord, it seems we have some visitors in the garden.”
Kaneda’s shadow hood turned directly to his general. “So your guests have escaped?” The cold from the shadow Master slid across the skin of his human minions. With a flick of shadow, he sent Aki to his knees. “Did you think I didn’t know you brought Her into the castle. Into your ‘secret’ room?” The black shadow form oozed closer, floating almost on top of the general. “I knew the moment you captured Her. I felt each blast of energy as you tried to glean the location from Her.”
Aki trembled as pressure built around him. The mindless shadows, pressed him to the floor, holding him in place. Kaneda formed a shadow flail and handed it to Seiya. “You, give Aki a lesson.”
Seiya purred as she took the weapon made of shadow. She ran the strips though her fingers. As the sharp bits cut her fingers she clenched them and let out a soft moan of pleasure, “Happiness is blood and pain.” She whispered. Kaneda lifted Aki back to his feet, holding him in the air and gestured, ripping the robe from his general’s back. With a nod Seiya proceeded to punish her master for her king.
When Kaneda felt his general’s arrogance had been properly punished her let Aki drop back to the ground, dissolving the flail in mid stroke. “Go, now. Bring back our prisoners.” He once more lifted up his general, holding him up at eye level and spoke very quietly.. “Fail me again and I won’t stop till you no longer have a body.” Kaneda swing about gesturing for Seiya to join him and walked or more floated away.
Aki pulled the tattered robe about himself, hiding the wince as he moved his torn skin. Stoically he turned and headed out. Before he left the chamber Kaneda’s sibilant voice filled his head. “Return Her to this room undamaged General.”
Aki snorted and went back to his rooms. The Star Knight was far from undamaged and in his current mood, she would be lucky to be alive if he found her first. He called for Steve. It was time that the surfer earned his freedom.
When Steve strolled in Aki had straightened up and repaired his clothing. “Time to earn your keep Kouhei.” Aki tossed a Kusarigama at the surfer, who managed not to drop the odd weapon. With a handle as long as his forearm, it had a sharp blade attached at a right angle. “What is…this?” He spun it in his hand, careful of where the blade went. With in a few passes the weapon felt natural, like something was guiding his hand.
“It doesn’t matter what it is. What matters is you use it and retrieve your missing team mates from the castle grounds.” Aki snapped his fingers and they were transported directly outside. “You will find where Earth and Time have taken Unicorn and Minerva. Return Unicorn to the castle.”
Steve shrugged. “Anything you wish. Shouldn’t I take a few guards? To help herd them back?”
Aki growled and backhanded the Kouhei traitor. “I sad bring back Unicorn. Even a traitor
like you should be able to handle one injured woman.” He headed back inside to lick his wounds. “I said nothing about bringing back the other three. Use the weapon I gave you and get them out of the picture.”
Chapter Twelve
Cry to Heaven
“We need to keep moving,” Iriko scanned behind them again. “They know we are out here.” Her powers had grown over the past month. For centuries she had been frozen in strength at her level when the moon kingdom fell. But since being reawakened and meeting Unicorn her powers had grown. Her range, once only a few feet was now hundreds of yards. “Someone is coming to get us.”
“Then lets move,.” Suteko’s voice was inexpectedly firm. She turned from the castle, walking toward the wastelands before her.
The landscape as they moved slowly grew less. Less defined, less wild, just less. Within a mile the forest had turned into a gray wasteland. Samuel grew more disturbed the further they traveled. His connection to the Earth was fading as the realm turned into shadow. While still quite strong he didn’t think it was a good thing that it was happening. He kept an eye on his companions. Little Hana hovered near the wounded Star Knight, who seemed to be ignoring the growing blood stains on the makeshift bandages. The growing shadow was slowing her down. What little he had managed to learn about her seemed to be confirmed by her growing weakness. She really was affected strongly by shadows. It was odd but it was clear they had to stop soon to let her rest.
Suteko gritted her teeth. This place was all wrong. The oppressive shadows ate at her. They were being watched closely for signs of weakness and she was holding onto her transformation grimly. She was putting these three in danger but there was nothing she could do. Iriko and Hana were too loyal for their own good. Stopping, she reached for her staff to use it to help her stay upright. Her fingers found nothing. For the first time since she was a child the staff her uncle helped her make was gone. The shock stopped her in her tracks. She felt her transformation slip, sending her back into the gi she had been wearing during training. The extra strength that came with being Unicorn also slipped away, leaving her staggering. Hana was at her side as she fell, stopping her from hitting more than her knees. “Leave me Hana-chan, before they catch up with us. They won’t go easy on you for releasing me.”
“You know that won’t happen Suteko. They get you again and the shadows win.”
“No they only win if they defeat my brother.” She pushed herself away from Hana but didn’t get up. She stayed on her knees panting quietly. "But that won’t happen.” She looked about, “Do any of you see…” she was interrupted as the shadow that had been following them struck.
Rising up out of the shadowy mist, Star Ocean twirled his Kusarigama. “Me?” He smiled at his old team mates. “Surprise. Long time no see.”
Samuel stepped between the women and his past team mate. “Come to join the good guys?” It was obvious by his tone that Samuel didn’t believe that one.
“Nah…just need to take you back old buddy. Need you to help me with Seiya.” There was a gleam in his eye. “She is under the control of Aki and it is gonna take muscles to get her free.”
Samuel was still the trusting soul he once was when it came to his friends. Steve was a good friend. He wanted to trust Steve. They once fought together and played together. But recently happenings made him cautious. And it was a good thing. As he stepped forward Steve twirled the Kusarigama in his hands and then lunged. Samuel’s si was in his hand and he managed to parry the darkly glowing weapon. “What is this?” was all he could say before they were in a vicious battle. Samuel’s natural caution and slower movements while fine against youma was not quite up to holding off his former team mate. Steve spun and managed to land solid blow to Samuel’s shoulder. The angled blade made a deep slice across the meat of his shoulder. The pain was startling but he could feel an ice cold burn of poison slipping into his bones. “Poisoned?” Samuel’s grunt of surprise and pain galvanized Hana into action.
“Iriko! Shield, Suteko!” Hana pulled free her pocket watch, looking about. The shadows didn’t seem to be massing at the moment. Both Kouhei had a dilemma. Steve was one of them but he had just attacked Samuel. “Steve what are you doing?”
Steve spun about grinning. “I’m taking out a traitor of course. You should know that Hana-chan. He tried to hurt you, knocked you out even.” His voice once bright like sunlight on waves, seemed darker now. His bright eyes had gone black like most shadow minions. As Samuel tried to shake off the effect of the poisoned weapon Steve moved toward her. “Why are you even with these three Hana-chan? You should be with good old Gregor.” He quickly spun the Kusarigama catching Hana’s chain and pulling it from her grasp.
The fact that that Steve’s weapon had snagged her own surprised Hana for long moment. Long enough that Steve lashed out with a shadow backed punch. The punch was full strength and snapped her head back, dropping her. He then pulled back a booted foot and kicked her in the head.
Samuel hissed and then roared as he saw his small friend falling to the ground. The Hana he remembered was not a fighter, she was the one that was protected. Bad enough that Steve attacked him but to hit and kick little Hana put his once friend firmly in the camp of evil. He pulled up energy to send a shock wave at Steve but gasped as he lost his link to the Earth. Shaking his head he barreled forward, a raging bull racing toward his target, he couldn’t seem to focus, like he was being drawn down.
Steve grinned as he sidestepped. He had them reacting and not thinking. It was so much fun. Teach them to think he was lazy and easy. He turned his attention to the pretty lavender haired girl. She was standing in front of his target. The bleeding and scorched Star Knight was back in her human form. He couldn’t see at the moment why she was the focus of Kaneda and Aki’s attentions. Obviously her power was broken. Her skin looked ashen from both power and blood loss but everyone seemed to be working at protecting her. “Well that is too bad,” he whispered to himself and started to step forward.
“Stay back, traitor.” Iriko spoke evenly. Still in her Minerva uniform, her powers had not been affected by the shadows. New confidence had been imbued in her by her success back at the stable. “You should be ashamed. Poisoning Samuel and striking Hana. You are no Kouhei,” her voice dripping with contempt. “You are a shadow dog, begging your master for scraps. I will not allow you to harm my friends any more! Minerva Levin Bolt!” She snapped out her hands, sending an invisible force straight into Steve’s head. He staggered to the side, a massive blinding headache almost stopping him in his tracks.
“Poison, what poison?” Steve did his best to look innocent. "All I did was hit him with my weapon.” He started to spin it about to distract the Minervan. “He is weak. Like the rest of my so called friends.”
“So called friends!” That comment angered the normally placid Minervan more. She had been inside Samuel’s mind. Seen his fond memories of hacky sack and surfing with Steve. Had had quiet discussions about her past with Hana. This selfish, arrogant man was writing off two quietly loyal people. She moved so that she stood between him and her three friends. For the first time in her career she brought attention to herself. “Minerva Levin Bolt!” She sent a second, stronger blast into his mind, staggering him once more.
“That hurt little girl.” He had planned on ignoring her but Minerva just added herself to the list of those needing to be taught a lesson. He pulled back and launched the poisoned Kusarigama directly into her, hitting her below her right collarbone.
Minerva froze, looking down as a red blossom slowly spread on her white uniform. She heard someone let out a loud cry as she started to sink, the shield about Suteko dropping as she did.
***
The four Kouhei stared at the figures moving below the glass. The pure white glow about the Unicorn started to flicker, dimming to barely noticeable as a new figure chased after the c
ompanions. A black star seemed to be following close behind. As they watched in confusion the figures took on ghostly aura’s.
Uhanzee clasped Shayla’s hand as under the glass his ghost did the same. He darted looks toward Jaeoh and Gregor and saw they were engrossed in the fleeing ghosts. Turning to Shayla he whispered, ‘This was Hana’s table and they are us. Something important will happen soon.” Shayla nodded as she watched the other two men. They were visibly getting agitated. Her healers powers made her empathic. Not as much has the missing Star Knight thankfully but enough to know that Jaeoh and Gregor were fighting internal battles with attraction to the missing. She dropped her eyes to the table and noticed something else odd. The table top was on a type of hinge. Made to open but it looked like a key was necessary. She let go of Uhanzee’s fingers. After a brief kiss she stepped to the other room. Weaving past clumps of senshi she found Setsuna and leaned down to whisper in her ear. The guardian senshi handed her a small skeleton key with a brief nod.
Shayla slipped back to her team with out disturbing the conversations or the new argument between Jaeoh and Gregor. Slipping the small key into the lock, she smiled as the figurines paused. The snick caught the attention of Jaeoh. “Shayla, what are you doing?
She smiled and lifted the glass carefully. “We need to examine these closely Jaeoh. They are echoing those they are meant to represent.” Her eyes stayed glued to the darkly glowing Star as it spun around the blue globe. A black piece broke off the star and imbedded itself in the globe. She gasped as the globe’s green glow faded with a slow beat, then the crystal hourglass toppled over. She reached down to straighten it and disappeared in a flash as her fingers brushed the crystal.