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Part 58: Shikai's Request

Info

Writer

Dougurasu

Character Introductions

Shikai

Character Deaths

-

Arcs

Hikari Crystals Arc

Siren's Love For Zesshou

Rising Water Level Arc

Timeline Entries

The Story

Endless Rain

Part 58: Shikai's Request

© Dougurasu

"Wow... it must've have really been pouring while we were asleep," Hana said when she looked out into the streets of her village.

Most lawns and gardens had been submerged under the water and to make matters worse, it was still raining. It just wouldn't stop. It was a good thing that the roads and houses were on higher ground.

Hitori wasn't at all happy that it was today. Today was the day that Nagata and Lord Tebok agreed upon to trade Lana for Baku. At noon. Less than half a day remaining. If there was one thing she hated about all of this is that she didn't have any power to change the situation. This decision had been made without her consent. She felt extremely powerless.

"I know it's early, but on an urgent request from Miss Yamome I've decided to gather the council as soon as possible," the supreme leader of the council, Mr. Shikai, said with his deep voice. He sat at the top of two long tables. On the outer side of those tables facing each other were seats filled with council members. In the middle of the room sat Nagata.

Even though there were a lot of people present, Nagata felt alone. He felt betrayed somehow. Betrayed by himself.

"The charge is 'neglecting your duties as leader'. The council will decide in three sessions whether you are guilty of this charge or not. If the council votes 'guilty' two times, you will be declared guilty as charged. If the council votes 'not guilty' two times, you will be declared innocent," Mr. Shikai thundered. His voice echoed through the halls. "Nagata. The punishment is also under debate, but rest assured that your days in the council will be over if you are found to be guilty. You may now... choose your lawyer."

Nagata stood up reluctantly. "Yes sir." He looked around and scanned the council members. Where was he? Where was his seat? "He's not here..."

"Excuse me?" Mr. Shikai inquired.

Nagata raised his voice a little. "Kino. He's not here, sir. His seat is empty."

Hitori, Hana and the triplets had been sitting on the other side of the room facing Shikai since the beginning. Hitori rose to her feet. "We'll look for him."

Hana and the triplets stood up.

"Uh... Lady Hitori," Mr. Shikai said. He didn't even have to raise his voice to reach the other side of the room. "Could you please stay here, I may need your permission on a few things."

"No problem." Hitori said and sat down again.

"Hana, please stay here too, to keep the Mistress company," Wevlum said. Without actually waiting for a reply he signaled his brothers to join him and within moments they were gone.

"I wished they stopped calling me that." Hitori whispered.

"Mariko! Wake up!"

Instantly Mariko was wide-awake. She still had the extremely fast reflexes her father taught her. "Ty? What's the matter?"

"It's Lana... She's gone."

"What? But how? You were supposed to watch her!"

"I don't know. I thought I was watching her. But all of a sudden she was gone."

In no time, Mariko was dressed and she raced towards the Council hall.

"Hey... Siren. Can you hear me?" Zesshou whispered. He had crept behind the tent that he saw the Sendo's put Siren's cage in. "Are you there?" It was hard to overcome the rain with his voice and at the same time not be too loud.

"Zesshou? Is that you?" Siren answered from inside the tent. "You came after me! I'm so happy, you're my saviour!"

Zesshou growled. "I'm not your saviour. You're still in danger. I'm going to count down, and when I'm done, I want you to scre- I mean... start singing, okay?"

"Only if you promise to marry meeeee~" Siren teased.

"What? No."

"Only then will I sing for you."

"That's not what I mean!"

"Hey? Did you hear something?" one of the Sendo warriors said and emerged from another tent. "It must be a thief trying to rob us!" They couldn't see the culprit from behind the tent.

Zesshou raised to his feet. "Siren! Start singing please!" He was petrified as the Sendo warriors slowly walked closer and closer with their weapons menacingly pointed at him.

"Only if you promiseeeeeeee~"

"Alright I promise!"

"You promise what?"

"That I will marry you! I promise that I will marry you!"

"A proposal! How unexpected! I accept of course!"

"Now, will you kindly sing for me?"

The Sendo were now within five meters of him. They had absolutely no idea what this conversation was about and were cautiously walking in his direction.

"That wasn't the deal!"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure it was! Yes, first the proposal and then the singing!"

"What about the counting down part?"

"Counting...? Oh! Three-two-one, now SING!!" He shielded his face with his hands as he was face to face with the Sendo.

"When I look at the moon,

I see a ray of hope..."

For Zesshou it was only a soft song, but the Sendo's were caught completely unprepared. In a reflex they dropped their weapons and grabbed for their ears. In a split second the two Mikomi guards jumped down from the trees and killed both Sendo warriors.

"Lady Hitori, I would like to ask permission to utilize a fall back situation. Something that will allow the council to truly find out what happened. Every tiniest detail will be at our disposal," Mr. Shikai explained.

Hitori was puzzled. What in Afrain's name could possibly do that? Did he acquire something like a crystal ball for telling the future? "What exactly is this... fall back situation?"

Mr. Shikai smiled. "It was originally Yamome's idea. I present to you... Pyro Phoenixtruth!"

In a bright flash of light Pyro appeared next to Nagata. He was looking quite serious.

"Pyro?!" Hitori gasped. "Uh... It seems... logical to use someone like him. Yes. Yes, I'll allow it. Well, that is if Pyro himself agrees. Didn't you say last night that Moyasu is still doing her final test?"

Without turning his face Pyro answered. "Yes, Hitori, that's correct, but Moyasu doesn't need my help, at least not yet. She already has someone who can help her and besides, she has the Ruby of the Dragon with her. I agree to participate in Nagata's trial, but only Nagata's trial. But there's a more urgent matter right now." He pointed at one of the doors and instantly Mariko opened it.

"Lady Hitori! Lana! She's escaped!" Mariko yelled.

Hitori's eyes widened. Not today, not today, she thought. "How is that possible? Who's responsible for that?"

Pyro turned to face the other side of the hall and pointed at the door on that side. "The one they were looking for."

The triplets broke through the door. "He's gone!" "Kino's gone!" "He's nowhere to be found!"

"Haaa..." Sasaeru yawned. He looked at the gray sky, the rain falling down and then at Moyasu. "It looks like it's gonna be yet another uneventful day... Better go and catch some breakfast."

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