Visions of Beyond

[Kirin]

Chizuru bowed her head to the shrine maiden, who guided the pair inside of the shrine. She stood as Chizuru handed her swords and Trydian's sword to the shrine maiden, who remained in the same room, but sat in the corner. Chizuru kept her eye on Trydian. She still did not trust him to try anything to get his sword back. Perhaps even touching the young shrine maiden would hurt him immensely. She suspected that a soldier of Bishamonten was attacking him.

She knelt down in front of the shrine, which consisted of a small statue of Bishamonten, standing atop the bodies of two demons that had been slain. In the small fercious statue's right hand was a spear and in his left was a miniature model of a pagoda called a stupa. One either side were a few rows of red candles.

Chizuru bowed deeply and clapped her hands three times. Everything was done three times. Chizuru chanted softly, a praise for the guardian god of the capitol. She stopped chanting and bowed three times. Her eyes closed as she asked for help for Bishamonten, but she knew that there would be no direct reply. There never was, but she believed greatly in the god's power to protect his people. Perhaps, this was just blind faith. Chizuru reached out and burnt a stick of incense. She stared at the furious face of the statue in meditation. The shrine filled with the floral scent of the incense.

The incense seemed to take an eternity to burn down in some respects. The maiden rang a bell once the incense had burnt down. Chizuru bid her goodbye to the god and bowed three times. The maiden escorted Chizuru and Trydian to the entrance of the shrine. Chizuru appeared refreshed, peaceful and calm. The shrine maiden bowed.

"Thank you for spending time with us." She smiled, bowing to both Trydian and Chizuru. The swords were handed back to Chizuru.

Chizuru waited to speak to Trydian until after she sheathed the weapons that could be sheathed. "Thank you for your company."

[Trydian]

Pain, agony, no mercy. Those were the emotions that filled the demon's mind and heart. Once the punishment had been given, his body felt renewed, but on a spiritual sense. His powers were the same, but dulled in some areas. He could no longer use his telepathy, which worried him. Trydian wondered what other conditions applied to the punishment.

Standing up slowly, he knew his back would be covered in blood stains. The inflictions would heal, but the scarring would be a forever crimson reminder. He was not welcome here, regardless of his position on the mortal plane of existence.

The vampire would be laughing at him, no doubt scoffing at his arrogance. Perhaps Nicoli would too, given that they had no real reason to be allies. When Chizuru sheathed the blades, he felt as though he were being mocked by this woman. Knowing that it was his resentment toward the punishment, he drowned those thoughts with a feigned acceptance.

“As your guardian, I will always be in your company.” Trydian walked away from her, only nodding at the maiden once. The maiden would know of his wounds and the damage dealt. Always concentrating on his pride, he made sure to keep an average pace, not allowing himself to succumb to exhaustion. Being in her presence, might have been inviting elsewhere, but now the demon felt an urge to be alone. That desire would be impossible, but he could endure it. He walked ahead of her, keeping his back to her turned.

The Shrine had been a test, but he knew that there would be more to come.

[Kirin]

Chizuru folded her arms behind her back. The shrine maiden waved them both off. If she knew about Trydian's injuries, she didn't show it. Chizuru wandered off, staring at Trydian's back. He was bleeding.
Part of her wanted to help him. She also wanted to kick him. Chizuru picked up her pace and was now walking next to Trydian.

"I'll accept your wish to be my guardian when I can trust you without any doubt." She said softly. "For now, I believe you are just acting. Why did you give up when you could have easily gotten away with Kusanagi?"

Her tone was casual, but her eyes stared straight ahead. Trydian was hurting. She awaited his answer before asking her next question.

"Who was that other man that randomly showed up with you? What sort of importance is he to you?"

With a laugh and a wink, she added in a less serious tone.

"I think we should bathe. You look worn out and I could use the time to relax, neh?" She gestured at him and reached for his hand.

[Trydian]

His mind was in a fog and she wanted to drill him with questions about his morale. Slowing down for her, he realized she wouldn't easily leave him alone. His mother would be amused by his current state and possibly encourage Chizuru to do her worst. While his entire body felt like it had been drug across firestone, she continued to interrogate him.

Testing her patience, he decided to butt heads with her. “If you didn't trust me, you wouldn't have left me alone with you in a temple. I'm not a simple mortal, I could have killed you right then and there. Your emotional vampire wouldn't be able to help you. He could barely stand the sight of a dead body.” In a sense, this theory was true, but he hadn't planned on the spirits attacking him within the shrine.

Hearing his own tone, he softened his voice. She had a wrath that should be left alone, but he had a talent for bringing it to life. “Whether I hold a title or not, I am bound to you by spirit. I will be your shield and sword. You should have thought about that, before you used a light spell on a demon.”

Nicoli had no importance to him, but they had been trying to work together for a single cause. When she brought up the sword, his right eye twitched ever-so slightly. “I was bound to a King, before I came to be bound to you. I gave up my freedom to save my sister. He requires artifacts of power and I needed the other half to make that damned thing work.” Shrugging, he realized that was moot point now. “You are bound to me now, so none of that matters.” Trydian couldn't promise that his past wouldn't catch up with him, but he hoped King Pendaran would seek another to bind and enslave.

It was embarrassing to remind himself of his failure. “That man is of no importance. He's not a vampire, or a demon, but something of a mutt. I was keeping an eye on him and he happened to notice my presence.” Nicoli could be a problem later, if he thought he wasn't keeping up with his end of the bargain. Trydian would worry about that later though. Right now, he needed to reassure Chizuru.

“WE should bathe? I think you mean that you will bathe.” Taking off his shirt, he exposed his battle scars from the shrine. He'd be damned if he got into the water with fresh wounds. If the servants caught them together again, he could only imagine the chaos that would cause.

Then again, it would be nice to make Katsumi squirm. “You'll need to heal me, before I join you for anything.” Trydian challenged her, wondering if she wanted his company that badly.

[Kirin]

Chizuru seemed terribly amused. Her facial expression didn't hide her amusement. With a small smile and a slight blush, she sighed happily.

"Oh, Trydian." She just shook her head. "Did it occur to you that maybe I was experimenting with you? Seeing your reaction to the holiness of the shrine? Well, that and I do enjoy watching you pretend to not be suffering."

She reached out and came close to slapping his lacerated back in a friendly gesture. There was just a moment of thought before her hand rested on his shoulder. "Well, if you got the other piece, it probably would still not work for you. Or your King. I want to know more about this king, but it can wait until after we bathe. And yes. We will bathe and I'll heal you so you don't pretend to not want to cry. I think it's fair. I heal you and you give me information. In private if you prefer."

It was this banter that she seemed to enjoy. It was playful to her. Probably more antagonizing to him.

"Vampires are a bit of a problem here, admittedly. I wouldn't object to you actually hunting them for food if you need to." This was probably the first bit of freedom she would give to Trydian. It's not like she'd never know where he is. Like Trydian said, they were bound to one another.

[Trydian]

Smirking, Trydian admired the conniving part of her personality the most. Even if she wouldn't admit it, she could be worse than him. “You are definitely nothing like my sister, but I've always known that...” Trydian said, leaving his words at that. Chizuru would have to guess if it was an insult or compliment. He was impressed that she thought of testing him. Now weakened, there was actually very little threat from the demon. Once healed though, that would be an entirely different story.

“I would never feast on vampire...their blood would carry no nourishment for me. I wouldn't be able to stand the stench long enough to try anyway.” He wouldn't hesitate to kill a vampire, but he could never bring himself to gorge on their blood- no matter how desperate.

Slipping his hand against her palm, he let her lead him to the bathhouse. They would have private quarters, where they could openly discuss his past and current dilemma. Just because she thought that the sword wouldn't work in his hands, didn't mean that King Pendaran couldn't find a way to find use for it.

Trydian hadn't seen her in years and this was the worst way to be reunited. He was curious about her as well, but he doubted she would share as much. Already shirtless, he removed the rest of his clothes, his arrogance defeating any insecurity a person might have had.

The demon didn't hesitate to get into the water. Trydian wanted this over and done with as quickly as possible. The liquid burned his wounds, overlapping his senses with pain, but he still waited for her to join him. Trydian would always be quiet about his suffering. Conditioned from years of training by his father, he learned to endure the harshest treatment and environment. This was a normal reality for a warrior.

“I doubt the King will come looking for me, but you should be warned either way. My world has changed since we last saw each other.” Their past was much more innocent compared to this moment. Chizuru might consider it a normal act, but Sebilla had been the only one to see him this way.

“I don't think you know what you're suggesting...I could ravage you.” He cast her a blatantly carnal glance, his eyes sparking interest. Now he would be the one testing her. There was no one around to stop him, except Chizuru. He motioned for her to join him. "Once you heal me, I will tell you everything."

[Kirin]

Chizuru led Trydian to the bathhouse. She rose her shoulders and exhaled. "Well, this is a large city, so there is no end to what shady types you may feed from. Most of the noble houses are heavily guarded, but there are always bandits." She watched Trydian remove his clothing and she did the same.

There was no reason for hesitation on her end. It was normal for women and men to bathe in the same area. She sighed and slipped into the water with Trydian. She shook her head. "I'm glad I am not like your sister. She seemed weak when I met her. But that was upon first meeting."

She secretly hoped the King would never come looking for Trydian. "Both of our worlds have changed. But the coming of war and exploration has always done that." She shrugged and closed her eyes.

She didn't even open them when Trydian said he could ravage her. She already thought of that on the way to the bathhouse. "You're not doing a good job of making me want to trust you. How would you like a light spell to your forehead?" She finally opened her eyes and offered him a smirk.

[Trydian]

War was indeed happening in his world, but he had been merely a pawn in the game. His half-sister, Igraine, had been forced to ally with King Pendaran, after his father had destroyed the parley attempt. Once King Pendaran, found out his relations and the power his sister might hold, he forced Trydian to make a life or death decision for his mortal sister. Either she take the gift offered by him, or she would be better off dead. Without any other option, Trydian opted for King Pendaran to give up his soul, for the promise of his sister's safe keeping.

It was also very difficult explaining the fey and unseelie to her. Trydian found himself backtracking on events, finding himself confused from all that had happened.

He timidly explained those events with a genuine clarity. His voice held no regret, but it was laced with some resentment toward Sebilla. He didn't know where she was now, but it didn't matter- he was under Chizuru's control.

This was his new world.

“I was basically working for the bad guy, but that didn't turn out so well. I just hope Igraine is alright and that Sebilla is somewhere safe. I haven't seen her since the Parley, when my mother came to fetch us.” Trydian explained that his mother hadn't known of the deal with King Pendaran and that she would be forced to leave him behind.

“If I didn't bring back those artifacts, he would have probably had me killed, but there are worse punishments than death...” Trydian commented, glancing at the silhouette of her figure. It was cruel to have such a beautiful woman a few inches away and not be able to enjoy her.

“Go ahead and punish me, if this will continue to be the outcome.” Trydian returned the smirk, wondering if she would share as much, or hide behind her wall of security.

“I would not underestimate King Pendaran...he had the ability to control my entire family and set their fate in stone.” His family still had a chance, but with him being in the Twin Countries, it would be difficult for him to rally with them once more.

[Kirin]

The Empress listened attentively to what Trydian was telling her. She had very little knowledge of the matters of fey. It seemed he knew a little more, but not enough to give her a clearer picture. Her brow furrowed in thought and she just nodded slowly after he finished.

"I know better than to underestimate anyone." Chizuru knew she was close to danger. Her eyes never really left Trydian. He forced her to become watchful, as she desired no intimate acts. She literally just wanted a bath and information.

"As far as your family is concerned, things will come full circle. I mean, they always do. I never thought I'd see you again, but this is the third time you have entered my life. I'm sure you will see everyone again. Whether or not it will be good or bad..I don't really know." Chizuru's leaned back against the side of the tub. "So, does King Pendaran still have your soul despite you being bonded with me?"

She planned to heal him after the bath. In reality, she planned to heal Trydian before the bath, but plans shifted otherwise. Chizuru was still amused by Trydian. She also felt like she was bathing with a lion. Her feelings for Trydian waned quite a bit after she caught him with the Kusanagi. She just shook her head sadly. He ruined things. This could have been happy and now she felt like it would be too much for her to be comfortable around Trydian. And he wanted to be her bodyguard? Granted, he did basically spill the beans on King Pendaran and she did have an insane amount of resources. Trydian was also not enough of a reason for her to attempt to hunt him down anyway. Not right now.

[Trydian]

Sighing, Trydian sunk deeper into the water. He was relaxing, but it was hard to, when you had a desirable woman and the moment was ruined with questions. The weakness in him was forcing his thoughts to cave in. Chizuru kept his attention, but he was beginning to have a reluctant response. Some parts of her were still naïve, but she really didn't understand their world, or that King Pendaran was already controlling most of it just by marrying the Fey Queen. The veil had been shattered the last time he had left and he had been given more freedom.

When Chizuru bonded with him, one half of his soul had basically been destroyed by the light spell. It was still there, but flickering faintly inside like a mortal soul. Trydian didn't think that she understood how demons worked, but rarely anyone did. Until another person came along, or she figured out a way to break the bond, he would inevitably be tied to her.

“Unless you physically go with me, I cannot just leave your side and join them. I would be in worse pain than when I entered the shrine. Part of me has become mortal, or it might as well be. The light spell took away certain powers of mine and I can't seem to retrieve them.” He said, growing irritated at the reminder. Trydian hated the idea of being mortal more than anything. She would see his disgust at the thought.

“Queen Igraine is pregnant with my uncle's child. Once she is born, the war will begin.” Trydian didn't bother trying to explain his family relations. Most would be too confused, or become repulsed. His mother was actually his biological sister, but he didn't exactly advertise that information. When he was controlled by King Pendaran, he had to watch his family fall and Queen Igraine fall into his hands.

Part of him did regret not being part of the war, having made his own plans with King Pendaran, which is how he ended up here in the first place. Having half the strength of a mortal complicated things, but he could learn to endure it. Queen Igraine had informed him that King Pendaran's powers would be dulled somewhat after the veil was broken. If that were true, they might have a chance.

“If he comes for you, I will kill him.” Trydian said, knowing his words held more emotion than they ought to.

[Kirin]

Chizuru seemed satisfied with what she heard. She lifted her leg, letting her toes mill at the surface. With a smile and a soft giggle, she lowered her leg. Her mind was wandering. She thought of what he had just told her. She moved closer to Trydian and grabbed his hand. She peered upwards into his eyes, inches from his face. The Empress could kiss him, but she drew away quickly and retreated back to her side of the tub. With an impish smile, she thought again.

"Now, what if by chance, your sister were to come to kill me? Or your mother? When your mother and I met, she was a very lovely lady. But that was a long time ago, neh?" Chizuru was weighing her options.

She felt that if she heard what she wanted to hear, she would use the Magatama to restore what was left of his soul. Chizuru could simply use the gem to heal those pesky wounds instantly as well. Things would be so much easier if she could. But her mind was formulating some sort of excuse if he didn't answer her correctly.

"What if they sent someone to kill me and we found out it was from one of them?" Her expression was serious, almost deathly serious as she asked.

[Trydian]

Chizuru was teasing him, to the best of her ability and it was working. When she grabbed his hand, he was surprised and almost pulled way. The look in her eyes made him freeze, catching him off-guard. Damn her, he thought quietly to himself. Their setting was perfect for a romantic advancement, but Chizuru was also a very stubborn creature. She wouldn't let him get any closer, unless she willed it. Coming out of his daze, he was shocked by her question. He had been dreading that scenario and wondered if it was in his future.

“I would have to kill them. It wouldn't matter if they were my sister, mother, or even Queen Igraine herself.” Laughing to himself, he listened to her comment about his mother. “She can be a very lovely lady, unless you manage to piss her off.” Caela had strength, for all that she had been through. He decided to explain his family further, about how his father had actually raped Caela, in order to produce a full demon.

He had been his mother's pride and joy, until he sold himself to King Pendaran. Part of that decision ate at him every day, his pride considering it a very weak moment in judgment. Trydian had always been taught to never give himself to the enemy. Yet, he had for Sebilla's sake.

Realizing all that he was revealing, he knew this was the first time he had ever actually expressed himself. It was relaxing and it showed in his posture. His shoulders became less tense. He was obviously enjoying his time with Chizuru. She was a breath of fresh air, compared to anyone else he had encountered in his lifetime.

“You have to be a strong woman, in order to survive my family...” Trydian said, hinting at the fact that he sought more with Chizuru. “I was created to be a tool. I can handle my situation and protect you without question.”

His new mortal half forced him to feel empathy and other such nonsense he had been keeping numb. Trydian sat closer to her, wishing she would take hold of his hand, or allow him to caress her.

[Kirin]

Just hearing him say that he would have to kill those people he seemed to speak of often made her blush. She looked away.

Would I be that cruel to his family? Why would his family be different to any other family that has ever dishonored me? There is no reason why I should even allow him to hesitate., Chizuru thought. Her fingers traced along the surface of the water.

"Very well." She said quietly.

There was a little bit of dismay, perhaps. What she sought was not someone to protect. Or someone to use as a tool. She needed support, too. Who was she to run to when she needed help? Well, Trydian. But she wished for Trydian to be more than the Empress' "Little" Helper. Of course, she was still adept at putting up walls and compartments so that she wouldn't have to totally open up to anyone.

She moved closer to Trydian and laid her head on his shoulder. "I never get to relax around anyone anymore. I don't want someone to simply use as a tool. I have plenty of people like that around me. I asked you that question to test you. All sorts of tests, I know. But when you're like me, you have to continuously test people's allegiances and whether they are trustworthy or not. I've decided to help you after our bath. I'm going to use the Magatama to heal your back and restore what I can restore of your soul."

Chizuru looked up at Trydian to see his facial expressions, if there was any.

[Trydian]

Trydian went deep into thought. Chizuru was offering to restore his soul and without a gamble. However, there could be risks, considering what he was. If she performed the ritual, he could end up something much darker. He wondered why she would be willing to do such a thing. When he began to question her own motives, he felt her rest her head against his shoulder. The warmth and tenderness was there, without hiding resentment, or scorn. Even though he shared the same action with Sebilla, there was often an underlying tone of tension. It was different with Chizuru.

“It's been separated and making it whole, could turn me into something you wouldn't want to know.” Trydian remembered when his father went insane, from gaining his demonic soul again. He didn't want Chizuru to see that side of him.

Drawing her closer to him, he lifted her chin lightly and kissed her. The kiss was passionate, but softer and with little hesitation. "You can always relax around me. I've never been more than just a tool to anyone, but maybe we can change that." He kept her close, but minded her own space, allowing her to make the affectionate gestures.

“If you're up to the task, then we better start the ritual as soon as possible.” Trydian said, acting as though he hadn't kissed her. He would have kissed her again, but he felt some reserve from her. The ritual would keep them bound, but he wondered if he would have that same empathy, or be able to support her in other ways.

[Kirin]

"Well, I may not want to know, but I'll soon find out, neh?" She was surprised by Trydian's kiss. It felt more meaningful than before. She returned his kiss, but it was brief. It was like her entire face was on fire. Chizuru was blushing. The Empress was humbled by just a tiny kiss. Her eyes followed Trydian as he got out of the tub. She followed and dried herself off.

Servants had left a pair of yukata for them. Chizuru put on the cotton kimono and wrapped the obi around her waist tightly. She would help Trydian if he needed help, then lead him into the meeting room that she was sitting in by the garden. She had a guard open the shoji for him and lead him into the room.

"I will be right back with the items I need. Relax. Things will go easier." She gave Trydian a reassuring smile, then shuffled off with a team of guards. She entered the room with the Imperial Artifacts and removed the box containing the Magatama.

She returned to the room where Trydian was being kept. The guards opened the shoji and Chizuru entered and knelt down on the floor. She put the box in her lap.

"Are you ready, Trydian?" Her gray eyes flickered briefly.

Thin fingers engraved on the top of the box with a needle and the box opened. The Magatama glowed brightly with swirling orange and green tones. It responded to Chizuru almost immediately. She picked it up and looked up at Trydian. Her eyes reflected the same constantly swirling patterns within the gem.

"Touch the Magatama." She ordered him.