Synchronicity

Chapter 9

Blue eyes fluttered open. Rin lifted her head and looked around. She must have fallen asleep. Her memory was blurry and everything felt distorted. She had been singing and it got to be too much for her. Did she faint again? No, she must have gone to bed because that's where she was now. She coughed and wiped some dried blood off her face.

She slowly left her shelter and looked out. Her hopes sank when she saw the dragon was there. It wasn't asleep but it wasn't demanding anything of her. It just stared with big red eyes. "Do you want me to sing?" She said aloud though it wasn't the dragon she was talking to. She gripped the pendant tightly and looked at the creature.

It made a little growl shifting it's weight as it waited for her to begin. Rin took in a deep breath and closed her eyes before opening her mouth, "I will fight." She said before she lifted her voice.

"There's the mountain," Gakupo said looking up ahead. The group stopped and looked at the dragon's domain. The Pythoness would be here, waiting inside for them. The dragon would be deep inside the volcano and the diva would be trapped close by. "What's waiting inside will be the challenge."

"Will the Pythoness let us go through?" Kaito asked frowning.

Gakupo chuckled darkly, "hardly. She'll be there to stop us. We'll have to get passed her, fight the dragon and… Hopefully get out with our lives."

"The diva too," Meiko added feeling a bit somber. The fight the night before had done some damage on the woman. She was still sore from her injury in the village and it only was worse now. She glanced at Len who was standing in front of all of them. Determination was the only thing written on his face. "Right?" She asked desperate to get some kind of word out him.

Len hadn't said anything since the attack the night before. Things were just too complicated for him now. He hadn't realized there was so much at stake before. He stared up at the mountain and an overwhelming sense of fear crossed over him. "I will fight," he said to one in particular, grasping the pendant in his hands so tight he thought he might cut himself. Slowly he turned towards his comrades, "let's go."

The blue haired girl looked up at the light that poured down from the top of the mountain opening. Her dwelling was inside the huge mountain, carved out by magic and over a huge cavern. Blue light surrounded everything, mist brushed her ankles. The path to the platform she stood upon was nothing but giant stone pillars that seemed to come out of thin air and wrapped around in a perfect spiral. Crystals the size of people shot out of the walls and invisible floor, also giving off he faint reflection of magic light. There once had been a roof over the massive stage she stood upon but it was long gone.

The Pythoness continued to look up at if hearing something. A hidden voice or long forgotten song. "Ah," she said before jerking her head behind her. First she was startled but it only lasted a second before she smiled and turned fully around. The gown that dragged behind her pooled around her ankles like the mist. "They're coming," she chuckled darkly holing her staff tight in one hand while the other dangled loosely by her side.

"How do we know if we're going the right way or not?" Kaito asked as they ventured through a small hole in the mountain, praying it was a way to the center.

"We don't," Gakupo said holding a single candle out in front of them, it was just about the only thing he had on his person anymore aside from the small weapon he carried. None of them had personal possessions anymore; everything had been left behind.

"We're just walking into the dragons lair then," Kaito nervously laughed, "great. I wanted to die today."

"Don't be so dramatic," Meiko said rolling her eyes, bringing up the rear. "Weren't you listening at all? We have to face the Pythoness first."

"Which may or may not be an easy task," Gakupo added. The cavern seemed to go on forever in a never ending darkness. The walls got tighter and further apart as they went on and each one of them had their doubts as to where they actually were going. "The Pythoness," Gakupo said to break the silence, "is a young woman, cursed to forever tame the beast. Though it is up for debate who actually controls who."

"We went through this already," Kaito groaned.

"Then you were listening," Meiko snorted, "shocking."

"Shut up," Kaito snapped back though the threat was long gone from his voice. "She's cursed with that mask thing right? Can't she take it off?"

"Hardly," Gakupo shook his head, "it's on her by magic. Don't you think if it could come off easily, they would have removed it centuries ago?" No one bothered to answer. "According to the maps I found, what little information they gave said that inside this mountain will be the Pythoness' chamber. Then a way to the beast. Our problem will be getting past the woman, fighting the dragon and getting out." Every time he said it, it sounded more and more impossible. "Somehow," he sighed "and the candle won't last forever."

The sounds of their footsteps echoed for a long, bouncing off the rock and stone path under their feet. Len could hear the sound of their breathing and almost nothing else. One hand rested on his sword hilt while the other clenched in a fist. He was alert and on edge for some reason. Then again, who wouldn't be. "I'll take the life of the roaring voice. Let it write and sleep to the end of the world," he hardly sang the words, just mouthed them quietly.

"I think I see something," Kaito said pointing past the scholar. Everyone stopped a second and squinted to try and see through the darkness. Sure enough at the end of the tunnel seemed to be a fleck of light. "Is that where the Pythoness is?"

"Probably," Gakupo said blowing the candle out. After waiting for their eyes to adjust to the darkness again they begun to move forward. "We need to be quiet and work the element of surprise to our advantage."

"Right," Meiko said looking ahead at the boy as he kept far enough away behind Gakupo. They'd all agreed Len, being the youngest, should stay between them all for protection.

"If I can't reach you after dissolving light," Len muttered as they got closer.

"What is he doing?" Meiko whispered softly, moving closer to Kaito.

"Hm?" Kaito glanced back at the woman then over to the blond haired boy. "Oh, he's singing."

"Singing?" Meiko frowned, "why the hell would he be singing right now?"

"To tell the truth," Kaito sighed "I'm not entirely sure why he does it. It seems to work for him though. Ever since I met the kid he's been singing. He always says he hears a voice singing back and that one day he'll duet with it," the blue haired man shrugged, "I think he's crazy sometimes. I never hear a thing."

"Let him believe what he wants," Gakupo said looking back at the others as Len continued forward. "If that's what works. Let him be," he said shaking his head. "We've gotten this far haven't we?"

"Yes," Len said stopping on the path. His feet were centimeters from the spot light above. "We've made it this far and we'll continue forward still." He gripped the sword tightly and glanced back at the others. "You've all risked your lives to come with me this far. I wouldn't blame you one bit if you decided to turn back now."

For being only a kid, the adults couldn't help but feel belittled. He had more strength than any of them combined, that was for sure. As he stood there in front of them, the light pouring in from behind turning the boy into nothing more than a dark silhouette. It was true. They could easily all turn around and leave the boy. He'd been planning from the start to go it alone so why bother risking what they had for him and his crazy quest?

"No way," Kaito grinned coming forward. "I've come this far haven't I? Why would I go back now? It's not like there's anything waiting for me anyway."

Gakupo nodded and took a half step forward also, "I'm coming as well. I've made it this far and have seen more than any scholar before me. Any living scholar anyway. Besides, the only thing that awaits behind me is death by that mad woman Luka Megurine. I might as well go all the way."

They both had pretty words, no need to be shown up now. Meiko smiled and nodded, "of course I'm going. The way I see it, you've all grown on me enough. You're like family at this point and I can't just turn my back now."

"It's dangerous," Len said narrowing his eyes.

"This whole trip was dangerous," Kaito shrugged "and 'impossible' but here we are right? There's no way we're going to give up now."

Len just stared a while before offering a faint smile, "alright." He turned back towards the light as the others moved forward again. "Then I'll just finish off this artificial paradise with my own hands…"

Rin glared at the dragon as it slept. She hated knowing that her only way out might be past the beast and she hated herself even more for not going when she had the chance. Even as it slept Rin felt the danger of it all. How this powerful monster could crush her without even thinking about it. How her voice was slowly growing smaller and smaller until it would be nothing soon. Did they already know out there? Did they know she might be close to dying? Was there another diva picked out and awaiting?

The thought gave her chills.

"Len, I'm dying here" Rin said to no one and wrapped her arms around herself. "I might have found the way out though."

Suddenly the beast snapped its eyes open. Rin screamed without meaning to, faltering back so fast she tripped and fell over. The beast let out a loud screech that made the cave shake and Rin had to cover her ears. She'd never heard it make such a sound before!

The girl heard it screaming some more, this time in her mind. She cried in response and squeezed her eyes shut. When the sound had died enough, she cautiously looked back up at it. It was staring down at her with those massive red eyes, teeth bared as though it knew what she'd said.

Sing! It demanded with more force than ever before.

Rin cried out again and covered her ears harder. It was so angry! "I'm sorry!" She screamed up to it, "I didn't mean it!" She wasn't sure what she was trying to do. Reason with a dragon? Reason with a dragon that had already killed many girls before her? It was a long shot.

Sing! It demanded again and that's when Rin heard it. There was the noise of metal clashing. There were screamed from above her. Rin jerked her head up and saw the light above flicker just slightly. The girls eyes went wide as she grabbed at her pendant. It was scorching hot.

"So you are the boy I've had visions about," the girl said stepping forward on the platform. Her heels clicked with each step until she was at the base, looking down at the four warriors. "You do look like her. The trapped diva. Will you rescue her?"

"Yes," Len snapped as he watched the woman. She couldn't have been much older than he was. She was beautiful, that much was certain, with hair that had probably not once been trimmed. Her eyes were hidden behind a mask of silver and obsidian just as Gakupo had said. "I've come for my sister, where is she?" He gripped his sword tighter.

"The diva is not for you to save," she said smiling. "If she is taken away, my beast will be very upset and you will die instantly." She tipped her head slowly to one side, "you have a death wish upon you, don't you?"

Len said nothing.

The others held to their own weapons firmly, just in case something were to happen. The Pythoness pointed toward Gakupo, her hand seemed frail and limp. "You are of Kamui blood, are you not?"

"I am," Gakupo nodded sucking in a harsh breath.

"Yes," the girl said with another kind of smile. "Your mother was another I saw in visions. She was a powerful scholar as I assume you are." She said with a weak sigh, "it is a shame what tragedy befell her." Gakupo narrowed his eyes but said nothing in return as the girl turned and glanced at Meiko. "Your dear Teto sang beautifully," she mocked "I was sad to see her go as well."

"You bitch," Meiko hissed under her breath as the girl glanced at Kaito.

"You," she said softly. "You are a face I have not seen for a long time." Kaito's smile had long since vanished. He nodded and bowed down quickly before resuming his cautious position. "You and were to be kept great friends weren't we?"

"Perhaps," Kaito said with a pathetic smile "but one cannot change the past, so one can never know."

"Wise words," the girl said before raising her hand once more. "Last words," she corrected as her wrist emitted a strange black shadow that slowly wrapped around the rest of her hand and begun sparking blue. The group faltered back a few steps and raised their weapons, ready to see what would come of this show.

"Rise my warriors of the past," the girl said as many shadows begun forming on the platform. One by one they turned a blue tint also, bubbling up and up until they grew into terrifying shapes. They, at first, were human shaped but in no time their limbs deformed. Elongated body parts mixed with real ones and cast shadows everywhere until they were more like demons than humans.

"Fight for me," the girl said as the thins lunged forward. Len was the first to let out a battle cry, running forward and bringing his sword down on one of the creatures. It split in two but merely backed and rejoined before going after him again. The boy cursed under his breath as he went after them again.

The others were having the same luck as he. They would deal damage only to have the shadow reform and attack again. "This isn't working!" Meiko shouted right away, dodging one of the claws that came for her.

"It's a dark magic," Kaito explained dancing away to barely miss the attacks himself. "We can't use our weapons against them it doesn't work."

"Then what does work?" The woman shouted, flinched on her bad side as she tried to get away.

"Magic can only defeat magic," Gakupo said holding his own somewhere but even he was having a hard time. Maybe they would have been smarter just to run when they had the chance. He stopped a second and glanced back at the girl as she kept one hand raised, the other on her staff. Gakupo narrowed his eyes then looked where Len was.

He was far enough ahead that he might be able to get to the platform…

"Len!" Gakupo shouted to get the boys attention. Len grunted but looked back only a second to show he'd heard before jumping back into the fight. "Go for the girl! If you can stop her, you stop these things!" He shouted before doubling over in pain. A shadow from below winded him in the stomach. "Dammit," he coughed before falling over.

"Gakupo!" Len called back as he knocked another shadow away. He heard Meiko and Kaito have the same problems. The four of them wouldn't last long. He leaned forward holding his sword out in front of him, pointing the tip at the Pythoness. She just smiled down at him from her platform.

The two stared at one another for what felt like forever, then she let her hand drop back down to her side. The shadows screeched loudly before sinking back into the cave floor. "Come at me then," she scoffed to Len knowing exactly what he wanted.

He glowered at her a second before running at her. He lunged up the stairs and in one quick motion of his blade they collided. The girl blocked him with her staff, hardly having to put any pressure against it to keep him back. Len struggled as he glared at the girl. He didn't want to hurt her; it wasn't as though she had a choice in the fight but to fight back. It was that damn mask…

The girl smiled as she looked back at him. He was pressing all his weight on his weapon trying to get her to budge but she wasn't about to. "You are foolish," she said suddenly losing her smile. "You challenge the fates and you challenge me in hopes that you shall take on the beast. You are a fool is ever there was one in history."

Len said nothing, only grunted and pushed harder. The girl narrowed her eyes behind the mask leaning down a bit as though he was actually starting to wear on her. They were each struggling against the other, faces to close their foreheads almost touched. "I'm going to save her," Len snarled as he stared into the black holes of the mask where the girls' eyes should have been.

The girl said nothing in reply, only held him there. Then she smiled and leaned in closer so her breath was against his, "you. Will. Die." She whispered at him before throwing him back with a burst of light. Len had no time to react as he fell back down the stairs and onto the hard stone floor. His sword made a loud noise as it hit and slide away from him.

The boy tried to open his eyes, tried to move, but the world grew dizzy around him. He could feel his head throbbing and then he felt the warm liquid forming around him. He'd been hit too hard, he was bleeding and like the Pythoness said… He was going to die.

"Rin," Len said weakly as he tried to focus his eyes on everything. The others were still around him. They were broken as much as he was. He felt guilty again wanting to something to help them but knew he couldn't. He couldn't save anyone now.

The boy flinched and cried out as he moved his arm up and grabbed the pendant. It was hot. He was close, he knew he had to be. He stared at it a second feeling the tears weld up in his eyes. He was so close and he wouldn't be able to do a damn thing! The wave of dizziness passed over him again and he let his arms drop to the ground as he lay limp.

"I'm sorry," he whispered before everything went black around him.

"He's up there!" Rin shouted to no one as she looked up at the ceiling above her. She knew he was there and she knew he was fighting for her. She wasn't sure who exactly he was fighting though. Was the Pythoness up there? Was he winning?

Sing! The dragon demanded anxiously. Rin tried to ignore it though. She was done singing for it. She shook her head without looking at it. She just had to hold off for a little longer. He'd come, he'd save her. They'd get out of this hell and live happily ever after.

Then there was another loud roar from the dragon, this one was angrier than the last. Rin jumped and spun around quickly but by then it was too late. She remembered screaming but that was it. Then the world faded away and she was left alone.

The Pythoness looked down at Len, the heels of her boots clicked with each step as she hovered over him. He wasn't moving and she was sure he wasn't breathing at that point. She smiled at the sight and even lifted her hand up to her mouth as she let out a frail high pitched laugh.

"I told you," she said as she put her hand back down. "You and your sister are finished. Just like the diva before her and the warrior before you." She looked at the boy a second then turned and begun walking back for the platform.

"Miku…" A timid voice said from somewhere to the side. The girl flinched as she jerked her head back to the ruined bodies. Kaito was sitting up holding his side probably unaware than his head was dripping with blood. "What happened to you?" He coughed.

"I'm the Pythoness," the girl replied right away. "I watch over my beast and make sure no one threatens the peace I've created." She smiled and turned back away but he stopped her again.

"You didn't always think that way," Kaito said softly, leaning back against one of the broken pillars. "You use to…believe someone would stop this madness. Remember?"

"I don't," the girl snapped right away.

"I think you do," Kaito said weakly. He was feeling the same dizziness the others had felt. He wouldn't last long. "Miku… They took you away when you were young and they forced that damned thing onto your face. This isn't how you are. I know you. Don't you remem-"

"Silence!" The girl shouted, jerking her hand up at him. A shadow raised up out of the ground and in one quick motion it's bladed hand cut through the blue haired man. Kaito lurched with the attack, coughing up more blood. As the shadow vanished into the floor once again, the man fell forward and was motionless.

The girl shook as she let her hand fall back to her side. She stared at the others also. They were all still and probably would never move again. She breathed softly before turning back around. Something inside her told her it was wrong. Something told her she should be crying for them.

So she did.

She looked up at the blue light that poured from above, tears streamed down her cheeks from under her mask. "Please…" She said softly in a voice she hadn't heard in a long time. "Please sing…"