Synchronicity

Chapter 5

Len reached for his sword but caught only air, glowering over at the camp site. His sword was laying out among all his other possessions, Kaito and Gakupo's own weapons were off to the side. They were taken easily and no doubt the same would happen to him. "What's this about?" He asked as calmly as he could.

"We have orders," the red lady said simply, "and you will come without a fight." The look on her face made Len sick. They didn't do anything to deserve this. He glanced over at his friends to check their reactions. Kaito was idiotically staring, confused as ever, while Gakupo calmly nodded to Len. He knew something…

"Alright," Len said reluctantly, "we'll go quietly."

"Good," Meiko, the knight, said looking toward Gakupo, "Lady Megurine will be…ecstatic to see you again." Gakupo just glared back at her as the guards tugged them back toward the palace.

One guard reached out for Len but he pulled away, giving Meiko a stern look, "I can walk on my own," he said reaching up and gripping his pendant tight. She watched him curiously then scoffed and nodded, turning her back to him and walking away. The guards remained close to the boy, but at least they gave him his space. He had many questions to ask but he knew they wouldn't give him a straight answer, not right away at least. It was best to wait it out for now.

He took in a shallow breath, tracing the pendant with his thumb before tucking it into his shirt so it would be hidden. 'Sorry Rin. Looks like you'll have to wait,' he told no one as his eyes glanced at the sky briefly. A bird flew over head and cast a shadow on the path, making a dark patch he had to walk over.

Rin tiptoed out of her dwelling and onto the 'stage' of the cave. A puddle of water to dance on, where her feet wouldn't ache. She was still quivering from her talk with that boy. Her other half, as he'd said. She had to stay strong though, opening her eyes she narrowed them at the beast.

Sing it commanded as it watched her curiously, cocking its head like an eager child.

Rin nodded trying to think of something. Her voice was sore and her body was throbbing but…

She reached up and gripped her pendant tight and nodded again. If she knew he could hear her, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. If he heard her he could more than likely find her right? Theories played about in her head as she begun to spin in circles, dancing on the water with graceful motions.

Rin opened her mouth and she felt a song erupt. One she'd never heard before.

"Take the blue one to the prison," Meiko said when they reached the palace doors and entered the whole of the castle. It was huge and empty with hardly anything but doors, a stair case on the side, and windows that let the sun enter. The guards nodded and shoved Kaito away. He struggled only a moment before realizing it was hopeless to fight back. "Gakupo will return to his room, and see to it he stays there." She said with a smile, "Lady Megurine will join him shortly, I'm sure."

Len looked over at Gakupo wondering what his story was. He'd lived in this palace? What other secrets did he have. Gakupo gave Len a glance, one of which processed as a 'later' kind of look as they begun leading him away. "You'll come with me," Meiko said motioning Len to follow. Reluctantly he did, though the groups didn't get far.

"Is that them?" A voice said stepping into the room. Gakupo and Len looked over, each with there own look of surprise. A woman stood there in garbs only the oracle would wear, with long pale pink hair that touched down to her waist. She smiled, "Gakupo. Welcome home." She said as she snapped her fingers.

"At the end of the virtual paradise; deep, deep in the bottom of the earth. I was fated to sing the song of prayer. All alone…"

The song was hauntingly beautiful and somewhat upbeat under such circumstances. Rin closed her eyes and just felt herself moving, the pendant hitting into her now and again. "From the past that had nowhere to go. I weave voices that are going round and round. At the edge of the repeating history." She frowned as she let herself go, "I dedicate myself to the fate…"

The guards shoved Gakupo down to the ground. Roughly, he fell and his chin made a horrible cracking sound when it hit the tile. The guard that had pushed him leaned over so he pinned the man in place, holding his hands behind his back. The woman stepped forward, arms crossed as she smiled down at him, "didn't I tell you the next time I saw you, you would bow down to me?"

Gakupo growled as he glared up at her, "you've always been selfish," he hissed, "I'll stay this time but let the boy and his friend go. They have nothing to do with us."

Us? Len just watched the scene, growing oddly tensed. What were these two to each other? The woman just smirked, leaning down slightly so she could get a better look at Gakupo. "They have everything to do with us. This boy is the one searching for the diva, isn't he? If she's taken away from her master, it'll get angry and attack the kingdom. We wouldn't want that now would we?"

No one said anything, she stood back up turning her back to them. "Besides, it's an impossible quest." Len was getting sick of hearing those words. "Your sister is probably dead by now. If she isn't, she will be. She's not nearly as strong as the last diva was." Meiko flinched but remained holding her position. "I wonder how the beast will do it? Quick and painless isn't its style," she chuckled and started walking away, "no, it'll do it slow. Maybe burn her to a fine crisp. I only wish I was there to witness it."

The dragon tipped it head downward, laying on it's strong forelegs. It seemed amused if anything. "Not knowing anything, I've been continuously singing." Rin went on despite the pain in her throat, "for the whole of my life. A song for the sun, a song for rain," both of which she'd never actually witnessed, "a gentle requiem. At the end of the road to the paradise."

Len narrowed his eyes, quickly spinning around and kicking the closest guard down to the ground. The others moved in for him but he was young and quick. He grabbed the sword the first guard had been holding then ran at the woman.

She stopped and stood patiently as he came up from behind her and raised the sword against her throat. "My sister and I are both strong," he said with clenched teeth, "I'm going to save her and you won't stop me!"

The oracle just remained still then smirked, "is that so?"

Len's eyes widened as a flash of metal came between them. He stumbled backward and hit into the nearest wall, the sword he'd been holding was snapped in half on the ground. Meiko stepped forward, her sword drawn, blade still hot from contact with the other weapon. "You will not threaten our oracle in such a manor," she said holding the sword up so the boy could see himself in the reflection.

Rin felt a smile tug at her lips though her heart was heavy, "warm hands were offered… But couldn't reach me."

Rin stopped mid-step, raising her hands above her head, grasping for the spotlight as it suddenly occurred to her. Nothing would save her. No one would save her. Her only hope was in a strangers voice that claimed to be her other half. "Hurry," she called to it as tears rolled down her cheeks.

'Hurry,' an invisible voice called to Len. He made a fist and took in a deep breath. He wasn't about to die here…

"Meiko," Luka said sternly, "wouldn't it be fun to see how strong this boy is. He claims to be able to stop dragons, why not test him against yourself." The oracle smiled as she turned around to look at the two. "He obviously possesses some skill. Let's see what he can do."

Len and Meiko both looked at her like she was mad, but the red knight nodded and backed off. "Alright," she said looking to the other guards, "give him his sword." Len remained silent as one of the guards came forward, handing him the familiar hilt. He took it right away, holding it close; they must have captured their things when they were heading to the palace.

Len let the sheath fall off the blade, hitting the floor angrily. He glowered at Meiko, waiting. "He is eager," she said with her own little smile as the oracle walked away from the battle field, going off to the side.

"Take him to his room," she said when she walked passed Gakupo. "I'll see to him later."

The man made another noise of restraint as they picked him up off the floor and lead him out the doors and down the hall. The other guards moved away as Len and Meiko walked to the center and took their own fighting stances. Meiko's was that of an experienced warrior, while Len's stance was obviously an amateur.

"It will be a fight to the death," Luka said proudly, crossing her arms once more. "The last one standing is the winner and will get their own rewards. Understood?" Neither one answered her. "Then begin."