A Love Beyond Time

Chapter 1-After the battle at Horai

A heavy mist shrouded Shinsenkyo, adding to its mystical aura and isolated location. The island remained hidden, like a silent predator, waiting for unsuspecting prey to descend with its tantalizing lures of whispered eternal Life and longevity. The mists were especially thick in Horai, the core of the island, the dreary curtains of grey blocking all sights and sounds.

Two long-haired figures traveled through the forests, swift and sure-footed despite the poor visibility. The redolent scent of peonies hung heavy in the air that was still crisp and cold despite the weak rays of sun cutting through the thick canopy of trees. As they neared their destination, they detected a pungent metallic odor. Blood.

There was a battle here earlier. Asahi said to his mate. A fierce and bloody one, at that.

The humans must have encountered one of the Tensens then. And judging from the scent of peonies, it must be Mu Dan. Harumi mused. Let's hope there aren't any severe casualties.

As they reached the clearing in front of Horai, an explosion of blooming peonies in various shades of pink and red greeted them. The lush flowers carpeted the entire field, stretching beyond where the eyes could reach. Their rich fragrance, already intoxicating from a distance, was so overpowering that it numbed the throat and made the eyes water. Bits of jade dotted the fields, courtesy of the young leaves that sprouted alongside, providing some soothing relief against the flamboyant rubies.

Over there! I see the humans near the rocks! Harumi alerted her mate and sped towards the group, Asahi close on her heels. At the far end of the clearing, four figures huddled together, eyes closed. Their clothes and faces were splattered with blood and plant matter. They were so still, one might have thought them dead if not for the faint, nearly undetectable heaving of their chests. A fifth figure was located slightly further away, propped against a large boulder, its head heavily bandaged. On closer examination, several fist-sized wounds dotted the latter's torso, drenching the white uniform with blood. Asahi knelt beside the man and placed his fingers on his right wrist, trying to locate a pulse. But there was nothing. He signed and looked at Harumi, who was tending to a delicately built, curly-haired human. One figure soon caught his eyes. His unusual platinum hair was a perfect foil for his dark crimson robes. As Asahi continued to gaze at the man, he realized something amiss. The crimson was a tad too dark and seemed to gleam with a wet sheen.

By the gods...it's blood! That man's clothes were soaked with blood! With that thought pounding, Asahi leaped toward the fallen figure. However, he caught sight of a flash of silver aiming for his neck within his peripheral vision. He ducked to avoid the blow before wrenching away the offending weapon and holding his own dagger at the man's throat. Unbelievably, he was alive. And maybe a little delirious. Asahi looked at him with a scowl, ready to reprimand him for nearly slicing his head off, but he stopped short.

The man was blind. His eyes were closed, and three long scars decorated the surrounding skin. One long scar ran horizontally across the top eyelids and the nose bridge, and two shorter vertical ones dissected the center of the eyes and stopped at the high cheekbones, one on each side. Blind. Yet he was obviously able to perceive his surroundings with uncanny accuracy. And he was undoubtedly a skilled warrior. Asahi was willing to bet his tails that this human drove Mu Dan's demise. He might be aided by his comrades, but he was the one who executed the final blow.

"In case you're unaware, you are severely wounded and suffering from heavy blood loss. My mate and I mean absolutely no harm. We just want to help you and your comrades. Please trust us," Harumi spoke soothingly. She had attended to the other three humans, all young females, and looked up to see Asahi gawking at the man, albeit with an irritated scowl. Knowing that the titan-haired male was on the verge of unleashing his scathing tongue, she hurried to take control of the awkward situation, signaling Asahi to shield his dagger.

Shion drew a pained breath as he studied the two auras before him. One was a shimmery lilac blue, steady and calm like a cool candle flame. The other aura burned a fiery red, hinting at a hot-tempered personality. Although neither exuded the same energy waves as the enemies and appeared harmless, Shion remained vigilant. After all, he, Sagiri, Nurugai, and the kunoichi were severely injured during the fight, while Senta had sacrificed himself. Being the only male and the oldest person in the group now, he was responsible for protecting his younger comrades. He kept a tight hold on his sword and forced himself to stand, ignoring the burning agony coursing through his battered body and watery legs.

"You are not human," he hissed. "Why should we trust you? Every inhabitant on this damned island has attempted to kill us. What makes you different? How would we know if your intentions are as honorable as you claimed?" He panted slightly, breathless after that minor outburst.

"You're right. We are not human. But unlike the other creatures you have encountered, we have no desire to hurt or kill you and your friends. We detected some unusual activities in Horai and came here to investigate, that's all. As I had said earlier, you are very badly injured. Please come to our village for medical assistance," Harumi beseeched. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the young lady dressed in similar attire as the blind samurai approached slowly.

"Sir Shion, the lady is right. You look very pale, and you need help immediately. All of us do, in fact. I don't think they are dangerous. To us, anyway." Sagiri advised. She could not take her eyes off the strange couple. They were breathtakingly beautiful. Earlier, she had opened her eyes to an exquisite feminine face, perfect as could be. All porcelain skin, rosy lips, and delicate features framed by sweeping ebony hair as luscious as the thick lashes framing gentle eyes the color of warm cinnamon. The man, too, was striking with his titan hair and finely chiseled features. Even the look of disdain in those rich chocolate eyes and the sneer playing on the full lips could not mar his masculine beauty. Shion is right. They are not human. No human could possess such unearthly beauty or such intense power.

Shion hesitated. He knew Sagiri had a good point. The four of them were deeply exhausted. They needed rest so that they could heal and regain their strength. To fight their next battle. To escape. His uniform, heavy and caked with blood, stuck uncomfortably to his skin and made him nauseous. Worse, he could feel blood trickling from his numerous wounds, adding to his lightheadedness from the massive blood loss.

"For Heaven's sake! Can we stop wasting time? We should get the hell out of this place before the other Tensens come poking around," Asahi exclaimed, glaring at the platinum-haired human who seemed lost in thoughts. We should knock him out and leave him alone here. Just bring the ladies with us. He suggested to Harumi, much to her exasperation. She rolled her eyes and ignored him, focusing on Shion.

"All right," he sighed. "We will go back to your village with you. But don't think you can try any dirty tricks. If you do...." Shion's head spun, and he dropped to his knees. Harumi and Sagiri leaped to his side, anxious frowns marring their faces. A short distance away, Nagurai watched in horror at the scene unfolding and rushed to the quartet. Harumi propped Shion up, and he laid his head on her shoulder, breathing heavily.

"He's losing consciousness, and his pulse is very faint. We need to get him back now." She looked up at her mate. "Asahi, you go off first with Shion. Take him to the healing cave once you're back. I will be close behind with the girls."

Asahi stared at Harumi with indignation. "Why the hell do I have to carry him back? Why can't I take the ladies instead?"

"Well, if you insist. I don't mind carrying an adult man all the way home. Besides, he's handsome..." Harumi trailed off, watching as Asahi's face turned white then red. She knew her mate well and knew his tendency to get jealous when she found other males appealing.

"No, no, it's fine. I will bring him. You be careful yourself, okay? I'll see you later." Asahi bent to carry Shion on his back and brushed his lips lightly against his beloved. Stepping back, he took a second to conceal his scent and aura before speeding off into the surrounding mists.

"Safe journey, my love," Harumi whispered. She turned to the trio of ladies-young, lovely, courageous. And with varying types of wounds decorating their slim bodies. "Let's make our way out here, too, shall we?"