Part 2: Hiding and Seeking

Chapter 7: Here First

After the doctor told them there was nothing either could do, they were both returned to Oikuza's room. Both sat on the bed, still tired. Silence settled between them but it wasn't awkward. They both just knew the other was tired. Riki leaned against him and Oikuza pushed him off of him, “I'm not a pillow.”

Riki grinned and sighed, “Maybe we should lie down then. We're both tired. We need it.”

Oikuza shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't used to sharing a connection this close with anyone. Riki lied back first and curled up with a pillow. Oikuza coughed a couple of times and Riki looked back, “You okay?”

The Seeniel nodded and lied down facing away from Riki. The other boy mumbled a sleep well before falling asleep. Oikuza stayed up for a little longer, thinking about all that had happened before finally drifting to sleep.

Suddenly, the room's doors opened and an obnoxious voice rang out to wake them up, “Wake up, your majesties!”

Oikuza opened his eyes and glared, “Leave this chamber. We are resting.”

Riki yawned and turned over to see who had interrupted their very nice nap. A bird man, with a huge, green head crest and a long green tale was standing in the doorway with a few servants. He was dressed in flamboyant garb; a red and purple wrap around his waist and a purple set of what looked like underwear underneath a purple and blue layered silk skirt that was opened in the front. Riki winced at his apparent attempt at style.

“But your grace,” he said while making wild gestures with his hands, “Your Magnificent Father ordered you two be awoken so you can get ready for the ceremony. And I am to dress you for it!”

Riki pulled back some at seeing the expression on the bird man's face; while he was sure the man was grinning, it looked rather demented with a beak. Oikuza merely glared more, “When is the ceremony?”

“At sun rise your highness,” the bird cooed as it bowed, “It is a few clicks before that.”

Riki blinked, “How long have we been sleeping?”

“We slept most of yesterday,” Oikuza commented.

Riki shrugged and then realized just how awake he was. Even though it didn't seem like it had been very long, he felt completely rested he grinned, “Great!”

“Now that you both realize how long you've been sleeping,” the bird clicked his beak impatiently, “its time to get ready for the ceremony.”

Riki got up, slowly followed by Oikuza who coughed. Riki looked to him and frowned. Oikuza looked up and saw the worry in his gaze, “Stop worrying. She said I was still going to be sick and that I wasn't going to die.”

Riki only nodded slowly. He was still worried, but if Oikuza wanted him to stop, he could try. The bird man twittered excitedly as he began to tell them all of the things that he had planned for their outfits and they merely ignored him. They only followed. The silence between them was awkward this time.

Riki blinked, “Hey, what's your name?”

The bird grinned that odd bird-grin, “Ratiki.”

Riki nodded and continued to follow him. Ratiki led them to the wardrobe room where all of the racks of clothes had been pushed aside and two outfits were on doll type things of themselves. The dolls were either magical or mechanical but each possessed the mannerisms of the person they were representing. One had its had on its hips and an almost playful aura about it. Riki paled slightly when he realized what was on the manikin. It wore an extravagant golden-tan headdress that feathered up and out. Its makeup was done up like a warriors would have been done up; dark around the eyes and then horizontal lines of color came from the outside corners of his eyes. A gold chocker was around its neck. The clothes it wore reminded him of the first set he was given when he came to this weird world. A wrap top, only this one was wrapped to give the illusion of sleeves; they were a loop of fabric around the middle of the top part of the arms. The top was red; blood red. The pants were black, with a stripe down either side; the stripes started as a deep orange color and then as the got further down its, leg it turned into a golden yellow.

“Do...I really have to wear that?” Riki said, pointing at the headdress. The rest of the outfit was amazing. He just thought the headdress was a little over the top.

Ratiki nodded, “Yes! Zyei once wore it at his ceremony. We managed to get a hold of these just for you two.”

Oikuza looked less then pleased, “Why am I wearing the clothes of a woman?”

Riki looked at Oikuza's outfit and giggled. Oikuza's new-attained blue eyes glared harshly at him. It was the matching outfit to Riki's. There was only one wrap and that wrap slowly changed color as it went down. Golden yellow at the top and blood red at the bottom. It was wrapped around the manikin like a dress. The dress only went to just above his knees. A belt at the hips held up a multiple-layered black skirt which opened in the front. Golden designs decorated the skirts layers and the belt. Shoes that were more like sandals had red ribbons that went around the legs. Many gold bracelets adorned the wrists of the manikin and severely long, gold necklaces hung from its neck. Its makeup feathered around its eyes with many of the warm colors that had been used in the previous color scheme.

Riki grinned, “Its not that bad!”

“Shut up! Its a women's outfit!” Oikuza snapped at him.

“I'm sorry your highness,” Ratiki bowed low, “We needed to use a matching set and all of the other sets, the chosen’s outfit was styled even more for a woman.”

“I don't see how it could be more for a woman then this,” Oikuza said crossing his arms.

“Just put it on and stop complaining,” Riki said as he walked over to the servants, “Its not like we have to wear it for that long any way. We just have to get through the ceremony again and then we're done.”

Oikuza bristled at being told what to do but Ratiki spoke first, “How dare you speak to his highness like that!”

Riki cringed and turned to Oikuza, “This is the only time you'll get something like this out of me,” he bowed low to the Seeniel and mumbled, “I apologize Oikuza.”

Oikuza just blinked and nodded, accepting his apology. Riki righted himself and went back to being amazed with his outfit. Oikuza merely shook his head and went over to his manikin and servants. The faster he put it on, the faster they could do the ceremony and then he would never have to wear it again. They were taken to separate rooms to get dressed.

They came out of their respective rooms after they had been dressed and looked at each other. Oikuza looked away first and smirked, “Well you sure look tough don't you?”

Riki glared and crossed his arms, “Well, at least I don't look like a girl.”
Oikuza's glare shot right back at him before he even finished the sentence. Ratiki got in between their fierce gazes with a nervous expression on his face, “Please stop fighting!! We have to get out to the gardens for you two to perform the ritual now!! The sun is almost up,” he turned them to the door and started urging them toward it, “Let's pick up the pace young ones!!”

Riki kept his arms crossed, now annoyed with Oikuza's comment. He didn't think he looked weak in the outfit. Of course, he had some training and filling out to do but that would come as soon as he got someone to train him. They made it to the gardens fairly quickly where a circle of feathers was set up and many people had gathered. Riki was worried now. This was a perfect chance for someone to try and strike down either one of them. Oikuza looked to Riki, feeling his discontent and also becoming more alert.

Riki stepped to the side of the circle he had been on before, as did Oikuza. Both were shifting their eyes back and forth being aware of what was going on. Riki began the ceremony again as Oikuza brought out the knife. Neither was putting a lot into actually performing due to their suspicious feelings. As Oikuza was wrapping his hand, Riki saw movement toward them and he ripped his hand out of Oikuza's hands. He raised it up as the spell he wanted formed in his and his hand glowed, “Stop.”

The crowd took a few steps back seeing the fury in the guardian's eyes and the creature going towards them merely bowed, a cloak covering their face, “I merely wanted to give the young masters some tips on how to perform the ceremony correctly.”

Riki was almost surprised to hear a woman's voice but Oikuza seemed to care less. He tackled her down and held the knife to his neck, “You are a Minion! State your true business.”

Guards moments later came over and separated Oikuza from the minion and had the minion secured. Oikuza walked back over to Riki and nodded slightly in thanks. The guards took the woman away and Riki turned back to Oikuza to finish the ceremony. Oikuza continued wrapping the wound on his hand and spoke the phrases necessary.

Something was still bothering Riki though. The one who reacted to the minion was not him. That was an instinct almost; an instinct he never knew existed. He pulled the candle out and the pseudo-match. He lit the candle and spoke, “This fire shows the passion I have to protect you. It has always burn and always with.”

He kneeled again and put the flame to the feathers, “With the burning of the circle of feathers, I burn away any of the dislike I have ever had for you and start anew.”

The feathers burned again and then glowed softly. Even Riki had noticed the magical, intimate feel of the ceremony was far less the second time around. Oikuza moved closer when he stood and briskly kissed him, “And with this kiss we seal our Pack.”

The glowing dimmed and the crowd around them went crazy. Riki blinked and Oikuza rolled his eyes. Some of the older people seemed to be crying and the younger one's looked full of hope. Quieshi put a hand on his sons shoulder and looked to the rest of the crowd, “Our children are our future. Please support these two so our children's future is bright and peaceful.”

The crowd cheered again. Quieshi smiled at the two in front of him and leaned down to whisper, “I would like you two to join in on the interrogation of the minion. Meet in the dungeon.”

Quieshi left without another word. Riki shook his head. Oikuza grabbed his wrist and dragged him off back to the inner walls of the palace, “Maybe you're useful after all.”

“That wasn't me,” Riki hissed at him, “I just had a feeling but the one trying to protect you wasn't me.”

Oikuza stopped, dropped his wrist and looked down at him, “Are you crazy?”

“Well,” Riki started, “I was-”

“I don't even want to know,” the seeniel said, slapping his forehead, “lets just get to the dungeon.”

The two walked for want seemed like an hour in Riki's mind down to the deepest part of the dungeon. Cat calls came from all around to both boys and while Oikuza would dutifully ignore them, Riki would make jeers back at them just stirring up the prisoners more. They finally arrived to room when interrogations would take place. After entering, they saw two chairs. They both had pieces of papers on them and each paper had their name on it. Riki sat in his chair and Oikuza in his. Quieshi appeared behind them and put his hands on their shoulders. Riki jumped and Oikuza looked back to his father. Quieshi cleared his throat and spoke, “Please bring in the prisoner.”

She had been stripped of his cloak. She almost looked like a normal person except for a few key things. A mark on the side of her face. It looked almost like a wave and was completely black. She had long pointed Elvin ears and her limbs were almost lanky because how tall she was but it was obvious she was very well toned. Long silver-blue locks were tied back and her gray eyes were completely blank. Riki looked to Oikuza, wondering if he knew why and Oikuza responded with out a second thought, “She's blind.”

She laughed and the guard shook her harshly. He sat her down and the questions were started by Quieshi, “Who are you?”

“Ikao y Kiqui,” she smirked, “Princess of the Yaqi.”

The guard who had pushed looked nervous and shook his head in disappointment. Quieshi didn't look convinced, “Where is your proof?”

“Your father and mine were put on the battle field during the Forbidden War and you saved each other. When you both thought you would die, you branded yourselves with the mark of the Black Dawn so you could both go to the same place,” she said confidently.

Both Oikuza's and Quieshi's eyes widened. Riki guesses she was probably right and spoke, “So...why did you come here to interrupt the ceremony? Trying to draw me to attack you or something? I felt a lot of malice coming from you.”

“And that's where you'd be wrong young guardian,” Ikao said, “I was stopping an attempt by the person behind me. I got your attention because you couldn't be bothered to see he was only a few feet away from you. I needed to get your attention some how.”

Riki blinked and thought back to the ceremony. She was right. The aura was coming from behind them. Oikuza shook off his shock and glared at her, “What is your business being here then?! Just to stop that attempt.”

“Well, not exactly,” she said yawning, “I visited the Goddess a day or so ago. I was informed I was the Guide and you two needed my help. It certainly seems like you do. The guardian is weak and the chosen is even weaker.”

Oikuza sneered and crossed his arms in anger, “And just what are you going to teach us?”

“How to fight and the basics of you magics.”

Riki laughed aloud. She glared in his general direction, “Have a problem there, kchiti??”

Riki glared back. As much as he accepted being short, he couldn’t stand being made fun of for it, “I was just wondering how are you supposed to teach us when you're blind?”

“I can guarantee I'm a better fighter then you.”

Riki laughed again, “Want to prove it?”

“Of course I would.”

Riki’s blood burned. He was never much of a fighter but whatever this bond had done to him made him want to fight, and fight hard. Ikao stayed silent for a few moment as if analyzing him. She shook her head and then spoke, “If you wouldn’t mind your majesty, having me released so I may teach this idiot his place.”

Quieshi merely nodded and the guards cut the rope from her wrists and ankles. She stood and smirked, “I will meet you in the garden after you’ve rested. It seems to me that you’ve been up for a while-“

“We will fight now!” Riki shouted startling most of the people in the room.

His eyes burned into her. Her sightless gaze was fixated on the door in front of her. Oikuza looked from one to the other. He had heard of Ikao’s skills. He began walking away. He refused to watch his guardian make a fool of himself. The king also excused himself to attend to other business. He offered the princess their hospitality and she accepted. He left with out another word.

Ikao had the guards lead her up the stairs and out of the dungeon. Riki followed wordlessly. When they made outside to the garden, the guards led Ikao to the other end of the garden and gave her sword back. Riki glared, “Where is my weapon?”

“You don’t have one, kchiti?” Ikao said as a guard brought him a sword.

Riki handed him the headdress. He then took the sword and tried to figure out how to hold it. He had never held a sword before. The balance felt odd and he couldn’t get it to rise with out throwing him off balance. He grunted in frustration and the princess laughed at him, “Never held a sword before?”

“Shut up!” he screamed at her and ran toward her, dragging the sword on the ground.

He swung at her and she jumped up and landed behind him, “That was pathetic.”

The hilt of her sword came back and connected with the back of his head hard. Riki stumbled forward but turned around quickly. Ikao clicked her tongue three times and the charged at him with surprising accuracy. Riki had not been expecting a blind person to be this good. He blocked with his sword but she quickly reacted and tripped him. He landed hard on his back and she held the sword to his neck, “Just so you know, you’re no good with large swords. I’m going to train you on something else.”

Riki glared. She sighed a moved, “Listen, I’m tired. I’ll get to training you and the Chosen later.”

The guards went to her side but she shook her head, “I’ll get there just fine, don’t worry. I would worry more about the cut on the back of his head.”

She continued on. Riki blinked and brought his hand to the back of his head. There was a sticky mess. He glared at her more as the guards helped him up. While he was extremely frustrated that she had beat him so easily, he was more frustrated not knowing why he was acting like he was. He had never been one to that wanted to beat the crap out of people just to prove his own strength. If he was defending something, then yes, he would fly into action. But generally he was still under control. He had almost totally lost it with Ikao. He crossed his arms in deep thought as the guard led him to the medical wing. It obviously had to do with the bonding ritual. He had been unwilling to fight Aioie and he had a feeling if he was the Riki of the now back then, he would have.

“I still think you're a coward for that,” a voice said

Riki's eyes widened but didn't say anything. He had learned a long time ago not to speak up about voices that he could hear in his head. He glanced at both the guards, seeing if they had heard it. Nothing. He waited for the voice to talk to him again but it didn’t. Riki shook his head; maybe he really was that insane.

The guards left Riki at the medical wing and he went in. He went in and was greeted by the woman in white again and she quickly patched up his head. She used the relaxing spell again and sent him on his way. He walked back to Oikuza’s room and opened the doors to see him lying on the bed with a different set of clothes on.

“You should probably take off those close and give them back to Ratiki before he throws even more of a fit,”

“Why’s he throwing a fit?” Riki said as he went over to the bed and sat down on it.

Oikuza rolled his eyes, “Because you fought in clothes that were made for ceremony purposes only. You have no idea how mad he is.”

Riki ignored him. He had another thing on his mind, “Who’s Ikao? And where does she come from?”

“She is the daughter of the first chosen and guardian.”

“What?! Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Riki said.

Oikuza shook his head, “Everyone assumed you knew what Princess of the Yaqi was. The Yaqi are a blessed race already. They were the first one’s on this continent and therefore we hold much respect for them.”

Riki grumbled. For the Royals to hold so much respect for another people said a lot. He looked to Oikuza, “Does this mean I have to...go apologize to her?”

“Yes,” Oikuza said curtly, “You have to bring her a gift to ask for her forgiveness. If she accepts it you're fine. If not, you are to do her bidding for how ever long she sees fit.”

Riki's eyes widened and then glared at the seeniel, “Why didn't you warn me bastard?! You know I'm not from this place!”

“The best way to learn something is to experince it,” Oikuza smirked, “Now I would hurry to her chamber before she decides she doesn't want to accept anything from you.”

“I don't have anything acceptable for a gift!” Riki panicked.

“You have the Goddess' symbol around you neck and that strange device that vibrates,” Oikuza said.

“It vibrated?” Riki questioned and got up to look for his old clothes, “Where did it go?”

Oikuza pointed to his desk and Riki went to it. He picked it up. There was no text, no missed calls, no voice mails. He checked his inbox just in case. Nothing. He checked his calls. There was one after the weird number that Aioie had used. Kazu. He looked at Oikuza, “What did you do when it vibrated?”

Oikuza sat up and shrugged, “I opened it and heard a strange noise. I listened to them and they said something about you. Not that I could understand them. The language was so disgusting sounding-”

“That person was from my world Oikuza!” Riki looked hurt, “Why didn't you tell me?”

Oikuza just looked at him for a moment, “Riki. In order to function here, you have to cut ties with those not here. Holding onto them will make you weak in the eyes of many and you will not be able to function as my guardian. Some little orange piece of junk isn't going to keep you connected with them anyway.”

Riki knew he was partially right. He wouldn't let go of them completely though. He put his phone back on the desk and found the clothes that he had picked out earlier sitting on a table, folded neatly. He grabbed them and went behind a screen to change. Oikuza sent for a servant knowing he would have a hard trouble with the wrap. The servant came quickly and went to Riki's aid when he asked for it. After getting dressed, Riki grabbed the phone, “I'll be back in a little bit.”

“Good luck,” Oikuza said as he lied back down.

Riki left the room and looked to one of the guards outside Oikuza's room, “Hey...Where's Ikao's room?”

“I shall take you there,” the guard bowed to him and started to walk away.

Riki blinked and followed quickly. The room was not very far away from Oikuza's as was decorated with her name. It was obvious she visited often. How did they not recognize her right away then?

The guard knocked and Ikao opened the door looking completely different then before. She had short brown hair and blue eyes with tan skin. Her facial feature remained the same though so it was the only way Riki knew it was her. That and her blank eyes. She clicked her tongue and then smirked, “Please come in, kchiti.”

Riki hated his new pet name she had given him. It was almost like calling him 'shorty' but it seemed slightly more derogative in the language. He walked in. She sat on the bed, “Please sit in the chair.”

Riki sat unwillingly and started to take off the pendant around his neck, “I'm sorry for my brash behavior earlier today. Please accept this pendant as an offering.”

“No. I need something else from you. I can tell from the tone of your voice that the pendant doesn't mean a whole lot to you. I need something a little more...personal,” she said running her fingers through her hair.

Riki glared at her. She knew he had something else. He carefully pulled the cellphone out of his robes, “I only have one other thing. Its the only thing I have left to remind me of my home land.”

“That's a little more like it,” she said and held out her hand, “I want it. Something from a far away land will probably fetch a pretty penny.”

Riki clutched it to his chest, “I'm not giving it to you so you can sell it!”

Her blank eyes stared right past him, “So that means you agree to be my slave un-”

“Listen,” Riki said, “I will give this to you on one condition. As long as you don't sell it or give it away or destroy. It has to remain in your possession safe and sound.”

Ikao looked thoughtful, “It must really mean a lot to you.”

“Its the only way I keep a connection with my friends.”

Ikao's face softened slightly. She nodded, “Fine. I will keep it safe.”

Riki got up and put the phone in her hand. Tears spilled from his eyes unwillingly and he wiped them away quickly, “Thank you, mirani.”

Her eyes widened and she blushed slightly, “There's no need to bribe me, kchiti. I'll keep your thing safe.”

Riki smiled and started to walk off. He opened the door and walked out. The short trip back to Oikuza's room was one of the hardest he made the whole time he had been in the world.