Book 8

bla bla bla = Izark's language
bla bla bla = Noriko's language
("bla bla bla") = Noriko's thought
["bla bla bla"] = Izark's thought

Noriko was walking up and down. Sometimes she stopped and looked hesitated. Then she called Izark. Izark, who was sleeping in a cave, awoke once he heard Noriko calling him.
    "Izark, look! There is a rainbow outside cave, it's really beautiful".
But when Izark came out from the cave, the rainbow has faded away.
    "Hey, It disappeared. Wait, wait a second... so… sorry, Izark. You had slept late yesterday because of watching the firewood. This rainbow disappeared quickly".
Noriko felt guilty to Izark. Izark noticed many footsteps on the ground. He smiled then walked in the cave. Noriko followed him with guilty feeling.

    But then Izark said, "Though I have seen rainbow many times but this faded rainbow is the most beautiful because I saw it with you, Noriko".
    Noriko blushed at once, "I… I..."
Noriko seemed lost of words but then she saw a naughty smile appeared on Izark’s face.
    "You are teasing me!" Noriko said that with red face, making Izark laughed loudly.
    Noriko was surprised, "Izark, you are laughing!"
    Izark looked stunned and then asked Noriko, " Is it funny?"
    "No, I'm just surprised. I never saw you laughed like that. My heart is throbbing, and amused," Noriko smiled.
    ("It's been three months since we have parted with our friends at Selena Guzena. We used to travel together. His face always looks serious but today I saw he laughed. Since he accepted me, I think he began to change bit by bit").

In a city, the major was having problem.
    "Why? Why does the celebration day have to be tomorrow? The man, who will do it, is injured and it's a big mistake to cancel the celebration," the mayor was confused.
    "I'm sorry. My wound caused problems, mother", a man named Kaizak appeared.
His leg was injured so he had to use a stick to support his wounded leg.
    "This celebration have to be carried out. Though with this wounded body, I'll do..."
    "Stupid! Don't talk like that. You have to bring a cart of flowers from that mountain to this city. If you fail, you will fall to the river between the mountain and the city. Do you want to make my daughter a widow?" said the mayor.

    At another place of the city, a woman sat on the upper part of the stairs, "I don't want to be a widow"
At the lower part, Noriko was sitting while Izark was kneeling in front of her.
    "Are you okay?", Izark touched Noriko's forehead.
    "It's hot". Izark stood up, "The timing is not suitable. This city is having a yearly celebration. All the inns are full. Wait here Noriko, I'll go to buy some medicine".
    The woman watched Izark walked away and she was surprised, "That man is like my husband! ... No, no ... although he is like my husband, he can't do the acrobatic".

While the woman was thinking like that, a man approached Noriko. He thought Noriko was looking a job so he took Noriko away. Noriko tried to explain but the man didn't listen. The woman tried to stop the man but the man hit her instead. Noriko was really surprised so she called Izark by telepathy. Izark jumped to the roof and saw the man was pulling Noriko. He jumped down right in front of the man. The man was surprised but before he can say anything, Izark has pulled his shirt and threw him to the ground.
    "Who are you? Why do you want to bring Noriko?" Izark was angry.
    "I thought she was looking for a job so I...," the man tried to explain.
    Noriko cut his words, "I have said that he is mistaken but he didn't listen. On the contrary, he punched the woman who tried to help me".
Izark turned his head from Noriko to the man. The man felt afraid and he ran away. The woman was stunned by all Izark's actions then she invited them to stay at her house.

Izark was trying his custome and mask which made him look like Kaizak so the mayor mistaken him as her son in law. Izark heard an applause, which came from Noriko.
    "Great, Izark is so handsome"
    "Noriko, I have told you to go to sleep," Izark opened his mask.
    "But I feel lonely sleeping alone"
    "Your fever can get worse"
    "But, but I don't feel too hot anymore"
    "Go to bed and sleep"

    The mayor cut their conversation, "Izark, that's not the way to treat a girl" Then she talked to Noriko, " Noriko dear, you want to see the celebration, don't you? This city produces perfume which is made from the flowers on the mountain. You will be at the tower, waiting for Izark to bring the cart of flowers down from the mountain. You also will wear a nice costume, blah...blah...blah....".
After a long speech, Noriko gave up and went back to her room.

    After changing his clothes, Izark went to Noriko's room, "Noriko, open the door"
There's no answer so Izark opened the door and found Noriko was pushed at the back of the door.
    "What are you doing there? I have told you to go to sleep," Izark pulled Noriko.
    "Uh, I heard your footsteps so I want to make a surprise... as this morning's revenge. But it failed".
    "I didn't lie about our conversation this morning. I felt like it's the first time I saw a rainbow, like a miracle. I've always been thinking  to run away from you. But now, I feel there's a change in me, I really think we can find a way to change our fate."
    "Yes, we will find the way... surely"
    Izark smiled and looked at Noriko warmly, " Go rest, I'll be here", He pushed Noriko's head to make her lie down on the bed.
    ("There is the Tenjoki inside Izark which can be awakened by me, the Mezame. Every country is searching for us to be used as their war weapon. We don't know why we have this fate, but the future is still uncertain. It’d be ourselves who decide our future")

On the next day, the celebration started. At the tower, Noriko swung her hand as a sign for Izark to bring the cart down. But half way, one of the ropes that supported the cart broke. The cart lost its stability and made the flowers inside it fell to the river. But Izark summoned the wind and made the flowers fly over the city. The citizens were really amused and cried for joy.
    "Izark, thank God you are safe", Noriko ran to Izark who has just arrived at the tower and hugged him.
    "Hey, look!" one of the citizens pointed to a certain direction.
Noriko and Izark saw a rainbow appearing beautifully.
    "The rainbow we used to talk about... it's alright... our wish will be fulfilled just like this rainbow".
    At another place, "I have found them, Sir Rachef. The Tenjoki and Mezame that you are looking for", said Goriya to Rachef who was standing behind him.
    "Good!", said Rachef.

The celebration also had an evening event. Noriko and Izark were walking with the mayor, her daughter and Kaizak, her son in law. Noriko saw some women were jumping from a higher place down to a pool of flowers, she wanted to join them.
    "Izark, may I do that?" asked Noriko.
    "Is it okay for you? You just had a fever yesterday, it'd be better if you...", Izark can't continue his words.
    Kaizak has shut his mouth and took over the conversation, "It's okay, you can go while we will wait here".
Noriko, the mayor and Kaizak's wife went away. Izark intended to follow them but Kaizak stopped him.
    "Hey, wait. Where are you going? Men are not allowed to get closer. Do you want to see their skirts when they jump?". Kaizak's words made Izark blushed.
    " I understand, I'll wait here", said Izark, still blushing.

While waiting, Izark looked at the place where the girls jump.
    ["Noriko was unseen... I sometimes become afraid... if Noriko isn't here, what will I be? After I met her, I felt relieved...."].
Noriko appeared on the stage and then jumped down.
    Suddenly, Izark heard the women near her shouted, "She fell down".
Izark became surprised and approached the place. Then he saw Noriko's head appeared from the flowers.
    "Ah, Izark. I fell to the bottom, am I heavy?".
The women around her suddenly laughed.
Izark helped Noriko to get up.
    "Sorry, I have made you worried", said Noriko.
    "It's okay", said Izark then they walked out from the flowers.

At that time, a man approached the mayor and told her that the prophet has told him about something dangerous. Izark felt something strange on his back but he didn't tell it to Noriko. The mayor left Izark and Noriko with Kaizak and his wife.
    Kaizak offered Izark to live in the city but Izark refused it, "Thank you, but we will go tomorrow".
    At another place, Zena and Gina also felt that something dark is approaching. They told Jeda and the others, "Almost all prophets can feel it, I think what have been predicted years long will soon happen", said Zena.

In the morning, Izark stood in front of a big mirror. He took of his shirt and turned his body so his back faced the mirror. In the mirror, he saw that his skin on his back was cracked like scales.
    ["The scales still exist on my back... at that time, Noriko came and hug me. My body which have turned into Tenjoki returned normal and the scales on my arms disappeared... Is it my spirit? Does my mind have any connection with this all? I don't understand"].
Izark went back to the bedroom and looked at Noriko who's still sleeping.
    ["I want to be strong. My weak spirit can't protect her... I want to be strong... to have a strong spirit"].
    Suddenly Izark saw Noriko smiled in her sleep, and then she woke up. "Izark, I saw a dream, it's really good, blah... blah… blah..."
    Looking at Noriko, Izark smiled and kissed her forehead, "Good morning"

    "The man who was born as Tenjoki loves the woman who was destined to be the Mezame. What does it mean?" said Rachef
    "I don't know", said Keimos.
    "Well, his great power will appear if Noriko is in a dangerous situation. But if Noriko disappeared, what will he be? Will he become sad? Angry? Or even crazy?... that will make Tenjoki appears"
    "He will bow to me!!" said Keimos then he kicked open the door that lead him to a room, full with Chimo.
    Doros, who was in the room, was surprised, "Keimos, don't make any noise here. My Chimo become afraid".
But Keimos threw Doros away.
    "The sound of Chimo is really irritating", said Tazashina.
    "Well, I think, all the members have come", said Rachef who sat on the chair.

Meanwhile Izark felt a bad feeling when he was wearing his shoes. Then Noriko came and told that she heard the prophet said there's something dark approaching the city.
    Izark stood at once and said with a frightened face, "Noriko, let's get out of here".
Back to Rachef, all the chimo were caught and kept inside a net. Doros tried to stop it but he was unable to do it. Rachef took one of the Chimo.
    "Oy, Rachef, Do you want to use Chimo to go to their place?" said Keimos.
    "The limit is 45 km,but it can be further if we combine the Chimo but we will fell asleep for some days. Furthermore, we can't use it continually. I want to meet Izark directly! Don't waste our time and let's move out. We can get to their place in 5 days", Keimos' eyes narrowed like cat's eyes.
    "5 days? Don't be kidding, by the time we arrive, they will have escaped…Look Keimos, the way which is made by the Chimo", Rachef pushed the Chimo to the wall.
Its blood spread and made a dark hole on the wall. All of them entered the hole and arrived at a ruin where Goriya have waited for them.

    "What is this place??" Keimos looked around confusedly.
    "This is 27 km away from our previous place. We are in an old ruin which can make your power greater", said Rachef.
    "So I can go to his place using this way?"
    "You can say so. Bring all the Chimo here. Chimo's blood makes 3600 km became zero. Now, Keimos, open the way with your hand. Goriya and Tazashina will show you the way."
    "No, Don't do that!!!", said Doros, but he couldn’t block Keimos’ power.
He used his power and striked all the chimo. A big hole appeared and showed a landscape.

Izark and Noriko were riding a horse when a big hole appeared in front of them. Izark grabbed Noriko and got off from the horse. Then he saw Keimos came out from the hole.
    "Hey, long time no see", said Keimos.
    "You..." Izark was really surprised.
    "So, that girl is the Mezame you brought from the forest on that day. Enough for the introduction! Take this!" Keimos attacked with his power.
    But Izark hug Noriko and dodged it,"You know about us? Why do you attack Noriko then?"
    "I don't care about the Mezame," Keimos kept on attacking.

Izark left Noriko at a safe place then he fought Keimos. His eyes turned like cat's eyes and he pushed Keimos away. But Keimos' eyes also changed and his power increased. Izark was really surprised.
They fought continuously, attacking and dodging until their sword broke into pieces.
    "Well, looks like our sword can't handle our power anymore", said Keimos.
    ["There's no other choice...I have to use my dark power. But if I used it, I can lose control and forget about Noriko..like that day"].

Meanwhile, in the ruin, Rachef gave the last two Chimo to Doros who was still crying for the lost of his Chimo. Then Rachef ordered his men to get in the hole and catch Noriko. Noriko was really afraid and and called Izark.
    ["Noriko's voice! Impossible! They found her..."]
    Izark left the battle and went toward Noriko's place, he saw Noriko being taken into the hole, "Noriko!"
Suddenly a big energy attacked Izark and pushed him to the ground.
    It was Keimos who released the energy, "Don't think about that girl! You are fighting with me, Keimos Lee Gorda!" Keimos kept on using his power to attack Izark who has made a barrier around him, "Remember my name, name of the man who defeated you!!"

    ["Noriko!"], suddenly the barrier became greater and stronger.
All Keimos' attacks were reflected back to him. Izark's hair became white then he approached Keimos and punched him many times.
Meanwhile, Noriko was brought to another hole in the ruin. After Noriko and the men entered the hole, Rachef closed the hole. Izark entered the hole and found Rachef but he didn't see Noriko.
    "The girl isn't here", said Rachef.
    "Where's Noriko?", Izark tried to approach Rachef but Rachef swung his hand and made a wall of energy which stopped Izark.

Right at that time, Keimos also entered the ruins.
    "Keimos!" Izark was surprised, he never thought Keimos can receive the blows he gave.
    "So you remember my name", said Keimos, Goriya closed the hole behind Keimos.
["The door disappeared!"].
    "He he he, now you can change into Tenjoki here", said Rachef.
    "I will not do that!" Izark attacked Rachef and ran away
    Rachef ordered Keimos to fight Izark, "This is fate, Izark. Receive it!"
    ["Who wants to be like that!"], Izark used his powers and threw Keimos away then he tried to find another way out ["Keimos wasn't injured, this place decreases my power, it's really strange."]. Suddenly, Izark heard Noriko calling, ["Her voice is really weak and it's coming from a far place"].
    "Izark!!!", Keimos was approaching Izark, his face has changed to worse.

    "Izark!" Noriko kept calling Izark but then Tazashina slapped her.
Doros and the other men were stunned.
    "You are really noisy, he is in a ruin which is 27 km away from this place. The person who wakes Tenjoki will rule the world so we use your Mezame to do that. He will be ours, kyaaaa", Noriko kicked Tazashina.
    ("Izark is not like that!").
    "Let me go, I want to go to Izark's place, I don't want to be separated!" said Noriko.
She was taken to another room while Doros was stunned and looked at her.
    ("I have promised to be on Izark's side. No matter what happen, I will always stay next to him").