Something that gives and takes II

Two days have passed since Shade's passing. Mira was still on the battlefield and Aisha was just about to bury Shade.

When Mira got herself some rest, she had a dream where she and Shade were married. They had three kids and her parents and siblings were there as well. She knew that it was a dream, but couldn't help enjoying herself while it lasted.

Once the dream ended, she had to come back to reality and continue her march. The Rou clan's army was heading to a town controlled by Aisha's family Tsubasa. If the Rou clan's army managed to take refuge in it, this would mean Mira had to make an enemy of the Tsubasa clan as well. If she did so, it would mean she would become the enemy of the nation and she would then be hunted down. But Mira wasn't going to rest until she saw the Rou capital burned to the ground.

Back in Shiho Aisha was preparing the burial. She even wrapped Shade in a cloth before making her way to his camp. Once she was in the camp and her helpers were digging Shade's grave, Aurora came from the woods and shouted.

- "Wait!"

Everyone stopped and Aisha asked.

- "What is it?"

- "You can't bury him yet!"

- "I'm sorry but there is nothing else that can be done."

- "There is! Look!"

Aurora shows Aisha the rune that Shade gave her in winter. Aisha didn't know what it was, so she asked.

- "What is that?"

- "It's a rune that Shade said contains the vitality of dragon lord of thunder Vershnos."

- "What?"

- "He said that once this was placed on the heart of a dying forest and we put some magic on it to activate it, it should restore the forest."

- "But he isn't dying, he is already dead."

- "Even so, I was trusted to use it in order to protect the forest. If there is even the slightest of chances to bring the forest guardian back on his feet then I'm going to take it."

- "That's…"

- "Please. I beg of you."

- … "Fine. It won't hurt to try."

- "Thank you."

Aisha takes the cloth off of Shade's body and then Aurora readies herself and says.

- Sorry for the intrusion master.

Then she shoves the rune right to his heart, piercing anything in between. Once she had placed the rune in Shade's heart, she started pouring magic into it. By some miracle, the wounds on Shade's body disappear and his heart starts beating again. Aisha is awestruck by the sudden miracle and starts to be hopeful of the future. However, Shade doesn't seem to wake up. Aisha asks.

- "What's wrong with him now?"

- "I'm afraid that his soul has already passed to his afterlife."

- "Then what should we do?"

- "You need to go to his people's afterlife. To Tuonela. There is also a slight chance his soul has yet to get there, but that would bring in other issues. He said that he wouldn't bother the living world when he would die so I doubt he would still be here."

- "Why can't you do that?"

- "I'm a spirit sprouting with life. I couldn't get past the ferryman. You have to disguise yourself as a dead soul to get there. I can help you in that part. The hard part is finding a master in time and getting out. You also have to speak the witch tongue to get past. I have gained some knowledge from my master so I can use my powers to make you understand and speak the language, even though briefly."

- "Well, if it's for the better of my lady, then I will go to the afterlife and journey as long as it takes."

- "While I'd like to say you have some time, now that master's body is imbued with such vitality, there is a slight chance his body will turn into an undead monster if we don't hurry."

- "Well, I also have a limited time before my lady becomes an enemy of the nation, so I'm on a tight schedule in the first place. Send me to this journey to Tuonela."

- "Right, good luck."

And so Aisha was sent near the Tuonela's river and he had to wait in line for a while. Once it was her turn, she spoke in a language she never had before.

- "I'm looking for passage to Tuonela."

The lady ferryman looks at her and asks.

- "Are you sure you are in the right place? Your kin rarely come to this afterlife."

- "I'm pretty sure I'm in the right place."

- Hmmm "If you say so. You do look like a dead soul, so hop on in."

Aisha then gets a ride over the river and once she gets over it, she is surprised about what the afterlife looks like. It's a place where people live their lives like they did in the past. Some who have an evil aura or have committed great evil suffer more than others, but other than that, it's pretty peaceful. Aisha gets a lot of glares from the humans that inhabit the afterlife. Since the majority of people who belong to the same belief as Shade does are from human territory, most of the people here were humans.

Aisha started asking about a shaman who had just come through recently and she got some answers that could be useful but also some that weren't so useful. She went searching for Shade in the woods where the hints pointed towards.

For some reason, Aisha could travel at faster speeds than she could in the living world so the task at hand was somewhat easier. She didn't know whether it was the nature of the place or something that Aurora had given her. Either way, she didn't complain and continued her search. By searching for a recently passed shaman, Aisha managed to pinpoint the most likely place she could find what she was searching for.

After a while of traveling, Aisha had finally found a place she thought could house Shade's soul. She found four people chatting around a fire. One of them was the man she was searching for. She called out for him and the man was surprised to see her. Shade excused himself from the group and went to talk with Aisha.

- What are you doing here?

- I came to bring you back.

- But why? I'm already dead.

- Aurora had the idea to put the rune you gave her to your heart and it restored your body. Now we only need you to come back to us.

- So that's what that weird feeling a while ago was. But that girl. To use it on something like me. How foolish.

- Don't call it foolish! My lady is now becoming the enemy of the nation just to get revenge for you!

- I know. I saw that much. But I aren't coming back.

- But why?! You have a chance to end my lady going too far! I even risked my life coming to get you so I can stop her!

- The dead shouldn't intervene with the living world. That is how it should be.

- Screw what it should be! Be a man and take responsibility for causing us so much trouble!

- But… I'm finally reunited with them.

- Reunited?

- Yes. My family.

- But… I thought that your family threw you away.

- The people of the village did that. While the village held people who were related to me, my parents were long dead before I could remember. Though there were people who I thought were my family but still threw me away.

- I… Get how it is hard for you to become separated yet again, but if you don't come back, so many lives will end for the sake of revenge.

- And what if I come back? Wouldn't their deaths become meaningless?

- That's…

- Well, people have died for much more stupid reasons. People are just like that. Fine, I will come with you. Let me just tell them goodbye.

- Thank you.

Shade went to his family and told them the situation. What Aisha could tell, they were understanding but sad at the same time. They hugged each other and then Shade was ready to go back.

On their way back to Tuonela's river, Shade asked Aisha a very simple question.

- So you have a plan for how we pass the river?

- Well… I don't. Do you have any ideas?

- I heard of a great man who once became a snake to get past the ferryman. Though he was quite godlike in the first place.

- Can we shapeshift here?

- If we spend some time studying we might learn to do so. There are a lot of shamans and druids who know much more of the old magic than I do.

- Well we don't have time to do that. Got any other ideas?

- Well… I got one, but I don't know if it'll work.

They get back to the river and see the ferryman yet again. Shade began by saying.

- "Hello there ferryman. I believe that living shouldn't be on the land of the dead, am I right?"

- "Well, yes… but I haven't made a mistake."

- "Look at my vitality and you'll see what I mean."

- "Well would you look at that, you are as alive as rainforest."

- "So will you let us pass?"

- "Unfortunately, you might have learned the secret arts of the dead so I can't let you pass."

- "Come on. I will come back sooner or later."

- "The answer is still no."

Shade and Aisha leave and discuss further options.

- So what do we do now?

- Can't we just swim across?

- Are you insane?

- So it's a bad idea after all.

- I suppose we have to become snakes.

- And how do we do that?

- Well… come with me.

They go to a place where there is a shaman of great power. Shade asks if he could help them pass the river. The shaman took one look at the two and simply said.

- "Why don't you two just fly across?"

- "Would that really be okay?"

- "Why wouldn't it be?"

- "Well, I know that my friend here could do that, but I doubt that she could carry me."

- "Then why don't you just fly yourself?"

- "I can't do that?"

- "Why?"

- "Humans can't fly."

- "But you can."

- "What?"

- "You have a will inside you that will allow you to fly like a thunderbird."

- "You mean the dragon lord's will?"

- "If that's what you got, then yes."

- "But… How do I use it?"

- *Sigh* "Follow me."

They go out in the open and the shaman asks Shade to turn around. After a bit of confusion, the shaman Väinö pushes Shade in the back and then sudden thunder comes from him. Väinö asks.

- "Do you get the feeling now?"

- "I… I think I do. But I don't know how."

- "I simply poured some magic into your system and forcibly opened your mana circulation. Well at least more than it was before."

- "You can do that?"

- "Of course I can. Now try to imagine yourself flying like a bird."

- "I… I try."

Then with a couple of tries, Shade managed to finally fly using spectral wings. Then Shade shouted to Aisha.

- Let's go.

Then Aisha followed suit, though it wasn't difficult for someone who just learned to fly. The ferryman looked at the sky and gave a sigh as she saw two of them fly over the river. When they were finally past the river, Aurora summoned them back to the world of the living. It took a while for Shade to get up from the pain that was coursing through his body.

After a while of rest, Shade then rose up and said.

- Let's go knock some sense into our lord.

- Do you know where she is?

- I put a tracker of sorts to her ring so I know the area where she should be.

- You had that put on her?

- I also put similar things to the necklaces that I gave you. Don't worry, I won't know your exact location, just the general area.

- I see. I hope we can make it in time.

- Actually, I have a feeling that I can travel much faster than I did before.

- You mean when we crossed the river? How so?

- I think… I think if I use my powers in a certain way, I can move much faster.

- Well then, I will follow you if that's the case.

- You do that, if you can. Now then. Hop.

Shade jumped up into the skies like a lightning and then a massive bird that silhouette consisted of electricity appeared to the skies. It was Shade and it started moving at a fast speed. So fast in fact that Aisha couldn't keep up with it.

And where was Mira? She was near one of the towns governed by the Tsubasa clan. The Rou army had taken refuge in that town, meaning that Tsubasa was on the side of Rou on this. Well, to be more precise, Tsubasa was against the idea of Kogane raging war against one of the great clans. Thus they let the Rou army stay in the town to protect them.

But Mira didn't care. All she thought about was that she wanted to take revenge against the Rou clan and nothing could stop her. She readied her soldiers to attack the town and the town was ready to fight back.

Mira raised her sword to the skies that were covered in dark clouds to signal to the soldiers when to strike. This choice would make Mira the enemy of the nation, but even so, she was going to go through with it. Such was her conviction and rage.

But just before she would signal the beginning of the assault, a loud screech could be heard from the skies above. And with that screech came thunder and lightning surging in the skies that were following the bird of thunder. The thunderbird had come to stop this fight. Then lightning hit the ground between the town and Kogane army and suddenly the thunderbird disappeared. In the place where the last thunder hit stood a man that was familiar to Mira. The man who she thought dead was standing before her with new vigor.

Mira lowered her weapon in a way that didn't signal the assault and walked closer to the man. Many other people, from the army and the town, came closer as well to witness what was about to happen.

Once Mira was close enough to Shade to hear, she said.

- "You dare to trick me right before the battle. Do you have any shame?"

- You think that I'm not the man you see?

- It could be an illusion or some sort of a trick.

- First of all, illusions don't easily work on you now, remember? Second, it ought to be quite a trick to pull off if barely no one knows who I was or what I looked like.

- I don't know how, but I know that man you try to present as is already dead!

- Well, things happened and I'm back alive again.

- Excuses. I'm going to make sure whatever trick you are pulling isn't going to affect me.

- Meaning?

- Meaning that I will get rid of you personally.

- Well, you were always somewhat hot headed when your blood got boiling.

Shade takes out the runemaker knife as it is the only thing he thinks will not shatter. He also had two more knives, but they would probably break as soon as Mira hit them. He took a pose ready to fight and so did Mira.

Then the two started fighting. Mira went in aggressively and with no mercy, though deep down she hoped that it was Shade that stood before her. Meanwhile Shade only was on the defensive even if the opportunity presented itself. Mira managed to land hits on Shade, but he healed faster than you would expect a human to heal.

While fighting Mira said.

- If it were him, he wouldn't have stood this long.

- I received a bit of an upgrade, so that is something I guess.

They kept on exchanging blades, but each swing from Mira made her more and more infuriated by the fact that the man wasn't attacking even once. At first she thought that he simply didn't see those opportunities, but as the battle went on, the more clearer it became that he was not attacking on purpose.

Then Mira stopped attacking and asked Shade while pointing her sword at him.

- You aren't attacking.

- And you sure keep on doing it for me.

- Why is that?

- I think you wanted to get rid of me.

- Don't get smart with me! Why aren't you attacking me?

- I don't want to make you feel pain.

- You don't want to make me feel pain? Why? Even though I'm hurting you.

- Well you are only attacking because you don't think it is me. For me it is clear that I don't want to hurt you.

- You didn't answer my question.

- Well… It's kind of embarrassing to say while people will hear.

- Embarrassing? What would be so embarrassing?

Shade spoke while rubbing the back of his neck.

- Well… you see… Damn… Do I really have to do this?

This was a familiar sight to Mira since it was something she knew Shade would do when he was embarrassed. In the end Shade is forced to say it out loud.

- Well… I kind of have feelings for you. You know… Romantically.

Then Aisha managed to come and said.

- Wait my lady, he is…

Shade said.

- Took your sweet time.

- I couldn't help it! You were so fast. My lady, he is…

Mira stops her and shouts.

- Silence! It can't be him!

- My lady.

Mira started to shed tears.

- Because if it is him, then what did all those lives that were killed for? If it is him, how many people did I kill needlessly?

- That's…

Shade says to that.

- It wasn't meaningless. You thought that I was dead and I was for a time. We can't bring others back, but we can atone for our sins. Wars have been fought for sillier reasons and people have lost their lives for more meaningless reasons. In the future, I will be there for you. I will help you go through all of your hurdles and downfalls. I promise that I will support you as best as I can. If it's only your wish, then I shall stay with you.

Mira lowers her weapon and asks while still shedding tears

- Can… Can I truly trust you?

- Definitely.

- Then… *Sniff* can you kiss me?

- … What?

Mira closes her eyes expecting a kiss. Shade is feeling an immense amount of pressure from each side. He only needed to give Mira a kiss.

Then Shade decides to get closer to Mira. He moves her hair and kisses her on the forehead. Then Mira opens her eyes and Shade says.

- There. I gave you a kiss, so that should be enough.

Then a random soldier from the sidelines shouts at Shade.

- You coward!

Shade shouts back.

- Hey, screw you! Do you have any idea the amount of pressure I'm in!? In the first place, it's embarrassing!

Then Mira smiles and says.

- I kind of have to agree with the other guy.

Shade turns around to face Mira and says.

- What do you…

Then in a flash, Mira kisses Shade on the lips by surprise. Shade is stunned and becomes speechless for a moment. Then Mira says to him.

- That's three times you have made me worry. Better take responsibility.

Then Mira gets her serious face on and shouts.

- "This war was started because of my rage! Now that it has settled down, I wish for war no longer! The Rou clan can take a rest and go home in peace! As for the consequences of my actions, we will let the second sun emperor Ryujin the II decide my punishment! Does anyone here object to this?!"

No one says a word. Then Mira shouts again.

- "Then this war is over for my part!"

People cheer in relief that the war has ended.

A week has passed and the second sun emperor has placed Mira's punishment. She is to relinquish half of her personal gold reserves to the Rou clan, to the Tsubasa clan and to the emperor. All parties agreed that this punishment was enough.

Though in secret, the Rou clan's head came to personally apologize for the actions that caused this war and told Mira that they were informed by some entity that the Kogane clan had taken more gold to themselves than initially reported. They didn't tell who this informant was, but the head of Rou clan said that it was supposed to be a trusted source.

They also said that the sun emperor will investigate the matter personally, both for and against the Kogane clan. The investigation later would lead to the conclusion that the informant was Kiat, the demon prince of tricks and lies, who was disguised as Rahasia, the demon prince of secrets. The Kogane clan was thus found innocent.

As for what happened between Shade and Mira, Shade was going to be "the husband to be" to Amirasha Kogane. Mira would still hold the position as the head of the Kogane clan, but Shade would become an advisor of sorts.

On a moonlit night, Shade and Mira were stargazing and Shade told Mira many things about what he knew about the stars. Somewhere along the way, the conversation led to Mira asking the question.

- Since you are now "husband to be" to me, isn't it high enough time you tell me your real name?

- That huh. Well, I suppose I don't need to hide it anymore. Very well. You see, well, my name is… Kaj Myrsky.

- I see. So that's your name. A bit weird, but I can get used to it. Though I'm still going to keep calling you Shade for a while.

- Call me whatever you like.

- But I promise to you, once we give our bodies to each other, I'll be sure to call your real name.

- I- I see.

And thus ended the beginning of Shade's and Mira's journey together. But many more things would happen later, but… that's a story for another day.