Prologue:
I could hear the beating of my heart in my ears, the pounding of our feet on the forest floor as we ran. Up above was the faint flutter of wings as Tsukino passed us. We were in a run for our very lives, Tsukino, Riku and I, against an enemy we use to call our sister. We had only a little way to go until we reached my ocean, my home, my base of power. But if she caught up to us before we reached our destination, we were through.
Brandi was her name, and she was the goddess of fire. We lived in a world that was controlled by the great four. Four people destined to rule during their lives, given powers that exceeded normal behavior, control of over one of the four great elements. They were picked by bloodline, and given to the daughter or son that would carry the powers the best. My name is Kisara and I did have a twin brother. We were close, but the water spirit had chosen me to take it's power and left my brother for dead. Sora was the bearer of the wind, and the keeper of the stars. He was the sky from one horizon to the other. Riku, the one on the run with me, was in control of earth. He was a wild one, nice and caring with a free spirit.
Our world wasn't the only one in this twisted life. There was only a couple in which we have history and documentation for. The most familiar world to ours was the heaven realm, housing beings we called angels. They were our ally so to speak. Long ago they had a giant war with the demon realm, and when we came to their aid, they granted us with a contract. For each generation of gods and goddess, they would each be granted an angel as protection. Even these many years have past and the contract is still holding up strong. We each have our own guardian angels that help us and care for us. My angel is Tenshi. When I had first known about Brandi's intentions, I immediately sent Tenshi on a mission, a fools errand if you may. I didn’t wish to have him in harms way. I loved Tenshi more than anything, and it would kill me to see him die for my sake.
Brandi had wanted to become supreme ruler over all that lives in our realm. She wanted to be queen in our little land in which had always been ruled by four. We had opposed, fought, and now ran, in hope to save our lives and those of our people. She had over whelmed us considering she had always been the more cunning sister. We had went to her domain not to challenge her, but to talk to her, to try and stop this foolish way of life. We had been ambushed when we arrived, and we put up as much of a fight as we could. Being only Riku, Tsukino, and I, we were quickly taken over.
The forest started clearing away, thinning out as I noticed the faint smell of salt in the air. A small smile touched my lips as it always does when I’m hit with that smell, the smell of home. But as quickly as it arrived, my smile vanished. Over head I heard another set of wings, and another set of foot steps pounding into the ground almost as hard as ours.
I heard Riku mutter underneath his breath, and I too felt the presence of our sister creeping up on us. We would not make it in time to the great expense of my domain. One last sprint and we were out of the trees. Only to far ahead laid the shore. My heart tore as I laid my eyes on such beauty as only the ocean could give.
Riku stopped running, and in the next second he had spun around and grabbed my hand. I'm not sure what happened, but I ended up behind him, his arm outstretched in front of him. Brandi stepped agilely out of the woods, her crimson robe bellowing around her bare feet. She made no noise as she stepped forward.
I heard a noise behind me and glanced back in time to see Tsukino land and walk past me to stand beside Riku, her wings folding back into her body as only angel wings can. In front of us, Moeru, Brandi's fiercest warrior, and second in command to her troops, stepped out of the forest too, coming to stand behind Brandi, and up above, Hono'o flew in from the sky, her red tipped wings still fluttering in her attempt to stay airborne.
Brandi smirked, her red eyes glinting. "Riku, stand aside, it is not you whom I wish to ... speak to."
"We came to speak Sister, and you attacked us." Riku growled. "I will not let you kill Kisara just because you have issues with her. It's not the way to settle this."
" Oh silly Riku, just because I am fire, does not mean I am always about destroying those who oppose me." Brandi chuckled, taking a step forward.
This had been going on for a while now. Here, let me explain. In the olden times, it was said that the four had quickly formed bonds with each other. Earth and water were quickly friends, as was fire and air. This was said to be so, because of the likeness between the powers, the dependency to help the other. Like water helping earth grow, and air fueling fire. Likewise, there was also... rivalries and problems between the opposite powers. Fire and water. Earth and air. This was said to be since the beginning of time. Yet in the beginning it was passed as foolery, an attempt to overthrow the great four. The four were power and there were those that would stop at nothing to obliterate something as strong as the elements. In the past generations through, those...bonds and rivalries’ had grown worse.
My father was the water bearer before me, and even in that era, Brandi's mother had tried to kill him. My father wasn't as... non violent as me, and had started a war with her. When we were kids, we had to spend time together, we had to harmonized before we were allowed to take the throne. Even then, the bloodline has it's funny ways. Even then I had felt the hatred radiate off from Brandi, but she had been taught to reserve those emotions until it really mattered. And now it did. When I had became the one in power, my first act was to stop this war, to compromise with her, to help her see the error in her mothers ways. In the beginning I thought it had worked. She was so nice, I began to think that those silly superstitions about our kind were false, that this nice quiet beautiful girl could never be truly evil. There was no way.
But not even a year later, rumors started flying, and the fire domain slowly receded into a more hidden nation. Air was quick to follow, and they soon became distant. They wouldn't come to meetings when we called them. They refused to even trade with us. We became worried, Riku and I, but we decided to let them have their time, to let them work out what ever was bothering them.
Till this day I still felt that we needed to work things out without any fighting. Our people had gone through to much heartache during our parents ruling. I sincerely thought that we could pass this over with out any more deaths. But of course, my thinking was foolishness. Brandi led a full fledge attack against Riku's and my domains. We were quick to defend, but of course this through into motion everything. Tenshi, my angel, and my first in command to my troops thankfully took over the war plans on my half. Him and Riku made plans after plans, strategies and changes. But when this newest request came, To make amends for her behavior, and Brandi invited us to her palace to officially apologized, I was ecstatic. Could she really see the bad things she was causing? Could she finally be tempted to make amends? Of course I had been hurt before, so I did the only thing I could think of. I secured my life. I sent Tenshi off on a fools errand, to prevent him from coming and possibly die for me. I protected the only thing I could. Riku, knowing me, understood fully. I had lost to many precious things because of me personally. At least I could try and save this one thing.
My attention snapped back to the scene before me as I heard the metallic sound of a sword. I looked up, surprised to see Brandi and Moeru pulling out their weapons. They really intended to fight. I paled. I knew Brandi, and I knew she was willing to fight to the death, no matter who she killed. I just couldn't believe it though. I just couldn't even began to believe that she would want to destroy her very own sister and brother.
"Riku step aside," she yelled. I glanced back at Moeru. Moeru was a vicious young lady, her short spiky hair pulled back out of her crimson eyes. She wore a simple back shirt, showing nothing of her rank. Even her simple boy pants did not reveal it. It had to have been her sword, Akamitsu. Akamitsu was known throughout the land, with it's finely jeweled hilt, and it's pure black blade. Moeru was not only the second in command, but she was also the one Brandi used to kill those who opposed her, when she didn't want to do it herself. Moeru was public terror. Now Moeru stood silent, Akamitsu held out in front of her with one hand. She was visibly shaking with excitement. Her face was blank, but her eyes gave her away. Her eyes were hungry for a battle.
Hono'o, Brandi's angel had been silent. She was younger then our angels, her face still held it's baby roundness. Her white hair, the trademark of angel DNA, was pulled back in a braid, and now it swung loosely around her as she stayed flying in the air. she wore a red dress, one the ended around her knees, and twirled around her as she moved.
Brandi stepped forward again, and I stared at her. Brandi was gorgeous. She had long black hair, clipped back in a ponytail by a jeweled hair piece. Her eyes, red as was common for the fire goddess, was lovely even though they were contorted in anger. Her red robe concealed a black dress, slick and tight, going down her body. jewels decorated her neck, wrist, ankles, her hair, ears, waist. All of it was just ravishing. She had the long legs, the smooth face, the soft skin. She was prefect. Well except for the whole trying to kill me thing.
"Stop this madness Brandi." Tsukino replied in a small voice. Tsukino was a fierce warrior, and an even fiercer friend. She was a true gift from the heavens. Like Hono'o she had white hair, cut short, right under her ears, and curly. Her green eyes were always determined and confident. She wore a off the shoulder brown shirt, with small black shorts. No shoes ever adorned her feet. Her own weapon, a set of twin curved blades, were strapped to her back, handles in an easy to reach spot.
I had missed what Brandi had said, but it was Riku growl that made me nervous, and his reply didn't help either.
"Of course she deserves to live. She has more respect for you then you do of her Sister. Stop being so self centered for once in your life, and open your eyes." Riku pointed back to me, with out taking his eyes off her. "She came here to day because she believed you had changed"
Brandi smirked, looking dead at me. "your such a gullible one little sister. Hmm seems a shame I’ll have to kill you anyway."
Riku let out another growl, this one rising the hair on my arm. I glanced fearfully at him. Riku was well built, his nice toned muscles showing nicely with his tan. He had brown hair, cut short to his head, and he usually wore the attire of his people, just a common white sleeveless shirt, and pants. No shoes of course, seems like a tradition in our little world. His own sword, a big broad sword, was also strapped to his back, the hilt, a vine curving all around, it's vibrant green going nicely with the blue of the flowers engraved on it.
I just blinked at her, my face trying it's hardest not the show that hurt on it. I replied meekly. "It is not my fault that I seem more trusting then you. Maybe that is your problem dear Brandi, you feel as if you are the only one worthy to rule, and therefore must overthrow all those that show you compassion."
I blanked out her reply as I concentrated on that power within me. It had always been in the very core of me, my birthright, but only until I had been announced heir to the water domain, had I been able to call upon it. This gift gave me the power to control the water around me, and use it as an defense or offense against attack. And that’s what I was doing now.
I reached out with my power to the water behind me, the water in which held my base of power. These waters were special to me, these knew me from the very beginning of my time. And so the moment I began reaching out, it also reached for me, happy to help me in anyway. I began pulling it slowly towards me, and it happily obliged. I was glad my blue hair was back out of my face, because right now I didn't need any distractions. And as if on cue, Brandi let out a shout, "Moeru NOW!!!"
I pulled that water to me with full force, and in a seconds time, it was surrounding us like a big bubble. I could hear the muffled growl emitting from Brandi as she realized my barrier. Riku and Tsukino were standing somewhat apart, both their blades out in their hand waiting. The outside grew quiet, and I closed my eyes listening instead to my water.
It too became quiet, knowing what I wanted. The water that wasn’t protecting us, was seeping into the ground, just enough to let me know where Brandi was standing. I heard her hiss as the water began soaking her feet. Her power began building up, the warmth feeling the atmosphere. That’s when I felt another presence.
Our brother, Sora, had joined the fight. I flinched, as I felt the first of his power push into mine. His wind could easily over take me, pushing against the water that surrounded us. I glanced to Riku, and he nodded. He braced himself for the moment when Sora would blast a opening into the water. Tsukino came to stand beside me, protecting me.
I flinched again as I felt the wind start to open my water bubble. It would be only mere seconds now before the water would crumble and sink back into the earth. The tears started forming in my eyes now. Both my Brother and Sister were wanting to kill Riku and I, and were probably going to succeed. Tenshi would come, to avenge my death and would get killed in the process. Our world would fall into chaos as the great four dwindled into two. The world could not survive without four, it would not survive without the equal balance of air fire water and earth. And what would happen to the other realms. The angels would be quickly receded back to their world, since the contract said ‘the great four’ and what would happen to the demon realm once ours fell to waste.
The water burst back, flying like a wave back towards the ocean behind us. We were now defenseless. I fell, feeling like the water, defeated. A moment later, the sounds of metal on metal filled the air. Tsukino was flying in the air fighting with Hono’o. Even though they weren’t of our race, they were sisters in their own right, both angels, both from the same world. Not only was is a battle of elements, its was a battle of sides. People who once lived in harmony with each other were now torn apart and forced to fight against themselves. Riku was gallantly fighting off Moeru, Sora, and Brandi by himself. His sword was drawn, as well as his power. Vines began shooting up latching themselves on Sora and Moerus body. The ones that tried to touch Brandi just sizzled and turned to ash. She wasn’t even fazed.
She reached down, pulling out her very own blade, and turned to me. My eyes widen and I once again pulled out to my water. It wouldn’t be here fast enough, I screamed in my mind as I saw her approach. Riku and Tsukino couldn’t help me, they were to busy with the other. I began to stumble backwards, my heart racing and the tears falling faster.
Brandi’s face contorted in overwhelming glee. This of course was the moment she waited for all her life. She raised the sword up high above her head and stabbed down, plunging into my side. My eyes flew open and one single yelp escaped my mouth. My breathing stopped for a second as my world crashed. Even though I knew Brandi would fight to the death, and even though I knew she was serious, I still hoped. But the moment that blade pierced my skin I finally realized the burning desire Brandi held for me to die. She wanted full control, she wanted to rule everything and would take out anything that could damage her power. Me, I was the only thing that could rival her fire.
The blade twisted in her hands, curving into my flesh and the smell of blood began to fill my nostrils. The pains that had started pulsing through my body only grew more rigid, more breath taking. I was going to die here, die by the hands of my sister.
Before I had the time to blink a second time, I saw Riku slam into Brandi, sending her flying backwards, and causing her blade to rip out. I turned over trying to keep the wound out of the dirt and to watch the scene that was playing out. They were latched to each other, his vines coming up to wrap around them both, in a tight bond. They skidded to a halt, laying sideways on the ground and became motionless. The fighting stopped momentarily, the sounds of the blades over head ceased as the angels themselves stopped fighting to watch over their gods.
The ground slowly began to rumble and the heat began to pulsate. Wave upon wave of fiery heat gradually building up surrounded the area until it had became hard to breath. Even the bundle of Riku and Brandi started to quiver, shake even. Then slowly, as if creeping out from the inside, the vines began turning to ash, and the smell of burning foliage began filling the air with a foul scent.
As the vines burned away, the form of Riku started showing. He had landed on top when they had flown backwards. And as the vines started falling away from him, the sight of small flames began licking his bare arms. He got up slowly, rising himself with much difficulty. As he got to stand straight up, he stumbled, and proceeded to fall backwards.
“RIKU!” Tsukino shrieked, her voice showing all the pain in which I felt, as even know I tried with my last strength to pull myself to his body. He was holding his abdomen, his feet pushing into the ground as if trying to push the pain out. I had successfully made it halfway there, when I felt someone’s foot placed over my thigh. As I turned to see, Moeru applied, full force, all of her body weight into my thigh, grinding it straight into the rocky ground. I cried out, hands grappling at the ground in some attempt to throw her off me. The only thing I succeeded in doing however was scratching the palms of my hands.
Riku turned, rolling onto his sides, his eyes seeking mine. But mine where down cast, closed in pain as the tears fell from my face and as I tried to stay conscious. The blood loss and the continuous pulsing pain was weakening my ability to keep in the light. The thought that once again I was going to die resurfaced. Their was no one here to save us, no one here to even see that Brandi had been the one to kill us. The meeting had been a secret one, only between us. She would play it off, maybe said I ran way, leaving all my domain to her, or maybe I had killed myself for something as trivial as a broken nail. She would tear down my reputation and make my people despise me, as well as kill their hope of ever being able to live freely again.
Riku let out a yell, and before I knew it, Moeru was plummeted with chicken sized boulders. She stumbled back, as Riku fell before me. His own weak hands, scooped me up, pulling me into his chest, holding me like one would hold a child. He was trying to protect me, even though he himself was no better off then me. I was supposed to be bonded with Riku, like one was bonded with a lover. He was suppose to be the one I would be in love with if I lived. But we both knew that could never happen. We had both shared the fact that we felt more like siblings then lovers, and instead we had both fallen for our angels. Forbidden, yes, fate, possibly. The world of the gods and goddesses was changing. Something big was coming. Riku and I both knew this and was both wary of what that change would entail.
I stared up now, into Riku’s face, and cried softly, “I’m sorry my love, I have failed us once again. It seems we wont make it out of this mess.” He grimaced and looked around. Brandi was regain her footing, and fixed her hair. Sora was helping Moeru stand up, and Tsukino and Hono’o were floating in the air, forgetting their fight and watching ours instead. We were doomed. Brandi began slanting over to us, her face alight with anger.
“You have tested my patience to much today little sister.” She growled a feral and wild growl and added, “why cant you just die like I wanted you to.” She stopped only about three feet in front of us, her blade hanging to the side, dripping the remains of my blood. She lifted the blade, once again over her head and gave us one last look. “Farewell my rivals.”
“NOOO!” Tsukino yelled as the blade fell down. Riku clutched me tighter, burying his head into my hair. I grabbed unto him and prayed that Tenshi would be safe. We were making our last wishes when my mind exploded.
I blinked and looked up. I wasn’t sure what was going on, all I knew is Riku and I were surrounded by a circle of white light. It illuminated all the surroundings, casting shadows on Brandi and them. Tsukino was draped over us, her wings acting as a shield over our heads. She was mumbling gibberish, words we could not understand, her eyes closed, her hands placed on our heads. That was the last thing I saw as I finally felt the last of my strength fail. I don’t know what happened next, nor do I remember anything except for the darkness and the throbbing pain.
Kisara Momochi Community Member 
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