Chapter #4Head of the Ten-Ryuu, Riku Tachibana! by: Readasaur   Riku checked the clock on his phone, more to try and calm himself than seeing what time it was.
He had to wait for the full moon to appear from behind the clouds before he could go, and the clouds didn't care what time it was.
Earlier, Kogenta had come out of his Toujinki with a strangely serious expression. He'd told Riku that there was something they had to do tonight to cement their relationship as partners. He'd refused to say anything else, and only told Riku that the ritual had to take place in the Fukamaden, the world of the Shikigami.
The only way to get there was through a Kimon, a portal that only opened when it was struck by the light of a full moon.
So now he waited, wondering what the ritual would entail, and if they were ready, and if it was dangerous, and if... And then there was no more time for wondering, as the light of the moon streamed down from the heavens and through the open door of the shine, resting on the floor and making the circle of strange symbols glow with purple light. Riku readied himself, then stepped forward and fell down into the strange world of the Fukamaden. He seemed to float slowly, yet the floating landscape of four seasons rushed past him, and everywhere shogi floated in mid-air, the paper doors seeming infinite in number in the world of the Shikigami.
Eventually, his decent took him towards one that opened wide, showing bright light before he landed in a pile of pillows. Shaking himself to clear his head from the long, strange trip, he looked around. It seemed like some kind of cave, with a few decorations here and there to make the place feel more like a home. It was actually pretty nice looking.
"It's my home. This is where I live between Contracts with Toujinshi." Riku was startled when Kogenta's voice came from behind him. The Byakko stood with his hands on his hips, looking very pleased with himself. "I don't need to be summoned here. This is my home, so I have the power to appear here whenever I want." He sat down on the cushions next to Riku, then reclined, stretching and yawning. "I always wanted to show you this place, and it's the ideal location for our ritual." Riku politely looked around and admired the decor before turning back to Kogenta expectantly.
"Kogenta? What exactly is this ritual?" He wasn't scared, not really. He was more nervous. Riku had no idea what they would be doing, but Kogenta had spoken about the ritual in grave tones. It was a big deal, and would affect his future with his best friend and partner. He really hoped he wouldn't mess up somehow.
Kogenta was quiet for a few more moments, then sat up and turned to Riku, staring at him intently.
"Riku, I'm the Shikigami of Trust. That means that there has to be a great amount of trust between me and you." Riku opened his mouth to say that he did trust Kogenta, but the white tiger raised his big paw to stop him before he spoke. "I know, you trust me as a partner, and I trust you as a partner. You've come a long way from the boy who didn't know anything about Shikigami or Toujinshi..." Riku blushed from the rare compliment. "And yes, you trust me to win battles and protect innocent people, just like in our contract. You trust that I'll always protect you, just like I know I can trust you to try and protect me." Kogenta didn't mention the fact that it was very strange, almost backward for a Toujinshi to fight to project his Shikigami, but it was also very touching, and the Byakko appreciated it more than he dared say. Now was not the time for soft thoughts, though. This ritual was very important. Riku was the Head of the Ten-Ryuu, and he might not survive unless his bond with Kogenta was as strong as possible.
"But it isn't enough. Riku, I want you to trust me more than you do. More than you've ever trusted anyone. And there is only one way to make that happen. A test. A way for us to prove that we are worthy of one another's trust. Are you ready?" Now Riku really was scared. It all sounded so ominous, and Kogenta had such a hard expression. But Riku wanted this. He wanted to be closer to Kogenta, as much as he could. The timid Toujinshi slowly nodded. Kogenta looked satisfied. "Good! Now, the ritual works both ways, and we both must take our turn, so I'll let you choose who goes first." Kogenta still hadn't said what he needed to do, so Riku was left wondering who was to prove their trust to who. He took a deep breath and made his choice. | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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