Through the Ages chapter 28

I always thought six months' lag time in updates would be my record, but apparently, it has been shattered. If there's anything in my defense, I'm actually not home now. I'm currently in the UK, completing a six-month exchange programme. So I've been busy settling in, in a foreign country, and playing and slacking the days away…

Whatever it is, this chapter is finally finished. This is unfortunately what I consider rushed work – because now it's the Easter holidays, I'll be spending most of April away from my desk and travelling instead. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King. Don't sue.

"I hear you've been having quite an adventure lately," Hao remarked.

"Eyahahaaa," was all Manta could manage.

One of Hao's eyebrows perked up, his face formed in mild amusement as his gaze bored holes into Manta across a laptop screen.

"Well said," the shaman answered.

A deep flush ran up Manta's face even as he regained enough coherence to speak an actual language. "What are you… what are you doing?"

The image of a visibly younger-looking Hao rested his chin on one hand. His smile was friendly, but Manta had seen smiles like that on crocodiles in the zoo as well. "That, my dear boy, should be my question to you."

"I…" Manta said.

"Where are you?" Hao interrupted. His tone was still light, but held an undercurrent of brusqueness that caused an unpleasant jolt in Manta's stomach.

"I've gone back a thousand years in the past," he blurted despite himself. "I don't know how, or…or why, but I'm in the Heian Period of Japan."

Hao's expression didn't change, save for the slight fading of his smile. "I see," he said. "Well, I expected that much."

"How about you?" The question spilled out before Manta could stop himself. The surreality of engaging in a conversation with a future Hao – via what was practically video conferencing – was still overwhelming him, but his mind began to race with urgency. "How are able to…to talk to me like this? Where's Yoh-kun and the others?"

"Relax," Hao replied lazily. "Yoh and the rest of your little group are here. Having their little group discussion about you, no doubt, in their own rooms. But here, in Anna's kitchen…" – he casually spread out his gloved palms – "it's just you and I."

"Are you in Funbari Inn?" Manta asked in amazement.

"Yes. Apparently, your disappearance drove Yoh desperate enough to come and ask me to find out what went wrong with this." Hao drew something from somewhere beside him. He held up a copy of the Cho Senji Ryakketsu, its tattered appearance in full view of the screen. "You've led your friends on quite a merry way, Manta. I myself had to think of a way to establish some form of communication with you."

"How did you do that?"

Hao narrowed his eyes in apparent contemplation. "Another of your acquaintances…what's the name of that group? Ah yes. The Lily Five." His lips curled up, as if the name itself threatened laughter on his part. "One of the ladies in there had binoculars as her medium, didn't she? Apparently with some tweaking, her visions could stretch further than just over mere physical distance. No doubt her limited capability as a shaman made it impossible for her to discover this potential."

"You…you took it? From her?" Manta stammered, his insides twisting.

"Borrowed. She didn't object." Hao continued to stare at him, amusement apparent at the younger boy's expression.

Outrage began to replace the shock clouding his mind. "You didn't...kill…"

Hao only raised an eyebrow. "Now it is my turn to ask the questions," he said.

His indifference caused Manta to burst out, his intimidation rapidly disappearing and giving way to fury. "No, you answer me! Did you kill her? All of them? You monster!"

Hao's smile had completely faded. The rest of his face could have been carved from stone as he allowed a heavy silence to fall between them. Manta was breathing hard, rage and terror warring against each other in him.

"No, I have not," Hao finally spoke. His voice lowered, dangerously soft. "Those women are still alive and well, if not a little shaken from their…encounter. Don't interrupt me again."

Manta bit his lip and gave a stiff nod.

"All right." Hao leaned back, a cool smile spreading across his face again. "Let us get straight to it then, shall we? How long have you been there?"

Manta swallowed, trying to remember. "I think…about two months?" He had never really kept track of time since he arrived. "It was about late October when I first got here, so it's probably January…"

"It is only middle of November here," Hao said. When Manta gaped, Hao continued. "Time doesn't pass quite the same way on that side, I see. And how have you been spending your time?"

Manta swallowed again. He firmed his lips. "I want to ask you something first. Are Yoh and the others ok?"

A slight upturn of Hao's mouth gave away sardonic cheer. "That's a subjective question. However, shall we say they are, physically, unharmed? That is, as long as they continue to respect the boundaries of my followers, and myself, as long as we continue our statuses as guests in this nice inn. And I might have acceded to your wishes and allowed you to speak with them if only their…enthusiasm… would have hampered our conversation."

" 'Allow me…' " Manta muttered, indignation at the shaman's arrogance pricking him in spite of himself.

If Hao noticed, he ignored it. "Now, your answer, if you will."

"Erm," Manta uttered. He cleared his throat, his mind suddenly blank. How could he explain all that had happened - his witnessing of Hao's growing madness, his capture, and the capture of all of his companions, all because of Yorimichi…

His hesitation made Hao's eyes narrow. "Well?"

"Is it true?" Manta suddenly burst out. "Did some of the Asakuras betray you to Yorimichi after all?"

If he thought Hao would have shut down, or ignore his question, he was wrong. Fire flashed in the shaman's eyes, the sudden spark of madness dancing in their depths. Without thinking, Manta cringed away, as if expecting certain repercussions to lash out from the screen.

And yet, recklessness (or stupidity) made him press on. "Did they? You… I know about your reishi ability. I know it's caused you a lot of pain, like Yorimichi has, or…or Murasaki and the rest of the family. And I…I want to…"

"Silence," Hao said coldly.

Manta stopped. He held his breath as he watched a mix of anger and something else dance across Hao's expression, almost expecting an outburst of wild, murderous temper like he had witnessed in the Heian era.

Finally, another smile slowly stretched across his lips, but it didn't brighten his expression as it usually did. It was an ugly thing, only serving to enhance the madness smouldering beneath the cheerful visage. Manta wanted nothing more than to slam the laptop down, but he refused to let his fear get the better of him.

"You know of Zenki and Kouki, do you not?"

The unexpected question took Manta aback. "Y-yes?"

"They are currently under subjugation in the mountains just west of Osorezan," Hao continued. "Their abilities may be of use if the Asakuras should prove troublesome."

"Subjugation?" Manta uttered. "But…"

"However, only a shaman of reputable ability will be able to free them without…consequences," Hao said. "Of course, you are quite free to choose to find your own means of defense should you ever have to face the Asakuras." His smile became condescending. "So I can only wish you the very best of luck."

Manta fought down a bristle at the thinly veiled sarcasm. "But why tell me this?"

Hao didn't answer for a while, only continued to stare at him. Manta started to fidget.

"Seeing as our attempts at getting you back have been fruitless, consider it a little advice for your own survival over there," Hao remarked. He let out a sigh as he drummed his fingers on the table. "That foolish attitude of yours may just even take you further than any of us can expect, if the Great Spirits are good."

Manta didn't know what to respond to that. Instead, he decided to ask the question that had been tugging at his mind thus far. "Do you…do you remember anything? Anything different?"

"Some." Hao leaned back, sighing. "Your interference has been an annoyance, I'll give you that much. Unfortunately, I have yet to think of a solution to bring you back, given the amount of trouble you've already caused."

Manta flinched, feeling rather like an exceptionally naughty child. "You started a lot of it as well," he accused.

Hao let out a short laugh, dark amusement evident. "You've become bolder than I thought. The Oyamada Manta I knew had never been this insolent. We'll see how far that attitude takes you…or lasts, I suppose."

Before Manta could say anything, Hao made a gesture with his hand. And then all that was left was a blank screen, filled with static.

He couldn't breathe.

The realization was more terrifying than Hao would have ever cared to imagine or admit. A desperate madness seized him when he realised he had been wounded by a pathetic, clumsy, human attack – a literal punch to the gut.

Worse were the sneers that echoed around the cave walls, each sound tearing at him as he choked and gasped. The front of his mangled robe hung loose, torn apart by his tormentors, revealing blackened, burn scars that darted viciously across a bare torso.

"Look at the almighty Asakura Hao now, eh?" one soldier jeered, holding the still-glowing poker like a shiny new toy. "He ain't that great, after all, is he…"

"What's it like getting burned then, huh? Feels good?" A second, younger soldier kicked him in the stomach. The weakened onmyoji slumped forward, sucking in a scream at the renewed agony of his wounds.

The soldier's eyes blazed with vicious satisfaction. "That's for my father, you bastard!"

"Control yourself," the Asakura snapped. In his hand was a spiritual link over the 1080 beads, ensuring the imprisoned onmyoji had no way of escaping its bindings. Determinedly, he looked away from the sight of Hao coughing up blood, the dark red stains seeping through the cold damp ground. "What's the point of this if he cannot speak of his conversation with the lord's sister?"

The soldier scowled, but relented. "Apologies, Hiroshi-san," he mumbled.

Hao couldn't say who he was more disgusted with – himself, or the young Asakura aiding and abetting in his torture. He still remembered the nervous boy he had had the grace to take in after nearly being killed by brigands, his innate shamanic potential evident even as a young, terrified child.

He had given him a life, a future.

Now he, among many others, had repaid that faith with treachery.

"What?" Hiroshi snapped, feeling the haunted stare of his former master searing through him.

Hao could hear his thoughts. This is for the better, Hiroshi was frantically trying to convince himself. This is for the good of all the Asakuras. He's always refused to teach us the ways of his true power. Always stopping us. Hindering us. There is nothing left for the Asakuras if he continues to lead us…

He slumped forward, his long hair hiding his face. Has he finally broken? echoed his tormentors' thoughts.

Hao threw his head back, laughing.

His captors shrank back at the sound of wild laughter bouncing off the cave walls, like from a demon released from hell. They stood, both amusement and indecision forgotten, petrified at the sound of maniacal hysteria that had seized Asakura Hao.

"So weak…" The words escaped the gaunt man's mouth in a slow hiss.

"W-what did you say?" Hiroshi tried to sound threatening, but instead, his voice came out in a high-pitched squeak.

"Y-you are…" Breathless laughter continued to escape from Hao's lips, almost in demented giggles. "Weak. You…you who have allied with these filthy humans would never dare challenge me if I had not lost my powers …and you, who lack the resolve even to commit yourself to the damnable choices you have made."

Hiroshi's eyes widened, hearing none of the squawks uttered by the soldiers around him.

Hao's gaze, now utterly mad, bored into him. And heavens forbid, he couldn't look away, no matter how hard he tried.

"If you cannot believe in your own power… you cannot believe in the power of others," Hao rasped. "You are a foolish, weak little worm, Hiroshi. And you will rue this day, my friend…as will your traitorous companions."

The younger Asakura gritted his teeth. "You'll regret that, Hao-sama" he spat. He gestured to the man beside him. "More!"

Trying to regain his former grin, the soldier took the poker to his captive. "Maybe I'll carve one of those little fucking stars you love so much into your back, what d'you think?"

And Hao screamed – part in agony, part in rage, and partly to drown out the mental cries of his loyal nekomata against his master's pain.

No one understood. None of them did.

But Asakura Hao would be powerless no more.

The blood that dripped from his back fell in droplets on the beads binding his wrists. Unseen by them all, the beads pulsed a dark, red glow, loosening by just an inch – but not quite yet enough to fall off completely.

Soon.

From within the darkened tunnels ahead, the spirit felt its own low thrum of power caressing those beads, easing them apart – and smiled.

Akiko could still hear the screams.

Unwisely, she had gone out from her tent when the snowstorm had finally died down. Just three days ago, she heard the triumphant news – more of Asakura Hao's companions had been captured in a nearby village. Her heart clenched painfully when she realised they must have gotten past the guards and left the safe house.

Stupid, she thought, uncharacteristically angry for once. She had kept them there and placed her trusted guards with them for their own safety while she tried to make sense of her brother's true intentions.

But after that, uncomfortable fear began to overtake her, as she knew she had been guilty of harbouring the new prisoners, even for just a period of time. If they talked of her involvement with them…

Still fearful, and upset at her own cowardice, she ventured out from her tent with her brother's own guards quickly falling in step behind her, as they always did. But she must have been walking faster than she thought, for she heard him before the guards could stop her.

A chill that had nothing to do with the winter crawled up her spine at the sound, even as the guards non-too-gently led her away from near the cave that held Asakura Hao. Even while far enough from the prison, Akiko could still hear the unearthly screams repeating in her head.

"Lady Akiko," one of the guards murmured behind her. "Perhaps if you will return to your tent? The demon's noise must have disturbed you."

Akiko swallowed, almost wanting to lash out at the two guards flanking her. How could they feel nothing at all, no guilt or even fear at the treatment of a man who once served the family so loyally?

Or maybe they know they will join the same fate if they protested against this, a more reasonable side of her spoke.

Akiko took a deep breath, her unpainted lips (for once) trembling as she fought to regain her composure as that of the prospective bride of the imperial Prince Ichijo.

"No," she said, as regally as possible. "I will take a short walk away…away from that place, if you will."

The guards murmured assent, albeit reluctantly, and fell in step behind her as she paced through the thick layers of snow, her thick fur coat trailing behind her. She ran into several other soldiers, who looked taken aback and more than uncomfortable at having a woman – a high-born one at that - in their presence. Nonetheless, they bowed and mumbled greetings to her before carrying on their business.

Akiko continued moving forward, her legs feeling as if they had turned to lead. She slowed when she saw her brother exit from his tent, dressed in more impressive colours than usual. A few officials surrounded him – some of the nobles who were residing near north had managed to arrive earlier before the Fujiwara-led group, who were still on the road. Privately, she suspected they might have been late supporters of the Fujiwaras who only joined her brother's cause when they realised the young Fujiwara upstart might be able to reward them some benefits after all.

Half of her wanted to confront her brother, while another half nagged her to simply turn away. But it was too late – Yorimichi's eyes found her, her form well out of place amongst the other men swilling about the place. He raised a hand to her, and after speaking a few more words with the other officials, went to her side.

"Dear sister," he greeted. "Was there something you wanted to see me for?"

Akiko opened her mouth, and then closed it. She was more than aware of the furtive glances they were receiving, from both soldiers and the court officials still lingering outside Yorimichi's tent; it would do her no good if she confronted at her brother in public.

As if reading her thoughts, Yorimichi took her gently, but firmly, by the arm and led her into the nearby forest, away from the bustling camp.

"What is it?" her brother asked, the noise from the camp now lowered to a mere buzz.

Akiko pressed her lips, resisting the urge to grip the bark of the tree behind her. How can I say this? But her brother was waiting expectantly, looking at her in puzzlement.

"I can hear him screaming," Akiko eventually whispered.

For a brief moment, her brother's face closed, and she didn't miss it. But as expected, Yorimichi eased his expression, carefully removing any instance of displeasure.

"Are you talking of Asakura Hao?" he asked.

Akiko drew herself up to full height and spoke with an anger she had never known she had in herself. "So you do know about it? That you have…men… putting another human being under so much pain? I've always supported my family, you know that! But this… this. I can't. This is barbaric. This is not human."

She could feel tears threatening to well up. She turned her gaze away, furious at her weakness. She could not – would not – allow her brother to scorn her for a woman's frailty.

The Fujiwara lady felt her hand taken into his. She stiffened, trying to pull away, but Yorimichi's grip was strong.

"Onee-sama," he said, in a gentle voice that made her want to scream or cry – she didn't know which. "You don't understand. This is necessary."

"Necessary?" Mingling with her anger, a trickle of fear crept into her. Was this truly her brother speaking?

"Listen to me." Yorimichi waited until she was ready to take in anything else he was saying. "That man…Asakura Hao, holds secrets to evil powers still. And if he is allowed to conceal them, we – and that is including the Asakuras who have joined our cause – will never be able uncover the depths of his monstrosity, or stop his threats from coming true. Even weak as he is, he has had the arrogance to threaten our family, to kill innocents like yourself…"

"Threats? What threats from a weakened, defenseless man could possibly warrant such torture?"

Yorimichi shook his head. "You do not understand. The Asakuras have informed me of the true extent of his powers. I fear even restrained as he is, he will have more sorcery up his sleeves, sorcery we would fail to understand…"

Akiko closed her eyes. Oh Yorimichi, my brother. You have never liked Asakura Hao, ever since you were a young man, when you believed your fiancé had lost her heart to him, do you truly take me for a fool?

"Yes, I have heard of his sorcery, my brother," she said. "I have heard the stories, of the Asakuras getting their word out to the commoners, of the demonic sins Asakura Hao has committed. But tell your men to stand down."

Yorimichi stared at her, his expression unreadable.

"Tell your men to stand down, Yorimichi," Akiko repeated. She clenched her fists to keep her voice from trembling, as she gave her first direct order, to her own kin. "End this barbarism immediately."

"They will think me weak if I tell them to stop now, Akiko," Yorimichi said softly.

"Then tell them the truth. Tell them the screaming bothers me, and you, being the good brother that you are, have the responsibility to end your older sister's distress. A woman cannot cope with fear as well as men do, Yorimichi."

A pregnant pause fell between them. Then Yorimichi let out a sigh. "I had ordered everyone to keep away from the cave, and thought you would be far enough from it. I knew it would upset you. But I suppose, with guards as incompetent as mine…

"Very well," Yorimichi said. "To respect my elder sister's wishes, I will order my soldiers to prolong the treatment no longer. Would that satisfy you?"

Akiko released her breath. "Yes, Yorimichi." She knew she had to explain herself, somehow, if she wanted to maintain appearances. "I am sorry. It is…a woman's weakness, and this… this distresses me far too much."

"Of course, Onee-sama," Yorimichi reassured. "Shall we return?"

At his sister's nod, he allowed her to walk a little in front of him as they made their way back to camp. If she felt the weight of his stare upon her, she gave no hint of it.

Night had already fallen by the time Lord Yorimichi returned to his tent. Inside, about a dozen of the Asakura family sat in front of him, their shadows dancing across the tent walls as the candles flickered.

"Has it ceased?" Yorimichi asked, from his place behind his table.

"Yes, my lord," one of the Asakuras said – Hiroshi, that was his name – the younger Asakura responsible for the treatment meted out to Asakura Hao.

For a moment, Yorimichi thought he detected a flicker of relief in Hiroshi. He had specifically chosen him as one of the tormentors, to further make an impression on the young, somewhat reluctant Asakura member towards his former mentor's imprisonment. No doubt he had acted upon the fear of reprisal from his peers; it had been slightly amusing to see the look of death on Hiroshi's face when he returned from his experience, as he realised he would never be able to wash clean the memory of his former master's torture at his own hands.

"I see." He turned to another Asakura, a beefy man with a large, scraggly beard. "I trust your set-ups will be completed soon?"

"Soon, my lord. The barrier should drown out all sound if we work undisturbed for a few days," the man intoned.

Yorimichi watched as Hiroshi's head snapped up, feeling mild pleasure as alarm lit up the younger man's face. "B-barrier?"

"Of course. You didn't think such a man deserves to have mercy given to him, do you?" Yorimichi folded his hands beneath his chin. "I only wish for my dear sister to be undisturbed from such necessary horrors. We will resume treatment once you people have built up a reasonable blockade."

"But if – if he truly has nothing to tell – "

"As long as he is withholding information about what ideas he has planted in my sister's head, and the location of the Manta boy, there will be no compromise on my part," Yorimichi said softly. "I understand though, if you wish to be separate from this."

Hiroshi suppressed a shudder, and shook his head. "N-no, my lord. I will serve the Asakuras and Fujiwaras."

At least he understands the consequences if he attempts to extricate himself from this, Yorimichi reflected with satisfaction. "Very good, Hiroshi."

He settled back and looked once around him. "Is Ishimoto absent? As the current head of the Asakura family, I would have expected him to be present today."

"He is…unwell," another Asakura answered, with noticeable hesitation on the last word.

"Oh?" Yorimichi said. Several of the Asakuras shifted, uncomfortable. "That is too bad."

"He will attend the next one, I assure you, my lord," Hiroshi said quickly.

"That would be welcome," Yorimichi said lightly. Ishimoto might have already heard about Asakura Hao's current plight. He would have to make note the old man's absence and what it probably meant. "No matter. How is your business proceeding?"

In answer, the scraggly-bearded Asakura withdrew a small bottle that pulsed with orange light. He opened the bottle and flung its contents into the air.

Immediately, the tent seemed to burst into a brilliant mosaic of glowing light, causing Yorimichi to squint until the light died down. Flames had erupted at the bottom of the tent sheet, rising almost as high as the roof itself…yet the canvas itself remained unharmed, with no heat emanating from the fires.

"Remarkable substance," Yorimichi complimented, allowing no trace of wonder or awe into his voice. "One of Hao's designs, Kazuo?"

"Indeed, Lord Yorimichi," said the bearded old man.

Dark shadows began to emerge from the flames, almost ephemeral in their forms. They soon morphed into living images of people – but mostly children. They were sitting hunched up in what appeared to be a cramped space.

"We have managed to gather most of these children for tutelage," Kazuo informed him. "Most of these children are particularly gifted, and their families – or at least, the ones who do have families – have acceded to our request to school them."

Yorimichi smiled. "And what have you done with these families?"

"We've guaranteed their silence about our…methods," Kazuo answered, with a hint of grudging reluctance in his words. "Those who refuse to accede to us have been promptly dealt with of course."

"How efficient," Yorimichi murmured. "I have to admit, even I did not expect such quick agreement from the lot of you. I would've thought such acts would have damaged your moral compass a bit more."

"This is the price we have to pay if we want the Asakuras to flourish any longer," Kazuo said, in his gravelly voice. "Hao has never seen fit to grant us authority of our own."

"Yes, I have heard about his craving for control over all your activities," Yorimichi mused.

"He may be more skilled than any of us, but his refusal to see a need for succession will be the downfall of the Asakura family," Kazuo said, his beard quivering with more vehemence. "That is why we have pledged ourselves to your cause, my lord."

"For which I am grateful for. As promised, I will soon permit freer reign of your activities and promote you to a much higher station than Asakura Hao has ever done." Yorimichi smiled, almost benevolently. "You will be allowed to delve as much as you like into Hao's possessions, and the other forms of shamanic arts, both within Japan…and maybe even beyond this country alone."

Feeling the thrum of assent and fervor among the group, Yorimichi smiled to himself. He eyed the images in front of him, critically noting the forlorn appearances of the children. "And do remember do something about the children. Since their parents have acceded to us, there is no need to be unkind. Wash, feed, clothe them and give them proper shelter… There should be enough funds provided at the Fujiwara quarters for your needs."

"Yes sir," Kazuo agreed immediately.

"Moving on then. How far is your progress for tracking the boy?"

There was a slight pause as Kazuo, again, answered on behalf of all of them. "The snowstorm and his small size made it impossible to track him effectively. We only picked up on his trail before it ended near the Dewa province."

"Oh? And you cannot resume the trail even if the storm has died down?"

"We are helpless against nature, Yorimichi-sama," Kazuo replied, with a hint of defensiveness. "Snowstorms and blizzards have an effect even on shamanic magic, and can erase a trail just as easily as any spell."

"Fortunately, I can think of a more effective solution, beyond that of snowstorms and blizzards," Yorimichi responded. He leaned forward, his eyes dark. "Send word out that I want all villages turned over, all forests and all corners searched, around the Dewa province. The boy could not have gone far in the storm, unless someone has rescued him. I want the ones responsible for hiding the boy found. And when they are, kill them."

"My lord?" Hiroshi inquired, his voice containing just the merest hint of a tremble.

Yorimichi ignored him. "There is no need to hold back. Arrest all suspects and have them taken in for questioning."

"My lord," another Asakura intervened. "Such extreme acts…against the peasants… may be deemed in…in bad taste, my lord…"

"We are not here to bandy words and poetry as we usually do, gentlemen," Yorimichi interrupted, his voice like steel. "The nobles have been soft for far too long, wasting their time on beauty and appearances. I intend to rectify that.

"Do not worry," he went on. "After the boy is found, I shall have no need to harass the good northern folk of Japan any longer. Peasants from the capital have already been won to my side and have been enthusiastic soldiers thus far, right in our camp now. They should prove useful in your mission."

Their silence was all Yorimichi needed. He dismissed them, and the magnificent flames disappeared as well, with not even a hint of smoke or ash left behind. But he continued to stare at where the flames were, as if triumph was already waiting there.

END OF CHAPTER 28

Author's Note: So how did you like it?

Let me know in the reviews (or flames, if you like…). Like I mentioned, this chapter was quite rushed - do let me know what you think and what mistakes or discrepancies you've spotted. Happy Easter everyone!