Hagaromo (feathered cloak)
chapter 1:
The cloth
Even in since ancient times heavenly beings have come to the mortal plane. Reasons vary of course but the most common was recreation. Even now in the cold winter of this old continent powerful yet fun loving higher beings take sport in the snow...
"Seiya, I'm catching up!" The excited voice of a young man with long black hair called out through the trees.
"Not if I can help it!" The dark brown haired youth, not older than his friend, angled his body to make in more aerodynamic as he slid down the powdery slope on a make shift snow board. There was a sudden rise making a perfect jump. "Whoohoo ha ha!" The brown eyed warrior cried out with excitement when his path took flight. He spread his arms wide, feeling the cold air on his face. "Hey, Shiryu. This must be what mortal flying is like."
"Seiya," the dark eyed young man had taken the same jump and was quickly approaching his friend, "I think you've got more important things to worry about." he pointed down so brown eyes looked. "I'm using my impenetrable shield, but you've only got a flimsy slab of wood and it's a long way down." The dragon warrior smirked, ensured of victory from his friend's miscalculation.
"Uh," the Pegasus warrior felt sweat on his brow, "Uh, oh." the lift from the combined air current and their momentum took them as far up as it could before they gently then swiftly began to descend. "OH NO!" the brown eyed youth did his best to cushion the landing but there was a large rock right where his board was aiming. "Geez, I don't think I'm gonna make it."
"Seiya, glide over it with your Pegasus wings!" A beautiful green haired young man shouted from the ground.
"AHHHhhh! Oof!" The board splintered and the brunet went tumbling into the near by snow bank.
"Seiya!" The green eyed young man shouted, worried about the reckless boy.
"Leave him alone Shun, he's fine." Shiryu skidded his shield to a halt and kicked the edge, flipping it into the air so he could scoop it under his arm. "His head is harder than my dragon shield."
"How could you Shiryu?" the young man with long, wild green hair gave the long haired brunet a glare before turning back to his friend. He stared clearing away the pile of snow that only exposed one arm and leg.
"Gosh, it's not like I pushed him off a cliff." he rubbed his dark hair, mumbling to himself.
"Seiya." Shun managed to pull the boy free from the packed icy pillows, "Are you alright? Why didn't you use your Pegasus wings?"
"Woo." the short haired brunet shook the flakes free from his head and smiled brightly. "Let's do it again!" he jumped up to challenge his opponent. "And this time I'll find a stronger board."
"You're on. But let me warn you that nothing can beat the dragon shield of invincibility." Shiryu smirked.
"Yeah, we'll see." The reckless young men chuckled at one another obviously confident in their own abilities.
"You guys!" Shun had meant to say but a woman's voice said it.
"Huh?" the green eyed man looked around. Two women popped out of the snow bank that Seiya had crashed into. They were both covered in snow and their hair was a frightful mess.
"You ruined our snow fortress!" a pig tailed young lady about Seiya's age shouted at the boys. Her face was heated with rage and her fists were clenched with fury.
"We had been building it so carefully." the second young woman had her dark hair in buns to the sides of her head. She covered her dark eyes to hide the tears of her disappointment and mistreatment.
"Shunrei, Miho..." Shiryu and Seiya started backing away, abandoning Shun. The ladies picked up snow balls and tossed them mercilessly at the helpless warriors.
"Alright if that's how you want it." Seiya grabbed up a handful of snow and tossed it back. Soon everyone was throwing snow and laughing, forgetting their worries and sorrows. It was only after several minutes that Shunrei began to shiver.
"Shunrei, are you alright?" Shiryu came to her side to see if she was okay.
"I'm fine, just a bit cold." even her voice was shivering.
"It is getting cold and we're all catching a chill." Shun rubbed his arms.
"Hey I know, there's a spring of waters touched by fire. It smells of Tartarus but bathing in the spring has medicinal powers for mortals and I hear it's very relaxing for tired and cold muscles."
"That sounds great!" Seiya shouted.
"Where is these wondrous hot springs?" Shiryu asked.
"This way." Miho directed them to two pools where the young men could bathe separately from the young ladies. "We can hang our clothes in the branches of these small trees so that they don't get dirty from the ground.
"Oh, good idea." Shunrei clapped her hands.
"What are you looking at?" Miho glared at Seiya and Shiryu who just realized they were staring at the girls. They blushed and made excuses while Shun grabbed their collars.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your bath ladies." Shun waved over his shoulder, dragging the blushing boys away.
At that moment a very rich, very powerful ruler of a castle not far from here, arrived. She and her loyal servant happened upon the shed clothes of three young men. These clothes were most unusual for they glowed with a mystical aura. One had a dragon design and was green in color. Another was red and white with a design of a winged horse. The last was pink with a feminine design and silver chains adorning it.
"What are these strange..."
"Quiet, Tatsumi." the purple haired young woman brushed some branches aside and gazed at the three young men. Her eyes grew wide and her face became blushed with desire.
"This place stinks man." Seiya remarked.
"I think it's wonderful." Shun turned over and leaned on the smooth rocks of the embankment. He let his cheek rest on his folded arms and sighed with contentment. "It was everything Miho said it would be."
"Exactly, it smells like tartarus." The brown haired young man stood. The young peeping lady gasped and turned away immediately.
"Did you guy's hear that?" Shun lifted his head and looked into the bushes.
"I bet the girls are trying to peep on us." Seiya smirked and wiggled his eye brows to tease his friends.
"They wouldn't..." Shiryu sunk deeper in the water.
"Tatsumi." The young woman of long purple hair whispered to her servant. "These are heavenly beings."
"Are you sure lady Saori?"
"Without a doubt. I want him tatsumi. He's so beautiful. I want him for my own."
"I'll gather the men and..."
"No. That won't be necessary. Take his hagaromo. He'll come to me to find it."
"Brilliant my lady."
"Do it quietly, we don't want to invoke the wrath of heaven." she smirked.
"Yes my lady."
"Don't keep me waiting." she left promptly. The bald servant looked between the three and realized he forgot to ask which cloth she wanted him to take. He felt sweat on his brow as he reached for the green one. The middle aged servant heard a splashing of water and the voices of the men coming closer. He hesitated but knew he had to act quickly.
"She said he was beautiful." he mumbled under his breath. His hand reached over the Pegasus cloth and took the one he hoped would be right. With the cloth bundled under his arm he stole away into the woods and toward his master's castle.
"Ah, that was wonderful." the green haired beauty stretched his arms up over his head and brought them down with a contented sigh.
"I have to admit it was very relaxing." Shiryu nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, but now we need a bath after our bath. I don't like this smell." Seiya sniffed his forearm and jerked his nose back, "Peewu."
"Don't worry, we'll have plenty of opportunity when we return to heaven." Shun assured his friends.
"This cold weather made my cloth cold too." Seiya shivered when he put on his red and white robe.
"I know what you mean. The snow is nice to visit but mount Olympus and the elision fields will always be my home." Shiryu pulled his cloth over his shoulders.
"What's wrong Shun?" the dark eyed warrior asked. "Why aren't you getting dressed?"
"If you go back in now your skin will wrinkle." Seiya laughed.
"Very funny," the green eyed warrior put his hands on his hips. "Okay guy's joke's over. Where's my cloth?"
"Huh?" the brown eyed boy blinked with confusion the open hand expecting something he didn't have.
"What are you talking about?" Shiryu stood up for his brunet friend.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." the green haired young man closed his hand and opened it again, "Now stop clowning around it's cold and I want to go home."
"Is everything alright?" Miho called as the ladies approached.
"Shunrei, Miho." Shiryu stood in front of Shun so his long green robe would cloak him.
"Shun's cloth is missing." Seiya rubbed his head, knowing he wasn't at fault yet couldn't help feeling somewhat guilty.
"You mean you really don't know where it is?" green eyes peeked over a green shoulder pad.
"I told you didn't I?" Seiya scuffed the snow with his foot.
"Anyway, we've got to find it." Shiryu tried to focus on the greater issue. "Everyone search, it can't have grown legs and ran away. Perhaps the wind has misplaced it."
They all looked around, but they didn't have a chance to move before a beam of light broke through the clouds. It was going to be dark soon, so this had to be something more than a break in the weather. The very feeling of the light was heavenly. All of them recognized it as a message from the gods.
"They want us to return immediately." Shunrei nearly gasped knowing what that meant for Shun.
"But what about Shun?" Seiya objected, offering the green eyed warrior a small cape he had. It made a make shift skirt at best, but it was better than being naked. "We can't just leave him here!"
"I'm sorry," Shiryu shook his head letting his long dark hair fall in waves, "but that's not our decision to make. We all know how important it is to obey heaven."
"He's right. You must go without me." Shun insisted, knowing that heaven's will is absolute.
"But..." Seiya objected.
"It's not so bad." The green haired man assured them. "When you return, just tell them I'm here and need help to find my cloth. I'll be looking for it in the meantime. Heck, I'll probably find it soon after you leave so don't worry. I'll be right behind you." he smiled to give them confidence.
"I suppose you're right." Miho looked at the brown eyed boy, seeing his distaste for the situation.
"I'll meet you all in heaven, alright?" Shun reassured them.
"See you later. Right, Shun?" The short haired brunet wasn't at all happy about leaving their comrade, but they had no choice. To reach heaven, you must bare a hagaromo.
"Of course." He waved back as their cloth's glowed with heavenly light and they were all gently lifted up and out of sight, like alien tractor beams from the mother ship of Olympus. He let his hand drop and a frown settled on his face. He wasn't confident at all. There was just this feeling he had that he wasn't going to find his hagaromo, at least...not here. "Okay, Shun." he slapped his cheeks with both hands to help him focus. "Let's find Andromeda."
chapter 1:
The cloth
Even in since ancient times heavenly beings have come to the mortal plane. Reasons vary of course but the most common was recreation. Even now in the cold winter of this old continent powerful yet fun loving higher beings take sport in the snow...
"Seiya, I'm catching up!" The excited voice of a young man with long black hair called out through the trees.
"Not if I can help it!" The dark brown haired youth, not older than his friend, angled his body to make in more aerodynamic as he slid down the powdery slope on a make shift snow board. There was a sudden rise making a perfect jump. "Whoohoo ha ha!" The brown eyed warrior cried out with excitement when his path took flight. He spread his arms wide, feeling the cold air on his face. "Hey, Shiryu. This must be what mortal flying is like."
"Seiya," the dark eyed young man had taken the same jump and was quickly approaching his friend, "I think you've got more important things to worry about." he pointed down so brown eyes looked. "I'm using my impenetrable shield, but you've only got a flimsy slab of wood and it's a long way down." The dragon warrior smirked, ensured of victory from his friend's miscalculation.
"Uh," the Pegasus warrior felt sweat on his brow, "Uh, oh." the lift from the combined air current and their momentum took them as far up as it could before they gently then swiftly began to descend. "OH NO!" the brown eyed youth did his best to cushion the landing but there was a large rock right where his board was aiming. "Geez, I don't think I'm gonna make it."
"Seiya, glide over it with your Pegasus wings!" A beautiful green haired young man shouted from the ground.
"AHHHhhh! Oof!" The board splintered and the brunet went tumbling into the near by snow bank.
"Seiya!" The green eyed young man shouted, worried about the reckless boy.
"Leave him alone Shun, he's fine." Shiryu skidded his shield to a halt and kicked the edge, flipping it into the air so he could scoop it under his arm. "His head is harder than my dragon shield."
"How could you Shiryu?" the young man with long, wild green hair gave the long haired brunet a glare before turning back to his friend. He stared clearing away the pile of snow that only exposed one arm and leg.
"Gosh, it's not like I pushed him off a cliff." he rubbed his dark hair, mumbling to himself.
"Seiya." Shun managed to pull the boy free from the packed icy pillows, "Are you alright? Why didn't you use your Pegasus wings?"
"Woo." the short haired brunet shook the flakes free from his head and smiled brightly. "Let's do it again!" he jumped up to challenge his opponent. "And this time I'll find a stronger board."
"You're on. But let me warn you that nothing can beat the dragon shield of invincibility." Shiryu smirked.
"Yeah, we'll see." The reckless young men chuckled at one another obviously confident in their own abilities.
"You guys!" Shun had meant to say but a woman's voice said it.
"Huh?" the green eyed man looked around. Two women popped out of the snow bank that Seiya had crashed into. They were both covered in snow and their hair was a frightful mess.
"You ruined our snow fortress!" a pig tailed young lady about Seiya's age shouted at the boys. Her face was heated with rage and her fists were clenched with fury.
"We had been building it so carefully." the second young woman had her dark hair in buns to the sides of her head. She covered her dark eyes to hide the tears of her disappointment and mistreatment.
"Shunrei, Miho..." Shiryu and Seiya started backing away, abandoning Shun. The ladies picked up snow balls and tossed them mercilessly at the helpless warriors.
"Alright if that's how you want it." Seiya grabbed up a handful of snow and tossed it back. Soon everyone was throwing snow and laughing, forgetting their worries and sorrows. It was only after several minutes that Shunrei began to shiver.
"Shunrei, are you alright?" Shiryu came to her side to see if she was okay.
"I'm fine, just a bit cold." even her voice was shivering.
"It is getting cold and we're all catching a chill." Shun rubbed his arms.
"Hey I know, there's a spring of waters touched by fire. It smells of Tartarus but bathing in the spring has medicinal powers for mortals and I hear it's very relaxing for tired and cold muscles."
"That sounds great!" Seiya shouted.
"Where is these wondrous hot springs?" Shiryu asked.
"This way." Miho directed them to two pools where the young men could bathe separately from the young ladies. "We can hang our clothes in the branches of these small trees so that they don't get dirty from the ground.
"Oh, good idea." Shunrei clapped her hands.
"What are you looking at?" Miho glared at Seiya and Shiryu who just realized they were staring at the girls. They blushed and made excuses while Shun grabbed their collars.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your bath ladies." Shun waved over his shoulder, dragging the blushing boys away.
At that moment a very rich, very powerful ruler of a castle not far from here, arrived. She and her loyal servant happened upon the shed clothes of three young men. These clothes were most unusual for they glowed with a mystical aura. One had a dragon design and was green in color. Another was red and white with a design of a winged horse. The last was pink with a feminine design and silver chains adorning it.
"What are these strange..."
"Quiet, Tatsumi." the purple haired young woman brushed some branches aside and gazed at the three young men. Her eyes grew wide and her face became blushed with desire.
"This place stinks man." Seiya remarked.
"I think it's wonderful." Shun turned over and leaned on the smooth rocks of the embankment. He let his cheek rest on his folded arms and sighed with contentment. "It was everything Miho said it would be."
"Exactly, it smells like tartarus." The brown haired young man stood. The young peeping lady gasped and turned away immediately.
"Did you guy's hear that?" Shun lifted his head and looked into the bushes.
"I bet the girls are trying to peep on us." Seiya smirked and wiggled his eye brows to tease his friends.
"They wouldn't..." Shiryu sunk deeper in the water.
"Tatsumi." The young woman of long purple hair whispered to her servant. "These are heavenly beings."
"Are you sure lady Saori?"
"Without a doubt. I want him tatsumi. He's so beautiful. I want him for my own."
"I'll gather the men and..."
"No. That won't be necessary. Take his hagaromo. He'll come to me to find it."
"Brilliant my lady."
"Do it quietly, we don't want to invoke the wrath of heaven." she smirked.
"Yes my lady."
"Don't keep me waiting." she left promptly. The bald servant looked between the three and realized he forgot to ask which cloth she wanted him to take. He felt sweat on his brow as he reached for the green one. The middle aged servant heard a splashing of water and the voices of the men coming closer. He hesitated but knew he had to act quickly.
"She said he was beautiful." he mumbled under his breath. His hand reached over the Pegasus cloth and took the one he hoped would be right. With the cloth bundled under his arm he stole away into the woods and toward his master's castle.
"Ah, that was wonderful." the green haired beauty stretched his arms up over his head and brought them down with a contented sigh.
"I have to admit it was very relaxing." Shiryu nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, but now we need a bath after our bath. I don't like this smell." Seiya sniffed his forearm and jerked his nose back, "Peewu."
"Don't worry, we'll have plenty of opportunity when we return to heaven." Shun assured his friends.
"This cold weather made my cloth cold too." Seiya shivered when he put on his red and white robe.
"I know what you mean. The snow is nice to visit but mount Olympus and the elision fields will always be my home." Shiryu pulled his cloth over his shoulders.
"What's wrong Shun?" the dark eyed warrior asked. "Why aren't you getting dressed?"
"If you go back in now your skin will wrinkle." Seiya laughed.
"Very funny," the green eyed warrior put his hands on his hips. "Okay guy's joke's over. Where's my cloth?"
"Huh?" the brown eyed boy blinked with confusion the open hand expecting something he didn't have.
"What are you talking about?" Shiryu stood up for his brunet friend.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." the green haired young man closed his hand and opened it again, "Now stop clowning around it's cold and I want to go home."
"Is everything alright?" Miho called as the ladies approached.
"Shunrei, Miho." Shiryu stood in front of Shun so his long green robe would cloak him.
"Shun's cloth is missing." Seiya rubbed his head, knowing he wasn't at fault yet couldn't help feeling somewhat guilty.
"You mean you really don't know where it is?" green eyes peeked over a green shoulder pad.
"I told you didn't I?" Seiya scuffed the snow with his foot.
"Anyway, we've got to find it." Shiryu tried to focus on the greater issue. "Everyone search, it can't have grown legs and ran away. Perhaps the wind has misplaced it."
They all looked around, but they didn't have a chance to move before a beam of light broke through the clouds. It was going to be dark soon, so this had to be something more than a break in the weather. The very feeling of the light was heavenly. All of them recognized it as a message from the gods.
"They want us to return immediately." Shunrei nearly gasped knowing what that meant for Shun.
"But what about Shun?" Seiya objected, offering the green eyed warrior a small cape he had. It made a make shift skirt at best, but it was better than being naked. "We can't just leave him here!"
"I'm sorry," Shiryu shook his head letting his long dark hair fall in waves, "but that's not our decision to make. We all know how important it is to obey heaven."
"He's right. You must go without me." Shun insisted, knowing that heaven's will is absolute.
"But..." Seiya objected.
"It's not so bad." The green haired man assured them. "When you return, just tell them I'm here and need help to find my cloth. I'll be looking for it in the meantime. Heck, I'll probably find it soon after you leave so don't worry. I'll be right behind you." he smiled to give them confidence.
"I suppose you're right." Miho looked at the brown eyed boy, seeing his distaste for the situation.
"I'll meet you all in heaven, alright?" Shun reassured them.
"See you later. Right, Shun?" The short haired brunet wasn't at all happy about leaving their comrade, but they had no choice. To reach heaven, you must bare a hagaromo.
"Of course." He waved back as their cloth's glowed with heavenly light and they were all gently lifted up and out of sight, like alien tractor beams from the mother ship of Olympus. He let his hand drop and a frown settled on his face. He wasn't confident at all. There was just this feeling he had that he wasn't going to find his hagaromo, at least...not here. "Okay, Shun." he slapped his cheeks with both hands to help him focus. "Let's find Andromeda."