The Black Dragon: Chapter 13

The Black Dragon: Chapter 13

"Welcome, Ying Tsuki and Yang Mahiru, to the Hall of Balance." Youhei handed the torch to Tsubaki and made several small, quick motions. As he moved, little streaks of light flew from his fingertips and hit more torches that were hidden in the darkness. The tops of the torches burst into flame, lighting the area.

The Hall of Balance was a small chamber with a large stone table and a few chairs in the center. The table was in the image of a Ying-Yang. The chairs on the Ying half were circular with the Ying-Ying emblem carved into the black rock, and the Yang half's were white with a Yang-Yang design. The table had several carvings around a grey edge.

"These engravings are the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac," Mahiru observed. "It has the image of the animal and its name in Chinese and Japanese... But they're out of order."

"Not exactly," Tsuki said. "The Ying half has the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Sheep, Rooster, and Pig. The Yang Half Has the Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, and Dog. They're in order, just separated by Attribute."

Mahiru blinked. "Oh... I guess that makes sense... Somehow. Wait! The Sheep is Ying? I though our sign was Yang."

"Mahiru, please take a seat," Tsubaki said, gesturing to a white chair. Mahiru sat down at the Horse carving. Tsubaki took the Dragon seat to her right. Youhei took the Snake, across from Tsubaki, and Tsuki followed the example by selecting the Sheep, across from Mahiru.
"Now," the older Dragon of Darkness began, "to the matter we came here to discuss."

Tsubaki nodded. "Mahiru, the Changing Chopsticks, Reversing Mirror, and Tsuki's things, please." Mahiru took off the backpack and pulled out the items. "Enlarge them now, dear."

Mahiru picked up the golden chopsticks and black-framed mirror. "Changing Chopsticks. Reversing Mirror." She touched each bag and the trunk. The miniature items began to grow to a normal size. Putting the Shen Gong Wu back in her backpack, she said, "That should be everything, Tsuki. Let us know if something's missing."

"Now, the other matter." Tsubaki's grey eyes locked with Youhei's brownish-orange. "Is... there any way we can arrange Tsuki's freedom? Assuming, of course, that she hasn't drank the Soup yet."

"No, not yet." Youhei smiled at the Light Dragon. "But, tell me, dear sister... Why do you think she doesn't want to stay with us?"

Tsubaki glared at him. "Why would she? Unless she tells us that she doesn't want to come back to the Xiaolin Side--"

"I don't." Tsubaki and Mahiru gasped at Tsuki's terse statement. "Don't accuse Youhei-sama of persuading me to go Heylin. I made the decision on my own."

Mahiru started to say something, but Tsubaki put a hand on her shoulder. "Think carefully, Ying Tsuki," the Xiaolin Dragon said. "If you choose this road, there's no turning back."

"Yeah, I know. I'm going to be writing my own story now, not the one you guys want me to write." Her green eyes had an uncharacteristic coldness to them.

"Brilliant answer, Tsuki." The cruel smile appeared on Youhei's face once again. "See, Sister? Not everyone wants to be a Xiaolin Dragon." He glanced at Tsuki. "The Darkness is in her blood. Just like it is in mine."

Mahiru looked up at the Heylin Dragon. "It's like 'Love Like Winter', isn't it? That's one of Tsuki's favorites."

"Yes, I know. 'It's in the blood. It's in the blood. I met my love before I was born. He wanted love. I taste of blood. He bit my lip and drank my war from years before.' We tend to like things that remind us of ourselves, such as songs or poems, even if we don't realize it right away." Youhei closed his eyes. "I myself am partial to 'Miss Murder' by the same band."

"It's like Glass Wings, too. Hagane and Ruriha, the two main characters, love each other because they both have Death Blood..." Tsuki thought back to the story. "Oh, and the character who tries to take Hagane for herself has the Blood, too... And her name was Tsubaki."

"Well, as interesting as that is," Youhei said, opening his eyes, "we really must be going." He stood up. "Come, Tsuki. I'll open a warp on the ground. We'll push your bags through, then go back to the entrance chamber and leave from there." He fixed the shining Shen Gong Wu onto his hand. "Golden Tiger Claws."

Youhei scraped the floor, tearing space once again. Tsuki lifted her bags and trunk off of the table and pushed them through the hole, which closed as the last bag went through. The Dragon of Darkness grabbed a torch from the wall and directed Tsuki and Mahiru into the tunnel back to the lake chamber as the Dragon of Light sent a breeze through the room. After the torches were extinguished, the group sat off to return to the entrance.
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"I suppose this is where we part ways." Tsubaki and Mahiru left the cave first after the Dragon-in-Training was distracted by Youhei putting out his torch by smothering the flame with his bare hand. Tsubaki took her Dragon form and glared at her brother as he and Tsuki emerged. "I hope you're happy now, Youhei."

"Don't worry, Tsubaki. I am." He smiled wickedly as he spoke. "And Tsuki is happy as well." The Dragon-in-Training of Darkness looked at the Heylin Dragon and nodded.

Mahiru slowly climbed onto Tsubaki's scaly back. "'Bye, Tsuki. We'll all miss you..." A single tear escaped from her blue eyes. "I'm sorry, but from now on, I'll have to consider you my greatest enemy."

"The same to you, Mahiru." Tsuki stared unfeelingly at her other self. "I promise you that I will fight you anytime you challenge me, and I will always come out on top."

Before Mahiru could respond, Tsubaki took to the skies. "Try to keep your eyes open this time, Mahiru. When we return to the Temple, I want to speak to Master Fung about training you," she said. Mahiru sighed as they flew back towards China.

Back on the ground, Youhei had used the Shen Gong Wu once more. "Since this took longer than expected, your training will be postponed until tomorrow. Feel free to arrange your room as you see fit." He and Tsuki stepped into the warp. "We have a few surprises for you, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow." The rift closed as the sun began to set over the cave and forest.