Hi folks! It's me again. Well, in the last story, Hiyana was killed and

other things. But here's part 8.  If there was anything you didn't
understand in the story, email me.  Enjoy!

                                       RG Veda
                               "The Golden Warriors"
                                       Part  8

                               Written by Ashura/ChunLi

Chapter 8:  Showdown

       "It vanished...?  Just like that?", Susan asked.
       Taishakuten nodded.  Susan relaxed and braced one hand on the

pillar.  She couldn't stand it here anymore, but there was nothing she could
do.  Agonizing, her eyes reflected back coldness.  She turned to Kuyou.

       "I'll be waiting.", she said and went upstairs.
       Tentei and the others looked at eachother.

       In the outdoor balcony, Susan sat curled-up on the window seat,

staring outside.  The cool wind blew gently over the seemingly dark lands
covered in shadows.  How odd it seemed, that the land seemed to have fallen
into sadness...  Susan sighed and rested her head on her knees.  She closed
her eyes and tried to call out to Hiyana, wherever she was.

       Hiyana... answer me please!  Hiyana, I miss you so much...
       But there was no answer.  She grew silent and weary.

       During the next few days, Susan didn't do much.  What else could

she do?  There was nothing more for her, how could she possibly go on...
without Hiyana?  She did, however, grow cold and distant.  Her usual
jolliness and annoyance lessened to none and she was by herself most of the
time.  Time seemed to take forever now.  Susan didn't really care anymore.
What more could life offer?  She didn't know how the hell to get back home,
and what would she say if they asked where Hiyana was?  She can't say that
they were transported to another world and Hiyana had died, could she?  They
might think she was mad.  She would stay and wait.  An answer will come
sooner or later.

       One evening, Yasha-ou found Susan out by herself in the

balcony...again.  This time, she seemed even more sad.  He sat by her.

       "Susan, you can't be sad for the rest of your life.", said Yasha-ou.
       Susan turned to look at him, then she returned to her ususal position.
       "Who says I can't...?", she asked coldly.
       Yasha-ou hesitated.
       "I don't like to see you so sad... it's not like you.", he stammered.
       She didn't reply.  Yasha-ou looked out to where she was staring at,

whatever it was.

       "The sky... it's so pretty... It reminds me of...", she faded.
       "Of what?", Yasha-ou asked.
       "...of her...", Susan answered.
       "I'm sorry about what happened to your friend...", he said.
       Susan closed her eyes and nodded softly.
       "Hmm... I only hope... that she's not really dead...", Susan whispered.
       "You shouldn't dwell in the past.  There's nothing you can do about

it.", he said.

       Susan forced an icy smile.
       "You're right... and you're wrong...", she said softly.
       Yasha-ou perked up.  His eyes softened as he saw the lonely and

distant look in Susan's eyes.

       "Susan...", he whispered.
       "Yasha-ou... has Kuyou... told you anything lately?", she asked.
       "...no, why?", he asked.
       She forced another smile.
       "Nothing... I just don't want 'you' to be the one that's sad...

that's all...", she answered.

       "...What do you mean?", he asked.
       She looked him over.  Then to Yasha-ou's surprise, she put her hand

over his.

       "When you live your life, I want you to live its fullest...", she

said strangely.

       Yasha-ou was confused.  He drew closer.
       "I don't understand...", he said.
       "I don't want you to...", she hesitated.
       Susan didn't know if she should tell him.  What if it altered the

future of the original storyline?  She didn't want to mess things up either.

       "If there's something that's bothering you... I promise I will

listen.", he said.

       "You promise... just like you promised Ashura...", Susan said to

herself.

       "Ashura?", he asked.
       He stared into her eyes, searchingly.  They were cold and weary,

signs of agony and sorrow reflected back.  

       "Someone you will care about very much, Yasha-ou...", she answered.
       Then she looked away.
       "Pain, tragedy, death, sorrow, and loss... what a life...", Susan

sighed.

       "There's more to life than that, and you know it.", said Yasha-ou.
       "I know.  I just can't seem to let go of the past, I feel that I'm

the one responsible for what's happened... but I'm not...", she explained.

       "Who do you think is then?", he asked.
       "I can't blame anyone.  Every man is responsible for his own

destiny... but you, Yasha-ou... I fear for you the most...", she said,
returning to look at him.

       "...why's that?", he asked.
       Susan rested her head upon the side cushion and sighed.
       "I'm tired.", she changed the subject.
       Yasha-ou shifted in his seat as Susan moved to rest her head upon

Yasha-ou's lap.

       "Yasha-ou?", she called, getting drowsy.
       "Hm?", he answered.
       "Thank you... for listening to me...", she whispered.
       Yasha-ou smiled as he ran his hand through her hair slowly.  Soon,

Susan fell into a deep sleep.

       Susan had a dream.  In her dream, Hiyana was talking to her.
       "Susan, you have to let go of me.  You have to go on with your

life.", said Hiyana.

       "Hiyana, without you, my life here is nothing...", Susan said.
       "I'm glad that you still care about me that much... but I want you

to be happy as well.", she said.

       "Hiyana...", said Susan.
       They embraced.
       "I feel as if you're not dead... are you?", Susan asked.
       Hiyana didn't answer.  Susan looked at her.
       "I know I'm being optimistic, but... I have a feeling... that

you're not totally gone.  What if you're still alive?  Waiting...", Susan asked.

       "Susan, be wary of those around you...", Hiyana warned.
       Hiyana became transparent then she vanished.  Susan was left all

alone.  A cold air blew by her, sending chills up her spine.  'Ice castle?'
she thought.  Then she saw Yasha-ou.  He was walking towards Ashura...
Susan gasped, this was in the anime.  But something was going wrong,
Yasha-ou should've snapped out of his trance by now...  She could see little
Ashura, pleading.  Yasha-ou was getting closer and closer to killing Ashura.
She had to try and snap him out of the trance!  She tried to go help Ashura,
but her body wouldn't respond.  The situation was getting desperate as she
saw Yasha-ou strike Ashura with Yamato, her blood staining the sword.  She
tried to shout out, but she couldn't.  She tried to move with all her might,
but something kept her still...

       "Mmm... Yasha-ou...", Susan moaned.
       Yasha-ou, who was standing nearby, rushed to her side.  Susan was

having nightmares... again that night.  She had woken up earlier and had
gone to sleep again.  This time seemed worse.  She clenched the bedsheets,
as if in pain.  She was sweating like she had a fever.  (No, you hentai
people, it's not what you think!)

       "Susan!", Yasha-ou called, he tried to wake her up.
       "Uhn...", she moaned again.
       "Susan!", Yasha-ou called, louder this time.
       Susan awoke with a start.  Her breath coming in short gasps and she

was trembling.  Yasha-ou held her and she clenched onto his tunic.

       "Are you having nightmares?", he asked, concerned.
       "I-It's like I'm paralyzed...", she whispered.
       "Paralyzed?", he asked.
       Susan nodded.
       "I'm fine now... thank you.", she said and pulled away from him.
       Ashura-ou entered the room, along with Kuyou.
       "Ashura-ou... Kuyou...", Susan said.
       "Susan, how are you feeling?", Ashura-ou asked.
       "Poor child...", said Kuyou as she sat down beside the bed.
       "I... I have to go... to the Ice Castle... the one to the north of

Yasha Village...", Susan said hesitantly.     

       She turned to Yasha-ou.
       "Yasha-ou... you have to take me there... My... My answer is

there...", she pleaded.

       "Susan...", he said, and nodded his head.
       "Thank you...", she sighed.
       
       Later, Kuyou caught Susan getting ready to leave.
       "Susan, how did you know... about the ice castle, and your

answer?", Kuyou asked.

       Susan thought for a moment.  It was logical that she'd ask this

because she was a Stargazer.  

       "It came to me in a dream, Kuyou...", she answered.
       "...Susan, when I went to my place of practice, I saw a glimpse of

your future...", said Kuyou, looking away.

       Susan was surprised.  She wasn't even a person of this world... and

yet Kuyou could see...?

       "...What was it?", she asked.
       "...you love Yasha-ou, don't you?", she asked.
       The question threw her off guard.  Why was she asking this

question.  Susan blushed slightly.

       "I-uh... It's...", she stammered, hesitating.
       Kuyou smiled.
       "Yes, you do love him...", she whispered.
       "...", Susan ran out of words.
       Kuyou turned to her, a very serious look on her face.
       "Susan...", she began.

       Susan rode on the horse, riding alongside Yasha-ou.  She thought

about what Kuyou had foretold.  She shivered whenever she thought about it.
It was quiet, except for the sound of the horses' hooves striking the ground
as they traveled to the ice castle.

       "Did you know, that I'm not even really sure about where the ice

castle is?", Yasha-ou asked, breaking the silence.

       "Yes, I did.", she answered.
       He was surprised.
       "Can you see the future as well?", he asked.
       "No.", she answered.
       "...where did you come from?", he asked.
       "...Somewhere very far away...", she sighed.
       "...What are you going to do when you reach the ice castle?", he asked.
       "I don't know... I guess I'll have to enter it.", she replied.
       "I'll come along.", he said.
       "No!", she replied quickly, "This is officially my business...

Leave it to me."

       "What if demons attack you?  What if you never make it inside the

castle?", he asked, anger slightly showing in his voice.

       Susan softened.
       "Don't worry, if I made it this far... I might as well go all the

way.  I don't want you to get involved in this, Yasha-ou.  So do as I say.",
she answered.

       "If you don't come back out, expect me to pay a visit.", he said.
       "You wouldn't dare.", she said.
       "Why not?", he asked.
       "I won't forgive you if you do.", she answered.
       He couldn't argue with that in mind.  They approached Yasha Village.

       "So, you're going to the Mazoku's castle?  Not even the spring sun

could melt that castle.", said the elder.

       Susan and Yasha-ou were standing by a tree, talking with the

village elder and Yasha-ou's father, the previous Yasha-ou.  Susan was busy
studying Yasha Village.

       "So, Yama, you found yourself a companion... I see.", said

Yasha-ou's father.

       "Father, please.", said Yasha-ou.
       Susan turned around, she had heard that.
       "It's not like that at all.  We're just friends.", Susan corrected.
       The former Yasha-ou eyed his son, unbelieving.  Yasha-ou turned

away, embarrassed.  He wondered, 'did she really think of him that way?
Just a friend?'

       "Yasha Village is nothing like I expected, but then, who knows what

to expect?", said Susan, looking around.

       Yasha-ou's father signaled his attention.
       "She's great, I like her.", he whispered to Yasha-ou as Susan was

busy looking away.

       "Father, don't embarrass me.", he warned.
       "You say the ice castle's not far from here?", Susan asked, turning

around.

       Yasha-ou nodded.  Susan seemed anxious.
       "We have to stay here for the night, we will continue in the

morning.", said Yasha-ou.

       "...I suppose.", said Susan, hesitantly.
       She didn't want to wait any longer.  She'd leave tonight, while

they were all asleep.  That way, Yasha-ou wouldn't follow her.  She
snickered to herself.  

       The night sky blanketed the daylight and things were put to rest.

The stars were bright, illuminating the dark blue sky.  The moon, a white
crescent in the sky.  Susan sighed, this might be the last night sky she'll
ever see.  Susan stared out the window of the room as she sat on the bench,
tired from running to release her anger and sorrow.  Deep inside, she was
still full of raging emotions that threatened to spill out.  She controlled
these, the dangerous ones.  Susan sighed.

       "Susan.", said a voice.
       Startled, she turned around.  Yasha-ou was half hidden in the

shadows and half visible in the pale moonlight.  She couldn't see his eyes.
He looked like he'd been standing there for some time.

       "What?", she asked.
       He smirked.
       "Am I just a friend to you?", he asked.
       Susan had a confused look written across her face.  'What was he

getting at now?'  But deep inside, she knew exactly what he meant, she just
denied it.  She felt a bit ashamed and guilty to have such strong feelings
towards Yasha-ou.  Susan remembered Gigei, one who loved him so much, she
died for him.  Then she remembered the former Kendappa-ou.  She had died
'because' of him, not 'for' him.  But Yasha-ou wasn't the one to blame, it
was never his intention.  Either way, she wanted to love him, but her pride
wouldn't let her have him so easily.  She had to bury her feelings, she had
to change the future, 'her' future along with his.  She narrowed her eyes,
the only way to fix some things, was to hurt some things.

       "Of course.", she answered after a long while.
       "Hmph...", he smiled coldly.
       "If that's what's bothering you, it's pathetic.", she said.
       Yasha-ou looked up, shocked that she'd said that.  Why was she

being so cold all of a sudden?  She hadn't acted like this before.  Fine, if
that's how she wanted to play things.

       "It has never bothered me for a minute.", he said.
       Susan felt a little hurt at those words.
       "Then why are you bringing it up?", she asked.
       "I just wanted to make it clear to you.", he answered.
       She felt even more hurt now.
       "Don't waste my time, Yasha-ou.", she shot back.
       Yasha-ou hesitated, 'she really means it'.  
       "What time?", he asked and left before she could shoot him down again.

       Later that night, Susan snuck out silently.  If she could remember

the direction Kujaku had pointed, she could find it by herself.  She
approached the temple Yasha-ou and the others had stayed in, in the anime.
She turned to the direction Kujaku had pointed and headed that way.

       
       Yasha-ou lay on his bed, puzzling over his emotions.  He didn't

understand why she had acted so different.  Did all women act like this?  He
remembered Kendappa-ou.  She was kind of like that, except her words weren't
as cruel.  But she did strike him over the head with her harp, he reminded
himself.  An image of Susan appeared in him mind.  She was _always_
mysterious, smart, cocky, and 'cute'.  _He_ was always picky, and when it
came to women, he always stayed away.  But Susan was... 'magnetic'.  The
silliness she got into, the arguments she'd start, and the awes she so often
recieved _but never noticed_.  He closed his eyes and remembered running his
hands through her dark silky hair.  He could still remember the sweet scent
that always aroused him.  Like flowers, he thought.  Her dark eyes, so
mysterious and expressive.  The creamy skin, soft.  She was so silly at
times, but that was before the death of her friend.  She used to be so
sharp-tongued and energetic.  He couldn't remember a time where she'd hurt
someone physically on purpose, 'so she was caring'.  He sighed.  How could
he apologize to her this evening?  Yasha-ou got out of bed.

       Susan followed the rise of the cliffs, just like in the anime.

Then she saw the ice castle.  It loomed above the cliffs, the tower reaching
to the sky.  She remembered the kekkai it set up whenever switching
dimensions.  She didn't quite remember how Kujaku and the others had gotten
in, but she felt around the walls.  Maybe there was a secret door somewhere.
She was careful, for if she slipped, it would be all over for her as she'd
slide towards the kekkai.  Much to her surprise, she misplaced her foot and
fell.  She screamed as she slid towards the kekkai, there was nothing that
could stop her.  Her life flashed before her and she silently apologized for
everything and everyone she'd ever hurt, especially Yasha-ou.  But she kept
on sliding.  She wasn't dead at all...  Susan opened her eyes and gazed,
shocked.  She had passed through the kekkai without being killed!  She
quickly tried to gain control, standing on her feet now, she got into her
skiing position and 'skiied' down the icy pathway.  Yes!  She was in!

       Yasha-ou knocked on her door, he'd apologize and leave.  Hoping

she'd stop him though.  He knocked again, still no answer.  Was she that mad
at him?  What did he ever do, except that little so-called argument?  He
sighed, he'd make his entrance if she didn't make one.  He knocked for the
last time.  No answer.

       Susan entered the castle gates, which were mysteriously open.  Her

guard was up, all the way.  She couldn't risk the chance of getting killed.
It was deathly silent as she made her way across the ice bridge, the one
Ashura might cross in the future.  She entered the main hall and almost
fainted at what she saw.

       Yasha opened the door.
       "Susan?", he called.
       No answer.  Where was she?  He checked her room, there was no sign

of her anywhere.  He panicked.  

       "Damn!  She left already!", he cursed as he ran out of the room.
       Yasha-ou ran out of the house and into the night.  He'd have to

hurry if he wanted to see her alive.  The thought of her dying, fueled his
need to reach her.  He ran like mad.

       "Hiyana...!", Susan whispered, half gasping.  
       There, encased in a giant ice prison, was Hiyana's body.  Her eyes

were closed, and there were no wounds on her.  Strangely enough, Susan could
feel her lifeforce, her ki.  Surprisingly, it was strong.  As if she had
never been hurt...  Susan ran to her, but skidded to a halt as an incredible
force arose all around.  She stepped back, almost panicking.  What was
happening?!  Suddenly, a figure of a little girl appeared.  

       "Aizenmuyo...", she gasped.
       "You... how do you know me...?  You're so lonely too... I can feel

your sadness...", Aizenmuyo said.

       "She's not Aizenmuyo... She's a demon...", Susan reminded herself.
       "Don't you remember your friend here?  I do.  She's so powerful,

just like you... I need that power... I need your power...", she said.

       "Why... why us?", Susan asked, hoping to get some answers.
       "You and your friend... are the last of a kind... You display great

power, and yet you do not understand your potential.  You are the Golden
Warriors...", said explained.

       "What?  Golden Warriors...?", she repeated.
       "Yesss... Two fabled warriors, destined to bring peace or wreak

havok... you are one of those two, and your friend here, is the other
one...", she explained, smiling evily.

       "Stop babbling, and give my friend back!", Susan snapped.
       Aizenmuyo chuckled.
       "You are the last piece of the puzzle, the puzzle to bring the

heavens to their knees... And through you, I will conquer all.  Hah, you had
the power of the very heavens at your command, and yet, you couldn't even
save your friend...", she mocked.

       Susan was caught off guard as the demon hit her most vulnerable

spot.  Memories flashed through her mind, of that horrible day.  She shook
her head, trying to clear it up.

       "No... I will not put the blame on myself!", Susan whispered.
       "It _was_ your fault.  You weren't strong enough to save her, so

she's the way she is now... weakling.", Aizenmuyo cackled.

       Susan tried to pull herself together, but the memories hurt so much.
       "It wasn't my fault...!  It was... her choice... her destiny... I

won't let you get away, with what you've done!", Susan whispered, on the
brink of uncontrollable anger.

       Aizenmuyo hesitated.
       Susan stood taller, the air started whipped around her like a

hurricane.  Aizenmuyo raised a hand and a demon appeared, charging at Susan.
The small ice particles in the whipping air smashed the demon, it
incinerated.  The air whipped about, wildly now.  

       "Damn you.", Susan said in a deep voice, anger was felt in every

tone in those two words.

       "SUSAN!", called a familiar voice.
       Susan turned, surprised and angry to see Yasha-ou.  She was about

to warn Yasha-ou when Aizenmuyo vanished.  That was when she knew that she
had fallen into a trap.  Aizenmuyo appeared behind Yasha-ou and paralyzed
him.  He frozed, barely whispering her name.

       "Su... sa.n...", he tried to call.
       "Yasha-ou!  Let him go!", Susan shouted.
       Aizenmuyo just laughed.
       "He's got nothing to do with this!  Leave him out of it!", she pleaded.
       Aizenmuyo smirked.
       "What's he to you?  Friend?  Brother?  Or maybe, lover?", she asked

vilely.

       Susan hesitated, refusing to answer.
       "Your feelings have made you quite vulnerable... and 'weak'.  Tell

me, what is it you feel for him?", she forced.

       Still, she refused to answer.
       "He'll die, if you don't...", she threatened.
       "You will never know... how I feel about him... You will never know

how it feels... But, do you want to know?  Do you, Aizenmuyo?  Well, I'll
tell you... I have absolutely... NO feelings for him.", Susan answered,
knowing the result could be disasterous.

       Yasha-ou felt like something had just knock all the air out of him.

'So she never felt anything for me after all...'.  Aizenmuyo laughed and
moved away from Yasha-ou.

       "I'll let him go... if you cooperate.", she bargained.
       Susan didn't hesitate to answer.
       "Fine!  I'll do whatever you want!  Just don't hurt him!", she said.
       "No...", Yasha-ou whispered.
       Aizenmuyo laughed, she had won.  A bright light appeared and

covered Yasha-ou, taking him away.  Once inside the light, Yasha-ou regained
control of himself.  He pounded against the light shield, he took out
Shurato and slashed it, but no matter how hard he tried, there wasn't a
scratch.  He just watched as Aizenmuyo cast a spell over Susan, her head to
the side in surrender, then a giant ice prison encased her as he vanished.
Yasha-ou appeared outside the kekkai of the ice castle.  The kekkai seemed
even more powerful now, Yasha-ou swore he'd be back for her, even if he'd
have to kill himself.  He headed towards Yasha Village.

       Susan felt no pain as the ice encased her.  She silently wished

Yasha-ou happiness as he vanished.  She never had the chance to apologize or
tell him how she had felt, as if any of it mattered now... She was put into
a deep sleep, and the last thing she saw was the face of her friend whom
she'd promised she'd be with one day.  

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next time, on RG Veda: The Golden Warriors :**What kind of future did Kuyou

foretell to Susan?  Is there another purpose for the presence of the Golden
Warriors and will they travel the path of destruction or will they travel
the path of righteousness?  Will Yasha-ou get back-up, even after he found
out how Susan felt about him?  Will the ultimate power of the legendary
Golden Warriors be released?  And what about the future of the other
characters and Tenkai?**  

       SIGH, VERY BIG SIGH... It took me almost 2 weeks to find the time

to finish this!  Now that it's finally done, I have to find time for the
next chapter...  Hm... I got finals this week too... darn it.  Anyway, gomen
for posting this story up so LATE.  And as always, if you have any
suggestions, questions, comments, or flames, take it out on me and let
yourself be heard.

Ashura/ChunLi

* DBZ * X * MKRE * MIW * CLAMP * RG VEDA * FUSHI YUUGI * COMBINATION *

DUKYLON * CLAMP CAMPUS * TB *

YASHA-OU!  TAI!  ASHURA-OU!  KUJAKU!  KUMARATEN!  SEISHIRO!  SUBARU!

FUUMA!  KAMUI!  YUUTO!  SORATA!  EAGLE!