~^~Against the Dying of the Light~^~

-Book Seven: Seeking Knowledge-

"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought..."		~W. Shakespeare

	"Argh! Aho! Get offa me!" 
	Those words awoke Tamahome who lay on top of Orion, who was desperately
trying to get him off. Tamahome blushed at the fact that his hand was placed
on Orion's private parts, and he almost burst out laughing at the fact that
Orion's face was a color of deep scarlet. Tamahome rolled off of him and
laughed.
	"Aww, shut up, ya freak!" Orion was surprised that Tamahome had shut up so
quickly, and he turned to find Tamahome clutching his chest, sweating
furiously.
	"It...it's starting." Tamahome gasped and cringed at the pain. "She's dying,
we must hurry to find the rest of the guides. Before Miaka dies, and takes me
with her."
	Orion was shocked to hear those unselfish words coming from Tamahome. The
only time he remembered Tamahome being that brave and loving was when he was
tending to Miaka at her death bed. Orion felt jealous for a bit, knowing that
he was born and created never to experience such undying, unselfish love as
that. *Pull yourself together! There is no damn time to waste.* Orion shook
his head and helped Tamahome up. He tried to cheer him up, attempting to take
his mind off the pain. 
	No sooner had they taken a few steps, the ground before them fell, enveloping
both men, swallowing them whole, and then convering up, revealing no sign of
disturbance.
	Orion and Tamahome soon found themselves trapped in a dark and dreary
underground fortress. The cold shot through both their bodies, and Tamahome
shivered, but Orion quickly placed his arm around him, warming and comforting
him  
in his weakened state. Time was of the essence, for the process of
degeneration had begun. Orion led Tamahome down the dark hallway, even though
as a guide, truly unaware of the events to occur next.

*			*			*			*
	"They are here Master Conrad." The seemingly lifeless stone wall spoke to
their master, who was busy reading what appeared to be a book.
	The small child sighed and responded harshly. "How many times must I remind
you not to disturb me when it is my reading time?"
	"But master, it is of utter importance. Orion and Tamahome have arrived and
they are com..."
	"I really do not care if it IS of utter importance! During my reading time,
you do not, and I'll repeat for everyone," The small child increased his
voice, causing it to echo around the desolate fortress. "Do NOT disturb me
during my reading time!" He grimaced and turned his attention to his book:
'How to Increase your Intelligence and I.Q.' He reminded himself, that in
fifteen minutes he would deal with the current situation.
*			*			*			*
	Tamahome dragged himself onward, no longer needing Orion's shoulder for
support. The pain had elapsed and he was glad it was just temporary. But he
continued to hurry down the never-ending hallway, knowing that another attack
on Miaka's health could bring their downfall.
	"Baka! Wait up, Tamahome!" Orion was already out of breath. Being cooped up
in Limbo and Heaven didn't leave him much time for exercise and running
around.
	Tamahome continued onward, and urged Orion to follow. He soon found Orion
right beside him. *How the hell?* Tamahome looked at his guardian, who was a
few inches off the ground.
	Orion chuckled. "Hee hee! That's one of the advantages of being a guide!"
	Tamahome shook his head and jogged onward, with Orion floating by his side.
Orion was one never to shut up, Tamahome soon found out, when he continued
complaining on how long the tunnel was. Tamahome soon found the effects of
weariness working on him, as he realized that the tunnel did have no end.
*Think Tamahome!* He remembered what Angel said about how the tests were to
come at any time, and they would come suddenly without warning.
	"Oi! Orion. Gimme that knife you have there. I need to borrow it for a
second."
	"No way! Do ya know how old and precious this knife is? It's nearly 10,000
years..." Orion was cut short as Tamahome just grabbed the dagger and marked
an "X" onto the wall. He continued walking thinking to himself, along with a
pissed off Orion complaining on how he could have scratched the ancient
dagger.
	He ran quickly next to the wall, his eyes searching and darting around for
the marking he had placed. If indeed he was going for his conscience and the
wise-man of the guides, he would have to outwit him here. 
	"Aha!" Tamahome grinned and turned to look at Orion who only gave him a
puzzled look and cocked his eyebrow at him. "Baka! I guess all those years,
must have rotted your brain." Tamahome stiffled a laugh as her heard Orion
protest and utter curse words. His hand ran against the cold stone wall,
probing for an entrance, but to no avail. His eyes wandered downward, looking
for any other sign. He soon came across a small hole, much like a key-hole. 
	"Ano, Orion. Do you happen to have any keys with you?"
	"Of course not! Do I look like a keeper to you?"
	Tamahome sighed and thought, as his fingers probed the small hole. *The
necklace! Why the hell didn't I think of that before?* He quickly unclasped
Miaka's necklace, turned the heart pendant sideways, and slipped it into the
small nook.
	The walls trembled and cracked opening revealing a different hallway, this
time with a door at the end of it. Excited, Tamahome sprinted forward, almost
forgetting Miaka's necklace. He beckoned for Orion to follow him, who was
still floating. 
	"Just how lazy can you get? Can't you even walk?"
	"Fuck no! Besides, a person's foot gets corns and calluses that way."
	Tamahome sighed as he approached the door, pushing it open. The door swung
open reluctantly, with a loud creak, leading into what seemed a throne room.
At the center, there was a small child, who appeared to be reading a book.
Orion coughed, interrupting the child, who in turn raised an eyebrow, and
ordered the door to be shut.
	"Orion, go close the door." Tamahome hissed.

	"Hell no! I'm your guardian, not slave boy!"

	"Just do it! We have no time to waste!"

	"Fine!" Orion slammed the door shut, causing the rafters in the ceiling to
crack, and the small child to glare at the sparring companions. He quickly put
away his book, and looked at the couple. He began to speak, leaving Tamahome
and Orion amazed at his knowledge.
	"I know who you are. Welcome Tamahome and Orion. I thought you'd never get
passed my little maze."	
	"So you're the little brat who put us through this! I had to fuckin' walk for
nothing then, ya little shit..." Orion rushed towards the throne, in which the
little boy sat. He brought his hands to his lips, appearing to have a little
leaf. A shrill note came from the leaf whistle, as the floor arose from under
Orion, who was now trapped in a stone cage.
	The child laughed and then continued to speak. "Now that some things are out
of the way..."
	"Whaddya mean out of the way? I swear, as soon as I get my hands on
ya...Mmpph hmph camph kmph..." Orion was silenced as the little wizard snapped
his fingers and conjured some gag for the whining guardian.
	"Uh, I'm not sure if I should thank you..umm..."

	"My name is Conrad, or Master Conrad. It means..."
	
	"It means 'wise counselor' in German. I know, I've studied German in my
travels." Tamahome replied, hoping to impress the child genius.
	"So, we have an educated one don't we?" Conrad hopped off the high throne
seat to wander closer to the stranger. "I know why you're here. You seek me,
don't you?" 
	Tamahome gulped. "I didn't know you could read minds."
	Conrad smiled and replied. "Of course I can. I am a part of you. I am also
your guide." He paused and wandered towards Orion, who was attempting to chew
through his gag with his fangs. "So all the answers you seek are actually in
here," he said, pointing to his heart and then his head. You actually don't
need me, but you do need my guidance, hence the name 'guide'." Conrad kicked
Orion in the shin, causing him to collapse in pain, and Tamahome to giggle.
	"Mmmph, kaamph, yapmh!" Orion cried out. 
	"He said he wants to kill you for encouraging me." Conrad smiled and walked
back to Tamahome, who was studying his features. Conrad was very young, like
thirteen years of age, with a spiky ponytail and pinkish-brown hair. "I also
understand that you are ill. I have a companion with me that might be able to
assist you. He is your fourth guardian, your healer."
	"Ano, Conrad. Just why are you telling me this?" Tamahome approached the
little boy.
	"Mainly because I want this story to be over and to go back to bed. Besides,
you are running out of time. The healer and the conscience also come together,
according to the rules. Hey, I don't know everything, you know." Conrad
smirked and turned to walk towards the throne. "But, you have one task to
perform before you meet the healer as well."
	Tamahome held his breath and awaited a death-defying feat. He imagined
something like swimming with sharks or having to fight against Orion himself.
*Or even, heaven forbid! A round of Jeopardy (tm) against Conrad.* He shook
his head and listened to the little boy speak.
	"Answer this question, Tamahome. What moves through the sky at a phenomenal
speed so that thousands witness it every day and they see streaks of brilliant
orange and red as it totally disppears-leaving nothing behind. And yet no one
tells of this wonder. Tell me Tamahome, what is this?"
	Tamahome thought for a minute, glancing at Orion who was still shouting
through the gag. He smiled realizing the answer. *Of course!* He and Miaka
would watch it every day, along with thousands of people. Tamahome responded
with two words: "The sun."
	Conrad smiled and Tamahome knew that his answer was right. He and his
guardian, Orion, breathed a sigh of relief, as Conrad beckoned the fourth
guide.
	"Ano, Kiyoshi. You can come out now."
	Out of nowhere, the tall, dark-haired man appeared. He was quiet and
resembled someone who was lonely for a long time. "I am your fourth guide,
Kiyoshi."
	"Ahh! He speaks!" Conrad teased the gentle giant, who only glared at him.
"Ano, he doesn't know much. I do the thinking for the both of us!" Conrad
giggled some more as Kiyoshi (meaning 'quiet' in Japanese) grabbed Conrad by
the shirt collar. "Itai! Gomen ne, Kiyoshi! It's ok, don't worry, he he."
Conrad sweatdropped and motioned for the gentle giant to put him down. He then
turned his head to Tamahome. "Ano, Tamahome, take fang-boy with you. Seek the
Isle of Muses and Sirens. There you shall find both your last guardians, but
trust me, the test shall be as enduring and as painful as all your tests
combined. Good luck." Conrad and Kiyoshi as well as the scenery started to
change and grow hazy, but soon stopped.
	"Ano, Kiyoshi has to give you something." Kiyoshi tossed a red ball of
medicine towards Tamahome, who caught it looking puzzled.
	"Arigatou, but how do I use it?"
	
	"Don't worry, you'll find a way..." The room then proceeded to get hazy as
Conrad reminded him and wished him good luck. "Remember, all the answers are
within your heart and mind. Seek the warrior and the leader. Then your quest
shall be fulfilled..."