Of course you want to know what the priestesses of Osorezen-san said to me.  
You want to know what had me so scared that I had to lie to Akari, that I had to protect 
her.  How noble of me to do that, how kind and wonderful and... _selfless_ wouldn't you 
say?
	Oh, Akari, I'd love to get up and give you a great big hug, and tell you how 
sorry I am that I said those things.  Confirm that you're absolutely correct and everything 
I've ever done was to protect and care for you.
	But I can't, because we're all shackled down, and because there are times when 
what I did was for my own good and, sadly, not yours.

- - -

Wings of Fate
created by: John Evans and Ardweden
http://www.improfanfic.com/wof/

24: But I have Promises to Keep
by: Chandra Rooney
inu_42@hotmail.com

- - -

	You were right, though, Akari, we went to the priestesses without you.  We 
went and were spoken to one at a time, so that each council was ours alone.  Maybe we 
should have taken you.  That way we might have been warned about your possession 
earlier.  I assume the priestesses would have sensed something was unnatural, so they 
might have refused to give the demon counsel.  They wouldn't speak to Macha for some 
reason, and that came back to haunt me later.
	But first, what they said.  
             Now, you, our interrogator, you look like an intelligent fellow.  No doubt your 
employers sent you here to try and gather all the pieces to make the puzzle complete.  It 
can't be an easy task sorting through all these stories.  You're so very lucky that we've 
been so co-operative, for the most part, in disclosing our tale.
	Where am I going with this?  What, we're not allowed to speak to you?  It 
strikes me as funny that we've been here -- oh what -- a week?  It feels longer than that, 
but day and night seem to blend together into a mundane not-time in this little room with 
no windows.  It strikes me as funny that you've never even bothered to tell us your name.  
That's rather rude, isn't it?
	Soujirou?  Ah, well, Soujirou, you know who I am.  Or at least you think you 
do...  I suppose you know as well as anyone else in this room does.  Save for Macha, but 
then you'd be very stupid to trust her.  Probably as stupid as you'd have to be to take 
everything a _Tengu_ says at face value.
	Get to the point already, you say.  Soujirou, _old boy_, are you afraid that I'll 
weave some sort of spell on you?  Maybe find some way to trick you into letting us go?  
Goodness, Soujirou, haven't the others and I reconfirmed several times that I have next 
to no control over my innate abilities?
	Ite...  That stung, Soujirou.  I didn't think you to be the type to resort to 
violence.  I thought you'd leave that to the guards.
	No, no, I don't want another bruise to match.  You're right, it was so very stupid 
of me to think I could fool you, Soujirou.  Still, I can't help but notice that you seem a 
little... unnerved about something.
	Hey, come on, Akari.  You don't need to look at me like that.  I'll answer his 
question.  I'll tell you all what the priestesses told me.  But I'm not doing it for _his_ 
benefit.
	I should correct myself.  I didn't speak to the priestesses alone.  The Council 
had sent another Tengu with me to bear witness.  Apparently, they were worried that I 
might lie about what had been said to me.  Isn't that awful when your own family doesn't 
trust you to tell the truth?
            Mmm?  Who came with me?  Tano, of course.  What do you mean, 'why Tano'?  
Why not?  He had as much a need for a little guidance as any of us.  
          Now, if I were in your position, Soujirou, I'd assume that the most natural thing to 
ask of the Priestesses was the identity of our attackers.  I'm wrong?  Well, it's a good 
thing I'm not in your place.  I didn't ask for the identity of our attackers since that wasn't 
really my objective.  No, I wanted to know a way to end it.  A way to fight back.  So I 
asked 'how do we save ourselves'?
	Yes, they told us about the simulacra spell; they knew that with the co-
operation of my relations it wouldn't be too difficult to accomplish.  So why was I so 
scared as Akari put it?  Why would I want to go to such lengths to distance myself from 
her?
	Absolutely correct again.  The sacrifice needed for a simulacra spell of that 
magnitude.  I assumed that it would be a fitting punishment for me to be the one, but 
Tano had other ideas.  He wanted Akari to be the one.  When we went to talk to my 
grandmother after returning from the priestesses--
	No, I _am_ telling you the truth this time.  The reason that I was so subdued 
during the council meeting was because I knew what the judgement was going to be.  
Didn't any of you find it odd that I didn't even blink when my grandmother said that she 
would give them our deaths?  I mean, sure, you had to believe I was expecting 
something bad, but do you think I'd so easily accept my own end?  Come on, I have a 
little more self-preservation instinct than that.
	Yes, yes, back to the story.  You're all so impatient.  It's not like we're going 
anywhere.  
             Tano and I spoke to my grandmother, telling her about the simulacra spell.  She 
simply nodded, and then asked about the sacrifice.  Tano said Akari, and I couldn't argue 
with him--
	Let me finish.  Being family, I had to see Tano's point, yet being friends...  How 
could I agree to let something like that happen to one of us, especially Akari?  But when 
it all came down to it, it was my friends or my family, and I was already in enough 
trouble for choosing my friends once before.
	So, I was led to believe that Akari would be the sacrifice, and that my 
punishment would be the one to have to kill her.  As you know, someone had to die so 
that all of us could go on living.  That was the sacrifice the spell needed.  Blood to bring 
the simulacra to life.  It was clearly something that needed to be done, but the mere 
thought of doing it...
	So, I tried to distance myself from Akari.  I tried to prepare myself to just 'do 
what needed to be done'.  I said things to her because I wanted her to hate me.  I wanted 
to try and make it easier for the both of us, if such a thing could really be done.  So I said 
things to her that were cruel and terrible.   I tried to direct the anger and frustration I felt 
concerning our situation towards her.
	But the truth was that no matter how angry I might have been with Akari at that 
moment, it was nowhere near as angry as I was with myself.  It was my fault that she'd 
become involved in this matter.  It was my fault that she was going to die.  I was going 
to get her killed, whether it was as the sacrifice for the simulacra spell or at the hands of 
our enemies if the spell failed.
	Akari told you about what happened at the Council meeting.  When my 
grandmother let them go -- let everyone walk away --  I couldn't believe it.  She'd 
changed her mind about Akari; she let her live.  I was sure then that it was only because 
she'd decided that I was the one who would be sacrificed.  I wanted to ask Grandmother 
what had happened to change their minds.  I guess Akari must not have noticed that 
Tano and Macha weren't the only ones who said something to me as they left the 
clearing.
	"So an old debt may be repaid," my grandmother replied when I asked.  She 
looked across the clearing at Macha, who remained perched on the altar as aloof as ever.
	That look that passed between the two of them at that moment sent a shiver of 
dread down my spine.  I was certain that it was me who would be lying on that altar, and 
Macha who seemed to want nothing more than to put a knife in me was going to have 
her wish granted.
	"Go and do what needs to be done," Grandmother instructed.  "Or it will be 
your fault that your friends remain without our promised aid."  Then she walked away 
with the rest of the Tengu.
	Tano stopped, patting me on the shoulder.  "I'll see you in the next life, old 
friend," he told me.  I took his parting to mean that my grandmother had lied, and that it 
was me who would be paying the blood debt.  With that thought occupying most of my 
attention, I was caught unaware as Macha made her way over to me.  She regarded me 
scornfully, which isn't any different from the way she usually looks at me if you were 
wondering.
	"It appears once again you are in my debt, young crow," she remarked, after a 
moment of stoic silence.
	"Makes me wonder why," I replied.  "Is it that old story, if anyone's going to 
kill me it's going to be you?"
	"Perhaps, that is what is about to occur," she replied, smugly.  "But, in truth, 
you're of no use to me dead."
	"Oh ho?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.  "This isn't where the part where you 
kill me and have your revenge?"
	Macha snorted.  "Fool," she muttered.  "You know better than to think this is 
the end."  She paused.  "But it does not matter.  The payment for your debt remains the 
same."
	"Payment?" I repeated.  All sorts of horrid things came to mind.
	"The vision," she reminded me, irritated.  "You agreed to find someone for 
me."
	Yes, I'd forgotten about the little deal that we had made.  I groaned.  "I told you, 
it doesn't work like that--"
	"You made a promise," she replied, briskly cutting me off.  "I know your kind 
is not honour-bound and will try to dodge their way out when they have given their 
word, but I *will* hold you to it, Judou."
	I tugged on my nose.  "So what?  You're not leaving my side until I do?"
	She snorted.  "I do not need to be at 'your side' to monitor your actions."  She 
cast a look back at Akari and the others.  "Finish what you've started," she replied, 
stepping past me.
	Akari spoke of what happened next; my father shooed everyone off to Tokyo, 
not taking 'no' for an answer.  After they had all departed and sunset was drawing 
steadily nearer, I was told to return to the Council clearing.
	After finding my way there in the sullen dusk, I was greeted by the sight of 
Tano waiting for me.  He stood there as the sky turned the color of the blood that was 
about to be spilt, and I found my gaze drawn back to his amputated wing.  It struck me 
as odd because Akari, as she has related, aided me with her magic many a time with no 
ill-adverse effects.
	"What are you thinking?" Tano asked.  "Wondering if you'll finally be 
Grandmother's favourite once I'm gone?"
	"I'm not thinking anything," I replied.  My stomach in knots, I swallowed.  
"So... Grandmother was telling the truth, it won't be my blood."
	"So, you did have the good sense to be suspicious," Tano replied.  He made his 
way back to the altar.  "Well, come on, let's get this over with," he suggested, gesturing 
to a ritualistic dagger at one end of the altar.
	"Why?" I asked him, walking over to the altar.  "Why are you helping us?"
	"Who says I'm doing this to help anyone?" Tano retorted.  "However, what 
other purpose can a Tengu with but one wing serve?"  He noted my hesitation.  "Now, is 
not the time to start acting like you have a conscience, Judou."
	"Forgive me if I'm still a little suspicious," I snapped.  "But this is hardly the 
sort of punishment I expected."
	Tano smiled -- as best our kind can -- secretively.  "The crow woman said to 
Grandmother that you were 'crippled with the delusion of humanity'," he related.  "That 
you've forgotten who you are."
	I tugged on my nose.  "Tano, unless you have something to say that I haven't 
heard before--"
	Tano hopped up onto the altar.  "Humans feel guilt more readily than the 
Tengu," he replied, lying down and closing his eyes.  "Perhaps, Grandmother has chosen 
the most appropriate way to punish you, after all."
	"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded.
	Tano opened one jet-black eye, focusing it on me.  "I believe I just told you, 
dear cousin."  He closed his eye again.  "Hurry up," he cawed, "before I change my mind 
and you lose your chance to help your friends."  He chuckled.
	"You seem far too calm," I remarked.  "I can't help thinking this is some sort of 
trick."
	"No tricks from me," Tano replied, simply.  "All you have to do is pick up the 
dagger and complete the simulacra.  Then all your troubles go away, ne?"
	I picked up the dagger.  It was heavier than it looked, and the smooth hilt was 
cold against my clammy palms.  Watching the light play across its blade, I saw my 
reflection in the shiny metallic surface.  Eyes nervous, skin pale...  I looked like a man 
about to do something he knew was wrong with every fibre of his being.  I looked guilty.
	I looked up from the dagger at Tano, my cousin, my own flesh and blood, lying 
on his back and waiting for me.  He turned his head to look at me again.  "Well?" he 
asked.
	There, in his words, was the unspoken question once again.  What's it going to 
be, Judou, your family or your friends?  I thought before that I'd made my choice, but in 
making it I'd simply deluded myself into thinking that I'd chosen my family.  I believe 
now that maybe the choices hadn't been my friends or my family.  Maybe they had 
always been myself or others.  I thought I was making the unselfish choice.  Deep down 
inside, a little voice was telling me that I was doing this for the others.  I was doing it for 
Akari, Shuukou, Kenchi, and Soshi.  But who was I kidding?  That little voice knew as 
well as I did that the only person I was doing it for was myself.  Maybe the entire 
experiment was all some selfish way of trying to make my friends a part of my world.  I 
have always known that I would never truly fit into theirs.
	I've gone off track again?  Sorry.  Where was I?  Oh, yes, my choice.  Do you 
even need to ask?  You found the 'accident' and what we wanted you to believe were our 
bodies.  I had finished what I had started, but it was by no means the ending to our story.  
Life is all about choices and unforeseen consequences, and if you choose to call that 
'fate' then so be it.
             The price I paid for what we all wanted to be the end was more than just blood 
on my hands and the weight of a murder on my soul.  I had killed a member of our tribe, 
and the price for that was exile.  
             I think now that the Council gave me just enough rope to hang myself.  They 
knew me better than I knew myself; they knew that I would never turn the blade on 
myself, which would pay the price for my transgressions with my own blood and allow 
Tano to live.  They knew it wasn't in my nature, because to be a martyr you have to be 
selfless not _selfish_.
	They also knew that I wouldn't consider the full implications of Tano's death; 
his death was death at the hands of another Tengu.  It mattered not if he had gone 
willingly.  Perhaps, that's why he _had_ died smiling-- he knew he was playing a role in 
the ultimate trick.  You see, with my exile the Tengu Council could fully wash their 
hands of the matter.  In exile, I couldn't ask for their help again.  We'd been cut lose and 
sent back into the world to clean up whatever future messes we made on our own.  
	Of course we were going to screw it up.  The power is tempting, and after 
relying on it for so long it wasn't easy to return to lives as 'normal' people.  Perhaps my 
relations knew that, but, as I've said, it was no loner their concern.  If we screwed up and 
were inevitably captured because of it -- as we have been -- well, all you'd have would 
be four humans and a disowned Tengu.  By that point you might have even considered 
that we gained our knowledge from Macha.
	You did consider it, didn't you?  I thought as much, but then after two minutes 
in her presence you must have clued in that the Great Macha wouldn't give us the time of 
day even if she could use a clock.
	So, there you have it; from what you know and from what we've told you, I'm 
you can put it all together.  We're done.
	Ha ha, not going to let me off that easily are you, Soujirou?  Well, I'm not 
changing my story; what I've told you is what I'll swear has happened.
            Oh, you're interested in those three unaccounted for months between when our 
merry group departed ways and our reunion.  What could have brought us back together 
after such a long separation?  Let's just say it appears our little group is intertwined, as 
we seem to draw back together no matter what happens. It's one of those unforeseen 
consequences of choices we made.
	Anyway, three months passed before I returned to Tokyo.  Once there, I 
decided to check in on Akari, but I had a rather difficult time catching up with her.  
Funny, how we kept 'just missing' each other that day.  It was lucky she got my message 
and showed up at Soshi's house, odd though, because I don't recall telling her that was 
where I was going.
	What do you mean 'wait, what was I doing for three months'?  It's of no 
relevance to the events that followed our reunion nor do I feel it's any of your business.  
Ask Macha, since she kept her word to 'monitor' me until I gave her the vision she asked 
for, I'm sure she could tell you what I was up to.
	However, I don't think she feels much like sharing.

~*~
Author Thanks 
*ravi, for inspiration, guidance, and the following passage: "You made a promise," she 
replied, briskly cutting me off.  "I know your kind is not honour-bound and will try to 
dodge their way out when they have given their word, but I _will_ hold you to it, 
Judou."
*Ardweden: For coming to the rescue when I was in desperate need of it, and getting me 
back on track. 
*Roger: For prompt prereading, and reintroducing me to the '--'.
*Phoebe: for offering to preread and encouragement.
*John: for checking to see how things were coming and for listening to me vent/whine.
*Illyria: for accommodating some queue switching.

~*~

For some reason, the entire time that I wrote most of rough draft for this chapter I had 
the following passage from Robert Frost stuck in my head:

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
  But I have promises to keep,
  And miles to go before I sleep,
  And miles to go before I sleep. "

'Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening', I believe.  Anyway, that's where the odd 
title came from.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I _adore_ reading WoF.  It's actually the only thing on 
Improfanfic.com that I do read diligently.  I sulk when parts are skipped, and cheer when 
a new one goes up.  But I find it extremely challenging to write.  So, following is what I 
was _supposed_ to accomplish with this part, but failed.

Lady Chaos
"Life is all about choices and unforeseen consequences, and if you choose to call that 
'fate' then so be it."

*

Ravi first approached me during brainstorming concerning his part about speeding 
things along.  He pictured the events of 1-23 to have occurred late November, early 
December.  Since it was May before the group had been captured, I agreed with him.  
Personally, I felt at the rate WoF was going... it was going to take 100 bloody chapters to 
just get our characters to the point where they got captured... nevermind that who knows 
what happens once they reach the end of the their recount of events.  Ravi posed having 
the characters' deaths faked, and then skipping ahead a few months until someone 
slipped up and used their powers, alerting the enemies.  Unfortunately, I ran out of steam 
mid-way and let's just say that it was best to stop at the point that I did.

Of course, being Impro, it's just a suggestion of what direction to head in for the next 
part.  I'm sure the next author has plans of her own.  ^_~