I have chosen to use the Japanese translation of Tomo's name from Seiran Den (Ragun) instead of the Japanese phonetics of the Chinese (Ryo Chuin); though I am well aware that this takes place in China. Slight Nakago OOC for the sake of Tomo's desires. This is for all the Nakago/Tomo fans who can't find enough good fic of their favorite couple!
Chapter One
He sat in the caravan alone, the rest of the troop had already undressed and headed out for a night of fun; their performance tonight had promised free drink and food from their audience, but he would spend this time alone.
"Ragun?"
He paused in his movement. He was about to wipe from his face the mask.
"Yes?"
"A man here has a message for you." Dieyi's voice sounded wary. Ragun stood and opened the low caravan door revealing a boy of twelve and a large man in a cloak of black.
Ragun stepped down the caravan steps and stood to his full height. At six feet he was already a sight, but the elaborate crown he wore only added to the illusion of his commanding presence. The messenger in black fell into a bow as he recognized the Seiryuu Shichiseishi.
Ragun gave a nod; the boy threw him a bewildered look before he turned and ran towards the lights of the town.
"Yes." He finally addressed the other man when it appeared they were alone.
"Lord Nakago sends for you. You are to head to the Emperor's Palace within the week."
Ragun's heart picked up its speed. It had been months since Nakago had sent him away, told him to not return until he was called; it was finally time.
"Tell him I will return immediately." He felt himself swelling with that long forgotten emotion...hope.
"Yes, my lord." The man drew his cloak about his face and then was gone.
Ragun made his preparations that night. He packed two travel bags; one full of the make-up that created his elaborate mask, and the other with extra clothing and the few personal affects he cared to keep with him.
The next morning he arose before his drunken, sleeping troupe. He was always the first to arise no matter what happened the night before; he donned his elaborate costume and then reapplied his mask. He arranged his hair and finally his headdress before he exited the caravan to a cool morning. His troupe had rarely seen him not in his costume and accepted it as part of his eccentricity as a performer. No one cared or dared to question Ragun, he was the leader of their troupe and he could throw them out if he so wanted. Two of the younger actors, just mere boys of ten, had tried many times to see his unpainted face, but a simple illusion kept about him at all times created the impression that even after enjoying a bath or sleeping at night, that Ragun was never out of character.
With his bags secured, Ragun stoked the camp fire into small blaze and heated some simple soup for breakfast. He could hear someone awake in the larger of the caravans; usually it was Dieyi that rose right after him. Sure enough, the boy appeared, bowl and spoon already in hand, and took a seat across from Ragun.
"Who was that man last night?" Dieyi tried to rub the sleep and alcohol from his eyes.
"A messenger from the General of Kutou."
The young man blinked, "Are we going back to the palace?"
"No, but I will be returning today."
"What?" The boy's dark eyes suddenly filled with uncertainty. "What does that mean?"
Ragun fixed the boy with a long gold stare, he liked Dieyi, for all that Ragun could care about other people; but Dieyi would one day make a fine actor.
"I must return."
"When you told the Emperor you're a seishi?" The boy's face fell.
"Yes." Ragun could already feel himself falling into a distance the separated him from his troupe; his seishi persona was who he was now, he simply wore a different name while with them. Once he returned to Nakago he could throw off his present role and take his place at the side of the man whom Ragun most respected in his entire 21 years of existence.
"You're not coming back?"
Ragun watched the boy fiddle with a string on his shirt, a habit the boy often exhibited when he was anxious; Ragun was slightly surprised that someone might actually care that he was leaving.
"I will come back."
Ragun felt something for his troupe members, of course; but everything had shifted since he had first seen the General of Kutou and Seiryuu Shichiseishi, Nakago. Tomo's heart, if he had ever had one after the abuse and hell of childhood, had suddenly erupted when he had called out the memories of Nakago and played them like an opera in his shell, Shin. Tomo had seen that he and Nakago were the same.
Tomo, for he surely he was not thinking of himself as Ragun now, set his empty bowl aside and watched the boy serve himself some of the heated soup. Dieyi had a resigned look on his face; the boy was no stranger to pain and abandonment; he would simply adjust again, as would the others.
"What should I do today?" Dieyi was aware that today he would not learn any songs from Ragun; he was afraid he'd never learn anymore, and this made him sad.
"Awake the others, I must leave before noon."
The boy jumped up; eager to please his troupe leader. It took some while, for many of the men were feeling the aftereffects of alcohol, women and men, and lack of sleep. One man even had to shoo off the prostitute still keeping his bed warm. He tried to hide in the back to avoid his troupe leader's disgusted look.
Tomo surveyed the actors and musicians, a group of almost 30, "I have been summoned to the palace of Kutou to serve my duties as a Seiryuu Shichiseishi. I leave Chou-Fan in charge." The men reacted in various states of confusion, some disappointment, some could barely react at all in their hung over state. Tomo felt this was perhaps ideal....it would discourage any of them from following him or disobeying.
"I will return to you when I am finished. Do not worry...I will find you."
Though not seishi, Tomo knew intimately the very faint chi of each man and boy of his troupe. He would find them again. Perhaps, as he looked at Dieyi, when he returned it would be time to teach the boy the role that Tomo now played.
Goodbyes were rushed, but Tomo set out in good time before noon. The sooner he could reach the palace, the sooner he could again try to prove his worth to Nakago.