III. Whispers

…because we never dared cry any louder for our savior.

"It's you," he whispered. "You're finally here." He started to walk towards her but stopped and his eyes widened, as if he were suddenly aware of the murders he had caused.

Nakago could show up any moment, but she couldn't just leave Amiboshi here. Not like this. She took a step forward, not giving him a chance to look away, not giving him a chance to look at the bodies. It was just the two of them. "Thank you," she said softly. "They tried to…"

"I know." He broke eye contact and stared at the ground, his back to her. Yui took another step. "Don't come near me!"

She stopped. "Why?"

"I killed them! I-" his voice dropped to a whisper and he covered his face with his free hand. "I didn't want to meet you like this. I don't know what came over me. When I heard what he wanted to do…"

She took another step. He flinched, wanting to run but rooted to where he stood. "It's okay," she said, closing the distance between them. He was only half a head taller than her, she realized. A similar scene with a different boy flashed through her mind. Her arms encircled him as he mourned, wept himself dry for his older brother. Then the boy before her trembled and replaced her memory. "It's okay," she said, extending her arm. "I'm here. They won't bother anyone else ever again."

He turned and their eyes met again. They studied each other. It was Suboshi, but not quite, who looked back at her, his face gentler and the lethal air around him gone. There was still a slight edge due to the circumstances of their first encounter, but Amiboshi was calm, composed, whereas Suboshi was restless and passionate. She hadn't met Amiboshi the last time she had been here; he died before she had the chance. And here he was standing before her now, like the ghost of Suboshi, but… not him. Where was Suboshi then?

How would she react when she saw him again? It was her fault, all her fault that he'd died. The heavy lump that rose in her throat was painful.

But she held the gaze.

He ran his fingers up and down his flute and bit his lip. "Priestess…"

"Yes, I'm-"

Wait. She wasn't supposed to know anything. This was her first time in the book, not her second time.

"Priestess?" she corrected herself.

"You are her, right? You have to be. I felt your ki just now, you're dressed in strange clothes, your hair-" he stopped again as if he realized he was being rude.

"My ki?" Was that how Nakago found her last time? But what triggered it?

"I was walking nearby and there was this sudden surge. I started running towards it. You have to understand, I've been waiting for you my entire life, I've been looking for you for the last three years-" he dropped his gaze and shuddered.

Had something happened in those three years? "Where is this place?" she asked.

"Kutou. Land of Seiryuu." So much packed into those four words. Pain. Regret. Sorrow. Fear. Why?

"You called me the Priestess of Seiryuu," she prompted. "Why?"

"She is a girl from another world who is destined to summon Seiryuu and protect Kutou," he said as if it were something he had rehearsed often. "And gather the seven seishi who would protect her."

There it was again, that pang of guilt. Oh, yes, she remembered the seishi. How could she forget them? They were only characters in a book, but they still died because of her. Was that also why so much had gone wrong last time? Because she did not value their lives?

This time it would be different.

She was about to ask more when someone suddenly yanked on her arm and she almost fell backwards. It was the beggar. "Missus!" he cried as he leaned on the arm he held captive. "You gotta get away from him! He's dangerous!"

"No... no!" Amiboshi reached for her, hesitated, and in that instance, the beggar dragged her further away.

"Wait!" she said, digging her heels into the ground, and when the beggar paused, she extracted herself from his grasp. "Wait, I think he-"

There was the sound of rustling and pale, worn faces peeked out from around the corners of the streets and buildings nearby.

"What was that-"

A horrified scream. "What happened to those men!"

"What's going on?!"

"Who is she?"

"Her clothes, her hair!"

"Are they members of Basara?"

They came closer and the three of them backed into each other. The beggar cowered behind her. Amiboshi grabbed Yui by the hand. "Follow me!" Before she could agree, he took off running and she could only do the same, towing the beggar after her. He yelped, but she couldn't leave him there alone. They stumbled along the first few steps, but Amiboshi's grip was strong and he was determined.

They weaved in and out among the streets. Yui caught glimpses of the ruined city, of the wrecked buildings and charred shells of what must have once been homes. Where were the people? Where was everyone? How much had she missed because she had been holed up in the palace last time? They ran through a dead marketplace, past empty, ghostly stalls. Soon they ended up under the shadow of a crumbling stone bridge. The barest dribble of a river flowed by.

"We should be safe here," he said as they leaned over to catch their breaths.

"Where is here?" she asked when she was able to talk again.

He hesitated. "My home."

A/N: Is this a fan fulfillment fic? Yes. Totally. Because Yui and Kutou really should have a happier ending than what they had in the manga/anime. Anything you want to see? Drop me a note! I can't promise I'll be able to fit it in, but if I can, I definitely will. And thanks to harukonekonya for beta-ing this chapter. :D And for the review. Same with midnight-flurry!