Chapter Six

Another bright, warm day in Kounan.

The tall, elegant young man raised himself from his seat, moving out of the chamber onto the promenade beyond as he gazed approvingly up at the sky over his head, taking in the faint wisps of white cloud that dotted haphazardly across the sea of blue. It was a good day, he decided, for a meeting with old friends, and as he contemplated the message that had arrived late the previous night, a flicker of anticipation stirred in his goldish eyes. Although he had long since learnt that wild displays of excitement were not proper for one in his position, he could not help but smile.

"My Lord! My Lord, the Suzaku warriors are here!"

As if reading his thoughts, the voice of one of his close advisors startled him and he turned, nodding his head as he acknowledged the man's words.

"Very well. Then bring them to me here." He said softly. "It is too nice a day not to appreciate the weather, after all - and I need no ceremony to speak to such old dear friends."

He frowned.

"But you said warriors? Is it then true? Tasuki-sama has accompanied Chichiri-sama to the palace this time?"

"Yes, my Lord, on a matter of some importance."

"Then this is a great day indeed." The young man's smile widened, and he nodded. "Do as I ask, and bring them here. I will speak to them immediately - anything else can wait."

"Yes, Heika." The man bowed his head, then withdrew, and the young Emperor waited impatiently for his guests to emerge, concealing his excitement beneath his well-practiced dignity.

At length the doors slid back to reveal the two men he had awaited, and as his gaze flickered between the two, his gravity disappeared in an instant. He hurried forward, holding out his hands in welcome as both bowed their heads towards him.

"Chichiri - Tasuki! When I received the message...I didn't expect to see you both. But I am glad to receive you - you are always welcome at the Palace."

"Boushin?" Tasuki blinked, then smiled, shaking his head. "Shit, you are like your father. For a moment there..."

"It's uncanny, you know." Chichiri agreed, grasping the young man's hands warmly. "Although you have to remember he's Reizeitei-sama now, Tasuki-kun. He's the Emperor of Kounan - not just Hotohori-sama's son."

"You don't need to be so formal with me. Sometimes I'd rather you weren't." The young Emperor admitted. "But I am glad to see you. Now I'm an adult and Emperor in my own right, so many people treat me with such distant deference - it's pleasant to have company who see me as a human being, and not just as ruler of Kounan. My father left me this burden and I carry it with pride - but I am still young enough to miss the idea of close friendship."

"I'm not sure you ever outgrow that." Chichiri admitted. "But we came for a reason other than just pleasure, I'm afraid. At least, I think we did...if you'll forgive us."

"I see." Boushin's handsome features clouded, and he nodded. "Then I imagine you've come because of the disturbing news from the Eastern border...I did wonder, when I got the message, if that was what it was."

"Eastern border?" Tasuki frowned. "So those Kutou bastards are at the bottom of this. I might have known."

"Kutou is a troubled, war-ravaged nation, even now." Boushin agreed. "Since the war my father lost his life in, there has never been stability there like there has here. Both my father and the Emperor of Kutou died in the conflict, and yet, whilst Kounan has endured and recovered...the same cannot be said for our neighbours to the East. They are still wracked by treachery and civil conflict...and I believe that the situation may be growing increasingly worse. The Emperor of Kutou - such as he is - is in such a precarious position that he cannot even count on his own advisors - and two envoys I have sent there have been killed in skirmishes or uprisings."

"Or murdered because they were from Kounan?" Chichiri suggested softly. Boushin shook his head.

"I do not believe so." He reflected. "I don't think that Kutou is at war with Kounan, or even could sustain a conflict with such a stable power as we are now. They are too busy fighting one another...but I will admit that those living on the Eastern border have demanded greater military presence of late. I have done what I can, but I do not want to give Kutou the impression we are massing to invade. I do not seek another war for Kounan, now or ever."

Tasuki faltered, then slid back his sleeve, unwinding the white bandaging as he revealed his glittering red character.

"Somethin' tells me it ain't a matter of choice." He said bluntly, and Boushin's clever eyes widened. He glanced at Chichiri, who nodded.

"Mine also, without my direct control, you know." He confirmed, answering the unspoken question in the Emperor's gaze. "But it isn't like previous times. I have no sense of the others - only Tasuki and I. I don't think Kounan is about to have a third Priestess."

"And yet it is concerning." Boushin's brow furrowed in thought, unconsciously adopting an expression worn all too often by his late father when considering the state of his nation. "That Suzaku's spirit should stir within you like this, at a time when the land seems to be at peace. Now I do understand the reason for your sudden coming here. My advisors have told me to beware the lull before a storm - that when my Father was Emperor, he reigned over a peaceful Kounan to begin with - that the war with Kutou was almost unexpected, and sudden - almost forced into play by the actions of their Shougun, Nakago."

A flicker of hate touched his golden eyes as he contemplated the name of the man who had stolen his father's life, and for a moment there was silence. Then he stirred himself, spreading his hands.

"I don't know much more than you, but I will increase the surveillance on the Eastern border and do my best to find out what's happening in our neighbouring land." He said at length. "That's all I can do, as Emperor of Kounan...to protect the people and the land in the way my Father intended me to do."

"He would be proud of you, Boushin-kun." Chichiri said softly, and Boushin started at the familiar, affectionate name, offering the Seishi a smile. He nodded his head.

"I hope so." He murmured. "I know he and the others were reborn - that his spirit lives a new life now. But I do think, sometimes, that an element of Saihitei-sama still lives around this palace. That when things are difficult, both Mother and I draw strength from the things he left behind. As if he is still watching, somehow...that even now, he's taking care of Kounan from afar."

Chichiri's expression broke into a smile, and he nodded his head.

"Indeed he is." He agreed gently. "Through you. His blood runs through your veins - so long as you are here, Hotohori-sama will never leave the palace."

Boushin's eyes widened, and a sense of warmth settled in his young heart as he nodded his head again.

"So it is." He agreed evenly. "And I do my best, Chichiri-san, to live up to the man he was. To be the Emperor he was...to be strong and not have fear. I have Mother - I would be lost without her support and gentleness behind me. But I am a man now, and I must be a true ruler in my own name. I must...and I try."

"Kounan has nothing to complain about." Chichiri's ruby eye twinkled. "When my own daughter can run riot around the mountainside without fear of any danger, then I realise most of all how gentle this country has become. Have faith, Heika. Your land flourishes under your rule. So long as that is the case, there will be no more Priestesses...there will be no need to raise Suzaku or repeat the legend."

"But even considering that, you and Tasuki..." Boushin hesitated, then he made up his mind, nodding resolutely as once more he appeared the image of his father.

"For now, there is nothing to do except watch, wait and listen for word." He said evenly. "But I will ask of you both this. You are trusted of Kounan, dear friends to my family and ones in whom I have ultimate faith. Your coming here does not need to be heralded - nor do you need to address me with the formality that others do. I would rather...I would rather that, if you learnt anything through your divine connections, you came to me at once. I must be aware of everything that happens in Kounan. If I am to be a truly great Emperor, I must know everything."

"Right now we ain't got anythin' helpful to tell you." Tasuki grimaced. "But you think somethin' is coming too, Bou...Reizeitei-sama?"

"All I know is that, where the legend of Suzaku is concerned, my family have intimate knowledge and understanding of its blessings and its curses." Boushin said soberly. "And in light of this, I would rather be prepared. Prevented war - prevented bloodshed - is better than victory in battle. I share the scars of the last war as much as anyone - for that reason, I never properly met my father in his lifetime. If not for war, he would have remained Emperor of Kounan, and I might have had someone from whom to learn the things I have yet to understand."

He cast Chichiri a fleeting smile.

"At least I have had you, when I have needed advice." He added, gratitude stirring in his golden eyes. "I know you have paid such attention to my mother and I because it was Father's wish, but I have always appreciated your presence. To at least know all I can from you about him - from you and my mother both - I can hope to emulate him even a little."

Chichiri inclined his head.

"My pleasure, you know." He said lightly. "Sharing those memories brings me pleasure too...both Tasuki and I miss the other Seishi even now - and to share the adventures we had with someone else helps to keep them alive in our hearts too."

"Tasuki-san, you know, you are always welcome at the palace too. You too are in my trust." Boushin's gaze rested on the bandit, and Tasuki looked rueful.

"So much as a mountain bandit ever is." He said wryly.

"I know nothing of mountain banditry." Boushin said innocently, a smile touching his lips. "Reikaku-zan is...beyond my line of sight."

"Yeah, I know, an' I appreciate that." Tasuki nodded. "But too much comin' here...the men might get twitchy about it. An' it ain't good for you as Emperor, either."

"On the contrary, the Reikaku-zan bandits fought bravely against Kutou's army for my father." Boushin said levelly. "Several died, others were honoured for their courage. It is a matter of respecting those who served my predecessor in the way they merit, that's all."

For a moment his eyes twinkled, giving both Chichiri and Tasuki a brief insight into Boushin's true character beyond the sober, impressive imperial front he had learnt to cultivate. In that instant he did not resemble Hotohori, but rather his own person, his mother's features reflected equally in his face. Then it was gone, and he was once more the Emperor.

"My advisors are starting to talk to me about the subject of an Empress." He added. "In the same way as I believe they hounded my father. I am now of the age he was when he married my mother, and when he died against Kutou. I do not wish to be in the position he was - having to put his life between a woman he loved and a country he was sworn to protect. I wish to bring the two together...and for that reason, I wish to keep Kounan peaceful. I would like to see sons of mine grow up, in a way my father could not...and for this I rely on you as much as he did, I'm afraid. If you learn anything I should know, return to Eiyou and report to me. We will not disturb the people of this land with another war. I have promised myself this - that there will be no war or suffering in Kounan whilst I am Emperor."

"We'll do our best." Chichiri agreed. "I've been opening my senses of late, trying to pick up anything and if I do, I'll be here as soon as I can be. I'm of the same thinking as you, Heika - I don't want to see another war, either. The last one is still vivid enough in my memory to want to prevent it from ever happening again."

"Amen to that." Tasuki said fervently. "But if it comes...dammit, we'll fight."

Boushin's expression broke into a smile, and he nodded his head.

"I know." He said softly. "I have great faith in Suzaku's Celestial Warriors. So long as you are here, I'm certain that Kounan will remain safe, no matter what troubles Kutou undergo."

-----------------

The underground caves.

Hyoushin paused at the entrance to the subterranean chamber, a vague flicker of something in his violet eyes as he cast his gaze around at his surroundings. Beneath the war-torn surface of Kutou, such a place of tranquil beauty seemed almost unheard of, and yet, with the gentle lapping of the water against the stone, he knew that legend called it Seiryuu's pathway into the world - the connecting passage between his divine resting place and the men of the earth above.

Surely, then, Kikei's theories were correct. Surely this was the cave which guarded the Shrine of the Scale somewhere in its depths.

He took a few steps forward, hesitating as he caught sight of something glinting in the darkness. Frowning, he bent to pick it up, turning it over in his hand as his eyes widened. It had aged some, and rusted at the tip, but it was clearly recogniseable as an arrowhead, of the type that many common Kutou archers still used on the field of battle. As he gazed at it, running his finger over it's uneven surface, flickers of memory began to stir inside of him and, as if from the darkness, a voice seemed to speak to him, drawing him back to the past.

"Will you follow me?"

The soldier gave a tug at his arm, and with a start, the pale-skinned, silver haired young man found himself pulled into a series of caves and passages, each so alike that he was disorientated and confused by the track that they followed. Down and down they went, towards what the wounded man thought must be the centre of the world itself, until he could hear the sound of running water. As they stepped into a chamber, his eyes widened, absorbing the glittering pools that surrounded them, their strange, ethereal beauty quite alien to his eyes.

His companion paused, offering him a smile.

"We're safe here. I promise." He said softly. "Your arm - will you let me see it?"

The fairskinned man blinked, then, wordlessly, held out his arm as the boy - yes, he was only a boy, that was clear now - worked to strip away the blooded fabric to reveal the wound beneath. The arrow had pierced deep into his flesh, and he winced, biting his lip against the pain as his companion worked to carefully draw the arrow-head free of the wound.

"I'm sorry." He said unecessarily. "I know it hurts, but if you leave it there, you'll get infected and probably you'll die."

At this, the fairskinned man stared at him, not comprehending, and his companion nodded.

"It's all right. I'll help you." He promised. "You're not my enemy, and you're hurt, so relax. I'm not going to kill you."

For a moment there was silence, punctuated only by the sharp intakes of breath or gasps of pain as the young boy methodically worked the arrowhead loose. At length he was successful, dropping it down on the ground, and offering his companion a grin.

"There. It's out." He said frankly. "Will you let me wash it clean? Then I'll bind it up and...and then it'll be all right."

The fairskinned man eyed his companion in disbelief.

"Why... you helping me?" At last he found words in the native Kutou tongue, spoken as they were with a thick, lilting tribal accent, and at them, the boy started, then smiled.

"So you do speak." He observed. "And our language, too. I wasn't sure. You're a Meihi, aren't you? I've heard stories about your people. That bastard made you a slave - but it's all right. The Shougun will take care of him - that's why we came, to bring him his share of imperial karma. But you're not one of his men - not by choice, are you? Your cheek is tattooed - I know you weren't in this place by your own will."

The fairskinned man's hand went briefly to his cheek, running his fingers slowly over the brand that marked him out as the Lord's property. He nodded.

"I am." He agreed softly. "But why should that...nobody likes Meihi. We...are...slaves. That is all we are for. So says my master...so he has always said."

"Well, your master is an asshole." The youngster said frankly, loosening his armour and tearing a strip from his own shirt beneath as he dipped it in the cool water. He pressed it firmly against his companion's jagged, deep injury and as he did so, the wounded man felt a faint prickle touch his skin, as if some divine power was at work. "Plus, if he's not been executed by now, I'll be very much surprised. Shougun is a Hin, you know. He doesn't believe in enslaving Kutou's tribesmen. Your master will get what he deserves. Trust me. And the Emperor too. They'll all get what's coming to them, for the things that they've done."

There was a note of bitterness in his tones, and the fairskinned man wondered at it. Hate enough against his sovereign that he would seek to help an injured slave even in the thick of battle?

"What is your name?" The boy asked him now, and his companion started, his violet eyes clouding as he digested the question.

"I have no name." He said flatly, in his clipped, broken language as he struggled to speak the master's hated tongue with enough clarity to be understood. "Since day I became slave, I have no name."

"But you must have one." The boy reasoned. "My name is Kintsusei...can you remember, what you were called before you became a slave?"

The fairskinned man frowned, as unpleasant memories flickered across his senses. Tears glittered in his eyes, but he forced them back, hardening his heart against them as he shook his head.

"Do not remember." He said softly, fighting to keep his composure. "I am...slave. Nothing else. Just...slave."

"Not any more, you're not." Kintsusei sat back, admiring his handiwork. "Not if your master's been butchered and his land set ablaze."

The simplicity with which the youngster spoke such horrifying words struck the tribesman and he gazed at his companion anew.

"Without master, slave's life is death." He said flatly. "We are all...dead now."

"That's silly." Kintsusei snorted. "Don't you care at all what happens to you? I helped you because I thought you needed it. I've read stories about the Meihi. I know that they were a peaceful tribe, and that they were attacked and killed by my people without provocation. So I wanted to...to give something back. To...try and make amends."

He bit his lip, and the fairskinned man saw reticence and guilt in the boy's dark eyes. In that instant, he appeared older than he was, and the former slave had the impression that he, too, had suffered already in his short life.

"I am born of the Imperial family. Distantly, but enough to give me shame for it." He admitted now. "I am a blood descendant of the evil men who allowed so much hurt to be inflicted on your people, and so, in that sense, I am your enemy. But I don't want to be. And...I thought...if I could help you...if I could help even one of you, then maybe...maybe the blood debt isn't so heavy on my head."

The Meihi's eyes widened in disbelief, and Kintsusei shrugged.

"I know it's silly. It can't make amends for all the years of persecution and pain." He admitted. "But I...I can't do anything else. I just...when we came here, and you were injured...I wanted to help you. That's all. And I still do...if you'll let me."

"There's someone else down here!" The sound of voices alerted them both to the fact they had been discovered, and instinctively Kintsusei tensed, reaching for his discarded sword as he prepared for some kind of attack. As two soldiers broke through into the cave beneath, the tribesman realised they were his master's retainers, and a cold surge of anger coupled with fear rushed through him as he struggled to his feet. Pain shot through his injured arm, and he clutched at it, struggling not to cry out as the men advanced.

"Stay back from me, else I'll kill you both!" Kintsusei had no such reservations about facing the men, for, blade drawn, he had darted in front of his companion, determination on his face.

"You are an enemy. He is nothing more than a slave. You are the ones who will be killed, and your bodies strung up as traitors to Kutou." One of the soldiers hissed, and the tribesman took a step back, remembering that one of them had been responsible for whipping both him and a fellow slave only the previous day. The other boy - no older than his would-be defender - had died of the resultant injuries, and despite himself, fear began to paralyse the pale man's scarred heart.

But not so Kintsusei

"I act in Nakago's name. Nakago, the Shougun of Kutou!" He exclaimed. "You are the traitors and you won't hurt either of us!"

What happened next seemed almost unreal, passing in a blur and the wounded tribesman watched in disbelief as the boy who moments earlier had tended so kindly to his injured arm became entirely the soldier, determination and conviction on his face as he battled against the two men. Both were older and more experienced, yet somewhere in the depths of his mind, the fairskinned man realised that Kintsusei was fighting not just for Nakago, but to keep his own word about his blood debt. He was fighting to protect both of them, and this acknowledgement of his own self as a human entity shocked the slave into action. As one of the men was disarmed, he reached across for the blade with his left hand, glancing at it as he observed his companion neatly dispatching the man with a sweep of his weapon. As the other man came at the boy from behind, the slave took advantage of his ignored status, his hand tightening on the weapon as he lunged forward without hesitation, driving the silver steel deep into the back of the man who had so cruelly whipped him.

"You will die." He hissed in his native tongue, a cold, sinister anger flaring in his violet eyes as the man stumbled and choked, clutching at his middle as the sword ran him right through. "I will show you...I am not just another slave!"

Kintsusei's blade swung across once more, dashing through the soldier's jugular and as he fell to the floor, the tribesman stepped forward, eying his bleeding body with a cold, distant look in his eye. He bent to retrieve the sword from the man's body, and then, with a swift, decisive action, he severed the soldier's head, grabbing it up in his hands as he gazed upon the soulless, empty eyes of one he had once been so afraid of.

Now there was nothing to fear. In the end, he had just been a man. A man who had died, on the end of a blade wielded by a slave.

Kintsusei stared at him uncertainly, and at the gaze, the tribesman released his grip on the head, allowing it to fall to the floor without even casting it a second glance. He paused, then bowed his head towards his young rescuer.

"You...what..." Kintsusei faltered, then he stepped forward, offering him a smile.

"Thank you." He said softly. "You might make a good soldier yourself, you know - one day."

"Soldier?" The tribesman started, then he shook his head. "I am slave. What life does slave have, with this on cheek?"

He brushed his face angrily, and Kintsusei shrugged, sheathing his blade as he did so.

"You're not a slave any more. I told you. Your master and all of the ones who hurt you will be dead by nightfall." He said candidly. "You're free now. Is there nothing you want to do, to be, to experience? Your arm will heal, I think, now that the arrow-head is out. But you don't have to worry about being a slave any more. The Shougun is a Hin, I told you. He wouldn't believe in it - in forcing you to go back to that life, when you've been liberated by our men. Kutou is changing - completely changing - and in the new Kutou, you will be able to be free. I promise you this...you will."

The fairskinned man stared, digesting this slowly. Then, a faint flicker of a smile touched his lips. He held out the blooded blade to his young companion, who took it in confusion, and then he bowed his head again, this time with more reverence.

"To you I owe my life. So to you I give my life." He said softly. "Such is Meihi way."

"I told you, you're noone's slave, not now!" Kintsusei protested, but his companion shook his head.

"It is Meihi way." He repeated. "You fought for my life. I must repay."

"Considering the blood debt my family owes your people..."

"Then I must die." The tribesman said evenly. "For to not repay a Meihi debt of life is shame. You have saved me. Protected me. You have spoken to me as man. For all these things, I must repay you. It is Meihi way."

Kintsusei hesitated for a moment. Then he smiled, nodding his head.

"All right." He agreed. "Then if you feel that way, come with me and join up with the Shougun's army. You took that blade as though you'd be a strong warrior, even if you've never been trained to fight before. If you really want to stay with me, then that's what you should do. Fight for my cause - for the freedom and safety of all of Kutou's people. Tribes, clans and native blood - all of us. Will you do that?"

The fairskinned man hesitated, then he nodded his head, silver hair falling over his shoulder as he did so.

"I will." He agreed gravely. "I will do as you say."

"And if you're going to be a person, again, you need to have a name." Kintsusei told him, resting a hand on his shoulder as he did so. "You don't remember your true name at all? The name your mother gave you?"

"Mother is gone. Dead, I think. I don't know."

"Mine too." Kintsusei sighed. "She died when I was seven. But she chose my name for me - Kintsusei. And the last character of that name means 'life', so I do my best to live, even though she doesn't."

He eyed his companion keenly.

"You really don't remember?"

His companion shook his head, knowing he was lying, but not wanting to dredge those memories from the depths of his heart. At his cool, impassive gaze, Kintsusei frowned.

"Then will you allow me to give you a name?"

"Yes. If you wish."

"Then I'm going to call you "Hyoushin." Kintsusei decided. "Because when you flew at that man, it wasn't hot anger in your eyes. It was cold rage - colder than anything I ever saw in anyone's eyes before. You hated him, I could tell that - and when you struck his head from his body, it was like you were taking vengeance, but not in a hot, passionate way. It was like ice...like your very soul was frozen towards him. So...so will you let me call you Hyoushin? Even if it is a name in my language - will you allow me to call you that?"

"Hyoushin...means...ice?"

"Heart of ice."Kintsusei nodded, and the man offered a faint smile.

"I will be that name." He agreed. "I will speak your language, now, always. I will be like you - soldier. And I will fight for Kutou peace. I will do as you ask me. I will repay Meihi debt."

"Then we should make a move, if you can, with that arm - it still looks bloody." Kintsusei sounded concerned, and the newly named Hyoushin shrugged his shoulders.

"It is only pain." He said quietly. "I live with pain often. It will not stop me. We will go."

Kintsusei eyed him for a moment, then nodded his head. "Then we'll go this way. I know a way back to where camp is, and it's simpler than going back the way we came."

He bent to claim the swords of the slain men, offering his companion a grin.

"We'll take these and then the Shougun will know we fought and didn't run away." He added. "He doesn't believe in cowardice...he believes in battle, and he doesn't tolerate those who run away. One day I want to be like him - and maybe even be Shougun, if I'm lucky. Nakago is the strongest soldier in the whole of Kutou - maybe even in the whole of the world, I don't know. Everyone respects him. He's going to unite all four of the lands under one sky, and then...everyone will be able to live in peace."

"In peace."Hyoushin digested this, then he nodded.

"I will come." He agreed softly. "To see ShougunTo be part of...Kutou's peace. And for Kintsusei...I will repay Meihi debt. While I have life."

"I still don't think it's that big a debt..."

"To free me from chains, from beating, from not being a person any more?"Hyoushin spoke dispassionately, but there was a flicker of something in his violet eyes. "To see every day the death of kinsmen and to see them tossed into holes like dead animals? This is big debt. I must repay."

"But you're no freer if you give your life to me!"

"I am free. You are not like them." Hyoushin glanced at him, and a flare of genuine warmth flickered in his gaze, echoing the one that had, very faintly, wrapped itself around his frozen, battered heart.

"Because of KintsuseiHyoushin is free. Has name. Is alive. And I will repay. I will repay."

"Hyoushin-sama?"

Aoiketsu's voice brought him back to himself and he turned, his fingers closing around the arrowhead as he cast his junior a faintly quizzical glance.

"Where do you want us to start our search, Commander?" Aoiketsu's eyed his leader keenly, and a twitch of irritation touched Hyoushin's expression as he realised how close he had come to relinquishing his grip on his composure. Releasing his hold on the arrowhead, he did not even watch as it clattered onto the hard stone, instead turning his attention back to the matter at hand.

"The Lord Kintsusei is sure that the Shrine of the Scale is somewhere in these caves, and in this opinion he is joined by Lord Kikei." He said slowly, his words careful and even as though even now, so many years on, he sought to eradicate his Meihi accent from his speech. "I have been through these passages before...and I do not believe there are many places for such a place to be hidden. There is, of course, a possibility that the shrine is beneath the water of the lake - but for the time being, we will confine our search to the tunnels leading off from here."

He paused, his eyes narrowing as he gauged the distance of the two openings at the rear of the cave, then he nodded, raising his arm to flex a finger in their direction.

"That is where we will begin." He said softly. "Aoiketsu, you will take the path on the right. Search for any sign of the divine Seiryuu, and report back to me what you see. Maichu..." He turned to the other soldier. "You take the path on the left. Do the same as Aoiketsu, and report anything you find. I will scour this chamber myself. It is by far the greatest - and I have some prior knowledge. Do not dally - we have specific orders not to return without knowledge of the scale, and I would rather make the ride back before dark."

"Yes, sir." The two men saluted, immediately dispersing to their intended destinations, and Hyoushin watched them go dispassionately, detached from their youth and enthusiasm as he turned his attention to his own task.

"The Shrine of the Scale." He murmured. "When Kintsusei-sama and I were here so long ago, neither of us imagined..."

He raised an absent finger to brush against the place on his arm where a jagged white scar still marked his battle wound, and a faint smile flickered at the edges of his lips.

"The irony of the fact that Seiryuu's sacred water may have saved the life of a Meihi, a people who never undertook to worship the Azure Dragon of the East." He murmured. "Yet, that is not my concern. Kintsusei-sama's wishes must be obeyed. And that means...somewhere in this chamber there is a clue to the whereabouts of this holy scale."

He pursed his lips, knowing that, for all of Aoiketsu's queasiness for blood and Maichu's inherent impetuosity, the two men he had picked to bring with him were probably the most observant of the small entourage of soldiers he felt were beyond doubt the Emperor's loyal men. Both were young, eager to please and serve, and he had taken advantage of that fact, knowing that they would work twice as hard and as long as their more experienced comrades simply for the joy of doing their Emperor's will.

Such men pleased Hyoushin, if he allowed anything to please him at all.

This place disturbed him, however, and as he moved around the chamber restlessly, he found his mind wandering more than once away from the matter at hand. This cave had been his new beginning, but it also drew him back to memories of the lord who had once governed this territory and he knew that, only a few miles from where they stood, several of his people had been tossed into a mass grave like animals, beaten, starved and worked to the bone before being replaced with newer, younger bodies. The slave trade in Kutou had thrived under the previous Emperor, despite attempts to quash it in other reigns, for Shoukitei had not cared for much beyond his own pleasures and interests, and although he knew that Kintsusei had done his best to outlaw the practice, enforcing it in a wartorn nation had not been easy. Consequently he knew that, although he had his freedom and his dignity, others had not been so lucky. So long as his back bore the deep weal scars of the master's whip, he would never fully forget, and for that reason, he knew he would go to any lengths to help Kintsusei achieve Kutou's peace.

And yet, it was easier when the memories did not return. That he could be Hyoushin was enough - the man who lived to serve the Emperor, who had always treated him as a friend, not as his property. Nothing else mattered. He was not called upon to make decisions, only act upon Kintsusei's will. And so long as he kept things in their proper place, he was content.

Something at the side of the water caught his attention and he crouched, bending to better observe it. As he did so, he realised his worst fears had been confirmed - that the engraving was a likeness of the Dragon, probably placed there by ancient hands in a time before current day script. It was crude and badly worn by the lapping water, but it told Hyoushin what he wanted to know.

The Shrine of the Scale was indeed beneath the sacred lake that had helped to heal his arm so many years before. And to reach it, they would have to delve beneath the surface.

"Hyoushin-sama, there's no sign of anything in the right-hand tunnel. Just a dead end." At that moment Aoiketsu returned, and Hyoushin raised his gaze, nodding slightly. He gestured to his find, his expression as impassive as if their mission had not just become several times more difficult.

"I think it is here." He said quietly. "We will have to delve deeper. As befits the Dragon that lives in water, the Shrine of the Scale is beneath the surface. We must go into the sacred lake itself, in order to retrieve it."

"Sacred...?" Aoiketsu stared. "Is it truly so, sir? Is this place truly blessed by Seiryuu?"

"If the shrine is here, that should answer your question." Hyoushin said simply. "Fetch Maichu. We must regroup, and consider how best to tackle this."

"Yes, sir." Aoiketsu bowed his head, then hurried off to find his comrade, and Hyoushin reached down a tentative finger to touch the water, feeling a faint prickle as his skin brushed against the surface. It had been the same sensation he had felt years ago, and in his heart he knew that this was the place.

"Suiko's shrine is here, beyond doubt." He reflected. "Now it just falls to me to find a way to infiltrate it, and bring the relic to the surface."