Hey everyone, sorry it took so long for me to post something again. My cat ran away and I spent all my time trying to find him, but he is back now so I can write more of this story for all of you. To everyone who has reviewed so far, please continue to do so!! You guys are absolutely the best!! Anyways, here is the next chapter, so enjoy!!
By mid-afternoon all the guards in the palace knew that there was a fake emperor wandering amongst them. Hikari and Nuriko had set about trying to find the other warriors and let them know. Hikari had found Mitsukake in his room, and hadn't needed to look beyond that to find Shina either, for she too was in Mitsukake's room. She hadn't been able to see the woman, but she had heard her voice, and felt so very awkward for having interrupted the couple. The next person she had found was Tasuki walking about with Sho. He had already suspected that things had gone very wrong that afternoon. Another body had been found in the seraglio.
"So there's a fake emperor going around huh? I knew there was something wrong with the guy after he tried ta lay his hands on you."
"Just stay on guard. I haven't seen so much as a shadow of him since earlier today. I need to go find the others and let them know. Nuriko's trying to find them too. Everyone needs to know what's going on."
"Jus' be careful. I don' want nothin' happenin' ta you."
"I will be. I have to go."
"Wait! Take this with you. For good luck."
Tasuki handed her a beaded charm with flame colored feathers worked into it. Hikari tied the charm into her hair, with a smile.
"I'll be back," Hikari said giving him a quick kiss before heading off to find the others.
Of course, she never got that far. A small panel in the wall opened up nearby.
"Priestess, I must have an urgent word with you."
"What is your highness? No one is supposed to see you until the ceremony."
"I fear we may have already been discovered."
"What? But how is that possible? We've all been so careful not to let on that we know the other emperor is a fake."
"That is why you must come with me. I fear we have a traitor in our midst, and not just the fake emperor, "Boushin said grabbing Hikari's wrist.
It was when his clammy, cold hand closed around her that Hikari suddenly realized that there was something wrong. This man before her had the exact same feel to him as the fake. Something in the way he talked and the feel of his skin set her nerves on end. This man, whoever he was, was not the emperor either! And they had all fallen for it.
"Maybe we should get some of the others to come with us. That way we have more witnesses," Hikari said, starting to turn away.
"No! You must hurry!"
"Boushin I-"
"I said, come with me!" Boushin said, pulling her roughly against him.
Hikari only had all the time in the world to look down as a deep pain erupted in her abdomen and she could watch the blade of the knife come out her front. She gasped in pain as Boushin withdrew the blade and she sagged in his arms. At some point during the struggle, the charm that Tasuki had given her had come loose and fell to the ground in front of the passage. It would be that one bloody clue that would send the warriors into a panic.
Meanwhile the Suzaku Seven, and their fellow celestial warriors, had gathered outside the shrine, doing their best to appear relaxed. None of them could quite place the uneasy feeling that was growing in the pit of their stomachs. It had been hours since any of them had seen Hikari and no one was willing to say what they were all thinking.
"Where could Hikari possibly have gone? The ceremony will be taking place any time now," Shina said.
"Maybe she's still in her room, purifying that luscious, delicate-"
"I'd end yer comment right there ya old lech," Tasuki said, "You guys can hang around here, but I ain't waitin' no more. I'm gonna go look fer her."
It was decided that half the warriors would look for the missing priestess while the rest remained at the temple. Everyone split up and went in different directions. Tasuki headed back toward Hikari's room, just in case she was still there. Maybe she had just fallen asleep? Though that didn't seem likely considering there were two emperors running around. Even Chichiri hadn't been able to get a reading of chi off of either of them. Hikari's chi seemed to vanish as well. Tasuki was completely lost in thought but was jolted out of it when his foot hit something that skidded on the floor. Tasuki bent down to examine what he had hit with his foot when his blood ran cold with dread.
Tasuki stared down at the bloody charm in his hand. It was the charm he had given Hikari. What the hell had happened? Where was she? Tasuki looked frantically about until his eyes came across the small puddle of blood next to the wall. Tasuki closed his eyes and searched with something other than his eyes when he sensed it. There was something else behind this wall. But how to get behind it? Tasuki did the only thing he could think of and used his tessen to burn away the outer wall. In a quick burst of flames the outer wall vanished leaving a large opening. It was a hidden passage. Tasuki concentrated his powers to make a torch for himself. There was more blood on the floor of the passage. A lot of blood….too much blood. Tasuki ran, following that crimson trail, praying against all hope that he wasn't too late. His heart was hammering wildly in his chest. She had to be okay. She had to be. He didn't know what he would do without her.
Suddenly the passage came to an end and Tasuki found himself in a very dank, dark room somewhere within the palace. It was too dark, even with his own flames to tell exactly where he was. His foot made a strange noise on the floor as it slid through something wet on the floor. Tasuki lowered the flame to the ground. Blood. Carefully, he followed the trail until he found her, and his heart jumped into his throat. He could already feel a scream of rage growing in his throat as he turned Hikari over. She was covered in so much blood, and her skin had grown unbelievably pale with the loss. Was she even alive? Her pulse was so weak and slow that Tasuki could barely catch it. The rise and fall of her chest was so unbearably slow that you wouldn't even know she was breathing unless you were watching for it.
"Hikari! Come on, wake up! Ya can't leave me! Ya can't do this damn it! Wake up! Please! I can't lose you!"
Carefully, Tasuki picked up the unconscious Priestess, the love of his life into his arms, and headed back out of the passage. He had to get her to Mitsukake and Shina. Together, they would be able to heal her. All he knew in that moment was that she had to live. Because deep in his heart, Tasuki knew that he didn't want to live if she didn't. He ran at an almost break neck speed, carrying his still bleeding love in his arms.
"Mitsukake! Shina!! Hurry!!" Tasuki screamed as he rounded the corner into the shrine.
The warriors stood in shock at the bloody bundle in his arms.
"Hikari!"
Tasuki gently laid at her at the foot of the shrine, still clutching Hikari's hand in his as Mitsukake and Shina set to work. The wound was deep and it looked as though someone had twisted the blade while it was still inside her.
"Tasuki, what happened here?" Nuriko asked.
Tasuki told them what had happened from the time he left the shrine to finding the passage and the trail of blood that led him to Hikari. Nuriko kept a hand on Tasuki's shoulder, noting the tears that were sparkling in the bandit's eyes. Everyone held their collective breaths while the two healers worked.
All Hikari could see was darkness, and all she could feel was a blinding pain in her abdomen.
"Come on Hikari, get up. You have to go back."
"Your mother's right. You don't belong here. They need you. Tasuki needs you."
"Mom? Dad?"
Hikari's vision began to clear and found herself staring at her parents. She ran to them and threw her arms around them, tears of joy streaming down her face.
"I'm so happy to see you! I miss you so much!"
"We miss you too, but you have to listen to us. You need to go back to your body."
"You still need to summon the four gods and seal Tenshou away for good."
"Just remember, we're always here with you."
"I don't know if I can do it. I don't think I'm strong enough."
"But you are. You're so much stronger than you think you are. Besides, there's someone there who loves you very much. He needs you to get better and summon the four gods."
"Be sure and tell the knuckle head not to try any funny stuff either, cause I'll be watching!"
"Dad!"
"Just be careful. Believe in yourself and the celestial warriors that have gathered around you and everything will be fine. We'll be right there beside you."
Hikari could feel herself being pulled back toward her body, and the warm glowing red light. Such warmth and love was on the other side of that light if she just had the courage to grab it and hold on to it for all she was worth. Her parents were right. The greatest love she had ever known was waiting for her. She had to go back to him. She couldn't leave him all alone.
"Tasu….ki…Tasu…ki…"
Hikari's eyes fluttered open weakly, searching the room for the bandit who had stolen her heart. Tasuki dropped to his knees beside her, holding her hand tightly in his.
"Hey kiddo…"
"I'm sorry….I got careless…."
"Don' worry….I'm just glad yer okay. I thought I was gonna lose you," Tasuki said, pulling her close, tears sliding down his face," Don' ever scare me like that again! I don' think I could take it if ya died…"
Tasuki's words were choked with sobs and unshed tears. How could he say with meager words what it was he was feeling in his heart? There weren't enough words strong enough to describe the love he felt for her.
"I'm sorry….I'm so sorry…he was too strong."
"Who was?" Tokaki asked, "Who did this to you?"
"Boushin….the real Boushin….he's a fake…he did this," Hikari said, struggling to stand up.
This would be a very bad time for them to be attacked. She was still weak, but now was the only time they had to strike. Tenshou had no idea that Tasuki had found her yet. For all he knew she was still locked down in that room. Suddenly a great darkness filled the room around them, and they were suddenly surrounded by great cackling laughter, and glowing red eyes. The time for battle had finally come…
Hahahaha So what did you guys think? Please review!! The next chapter will be up sooner than this one I promise!!