If you recognize it, I don't own it.
14. Betrayal
"You want me to do what?"
"Just talk with her, get her to tell you what's wrong. She trusts you."
"I would like to keep it that way."
"Please? There's no one else I know who could get through to her."
"But…"
"Tasuki."
"He could." The bandit pointed at the monk.
"I'm afraid Sen doesn't trust me no da." Chichiri shook his head. "She won't tell me anything because she thinks I will stop her from doing whatever she planning on doing no da."
"Oh come on, she's loves ya!" Tasuki exploded, making the monk flinch. "And I'm not good with words, ya know that!"
"You don't need to be good with words, all you need to do is listen." Chiriko patiently explained.
"I dunno…"
---
The girl in questing was taking an afternoon nap in the garden. She lay on the soft, warm, grass on a sunny spot with Tama-neko. The cat was there to guard her sleep, as cats live partly in between the planes, but her soft snoring was making him sleepy. Tama-neko tried, he really did, but in the end the warmth of the sun and the hypnotic sound of her breath got the best of him.
His head fell. Time stopped in the garden.
And she frowned in her sleep.
---
Sen woke up with a start as she felt someone shook her shoulder slightly. Haunted blue eyes scanned the garden, stopping only when they met hazel eyes. The girl stared at the bandit. She was clutching on to an object she quickly hid inside her shirt.
"Tasuki-chan." She breathed out the name, sounding somehow quilty.
"What's goin' on?" He asked, poking Tama-neko with his index finger. The cat purred loudly, his ears flicked to the sounds round him.
"I just fell asleep, that's all." She hastily explained. "I guess so did he."
"I thought we made it clear that ya can't sleep without someone guardin' ya."
"Tasuki. It was just a ten minute nap."
"It takes 5 seconds to snap yer neck."
"I can take care of myself." She pouted.
"What's goin' on oneesan? What are ya planning?"
"Nothing."
"Nothin'?"
"What's up with you?" She tilted her head to the side and eyed him suspiciously.
"Nothin'." He averted his gaze.
"You're a terrible liar Tasuki-chan." She shook her head. "Did Chichiri ask you to ask me what I'm planning to do? Or was it Chiriko?"
He gave up. There was no way he could lie to her. "Both."
"I thought so. Well, you can tell them, if their not listening to me right now that I'm not planning ANYTHING else but to stay alive!" She yelled, making him flinch.
"I'm pretty sure they heard that.."
"Just leave me alone ok." Sen growled as she stood up. "I'll see you at dinner." And with that she left, leaving the bandit and the cat to the garden.
---
The dress lay on the bed. It was made out of silk, blue in colour and had silvery decorations. It was a very pretty dress that would probably fit her frame perfectly. There were two simple, silver hairpins waiting in the dressing table. Her fan-holster was hanging on the chair. Someone had tied a blue ribbon to the black leather, making it look more feminine.
Sen sat on the corner of her bedroom. She stared at the objects she was holding. Silent tears fell down her cheeks. Am I really going to do this, she asked herself? Can I do it?
She sighed, burying her face to her hands. One of the objects fell to the floor, bouncing slightly as it rolled to the side. It was a spirit trap. She held the other object tightly as she silently cried in despair.
"I can do this…" She whispered to herself. "I have to. There's no other way."
There was a knock on her door and she hastily collected the spirit trap and hid it to her fan's holster while wiping her face. She took few steadying breaths before she spoke. "Yeah? It's open?"
"Sen-chan, are you ready?" Miaka poked her head inside. "Wah! You're not even dressed!"
"Huh? What time is it?"
"It almost seven."
"Ahhh, I'm late!" Sen panicked. Miaka giggled at the face she made.
"Well duh. Here, let me help you with that dress."
---
"Why are you bringing you fan with you?" The priestess frowned as the two girls walked down the corridor.
"You never know when you're going to need a weapon." Sen answered.
"Gee, it's just a dinner."
"Last time someone said that to me I woke up in county jail." Sen snickered at the memory.
"I don't want to know…"
"Miaka."
"Hmm?"
"Do you.. Do you trust me?"
"What kind of question is that?" Miaka frowned.
"Do you?"
"Well yeah, of course I trust you."
"No matter what?"
"Ok, you're starting to scare me…"
"Sorry."
"What's with you today?" The priestess sopped and forced the older girl face her. "You've been acting strange since you had your little chat with Chiriko."
"He told you about that?"
"Yes, he did."
"I'm.. I'm just trying to get a hold of my life. I'm the one who screwed up last time and now…"
"You're not alone in this you know."
"I know that's why I'm asking; do you trust me, no matter what?"
Miaka stared at the girl standing Infront of her. Green eyes searched the scarred face for even the smallest evidence of a joke, but found none. The older girl was dead serious.
"I trust you." She finally said. "But you're really starting to scare me."
"Sorry." Sen smiled. "There's no reason to be scared."
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me."
---
The men, dead and alive, stood up as the girls entered the dining room. Rokou, the master of the house and Nuriko's brother, offered them a seat at his end of the table. When they sat down the maid brought them plates and chopsticks.
"I am glad that you decided to join us tonight, Miaka-sama, Sen-sama." Rokou greeted the girls. Miaka pointed a finger at Sen, whom in turn turned bright red. Taka quickly pulled Miaka's hand down and shook his head in amusement.
"Sorry about that. I had difficulties with my.. Dress."
"Aww, Sen, he's just joking." Nuriko laughed.
Sen smiled happily, but under the table, her hands were shaking violently. She reached out for her fan, while chatting away with the rest of the Suzaku warriors and dug out the object she had hidden there. She excused herself and slipped away to the kitchens.
Sen gulped as she saw the bottles set aside for the party. With shaking hands she pulled the small object from her sleeve and opened the 3 bottles. "Forgive me." She whispered as she emptied the black vial to the bottles.
---
Sen sat down just as the maids brought the drinks to the table. Her hearts skipped a beat when she saw the glass put Infront of her. She raised the glass to her lips with the rest of them, but didn't drink one sip of the sweet smelling liquid.
After what seemed like eternity,she saw Miaka's head nod. Her hands dived under the table and she brought out the spirit trap. WhenMiaka collapsedSen raised the spirit trap high above her head. In the chaos no one noticed the act before it was too late. All the ghosts froze. Taka managed to turn to look at her before his legs gave up. A heartbeat later the monk followed, falling down next to the table. Rokou was out before Sen even turned to look at him.
"What the..?" Tasuki grabbed Sen by her arms. "What did ya do?" He asked in panicked voice.
"Sorry." She whispered, bringing her hand up to his face.
"Oneesan?" He blinked. "What.. Did.. Ya.. do..?" He slurred as he fell down to his knees.
"I'm so sorry." She cried, but no one was there to hear it.
---
AN: Didn't see that coming did ya?