Hi guys! Well, now that Nuriko's death has been prevented, some major changes will begin to show in the story. But then again, that's probably something you all were expecting, right? Well, enough of my chattering. On with the story!
Chapter 21: Knocking on Hell's Door
"Get back here!" Miaka screamed as Ashitare raced off into the distance. Before anyone could stop her, the miko was also gone.
"Wait, Miaka!" Tokaki yelled, taking up the chase as well.
>. >. >. >. >.
Tears spilled from the Suzaku no miko's eyes as she watched the Seiryu wolf disappear. She had been too slow. The Shinzaho was gone. Just as she had finally gotten hold of the sacred Genbu treasure, it had been stolen away.
It's just my luck… She thought bitterly as she pounded her fist on the snow covered ground. Her tears mingled with the snow below her as thoughts of defeat clouded her mind.
"What's wrong, Miaka?" The said girl's head snapped up in attention. Standing before her was the oracle, Tai Itsukun.
>. >. >. >. >.
Tokaki panted as she traced Miaka's scent through the woods. The Kousokuryoko's brows furrowed with frustration. She knew that it was practically automatic that Miaka run after the culprit who had stolen the Shinzaho. However, what she did was still on the rash side of things. Knowing the Seiryu warriors, they could have been planning for Miaka to chase after Ashitare altogether. Speaking of which, Tokaki still wondered how Ashitare had taken such a drastic change in appearance so suddenly…
The raven haired girl's ears suddenly picked up the sound of voices. It was Miaka and Tai Itsukun! But what was she doing there?
"…Is that how I can get the Shinzaho back from Nakago?" Tokaki noticed with worry how Miaka's voice was laced with fear as she spoke.
"Yes." Tai Itsukun's scratchy voice could be heard. "But it's much too dangerous. Forget I ever mentioned it."
"No! Where is Nakago? Tell me! Please!" Tokaki's eyes widened as Tai Itsukun began telling of the blonde warrior's location. Didn't that stupid oracle realize she was practically throwing Miaka into the lion's den!
As Tokaki sat and pondered over the strange events she had witnessed, she suddenly heard Miaka's footsteps draw nearer. She sat up with a start as the miko came into view. Miaka was just as surprised as the Suzaku warrior when the two spotted each other.
"T-Tokaki!" Miaka stammered, suddenly beginning to sweat despite the cold climate. "Y-you were hiding there all along?"
"Uh, no. I only heard a little bit of your conversation with Tai Itsukun. What are you going to do to get back-"
"Please, don't tell anyone what you saw, okay?"
"Wait, what! What do you mean? Are you really planning to go after the Shinzaho on your own-"
"Look, just don't tell anyone! Please, Tokaki! Promise me you won't tell!"
Tokaki hesitated for a moment. Was it really the right thing to do? So many things could happen if she decided not to tell, number one being that Miaka could definitely get herself into trouble. But if she didn't, it would mean that their one chance to get the Shinzaho back might get flushed down the crapper….
"Okay. I won't tell. Just…hurry back and don't get yourself into too much trouble. If it turns out getting the Shinzaho is too risky or something, come right back and meet up with us. We can always go and get the Shinzaho in Sairo, so…" Miaka gave her a small yet somewhat sad smile.
"Okay. Thank you so much. I'll see you all around. And…Tokaki? Could you do me one more favor?"
"Uh…sure."
"Please…tell Tamahome that…I'm sorry, okay?"
"Why?"
"Please…just tell him that." With that, the miko ran off, her intentions for getting back the Shinzaho still unknown.
>. >. >. >. >.
"Hey, Tokaki, there you are. Did you find Miaka?" Tokaki tensed ever so slightly at the sound of Tamahome's voice. The very last person she wanted to speak to about.
"Um…she uh…" Tokaki muttered. Come on! Think! "Uh, she said she didn't feel all that great and needed to stay behind for a bit. She didn't tell me where so I'm afraid I don't know where she is." While her face remained calm, the wave of uneasiness inside her was going to make her go insane.
"Oh, Tamahome, Miaka, she wanted me to tell you that she's sorry." The warrior remained silent as he thought over all he had just heard. Although Tokaki's response did seem reasonable, something still made didn't quite feel right about it all…
>. >. >. >. >.
Urumiya sat up with a start. She poked her head out of the tent door, hope beginning to brim within her. She had sensed Ashitare's chi approaching the camp!
A huge wolf came bounding into sight. Chains could be seen wrapped limply around the animal's chest and legs. Half of the wolf's face had also been heavily disfigured; the signs of terrible burns could be seen on its face.
"Ashitare…?" Urumiya whispered, as if her friend and comrade would suddenly vanish. "Is that…is that you?"
"Ah, you brought the Shinzaho. Good boy." Nakago's voice could suddenly be heard. Urumiya gave a small jump, her eyes still locked on the wolf. "Yes, Urumiya. The wolf you see before you is Ashitare."
"But how…?"
"Ashitare is half wolf. When he dies, the wolf blood that runs through his veins takes over, and he becomes a pure living wolf." Suddenly, the general's eyes narrowed. "Now that I have the Shinzaho, I have no use for you anymore…" Urumiya's eyes widened.
"Nakago, NO!"
>. >. >. >. >.
Miaka trudged up a hill leading to the Seiryu camp. She faltered with every step she took, and fear swept over her heart as she remembered what Tai Itsukun had told her.
"Nakago has put a ward around the Shinzaho with his chi."
"How can I break through it? I have to get the Shinzaho!"
"Intercourse. If you have sex with Nakago, you can completely disrupt his chi, breaking the wards around the Shinzaho. This method of chi manipulating is called the 'Bedding Technique'."
Miaka shivered as she finished recalling what Tai Itsukun had told her. Had Tokaki heard everything the oracle had told her? What if she told Tamahome what she was planning to do?
I hope she hasn't… The Suzaku no Miko thought, collapsing at the thought. How could I ever face Tamahome if he found out?
She gasped. Did she just hear…a meow? She quickly shed her light coat. Out of the coat's folds came…
"Oh! Kitty, it's you!" Mitsukake's cat purred as it slinked along Miaka's ankles. Miaka sighed as she picked the cat up. "Hey, kitty, don't hate me for whatever happens, okay?" The cat simply twitched its ears, oblivious to the danger that lay ahead. Miaka sighed again, and continued on her way to the Seiryu camp.
>. >. >. >. >.
Tokaki looked up at the sky, her thoughts still on Miaka. They had been on her ever since they had started for Sairo.
What should I do…? I know she told me not to tell Tamahome, but… She shut her eyes, mot being able to take the uneasiness any longer.
"Tamahome!" She whispered. The warrior turned to her from his horse, a questioning look on his face. "Something isn't right. Go after Miaka."
"What?"
"She…she's not really sick or anything. She went after the Shinzaho, to Nakago I think."
"Why didn't you tell me this before!"
"I'm sorry, okay! She begged me not to tell you! Just go after her, now!" Tamahome nodded once, and with that he rode off.
>. >. >. >. >.
Urumiya quickly wiped away her tears as Yui turned towards her. Although the physical pain of losing Ashitare once again had diminished, the sorrow she felt still remained.
"Nakago, why! Why did you kill Ashitare!"
"Urumiya, let go of me at once!"
SLAM!
Urumiya sighed, rubbing the bruise where Nakago had struck her. Although part of her hated the blonde for what he had done, the other couldn't do anything else but forgive him. She mentally groaned in aggravation knowing that the "other side" was her feelings as the Kousokuryoko.
"Urumiya, why do you think Nakago sent us away?" The warrior's priestess asked. Urumiya flinched slightly at the name.
"Didn't he say he had visitor to attend to?" Suboshi said, coming towards them with a jug of water. Yui glared.
"What visitor could be more important than me!" Urumiya stifled an aggravated sigh.
"Yui-chan, please try to calm down-"
"I'm fine! We're going back to Nakago!"
>. >. >. >. >. >.
Miaka's eyes widened as some unknown force suddenly smashed her against the wall of the Seiryu tent.
"If you are unable to cooperate, things could get…painful for you." Nakago said, not the least bit concerned as he tilted her chin up with his index finger.
I…I can't believe this! How…?
Somehow, Nakago had trapped her. The Tai Itsukun she had spoken to was a fake. How it was done, she didn't know.
"Once the priestess is no longer a virgin, she loses the right to summon the god. That was how this little plan came to be." He said, as if reading her mind.
"You…you lied to me!" The general shook his head.
"Not completely. By having sex, one can manipulate another's chi." Miaka's eyes widened as something else clicked in her head.
"Wait that means…Yui can't summon Sei-"
"Actually…her eminence was never raped." Miaka gasped. "The men in Kuto had only started their attack on her. I killed them, and took her back to the Kuto palace. When she awoke, she was convinced she was raped. I then told her that you abandoned her. For quite a few days, she was deaf to my coaxing…but finally, she began to believe my words."
Anger surged through Miaka's veins. He was the one who had turned her best friend against her! He had used and manipulated her, and now…
"Give her back…" She whispered venomously. "GIVE YUI BACK TO ME!" She screamed.
Suddenly new determination ran through her. Her fists shook as the magical shackles around her began to wear off. Nakago's blue eyes widened for a second. However the look of shock and surprise was quickly replaced with a smirk.
"Hm. Trying to break my chi, eh? Impressive. But…" Suddenly, his magical hold on the priestess tightened, and she was thrown onto the bed.
Tama…home… An image of her lover flashed across her mind, and with that Miaka was out cold.
"I'm not attracted to some little girl like you…" Nakago said, his head hovering over hers. "But…I'm interested in seeing how that boy will react when he sees you in the arms of another man…"
>. >. >. >. >.
"Hey, Chichiri! How much longer? Should we wait for Miaka and Tamahome?"
"We have to travel by night. The sunlight will be too much for us, no da!"
"He's right, you know." Tokaki said, nodding. She sent a silent prayer to Suzaku for the missing warrior and miko…
>. >. >. >. >.
Tomo of the Seiryu eight crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the warriors of Suzaku. He noticed the purple haired one, Nuriko, gasp as he spotted Sairo. The Seiryu warrior smirked. Little did they know, they were only approaching a mirage.
"That mirage is so realistic, that Kousokuryoko won't even be able to tell the people their have no scent. Not that she will even be able to accompany her friends there…"
"Tomo, the girl Tokaki…she is the Kousokuryoko warrior of Suzaku. You must take care of her before you do anything else to the other warriors of Suzaku. She is the key to their survival."
"Would you like me to dispose of her in a way that's to your liking, Nakago?"
"Do with her as you wish…just as long as the brat is destroyed."
Tomo's smirk almost turned into a grin at the thought.
"Oh, I have something special planned for you, my dear…my illusion should be taking your place right now…"
>. >. >. >. >.
Tokaki sighed with exhaustion. And here she thought incredibly long road trips in cars were bad!
"At least they had air conditioning…" She muttered soft enough for no one to hear.
Her head snapped up. A strange feeling swept over her gut as the hairs on the back of her neck began to rise.
Sleep, Kousokuryoko…Just sleep…
Who are you! Tokaki's hold on Tasuki's waist began to tighten as fear gripped her heart. Suddenly, a sick feeling, almost as if she was drowning, overcame her, and she fell into unconsciousness, her limp body slipping off the horse.
"Tokaki!" Tasuki said, sitting up with a start. He twisted around, trying to get a glimpse of the girl sitting behind him. I coulda sworn I felt her fall off…
"Yes, Tasuki?" Tokaki's voice rang out, to his relief.
"You okay? I felt you kinda slip off the horse."
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking." The red head nodded, turning his attention back to the road.
Suddenly, a strange marking appeared on the girl's forehead, and a strange sneer suddenly graced her face. She looked back at the body of the real Tokaki, fighting back the urge to spit in its direction.
Now, Kousokuryoko of Suzaku, sit back and enjoy your view of true hell as I, Tomo, watch the rest of your friends rot in the dessert…
>. >. >. >. >.
"Miaka!" Tamahome yelled. Suddenly…
"Meow!"
"Oh! It's you! Were you with Miaka?" The warrior asked the kitty as it padded up to him.
"Meow…" It whimpered. "Meow!" It cried, trying to mimic a bashed up Miaka. "Meow, meow." It said again, this time deeper. Tamahome felt a vein pop in his head as he continued to watch the one-man (Or, 'cat') performance.
"What the hell are you trying to say!" He yelled, grabbing the unfortunate feline and strangling it Homer Simpson-style. "Take me to Miaka!"
"Me-meooow…"
>. >. >. >. >.
"Miaka!"
Tamahome burst into the tent, worry etched into his features. He glared, his sight zeroing in on Nakago.
"Ah, Tamahome. I thought you would be in Sairo." The Suzaku warrior said nothing. "You look well. I'm glad to see the massacre of your family hasn't swayed you at all."
That did it.
"BASTARD!" He yelled, charging towards the Seiryu warrior. Tamahome gasped in pain as he felt his opponent's fist smash into his gut.
"Unfortunately, I have no time to play games with you at the moment." What the Seiryu warrior said next sent shivers down Tamahome's spine. "I underestimated that priestess of yours…She apparently has the body of a full grown woman."
"What…" Anger surged through Tamahome's veins as he slowly stood up. "What did you…WHAT DID YOU DO TO MIAKA!"
Energy suddenly surged through the Suzaku warrior's body. Red light streamed from his finger tips, heading straight for the Seiryu warrior. Nakago stumbled as the blast of energy struck his shoulder. Tamahome stood shocked as he watched his eternal enemy drop to his knees, now clutching his heavily burnt shoulder.
"Bastard…" He muttered in a strained voice.
Tamahome leapt out of the way as lightning struck where he previously stood. Nakago seemed just as shocked as Tamahome as Soi suddenly leapt in front of him.
"Nakago! Go to your horse!" In about a split second, both warriors were gone, riding off into the distance.
Tamahome turned to the curtain as a small groan reached his ears. He walked towards it, picking up the beads to the necklace his late sister had made for his mother. The feeling of dread weighing down on him seemed to only increase as yet another groan reached his ears. With a trembling hand, he pulled back the curtain. What he saw made him gasp.
"Unh…" Miaka whispered as she slowly rose. What…happened…? Memories flooded back to her. She covered her mouth with her hands in horror.
Oh god…! Did Nakago…? She looked to her side, her blood turning to ice as she saw the last person she wanted to see staring at her. It was Tamahome.
"Don't…" In that instant, the Suzaku no miko's heart seemed to shatter. "DON'T LOOK AT ME!"
>. >. >. >. >. >.
Tokaki wandered through the darkness, her head turning in search of her friends.
"Guys…?" She walked through a dense forest. "Where are you?" She looked forward and screamed at what she saw.
Lying before her in a bloody heap was Tasuki.
>. >. >. >. >. >.
"Excuse me, is this Sairo, no da?" Chichiri tapped the shoulder of a hooded figure. This town was certainly crowded!
"Yes. This is just on the border of Sairo."
"Alright! That means Tama and Miaka will be able to catch up soon!" Tasuki whooped. "Isn't that great Tokaki?"
As the hooded figure disappeared into the crowds, the disguised Tomo mentally smiled.
"Yeah." He said. "It certainly is…"
>. >. >. >. >. >.
The hooded figure turned into an alley. It was Tomo.
"Now that you have entered my land of mirage, there is no way you will ever be able to leave. You will never reach the real Sairo, toadies of Suzaku!"
>. >. >. >. >. >.
Bwa ha ha ha! Another cliffhanger! Poor Tokaki…I'm putting her through lots of emotional turmoil, aren't I?
Tokaki: (in a straight jacket with bloodshot eyes) FUCK YOU!
Eheheh…Well, anyway. For those of you who were a little confused about this chapter, I will explain. Tomo, a Seiryu warrior, has the power of illusions. (For those of you who know this already you can skip this stuff) He can make illusions of himself as well, which was how he was able to not only lead the Suzaku warriors away from the real Sairo, but also impersonate Tokaki. As for the real Tokaki, she is under an illusion from Tomo so she sees what she fears the most.
Well, onto the reviews!
Guest: Eheheh…sorry about your head being split open from all the complicated words. I'll try using simpler stuff so your brain can handle it! LOL I'm just kidding. Glad you liked the chapter!
Crimson Firefox: Hee hee. I'm glad you were happy about my "Nuriko, don't croak!" action. Hope you like this chapter too!
Amasaki Reyoko: Um, unfortunately, your "Nakago don't fuck Miaka" suggestion couldn't be followed through…this event was very important to the story, despite how sick it was so I couldn't really leave it out… sorry! But I'm not going to hook up Amiboshi with anyone, so you can relax.
Lyssah: Heh…Well, I can see someone was very happy about a certain purple haired warrior not dying! Hope you liked this chapter!
Fire Dragon: Heh. Well, you know what? I was grinning like an idiot when I read your review! LOL. Coincidence, eh? Well, glad you liked the chapter so much! Hope you liked this one too!
Darkwolf: Yup. You along with many others really thought I was going to kill off Nuriko! Come on! Have more faith in me, reviewers! (dodges knife thrown by angry reviewers) Okay! Okay! Sorry! Sheesh!
Germain: Glad you liked the chapter! Hope you liked this one too!
Review or die. (JK)