Again....
A
story will be retold once more.
Over and over, with the same
beginning each time.
But therein lies an ending with many possible
outcomes.
Come and see what could have been.
Eiyou Palace
Kouji walked aimlessly down the palace halls, his mind in disarray as a result of the confusing Ambassador's words. The stinging sensation they had left in his heart still ached and he crossed his arms over his chest as if to keep his feelings buried deep inside.
Closing his eyes, Kouji tried to ignore the Shogun's reading of his tormented mind. He wanted to forget the feelings he had and not try to get in the way of Genrou and Miaka, but no matter what, the thoughts of jealousy and bitterness kept resurfacing each time he witnessed one of their interactions. With a deep frown, he looked across the courtyard.
"What would you
say if I told you that one of my men can promise Lady Miaka will
return your feelings by day's end? Would you be interested?"
Kicking
a small pebble, Kouji wondered about the offer. Could some Kutou
servant really make Miaka return his feelings? Would it be that easy?
Just a nod of the head and a smile and poof! Miaka would be his?
No, men from Kutou couldn't be trusted to keep their word.
Kouji stopped, finding himself directly outside the door to the outer ward. His mind and heart had led him directly to his solution. But he couldn't betray Genrou and steal Miaka away, could he? Sighing, he frowned deeper, remember the conversation between Miaka and Genrou that he had listened to earlier. Miaka had told Genrou that she loved him, but it seemed his best friend hadn't really returned the feelings. Maybe he could win Miaka's heart after all.
Before he realized it, he was knocking on the door.
Tomo looked at the door, then back at his belongings: several articles of clothing, a deck of cards, a couple shin, and some Konan money he had exchanged for at a border town. He motioned to one of the other men, who were engrossed in a bottle of sake, to answer the door.
The door burst open and a rather annoyed looking guard poked his head out. "What the hell do you want?" he asked, not waiting for an answer. "Tomo-san, we got some bandit here at the door."
"I was sent by yer Shogun," Kouji spoke quietly, hoping no one would overhear, " He said t' talk t' some guy named Tomo."
"Let him in." Tomo sighed. It seemed that Nakago was already at work, stirring up chaos. He wondered for a minute what the General really had in mind as the bandit stepped in. Pushing his belongings back into his bag, Tomo straightened his uniform.
"What can I do for you?"
"Lord, er, Ayuru, uhm, that guy ya came wit' sent me to see you," Kouji stumbled over just what to call the blonde man, his accent thickening slightly.
"Follow me. We will speak in private."
He led Kouji to his room, shutting the thick, wooden door behind them.
"What do you need?"
"I…" Kouji looked down at his feet, awkwardly. Was he really doing this? "I need t'make a girl fall in love with' me."
Tomo revealed no trace of emotion as he watched the bandit squirm before him. It looked like perhaps Nakago had found someone he deigned to be of use to them. He'd have to ask about this all later. But Lord Nakago wasn't known for revealing his plans to underlings.
"Yes, I can help you. What was your name?"
"My name's Kouji. Th' girl's name is Miaka and she's 'bout this tall," he raised his hand up to Miaka's height, "An' likes food, an' -"
"That's quite enough," Tomo snapped. Could this one perhaps be one of the Suzaku seishi? He talked too much.
He reached into his bag and produced a vial of an unlabelled, purple elixir. It was a potion he made for Lord Nakago many times before and it was useful for turning your enemy into your ally. You offer them their greatest desire and before they realized it, they were completely under your foot. "Drink this, then go to her. When it takes effect she'll fall in love with you and be yours. Forever."
Kouji took the vial in his hand and stared at the purple liquid. He held it tightly in his fist, not ready to commit to forcing Miaka to love him. Deep down he wanted her to be happy, but he wasn't sure that only he could be the one to give her that happiness.
"What do I owe ya fer it?"
"Nothing."
Kouji scoffed. "Nothin's free, pal."
They stared at each other without speaking for a few moments, each man trying to figure the other one out. Finally, Tomo spoke.
"I'll be honest. It's a new potion that I haven't had the opportunity to fully test out yet. It makes the person love you, that much is clear, but we don't know about the possible side effects to the one who drinks it. You drink at your own risk."
Kouji opened his fist to look down at the innocent bottle of liquid. Could such a cheerful color really be so dangerous?
"Fine. I'll take it. Thanks."
Tomo nodded as Kouji turned to leave the room. "If you have any side effects, let me know. I can treat them and document them for my own studies. I want a career outside of the army one day and this could be my ticket to fame and fortune."
Kouji nodded, then left the room.
Turning to look out the window, Tomo smiled. What a simple fool! He fell for it without questioning the ridiculousness of the whole thing. If all of Suzaku's chosen warriors were this idiotic he and Nakago would have no trouble in conquering the country in short order.
As Kouji passed the Kutou soldiers, one of them tsked at him. No, it wasn't just a tsk, it was an insult. The bandit shoved the bottle in his pocket and whirled round to face the man.
"What'd ya say?"
"You're weak."
Kouji's face went red.
"What the hell is your problem?"
The soldier stood up and cracked his knuckles. "I don't trust Tomo, but Lord Nakago does. That don't mean I gotta agree with using potions to solve your problems. You think I didn't hear? If a woman don't love you it's cause you ain't a man worth loving."
The soldiers all laughed uproariously, sending Kouji into a fit. He launched into an attack and managed to land a solid punch squarely on the jaw of the soldier before another hit him in the head from behind and knocked him unconscious.
Tomo stuck his head out of his room just in time to see their pawn go unconscious.
"You idiots! This man is a guest of our host palace and you insult and attack him? Dispose of him somewhere so that Kutou isn't blamed for this to use it as a reason for war."
***
Tasuki stalked off towards the front gates, looking for a pub with a liberal amount of sake at his disposal with which to drink off his fit of temper.
Why he was angry wasn't connecting just yet, but he was really, really pissed off over Miaka's actions involving the Kutou Shogun. How could she let him touch her bare skin?! It went against everything he knew about her!
Growling to himself as he walked towards the outer courtyard, he noticed two unfamiliar uniformed guards carrying another man.
Seeing Kouji being hauled around like a sack of grain caught him by surprise and he stormed over and kicked one of them in the ass, "Th' fuck you think yer doin' to Kouji?"
The Kutou guard Tasuki kicked staggered as he nearly dropped his share of carrying the unconscious bandit. By the man's appearance it was obvious he was a friend of the idiot they were carrying.
"We found him passed out drunk," the second guard lied, remembering what Tomo said. "We're trying to find his room."
The first soldier tried to hide his displeasure at being punted. "Do you know where his room is? Our Captain will be most displeased if we're gone too long."
Tasuki growled, reached down, and grabbed Kouji's arms. "I'll take him back. You fuckers get back to yer Captain," he growled, as he hauled Kouji on to his shoulder. Damn, Kouji was fuckin' heavy. He'd make sure Kouji started watching what he ate; can't have a second in command with a bubble ass.
He didn't even bother to nod at the Kutou soldiers as he turned back to the palace.
Why is it whenever I go t'get piss drunk, somethin' always fuckin' stops me? Damnit, this shit sucks ass.
Miaka came around the corner in time to see Tasuki haul Kouji over his shoulder and head back her way. She stomped over, ready to tell him off when she noticed Kouji was passed out.
"Tasu-chan, is Kouji-kun okay?"
Tasuki frowned but answered her anyway. "Dunno, caught two bastards from Kutou cartin' him around. Why? Ya wanna claim ya love him too?"
He looked away, angry at her for letting the Shogun touch her and angry at himself because he was hurt. He had almost let himself give his heart away; it would have killed him if he'd allowed himself to love her only for her to give herself to the Shogun.
"I love you, you jerk, I told you that! The Shogun was just helping me with my ankle, nothing more!" She felt her face get hot as the anger bubbled up inside her.
"Why don't you ask him? He'll tell you the same thing. You're the only man I want to..." She stopped herself before saying the 'k' word. "You don't even know if you love me. Why are you so jealous?"
He growled and grabbed her in his free arm, pulling her to his chest. "Because ya arready said you was mine," he growled, tightening his grip around her waist. "I don't share."
The anger left her and she felt herself blushing. "Tasu-chan..."
Her heart began to beat more strongly, echoing in her ears. She could feel her chest against his body. It made her surprisingly nervous.
"Sh... shouldn't we get Kouji to his bed?"
Tasuki shook his head and smirked devilishly, leaning down to cover her lips with his own.
In a moment of surprising grace, Miaka turned her head to the slide, letting the kiss only graze her cheek. She wanted to kiss him, but she couldn't let herself end up hurt.
"I-I'm sorry. I love you. But until I know you can return my feelings I can't..." Her voice shook, trembling, hoping he'd say something.
"Miaka?"
She whirled around as Hotohori approached them. There was a tension there he was grateful to interrupt.
"The peace talks have gone well, but it seems Kutou is intent on our submission. I hate to ask you consider us in the summoning tomorrow, but..."
"Mmm, I don't mind. You've all done so much for me." She was smiling, but not really meaning it.
Has the end come so soon?
"Shall I escort you to dinner then? The Shogun said he met you earlier. He was quite taken with your beauty."
Miaka blushed, watching Tasuki's face for any sign he might explode. She nodded, wrapping her arm through Hotohori's and moving away from Tasuki's side.
"Tasuki, since you are not attending the dinner I thought that you might enjoy a trip into town. The Palace has a tab with one of the bars in town. The Sakura, I believe it is called. You and your... friend are welcome to go make use of it. Dinner will be finished before the fireworks. Miaka can join you then."
Tasuki's face went from shocked to furious again in a split second. "Th' fuck are ya goin' on about? Miaka..." he growled and stalked away. "Fine! I know when I ain't wanted."
He was angry, furious, pissed beyond all belief... and had no concrete reason why. Sure, it was rude to all but tell him to 'get lost' but it shouldn't effect him like that.
He stopped and his brow furrowed in thought. Could it be that he was already in love with her? What about... no, no, he'd already given up on that.
He took a deep breath and sighed.
Well, shit. I guess I do love her. Goddamnit!
Kouji could faintly hear voices around him; Genrou's seemed angry, Hotohori's calm, and Miaka's nervous. Where was he?
Slowly he stirred, blinking and trying to clear the strange double vision that refused to abandon him. He looked over slowly at the blurred color of Genrou's hair. Trying to push away, Kouji felt sluggish. What had happened to him?
"Genrou," he said roughly, as he cleared his throat, "What th' hell!? Where are ya carryin' me to?"
Tasuki looked over his shoulder at Kouji and breathed a sigh of relief. He put him on the ground and stood, rubbing his back. "Ya hadda go an' pass out. I found ya and was gonna take you back to yer room. But, now that ya are awake, wanna go to th' bar? I need a drink."
Kouji felt his feet touch the ground and rubbed his head. "Sure. But ain't there a dinner tonight though with tha' damned Hotohori?"
Tasuki growled, "We ain't invited. Seems that bandits ain't good enough t'sit at th' same table as an Emperor and an Ambassador. We'd make them lose their dinner. Delicate senses an' all."
He fiddled with the tessen strapped to his back, fighting back the urge to use it on Hotohori and the Shogun.
"I met th' famous Ambassador today," Kouji said, shrugging. "He an' Miaka were in th' gardens an' Miaka hurt her ankle."
He noted the twitch of Genrou's brow when he mentioned the Shogun and Miaka. "Ya upset 'bout something?" Kouji asked, as the guards moved aside.
"That bastard had his hands on her bare ankle, Kouji, how do ya think I feel?" he growled, pulling the tessen out and flexing his hands around the hilt. "Her bare skin, Kouji. Can ya believe it?"
"Genrou..." Kouji said, eyeing he tessen carefully for signs of flame, "I was there an' shit, it ain't as bad as you say it was. Th' bastard, an' he is a bastard (that's for sure), was jus' seeing where her ankle got hurt. Nothin' more. Besides, ya better not be gettin' worked up over someone's ankle gettin' molested."
Tasuki looked at Kouji incredulously. "WHAT!? Are you trying to tell me that you WATCHED him do it?!" It was astounding; Kouji had stood there and allowed another man to touch Miaka and didn't say a word. It was mind boggling.
"That tears it. I'm in some kinda loopy other world where it's proper to molest someone else's woman right in the open, in front of his best fucking friend. 'Don't worry 'bout it, Genrou, it was just a little medical treatment.' I've either lost my mind, or I'm in hell."
Tasuki sighed.
"I need a goddamned drink. Let's go."
"I could use one myself. After all, sounds like ya've lost yer mind." He grinned, placing a arm on his best friend's shoulder. "I mean, sure I would get pissy about a woman gettin' anythin' above her knees touched, but her ankle? 'Sides, it's Miaka. She's just clumsy and people are drawn to help her. Like you were."
Tasuki sighed and laughed. "Arright, so I blew it out of proportion. It just kinda took me by surprise. After all the things that we've been through, the bullshit with Mi-chan and all, I guess I kinda got carried away."
He patted Kouji's back, then looped his arm over Kouji's and over his neck. "I guess I'm kinda pissed about Tamahome beatin' on me too. Dunno why he decided to do it neither. He just smiled real big, pulled me over to a buncha bushes and trees and beat the livin' hell outta me." He kicked a rock and glared at it as it skittered away.
"Kinda hurt my feelin's. I mean... aw hell, never mind."
Kouji watched Genrou as his friend spoke of -wait- getting hurt feelings over Tamahome?! Grinning, he pulled Tasuki's arm away from his neck, and playfully jabbed him in the side.
"What's this about hurt feelin's an' Tamahome?" Kouji chuckled as he pulled away. "An' here I thought I knew my best friend. Brings back memories. Maybe I need to talk to yer new lover."
"Ya know," he said, glancing back at the signs, "Th' palace better be payin' fer this, right? After all, we're missin' th' dinner thing."
Tasuki's face went as red as his hair. "TAMAHOME IS NOT MY LOVER, AHO!"
He blinked and looked around at the guards and maids milling around in the outer courtyard, all of them were eyeing the red-faced bandit with expressions varying from shock to smirks.
He looked at Kouji and then back at the small, whispering groups of people and scrubbed a hand over his face.
He grabbed Kouji's shirt collar and dragged him forward, "You baka!" he hissed, "Now they're gonna start rumors! Shit!"
The muffled voices behind them grew slightly louder, allowing Tasuki to pick up pieces of their conversations.
"Yes, I'd heard that they were lovers but it seems that the red-haired one is being unfaithful with that one there. Look at how close they are! It's unseemly!"
"Seems Tamahome must have kicked that red-head to the curb and now he's trying to make him jealous by going after that blue-haired guy."
Tasuki stalked over to the crowd, anger and mortification blazing in his eyes. "SHUT UP! That ain't true!" he yelled, chasing down the ones who ran. "Tama's gonna kick your ass if'n that shit gets out! Then, he's gonna kick mine for makin' up stories! SHUT UP!"
Kouji felt Tasuki tugging on his shirt collar, dragging him to get them both away. Laughing at the maids and servants huddled in groups speaking nonsense, Kouji yanked free of his friends grip and decided to play along, knowing full well the trouble it would bring.
"So yer usin' me 'cause Tamahome rejected ya!?" Kouji kept out of range of Tasuki, who was struggling to grab him and shut him up. "Just cause of the 'incident' ya think I'm gonna be easy, ne?"
Tasuki went white to the lips, then pink, then red, and finally settled on a nice magenta color that clashed horribly with his hair. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
The whispers became louder, the wind seemed to die, and Tasuki could hear his heart thumping wildly in his ears.
He slowly turned to Kouji, murder in his eyes.
"You are a dead man."
He tightened his grip on the tessen, drawing it over his shoulder. "LREKKA! SHIN'EN!"
Sweat dropping, Kouji backed away, knowing full well what was in store for him.
"G-Genrou, chill out man! It's just a joke!"
If he broke into a run, Kouji knew the flames would reach him eventually. He ducked behind a column, eyes squinting shut as the heat of the flames flowed past him.
After tapping his pocket to make sure the vial was still present, he made another run for cover. Kouji climbed the column as quick as a cat and made it to the tiled roof.
"Ya missed me!"
"GET DOWN HERE, AHO!" Tasuki roared, directing another wave of flames at Kouji, who'd climbed to the roof.
"You take that back, Kouji! Ya know better than to mention that fuckin' incident! It was your fault anyway!"
"Oh no! Tasuki-san has lost his mind! Tamahome-san rejected him and he's gone crazy! Hurry, someone tell Saihitei-sama!" a young maid called to the guards, who were trying to keep the palace staff and residents away from the flames.
Tasuki's attention shifted from Kouji to the maid, his eyes narrowing in anger. "HE'S NOT MY LOVER!"
He ran at her, tessen flung back over his shoulder and embarrassed rage guiding his actions. She screamed and ran, hiking up her long skirts in an effort to keep from falling down.
"TASUKETE ONEGAI SHIMASU!" she screamed as she ran down the halls towards the dining room her Emperor was scheduled to be in, a royally pissed Tasuki on her heels.
***
With Miaka on his arm, Hotohori entered the lavishly decorated dining room, lush with pillows, silks, and variety of exotic foods. Several of the invitees had already arrived but the Kutou Shogun was still absent. He seated her next to him at the table, watching her face. There was a hint of sadness she was trying to hide.
"Miaka, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, Hoto... Saihitei-sama." The Shogun hadn't yet arrived but she needed to be careful. "An argument with Gen-chan, that's all. It doesn't really matter. I'm just biding time until tomorrow, right?"
"Miaka my offer, the proposal, it still stands if you wish to stay."
She looked down at her hands, nodding. It was an option she'd considered but pushed out of her mind. In a way, it almost would be better not to discuss the subject. She appreciated his friendship, but didn't love Saihitei in the same way she loved Genrou.
She sat quietly, listening to the conversations of the men around her, waiting for the next guest to enter.
***
Leaping down, Kouji charged after Tasuki, praying that he didn't use that damned speed of his.
He managed to stay on his fiery friend's tail as they swerved, avoiding servants and maids carrying giant plates and bowls full of food.
The maid screamed as she burst into a huge dining room area where multiple nobles and other people of high status were mingling with.... the Emperor and Miaka?
Shit.
Kouji lunged, grabbing a fistful of Tasuki's shirt, and pulled backing an effort to stop them from crashing the party far too literally. He could feel everyone's eyes on them as the maid collapsed at he Emperor's feet, sobbing hysterically.
"Ya dumbass!" Kouji growled, managing to slip his arms around Tasuki's, successfully pulling him away from the horrified dinners and a little way down the hall. "Look what ya've done! Now she's gonna tell the damned Emperor about this!" he hissed.
The dinner had been going well until a shrill, shrieking noise began to approach. A maid threw open the door, dropping at Hotohori's feet in sobs. Miaka looked past her curiously, catching a glimpse of what looked like Kouji trying to drag Tasuki away.
Now what's he mad about?
"Are you all right, miss?" Hotohori helped the woman to her feet, wiping her eyes. She nodded, staying close to him for fear the crazed bandit would return. His eyes narrowed when he spotted the bandits in the distance. "I must deal with this. For now, I believe we should bring our dinner to an end. Please, excuse me. You may finish your meals at your leisure."
He gestured for the maid to follow as he left the room using the side door, too angry to see the bandits again, even by chance.
***
Tasuki struggled in Kouji's grip, fighting to get the maid and get her away from the Emperor before she could spread Kouji's mistaken joke around. "Goddamnit, Kouji, let me go! She's gonna spew that bullshit to Hotohori an' then he's gonna turn around and tell Miaka!"
He wasn't so pissed off about the joke; that he could live with. But, it was too close to the truth for comfort. While he and Tamahome had no relationship other than friends, he had felt something for the other seishi until he'd been shot down. As it stood, before Kouji had decided to mortify him by blabbing about it, he and Tama had been the only two who had known. He had wanted to keep it that way.
"Kouji, let me go," he growled low as he watched the Emperor stalk off into another room with the maid in tow. "FUCK!" he roared, his tessen and his character symbol heating up and glowing fierce red.
Kouji frowned. Why was Tasuki so worried about what Miaka thought? He yanked his friend backwards with as much strength as he could muster.
"Ya think I'll let ya waltz in an' kill a maid? I dun think so! You'd be a dead man an' I ain't gonna let that happen!"
"Besides," he said, glancing around for witnesses, "It ain't MY fault ya got rejected an' it ain't the maid's fault either! So get over it!"
"Well so what if he did?!" he shouted, clawing at the hand gripping his shirt front. "I know I should'a fuckin' known better, but goddamnit, will ya stop ANNOUNCING IT TO EVERYBODY?!"
He was embarrassed by his own actions, but to have Kouji tell anyone within hearing range that he'd been rejected by someone (especially a male someone) that he had really liked was pushing him back to the furious haze he'd just been snapped out of.
Despite the maid having closed the door, the arguing went on outside it. The words were muffled but the voices were clear enough.
"Excuse me, please." Miaka bowed to the others and exited the room, shutting the door again.
She only needed to go a few feet to catch up with Tasuki and Kouji. Every word of their conversation she heard.
Rejected? He? Oh...
She walked straight up to Kouji and Tasuki, trying not to get angry. No wonder Tasuki needed time to think! He was rejected by someone. A male someone.
Her feelings were absolutely hopeless after all.
She approached the two struggling men with a smile. "You know, you're being really loud. This is exactly what Hotohori was worried about. Luckily, dinner is over. Tamahome and Ji-hime even left early to go catch the festival with Chuei and Yuiren."
Kouji felt a strange sensation prickling at the back of his neck when Miaka spoke and he let go of Tasuki. "It ain't my fault he's an ass. I tried to stop him! Hell, he tried to flame his BEST FRIEND!"
He kicked at Tasuki for extra measure, scowling. "Look whatcha done, Genrou! Now I look bad too!"
Kouji's head drooped and he stared at his feet.
"Sorry fer interuptin' yer dinner party."
Tasuki's face went white. He had no more than screamed out that the one who had rejected him was a 'he' than Miaka had shown up on the scene. He ignored Kouji, deciding to instead investigate the contents of his boot pockets.
He had no idea what to say, what to do, how to act, or how to take it back. He knew she had to be hurting because of what he had said, and it killed him. The one thing that would always get to him was her tears or her pain, both of which he felt in his heart as did the rest of the seishi.
"Uh, heya Miaka. Sorry for being an ass and ruining your party." he said softly, eyeing his feet from his position on the floor.
"It wasn't my party, it was Hotohori's party for the Shogun. You should apologize to them." She felt like a fool, not knowing what to say to the man she'd confessed her love to only a short time before.
"I think I'll take advantage of the star festival for a little while more before I go to bed. First I need to change into something less fancy, otherwise I might sprain another ankle." She laughed, but it was a fake happiness. Tasuki wouldn't even look at her.
She began to head to her room, walking past them, then paused briefly beside Tasuki. She wanted to tell him to forget her confession, that she was sorry she brought it up. The words wouldn't come out. She managed a small and whispered "Gomen" before moving on, heading to her room.
Tasuki bowed his head further, feeling her cold words dig into his chest. He'd never meant to hurt her, but it seemed he was destined to.
As soon as she apologized, he knew with out a doubt that she had heard them. Had heard that he'd been rejected by another guy. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, he was ashamed of himself for leading her on. "No, Miaka, I'm sorry," he whispered at her back.
"Come on Kouji, I need a drink."
***
The door to the banquet hall opened a crack and in poked a tuft of cornflower blue hair, followed by the mask of the monk. Chichiri's head whipped from side to side, and it became evident that the dinner was over. The wait staff were nervously lining the walls, frozen stiff until the last guest had vacated their seat. The air circulating the room wasn't very pleasant, and Hotohori-sama was no longer present.
He stepped fully into the room.
"Anou, where is Hotohori-sama, no da?" Chichiri asked a servant in hushed tones.
"He's in the adjoining room, sir. He is dealing with a disturbance."
Chichiri's shoulders slumped. A disturbance, that figured. Who could possibly be responsible? His mind ticked through a few options, but he already knew. It could really only be Tasuki-kun, Kouji-kun, or the drunken doctor.
He sighed heavily. "Thank you, no da."
When he looked up, he spotted the distinguished clothing of the Kutou Shogun. More eye-catching than this was the shockingly blonde hair upon his head. How had a man from a marginalized group of society become so powerful? He had thought that they'd all been massacred ages ago. There was really no time to examine any of these thoughts, as the Shogun was preparing to leave this very moment.
Did Hotohori-sama have time to make the proper apologies to his guests? What if something as small as this threw the destinies of Konan and Kutou entirely off kilter? He considered running out, transforming into the Emperor, and then smoothing over the entire thing, but without any knowledge of what actually happened...
Ah, he's coming this way, no da!
Chichiri bowed low to the Shogun.
"Our apologies for any trouble you've been caused, no da."
It was pathetic, really. The high point of the entire boring dinner party was the furious bandits that had come to crash it. Nakago had watched in mild amusement as the one he'd met in the gardens tried to drag off another, more 'noticeable' bandit.
He'd noticed that, while they were struggling, the red- haired bandit's sleeve had come up and revealed a glowing red kanji. At the distance of half-way across the room, he hadn't been able to see what it said, but he'd known as soon as he'd seen it that it was the mark of a Suzaku seishi.
Interesting, to be sure, but he had to question the Bird-God's sanity for choosing such a fiery man to be one of his avatars.
Either way, the dinner was over and his target had left the room with a sobbing maid. He got to his feet and made his way to the door, spotting a strange looking monk that had asked about a 'Hotohori-sama'.
It seems that Saihitei is Suzaku Shichiseishi Hotohori. That makes things even more interesting.
"No trouble, Monk-san, just men who have had too much drink at a festival. Things like that happen, but tell me; how do bandits come to be in the palace?" he asked to the bowed, blue-haired head.
He knew that one of them was a seishi, the other did not have the aura of a seishi. What purpose could Konan have in allowing bandits into their capitol?
"My name is Houjun Li, no da. The bandits?" Chichiri said, raising his gaze.
It was really no surprise that his hunch had been correct, but it was still depressing to hear. Chichiri wracked his brain for a reason, any reason, that they would be allowed free reign within the palace walls. He rejected idea after idea, mainly because it would reveal how lax security had become or point toward weakness in Hotohori's command.
"They came to plead their case to Saihitei-sama, no da. The Emperor was set on annihilating their hideout, but they came to beg forgiveness and promise to give up their thieving, no da."
"Ayuru Gi, pleasure to make your acquaintance Li-san." He gave a partial bow and smirked to himself. It seemed that the monk was very adept at concealing the truth, without appearing to. Interesting.
He straightened and gave the monk a cool look, allowing a small portion of his power to show. If the aura of controlled power around this monk were anything to go by, he would be a worthy opponent when the time came. Being a warrior who deeply prided honor, it was only fair to allow the monk to sense a small piece of the power he held within. He would crush them anyway, there was no harm in playing at the rules of engagement.
"Indeed, interesting. I had heard that the bandits of Reikaku had been destroyed, are these then the bandits of Mt. Kahou? If so, Saihitei-sama would do better to drown them. Cut throat bastards, the lot of them."
The maid had poured her heart out to the young Emperor, sobbing something about gay bandits threatening to kill her. She'd been given the next two days off, with pay, and sent on her way. It wasn't her fault, but the dinner had gone exactly as the Emperor hoped it wouldn't.
When Hotohori returned to the dinner room, he found the Shogun and Monk engaged in tense conversation.
"Ah, I see you've met our resident Monk. I apologize again for the disturbance earlier. It seems the young woman was just easily startled."
An energetic pulse touched the monk's aura. Hidden by his mask, Chichiri's eyes widened at the recognition of the signature traces of Seiryuu's chi. This man was...!
Quite thankfully, Hotohori returned and saved him from any further explanation. The more elaborate he made his lie, the more chances there were to trip him up, and the Shogun was no one to be trifled with.
"Saihitei-sama, I was just explaining to our guest that the bandits of Mt. Kahou came here in order to plead their case to you and avoid the fate that fell upon Mt. Reikaku, no da."
Bowing in respect of Saihitei's interruption, Nakago turned knowing eyes to the monk. "Yes, he was explaining about the bandits, Saihitei-sama. Your Li-san has already given his apologies for the interruption, and so I shall repeat my reply for you as well. It was no trouble at all. Just men who have had too much drink at a festival. Things like that happen."
The monk was telling half-truths, that much was apparent, and Nakago was more than sure that the bandits who had interrupted their dinner were somehow attached to the miko.
Something was happening here, and he was determined to find out exactly what it was. He bowed to both the monk and Emperor, "Please, I beg your indulgence. My trip here was long and tedious, and I still must speak with my men before I retire."
Receiving a nod of approval from Saihitei, Nakago nodded to the monk and swept out of the room.
There are far too many seishi here, yet not enough to summon their god. This situation is precarious. I can not allow them to gather all of their seishi. Tomo will be working late tonight, and the blue-haired bandit will be answering some questions.
Hotohori watched as the Shogun left the room, listening carefully as the footsteps disappeared down the hall. He gestured for Chichiri to follow him back into the other room, away from prying ears.
"The Shogun is a little too interested in the affairs of our state for my taste. It seems the summoning will be needed after all, for insurance. Is it prepared?"
"Yes, I believe everything is being prepared, no da. Miaka-sama is speaking with Ou-kun, and with any luck, he'll reveal himself as Chiriko tonight, no da." Though they were alone in the small back room adjacent to the banquet hall, Chichiri spoke very quietly.
"More importantly, Hotohori-sama... that man, Ayuru Gi, he's a Seiryuu seishi, there's no doubt about it. I don't think he's up to any good, no da. We need to keep him as far away from the ceremony as possible, no da. It might also be a good idea to keep an eye on him in case he attempts to contact Ji-hime or Kaen-san, no da. Miaka-sama's friend is still out there somewhere, and that makes me think that maybe..." he trailed off and looked up into the Emperor's eyes.
Hotohori knew deep in his very core that something about the Shogun wasn't right. For him to be a Seiryuu seishi... it made perfect sense.
"The summoning tomorrow will happen quickly. Guards will be posted to prevent the Shogun or his guards from being where they should not. Kaen is a good woman, not evil. I don't think we need to fear her. But I can't get a feel for Ji-hime."
"I have no doubt that Kaen-san is a good person, no da. But if the Shogun speaks with either of the other two Seiryuu seishi in the palace, then it'd be best if we knew what was going on, no da."
He looked down at his monk friend, smiling gently. "I agree. Also, the foreigners should be present for the summoning, don't you think? If I can trust you with the task of getting everyone to the temple tomorrow we should be fine."
Chichiri adjusted his mask in a motion that looked like he was rubbing his chin. This sense of foreboding would not go away, despite Hotohori's optimism.
"I'll take care of it, Hotohori-sama," Chichiri said with a slight bow of his head.
