Fushigi Yuugi (sorta): Through the Looking Glass

by Kati d'Esprit and Half-Esper Laura
Based on Fushigi Yuugi by Watase Yuu

On the eve of Yui's departure for Hokkan, Miaka's search for solace in Konan has ended in violence and disaster. Hotohori and Chichiri lay gravely wounded as Yui and the other Sei of Suzaku fly to their aid, racing against time.
And this moment of fear and pain is Yuuki Keisuke's first glimpse into "The Universe of the Four Gods."

Episode Twenty-nine:
A More Powerful Demon

"'The Suzaku no Miko and her Seishi sped to the palace with all haste, but they did not know in which of the many rooms the Emperor and the monk Chichiri were to be found,'" Hiro read. While he'd been alone, he had fallen into the habit of reading the book aloud, and was now too distraught to put habit aside for someone else.

Keisuke had been watching over Hiro's shoulder. Just as he'd implied, words and pictures appeared on leaves that Keisuke had seen blank, as if the book were writing itself as the events unfolded and the pages turned. Good timing with some funny ink? But one look at Hiro's face told him that if it was a trick, Hiro was the victim, not the trickster. The most convincing actor on the big screen couldn't fake the level of fear and concern—or the disheveled hair and deep rings under bloodshot eyes—that told Keisuke Hiro believed everything he was saying. He had already read his way through a thick handful of pages—almost half the book, in fact—and even now, he wasn't waiting for the pages to write themselves. They were there when he opened them, and not before. Nobody's timing with trick ink could be that good.

"It's true..." Keisuke muttered. He could hardly believe he was saying it. What was happening before his eyes was hard to deny, but his mind was flooded with a thousand objections. I still can't believe Miaka would stab someone... G'ahh, what am I even thinking!? This is fantasy-stuff! This can't happen!

But if it didn't, then how...?

Hiro remained locked into the words on each newly-written page, completely oblivious to Keisuke's mental struggles. "'They followed the guardsmen who ran to aid the emperor, but as she ran, the Suzaku no Miko saw a sight that gave her pause. . .'"

*******

Yui's own sense of direction was subsumed in dashing alongside the crowd; her peripheral vision was enough to keep her moving with them, and she turned her head away from the destination that she trusted the guards three bodies ahead of her to know. Oh God... Oh, Suzaku... Please let us get there in time...

Staring at the wall beside her, she suddenly saw it vanish into a connecting hallway, and further down it someone, cropped in a box of walls like a movie frame. Flashes of black, someone in blue, with shaggy hair...

Yui seized the wall on the far side of the crossing passage to stop herself before he flickered out of view—Amiboshi! He froze, too, as those black-cloaked assassins streaked by behind him. He turned toward Yui, and their eyes met for a jolting moment. He was giving a look of such regret, even across that distance.

Tamahome appeared over her shoulder. "Yui, wha— You!!" He sprang toward Amiboshi.

"Tamahome, wai—!"

Tamahome froze a moment before Yui's voice did as one of the black-cloaks paused and turned toward them, just enough for a glimpse of a familiar face and buns of brown hair resting in the crook of his arm.

"Miaka!" Yui cried. Tamahome took a step back and knocked his elbow against her, and by the time they regained their balance, the hallway stood empty. Amiboshi and Miaka were gone.

Dread gripped Yui. Amiboshi's look of regret... Was that "I'm sorry he's dead"!?

"How could she—" Tamahome started.

"Never mind, let's go!" Yui cried, dashing for Hotohori and Chichiri again.

By the time they arrived at the audience chamber, Mitsukake was already at work, the red glow of his healing power shining over the prone figures of Hotohori and Chichiri. Yui froze several feet away from the grisly sight of a huge pool of blood surrounding the two of them. Could anyone survive losing that much...? Her heart held its breath in suspense; seconds dragged on forever until Mitsukake lifted his hands and rose.

Nuriko lifted Chichiri in her arms. "The wound's still there!"

Does that mean he couldn't heal it? Yui asked herself. That they were already...?

"I healed enough that they'll recover," Mitsukake assured them, to Yui's immense relief. "I'm going to try to help the guard."

"At Amiboshi's room, too," Yui said, hardly even realizing why.

"Amiboshi!?" Nuriko asked.

Yui ran to Hotohori, leaving Tamahome to reply. "Yeah, he's out. We saw him in the hall."

The responses faded into background chatter as Yui fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around Hotohori, her head against his chest. Surely this is okay... Surely...

She felt his arms on her back and raised her head as he held her. His eyes were distant, as if on the edge of sleep, his voice very weak. "Yui..."

"It's okay, I'm here," she said. "Mitsukake said you'd be fine." She reached to brush strands of his hair, wet and sticky with blood, away from his face, and he twinged as her fingers touched a raw wound on his neck. The one we all felt... With a gentle hand on his chin, she turned where she could see it... Red on red, torn into his smooth, bloodstained skin was a backward L-shape, framing behind and below the place where his Mark of Suzaku would appear.

"Itai no da..."

Yui heard a moan and turned to see Nuriko still holding Chichiri, having sent Tamahome and others after Amiboshi. Nuriko had the smiling mask in her hand, and Chichiri reached for it without even looking as her brown eyes widened at other thoughts entirely. "Hotohori-chan...!?"

"Mitsukake's been here," Nuriko assured her. "He'll be fine."

As Chichiri turned toward her voice, the L-scar on her cheek turned into Yui's view. Will Hotohori have a scar like that now, on his neck?

Hotohori moaned slightly, and Yui found a detached, quizzical look on his face. "...'-chan'...?"

"Suzaku no Miko-sama, please stand aside."

Yui looked up at the court physicians, and reluctantly let go and stood back for them.

*******

"'When Mitsukake had healed their wounds enough to allow them to recover, the Emperor and Chichiri were borne to their chambers to rest,'" Hiro read, falling back on the couch in relief. "'Tamahome and a group of guardsmen sought Amiboshi and his Miko, but found nothing, and although most of those wounded in the fighting had already died, Mitsukake helped those few surviving until he had exhausted his power.'"

Keisuke spoke up in the pause as Hiro turned the page. "Hiro."

"Uah! What!?"

"Hey! Calm down!" Keisuke said, but with a soft tone. "Let me take it for awhile, okay?"

Hiro pulled back from him as he reached for the book.

"I don't mean take it away, just let me take a shift at reading it."

"Why?" Hiro asked.

"I... I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to think you're right, and I want to see for myself. Besides, you look like you could really use a rest."

Hiro held the book against his chest for a long moment, considering. "I guess you're right," he said, handing it over and getting up from the couch. "I'm gonna get dressed..."

"Okay."

Hiro paused at the entrance to the hall. "But you have to tell me if anything happens!"

"I will, I will," Keisuke agreed. As Hiro disappeared into the back of the apartment, he turned to the book and began to read. 'There was much talk of delaying the Suzaku no Miko's departure, but at the Emperor's behest and with a heavy heart, she decided to leave as planned.

'The next morning, when Mitsukake had rested, he was able to return the monk Chichiri to full health, but she insisted that he save his strength for the journey, saying that she would remain with the Emperor and use her power to rejoin them when she had recovered. Chichiri's wounds were the more severe, so the others bade farewell to her and left her to rest. Nuriko especially offered his wishes for her swift recovery.

'Tamahome left the palace early that morning to bid goodbye to his family, and after the noon meal, the Sei of Suzaku gathered at the ship that would take them to Hokkan. While Chichiri rested, the Emperor accompanied them in his palanquin, to see the Suzaku no Miko off at the last. ...'

*******

The bearers set up a chair for Hotohori on the dock, and Yui stood beside him as the others boarded. Nuriko insisted on checking the ship from stem to stern—at times Yui thought she took her job as a guard almost too seriously, but one could never be too careful. The previous night had proven that.

"You're sure you don't want me to stay?" Yui asked Hotohori. "I could catch up along with Chichiri..."

"I don't want to be a temptation to you," Hotohori said. "Besides, if you stay here, with Kutou's agents about, you would have only Chichiri and I to protect you, and neither of us is well."

"But what about you? After all, you're the Emperor. If it'd be so unsafe to stay here, what if they attack you again? They already tried it once."

"I think they were only desperate to get to Miaka, and I was in their way. The guards are on high alert, at least enough to prevent another surprise-attack. I'm not so badly-off that I can't take care of myself." Hotohori had carefully avoided revealing that it had been Miaka herself who attacked him. He didn't want to even imagine how it would hurt Yui to know the truth.

"But, I hate to—" Yui cut off and looked up at Tamahome coming up the dock, carrying a purple parcel of some sort. "Tamahome!" Hotohori tried to turn and look, but found it painful to turn his head that far. "Packed and ready?" Yui asked as he came up beside them.

Tamahome shrugged. "What am I gonna bring?"

It was a bit of a shock for Yui to recall that, being used to packing for sleepovers at Miaka's house. When she'd first met Tamahome, so long ago, he'd been wandering the countryside, carrying practically nothing. "Well, what's that, then?" she asked, pointing to the bundle.

"Oh, this is Hotohori-sama's," he said, planting a hand on the back of Hotohori's chair and offering it. It was the purple silk shirt he had worn when he'd travelled with Yui. "You left this at the old house. Gyokuran washed it up and sent it back for you."

Hotohori took it and smiled. "I'm glad to know your family. Such honest people."

"Yeah. Shunkei and Yuiren are really looking forward to their lessons, too. —Well, I mean..." Tamahome suddenly dropped his warm tone and foundered for something to say.

Although she wasn't looking forward to dealing with Tamahome's feelings for her along this quest, Yui couldn't help but laugh. It seemed Tamahome had suddenly remembered that he couldn't let himself like the man who was Yui's fiancé rather than himself.

"What?" he protested.

"Tamahome!" Nuriko called from the deck of the ship. "C'mere and give us a hand!"

"Coming," he shouted, and ran off.

"He didn't even tell you goodbye," Yui remarked.

"He said enough," Hotohori said, holding the purple shirt to his chest.

She paused. "Listen, I hate to leave you like this. Mitsukake said he could heal Chichiri this morning, and she was hurt worse than you, so I'm sure..."

Hotohori shook his head. "I agree with her that Mitsukake should save his power to help you. Besides, Chichiri saved my life. I'd feel guilty if I took advantage of her sacrifice."

Yui frowned with annoyance. "You really can be a martyr sometimes."

He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Sad as it is, this might also be the only way that the Emperor is allowed a rest. This, I can take," —he pointed to the bandages around his neck— "but I need time to recover from your departure."

At that, Yui's face softened a bit. "Well, if that's—"

Suddenly a scream and a loud splash made them both whip around to look—Tasuki was splashing in the water several feet from the bank, and Tamahome was on deck... laughing...?

"I can't swim! Help me!!" Tasuki screamed.

"Tasuki!" Yui cried.

Already Nuriko had dived over the side; she paddled to where Tasuki was foundering, wheeled around in the water—and stood up. The water stood midway up her thighs. "Tasuki?"

"Help me! Help, I'm drowning!"

Nuriko watched him splash around for another second before lifting him by the scruff of his coat and setting him on his feet, leaving him with a dumbfounded look Yui would have thought beneath his macho dignity. On the ship, Tamahome howled with laughter until Nuriko had had enough. She picked Tasuki up by the coat again, swung him around like a sack, and hurled him in an upward arc back onto the ship—and right into Tamahome, sending them both crashing to the deck. "We're ready anytime, Yui!" Nuriko called, and began wading back to the dock.

Yui turned back to Hotohori. "Pray for me."

"I always do," he replied, "and I wish you safety and success. I'll be counting the hours until I see you again."

"Thank you," she said. "I... um..." She glanced at Nuriko coming closer and cast about for a way to say goodbye. Hotohori smiled at her, but his brown eyes sparkled sadly. At last she leaned over and embraced him cheek-to-cheek, one last time before the long separation...

"Yui..."

"Well, I held you last night," she said, sniffling back her tears. "I couldn't let the last time be like that, could I?"

He wrapped his arms around her. "Yes," he said. "We should part with something pleasant." He guided her cheek with one hand, and gave her a kiss that left them both smiling despite their tears. He beckoned one of the servants, who came forth carrying a sword, which Hotohori took and offered to Yui. "And please, take this with you. This is the sword Taiitsukun gave me. If it was made to bring out my power from Suzaku, maybe it will let some of my power be with you and protect you."

Yui nodded, taking the sword. "I'll miss you," she said.

"And I you. Hurry back."

Yui rose as Nuriko arrived beside them, soaking wet. "Are you ready, Yui?" she asked.

Yui nodded. "Goodbye, Hotohori."

"Goodbye, Yui," he replied, "Nuriko." Nuriko bowed deeply. As she accompanied Yui up the gangplank, Hotohori saw Chiriko at the railing and waved. The other Seishi gathered on the deck as the ship pulled away from the dock, and they all waved and called out their goodbyes. Hotohori waved back for as long as the moment lasted, and he remained sitting on the dock for some time, watching the ship until it dwindled into a small shape, far away. At last he returned to the palanquin and let himself be carried back to the palace.

What he had said to Yui was true. His court was in recess until he had fully recovered, and for the first time in a long time, he would be able to rest. He hoped that that would give him time to adjust to Yui and the others' absence, but also feared that it would only make the silence more extreme. That silence... That loneliness again...

He knew that he should leave Chichiri to rest, but felt too drained to resist the temptation of clinging to the last bit of company. When he returned to the palace, he had his larger-than-ever entourage of guards accompany him to Chichiri's room. After the attack the previous night, their extremely cautious procedures made the two hallways he had to cross to get there seem a mile long. It was like a breath of fresh air to leave the guards at her door at last, go into a room empty except himself and Chichiri asleep in bed, and sit down in a chair beside her, and he let himself sigh at the end of the effort.

"Did everybody leave no da?" Chichiri asked softly.

Hotohori started slightly. "I didn't realize you were awake." After all, her eyes were always closed like that.

"I get that a lot no da," she said with a weak hint of a chuckle.

"But yes, the others are underway." He sat silent for a long moment in the half-light filtering in through the paper window.

"How do you feel no da?"

"Not bad," he said. "Mitsukake said that you'd done well. Thank you again for saving my life."

"My pleasure no da."

"But he repaired more of the damage... Now it's really just a flesh wound; I'm only a bit tired. I must confess, to have a rest, I've been taking advantage of it a bit."

"I can certainly understand that no da."

Hotohori smiled sadly. "I feel guilty saying it to you. It was very noble of you, asking Mitsukake to save his power when you could have been over this immediately."

"Well, what I mean is, I had my own reasons for saying that, too no da," Chichiri said with a slow wink.

"Hm?"

"As long as I'm recovering, I can stay here with you no da."

He struggled to wrap his mind around what she was saying. "Chichiri... You can't possibly mean..."

"No, not like that no da!" she insisted, though her voice was still dull and she was too pale to properly blush. "But you're my friend, and I don't want you to be left all alone and sad no da. When I asked how you felt, I meant that, too no da."

Again he forced a weak smile. "It's nothing I haven't dealt with before."

"That bad no da, ne?" she asked. "Sometimes problems are worse after you've had a taste of a better way no da. I could never to back to the way my life was, before I started wandering no da."

"I see your point," he said, "but in this case, all I can do is accept it."

"That's not true no da."

He paused. "Surely you're not planning to stay here indefinitely. Yui needs you."

"She needs you, too, probably moreso no da."

"But I can't— You're not offering to take my place again...?"

"Nai, nai no da," she said. "Not after you got mad like that, and you forgot to tell me about the little bits of arsenic in your food no da...*" She made a face.

"Terribly sorry! I just don't think about it," Hotohori apologized. "But yes, I learned my lesson about that, too. As we were coming back, Yui even said she wished I hadn't come..."

Chichiri blinked. "Did she really no da? I mean, was she just upset, or did she really mean it no da?"

"I think she was just upset, but still..." he said. "I imagined you did that to teach me my lesson, that my place was here."

Chichiri jerked up with such force that Hotohori caught her by her shoulders for fear she would hurt herself. "Nai, nai no da! That's not it at all; please don't ever think that no da!" she cried. "It was because you seemed to think being the Emperor was all you could do to help no da. I wanted to show you that you could go with Yui-chan and protect her just like any of us, and you can no da. When we were travelling, Nuriko-chan told me about all the ways you protected Yui-chan then; you were very brave no da!"

"Well, that was no more than I should have done," he said, easing her back down into bed.

She pouted. "Now you're just being stubborn no da. You say you didn't do anything, and then if I point out something you did, you say it doesn't count no da. How am I supposed to win no da?"

Hotohori gave a good-natured laugh. "You're right, and I apologize. Truthfully, I put myself in danger for her in ways I certainly wouldn't have out of simple obligation."

"There, you see no da? I know you want to be with Yui-chan and protect her still, and you've proven you can do it no da."

"As far as that's concerned, yes," he said, "but you know I can't go with you."

"Why not no da?"

Hotohori gave a slightly exasperated sigh. "I'm the Emperor. For me to leave the capital—"

"I know all that no da," Chichiri said. "It just isn't done no da ne? It just isn't done for young girls to go off travelling alone and become monks and act all weird and speak up to Emperors, either, but when my heart says I must do a thing, whether it's 'proper' or not doesn't matter no da. I think it's like that for everyone, or at least it should be no da."

"It isn't like that for me," Hotohori said.

Chichiri paused. "Hotohori-..."

"You were about to call me '-chan', weren't you?"

"Anou..."

"You did last night."

"I'm sorry no da. I always do that with people I like; it's weird not to be able to with you no da."

"I don't mind, if no one else hears it. Yui and the other Seishi could, I suppose."

"I was hoping you'd say that, Hotohori-chan." She took to the permission without a pause. "If you don't mind, why does anyone else no da? About you having to stay, I really think things would be all right no da. I can't believe someone who would throw himself into battle with a demon to protect Yui-chan would back down against 'It just isn't done' no da."

Hotohori smiled sadly. "For someone like me, that's a more powerful demon than Shikkonki."

"It really must be, to get the better of you no da."

Hotohori sat for a long moment, quiet and thoughtful. "I'm tired after going out this morning," he said. "I'm going back to my room to rest awhile."

"Come back soon no da?"

"Yes. Tomorrow at the latest, why?"

"Well, I get lonely, too no da. While I'm laid up like this, all I can do is look at the ceiling—and it's a really boring ceiling no da," she added, with another slow wink.

"Yes, I suppose it is," he said, looking as he rose to go. "I"ll speak to someone about that."

*******

'The Emperor commanded that a tapestry embroidered with a mandala of the Four Gods and their constellations be hung on the ceiling above Chichiri's sick-bed before he retired to his own chambers to rest. The servants who performed this task marvelled at Chichiri, that despite her wounds she laughed merrily as they went about their work.'

Keisuke stopped before turning the page; Hiro had gone back to change clothes some time ago, and he'd probably want to know that Yui had left for... wherever. Or this could all be part of the gag. At any rate, Keisuke went back after him. The first room he looked into was obviously Yui's, empty and dim with all the lights out. At the end of the hall, he found Hiro's room—and Hiro in his street clothes, collapsed on the bed, asleep. He only moaned and stirred at the sound from the door. Keisuke thought better of it and silently returned to the living room. Better now to let Hiro sleep.

He turned back to the book and flipped over the next page. 'As the Suzaku no Miko left Konan behind, the Seiryuu no Miko sped homeward toward Kutou.' Finally, more about my supposed sister. 'There, Nakago and other Sei of Seiryuu eagerly awaited she and her Sei Amiboshi's return, for they could not know what sorrowful tidings Amiboshi brought.'

*******

With Soi still sick and Miboshi and Tomo otherwise engaged, Nakago watched the coach come to rest, flanked by Suboshi and Ashitare. The door opened and a pair of black-cloaks swept out and to either side, followed by Amiboshi. Suboshi ran forward to hug his brother after the long absence, as Nakago approached more slowly to greet Miaka. With another cloaked agent prodding her, she descended from the carriage, her face downcast and sullen. Nonetheless Nakago took her in his arms and held her gently and warmly. "Miaka! I'm so glad to see you safely return. Please, don't do anything so dangerous again! Everyone was terribly worried."

Miaka stayed silent for another moment. "Can I go to my room now?"

"Yes, of course." He motioned over some palace guards to escort her. "Are you all right?"

"I'm just tired."

"Very well. Guards, escort the Seiryuu no Miko to her chambers. Ashitare, please go with them."

With a nod, Ashitare went loping after the guards as they led Miaka into the palace. She kept herself at a careful distance from him.

Nakago sighed at watching her go in such an attitude, and turned back to the coach as the twins approached him. "Amiboshi?"

"I know," Amiboshi said. Standing next to his brother, he had the same build and features, but anyone could see more cares in Amiboshi's face, now more than ever. "I need to talk to you alone."

"Onii-chan? Are you feeling okay?" Suboshi asked.

"No, not really..."

Nakago led them to his study, arguably the most private room in the palace, due to his diligence, and he placed a barrier around the room as they entered for added security. The twins took seats, Amiboshi practically collapsing into a chair.

"Amiboshi, what happened? I knew this was going to be a messy operation, but..."

"It was past that, it was a disaster," Amiboshi moaned.

"Miaka.. Did something happen to her?"

"I don't know," he said. "I don't know why she's like this. She followed Tamahome to Konan, but then... She was scared of you, and she's mad at Miboshi about something..."

"I assure you she's not alone in that," Nakago remarked.

"But she refused to come home!" Amiboshi said. "The black-cloaks had to knock her out with drugs to get her to come!"

Nakago started. "Are you serious!?"

"Believe me, I wish I wasn't."

Nakago found himself a chair to collapse in and rested his forehead on his hand. Dear Seiryuu, she's worse than before! I'll never abandon or betray my Miko, but to put the power of Seiryuu into her hands now would be a disaster, for Konan and Kutou, and maybe herself most of all. Damn you, Miboshi! And I don't care if you heard that, either!

"That's not the worst of it," Amiboshi said.

"What!?" How can this possibly get worse!?

"I don't know how it happened. Two of Suzaku's Seishi, Hotohori-sama and Chichiri, they must have found her out..." As Amiboshi poured out the story, his brother sat beside him, supporting him with an arm on his back. "I don't know how she could have fought two Sei of Suzaku, but..."

Nakago's eyes widened. "What did she do!?"

"I didn't get a good look. We just had to grab her and run, but there was so much blood... They could both be dead..." He saw Nakago reeling from the news. "I'm sorry. I know Chichiri is—or was—your friend..."

"You're sure Miaka did this?"

"Yes, although Seiryuu knows how."

With a hand on his desk, Nakago visibly steadied himself. "Hotohori can't be dead. Our intelligence would surely have picked it up if the Emperor of Konan had been killed. Chichiri—" His mind caught on her as if snagged in a bramble. A friend, he'd betrayed her trust, and lost her on those terms forever, maybe—Can't afford to think about her now... "But we know that the Summoning Ceremony did fail, and now they're looking for Genbu and Byakko's Shinzahou, heading for Hokkan, by all accounts..."

"Nakago, isn't there... Can't we just stop?" Amiboshi pleaded. "I don't want anything like that to happen again. I don't know what to do!" He buried his face in his hands. "I want to be a good Sei, and protect Miaka-sama, but she won't let me. How can I be afraid of my Miko? How could she do that!?"

"It's war," Suboshi said. "Sometimes people have to do ugly things."

Amiboshi shook his head. "If it was really like that, they'd have killed me. The whole time they thought I was Chiriko, and even after that, considering, they were so good... If Yui summoned Suzaku, it wouldn't be so bad! Can't we just stop fighting it?"

"And let them win!?" Suboshi protested.

"If they did, I don't think we'd lose. That's why I don't know what to do. How can I watch someone stab two people to death, who've been good and honorable to me, and take the killer's side and help her summon my god!?"

Nakago had remained silent, listening thoughtfully, and now spoke again. "You know of course everything we're saying here is of the utmost secrecy."

The twins nodded.

"Miaka... Somehow I still believe that she is a true Miko, but she's been through terrible things, and isn't in her right mind. I agree that if she gains the power of Seiryuu now, the results will be disastrous. I believe it is within our duty as her Seishi to keep her from summoning Seiryuu until she is ready. If not, she could well put herself in danger."

Suboshi stared incredulously, as Amiboshi looked more desperately hopeful. "Then, why..."

"But if we act complacent, there's our Emperor to deal with, too. He has to believe that Seiryuu will be summoned first, otherwise he's likely to launch a bloody and foolish attack on Konan."

"So we have to put on an act for him?" Suboshi surmised.

Nakago nodded. "And there's one other complicating factor: Miboshi. He has an agenda of his own, although I don't know what it is, and his power makes him very dangerous. Blocking his telepathy is exhausting even for me, so we can assume he knows all our moves while we know none of his. I think he's also used it to manipulate Miaka to his own ends, and he deserves some blame for her behavior."

"Do you think he wants to control her wishes from Seiryuu?" Suboshi asked.

"I don't know," Nakago admitted, "but he's already betrayed his sacred duty to her, and I'm certain he'd betray us all if it was to his advantage. Putting on a show for the Emperor would be simple enough, but with Miboshi in the equation, we're divided against ourselves."

"I know Ashitare's on our side," Amiboshi said. "What about Tomo?"

"He has many things, but an agenda isn't one of them," Nakago said, seeming almost relieved at the change of subject. "I don't think he'll take a side in this of his own. I'll have to put some thought into playing up to him properly, but it should be manageable. Our main concern will be Miboshi, and, tragic as it is, Miaka."

Amiboshi frowned sadly. "So the real war is all us, and Sei of Suzaku are caught in the middle of it."

"So it seems."

"So what do we do now?" Suboshi asked.

"Keep playing the 'war,'" Nakago said with a sigh. "That's the only way to satisfy the Emperor or Miaka, and I think it will keep Miboshi relatively quiet, too. We'll go to Hokkan, and fight the Sei of Suzaku for Genbu's Shinzahou."

Amiboshi sighed heavily and sagged in his chair.

"Please, try to get some rest," Nakago said, rising and clasping his shoulder on the way to the door. "I may not show it, but I'm still a bit in shock. I need more time to think."

Each with a different sort of nod, the twins left, Suboshi trying to comfort his brother, but obviously with no idea how to do it.

Nakago followed them out of the study, but took different turns in the hallways. When he passed the guards at the door to Soi's room and opened it, he braced himself against the heat-blast of air; it was almost overpowering these days, to keep her warm enough, but nonetheless Nakago entered, set aside his cape and armor, and took the customary seat by the bed.

When Seiryuu was summoned, he would have wished for her health, but even if he could secure that favor from Miaka now, Soi would never forgive him paying such a price. One of the Sei of Suzaku could heal, but he'd already made enemies of them. Now he'd have to set out against them to hold off full-scale war, and if he attempted an alliance thus in the field, then the Sei of Seiryuu would become exiles—and he couldn't take Soi away from here in her condition, so that scenario would make her a casualty of war before it could effect her cure.

He pressed her cool hand against his face, which ran salt-drops of sweat and tears.

"The real war is all us."

And the Sei of Suzaku weren't the only ones caught in the middle.

To Be Continued...

PREVIEW

Yui has set out down the river toward Hokkan and the next leg of her quest, and Nakago and the Sei of Seiryuu see little choice but to follow. Those setting out cross obstacles of land and water, but the most difficult crossings are those within oneself—crossings that have yet to be made by one left behind.
NEXT TIME:
Crossing the River

* Royalty was sometimes fed small amounts of arsenic to build tolerance.