Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play

Chapter 36

A Journey Completed

:Or:

Suzaku in heaven, I'm going to strangle that boy

By:

NightMare

With bad puns and wrinkled dollars from:
Annikia Valentine

Dedicated to:
The Mighty Trumpet Loving Frog

---

Author's Quote: "Beauty magazines read you not, make you feel ugly and green they will. Yees. … Just one minute you wait! What is wrong with being ugly and green I ask? Hmm?" Yoda from the Sunscreen Song.

---

In reality, sleeping between her seishi like this wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Sharon smiled to herself and snuggled deeper into the soft pillow she shared with Nuriko. At first, the prospect of having to sleep in the same bed with five men was a little unnerving. Now, though, she didn't mind. Sandwiched between Nuriko and Hotohori was enough to make her feel safe.

She was sandwiched comfortably between Nuriko and Hotohori, with Genrou taking up the narrow space of bed behind Nuriko and Kotuku on the other. Poor Mitsukake had to lay crosswise at their feet, making the taller of her seishi curl their legs in a little and crowding the small space even further. Sharon giggled to herself. It was like a blanket scenario fic gone horribly wrong.

The room was quiet, but she doubted anyone had gone to sleep yet. They had just blown out the candle after all. As cramped as everything was, it was going to take a while for anyone to get to sleep. Sharon tucked her hands under her head and absently stared at Nuriko. He was watching her too. There wasn't much light to see by, but it was easy to see he was as bored and uncomfortable as she was. Suddenly a mischievous smile curled across his face. Sharon was immediately on guard. Uh-oh. With a slow, almost lazy air, Nuriko lifted his hand and gently squeezed her shoulder.

"Finally a little bonding time for all of us," Nuriko said throatily. "Where shall we start?"

"Stop it!" Sharon whispered back, batting his hand away. She was glad Nuriko couldn't see the blush that was coming to her face. Why did he have to be so perverted?

"You even invited a stranger to join us…wanted some new experience?" he continued, completely unperturbed. Sharon put her hands in front of her face and tried to make herself smaller.

"Nurikooo!" she whined.

"Stop talkin' like that, ya pervert. I'm gonna be too sick ta sleep in a minute," Genrou said.

"Do you always…umm…sleep like this?" Kotuku asked. He sounded as if he actually believed Nuriko. Oh gaah.

"No…Nuriko was just teasing," Hotohori said. Thank you, Hori-kun. Sharon thought.

"Yeah. It was just a joke kid so ya better keep yer hands to yerself."

"I was going to," Kotuku said. Sharon turned away from Nuriko and faced Hotohori. At least he wouldn't try to embarrass her further.

"Oh, indifference now?" Nuriko asked, giving her hair a gentle pull. Sharon decided to ignore him.

"Don't worry, I will keep you safe," Hotohori said, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. Sharon was about to push away, decided she really didn't mind and relaxed. She liked his warmth and besides, it would annoy Nuriko.

Quiet settled over the room again. Sharon yawned and snuggled closer. This wasn't really so bad. Forget what Nuriko said. Not that she would do this every night…at least not in a bed this small. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted to sleep.

---

Genrou snorted awake. The small sliver of a waning moon shone outside the window. He blinked at it absently and wondered how much time had passed. It hadn't seemed like he was asleep for very long. He'd had a weird dream that a feather was tickling his nose and, he realized with a sleepy start, something still was.

He picked up the thing. It felt silky and was kind of heavy. He stared at it for a long while in the dim light until he realized it was the end of hair tied in a braid. He sweatdropped. Nuriko. Couldn't he keep his hair to himself? Genrou tossed Nuriko's braid to the man's other side, yawned and tried to go back to sleep.

---

Sharon started awake as something hit her in the face. She lay still for a moment, trying to calm her beating heart. Then she picked up the thing that had hit her. At first she thought it was a rope, then realized it was a braid. Nuriko. But how had it hit her? She shrugged, tossed his braid to his other side and closed her eyes again.

---

Genrou's eyes shot open as the braid hit him in the forehead. What the-? How the hell had it-? Then he narrowed his eyes. Sharon… of course. So the little girl wanted to play that way did she? He threw the braid back, hard.

---

Mitsukake slowly opened his eyes. The bed was moving and he kept hearing whispering voices. He groaned softly as he realized who the voices belonged to.

"Ow! Cut it out, dork!"

"You started it, little girl!"

"Did not!"

He sat up and watched them throwing something back and forth. He would have to take that away from them too. Without checking to see what it was, he caught the rope like thing in mid-flight and pulled.

---

Nuriko was jolted awake when sharp pain pulled at his scalp. Someone was pulling his hair! He clenched his hand into a fist. Whoever did that was going to get it good.

---

Mitsukake's eyes widened as he realized what exactly he was pulling. He tossed the braid to Tasuki without thinking about it and lay back down, nearly squashing Tama-neko that had been resting above his head.

---

Genrou blinked at the braid lying in his hands. Now why had…? Nuriko slowly rose to a sitting position and gave him a look that promised certain death. Genrou smiled sheepishly and handed the braid back to him. This was gonna hurt.

---

Sharon muffled her giggles as she heard the bandit hit the wall. He'd deserved it, too. She heard him slide down the wall and hit the narrow space of floor with a thump and a groan. If it weren't so dark, she'd risk looking up to see his expression.

She giggled for a little while longer in short bursts until she no longer found the situation as funny. Then she realized she was thoroughly awake and there was nothing she could do about it. She sighed. Stupid bandit. This was all his fault.

A long while later, she was still awake. She honestly tried to sleep but her eyes kept springing back open. Maybe she could take a little walk in the hall until she wore herself out. She had promised Hotohori that she wouldn't go running off…but she wasn't exactly running off anyway…and if someone tried to attack her she would just scream the place down. She waited, though, until the bed shifted slightly as Genrou got back in. Then waited a little while longer until she was certain he was asleep.

Biting her lip, she got on her hands and knees and slowly backed up, trying not to move the bed to much. Her foot brushed up against something warm and solid. Mitsukake. Crap. If she woke him up she'd never get out of bed. Sharon held her breath and carefully maneuvered in the narrow space, so she was facing Mitsukake. Then slowly, gently, got to her feet, spreading out her arms as the bed trembled beneath her. She'd have to make a jump for it. The bed wasn't so far off the ground but there was a narrow space. Sharon hesitated a moment longer, then nodded and jumped over him. She hit the floor with a solid thump and dinged her shoulder against the wall. Sharon winced, placing her hand flat against the wall as she listened carefully for the signs of her seishi waking. Nothing. Yay! She'd made it! Sharon grinned to herself and carefully tiptoed out of the room.

---

Kotuku yawned and wrapped his arms around his legs. The hallway was empty. His companion was supposed to have shown up an hour ago. A strange thump sounded in the room and his heart jumped. He clenched his hand into a fist absently and looked at the door. Had that noise come from their room? He stared at the door intently, listening for sounds of footsteps. There was a shimmer of air and suddenly a tall man swathed in black popped into existence right in front of him. Kotuku startled and it was all he could do not to yelp in surprise.

"Did I scare you?" the man asked, a smirk evident in his voice.

"No," Kotuku said. The man made a soft noise of disbelief, then leaned forward, pulling the cloth from his mouth and pitching his voice low. Kotuku had to strain to hear.

"That girl you are with," the man whispered. "She is the Suzaku no Miko."

"Are you sure?" Kotuku asked, half knowing the truth but wanting to be absolutely positive.

"Yes. The company she travels with makes her obvious for anyone with half a mind," the man said in a mocking tone. Kotuku looked away from him, ignoring the insult for now. There were more important things to think about. Sharon was the Suzaku no Miko. That was too bad. She seemed really nice too. If circumstances were different he could really get to like her. He couldn't like her now though; he couldn't afford to like her.

"So what now, my lord? My bats stand at ready."

"I don't know yet. Let's just-" he stopped when the door to their room began to creak open. His companion glanced behind him, then lifted a hand in the air vanished as silently and suddenly as he'd appeared. Kotuku breathed a silent sigh of relief as Sharon stepped out into the hall and looked around. That had been close. Very close.

"Were…you talking to someone, Kotuku?" she asked in a hushed whisper. He debated on what to tell her. He wasn't sure how much she'd heard. Well, there was no suspicion in her voice, so she couldn't have heard too much.

"Just the innkeeper checking to see if I was all right."

"Oh. That's nice of him." She yawned hugely, stretching her arms over her head. But instead of going back into the room, she came and sat beside him, leaning against the wall. There was silence for a time; the only sounds the occasional cough from someone down the hall. Sometime he would have to tell her he was Chiriko. But what could he say? What was the best way to approach it?

"Couldn't sleep either huh?" her quiet voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Not really," he said, stretching a leg out to work out the cramp forming in his calf. "I have trouble sleeping in strange places."

"Not me, I can zonk out anywhere," she said. Her teeth flashing in a grin. Kotuku couldn't help but smile back. Sharon yawned again, stretching her hands out in front of her before hugging her knees to her chest.

"So why are you traveling?" she asked. "If it's not too personal.."

That was it. The perfect opening. Kotuku took it while he had the chance.

"I'm…looking for someone."

"Yeah? Me too. I don't think I'll ever find him, though…or her…"

"You don't know the gender of the person you're looking for?" he asked with a slight laugh.

"Sounds stupid doesn't it?" She rested her cheek on her knees and looked at him.
"I'm looking for a seishi. He's the last one I've got to find. So we can finally summon Suzaku."

That was the last thing he wanted her to do. Kotuku didn't say anything for a moment for drama's sake and then slowly turned to stare at her.

"You…you can't mean. Are you the Suzaku no Miko?"

She met his gaze, her eyes flickering with excitement.

"Yes," she said hopefully.

"Well, Kotuku is my real name, but my seishi name is Chiriko." He was about to show her the tattooed red sign but she squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Yay! This is so great! We must have met on the hill for a reason. I won't tell the others though, not 'til the morning anyway. Man, this is so cool! Now Tamahome can come back!"

Kotuku blinked, unsure of what to do as she continued to hug him. She hadn't even asked to see the sign. She couldn't just believe him on his word…could she? Was she really that naïve? Was it really that simple? She let him go and grinned wildly.

"I'm glad it's you…" she said.

"Why's that?"

"Because I like you. I really do. I think we'll get along great." Kotuku smiled but couldn't put any real emotion into it. A little spark of guilt began gnawing at the back of his mind. She was just setting herself up to be hurt…and he would have to be the one to hurt her.

---

Sharon was having a nice dream. It wasn't one of the ones where she felt the other person was actually there. No, this was just her normal dream. Golden fish flew overhead screaming softly into the wind. Stars shone in the water and crepe paper hung from the clouds in long strands of gold, red and iridescent.

She was sitting on a tall cliff…Tamahome beside her. They watched the purple waves crash onto the marshmallow rocks sending orange spray high into the air. It was so perfect. Tamahome leaned his head against her shoulder and she curled her fingers through his silky hair.

"That's it…I'm sick of this," he murmured. "I'm sorry I ain't gonna take another log to the head."

"What are you talking about?" she asked. He didn't say any more and neither did she. They sat on the cliff and idly watched a flying couch circle through the air.

---

Mitsukake was half-awake, the sun shining behind his eyelids. He didn't want to wake up quite yet. He still wanted to savor his sleep a bit more. A sheathed, but insistent paw began to poke his nose. He sighed.

"All right all right," he said opening his eyes and shooting a tired glare at his cat. "You just want to be fed don't you?" Tama hopped off his chest and grinned up at him from the floor. Mitsukake stood and stretched. The first thing he noticed was that Hotohori was gone and Nuriko was standing in the doorway looking rather amused. He soon saw the cause for Nuriko's amusement and couldn't help but snrk. Apparently the miko and the bandit got along better then they let on.

---

Sharon was beginning to wake up. Her internal alarm clock told her it was early but something in the back of her mind felt that something was off. She didn't feel like opening her eyes and tried to push thoughts around in her sleep deadened brain, trying to come up with an answer.

She wanted to go back to sleep as soon as possible. She had felt Nuriko wake up and knew that she would probably be rousted out of bed soon. There were still a few more minutes at least and maybe she could return to the dream with Tamahome. It almost felt like he was still right there beside her. She imagined she could still feel his hair under her fingers. In fact she almost could feel it. But that was ridiculous. Nuriko was up and the only possible person it could be was Gen…uh-oh. No. No way. She laughed inside nervously. There was no way…no phracking way…she wasn't…she couldn't be…she wasn't…no way…nuh-uh…not a chance…. She cautiously opened her eyes. Oh…gah. She was. Genrou opened his eyes.

"Eeh?" he said. Sharon rolled away from him as fast as she possibly could and bumped into Chiriko.

---

Kotuku grunted as his brother bumped into him, jarring him out of his light sleep. Shunkaku was probably going to try and pester him awake. Well not this morning. He was still tired and he refused to let his twin get him up. He put his hand squarely on Shunkaku's chest, to push him out of bed and froze. His brother squeaked in a high pitched voice. Shunkaku's chest had suddenly gotten soft.

He suddenly remembered he wasn't in Kutou any more and that whoever this was, it was not his brother. Unfortunately the only person it could be would be a very bad person to be touching in that place. He opened his eyes and blushed as his fears were confirmed. Uh-oh.

---

Sharon shoved Chiriko off the bed and proceeded to blush furiously, covering her chest where she could still just feel the warmth of his hand. That thought only made her blush more. Gah. Why did these things always have to happen to her? Chiriko stood. His face was beet red.

"I'm really…really sorry. I really did not mean to do that." Before she could come up with a reply, Genrou quite literally bounded over her, jumped to the floor, grabbed Chiriko's collar and lifted him up.

"You little shit! I told ya not ta touch her! I oughtta beat yer face in! Or mebbe I'll just fry yer ass!"

"It was an accident, I swear! I thought she was my brother!"

"So you're sayin' she looks like a boy? Huh? Is that what yer sayin'?"

"No that's not what I'm saying!"

"Then what the hell are ya sayin' ya cheap bastard?!" he snarled. He was overprotective wasn't he?

"Put him down, it was an accident," she said, putting a hand on his arm. He looked down at her.

"Are ya sure ya don't want me to get this junior pervert where it hurts?"

"Yes I'm sure."

Genrou gave her a look that plainly said he didn't like the idea but put Chiriko down anyway. Chiriko looked relieved.

"I'm warnin' ya kid. You ever touch her again and I'll kill ya."

Sharon smiled mildly. "But if you kill him then we'll never summon Suzaku." She felt the attention of three sets of eyes drawn to her.

"You mean he's…?" Nuriko started.

"Yup. He's Chiriko! Isn't that great?"

"Got any proof?" Genrou asked. Sharon rolled her eyes. Geez. He didn't trust anyone did he? Chiriko opened his shirt a bit to show the red kanji on his side right below his ribcage.

"See? There's no need to worry. From the way you talk you'd think he was a Kutou assassin come to kill us all," Sharon said cheerfully. Chiriko sweatdropped for some mysterious reason.

"Well I'm hardly that," he said, laughing nervously. Sharon stared at him, and then brushed it off. He was probably just nervous about Genrou.

Genrou…no…that wasn't right. As annoying as he could get, the past few days more then proved he was a Suzaku seishi. And, all in all, he really wasn't too bad. All he had to do was trust people more.

"Oh come on. You saw the mark. He's a Suzaku seishi, like you. Relax, Tasuki."

He stared at her. "What…what did you just call me?"

"Tasuki. That is your name isn't it?"

"Yeah…but…" he stuttered. She grinned at the startled expression on his face.

"Well shouldn't I call you by your name? And you call me weird."

---

Genrou continued to stare at her. For some reason his heart had jumped a mile when she'd called him by his seishi name. It felt like…she had accepted him and for some reason that was the most important thing that had ever happened to him. Maybe he could consider himself as Tasuki…

No. What the hell was he thinking? He wouldn't be Tasuki forever. Once they summoned Suzaku he was going to back to Reikaku. He couldn't forget his bandit roots. He could forget about her though. As soon as he left he would probably forget all about her. That thought didn't seem as good as it once had.

---

Hotohori watched the scenery passing with a light heart. Mitsukake had been right. Their brief stay in Sung had been refreshing…in more ways then one. Now that Chiriko was among them, they could finally return to Eiou. He couldn't wait to return to his home city and take control of his empire once more. It wasn't that he didn't trust Chichiri but what could a monk truly know about what he had been preparing for all his life?

Besides that there were many things he needed to do. Sending relief aid to Choukou for one, as well as some of the surrounding villages that had been hit. Also he needed to arrange extra troops to guard Sung and perhaps a ship or two as well. As for the Reikaku bandits…well…he could leave them be. They were insects, yes, but helpful insects that kept the worst ones at bay. And too, an emperor should not take revenge against his own people.

"We should reach the capital in two days if we hurry," Hotohori said.

"Yeah sure, I don't have a problem with it," Sharon said. They topped a small rise and a tiny village spread out below them. Sharon gasped.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked.

"Umm…are we really in that great a hurry?" she asked in an apologetic voice.

"Sharon, I know you like to see new places but we cannot stop at every village along the way. I must return to Eiou as quickly as possible." She sighed heavily.

"Yeah, you're right. I just wanted to see them again that's all."

"Them?"

"Yeah. Sen, Chuei, Shunkei, Gyokuran and Yurien. Sen's Tamahome's father and the others are his little siblings. I haven't seen them for a long time."

"I kind of miss them too," Nuriko said wistfully. "He has such a happy little family."

"It's kind of sad though. Sen was really sick the last time we left. Gyokuran said he's been sick for a long time."

"Do you know with what?" Mitsukake asked. Sharon turned to look at him.

"No…hey do you think you could…? Oh…no wait…never mind …we can't stop by there…. Can we? Just for a little bit? Hori-kun?" Sharon twisted to look back at him and fixed him with puppy-dog eyes. He smiled and shook his head.

"I knew I was beaten as soon as you mentioned Tamahome's family. We can go…but not for the night."

"Yes! Oh this is gonna be so great! Thanks Hori-kun!" Even though this was a delay, he couldn't keep the smile from his face. To see Sharon happy was worth more then anything to him.

---

Sharon fairly ran up to the house and knocked eagerly on the door. The door opened a crack and a ten-year-old blinked up at her. For a moment it didn't seem that Gyokuran would remember her, but then the door was flung open and Sharon was nearly knocked to the ground by the force of the girl's hug.

"Sharon! I was so worried. Kishuku wrote us and told us it was all right but I wasn't sure. I'm so glad you're safe."

"I'm fine Gyokuran. Really."

"Sharon! Sharon!" cried a little boy in a green shirt. Sharon laughed as he latched onto her leg.

"Heya Shun, did you miss me?"

"Yeah! I know a new trick with my 'yo! Wanna see?"

"Maybe later."

"About the only thing he can do with his 'yo is knock things off shelves," Gyokuran said. Yurien stumbled out of the house looking like she'd just woken up from a nap. The five-year-old looked at her for a moment, then her eyes lit up and she grabbed onto Sharon's other leg.

"Yay! I'm so glad you're back, big sister! Gyokuran said you might not be back but I knew you would be! Now you can stay with us forever right?"

"No. Not right now. I'm just visiting for a little bit. Is Chuei working?" Gyokuran looked up at her with sad eyes.

"Chuei went to look for a doctor. The medicine won't work anymore and Father's gotten a lot worse…"

"How long has he taken this medicine?" Mitsukake asked, coming to stand by her side. Gyokuran looked up in the air for a moment.

"Umm…since he started coughing I think…maybe a year and a half ago?"

"The disease probably built up immunity to it," Mitsukake said. Gyokuran looked up at him. She had to practically bend backwards just to look him in the face.

"Are you a doctor?"

"Yes I am." She grabbed onto his sleeve.

"Could you help our father please? Chuei has all our money with him, it isn't much but I swear he'll give you all of it once he gets back."

Mitsukake smiled and touched her head lightly.

"Don't worry about money. I don't need any."

"But…how will we pay you?" she asked, grabbing lightly at his sleeve. Mitsukake was silent a moment.

"Invite us to dinner?"

"Of course! Shunkei, you go start getting water to put in the kettle. Yurien, sweep the main room and make it look real pretty okay?"

"Real pretty, real pretty," Yurien sang and skipped into the house. Sharon smiled. She loved these kids.

---

Mitsukake sat and watched the controlled havoc in the small room. Nuriko was helping the oldest girl cook. The youngest girl was sitting on Hotohori's knee and listening with wide-eyed attention as he told her a story. Tasuki was being the rather reluctant center of attention for a talkative six-year-old. Chiriko and the oldest child were hunched in a corner playing with a little wooden top. Sharon laughed and he looked over at her. She was talking to the father and holding one of his hands.

The man who had once looked so gaunt and pale was now still a little gaunt, but life warmed his face and sparked his eyes. The disease was gone and now he was healthy again. Healing people drained him, but it was worth it to see their faces when they'd been cured. Worth it to hear the laughter of a relieved family. He had lived inside himself for so long, he'd forgotten what this happiness felt like. He was beginning to feel alive again.

---

"You have to stay for the night. It's been such a long time and I want to know what you've been up too. You shouldn't have run off like that. My children give me enough gray hairs as it is," Sen said. Sharon smiled and shook her head.

"No…there is no way I can do that. I mean, how are you planning to cram all six of us in here?"

"Where there's love there's always room my dear," he said, patting her hand.

"I know…but we really can't stay long. Hori-kun needs to get back to the capital pretty soon."

"What pressing business does he need to attend to that won't let you stay for a few days?" Sharon looked around to make sure that no one was watching and leaned closer.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course."

"Hori-kun is otherwise known as Saihitei…does that name ring a bell?" Sharon said. Sen's eyes widened.

"You can't mean he's the…"

Sharon put a finger to her lips and winked. He laughed.

"Well I'll be damned. That is rather pressing business isn't it? Well when you get a chance, you must come out and stay with us for a few weeks." She giggled.

"Is it just me or do you keep adding time to my visit?" He tried to appear innocent.

"There's nothing wrong with inviting you to stay for a few months."

"Or a few years."

"Or why not forever? We'd love to have you." Sharon couldn't help but laugh again.

"Now I see where Tamahome gets it from." Sen's face suddenly became serious.

"Speaking of which, where is my son? Is there a reason he's not with you?" Sharon studied the floor. She had been dreading this question.

"Your silence is chilling…"

"Well…he's not dead. We know that for sure."

"But you don't know where he is."

"No…we know that too."

"Do I want to know where he is?"

"Umm…probably not."

"I know I am going to regret asking this but…where?"

"Well…it…it sounds worse then it is…really."

"Let me guess. Kutou." Sharon blinked.

"How did you know?"

"I just thought of the worse possible place he could be. Was he taken?"

"No…he went on his own." Sen closed his eyes tightly.

"Suzaku in heaven, I'm going to strangle that boy. I'm worried enough about him as it is and he goes and does something like this to me."

"It was partly my fault."

"Don't blame yourself dear. Kishuku has always followed his emotions before thinking it through. It's something he gets from his mother." Just then, Chuei came up to them, his violet eyes shining. Sharon smiled; he had his hair down and looked just like a younger version of Tamahome.

"It's a good thing that Chuei takes after me or we'd never get anything done," Sen said, rumpling his son's hair.

"Would you like something?" Sharon asked.

"I was wondering if Chiriko could come down the river with me. I'm going to see if we can catch a fish for dinner."

"Of course. It's not like he needs my permission."

"Thank you."

---

Kotuku sat by the river, looking around the bank at the trees. He knew his companion was around here somewhere. His companion followed him everywhere. He needed to talk to him about what to do about the bats. The only reason the bats were going to be used in the first place was so he would get a chance to prove himself as one of the Suzaku seishi, but he doubted he wouldn't really need any proof.

There was a problem with meeting his companion though. He couldn't really leave the boy's side without an explanation and he couldn't think of anything to say at the moment.

"Do you know my brother?" Chuei asked.

"No. His name is Tamahome right?"

"Uh-huh. I wonder why he's not here. Do you think Sharon will know?"

"Probably."

"I miss him a lot…but I'm proud of him. I used to wish that I was a seishi too…so that I could join him when he left. But now I'm glad to stay at home. My family needs me to stay with them." Kotuku smiled. This what he wanted peace for. To protect children like Chuei and his family. War would tear them apart and leave them with nothing. Even if a few people had to be sacrificed along the way…the ends justified the means. There was a flicker of movement in the grove of trees just up river. Something red gleamed in the darkness, then disappeared. That could be his contact. He stood.

"Where are you going?" Chuei asked.

"Just to see what's in there," Kotuku said, pointing to the grove.

"Oh. Those are Hemada-san's peaches. You can take whatever's fallen but he gets mad if you pick them."

"I'll keep that in mind."

---

Sharon headed toward the river. Dinner was ready and she'd volunteered to get Chuei and Chiriko. She glanced up. The sky was darkening. A bat swooped high over her head, giving her a chill. She hugged herself. She really didn't mind bats…but for some reason that one bothered her.

"Hey, wait up," Tasuki said. Sharon turned and waited until he'd caught up to her. She felt relieved for some inexplicable reason. She smiled a little.

"Trying to escape from Shunkei?" Tasuki grinned ruefully.

"Yeah. The kid thinks I'm some kind of role model."

"Poor misguided child." They continued walking in silence for a while. A few more bats appeared in the sky above them, heading in the direction of the river.

"Are you sure about Chiriko?" Tasuki asked. "I mean…are you sure he is who he says he is?" Sharon gave him a scolding look.

"Don't tell me you still don't trust him. You saw the mark didn't you?"

"Yeah but ever since he joined up I felt like we were bein' watched."

"I haven't felt anything. What makes you think so?"

"One of the first things ya learn in Reikaku is how to spot someone trying to hide. The other bandit groups are just as good at movin' silently and unseen as we are and they would bump us off easily from the shadows if they could."

"So you've seen someone?"

"No…but after a while it becomes a sense. You can feel it." Sharon shivered again and suddenly felt as if eyes were boring into the back of her neck. She forced herself not to turn around. She wondered if it were her imagination or the real thing.

---

The man watched the child from the darkness of the trees. His bats told him that the miko was on her way…but the man was impatient for her to arrive. He wanted to get back to Kutou. He was sick of staying in this place. His father had always told him that Konan was a land of dirt poor dreamers and now he knew it too be true. He hated poor people. They had no right to be alive as far as he was concerned.

He would send his bats now and use the boy for bait to draw the miko quicker. Of course all his bats he had trained so carefully would die…but he could always get new ones. They were stupid, simple creatures anyway.

---

Chuei gathered up his fishing pole. It was probably time for dinner about now and he hadn't managed to catch anything. He usually didn't. He just loved to sit outside and think. It wasn't very often that he had time to think.

He stood and suddenly noticed that everything had gone quiet. Only the river made a sound as it moved slowly by. It was as if the whole world was waiting for something. The silence was abruptly broken by the violent rattling of leaves, and a great cloud of black bats burst from the trees and headed straight for him. Chuei ran.

---

Sharon was running toward the river, Tasuki keeping pace beside her. Chuei was in trouble. She knew with dead certainty he was and she had to save him. She soon saw him. He was tearing down the path, keeping his face shielded from the bats that attacked him viciously from all sides.

He fell and the bats converged on him. Sharon went to him and tried to pull the bats off of him. The creatures turned on her, sinking their sharp fangs into her skin, their red eyes gleaming. She yelped and tried to shake them off.

---

Genrou whipped out the Tessen and then held it, unsure of what to do. The bats were so thick and there seemed to be more adding to the number by the second. He could flame them, but they were aiming for Sharon and the boy and he didn't want to risk hitting either of them. Cursing in frustration, he began using his fan as a club, knocking bats out of the air. It was pretty much useless and soon they turned on him as well. Shit. Now what was he supposed to do?

Then above all the chaos, he heard the sound of a flute.

---

Kotuku played, concentrating carefully on the notes. This wasn't just some random melody. This one he had specifically made to kill. He wanted to kill. He had seen from the grove how the bats had attacked Chuei first. How dare his companion involve an innocent boy?

That Kotuku couldn't forgive. He would do what he had too. He would kill if he had too…but he refused to involve those that weren't involved in the first place. His companion would die for that. He couldn't allow a man who thought like that to live. There were too many in Kutou who thought that way, even one less would make a difference.

---

Sharon couldn't feel the bats anymore. She carefully looked up. It was then she noticed the music playing. It was high pitched and hurt her ears a little. The bats had broken off their onslaught and were now flying into trees. Right and left their furry little bodies thwacked against a trunk or branch.

The music kept on playing after all the bats had fallen. She wondered why until she saw a man dressed in black fall from a nearby tree and hit the ground with a loud thump. He didn't move. Sharon looked away from the dead man and helped Chuei to his feet.

"Are you all right?" she asked. The twelve-year-old nodded, visibly shaken. This was all her fault. She shouldn't have come here. She always got into dangerous situations and she should have known trouble would follow her here.

Chiriko emerged from the trees, his normally peaceful eyes cold as ice. Sharon shivered and looked down. Did all people who killed other people look like that? She didn't blame him for killing the man. It was something that needed to be done. But it didn't make it any better. She really didn't want anyone to die.

---

Nakago looked at the woman in front of him cynically He really didn't have the time for her emotions today. The emperor was becoming insistent on seeing the Seiryuu no Miko and Lady Amanda was insistent on staying away from him, claiming that he seemed like a 'creep'…whatever that was. The emperor was not used to not getting his way right away and Nakago had to figure out a way to placate both before things became…strained.

"I hope you're back from Sairou with news," he said. Soi dropped her eyes to the floor and rubbed her arm absentmindedly. Nakago could tell the answer from her posture.

"I'm sorry Nakago-sama but I looked everywhere and couldn't find so much of a trace of a seishi. Then I heard that the Suzaku no Miko had found most of her seishi and I returned so I could see if I could be useful."

"The Suzaku no Miko is my concern, Soi. You would have been useful if you'd stayed in Sairou." Hurt flashed in her eyes, then remorse.

"I'm sorry…do you want me to go back?"

"No. Leave me in peace until I call for you."

"Yes Nakago-sama," she said and left silently. Nakago turned back to the papers spread out in front of him. It was the expense accounts for both trips. Kutou had stronghold in Hokkan and one hidden away in Sairou…so if any Kutou noble or official ran short of money, they could get some there…pulling it directly out of the imperial account. The money wasn't free and was expected to be paid back with interest, with the seishi being the only exception to the rule.

If the emperor got wind of these accounts, the exception would probably be nullified. Actually, Soi's wasn't really the problem. Her costs were high but that was because things in Sairou tended to be more expensive. Tomo's however was ridiculous. Even though the man wasn't there, he insisted on making his presence known. Nakago could feel it in the dull pain behind his eyes.

Soon he would no longer need the emperor's support. Now though he was dependent on it. The emperor needed to trust him financially and Tomo was not helping. He had better find a seishi among all that extravagance or Nakago would be sorely tempted to strangle him to death with his own feathers.

At least there was no way Amiboshi could get money from Kutou in Konan. Although he doubted the boy would. Amiboshi, of all the Seiryuu seishi, was the most naïve. That didn't necessarily mean he was easier to manipulate…but he would follow orders without question in order to attain his goal. A goal which would never be reached unfortunately. But by the time the trusting fifteen-year-old found that out, it would be too late.

---

Sharon looked at the family gathered around their doorstep. The morning sun shone down making everything glow sweetly. She almost wished she didn't have to leave them. Of course she should be grateful since Hotohori had allowed them to spend the night there. It was really because of the bat bites more then any personal reason, although he seemed to enjoy their company as much as she had. Hotohori came by her side and smiled at them.

"Thank you for your hospitality. We really didn't mean to be a burden."

"Yeah…and sorry about the trouble," Sharon said, looking at the ground.

"It's no trouble. Really. To have the Suzaku no Miko and her seishi in our humble little home is a blessing."

"Excuse me," Yurien said, tugging Hotohori's tunic. The emperor knelt to her level.

"Yes?"

"You tell really good stories an' Gyokuran said that Mother used to tell really good stories so why don't you be marry Daddy and be my mother?" she asked innocently. Everyone except Shunkei facefaulted. When Sharon managed to get her feet under her again she saw a huge sweatdrop glide down the back of the emperor's head.

"I can't be anyone's mother…I'm a man."

"Are you really? I didn't know men were so beautiful!" Hotohori wrapped the child in an embrace and began to sparkle.

"You truly are a bright child. You will grow up to be a very wise woman."

"Bright…and over enthusiastic…I think I need to have a talk with that girl," Sen said. He was sweatdropping as well and wore a slightly embarrassed look.

"So," Sharon said, clapping her hands. "Anything you want me to tell Tamahome when he…when I see him?"

"Yeah! Tell him that after he left, I fit a whole ryu inside my nose just like he did!" Shunkei said, beaming. Sharon laughed.

"Up both nostrils and one in his ear…on a bet as I recall…. Made him somewhat famous for a while," Sen said dryly.

"Which one did that?"

"Kishuku. Shunkei, luckily enough only tried one nostril."

"Kids will be kids," Chuei said. Sen smiled and put a hand on the twelve-year-old's shoulder.

"Don't let him fool you. He did the exact same thing when he was a little older then Shunkei. I think it's become sort of a Sou tradition." Chuei blushed.

"At least I didn't stick in my ear," he muttered.

"Tell big brother I love him!" Yurien chimed in. Sharon smiled at her.

"I will."

"Tell Kishuku he'd better treat you right," Gyokuran said. "If he ever gives you a hard time about something, just give him one good kick to the shin and that'll shut him up."

"Tell him I'm taking care of everything…" Chuei said.

"Tell that son of mine that he's lucky he's old enough to go undisciplined…at least by me. And that no matter what, even if he does worry me to death, I'm always proud of him."

"I will. I'll tell him everything. He'll be so happy."

"You know what his best accomplishment has been so far?" Sen asked.

"What?"

The man smiled and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Finding me such a lovely daughter-in-law.

Sharon didn't know what to say.