Chapter 40:
When one is confused, flustered and overreacting, there is nothing like a warm bath to clear one's mind. That was the maxim Lee had gleaned from the various ... occurrences of this morning. Soaking in the tub of luke-warm water Lee let a contended sigh escape from her lips.
'When caught kissing, act as if nothing happened. Like Hotohori.' Her inner voice mused. 'When wanting a luxurious bath, ask Chulivey for tips.'
Lee purred, agreeing with her inner voice. "You are so right."
Picking up the sponge she scrubbed her body, enjoying the faint elusive scent of the bath oil Chulivey had anointed the tub with. The silence, which enveloped her so lovingly, had calmed her and though a tinge of pink still dusted her cheeks, she did not feel so flustered anymore. She also found that her scrambled reasoning was now much more inclined to accept her inner voice's calm logic.
'You were all woozy and disoriented and you overreacted. '
Lee sighed. ' I suppose I did.'
'Hotohori is naturally polite. He chose not to comment on an obviously delicate situation. Now if he were like Tori...'
"Heaven forbid." Lee shuddered. "He would not give be a days peace." She chuckled, her eyes softening as she remembered her brother. "But before that he would tear Faraco limb from limb."
'I suppose he would.' Her inner voice agreed somberly. 'But now you need to get out of the water before you shrivel up like a prune.'
Lee pouted but decided to obey. She had been in the water long enough. Rising from the tub she rubbed herself dry, shivering a little as she pulled on the fresh garments Chulivey had left for her. They were a little too big for her but at least they were clean. For a brief moment she wondered where Chulivey got the clothes.
'If you are so worried, simply ask her.'
Lee snorted. She did not need her inner voice to state the obvious.
By the time she had pulled the cloak over herself she found that she was quite composed and ready to take on anything that life could throw at her.
'Its one thing being confident but its quite another thing being overconfident.'
Yes, not even her inner voice's sarcastic running commentary could lessen this new uplifting feeling.
'I hope you know how you will conduct yourself when you meet Hotohori and Faraco again?'
Or not.
Her legs froze, the same blinding feeling of panic and confusion threatened to overcome her again.
'Stop being such a drama queen.'
Lee straightened, all that confusion instantly replaced by righteous anger.
"I am not a drama queen!"
'Whatever.' Her inner voice did not seem much threatened by her anger. 'When you meet Hotohori, act like he did. Be cool.'
"Okay..." Lee agreed, digesting what her inner voice said slowly.
'As for Faraco...'
"Lee."
Startled Lee looked up. "Faraco?" The tinge of pink, which had receded from her cheeks threatened to flood her face again.
Faraco limped ahead, there was something in his gaze, something that both warmed and chilled her.
"I was looking for you."
"You were?"
His voice seemed to envelop her in something warm and once again she felt that undeniable tug in her heart.
'For Suzaku's sake, get a grip on yourself.'
The sound of her inner voice fell like a bucket of cold water on her but for some reason she could not move. Nor could she tear her eyes away from his orbs.
'I hope you know what you are doing.'
"I don't." Lee had an odd feeling of helplessness. She wondered how it was possible for a person to feel so trapped and ... happy at the same time.
'That's because you are a confused mass of jumbled up nerves.'
"Shut up." Lee snapped inwardly.
Never before had she been so tangibly aware of anybody, her whole being seemed to be fine tuned to Faraco's presence, his warmth ... his silence. With a feeling of growing wonder she realized that after those first words Faraco had hardly said anything. There was a faint sprinkling of pink dust on his cheeks and for the first time she was aware the mixture of awkwardness and hopeful anxiety, which swirled in the depths of his chocolate orbs
'It would seem that you are not the only one who is a confused mass of jumbled up nerves.'
Strangely enough, that realization gave her a feeling of ... power.
"Faraco. Lady Lee."
The spell broke.
"Chulivey." Faraco frowned; there was a tinge of anger in his voice.
For some reason Lee felt herself reflect a little bit of Faraco's anger, not quite compatible with the relief that filled her being.
Chulivey appeared round the corner, moving up to Lee in her usual brisk yet graceful manner. "Have you bathed Lady Lee?"
"Yes." Lee tried to sound ... normal. "Thank you very much Chulivey."
For some reason, she felt that Chulivey's thoughtful brown eyes saw right through her farce. But when she spoke her voice held no trace of her newfound knowledge.
"I was looking for you." She said pleasantly. "Let's proceed to the main hall. Liang's cooking and I am eager to examine the outcome."
Lee was instantly diverted.
'We are doomed.'
Lee agreed with her inner voice but she allowed Chulivey to herd them to the main hall. It was rather disturbing that not even the knowledge that she was about to die from food poisoning could make her any less aware of Faraco. She tried to distract herself by indulging in a conversation on some totally inconsequential subjects with Chulivey. Chulivey's calm voice encouraged her to talk and frankly she rattled on and on ... even when they had reached the main hall and taken their place by the fire.
'Frankly Lee, I think you are boring the shit out of Chulivey.'
She frowned. She knew that. In fact, she herself was beginning to feel more than a little irritated by the constant flow of words that flowed incessantly from her mouth.
'What you need girl, is control.'
"I know." Lee snapped. "I know."
She snuck a look around, her eyes gravitating almost on their own account to Faraco's face, who seemed to be stuck in some kind of half-hearted conversation with Taasha. Almost immediately his eyes snapped to her face and she had a familiar feeling of deja vu. All at once the noise around her seemed to fade away... Nothing remained but the thundering of her heart and the swirling depths of his eyes, which seemed to drown her very being.
"Lady Lee."
Lee wanted to both curse and hug Chulivey. With some effort she tore her eyes away from Faraco and turned towards Chulivey.
"Yes Chulivey?"
She could understand what they were talking about. But they kept on talking. Well she talked, as usual and Chulivey encouraged her with a well-placed word here and there.
'How does she do that?' Her inner voice wondered.
Lee wondered that as well, along with the fact as to how her inner voice could remain so calm under all circumstances. Why even in Fa Sang ... Lee shuddered.
"My Lord is here." Chulivey's voice interrupted her chain of thoughts.
"Hotohori." Lee felt her heart stop once before beating with double its normal tempo.
"There ya two are." Liang's loud voice sounded in the hall. "Meself was beginning to think that ya got lost or something."
"We were just trying to delay the inevitable Fang Boy." Keeah's voice, loud, clear and slightly mocking answered him as she moved to take a place beside Taasha.
"Ya were?" Liang was equally quick to rise to the bait she laid out for him. His eyes narrowed as he viciously tackled an onion impaling it on an iron stick along with pieces of the fish. "Well..."
"Calm down." Hotohori interrupted Liang's would be impassioned speech, taking a seat beside him and patting his arm reassuringly. "I trust you."
Lee snuck a look in Hotohori direction. He seemed to be in a good mood, the ends of his lips curving upwards in a slow smile, eyes dancing with mirth at something Liang said. Almost as if he was aware of her intense scrutiny he turned in her direction. Their eyes met across the fire and for a while Lee felt herself freeze. His eyes smiled at her and his lips reflected that emotion, yet Lee felt that there was something different about it.
'That's because you have an overactive imagination. Remember what I said. Be cool.'
Lee frowned, turning from him. "I ... I'll try."
"Its cold."
Startled Lee looked at Keeah. "That's a really cliché way to start a conversation."
'But hey, it works. She's got everybody's attention. Besides, it is cold.'
Keeah repeated her words. "Its cold."
Lee shivered a little feeling the truth of her words. The wind had suddenly shifted and the sunlight was failing fast.
Taasha got up moving to one of the long windows and peering outside. "I think a storm is coming."
"What?" Chulivey looked a bit surprised. "But the weather looked fine this morning."
"I guess the weather changes fast here." Taasha withdrew his head, pulling the shutters close as he did. "I think we should close the windows."
"That we should." Sotisku readily accepted his proposal, pulling himself up. "Lets go Taasha. We need to secure all the bolts before the storm hits us."
Taasha nodded, both of them heading for the stairs from the main hall which led to the sleeping quaters upstairs.
Lee watched them disappear up the staircase. Turning towards the others she saw that they had already started to close the great windows which surrounded the main hall and pulling the heavy bolts back in place.
'I guess we should do the same.'
Lee agreed. Getting up she moved towards one of the open windows. The wind had picked up and the snow fluttered around in the rising wind like a some desolate fireflies. She struggled against the wind which seemed to be intent on defeating her aim at closing the window.
'Yield you stupid window.'
"Allow me Lady Lee." Hotohori's voice, smooth as always cut through the fog of her ferocious struggle. He leaned forward and undid the long iron clasps which held the shutters in place, a system which ensured that the shutters would not bang shut when the wind blew too hard. "Look, I have vanquished your enemy for you. Care to deliver the last blow?"
Lee flushed, glaring at Hotohori. "I knew that."
'Yeah ... right.'
Lee pulled the creaking shutters close rather viciously, her cheeks hot. "It just didn't occur to me."
"Jasmine."
"What?"
Hotohori leaned forward; his fingers caressed one of her molten copper locks, his nostrils flared a little, almost as if he took in a whiff of her scent once more. "You smell like jasmine."
'What is he doing?'
Lee did not know the answer. For some reason she felt his dark gaze wrap around her like chains, irresistibly drawing her into some forbidden realm, somewhere she didn't want to go...
"But I would say..." He let her lock fall through his fingers like a feather, there was something wickedly enduring about his smile. "I would say that you smell ... delicious."
He was gone.
OoOoOoOoO
Chulivey frowned, unceremoniously dumping the soiled articles she carried into a tub, which resided in one corner of their makeshift kitchen. Her lips were pursed into a thin line and the expression in her eyes was more than a little anxious.
'I hope I took the right decision when I gave Lord Hotohori that scroll.' She bit her lips. 'Well, its a little too late to revoke that decision now, isn't it? The deed is already done.'
Rolling up her sleeves she applied herself to the task of cleaning the utensils with a kind of methodical preciseness. She had always fancied herself to be a pretty levelheaded person. If she encountered a problem she analyzed it carefully, worked out the probable answers and then proceeded to solve it.
'But some problems have no answer.' She scrubbed furiously.
Yes, some problems had no answer and at present she was saddled with two of them.
The first one was a man with eyes that glittered like emeralds and an infuriatingly sensual smile. Fortunately, she was more than able to keep her heart under control ... sort of. Suraco was just as good at assailing her defenses when he was unconscious, as he was at other times, which was like all of the time. But right now, he looked so defenseless and bruised, all she wanted to do was to take his face in her hands and kiss his pain away.
'Suzaku, not again.' She raised a moist hand to her heated cheeks, forcing those thoughts out of her head. 'Just when I thought that I had gotten over him.'
Oh well, it seemed that she was stuck with that problem. But thankfully it was one problem she could control.
Now the other one...
The scroll...
'The one that nearly killed me and ... Aoki...'
Chulivey paled.
'Aoki...'
Her journey through the grasslands had been pretty uneventful. She had run into a couple of footpads but they had not been a problem. In a way it had been almost ... boring.
Until ...
She had been very happy to find that deserted house at sundown. It was a sorry sight, standing alone like an ageing sentinel at the gateway of a ruined settlement. The crumbling brick walls indicated that at one time this had been a village of which this house was the only remaining memento. The skeletal structure whispered a thousand tales in her ears, of the turbulent times when the armies of Kutou had relentlessly pressed into Konon.
Fortunately, she was always practical; she could enter the house without a shudder. The dust of centuries had accumulated on its floor and it banished the last traces of romanticism from her mind. She had cleaned the place up and lit a small fire; glad that at least for this night she would have a roof on her head.
Yes, she had been very pleased.
Then just as the Princess of Night had begun to cover creation with her dark hair, Aoki stumbled in.
Chulivey shivered a little, as the events replayed themselves in her inner eye.
"Chulivey." Aoki's voice was faint as he leaned on the rickety frame of the doorway. "Is ... Is that you?"
Chulivey was startled. Her fingers loosened around the hilt of her dragger. "Aoki?"
Aoki stumbled in. She was up in an instant, trying to catch him before he fell on the floor. "Aoki? Are you hurt?"
"Hurt?" Aoki's voice was bitter. He allowed her to help him sit down. " I am not hurt."
She looked at him across the fire. He looked ... starved, his eyes were like violet bruises on his pale flesh. She poured him some of the soup she had been making.
"Here."
Long skeletal fingers curled around the brim of the bowl and he greedily devoured its contents. Then he held it out again.
"More."
Chulivey poured him a second helping.
"This is nice."
Chulivey smiled. "Thank you. Do you want some more?"
"No."
Silence descended. Aoki leaned back and Chulivey could see sleep cloud his eyes. He leaned back but he did not allow himself to sleep. Chulivey frowned. He needed to sleep.
"Why don't you sleep Aoki? I will watch over you."
Aoki's lips curved upwards. "I will not sleep." His voice sounded brittle. "I cannot sleep." His last words were a mere whisper but Chulivey heard him nevertheless.
"Aoki?"
The wind blew through the cracks of the houses creating weird creaking sounds like that of a spirit groaning in pain and suddenly Aoki became very stiff. He gazed out of the door and for a while there was a look in his eyes, like that of a terrified brute beast at bay. Only for a moment though, then he started to laugh, a loud defiant sound, arrogant and mirthless.
"Bastards." His voice was cold. "Fools." He looked at her, a cynical smile on his lips. "It would seem that our paths have crossed for a reason." He pulled out an yellowing parchment from the folds of his cloak. "Here. Take it."
She held out her hand and accepted the scroll. "What is it?"
Aoki smiled. He ran his hand through his hair. "I ... don't know. But..." For a while his eyes shone, it seemed that he wanted to tell something, before he decided against it. "But you need to know that for yourself. Now you sleep, I will look over you."
"Don't be silly Aoki." She laughed. "I'll stay awake."
And maybe try and find out the reason for his strange behavior.
"No you won't." Aoki smiled, a sad, resigned smile. "They won't let you."
And...
She had fallen asleep...
And ...
"Lady Chulivey?"
Chulivey felt like she was awakening from a long nightmare. She blinked once, if only to bring her world back into focus.
"Taasha." The smile that graced her lips was rather forced as she turned to face him. "Did you have anything to say to me?"
There was a hint of a frown in Taasha's eye but his voice was polite. "I am sorry if I disturbed you my Lady. I am here to request you to join us for breakfast."
"Oh." Chulivey smiled. "I will be honored."
He inclined his head gracefully. "Very well then. Will you find your Miko and inform her of this as well?"
"May I ask what the occasion is?"
"Liang is cooking."
Chulivey raised an eyebrow, appalled. 'Surely not!'
Taasha chuckled. "You should have more faith in your pack." He turned to go, moving with that curious feline grace of his. "Now if you excuse me, I need to find my Alpha and inform her of this." He nodded once more before turning to leave.
Chulivey frowned. In some ways Taasha was another unsolved problem. Where had Keeah found him? Where did he come from? He was a paradox. He spoke and behaved like a man of good breeding, as someone who had received a fine education. Yet there was something primal about him, the way he walked, hunted, the way he called his comrades ... pack.
"Taasha wait." The words were out of her mouth before she could control herself.
Taasha turned. "Yes, my Lady."
"Umm Taasha..." She was not quite sure how to phrase her question and even if she did, whether he would answer it. "Would you mind if I asked you something?"
"Not at all."
"Where are you from?"
"Ubasti."
"Ubasti." She repeated the name. "But I never ..."
"Heard of it?" He chuckled. "I know."
She got up, rubbing her hands in a piece of cloth. "So, what brought you here?"
"My apologies Lady Chulivey." His voice was quite. "I cannot reveal that to you."
"Why? Maybe I could help you."
"Possibly."
"Then why not?"
"Because you are not pack." He said simply.
Strangely she could find no argument to counter that logic of his. It made sense, in a weird sort of way.
She sighed. "You are right." She peered at him curiously. "So how exactly did you meet Lady Keeah?"
"Chance."
"Oh." Unbidden a smile rose to her lips. "So in a way if you met us first then we would have been your pack."
"Possibly." Taasha agreed. "But ... I have chosen my pack Now, if you will excuse me."
Chulivey watched him exit the room with something of a half smile and half frown on her lips. 'Yes Taasha, you certainly have.' She tucked a loose strand carefully behind her ear. 'But there is no point in dwelling on that. I must go and find Lady Lee.'
She exited the kitchen walking towards the back of the house where the bathhouse was located.
'If my Lord Hotohori has informed Lady Lee that I had readied the bath for her then that is where I should find her. I should have asked him when I saw him.' Chulivey frowned, remembering the foul mood she had found Hotohori in. 'I wonder what put him in such a foul mood. Lady Lee ...'
Rounding the corner she froze, her eyes widening a little. In the sun kissed corridor there stood a boy and a girl, lost in their own private bubble, unaware of the changing world around them. There was no mistaking the boy's expression as he gazed on the girl, all the love he felt for her naked in his eyes. The girl drank his mute adulation yet her eyes were confused, almost like she did not quite recognize the emotion in his eyes or the promptings of her heart.
There was nothing wrong with the scene.
Except the boy was Faraco and the girl ... the girl was Lady Lee.
The reason for Lord Hotohori's foul mood became crystal clear to her. For an agonizing moment she wondered what to do before she decided to do exactly what Taasha had asked her to do. Ask Faraco and Lee to breakfast.
She withdrew discreetly around the bend once more.
"Faraco. Lady Lee."
She hoped her voice sounded normal and her face impassive. But as she approached Lady Lee she realized that Lady Lee was too busy to appear unaffected for her benefit to notice that slight inflection in her voice. She was trying to make conversation to hide her embarrassment and Chulivey was only too glad to assist her.
As they walked down to the main hall where they joined Taasha, Liang and Sotisku, Lady Lee talked a lot on several disjointed subjects, pointedly avoiding Faraco's worshipping gaze. While adding an encouraging word here and there to keep up the constant flow of needless small talk, she had plenty of opportunity to observe Faraco and Lady Lee.
She had always known that Faraco liked Lady Lee. Now she understood that it had gone much deeper. The boy was madly in love. There was no doubt about that. The real question was did Lady Lee return his affection?
Lady Lee was perhaps not immune to his courtship, maybe she even liked it but Chulivey was sure that she was not in love ...
But then again ...
Lady Lee was confused.
And so was she.
Chulivey sighed, mechanically sprouting a inconsequential opinion to something Lady Lee said, desperately trying not to look bored, not that Lady Lee would have minded since she was too busy stealing furtive glances in Faraco's direction. She suppressed an yawn, her eyes wandering to the staircase.
She could see Lady Keeah and my Lord Hotohori descend down the stairs seemingly in some deep conversation. Then Lord Hotohori turned, his eyes alighting on their group. Even from this distance she could feel his frame stiffen even though his face remained impassive.
'Shit. I was right. He is the third angle.'
She saw Lady Keeah whisper something into his ear which made him stiffen even more and glare at her. But then that was nothing unusual. Lady Keeah went out of her way to irritate him and even though Lord Hotohori was pretty much sensible most of the time, he rose to every bait she laid out for him like some overgrown brat. She shook her head turning once more in Lady Lee's direction.
"My Lord is here."
Her voice was low but she was sure that Lady Lee heard her because she saw her small frame become a little tense.
That was when Liang announced Lord Hotohori and Lady Keeah's arrival in a manner which was uniquely his. She heard Keeah's sarcastic retort as they took their place by the fire. But frankly, she was more interested in observing Lord Hotohori than the silly conversation, which went on around the fire.
Of course the more she observed him the more her admiration for him grew and she began to understand what made Lord Hotohori and Menesku such bosom buddies. Both were master strategists and both wore their masks with great panache. Gone was the sulky boy she had seen on the terrace and in its place was the suave young man they were accustomed to seeing. He was at his most urbane but Chulivey could see that his dazzling smile of cool unconcern grated on both Lady Lee's and Faraco's nerves, who kept directing little defiant glances in his direction, or as in the case of Lady Lee, little nervous glances.
If she wasn't so worried about the three of them she would have found this fireside pantomime ... amusing.
Oh and she was sure everyone was aware of the palpable tension in the air. If only she knew how to divert their attention.
That was when Lady Keeah came to her aid by announcing, quite abruptly that the weather was cold. Well that much was to be expected since they were in the middle of a icy desert. But she was right, the weather had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. It seemed like a storm was coming. Sotisku and Taasha had departed to close the other windows, while they labored to close the numerous windows of the main hall.
The wind had picked up significantly snatching at her face and picking up the snowflakes in fantastic shapes. Yes, a storm was coming. She frowned a little as she undid the clasp and pulled the shutters close. The storm had come, like all other changes quite abruptly but ...
She frowned turning from the window. 'Maybe I am just imagining things.'
She froze.
Lord Hotohori was standing in front of Lady Lee, his head a little bend in her direction, a mischievously sensual smile on his lips. His long elegant fingers caressed one of Lady Lee's copper locks in an almost innocent gesture before he let it slip through his fingers like water, bending forward a little more to whisper something into her ears. Something that made Lady Lee blush scarlet and stumble back a little. Lord Hotohori however did not wait to gauge her reaction. He turned back and walked back to the fire, his urbane mask back in place.
She was surprised at his audacity.
She was pretty sure that everybody else in the room had noticed this little ... incident. She cast a look on Faraco's wooden countenance. Well, at least Faraco had.
Perhaps that is what Lord Hotohori had intended.
Still, it was pretty improper behavior for a prince.
She shook her head moving to the fireside.
It's just that girls like bad boys and sometimes ... improper behavior can be very ...
She felt her cheek up and with some effort she kept her face impassive. Lady Lee had also come to the fireside and though her color still fluctuated she appeared to be in control of her herself. Or at least she was, until Lord Hotohori pierced her with a smoldering look of over the fire.
She was pretty sure that Liang was going to gag.
And she was sure that Faraco would be up at any instant trying to strangle Lord Hotohori to death.
And the silence that engulfed them was practically deafening.
"I am bored." Keeah's voice broke the uneasy silence. She yawned delicately to reinforce her point. "Tell me a story Chulivey." She smiled at her. "Please."
Chulivey blinked. Never before had she faced the full force of Keeah's smile. She began to understand why people found it do difficult to deny Keeah anything. Despite herself she found herself relenting.
"Certainly Princess." She could help smiling back. 'Besides it should divert their attention for a while.'
Clearing her throat she began.
"Once above a time, far, far above us, in the cloudy abode of the High Heavens there lived the mighty King of the Sky. He had seven daughters, each as beautiful as the ray of the sun, but the youngest princess who had been christened Suki was by far the loveliest of them all. She had hair as dark as the raven's wing, lips as red as coral and skin as fair and unblemished as the first snow of winter."
"I don't know about beauty." Sotisku cut in dryly. "I think she looks like a vampire."
Keeah rapped him on the knuckles. "Shut up Sotisku. Let the Lady finish her story." She smiled at Chulivey. "Forgive my companion's lack of tact. Pray continue."
Chulivey nodded. "Its all right." Taking another deep breath she continued. "The King of the Sky gave each his of daughters a star. He told them that henceforth they would be responsible for the star. They would have to polish the stars daily and hang them up in the velvet wall of the night when the sun was gone so that their beauty would gladden the eyes of all who looked upon them."
"Go on." Hotohori prompted her.
"So the Princesses hung their stars up in the sky every night and whoever saw the seven new stars in the sky were struck by their beauty. Still, one star stood out amongst all of them. The star of Princess Suki. Princess Suki took great care of her star polishing it with the tears of the Heavens and drying it with the feathers of the cloud stallions. It showed. Her star glowed brighter than all the stars in the night sky, outshining all stars with its beauty." She paused a little and continued. "When people looked into the night sky they always searched for Princess Suki's star. They would say:
Look at that star. It is so beautiful.
It is so bright. It puts the other stars to shame.
The star is just as beautiful as Princess Suki.
Alas, all the praise that was heaped on Princess Suki's star made the other Princesses very jealous because now nobody would look at their star. So they hit upon a plan. They would destroy the star. Princess Suki knew of their intentions and guarded her star with her life, never leaving its side. Still one day, her sisters tricked her into leaving her star's side, luring her to the other side of the Heavens.
Just as she left the room they rushed in. Snatching the star from its bed of roses they hurled it against the sky. The delicate star broke into a thousand pieces and spread across the sky like a glittering veil.
Princess Suki was inconsolable.
What have you done? She wept. You have broken my star.
The other Princesses laughed. Yes. We have. Now our stars shall be the brightest in the sky.
Princess Suki wept and all Nature wept with her. When the King of the Heavens came to know of this he was very angry. He banished the jealous sisters to farthest corners of the sky where nobody could see their stars.
I have punished them daughter. He said. Now cease your weeping. Let happiness come to the world again.
Still Princess Suki could not be consoled.
At last the King of the Sky told her.
Cry no more daughter. I will build you a palace on the moon . You may stay there and use the pieces of your broken star to adorn the night sky, placing them as you wish. I give you my word that nothing in the night sky shall be brighter than your creation and the palace where you stay, the moon.
At that Princess Suki wiped her tears and got up. With the broken pieces of her beloved star she created the twenty-eight constellations of the four directions. The rest she scattered over the sky like a shimmering veil." Chulivey took a deep breath looking around. "And that is how the night sky we know as it is came to exist. Most of the times Princess Suki is happy but sometime she remembers her dear star and weeps. That is when we see no moon and her tears falls on Earth to become the morning dew."
There was a moment of silence.
"Oh, the sisters were very wicked." Lee said at last. "Still, I feel sad for Princess Suki."
Chulivey was silent. Yes, she felt sad for Princess Suki as well.
"The Princess was foolish." Keeah's voice was sharp.
"What?" Lee looked at her.
"She was foolish." Keeah repeated slowly. "If she knew that her ... star was under threat, then she should have ... eliminated the threat."
Lee gasped. "But they were her own sisters. She could not have hurt them."
Keeah raised her eyebrow in faint hauteur. "Why not? They would have hurt her." She paused, her voice thoughtful. "I think she was weaker compared to her sisters. She did not have the power to oppose them."
"So she chose to hide." There was curious grim tone to Taasha's voice.
"So she chose to hide." Keeah smiled mirthlessly and suddenly Chulivey realized that perhaps they were not talking about her story after all.
"Still, wouldn't you be sad if somebody broke your star?" Lee frowned. "I know I would be."
"Tears are for people who have no will to survive." Keeah's lips curled backward contemptuously. "I would have taken my broken pieces and made a new star with them. I would ... survive."
"But it would not be the same."
"Naturally Lady Lee. But then again, I would not be the same either."
Lee chewed her lips digesting that.
"But Lady Keeah if your star shone brightly again, wouldn't you attract enemies once more?" Hotohori's voice was amused. "Wouldn't they be jealous?"
"I would be disappointed if they were not jealous."
"But they would attack you again."
"Exactly." There was a dangerous look in Keeah's eye.
Chulivey saw a silent understanding pass between Hotohori and Keeah.
"As much as I sympathize with your sentiments, this is hardly a work for a lady."
"Nobody said I was a lady." Keeah lifted her chin proudly. "I am Empress."
There was a small smile on Hotohori's lips and grudging admiration in his eyes.
"Yes. You are." He agreed somberly but then spoiled the entire effect by smiling mischievously. "But then, I always knew that."
Keeah smiled as well, inclining her head gracefully. "I thought you did."
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Zori tapped her foot impatiently, a frown marring her smooth forehead. A warm cloak made of the darkest blue velvet covered her slim form, pooling in a liquid mass around her feet, sweeping the mossy forest floor. A careless breeze played though the leaves of the garneled trees that surrounded her and flirted with the loose strands, which had escaped the severe bun atop her head to fall negligently on her face.
She inclined her head to a side, drinking in the orchestra of the night, the rustle of the winds and the soprano of the crickets. Her eyes narrowed and she moved in a flash, her twin knives effectively catching the blade which moved like lightning towards her.
"You are late Izuke." She snapped.
Izuke chuckled. "And you look more beautiful than usual Zori."
"Hah!" Zori's lips curved into a sarcastic smile. "Flatterer."
"Zori, my darling." Izuke's eyes danced. "You wound me."
Abruptly he withdrew the pressure of his blade flipping backwards out of the range of Zori's flashing knives, landing lightly on his feet, crouching on the ground like a cat. He inclined his head to a side, mocking eyes surveying Zori's form.
"What is the matter my dear? You look less than your ... exquisite form."
Zori's eyes flashed but she held back the retort, which had leapt to her lips. With a calm deliberation she returned the draggers to their sheath and kept her voice indifferent.
"Do you have any news Izuke?"
"Of course I do." Izuke shrugged casually returning his blade to its sheath, a sardonic smile on his lips. "Of course that doesn't mean that I will share it with you."
Zori stiffened. "Izuke, I thought ..."
"You thought?"
He was baiting her, the bastard.
"I thought we were in this together."
"We were?" Izuke raised an amused eyebrow. "Strange, I don't remember. You know how my memory is."
Zori had an impulse to stamp her foot angrily but she controlled herself. She pulled out a bag from the folds of her cloak and held it out to him.
"Perhaps this will refresh your memory."
Izuke yawned. "Hardly."
Zori frowned. 'Bastard.'
She moved towards him, her hips swinging in an unconsciously sensuous rhythm. With a deliberate action she removed the jeweled pin which held her hair in the unflattering bun atop her elegant head letting it fall like a rippling cascade across her shoulders. She stood in front of him, lifting a hand to slightly caress his cheeks.
"Perhaps." She gazed into his eyes. "Perhaps, this would refresh your memory."
Leaning upwards she lightly touched his lips with hers in a lingering chaste kiss. Izuke chuckled, his arms tightening around her.
"You are out of touch my dear."
Zori looked into his eyes. "Am I?" Her voice sounded delightfully innocent.
Izuke did not answer her, instead he pulled her closer into a fiercely passionate kiss. Zori did not resist and allowed herself to be carried away in the tide of his passion. Releasing her moments later, he looked down at her with a sardonic gleam in his eyes.
"Forgive me Zori. You are definitely not out of touch."
Zori inclined her head a little. "You flatter me Izuke." Her voice sounded husky. "Tell me, have I succeeded in refreshing your memory."
Izuke let her go, the sardonic gleam in his eyes deepened. "Maybe."
Zori's nostrils flared, her eyes flashed. "Really Izuke." Her voice was cold. "Either you have news or you don't. I don't have time for such useless dalliance."
"Indeed." Izuke's voice was amused. "But it is the one art you excel in."
Zori pursed her lips. "I am leaving Izuke." She tossed her hair defiantly. "It would seem that I have wasted my time."
"Pity." Izuke yawned. "Your lack of patience is deplorable."
Zori paused, half turning towards him. "Do you have any idea of the condition in Rong-Yang?"
Izuke leaned on the trunk of a tree, staring up at the dark leaves, which rustled in the wind above him. The gleam of amusement in his eyes deepened. "I can imagine my dear. After all, you have received no news from your dear Prince for almost over a month."
"Normally this kind of situation makes me feel very happy." Zori shrugged. "The water has been churned just right, with that precise spicing of suspicion and I can't seem to find a way to dip my fingers into this delightful curry."
"My heart bleeds for you darling."
"I am sure it does." Zori's voice was sarcastic. "Now can you understand why I need this information? I am blind and I don't like being blind, not in a situation like this."
"Yes, it can be very inconvenient." Izuke agreed. "However, there is something, which interests me in all your ceaseless rambling. Tell me who is charge in the absence of Hotohori?"
Zori stared. "The same people who are in charge at other times. Why?"
"Just answer the question Zori."
"Why should I?"
"Hmm. Lets see. Because then ... maybe I will tell you why your beloved Prince paid me a rather ... personal visit."
"What!" Despite herself Zori could not control the quiver of excitement in her voice. "Don't tell me ... He was in Nobu?"
"Patience Zori. Answer my question first."
For a while Zori seemed ready to argue on this point. "Very well." She said at last giving in to Izuke's demand. "The Council of Ministers led by Lord Takara."
"And ... who is Lord Takara?"
"A shriveled old man."
"I mean ... other than a shriveled old man?"
"He is the High Priest of Suzaku."
"Hmm." Izuke's eyes were thoughtful.
"I don't see why you are so interested in the council of ministers." Zori frowned. "They are the ones who are pulling the strings and taking all the important administrative decisions. Hotohori just ... Well, his presence is not really imperative to take an important decision ... its just that when the Emperor goes missing for almost a month, then things tend to get a little messy. Of course Lord Takara is more than capable of crushing these notes of discord but ..."
She looked up to see Izuke staring at her with a rather unreadable gleam in his eye and a more unfathomable half smile on his lips.
"Do you have anything to say Izuke?"
"You think that this council of ministers can take a decision, which Hotohori does not approve."
Zori raised a magnificently arched eyebrow, amused. "Do you really want me to answer that?"
To her surprise Izuke began to laugh, a deep throated chuckle which rose from deep within his being, a sound that she found both irritating and sensual.
"Zori my dear, I never thought you were so blind."
Zori stared, unable to comprehend what Izuke was trying to say. But before she could press her point he spoke.
"Hotohori came to me for a ship."
"A ship?" Zori repeated, amazed.
"A ship. He needed a ship to go Fa Sang."
"Fa Sang. I never heard of it."
"I would be surprised if you did."
Zori bit her lips, her forehead furrowing. "So why did he want to go this ... place?"
Izuke moved to stand in front of her, leaning a bit towards her. "Don't you know darling?"
"No Izuke. I don't." With an effort she curbed her impatience. "Why don't you enlighten me?"
Izuke yawned. "Is it me or is your intelligence lessening? Why did you go to meet with the Black Warrior?"
For a while Zori was silent, the wheels of recollection turning in her head. "I wanted to tell him..." She paused as comprehension dawned on her. "You aren't saying ..."
"Complete your sentences Zori. Your sporadic utterances gives me a very impressive idea of your stupidity."
Zori stopped, glaring at Izuke. "The moment I told the Black Warrior about the scroll I knew he would be trying to find a way to release Seiryuu and naturally ..." She paused, casting a piercing glare in Izuke's direction. "So, did you give Hotohori the ship?"
"Naturally."
"Naturally?"
"He paid very well." Izuke shrugged, a taunting smile on his lips. "Besides, he is such a charmer. You should know that dear."
Zori flushed. "I wouldn't know."
"Really?" The mockery in Izuke's smile deepened. "But then again he did look like an intelligent boy. A trifle impulsive perhaps but ..." There was a serious note in his voice. "You would be wise to tread carefully where he is concerned."
"I will keep it in mind." Zori said flippantly, waving aside Izuke's words. "Tell me Izuke, have you seen him?"
"Him? Are you talking about the Black Warrior?"
Zori rolled her eyes. "Who else?"
"Sorry to disappoint you my dear. I have it from the best of authority that the Black Warrior never left Kutou."
"What?" Zori tried not to let disappointment creep into her voice. "Then did Hotohori ..."
"No. Seiryuu has been released."
Silence descended, broken only by the excited whispering of the trees. At last Zori spoke.
"If the Black Warrior wasn't the one who released Seiryuu, then who did?"
"The Princess of Kutou."
For a while Zori stared at Izuke. "You are joking." Her voice was disbelieving. "That silly little girl."
"That silly little girl you speak of trained under Lord Shurei." The trace of humor had vanished from Izuke's face. "I hope you know who he is."
"Lord Shurei!" Zori's eyes widened. "But ..."
"You are blind Zori. I am not."
"Forgive me." There was a tinge of sarcasm in Zori's voice. "So tell me, did you assist your Princess as well?"
"Unfortunately I had not that opportunity."
"You sound disappointed."
"I am."
"Careful Izuke." Zori tittered. "One might think you cared."
"Careful dear Zori." The insolent smile on Izuke's lips had returned. "One might think that you are jealous."
"Jealous." Zori's voice was acidic. "Hardly. So, if Hotohori had failed to stop Seiryuu from being released and if he is ..."
"He is not dead." Izuke straightened. "Wounded perhaps. But not dead." He looked at her. "And no, I do not know where he is."
"So, there are things that even the mighty Prince of Nobu can't achieve."
"Yes Zori." There was a strange look in Izuke's eyes. "And for that, you should be glad. Now, if you excuse me."
There was a faint rustle and he was gone as silently as he had come.
For a while Zori stared at the rustling leaves, painted lips curved contemptuously. "Bastard." She turned frowning. "Lord Shurei is it? How very interesting."
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The wind howled, battering the aged ruins relentlessly. The ancient structures stood as they had for ages, contemptuously silent, ignoring the wild dance of the wind around them. A still figure stood in the shadows of the ruin, as uncaring as them to the carnage around him. The wind flirted around him, raising the white snow in some pagan dance, yet he was strangely unaffected, one would think that he was almost ... bored.
If one looked closely, one could see a transparent barrier enclosing him, which created a spot of calm air around him, frizzling a pale blue when the wind lashed against it. Reinforced by the storm premature night had descended on the land. Still the storm showed no sign of abating, if possible it grew fiercer.
Then there was a sound that rose above the scream of the storm, the soft twang of a bowstring being released. The man did not move as the arrow came straight at him, sailing past his ear in an angry buzz. The man turned, looking at the spent arrow embedded deep in the stonewall behind him.
"Good evening Rashim." His voice sounded bored. "Was that a warning shot or have you lost your touch?"
There was a soft flurry of wings as a figure landed in front of him.
"A selective barrier." Rashim's voice was calm. "It would seem that you have not lost your touch ... Kinta."
"You flatter me Rashim." Kinta's voice held a small mocking laugh. "Would you mind if I lit a fire because unlike you, I have no night vision."
"Suit yourself." Rashim shrugged.
There was a moment of silence and then a small blue fire came to life casting its dancing flames on the two silent shilloutes.
"It has been a while." Rashim was the first to break the silence. "How have you been?"
Kinta laughed, a mirthless hollow sound. "Do you really want to exchange such inane pleasantries with me?"
"No. But it was the only way I could start a decent conversation."
"Strange. At another time you would have willingly gutted me."
"What purpose would it serve? I would have wasted an arrow and you would not die."
For a brief moment Kinta's frame tensed but when he spoke his voice was indifferent. "Yes, it can be a dreadful inconvenience."
"I agree." Rashim faced him squarely. "And I know that this is a redundant question, still, why are you here Kinta?"
"Because I have nothing better to do."
"Jokes aside. Why are you here?"
For a while Kinta was silent. When he spoke again his voice was a little harsh. "Your guests were about to receive a visit from Sairi."
"Oh." Rashim did not sound much surprised. "So the troops have started to mobilize again."
"Are you surprised?"
"Not really." Rashim shook his head. "I have been expecting this for many years."
"Years?"
"Time is perspective Kinta, you of all people should know that. But you haven't answered my question. Why are you here?"
Kinta leaned back into the stone column. In the flickering blue light his face looked awfully pale. "I am because Armuna requested my assistance."
"Indeed." It was clear that Rashim placed very little emphasis on the truth of that statement.
"Think what you will Rashim." Icy blue eyes rested on Rashim's profile. "I couldn't care less."
"Oh no. I believe the part about Armuna requesting your assistance. After all, even after so many years her might is still so lamentably little that she has very little choice in the matter. But I don't believe the part about you giving it."
"I have a lot of unfinished business. This job might help me wrap it up."
"A selfish reason."
"But a valid one."
"Yes." Rashim agreed, relapsing into silence, golden eyes speculatively fixed on Kinta's face.
For a while silence reigned, then Kinta straightened.
"You should send your guests home." His tone was businesslike. "Even though He has been gathering His forces for quite sometime, He can't risk an open confrontation yet. Therefore, as long as they move in predictable circles they should be safe... somewhat."
"That is a very sound advice." Rashim said quietly. "But nothing I have not already considered. If it was possible to send them home earlier, I would have done it by now. However, now it seems that I too have very little choice in the matter. I cannot risk another attack on my sanctuary."
"No, you can't." Kinta agreed readily. "You have to arrange for their departure quickly."
"I will." Rashim favored him with a lopsided smile. "After all even you can't keep this storm barrier up forever." He turned to go. "I hope to see you around Kinta. We have a lot of ... catching up to do."
"I will try not to disappoint you." Kinta's lips curved into a shadow of a smile. "Now, hurry ... Rashim."
Rashim favored him with a small bow. "I will." Unreadable golden eyes clashed with frozen blue orbs, as the wings on his back spread like the wings of an angel from hell. "By the way, if you look for me in Hokkan, don't look for Rashim. Look for a doctor. A doctor called Lao Shin."
He bowed once more and disappeared in the storm.
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Author's Note: The story about Princess Suki and her star is not mine, though I may have tweaked it a little or perhaps a lot. But there is actually a legend about a Princess and her Star, which I had read when I was quite young. However, though the gist of the story remained in my mind I have forgotten the name of the protagonist and the other details. So, if anyone knows the actual legend would you kindly inform me where I might get it because I cannot find it in the library.
