Chapter Twenty-Seven
The Imperial City and the Shijin
Byakko floated over the terrain, his feet not moving as he followed beside the youkai. "Genbu, Suzaku and Seiryū wish to speak with you once your business with the Emperor has finished."
"Why do the Shijin wish to see me?" Seihomaru lifted his brow curiously.
"It surprises you?" Byakko glanced at Seihomaru in shock. "Suzaku missed your last visit. She had wanted to give you a gift, and so did the other Shijin celestials."
Seihomaru snorted. "No gift is ever needed. They know that, and so do you."
"I am the youngest of the four, you really expect me to have any say in what they do?" Byakko chuckled. "Genbu has the stone you wished to acquire for your lovely mate, and Seiyrū has something for your son."
"And Suzaku?"
"She has something special that she refuses to inform even her fellow celestials about." Byakko shook his head. His gaze turned to Nii who followed beside them silently. "How is it the eclipse youkai managed to stay alive past the expectancy span of almost two hundred years? You appear to be but a youngling, yet the age upon the date of your birth indicates you are well into your five hundredth year."
Seihomaru released a soft snarl. "That is no one's business but ours."
"I am a celestial, as is your eclipse youkai."
Seihomaru frowned and peered at Byakko suspiciously. Then he smirked. "Speaking of celestial beings, rumor has it there is another eclipse youkai alive."
Byakko nodded. "Slippery sucker that one. He has managed to keep clear of view from even the Shijin. I do know that his inner spirit is one that your own spirit has met through a host long ago."
'...' Taizo said. 'I have only ever known two other eclipse youkai through your father Kazuki.'
'Only two?' Seihomaru frowned.
'One was Nii's mother, the second was a former captain of the shadow guard. His youki transferred to the son when he was killed.' Taizo said.
'Who was the son?'
'His name was Taichirou, the son of Shinpachi. Although he vanished after Lord Genjiro died.' Taizo said. 'He had a son also, and he fled with his mate, but nothing was ever heard from them again.'
Seihomaru grunted. He lifted his eyes when the sky began brightening and he sighed. The Imperial City was directly ahead and the more difficult part was going to be gaining entrance undetected. "You have my thanks Byakko. Tell your siblings I will meet with them as soon as I have finished my business with the Emperor."
Byakko grinned and his form immediately pulsed into hundreds of stars and floated up into the sky.
Nii stood there his mouth hanging open in awe. "Sugoi." He breathed.
Seihomaru smiled. "We will need to take on our human forms again."
Nii frowned and his shoulders slumped. "Is the whole journey going to be in our human disguise?"
"Not all of it." Seihomaru chuckled. "Try maintaining that for two years. I remember my first night at the trade port and I thought I was caught for sure. I had gone to sleep and dropped my appearance only to have someone enter my sleeping quarters."
Nii grinned. "Oh, tell me more."
Seihomaru shrugged. "Not much to tell. I sat up and we both stared at each other for several minutes before he about-faced and ran in terror. I disguised myself again fully expecting the guards and sure enough, they arrived. Poor soul ended up in the mining fields for two weeks due to his false claims. I blamed the lack of light and the man's poor eyesight, but he never got over the incident."
Nii snickered. "So where else in this world have you visited?" He was genuinely curious as they approached the large wooden gates surrounding the Imperial City. Seihomaru took a sharp turn down a windy path leading away from the gates and Nii scrambled after him.
"I visited many different places. Rome, which was rich in colors and skimpy in their attire. A large army, however. They have men who rule over other men and are very high in politics and religion. Egypt was an interesting journey. Also pretty skimpy in attire, more so than Rome. Elaborate structures and rich in metals I have never seen before. In the cities there was foliage but lots of sand stretched on for miles, much like the luscious valleys we have. Egypt is ruled by a man who claims to be a living God."
Nii listened with great interest as Seihomaru described what he saw and smelt, and the imagery that was shared through memories was astounding.
"So many places with many men and deities and demons." Seihomaru shook his head as he turned sharply again towards a dark portion of houses and streets. "I documented each of my trips and placed them inside the Shinden-zukuri. My office is littered with scrolls."
"Was there any place you would visit again?" Nii asked, his eyes locked on the dark shadows that lingered over the portion of the street they were heading towards.
"I frequent Wa. I like the people and the atmosphere. I haven't had too many issues with youkai here, but I also don't draw unwanted attention to myself." Seihomaru smiled, but his smile faded when he saw where Nii's focus was. "If you wish, you can wait for me over by the marketplace."
Nii lifted a brow and then he understood. "How deep do the shadows go?"
"All the way inside. We must stick to the dark to slip into the Royal halls. These men that protect the Emperor are skilled and use various magics to thwart their foes." Seihomaru placed his hand on Nii's shoulder. "When I say they are skilled, I am not joking. They almost bested me."
Nii's mouth fell open in shock. "I don't believe it." He frowned.
Seihomaru smirked. "Either way, if you feel more comfortable waiting for me out here, there is a lady who makes delicious sweet cakes. If I remember correctly, you have a sweet tooth."
Nii furrowed his brow at the term. "A what now?"
"A weakness for sweets." Seihomaru snorted. "I did say the world has changed. So many new things to experience and rather remarkably intelligent humans in this world. Some more so than others, but regardless, go check out their market and I will fill you in as soon as I find you."
"I don't speak their language and I have no currency."
Seihomaru pulled his pouch from his haori and handed ten gold-covered coins to his friend. "As for their language, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Use hand gestures for amounts and what you want. Listen to their responses or greetings. That is how I learned."
"How do I find the marketplace?" Nii asked, his eyes scanning the area around them.
"Follow your nose. You can't miss it." Seihomaru smirked and left his friend standing in the street speechless with his hand outstretched holding the gold coins. Snickering softly to himself, he knew that as soon as Nii found out just how much currency he was given, he would probably topple over from shock.
'So how much did you give him?' Taizo asked curiously.
'What? So you can spoil my surprise to feel his reaction?' Seihomaru chuckled.
Taizo pouted.
'I gave him enough currency that for most men here would be enough to survive off for several years.' Seihomaru grinned.
Taizo had seen the currency pouch his host carried and he blinked. 'How did you come by so much?'
'Various ways. Helping out mostly, but the Emperor gave me enough coins to never have to worry about coin for the rest of our lives.' Seihomaru smiled and slipped through a small crack in the side of the gates. For most, no one would even notice the small section, but for him, it was as plain as day. Once inside, he scanned the grounds and found it rather light on defenses and he furrowed his brow. It wasn't like the Emperor to ignore his safety or to allow such a relaxed status when it came to the confines of the house.
Shaking his head, disapprovingly, Seihomaru moved to the large castle that sat in the middle of the great enclosed home. The people of Wa and Japan had similar interests in simplicity and design, but Wa loved to decorate and embellish in riches. Even the Empress was dressed in all glory with hairpins decorated in gems and gold. Smirking, Seihomaru moved into the royal halls and glanced around at the almost empty throne. On the chair at the top of the stairs sat the Emperor who was arguing with one of his military men and looking quite angry about what was being said.
Seihomaru walked up behind the chair staying low and silent and once behind the male, he whispered. "Goodness, that one sure has your feathers ruffled."
The Emperor's head snapped to the side and then a huge grin crossed the man's face. " Heng Jiang!" The man jumped to his feet and barrelled into his chest throwing his arms around him.
Seihomaru grunted and grinned at the reactions of the Emperor's court members. "It is good to see you, Zhao Shen."
The Emperor laughed. "I go by the name Xianzong now."
"Ah." Seihomaru released the Emperor and planted himself on the arm of the throne. Immediately, the court members rushed forward crying in protest.
The Emperor turned and shook his head. "Enough!"
Seihomaru chuckled. "So you sent a message for me via our lovely celestial guardian. I trust this has to do with the Yata no Kagami?"
Xiaozong nodded. "I knew you would come. The making of this fabulous mirror is to take place before the weeks' end."
Seihomaru nodded. "In two days if my calculations are correct."
"Yes. I also acquired the black pearl you wanted." Xiaozong walked to a small table behind his throne chair and tossed the black pearl to Seihomaru who caught it easily.
Seihomaru held it in his fingers and peered into the swirling black depths. "Thank you."
"Of course. You saved my life and asked nothing in return until you were seeking answers in regards to a pearl. When I heard about what it was you were looking for I instantly went to work to locate it for you." Xiaozong smiled easily.
Seihomaru slipped the pearl into his haori and glanced at the frantic court members who followed Xiaozong around endlessly. "I heard the Mongol's have started moving. I trust that is why your defenses are light?"
"The Mongol's won't attack the Imperial City. They know if they do they will suffer the wrath of the Shijin." Xiaozong shook his head and plopped back into his chair unceremoniously. "There is another matter."
Seihomaru lifted a brow.
"My lovely wife the Empress would like to give you a gift for your wife." The Emperor grinned.
"There is no need. Suki has been showered with many gifts over the years, she certainly does not need more trinkets." Seihomaru smirked.
"Then you need to tell that to Chengsu. She will pester me until you accept it."
Seihomaru rolled his eyes. "I would prefer to pass on that. Very well, I will take the gift to Suki."
Xiaozong clapped his hands together. "Excellent." He waved the one court man standing alone and took the waiting chest in his arms.
"You already knew I would accept?" Seihomaru narrowed his eyes at Xiaozong.
"Of course. No one wishes to anger the Empress. Refusing her gift is an insult." Xiaozong laughed joyously.
Seihomaru snorted. He did take the hairpins that he was handed and placed them into his haori. "I have other matters to attend to before the crafting of the Yata no Kagami. I will return before then."
Xiaozong nodded. "Can you steal me away from all this formality? Even only for a few hours?"
Seihomaru grinned. "I fear your whole military force would seek me out and flay the skin off my bones if I were to even attempt such a thing. You are safer here, you know that."
Xiaozong sighed heavily. "I wish I could explore as you do."
Seihomaru grunted and stood up. "It is more hassle than it's worth, Xiaozong"
Xiaozong shook his head with a heavy groan. "You are lucky Heng Jiang. Despite you being a great lord of the Western territories of Japan, you can come and go as you please."
Seihomaru shook his head. "Doing so leaves territories vulnerable to attack, either within or without. I only travel because I must."
'You must teach me your secrets."
"There is more to it than only secrets. You must have someone you trust with your life by your side and holds the same fundamental views." Seihomaru turned to leave. "We can speak more when I return. My companion waits for me in your marketplace."
Xiaozong grinned. "Another like you? I would be honored to meet him." The emperor closed an eye and peered intently at him. "Unless it's a her."
Seihomaru chuckled. "I will bring him by if you allow us to enter through the gates. He doesn't do well in dark corridors."
Xiaozong nodded his head. "Let us meet at the lotus pools in the gardens. Tomorrow morning?"
Seihomaru smiled and inclined his head accepting the place. Without another word, he slipped into the shadows his grin spreading across his face when the Emperor's court men immediately began spouting protests and arguments. Snickering softly, Seihomaru moved through the back halls and outside towards the marketplace he had left Nii to explore.
Nii peered around the vast grounds that were filled with stalls of various goods for trade. There were silk stalls with finery so sheer and delicate it left one wondering how they were made. Colorful designs flooded the marketplace, gleaming metallics, wooden furniture makers, perfumes, and many stalls filled with foods of all makes. His mouth fell open when his eyes landed on the large stall that seemed to display sweets of all kinds. Scooting forward, his mouth started salivating when the smell of sweet honey and pastries flooded his nose. Quickly swallowing before he embarrassed himself, he grinned excitedly.
Two younger children ran away when the stall owner handed them a few sweets and her attention moved to him. She had a merry twinkle in her eye and she smiled at him. Her words were lost on him when she began talking and he groaned softly. Instead, Nii pointed to the large caramelized pastry that was threatening to cause him to start drooling again and he held up two fingers.
The woman seemed to understand and started pulling a couple of fresh ones out of her shelves behind her and wrapped them up for him. When she handed them to him, he held out one of the gold coins to her and her hands immediately went to her mouth with a loud gasp of shock. Confused, Nii looked down at his hand and frowned glancing back up to the woman. Her head shook as if refusing his payment, and her hushed words were lost once again as she spoke to him.
"I have nothing else." He whispered, almost heartbroken that he might miss out on the pastries she had gone to the trouble of wrapping up for him. Nii gasped in surprise when his shoulder was roughly jerked back and his prized sweets toppled out of his hand and onto the ground. He was forcefully spun around and his eyes widened when they met angry black eyes of a burly man.
Nii was shoved to the side and his handful of coins dropped to the dirt ground and the marketplace instantly grew still. Having no idea what the man was shouting, or what the commotion was all about, Nii clenched his eyes shut when he saw the man bunch his fist up. 'Oh, shit!' Being in human disguise meant taking on human weaknesses and so he knew that a fist meeting his face was going to be quite unpleasant. His arms were roughly grabbed and he was forced onto his knees.
The large male still yelled but his voice drifted off on the wind when many of the humans in the marketplace stirred as someone else approached.
'Now who is it?' Nii moaned, fearing that he was very close to meeting his death with whatever wrongdoing he had made with presenting the coins. His eyes immediately fell onto Seihomaru and he breathed a huge sigh of relief. 'I don't know how I offended them.'
Seihomaru's face was angry and whatever he said caused the guards to instantly move away from Nii. Gulping, Nii blinked as the men began apologizing and bowing as the Lord approached. Nii pushed to his feet and looked back and forth between the men and Seihomaru who were speaking.
Nii was so lost he stood silently and watched. Seihomaru reached down and picked up the coins and handed them back to Nii who glanced at the objects that had caused this whole mess.
Seihomaru winked at him and gave the woman a coin and spoke with her quietly. Tears shone in her eyes and her hand clutched the gold to her chest protectively. 'You almost caused the poor woman to faint.'
Nii slumped his shoulders.
The woman quickly went to her shelf and pulled a few more of the pastries off and wrapped them. She spoke with Seihomaru and bowed to him once he moved away. The men who stood close glared at them but averted their eyes when Seihomaru narrowed his eyes in their direction.
'What is their problem?' Nii asked his eyes trailing behind them as they moved down a long path through the marketplace.
'They thought you stole the coins.' Seihomaru chuckled handing Nii the wrapped pastries.
'They seem to know you.' Nii lifted a brow and looked up at Seihomaru with a faint smile.
'I've been here a few times. They know who I am and that the Emperor holds me favorably. The guards are angry because they know their commanders will get a report about them disturbing a visiting lord's companion.' Seihomaru shrugged his shoulders as they moved out of the busy street to a smaller area with many houses. They approached one and Seihomaru entered easily as though it were an everyday occurrence.
'Where are-?' His words died on his lips when Nii's eyes fell onto two females who stood as though expecting them. One had fiery red hair and pale skin that almost rived theirs when they were in their true forms. Her brilliant green eyes sparkled with humor as she watched them adjust their eyesight. The other female had pale blue hair and deep sea blue eyes.
"Suzaku." Seihomaru grinned walking over to her his human disguise falling almost instantly.
Nii's mouth fell open when the red-haired female pulled Seihomaru into a lover's embrace and both shared a rather intense passionate kiss that was not at all dampened through their link. Averting his eyes, Nii felt his cheeks heat up and he tried to look anywhere but where Seihomaru and the red-haired female were.
Suzaku's musical laughter drew his attention back and Seihomaru had a wide grin on his face. "I hope you don't mind, frosty hair, but I will be stealing this lovely inu for a few hours. It has been far too long since I have indulged on his delectable body."
Seihomaru smirked. "You can keep Seiryu company while Suzaku and I visit ." His attention was stolen by Suzaku as she pulled him through a curtained door leaving Nii standing there alone with a very amused looking female. 'Can you close off the link while you uh-visit?' Nii's eyes trailed down to his hakama and he tried to adjust them uncomfortably.
When Nii got no response, he lifted his eyes to Seiryu who was waving him over to a table. "Come frosty hair, have a seat and enjoy a proper meal. You can eat those sweets after."
He still had his human disguise on and he frowned. "Frosty hair?"
"I am a Goddess, my sweet inuyoukai. I know what you look like even if you are in disguise." Seiryu smiled. "You are quite stunning." She mused as Nii walked over to the table and placed the bundle onto the surface.
Nii flushed grumbling under his breath as a wave of intense feelings washed over him.
Seiryu laughed musically. "Have a seat."
Nii dropped his human disguise and sat down in the chair, staring at the full plate of various raw meats and several other items he had never seen before. He reached out for a piece of meat but he jerked when he was flooded with emotions he was not expecting. "Oh." He gasped and flushed.
Shuzo hissed in his head and then released a soft growl.
Seiryu laughed joyously as she watched Nii's cheeks heat up in embarrassment. "Relax, frosty hair."
"I have a name," Nii grumbled, adjusting his hakama again.
"You have a couple, which do you prefer? Nazahi or Nii?"
Nii lifted his eyes to hers as she spoke a name he had not heard since his coming of age day hundreds of years ago. "Nii."
Seiryu smiled and poured a large mug of youkai brew and placed it in front of him. "My brothers will arrive in a couple of hours. Eat and rest, for the night will be filled with laughter and merriment and you will find little rest once they get here."
Nii swallowed as he was subjected to all the feelings and emotions Seihomaru was experiencing and he winced when Shuzo hissed more furiously as those feelings flooded from Seihomaru to Taizo, right through to Nii and his youki. Flushing in embarrassment, Nii shoved a hunk of meat into his mouth and chewed vigorously.
Seiryu sat down across from him, her blue eyes twinkling in amusement as she watched the youkai try to ignore the emotions that filled the air around them. "They will be a while, frosty hair."
Nii shook his head and downed the mug of youkai alcohol. "I take it this is a normal thing for them, then?"
Seiryu grinned. "If you were not here, frosty hair, I would be joining them."
Nii blinked at her. It wasn't unheard of for youkai lords or even human lords to have bouts of pleasure nights with several females, but he had no idea that Seihomaru found comfort in those as well."Don't let me stop you." He flushed as he stuffed more meat into his mouth.
"Oh, but my gorgeous little youkai, I am more interested in you right now." Seiryu winked at him and he swallowed nervously.
Shuzo grunted inside his head and Nii blushed again. 'Dammit, Seiho, please close the link.'
Nii shifted uncomfortably as his lower body reacted to the flood of pleasure that shot through their shared link. He groaned and placed his head in his hands. Jumping, Nii turned his head when he felt Seiryu move behind him whispering into his ear. "Come, frosty hair."
All protests were silenced when her mouth descended on his and his skin came alive with sensations he had not experienced since taking Hana as his mate. Nii pulled back and stared at her in a mix of shock and startled wonderment, but he allowed her to pull him to his feet and he was led almost as if in a trace to the backroom Seihomaru and Suzaku had vanished behind.
Seihomaru stretched and yawned softly. Pushing into a sitting position, he glanced down at the mane of red that cascaded on the futon next to him. It was still night and his eyes scanned the room. With a smile, he reached out his hand and poked Nii who was sleeping peacefully beside him.
Nii twitched and rolled over as though confused as to his current location. He bolted upright when his mind recalled the events that had happened and Seihomaru chuckled at him. The eclipse youkai looked down at the peacefully sleeping blue-haired youkai who was draped across his lap and Nii flushed. His hand went to his mouth and his eyes widened. "Shit."
Seihomaru chuckled softly. "Byakko and Genbu are here." He whispered. "Gather your clothes."
Nii nodded and pulled his hakama over and attempted to untangle himself from Seiyu's clutches. With great difficulty, Nii rolled off the futon and quickly pulled his pants over his hips and turned only to almost stumble back at the proximity Seihomaru was. Flushing and quickly apologizing, Nii reached for his haori and pulled it around his body before glancing once more at the two sleeping females who were now curled up against one another, seeking that missing warmth of their male companions.
Nii followed Seihomaru through the curtain and poked his head around Seihomaru's taller and bulkier frame and peered at the two males who were sitting at the table.
"Ah, finished are we?" A black-haired male guffawed as they approached.
Nii was familiar with the humanoid form of Byakko and he glanced at Seihomaru with a smile.
Seihomaru poured himself a mug of beer and sat down. "We have matters to discuss. If I were not on a time crunch, I would spend a few days with your sisters to rejuvenate."
Byakko snorted. "Rejuvenate indeed. Sit." He waved his hand and shoved a cloth bundle over the table.
Seihomaru frowned at it but pulled it to him and unwrapped it. Inside was a gleaming green gem. "What is this?"
Genbu sat forward. "That is to assist your celestial friend." He pointed to Nii who frowned.
Byakko nodded. "It is also to help you locate the other celestial."
Seihomaru furrowed his brow but tucked the gem into his haori. "What can you tell me about Hyoga?"
Genbu rolled his eyes. "Blasted moth is a pain in the ass. Causes all kinds of disruptions and mayhem."
"A moth youkai, interesting," Seihomaru grunted. He had heard the name Hyoga on several of his visits to Wa, but he had not been aware that he was a moth youkai. "I trust he can scatter dust of sorts around him."
Byakko nodded. "He uses it to disorientate his opponents."
Genbu snickered. "That shouldn't be an issue for you, however."
Seihomaru nodded, his mind rolling over what he had read about the abilities moths had. "If I am correct in my assumption, his dust is poisonous."
Byakko grinned. "As my brother said, it shouldn't be an issue. He is on the verge of ascending, though."
Nii frowned. "Ascending?"
Seihomaru glanced at his friend and nodded. "Into a daiyoukai. He has gathered that much power?"
Genbu waved his hand as though it were nothing. "He has already begun. You are too, close to ascending."
Seihomaru shook his head. "I am nowhere close to being a daiyoukai."
Byakko and Genbu both glanced at one another as though sharing some deep secret. "You are closer than you realize, Heng Jiang."
Seihomaru scoffed. "Ridiculous."
All heads turned to the curtain as it moved and Suzaku and Seiyu emerged. "You never did accept your full power." Suzaku walked over and sat down in Seihomaru's lap, her arms wrapping around his neck.
Seihomaru leaned back slightly to peer into her green eyes. "Funny."
Seiryu shook her head as she poured everyone more beer. "You never did want power." Her eyes twinkled mischievously as those blue orbs met Nii's. Her hand ran through his silver strands as she walked by him and Nii shivered at the touch. "You are a pleasure giver, frosty hair."
Nii grunted.
Seihomaru laughed. "On a more serious note, can you keep your ears open for news on the jewel from the priestess?"
"Midoriko?" Seiryu turned her attention to Seihomaru.
Genbu frowned. "Last I heard it was in the hands of a daimyo in Japan."
Seihomaru groaned. "That kind of power cannot be in anyone's hands."
Byakko nodded. "There is a group of humans who can seal it away. Midoriko's two-tailed cat resides with them."
"Kirara." Seihomaru nodded. "I have met the youkai." He stretched and glanced out the window. "Morning approaches. I must meet with the Emperor and then go to the location the Yata no Kagami will be crafted. After that, I must return to Japan." Suzaku stood and vanished behind the curtain quietly.
Seiryu leaned down and placed her hands on Nii's shoulders. "Mind if we keep this one?" She whispered beside his ear.
Nii twitched and his eyes widened as her tongue snaked around the lobe and nibbled on it.
Seihomaru laughed. "I am afraid I still need him."
"Shame." She stood and grinned. "Bring him the next time you come to China."
"I will see what happens. There is much to accomplish before I return." Seihomaru stood and stretched again. His focus went to Suzaku who walked out of the backroom carrying a cloth bag which she held out for him. He took it and placed it over his shoulder.
Suzaku gripped his hand and pulled him to her. "You, my love, please be careful." She whispered in his ear.
Seihomaru nipped at her neck. "As careful as I can be with fate hovering over me."
