Kishuku wiped the sweat from his face

Chapter Seven

~*~

Kishuku took a brief second to wipe the sweat off his forehead before it dripped into his eyes and caused a problem.  There was no way two ordinary men could defeat this monster.  Hell, he wasn't sure the entire Japanese police force would be able to get rid of it.  Kishuku knew there was no way to win, but he wouldn't leave Hahm-sensei who he knew would fight for his dojo to the death.  Sparing a quick glance at his teacher, Kishuku knew he wasn't doing as well as his younger student.  While Hahm Lanva might have been the greatest martial artist when he was younger, age had caught up with the man and Kishuku could tell he was tiring.  Unless a miracle happened, they were both going to die.  For Hahm-sensei would not leave his dojo and Kishuku would not leave Hahm-sensei.   Dodging another strike for the serpent, Kishuku wondered how much longer they could last.

~*~

Miaka panted as she came to rest in the alley besides the dojo and another building.  It had been hard work crossing the rubble-strewn street in a dress, but Miaka was facing bigger problems.  There was just no way she could get to Kishuku without getting one or both of them killed.  To call out would make both men lose their concentration, something the serpent would not hesitate in taking advantage of.  Running out into the open would also distract the men; there was just no way to reach them.  'What I need is a miracle,' Miaka thought and grabbed the feather pendant for help.  But the feather offered no inspiration and Miaka bit her bottom lip knowing she was going to have to do this alone.

            Luckily, fate seemed to smile down upon the Suzaku no Miko for the serpent seemed to gain a moment of insight and swept its tail down at Kishuku who had jump over it.  While still in the air, the serpent swept his tail back over Kishuku's head and then back at him hitting Kishuku in the side.  Miaka winced; it wasn't quite how she pictured getting a chance to talk to him, but…who could be picky?  Running out onto the sidewalk, Miaka put her arms around Kishuku's body and started pulling him back into the alley.

            Hahm watched as a girl in a red Chinese dress started to pull Kishuku into an alley.  Looking over at him the girl smiled weakly; suddenly, her eyes went wide and she shouted "Abunai!"  Leaping back just in time, Hahm missed the brunt of the attack and was thrown into the wall.  Getting up with a wince, Hahm looked through narrowed eyes at the serpent.  For some reason, he knew that strange girl would not harm Kishuku.  He had to concentrate on this serpent.  With only one target, the monster would be more focused.  The stakes had been raised and Hahm didn't intend to lose.

~*~

            Miaka dropped Kishuku unceremoniously on the ground with a grunt.  He was heavy!  Looking down Miaka winced. A small bit of blood stained his shirt from were the tail hit, maybe she should have put him down more gently…

~*~

            Kishuku winced as the world came back into view.  With a groan his hand slowly made its way up to touch the spot on his chest were the pain seemed to emanate from.  He was shocked to see it come away slightly bloodied. 

            "Are you okay?"  a concerned voice asked from above.  Kishuku shot the familiar girl a withering glare.  With a sheepish grin she muttered an "oops?" when she realized how inappropriate the question was.  "What I meant," she continued, "was are you willing to fight Seiryuu's serpent again?"  Through the haze of pain Kishuku managed to connect this "Seiryuu serpent" with the creature he had just fought with Hahm-sensei.  Hahm-sensei!  Kishuku was jolted back to reality.

            "Hahm-sensei," he croaked out, his voice full of pain.

            "Hahm-sensei?" she repeated, "The other man?  He's still out there from the sound of the battle."  Becoming more aware, Kishuku realized that he could here the fighting-and it sounded like a one-sided battle to him.

            "I have to help him," he labored painfully as he got up.  It seems a cut does not have to pour a river of blood to hurt.

            "Like that?"  the girl questioned eyeing him.  Kishuku winced, he knew the odds were against his survival, but he would not abandon Hahm-sensei!  "Gomen nasai," the girl spoke again, "demo as you are one of the Suzaku Shichi Seishi, I cannot allow to just go and die."  The sound of breaking glass reached their ears.

            "Hahm-sensei!" Kishuku's eyes widened.  He quickly started to make his way out of the alley when he was tackled from the behind by the strange girl.  "Let me go," he yelled, "I have to go help Hahm-sensei!"

            "How much good are you going to do like that?" she questioned, "You hold the power of the constellation Tamahome.  If I awaken your powers you'll stand a chance!"

            "I don't care.  I'm not some superhero out to help the world; I just want to save Hahm-sensei.  So let me go.  Go give your magic to someone else."

            "I can't," she bit out through clenched teeth.  Even wounded, Kishuku was hard to hold back.  "You were born with this power. I can awaken it, I can't just give it out like candy!"  The thought of food sent her into a momentary daydream giving Kishuku enough time to slip out of her grip.

            "I'm going to save Hahm-sensei, I don't care about constellations or these Suzaku seishi."  And with that he turned to leave.

            "Yamete," she called out to him stretching her hand towards him in a helpless gesture, "please allow me to awaken your powers become a Suzaku seishi.  Only they can stop Seiryuu's minions and you're the only one I've found so far.  If you go out there and die, Tokyo and the world will fall."  "And," she added, "Hahm-sensei will die for sure."  It was a low blow and they both knew it.  Against his will, Kishuku's feet led him back into the alley where his traitorous arms helped this peculiar girl up.

            "So," he said looking her in the eye, "how long does this awakening ceremony take?  We haven't got much time."

            Miaka smiled softly, "It's already done."  There was a burst of heat on Kishuku's forehead.  The symbol of Tamahome came to life and Kishuku felt energy spread through his body giving him new strength. 

            He smiled crookedly at Miaka; "I guess this makes me a superhero now right?  Where's my outfit?"  Looking down there was a flash of purple and Kishuku's hair had grown and he was newly clothed.  (another picture)

            "Nani?" Miaka looked confuse. "That isn't suppose to happen," she said quietly.  Kishuku had caught her voice but not her words.

            Looking up he questioned her, "Who are you anyways?"  Miaka looked relatively surprised.

            'Well,' she thought retrospectively, 'I did meet him just today.'

            "I," she said with a sweeping bow, "am the Suzaku no Miko.  When you are no longer in use of your powers, simply pull them back inside off you."  Kishuku nodded. 

Suddenly, the dojo roof crashed down into the alley that they were standing in.  Kishuku grabbed Miaka and dashed out onto the sidewalk.  The serpent, it seems, had decided that Hahm-sensei wasn't getting up after he was knocked through the window frame for the third time and wanted to go after him in the dojo.  No one without powers had ever opposed it so long; this would be one meal it enjoyed very much.  Bending down and savoring the moment, the serpent didn't notice the figure jumping towards him until the kick connected and he was flying into the next building, which promptly crashed on top of him.  Landing on his feet, Kishuku looked in awe at the damage one kick had done.  When he saw a figure slumped on the floor, he awe turned to worry.  Rushing across the room he kneeled down besides Hahm-sensei and was relieved to find a pulse.  Gently setting the older man against a protective wall, Kishuku heard a crash and was amazed to find the serpent standing back up-hatred in it's eyes.  Kishuku moved away from the dojo and onto the street to draw the fight away from his teacher.

~*~

Miaka watched the fight with a growing sense that she had forgotten to tell Kishuku something.  When the serpent stretched its neck, Miaka's eyes opened in realization: she had forgotten to tell Kishuku the serpent's weak spot.  Seiryuu was so arrogant he had burned a black dragon onto the weak spot of all of his minions, boasting that no one could even get close enough to make use of this tidbit of news.  Kishuku could fight forever, but he could never win unless he attacked the weak spot.  Miaka didn't know how to tell him this information though. 

            "Kishuku, Kishuku," Miaka called out trying to get his attention, "the serpent's weak spot is the dragon burn!  Attack the dragon burn!"  Miaka wasn't sure if Kishuku heard her or not, but just as she was about to yell again a flash of blue and the back of a Chinese dress caught her attention as it came into view for a short second before turning the corner.  A Chinese dress, the color blue, it could only mean one thing…

"The Seiryuu no miko," she whispered in disbelief.  If she could catch the miko and confront her…maybe Miaka could end this war before it begun.  Without a second though Miaka turned around and ran in the direction the figure had taken.  Miaka followed her, sometimes guessing, sometimes following a flash of blue just before it rounded a corner and went out of sight.  The chase was on.