Disclaimer: It ain't mine

Disclaimer: It ain't mine.

Author's Notes: Wow, I'm glad people seem to like this. I know it's not the most original idea, but the only other one I ever saw had Yui, Miaka and Amiboshi taking the stuff voluntarily and Suboshi following right after them. And I just can't see that. Now, be warned, this is somewhat of a "filler" chapter. No action and a lot of things being set up and established. I hope you enjoy it and please review.

Nakago lay still in his bed, his arm wrapped around Soi's waist. Her breathing held the peaceful rhythm that came with sleep and her thumb kept time, gently stroking the same small trail of chest. He allowed a small, discontented sigh to escape his lips. If things were different he could have made her happy. Frowning slightly he banished the ever-present regretful sentiment from his mind and thought of the odd premonition he had felt earlier in the day. Nakago trusted his soldier's instincts, honed after years on the battlefield; and the strange chill that had radiated through him seemed too convenient a coincidence after the past few days. The flare of an unfamiliar Seiryu Chi. Suboshi suddenly running off. Yui brooding after the headstrong boy. Tomo's chi fading. No, it was not all by chance. The universe was never that simple.

A grimace worked its way across his face. No, something was happening. Something he was ignorant and unaware of. That situation would have to be remedied immediately. Tomo . . .this was, of course, Tomo's fault. He had specifically requested the task of 'deflowering' the Suzaku no Miko, undoubtedly hoping to gain prestige and respect. Nakago sneered. The painted and faded opera star had failed to understand that he stood no chance as a bed partner. Although unaware of his actions, Nakago had almost imperceptibly tightened his hold on Soi. She had returned to the safehouse, a Kutuo sympathizer's estate, the previous morning. While never having been informed of its location, Soi was a Seiryu Seishi and a capable soldier as well. She had been able to return undetected, following the pull of the communal power the Seishi shared. The Captain of the Guard had been horrified when Nakago informed him of how easily security had been breached, while insinuating there were suspicions he was being bribed by the Suzaku Seishi to allow for lax security of the Seiryu no Miko. The number of guards had been tripled by dawn.

The Seiryu no Miko. Nakago's lips twisted into a cruel smile. Such a simple girl. He vaguely remember a seer, an old woman, during his brief childhood living with his tribesmen. The old crone always sat outside in all weather, her stool a landmark on the worn dirt road that led to the villages. She would shout advice, prophecies and odd bits of 'wisdom' at passerby's. The young boys of the town would often throw rocks towards her, though miss purposely. "The Puppet Master often looks for the two weakest beings in the world, my dears," She would croon. "Frightened children and the lovesick." Yui fortunately fit under both of those categories. She and the ever brash, ever impulsive younger twin. Their relationship amused him to no ends. Yui did love Suboshi, though not in a sexual way due to the trauma that he, Nakago, had forced upon her. However, in her damaged state the girl was incapable of handling any sort of emotional tie stronger then that of a protector. Nakago smiled. He was lucky that Yui was too entranced in his lies to see Suboshi as the protector he was, she could only see him as an immature boy who confused her. Suboshi loved Yui and was quite obvious about it, in a purely hormonal way and one that played off his own emotional trauma. She had replaced his brother by holding him that one night and allowing him to safely let his guard down. But the boy was too eager in his advances, ignorant of the events that had occurred when his beloved Miko entered this world, he had scared her away. Nakago recalled having to swallow his laughter when Tomo reported what Suboshi had tried while escorting her on the road.

Nonetheless, the two were vital to his plans. Yui, the more obvious of the two was needed as the direct vessel of his plans. But Suboshi had a positive effect on the girl when he wasn't reminding her of the supposed sexual assault she had gone through. Soi still claimed to be blissfully unaware of Tomo's whereabouts, though she was unable to keep the slight tick out of her eye that gave her lie away. Nakago allowed his gaze to drift slowly to her relaxed face. He was already aware of Tomo's death, but it would be best for him to save face with Miboshi by acting as though he cared and inspecting the site himself. The daemon master was rather finicky and Nakago did not need one of the few remaining Seiryu Seishi to turn against him. Not when he had such valuable talents to offer. Besides, spy reports could always leave out intricate details and he wished to know what exactly had happened to the singer. He didn't blame Soi for her actions either, the two had been openly rivals for his love and attention. Nakago closed his eyes. If things were different . . .

* * * *

"Yui?" The voice drifted from above, delving through the warmth behind her eyelids. The voice . . .the name were familiar . . .but she couldn't remember . . .couldn't be bothered. She felt the texture of the rich cloth around her, the strength of the arms holding her, someone . . .someone that instinct told her she trusted was holding her. And nothing could be more important then that. "Yui?" An slight flicker of annoyance shot through her mind. Who was this person? And why couldn't they allow her to sleep? The exhaustion radiated from the marrow of her bones, when joined with the soft whispered promises of sleep . . .they were too irresistible to fight. The third soft queried name fell on silent ears as she slipped again fully into the warm darkness of slumber.

* * * *

Shu Bohao stood solemnly in the kitchen, staring out the window at the growing moon. The heavy feeling of guilt weighed on his aging shoulders, causing them to ache. Behind him, he heard the sounds of his wife of many years shuffling about as she prepared dinner for he and their son. A bitter smile formed on his face. Kaika was his pride and joy. It would always remain so, he had no regrets over the Gods returning his son to him. It was Kaika's brother and the girl he was bringing that concerned him. The Seiryu no Miko. He and his wife had been unaware that Kaika had been a Seiryu Seishi, now it did not matter. Shun, Kaika's bother, had assured Bohao that he would be able to protect the village from the Seiryu and Kutuo's army. Still . . .he couldn't help but wonder if he had worked so hard to convince the boy out of his own selfish desire to keep Kaika.

"Yuting . . ." His voice was soft. He heard his wife cease her movements.

"Yes, my dear?" He turned to face his wife adoring gaze. His eyes burned with the tears he was too ashamed to shed. If she had noticed anything, she remained silent. It was for such small things that he loved her still.

"W-was I wrong? To do what I did? To convince that boy to steal this girl away? Did I do it only because I wanted so badly to have a son? To allow you to keep your son? Was I so selfish it never occurred to me the dangers these four could bring to our village?" His voice held such a pure note of wonder at his own actions, his wife put the bowl she had been stirring down and moved to him. Embracing him warmly.

"No, Bohao. You are too kind a man. You only want what's best for the children. Shun told us with his own words, Kaika is not a warrior. He is peaceful. And what does Miaka have to gain by being in constant danger? She's a young woman at the age where she should be looking for a good husband . . .not fearing for her life. She's far too innocent to be the Suzaku no Miko. And this girl . . ." Bohao took his wife by the shoulders as her eyes dropped, a look of deep sympathy crossing her face. "The one that Shun is bringing back to live with Yu Wenlong, why should she suffer so? Such horrible memories . . .No, dear. You did it out of the kindness of your heart. And as Shun said, China will not end if the wishes of a few are not carried out. Kaika even believes this will end the war!"

"Mother! Father!" The weak cry came from Kaika's room. The elderly couple moved quickly to check on their son. As Bohao watched his wife tend to the boy's wounds and promise him a bowl of soup, the old man reassured himself. This was his son. And no one could ever accuse him of putting anything before the boy's welfare.

* * * *

Across the village, the local scholar Yu Wenlong was carefully arranging the room for his future daughter. He, like Zou Xuande the baker, had lost his daughter years before, though it had been to the same disease that had stolen his wife away. Wenlong did not share the common sentiment that many of his peers did. He believed that young girls brought warmth and beauty to life. They should be treated as the treasures they were, not as a burden. He was also aware that he was fortunate enough to have the means to support his theory, there were benefits to being one of the few literate men in the village. While he did ask payment for administering lessons to the local boys, he did not demand payment in gold as his fellow learned men did. What he lost in gold he save in never having to buy his own food or clothes. Wenlong was a master of living simply, without luxury. That would have to change. Already he had made arrangements with local merchants to have silk apparel for his daughter within a week's time. The gold and jade eating utensils that had been packed away after his wife's death had been painstakingly cleaned and returned to their proper places. His servant and confidant, Cheng, had been helping him clean his home for the first time in years. He had been amazed how the neglected closed rooms had collected so much dirt. He swore it would never happen again.

Wenlong's thoughts turned to the young man who was returning with his daughter. Shun, who was an exact copy of Kaika. A few of the more superstitious villagers were wary of the boy, in their ignorance believing the foolish myths surrounding twins. He sighed, recalling the faraway look in the boy's eyes when he spoke of Wenlong's daughter, Yui. Shun had been adamant about allowing her to keep her name, and Wenlong had readily agreed. While names were important and held significance in everyday life, he found that Yui was a beautiful and suitable name. But the look in that boy's eyes . . .Wenlong imagined he has possessed that same look years before when talking about his own love. Am I gaining a daughter, only to giver her away so quickly? He wondered. No. He would keep the girl until she was set in the ways of the village. The he would consider the young suitor's advances on his daughter.

"Master Wenlong?" Cheng's voice broke his train of thoughts. He turned to face his friend. "Where am I to put these?" He held up the few cosmetics he had purchased in the market place along with the candies. Wenlong smiled.

"Put them on the table near the mirror. She'll have to rearrange her room as she sees fit once she's up to it." Cheng moved to place the goods on the table. Wenlong studied him a moment. "Cheng, what do you think of all this?" A smile graced his face.

"I think it will be a good influence on this household to have a woman in it again."

"How is your wife? And your son?"

"Biming is well, she is happy that your daughter is returning. And Dazhong is starting to take an interest in the neighbor's daughter. They've been friends for years." Wenlong chuckled and nodded. He prayed that he would soon be able to speak of his daughter with that same note of pride in his voice. Things would be changing soon. The Gods had been good to him.

* * * *

Zou Miaka sat at the table in her father's kitchen watching her mother prepare dinner as she snacked on another roll. She was still recovering from her time in the desert, and while she couldn't remember it, or much of anything else, the story had been related to her so many times she knew it by heart. She and her friend Yui had been returning from Sairo with Shu Kaiak and Shu Shun when a sandstorm had suddenly blasted across the desert. In the strong winds and clouds of sand the four had been separated. Only Shun had managed to make it home before the heat and sun had caused him to loose his memory. Miaka knew that Kaika's memory had also been erased, and Shun was in the desert looking for Yui. Chances were she wouldn't remember anything either. She had been reassured time and time again that with time, her memory would slowly return. I hope Yui's all right . . .she thought, the fresh bread warming her hand as she held it suspended between her mouth and the table. Even though she couldn't remember what her friend looked like . . .she felt something. She couldn't explain it to anyone except Kaika, who had the similar experience. She knew that Yui was her friend. Just like she knew Kaika was also a . . .friend. A slow blush crept across her face as she thought of his kind eyes and gentle voice.

"Miaka, dear? Are you still hungry? Would you like some more?" Her mother smiled at her from her cutting board. Miaka smiled appreciatively.

"Yes, mother. Thank you."

"I'm glad your appetite has returned. Eat as much as you want. You need to regain your strength, dear. It's encouraging to see you eat." Miaka laughed. Her parents teased her lightly about her constant eating habits, but it did seem to comfort them that she was able to eat again. When she had first woken from the sand storm, she had been too frightened and confused to accept any food. Strange images that she couldn't quite recall kept swimming in and out of her head. It had taken her stomach the whole of one day to recover. She frowned slightly. It had been three days since she had come out of her coma. Three days and she felt as though she had lived her entire life in the village. I guess it's just because this is what's familiar. This is home. She thought, starting on another basket of rolls. Her mother starting to tell her about a festival in a few weeks' time. This is where I belong.

* * * *

The scene lay before him as the obscene insult it was. Tomo's rotting carcass had already begun to decay badly due to the heat and the birds of carnage. Nakago felt a thin, itchy stream of sweat trickle down the back of his neck, inside his helmet where he could not wipe it away. Soi was surveying the small plateau with a look of utter horror and disgust. So she knew where he was, she didn't know he was dead . . . He decided as he watched her swallow back a gag of revulsion. She had seen too many dead men on too many battlefields to not be in control of her reflexes. The scouts and guards accompanying him all stood back, afraid of his reaction. Nakago took note of the wounds on Tomo's corpse and asked, in a clear and infinitely patient iced tone.

"Where is Suboshi?"