Chapter 2: The Universe of the 4 Gods

Tamahome groaned, and tried to open his eyes.

Baaaaad move, he realised belatedly as his retinas were seared with twin points of bright light, causing his head to throb in time with his heart. He felt as if he had just been kicked in the head by a vengeful water buffalo.

Okay…so I'm still alive. It wouldn't hurt this much otherwise! He reasoned. Gingerly, he cracked open his eyes again to get some clue as to where he was. Gradually, the overwhelming brightness subsided to a more tolerable level as his eyes adjusted to the light.

To his left –or was it to his right? He wasn't entirely sure…his head was still spinning –he saw a blonde man getting to his feet. To his other side…

Waitaminute. BLONDE?? Tamahome's eyes popped open fully and he leapt to his feet, ignoring the pain that exploded in his skull. He glared at Nakago, sure that the other man was somehow responsible for everything.

The former shogun of Kutou directed a single scathing glance at Tamahome and proceeded to dust himself off.

The Suzaku seishi was irate. They were standing in the middle of Suzaku-knew-where and Nakago had the nerve to ignore him! "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! WHERE ARE WE?" Tamahome demanded hotly, stomping his way over to the other man, ready to beat the answer out of the blonde.

Nakago tensed at Tamahome's approach, his hand going to the hilt of his sword.

Still a chance…to finish what we started. Silver blue eyes narrowed.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MIAKA?" Tamahome barely had time to complete the sentence before he was nearly skewered by the shining length of steel that was Nakago's sword as it snapped from its sheath. The only thing that saved him was his quick reflexes. He saw, even in the midst of his spontaneous backflip, that the point of the sword had pierced the air exactly where his chest had been.

The shogun regarded him with a cold, calculating look before attacking again.

Damn! He's good! Tamahome ducked under another graceful arc made by the sword, unable to mount any sort of offensive without the risk of losing a limb. He felt the displaced air ruffle his hair and was almost sure he'd just gotten a haircut, courtesy of Nakago.

Obviously, the Seiryuu seishi was an accomplished swordsman, in addition to everything else. His sword moves were swift, streamlined and confident, hinting at a skill level attained only through years of intense practice.

Should've known the bastard didn't wear that sword just for show. Shoot! Things just got that much harder…He's almost as good as Hotohori-sama…the revelation however, did not make Tamahome feel any better.

Nakago pivoted quickly, allowing the momentum created by his movement to carry the sword into position for another strike. He watched his opponent carefully, noting that Tamahome had dropped into a fighting stance. The character of demon appeared on the Suzaku seishi's forehead. Good. He's serious now.

Tamahome realised that he needed to find a way to get close to Nakago and maybe knock him out. It was going to be difficult, especially since he was unarmed and Nakago seemed intent on slicing him thinner than rice paper.

The strike came faster than Tamahome expected. Even without his Seiryuu gifted powers, Nakago moved faster than anyone he had ever seen. The blonde shogun moved so quickly that he seemed to blur for an instant. Tamahome's reflexes took over, with sheer instinct overriding his mental functions. Without even thinking, he flung himself backwards.

The move saved his life.

He felt something warm trickling down his cheek and raised a hand up to his face to investigate.

His hand came away bloody.

His momentary preoccupation allowed his opponent to move behind him. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, warning him of imminent danger even as his senses screamed.

He whipped around, his body twisting uncomfortably…

…just in time to catch the descending sword blade between his palms, inches from his head. If he had been even a second later, it would have cleaved him in half.

Nakago's lips twisted into a thin, mirthless smile. Then, without warning, he kicked Tamahome in the gut.

Tamahome was sure that it was something Hotohori would never have done. Apparently, Nakago's style of swordfighting was not governed by the conventional rules of fair play. The man did whatever it took to win. Why am I not surprised? Tamahome thought as the air whooshed explosively out of his lungs. He let his body jerk back with the force of the blow, so that he would take as little damage as possible.

ALL RIGHT!! THAT'S IT! No more mister nice guy! Tamahome gritted his teeth. Something really hurt where Nakago had kicked him and he was positive that it used to be a vital organ. Maybe a kidney…perhaps an appendix. Whatever it was, the force of the kick had probably rearranged the positions of some of his insides…

He flung a ball of chi at the smirking blonde. Tamahome had been reluctant to use chi-blasts while fighting, because his opponent was a normal human with no powers. Normal?? When was Nakago ever normal? Or human, for that matter? However, desperate situations called for desperate measures. So much for fair play…but he asked for it! The chi-blast was not powerful enough to kill, just stun.

Unfortunately, Nakago's reflexes were just as fast as Tamahome's, and the shogun calmly side-stepped the blast.

However, it did give Tamahome a chance to summon another ball of chi. It hovered between his hands, glowing the same colour as the symbol on his forehead. It was the Suzaku seishi's turn to smirk.

Standoff.

"Give it up, Nakago," he called out confidently, "You can't defeat me and I won't kill you."

His adversary lifted one slender blonde eyebrow at Tamahome's words, "We'll see about that," he said coolly.

Before either man could move a muscle however, there was a bright flash of light and a puff of smoke, announcing the arrival of…

Tamahome didn't know whether to groan in anger or relief. Perhaps gagging at the revolting sight was a more appropriate response.

Looming in front of him was the ugliest face he had ever had the dubious pleasure of encountering.

Taiitsukun.

"ENOUGH! Both of you! You two weren't brought back here to kill each other!" the ancient old crone ordered. She was glaring at Tamahome, "And put that away!"

Tamahome glared back, but allowed the ball of chi to dissolve, "Bossy old hag…" he muttered under his breath.

Taiitsukun looked as if she was about to chew out Tamahome for that comment, but she was interrupted by a plaintive wail coming from the other side of the clearing.

"Tamahome….HEEEEEEEEEELP!!"

The man in question turned, just in time to see the branch supporting the source of the voice snap under her weight, sending her plummeting towards the ground.

Luckily for Miaka, she wasn't that far off the aforesaid ground.

Unluckily for her, she landed flat on her face.

"OWWWWWW!!" There was a dull thud as she ungracefully sprawled face-first in the dirt. Unlike Tamahome and Nakago, both of whom had been flung onto open ground when they had exited the vortex, Miaka had been deposited in a tree.

Tamahome rushed to her side, Nakago and Taiitsukun momentarily forgotten, "Miaka! Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, checking her for injuries. The love of his life moaned piteously, "Itaaaaiiii…"

She rolled over and looked up at Tamahome. Her eyes widened, "You're hurt!" she exclaimed, her hand lifting to gently trace the cut on his cheek. It had stopped bleeding, but it still throbbed painfully.

"It's just a scratch," he assured her, glad to see that she was unharmed.

Someone cleared her throat rather loudly, "Tamahome! Miaka!" The dreaded voice intruded in on them, "I need to talk to you…" Taiitsukun turned to the tall, blue-eyed man who had been standing silently behind her, "And that includes you, Nakago."

"Hmph. Why should I listen to you, old woman?" Nakago regarded her indifferently as he resheathed his sword. It was pointless for him to stay around. He would not get the death he desired from Tamahome now.

"What if I said Tenkou is involved?" Taiitsukun persisted.

Nakago froze for a split second before continuing his interrupted motion, "Then I would wish you good luck," he sneered, a cold and haughty expression on his face.

By this time, the two lovers had made their way over to Taiitsukun's side, "Who's Tenkou?" Miaka wanted to know. Tamahome watched the other man warily, relieved that Nakago had at least put away his weapon.

The ancient woman's expression darkened, "The vortex that swallowed you was the doing of an evil deity named Tenkou. He intended to send all of you to oblivion, but I managed to redirect the vortex to bring you here."

"Us?" Tamahome cried out indignantly, "Why us? And where are Tasuki, Chichiri and the others?" He was getting a really bad feeling about what the old hag was saying.

"They're safe, if that is what you want to know. Tasuki and Chichiri just got separated from you inside the vortex…they are now somewhere in Konan-koku. As for the others, they're merely spirits so Tenkou can't harm them," Taiitsukun said, becoming impatient, "The important thing is that Tenkou wants to control both this world and the mikos' world…and he must be stopped."

"Where have I heard THAT one before," Tamahome said sarcastically, looking over at Nakago.

Everyone ignored his snide comment.

"Tenkou has already accumulated a great amount of power. He plans to summon the gods to grant his wishes," the old witch continued, "This must not be allowed to happen at any cost," Her gaze moved to rest on Miaka.

"Miaka, you as Suzaku no Miko must make sure that Tenkou does not succeed…or all will be lost."

Miaka gaped at Taiitsukun, "Me?! But…but how?"

The entity who presided over the universe of the four gods sighed, suddenly looking older than someone who was already infinitely old, "Tenkou must be sealed by the gods. You must summon Suzaku again, Miaka."

Both Tamahome and Miaka opened their mouths to protest, but Taiitsukun silenced them with a wave of her hand. "In order to do so, you must find the shinzahos belonging to all the four gods, Suzaku, Seiryuu, Genbu and Byakko."

"The Shinzahos from Genbu and Byakko are buried under that building in Sairo!" Tamahome argued, "And no thanks to Blondie over there!" he pointed an accusing finger at Nakago.

"And even with my ring, we only have three shinzahos…we don't have anything from Seiryuu, do we?" Miaka asked dubiously.

Everyone turned, as if on cue, to look expectantly at the blonde man who had remained silent up to that point, not contributing to the conversation.

Nakago stared back at them, looking bored, "Have you all forgotten? Due to the Suzaku no Miko's brilliant second wish, I am no longer Seiryuu shichi seishi."

"No, you are not," Taiitsukun said suddenly, "but you are still one of the Hin. Seiryuu was sealed, but we might be able to use a magic amulet that belonged to the Hin tribe…combined with your earring in Tomo's Shin, it would be the equivalent to a shinzaho!" she sounded almost triumphant.

The blonde shogun gave a soft, short snort of wry amusement, "What makes you think that I would even agree to help you? Your little problem does not concern me." He turned, about to walk away.

"Isn't there any other way?" Miaka looked to Taiitsukun. The old woman shook her head grimly.

Tamahome clenched his fists, blood boiling with anger at Nakago's casual dismissal of their situation. In a heartbeat he had moved in front of the other man, blocking his way, "You can help us willingly, Nakago, or you can help us with several broken ribs." His voice was low and deadly as he threatened the blonde man with bodily harm.

Nakago's eyes narrowed dangerously, "I don't care what happens to this pathetic world, and I don't give a damn if it's destroyed. This world, and its gods allowed my happiness to be taken away…so why should I save it?" He brushed past the stunned Suzaku seishi, and left. Just like that.

Tamahome blinked, and his anger caught up with him again, "That bastard! How dare he leave! I'm really gonna HURT him!" He made to follow Nakago, but felt a tug on his arm, restraining him.

He looked down at Miaka, "But…!"

"Let him go, Tamahome. He's not willing to help us, and we can't force him," she said soberly, watching the departing figure of their erstwhile enemy, "We'll find another way…We have to try, no matter now small our chances are! We summoned Suzaku once…we can do it again! Where there is a will, there's a way, ne?" she finished optimistically.

Taiitsukun nodded, "There is still a chance for you to succeed. You cannot waste anymore time and must be on your way before Tenkou discovers you," The ancient witch's expression softened, "…and good luck." She pointed them in the direction of the country of Sairo, and watched them leave.

The old woman sighed, feeling as old as Time itself. Miaka had been right. No force in the universe of the four gods could make the former leader of the Seiryuu shichi seishi do anything he didn't want to do. "Damn. We could have really used his help," she muttered to no one in particular as she transported herself back to Mt. Taikyoku. It was taking all her power just to hold this world together. Miaka and Tamahome would have to complete this quest without her assistance. And fast.

She did not know how much longer she could continue fending off the threat, and for once, even the Nyan-Nyans knew better than to try to cheer her up.


Notes:

Nakago doesn't have his powers anymore, but that does not mean that he can't fight! And he's still dangerous! Tamahome and Nakago...testosterone overload! Oh dear...it's never a good idea to put two alpha males together... : : Alcestis grins wickedly: :