Chapter 6: The Morning After
The next morning saw Tamahome irritable and cranky from the lack of sleep. He had remained awake throughout the night, and by the gods, it showed. His eyes were bloodshot and there were large dark circles under them.
Miaka seemed to have recovered from her exhaustion and was back to her usual cheerful self. Of course she had slept well…she'd used him as a pillow! Tamahome felt compelled to snap at her genki-ness, especially over her 'you-look-as-if-you-died-last-night-and-didn't-know-about-it' comment, but convinced himself that it wasn't her fault that he was so tired. He waited until she left to bathe at a nearby river before he sighed, massaging his temples. He was starting to feel a fatigue-induced headache the size of Tasuki's swear word vocabulary coming on.
And Nakago…Nakago looked like someone who'd just gotten a good night's sleep.
As usual, the shogun looked immaculate with not a single strand of blonde hair out of place. Tamahome felt the ever present resentment simmering in the pit of his stomach. He imagined that next to Nakago, he looked like a mess, with his unruly hair, rumpled clothes and bleary eyes.
A faint metallic sound brought his attention back to the present as he glanced sharply at Nakago, who seemed to be in the process of taking off his armour. What the devil—?!
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going to the river to clean up," Nakago said in a rather patronising tone of voice, as though he was talking to an exceptionally stupid three year old, "unlike some people, I prefer to look after my personal hygiene."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean??" Tamahome glared at his nemesis.
Nakago ignored him, heading towards the river wearing only a loose white shirt and pants, while Tamahome stood fuming, and once again entertained thoughts of beating the living daylights out of the smug blonde.
Suddenly, it hit him. Nakago was going to the river…
Miaka was bathing at the river.
Tamahome scrambled after the departing figure, overtook him and blocked his way. "You can't go there!" the dark haired Suzaku seishi spluttered.
"And why not?" Nakago's voice was dangerously calm. Actually, he knew why not, he just wanted to hear Tamahome say it.
"You…I mean…Miaka's there! She's bathing! And I won't let you or your evil intentions anywhere near her!" Tamahome declared with righteous indignation.
Nakago appeared to give Tamahome's words a moment's consideration, before suddenly leaning in close, until their faces were inches apart. The move startled Tamahome, but stubborn pride refused to let him back down.
"What makes you think that my 'evil intentions', as you so gallantly put it, are directed at the Suzaku no Miko?" Nakago's voice had taken on a low, seductive tone. Like dark, luxurious velvet. His lips curved into a slow, sensual smile, "I enjoyed our last encounter…didn't you?"
Tamahome's eyes widened in horror as he realised exactly what Nakago was hinting at. He rapidly backpedalled, his pride be damned. His face turned beet red, then white and finally a peculiar shade of green.
The former shogun of Kutou watched the display in amusement. In truth, he wasn't sure he had ever seen anyone change so many colours quite so fast…
"HENTAI!!"
Miaka chose that moment to return from the river. She looked at the two men in confusion. Her gaze going from Nakago's now impassive expression to Tamahome's sickly complexion. Hmmmm…no blood on the ground, no signs of fighting… she was glad that they had managed not to kill each other in her absence.
"What happened?" she asked, peering at Tamahome's pale green face in concern. Tamahome looked as if he was about to throw up…and it was not going to be a pretty sight.
Nakago calmly strolled past the two of them, continuing on his way to the river, "I have no idea. Maybe you should ask Tamahome…he looked sick all of a sudden."
The mid-day heat was oppressive. The landscape had changed the further they travelled; the dense forest giving way to towering mountains and steep cliffs. They were making their way through the mountains via a winding path, going through narrow passes and past deep gouges.
The terrain was rough and this entailed them often having to climb over or having to go around obstacles. It was hard work and Miaka was hot, sweaty and tired. She thought longingly of the river she had bathed in that morning. Once again, she and Tamahome were walking behind Nakago. The blonde didn't seem to have any problems with the physical exertion, hauling himself up and over whatever obstacle which happened to stand in their way with an ease that left her envious. She, on the other hand, had to depend on Tamahome to help her.
I swear that man is not human! She wondered how he managed it, wearing all that armour. Nakago looked as if he had yet to break a sweat. Maybe he has an air-conditioner inside there…
She felt Tamahome's hand on her shoulder, conveying silent assurance and encouragement. She smiled up at him, Tamahome…you've always been there for me. Aishiteru, anata. They were husband and wife, yet they had not had a chance to consummate their marriage. Miaka felt a blush creeping up her cheeks at the thought and was thankful that her face was already red because of the heat and all the climbing she had been doing. If Tamahome questioned her about what she was thinking about, she would die of embarrassment. Worse still, if Nakago overheard them…
She found herself wondering inanely about Nakago. He probably had gorgeous women throwing themselves at his feet. Maybe that lightning woman with red hair… Soi? He must be really experienced…OH MY GOD!! Miaka Yuuki, you are a sick, sick person! You're deep in the mountains, walking next to Tamahome and you're wondering about Nakago's sex life?! URGH! She could feel her face turning as red as an overripe tomato.
Tamahome glanced at Miaka worriedly. Was it his imagination or had her face turned more red than it had been a minute ago? "Miaka, is something wrong?" He put his hand to her forehead, wondering if she was going to fall ill.
She almost choked at the enquiry, "I'm gasp all right…just gasp a little out of gasp breath." She giggled nervously, batting his hand away and giving him her widest, most innocent smile. "Really!"
"I don't know…" Tamahome said doubtfully.
"Must be the heat…I'm so hot that I'm sweating like a pig!" she supplied blithely, fanning herself with her hand, the smile still pasted on her face. Not exactly a lie, but not the whole truth either.
Tamahome seemed to accept her explanation. He shaded his eyes, squinting up into the sky, "It should get cooler soon, as evening approaches," he told her, "Hang on a little while longer, okay?"
Miaka nodded, heaving an inward sigh of relief. Whew! That was close! Tamahome would have gone ballistic if he had known what she had been thinking about. Now all she had to do was to practice looking at Nakago without turning red…
She tried to think of anything other the disturbing thoughts concerning Nakago. "I wonder how Chichiri and Tasuki are doing?" she said aloud.
"I'd be surprised if Fang Boy wasn't drinking himself into a stupor and swearing at everyone who crosses his path," Tamahome replied with a grin.
"…you, Baka! Put that over in the corner…AH-CHOO!" Tasuki sneezed violently. He and the rest of the bandits from Mt. Reikaku were helping to rebuild the damage to Konan caused by Kutou's army. Kouji and his men were doing a great deal to help the townsfolk recover from the calamity that had befallen Konan, and Tasuki was proud of the bandits. Everyone now thought of the bandits as heroes…
Tasuki glanced at the majestic spires of Konan palace a short distance away. Buildings could be repaired and homes rebuilt, but there were some things that could not be fixed so easily. The orange haired bandit clenched his fist. So many lives lost. So many lives destroyed.
Someone's friend, someone's husband…someone's father. Hotohori's death had hit him harder than he expected. Tasuki had respected the man, as an emperor, as a fellow Suzaku seishi, and as a friend. He thought of Houki, the empress, and of her unborn child…the heir to the throne and Hotohori's son. He hoped that she was all right; he could tell that she loved Hotohori deeply and the emperor's death had devastated her. Perhaps he empathised so much with her because of her uncanny resemblance to Nuriko? Even now, Chichiri was at the palace helping out.
All this because of a power hungry maniac, the bandit gritted his teeth. He could not think of any reason why Tamahome had let Nakago off. In Tasuki's opinion, the blonde shogun deserved to be tied up naked and have his skin peeled off in little strips and splashed with salt water. LOTS of salt water…and maybe once in a while, have his liver poked with a sharp stick.
Taiitsukun had appeared in front of Chichiri and Tasuki after they had been unceremoniously spit out of the vortex. She had informed them that Miaka and Tamahome were together and no harm had come to them. The information that Nakago was also with them had been a shock to the bandit, and he'd jumped up, prepared to head off towards parts unknown to try to even the score.
Taiitsukun, it seemed, had other ideas. She had whacked Tasuki on the head with his own tessen, and told him and Chichiri on no uncertain terms that they had to stay and help out in Konan. She explained that Miaka and Tamahome had to find the shinzahos and they could not afford to attract Tenkou's attention by having a large group of people with them.
As long as Obake-chan is there to protect Miaka. Things will be fine…Tasuki told himself. Revenge could wait, he decided, until this whole business with Tenkou was over. Until then, he could dream up new and creative torture techniques to use on a certain blonde, blue-eyed person.
He looked back to where the rest of the bandits were repairing the roof of a house and cheerfully swore at the next person who passed him.
Notes:
1) Intellectual rights to the phrase "you look as if you died last night and didn't know about it" belong to my friend David. Believe me, I see lots of people who look like that haunting my school campus, especially just before a major exam!
2) I'm sure all of us remember the infamous 'Nakago-smooching-Tamahome' scene! Nakago hints about it to Tamahome to freak Tama out... I figure it's a good a way as any to get someone out of your way! : :evil grin: :
