Chapter 9: Epitaph

Nakago stood over Tamahome's body, eyeing it critically. He supposed he had to do something about it. The scent of blood would attract predators, and Tamahome, annoying as he was in life, still deserved better than to become a meal for scavengers in his death.

He began methodically building a fire even as one part of his mind questioned why he was even bothering to do this for his arch enemy…for the very same person who had thwarted all his plans.

Because if I don't, the ghost of the annoying brat will come back to haunt me for eternity, another part of his mind answered.

It did not take him long to construct a makeshift funeral pyre. Standing back to survey his handiwork, he observed the flames as they consumed Tamahome's mortal remains, releasing the thick, sickly sweet scent of burning human flesh. Nakago forced himself not to gag on the stomach churning scent, watching the flames die out slowly as the last of their grisly fuel was used up…until there was nothing left of the Suzaku seishi except a pile of ash which was swiftly scattered by the wind.

The blonde shogun stared at the blackened spot on the ground for a moment. This was probably Tamahome's ultimate revenge, he thought darkly. He was now stuck with the less than desirable responsibility of protecting the Suzaku no Miko.

All because of an unspoken warriors' code of honour which demanded to be fulfilled and upheld.

Nakago had imagined Hell many, many times, in many different ways, but this was not one of them. It did not make his punishment any less torturous however…and having to protect the whiny, ditzy, crybaby who was the Suzaku no Miko was certainly equivalent to Hell for him.

Tamahome's spirit was probably laughing at him right now.

Damn him.

Cursing Tamahome silently a few more times for added measure, Nakago sighed inwardly and turned, setting off in the direction the Suzaku no Miko had taken.

The last rays of the setting sun illuminated the small pile of rocks that served, for anyone who bothered to look, as a testament to a fallen hero.


It did not take him long to catch up with her. The rocky, uneven ground had slowed her down causing her to trip and stumble every few steps. She was obviously exhausted, but she kept going as if she was being chased by demons, which in a way, she was…only those demons plaguing her were all conjured by her own mind.

She came to the edge of a cliff, so blinded by tears that she did not even see it. One moment she was running, stumbling over stones, the next she was in free fall, the ground having vanished under her feet. Miaka was too surprised to even scream as she plunged head first into the swirling waters of the river below.

Her last thought as the dark waters closed over her was maybe it's better this way…

The silly little twit! Nakago uttered an oath as Miaka ran herself off the cliff. He would have liked to stop and watch as the girl who had been a thorn in his side for so long committed suicide… Unfortunately, if the Suzaku no Miko actually succeeded in killing herself, he could not fulfil his promise to Tamahome, which would leave him indebted to the annoying blue-green haired Suzaku seishi for all eternity. To Nakago, that was completely unacceptable… It was already humiliating enough that he owed Tamahome his life.

Quickly shrugging off his armour but retaining his sword, Nakago scowled and plunged into the river after her.


It was dark when two bedraggled figures emerged from the river. Or rather, one figure emerged from the water dragging the other limp figure after him. Nakago was angry, irritated and extremely pissed off, although none of it showed on his face. Fate must be playing one hell of a cosmic joke on me. I really should have killed her when I had the chance. If there was one thing that he could not tolerate, it was stupidity.

He wondered how people as stupid as the Suzaku seishi and their even stupider Miko had ever managed to defeat him.

His lips were pressed into a thin, hard line as he surveyed the unconscious Miko. She was still alive…just barely. However, she would not stay alive for long if he did not do something to get her to start breathing again. Her skin was clammy and had an unhealthy blue tinge and her weak pulse was rapidly fading.

Taking a deep breath, he leaned over her and sealed his mouth to hers, blowing air into her lungs. He put the sour thoughts of how insanely ridiculous the entire notion of saving the rival Miko was out of his mind and concentrated on what he was doing.

Nothing.

He repeated his actions. Once. Twice. Three times. Rhythmically forcing air into her lungs until she jerked slightly under him. He immediately turned her onto her side, as she started coughing up large quantities of water. Nakago crossed his arms and sat back silently, vaguely intrigued by how one small girl could inhale that much water.

She lay gasping, her lungs gratefully taking in the precious oxygen. The last thing she remembered was strong arms wrapping around her as she sunk into the depths of the river…and the cool lips on hers as she had regained consciousness. Tamahome…I knew you would save me…

She slowly pushed herself upright and turned around, expecting to see Tamahome smiling at her, chiding her for her clumsiness. What greeted her was the vision of a man with ice blue eyes and blonde hair, regarding her with the coldest of expressions.

The shock, coupled with her near drowning, frayed emotions and exhaustion, was too much for her overtaxed nervous system to handle, and she slumped to the ground in a dead faint.


There were very few things that surprised Nakago. The Suzaku no Miko's fainting at the sight of him was not one of them. He had even expected it. Even now, he could sense that her chi was so weak that it was almost non-existent.

The night was getting colder and a chill wind was starting to blow. Grudgingly, he picked up the comatose girl and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Mentally cursing Tamahome for everything that had happened, he set off in search of a place that would at least provide some shelter from the wind. He would have willingly left the Suzaku no Miko to spend the night out in the open had it not been for the fact that she would most probably freeze to death…and he had no intention of letting her die before he paid off his debt to Tamahome.

As luck would have it, the shadowy outline of a small structure revealed itself in the moonlight. It was located a short distance from the river and looked to be abandoned, judging from its dilapidated appearance. Nakago concentrated briefly, extending his senses, but found no evidence of anything which would pose a danger in the immediate vicinity.

He nudged the door to the rickety hut open, allowing moonlight to spill into the interior. The hut was empty. And dusty, attesting to the conclusion that no one had been inside for a very long time. In the corner lay a very old, threadbare blanket, neatly folded.

How convenient, he thought sardonically, as he set the unresponsive girl down on the floor. He wasn't particularly gentle about it since he reasoned that it would not matter anyway. She was unlikely to come around and start screaming at him for the rough handling. A gust of strong wind shook the hut and it swayed alarmingly. However, it did not concern him overly. If the abandoned structure had stood up to the elements for so long, it was unlikely that it would collapse now.

Nakago turned his attention back to the situation at hand. The clothes both he and the Suzaku no Miko were wearing were soaked through from their impromptu swim in the river. Unless he got her out of her wet clothing and found a way to warm her up, she was going to get hypothermia and die.

Coming to a decision, he quickly stripped her down to her underwear. She shivered and curled reflexively into a foetal ball, whimpering with cold. Once done, he took off his own shirt, wringing it slightly and spreading it out to dry. He decided to leave his pants on, since he did not think the Suzaku no Miko would appreciate waking up with a naked man…and her greatest enemy no less.

Smirking at the thought, he lay down beside her, pulling her body close and spooning himself against her back. He wrapped the blanket around both their bodies and slowly allowed himself to relax, letting his mind wander. A few weeks ago, something like this would have been unthinkable. If anyone had told him that he would one day be caught in a situation like this, he would have thought them insane and chi blasted them.

He closed his eyes, inhaling the unique scent which always seemed linger about the Suzaku no Miko. Sweet. Fresh strawberries, he identified. His lips quirked at the scene that was going to play itself out when she woke up…

It was definitely going to be interesting, to say the least.


Notes:

Hehhehheh...: :evil grin: : I'm sure lots of people would give their left eye just to wake up with Nakago... ;-) Mini blanket scenario starring Nakago and Miaka. Haven't seen one of those, so I decided to write my own!