***********Chapter Eight************
***A Night with the Runaway Lover***
*************************************
Tasuki woke up at dawn to the sound of hoof beats. As he stood up, he
saw Nousatsu riding towards them, her wild black hair flying behind
her, and a wicked look on her face. As she stopped near camp, the horse
reared. Nousatsu laughed and her hair was tossed behind her. Tasuki
smiled. "She is so beautiful..."
The other seishi awoke just after Tasuki. Nousatsu dismounted, smiling
at her success.
Nousatsu threw her arms around his neck, and pressed their foreheads
together.
"I did it Tasuki! And," She whispered, pressing something into his
hand. "I got a little something extra."
She broke away and went to tell the others the news. Tasuki looked down
at his hand. His eyes widened in surprise. Plans for Kuto's attack on
Konan were lying there, in his hand. She had gotten the attack plans?
Tasuki quickly looked at her. And not a scratch on her! Amazing. How
did she do it?
Nousatsu turned to the seishi. "I know that we are all very excited
that I got the information that we need, and more," She said, glancing
at Tasuki. "Nakago has already noticed that I am gone. I covered my
escape trail perfectly, but they are too close for me to feel safe. You
should go as quickly as possible. Chichiri, which way are you headed?"
"Back to Konan."
She nodded. "I will go with you."
The whole company was surprised but pleased that Nousatsu had decided
to come with them. She had already been such a help to them, by saving
them from the Seiryuu warriors, and recovering the information that
they needed to defend themselves against Kuto's attack. They also knew
that there was still hope, that they still had a chance to summon
Suzaku! Now she had decided to serve them more, and with any luck, they
would beat the Seiryuu and save Konan yet!
* * *
That night, the Suzaku seishi and Nousatsu gathered around a fire,
resting. Mitsukake was feeding Tama, and he abruptly asked Nousatsu if
she could tell them about her past. She seemed quite surprised at the
request, but she leaned back against a tree and began to tell her
history to the Suzaku:
"My father was the leader of a mountain gang, deep in the country of
Konan. I never knew my mother. From the age of five, I was trained in
the art of swordplay and hand-to-hand combat. I was taught to ride a
horse at the speed of the stars, how to be as stealthy, nimble and
quick as a fox, and how to drink like no tomorrow. I learned to show
no mercy, to be immune to death and bloodshed. When I was older, I
learned when and how to hide my gender, and when to take advantage of
it. When I was about thirteen, I realized the true reason that my
father was teaching me all these things. I was going to become the
leader in his place when he died.
"He knew that the members of the gang, who were all men, wouldn't like
that at all. I was being taught how to control them, how to rule, and
how to survive. When I was seventeen, my father told me that I should
go on a survival mission, where I would try to use the skills he had
taught me to survive. So that I would be forced to roam China, I had
objectives that I had to accomplish. First, I had to get the emblem of
each of the four empires in China. Second, I had to use my abilities to
help someone in need of them. Third, I had to pull off some great,
difficult, suicide mission using my abilities. And fourth, I had to see
the emperor of Konan, for my father is one of His Majesty's most loyal
subjects. My father used to be in the service of this emperor's father,
until he was injured and could no longer serve the emperor he loved so
much."
She smiled in memory of her father. "I self-appointed that fourth
objective."
"I can tell that you love your father very much," Mitsukake said when
she was finished.
"So, have you completed all your objectives?" Tamahome asked.
She smiled wistfully. "All but the fourth. It is quite hard to get an
audience with the Emperor of Konan."
"How long has it taken you?" Chichiri piped up.
"Two years."
"Two years for a survival mission? That's a lot no da!" Chichiri was
amazed.
"Yes, it is. But I can go back to my father with all objectives
complete, for he doesn't know about the fourth. Besides, what good
would it do if I met the Emperor?"
"Then what's stopping you?"
Everyone looked at Tasuki. He continued, ignoring their stares.
"You could leave right now. Your mission is over."
"There are a few things I'm staying for,...the adventure, for one. I
love this!" Nousatsu smiled. "A real, meaningful adventure doesn't come
around every day. Besides, I need the practice."
Nousatsu turned and smiled at Tasuki. "Does that answer your question?"
She winked as Tasuki nodded.
***A Night with the Runaway Lover***
*************************************
Tasuki woke up at dawn to the sound of hoof beats. As he stood up, he
saw Nousatsu riding towards them, her wild black hair flying behind
her, and a wicked look on her face. As she stopped near camp, the horse
reared. Nousatsu laughed and her hair was tossed behind her. Tasuki
smiled. "She is so beautiful..."
The other seishi awoke just after Tasuki. Nousatsu dismounted, smiling
at her success.
Nousatsu threw her arms around his neck, and pressed their foreheads
together.
"I did it Tasuki! And," She whispered, pressing something into his
hand. "I got a little something extra."
She broke away and went to tell the others the news. Tasuki looked down
at his hand. His eyes widened in surprise. Plans for Kuto's attack on
Konan were lying there, in his hand. She had gotten the attack plans?
Tasuki quickly looked at her. And not a scratch on her! Amazing. How
did she do it?
Nousatsu turned to the seishi. "I know that we are all very excited
that I got the information that we need, and more," She said, glancing
at Tasuki. "Nakago has already noticed that I am gone. I covered my
escape trail perfectly, but they are too close for me to feel safe. You
should go as quickly as possible. Chichiri, which way are you headed?"
"Back to Konan."
She nodded. "I will go with you."
The whole company was surprised but pleased that Nousatsu had decided
to come with them. She had already been such a help to them, by saving
them from the Seiryuu warriors, and recovering the information that
they needed to defend themselves against Kuto's attack. They also knew
that there was still hope, that they still had a chance to summon
Suzaku! Now she had decided to serve them more, and with any luck, they
would beat the Seiryuu and save Konan yet!
* * *
That night, the Suzaku seishi and Nousatsu gathered around a fire,
resting. Mitsukake was feeding Tama, and he abruptly asked Nousatsu if
she could tell them about her past. She seemed quite surprised at the
request, but she leaned back against a tree and began to tell her
history to the Suzaku:
"My father was the leader of a mountain gang, deep in the country of
Konan. I never knew my mother. From the age of five, I was trained in
the art of swordplay and hand-to-hand combat. I was taught to ride a
horse at the speed of the stars, how to be as stealthy, nimble and
quick as a fox, and how to drink like no tomorrow. I learned to show
no mercy, to be immune to death and bloodshed. When I was older, I
learned when and how to hide my gender, and when to take advantage of
it. When I was about thirteen, I realized the true reason that my
father was teaching me all these things. I was going to become the
leader in his place when he died.
"He knew that the members of the gang, who were all men, wouldn't like
that at all. I was being taught how to control them, how to rule, and
how to survive. When I was seventeen, my father told me that I should
go on a survival mission, where I would try to use the skills he had
taught me to survive. So that I would be forced to roam China, I had
objectives that I had to accomplish. First, I had to get the emblem of
each of the four empires in China. Second, I had to use my abilities to
help someone in need of them. Third, I had to pull off some great,
difficult, suicide mission using my abilities. And fourth, I had to see
the emperor of Konan, for my father is one of His Majesty's most loyal
subjects. My father used to be in the service of this emperor's father,
until he was injured and could no longer serve the emperor he loved so
much."
She smiled in memory of her father. "I self-appointed that fourth
objective."
"I can tell that you love your father very much," Mitsukake said when
she was finished.
"So, have you completed all your objectives?" Tamahome asked.
She smiled wistfully. "All but the fourth. It is quite hard to get an
audience with the Emperor of Konan."
"How long has it taken you?" Chichiri piped up.
"Two years."
"Two years for a survival mission? That's a lot no da!" Chichiri was
amazed.
"Yes, it is. But I can go back to my father with all objectives
complete, for he doesn't know about the fourth. Besides, what good
would it do if I met the Emperor?"
"Then what's stopping you?"
Everyone looked at Tasuki. He continued, ignoring their stares.
"You could leave right now. Your mission is over."
"There are a few things I'm staying for,...the adventure, for one. I
love this!" Nousatsu smiled. "A real, meaningful adventure doesn't come
around every day. Besides, I need the practice."
Nousatsu turned and smiled at Tasuki. "Does that answer your question?"
She winked as Tasuki nodded.