Just There to Die
Chapter Two: The Fifth Gift Be it a gift, or be it a curse?
Rami dropped the spoon she had been holding.
"What is wrong?" Hotohori asked.
"I-i'm fine... This has been happening a lot. I'm fine now, just a bit of a chill," Rami smiled politely. 'It's as if something special and dear to me is being torn away, slowly, but surely....'
"Well, what about the Shinzaho?" She asked, trying to change the subject.
"Well, I think we should split up and search for clues, no da?" Chichiri proceeded to pair everyone up, "Since Chiriko is just a kid, I'll go with him,"
"My pleasure," Chiriko replied with a smile as he slightly nodded his head.
"...and since Tasuki is such a hothead, the slightly calmer Mitsukake should go with him no da," Chichiri continued.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Tasuki growled.
"Of course, I'll be going with Miaka," Tamahome smiled.
"What about you, Nuriko?" Miaka said through a mouthful of food.
"I would like to go with you and Tamahome..." Nuriko murmered.
"Well, I guess that leaves me with Rami. Is that alright with you?" Hotohori asked.
"Of course..." Rami replied, without looking up. 'It feels like something is ripping me apart from the inside...' She shuddered and crossed her arms. Sharp stinging erputed on her left cheek.
~¤~
Nakago slapped Yunzie on her left cheek. The impact slammed Yunize off her feet and she hit the opposite wall. 'Rami? Why arn't you here? Why arn't you protecting me like you used to? Is it true? Do you hate me? Was I really a bad sister? Did I really annoy you so much? Rami...'
"Rami..." Yunzie murmered. She couldn't even find the strength to stand. Her right eye was swollen shut and both cheeks were bruised.
"Your sister hated you. She was always looking for a way to get rid of you. She only smiled and took you placed because your mother made her. She thought you were such a baby. A burden. She thought of you as a pathectic excuse for a child," If this had been Rami, she would have thought, 'That can't be true. We went places Mother never mentioned or even thought of!' But this was Yunzie, a hurt seven-year-old who hungered for her mother's tender care.
"D-did she really?" Yunzie asked.
"Yes," Nakago replied.
"You'll stop hurting me if I help?" Yunzie asked.
"But of course," Nakago replied.
"Will you be my big brother?" Yunzie asked innocently.
"...." Nakago was at a loss of words, "Yes," He said at last.
"Okie, then... I'll be a Guardian of Seiryuu. Can I sleep now?" Yunzie asked.
"I'll take you to your chambers," Nakago scooped the broken child up and carried her down to a tent. Yunzie nuzzled against Nakago much like a cat would and fell asleep on the way there. As Nakago set her down and tucked in the love-starved girl, he smirked triumphantly. He easily ignored the nagging in the depths of his mind. The nagging that wanted to protect Yunzie and be a true brother to her. He had no time for such foolish things.
~¤~
Rami suddenly cried out in pain and clutched her right shoulder.
"What is wrong?" Hotohori asked.
"I-i don't know... Someone's hurt..." Rami pulled back her sleeve but there was no wound, "I can feel the pain of the other seishi..."
"Who is hurt?" Hotohori asked.
"I don't know... Let me see..." She closed her eyes, "Nuriko. Nuriko is hurt," She whispered after a moment.
"!!!" Hotohori's eyes widened, "Miaka is with Nuriko!"
"Don't worry, Hotohori-sama. Tamahome was with them too, remember? I can feel that he is fighting, and winning," Hotohori calmed down a bit.
"If Miaka gets hurt..." He murmered.
"Don't worry," Rami repeated, "Perhaps this is the fifth gift. To feel the pain of others,"
"Perhaps," Hotohori echoed, "Perhaps,"
"Hotohori-sama?" Rami asked, recoverinh from the shock of the pain, "Lets get back on the horse and head over that way," She pointed down a promising-looking street. Hotohori nodded and helped her onto the horse. He led the horse down the road to a libary at the end, "We might find some books on Genbu there,"
"I hope Nuriko will be alright," Hotohori replied, slightly off-topic.
~¤~
"Nakago-sama?" Yunzie asked, half-asleep, "Nakago-sama?"
"He's not here," Suboshi replied, "He's with Yui-sama," Yunzie squeaked in fear and sunk deeper into her blanket.
"I want Nakago-sama... Please let me see Nakago-sama..." Yunzie whispered, trembling with fright. She was terrified by Suboshi. He had beaten her with his Ryuuseisui.
"Great..." Suboshi muttered, "Another girl from another world who doesn't trust anyone but Nakago... Just my luck..."
"Please, Suboshi-sama, let me see Nakago-sama...." Yunzie begged, her voice was tearful as she started to weep softly.
"Hai, hai, whatever..." Suboshi exited to get Nakago.
~¤~
"No luck..." Rami sighed as they exited the libary, "Now what, Hoto-" Rami made a gurgling sound, a strangled sound of pain, she fell over into the snow. Her eyes were wide with shock and one hand was on her side. The white snow beneth her began to bleed with crimson.
"Rami!" Hotohori bent down next to her, not knowing what to do. He gently turned her over and lifted her shirt slightly.*1 His eyes widened at the wound. They were puncture wounds. They entered from her back and exited through her left side. Five bloody holes straight through her body. They looked as if they had been made by claws, "Rami? How....?" Hotohori scooped her up in his arms. *2 Rami's eyes were glossy.
"H-hotohori-sama...? G...omen ne... My v-vision is b...lur...ed I can...not see you too we..ll..." Rami whispered.
"Shhh... Don't talk, I'll call the others with the signal flare," Hotohori took off his coat and set it on the ground. He then laid Rami down on it gently.
"It's col..d...." Rami closed her eyes and turned her head to one side, panting, "How did this happen....?" Hotohori had lit the signal flare.
"Please, just stay still," Hotohori begged. He stood up and looked around. His brow creased with worry, "Mitsukake..."
~¤~
"Nuriko!" Miaka called, "Are you alright?" She squatted down next to her friend.
"I'm fine," Nuriko asked, sounding surprised at the sound of his own voice. he lifted his bloody shirt up slightly. He looked just in time to see the last traces of a wound disappear, "What's happening?" He asked.
"Nuriko, are you alright?" Tamahome asked as he caught up with Miaka.
"You better get a signal fire lit, we've found the Shinzaho," Nuriko suggested.
"Hai,"
~¤~
"What happened to Rami-san?" Chriko asked.
"I don't know... We just came out of that building and she fell over. The wound just... Appeared..." Hotohori shook his head.
"M-mitsu...kake..." Rami choked out before pausing to catch her breath again, "L-let me bor...row your pow...er..."
"Why? I can just heal you. As you are, I doubt you could use my power," Mitsukake questioned.
"Nuri...ko..." Rami began.
"Save your strength, I'll tell them," Hotohori said softly, catching on, "She felt pain in her arm eariler. Nuriko was wounded. She is afraid Nuriko might need help, right?" Rami closed her eyes breifly, she nodded the slightest bit.
"I... I can man...age your power... Mit...su...kake... I know I can..." Rami pleaded. Mitsukake looked doubtful, but then leaned down and kissed Rami. Red light surrounded them and his mark appeared on her hand. *3 He cut off the kiss as soon as the light faded.
"Is it possible for me to loan you my strength, Rami?" Hotohori asked.
"I... don't... know..." Rami gasped.
"She can,"
"T-taiitsukun!" Hotohori stammered.
"Just take her hand and both of you focus on transfering ones life-force to the other and you can borrow some of Hotohori's strength," Taiitsukun instructed.
"Very well," Hotohori bent down next to Rami and took her hand. He thought of giving his power to Rami. Rami felt Hotohori's will to give her his strength and she opened her body and spirit to recive it. She pushed Hotohori's hand away after a while.
"Nani?" Hotohori asked, confused.
"A little more and you wouldn't be able to stand..." Rami replied as she lifted her hand to her side and focused on healing it. She felt the pain disappear and flesh mending itself on the inside. She then let her hand drop to her side. Mitsukake's symbol faded. Mitsukake checked her wound again.
"It's not too bad now. It's only a flesh wound. The internal injuries are gone and the bleeding has stopped. All I have to do is bandage it up. May I?" Mitsukake asked. Rami was to weak to nod so Mitsukake did it anyway.
"Taiitsukun! Tell us, what is her fifth power?" Hotohori begged.
"I cannot. Find out for yourself," With that, Taiitsukun disappeared again.
"I really wish she wouldn't do that. It freaks me out," Tasuki complained.
"Chichiri-san, Mitsukake-san, Tasuki-san, Hotohori-sama, look!" Chiriko pointed to a small collumn of thick, black smoke in the distance, "It must be Tamahome-san and the others!"
"We better go, Rami? Can you..." Mitsukake trailed off. Rami had passed out from exhaustion.
"I'll carry her," Hotohori offered. *4
~¤~
"Yes, Yunzie? Suboshi told me you called," Nakago asked as he stepped into the room.
"Gomen ne? I was just scared... You were not here and I was afraid Suboshi would use his Ryuuseisui on me again... Gomen Nakago-sama, if I bothered you," Yunzie said in a fearful voice.
"Is anything wrong, Yunzie?" He asked, though showing little concern.
"My side hurts, thats all... My neck hurts to, but thats going away now," Yunzie replied, "Can I meet Yui-sama?"
"Very well, follow me, Yunzie,"
~¤~
"What happened?" Tamahome asked as Hotohori and the rest reached him, "What's wrong with Rami? Were you attacked?"
"That is the point, we were not. A wound appeared in her side out of nowhere," Hotohori set Rami down. She stirred.
"How is Nuriko?" She asked.
"Fine, though I don't know how. Wait," Tamahome turned and called for Miaka and Nuriko.
"Hey! We found the Shinzaho.... Why is Rami all patched up?" Nuriko asked.
"There are ten puncture wounds. Five on her back and five on her front. They used to go all the way through but she borrowed my power and healed herself, most of the way," Mitsukake replied.
"They looked as if they had been made by a wild animal..." Hotohori said, half to himself. Then it dawned on Nuriko.
"I fough Ashitare... He stuck me through with his claws. In my left side. The wound heals so rappidly, it just sort of disappeared," Nuriko stopped. The rest of the seishi figured it out.
"Does this mean that the fifth power is to absorb the wounds of hurt seishi?" Chiriko asked.
"But when Nuriko's arm was hurt eariler, I only felt the pain. I didn't inheirt the wound," Rami countered.
"Well, perhaps you only inheirt life-threatening wounds," Hotohori replied.
"Then how did Ashitare die?" Chiriko asked, pointing to the fallen form of the Seiryuu seishi.
"Nani?" Everyone asked except for Rami.
"She means that if the fifth power is this, then Yunzie would have died in Ashitare's place when Nuriko killed him," Rami said.
"Well... I don't know... Whatever, lets go get the Shinzaho!" Miaka grinned. Everyone agreed. Nuriko still felt guilty.
"Thank you, Rami. If it were not for you, I may have died here as well. I had no way to get Mitsukake here. Now I shall be able to protect Miaka, not to mention make fun of her. Arigatou," He helped Rami up and helped her limp to the door of the cave.
'Yunzie.... Please be okay... I'll come for you as soon as I can... Wait for me...'
~¤~
"Yui-sama?" Nakago asked.
"Nakago? Come in," Yui replied.
"You have a guest," Nakago informed her.
"A guest?" Yui asked, "Who?"
"Her name is Yunzie. She is the Guardian of Seiryuu,"
"Yunzie?" 'That little girl Miaka knocked down in the ice-cream shop?' "Let her in,"
~¤~
YAY! It's long! I'm happy!
1)Minds outta the gutter, now!
2)Oh, how I wish I were Rami... But I'm a Chichiri fan...
3) Please don't make a big deal out of this kiss. It's to save her life and thats all. I'll tell you when you can make a big deal out of a kiss.
4) No, I am not pairing Hotohori up with Rami. I just coudn't think of anyone else to carry Rami. See:
Chiriko: Automatically ruled out. Look at him! You
think he could carry Rami?
Tasuki: Hates women.
Mitsukake: I'm already having problems with the kiss.
Chichiri: One of his hands (or both) are occupied with his staff.
See? I made the logical choice!