Tears of the Dragon - Chapter 4

Without warning, in an aberrant manner, Chuin slithered back in silently and soundlessly and unheard. The door hadn't even creaked or moved he almost appeared from the particles of nothingness. His voice startled the group of three. He spoke with a curt edge to his tongue. As before, his tone was eerily calm, and chillingly feeling less. "That sort of thing shouldn't be done in public."

Shunkaku, literally growling at the infiltrator, though Chuin wasn't in anyway anything as such. "What the hell makes you greater than the rest of us?! You're so full of it! You're the most senile, twisted creature I've ever met! Ever heard of compassion?!"

He moved Yui behind him and continued to comport himself in a confrontational way, glaring with a glint of antipathy in his eyes at Chuin.

Koutoku stepped between his brother and Chuin. He put a restraining hand behind him on his brother. "What my brother and Yui-san decided to do in public is there affair. Not mine and certainly not yours. Are you going to quit fooling around and take us to the Emperor or not? I'm tired of playing games."

Chuin smirked arrogantly. "If I was playing games, it wouldn't be anything like this, this holds no interest for me." His mannerisms remained unchanged. He quipped levelly, "Really, I do pray you know how to comport yourselves in front of Heika-sama. Certainly you shouldn't have to worry about making such fools of yourselves with such tomfoolery and insolence."

The hair on the back of Shunkaku's neck bristled, his hands were so clenched tightly as the knuckles turned a ghastly white. "Shut-up and just listen to my brother!"

Chuin cackled lightly.

The two younger Seishi shuddered, feeling the laugh rip painfully down their spines. Yui tried to ignore the ghostly nature of this man.

After giving his short trademark spine tingling cackle, Chuin escorted the group into the emperor's office suite.

Koutoku followed Chuin into the Emperor's suite. He made sure to stay in front of his brother. No one knew better than he did what a short temper Shunkaku had. He was determined to keep his brother from making a fatal mistake.

He gazed at this Chuin, this Tomo. He was an odd one. But dangerous. He could sense that right away. He clutched his flute to his side, prepared to defend his brother and Yui-san if need be.

The emperor was a sleazy looking fellow. His face was seemingly and rather terribly weather-beaten, showed obvious signs of aging and bore a dark complexion. His features seemed slightly frightening. Sitting behind his large opulent desk in a spacious room that was nearly triple the size of the twins' small hovel out in the innards of the crawling urban centre of the capital.

Sauntering up with an air of confidence, Chuin bowed slightly. "Heika-sama, I mentioned to you, after mistakenly interrupting your crucial meeting with your advisers that I had a pair of young men here who are two of the Seiryuu Seishi." Straightening up, he added, "with them is a young lady with a remarkably odd appearance. She fits the requisites for Miko. I thought perhaps I should bring them before you, as they escorted themselves to the imperial court in order to speak with you."

The emperor nodded. "Thank you Chuin, please take a seat where my advisers sit."

Chuin bowed out and motioned for the twins and Yui to come forward.

Koutoku stepped up first. Bowing formally, he addressed the Emperor. "Heika-sama, I am Bu Koutoku. This is my brother, Shunkaku. We are indeed Seiryuu Seishi. I am known as Seiryuu Seishi Amiboshi. My brother is known as Suboshi." His brother bowed as well.

Koutoku then motioned to Yui. "This is Hongou Yui. Yui-san claims to come from another world and I immediately thought of the Legend of the Miko. We felt it best to come and introduce ourselves to you as quickly as possible."

Yui made an attempt to curtsy, but found that she didn't have much skirt to go with and blushed slightly with a friendly smile.

The emperor nodded. He turned to one of his advisers and whispered something. A moment later in his hands he held a scrolled. He turned back. "Yui, right?" he asked.

She nodded.

"There is a legend in Kutou that's been around since its creation. Shijin Tenchisho was given to Kutou's first emperor, Xiagou-wei by the benevolent wizard Taiitsu-kun. It essentially says that when a country is on the brink of destruction that a girl from another world will appear and open portals to the heavens and summon Seiryuu." He paused for emphasis. His expression was dark. "Will you become Seiryuu No Miko and help Kutou?"

Yui stared at the emperor in bewilderment. 'This...this is so much like what I read about Miaka! What do I do?' She looked from the emperor to Chuin, or Tomo, then to the twins. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to the emperor.

"Hai. I will become Seiryuu no Miko. I will help save Kutou."

"Thanks you Seiryuu No Miko." The emperor smiled and handed the scroll back to one of his advisers for safekeeping. He then nodded and one of the advisers stood up. He left the room for a minute, returning with one of the hand servants.

The emperor addressed the young person. "Show Seiryuu No Miko to her quarters, as well as the ones for the Seiryuu Seishi." He ordered abruptly.

The servant nodded. "Hai, Heika-sama." He bowed deeply and turned to Yui and the twins. "Miko-sama, please come." He then looked at the twins, waiting for names, since he wasn't sure.

"I'm Amiboshi," Koutoku explained and gestured to his brother, "he's Suboshi."

The servant nodded a gesture of thanks and led the three from the room.

The three followed the servant out of Heika-sama's suite. Yui was a bit nervous, especially after declaring herself Seiryuu no Miko. she couldn't help but think of Shunkaku's words from before. 'Does this make us enemies? Miaka and me? Are we destined to be enemies through this?' She didn't want to believe that. Miaka and her had been friends since they were in kindergarten. She didn't want to think that they would hate each other, try to kill each other now. Shaking her head, she pushed that thought from her mind. She would deal with it later. She didn't even know if Miaka was still here.

The servant stopped at the first room, which was needless to say the size of half a football field, well, not quite that big, but it was still rather spacious and large. "Seiryuu No Miko-sama, your room." he bowed and held the door for her to enter.

Yui stepped into the room and stared in awe. She turned back to the servant. "You're...you're sure this is my room?!"

The servant nodded. "Hai, Miko-sama."

Yui stared in awe once again at the room. Her house wasn't this big! 'Okay...so maybe it's not that big, but still! All this is my room?!' She wrapped her arms around herself. She wasn't sure she liked the thought of staying in such a large room alone. "Th...thank you. This...this is fine. Wonderful in fact."

"That's excellent, his majesty would be happy to hear so. Miko-sama, under Heika-sama's orders, the Seishi's quarters are in the same corridor for safety reasons, so you shouldn't have trouble finding them. The room next to this is vacant." the servant explained.

Yui's eyes shot upwards. "Really? And who's to stay there?"

"No one yet. Chuin-sama requested to be at the other end, so the other six rooms are vacant."

"Oh." Yui was a bit disappointed at that. She had hoped that one of the twins (especially Shunkaku) would have been given that room. "I see. Well...thank you."

Noticing Yui's saddened expression, Shunkaku turned to her, "Yui-san, is something wrong?"

Yui looked up. "What? Oh no! I...uhm...just don't really want to be alone in this big room..." She looked up at him. "I guess...I kinda wanted one of you two to be in the room next to me. So I wouldn't feel so alone."

"Miko-sama, if you one to be, then it can happen. It's what makes you more comfortable." The servant commented.

"Whoa, the Miko has a say?" Shunkaku asked in surprise.

"From what I learned, she does have quite a bit of power here."

Yui blinked. "Really?" She was a bit stunned at that. She hadn't really thought that it would make that much of a difference. Not with Chuin around at any rate.

Truth was, she didn't really trust Tomo. Not like she trusted the twins. She would definitely feel safer with them near.

"Could one of the twins stay there then? If...if they don't mind..." She gazed at Shunkaku pleadingly.

Catching the pleading glance his way, he nodded eagerly. "I'd love to. I don't mind at all!"

The servant nodded. "Very well Suboshi-sama."

Shunkaku looked slightly shocked when he had an honorific after his name that held status. 'Whoa, amazing!'

Koutoku hid a grin behind his hand. He could tell his brother was shocked at the treatment. He bowed politely to the servant. "Thank you. We are just concerned for Miko-sama's well-being and want to make sure she is protected properly."

The servant was slightly a taken back by the politeness. He hadn't encountered this sort of before during his many years of service. He was used to the rich spoiled types who enjoyed wallowing in the decadence of such a luxurious life style while so many suffered. He bowed in return. "You're welcome, Amiboshi-sama."

Turning his attention back to the Miko, "is there anything you need now?"

Yui shook her head. "No thank you."

The servant bowed. "Very well, Miko-sama. Just send for me if you need anything." After turning to the twins, he led them to the next pair of rooms.

He turned to the two. "Sorry, it was my mistake, five rooms, so there is one room with two beds though, would you two mind sharing it?" he asked, fearing the answer.

Shunkaku looked at his brother, nodded then back at the servant. "Well, it's got to be a hell of a lot bigger than that hovel we had before."

The servant smiled at the remark. "Do you two need anything?"

"No, it's okay! And please, no extra titles after my name!!" Shunkaku requested.

"Hai." And with that, the servant departed.

Koutoku couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. "Hehehehe...'no extra titles after my name!' Hehehehe...it's priceless! You are just sooooo cute like that!"

Shunkaku glared at his brother. "Don't laugh at me!!"

Koutoku snickered. "I'm sorry Shun-chan! It's just so cute!" Composing himself, he looked around the room. His eyes widened at the beds. "Look Shun-chan! The beds /are/ bigger!"

"I know...geez and for once, I don't have to worry about winding up with having to sleep partially on the floor because the bed's so narrow! Wow!" Shunkaku commented, dropping back onto one. "Excellent...such comfort! Now if you excuse me, I'm going to catch up on some lost sleep!" He winked playfully.

Koutoku groaned. "Don't blame me for your lack of sleep!"

Shunkaku again glared up at his brother. "I will because it is your fault I didn't get any last night! You take up so much room!"

"I do not! You're the bed hog!"

"That's a whole lot of hogwash!"

"Is not!"

"Yea, yea." Shunkaku sat up, stripping off his belt and tossing his ryuuseisui onto a chair. He then removed his tunic and shirt. He lies back down, turning his back to his brother. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep."

Koutoku shrugged. "Whatever. I'm going to go look around. I don't trust that Tomo any."

Shunkaku laughed shortly. "Welcome to the club, Aniki! I didn't trust him from the moment I set eyes on him, there's just something about him."

"Agreed. Which means I don't trust to have Yui-san alone with him around."

"I doubt if she'd want to be alone with him, from what I could sense, she doesn't like him."

Koutoku nodded. "Hai. Which is probably why she doesn't want to be alone right now."

Shunkaku turned onto his back to be able to face his brother more easily. "Aniki, keep an eye out for Chuin, if he should come this way. I'll try...and make sure nothing happens to make Yui-san uncomfortable."

"You'll do nothing! You don't have full control over your powers yet! And we have no idea what Tomo's is!"

"Fine, Aniki. Hmm...as for finding out Tomo's powers, why not ask Heika-sama?!"

Koutoku shuddered. "No thank you! He gives me the creeps!"

Shunkaku snorted. "Any more than that damned Tomo does?"

"Well...no. But he's still creepy!"

"They're both as creepy as hell, take your pick."

Koutoku nodded. "Hai. They are."

Shunkaku sighed. "I hope the rest of the Seishi aren't like Chuin..."

"I agree totally! I wonder what they are like though."

"Me too. Maybe they're saner than Chuin!"

"Let's hope so, Shun. Let's hope so."

Sighing distantly, Shunkaku blinked indifferently. 'Yui...I hope she's going to be okay. I would have like to be able to keep a closer eye on her than just being the next room, but I guess this is good enough for now.'

Koutoku placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Don't worry about Yui-san. I'm sure she will be okay for now. Get some rest. I will see you later."

Shunkaku stared at his brother in surprise for a brief moment. He blinked. 'How the hell did he know what I was thinking?! That's so strange that he would know! I mean, I could have been thinking of any number of things as far as he knows, but how was he able to zero in on that one?'

Gazing up with a purely quizzical expression, he queried, "Aniki, how did you know that's what I was worried about, even though I hadn't just said anything?"

Koutoku blinked. "What do you mean? It's obvious Shun. She's all you've been thinking about since we met her." Sitting down on his brother's bed, he smiled. "You're falling for her, aren't you?"

Crossing his arms over his chest and purposely looking the other way, Shunkaku retorted with a tone of defiance, "I'm not that narrow-minded! I've also been thinking about how much I wanna kill that goddamned Chuin...arrogant son of bitch."

Relaxing his arms, he went on, "and fine, if you must know, I have fallen for her. Hmph!"

Koutoku smiled. He reached out and gave his brother a big hug. "You don't know what it means to me to hear that." Pulling away, he ruffled his brother's hair. "I've always wanted you to be happy. That's all that matters to me. I want this for you, otouto. More than anything. Just worry about protecting Yui-san. I'll worry about Chuin."

Scowling, Shunkaku glared indignantly at his brother. "Aniki! I hate it when you mess my hair! It's annoying as hell! And besides which, I want the satisfaction of knowing I killed that circus freak myself!"

Koutoku grinned. Ruffling his brother's hair once again, he stood up. "I'll leave you to your sleep. Just remember...don't kill Chuin yet. He is a Seiryuu Seishi. Aside from the fact we need him at the summoning ceremony, he is in more control of his powers. You, my dear otouto, are not. Be careful."

"Hai, hai!" Shunkaku replied. Preceding this, he growled some curse under his breath and complained about how much he absolutely despised Chuin and would love to murder the sideshow freak with his weapon. Lying on his front, he continued to fume on how he couldn't do anything because the loser was needed.

"Damn him, this isn't justice at all! Justice is seeing that damned freak in the morgue! He oughta be festering down with the rats in hell."

Some more incoherent unintelligible rants followed. He spent a good twenty minutes complaining as well as grumbling, muttering, cursing and swearing.

Koutoku shook his head. Leaving his brother to rant, he decided to check on Yui-san before exploring. Knocking on her door, he heard a light voice say, "Come in!"

Opening the door, he walked in. Yui was seated near the window, looking out. "Is everything okay, Yui-san?"

Yui looked up. She smiled at seeing Koutoku. "Everything is fine! Thank you for asking, Koutoku. I'm just...worried about Miaka. I miss her."

Koutoku nodded. "Hai. I understand. I felt the same about Shun-chan."

Yui blinked. "Nani?"

Koutoku shook his head. "It's a long story, one which you shouldn't hear from just me. Maybe later."

"Oh...Hai. All right."

The same pair of creepy stunning gorgeous golden eyes watched Koutoku enter the Miko's chambers. He stood in the shadows as he did, he was waiting patiently before wandering down to the quarters his presence had been requested at. With the absence of his Kabuki make-up, Chuin felt incredibly shy and self-conscious, very different from the person that hid beneath the garish yet elegantly applied face paint. He still maintained an air of dignity even without his mask. Stepping from the shadows, another feature was missing from his attire, his headdress with the ho feathers and the knee length jacket. He remained attired in his neutral-beige breeches, a simple long sleeved white shirt and his coal black pony tail swept back in a tightly, with no real loose random strands. Confident that no one would see him for himself, he arrogantly sauntered towards his destination. He was crudely interrupted by a deep, suave confident voice even before leaving the corridor.

The man that addressed him was at least a good half-foot taller, broad shouldered, had piercing gaze, strong chin, long black cape and finely crafted armour. His hair, a silverish-black was down, but kept out of his face. His eyes were a grey-blue with a hint of deeply inset confidence.

He sneered at the presence of Chuin. "Aw it's Heika-sama's play toy, all attired for a lovely night." He laughed mockingly. It was deep, coming from within his chest.

"Chang-sama." Chuin coolly replied, keeping his shoulders back, his chin up, maintaining his air of arrogant confidence. His voice wasn't vacillated and remained level. "What do you want? Don't you have some war to fight, Chang-sama, or should I say, Shogun?!"

Koutoku bowed to Yui. She blushed. He grinned at her. "I'll see you later, Yui-san. I just wanted to see if you were well. Shunkaku is sleeping right now."

Yui blushed at the reference to Shunkaku. Koutoku grinned again. Deciding to save her any more embarrassment, he nodded and left.

Stepping out into the corridor, he narrowed his eyes. Up ahead, were two men. He wasn't sure, but he thought the one was Chuin, but without his makeup. 'Hmmm...if it is him, he looks...almost human.'

Chang turned upon feeling a presence. He smiled coldly at the boy. This was as close as the stonehearted shogun could come to smiling in a friendly manner. After nodding, he pushed Chuin up against the wall with one large, strong hand without moving his arm. "Tsk, tsk, you're rude to your superiors, my beloved flamboyant subordinate, perhaps you should introduce this young man to me, after all, isn't he one of Seiryuu's?"

"Hai, Chang-sama." Chuin icily replied, straightening up. He shot a death glare in the boy's direction before saying anything.

Chang, having very little to no patience for Chuin, smacked the young man across the face, leaving a red mark. "I'll tolerate no insolence from you, that's no way to treat your equals, Tomo."

Chuin fought the urge to glare piercingly at the Kutou Shogun. He sighed softly. "Gomen." He replied through semi-clenched teeth. The venom was blatantly obvious in his tone.

"Forget it, I'll do it, since you never cooperate with me, and you're supposed to since I'm also one of the chosen ones."

He turned to face the smaller young man. He studied the boy's appearance before speaking. "Come here, it's okay, I'm not as cruel as I seem, I just hate Chuin...Heika-sama's play toy."

Koutoku said nothing at this exchange. He looked the other man over carefully. 'I know that Tomo is dangerous...but this one...this one I do fear...'

Bowing to the newcomer, he addressed him formally. "Hai, Shogun-sama. I am Bu Koutoku, also known as Seiryuu Seishi Amiboshi. I just arrived with my brother, Suboshi and the Miko."

Chang nodded and smiled coldly. He found the boy to be quite nice. 'This one won't pose any problems.' He spoke. "So much more considerate than your peer. Perhaps I should introduce myself, since it would be rude to do otherwise. Tsu Chang, Kutou's Shogun, or, Seiryuu Seishi, Miboshi."

Koutoku nodded. "It is a...pleasure to meet you, Miboshi-sama. My brother would be here as well, but he was tired from the day's events and is sleeping right now."

"No formalities please, Chuin's the only one it's mandatory from." Chang curtly replied, eyeing Chuin, who had subtly moved away. He smirked. "Using your powers, ne, Chuin?!"

"Of course Chang-sama." Chuin snapped back sharply in a level, soft chillingly icy voice, "what else would I be doing around the likes of such a creature as you?! I would prefer to keep my body."

Koutoku's eyes opened wide at this statement. He said nothing, but clutched his flute to his side. He didn't trust either one of these two. Not yet at any rate.

Seizing Chuin's closed fist, Chang opened it and held up a small clamshell. "Tsk, tsk, planning on trapping someone in your illusionary hell, Chuin?!" With the item between his index and thumb, he cracked the shell, as though it were nothing more than a nut.

"S-shin!" Chuin gasped softly. His eyes narrowed hatefully.

Koutoku watched in silence. He now knew what Tomo's power was. 'I wonder who he was planning trapping? Me or Miboshi?' Watching Chuin, he knew his answer.

Dropping the shard remains of the Shin to the ground, Chang aggressively shoved Chuin, so the smaller Seishi stumbled to regain his central equilibrium. Laughing mockingly at the disposition the illusionist was in, he turned to Koutoku. "Don't let Chuin get to you, he's always been full of himself, since he's the imperial's court number one entertainer."

Not bothering to hang around, Chuin made himself scarce through vanishing into thin air.

Koutoku took a deep breath. He was far more afraid of this man then he was of Chuin. Trying to think of a way not to offend the man, he shrugged. "I wouldn't know anything about that. My brother and I have not had the chance for such entertainments in our life."

"Believe me, it's a frivolous waste of chi and efforts." Chang shortly replied, gazing down with an expression of indifference.

"Oh." Koutoku wisely decided not to mention his music.

Chang went on, ignoring the lack thereof response from Koutoku. "Such powers should only be used in battle, when protecting the Miko or if it's used as part of a strengthening exercise."

Koutoku nodded. He didn't all together agree with this man. Some powers should be used for the good of the world. "I can certainly understand your point, Chang-san. It would seem that way. Sometimes, though, a person's power should be used. For the benefit of others. At least, that is what my Okaasan used to say."

"Your Okaasan sounds like she must have been a wise woman. Some powers should be, some shouldn't, such as Chuin's."

"Oh, hai. I suppose...I'm not really familiar with his." 'Or yours.' Koutoku thought to himself.

"Just take caution around him, he enjoys 'playing' with people's minds." Chang warned in a neutral voice.

Koutoku nodded. "Hai. I shall. And I will warn my brother and the Miko as well."

Chang nodded and pivoted after giving a slight bow. "If you have any questions, I'll willingly answer them for you." He then turned his back and headed off for the officer sector.

Koutoku watched as the man left. When Chang was out of sight, he shuddered. 'Ohhh...no way! I ain't lettin' Shun near that guy!' Hastily, he headed back the way he had come. He needed some fresh air and badly.