Tears of the Dragon - Chapter 8

Meanwhile, Miaka cheerfully hummed a popular up-beat hip-hop song from her world, as she gladly fetched water for the trip. At the bank, she gazed down into the crystal mirror river surface, as she went to dip the pitcher in. 'Hmm...darn, it's a little low...I'll need a good hold to get that low...' Balancing her weight on the edge, she swept her hand holding the pitcher, down to scoop up water. As she did, she slipped forward.

He sighed, coming up behind her, as she fell forward and grabbed onto the back of her school uniform. "Damnit you're hopeless, Miaka."

She looked up. "Uh...gomen."

Miaka grimaced. Why did she have to be so damn clumsy? "Uh...arigatou, Shunkaku-chan."

"No problem." He shrugged. "Ah geez...you've got one hell of a deranged Seishi back there, can't even take a bit of friendly banter. I call him Tama-chan and he totally goes off his rocker, better put a leash on your cat, Miaka."

Miaka glared indignantly. "Tamahome is not that bad! He just doesn't like being called a cat! He was probably teased a lot about it! You should be nicer to him, Shunkaku-chan!"

"I tried!"

"Well...try harder!"

"Well, he didn't give an inch! So, why the hell should I?! Besides which, he should have been the one saving your ass if he's your seishi...damnit."

Miaka placed her hands on her hips and glared. "What's wrong with you coming?! I'm not that bad!"

'Oi! She's a moron!' Shunkaku sighed, raising a hand to his head. "Listen, I never said anything like that! All I said was that maybe he should have been the one to come here and not me! Shit, I've got enough to worry about!"

Miaka pouted. "Like what?!"

"It's none of your business!! Keep your pryin' eyes and meddlin' nose out of other's affairs!" he snapped back sharply.

"Fine! I will! Honestly...I don't know what Yui-chan sees in you! You're so...so...obnoxious!"

He smirked. "Well, I personally don't know what Suzaku-seikun sees in such a girl as you. Why he needed you as Miko is beyond me."

Miaka snorted. "I'm a good Miko! You're just being mean!"

Shunkaku loosely and coolly shrugged off her retort and began to walk back to the camp. He turned back over his shoulder, "aren't you coming?! After all, obake-chan's gonna be worried about you."

Miaka glared. "Don't call Tamahome that! He's wonderful! Much better than you are! At least he doesn't insult me!"

"If I got no reaction, insulting you would be a waste of time." Shunkaku countered smoothly, not missing a beat.

Miaka folded her arms. She inclined her head. "There has to be something that Yui-chan likes about you. I just gotta figure out what it is."

"Let me know, maybe by then I'll understand what makes you such a good Miko." He smirked and gave a short laugh. He noted she wasn't actually that far from him. 'I wonder if she'd notice if I swiped her change purse or not?! Even if I did, I'd return it, this is just to see how slow she is...'

He made precise calculations, figuring out his best move, waiting for her to be within a good distance for him to make the catch.

Miaka shook her head. He was just so weird! She couldn't understand why Yui liked him so much. But she obviously did. The way she was kissing him earlier...

She sighed pensively. 'I wish Tamahome would kiss me like that...' Trudging along, she didn't notice the rock in front of her.

Being the klutz that she is, Miaka's foot catches on the rock, propelling her towards Shunkaku.

Opening her mouth to scream, she falls into Shunkaku, smacking into him. Her lips, opened to scream, impact with his. She opens her eyes wide. She hadn't meant to trip over the rock, and now she was kissing him?!

Gagging, he pulled back just as fast as she fell against him, leaving her to do a face plant into the cold forest floor. His breathing was rapid. 'Shit, what the hell was that...damnit, she...UGH!' He stared in utter profound horror at her, as she laid face first and sprawled on the ground. He shuddered and backed away a few steps before slipping entirely from the scene.

Two figures were also there, shadowed in the corners, not knowing of the other. One was Yui who had arrived just as Miaka made the contact with Shunkaku. She gasped in shock, feeling betrayed that her friend was even trying this. But at the same time, she felt an incredible rush of relief to see him run from the scene madly and freak out so much. 'A sign of true fidelity, that he would freak out if another girl so much as merely tried to kiss him...'

The other lurking figure was Tamahome. He had recently realized that he had true feelings for Miaka that he could no longer deny. Seeing the scene before him, he felt a surge of jealousy that she had said she loved him but had done something else...

'God, Miaka, please don't let this be true...there's got to be another reason, but I can't see it...shit. Now I'm insanely jealous...before over Hotohori, now this punk!'

A faint distinct rustling in the trees was heard, it sounded like the caress of wind through the leaves, but in fact, there was a third party present who had seen the entire scene unfold and knew the truth.

'This could be very bad, no da.' He thought, looking down from his perch in the tree.

Miaka sat up, shaking her head. She made a face. 'Ewwwwww....I'm gonna be sick. I know it! Gah! I actually kissed him! Gross!'

Shunkaku felt incredibly bitter as he approached their campsite. He hadn't noticed how dark it had become as he neared where his twin sat playing a simple harmony on the flute. He quirked a half-smile and said nothing. He shuddered. 'What the hell was her problem anyway?!'

He eyed the camp and smirked evilly when he lay eyes upon the small bag she had brought with her that she left on the ground. He noted the scroll that stuck out. Picking it out, he pocketed it. 'I know you'll be needing this, Suzaku No Miko and I won't let you. I knew I should have been a lot less trusting, but Yui put so much of hers into such a person as you and I entrust what Yui's instincts are when it comes to her friends.'

After stashing the scroll away, he sat next to his brother.

Koutoku sat against a tree, playing his flute. He lowered it, when his brother sat next to him. He smiled. "Ne...Shun-chan, how'd it go?"

He shrugged. "She almost fell in, but nothing too major...and she tried some stunt, which I'm trying to forget." He smirked. "On a more positive note..." He reached into his jacket and produced the change purse that had been Tamahome's. "Look what I managed to get! It was obake-chan's..."

Koutoku sweat dropped. "Oi...Shunkaku! How many times have I told you not to steal?!"

"Too many?!" Shunkaku replied and replaced the change purse and didn't mention the scroll he had on his person. "So, how's it been over here? Anything interesting?!"

Koutoku shook his head. "Nah...boring. Yui-san and Tamahome went off to find you guys when you didn't return. Haven't seen them since. Thought somebody should stay here and wait for you guys to come back, so I stayed."

"You're always so dependable, Aniki." Shunkaku replied, dropping an arm around his brother's shoulders.

Koutoku rolled his eyes. "Gee...thanks."

His expression then grew serious, with a bit of a dark hue. Shunkaku's eyes darted for a minute. "Say, do you feel a second chi, besides obake-chan's...I thought I sensed one before down by the river, but I wasn't sure..."

Koutoku closed his eyes, concentrating. After a moment, he opened them. "Hai. I do. A strong one too."

Shunkaku stood. "I sensed it by the river bank, let's go, well, I am, I don't know about you though..." He looked expectantly at his brother, waiting for Koutoku to join him.

Koutoku gripped his flute, standing next to his brother. "Hai. I'm coming. It could be one of ours. We need to find the other three as soon as possible."

"According to Seiryuu no Shijin Tenchisho, the other three remaining Seishi are: Ashitare, Nakago and Soi. I don't remember the clues, but I do remember a mention of chi manipulation..." Shunkaku informed his brother as the two moved through the thick of the brush, stopping for a minute once hearing something.

Koutoku nodded. "Hai. Let's go." He followed his brother into the thicket. He stopped for a moment when he heard the sounds. Turning, he came face to face with...something. "IEEEEE!!!!!!!"

Behind the twins stood a simply dressed man. He wore a plain pair of green breeches, a white shirt, a simply patterned kesa, a kasa and held a shakujo, or staff. His expression was neutral. "Shhh, no da." He raised a hand to signal for the two to be silent. "I have advice for you, do not proceed no da." He gazed serious at the pair. "If you do, you should encounter great turmoil and endanger the friendship of Suzaku and Seiryuu No Miko no da."

Through the dark, Shunkaku could see a vague outline of the man's features. He seemed to be a Buddhist monk, but something was a little off. 'He's got a strong chi! This is the one! It was his chi I felt!'

"Who are you?!"

"Chichiri, no da."

"Seiryuu or Suzaku?"

"Suzaku, no da."

"Why're you here?!"

"I'm with Tamahome-kun and Miaka-chan, no da."

"And why are you stopping us?!"

"Just trust me. I mean no harm no da, just listen to my advice."

Shunkaku didn't trust the monk, though he did seem harmless. He moved past, leaving Koutoku to speak to the monk.

Koutoku had nothing to say.

Actually in reality, before anything could be said, loud obscenities poured from Shunkaku's mouth, drawing the attention of Chichiri and Koutoku, who ran to where he stood.

Koutoku, running ahead of Chichiri, ran next to his brother. "What is it, Shunkaku?! What's happened?!" He looked out ahead, then his mouth dropped in shock.

"What the hell do you think happened?! The guy we kinda trusted slightly just tried to steal my girl! He kissed her!" Shunkaku exclaimed, the venom dripping from his voice. He didn't wait for his brother to reply, before jumping into the scene and throwing his ryuuseisui at the Suzaku Seishi, who let go of Yui because she pushed herself away from him.

Yui backed up against a tree, feeling scarred. She shivered.

Tamahome meanwhile worked to dodge the wild and out of control Ryuuseisui that caught him numerous times, but not through the chest.

"No one steals anything from me and lives to tell about it!" Shunkaku, or rather Suboshi exclaimed, getting in close enough to Tamahome and kneeing him in the chest, sending him to the ground in pain. "No one escapes the wrath of Seiryuu Seishi, Suboshi."

Tamahome stumbled to his feet, not about to be beaten by this punk.

Koutoku moaned. 'This is just great!'

Yui stood, stumbling to Suboshi. "Shunkaku...please...Let's just go..."

Casting a final death glare at the guy who dared to lay a hand on Yui, Suboshi took her in arm and left the scene with his brother following close behind. The three shortly returned to their campsite alone. The two sat down.

He held her closely. "Are you okay, Yui-san?!" He spoke softly.

Yui nodded. She buried her head in his chest. She could feel her tears fall. "I...I saw what happened...with Miaka..."

"I...I hated it...shit that girl's got no decency! She knew I already was sworn to you." Suboshi placed a hand on Yui's head, gently stroking her hair.

Yui snuggled in deeper into his chest. "I don't understand...I know it wasn't your fault. How could she?! I...I didn't think that bet meant so much to her..."

"Sometimes friends seem to be your friends, but then you see their try colours and the betrayal hurts more than anything." He embraced her protectively, not wanting to let her go.

She nodded. She closed her eyes, feeling the protectiveness of his arms. She never wanted him to let go. She wanted to stay like this forever.

Suboshi sighed, feeling a rising hatred from within him for the pair that the group had encountered earlier. He was indifferent to the monk however, but he had some suspicions about that man, like he was helping the Suzaku creature go ahead with kissing Yui. He glared hatefully into the growing fall of night. He then grinned widely, but there was something else to it, it was unusually devilish, more so than usual.

'At least they won't win, for I have the scroll, Suzaku won't get summoned and that'll teach Suzaku No Miko to hurt Yui-san.'

Koutoku sat against a tree, watching the two. He felt something strange occur. Something had changed within his brother. Something he wasn't sure of, but he didn't particularly like it.

Watching the two, he took out his flute and began to play a soothing, beautiful song. It was a sweet tune. Concentrating his chi, he willed the music to put his brother and the Miko to sleep. They needed rest.

The pair fell asleep contently in the other's arms.

Near by, Chichiri stood, his chi concealed and a barrier up. 'Hmm, doesn't look like we can get in no da, they've got their defenses up no da.' He turned to Tamahome in a whisper. "Heika-sama gave Miaka-chan the scroll no da?"

"Hai."

"K'so no da! getting it back may be a trying task, I'll have to wait till all three are asleep no da. I'll get it, you stay with Miaka-chan, no da."

Koutoku's eyes narrowed. While he had been playing, he had felt something. 'Strange chi...like before.'

Lowering the flute, he stands up from his tree. Going to the center of the clearing, he sat down on the soft grass. Closing his eyes, he concentrated. He could still feel the strange chi. 'Must be Tamahome and that monk...Well, they've hurt Yui-san enough!'

Placing the flute once again to his lips, he began to play. He had done this countless times in the past. As long as his mind stayed focused, he could play for hours on end.

Chichiri was jerked to his senses, as he tried to block out the horrendous noise. "i-itai no da! Tamahome-kun!" He turned to his colleague who was down on his own knees, clutching his head as the head splitting melody rang through the forest. Shaking, he worked to raise a hand and cast a spell to counteract the spell that was being thrown their way. Under his breath, the monk recited a prayer, or rather an incantation for one of his spells.

He hoped, no correction knew it just might break the pattern of the notes and/or at least provide a protective barrier around them. He wasn't worried about Miaka too much, as a third Suzaku Seishi had come along, Nuriko stayed with the miko.

Throwing the ward Koutoku's way, the monk put up a small barrier that gave the two a bit of relief, but it didn't last long.

Back at the camp, having sensed his brother's chi, Suboshi's own instinctive senses awoke and he was jerked out of a peaceful rest. 'Aniki must be fighting them...' He didn't move, just stayed with Yui. 'Hmm...the chi presence is close...SHIT! Something's trying to interrupt my brother's chi! I won't allow it!'

He spun his ryuuseisui into action. He guided it to where his brother's presence was thought to be and used it to protect him in case the spell that had been cast would place his brother in a vulnerable position to be attacked.

Koutoku felt the Suzaku's chi attempt to break his barrier. 'Never!' Although his brother was still learning to control his own chi, Koutoku was able to master his own quite efficiently.

Standing, he opened his eyes, staring at the place where he knew the Suzaku Seishi to be. He momentarily dropped his flute, though his chi still resonated throughout the area. "Leave now, Suzaku's Seishi. I shall not let you pass. You shall not harm my Miko or my brother.

"No one gets past Seiryuu Seishi Amiboshi! You will not enter! Leave now or I will not be held responsible for what happens!"

Raising the flute to his lips once more, he began to play. The spell he wrapped around himself and the clearing where his brother and Yui stayed kept out all others. He would not allow these Suzaku to penetrate.

'The kid's good, he knows how to fight.' Tamahome gritted his teeth. 'And playing dirty is what he does! Shit, that flute's lethal!' He tried to block out the sound, but it was futile.

Chichiri found it difficult to scatter the chi that was being emitted. He worked to at least put up his own barrier to counteract the one that had been thrown up by the Seiryuu Seishi. He sat in a crossed-legged position, his hands clasped in prayer, as he put up his barrier. He felt his colleague ease slightly.

'Good no da.'

The Ryuuseisui that hovered in the area, as its master, jumped out of the dark of the thicket and stayed within his brother's barrier. He had brought Yui with him, leaving her to rest nearby, so he could get to her quickly, yet she remained out of sight.

At that moment, Amiboshi increased the output of his chi. The sound, once a bit distracting, now became a searingly painful sound. The chi filled the clearing, encompassing everything around it. Amiboshi would not allow them to enter. They would have to kill him first.

Chichiri noted immediately that both twins were present at the scene. He turned to Tamahome. "Tamahome-kun, make the grab now, move into where they were no da! I'll protect you from here no da."

"Hai, Chichiri!" he replied, as he moved quickly through the brush, only to get caught by Suboshi's ryuuseisui.

"Ahh...you're such an easy target!"

"Damn you!"

Suboshi smirked, holding the rope. "Looking for the Miko's bag and the scroll, well, you're one step too late, Suzaku Seishi."

Amiboshi narrowed his eyes. He was aware that his brother was dealing with Tamahome. 'Good. That leaves the monk for me.' Concentrating his chi, he felt the reassuring presence of his brother nearby. He knew that Suboshi would protect Yui. He was still unaware of the scroll that his brother had swiped.

Tamahome fought to get back to his feet and be able to thoroughly dispose of this overzealous upstart Seiryuu Seishi. Managing to get to his feet, but finding his central equilibrium to be offset, he cursed profusely under his breath. 'Damn, I really hate this kid! There's gotta be a way to escape his wrath! And...what the hell did he mean by getting the scroll is too late?!'

Suboshi yanked on rope, dragging Tamahome back to the ground, off setting his balance. 'Excellent, I've...' He then blinked.

The red character on the centre of Tamahome forehead glowed bright, as his face shadowed over. Finding strength, he slipped from the rope, rolling and jumping skilfully to his feet. Seconds later, his fist made connection with Suboshi's jaw, sending the smaller Seishi crashing back into a tree.

He cried out in pain at the impact of the punch's wallop and yelped in anguish as his body slammed against the hardwood body of the tree. He fell, his breathing quickened, his brow heavily laced with perspiration. From his brow, sweat dripped to the ground, as he remained down, facing it.

Putting aside the excruciating pain that occupied his body, he staggered to his feet, wiping the blood from his chin. "Damn you..."

Amiboshi opened his eyes. He could feel the other Seishi's powers rising. Focusing his chi outward, he created a barrier, surrounding the upstart seishi.

Chichiri blinked. 'This guy is good, no da!' Raising his shakujo, he cast his spell.

A barrier of Suzaku chi, circled Chichiri. He came to realize that he couldn't break through the Seiryuu's barrier with just a disruption spell. So, he called upon his offensive magic. Sending out a chi ball, he waited for the results.

Amiboshi felt the chi ball approaching. Opening his eyes, he blew a series of notes into the flute. The music, carried on the waves of Amiboshi's chi, intercepted the chi balls and disintegrated them.

In a final effort to pass this stubborn kid, Tamahome threw the kid into another tree. Suboshi groaned in pain, as he fell just behind his brother, landing on the ground, writhing in a pit of immense, gripping pain that wouldn't quit. His breathing was highly unsteady, his brow heavily bathing in sweat and blood dripped from his left temple. Giving in, he let unconsciousness consume him.

Amiboshi's eyes blazed. He could feel his brother's pain. Gritting his teeth, he sent out a blast of chi, in the direction of Tamahome. No one, he didn't care who it was, hurt his brother. They would pay with it with they're lives.

Tamahome had swiftly grabbed the bag and returned, motioning for Chichiri to follow quickly.

Chichiri felt the build up of chi. Sending out a barrier to Tamahome, he hoped it was in time. "Tamahome-kun! Look out, no da!"

He looked over his shoulder, in time to see the chi blast. He moved, but not fast enough, he felt the brunt of it, but didn't suffer too much physical damage. He held the bag out to Chichiri, who in turn dropped it in the kasa. "Tamahome-kun!"

The younger Seishi vanished and was followed by his elder colleague.

"Kuso!" Amiboshi cursed, seeing the two escaped with whatever it was they had come for. Glaring at the spot the two seishi had disappeared to, he turned away. Kneeling next to his brother, he took him in his arms. He wiped away the blood on his brother's face. "Shhhh...Shun-chan. You're safe now. I'm here. Wake up, otouto. Please."

Moaning, Suboshi grunted in pain, but had taken the time in his unconscious state to put aside the suffering that engulfed him to open his eyes and quietly speak to his brother. "Aniki..."

"Shhhh....I'm here, otouto. It's all right. They're gone now. How are you feeling? Can you get up?"

"I feel like shit, but at least they won't be able to do anything even if they've got all seven Seishi."

Amiboshi blinked. "Why? What did you do?"

Through the hell of his suffering, Suboshi fished out of his jacket a scroll. "This, this is Suzaku no Shijin Tenchisho. Suzaku No Miko had it in her bag. Feeling irritated, I stole it from her bag, leaving everything else."

Amiboshi took the scroll and looked at it. He shrugged. "Then what the hell did they take?!"

"It was probably just her bag, which they assumed the scroll was still in." Suboshi replied.

Amiboshi grinned. "That's my devious otouto. Enough of this. Come on. Let's get you and Yui-san out of here. We need to be long gone when they realize they still don't have it."

"Hai, Aniki." he nodded in reply, cringing as his brother helped his to his feet. "Damn...I swear, the next time I see that bastard, it's going to be the last time he leaves alive! The next place he's going when I'm through with him is hell!"

"Not until you learn to control your chi better, you won't." Amiboshi replied, helping his brother up gently. He brushed his brother's hair away from his eyes. "It'll be all right, otouto. Come on. Do you think you can ride?"

Suboshi grunted, feeling a rush of pain in his body. "I probably could...I don't know, Aniki..." he leaned, actually more like dropped the bulk of his weight against his brother for support.

"Shhhh...don't worry. We'll find another way." Holding his brother, he wrapped his arms around Suboshi, to give him more support. He headed over to where they had left the horses and Yui-san.

Yui was awake, grooming the horses. She turned around and gave a loud cry. "Shunkaku!" She rushed over, helping Amiboshi support his twin. "What happened?!"

Amiboshi shook his head. "Long story and we don't have time for it now. We need to get out of here now."

Yui opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it at the anger in Amiboshi's eyes. She nodded. She helped him drag his brother to one of the horses, lifting him up.

Amiboshi motioned to the other horse. "You'll have to take that one yourself, Yui-san. I don't think Suboshi can stay up on it alone. I'll have to support him."

Yui bit her lip, but nodded.

"...A...ni...ki..." Suboshi touched a hand up to his brother's face. He smiled meekly. He whispered softly, leaning against his brother. "Gomen nasai...I don't mean to be such a burden for you..."

"Shhh...Otouto. You're not a burden. You'll never be a burden. Not ever. I promised to take care of you and I will. Just rest."

"Hai...orai."

"Just rest now." Amiboshi held his brother closer. He directed his horse through the woods. He looked to his side, to make sure Yui-san was still with them. His heart went out to her. He knew the pain of losing someone. He knew she was worried about Suboshi too.