Tears of the Dragon - Chapter 12

After tying the reins to the hitching post, she strolled to the entrance, being greeted by a couple of her female employees, who were attired in rather skimpy outfits. In addition to being an inn, it was also a tavern and a burlesque house.

Amiboshi nodded. He didn't pay the girls outside any mind. He was too preoccupied. He turned to his brother and Yui. "Well?"

The couple exchanged knowing glances. After Suboshi dismounted, he held a hand out to Yui to take, as she stepped off the noble steed in a graceful lady-like manner. With her hand in his, he turned to his brother. "We'll see you back here later, Aniki!"

Amiboshi shook his head. "Oi. Su-chan...forgetting something?!"

"What?"

Amiboshi smirked. "Witnesses."

Yui gazed pointedly at him. "The temple will have more than one monk! They'll provide the witnesses!" And with that, without waiting for any further response from him, she pulled Suboshi's hand, to indicate for the two to made a dash for the temple.

Kaen chuckled lightly and placed a hand on Amiboshi's shoulder. "My marriage to Ayuru was done the same way. What she did say is true, they provide the witnesses."

Amiboshi hmphed. "Yeah, I know. I just thought...oh, never mind! It's obviously not important to my brother, so why should it matter to me?!" Shrugging Kaen's hand away, he went into the inn.

Snapping her fingers, she commanded for lightening to block Amiboshi's way. "Okay, why the hell do you think you can get away with being snarchy?! You realize how childish you're acting! Something's bothering you, I can tell!"

"Yeow!!!" Amiboshi fell back onto the ground. He turned his head, glaring at her. "You could have hit me!"

She rolled her eyes. "I can control it! Besides, it was more for the effect than the damage. Now, tell me what's wrong! I know something's bugging the hell out of you!" She sighed, eyeing him, as he sat on the ground and sweat-dropped. 'I just hope he doesn't start sulking!'

Amiboshi sighed. He got up, brushing the dirt from his pants. "I just thought they'd want me to come and witness. Suboshi /is/ my twin brother. I just thought...he'd want me there for such an important event in his life. Guess I was wrong."

Kaen sighed, placing an arm around his shoulders in a comforting way. "Don't let one thing like this disappoint you, I know you probably feel hurt, left out. Don't let it bother you. Did you talk to him about this before hand?"

Amiboshi shook his head. "No. I didn't think I had to. We've always done things together. I just thought..."

She sighed, growing thoughtful. "Let's go inside, talk there, it'll be easier."

A few moments later and one teapot later, the two were seated at a table, each with a cup of tea in hand. After taking a sip, Kaen placed her cup down, still clutching it in her hands though. She sighed. "It seems to me, from what I could see, Yui was a bit more aggressive than he is, and more of a go-getter, she didn't appear like she was about to wait around. I didn't hear most of the exchange, but from what I could tell, you weren't moving fast, so that might have got to her. As for your brother...I don't know what to say, he probably had barely time to react after she last spoke." She paused. "You could have tagged along, despite her statements."

Amiboshi sat at the table, his chin in his hand. He sighed. "I guess you're right. I am still a bit disappointed...but I'm happy for them. For Shun. He's been through so much. I just want him to be happy."

Kaen smiled, sipping from her green tea.

From across the room, after finishing talking to a couple of more women, Aya trotted over to where the two sat and took a seat with them. "Sorry, had some questions to answer from my employees!"

Kaen's eyes narrowed. "They were sold weren't they?!"

Aya's eyebrows shot up in a stunned arched. "Trafficking?! No, these are women who want money! I don't believe in running a business where they are sold into it."

"Yea..."

"Soi, honestly, I'm a woman myself, I don't feel the urge to exploit my kind. I've been in this business for a while. And besides, I only employee three women, all the rest are men."

Amiboshi watched as Soi and Aya had their discussion. It took a bit for their conversation to sink in. "Wait...wait! You mean...this is a...a...brothel???!!!!!!!"

Aya laughed shortly, amused at his naivete. "You're quite wrong, a normal inn, with a tavern and a private men's club."

"Better known as a burlesque house." Kaen bluntly filled it. "At least I'm assuming that's right."

"Hai, gambling and entertainment. There's no sexual exchange, except the mere observation of the female pulchritude."

Amiboshi's eyes continued to be wide as saucers. "Oh."

Aya chuckled sweetly, high amused at Amiboshi's shock.

Amiboshi glared. "It's not funny!"

"Look hon, this isn't the brothel or the bordello, those are further in town." Aya kept a quirked, amused grin over her features. "So, I'm allow to find your shock amusing, after all."

"Okay! Okay!" Amiboshi took a sip of his green tea. "Tell me, Aya. What do you know about the Shinzahou?"

"I can tell you that I know exactly where to find the Genbu one and get it without having to go through the hassles." She smirked deviously, pulling her left pant leg up so it revealed her left ankle. Slowly a faint glowing appeared. The character shone a brilliant green. The Kanji itself read "cow".

Amiboshi stared in awe. "Your...your a Genbu Seishi! But how?! They died over two hundred years ago!"

"All but me...I'm the second oldest Seishi alive, the only one older than me is Miboshi." Aya explained. She inhaled. "Why did I die, simple, I'm immortal, I carry the blood of Hokkan-koku's most hated tribe of people, the Shi; possibly even more despised than Kutou-koku's own Hin." She paused, taking a sip of her tea. She thought about how she was going to proceed with this. After all, it had been a while she had spoken of this.

"I'm not actually one of them, I just have the blood because I was born thirty years before Genbu No Miko appeared. Me...Genbu Seishi, Iname."

"I...wow. I...uh...gomen! I didn't mean to sound rude or anything, its just I've never met a kyuuketsuki before..." Amiboshi took another sip of tea. He sighed. "You said that you knew how to get the first Shinzahou? How? Where is it?"

"How do I get it, I yell at Tomite for being a brat and not letting me see it. He bents like a willow in the wind and hands it over without question, after all, he owes a certain reverence to me." Iname smiled knowingly.

Amiboshi blinked. "Oh...and Tomite is one of the Genbu seishi? Is he one of your people too?"

"No, he's a member of Ha clan, a minority. However, he is my son" Iname explained, sipping from her tea.

Amiboshi blinked again. "Ah...okay. Do you think its possible we could see it as well? Possibly obtain it? I'm not sure if we will find our seventh, and I'd like to be prepared in the eventuality that we don't."

"Well, you will need, since I do still feel the urge to kill Miboshi. He's been the shogun of the Kutou army for two hundred and thirty years, counting. I'll help you get it, in fact, I can make the climb easier for you, how do you feel about teleportation?!"

"Tele...Teleportation?! Uh...can't say that I've ever done it..."

"I mean I'd use it to get the group up to the mountain top then past the boulder Tomite and Hikitsu used to block the entrance way."

"Ah. I...don't have a problem with it. Sounds fine to me. Soi?" Amiboshi turned to Kaen.

She shook her head. "No objections!"

Iname smirked. "Excellent. Hmm...I didn't get a chance to speak to your illusionist yet. Maybe I can test his skills, see how he stands up..."

Amiboshi's eyebrows went upwards. "He's uh...strange. I'd leave him alone."

"Oh really?! I like the sounds of the child already," Iname replied, feeling energized. She blinked and instantly the entire surrounding scene changed. The surroundings became similar to the grotto back at the imperial court in Kutou.

"Whoa!!!!!!!"

"Is there something wrong, hon?!"

"Nu huh! Nope! Everything is fine! This is just...weird! I've never been inside and illusion before!" Amiboshi exclaimed, looking around in awe. 'This must be what Chang meant...about getting trapped in one of Tomo's spells...'

"Excellent." Iname drawled sweetly, instantly in the blink of an eye taking away her illusion that she skillfully spun. She leaned forward, sipping the last of her tea.

Amiboshi nodded. He sat back, holding his cup in his hands. "So...when do you think you could take us? After my brother and Yui get back perhaps?"

Iname quirked an eyebrow. "You mean you and your group don't wish to first rest?! After all, the pair are back." She pointed to the doorway that opened a moment later. "See?!"

Kaen sat back. "Yea, I would like to stay at least one night before doing anything, I'd like to sleep first, get a good night's rest before we head on out."

Amiboshi blushed. "Oh...uhm...of course! Of course we'll rest! Forgive me, I'm just anxious to get going. We'll start tomorrow morning. If that is okay with you?" He looked to Iname and Soi.

Iname sighed, examining the swirling contents of her refilled cup of tea. She was pensive for a moment. "Well, I can help you, however, I was on a trip for a couple of days arranging for the shipment of some supplies for the inn. In addition, I can't teleport everyone up to the mountain straight from here, so we'll need the accessories for travelling."

Amiboshi nodded. "Hai! That's no problem! We have supplies as well. We will, of course, need to get some winter gear, but I'm sure we can find something in one of the local general stores here."

Iname quickly sipped her tea so she wouldn't make a dry remark that might offend the boy. Under the cup's rim she smirked, not saying anything, as the hot contents soothed her throat, dripping down.

Kaen rose up from her seat, placing her hands on the table. "Gomen, but I'm rather tired, and Ayuru's already up in our room." She then winked. "Our special time together." She waved and trotted off in the direction of the wooden staircase that led up to the first floor where the rooms were.

Amiboshi flushed at Soi's words. He gripped his cup tightly in his hands, sipping it. Sighing, he placed his cup on the table. He looked to his brother and Yui. "How did it go?"

Suboshi shrugged. "Well."

Yui grinned. "It was great...but it wasn't what I had thought it would be like...I always thought it would be more western...wedding bands and everything."

Suboshi didn't say anything and mildly sweat-dropped. "Don't bother asking, it's not worth it."

Amiboshi raised his eyebrow. "Oh. All right. I'm happy it worked out." He lowered his eyes, picked up the teakettle, pouring himself some more tea. He didn't want them to see the sadness in his eyes.

Iname's eyes shone seriously with a dull glare. She motioned for the pair to take a seat. Once they did, she placed her cup down, still holding it in her hands, feeling the warmth of the liquid through the thin porcelain of the cup. She sighed, letting out a pensive breath of air; her emerald green eyes looking with his blue-gray eyes and Yui's cyan blue ones.

She remained silent for a minute, before finally she spoke. As she did, her voice was low, deep and uncharacteristically haunting in the sense that she spoke with a tone that sounded like someone had just died. She began by clearing her throat. "I need to speak to both of you, and I want both of you to listen and closely. I don't want you to only hear, but you must listen if you both care about the future of Kutou..."

Amiboshi looked up. 'What was she doing?!'

Yui bit her lip. She took Suboshi's hand in hers. She felt scared all of a sudden. She nodded to Iname to continue.

Iname's expression remained as nothing more than stone, unchanged. "I sense you're scared, so it obviously means that your emperor never told you this, nor have any of your seishi. I can also tell that it seems that none of your seishi knew, with the possible exception of Miboshi. Don't worry, it won't endanger your relationship. Contrary, failure to heed to this whether you want to or not will result in Seiryuu not being summoned despite you having all seven seishi and the scroll or having both the Genbu and Byakko no Shinzahou."

She took a pause. She sipped from her tea, as he throat felt vaguely dry. "You two aren't the first pair of Miko and Seishi to get told this at such a peak point in the relationship. You're the third pair. The first were Takiko and Tomite, then Suzuno and Tatara."

In the strong candle light of the room, her eyes seemed very human unlike in the natural light, which gave them their immortal appearance. She sighed. "This will be hard on you, but it won't be for long, I guarantee you that."

Yui swallowed. She nodded. "What...what must I...must we do?"

Iname looked up. This was always the hardest part. She closed her eyes momentarily, recalling the look on Tomite and Takiko's faces, how heartbroken the pair was, how devastated they were. She sighed, she knew it would be much harder on this young pair, especially once the permitting circumstances were taken into consideration when trying to explain such a thing.

She took a breath. "The Miko must remain pure until after the summoning. Her body must remain untouched by another man until she's summoned her god."

Yui sat, stunned. She could feel tears threatening to fall. She blinked them away. She turned to Suboshi. After all they had been through. They couldn't even touch? She was his wife now. Yet...

She swallowed. She searched his face for any sign of his feelings regarding this new development.

Silence, no reaction followed by an unprecedented and highly unexpected cracking of wood as his fist connected with the surface of the table, demonstrating his inner, brewing, festering frustration. "K'so..."

Yui flinched. She placed her hand on his arm. "Shunkaku..."

Leaving his fist in the position it had been upon connecting with the surface of the cherry wood table, Suboshi replied, his inner rage bluntly obvious, despite it not meaning to be. "Nani??!!" His tone was biting and razor sharp.

"Shunkaku! Look at me!" Yui turned, drawing his face into her hands. She kissed him on the lips. "This doesn't matter. This won't stop us. We are husband and wife now. This is only a delay. I promise." She rested her forehead against his.

"I know...demo...demo...K'SO!" Suboshi gritted his teeth in anger at Iname's words. He sighed, still resting his forehead against Yui's.

Iname quirked an odd half smile. "Suboshi, why not go out and kill some venison, as an offering for your Miko and okusan?! Plus the exhilaration of murdering something might help to vent your anger. There's a few arrows in the rear of the inn along with the bow, go out and hunt. It helped my son when he got like this..."

She eyed him pointedly, with a certain type of glance that only a mother possessed.

Yui smirked. "Yes, dear. Why don't you go and get us some nice venison. That would be lovely."

"Nah! Shit, that sounds so boring! I'd rather chase some real game like the Suzaku Seishi...hmmm...I wonder if Tomo would give me one of his victims..." Suboshi mused, a glint of mischief lighting up in his eyes.

Yui sighed. She smacked him in the arm. "Shunkaku! Not on our wedding day!"

"Itai!" He glared at her. "Don't hit me! I don't deserve it!"

"Then behave!"

"I am, I am!"

"Prove it!"

He opened his mouth to form his protest, but snapped it shut quickly, realizing he didn't have anything to say. Crossing his arm indignantly over his chest, he sat back and sulked, muttering profanely.

Yui grinned triumphantly. She then put her arms around his neck, batting her eyelashes up at him. "You'll go and get some venison for us, won't you dear?"

Suboshi quirked an eyebrow. Instead of agreeing to what she requested, he sarcastically remarked, "ne, Yui, got something stuck in your eye or something?!"

Yui bowed her head. She looked up, fire in her eyes. She pulled him by the ear, heading for the weapons Iname had said. "I said, go get me some venison. NOW!!!"

"But, but! My game isn't out there! Tomo has it in his damned Shin! I don't wanna chase after some dumb, weak animal I'm feeling homicidal, I need to kill a Suzaku Seishi!" Suboshi cried in protest, whimpering at the pain induced from her vice grip on his ear.

"I don't care! I'm hungry and I want some venison! Move!" She turned to him, hurt in her eyes. "Don't you want to give your wife a wedding gift?"

"But I'm not a forest hunter! The only thing I know how to hunt is thieves, rapists, traffickers and other petty pickpockets in order to steal their change purse!" He shot back, with a half pout. He then pulled something from his jacket. "Which reminds me...you know that Suzaku bastard that I was fighting...well, during the first encounter I got his change purse!"

Yui blinked. Then she snickered. "Tamahome's?! Ooohhhh...I like that! I wonder what he'll do when he realizes it's gone? Did I ever tell you about the first time I met him?"

"All you said was that he was a loser that help you and that bitchy whinny Miko of his."

"Well, yeah. He is. But you have in your hand the one thing that I think he cares most about. Money. That's all he would talk about! He even had the gall to ask us for money after saving us!" Yui shook her head. "Truly pathetic."

Suboshi's eyes went wide, then he smirked. "So I'm in possession of his most treasure possession...excellent." His tone quickly switched to one filled with disgust. "He asked for money after saving you two *voluntarily*??!! What the fuck..."

Yui shrugged. "I know. Pathetic. Anyways..." She eyed her new husband. "I want food. Be a good goshujin. Go get me a venison."

He smirked deviously. Stepping in close to her, he drew her body close against her, quietly slipped his hands under her shirt. His hands remained still before he found the clasp for her bra. He didn't say anything about it and casually kept in topic with the conversation. "So, what find would you like, pheasant? Tiger?"

Yui stared at him in shock. She could feel his hands unclasping her bra. She smiled up at him. She placed her hands on his chest. "I don't know. What do you have in mind?"

Suboshi shrugged, his hands free to move over her back unobstructed by any strange undergarments she was wearing. "It's up to you."

"Oh, I don't know..." Yui moved her fingers lightly over his chest. Finding a slip in his shirt, she ran her fingernails over his chest. Smiling, she shrugged again. "What would you prefer?"

From near the bar, a young man sighed and groaned at this exchange between the pair. "For the sake of Genbu, get a room you two!" He shook his head and set back to work, serving various other drinks.

He was about twenty-six years of age, long jet-black hair that stopped at his shoulders. His eyes were a dark indigo blue, almost coal black, yet they weren't. His face was strong, firm. His jaw line was angular. He stood well over six feet tall, yet wasn't as imposing as Miboshi or Tomo. However, he did have very broad shoulders, obvious muscles that showed through his loosely fitting plain shirt.

His voice was soft, deep and gentle. It didn't seem to suit the type of person he seemed to be on the surface. To compliment this voice, his tone and mannerisms were that of a member of the imperial court. He didn't speak with blunt male pronouns, he used proper, formal ones. He also had a polite edge on his tone that softened his words. Even the confidence his possessed wasn't artificial like Tomo or Miboshi's were, it was all natural.

After placing the drinks back down on the bar, one of the other males working there came over to fetch it. He dropped an empty serving plate on the counter and stated. "OI! Shinta! We've got another order of six sake, post haste!"

"Right sir!" he replied, going to work serving the order.

Yui all but ignored the man, her total concentration settled on the man before her. She smiled up at him. His eyes were so entrancing, she could get lost in them.

Amiboshi shook his head. 'Oi. Now it's permanent! Ick!' However, unlike Yui, he didn't ignore the man. He was about to get up and confront him, when he felt it.

'Chi. Very strong. Familiar, like the others had been.' He turned his gaze to the big man that had just left. 'Could he be? Ashitare?'

'Chi?!' Suboshi looked up. His gaze travelled in the direction of Shinta. 'I feel a chi from him, weak, but a chi nonetheless, he's Seiryuu or Suzaku?' He wondered.

Amiboshi got up from his seat. He stood in a corner, watching Shinta. If at anytime the man exhibited his power, he was going to be there to see it. He nodded to his brother, letting him know he had it covered.

'Go. Take Yui somewhere. I don't want her here if this one is an enemy.' Amiboshi quickly sent over to his brother, via their connection.

Suboshi groaned, feeling his arm twitch. 'Shit...why now?!' He moaned. Sighing, he slipped his left arm from out of her dress. 'Why couldn't have Aniki waited?!' He thought bitterly, reading the message. 'so, he felt the chi as well...has his suspicions.'

Taking his other hand out, leaving Yui's bra very undone, he returned a response, scratching in his message. 'Hai.'

Amiboshi nodded. He stood, watching Shinta very carefully. He kept all his senses on alert, just in case.

Yui was disappointed when Suboshi took his arms away. He had felt good. She leaned into him, wanting to be closer.

Taking her hand, he heeded his brother's words and led her to their room.

Meanwhile, three door down, in the pitch black, two figures lurked, one on his back, the other above, her long hair undone and cascading down gracefully. Her gaze was intent, as it pierced his lovingly. Her hands, one was rested by her lover's side, the other touched his face lovingly.

Beneath her, he lay, his hair fanned out around his face, giving him an angelic look. Unlike when he was in the presence of others, he actually smiled genuinely, expressing something other than hate for the world. He did show his affections for his beloved in public, but in private he was passionate and really expressive.

His large, masculine hand was raised, gently touching her smooth face, caressing it gently, before bringing his lips to hers that eagerly awaited a bonding with his. This was part of their sworn love. A mutual chi raising came from this.

Around the married couple, a faint blue aura of chi lived, grew.

Yui held Suboshi's hand as they went up the stairs. Despite the fact they couldn't really bond as husband and wife, she was nervous. This would be the first night they slept together as husband and wife.

Downstairs, Amiboshi continued to keep his vigil on Shinta. He watched the man, throughout his shift. But nothing strange occurred. He covered his mouth in a yawn. He was getting tired. If something didn't happen in ten minutes, he was going to bed. Hell with it. He'd check it out later.

The unnamed pair, the seme and the uke lay together, the female dominating, the male accepting this. She sighed contentedly, murmuring his name, as she brushed her nose against his face, nudging hair back, feeling the silkiness of his pale blond hair. She continued to lurk over him, her entire form naked, yet covered with the sheet of the bed. Her voice was a low husky seductive whisper, as she uttered him name, her mouth next to his ear. "Ayuru..."

In a free hand, he held her long maroon hair back, running his finger through it. Her hair was soft, untangled. He sighed, smiling up at her. He enjoyed the sounds of her voice.

Amiboshi yawned again. 'Shit. This is hopeless. He's doing nothing! Damnit! Ah well. I'll just go to bed. Worry tomorrow.'

Moving from the corner he had made his place at, he headed upstairs. No one was around. Everything was quiet. He walked down the corridor, then stopped. 'Shit. I forgot which room Iname said was mine.' Sighing, too tired to go back and ask, he looked down the corridor. 'Oh well...'

Approaching the doors, he shrugged. Opening the third door down, he entered.

His eyes almost popped out of his head when he did. On the bed, were Ayuru and Kaen. Naked. Obviously in the middle of something. Turning a beat red, he stammered.

"I...uh...I'm sorry! I thought this was my room! I'll leave!" He quickly made a hasty retreat.

The next few days seemed to past swiftly. On forth day, the same mysterious young man that had commented about Suboshi and Yui's publicly displayed affection, Shinta, was roaming through the guests' area. He was in search of a particular item, a shell to be precise.

Amiboshi slumped in his seat at the table. He still felt terrible about walking in on Ayuru and Kaen. His ears burned everytime he thought about it.

On the good side, Suboshi and Yui seemed to be getting into a routine. The frustration they both must be feeling was less obvious. He could see it though. It was wearing on them. He thought about that. 'Maybe there's something I can do for them...' He sighed. He'd think about it later. Right now he just wanted another cup of tea.

Iname wandered over to the group, a friendly smile consuming her expression, as Shinta came up behind her, grabbing her by the wrist. "Aya-sama! I need to speak to you!"

She spun. "What is it, Shinta?!"

"You can't be letting these damned Seishi freeload!"

Iname glared at him. "Have you no tact?! You could have at least told me this out of their hearing range!"

"No, they deserve to hear this, they are creatures of Seiryuu, they are citizens of Kutou, a savage sovereign nation with no regard for anything! That's why they have to summon Seiryuu!"

"And like the Suzaku, Byakko and Genbu Seishi are perfect?!"

Shinta glared. "Those guys...don't lead them to the Shinzahou."

Amiboshi stood. He had to take this in hand before his brother decided to get violent. Approaching, he addressed the two. "Forgive me if I am interrupting. I couldn't help but over hear you. It is true. Kutou has done some vile things in the past. But we hope to remedy that by summoning Seiryuu." He tilted his head, gazing at Shinta. "You should not judge us by the actions of our fellow countrymen, but as ourselves. You do us a great disservice otherwise."

Shinta snorted, huffed. He then held up the small clam. "You say you aren't vile savages, but what kind of sadistic people allow for a band of people to be eternally trapped in such an illusion?! I'll tell you what kind, the amoral degenerate sort!"

"SHINTA! That's enough!" Iname exclaimed, her hand raised, as it soared down, slapping him across the face. "Have you no respect for your fellow Seishi..." She smirked, her eyes glinting "..."

He clapped a hand over her mouth. "Don't even say it! I won't allow for Seiryuu to be summoned!"

Amiboshi stared. 'I knew it!' "It is a good you think so highly of your fellow seishi, Ashitare. It is true. Tomo did trap them inside his shin. However, you do not know the pain and suffering they have caused us. They deserve this punishment. They would have killed us otherwise."

Shinta shrugged, turned his back and left the Seiryuu Seishi. he had one thing in mind, freeing the underdog.

Suboshi didn't say anything, let his brother do all the talking. However, he did boil over with profound rage inside.

Amiboshi glared. "So, you finally decided to show yourself. Tell me, Tomo. Where is the shin with the Suzakus?"

Tomo glared partially at Amiboshi. "The shell was stolen, but I've got another on hand."

At that moment, the similarity between the twins was unmistakable. The rage and anger that most would expect from Suboshi, surfaced in Amiboshi. Reaching out, he gripped Tomo in a vice-like grip on the neck. "You fool! That shin contained our enemies! The person who stole your precious shell was just here! He intends to release them! What the fuck were you thinking?!"

Tomo smirked then cackled. "Foolish child. He may break the Shin, but only I can break the illusion. If the victims believe what they see, they can't be freed."

"And what is to stop them from believing that?!"

"Simple, their wills were weak, they lost the most precious thing to believe, I gave them 'sanctuary'."

Amiboshi gazed at Tomo thoughtfully. "Explain."

"When a person has lost something meaningful to them and their existence and destiny, their minds weep, their wills lose their defence, they are then easily manipulated. The girl, Suzaku No Miko felt hatred, betrayal and all was at lost, so she was easy, her companions were physically weakened, so fighting would have been worthless, their bodies focused on recovery, their defences were low." Tomo explained simply. "So, when the conditions are right, I can make them see what I want them to. In this case, I want them to see a 'paradise'. In this place they are 'safe' from the outside world. However they are slowly killed because they lack real air."

Amiboshi nodded. "And what happens when they are released from your shin?" He had no doubts that they would be. Shinta seemed to have a deep hatred of all from Kutou.

"Who said they will be?! My Shin is just the base for my illusion."

"Good. Then we have nothing to worry about from them." Amiboshi gave Tomo a hard stare. "Because if there is, then you better tell me now. Because if anything goes wrong, I will let my brother kill you."

"Good. Then we have nothing to worry about from them." Amiboshi gave Tomo a hard stare. "Because if there is, then you better tell me now. Because if anything goes wrong, I will let my brother kill you."

Tomo brushed off the brashness of his colleague. Walking over to stairs, "I'll be around."

"I'm sure you will." Amiboshi turned from Tomo to the others. "Are we ready? I think we need to locate the Genbu no Shinzahou as soon as possible."

Kaen or rather Soi rose to her feet. "Yea! I'm up for trekking through waist deep snow." She laughed shortly at the thought.

Yui turned to Suboshi. "I can get a piggyback, ne?!"

"I'll sink in the snow!" He whined.

"I'm not that heavy!"

Amiboshi rolled his eyes. "Oi. Let's get ready then."

Ayuru nodded. "If the snow is deep, the horses won't be of any use, so we'll have to plan for that, to make sure our supplied are safe."

"Hai." Amiboshi nodded. "Does anyone know the proper equipment for hiking in the snow?"

There was much murmuring.

Iname nodded. "I've got something in the shed behind the inn."

Amiboshi bowed. "Arigatou, Iname-kun. It is much appreciated. When can we start?"

"We can start right now. Soi and Yui can help by gathering food supplies, you, Suboshi and Nakago can strap up the stallions and pack. I'll help gather and locate everything needed." Iname replied with a nod.

Amiboshi nodded. "Hai." He turned to the others. "Then lets get moving." He led his brother and Ayuru to the stable. Pitching in, all three of them were able to saddle the horses and pack their belongings within half an hour. They then lead the horses to the front of the inn.

The girls, or rather ladies, Soi and Yui were able to use the combination of their resources to pack enough food supplies and cookware for the travelling. The older woman also thought more than a few days worth should be packed as a precaution if something could happened.

Yui replied saying, "well, it's for when we continue to Sairou, don't think that we'll get held back! We're strong!"

"I know we are, it's just a precaution if nothing more." Soi assured her.

Shortly they were out front with the men.

Iname joined up moments later with her own horse.

Amiboshi nodded. "Let's get going then." Mounting, he turned to Iname. "If you could lead us? None of us are familiar with the area."

Iname nodded. "That was the plan, Koutoku."

Amiboshi flushed. "Uh...sorry."

"That's okay!" She smiled. Directing her horse, she led the group to the outskirts of the town. "The capital, Tolan is a day's journey from here. From there, Mt Black is only a couple of hours by horseback that's only to the foot. The climb's about less than an hour if you're in good physical condition."

Amiboshi nodded. "A day shouldn't be too hard on us. Then from there we can head to Sairou."

"Sairou-koku, lovely place," Iname commented randomly. She smirked knowingly. "I'll help you guys there as well, I'm familiar with the three seishi living still."

Amiboshi blinked. "Three??!!! But that was over a hundred years ago! They're not members of your clan are they?!"

"No, they are just being sustained by Subaru-chan's seishi powers, at least as long as she can live. They're perfectly mortal. The one you seek is Tatara." Iname turned to Suboshi and Yui, who rode just off to the back a bit. Her eyes shone with a dull seriousness. "You two, be wary of Tokaki."

Yui blinked. She looked to Suboshi then back to Iname. "Of course. May I inquire as to why? Won't he help us if he is a seishi?"

"Yes he will help you, but he'll do nothing for your relationship."

"Oh."

"He wouldn't let Tatara and Byakko no Miko be together...because he didn't want it to end in heartbreak after the separation."

Yui's head snapped to Iname. "What separation?!"

"The separation when she was sent back to her world. However, they didn't believe strongly enough, don't worry, it'll work." Iname said reassuringly, recalling her son and Miko.

Yui nodded, still worried. 'What if after the summoning, I'm sent back to my world?! I don't want to go back! I want to stay here with Shunkaku!' She bit her lip, saying nothing. She didn't want to upset the others. This was, after all, her problem.