Exsausted the three fell to their knees. They were quickly surrounded by the Mt. Reikaku Bandits, who gave cheers and pats on the back to the girls. Tasuki, Kouji and Nuriko pushed their way into the circle that had formed about them. The guys helped the girls to their feet.
"Great," Kouji said, looking back at the burning buildings.
"Camp out!" Jamie and Katie cheered. Amanda laughed.
"&(*^$%@ it," Tasuki growled. They haven't been together even an hour and they're doing it." Nuriko shook his head and the rain began to fall.
The three girls , Tasuki, Kouji and Nuriko headed down the mountain. The reamaining unwounded or only minorly hurt bandits brought the rest of the more seriously hurt bandits. Surprisingly there were only 5 who were majorly hurt, and about a dozen dead. But everyone had a scratch or two, save for the three girls, who were just exhausted. Half of the bandits stayed to see what they could salvage from the old burned buildings. Some food was saved and a couple of not so badly burned blankets and other provisions were found, and brought to the other side of the Mt. where a small builing stood. A building that all of the bandits, save for Tasuki and Koji, didn't know exsisted till now. It was there that they settled for the night
"So what now? Well I think we'ed better get started on rebuilding our headquarters. What do you think Genrou. You're a genius Kouji. I know." Kouji kept talking but the girls and Nuriko had stopped listining. They were all just staring at him, eyebrows raised. Tasuki was use to it so he just ignored his friends rambling.
"Kouji?"
"Huh? What's wrong Genrou?"
"I have a request from the emperor. That's why I came here."
"What is it Genrou, what request?"
Genrou/Tasuki pulled out a white piece of paper that Hotohori had given to him and handed it to his friend. Kouji read it occasionaly nodding. Amanda looked over Kouji's shoulder trying to read it although she already knew what it said. He smiled at her and turned so she could see it better.
"Gomen nasai," she appoligized. He nodded and kept reading.
Jamie was passed out with her head on Nuriko's shoulder. Katie went to go get a little food for the rest of them. She returned just as Kouji finished reading the letter. And sat down by her friend offeriing her some food, Amanda greatfully accepted.
"So, that's how it is, huh?"
"Yep, I'm afraid so."
"You know you always have the support of the Mt. Reikaku Bandits, Genrou."
Tasuki nodded, "I know."
"I'll go tell the men what's going on." Kouji got up and walked from the corner where they were sitting to address the men.
While he was talking food was passed to Tasuki and Nuriko, Jamie was woken up so she could eat something. They ate in silence, till Kouji came back grabbed something to eat and talked to himself. He stopped after Nuriko sent him flying into the opposite corner. The three girls just giggled. After they ate they all went to bed.
.........................
Elsewhere
"You should really get some sleep, na no da?" Chichiri said to Shana, who was still sitting at the table. The meeting they had was over and she was the only one left. Chichiri sat down next to her, he took off his mask for the second time that day reveling one red eye and one scard.
"Chichiri?" Shana questioned, looking over at the monk. "Why do you wear that mask?"
He paused for a moment as if thinking something over. Then he pointed at the scar on his left eye. "Because of this, na no da."
"Does it hurt?"
"No, not anymore, na no da."
"Well I think you look better without the mask." Shana said standing up. She looked at Chichiri and smiled, then headed out of the dinning hall to her room. Leaving a very stunned Chichiri behind her.
................
The next morning they started out for the palace. Most of the horses that the bandits had ran away during the fire, there were about 4 left that the bandits had managed to grab. To lend some help to the bandits they (Tasuki, Kouji, Nuriko, Katie, Amanda and Jamie) doubled up on the three of the four horses they had brought with them. The last horse went to carry two more seriosly wounded bandits. They were almost a third of the way to the capital Kouji sent a messanger ahead to tell Hotohori they were coming, that they had found the sixth girl, what had happened at the Bandit fortress and to bring Mitsukake back to help heal along with some more horses. The rest of the bandits set up camp, what little food was left was consumed fast. With little else to do they settled down for the night. By morning Mitsukake was already there healing bandits, some Konan guards had also come to help out. They made the trek to the capital in 5 hours, and were greeted by more guards the rest of the Suzaku Shichi Seishi and the three girls left behind. All were anxious to see the infamous sixth to the party of girls.
"Jamie!!" Heather, Shana and Sarah said in unison. The Seishi shook their heads. The six girls ran together in a massive hug.
"Ummm... who's he?" Sarah said pointing to Kouji who had dissmounted from his horse and was standing next to Tasuki.
Before anyone could say anything Kouji introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Kouji. Oh Kouji nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too." Sarah sweatdroped. Nuriko elbowed Kouji in the stomach, he let out an `umf' as he was sent backwards a couple of feet.
Hotohori came up to Tasuki and Kouji, who had regained his position next to Tasuki. "I am Hotohori, Emperor of Konan. You must be Kouji, the leader of the Mt. Reikaku Bandits." Kouji nodded. "Thank you for coming so fast. I'm very sorry for what happened to your headquarters."
"That's alright. Is there anyway we could get something to eat. My men haven't eaten for a while."
"Of course." Hotohori motioned for one of his advisers, quietly spoke with him. Not long after the Bandits were lead into the palace with `you'd better behave' glances from Kouji and Tasuki. "You must be famished yourselves, come let us get something to eat." Hotohori lead the Suzaku Seishi, Kouji and the six girls into the dinning hall where they had eaten so many times since they had arrived.
They all sat, food was brought out to them, and after the sevants left they began eating and talking about what had happened. Stories were told from all around the table about what happened with the girls at Mt. Reikaku, in the burning hallway. And also what happened in Sarah's room with the explosion of elements. After the stories were all done the room was silent.
"AAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Everyone turned to Sarah, who had just stopped screaming. Tamahome was on his feet ready to fight anything.
"Tension breaker." Sarah shrugged. Tamahome sat back down still a little weary.
"You dork," Katie said.
"Yeah what's your point."
Heather, Shana and Amanda shook their heads. Jamie just looked up from eating. "Huh?" Jamie looked up as food wizzed passed her head.
Sarah giggled, "opps."
Jamie took some food and flung it back at Sarah, who did the same in return only this time flung it at her real target. She still missed and hit Tasuki in the forehead.
"What the $###?!"
The rest of the girls giggled and started flinging food at each other and the other Seishi. Hotohori watched as food wizzed by him but none of it ever hit him. Katie crawled under the table and waited for the food to stop flying.
Finally Hotohori stopped the food fight.
"Imoto?? Where are you?" Heather started.
"I'm right here, Neesan." Katie said from under the table.
"How's the weather down there?" Jamie teased.
"Pretty nice actually."
Sarah got up from the table and ran around to where Katie's feet were sticking out from under the table. She grabbed Katie's feet and pulled her out from under the table.
The Seishi just watched as the girls interacted with each other. They act like they've know each other for years. Kouji thought. "Oh but they have. Really? Yep."
"But they have what?" Amanda asked Kouji.
He looked at Amanda a little embarrassed that he had said that aloud, he hadn't intended to. "Oh I was just thinking that you guys must have know each other for a long time."
"Actually all six of us with the exception of Shana and Heather have known each other for less than a year."
"Honto ni? Yep, kinda hard to tell isn't it?"
"Do you always talk to yourself?" Amanda interupted him.
"Oh, ahh, yeah old habbit." Kouji said scratcing his head.
Amanda held up her hand to hide her face as she laughed.
"Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?" She looked up at him.
"Cover your mouth when you laugh." Kouji pointed at her hand.
Amanda looked down embarrassed, "Ummm... I don't know?"
"You're too pretty to do that. Really. Yep." Amanda was surprised for a moment turning red she looked down then back up at Kouji, who was still staring at her. They stayed like that for a while, then she gave him a playful push in the side. Kouji smiled and looked back at her, her attention was now turned to the rest of the joking group. He did the same still smiling.
"All right, that is enough." Hotohori said in a very commanding voice. The group assembled around the table looked at him and became silent. But before the young emperor could speak they were all surrounded by a blackness beyond words. The girls were screaming and clutching on to whatever they could grab a hold of. Save for Sarah a resounding `Weeeeeeeeee' could be heard just above the screams and gasps.
Chichiri was standing up with Shana in his arms he set the surprised girl down on her feet. The rest of the group ended up on the floor in a jumbled mass. Lights suddenly started to appear from out of nowhere. Nyan-nyans came running to the group.
"So you've finally gathered all the girls," an old withered voice said.
"Old Hag!" Tamahome said in recognition. Tai'istukun smacked him upside the head with her mallet.
"Now are you ready to hear what your up against?" the old voice continued.
Nods came from the rest of the group. Jamie held on to Nuriko's arm.
"Alright, as you know Hotohori, Koutou has been after Konan for a long time. This time is like all the others, except Koutou has allied his self with a very powerful demon. Known as Gibralitern."
"What about us?" Katie started.
"Quiet!"
"Ack!" Katie grabbed on to Tasuki for dear life. And he put his arms around her protectivly.
"Hey how come when we interrupt, you smack us but not..." Tamahome went flying across the room. The girls eyes went wide.
"Now as I was saying," she began again. "Gibralitern is a very powerful demon. There is no way your army would be able to defeat him and the Koutou army. That's where the girls come in," she looked at the girls who said nothing. Katie was hanging onto Tasuki for fear that she might be smacked by Tai'istukun's mallet. "Seperatly their powers are quite powerful, but still not powerful enough to stop the demon. That's why their powers need to be combind to kill the demon once and for all."
"Combind our powers?" Sarah said.
"Yes, seperatly you have different elementals. Heather you have fire, water and some electricity. Shana you have water, ice and electricity. Sarah you have fire and water. Amanda you have water and ice. Jamie you have fire and water. Katie you have wind. When all your elements are combind they become a holy element that can destroy any demon."
The girls just stared at her. The guys looked at each other, the girls, then back at Tai'istukun.
"Hotohori," she turned to the Emperor. "Your armies will have to fight off Koutou's army while the girls will fight the demon. Once the demon is gone Koutou's army should weaken significantly. Now everyone step closer." They all obeyed Tai'istukun's command and came forward. She went to each person and seperatly gave them items to protect them or give them more strength. To Nuriko she gave him bracelets to increase his strength. To Jamie she gave a pair of sunglasses. Chichiri was given a pair of prayer beads. Shana was given a hair clip for her hair. She looked at it wondering what the hell. But put it in her hair in place of her old one. To Chiriko was given a scroll with lots of writing in it. Mitsukake was given a jar of healing water. To Hotohori a holy sword was given. To Heather a new ring was given with a very powerful malachite stone in the middle. To Kouji a new headband was given. Amanda was given an anklet bracelet. Tasuki got an diamond fan in place of his old iron one. Katie was given a pair of earrings. Sarah got a bottle of glow in the dark nailpolish. "There we go you're all set now."
"Hey what about me?" Tamahome said pointing to himself.
"Now why would you want anything from an old hag."
"Pleeaaseeee Tai'itsukun. I didn't mean it really. Please."
"No, now go you have a lot of work to do."
The group was taken into the blackness once again and found themselves back in the Konan place. Exactly where they had been before.
"All right new weapons." Tasuki said admiring his newly improved fan.
"Tamahome... where do you think you're going with my nailpolish?"
"Eep," Tamahome stood strait up. "Oh come on I didn't get anything," he wined.
"Well you can't have my nailpolish..." She said grabbing it back from him. "I'll share it with you if you want though." She smiled mischievously. The rest of the girls around the table tried hard to not burst out in fits of laughter. They waited till Sarah had dragged Tamahome out of the room then fell to the floor laughing. The guys looked at them as if they were possessed. Jamie got up and explained to the group what nailpolish was and who generally used it.
Tasuki started laughing, "Obake-chan no aho!"
Elsewhere in the palace........
"All right now, put your hands on the table palm down." Sarah ordered Tamahome. He did as he was told. "Now close your eyes."
"Huh? What for."
"Just do it or the nailpolish won't work."
"Ummmm....OK." Tamahome closed his eyes and Sarah started putting it on.
"No peeking either Tamahome.."
"All right."
...............
Back in the dinning hall everyone was joking around. Most of the time teasing Tasuki and telling him he was kawaii. A couple of minutes later Sarah dragged Tamahome in, who had his eyes shut. Everyone in the room snickered.
"OK you can open them now," she told him.
He immediately looked down at his hands. "Ack, What is this stuff?!" he said, waving his hands around trying to get off the nailpolish.
"That's not going to work, hun." Sarah said trying to calm the hysterical Seishi down. Fits of laughter broke out across the room. Even Hotohori was laughing.
"This isn't funny!" Tamahome started.
"Well Tamahome, you said you wanted to share Sarah's gift." Nuriko told him.
"I didn't mean this." He wined.
"Haha! Obake-chan no aho."
"That's not funny Tasuki." Tamahome said grabbing Tasuki's coat.
"Here Tamahome," Sarah started. "I'll show you how to get it off." He let go of Tasuki's coat and she reached for his hand when their hands touched they fire came from their fingertips.
"Ahhhh!!" Tamahome screamed.
Both pulled back immediately and the fire stopped. The nailpolish was still on Tamahome's nails though.
"Whoa!!" Sarah gasped. The rest of the room went quiet. And everyone that wasn't looking at Tamahome and Sarah were now. "Don't move Tamahome," she said, moving back towards him. Once again when their hands touched fire came from their fingertips. They left their hands there for a while.
"It doesn't burn," Tamahome said.
"Yeah," Sarah replied.
"Maybe that's what Tai'istukun intended." Chiriko added. "For their gifts to help out with their powers."
"Yeah, and fire's gonna come out of these sunglasses too I suppose." Jamie said sarcastically.
"Well not exactly." They may have a different use. "But I think it's quite clear that Sarah's present was created to help with her powers." The rest of the girls looked at the items that Tai'istukun had given them.
"Hmmmmm." Sarah was the first to say anything. She took out the nailpolish bottle and unscrewed the cap from there she proceeded in flinging some of it across the room to where Jamie was sitting. Right after it hit the ground it went up in flames.
"Ack." Jamie squealed. Nuriko grabbed the girl and lifted her away from the fire as he stomped it out. Once the fire was out Nuriko let out a big sigh, so did everyone else.
"Baka!!" Heather and Katie said in unison.
"They're doing it again." Tasuki pointed out.
"I think we need to find out exactly what powers each of their gifts have before they go fight the demons." Chiriko said.
"OK....can I come down first?" Jamie said. She was sitting on Nuriko's hand about 6 and a half feet in the air.
"Oh...Sorry about that." Nuriko smiled setting the girl down on her feet.
"Thanks."
"So how are we going to find out about are gifts." Amanda asked.
Hotohori shrugged, "We will just have to trust that when you need them you will find out about them."
* * *
The next morning the group was in the dinning room still thinking about the last night, when several guards came in the room.
"Your highness.." One of the guards bowed.
"What is it? What is the matter?" Hotohori said sternly.
"Highness..there are demons in the palace."
"What.." Hotohori was interrupted by a loud crash. The doors to the dinning hall swung open and an ugly demon caring a dead guard stumbled into the room. Gasps of horror came from everyone in the room.
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