Disclaimers: Of _course_ I own Fushigi Yuugi. I am, after, Yuu Watase's
subconscious. Err... ah... well, I WISH I was. eh, heh ::fanged grin::
Author's note: I know these chapters are taking me forever, but please understand. Nakago is f(*(@)#$ sooo hard to keep in character. And if I do... I apologize profusely. I'd like to thank my three reviewers... Ryuen - you always tell me things are good, cuz you're my Otouto ^_^. Lanen - as always, your wonderful words of encouragement made me smile, and last but certainly not least, nemesisjk8 - I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my stuff that I otherwise would think is sh(#^@*& and give me positive comments. Arrigato!!!!
~*~*
He had a headache when they left the palace, but now, it felt more like all of the Seiryuu's shichiseishi were actually inside his head trying to tear their way out. He had tuned out the others long ago, but Yui's voice managed to break through the zone and irritate him to no end.
"Nakago... it's getting cold. When can we stop? I'm getting hungry, too. Why won't Suboshi stop staring at me? How long until we reach Hokkan?" The questions came like an endless supply of daggers being thrown at his brain. Finally, with the sun beginning to set, he ordered the others to make camp while he went on ahead to scout.
Being away, in the quiet of the falling dusk, the shogun could finally think clearly. It was probably another 3 days until they reached Hokkan, especially with Yui's constant need to stop and rest. For a split second, Nakago wished he had the Suzaku monk's teleportation powers. His mind once again wandered to the girl in his dream. Her identity was a mystery, yes, and Nakago was not one to believe in the truth of dreams, so why was this dream getting to him?
He let out a guttural yell. It was too much all at once. He focused on a few far off trees, opened his hand, and let a chi blast fly, taking all the stress with it. He watched the glowing blue ball soar through the air, strike the trees with intense power, and leave nothing more than a few blackened spots on the ground.
When he got back to camp, he was pleased to see that the pao's were already erected. He made his way into his, grateful to be alone. He sighed deeply and sank into a chair that sat in front of his planning table. If they ever made it to Hokkan, the best way to get the shinzaho would be to take it from the Suzaku when they obtained it. He'd most likely have to sacrifice Ashitare, but the wolf-man was useless to him anyway.
Feeling weary, Nakago disposed of his armor and crawled into his bed. In a matter of moments, he had fallen asleep.
"Ayuru..."
He found himself standing in the temple of Seiryuu back at the palace. The voice, calling him by a name he had not heard for many years, resonated throughout the temple. It bounced off the walls, seemed to come from everywhere.
"Ayuru..."
In front of the statue of Seiryuu, the dragon-god that protected Kutou, the girl from the dream appeared. Her face was serious, solemn and he detected a hint of sadness.
"Ayuru, why? Why do you deny who you are?"
Nakago felt a surge of anger. Who did this girl think she was? "What are talking about?"
She took a step forward. "Ayuru, you've been blessed with being a shichiseishi. You did not cause the eradication of your people, or your mother. You were an outcast of the Hin Tribe because of your father, and because of your unconscious allegiance to Seiryuu."
"Iie. My allegiance lies with myself, not to some animal god who must be called by a girl to show his power."
The girl shook her head. "Where do you think all your power comes from? He bestowed it to you when he made you a shichiseishi. Don't you understand?"
"I never wanted it," he replied coolly. "Seiryuu's power is what killed my mother in the first place."
"Then why do you still use it?"
Nakago became enraged. "He's more than welcome to take it back," he hissed. "I'll still kill the emperor and get my revenge."
The girl turned away from him. "You still don't get it, do you?"
"Get what?"
"You were chosen, Ayuru. Maybe you didn't want it, but you were chosen. Seiryuu likes you for whatever reason, and he has plans for you. Now wake up, you have a visitor."
With a start, Nakago woke up. The sun was just beginning to rise, filling to pao with a rosy glow.
He sensed a presence outside the door, rose from his bed, and wrapped his white and red robe around him.
"Enter, Tomo."
There was a shuffling of the tent's door, then the man on the other side walked in, bowed regally to Nakago.
"I bring news, Nakago."
The shogun sat in the chair behind the planning table, regarded Tomo. He looked different. His hair hung loose and straight, reaching his knees. The silver color reminded him of the girl from his dream. Tomo also did not have any of his make-up on. His amber eyes looked back at Nakago, cruel and cunning as always.
"What is it?"
Tomo hesitated, and in that split second, Nakago knew the news was bad. "Soi failed in her mission to dispose of the Suzaku seishi. Suzaku no Miko had a deity's sword filled with chi, and was able to push Soi back. However, the miko and two of the seishi were separated from the boat and marooned in a cave on a small island."
"And what of them now?"
"The boat circled around and picked them up, but they lost nearly half a day of travel."
Nakago nodded. "I will take this under advisement. You are dismissed, Tomo."
The other nodded and bowed deeply once more, then was gone.
A smirk formed on Nakago's lips. He knew that making it harder for the Suzaku seishi to retrieve the shinzaho would only make them more determined. His plan was working perfectly.
Now, if only he could get that damned dream to go away...
Author's note: I know these chapters are taking me forever, but please understand. Nakago is f(*(@)#$ sooo hard to keep in character. And if I do... I apologize profusely. I'd like to thank my three reviewers... Ryuen - you always tell me things are good, cuz you're my Otouto ^_^. Lanen - as always, your wonderful words of encouragement made me smile, and last but certainly not least, nemesisjk8 - I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my stuff that I otherwise would think is sh(#^@*& and give me positive comments. Arrigato!!!!
~*~*
He had a headache when they left the palace, but now, it felt more like all of the Seiryuu's shichiseishi were actually inside his head trying to tear their way out. He had tuned out the others long ago, but Yui's voice managed to break through the zone and irritate him to no end.
"Nakago... it's getting cold. When can we stop? I'm getting hungry, too. Why won't Suboshi stop staring at me? How long until we reach Hokkan?" The questions came like an endless supply of daggers being thrown at his brain. Finally, with the sun beginning to set, he ordered the others to make camp while he went on ahead to scout.
Being away, in the quiet of the falling dusk, the shogun could finally think clearly. It was probably another 3 days until they reached Hokkan, especially with Yui's constant need to stop and rest. For a split second, Nakago wished he had the Suzaku monk's teleportation powers. His mind once again wandered to the girl in his dream. Her identity was a mystery, yes, and Nakago was not one to believe in the truth of dreams, so why was this dream getting to him?
He let out a guttural yell. It was too much all at once. He focused on a few far off trees, opened his hand, and let a chi blast fly, taking all the stress with it. He watched the glowing blue ball soar through the air, strike the trees with intense power, and leave nothing more than a few blackened spots on the ground.
When he got back to camp, he was pleased to see that the pao's were already erected. He made his way into his, grateful to be alone. He sighed deeply and sank into a chair that sat in front of his planning table. If they ever made it to Hokkan, the best way to get the shinzaho would be to take it from the Suzaku when they obtained it. He'd most likely have to sacrifice Ashitare, but the wolf-man was useless to him anyway.
Feeling weary, Nakago disposed of his armor and crawled into his bed. In a matter of moments, he had fallen asleep.
"Ayuru..."
He found himself standing in the temple of Seiryuu back at the palace. The voice, calling him by a name he had not heard for many years, resonated throughout the temple. It bounced off the walls, seemed to come from everywhere.
"Ayuru..."
In front of the statue of Seiryuu, the dragon-god that protected Kutou, the girl from the dream appeared. Her face was serious, solemn and he detected a hint of sadness.
"Ayuru, why? Why do you deny who you are?"
Nakago felt a surge of anger. Who did this girl think she was? "What are talking about?"
She took a step forward. "Ayuru, you've been blessed with being a shichiseishi. You did not cause the eradication of your people, or your mother. You were an outcast of the Hin Tribe because of your father, and because of your unconscious allegiance to Seiryuu."
"Iie. My allegiance lies with myself, not to some animal god who must be called by a girl to show his power."
The girl shook her head. "Where do you think all your power comes from? He bestowed it to you when he made you a shichiseishi. Don't you understand?"
"I never wanted it," he replied coolly. "Seiryuu's power is what killed my mother in the first place."
"Then why do you still use it?"
Nakago became enraged. "He's more than welcome to take it back," he hissed. "I'll still kill the emperor and get my revenge."
The girl turned away from him. "You still don't get it, do you?"
"Get what?"
"You were chosen, Ayuru. Maybe you didn't want it, but you were chosen. Seiryuu likes you for whatever reason, and he has plans for you. Now wake up, you have a visitor."
With a start, Nakago woke up. The sun was just beginning to rise, filling to pao with a rosy glow.
He sensed a presence outside the door, rose from his bed, and wrapped his white and red robe around him.
"Enter, Tomo."
There was a shuffling of the tent's door, then the man on the other side walked in, bowed regally to Nakago.
"I bring news, Nakago."
The shogun sat in the chair behind the planning table, regarded Tomo. He looked different. His hair hung loose and straight, reaching his knees. The silver color reminded him of the girl from his dream. Tomo also did not have any of his make-up on. His amber eyes looked back at Nakago, cruel and cunning as always.
"What is it?"
Tomo hesitated, and in that split second, Nakago knew the news was bad. "Soi failed in her mission to dispose of the Suzaku seishi. Suzaku no Miko had a deity's sword filled with chi, and was able to push Soi back. However, the miko and two of the seishi were separated from the boat and marooned in a cave on a small island."
"And what of them now?"
"The boat circled around and picked them up, but they lost nearly half a day of travel."
Nakago nodded. "I will take this under advisement. You are dismissed, Tomo."
The other nodded and bowed deeply once more, then was gone.
A smirk formed on Nakago's lips. He knew that making it harder for the Suzaku seishi to retrieve the shinzaho would only make them more determined. His plan was working perfectly.
Now, if only he could get that damned dream to go away...