Seiryuu Den – Gaiden Two

Seiryuu Den – Gaiden Two

Chapter Four: The Best Laid Plans

Kutou

            Hoseki was bored in the palace of Kutou.  As Imperial Princess, she should care, but as a Seiryuu seishi, she was bored out of her skull.  It had been a while since she had any fun at all.  Her brother, Emperor Feng, was looking to marry her off soon, but he was very reluctant to do so.  He was fourteen years older than her, and he had practically raised her when she was younger.  Her parents were much older when they had her, and she was the surprise baby.  She was a very beautiful girl and many nobles wanted to marry her, but she wasn't at all interested.  She wanted to just stay young forever and be a seishi. 

            "Oniichan," she called to her brother gently.

            "Hoseki, what's wrong?" asked Emperor Feng with concern.

            "I'm bored," she complained.

            "It's better that it's quiet.  Hoseki, the next marriage meeting is tomorrow," said her brother as if that would excite her.  Hoseki made a face that really wasn't befitting the Princess of Kutou.  "Now, Hoseki, you said that you were bored," remarked Emperor Feng with a smile.

            "I'm not that bored," said Hoseki.  Most of the people her brother was setting her up with were too handsome and had no brains in their heads.  She couldn't stand the marriage meetings, but still it was something she could do.

            "Why don't you go to bed?" suggested her brother.  It was getting late, and there wasn't anything to do, but sleep.  She headed back to her room, but she had the pleasure of running into the captain of the guards and fellow seishi, Iwa.  He was head of the palace's security. 

            "Are you going to sleep, Princess?" asked Iwa.

            "Yes.  Say hi to your wife and children for me," said Hoseki with a smile.  Iwa had a small daughter and a son.  His wife was a lovely woman who adored him.

            "I will.  Sweet dreams, Princess," said Iwa with a bow.

            Hoseki came to her room in the palace. Like her brother she had jet black hair and sapphire blue eyes.  Her servants were in the room and the prepared a bath for her and laid out her robes.  She soaked herself the water.  Little did she know that she was being watched from a distance outside.  He was dressed in the robes of a priest.  His amber eyes flickered as he took out his magical instrument.  It looked like a large spin top with a very sharp point on it.  He opened his eyes as his blue chi glowed around him.  Hoseki's eyes glazed over.  She got up from the bath and walked over to her robes and placed them on.  She walked to the window near where the person who was controlling her was.  He nodded as he secured the trance he had over her body.  She was no longer moving her body on her on, and if she wanted to stop, she couldn't.  He smiled as he guided her out of the palace in a trance.  In a blink of an eye, the Imperial Princess of Kutou was gone.

*           *           *

            Hoshi had to meet Ivan Nicholas at his house in Tokyo.  Hoshi took his small, black convertible to Ivan's house.  When he arrived, the same feeling of apprehension returned to him.  A chill crept down his spine as he looked at the large, white, and gated house in front of him.  He pressed the button and waited for a voice to answer him.  "Enter," ordered a deep, Italian accented voice.  The gate swung opened, and Hoshi entered the yard.  There was a large man waiting for him at the door; he was massive in his business suit.

            "Don't mind my bodyguard, Mr. Sukanami," said Ivan in English as he showed up behind the large man.

            "Um…hello, Mr. Nicholas," said Hoshi uncomfortably.  He looked around him without looking the slightest bit nervous.  Ivan admired the fact that Hoshi managed to pull off looking calm and cool most of the time.  He wasn't very much like his father.  That was something that Ivan noticed about Hoshi. 

            "Please call me Ivan," he said.

            "Fine.  You can call me Hoshi," said Hoshi.

            A woman came into the room with her hair up in an elegant upswept bun, but a lock of her hair had escape in a soft sensual manner.  Her clothes were loose on her body, but displayed her curves.  She was tall and very beautiful.  There was something familiar about her, thought Hoshi.  "This is my girlfriend, Larissa Chambers.  We live together," said Ivan without guile. 

            "Hello," said the beautiful, red-headed woman as she presented her delicate hand for a handshake.  Hoshi carefully took her hand and shared a short handshake with her.  She smiled a very pretty smile, and said, "I'm off for work now.  I'll shall return later."  She gave Ivan a deep kiss on the lips, while Hoshi averted his gaze, so that he wouldn't have to watch.  Larissa left the house after that to take her little Mercedes to the studio.

            "Come now, we must get to work," said Ivan.  Hoshi nodded and followed him to the dining room that was already set up as a work place for them on the massive dining table.  The strangest thing about the house was that it was so European for a house located in Tokyo's traditional district.  Hoshi admired the things around him. He had learned a lot about different cultures in the world, visiting museums whenever they had collections from different parts of the world, reading books about other locations, and on top of that, Hoshi wanted to travel as soon as school let up.  "This comes from my ancestors' homeland, Russia," said Ivan as he gestured to an armored mask that Hoshi was looking at. 

            "You're from Russia, but you accent sounds different.  European," observed Hoshi.  Ivan smiled despite himself.  He enjoyed this because it was like a mental game of chess.

            "I'm was born in France.  My family had to go there after the Communists took over many decades ago, but we've managed to keep the line almost pure by marrying into other Russian noble families who managed to get out before the Revolution claimed a lot of the other nobles," said Ivan.

            "I see.  There's not much to say about my family," said Hoshi quietly.  There was a lot of things to say, but what he had to say was unbelievable.  'Yes, my parents met and fell in love in a book, and my sister is now living there with her husband, an Emperor,' thought Hoshi. 

            "Let's see.  Do you have anything planned for this project?" asked Ivan.

            "Yes, I've got a few ideas," said Hoshi as he took out a folder from his backpack.  They started working on the project, but nothing could easy Hoshi's mind as he worked with Ivan. 

*           *           *

            Sei was tired after spending all night at the hospital, so he wasn't in the best mood when he arrived at school.  Tei came up to him, "Hey, Sei!  You look tired," he observed.

            "We heard what happened to your father.  So, Tei and I were in the parking garage looking around for clues.  We've also heard what other people had to say about the attack on Dr. Kajiwara," said Yoshi.

            "What did you find out?" asked Sei in a tired tone as he yawned.

            "Nothing really.  It seems that no one saw who attacked your father, but there's bound to be someone who knows about it.  The police questioned people they knew who were still on-campus, but no one seems to know anything," said Yoshi quietly.  He looked straight at Sei with his brown eyes shining slightly with his kanji actually showing.

            "You know something that you can't tell the police," said Sei quietly.  Yoshi nodded, and so did Tei.  They walked away, so that they could talk freely without anyone noticing. 

            "I felt a presence that was there in the parking garage," said Yoshi.  He was a very powerful seer for the Genbu group, so Sei trusted any information he could give him.  "I felt the presence, or rather the energy of Seiryuu.  A Seiryuu," he whispered.

            "What?" asked Sei in a shocked whisper.  Yoshi nodded.

            "We know that it couldn't be Hoshi.  He was at the dojo teaching a class like he does three days a week, but Yoshi's not wrong," insisted Tei.

            "I don't get it," said Sei as he closed his eyes in deep thought.  His brain was too tired to process any information to a viable theory.  He rubbed his forehead with his fingers.  How was it possible that a Seiryuu could attack his father?  The Seiryuu, he knew, wouldn't hurt anyone like that for no real reason.  All the seishi in the world formed a tight allegiance.  Yoshi wouldn't lie about what he sensed, and he was never wrong about his visions. 

            "We'll have to talk to Ryu about this.  He might know what's going on," suggested Tei. 

            "Let's go to class," said Yoshi.  The three of them started for class, but Bryan caught up with them.

            "Hey!  What's going on?" asked Bryan in a happy tone.

            "Didn't you hear?  My father was attacked last night in the parking garage.  I spent the night waiting around at the hospital," said Sei in a tired tone.  Bryan's mood changed immediately as he looked at Sei.

            "Oh.  You really look tired.  You should take better care of yourself," said Bryan as he walked off with his fists clutched at his sides.  Sei watched him leave, but he didn't know what to think about what Bryan had just said.

*           *           *

Kutou

            The sound of guards could be heard in every corner of the Imperial Palace in Kutou.  The Emperor and Empress of Kutou were in the throne room.  The Empress was trying her best to calm her husband down because he was upset.  Iwa came back to the throne room to report his progress.

            "Do you have any idea where she went?" asked Emperor Feng.  Iwa kneeled before him.

            "No.  There is no evidence of where the Princess could have gone, your Majesty.  No one saw her leave the palace," said Iwa as he shook his head.  He felt as if he had failed at his duties because he was head of security for the palace and a Seiryuu seishi.  "I've questioned everyone, and no one knows where the Princess has gone," he added.  Emperor Feng sighed as his wife gently rubbed his arm.  Iwa's powers was the ability to get the truth from anyone; he was a human lie detector. 

            "Find her.  Just find her," said Emperor Feng in a worried tone.  It wasn't like his younger sister to just leave without saying anything.  She knew that there was a marriage meeting that day, and she wasn't going to miss any of her duties.  Emperor Feng was worried.  She was a Seiryuu seishi, but her powers were healing, not combat.  Her fighting skills were minimal.  Iwa stood up and bowed.  He left the room to continue his search for Hoseki.  There was something ill in the air that he could sense.  Some sort of malevolent energy.  He heard the rustling of leaves with his spear, he turned around poised to attack.

            "Iwa," said a familiar voice.  Iwa lowered his spear and smiled.

            "Mori," said Iwa with a nod.  Mori was the fourth Seiryuu seishi, and Iwa was the third.  Mori protected the forest just outside the capital.  Her powers allowed her to communicate with animals, and she was a powerful huntress.  "Have you heard?  Hoseki is missing," he said.

            "Yes, the birds told me," said Mori.

            "What do the animals say?" asked Iwa.  He was eager for any answers at this point. 

            "There is nothing to report.  Okami, what are you smelling?" asked Mori.  Iwa turned behind him to see a large wolf snuffing at the ground in the garden. He looked at Mori growling and barking at her.  "He says that he smells the scent of someone who was here last night.  He feels something familiar about the scent.  He says that it smells like us," Mori said in a state of confusion.

            "What does that mean?" asked Iwa.

            "I don't know.  Okami, please, what does it mean?" asked Mori.  The wolf growled and barked again.  "He says that it smells like Seiryuu.  We all the same scent because we're the same pack.  The smell is from our pack."

            "Our pack.  You mean our group.  I didn't know us, seishi, had the same smell," said Iwa curiously.

            "The animals can sense more than humans, Iwa-san.  They can sense fear and power.  Things that humans have learned to ignore," said Mori.

            "If Okami is right, then someone who is a Seiryuu took Hoseki, but that's impossible.  Isn't it?" said Iwa slowly.

            "I don't believe anything is impossible," said Mori.  The wind came and touched them both.  The air around them seemed to give an ominous feeling of an impeding battle.

*           *           *

Tokyo

            "Ready!  Begin!" ordered Hoshi.  He was at the front of one of the classrooms of the dojo.  He had a dozen students in his intermediate class who got into positions and started the movements for him to critique.  He shouted orders to either make them punch and kick.  All the while, the masters of the dojo watched him with interest.

            "Sukunami-san is truly a wonderful teacher," said one of the younger masters.

            "I won't be long before he becomes a master at this dojo," remarked the head master. 

            "He's still rather young though, but he is many years wiser than most men his age," said another master.

            "There is something a bit unsettling about him though.  I don't know, but I think it's his aura.  He's so closed to others that I don't think he'll last very long as a teacher," said the first master who spoke.

            "Yes, he stopped competing so abruptly two years ago.  He was an excellent fighter, and at his prime.  He still is good enough to beat anyone from any of the dojos in Japan, yet he chooses not to represent this dojo.  He never really explained why, and on top of that, he's gone for days at a time.  Sometimes weeks," agreed the second younger master.

            "I don't know if we should make him a full time teacher, if he chooses to shirk his duties like that," commented the first younger master.

            "Perhaps, there is a greater cause that Sukunami-san works for.  He is a very noble being.  Cool and confident in all his actions.  He is destined for greater things…if he isn't fulfilling that destiny already," said the head master wisely as he left the room.

            The two younger masters looked at each other because they didn't understand what the head master was referring to.  Little did they know that two years ago at Hoshi's last match, the head master saw a blue kanji on his head at the end of the match.  Hoshi had knocked his opponent out of the ring without touching him.  The head master had no idea what that mark really meant, but it was the symbol of the dragon, Ryu.  The head master knew that Hoshi was special ever since he had met him when he just five years old, seventeen years ago.  The boy had already shown at that age that he was strong of mind, soul, and heart.  The head master knew that Hoshi was doing something more important than the dojo.  He couldn't help, but be proud of the best student of the dojo.  He had the pleasure of watching a timid, shy boy turn into a cool, self-confident young man. 

*           *           *

Kutou

            Amiboshi couldn't shake the feeling he had of something disturbing the peace in Kutou.  It was sending shivers down his spine, and the feelings that he was experiencing were things that he had long forgotten about.  Amiboshi understood the feeling he had: it was fear.  He knew something bad was coming upon Kutou like a storm just on the horizon.  His concerns were not for himself, but rather for his children and the other new Seiryuu seishi and the new miko. 

            "Father, what's wrong?" asked Ming as she looked at him with imploring blue eyes that were more greenish-blue than blue altogether.  She looked like her mother.  Amiboshi thought of his wife often because he missed her.  Her name was Song Shuo, and he met her one year during the one of the musical festivals in Sailo.  She was kind and loved music because she was a singer.  He was known simply as Kaika to her.  Sailo was known for have the best performers in the world; the Byakko group was a testament to that, two of the new seishi were performers.  Ming had a lovely singing voice just like her mother.  Amiboshi didn't remember at the time who he was when he married his wife. He was only eighteen at the time.  With his wife, he felt complete and whole.  The only other person who made Amiboshi feel that way was Suboshi.  His wife had the most musical sounding laugh, and Amiboshi would go out of the way to make her laugh just so he could hear it.  Despite, not remembering who he was, Amiboshi used his flute to lull the children to sleep when they were babies.  Shuo thought it was wonderful to have a husband with the ability to quiet down crying babies who were just crying for the sake of crying.  She died of illness when the twins were only six years old, and Ming was eight years old.  Seiryuu's seal was broken by that time, and he came to Amiboshi and gave him back his memories, so that he could effectively guard the shinzahou for the next miko.  The memories of his twin and the fresh pain of his wife's death almost caused Amiboshi to fall into utter despair.  However, his children needed him to be strong, especially Kai.  Kai was the youngest out of the three, and he acted a lot like Suboshi, especially when he was younger.  He was the younger twin like his uncle.  The boys had inherited their father's features, so they looked like their uncle as well.  Kai, like Suboshi, had a tendency to be brass, impulsive, and at times clingy.  Amiboshi was grateful that he out grew a lot of the clinginess he had when he was younger. 

~*~Flashback~*~

            Rogensha didn't understand what happened.  One moment, Mama was saying that she would be fine, the next she was dead.  His papa became withdrawn and quiet.  He had never seen his papa cry before until Mama was gone.  Ming took over the cooking and cleaning after Mama died.  Tanrui said that it was best to keep quiet, so that they wouldn't disturb Papa.  Rogensha was only younger than Tanrui by ten minutes, but at times it felt like ten years.  Rogensha was afraid of losing Papa just like he had lost Mama.  She was no longer there to sing songs, and Papa wasn't playing his flute.  Mama loved it when Papa played the flute, and he would play it everyday, while she sang everyday.  Ming only sang to put them to sleep, but she had to it quietly, so that Papa wouldn't hear her.  During, the evenings, even after Ming had put her brothers to sleep, Rogensha would go to his father's room and sleep with him.  Amiboshi was starting to get concerned because it was exactly something that Suboshi would have done, but he couldn't bring himself to say no.  Rogensha couldn't ask for things from him during the day because he was so withdrawn.  Finally, Amiboshi realized that he was letting his suffering become the suffering of his children, so he pulled himself out. 

Amiboshi prepared to go back to Kutou, so that he would eventually meet the new miko and give her the earrings that had belonged to his miko.  However, he needed money for the trip and for the children, so he had to perform.  He was one of the best musicians that Sailo had ever seen, so many came to see him perform.  He could easily make the money he needed to go back to Kutou.  He had apprehensions about returning to Kutou.  He wondered if it would be safe for his children, to ensure their safety, he made it a point not to display his status as a Seiryuu seishi openly. 

            "Papa, can I come with you?" pleaded Rogensha as he tugged at Kaika's pant leg with his blue eyes' watering.  He looked like he was going to break down and cry at any moment. 

            "No, you can't come with me.  Papa has to go to work," said Kaika in a firm, but gentle tone, "You have stay here with your sister and brother."

            "I can help you.  I can play the flute, just like you, Papa," insisted Rogensha as he wrapped his little arms around his father's leg.  Kaika sighed heavy heartedly and gently rubbed Rogensha's head.  "I don't want you to go," he whispered as he buried his head into Kaika's leg.

            "I'll be right back, Rogensha.  I won't leave you, your sister, and your brother behind.  We need the money.  I want us to move back to the place where I was born," whispered Kaika as he gently pried Rogensha's arms loose.  He came down to his youngest child's level and kissed him on one of his marshmallow soft cheeks.  "I love you very much," he assured Rogensha because he knew that he needed to know that.  Kaika felt awful for letting his grief get the best of him.  His babies were suffering as a result.  How selfish could he have been?  Tanrui walked forward and wrapped his younger twin brother in a hug.  Kaika sighed because he remembered doing that with his twin. 

            "Ming, you take care of them.  I'll be home soon.  I'll bring back something to eat," promised Kaika as he gave his little girl a kiss on the cheek, which she returned with a kiss on his.

            "Are you sure, Papa?  I don't mind making something for them," said Ming.  Kaika nodded and walked to Tanrui and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  While Kaika went to work, the children played with musical instruments.  Kaika taught all of them how to play the flute, but none of them were even half as good as he was.  The boys' fingers were too small and not quick enough for the time being.  Tanrui had no interest really in the flute.  He preferred a string instrument that laid flat on the floor with strings that could be plucked.  His mother was in the beginning stages of teaching him that.  He wanted something differed to play other than wind instruments, so she selected the string instrument that he could easily learn to play, but at the same time give him a worthy challenge.  Ming's primary instrument was her voice.  Rogensha was learning the flute because his mother loved it whenever his father played.  The three of them combined already had skills that exceeded most children their age. 

            Kaika came back home early with dinner and cakes for the children.  Later on that evening, he gave a lesson on the string instrument to Tanrui.  Tanrui was a little flustered because he had forgotten some of the last things his mother taught him, but Kaika helped him, and told him that he was improving.  Kaika showed Rogensha another song on the flute.  Afterwards, Kaika put the twins to sleep on his own because he wanted to talk to his daughter.

            "I want to thank you for all the things you've been doing," said Kaika in a soft voice has he sat close to her in a chair. He gently rested his chin on her head. 

            "You don't have to Papa.  I like doing things for us," said Ming with a smile.  Papa was finally feeling better.

            "Why don't you sing anymore, Ming?" asked Kaika.  He knew why, but he wanted her to answer him.

            "I don't want you to feel sad, Papa.  Mama sang all the time," answered Ming.  She had golden tresses that were soft and delicate like her mother's.  Amiboshi thought that she looked fairy-like. 

            "It would make me feel even more sad, if you stopped doing something you loved.  I know that you love to sing, Ming," he whispered. 

            "I sing.  But, I don't sing in front of you, Papa.  I sing for Tanrui and Rogensha.  I usually sing to them the songs Mama sang to us, so that we could sleep at night.  I sing to them, so that they don't forget Mama," said Ming softly as she batted her long eyelashes. 

            "Why don't you sing for me, so that I don't forget her either?" asked Kaika.

            "You would never forget, Mama," answered Ming truthfully.  Kaika was surprised his daughter's ability to read him.  A talent that only his wife had. 

            "Does singing make you happy, Ming?" asked Kaika with a smile because in all his grief, he had forgotten how much his daughter was like his wife.  He looked him in the eye and nodded.  "Then, sing for me, so that I can be happy," he said in whisper.

            Ming stood up in front of him and sang a song that her mother had sang many times.  Kaika smiled the entire time.  Within the next week, Kaika announced that the family was moving to Kutou.  The children didn't understand why, but by that time Kaika noticed that the boys had their kanji.  He frowned when he saw them, but he didn't try to hide the truth from them.  He told his children that he was a Seiryuu seishi only when they got out of Sailo and into Kutou.  As a result, the family that was already closely bonded together were bonded even more closely to keep the secret of the family secure.  The boys had to grow hearing horrible stories about the evil Seiryuu seishi.  Many times, when Kai was under ten years old, he came running to his father in tears because he about something someone had said about Amiboshi, Suboshi, or both.  Kai would climb into his father's lap and tell him the things he had heard.  Kaika held his youngest son murmuring words of comfort in his small, rounded ears.

            "I hate those people, Papa!   I hate them!" declared Kai as Kaika held him.

            "I don't want you saying awful things like that Kai.  They don't understand, but they're not completely wrong, son.  It's wrong to hate anyone  Rogensha," whispered Kaika.  He noticed that during times of emotional stress, the boys' kanji would start glowing.  He looked to see that kanji on Kai's left bicep was glowing brightly.

            "Why can't I hate them for all the bad things they say about you and Uncle Shun?" asked Kai.  He called his uncle "Shun" instead of his complete name Shunkaku, but only after his father approved of it.  Kaika said that his younger twin wouldn't have mind it if the children called him that. 

            "You must be strong.  Remember, for every bad person you meet, there is also a good person.  And soon, you'll find that no matter how many bad people there are, the stronger the good are," said Kaika wisely.  He noticed that the kanji on his son's body had stopped glowing.  He was calm again.  'Thank goodness for that.  Oh, why does he act so much like you, Shun?' thought Kaika.

            "I still don't get it.  If we do good things to good people, then the bad people also get the good things.  It's not fair," commented Tanrui who was standing nearby.

            "Life's not fair, Omoi," said Kaika with a laugh.  Omoi took a seat on his right side, while Kai was at his left.  Things for the time were peaceful, except for some growing pains for the children.  However, Kaika was always grateful.  Ever since, he arrived at Kutou everything was simple.  He always had work and soon many travelers would come to just that village in Kutou to see the magnificent flute player. 

            Kaika was happy with his life and his children.  If only things would stay that way.

~*~End of Flashback~*~  

            'What in Seiryuu's name is going on around here?  Why can I feel you again, Suboshi?  Shunkaku…why?  I'm not supposed to feel your presence,' thought Amboshi with a frown. 

            He had to get in touch with Yui and discuss things. 

*           *           *

Tokyo, Japan

            "We're wasting valuable time, Larissa," said Ivan as he gently stroked her red hair.  It was late night/early morning in Japan.  For her benefit, they were speaking English.  She was more comfortable in her native tongue.

            "What do you mean?" asked Larissa as she kissed him on his broad chest, gently teasing him with her tongue. 

            "I mean…all this preparation is good.  I think the last time I was a little hasty, but this time there's only six of us," said Ivan.  He knew about what happened to the extra person they should have.  Bryan explained it to him.

            "I don't think it would be a very good idea for us to tell him.  However, I think his powers have increased dramatically since the last time we've seen each other," commented Larissa.   As she gently bit Ivan's muscular shoulder playfully, and let her naked breasts brush up even closer to him.  It had been a rather stressful day for Ivan because he had to check up on things.  He hoped that Akira was taking care of things.  He didn't have to worry about those things.  However, after the foolishness that Bryan had pulled the day before, he wasn't about the slack off.  He needed the extra chi that she was always willing and ready to give him. 

            "There's something I need you to do for me, Larissa," said Ivan softly as he turned his head to look at her.  He placed his hand on her cheek. 

            "Anything, Ivan.  Just name it," said Larissa softly, yet with a subtle eagerness that Ivan always relished, but never mentioned out loud.  His hand glided down her cheek up to her neck, sending tingles down her spine.  He felt her pulse for a moment on the side of her neck before moving his hand down her breast until he reached her flat stomach.  She could feel a hot trail wherever his hand was.  Finally he settled his hand on her thigh.  Her breathing was ragged as her pulse started racing even more so.  He loved the fact that he didn't have to do much to excite her.  He never had to.  He loved the power he had over her because no matter how many times she could raise his chi, he would still be the one in control between the two of them. 

            "I need you to distract Ryu for me," said Ivan as he looked deeply into her brown eyes.  Her eyes widened when he said it. 

            "What?" whispered Larissa. 

            "Yes…you see unlike his father, he's no fool.  He poses a real threat to us.  As long as he stays in this world, he's not going to be any trouble, but if he goes to Kutou too soon our plans could be ruined.  Him and Amiboshi are threats to our plans.  Amiboshi, because he'll never go with our plans, and I haven't forgotten what happened before.  I refuse to make the same mistake twice with him.  Ryu, because I don't want to make new mistakes in exchange for the old ones," whispered Ivan.

            "What is it you want me to do exactly with Hoshi?" asked Larissa.

            "The same things you do with me.  I think that you won't mind.  His chi is almost identical to mine.  Perhaps a little weaker, but he lacks the experience I have, and he doesn't have you to raise his chi.  However…about that…there should be one modification.  When you have sex with him, take his chi.  Don't rise it," ordered Ivan.  Larissa looked at him and slowly nodded.  'He's not you…Ivan.  But, I'll do anything to make you happy,' thought Larissa.  She couldn't believe that she was going to be used again like this.  Was she anything to him but a tool? 

            "Is there anything else you need, Ivan?" asked Larissa.

            "Yes," said Ivan as he kissed her on the lips.  She trembled slightly and smiled at him.  The same eagerness that had faded earlier had returned, and she was ready to do anything for him.  She managed to move the sheets aside, so that they were no longer tangled around their legs.  She straddled herself over his hips.  The kanji on her left thigh glowed brightly to reflect her excitement.  Ivan never let his excitement get the better of him, so the kanji on his forehead never glowed during their time together.

            They continued until she was spent, and he was refreshed with his chi raised.  All the time, her body glowed a blue aura until she was spent. 

            Tomorrow had already began, and there was still a lot of preparations to do. 

~*ClareBear's Omake~*~

The Suzaku seishi and Miaka have returned for this omake.  Everyone is blushing furiously because of the last scene. 

Miaka: Well, that was interesting.  (gulps)

Tamahome: We really didn't need to see that.

Nuriko: I thought that it was tastefully done considering.

Hotohori:  It's no mistake that ClareBear let them slip and call Hoshi by his Seiryuu seishi name, Ryu.

Mitsukake: I always wondered how that chi raising business worked.  It was interesting to see that myself. 

Miaka: I wish we didn't have to see that.  Oh well, the readers had to read it.  And it wasn't that bad.  ClareBear has to still be able to put this on her website, so she had to be careful.

Nuriko: Still, it's a good thing that Chiriko wasn't here.

Chiriko: I can't believe I saw that! 

Everyone else: WHAT?!!!

Tamahome: We didn't see you…oh by Suzaku!  You shouldn't be watching things like that.  (runs and covers Chiriko's eyes)

Chiriko: Hey!  It's over already…there's no need to cover my eyes now.  It's too late.  I already know.  I can't breathe Tamahome! 

The other seishi are superdeformed.  While Tamahome is still covering his eyes.

ClareBear (sweatdrop): Well, now.  I wasn't expecting them.  But, I really liked this part.  ^_^