actually hitting it off quite well.
Kourin smiled. She told him how she'd never left Eiyou
before. The palace walls
her only surrounding world for the last year. Her attempt
at getting Hotohori-sama to notice her
existence really didn't work. Though, she explained how
she was truly happy with her current
situation.
Tamahome, prior to her other experiences with him, actually was
a very personable
and cheerful man. Kourin realized right then that the Tamahome
who was her brothers 'enemy'
was not the same person she spoke with now. She had heard
rumors that he had been
drugged to act that particular way, and those seemed to be confirmed
the longer they talked.
They hit the town square and bought gifts for Tamahome's brothers
and sisters.
It was a very joyous day. She had never seen him so happy
before, in all the time she knew of
him. The expression on Tamahome's face was one of joy.
His laughter was precious, almost childlike.
They spoke in idle conversation and kept the pace to finally arrive
to his house. He chuckled
lightly, opening the door to his home.
"Chuei! Yuiren! Gyokuran! Shunken! Oyaji! ... Where is... --"
The sentence was cut short, words caught in his throat from the
sight before him. A Chill
curled over his skin as he viewed the one thing he didn't expect to
find - his entire family
dead before him.
Kourin turned away, covering her mouth in disbelief.
She fought back the involuntary urge to throw
up.
Tamahome's father was probably the first to go, his body slumped
over the dinner
table. The look on his face was one of surprise. He probably
never knew what hit him, until it was
ultimately too late. His hand still clutched a wooden cup and
his meal only half eaten.
Frantically, Tamahome checked the other bodies. Chue had
his small hands wrapped around a large
butcher knife. However, there was no pulse. Shunken...
Gyoukuran... even though they were much
further behind their older brother, it was the same result.
"niichan..." Whispered a young, weak voice.
"YUIREN!" Cried the desperate Seishi.
He picked up the child and cradled her broken body
in his shaking, desperate arms.
"...i knew niichan would come back... i had a dream..."
"Shhhhh....of course I would. I'm here now."
"...'niichan bring 'nechan with?" Tamahome clutched
to Yuiren as she spoke. Kourin backed
out the door, scared by just what else was waiting inside -
She had a bad feeling.
A melodious tune filled the air. The music was from a flute...
even a familiar tune. She
glanced up at the cloaked figure who was outlined by the bright sunlight.
"You..."
"It was me." The youth smirked, "This is my revenge
for you killing my older brother!" Yelled the
boy. He pulled the cloak off, revealing what looked like Amiboshi.
"Older brother... wait!" Kourin blinked, "No! You have it all wrong!"
"It's too late for talking!" The blonde seishi twirled
a ball in his hand, then released it into
Kourin's direction.
"Kyaaaah! TAMAHOME!" Kourin shrieked.
Her arm went limp at her side. The
Ryuuseisui struck it several times over. With no real defense,
she desperately tumbled out of
Suboshi's line of sight.
The ryuuseisui bounced off the side of a building, then through
a tree. It kicked up a great deal
of dust. Kourin coughed and hid. Her heart raced, her body
ached in horrible pain.
In the shadow of the doorway, the red 'Oni' symbol flared up
in the darkness on the Suzaku Seishis'
forehead. His hair stood up on its end, colored strangely.
Things happened in only a matter of moments. The young
martial artist beat the Seiryuu Seishi down.
He was no match for the older, more experienced boy. Tamahome's
brought his fist back, eyes cold
and full of hatred. "And now... the final blow."
A bolt of lightning encompassed Kourin and Tamahome. They
froze under the electrical impact.
The younger Seiryuu twin now in the hands of another cloaked figures
arms. "Suboshi, you really
aren't ready for this yet." A swirling cloud appeared above the
sky of the town, the two figures
disappearing with a flash.
"Come back here!!!" Tamahome raged. His body
glowing a powerful red from his aura. He shot
off a ki blast into the sky at nothing. Out of energy and defeated,
he slumped to his knees, exhausted.
* * *
Kourin came to about two hours later. Her arm bandaged,
the local doctor was seeing to her status
as she awoke.
"Lay down, young lady. That injury is something you should take a bit more seriously."
"Oww.... I can't move my arm... it hurts too much." She whimpered.
"Young lady! Please! You'll only make things
worse. I have some herbs to make you feel better.
Please take them."
The doctor helped her up and held a mug of warm water and mixture
to her mouth. She made a disgusted
face, gulping down the liquid until the man felt satisfied with her
effort. Kourin laid back, passing out
shortly after the potion took effect.
* * *
"Kourin...."
"Kourin..."
"Kourin, wake up..."
"Who's there?"
"It's me, Tamahome. We... you've been asleep for a day. We have to get back to the capitol."
"A day!? What?!!" Kourin sat up a bit painfully,
her eyes barely opened from the bright light in the
room. "Ow....crap...". She touched her arm, the bandaged
appendage hung loosely at her side in a makeshift
sling for support.
"Take it easy... I've been so worried about you."
"You didn't have to be worried." She makes a face. "I'm fine, for what it's worth... How are you holding up?"
"I've been better. I've... just been numb, really.
Watching over you has helped me put some things into
perspective." He smiled slightly, then turned his head to look
away. "I just can't believe they're gone."
"It's okay... it'll be okay. I'm here for you, alright?
Remember that please." She shifted nervously.
Mentally, she faced all kinds of responses. The firm realization
that she lacked the ability to give the
proper emotional support bothered her. "Tamahome...." Kourin
leaned over, her delicate hand placed
comfortably on his shoulder. "I think that maybe you shouldn't
go on this trip. If you need some time, you
should stay here... everyone will understand, they HAVE to understand.
I'll even stay with you if you want."
"No. No... it's okay. You're brother and everyone
will be worried. I just need a little time alone.
I'll let you know in the morning." Tamahome stood alone in the
darkened path of the town. He
approached his home, and disappeared in the shadows.
* * *
Nuriko stood on the pier, the boat already loaded and prepared
to set sail. All they were waiting on is the
lone Seishi to return. He rubbed his arms, the cold air blowing
in from the calming sea affected him with a chill.
"Nuriko...." Spoke Miaka. "Are you alright?
It's cold out here. You should come back to the palace for
dinner... we're leaving tomorrow. You should save your energy.
Tamahome and Kourin will
be back any minute now."
Miaka stepped up behind him, arms slowly wrapped lovingly around
his waist to give a comforting hug. "I'm
worried about them too. They should have been back by now."
"I just can't shake this feeling something bad happened.
Have you ever gotten déjà vu before? I'm not sure
how to explain it... but it's a feeling of history repeating itself?"
"History? But that would mean it's already happened, and this is happening for the first time"
"I don't understand it. I just hope my sister and Tamahome are alright."
"I do too."
* * *
The two travelers returned half a day later. Kourin explained
what had happened to Hotohori and Nuriko,
while Tamahome distracted himself by harassing Tasuki.
Nuriko fussed over his sisters' condition, which got
him severely whacked upside the head with her good arm.
"I can take care of myself." She said. "I'd worry about
Tamahome-san more. He may not show it, but he's
really hurt. You didn't see it... is this really what war is
all about? Killing children who have nothing to do with
it? What it does is make me sick. Oniisama... if you do
anything on this quest for the Shinzahou, please don't
get innocents involved in this petty war. Gods or no Gods behind
a country... it's not worth seeing what I
had ever again."
"Alright Kourin, I promise." He spoke softly and gave his his sister a warm hug.
* * *
Two days into the trip, not a problem in sight. Nuriko
sat on the deck of the ship. This adventure only consisted
of the Miko and six of her Seishi. Hotohori, no matter how much
he had wanted to, ended up staying behind to
rule his country. This was the final stretch... this is where
the adventure should become just that.
"Nuriko-san, why are you concentrating so hard, na no da? Is something the matter?"
"Eh? Oh, Chichiri-san..." He rubbed the back
of his head. A slight amount of embarrassment appeared on
his face. "I'm sorry... did you want to speak to me about something?"
"Times are changing, aren't they?"
"Yes... they are. I suppose you're right. Life is just one large adventure." Nuriko smiled.
"Though, it's not all fun and games no da." The wandering
monk sat himself beside the plum haired Seishi.
"Keep in mind that all the perils that we faced before are nothing
compared to the path ahead of us. I feel a dark
'chi' on this horizon, no da."
"Aah." Nuriko's eyes shifted toward the sea. "Have you ever felt... that your place isn't right in life?"
"Not right in life, no da? Do you mean your life
as a Seishi? Suzaku chose us for many reasons... he would not
have made any mistakes no da." Chichiri narrowed his eye at the
younger Seishi. His usual mask not present to
hide the concern.
"Nonono.... you misinterpreted me. I know my position
as a Seishi always felt right. It is my position as...
someone so close to Miaka that feels a little awkward." A blush
appeared on the boys face.
Chichiri smiled, his voice much less serious than the earlier
tone. "Nuriko-san... the ways of the heart seem
awkward even at their finest and most graceful moments. Miaka
follows hers innocently and full of passion no da.
She is truly a wonderful choice in the spirit of everything Suzaku
stands for. If you are worried about your position,
right or wrong, Miaka would be the one to speak to in regards to your
relationship, no da."
Nuriko nodded. His face clouded with indecision and confusion.
"Thank you for your advice. I do love her with
all my heart... I'm just not sure what to do with that love, sometimes.
Stupid me... for once I'm actually happy in
life, and it's just not enough."
Chichiri stood up, placing the smiling mask over his face.
"Everything doesn't seem enough when there is so
much left undone. Just love her and be dedicated no da.
She does love you back just as equally. You are a
very lucky man."
"I know I am. Very lucky."