"HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't swim!!!" Yelled back a terrified Tasuki.
The rain splashed over the wooden deck, making it slippery at best. A storm surrounded the ship on all sides. High waves threatened to take the others away into the sea. First Tasuki, then Miaka jumped in to rescue (foolishly, however, the girl can't swim either). Next, Tamahome. Nuriko gathered a rope and tossed it over the side. Tasuki was pulled to safety, while the remaining two were stranded in the water. Another violent wave crashed into the side of the ship.
Tasuki had been saved, but now Nuriko had been thrown overboard.
"Have room for one more?" Nuriko joked.
"That's not funny Nuriko. We're drifting from the boat!" Tamahome scowled.
Nuriko pointed over to a small rock formation. "Look over there! Let's try to get to stable ground before lightening hits!"
The trio tried their best to swim over to their new destination. Nuriko made it first, his muscles tensed under the amazing pressure of the waves. His wet clothing clung to his skin coldly. He turned sharply, extending his arm out to the sea. The struggle of the Seishi against the elements only lasted a few moments, but it felt like years. Nurikos' first pulled Miaka to the safe, rocky ground.
"Thank you..." she murmured, hugging to him slightly.
"Tamahome! Grab onto my hand, I'll pull you in!" Nuriko yelled over the storm.
"Hurry, Tamahome!" Miaka urged.
The dark haired boy extended his arm out to grab Nuriko's. No one could have possibly foreseen the next event. A bright flash of lightening struck his body and surrounded him entirely. Tamahomes scream of pain echoed through the air. Nuriko quickly grabbed onto the fellow seishi as he fell forward.
* * *
The fire crackled loudly in the almost empty cavern. "He's lucky. If he were a normal human, he'd be dead." Nuriko spoke quietly as he stripped Tamahome of his outer layers of clothing.
"Nuriko, what are you doing?"
"We'll catch cold if we stay in these..." He started to pull off his own clothing.
"But...but.. but...bu... I can't take off my clothes! You're both men!"
Nuriko rolled his eyes, now clothed only in his pants. "Come on... this is a matter of life. This isn't the time to become self conscious!" He leaned back with a sigh. "I'll turn around... and block Tamahome's view if you feel better. I just don't want you get sick, Miaka."
"Nuriko! It's really not right." Miaka thought of how any scenerio like this could go.
He shook his head, crawling over to Miaka's side. "This really isn't a time to do this, Miaka. Please..." Nuriko put his hand onto Miaka's shoulder, slipping the uniform coat down.
Miaka seemed hesitant at first, but nodded, her coat coming completely off. "Turn around." she said. Her hands fumbled to undo her button up white school uniform top.
Nuriko turned away, trying to focus on Tamahome, or pretend to. His eyes shifted back to the girl, his own Miko derobing in the closed cavern. A blush appeared on his face, distracted by his own humanity for a moment before decency kicked in.
"You're not watching, are you!?"
"No...no! Not at all! Don't you even trust me?!" His voice shook, the guilt shining through just a little. Miaka giggled, the questioning of her trust seemed funny to her.
"Where am I?" Awoke Tamahome.
Nuriko's attention shifted to something a bit more serious. "Tamahome... you IDIOT! What the hell were you thinking back there?! "You could have gotten yourself killed!"
Tamahome sat up, his eyes looked tired and old. "I didn't want anyone else to get hurt... my family was all I had. And now they're gone. I don't think I could bear the loss of anyone else."
"So you would risk killing yourself? Stupid... we're all in this together, and we need you to be at your finest... not jumping in front of lightning bolts, understand?" Nuriko snapped. "We've all had losses in our lives... it's not a reason to stop living. I understand it completely."
Miaka blushed, sitting by the fire. She wasn't sure what Nuriko was talking about, her mind was a little preoccupied by her nakedness. "Really Nuriko?" she piped up. "What happened?"
"Well uh..." He looked around, "This isn't really an appropriate thing to talk about..."
"C'mon Nuriko! You can't stop now, not when we're interested." Miaka teased. "It's like saying 'I know a secret' then not telling it."
"Where should I start..." The seishi twiddled his thumbs for a moment, then took a deep breath. "It was... at least 5 years ago or so. There was a large festival. My entire family had to prepare the shop for many customers. We always sold more at this time of year, because of our wonderful designs." He rubbed the back of his head and thought back to those days.
"My brother was sick at the time... so I became the 'Eldest son of the house' in his place. It was a very respected title, if even for just this time of year. Kourin loved to dress me up. I didn't do really that much... I just ran the shop while my parents paid respect to the Emperor. He was sick at the time too, now that I recall. It was on the last day of the festival that stood out to me."
---------------
"Hey, you there. Aren't you a little young to be running a store?"
"Eh?" Ryuuen turned around. His dark hair pulled up in an elegant bun, dressed respectfully in golds and reds. Even at the young age of thirteen, his graceful persona did show through. "I'm the Eldest son... I can help you with anything you need, sir."
The other boy hummed, "You don't seem like the eldest son. I remember another boy here before. What's your name?"
"Chou Ryuuen..." He was nervous. 'Is this guy from the Palace?' "I'm in place of my brother who is ill. You might remember him if you came in last year."
"Ryuuen, you said? Ah! That's what I remember you from. We're the same age. I'm in your fighting class." The light haired boy giggled, "Sorry to razz you back there. I'm An-chin... you haven't been at class lately, I was wondering where you were hiding."
"I'd suspect with the festival that I wasn't the ONLY one absent. I skip a lot of class anyway. I can't really handle strenuous activity too many days a week. Thank you for your concern though.... An..?"
"An-chin." He smiled at Ryuuen. "Actually, I was concerned about you. You see..."
"An-chiiiiiiiiiiiin! There you are!" A girl of about the same age entered the shop. "Why did you go off running so quickly? I'm out of breath now..." Her eyes shifted over to Ryuuen. "...Who're you?"
"Aaah! Welcome to my shop... please feel free to look around... we have many dresses for women and outfits for men that are in season..." Ryuuen mumbled his spiel to the girl, who giggled at him.
"Do you know him? He's cute..." The girl whispered to her friend, then smiled. "I'm Siu Lin. An-chin's partner in crime."
"Partner in crime?" Ryuuen's eyes widened, "I hope you don't plan on robbing the store..."
She started to laugh, "No, silly! He's my best friend!" She covered her mouth, giggling, "You're such a silly boy!"
Ryuuen laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Although he hadn't made a sale, he met two friends that day.
-------------
"An-chin was my age, maybe a little older. He had blondish-brown hair and emerald green eyes. His family was from the east, but moved to Eiyou when he was younger because of the civil wars in that area. He was treated a bit cruelly until Siu Lin befriended him... or so he told me. He had a wonderful heart and had a very artistic nature. His parents made him take that fighting class so if he was harassed, he could defend himself. In all truth, he became my best friend. Then one day..."
--------------
"It's really cold today... I really shouldn't leave the house. I'm sorry, An-chin." A fifteen year old Ryuuen bundled in a blanket said softly to his friend. "It agitates my side... I can't afford to get hurt at this time of year... the festival is nearing."
"Then can I come in? I really need to talk to you... please. If I wait any longer..." An-chin spoke desperately, his voice shaky.
"Alright.. alright. We can talk in my room." He lead An-chin to his room, settling down on the floor, the door cracked open just slightly. "You sound panicked, what's wrong?"
"I brought this for you." He opened his bag, holding out a small painting to Ryuuen. "... I did it in class today, instead of studying. It's for you."
Ryuuen blinked, looking at the picture, "It's great! You're such a good artist... that's you, me and Siu Lin! It looks just like us. I really don't understand why you had to rush over. I'll be in class tomorrow, I promise. They say I'm getting better-- "
The statement caught in his throat as the older boy kissed him. Ryuuen's eyes widened, shocked by what was happening. He had never been kissed before, and certainly not by another man was his preferred 'first time'. An-chin stood his ground, pressing Ryuuen against the wall.
*creak*
The noise was enough to startle the two, An-chin moved apart from Ryuuen quickly. Ryuuen, still a bit baffled by the predicament, suddenly realized that Kourin stood in the doorway and saw the whole thing.
"K...Kourin..." Stammered Ryuuen.
The young girls' eyes were wide, still processing the event, until her mouth opened, "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
Ryuuen EEKED! He stumbled toward his sister and covered her mouth. "SHHHHHHHH!!! An-chin... get out, now! I'll talk you about this tomorrow!"
An-chin rushed out of the house, he almost ran into Ryuuen's mother as she followed Kourin's 'scream'.
"Now what's going on in here, you two?!" Their mother asked. The two teenagers exchanged looks, then Kourin said softly, "n...nothing Okasama. I thought An-chin was a burglar... I didn't know Oniisama invited him over. I'm sorry."
Ryuuen sighed in relief. His cheeks still burned with embarrassment. Kourin gave him a look of concern, but didn't say anything more.
Hours later, An-chin returned. He snuck in through Ryuuen's window. Although Ryuuen should have been in bed, he was still up thinking about that kiss. It was a long night... one that he would remember for the rest of his days. Things started with a second kiss, and then a bit more. The two were up for the entirety of the night. Their warm bodies held close together till the morning light appeared and sleep took over. When Ryuuen awakened, An-chin was gone. That was the last he saw of his friend until nearly two years later.
"Oniisama... there's a letter for you. It's from Kutou.." Kourin chirped, handing her brother the letter.
Ryuuen, 17 years old now. Siu Lin still came by every now and then, but distanced herself from him when she found out about that one night. "Kutou? I don't know anyone from there..." He opened the letter and read. "... it's from An-chin. Kourin... tell Okasama and Otousama I'm going on a trip."
"WHAT?! No! Oniisama, you tell them! I remember what happened last time you saw him... I don't approve of it at all!"
"Kourin..." He sighed, "That was years ago. Things have changed... I promise I'll come back. Just let them know I didn't run away, okay? I don't expect you to do anything more." Ryuuen looked at his sister for a long moment, until she nodded in response. He hugged her tightly, "Thank you… I promise I'll be back soon. I promise."
The letter read: "Dear Ryuuen... I know, I'm horrible at
keeping in touch, aren't I? Everything happened so quickly.
I should explain myself. Ryuuen... my parents weren't really my parents.
They were my Aunt and Uncle. My parents live in Kutou... they're
nobles, related loosely to the Emperor. My father thought it would
be a wonderful plan to let me 'tour the world'
and learn in different countries... he didn't expect for me to want
to stay there. That night... my aunt told me that it was time to
return. I told her I didn't want to leave, and that I wanted to stay.
She said "But you must return to Kutou, we already have a wife lined up
for you." ... A wife, Ryuuen. A woman who they chose to marry me
without MY consent! All I could think about was growing up with a
woman I didn't love when the only person I could think about was you.
I'm sorry. I tried to keep it to myself... that night has been the
only thing I could think about for the last two years. It's kept
me sane. They're going to make me marry her, Ryuuen. I can't
do it... I'm going to tell them where to shove their loyalties. I
hate this country, I hate my family for putting me through this torture.
Ryuuen... you were always special, you know that? I could tell, the
first time I saw you train. You're a Suzaku Seishi. A champion
of Konan and Suzaku. So... I beg of you to stop this. I want
you to come save me. As your best friend from long ago... I beg of
you to take me back to Konan, Nuriko. If you do not... I will surely
die inside. ~ An-chin ~"
The letter tucked beneath Ryuuen's robe. He rode out of town on a sturdy horse toward Kutou. His heart beat quickly, the words from the letter raced through his mind again and again. 'An-chin..' He thought, 'What do you want me to do? Take you home? Where would you stay? What do I do?'
The ride was long, nearly two days. The countryside changed drastically from the southern warmth to the eastern breezes. On the back of the letter was a small map drawn out of the town. The house he wanted was quite easy to find. It was the place being prepared for a wedding ceremony. Or so it seemed... there was something odd about the area now. It was the scent of war.
Screams of terror echoed from the edge of town, a fire flared ruthlessly across the rooftops. The gallop of horses trampling on the hard dirt roads and clanging swords were in the distance. "This is a warzone." Ryuuen realized. But where is An-chin? Taking the reigns of his own horse in hand, he started quickly toward the decorated house. "An-chin!"
The first thing Ryuuen laid his eyes on were bodies... bodies of soldiers laying about in the hallways and foyer. He grimaced, covering his mouth with one hand, and took a sword in the other. "An-chin!" He yelled desperately, stumbling over bodies down the halls, trying to find his friend.
"Ryuuen... you actually came." A familiar, older voice spoke.
"An-chin! We have to get out of here, it's a warzone!" Ryuuen looked around frantically, afraid slightly of what else may appear. "I take it the wedding is off?"
"I refused her... the soldiers started to attack one another. I'm hiding because I'm a coward. Ryuuen... this is the sign of an unstable country. If they find me, they're going to kill me… and they'll kill you for helping me. I never would have imagined for this to happen this way."
"It doesn't matter. I'm here now... and I'm going to take you back HOME." He urged An-chin.
"I somehow doubt that." Spoke a deep voice. "A Suzaku Seishi... how ironic that you should trouble yourself with such petty Kutou matters. Hand him over." A soldier clad in the armor of a Shogun stepped into the pathway. "His execution will be swift. He started riot, and we must punish him."
Ryuuen gripped his sword, "Who do you think you are!? You have to go through me to get to him."
"A foolish gesture. I like your spunk... but it will be useless in the end." The tall man held up his open palm, a bright blue energy ball appeared briefly, then hit Ryuuen in the chest. The young seishi buckled, with a cry. His eyes open only long enough to see demise of An-chin by the same hand that he was defeated by.
----------------------
"I woke up two days later in a ditch far outside of town. I think they thought I was dead... I certainly looked it. My sister never forgave me for running after him. She didn't understand how I could do that, or if it really happened. All she had seen were the scars that the journey had left on me. I never forgave myself for not being strong enough."
"Nuriko... that's so horrible. There wasn't anything you could do! You were so young, that man couldn't have been stopped with you in that condition." Miaka empathized
Tamahome nodded, "She's right..." He ahemed, "You were really... with a guy?"
Miaka SMACKED Tamahome upside the head. "Stupid! This isn't the time for questions like that..."
Nuriko just shook his head. "It's okay... I was young, and it felt like the right thing to do. I'm sure my sister is much happier now that I'm interested in Miaka." He smiled slightly, then looked out toward the entrance to the cave. "Miaka, we have to save your friend from Kutou and that man. Like my sister said... we have to keep innocents out of this... innocents like An-chin were killed because of ruthless murderers like that bastard. I don't believe he started that riot... I don't believe he deserved death. The soldiers attacked that city on their own accord. I was there, I saw it happen. And as Suzaku seishi, we must never let this happen again."
Tamahome and Miaka nodded in unison. A loud crackle echoed through the cavern, the ground shook like an earthquake! "The cavern... it's falling apart! We have to get out of here!"
The trio grabbed their clothes, quickly dressing before being trapped within. They stood on the edge of the opening, rocks crumbling off of the fisherman's cavern. The pressure of the water now building, the falling rocks now letting spurts of water through. Nuriko grabbed a large rock, placing it over one of the holes. "Miaka! Send your chi out to the others so they can find us! I'll try my best to hold this place together!"
"Nuriko! You can't do that, it's too much!" Miaka snapped at Nuriko, her foot slipped as she fell backwards once again into the raging sea.
"Miaka!" He yelped. Tamahome jumping in and grabbing onto her. Tamahome swam close to the structure, Nuriko grasping his hand. "Hang on you two! I have you!"
He closed his eyes, muscles tensing at the pressure from both ends. Nuriko clenched his teeth, his balance threatened by the very elements now.
"Nuriko! Stop!! You'll lose an arm! You can't keep this up for much longer." Yelled Miaka.
"I'll determine when I've had enough! I have to be strong to save my friends! There's no way I'm going to let go! Have faith in me!" In a flash of red light, the bracelets on Nuriko's wrists form into metal bracers. He growled, pulling the two out of the sea with one swift yank.
"...how...WONDERFUL! Nuriko!" Miaka grabbed onto Nuriko, into a hug. "What just happened?"
"My bracelets started to glow, and I felt a surge of power enter my body... these are the ones Taiitsukun gave me. It must be Suzaku's power." He said softly, a little embarrassed at the hug.
A ship appeared within sight, a few seishi on the deck. "Miaka!! Tamahome!! Nuriko!! We found you!". They were saved.
The three were brought on board, soaking wet from the storm once more. "You guys look like crap!" Tasuki stated.
"Who's fault is that!?" Tamahome and Tasuki brawled playfully.
"It's good to see you are back, no da. We had almost given up hope on finding you." Chichiri smiled.
"You shouldn't be celebrating as of yet, Suzaku Seishi!" Yelled a voice from atop the structure. A booming noise echoed through the air, lighting flashing over the deck of the ship, taking out all six seishi. Miaka turned, eyes widened from the commotion.
A cloaked figure stood defiantly. "I am.." she pulled her cloak off, revealing who she was, "Seiryuu Seishi, Soi. Prepare yourself, Suzaku no Miko!" She held out her hand toward the girl.
Miaka glanced at Soi, slightly panicked. The Seiryuu Seishi shoots an lightning bolt right at her! Miaka fell backwards, eyes widened at the hole where she once was standing.
Tamahome yelled, "Stupid! She's not going to hold back! You'll kill yourself!"
Miaka narrowed her eyes, not hearing Tamahome's words. "Alright, you want to play hardball? I can do that." She reached behind to her back, pulling Hotohori's Deity sword from it's sheath.
Soi threw another bolt at Miaka, this time hitting directly onto the sword. A loud 'pang' echoed through the air, the sword absorbing the bolt of power.
It was over in a flash of light. The Seiryuu Seishi, Soi, was down for the count from the powerful energy reflected from the deity sword.
"STUPID!! You could have been killed!" Tamahome scolded.
Miaka looked down. Nuriko said quietly, "It was really amazing, but... you really had us all worried."
"Okay.." Miaka made a face.
"Everyone! Come look! We've found Hokkankoku!" Chiriko cried esxtatically/.
"Are you really sure, Chiriko?" Asked Chichiri.
"Positive."