Part Two

Warnings: PG-13; for language


If the guys saw my hand, they'd freak, Tasuki kneeled against a stream that trailed into the lake, near the palace. He stood to his feet, quickly wrapping the bloody fingers from sight. He cringed at the fracture, it was stupid, but he did have a temper. Walking swiftly from the water, he was determined to find Nuriko. He didn't bother asking the others because he wasn't in the mood to see them.

/I want to talk to Nuriko... but I don't want to pry him too much, he must think I'm such a fool, but dammit I will not let this go! Not this time!/ He was just about to head back towards the east side of the palace gardens when he felt something.

Chi.

He curled his brow, and started to run towards a bright blue light escaping from the closed doors of the Shrine Temple. Grabbing both sides of the entrance, he tried to open them. They were stuck, tight. /Dammit! It'd be nice to have Nuriko's strength for once!/ He pulled again, this time gritting his teeth until he could taste blood. The doors were being held back by something more than a mere lock. /Seiryuu!/ Standing back he pulled out the tessen and screamed. The doors were burned to flame and he tried to push his way through the ash and smoke, to the entrance way of the sacred shrine.

A dark voice echoed in the close distance, and then a whimper. Tasuki pressed his back tightly against the marble wall, trying to crawl closer as well as be careful not to be seen.

Tell me again how it was? You were swept with desire for the boy and so you took him to your bed and made love to him? There was a deep laugh and Tasuki felt nauseating chills up his spine at the familiarity of the laugh. You are truly desirable! Just because you couldn't have Suzaku No Miko, you fucked the gay boy! Now who shall you owe your pain to? Your lovely Priestess or yourself? Pathetic! And just when I thought you were a strong Emperor and I had a reason to get worried? And all for what? You were as dirty as I thought you were all along! Tasuki crawled closer, seeing the deep blue flame's reflections against the tile below his feet.

He screamed, jumping out against the shadows and before he caught glimpse of anything, a large pillar crumbled before him and he had to dodge an explosion. When he shook himself off, his face was cut deep, a splinter from the wood piercing his flesh, and a fire had started behind him.

Finally Tasuki saw his Emperor, laying on his chest, a tight rope binding his wrists against his back. Hotohori looked up towards Tasuki, but before he could say anything the thin purple cape covered Hotohori and the blonde Seiryuu Seishi.

Nakago!!! Hotohori-sama! Tasuki jumped forward as dust and rubble flew, but it was too late. Blinding blue light flashed against the marble walls and the two disappeared. Tasuki was left on his hands and knees, leaning against the rubble and dust. The fire was spreading fast. Nakago! You bastard! I'll fuckin' kill you-- But Tasuki couldn't finish his words because another pillar started falling. He suddenly realized, the Temple was about to be demolished and he had to get out, fast.

Slipping through a tiny opening he crawled on his hands and knees in the darkness, swearing under his breath that he'd burn Nakago for deciding to mess with them in the Shrine of all places. Dark orange flames exploded behind him as he barely slipped out through the desecrated exit. Panting, he lay on his back and stared ahead as the building toppled in on itself.

Moments later, servants and maids were rushing towards the building, trying to pile water against it, but it was too late. The Temple was no more.

Tasuki rushed into the main entrance of the palace, bloody and panting. Chichiri! Chichiri! The monk jumped into the hallway, a quisitive look on his face.

Tasuki-kun! Your bleeding, no da! he remarked looking at the battered bandits face. Tasuki rushed at him, grabbing him by the arm.

It's Hotohori! Nakago's got him! he panted hard. Chichiri's eyes widened and he nodded. I want you to send me there-- send me to Kutou! He's got Hotohori and he's fucking ruined the Temple! As he spoke there was another loud crashing noise, and both Chichiri and Tasuki glanced out towards the smoke and flames that were beginning to billow up from the eastern wing.

It's not safe for you to go there alone, no da.

You've got to be kiddin' me! Send me there right now! Come on! You can catch up later-- Hotohori-sama wasn't responding, you can tell the others later! Chichiri was reluctant, but he nodded and raising two fingers to his forehead he concentrated and Tasuki vanished.

* * *


Miaka came running up behind Tamahome.

Where's Hotohori? What's going on? Where's that fire coming from? Tamahome had his hand raised to his forehead, as he looked into the distance where smoke was billowing up. From where he stood he couldn't see the flames. He looked worried, but smiled when Miaka was beside him.

I'm not sure... I haven't seen Hotohori at all this morning. Hope they didn't have an accident in the kitchen, he laughed casually, though he felt something deeper inside. Let's go look for him... Miaka and Tama ran off down the open court, just as Nuriko poked his head out into the air.

/I wonder where they are off too... Hotohori's missing, that's strange... Heh, and here I am doing a little bit of my own spying.../ Nuriko wandered a ways down the court yard until a maid ran by, carrying a large crate of water.

Oi, let me help you with that! Nuriko grabbed it easily, swinging it over his shoulder. The girl bowed to him shyly. Where are ya going in such a hurry? She pointed to the sky, and Nuriko stared in shock at the fire. There was a pain in his chest as the girl looked at him.

Something started a fire in the Temple Shrine, Nuriko-san! The flames won't stop! Nuriko rushed as fast as he could, arriving on the eastern end of the palace within a matter of minutes. When he got there though, he knew that the temple was beyond repair. Dousing it with water for a few more minutes, the flames finally died down, but the temple was destroyed. Nuriko was enraged.

Who would do something like this? A fire this big couldn't have just been an accident!

You got that right, no da! Chichiri chimed, running up behind Nuriko. Tasuki went after Nakago. He's got Hotohori-sama. Nuriko's eyes were wide, his chest burned.

He shook his head. How the hell did that happen? Nakago just up and kidnapped Hotohori-sama!?

Miaka and Tamahome caught up behind them, both of them gasping to catch their breath from the run. So it was a fire, Tamahome said, a bit delayed.

Chichiri nodded. Apparently Hotohori-sama will need more protection, no da. If no one objects, we're all going to Kutou, no da. Tasuki's there and I don't know how long he'll last, especially if Hotohori-sama's under Nakago's control, no da! The other three nodded. Chichiri closed his eyes and quickly prepared to teleport them all to rescue the Emperor and the other Seishi.

A desperate knot was growing in Nuriko's stomach and he felt suddenly guilty. /Even if it hurts... I won't let anything bad happen to Hotohori-sama! If my last words to him were--/ He couldn't bare to think about it. Soon the scenery changed and they were standing in the dark land of Kutou, only minutes away from the palace of Seiryuu No Miko.