Time slowed as the gang of thugs made their way toward her. Tamahome lay very still in the streets, his lifeblood pouring out of him to the beat of the rain. Miaka closed her eyes and threw her body over her partner as the lead gangster rushed at her, sword glimmering. She waited for death desperately. Anxiously.

"What's the hold up here?" She muttered, opening one green eye. The ruffians lay in assorted unhealthy positions at the feet of a beautiful boy. Bronze hair was plastered to a beautiful, feminine face as Miaka's rescuer turned to her.

She left Tamahome's side as soon as she had gotten a good look. "Thank you, beautiful boy!" Miaka glomped on the lad who seemed first startled then uncomfortable.

"Uh, um - Your friend?" Miaka let go of the grateful boy and fell to Tamahome's side. He was pasty pale and the blood wasn't slowing. The crimson liquid stained her shoes and pants as it pooled around them.

"Tama-" She whispered. The boy squatted besides her and pressed a delicate hand to the wound. The blood slowed but did not stop.

"Hold here as hard as you can. I need to bandage him." Miaka hesitantly placed her hands on Tamahome's chest then pressed as hard as she could. Her eyes never left the boy as his hands moved behind his back. A white cloth tumbled out from under his shirt. And that wasn't all.

"Dude! You're a girl!" Miaka shrieked. The girl pushed her aside and began wrapping the bandage around Tamahome. It soaked through with his blood but no more leaked to the ground.

"We have to get him somewhere safe. Those thugs might have friends." The girl said, lifting Tamahome easily in her arms. "Do you know anywhere we could go?" Miaka took her eyes off her rescuer's chest and thought about it.

"We could go back to the palace but-"

"Too far." The girl cut in quickly. Mentioning the palace seemed to unnerve this brave soul. Maybe she had also spent sometime in its dungeons. They were a nasty place. Miaka thought a little harder. This wasn't their usual area. It was surprisingly sleazier than the one they lived in and the faces of the still thugs looked oddly familiar.

"Oh no!" Miaka gasped. "That fool! That stupid donkey-fucking imbecile!" Miaka grabbed the girl's free wrist and began pulling her. The smaller woman was almost running as she dragged the still form of Tamahome and her savior.

"What is it?" The other girl panted as Miaka paused to get her bearings. The priestess was off like a shot once she was sure and buxom beauty trailed behind.

"We're in the territory of our fiercest rival. And he swore just last week to disembowel us after eating our still beating hearts! Men get angry over the silliest things." Miaka commented as she spied the entrance of safety. She wasn't even out of breath.

"What did you do?" The girl queried.

"What makes you think I did anything wrong?" Miaka shot back. Her companion smiled to herself.

"You seem like that kind of person. A troublemaker."

"How astute of you. Actually, I am. The son of the boss, Isio, strayed into our area of business so we had to take action. Tamahome helped me. That the guy caught on fire was a complete accident."

"Stop right there!" Another burly set of menacing stooges, their leader just as ugly as the last, blocked the way. "So we meet again for the last time, Miaka. I see you spared me the trouble and killed your partner."

"Asshole, he's not dead and the one who won't live to see another day is you. I don't need Tamahome to protect me." Miaka braced her hands on her hips and leaned slightly backward to whisper to her comrade. "Psst, what's your name?"

"Nuriko." She whispered back in bemusement.

"Nuriko will protect me now." The priestess stated boldly. Nuriko's jaw dropped. She would do what?!

"I'm sorry that you chose such a pathetic side, Nuriko-san. It's too bad that such a lovely creature, as you had to die so young. Men, kill her but save Miaka for me." The tough looking hooligans rushed at the stunned woman.

"Why did you do that?" Nuriko shrieked at her ally as Miaka ducked under a nearby doorway. Pivoting, the petite woman slung Tamahome at the oncoming attackers. His deadweight knocked them all to the ground and he groaned, an unearthly sound that sounded as if it came from Hell itself.

"A zombie!" One of the men screeched, scrabbling to get away from the body. His companions followed suit as he turned tail and ran. Only Isio remained and his sword shook somewhat in an unsteady hand.

"W-witch." He accused. His voice gained strength. "Witch!" As he began his charge, Miaka snuck up behind him and put to use her mugging skills. When the brick she held crashed against his skull, there was nothing left of the obstacle that kept them from safety. Nuriko hefted Tamahome over her shoulder and followed the priestess.

"We have to bring him to the palace." Miaka said determinedly. "The only ones who can help Tamahome now are the palace quacks- er, physicians. Don't be scared; I know the emperor pretty well; he won't do anything to you. By the way, I'm Miaka Yuuki, Priestess of Suzaku. Thank you for all your help!" Miaka stuck out a hand that Nuriko shook awkwardly.

This girl was the Priestess of Suzaku? This short, foul mouthed, arrogant chit was the one she was born to serve? And Tamahome must be one of her celestial warriors. How unfair that this cowardly, slut got to have such a good-looking man serve her. Nuriko wished viciously that he died.

Nuriko was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't realize that they were in the palace until a gaggle of healers removed Tamahome from her grasp. Miaka gestured to her to come over. The priestess was deep in conversation with a man who was - well, he was.

Absolutely, breathtakingly, gorgeous.

"Nuriko, this is Hotohori, emperor of Konan and one of my celestial warriors. This is the woman who saved us. Don't you think that deserves a reward? Maybe a nice dress and some cash." Nuriko chose to ignore the fashion snub this ragamuffin gave her and focused on the emperor. So this was her intended. Suzaku couldn't have created a better-looking man for her. She held out her hand.

"I'm really . . ."

"Princess Nuriko!!" The emperor of Hokkaido strode into the room as fast as his considerable bulk would let him. Her father came to her side and issued a sharp slap to her face that resounded throughout the room. Miaka gasped as he went to give his daughter a matching bruise.

"Sir, you will not touch my wife." Hotohori had captured the shorter man's arm in a steel grip that looked painful. Her father blustered mightily as his wont.

"She is not your wife yet. I can beat her until the time comes." He seemed serious. Nuriko cringed. She was stronger than her father, many times over but it went against her very nature to strike that man who helped give her life.

"But she is." Hotohori replied coldly, surprising everyone in the room. "My advisors took it upon themselves to marry us by proxy when she was reported missing. Empress Nuriko is my legal wife and my responsibility. I suggest you treat her with the courtesy and respect due to the empress of the most powerful nation." Her father lowered his hand.

"Good luck to you. She's a troublesome and ungrateful lot. I'm glad to be rid of her." Tears came unbidden to Nuriko's eyes at her father's harsh words. Damn him anyway. She didn't need anyone.

"You rotten old bastard. How dare you disparage your only daughter? She is a decent and kind woman who could easily snuff out your pathetic little life. As her priestess, I will stand up for one of my chosen warriors!" Miaka was fully enraged now. With a patented flying tackle, she sent the fat man sprawling. As she pummeled him, Hotohori's face mirrored the amazement Nuriko's did.

"Suzaku save me from your own divine priestess." He muttered as he pried Miaka from the blubbering Emperor of Hokkaido. The man got to his feet, a linen handkerchief stanching the blood that poured from his nose.

"This place is worse than Hell! You have an animal for a priestess and a bastard for an emperor! You deserve what you got, girl." He stalked off as Hotohori struggled to keep Miaka contained.

"How did you know?" Nuriko murmured softly. "How did you know I was one of your celestial warriors?"

Miaka shrugged free of the emperor's grip and straightened her clothing. "I figured you were something special by your strength. Your name fit too. Also, your shirt's hanging open and I can see your symbol along with quite a bit of tit. You might want to do something about that." She smiled as the warrior fixed her shirt and blushed. "I'd leave you two lovebirds alone, but I think Nuriko would like a bath and a change of clothes before the wedding night. I'll show her the way to her new rooms." Miaka began walking away, leaving the bewildered Nuriko to follow.

*********************

The procession of maids and servants announced the arrival of his bride. Hotohori sighed and lay back against the pillows of his bed. His advisors had just left but only after espousing the great beauty of his new wife. And just in case, they left him with a great deal of both homosexual and heterosexual pornography to make sure he would be able to do his job.

As tradition dictated, the bride was swathed head to toe in white cloth. He was to 'unwrap her', as his advisors had told him. The servants left with discretion, locking the door from the outside. From underneath the cloth, Nuriko gave a little sigh.

"I know my duty and am ready." She said honestly.

"Uh, I can see you are thirsty. Let's have some wine." Hotohori moved briskly to the little table set up in the middle of the room. A decanter of wine along with two glasses stood on it. In his haste, he poured some of the red wine on his pale hand. When he finally managed to pour it straight, Nuriko sipped hers impassively as he threw several glasses back. It seemed to give him some level of comfort because he was soon able to face her without quivering.

"I know you do not love me," he said in a great hurry, "And I do not love you either. If we do not consummate this marriage than it can be invalidated within a year due to the Empress's infertility. I'll set you up with a nice house in the capital district if you like and some country estate and we can both be free to marry who we choose."

It had been on the tip of Nuriko's tongue to pour her heart out to this shy and sweet prince who has so completely captured her heart, but his deal made those words turn to ash. She nodded dumbly, and turned away from him.

"Good." Relief was evident in his voice, the smug bastard. "Let's get some sleep and in the morning, we can join Miaka in her quest to locate the other senshi." He lied down in bed and promptly fell asleep, a welcome reprieve for Nuriko's troubled heart. Wasn't she good enough to bed? She was pretty and young and smelled nice and - Miaka! Why had Hotohori mentioned that silly bimbo? Could she be the one Hotohori had plans to marry? Suzaku save her because come morning, Konan would be looking for a new priestess.

*********************

Miaka didn't know what hit here. Her first non-coherent thought was that somehow, in the safety of Tamahome's sickroom, was that she had been struck by lightning. But lightning didn't bite, did it?

The new Empress Nuriko had sprung on the priestess when she was visiting the injured Tamahome. Like a hound that had had its first taste of blood, she wasn't willing to release her victim until every ounce of life was drained from it. Luckily, Miaka knew how to fight and proceeded to do just that. All of Nuriko's considerable strength went into blows that rained onto her body but Miaka was quicker and was raised from birth to defend herself. Even the renowned martial artist that was her partner was surprised and impressed at the level of her street fighting ability. Nuriko was the unlucky receiver of the neat brick-to-the-head-trick that served the priestess so well. Where Miaka got brass knuckles, no one ever knew but when they split Nuriko's lip and broke several of her ribs, she knew that this fight wouldn't be so easy.

Tamahome slept through it all.

The two women pounded the daylights out of each other until they were too exhausted to move. When they were done and lay on the floor panting, the guards burst in. "We heard the sounds of a scuffle!" They exclaimed. Nuriko and Miaka looked at each other, at their bleeding bruised forms, and began to laugh.

"There's no trouble in here. You are dismissed." Nuriko ordered, negligently waving a hand at them. They stood there and scratched their thick skulls.

"Dismissed means leave, you silly oafs! Get out!" Satisfied that there was no more danger to those people they were supposed to protect, the guards left. Miaka flipped a stray lock of hair over her shoulder and hooked a painfully twisted arm through Nuriko's.

"Let's go shopping and spend Hotohori's money." She suggested gleefully. A wide grin slipped onto the celestial warrior's face. Why had she disliked this sweet woman?

"Okay!"

***********************

The doors swung shut as Tamahome's eyes fluttered open. He had the worst dreams of being stampeded by elephants. Every part of his body hurt and his room was a mess. The elephant explanation seemed relevant as he slowly sat up. When the room stopped spinning, he ventured to his feet. The robe he wore hung loosely on his lean framed so he tied it tighter. The guards at his door waved at him as he left.

Padding down a corridor, he hobbled into the emperor's study. Hotohori was bent over a pile of paperwork. He didn't even look up when he spoke.

"Just leave it on the chair. I will get to it as soon as possible."

"Get to what?" Tamahome asked wearily. His knees felt weak with every passing moment and his vision was blurry. Hotohori glanced up to see his comrade leaning fully on the door to his office. The heavy robes of the emperor hardly hampered him as he leapt over the burdened desktop catch Tamahome as he fainted.

His fellow senshi weighed no more than a girl in Hotohori's arms. He hesitated for a minute as he considered where to put the incapacitated man. The guards at his room were obviously not equipped to care for him. It came to him on the tail ends of a thought. Tamahome could go in his room. Surely sleeping in the emperor's bed was the best place for him. Something nagged him about the faint strangeness of having Tamahome in his bed but it was overridden at the sight of Tama's pale, pretty face. He sighed and locked the door. It was time to speak with his advisors about what constituted as proper care for a Suzaku Senshi.

Nuriko and Miaka, on the other time, were having the time of their lives. Anything that caught their fancy, they bought. The guards, though very stupid, were as strong as oxen and were used primarily to carry their purchases.

Wise women didn't carry money with them; they charged it to their husband's accounts. So the pair was surprised to find themselves the victims of an armed robbery. Turning down an empty road that Miaka had insisted was a shortcut, they came face to face with a band of thugs. Well-armed thugs. The leader was a man about Nuriko's height with a funny hat on his head. In his left hand, he lovingly caressed a hard wooden staff. His voice, while high pitched and heavily accented, boiled with menace.

"Have your men drop your bags and please turn over any money you might have, ladies. I don't want ta hurt you, no da." It took them a combined split second to decide.

"Kill him!" Nuriko yelled. The guards rushed forward, trampling their stuff in their hurry to die. And they died most horribly. Smoke wafted from burned flesh. Blood painted the nearby buildings a nearby red. Miaka almost puked.

"How did you- How could you?! I know they were stupid but that's no reason to slaughter them like cows!" She darted forward to beat retribution from the man but when her hand was about to connect with his face, he disappeared. Unbalanced, Miaka fell on her face. As the thugs laughed, their boss knocked her unconscious.

"Now really, that's enough." Nuriko said in exasperation. "You can't go around hitting little girls like that. I will have to show you it is not so easy to defeat a real female."

A wall of fire suddenly barred her path, surrounding her on all sides. As it grew higher, it took with it the oxygen until Nuriko fainted. Abruptly it died down and the leader knelt at her side to check for a pulse.

"That was closer than I would have liked it Genrou, no da." A red haired bandit, his face concealed mostly in the shadows merely smiled and tapped a large metal fan against his leg.

"But now we got that priestess an' empress. Konan will soon fall ta tha bandits o' Mt. Reikaku."

"But where will it end, no da? When can we have peace?" Lightning crashed in a darkening sky, illuminating briefly, the face of the red haired Bandit King as he answered his friend.

"When I have destroyed all tha Suzaku Seven . . . And their Priestess!!"