From the Author: Hehe. How many of you are wondering what's going to happen with Tamahome in Hotohori's bed?The answer is nothing!! In this chapter at least. It's a short one but it's important. Thanks for everyone who took the time to review this story!!



"Miaka. Miaka, wake up." Nuriko leaned over her friend as best she could. When she had awakened, Nuriko had found herself bound and tossed haphazardly in the back of a moving wagon. Miaka had lain next to her, still sleeping. Snapping the bonds should have been child's play for the strong seishi but even exerting all her formidable power, Nuriko could not get free. Someone had infused the ropes with a spell. The creator's chi lingered on it, giving Nuriko a good idea who it might be.

"That guy we met before. Just who the hell is he?" Nuriko pondered. She settled against the side of the cart. The journey was going to be a long one. The man who had conjured flames against her was none other than the famed leader of the Mt. Reikaku bandits. But what did he want?

"Driver! Hey driver! Are you paying attention? Stop this cart right now!" Nuriko yelled. She thumped on one wooden wall with her fisted hands. To her surprise it jerked to a stop. The shock of sudden light after darkness made Nuriko wince in pain. Rough hands yanked her free of the bindings and tugged a limp Miaka after.

"Unhand me, you cretin! Do you know who I am?" Nuriko shrieked indignantly.

"Dead, if you're not quiet, no da." The hushed voice of a man came from next to her. Nuriko went to glare at her captor. It quickly changed into a stare. The man was incredibly good-looking. A ragged scar lay over one closed eye while soft strands of indigo hair fell over the other. He was dirty with ragged clothing but had a dignity she had only glimpsed in the young emperor who had become her husband.

"Is - is that a threat?" Why had her voice become so soft? That was no good; no matter how exceedingly sexy this man was, he was still her enemy.

The bandit gave her a distracted look before returning his eye to the horizon. "No, it wasn't a threat, no da. It's the truth. There are over a dozen men from a rival tribe in the hills no da. They fired off a warning shot just a moment ago. We're horribly outnumbered and I can't take the chance of attacking them with my powers because of HIM, no da." Then he blinked, as if surprised at what he had revealed.

"Powers?" Nuriko pounced on this bit of information. "What kind of powers? Say, do you have a mark on your body that turns red and glows? If so, you too may be a Suzaku Warrior."

"You sound like a travel brochure, no da. Sit tight here, I have to check out the perimeter. My Boss will kill me but - can I trust you to stay here? Will you promise not to try to escape, no da?" He looked so earnest and cute that Nuriko emphatically nodded.

"I swear on the life of my husband, the Emperor of Konan. I will not run." The man looked uncertain but resigned himself. As he got up to leave, Nuriko grabbed his arm. "Wait a second. You never told me your name. Hold will I be able to wish you luck without it?"

"Chichiri, no da. Be waiting when I come back." He slipped away into the tall grass. Nuriko stared after him, silently counting to ten. When the enumerated time had passed, she slung the still Priestess of Suzaku over her shoulder and ran off.

****

"Soi, what do you see?" A pair of lovely blue eyes of the young woman was fixed on a pair of binoculars. Her strawberry blonde hair caught in the breeze.

"There is something out there for sure, Nakago. About four somethings, two of which are the prey we are searching for." Her dulcet voice was as pretty as her face as it peered into his own. She was so certain and confident. How unfortunate that she was married to one of his top commanders. Well, that didn't really need to be a deterrent.

"Lord Nakago." A cold voice demanded attention. Soi leapt to her feet at the sound of her husband's voice. It was like nails on a chalkboard but luckily; the sight was far more attractive.

Tomo stood behind them, shading his charcoal gray eyes from the sun as he scanned the countryside. The shin in his palm idly opened and closed. Nakago scowled ferociously at the painted sub-commander. Tomo was a man that no one liked as a person but in the field he was a force to be reckoned with.

"The Priestess of Suzaku and the Empress are out there Tomo." Soi reported. She stood as straight as a sword and had a mind just as sharp. Years of military service made her a dedicated and clever soldier and worthy of her place among the Seiryuu Seven. Tomo gazed at her with open admiration and a lust that was close to the surface. A notorious playboy, Tomo had enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh whenever convenient until meeting his match in Soi. After a scant two months, the couple married and became the best military team in Konan. Only Nakago and his ex-partner could have ever compared. Firmly wishing that the past could be undone, the blonde seishi let out an internal sigh that reached the depths of his soul

***

"Heh. Morons. The whole lot of 'em. Chichiri?" The man's name was question for more information. Always, he needed more information, anything he could get to defeat his enemies without wasting the lives of his men. Tasuki frowned as the monk crawled closer to him.

"She took the bait, no da. I saw her run off with the priestess a few minutes ago." There was smug satisfaction in his voice.

"Perfect. The information I have on the Emperor should play right into our plan. If he really is as honorable as they say, he will not resist our claim to his life. Then Konan will be mine!" Tasuki lit up with anticipation.

"As it should be, no da. If anyone deserves to rule the land it is you!" He was loyal. The one person Tasuki could completely trust was Chichiri. He had saved the man's life from the flood, healed his wound to the best of his ability, and had trained him in the magical arts. In return, Chichiri had been the most effective and intelligent agent he ever had, not counting Him. All at once, Tasuki's good mood deflated. Thinking about His treachery made him morose especially pondering the lasting mark on his life where Koji, Tasuki's best friend, had once been. Now that Chichiri had come, Tasuki had become stricter about the safety of his men, especially those who he cared about. But nothing would stop death if it were fated.

"Chichiri, I need you to go and determine the condition of Nakago's band. And we need to know Soi and Tomo's whereabouts. I won't let that bitch beat me."

"Who, Tomo or Soi, no da?" Chichiri's voice was rife with merriment as he slipped his mask on. The scar disappeared beneath a smiling face. Tasuki shook his head when he did that. The scar wasn't something to be ashamed of. Why didn't Chichiri see that?

"Take the twins with you." Tasuki commanded gruffly. "They need to develop their skills."

"But Tasuki, no da. Amiboshi still sounds like a dying animal when he plays and Suboshi hits himself with the ryuusei more often than he does the target, no da. They'll only slow me down." Chichiri complained. The twins were Seiryuu warriors that Tasuki had found as children. They had been raised by the bandit like younger brothers.

"I know they're screw ups but they can't stay that way forever. Give them a chance, Chichiri." His sigh was one of long suffering that made Tasuki's lips twitch with suppressed amusement.

"Alright, no da. But only because you put it so nicely. I'll see you in a jiffy." Chichiri hopped to his feet then disappeared.

To the east, a powerful life force arose, gathering in the clouds. The sky was dark and ominous, much like the feeling Tasuki was now harboring. Was it the Suzaku seishi, coming to save their priestess? Or was it something far more dire?