AN: Guess what? You'll all find out about Hitoshi in this chapter! yay! ^-^;; You lucky people you!
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"How much longer Chichiri?" Tasuki sighed, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. Chichiri groaned. Between Tasuki and Miaka, they had been asking the same question repeatedly.
"We still have a while to go, no da." Chichiri informed them. Miaka pouted.
"My feet hurt!" Miaka crossed her arms over her chest as they walked. Chichiri looked at her, a feeling of deja vu sweeping through him.
"Tasuki, carry Miaka." Chichiri stated. Not only would it get her out of his hair, but it would get the two closer together, which was a little scheme forming in Chichiri's mind. The bandit and the miko stopped.
"Nani!?" They blushed. Chichiri sighed and turned around.
"Carry Miaka. This way she'll stop complaining." Chichiri reiterated.
"H-Hai." Tasuki stuttered, moving the bag so Miaka could climb on his back.
"Hop on." He looked at Miaka, who looked a little uneasy about the whole idea. She shrieked when two arms encircled around her waist and picked her up, placing her on Tasuki's back.
"Chichiri! What are you doing?!" She asked the monk, a bewildered look on her face.
"I thought you might need some help, no da!" Chichiri grinned. Miaka nodded and blushed, wrapping her arms around Tasuki's neck. Tasuki smiled inwardly. He would have to thank the monk later.
"Ready to go? Hold on tight." Tasuki instructed as the group moved forward. Miaka sighed as she breathed in his scent. His hair would occasionally blow back, brushing against her cheek, sending shivers of pleasure through her body. Just being near him made her happy. She tightened her hold around his neck and laid her cheek on his back.
"Umm...Mi-chan! Can't breath!" Tasuki gasped for air. Miaka blushed and loosened her grip.
"Gomen, I didn't know I was holding you that tight." She admitted sheepishly. Tasuki continued his walk, trying to control his hormones. Her chest pushed against his back when he walked and it took all of his will to keep from groaning out loud. They continued to walk for another half hour before Chichiri spoke up.
"We should stop here for the night, no da." he said, snapping the two people out of their thoughts. Tasuki looked around. When had they made it into a forest? He shrugged and gently set Miaka back down on her feet.
"Thanks, Tasuki." Miaka said softly as she got off his back. He smiled.
"We'll arrive at the Kuto palace tomorrow, so we should get some sleep, no da." Chichiri instructed. Miaka nodded and laid down on a bed of leaves that covered the ground.
"Goodnight." She yawned before letting her eyelids slide closed. Tasuki followed her example and laid down next to her before letting sleep claim him. Chichiri smiled at the two. He knew that Miaka's breakup with Taka was hard, but he also knew Tasuki needed Miaka, and vise versa.
'Those two are good for each other.' Chichiri smiled and leaned his back up against a tree before falling asleep.
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"Shh, there it is." Chichiri pointed out to the large Kuto palace. The group had traveled since they woke up until now. It was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set.
"Are we going?" Miaka whispered. Chichiri nodded.
"The guards are starting to go in for the day. They'll still be wandering around the palace, no da, so we have to be careful." Chichiri explained. He slowly stood and motioned for Tasuki and Miaka to follow. They hadn't gotten within twenty feet of the palace when a voice stopped them.
"You honestly think you can get through?" Miaka gasped as a boy stepped into the setting sun's light.
"Y-You look like...!" Miaka stuttered.
"Nakago? Yes, I would expect that. He's my father." He smirked at the look of shock that came across the travelers faces.
"Your father? Then...your mother is...." Miaka trailed off, her eyes wide with shock.
"Soi." He stated, glaring at them.
"My name is Hitoshi. I'm here for the power of Suzaku that girl has sealed inside of her." Hitoshi pointed to Miaka. She took a step back and Tasuki and Chichiri stepped protectively in front.
"You're the one Taiitskun warned us about!?" Tasuki asked in disbelief. This child couldn't do anything, could he? Hitoshi smirked.
"Hai. I need that power to avenge my mother and father's death. And that girl has it. Her power is so immense, that she can raise the dead." Miaka's eyes widened. She could bring back the dead? Then she could bring back Nuriko! And Hotohori, Mitsukake, and Chiriko!
"Of course, she would have to sacrifice her life to do that." Hitoshi smiled when he saw her face fall.
"You bastard! I won't let you touch her!" Tasuki growled, pulling out his tessen. Hitoshi rolled his eyes.
"That won't stop me, Tasuki." He smiled at the bandit's shocked face.
"H-How did you...."
"Know your name? Simple. I have psychic powers. Between my mothers' and fathers' powers, they combined. They had a reaction and thus, my powers were born." Hitoshi folded his arms across his chest.
"Now, I need your miko." His eyes narrowed and a blue glow surrounded Chichiri and Tasuki.
"I-I can't move, no da!" Chichiri exclaimed.
"Dammit! Miaka! Run for it!" Tasuki yelled, unable to move his head and look at her.
"Demo..."
"Now! Run!" Tasuki commanded her. She nodded and turned around, sprinting back the way they came.
"Well, looks like I have a little mouse chase. What fun." Hitoshi said, calmly walking towards the seishi.
"Don't touch her!" Tasuki spat out angrily.
"Take us instead, no da!" Chichiri tried to persuade the young boy. Hitoshi raised his lip in a sneer.
"Take us, he says. What a brilliant idea. Then your miko will have to come and rescue her poor seishi." Tasuki couldn't turn to glare at Chichiri, so he did the next best thing.
"Baka monk!" He hissed.
"Gomen, Tasuki!" He apologized, realizing his mistake.
"Now then, shall we go?" Hitoshi snapped his fingers and two rather large guards came out of the bushes.
"Take these two to the dungeon." He commanded. They nodded and swiftly picked up the paralyzed seishi and began to walk towards the palace.
"Oi! Let go of me!" Tasuki yelled in the guards' ear. He didn't even flinch.
"Why are you working for him anyway, no da?" Chichiri kindly asked his guard.
"Have to." He grunted, adjusting Chichiri more comfortably on his shoulder.
"Why?" Tasuki asked butting in.
"You guys haven't seen what he can do, did you?" The guard holding Tasuki asked.
"Iie, we haven't." Chichiri admitted.
"Well you'll find out soon enough once he gets his hands on your miko." Chichiri frowned.
"What is he going to do with Miaka?" Tasuki demanded.
"Get revenge for his parents, resurrect them, something like that." Tasuki's guard said gruffly. Chichiri gasped.
"If they lay even one finger on her I swear I'll..." Tasuki growled. The guard shrugged and continued walking towards the palace.
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"Itai!" Miaka whimpered as she slid down the rocky cliff side. She fell to bottom and panted, her back pressed against the rocks and dirt. The sky opened up and it began to rain.
"Great, just my luck. Okay, hang in there, Miaka. You can do this." She encouraged herself. Her ankle throbbed from the fall and her heart was beating twice its' normal rate.
"Suzaku no Miko!" Miaka gasped and looked above her.
"H-Hitoshi!?" She squeaked.
"Miko, we have your seishi. If you want them back, you come to the Kuto palace. By tomorrow at sundown." Hitoshi informed her. Miaka's eyes widened.
"Tasuki and Chichiri? What are you going to do to them! Onegai! Don't hurt them!" She begged, tears mixing with the rain on her cheeks. Hitoshi smiled.
"They are quite devoted to you, miko. I was shocked. They offered themselves instead." He smiled at the look of horror that crossed on her face.
"They did this...for me?" Her voice shook. She looked up, expecting to see Hitoshi's cold face, but instead was met by nothing. She shivered and brought her knees to her chest as rain continued to beat down on her. Her bottom lip trembled as she let silent tears roll down her cheeks. Her seishi was gone and it was all her fault.
"Tasuki....Chichiri....I'm so scared. I can't do this by myself. I need you." She whispered. Her thoughts drifted off to Tasuki. How safe and warm she felt when in his arms. How he could always make her laugh when Tamahome made her cry. She sniffled. What she wouldn't give now to be in the safety of his arms.
"Sitting here crying isn't going to get you anywhere, Miaka." A voice said from over at her left. She gasped and her head shot up. She knew that voice. It was...
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AN: Bwahaha! A cliffy! ^-^ Well, now you know who Hitoshi's family is. Oh yeah! I know Soi is 19 and Nakago is 25, but instead, we need to imagine Soi is a little older. Because Hitoshi is 13, so yeah. ^-^;; Just bear with me. And Yumi is 12. You'll find out more about her past later on.
~*Neoshipper*~