Chapter 14: To Die For the Star of Seiryuu
"Mihara!!!" Tasuki screamed, watching the shape of his girlfriend float away slowly. He fell to his knees, attempting to keep his composure by not crying. "Its okay. We'll get her back. And Ichidou to." Nuriko's hand was on his shoulder. Tasuki stood suddenly, his face full of anger and resolve. "Let's go." He said lethally. Tamahome looked slightly confused. "Where?" "To Hokkan country of course. Getting her back is top priority." He began heading toward the boat. "Woah woah woah," Nuriko said stopping him. "If we're ever gonna catch up with them, we won't need the boat. What we need to do is get some horses and go that way." "Fine then!" Tasuki yelled. "I don't care how! Lets just go!"
Mihara shifted and woke. She was in a dark throne room, dangling from the ceiling from her wrists. She looked down. She was several feet from the ground. She looked back up quickly and swallowed. She glanced at Ichidou, who was stirring. "So you're awake are you?" Mihara's eyes shot forward. Sitting on the throne was a girl of about fifteen. She was clothed in a chinese-syle mini skirt and a matching top. Underneath the sleeveless top there was a long sleeved yellow shirt. She had yellow tights on with shin high black boots. On her head was a yellow bandana. "Who are you," Mihara asked, trying to sound brave. "I am Kitsune. The Genbu no Miko." She flicked her short black hair. "I seek the Seiryuu no Miko." "What do you want with her?" Ichidou had awoken. Kitsune looked to Ichidou. "She is to be punished. She stole the Genbu shinzaho. She could have at least asked permission." The girl scoffed, then turned her attention back to Ichidou and Mihara. "So do make it easy on us and tell me which one of you is the Seiryuu no Miko." The girls looked at each other. "I am," Ichidou said heavily. Mihara furrowed her brow, and then said on sudden inspiration. "No, Kitsune-Sama. I am the Seiryuu no Miko. This girl is my loyal bodyguard." "Mihara." Ichidou whispered menacingly under her breath. "Do you have any idea what they might do to you." Kitsune, meanwhile, was laughing. "Ha! I never thought Seiryuu to be so cunning to use a decoy. However now that we know who is who, I suppose we could let the decoy go." She turned to the side. "Hikitsu!" She barked. "Cut them down, and let the blond one go. Tomite! Take the other to the dungeon until I think of a punishment suitable for her." Two men hurried past her. When the one with the hat passed his Miko, Kistsune snatched his hat, giggled madly, and placed it on her head. Ichidou cocked up an eyebrow. She gave Mihara a look that said "Either she has a raging obsession with stealing his hat, or has a crush on that guy." Mihara scoffed under her breath. But she barely had time to think about that when 'Tomite' (the one with the, now, missing hat) cut her down and took her to the dungeons.
Tasuki kept ahead of Nuriko, Chichiri, and Tamahome. They had told him to keep it at a good pace so the horse didn'wear out before they got there. But they didn't understand. Mihara's safety was at stake. Didn't they know how much she meant to him? Good pace. Feh. All that mattered was getting to Hokkan country.
'Hikitsu' took Ichidou to back exit of the Genbu temple. He told her that the fastest way back to Sairo was through the woods. Once she cleared the forest there would be a direct road to Sairo. Ichidou began walking, regretting ever sending Ashitare to fetch the Genbu shinzaho. She remembered him asking why they would need it. They still had their scroll and all but one seishi had gathered. She recalled her response, and the way it made the wolfman flinch. "True we can wait until Miboshi turns up, but that might take ages. And I don't know how much longer I can stand Nakago being alive." Lost in her thoughts she walked the trail through the forest. It was getting dark when she finally took a break to rest her aching feet. She sat on an old log and stretched out her legs, resting them. "Gods, I hope Mihara's okay."
Tasuki squinted along up the road. It was getting dark, and his worry was increasing with each passing minute. Suddenly he saw a figure stumble onto the road, and then trip and fall. He rode a bit furthur and the person on the ground made him yell back to the others and jump off his horse. It was Ichidou. He picked her up off the ground gently. "Hey blondie! Where's Mihara?" Ichidou shifted uncomfortably. "Well...." Tasuki's eyes widened. "Tell me." The Miko sighed deeply. "We were taken to the Genbu Temple. When we woke up we were tied up. The Genbu no Miko wanted to know who was the Seiryuu no Miko, because she stole the Shinzaho. Mihara went all bold and told her that she was the Seiryuu no Miko. They let me go, but they took her to the dungeons. That's all I know." She looked away. Tasuki, now thoroughly infuriated, leaned Ichidou into a sitting posistion and then climbed back on his horse. By that time Nuriko, Chichiri, and Tamahome had caught up to them. "Tasuki, what's going on?" Nuriko asked, sounding concerned. Tasuki ignored the question. "Take care of her. I'm going." And without another word he sped away as fast as he could toward Hokkan.
Mihara stirred. She opened her eyes drowzilly and found herself in the dungeons, with her arms chained above her head once again. She was sitting on the filthy floors in a semi-kneeling position. Through the barred window of her cell she could see the moon shining brightly in the desolate sky. She sighed and leaned against the wall, which was just as dirty as the floor. "Oh Tasuki," she whispered to herself. "I hope you aren't angry with me. I just didn't want Ichidou to be hurt. She just recovered from her awful sickness too." Mihara sighed and closed her eyes again.
Tasuki leapt off his horse as he approached the Genbu Temple. He knew better than to barge into the room where the Miko and her seishi would be, and demand to know where Mihara was. Instead, when he entered the temple, he headed downwards, going to the dungeons. "Hey!" Tasuki turned and found a few guards behind him. "Where are you going?!" Tasuki stared at them for a few moments longer then started to run down the steps. By the time he reached the dungeons quite a few guards had collected behind him, and he was attracting some ahead of him. "Great, just my luck." He mumbled to himself. He unsheathed his tessan. "Recca shinen!!" And in one swift stroke he blew away his lowsy competition. He leaned over and snatched the keys off of one of the guard's belt. Suddenly he heard a voice. "Tasuki!" Tasuki broke into a run again following the sound of Mihara's voice to the back of the dungeons. When he came in front of her cell he saw that she was chained to the wall a few feet away. He hurriedly unlocked the cell and rushed in. He gave Mihara a quick kiss before going to unlock her hands. "Thank gods," he was whispering. "Thank gods you're okay." "Stop." Tasuki turned.
There stood the Genbu miko with a few of her seishi. "Take him." She said leathily. Even Tasuki's inhuman speed couldn't save him from the Genbu seishi. They did not notice, however, see him slip the keys into his boot. Tasuki gave one last look at Mihara, who DID see his manuveour, before he was drug out of the cell and put in his own.
Nuriko jumped off his horse, and then turned to help Ichidou down. "Only one of two things could have happened here." Nuriko was saying to Ichidou, Chichiri, and Tamahome. "Either Tasuki got Mihara out of the dungeons and they are talking their way out of trouble, explaining everything." "Or," Ichidou said, as the four began walking up the steps of the temple. "Or..." Nuriko chuckled to himself. "Or Tasuki managed to mess up the whole rescue and they're both captured now, and everything is up to us." Ichidou laughed with Nuriko. "I think its the second one." Once they were inside Nuriko took charge. "Okay Tamahome you keep a lookout here with Ichidou. Try and see if Tasuki and Mihara are in one of these rooms. Me and Chichiri will head down to the dungeons. They are most likely there. Chichiri will stun the guards while I take the keys and get them out. Okay, Tamahome if you see anyone coming or if you are seen, stall them from going down to the dungeons. If you can't hold them off yell 'the gig's up.'" Tamahome gave Nuriko a questioning stare. "'The gig's up.'" "Just do it. Okay are we all ready?" Everyone nodded determinedly. "Okay we meet back outside by the horses. One two three go." They broke off from each other, Nuriko and Chichiri headed to the dungeons, while Ichidou and Tamahome began to search the rooms. Nuriko crept noiselessly down the stairs, Chichiri behind him. Once he reached the bottom, he indicated for Chichiri to go ahead and stun the gaurds. He waited for the shocked yells cut off short before he revealed himself. He jumped down the remaining steps and snatched the keys off of one of the guard's belts. "Find a different set," he yelled to Chichiri. "Find Tasuki. I'll get Mihara." He took off down the dungeon looking in every cell. When he found her he quickly opened the door, waking the sleeping girl. "Nuriko!" She whispered. "Where's Tasuki? Have you gotten him out yet?" "Chichiri's taking care of it." Nuriko replied unlocking her shackles. When she was free, Mihara stood up and ran out of her cell. Down the dungeon she could see Tasuki stumbling out of his own. She ran toward him, stumbling every now and then because of the prolonged use of her legs. When they were close enough to each other, Tasuki grabbed Mihara up in a hug, strong enough to break one's back. She grasped him back just as tightly, kissing his neck repeatedly. Then Tamahome's voice cut through the air. "Hey yall down there, the gig's up!" "Time to go," Nuriko said. "Go where?" It was Kitsune, with her two favorite seishi standing protectively at her sides. "I think you've gone far enough." "Wait!" Nuriko said, throwing a sheilding arm in front of Mihara. "She's not the one you want. We can explain the whole thing!" Kitsune raised her eyebrows at the four standing there. "Oh really. Lets hear it then."
End Chapter 14
Hey people, here's your fourteenth chapter. I know the name of the chapter is lame, but I couldn't think of anything else. Its not exactly copy- righted so yeah. It didn't take me very long to write this chapter, but I had to go on vacation for a month. And I couldn't put it up cuz FF.net was down and stuff. Then I went on vacation and when I got back my internet wouldn't let me log on. So I finally got everything straightened out and stuff. So yeah. I think I'm done now. Ja ne.
"Mihara!!!" Tasuki screamed, watching the shape of his girlfriend float away slowly. He fell to his knees, attempting to keep his composure by not crying. "Its okay. We'll get her back. And Ichidou to." Nuriko's hand was on his shoulder. Tasuki stood suddenly, his face full of anger and resolve. "Let's go." He said lethally. Tamahome looked slightly confused. "Where?" "To Hokkan country of course. Getting her back is top priority." He began heading toward the boat. "Woah woah woah," Nuriko said stopping him. "If we're ever gonna catch up with them, we won't need the boat. What we need to do is get some horses and go that way." "Fine then!" Tasuki yelled. "I don't care how! Lets just go!"
Mihara shifted and woke. She was in a dark throne room, dangling from the ceiling from her wrists. She looked down. She was several feet from the ground. She looked back up quickly and swallowed. She glanced at Ichidou, who was stirring. "So you're awake are you?" Mihara's eyes shot forward. Sitting on the throne was a girl of about fifteen. She was clothed in a chinese-syle mini skirt and a matching top. Underneath the sleeveless top there was a long sleeved yellow shirt. She had yellow tights on with shin high black boots. On her head was a yellow bandana. "Who are you," Mihara asked, trying to sound brave. "I am Kitsune. The Genbu no Miko." She flicked her short black hair. "I seek the Seiryuu no Miko." "What do you want with her?" Ichidou had awoken. Kitsune looked to Ichidou. "She is to be punished. She stole the Genbu shinzaho. She could have at least asked permission." The girl scoffed, then turned her attention back to Ichidou and Mihara. "So do make it easy on us and tell me which one of you is the Seiryuu no Miko." The girls looked at each other. "I am," Ichidou said heavily. Mihara furrowed her brow, and then said on sudden inspiration. "No, Kitsune-Sama. I am the Seiryuu no Miko. This girl is my loyal bodyguard." "Mihara." Ichidou whispered menacingly under her breath. "Do you have any idea what they might do to you." Kitsune, meanwhile, was laughing. "Ha! I never thought Seiryuu to be so cunning to use a decoy. However now that we know who is who, I suppose we could let the decoy go." She turned to the side. "Hikitsu!" She barked. "Cut them down, and let the blond one go. Tomite! Take the other to the dungeon until I think of a punishment suitable for her." Two men hurried past her. When the one with the hat passed his Miko, Kistsune snatched his hat, giggled madly, and placed it on her head. Ichidou cocked up an eyebrow. She gave Mihara a look that said "Either she has a raging obsession with stealing his hat, or has a crush on that guy." Mihara scoffed under her breath. But she barely had time to think about that when 'Tomite' (the one with the, now, missing hat) cut her down and took her to the dungeons.
Tasuki kept ahead of Nuriko, Chichiri, and Tamahome. They had told him to keep it at a good pace so the horse didn'wear out before they got there. But they didn't understand. Mihara's safety was at stake. Didn't they know how much she meant to him? Good pace. Feh. All that mattered was getting to Hokkan country.
'Hikitsu' took Ichidou to back exit of the Genbu temple. He told her that the fastest way back to Sairo was through the woods. Once she cleared the forest there would be a direct road to Sairo. Ichidou began walking, regretting ever sending Ashitare to fetch the Genbu shinzaho. She remembered him asking why they would need it. They still had their scroll and all but one seishi had gathered. She recalled her response, and the way it made the wolfman flinch. "True we can wait until Miboshi turns up, but that might take ages. And I don't know how much longer I can stand Nakago being alive." Lost in her thoughts she walked the trail through the forest. It was getting dark when she finally took a break to rest her aching feet. She sat on an old log and stretched out her legs, resting them. "Gods, I hope Mihara's okay."
Tasuki squinted along up the road. It was getting dark, and his worry was increasing with each passing minute. Suddenly he saw a figure stumble onto the road, and then trip and fall. He rode a bit furthur and the person on the ground made him yell back to the others and jump off his horse. It was Ichidou. He picked her up off the ground gently. "Hey blondie! Where's Mihara?" Ichidou shifted uncomfortably. "Well...." Tasuki's eyes widened. "Tell me." The Miko sighed deeply. "We were taken to the Genbu Temple. When we woke up we were tied up. The Genbu no Miko wanted to know who was the Seiryuu no Miko, because she stole the Shinzaho. Mihara went all bold and told her that she was the Seiryuu no Miko. They let me go, but they took her to the dungeons. That's all I know." She looked away. Tasuki, now thoroughly infuriated, leaned Ichidou into a sitting posistion and then climbed back on his horse. By that time Nuriko, Chichiri, and Tamahome had caught up to them. "Tasuki, what's going on?" Nuriko asked, sounding concerned. Tasuki ignored the question. "Take care of her. I'm going." And without another word he sped away as fast as he could toward Hokkan.
Mihara stirred. She opened her eyes drowzilly and found herself in the dungeons, with her arms chained above her head once again. She was sitting on the filthy floors in a semi-kneeling position. Through the barred window of her cell she could see the moon shining brightly in the desolate sky. She sighed and leaned against the wall, which was just as dirty as the floor. "Oh Tasuki," she whispered to herself. "I hope you aren't angry with me. I just didn't want Ichidou to be hurt. She just recovered from her awful sickness too." Mihara sighed and closed her eyes again.
Tasuki leapt off his horse as he approached the Genbu Temple. He knew better than to barge into the room where the Miko and her seishi would be, and demand to know where Mihara was. Instead, when he entered the temple, he headed downwards, going to the dungeons. "Hey!" Tasuki turned and found a few guards behind him. "Where are you going?!" Tasuki stared at them for a few moments longer then started to run down the steps. By the time he reached the dungeons quite a few guards had collected behind him, and he was attracting some ahead of him. "Great, just my luck." He mumbled to himself. He unsheathed his tessan. "Recca shinen!!" And in one swift stroke he blew away his lowsy competition. He leaned over and snatched the keys off of one of the guard's belt. Suddenly he heard a voice. "Tasuki!" Tasuki broke into a run again following the sound of Mihara's voice to the back of the dungeons. When he came in front of her cell he saw that she was chained to the wall a few feet away. He hurriedly unlocked the cell and rushed in. He gave Mihara a quick kiss before going to unlock her hands. "Thank gods," he was whispering. "Thank gods you're okay." "Stop." Tasuki turned.
There stood the Genbu miko with a few of her seishi. "Take him." She said leathily. Even Tasuki's inhuman speed couldn't save him from the Genbu seishi. They did not notice, however, see him slip the keys into his boot. Tasuki gave one last look at Mihara, who DID see his manuveour, before he was drug out of the cell and put in his own.
Nuriko jumped off his horse, and then turned to help Ichidou down. "Only one of two things could have happened here." Nuriko was saying to Ichidou, Chichiri, and Tamahome. "Either Tasuki got Mihara out of the dungeons and they are talking their way out of trouble, explaining everything." "Or," Ichidou said, as the four began walking up the steps of the temple. "Or..." Nuriko chuckled to himself. "Or Tasuki managed to mess up the whole rescue and they're both captured now, and everything is up to us." Ichidou laughed with Nuriko. "I think its the second one." Once they were inside Nuriko took charge. "Okay Tamahome you keep a lookout here with Ichidou. Try and see if Tasuki and Mihara are in one of these rooms. Me and Chichiri will head down to the dungeons. They are most likely there. Chichiri will stun the guards while I take the keys and get them out. Okay, Tamahome if you see anyone coming or if you are seen, stall them from going down to the dungeons. If you can't hold them off yell 'the gig's up.'" Tamahome gave Nuriko a questioning stare. "'The gig's up.'" "Just do it. Okay are we all ready?" Everyone nodded determinedly. "Okay we meet back outside by the horses. One two three go." They broke off from each other, Nuriko and Chichiri headed to the dungeons, while Ichidou and Tamahome began to search the rooms. Nuriko crept noiselessly down the stairs, Chichiri behind him. Once he reached the bottom, he indicated for Chichiri to go ahead and stun the gaurds. He waited for the shocked yells cut off short before he revealed himself. He jumped down the remaining steps and snatched the keys off of one of the guard's belts. "Find a different set," he yelled to Chichiri. "Find Tasuki. I'll get Mihara." He took off down the dungeon looking in every cell. When he found her he quickly opened the door, waking the sleeping girl. "Nuriko!" She whispered. "Where's Tasuki? Have you gotten him out yet?" "Chichiri's taking care of it." Nuriko replied unlocking her shackles. When she was free, Mihara stood up and ran out of her cell. Down the dungeon she could see Tasuki stumbling out of his own. She ran toward him, stumbling every now and then because of the prolonged use of her legs. When they were close enough to each other, Tasuki grabbed Mihara up in a hug, strong enough to break one's back. She grasped him back just as tightly, kissing his neck repeatedly. Then Tamahome's voice cut through the air. "Hey yall down there, the gig's up!" "Time to go," Nuriko said. "Go where?" It was Kitsune, with her two favorite seishi standing protectively at her sides. "I think you've gone far enough." "Wait!" Nuriko said, throwing a sheilding arm in front of Mihara. "She's not the one you want. We can explain the whole thing!" Kitsune raised her eyebrows at the four standing there. "Oh really. Lets hear it then."
End Chapter 14
Hey people, here's your fourteenth chapter. I know the name of the chapter is lame, but I couldn't think of anything else. Its not exactly copy- righted so yeah. It didn't take me very long to write this chapter, but I had to go on vacation for a month. And I couldn't put it up cuz FF.net was down and stuff. Then I went on vacation and when I got back my internet wouldn't let me log on. So I finally got everything straightened out and stuff. So yeah. I think I'm done now. Ja ne.