~Chapter Seven~

Into the Great Wide Open, Under the Skies of Blue

"Aiumi?"

"Mmh?" She blinked groggily, straightening up from where she'd fallen asleep on the grass. "What is it?"

"D'ya want ta go t' Mt. Taikyoku or not?"

"Where?"

Tasuki sweatdropped.

After a few minutes of explanation, she nodded her head. "Okay. But why so suddenly?"

"Well…I…kinda wanted ta catch up with Chichiri and the others in Hokkan…I'm worried that they…I don't know…"

"Might not be all right without you?"

"Exactly."

She raised her eyebrows with an 'You're not saying what you really mean but I understand anyway' expression. "All right, then."

And that was how they'd come to be wandering aimlessly along in the forest, traveling gradually toward the center of the four countries to the mountainous land viewable only to the pure of heart.

It wasn't that bad to be out in the middle of the forest, sleeping under the stars, listening to the birds in the trees.

They'd only brought one horse, and, as Aiumi usually chose to walk, Tasuki was endlessly bugging her in his 'I'm trying to be chivalrous but I won't admit it' way to switch him places. She'd refuse and tease him about how insufferably obvious he was being, only serving to make him angry, which was rather funny to watch.

One early evening started much like any other, Aiumi lounging around, propped up against a broad tree trunk, sketching the view in front of her. Out of the few things she had with her from the modern world, her sketchbook was most treasured.

As she glanced at the sun sinking rather low in the sky, she noticed Tasuki leaning against a nearby tree.

Could that be the boy she'd been teasing only an hour before? He couldn't be capable of a look of such seriousness and strength as that, could he?

She bit her lip uncertainly. Where had the Tasuki she knew gone?

She suddenly saw him with an artist's eye, a scene just waiting to be captured forever on paper.

Aiumi finished the last few details of the sketch, smiling contentedly. It was perfect. She glanced up to compare it with the real thing.

He wasn't there.

Glancing around in alarm, she spotted him standing right behind her, watching with impassive amusement. He smirked.

She snapped the sketchbook closed, embarrassed, but he was too fast for her, snatching it away.

"Come on, give it back…"

"Why? What don't ya want me ta see, huh?" he teased, glad to be on the other end for once.

"Please?"

But he was already flipping through it. His expression slowly changed from sarcasm to amazement. Aiumi groaned, blushing furiously.

He stopped on the one she'd just finished. That expression on his face…it was him, alright, but the look was like that of Hakurou…radiating wolfish energy, powerful, somber…a true leader and a true bandit. He'd never believed he could possibly hope to have that appearance.

"Well, this is just…awkward." She kicked at a rock in disgust at herself.

He silently handed it back to her, running his fingers through his hair thoughtfully. He suddenly grinned, and she smiled, a little bewildered as to his thought processes. Her bewilderment increased when he gave her a quick hug and walked away.

A sudden feeling ripped through him. Pain…searing pain…and then emptiness. Something was wrong…someone's life force was weakening at an alarming rate.

Hotohori gasped, the hand mirror slipping from his hand, shattering into a million pieces.

Chiriko flinched, his eyes widening in fear and surprise.

Chichiri whirled in the direction the subliminal cry for help had come from, noticing Mitsukake and Tamahome do the same. "Nuriko…"

"Tamahome, protect Miaka. Mitsukake, see what you can do to help, if it's not too late. I'm going to get Chiriko. Tasuki'll find his way on his own."

"Tasuki, what's wrong?" He said nothing, jumping onto their horse and reaching down to her.

"Get on." His voice was quiet, but full of fierce determination and urgency.

"Chichiri!" He jumped to his little feet. "What happened?"

"It's Nuriko…we have to get back there, but I can't take you through my kesa without everyone's help, no da."

"Dou-chan?" Akiame called, happy to be able to visit her little brother again so soon.

"Akiame!" He ran up to her, his eyes grave with a seriousness beyond his years. "Akiame, we need your help!"

The man who had been talking to Doukun came up behind him, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Who is this, Chiriko, no da?"

"Oh…Chichiri, this is my aneki, Akiame. Please, we need to get to Hokkan, and fast!"

"Dou-chan, slow down! What happened?"

"Something's happened to Nuriko-sama. Aneki, I know it's my duty as one of the Ou family to stay here, but it is my duty as a warrior of Suzaku to be with the others. Please, Aki-chan."

"Dou-chan, I'd do anything to help you, you know that." She smiled. "Let's go."

She clung to him for dear life, still not knowing where they were going or why they had to go so fast.

They galloped onward into the encroaching darkness, heading toward the northern empire of Hokkan…

Keisuke frowned. Would Nuriko make it?

End of Chapter Seven