~Eight~

If You Just Stay Alive For Me

A small bird twittered somewhere nearby. She groaned, pulled from sleep at an inopportune moment.

She suddenly sat up, blinking in confusion. Where was she?

Canvas tent walls sloped on either side of her, bright sunshine streaming in. The icy coldness of the air suddenly hit her. Shivering slightly, she crawled out into the daylight.

Frigid gusts of wind cut through her thin blouse. With a small yelp, she jumped back into the tent in search of her jacket.

Hugging herself to keep warm, she glanced around uncertainly. The entire place was deserted. There was nothing but snow, rock, and a few scrubby plants. She shivered, not because of the cold, but because of the fear beginning to surface in her mind.

Hoofbeats pounded in the distance, coming to a halt nearly in front of her.

"Aiumi?"

"Chiriko! Chichiri! What happened here? Where is everybody?"

"No time to explain, no da. Come on."

Suzaku, great red phoenix, please…don't let Nuriko be…I can't even think it, no da. The monk's footfalls broke the stillness. He removed his mask, his good eye glinting somberly.

Miaka's hysteric sobs could be heard from far away. Aiumi raised an eyebrow in annoyance. Miaka and Tamahome stood off from the group, Miaka's face buried against Tamahome's chest, huge wails racking her form. He cradled her impassively, a stony expression of sorrow on his face.

Tears streamed silently from Tasuki's amber eyes. How could this have happened? If he had been there…would Nuriko still be alive?

Five minutes. If he had just been there five minutes earlier…how could this healing power be a gift, if he could never be there in time when it really mattered?

Akiame bit her lip, a little scared. Who was this person that had died so suddenly? She instinctively pulled Dou-chan closer to her, feeling responsible for protecting him.

She felt like she'd scream if no one did anything. It was all so confusing. Even Tasuki was crying. What should she do? "Tasuki?"

It was little more than a whisper, barely audible, but he heard. He ripped his gaze away from Nuriko's face, so peaceful and happy even in death; to stare into her terrified gray eyes.

The initial shock and despair had died away, leaving him an empty shell of a person. Why, Suzaku? Haven't you taken enough from me already, no da?

Everyone was so scared. Had they only just realized that being a seishi of Suzaku was no joke? That the job could quite possibly mark the end of their lives? He'd assumed they already knew this…but it was humbling, seeing Nuriko…gone…forever. "Nuriko…we'll always remember you. Rest in peace, friend."

Such was the epitaph of the first of the fallen, the first Suzaku seishi to—

"NO!" Keisuke yelled, not realizing that half the library was staring at him. "It can't be…it can't…"

End of Chapter Eight