Part 5: The Fire Bandit
Duo shivered within the prison of his body, his eyes searching the shimmering heat outside the cave they had taken shelter in. There would be no one coming, he knew, they were all on the other side of the border and scattered. She was so unprotected here, unprotected and unknowing of the danger she was in. That's right, Miboshi cooed the smile into his brain. She was lucky the last time, but here there will be little left to stop me. It was Duo's turn to smile. There had been two last times. Miboshi had obviously not expected the girl to be able to defend herself as well as she had. Duo didn't think that even he could have thrown that dagger with the kind of precision and flare that she had. And then the arrow. He would have liked to have thought that it had been part of his doing that caused the arrow to miss its target, but he knew better. It had been dark, the only thing to follow was a sound. It was amazing that it had hit anything at all, and great fortune that it had only grazed Tasuki's side. But would he still be able to protect her? Against him? Duo could feel Miboshi tensing and untensing his muscles, savoring the strength of Duo's body. Duo knew very well what he was capable of. He had committed murder himself. Murder and stealth were his trademarks. He could kill both Tasuki and Ayden before they even realized what was going on. The rest of the Suzaku Seven would wander around the desert in a vain search until Konan was under Kutou's power. It would just be too simple. It was amazing to believe that Nakago had even thought the girl a threat. Miboshi turned to gaze back into the cave, looking at the girl who was allowing Tasuki a few swallows from a water bottle that "Duo" had brought to them.
Duo knew what the demon thought about her. He thought her weak and much too caring to be worth the trouble of fighting. Killing her would be about as difficult as squeezing the life from some infant bird, and with her all the dreams of summoning Suzaku would be dead. Ah, but hadn't she already saved herself once? This supposedly innocent, ignorant girl had pulled steel death from her sleeve in an instant and without a fraction of hesitation delivered it to one who had opposed her. She had proven herself. But that might not be enough here. That man had been surprised while Miboshi was always watchful. Besides, why would she even think she was in danger?
"How is he?" Miboshi formed the words as Ayden came to the mouth to see what he had been contemplating for so long. She looked tired and frightened and sad, but otherwise normal. The dagger was shifting in her fingers nervously.
"He'll be fine, but we shouldn't make him move too much for a couple days. It may reopen." Miboshi nodded sagaciously, his eyes moving downward to the dagger that she twisted absentmindedly.
"Think we'll need that do you?" He asked with a wink. Yeah, thought Duo, you want her to put it away. You want her to feel safe so you can attack. Well, she's smarter than that. She's on her guard and you can't touch her. As if to prove a point, Miboshi laid his hand over Ayden's. She startled, but not much. "You've never killed before have you?" The tone he used was concerned and sympathetic, but he only wanted the answer to use against her. She shook her head, her eyes suddenly brimming tears.
"I don't know why I did it. I didn't know I was doing it." The hand that held the dagger trembled beneath Duo's fingers. "And by the time I realized what happened there was nothing I could do." Duo's face tightened in surprise.
"But he was going to kill you. It was self defense. You can't blame yourself for that."
"I shouldn't have been able to do it! I took a life, a life that I had no right to. I murdered someone I didn't even know." Miboshi softened his expression to one of sadness.
"Yes, that I can understand well," he murmured, looking down.
"Oh, I didn't realize," Ayden stammered suddenly, clenching his sleeves tightly in her fists, the dagger pointed away and harmless. "I'm so sorry, Duo, I keep forgetting who you are." Miboshi shook his head.
"No, it's fine. It's just," he paused to sigh. "I'm just sorry you have to go through it too." In a false show of compassion, Miboshi pulled Ayden's shaking body close, his hand reaching up to stroke her hair comfortingly. She's not as strong as you thought, is she? Miboshi giggled madly. Now feel the bones as I snap her neck in two. Duo began to scream, fought, tightened everything he could, willing it to stop. Not her, Trowa would never forgive me. She doesn't deserve it.
"Ayden," Tasuki's voice, hoarse yet loud, jerked the lithe girl from his grasp. She stepped back, the dagger now pointed directly into Duo's abdomen. There would be no stepping forward for him, and in another second she had left his side all together, beyond his reach for the time being. Miboshi cursed softly even while Duo laughed.
"What is it Tasuki?" Ayden knelt beside him in an easy motion. They'd brought him back here, away from the sun, so that he could rest and heal. He'd been asleep all morning, but now was beginning to be restless. When he began to sit up Ayden reached out to prevent him, but he only took her hand tightly in his own and pulled her down closer.
"Don't be alone with him, ever, you got that?" His eyes were bright, almost feverish. She wondered if he knew what he was saying.
"But he's one of the Suzaku Seven, Tasuki," she pointed out. "Remember? He's the final warrior. We don't have to worry about him." The flame haired man risked a look at the boy in black.
"I know who he is, but something about him just doesn't seem right. He's way too calm about everything." Ayden smiled.
"So are Heero and Trowa. It's just how they work. We're all from the same place, you see and-"
"No, Ayden, pay attention, ok? Never turn your back to him, always keep him in sight. Stay with me, if we're separated it'll be dangerous for you." He moved his hand from her wrist to her sleeve, pinching the dagger he knew she carried there. "And keep that in the open like you've been doing."
She opened her mouth to try and reason away his worries, but she could only say, "All right," when she looked at the serious expression on his usually grinning face. He meant what he was telling her, and she would do well to follow what he said. Even if it was just the fever talking, it wouldn't hurt to be on guard, she rationalized. But Duo. It's only Duo. She turned her head to see him staring at her, smiling softly and genuinely. He wouldn't do anything. He'd brought her dagger back, and news of the others, and water. He was the one who had all but carried Tasuki to this cave and rebandaged his wound. And to top all of that, he was a Gundam pilot, fighting in another war to save the independence of people he didn't know. No, Tasuki, you have to be wrong about him. I know him, and he's not, but she paused. Did she know him? The first time they had met he had called himself the God of Death. She looked at him again as he watched the sunset outside, saw how the fading light cast him into a bloody glow. A shiver ran up her back, causing her to tense. She thought of Heero and how he had tried to murder her when he realized that she knew his secret. They were dedicated to nothing but the mission, all of them, even Trowa. Without thinking she drew her dagger again, twisting it in her fingers. The feel of the cool steel brought back other thoughts.
I've used this to kill, even though the blood is washed off I still remember what I've done with it. This is a harsh place, and if I want to survive then I'm going to have to become like them. Like Heero and Wufei. I have to practice until I can do it perfectly without sense. I've already crossed the threshold. I'm already a murderer. There's no way to go back, but there is a way to get out. Her hand ceased trembling as a terrible calm eased its way into her. And if I have to I'll carve the path to it with this.
A slight movement, like the skittering of a rock over a pond, caught Duo's attention. There was something out there, moving fast over the nothing. As it drew near Miboshi began to cackle, a harsh sound that seared into Duo's soul. He could now tell what it was that rushed for them so boldly. Ashtare. He's finally found us, Miboshi snickered. Our surprise attack. The moment we leave this cave, he'll be waiting for her.
"Ayden, Tasuki," Miboshi called over his shoulder. "I'm going for a quick scout around us to see if we're still safe or if any of the others are wandering out there, all right?"
"Are you sure you'll be ok out there? You'll be able to find your way back?" Ayden was concerned. Miboshi waved his hand at her.
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I'll be back in a little while. Why don't you two just relax? I might even be able to rustle us up something to eat while I'm at it." Ayden smiled and nodded her acceptance to his departure. "Ok then, see you in a bit." With a final wave and grin, he stepped into the sunset and jogged off to meet his fellow warrior on the dunes.
"Is he gone?" Tasuki asked even as he used the wall to stand. Ayden hurried to his side, trying to support him even as she began to pull him back to the cool floor.
"He'll be all right, Tasuki," she eased him. "He said he'd be right back." The red haired young man shook her off him with surprising strength for being injured.
"And by the time he gets here we'll be long gone." Ayden cocked her head, puzzling out what he was saying.
"You mean leave him behind? But why? We need him to conduct the ceremony. You've been searching for him for such a long time, why abandon him now?"
"Because I don't like the way he looks at you, Ayden. He isn't from here; he doesn't understand about the summoning process."
"Tasuki, what are you saying? What would he do to me?" Tasuki slipped a water bag over his shoulder, wincing slightly.
"I don't know, Ayden, but there's always this twisted affection in his eyes so I'd rather not sacrifice all we've worked for to find out. He'll catch up; he's good that way, but I hope by the time he finds us we'll be safe on Mt. Taikyoku. Come on, let's get out of here." Ayden began another protest, but he was already out of the cave. Besides, he was stronger and more stubborn than she had ever been. There was nothing for it except to follow him, just in case he needs my help out there, Ayden rationalized as she slipped out behind him. She hoped Duo would be able to come after as Tasuki had predicted. How would they explain it to him when he found them?
"Heero, look at that," Chichiri whispered harshly as he gestured toward the Kutou camp. Heero was on his stomach at his side in a moment, his eyes taking in all the surrounding area at once. The camp was there, a few men with bandages on arms and faces, and several tents were partially collapsed due to fire it appeared.
"That's where they crossed," he determined from the scene. "Looks like they got away." Chichiri nodded, smiling.
"That means she's safe and on her way to the mountain, you know. Tasuki is with her."
"We'll have to follow them, maybe catch up in another day if we go quickly." Chichiri nodded again, backing away so as not to be seen and standing up. Heero followed suit, watching as the taller man drew his blue cloak from his shoulders and spread it on the sand.
"Get on," he instructed Heero, who did as he was told automatically. "I couldn't do this for all of us at once, there were too many, you know," Chichiri explained almost apologetically. "But since it's just you and me then we won't have any problems." Heero stood on the cloak and waited, not even bothering to ask what the man meant. He didn't really care, so long as he wasn't wasting time. Time was very important at the moment. Chichiri delicately stepped onto the cloak next to Heero and with a whispered word thrust his staff into the sand with a sharp clang. The fabric was pulled downward into the sand, making Heero tense to leap away from the dangerous area. But Chichiri, with a laugh, grabbed his shirt and they sank down into the darkness. Heero reached for a gun that wasn't there out of habit, but didn't really miss it until he felt himself drop from the sand and into a hallway of some kind. He paused for only a moment to wonder why there was a hall underneath the sand and how Chichiri knew about it, but his reflexes took over as a young girl rushed in to them, a large smile spread over her features.
"Chichiri!" She squealed, running into his outsretched arms and kissing his grin-strained cheek. "You came back!"
"Yan-Yan!" Chichiri hugged her tight before she pulled back to give Heero a curious glance, not a fearful one, one that Heero thought would have been more appropriate. Obviously the girl didn't know any better and wasn't afraid of him. . . .yet.
"Who did you bring with you?" She asked bluntly, staring at Heero who glared back in an attempt to instill the unease and desire to avoid him that he liked best about being himself. She just giggled. "He looks funny."
"This is a guardian of the Priestess of Suzaku. We've come to get the scroll from Taitskun, you know."
"Yes," she grew serious. "I know. She's waiting for you, but the Priestess isn't here yet." Heero was just about to offer to go out and search for her when the little girl reached away from Chichiri to put her arms around his neck. He startled, but had no choice but to take her from the taller man who was already walking quickly down the hall to meet the infamous Taitskun. It was all too strange for Heero. They'd gone through all that travel when he could just toss his cloak down and bring them there in a blink? And what about all that talk that she was never in the same place twice and it would be impossible for them to find her? Apparently not for Chichiri. If that had been the case why hadn't they just sent the magician off to the mountain to get the scroll for them? Then they could have saved a lot of time, they wouldn't have gotten scattered, but they wouldn't have found Duo either, he supposed, sighing.
The girl, Yan-Yan, snuggled close against him, making him want to drop her. She was incredibly light and smelled of the kind of wind that carries the rain. It was a refreshing kind of smell, and that was the only reason he could give himself for why she was still in his arms. "Suzaku is strong with you," she told him in a sleepy sort of little girl voice. "That's why you were allowed to come here." He grunted, his usual answer to everything. "An evil hearted person wouldn't have been able to see any of this." Heero didn't know if he believed that, but shrugged it off and began to follow in the direction Chichiri had gone. Yan-Yan chattered along the way about how Chichiri had come to them years before, wounded and sad. She told how she had nursed him back to life and how Taitskun had taught him magic. Heero snorted at the magic part, but it was almost all a show. There were quite a few things about this world, and Chichiri in general that could be explained by nothing except a force that needed no explanation. He wondered what this girl was doing here, where here was exactly, and why he was here to begin with. And now Ayden and Trowa and Duo were all split up in the desert. It would be such a delay before he could get back to his own war. He hoped Quatre and Wufei would be able to handle it themselves.
"The Priestess of Suzaku? Do you really believe that," laughed an ancient voice from a room to Heero's left. Gently, he set the girl on the floor so he could peek around the corner to see who was there and what they were talking about. All he could make out from his position was Chichiri, kneeling respectfully before someone unseen, the owner of the voice.
"But," he stuttered in a tone that Heero had never heard him use before. "She fulfills every prophesy. How could we have been mistaken?" Heero debated entering. He wanted to see the person they had travelled so far to see, but now that she was saying that Ayden wasn't what they were searching for after all he wondered if their safety here had become unsure.
"Did you really think, Chichiri," the voice droned. "That this little girl you've brought with you is capable of handling the summoning? If that is so I might as well send Yan-Yan back with you for the task."
"So, you're saying that she's not the real Priestess?" Chichiri suddenly sounded tired, defeated. "But if she's not. . . .then who is she?"
"Hold on just one minute," Heero decided against his better judgment to go in and speak on Ayden's behalf. He didn't want to have to fight against everyone in this ridiculous world. Chichiri looked up, startled and Heero almost took a step back. His face had changed completely, no longer the smiling fox look to it. One eye was open and reddish brown, while the other was sealed tightly shut by a scar that ran across his nose and up his eye to his forehead. His other face was just a mask; Heero could see it in his hand. He didn't have the time to ask him about it, though.
"And what do we have here?" Came the voice again, making him turn to finally see. He cringed back from the hideous old woman who apparently sat crosslegged in midair. She was old, so impossibly old. Everything about her was impossible, and Heero was right to cringe. "You couldn't wait for us, Heero? Hurry up, say what you interrupted us to say."
"What makes you think Ayden isn't the Priestess?" He asked, begging his logic to stay with him so he could outwit this old hag. "Chichiri said that she matches all descriptions of her." Taitskun smiled, obviously amused at his attempts. "Who are you that you can know such a thing when you've never even seen her?" And how the devil did you know my name?
"It is strange that you fight for her now, when you yourself don't believe she is what Chichiri claims." Heero paused, hating the woman suddenly for getting it exactly right. How dare she know his thoughts? What kind of witch was she? He shook himself. "And I have seen her. I've been watching you all from the moment you left Konan. I think you all trust much too easily, both friends and strangers." Heero decided he'd puzzle that one out later.
"A test then," he burst out. "Set a test for her to prove it." Chichiri stood to stand beside him, his mask back in place and Yan-Yan at his side. Taitskun never turned her eyes to look at him.
"A test?" She snickered. "She had already failed her test before you left the threshold of the palace. She's put her warriors in danger and has not taken responsibility to speak up."
"Speak up against what?" Heero demanded. If Ayden were going to be taking this much abuse then it had better be pretty clear as to why or he'd have something to say about it. Sure, he didn't know her very well, but she'd kept his secret and helped them out when they needed it. Honor wouldn't let him just abandon her to this madwoman's prejudice. Taitskun merely smiled.
"Exactly," she sighed. "Begone, you shall not be taking the scroll until the true Priestess of Suzaku stands before me to claim it." Heero felt his muscles clench. Yan-Yan was tugging at his arm, but he shrugged away from her. He wasn't giving up yet.
"She didn't have to come here in the first place to help your miserable little planet," he hissed, not knowing where this rage was coming from. Helplessness, he decided later, but he knew that it was something more. "She's trying to do everything that's asked of her even though she knows the danger she's putting herself in. She was willing to lose everything for people she doesn't know. If she's not the Priestess I don't know where you'll find a better one, and the least you could do would be to set a test for her that she understands the stakes for so that there won't be one shred of doubt left in any of us as to whether she is or isn't."
Chichiri tentatively stepped forward. "That's a good idea, you know," he spoke softly, as if to calm everyone down while making his opinions apparent. "That way we can be sure, can't we?"
Taitskun sighed. "Oh very well. You may go." Heero was about ready to protest, but Yan-Yan grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room. Nothing left to do but wait.
"That was pretty brave of you, you know," Chichiri grinned at him from the pillow he had sagged into. They were in some other kind of room, this one strewn about with comfortable looking pillows, pitchers of water, and even bowls of fruit. It was almost like the room in the emperor's palace, exept it was smaller and green and pink instead of scarlet. Heero shook his head from his own pillow.
"It was necessary," was all he could say. He'd used up all his words with Taitskun. "What would happen to her if she's not what you want her to be?" Chichiri gave him a confused look.
"Well, that would be up to you, you know." Then he laughed as he caught on to what Heero was saying. "You're a good warrior, you know. Even if she turns out not to be the Priestess, you will have my respect and allegance. I'm sorry if we made it seem like there wasn't a choice involved, you know, but Ayden could have said she didn't want to do it from the start." He leaned closer. "Personally, I'm really glad she said she would. It's been an honor getting to know you." Heero favored the fox man with a rare smile. That was a good thing to know. Allies were handy in unfamiliar settings. Chichiri nodded, about to say something else, when the door opened admitting Yan-Yan again into their company. She'd been ordered to stay with Taitskun to prepare for the demanded test. Her eyes were sad as she joined them, her hands fidgeting in front of her.
"What happened, Yan-Yan?" Chichiri asked gently, sitting up and beginning to open his arms for her in a paternal gesture. But she ran instead to Heero, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest, beginning to sob. Heero resisted the urge to shake her, looking up at Chichiri for assistance. The older man could only shrug. Hesitantly, because he didn't really know what he was doing, Heero put his arms around the little body that was pressed against him, and rocked.
"Don't cry," he told her, a little gruffly. "Tell us what happened."
"Taitskun set the test," Yan-Yan gulped. "She's going to make her be all alone and show her true nature."
"Well, that's all right, you know. That's what she had to do," Chichiri reassured, stroking one light green pigtail. Yan-Yan shook her head.
"She said she had to go inside herself and really see. . .everything." She was done talking by then, nestling her head into Heero's shoulder. Chichiri backed up a little as if he finally understood.
"What's she going to do?" Heero demanded. The blue haired warrior only shook his head, and moved back.
***
"Tasuki, I really think we need to stop for a minute," Ayden called, trying to make her muscles work enough so she could jog up next to him. As captivating as his back was, she was growing rather tired of looking at it. Besides, the farther they went the harder it was to walk through the sand, it tugged at her ankles and heels, making her exhausted and frustrated. She began to wonder if it would be any easier to walk on her hands, and then she began to wonder how Tasuki was holding up so well. When his shoulders hunched forward and she could hear his quick breathing she realized he wasn't holding up as well as she thought. "I need a rest," she told him, hoping that his masculine pride would allow him to stop if it were for her sake. The waterbag slipped from his shoulder and he followed it down to the ground. One hand curled across to his side, pressing there as if testing to see if it were bleeding, but it was pulled away quickly, as if he hoped that she wouldn't notice.
"If you say so," he tried to laugh, but couldn't quite manage his cheerful bark like he used to. "You don't see that kid behind us, do you?"
Ayden lifted her hands as a shield for the sun, squinting against the heat waves that rose from the ground and shimmered everything into incredulity. "No, he's not there," she reassured. Tasuki nodded, satisfied. "How are you doing?"
He shrugged, not wanting her to know the truth of the answer. "I miss my horse," was all she could get him to say about himself. But she could tell by the way he was breathing, and the color of his face.
"We should have stayed in the cave for a while longer," she said, speaking softly. "It was out of the sun in any case."
Tasuki sighed, unclosing his eyes to pin her with a stare. "I told you. There's something about that kid that I don't like." It was Ayden's turn to sigh. She just didn't understand what there could be to Duo that anyone wouldn't like. Unless, maybe, he was too much like Tasuki. She decided to just drop it.
"Well, maybe we can find somewhere closeby where we can stay until the sun goes down." Tasuki looked about ready to protest. "You have to hold still, and the heat isn't helping anyone. I'm going to the top of that hill to see if there's anywhere." Tasuki looked dubious. "Don't worry, I won't get lost, you'll be able to keep me in sight from here. I'll be back in two minutes, I promise. Ok?" If he hadn't been too tired and hurting he probably wouldn't have nodded. However, since there weren't that many options open at the moment, there wasn't anything else he could do.
Giving a nod of her own, Ayden jogged up the hill. She found that jogging was actually easier than walking because the sand didn't have as much of a chance of pulling her down if she moved faster. The top of the hill proved a poor vantage point. Although the mountains could be seen in the distance, and what a distance it was, she thought with sudden dismay, there weren't any rocks or caves or anything close. There was nothing but waves and waves of sand. We're going to die out here, the thought came almost casually. We're going to run out of water and die. She turned to look back the way they had come, seeing Tasuki still crouched where she'd left him. Far far off she could see the cave they had been in and wondered if she could convince Tasuki to return to it if he were delirious enough. She waved to him, letting him know that everything was fine, even though it really wasn't, and took a step to begin the trek back down to him.
The sand curled around her ankle. It would have made her trip except there was no longer anything left to trip on. The grainy substance swirled around her and she fell straight down into a hole that had no business being there in the first place. It was not a long fall, but it ended on something very hard. Lucky that her body had automatically coiled and she had landed perfectly on her feet or she might have broken something important. She looked up quickly to find the hole completely covered over with sand once more. It was pitch dark and she had no idea where she was, or how she'd gotten there.
"Tasuki!" She cried first, wondering if he had seen her fall. She wanted to warn him not to come close, that it must be quicksand or something. What on earth was a hole doing there though? And why did the sand recover it? It must not have been just any ordinary hole. Being denied her sight, she stood still, trying to determine anything by her other senses. Trowa could have done that in a flash, but the only thing she could hear was the steady dripping that made her think she must be in a cave. All right, she thought, I'm in a cave, but how do I get out?
Blind, she began a slow and painful trek toward nothing in particular, just a direction that seemed to be open to her as she hadn't bumped into anything yet. She could still hear the dripping, and thought it sounded louder than before and it might be a good idea to follow it. If she had some water supply here then she might live long enough to get back to Tasuki.
"Ack!" Ayden grunted as she tripped on what had to be the hundredth loose rock. Her scraped hands once again saved her face, but they did so with a great amount of protest. Ayden sat up, rubbing her palms on the softness of her clothing. More than anything she wanted to just give up and cry, but seeing as that would do her no good either, there was nothing for her except to creep along and hope she could find something that might lead her out of here. On hands and knees she resumed her journey, only to find that if she had gone one more step she would have fallen right into what she had been seeking. An underground stream rolled gently along the cave's floor, the source of the dripping sound she'd been following was really this stream. Now if only she could transport some of it up to where Tasuki was. Or rather have him down here in the coolness. That way they could rest a while and let his wounds heal before setting out again for the mountain.
As she was thinking of different ways of either getting Tasuki down or water up, Ayden allowed her abused hands to travel towards the running water. The moment her fingers touched the cold wetness there came a sharp sound, as if a torch were being lit by someone, and then Ayden's eyes closed involuntarily as the brightness encircled her.
"Lady Ayden?" Came a soft and gentle voice Ayden was sure she had heard before. Her mind rolled a bit as she squinted into the sudden light, attempting to discover exactly who it was who had also managed to get lost in this underground wonderment.
"Your Majesty!" She squeaked, blinking hard to make sure he was really standing there. Yes, it had to be him. His clothes were scarlet, and the great pheonix Suzaku was embroidered along the sleeves. It was him, standing there and holding a lantern, looking at her with an expression of concern and awed affection. "How did you. . .what's going on?" He favored her with a look of puzzlement as he knelt elegantly beside her. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was worried about you so I decided to set out and see if you were all right." Ayden raised an eyebrow at this. How could he possibly have found her when she didn't know where she was or how she had gotten there? "It's a good thing I found you too. Tasuki is quite worried and waiting for us above." He nodded his head towards the land she had left. His hand swept out to help her to her feet. She found herself marveling at his grace.
"What about the others? Did you find them?" She heard herself asking, though she wasn't really thinking about them. She was watching the Emperor's face, all gentle lines and caring eyes. He smiled, curling a protective arm around her waist to aid her through the uneven terrain.
"Fine as far as we can tell," he assured her as he began to lead her out of the cave. "Most of them made it back to Konan to let me know what had happened." Ayden didn't pause to wonder how they had gotten back so fast when it had taken them days to get this far into the desert. "The rest, Tasuki and the other, were still out here. We still haven't found him."
"Who?" A rock jumped out at her, causing her to stumble slightly. Hotohori slipped down, catching her securely and managing to pull her around to face him. The fireglow glittered in his golden eyes, sparking them with wonder.
"Your guardian. We haven't found him yet." But Ayden wasn't paying attention to his words any longer. She was studying his beauty in the shadows of the place, enjoying the pressure of his fingers on her back. He smelled fresh, like the wind that carries the rain, clean and soft. "Don't worry, though, it won't be long before --"
"I've decided," she cut him off, staring at his eyes and feeling the corners of her mouth twitch upwards in a girlish smile. He cocked his head to consider her.
"Decided?" He encouraged.
"To become your Empress," her words were hollow in her ears, as if she weren't really speaking them. But she had. She had just accepted his marriage proposal. For one moment she thought there might be something wrong with that. She was only fifteen! She should be thinking about other things anyway, like finding her guardian and getting to the mountain. It was too late now, however, as her statement had brightened the gold of Hotohori's eyes. His arms circled her, pulling her close and safe.
"I've never been so happy," he whispered in a strained voice. Ayden wondered briefly if she had made the wrong decision, but what could possibly be better than to be the wife of this powerful, gentle, and beautiful man? She sighed, breathing him in, drinking all of the moment. It was what he wanted, and deep in her heart she thought she wanted it too. What girl didn't? She smiled against the cloth of his shirt, savoring this first sweet moment with him before they would re-enter the harshness of the desert above them. Just one moment alone and to themselves before they would have to join with Tasuki.
Tasuki gasped, gripping his side in pain as he stood beside Ayden's body. She was just here, just one moment ago she was standing right here and waving at him. Now she lay lifeless at his feet. Grimacing, Tasuki knelt at her side, gently cradling her up to a sitting position.
"Ayden?" He tested her name, jerking her just slightly. When this had no effect he wet her lips with a bit of the precious water they still carried. He hadn't noticed if she were showing signs of dehydration, but he couldn't think of anything else that would cause her to just collapse when she had seemed just fine. "Priestess." Her eyes remained closed and her body limp. Tasuki began to shake, bending over her body to try and shield her from the harsh sunlight.
***
Something inside of Ayden's soul leaped painfully at the sight of Trowa. It had been so long since they'd been together last. He looked well, a little tan from his time spent in the desert, flawless as always. Hotohori's hand tightened at her waist, pressing her behind him. Unsteady, she went to her knees, not knowing what would possess him to do such a thing. A blinding flash accompanied the scrape of a sword being drawn. Ayden blinked, cocking her head to see Hotohori step into a fighting stance, and the scowl on Trowa's handsome face.
"Ayden," he barked her name in the way she was used to. But she wasn't used to the glint of steel she caught a glimpse of in his hand. "We're leaving now. Come on, Heero's waiting." She stood immediately, already forgetting her promise to become Hotohori's bride. The emperor flashed out an arm, catching her and holding her back.
"Don't go to him, Ayden," he cautioned in a low tone. "He's not who you think he is." But of course he was. It was Trowa! He was going to take her home, back to the earth and the circus and the colonies. She wouldn't have to be the empress with him, she wouldn't have to be anyone except a gilted acrobat. Her heart twisted within her, savoring the strength of Hotohori as he held her back, and wishing to have Trowa encase her in his embrace. She told him that she would be his wife. She had also told Trowa they would return together. Hotohori growled, the blade poised and ready.
"Ayden," Trowa's voice had turned pleading. He extended his free hand to her. "Don't you want to go back home?" I do, her heart wept, her feet bringing her forward.
"Ayden, don't!" Hotohori could not keep his hold on her and preserve his sword stance. "Please, he's not what you think." She gave him a quizzical stare, pausing in her trek toward her Trowa.
"What does that mean?" She put the question to him, but her answer came not in words, but in the song of the dagger that flew from Trowa's hand with a deadly accuracy even she could not match. By reflex alone she stretched forth her hand, catching the dagger in mid air by the blade. The sting was not as sharp as it could be, but the salty blood dripping from it made it worse. Hotohori leaped in front of her, fire in his eyes. Trowa crouched, ready for the first strike, but Ayden wouldn't have it.
"Stop!" She cried, her knees trembling but nonetheless keeping her standing between the man she loved and the boy she cared for. "Don't fight! You mustn't. We're on the same side!"
Hotohori lowered the blade to the desert sands, ready to give in to her request. She smiled at him, glad that she had prevented something. Yet when she turned to Trowa, there was undisguised hate in his gaze for the scarlet robed monarch behind her. "Trowa," she soothed, stepping toward him. "What is this all about?" He closed the distance between them, his eyes never leaving those of the emperor, and that's when Ayden saw the glint of the other blade.
***
"Ayden! Come on!" Tasuki shook her shoulders violently once more before bringing her convulsing frame closer to him. Why was she shaking? Her eyelids fluttered in some kind of private torment. Yet there was no wound, there was no sign of sickness. There was nothing he could determine about her strange malady, except the sudden appearance of blood on her right palm. Even with that there was no way he could figure out what had caused her to suddenly start bleeding. "Why won't you come back to me?" She remained unresponsive, though her fingers clenched and unclenched in agony. His eyes raised to examine the never changing landscape of sand, not being able to stand looking at her face any longer, squinting them when he caught the movement over the dunes. There was something out there, something moving fast and heading right for them. Quelling the urge to panic, Tasuki began to straighten, Ayden held tight in his arms, but the tearing of the wound at his side forced him down again. There would be no running for him, especially if he had to carry her. There would be no choice but to wait for whatever it was to come to him, and deal with it accordingly. Ayden spasmed against him, but he refused to let her go. Clinging to her with one arm, he reached behind him for his fan, preparing his body to gather the strength he would need.
***
"Yan-Yan!" Chichiri cried, kneeling close to Heero and peering into her little face. Her lips trembled, fighting tears, and her eyes were squeezed tightly shut. Heero held her securely, and she hung on to his shirt with a white knuckled grip. "What's going on, Yan-Yan?"
"Hey," Heero jerked her slightly, getting her to look up at him with a sorrowful gaze. "What is it?"
"Taitskun," was all they could get her to say before her whimpering overtook her completely. Chichiri gave Heero a worried look. All Heero could do was shrug.
"If she's really the Priestess," he heard himself saying. "Then she'll get through it."
"She's the Priestess," Chichiri assured him. "But she may need our strength." Heero paused. What good would his strength do? It wasn't as if he could just hand it to her on a silver platter anyway. But Chichiri had his eyes closed, his lips moving in some soundless chant. "Picture her in your head," he commanded of a sudden. "Give her your faith." His faith? He had none. He believed in Duo's gun, and in Trowa's Gundam. There was no faith for the slight girl, especially when it came to defending herself in any kind of combat, mental or physical. But that's why she needs you, Heero, the thought drifted through the logic. Sighing, hugging Yan-Yan closer to him, he pictured the honey haired supposed Priestess of Suzaku. The wounds that Mitsukake had healed grew heated, and he believed as much as he was able.
***
"Trowa!" She had only enough time to gasp the name before the other dagger was slipped right by her, lodging itself deep into Hotohori's heart. The emperor grunted softly, his knees dropping him to the sand, which grew dark with the blood that flowed from the wound. Ayden fell to her own knees beside him, tears dripping down to mingle with the blood and sand. "Why?" Was the only thing she could say now. "Why, Trowa?"
"So you'd have no reason to stay," he replied softly, all malice vanished from his voice. "So you'd come home with me." She looked, incredulous, over her shoulder. He was standing stoically now, no more weapons.
"I would have come with you," she told him, believing it. "I would have followed you to the ends of the earth and back again. This wasn't necessary."
"But you didn't stop me," he told her simply and she realized in shock that he was right. She'd caught the first blade in her hand, she could feel the blood growing sticky on her palm. But the second. She'd seen the second blade as well, but hadn't moved to stop it. She had allowed Hotohori to be killed.
"Because you loved me more than him?" Trowa continued, stepping closer even as Ayden cringed away. Who did she love? Where was her loyalty? Why can't I love both? Why can't I love them both? We're all friends here.
"No, Ayden," came another voice, an unfamiliar voice that chilled her to her very being. She stood beside Hotohori's body, gripping the dagger in the hand that wasn't slippery with blood. Trowa's form shifted, changing into a hideous old woman who glared at her with disappointment. "We're not all friends here."
"What do you want?" Ayden questioned, relieved that it hadn't really been Trowa who had murdered the emperor. The woman laughed bitterly.
"That's the question I'm asking you, Priestess, because this scene here will never do." Ayden was suddenly angry.
"You're the one who killed him! I couldn't stop you! It wasn't my fault!" She held up one silencing finger and brought Ayden down to the ground with the power of the simple gesture.
"But it was. You suspected no enemy, no danger from those close to you. You were trusting."
"But, Trowa."
"Is Trowa one of your warriors?" Ayden closed off her reply.
"No," she admitted, bowing her head and feeling more than a little guilty for her feelings towards her partner.
"There is real danger in this land, Ayden. Real people with bleeding hearts," the corpse of Hotohori disappeared into the sands as if he had never really been there. "Now, who do you love? Trowa or the emperor?"
"Trowa," was the first name she could think of, wishing that he were here to tell her that everything was fine and that they were returning home.
"He is beyond you," the woman growled, shaking her head. "The emperor as well." Ayden wondered briefly why she had bothered to ask the question in the first place. "Your emotions will betray you, Ayden. People depend on you now. People honor you and trust in you to help them live their life in freedom. Even now warriors are trying to give you their strength. Are you even listening to them? Can you even feel them?" Bowing her head, Ayden looked inward as commanded, and was amazed that indeed they were there, beating in her heart. She could hear Chichiri's calm voice soothing her tortured mind, and Tasuki's arms holding her securely, and she could feel, as if from a very great distance, an energy she was not familiar with. It pulsed within her, telling her not to be stupid, to pay attention to what she was doing.
"I'm listening," Ayden said, trying to defend herself. "They're there; I can feel them."
"You have failed the test," purred the woman, smirking slightly. "As I thought you would. However," her shoulders sagged. "It seems that my testing means nothing to Suzaku. Your warriors have pledged themselves fully to you, and the Phoenix has chosen you as well." She sighed. "You are weak, too trusting, and not yet wise in the ways of this world."
"I can learn," Ayden defended herself quickly, not enjoying this belittlement of her character.
"You'll have to. The Beast God will consume you, Priestess. Your feelings will torment you." Ayden found she was glaring at this strange ugly woman. She was not so weak as all that. Hadn't she just killed a man? She deemed the criticism slightly unjustified.
"Is there nothing but horror in this place?" She burst out, frustrated. "What about all the good I've seen here? Hotohori and Tasuki, everyone who has been so kind to me." This brought the first real smile to the woman's lips. "Who are you, anyway, to know so much? Who are you to doubt me?" For a moment she wondered if she'd gone too far. Had she over stepped her boundaries of power in her station? From deep within the wrinkles, the woman's eyes were now distant, and Ayden thought that perhaps her last sentence had been overlooked.
"I know all. . .I've seen it," the witch murmured. "I know the sorrows that are following at your heels, and the deepest desires of your heart that even you are not yet aware of." Ayden trembled. "I've seen the path that lies before you, and the hurt you will receive and inflict. There is terror that is yours to dispose of at will." Ayden's fingers dug deep into her already wounded palms. The voice held her captivated, spellbound by the possibilities it promised. "Yet you must also believe, as your warriors do. You must give yourself completely to the will of the Beast God. Detatch yourself from the mortal desires and feelings you are bound to and become a Priestess. Forget the boy." All Ayden's fury returned with the last words. She couldn't forget about Trowa, never, not after all that he had come to mean to her. The sense of stability he offered. But, where is he now? The thought pestered her and added upon her frustration. Where is he now that you need him most? She shook the thought clear and focused again on what was in front of her.
"You haven't answered my question!" Ayden cried, noticing that the woman's body was beginning to fade into nothing. "Who are you! How do I submit to Suzaku?" How was she to know anything about it? She was not part of this land and its deities. How was she to know?
"I am Taitskun, whom you seek, and who waits for you in the mountains where the falcons fly in your name. When you are ready you will find me. In the meantime, Priestess, find yourself." The sun burst through the woman's form, encasing Ayden in a harsh heat. Shielding her eyes, she fell backward onto the sand, and into a pair of waiting arms.
"Priestess!" Hands tightened in surprise around her, and she blinked into focus Tasuki's scarlet eyes peering down at her. The sun was bright behind him, low to the sand. Night was coming. But where was the woman? Taitskun? Stiffening, Ayden jerked upright. Tasuki's strong body moved with her, keeping her sheltered and supported. A sting brought her attention down to her palm, where granuals had stuck into the scabbing wound. Not a dream then. "Hold still, Priestess," Tasuki was saying, pulling her down into the cradle of his embrace.
Her eyes were wild and frightened, Tasuki saw in the twilight. They scanned the horizons, searching for something he could not see. Some hidden horror danced before her face, and his words were not reaching her. His entreaties for her to remain still, hoping that she would recover enough for them to start moving soon, as the figure was rapidly making progress across the dunes towards them. Squinting, he could easily make it out, some kind of animal, but his attention was jerked back to the slight girl he held as she threw her arms about his neck and buried her face against him. Her body spasmed with some kind of inner anguish.
"He killed him," she was saying over and over. "Both of them are lost." Raising his hands, he cupped her head to face her.
"What are you saying? Who's lost?" She was looking dead at him, but his words seemed to be passing straight through her. "Priestess, please, you're not making sense." His fingers slipped under her eyes, brushing the tears down the backs of his hands. The silhouette in the distance was growing larger. It would be upon them in seconds. "Ayden," he hesitated slightly over her name. "What's going on?"
"What's going on, Ayden?" Tasuki repeated with more strength, shaking her slightly. She saw him then, realized that Taitskun was indeed gone. Hotohori was still alive, and Trowa was no where near where she was. Despite the pain the last thought inflicted, she was nonetheless relieved that the scene she had suffered within her mind had not taken place anywhere other than there. But Trowa. Would he really do that? Was he really capable of such a thing? She remembered then something that had happened while they were still at the palace. Trowa, from atop a wall, had thrown a dagger, similar to the one she had caught in her vision, directly at the heart of the emperor. She barely restrained herself from breaking into sobs again. He could, and she would have to betray him to keep her warrior safe. Because. . .because she wasn't his partner anymore, but she was the priestess. Tasuki was depending on her; Hotohori was depending on her. Whatever her feelings for Trowa, they must be put behind the responsibilities she had now to the Beast God. Shaking her head, clearing from it the terrible images she had just witnessed, she pushed away from Tasuki to stand and scan their surroundings. At her feet, the fire bandit sighed in relief, and maybe a little pain as well.
"I'm so sorry, Tasuki," she told him as she slowly turned to see in all directions. "I'll be more careful next time." He gave a confused sort of grunt.
"So long as you're all right," he told her softly, giving a different grunt as he stood beside her. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that he could no longer stand straight, his side kept him hunched over slightly. Not a good position for fighting. He studied her curiously. "You are all right?"
"Perfectly," her voice was cold, even to her own ears. Keep Trowa from your head, Ayden, focus only on Tasuki. Focus on the ones that really matter. The cold of the dagger felt comfortable in her wounded hand. Something was coming for them over the dunes, she could make it out in the falling darkness. Not Duo, it was moving too fast for that, but it was unmistakenly headed for them. She judged that they would not be able to outrun it with Tasuki in his condition. "We've got company," she informed him, knowing that he already knew. "Let's go greet it properly." Although she doubted that Tasuki understood her sudden change, it did not cause any hesitation on her part to begin a trek that would bring her towards whatever it was heading for them in the coming night.
"Priestess!" Tasuki's voice faded away behind her, all her attention needed on what was at hand so that she could keep her mind from wandering back to what she had seen and heard. Trowa. Hotohori. She had accepted his proposal, meaning that it was part of the greatest desires of her heart. Taitskun had said so. But so was returning home with Trowa, in fact, that was the stronger of the two. Forget the boy. The words echoed coldly, shivering through her frame. She gripped the dagger tighter, tighter, until she could feel her blood dripping into the sand. I can't! Submit to the Beast God. But how? Don't be stupid, Ayden, came the underlying thought, the pulse of unidentified energy that had not left her with the vision. Focus on what you're doing. Don't be stupid.
"Focus," she muttered in her head, bringing the dagger into position to be thrown. Dimly, so far away behind her that it was a wonder she heard it at all, came a gasp as Tasuki recognized what it was that flew for them. Cocking her head slightly, she could make it out as well. "A wolf?" What would a creature of the mountains be doing so far away from water and shelter? And why was it heading straight for them? Don't be stupid, Ayden. Don't try to rationalize. Go at it simple. It must be an enemy. Be it Kutou or just a simple beast out for blood, you still need to realize the opposition it entails in its jaws. Ayden paused on the sand, gathering her strength and readying her aim.
Tasuki skidded to a halt, falling backward as he did so. His wound tore slightly, but it did not bring his attention from the spectacle before him. Ayden, no, the Priestess of Suzaku, stood a beacon against the twilight, shining with a scarlet flame. The blade in her hand glowed with an internal fire, and all about her blazed an inferno of power. Something had happened to her, he knew, something happened when she had been unconscious. Her mind had undergone something he could never understand, and it had given her power. The wolf, Duo's wolf, sprinted for her, but she stood calm and unafraid. Her aura amazed him, and he found he could do nothing but watch, held motionless to the spot in awe.
With deadly precision, she raised her hand, her gaze steady on the beast. In another moment, she would let the dagger fly. And it would hit its mark, Tasuki knew that already. The wolf was dead.
A sharp whistle cut through the twilight, followed by a high shriek of pain. Against his bandit's instincts, Tasuki winced to hear it, but quickly shifted his head so that he could see what had happened. He could make out the blood glow on the sand, steaming in the coolness of the coming night. But the wound wasn't right. Squinting, he took a few steps closer to Ayden, who radiated like the sunset. The dagger had not left her hand. It was an arrow that had pierced the wolf. . .in the flank.
"Ayden, get down!" Tasuki commanded, dropping low himself and scanning the shadows of the dunes for the archer. There weren't many rocks to hide behind, but the velvet blackness of the sand. Could be anywhere. "Let's get off the hill," he whispered, reaching out a slightly shaking hand to tug at Ayden's shirt. Electricity jolted through his fingers, filtering heat up and down his body, numbing his side. His mouth opened in shock as Ayden turned her head to consider him. The glow, the light of Suzaku, had receded into her eyes.
"Come on," Tasuki stuttered, not daring to touch her again. "Let's get out of the open." She favored him with a sarcastic smile at his remark. Everywhere was out in the open. Together they slid down the side of the hill that faced the mountain. Tasuki set a running pace, faster than he should have been able to move. Ayden placed a restraining hand on his arm to slow him.
"Easy does it," she cautioned him, making him realize that the pain from the arrow wound had completely receded. They had to take advantage of the temporary relief to put as much distance between them and the injured wolf as possible. "We have time." He bowed his head close to her ear.
"There are no archers among the warriors of Suzaku," he clipped. "The one who shot the wolf is not our friend. Let's go." Slipping out from under her arm, he struck up the sprint once more. Having no other choice, Ayden fell into step beside him.
***
Miboshi cursed violently as he knelt beside the wounded animal. Ashtare whined pathetically, hiding its face against Duo's knee. The injury had stopped bleeding, and would heal quickly.
"I just saved your life," Miboshi informed his fellow warrior. "She would have done far worse to you than I have." Duo smiled within his mind. He had seen her, a beacon on the dune, shining with the scarlet fire of the deity. There was power in her, and she had somehow come across a way to control it, manipulate it to her will. And that meant that Miboshi had to take her more seriously than ever before. The wolf was no longer a match for her. And neither are you, Duo thought viciously.
"There's no choice to it now," Miboshi spoke as if to the wolf, but Duo knew that he just enjoyed using Duo's mouth to form words and create sounds. "We'll have to wait until after she gets the scroll." Ah, but that was dangerous. She possessed a heightened awareness now. She had felt the energy of Suzaku, knew its fire, and that was sure to help her become one with her warriors. And you are not a warrior, Duo reminded the horror that inhabited his mind. How are you going to keep that from her now?
"Her trust is already mine. She'll doubt herself before she disbelieves what your friend tells her." So you say, Duo grinned, feeling the sunburn on his own cheeks for the first time in many days. So you say. Miboshi was ready with a grin of his own.
"I think we should backtrack. There won't be any stopping them since they're so close to the mountain." Which is somewhere you can't set foot, Duo reminded him, wishing desperately that the smile that curved his lips was really his. "Where we can't set foot," Miboshi corrected. "You're every bit as much a Seiryuu warrior as I am." That's what you think, Duo growled, forcing a burst of his clear laughter out of Miboshi. It echoed eerily over the dunes. "In any case," with tender hands Miboshi assisted the wolf off the sand. "We'll be needed back in Konan for the summoning ceremony. The palace seems a good a place as any to wait." Shifting to Ashtare's limping gait, Miboshi turned away from Taitskun's mountain.
***
"She made it," Heero murmured the words before he realized that he was speaking aloud. Yan-Yan gave him a half-surprised glance, shifting her chin upwards from where she'd buried her face against him. Chichiri lifted his head from his knees on the other side of the room to consider this sudden change in the silence. Heero met his eyes, nodding. "She's coming." For an instant he could see her, sprinting over the sand, her mouth open and fire in her eyes. They were running recklessly, fearlessly. A drop of sweat slid down Heero's face as the image played out before him.
"Heero!" Chichiri was shaking his shoulder roughly, although Yan-Yan was looking more than pleased. "What's wrong?" Heero exchanged a quick look with the young girl as he stood up.
"We're going to get them," he told the older man, his hands already secreting pieces of fruit into his clothing.
They'd been running so long Ayden was now certain that the sun hadn't set properly, but had lodged itself in her lungs they burned so hard. Her throat was raw from her harsh breathing, and still Tasuki kept the pace, uphill and then sliding down the other side. Goosebumps shivered over her skin, responding to the cold of the dark, but even so the sting of sweat was in her eyes. And far below it, below everything, was that other burn, the intense heat of the Beast God, weighing her down. Dimly she was aware of her legs, still churning, still struggling to keep up with her fire haired warrior. They tripped her through the sand, sometimes with shoots of pain up through her knees when it got really deep. All along the mountain loomed, blocking out the stars, but never seeming to get any closer. One more step, Ayden. The words ran their cadence through her mind with such desperation that her lips had begun to form them as well. One more, and then another. Quicker now, Tasuki is pulling ahead. But I'm so tired, something whimpered, stinging her eyes with exhausted tears. If I were to slow to a walk for just a few steps, then I'd be able to catch up to him again. She lifted her drooping head, seeing Tasuki's back as she'd been watching it all night, except that it was getting farther and farther away from her. Her lips moved again, but she hadn't the breath left to call out to him to wait. Tasuki, I'm back here, turn around. The starlight faded in a questioning manner, and Ayden had only a little time to wonder why everything had grown so dark before she collapsed into the sand.
***
"Trowa? Are you all right, Trowa?" Trowa turned his head slowly to face the twin who had addressed him. Amiboshi. His young eyes were filled with question and concern, but Trowa could only nod in response. He felt all right, and yet there was something underneath that he couldn't put a name to. There was an ache in his leg, but that was undoubtedly because of a previous injury followed up with days on end of nothing but walking through ankle deep sand. There was also a loneliness clenching his heart, and he didn't even want to think about what had caused that. However, now that attention had been brought to the fact that something indeed was wrong, her image sped across his consciousness, with the glory of the sunrise on a spiderweb. Did she make it to the mountain, he wondered. Had the others met up with her by now?
A hand grabbed his shoulder in warning, pulling him down. He instintively tensed against the touch, but did look around, trying to see what there was to alarm him of. Suboshi, his make-shift bandage only half concealing the arrow wound, was nodding his head towards the north where a black figure was staggering in their general direction. "What is it?" The twin asked, looking to Trowa for guidance and even protection. How Trowa wished that the boy's arm was strong enough for the sling he carried in his belt. Amiboshi slithered over to where they were crouched, his eyes gone hard and fierce.
"A runaway?" He began, but Trowa shook his head. There was a familiarity in the grace of the personage's stagger. There was also something he knew in the black of the clothes. But if he was here, then where was Ayden?
"It's Duo," Trowa told the twins even as he stood to raise a hand. "Oye, Duo!" The heat shimmering form dropped to its knees in apparent relief at finding them. It spurred Trowa into a fast trot over the scorching sand towards his fellow pilot.
"Trowa," Duo gasped, licking his dry and cracked lips and reaching a hand upward towards his friend. "I'm so glad you're alive."
"You look like you shouldn't be," Trowa responded, noticing the teeth marks and sunburn covering Duo's body. Amiboshi was there then with one of their last waterskins to hold to Duo's bleeding mouth. "What happened to Ayden?" There was a faint flash of fire in Duo's midnight blue eyes when her name was mentioned. It struck a chord of fear in Trowa. "Duo? Is she alive?"
"Yes," Duo sighed as he lowered the skin, running his tongue once again over his lips to get every last drop of water he could. "She and Tasuki are close to the mountain by now."
"You were with them?" Trowa was now on his knees beside the braided pilot, ignoring the burning heat beneath him. "For how long? How come you're not with her now?" Duo stared at Trowa for a moment as if he didn't understand a word he was saying. Then a flash of recognition crossed them and he began to speak again.
"I was traveling with them," he finally said, his eyes blinking fast. "Until we were attacked ~" Trowa grabbed his shoulders, ignoring the wince he recived when he dug his hands too deeply into a wound.
"Attacked! What happened?" Duo pulled Trowa's hands away from the cuts.
"I said she's alive, calm down already. It was a wolf ~"
"What's a wolf doing way out here?"
"Are you gonna let me talk, or what?" Trowa lowered his head in shame. "I think it was a wolf from the Seiryuu camp, that's what it's doing out here."
"That would exlain why it would attack the Priestess as well," Amiboshi chimed in, nodding at his own logic. Duo nodded his agreement.
"Anyway," he went on, eyeing the waterskin that Amiboshi had taken from him. "I told them to go on while I took care of it, thinking that maybe I could give them a good headstart just in case I couldn't kill the thing." Trowa tensed, waiting for the outcome. "So Tasuki took her and they started running for the mountain. And, as you can see, I didn't do so well against the wolf."
"Why didn't you use your gun, Duo?" Trowa asked, wondering why Duo would have gotten so badly injured when he could have taken care of the beast with one well-placed shot. Duo shook his head, sorrowful.
"I lost my gun at the skirmish on the battle line," he admitted. Trowa ran a hand through his bangs. Now the enemy not only had a lot more man-power than Konan could ever hope to collect, but with a gun they wouldn't be long in figuring out exactly what was needed to make more. Before long, if they didn't act quickly, it'd be Heero's gun against all the Kutou army. Trowa almost shuddered at the thought, already wondering if he could use any of the bullets in Heavyarms for anything useful.
"We've got to get that back," he muttered. "But you killed it?" Back to the orignal topic of conversation. Duo winced.
"It's not going to make it back to its master, I don't think."
"So you didn't kill it." Duo looked insulted.
"I had nothing but my bare hands, man, what did you want me to do?" Trowa made a calming motion with his hand.
"So long as Ayden got away all right." Duo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but thought better of it after seeing the expression on Trowa's face. Trowa was by now looking off towards the east, hoping that Ayden had finally reached the stupid mobile mountain.
"There's nothing you can do for her," Duo's hand found Trowa's shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze. "There's nothing any of us can do for her. She's got Tasuki and Heero, and that blue haired guy too. We might as well get ourselves back to the palace, right?"
"Little problem with that," Trowa said, still gazing off east at the mountain range, any one, or none, of which could be hiding Ayden right now.
"What's that?"
"We don't know how to get there."
Duo shivered within the prison of his body, his eyes searching the shimmering heat outside the cave they had taken shelter in. There would be no one coming, he knew, they were all on the other side of the border and scattered. She was so unprotected here, unprotected and unknowing of the danger she was in. That's right, Miboshi cooed the smile into his brain. She was lucky the last time, but here there will be little left to stop me. It was Duo's turn to smile. There had been two last times. Miboshi had obviously not expected the girl to be able to defend herself as well as she had. Duo didn't think that even he could have thrown that dagger with the kind of precision and flare that she had. And then the arrow. He would have liked to have thought that it had been part of his doing that caused the arrow to miss its target, but he knew better. It had been dark, the only thing to follow was a sound. It was amazing that it had hit anything at all, and great fortune that it had only grazed Tasuki's side. But would he still be able to protect her? Against him? Duo could feel Miboshi tensing and untensing his muscles, savoring the strength of Duo's body. Duo knew very well what he was capable of. He had committed murder himself. Murder and stealth were his trademarks. He could kill both Tasuki and Ayden before they even realized what was going on. The rest of the Suzaku Seven would wander around the desert in a vain search until Konan was under Kutou's power. It would just be too simple. It was amazing to believe that Nakago had even thought the girl a threat. Miboshi turned to gaze back into the cave, looking at the girl who was allowing Tasuki a few swallows from a water bottle that "Duo" had brought to them.
Duo knew what the demon thought about her. He thought her weak and much too caring to be worth the trouble of fighting. Killing her would be about as difficult as squeezing the life from some infant bird, and with her all the dreams of summoning Suzaku would be dead. Ah, but hadn't she already saved herself once? This supposedly innocent, ignorant girl had pulled steel death from her sleeve in an instant and without a fraction of hesitation delivered it to one who had opposed her. She had proven herself. But that might not be enough here. That man had been surprised while Miboshi was always watchful. Besides, why would she even think she was in danger?
"How is he?" Miboshi formed the words as Ayden came to the mouth to see what he had been contemplating for so long. She looked tired and frightened and sad, but otherwise normal. The dagger was shifting in her fingers nervously.
"He'll be fine, but we shouldn't make him move too much for a couple days. It may reopen." Miboshi nodded sagaciously, his eyes moving downward to the dagger that she twisted absentmindedly.
"Think we'll need that do you?" He asked with a wink. Yeah, thought Duo, you want her to put it away. You want her to feel safe so you can attack. Well, she's smarter than that. She's on her guard and you can't touch her. As if to prove a point, Miboshi laid his hand over Ayden's. She startled, but not much. "You've never killed before have you?" The tone he used was concerned and sympathetic, but he only wanted the answer to use against her. She shook her head, her eyes suddenly brimming tears.
"I don't know why I did it. I didn't know I was doing it." The hand that held the dagger trembled beneath Duo's fingers. "And by the time I realized what happened there was nothing I could do." Duo's face tightened in surprise.
"But he was going to kill you. It was self defense. You can't blame yourself for that."
"I shouldn't have been able to do it! I took a life, a life that I had no right to. I murdered someone I didn't even know." Miboshi softened his expression to one of sadness.
"Yes, that I can understand well," he murmured, looking down.
"Oh, I didn't realize," Ayden stammered suddenly, clenching his sleeves tightly in her fists, the dagger pointed away and harmless. "I'm so sorry, Duo, I keep forgetting who you are." Miboshi shook his head.
"No, it's fine. It's just," he paused to sigh. "I'm just sorry you have to go through it too." In a false show of compassion, Miboshi pulled Ayden's shaking body close, his hand reaching up to stroke her hair comfortingly. She's not as strong as you thought, is she? Miboshi giggled madly. Now feel the bones as I snap her neck in two. Duo began to scream, fought, tightened everything he could, willing it to stop. Not her, Trowa would never forgive me. She doesn't deserve it.
"Ayden," Tasuki's voice, hoarse yet loud, jerked the lithe girl from his grasp. She stepped back, the dagger now pointed directly into Duo's abdomen. There would be no stepping forward for him, and in another second she had left his side all together, beyond his reach for the time being. Miboshi cursed softly even while Duo laughed.
"What is it Tasuki?" Ayden knelt beside him in an easy motion. They'd brought him back here, away from the sun, so that he could rest and heal. He'd been asleep all morning, but now was beginning to be restless. When he began to sit up Ayden reached out to prevent him, but he only took her hand tightly in his own and pulled her down closer.
"Don't be alone with him, ever, you got that?" His eyes were bright, almost feverish. She wondered if he knew what he was saying.
"But he's one of the Suzaku Seven, Tasuki," she pointed out. "Remember? He's the final warrior. We don't have to worry about him." The flame haired man risked a look at the boy in black.
"I know who he is, but something about him just doesn't seem right. He's way too calm about everything." Ayden smiled.
"So are Heero and Trowa. It's just how they work. We're all from the same place, you see and-"
"No, Ayden, pay attention, ok? Never turn your back to him, always keep him in sight. Stay with me, if we're separated it'll be dangerous for you." He moved his hand from her wrist to her sleeve, pinching the dagger he knew she carried there. "And keep that in the open like you've been doing."
She opened her mouth to try and reason away his worries, but she could only say, "All right," when she looked at the serious expression on his usually grinning face. He meant what he was telling her, and she would do well to follow what he said. Even if it was just the fever talking, it wouldn't hurt to be on guard, she rationalized. But Duo. It's only Duo. She turned her head to see him staring at her, smiling softly and genuinely. He wouldn't do anything. He'd brought her dagger back, and news of the others, and water. He was the one who had all but carried Tasuki to this cave and rebandaged his wound. And to top all of that, he was a Gundam pilot, fighting in another war to save the independence of people he didn't know. No, Tasuki, you have to be wrong about him. I know him, and he's not, but she paused. Did she know him? The first time they had met he had called himself the God of Death. She looked at him again as he watched the sunset outside, saw how the fading light cast him into a bloody glow. A shiver ran up her back, causing her to tense. She thought of Heero and how he had tried to murder her when he realized that she knew his secret. They were dedicated to nothing but the mission, all of them, even Trowa. Without thinking she drew her dagger again, twisting it in her fingers. The feel of the cool steel brought back other thoughts.
I've used this to kill, even though the blood is washed off I still remember what I've done with it. This is a harsh place, and if I want to survive then I'm going to have to become like them. Like Heero and Wufei. I have to practice until I can do it perfectly without sense. I've already crossed the threshold. I'm already a murderer. There's no way to go back, but there is a way to get out. Her hand ceased trembling as a terrible calm eased its way into her. And if I have to I'll carve the path to it with this.
A slight movement, like the skittering of a rock over a pond, caught Duo's attention. There was something out there, moving fast over the nothing. As it drew near Miboshi began to cackle, a harsh sound that seared into Duo's soul. He could now tell what it was that rushed for them so boldly. Ashtare. He's finally found us, Miboshi snickered. Our surprise attack. The moment we leave this cave, he'll be waiting for her.
"Ayden, Tasuki," Miboshi called over his shoulder. "I'm going for a quick scout around us to see if we're still safe or if any of the others are wandering out there, all right?"
"Are you sure you'll be ok out there? You'll be able to find your way back?" Ayden was concerned. Miboshi waved his hand at her.
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I'll be back in a little while. Why don't you two just relax? I might even be able to rustle us up something to eat while I'm at it." Ayden smiled and nodded her acceptance to his departure. "Ok then, see you in a bit." With a final wave and grin, he stepped into the sunset and jogged off to meet his fellow warrior on the dunes.
"Is he gone?" Tasuki asked even as he used the wall to stand. Ayden hurried to his side, trying to support him even as she began to pull him back to the cool floor.
"He'll be all right, Tasuki," she eased him. "He said he'd be right back." The red haired young man shook her off him with surprising strength for being injured.
"And by the time he gets here we'll be long gone." Ayden cocked her head, puzzling out what he was saying.
"You mean leave him behind? But why? We need him to conduct the ceremony. You've been searching for him for such a long time, why abandon him now?"
"Because I don't like the way he looks at you, Ayden. He isn't from here; he doesn't understand about the summoning process."
"Tasuki, what are you saying? What would he do to me?" Tasuki slipped a water bag over his shoulder, wincing slightly.
"I don't know, Ayden, but there's always this twisted affection in his eyes so I'd rather not sacrifice all we've worked for to find out. He'll catch up; he's good that way, but I hope by the time he finds us we'll be safe on Mt. Taikyoku. Come on, let's get out of here." Ayden began another protest, but he was already out of the cave. Besides, he was stronger and more stubborn than she had ever been. There was nothing for it except to follow him, just in case he needs my help out there, Ayden rationalized as she slipped out behind him. She hoped Duo would be able to come after as Tasuki had predicted. How would they explain it to him when he found them?
"Heero, look at that," Chichiri whispered harshly as he gestured toward the Kutou camp. Heero was on his stomach at his side in a moment, his eyes taking in all the surrounding area at once. The camp was there, a few men with bandages on arms and faces, and several tents were partially collapsed due to fire it appeared.
"That's where they crossed," he determined from the scene. "Looks like they got away." Chichiri nodded, smiling.
"That means she's safe and on her way to the mountain, you know. Tasuki is with her."
"We'll have to follow them, maybe catch up in another day if we go quickly." Chichiri nodded again, backing away so as not to be seen and standing up. Heero followed suit, watching as the taller man drew his blue cloak from his shoulders and spread it on the sand.
"Get on," he instructed Heero, who did as he was told automatically. "I couldn't do this for all of us at once, there were too many, you know," Chichiri explained almost apologetically. "But since it's just you and me then we won't have any problems." Heero stood on the cloak and waited, not even bothering to ask what the man meant. He didn't really care, so long as he wasn't wasting time. Time was very important at the moment. Chichiri delicately stepped onto the cloak next to Heero and with a whispered word thrust his staff into the sand with a sharp clang. The fabric was pulled downward into the sand, making Heero tense to leap away from the dangerous area. But Chichiri, with a laugh, grabbed his shirt and they sank down into the darkness. Heero reached for a gun that wasn't there out of habit, but didn't really miss it until he felt himself drop from the sand and into a hallway of some kind. He paused for only a moment to wonder why there was a hall underneath the sand and how Chichiri knew about it, but his reflexes took over as a young girl rushed in to them, a large smile spread over her features.
"Chichiri!" She squealed, running into his outsretched arms and kissing his grin-strained cheek. "You came back!"
"Yan-Yan!" Chichiri hugged her tight before she pulled back to give Heero a curious glance, not a fearful one, one that Heero thought would have been more appropriate. Obviously the girl didn't know any better and wasn't afraid of him. . . .yet.
"Who did you bring with you?" She asked bluntly, staring at Heero who glared back in an attempt to instill the unease and desire to avoid him that he liked best about being himself. She just giggled. "He looks funny."
"This is a guardian of the Priestess of Suzaku. We've come to get the scroll from Taitskun, you know."
"Yes," she grew serious. "I know. She's waiting for you, but the Priestess isn't here yet." Heero was just about to offer to go out and search for her when the little girl reached away from Chichiri to put her arms around his neck. He startled, but had no choice but to take her from the taller man who was already walking quickly down the hall to meet the infamous Taitskun. It was all too strange for Heero. They'd gone through all that travel when he could just toss his cloak down and bring them there in a blink? And what about all that talk that she was never in the same place twice and it would be impossible for them to find her? Apparently not for Chichiri. If that had been the case why hadn't they just sent the magician off to the mountain to get the scroll for them? Then they could have saved a lot of time, they wouldn't have gotten scattered, but they wouldn't have found Duo either, he supposed, sighing.
The girl, Yan-Yan, snuggled close against him, making him want to drop her. She was incredibly light and smelled of the kind of wind that carries the rain. It was a refreshing kind of smell, and that was the only reason he could give himself for why she was still in his arms. "Suzaku is strong with you," she told him in a sleepy sort of little girl voice. "That's why you were allowed to come here." He grunted, his usual answer to everything. "An evil hearted person wouldn't have been able to see any of this." Heero didn't know if he believed that, but shrugged it off and began to follow in the direction Chichiri had gone. Yan-Yan chattered along the way about how Chichiri had come to them years before, wounded and sad. She told how she had nursed him back to life and how Taitskun had taught him magic. Heero snorted at the magic part, but it was almost all a show. There were quite a few things about this world, and Chichiri in general that could be explained by nothing except a force that needed no explanation. He wondered what this girl was doing here, where here was exactly, and why he was here to begin with. And now Ayden and Trowa and Duo were all split up in the desert. It would be such a delay before he could get back to his own war. He hoped Quatre and Wufei would be able to handle it themselves.
"The Priestess of Suzaku? Do you really believe that," laughed an ancient voice from a room to Heero's left. Gently, he set the girl on the floor so he could peek around the corner to see who was there and what they were talking about. All he could make out from his position was Chichiri, kneeling respectfully before someone unseen, the owner of the voice.
"But," he stuttered in a tone that Heero had never heard him use before. "She fulfills every prophesy. How could we have been mistaken?" Heero debated entering. He wanted to see the person they had travelled so far to see, but now that she was saying that Ayden wasn't what they were searching for after all he wondered if their safety here had become unsure.
"Did you really think, Chichiri," the voice droned. "That this little girl you've brought with you is capable of handling the summoning? If that is so I might as well send Yan-Yan back with you for the task."
"So, you're saying that she's not the real Priestess?" Chichiri suddenly sounded tired, defeated. "But if she's not. . . .then who is she?"
"Hold on just one minute," Heero decided against his better judgment to go in and speak on Ayden's behalf. He didn't want to have to fight against everyone in this ridiculous world. Chichiri looked up, startled and Heero almost took a step back. His face had changed completely, no longer the smiling fox look to it. One eye was open and reddish brown, while the other was sealed tightly shut by a scar that ran across his nose and up his eye to his forehead. His other face was just a mask; Heero could see it in his hand. He didn't have the time to ask him about it, though.
"And what do we have here?" Came the voice again, making him turn to finally see. He cringed back from the hideous old woman who apparently sat crosslegged in midair. She was old, so impossibly old. Everything about her was impossible, and Heero was right to cringe. "You couldn't wait for us, Heero? Hurry up, say what you interrupted us to say."
"What makes you think Ayden isn't the Priestess?" He asked, begging his logic to stay with him so he could outwit this old hag. "Chichiri said that she matches all descriptions of her." Taitskun smiled, obviously amused at his attempts. "Who are you that you can know such a thing when you've never even seen her?" And how the devil did you know my name?
"It is strange that you fight for her now, when you yourself don't believe she is what Chichiri claims." Heero paused, hating the woman suddenly for getting it exactly right. How dare she know his thoughts? What kind of witch was she? He shook himself. "And I have seen her. I've been watching you all from the moment you left Konan. I think you all trust much too easily, both friends and strangers." Heero decided he'd puzzle that one out later.
"A test then," he burst out. "Set a test for her to prove it." Chichiri stood to stand beside him, his mask back in place and Yan-Yan at his side. Taitskun never turned her eyes to look at him.
"A test?" She snickered. "She had already failed her test before you left the threshold of the palace. She's put her warriors in danger and has not taken responsibility to speak up."
"Speak up against what?" Heero demanded. If Ayden were going to be taking this much abuse then it had better be pretty clear as to why or he'd have something to say about it. Sure, he didn't know her very well, but she'd kept his secret and helped them out when they needed it. Honor wouldn't let him just abandon her to this madwoman's prejudice. Taitskun merely smiled.
"Exactly," she sighed. "Begone, you shall not be taking the scroll until the true Priestess of Suzaku stands before me to claim it." Heero felt his muscles clench. Yan-Yan was tugging at his arm, but he shrugged away from her. He wasn't giving up yet.
"She didn't have to come here in the first place to help your miserable little planet," he hissed, not knowing where this rage was coming from. Helplessness, he decided later, but he knew that it was something more. "She's trying to do everything that's asked of her even though she knows the danger she's putting herself in. She was willing to lose everything for people she doesn't know. If she's not the Priestess I don't know where you'll find a better one, and the least you could do would be to set a test for her that she understands the stakes for so that there won't be one shred of doubt left in any of us as to whether she is or isn't."
Chichiri tentatively stepped forward. "That's a good idea, you know," he spoke softly, as if to calm everyone down while making his opinions apparent. "That way we can be sure, can't we?"
Taitskun sighed. "Oh very well. You may go." Heero was about ready to protest, but Yan-Yan grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room. Nothing left to do but wait.
"That was pretty brave of you, you know," Chichiri grinned at him from the pillow he had sagged into. They were in some other kind of room, this one strewn about with comfortable looking pillows, pitchers of water, and even bowls of fruit. It was almost like the room in the emperor's palace, exept it was smaller and green and pink instead of scarlet. Heero shook his head from his own pillow.
"It was necessary," was all he could say. He'd used up all his words with Taitskun. "What would happen to her if she's not what you want her to be?" Chichiri gave him a confused look.
"Well, that would be up to you, you know." Then he laughed as he caught on to what Heero was saying. "You're a good warrior, you know. Even if she turns out not to be the Priestess, you will have my respect and allegance. I'm sorry if we made it seem like there wasn't a choice involved, you know, but Ayden could have said she didn't want to do it from the start." He leaned closer. "Personally, I'm really glad she said she would. It's been an honor getting to know you." Heero favored the fox man with a rare smile. That was a good thing to know. Allies were handy in unfamiliar settings. Chichiri nodded, about to say something else, when the door opened admitting Yan-Yan again into their company. She'd been ordered to stay with Taitskun to prepare for the demanded test. Her eyes were sad as she joined them, her hands fidgeting in front of her.
"What happened, Yan-Yan?" Chichiri asked gently, sitting up and beginning to open his arms for her in a paternal gesture. But she ran instead to Heero, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest, beginning to sob. Heero resisted the urge to shake her, looking up at Chichiri for assistance. The older man could only shrug. Hesitantly, because he didn't really know what he was doing, Heero put his arms around the little body that was pressed against him, and rocked.
"Don't cry," he told her, a little gruffly. "Tell us what happened."
"Taitskun set the test," Yan-Yan gulped. "She's going to make her be all alone and show her true nature."
"Well, that's all right, you know. That's what she had to do," Chichiri reassured, stroking one light green pigtail. Yan-Yan shook her head.
"She said she had to go inside herself and really see. . .everything." She was done talking by then, nestling her head into Heero's shoulder. Chichiri backed up a little as if he finally understood.
"What's she going to do?" Heero demanded. The blue haired warrior only shook his head, and moved back.
***
"Tasuki, I really think we need to stop for a minute," Ayden called, trying to make her muscles work enough so she could jog up next to him. As captivating as his back was, she was growing rather tired of looking at it. Besides, the farther they went the harder it was to walk through the sand, it tugged at her ankles and heels, making her exhausted and frustrated. She began to wonder if it would be any easier to walk on her hands, and then she began to wonder how Tasuki was holding up so well. When his shoulders hunched forward and she could hear his quick breathing she realized he wasn't holding up as well as she thought. "I need a rest," she told him, hoping that his masculine pride would allow him to stop if it were for her sake. The waterbag slipped from his shoulder and he followed it down to the ground. One hand curled across to his side, pressing there as if testing to see if it were bleeding, but it was pulled away quickly, as if he hoped that she wouldn't notice.
"If you say so," he tried to laugh, but couldn't quite manage his cheerful bark like he used to. "You don't see that kid behind us, do you?"
Ayden lifted her hands as a shield for the sun, squinting against the heat waves that rose from the ground and shimmered everything into incredulity. "No, he's not there," she reassured. Tasuki nodded, satisfied. "How are you doing?"
He shrugged, not wanting her to know the truth of the answer. "I miss my horse," was all she could get him to say about himself. But she could tell by the way he was breathing, and the color of his face.
"We should have stayed in the cave for a while longer," she said, speaking softly. "It was out of the sun in any case."
Tasuki sighed, unclosing his eyes to pin her with a stare. "I told you. There's something about that kid that I don't like." It was Ayden's turn to sigh. She just didn't understand what there could be to Duo that anyone wouldn't like. Unless, maybe, he was too much like Tasuki. She decided to just drop it.
"Well, maybe we can find somewhere closeby where we can stay until the sun goes down." Tasuki looked about ready to protest. "You have to hold still, and the heat isn't helping anyone. I'm going to the top of that hill to see if there's anywhere." Tasuki looked dubious. "Don't worry, I won't get lost, you'll be able to keep me in sight from here. I'll be back in two minutes, I promise. Ok?" If he hadn't been too tired and hurting he probably wouldn't have nodded. However, since there weren't that many options open at the moment, there wasn't anything else he could do.
Giving a nod of her own, Ayden jogged up the hill. She found that jogging was actually easier than walking because the sand didn't have as much of a chance of pulling her down if she moved faster. The top of the hill proved a poor vantage point. Although the mountains could be seen in the distance, and what a distance it was, she thought with sudden dismay, there weren't any rocks or caves or anything close. There was nothing but waves and waves of sand. We're going to die out here, the thought came almost casually. We're going to run out of water and die. She turned to look back the way they had come, seeing Tasuki still crouched where she'd left him. Far far off she could see the cave they had been in and wondered if she could convince Tasuki to return to it if he were delirious enough. She waved to him, letting him know that everything was fine, even though it really wasn't, and took a step to begin the trek back down to him.
The sand curled around her ankle. It would have made her trip except there was no longer anything left to trip on. The grainy substance swirled around her and she fell straight down into a hole that had no business being there in the first place. It was not a long fall, but it ended on something very hard. Lucky that her body had automatically coiled and she had landed perfectly on her feet or she might have broken something important. She looked up quickly to find the hole completely covered over with sand once more. It was pitch dark and she had no idea where she was, or how she'd gotten there.
"Tasuki!" She cried first, wondering if he had seen her fall. She wanted to warn him not to come close, that it must be quicksand or something. What on earth was a hole doing there though? And why did the sand recover it? It must not have been just any ordinary hole. Being denied her sight, she stood still, trying to determine anything by her other senses. Trowa could have done that in a flash, but the only thing she could hear was the steady dripping that made her think she must be in a cave. All right, she thought, I'm in a cave, but how do I get out?
Blind, she began a slow and painful trek toward nothing in particular, just a direction that seemed to be open to her as she hadn't bumped into anything yet. She could still hear the dripping, and thought it sounded louder than before and it might be a good idea to follow it. If she had some water supply here then she might live long enough to get back to Tasuki.
"Ack!" Ayden grunted as she tripped on what had to be the hundredth loose rock. Her scraped hands once again saved her face, but they did so with a great amount of protest. Ayden sat up, rubbing her palms on the softness of her clothing. More than anything she wanted to just give up and cry, but seeing as that would do her no good either, there was nothing for her except to creep along and hope she could find something that might lead her out of here. On hands and knees she resumed her journey, only to find that if she had gone one more step she would have fallen right into what she had been seeking. An underground stream rolled gently along the cave's floor, the source of the dripping sound she'd been following was really this stream. Now if only she could transport some of it up to where Tasuki was. Or rather have him down here in the coolness. That way they could rest a while and let his wounds heal before setting out again for the mountain.
As she was thinking of different ways of either getting Tasuki down or water up, Ayden allowed her abused hands to travel towards the running water. The moment her fingers touched the cold wetness there came a sharp sound, as if a torch were being lit by someone, and then Ayden's eyes closed involuntarily as the brightness encircled her.
"Lady Ayden?" Came a soft and gentle voice Ayden was sure she had heard before. Her mind rolled a bit as she squinted into the sudden light, attempting to discover exactly who it was who had also managed to get lost in this underground wonderment.
"Your Majesty!" She squeaked, blinking hard to make sure he was really standing there. Yes, it had to be him. His clothes were scarlet, and the great pheonix Suzaku was embroidered along the sleeves. It was him, standing there and holding a lantern, looking at her with an expression of concern and awed affection. "How did you. . .what's going on?" He favored her with a look of puzzlement as he knelt elegantly beside her. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was worried about you so I decided to set out and see if you were all right." Ayden raised an eyebrow at this. How could he possibly have found her when she didn't know where she was or how she had gotten there? "It's a good thing I found you too. Tasuki is quite worried and waiting for us above." He nodded his head towards the land she had left. His hand swept out to help her to her feet. She found herself marveling at his grace.
"What about the others? Did you find them?" She heard herself asking, though she wasn't really thinking about them. She was watching the Emperor's face, all gentle lines and caring eyes. He smiled, curling a protective arm around her waist to aid her through the uneven terrain.
"Fine as far as we can tell," he assured her as he began to lead her out of the cave. "Most of them made it back to Konan to let me know what had happened." Ayden didn't pause to wonder how they had gotten back so fast when it had taken them days to get this far into the desert. "The rest, Tasuki and the other, were still out here. We still haven't found him."
"Who?" A rock jumped out at her, causing her to stumble slightly. Hotohori slipped down, catching her securely and managing to pull her around to face him. The fireglow glittered in his golden eyes, sparking them with wonder.
"Your guardian. We haven't found him yet." But Ayden wasn't paying attention to his words any longer. She was studying his beauty in the shadows of the place, enjoying the pressure of his fingers on her back. He smelled fresh, like the wind that carries the rain, clean and soft. "Don't worry, though, it won't be long before --"
"I've decided," she cut him off, staring at his eyes and feeling the corners of her mouth twitch upwards in a girlish smile. He cocked his head to consider her.
"Decided?" He encouraged.
"To become your Empress," her words were hollow in her ears, as if she weren't really speaking them. But she had. She had just accepted his marriage proposal. For one moment she thought there might be something wrong with that. She was only fifteen! She should be thinking about other things anyway, like finding her guardian and getting to the mountain. It was too late now, however, as her statement had brightened the gold of Hotohori's eyes. His arms circled her, pulling her close and safe.
"I've never been so happy," he whispered in a strained voice. Ayden wondered briefly if she had made the wrong decision, but what could possibly be better than to be the wife of this powerful, gentle, and beautiful man? She sighed, breathing him in, drinking all of the moment. It was what he wanted, and deep in her heart she thought she wanted it too. What girl didn't? She smiled against the cloth of his shirt, savoring this first sweet moment with him before they would re-enter the harshness of the desert above them. Just one moment alone and to themselves before they would have to join with Tasuki.
Tasuki gasped, gripping his side in pain as he stood beside Ayden's body. She was just here, just one moment ago she was standing right here and waving at him. Now she lay lifeless at his feet. Grimacing, Tasuki knelt at her side, gently cradling her up to a sitting position.
"Ayden?" He tested her name, jerking her just slightly. When this had no effect he wet her lips with a bit of the precious water they still carried. He hadn't noticed if she were showing signs of dehydration, but he couldn't think of anything else that would cause her to just collapse when she had seemed just fine. "Priestess." Her eyes remained closed and her body limp. Tasuki began to shake, bending over her body to try and shield her from the harsh sunlight.
***
Something inside of Ayden's soul leaped painfully at the sight of Trowa. It had been so long since they'd been together last. He looked well, a little tan from his time spent in the desert, flawless as always. Hotohori's hand tightened at her waist, pressing her behind him. Unsteady, she went to her knees, not knowing what would possess him to do such a thing. A blinding flash accompanied the scrape of a sword being drawn. Ayden blinked, cocking her head to see Hotohori step into a fighting stance, and the scowl on Trowa's handsome face.
"Ayden," he barked her name in the way she was used to. But she wasn't used to the glint of steel she caught a glimpse of in his hand. "We're leaving now. Come on, Heero's waiting." She stood immediately, already forgetting her promise to become Hotohori's bride. The emperor flashed out an arm, catching her and holding her back.
"Don't go to him, Ayden," he cautioned in a low tone. "He's not who you think he is." But of course he was. It was Trowa! He was going to take her home, back to the earth and the circus and the colonies. She wouldn't have to be the empress with him, she wouldn't have to be anyone except a gilted acrobat. Her heart twisted within her, savoring the strength of Hotohori as he held her back, and wishing to have Trowa encase her in his embrace. She told him that she would be his wife. She had also told Trowa they would return together. Hotohori growled, the blade poised and ready.
"Ayden," Trowa's voice had turned pleading. He extended his free hand to her. "Don't you want to go back home?" I do, her heart wept, her feet bringing her forward.
"Ayden, don't!" Hotohori could not keep his hold on her and preserve his sword stance. "Please, he's not what you think." She gave him a quizzical stare, pausing in her trek toward her Trowa.
"What does that mean?" She put the question to him, but her answer came not in words, but in the song of the dagger that flew from Trowa's hand with a deadly accuracy even she could not match. By reflex alone she stretched forth her hand, catching the dagger in mid air by the blade. The sting was not as sharp as it could be, but the salty blood dripping from it made it worse. Hotohori leaped in front of her, fire in his eyes. Trowa crouched, ready for the first strike, but Ayden wouldn't have it.
"Stop!" She cried, her knees trembling but nonetheless keeping her standing between the man she loved and the boy she cared for. "Don't fight! You mustn't. We're on the same side!"
Hotohori lowered the blade to the desert sands, ready to give in to her request. She smiled at him, glad that she had prevented something. Yet when she turned to Trowa, there was undisguised hate in his gaze for the scarlet robed monarch behind her. "Trowa," she soothed, stepping toward him. "What is this all about?" He closed the distance between them, his eyes never leaving those of the emperor, and that's when Ayden saw the glint of the other blade.
***
"Ayden! Come on!" Tasuki shook her shoulders violently once more before bringing her convulsing frame closer to him. Why was she shaking? Her eyelids fluttered in some kind of private torment. Yet there was no wound, there was no sign of sickness. There was nothing he could determine about her strange malady, except the sudden appearance of blood on her right palm. Even with that there was no way he could figure out what had caused her to suddenly start bleeding. "Why won't you come back to me?" She remained unresponsive, though her fingers clenched and unclenched in agony. His eyes raised to examine the never changing landscape of sand, not being able to stand looking at her face any longer, squinting them when he caught the movement over the dunes. There was something out there, something moving fast and heading right for them. Quelling the urge to panic, Tasuki began to straighten, Ayden held tight in his arms, but the tearing of the wound at his side forced him down again. There would be no running for him, especially if he had to carry her. There would be no choice but to wait for whatever it was to come to him, and deal with it accordingly. Ayden spasmed against him, but he refused to let her go. Clinging to her with one arm, he reached behind him for his fan, preparing his body to gather the strength he would need.
***
"Yan-Yan!" Chichiri cried, kneeling close to Heero and peering into her little face. Her lips trembled, fighting tears, and her eyes were squeezed tightly shut. Heero held her securely, and she hung on to his shirt with a white knuckled grip. "What's going on, Yan-Yan?"
"Hey," Heero jerked her slightly, getting her to look up at him with a sorrowful gaze. "What is it?"
"Taitskun," was all they could get her to say before her whimpering overtook her completely. Chichiri gave Heero a worried look. All Heero could do was shrug.
"If she's really the Priestess," he heard himself saying. "Then she'll get through it."
"She's the Priestess," Chichiri assured him. "But she may need our strength." Heero paused. What good would his strength do? It wasn't as if he could just hand it to her on a silver platter anyway. But Chichiri had his eyes closed, his lips moving in some soundless chant. "Picture her in your head," he commanded of a sudden. "Give her your faith." His faith? He had none. He believed in Duo's gun, and in Trowa's Gundam. There was no faith for the slight girl, especially when it came to defending herself in any kind of combat, mental or physical. But that's why she needs you, Heero, the thought drifted through the logic. Sighing, hugging Yan-Yan closer to him, he pictured the honey haired supposed Priestess of Suzaku. The wounds that Mitsukake had healed grew heated, and he believed as much as he was able.
***
"Trowa!" She had only enough time to gasp the name before the other dagger was slipped right by her, lodging itself deep into Hotohori's heart. The emperor grunted softly, his knees dropping him to the sand, which grew dark with the blood that flowed from the wound. Ayden fell to her own knees beside him, tears dripping down to mingle with the blood and sand. "Why?" Was the only thing she could say now. "Why, Trowa?"
"So you'd have no reason to stay," he replied softly, all malice vanished from his voice. "So you'd come home with me." She looked, incredulous, over her shoulder. He was standing stoically now, no more weapons.
"I would have come with you," she told him, believing it. "I would have followed you to the ends of the earth and back again. This wasn't necessary."
"But you didn't stop me," he told her simply and she realized in shock that he was right. She'd caught the first blade in her hand, she could feel the blood growing sticky on her palm. But the second. She'd seen the second blade as well, but hadn't moved to stop it. She had allowed Hotohori to be killed.
"Because you loved me more than him?" Trowa continued, stepping closer even as Ayden cringed away. Who did she love? Where was her loyalty? Why can't I love both? Why can't I love them both? We're all friends here.
"No, Ayden," came another voice, an unfamiliar voice that chilled her to her very being. She stood beside Hotohori's body, gripping the dagger in the hand that wasn't slippery with blood. Trowa's form shifted, changing into a hideous old woman who glared at her with disappointment. "We're not all friends here."
"What do you want?" Ayden questioned, relieved that it hadn't really been Trowa who had murdered the emperor. The woman laughed bitterly.
"That's the question I'm asking you, Priestess, because this scene here will never do." Ayden was suddenly angry.
"You're the one who killed him! I couldn't stop you! It wasn't my fault!" She held up one silencing finger and brought Ayden down to the ground with the power of the simple gesture.
"But it was. You suspected no enemy, no danger from those close to you. You were trusting."
"But, Trowa."
"Is Trowa one of your warriors?" Ayden closed off her reply.
"No," she admitted, bowing her head and feeling more than a little guilty for her feelings towards her partner.
"There is real danger in this land, Ayden. Real people with bleeding hearts," the corpse of Hotohori disappeared into the sands as if he had never really been there. "Now, who do you love? Trowa or the emperor?"
"Trowa," was the first name she could think of, wishing that he were here to tell her that everything was fine and that they were returning home.
"He is beyond you," the woman growled, shaking her head. "The emperor as well." Ayden wondered briefly why she had bothered to ask the question in the first place. "Your emotions will betray you, Ayden. People depend on you now. People honor you and trust in you to help them live their life in freedom. Even now warriors are trying to give you their strength. Are you even listening to them? Can you even feel them?" Bowing her head, Ayden looked inward as commanded, and was amazed that indeed they were there, beating in her heart. She could hear Chichiri's calm voice soothing her tortured mind, and Tasuki's arms holding her securely, and she could feel, as if from a very great distance, an energy she was not familiar with. It pulsed within her, telling her not to be stupid, to pay attention to what she was doing.
"I'm listening," Ayden said, trying to defend herself. "They're there; I can feel them."
"You have failed the test," purred the woman, smirking slightly. "As I thought you would. However," her shoulders sagged. "It seems that my testing means nothing to Suzaku. Your warriors have pledged themselves fully to you, and the Phoenix has chosen you as well." She sighed. "You are weak, too trusting, and not yet wise in the ways of this world."
"I can learn," Ayden defended herself quickly, not enjoying this belittlement of her character.
"You'll have to. The Beast God will consume you, Priestess. Your feelings will torment you." Ayden found she was glaring at this strange ugly woman. She was not so weak as all that. Hadn't she just killed a man? She deemed the criticism slightly unjustified.
"Is there nothing but horror in this place?" She burst out, frustrated. "What about all the good I've seen here? Hotohori and Tasuki, everyone who has been so kind to me." This brought the first real smile to the woman's lips. "Who are you, anyway, to know so much? Who are you to doubt me?" For a moment she wondered if she'd gone too far. Had she over stepped her boundaries of power in her station? From deep within the wrinkles, the woman's eyes were now distant, and Ayden thought that perhaps her last sentence had been overlooked.
"I know all. . .I've seen it," the witch murmured. "I know the sorrows that are following at your heels, and the deepest desires of your heart that even you are not yet aware of." Ayden trembled. "I've seen the path that lies before you, and the hurt you will receive and inflict. There is terror that is yours to dispose of at will." Ayden's fingers dug deep into her already wounded palms. The voice held her captivated, spellbound by the possibilities it promised. "Yet you must also believe, as your warriors do. You must give yourself completely to the will of the Beast God. Detatch yourself from the mortal desires and feelings you are bound to and become a Priestess. Forget the boy." All Ayden's fury returned with the last words. She couldn't forget about Trowa, never, not after all that he had come to mean to her. The sense of stability he offered. But, where is he now? The thought pestered her and added upon her frustration. Where is he now that you need him most? She shook the thought clear and focused again on what was in front of her.
"You haven't answered my question!" Ayden cried, noticing that the woman's body was beginning to fade into nothing. "Who are you! How do I submit to Suzaku?" How was she to know anything about it? She was not part of this land and its deities. How was she to know?
"I am Taitskun, whom you seek, and who waits for you in the mountains where the falcons fly in your name. When you are ready you will find me. In the meantime, Priestess, find yourself." The sun burst through the woman's form, encasing Ayden in a harsh heat. Shielding her eyes, she fell backward onto the sand, and into a pair of waiting arms.
"Priestess!" Hands tightened in surprise around her, and she blinked into focus Tasuki's scarlet eyes peering down at her. The sun was bright behind him, low to the sand. Night was coming. But where was the woman? Taitskun? Stiffening, Ayden jerked upright. Tasuki's strong body moved with her, keeping her sheltered and supported. A sting brought her attention down to her palm, where granuals had stuck into the scabbing wound. Not a dream then. "Hold still, Priestess," Tasuki was saying, pulling her down into the cradle of his embrace.
Her eyes were wild and frightened, Tasuki saw in the twilight. They scanned the horizons, searching for something he could not see. Some hidden horror danced before her face, and his words were not reaching her. His entreaties for her to remain still, hoping that she would recover enough for them to start moving soon, as the figure was rapidly making progress across the dunes towards them. Squinting, he could easily make it out, some kind of animal, but his attention was jerked back to the slight girl he held as she threw her arms about his neck and buried her face against him. Her body spasmed with some kind of inner anguish.
"He killed him," she was saying over and over. "Both of them are lost." Raising his hands, he cupped her head to face her.
"What are you saying? Who's lost?" She was looking dead at him, but his words seemed to be passing straight through her. "Priestess, please, you're not making sense." His fingers slipped under her eyes, brushing the tears down the backs of his hands. The silhouette in the distance was growing larger. It would be upon them in seconds. "Ayden," he hesitated slightly over her name. "What's going on?"
"What's going on, Ayden?" Tasuki repeated with more strength, shaking her slightly. She saw him then, realized that Taitskun was indeed gone. Hotohori was still alive, and Trowa was no where near where she was. Despite the pain the last thought inflicted, she was nonetheless relieved that the scene she had suffered within her mind had not taken place anywhere other than there. But Trowa. Would he really do that? Was he really capable of such a thing? She remembered then something that had happened while they were still at the palace. Trowa, from atop a wall, had thrown a dagger, similar to the one she had caught in her vision, directly at the heart of the emperor. She barely restrained herself from breaking into sobs again. He could, and she would have to betray him to keep her warrior safe. Because. . .because she wasn't his partner anymore, but she was the priestess. Tasuki was depending on her; Hotohori was depending on her. Whatever her feelings for Trowa, they must be put behind the responsibilities she had now to the Beast God. Shaking her head, clearing from it the terrible images she had just witnessed, she pushed away from Tasuki to stand and scan their surroundings. At her feet, the fire bandit sighed in relief, and maybe a little pain as well.
"I'm so sorry, Tasuki," she told him as she slowly turned to see in all directions. "I'll be more careful next time." He gave a confused sort of grunt.
"So long as you're all right," he told her softly, giving a different grunt as he stood beside her. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that he could no longer stand straight, his side kept him hunched over slightly. Not a good position for fighting. He studied her curiously. "You are all right?"
"Perfectly," her voice was cold, even to her own ears. Keep Trowa from your head, Ayden, focus only on Tasuki. Focus on the ones that really matter. The cold of the dagger felt comfortable in her wounded hand. Something was coming for them over the dunes, she could make it out in the falling darkness. Not Duo, it was moving too fast for that, but it was unmistakenly headed for them. She judged that they would not be able to outrun it with Tasuki in his condition. "We've got company," she informed him, knowing that he already knew. "Let's go greet it properly." Although she doubted that Tasuki understood her sudden change, it did not cause any hesitation on her part to begin a trek that would bring her towards whatever it was heading for them in the coming night.
"Priestess!" Tasuki's voice faded away behind her, all her attention needed on what was at hand so that she could keep her mind from wandering back to what she had seen and heard. Trowa. Hotohori. She had accepted his proposal, meaning that it was part of the greatest desires of her heart. Taitskun had said so. But so was returning home with Trowa, in fact, that was the stronger of the two. Forget the boy. The words echoed coldly, shivering through her frame. She gripped the dagger tighter, tighter, until she could feel her blood dripping into the sand. I can't! Submit to the Beast God. But how? Don't be stupid, Ayden, came the underlying thought, the pulse of unidentified energy that had not left her with the vision. Focus on what you're doing. Don't be stupid.
"Focus," she muttered in her head, bringing the dagger into position to be thrown. Dimly, so far away behind her that it was a wonder she heard it at all, came a gasp as Tasuki recognized what it was that flew for them. Cocking her head slightly, she could make it out as well. "A wolf?" What would a creature of the mountains be doing so far away from water and shelter? And why was it heading straight for them? Don't be stupid, Ayden. Don't try to rationalize. Go at it simple. It must be an enemy. Be it Kutou or just a simple beast out for blood, you still need to realize the opposition it entails in its jaws. Ayden paused on the sand, gathering her strength and readying her aim.
Tasuki skidded to a halt, falling backward as he did so. His wound tore slightly, but it did not bring his attention from the spectacle before him. Ayden, no, the Priestess of Suzaku, stood a beacon against the twilight, shining with a scarlet flame. The blade in her hand glowed with an internal fire, and all about her blazed an inferno of power. Something had happened to her, he knew, something happened when she had been unconscious. Her mind had undergone something he could never understand, and it had given her power. The wolf, Duo's wolf, sprinted for her, but she stood calm and unafraid. Her aura amazed him, and he found he could do nothing but watch, held motionless to the spot in awe.
With deadly precision, she raised her hand, her gaze steady on the beast. In another moment, she would let the dagger fly. And it would hit its mark, Tasuki knew that already. The wolf was dead.
A sharp whistle cut through the twilight, followed by a high shriek of pain. Against his bandit's instincts, Tasuki winced to hear it, but quickly shifted his head so that he could see what had happened. He could make out the blood glow on the sand, steaming in the coolness of the coming night. But the wound wasn't right. Squinting, he took a few steps closer to Ayden, who radiated like the sunset. The dagger had not left her hand. It was an arrow that had pierced the wolf. . .in the flank.
"Ayden, get down!" Tasuki commanded, dropping low himself and scanning the shadows of the dunes for the archer. There weren't many rocks to hide behind, but the velvet blackness of the sand. Could be anywhere. "Let's get off the hill," he whispered, reaching out a slightly shaking hand to tug at Ayden's shirt. Electricity jolted through his fingers, filtering heat up and down his body, numbing his side. His mouth opened in shock as Ayden turned her head to consider him. The glow, the light of Suzaku, had receded into her eyes.
"Come on," Tasuki stuttered, not daring to touch her again. "Let's get out of the open." She favored him with a sarcastic smile at his remark. Everywhere was out in the open. Together they slid down the side of the hill that faced the mountain. Tasuki set a running pace, faster than he should have been able to move. Ayden placed a restraining hand on his arm to slow him.
"Easy does it," she cautioned him, making him realize that the pain from the arrow wound had completely receded. They had to take advantage of the temporary relief to put as much distance between them and the injured wolf as possible. "We have time." He bowed his head close to her ear.
"There are no archers among the warriors of Suzaku," he clipped. "The one who shot the wolf is not our friend. Let's go." Slipping out from under her arm, he struck up the sprint once more. Having no other choice, Ayden fell into step beside him.
***
Miboshi cursed violently as he knelt beside the wounded animal. Ashtare whined pathetically, hiding its face against Duo's knee. The injury had stopped bleeding, and would heal quickly.
"I just saved your life," Miboshi informed his fellow warrior. "She would have done far worse to you than I have." Duo smiled within his mind. He had seen her, a beacon on the dune, shining with the scarlet fire of the deity. There was power in her, and she had somehow come across a way to control it, manipulate it to her will. And that meant that Miboshi had to take her more seriously than ever before. The wolf was no longer a match for her. And neither are you, Duo thought viciously.
"There's no choice to it now," Miboshi spoke as if to the wolf, but Duo knew that he just enjoyed using Duo's mouth to form words and create sounds. "We'll have to wait until after she gets the scroll." Ah, but that was dangerous. She possessed a heightened awareness now. She had felt the energy of Suzaku, knew its fire, and that was sure to help her become one with her warriors. And you are not a warrior, Duo reminded the horror that inhabited his mind. How are you going to keep that from her now?
"Her trust is already mine. She'll doubt herself before she disbelieves what your friend tells her." So you say, Duo grinned, feeling the sunburn on his own cheeks for the first time in many days. So you say. Miboshi was ready with a grin of his own.
"I think we should backtrack. There won't be any stopping them since they're so close to the mountain." Which is somewhere you can't set foot, Duo reminded him, wishing desperately that the smile that curved his lips was really his. "Where we can't set foot," Miboshi corrected. "You're every bit as much a Seiryuu warrior as I am." That's what you think, Duo growled, forcing a burst of his clear laughter out of Miboshi. It echoed eerily over the dunes. "In any case," with tender hands Miboshi assisted the wolf off the sand. "We'll be needed back in Konan for the summoning ceremony. The palace seems a good a place as any to wait." Shifting to Ashtare's limping gait, Miboshi turned away from Taitskun's mountain.
***
"She made it," Heero murmured the words before he realized that he was speaking aloud. Yan-Yan gave him a half-surprised glance, shifting her chin upwards from where she'd buried her face against him. Chichiri lifted his head from his knees on the other side of the room to consider this sudden change in the silence. Heero met his eyes, nodding. "She's coming." For an instant he could see her, sprinting over the sand, her mouth open and fire in her eyes. They were running recklessly, fearlessly. A drop of sweat slid down Heero's face as the image played out before him.
"Heero!" Chichiri was shaking his shoulder roughly, although Yan-Yan was looking more than pleased. "What's wrong?" Heero exchanged a quick look with the young girl as he stood up.
"We're going to get them," he told the older man, his hands already secreting pieces of fruit into his clothing.
They'd been running so long Ayden was now certain that the sun hadn't set properly, but had lodged itself in her lungs they burned so hard. Her throat was raw from her harsh breathing, and still Tasuki kept the pace, uphill and then sliding down the other side. Goosebumps shivered over her skin, responding to the cold of the dark, but even so the sting of sweat was in her eyes. And far below it, below everything, was that other burn, the intense heat of the Beast God, weighing her down. Dimly she was aware of her legs, still churning, still struggling to keep up with her fire haired warrior. They tripped her through the sand, sometimes with shoots of pain up through her knees when it got really deep. All along the mountain loomed, blocking out the stars, but never seeming to get any closer. One more step, Ayden. The words ran their cadence through her mind with such desperation that her lips had begun to form them as well. One more, and then another. Quicker now, Tasuki is pulling ahead. But I'm so tired, something whimpered, stinging her eyes with exhausted tears. If I were to slow to a walk for just a few steps, then I'd be able to catch up to him again. She lifted her drooping head, seeing Tasuki's back as she'd been watching it all night, except that it was getting farther and farther away from her. Her lips moved again, but she hadn't the breath left to call out to him to wait. Tasuki, I'm back here, turn around. The starlight faded in a questioning manner, and Ayden had only a little time to wonder why everything had grown so dark before she collapsed into the sand.
***
"Trowa? Are you all right, Trowa?" Trowa turned his head slowly to face the twin who had addressed him. Amiboshi. His young eyes were filled with question and concern, but Trowa could only nod in response. He felt all right, and yet there was something underneath that he couldn't put a name to. There was an ache in his leg, but that was undoubtedly because of a previous injury followed up with days on end of nothing but walking through ankle deep sand. There was also a loneliness clenching his heart, and he didn't even want to think about what had caused that. However, now that attention had been brought to the fact that something indeed was wrong, her image sped across his consciousness, with the glory of the sunrise on a spiderweb. Did she make it to the mountain, he wondered. Had the others met up with her by now?
A hand grabbed his shoulder in warning, pulling him down. He instintively tensed against the touch, but did look around, trying to see what there was to alarm him of. Suboshi, his make-shift bandage only half concealing the arrow wound, was nodding his head towards the north where a black figure was staggering in their general direction. "What is it?" The twin asked, looking to Trowa for guidance and even protection. How Trowa wished that the boy's arm was strong enough for the sling he carried in his belt. Amiboshi slithered over to where they were crouched, his eyes gone hard and fierce.
"A runaway?" He began, but Trowa shook his head. There was a familiarity in the grace of the personage's stagger. There was also something he knew in the black of the clothes. But if he was here, then where was Ayden?
"It's Duo," Trowa told the twins even as he stood to raise a hand. "Oye, Duo!" The heat shimmering form dropped to its knees in apparent relief at finding them. It spurred Trowa into a fast trot over the scorching sand towards his fellow pilot.
"Trowa," Duo gasped, licking his dry and cracked lips and reaching a hand upward towards his friend. "I'm so glad you're alive."
"You look like you shouldn't be," Trowa responded, noticing the teeth marks and sunburn covering Duo's body. Amiboshi was there then with one of their last waterskins to hold to Duo's bleeding mouth. "What happened to Ayden?" There was a faint flash of fire in Duo's midnight blue eyes when her name was mentioned. It struck a chord of fear in Trowa. "Duo? Is she alive?"
"Yes," Duo sighed as he lowered the skin, running his tongue once again over his lips to get every last drop of water he could. "She and Tasuki are close to the mountain by now."
"You were with them?" Trowa was now on his knees beside the braided pilot, ignoring the burning heat beneath him. "For how long? How come you're not with her now?" Duo stared at Trowa for a moment as if he didn't understand a word he was saying. Then a flash of recognition crossed them and he began to speak again.
"I was traveling with them," he finally said, his eyes blinking fast. "Until we were attacked ~" Trowa grabbed his shoulders, ignoring the wince he recived when he dug his hands too deeply into a wound.
"Attacked! What happened?" Duo pulled Trowa's hands away from the cuts.
"I said she's alive, calm down already. It was a wolf ~"
"What's a wolf doing way out here?"
"Are you gonna let me talk, or what?" Trowa lowered his head in shame. "I think it was a wolf from the Seiryuu camp, that's what it's doing out here."
"That would exlain why it would attack the Priestess as well," Amiboshi chimed in, nodding at his own logic. Duo nodded his agreement.
"Anyway," he went on, eyeing the waterskin that Amiboshi had taken from him. "I told them to go on while I took care of it, thinking that maybe I could give them a good headstart just in case I couldn't kill the thing." Trowa tensed, waiting for the outcome. "So Tasuki took her and they started running for the mountain. And, as you can see, I didn't do so well against the wolf."
"Why didn't you use your gun, Duo?" Trowa asked, wondering why Duo would have gotten so badly injured when he could have taken care of the beast with one well-placed shot. Duo shook his head, sorrowful.
"I lost my gun at the skirmish on the battle line," he admitted. Trowa ran a hand through his bangs. Now the enemy not only had a lot more man-power than Konan could ever hope to collect, but with a gun they wouldn't be long in figuring out exactly what was needed to make more. Before long, if they didn't act quickly, it'd be Heero's gun against all the Kutou army. Trowa almost shuddered at the thought, already wondering if he could use any of the bullets in Heavyarms for anything useful.
"We've got to get that back," he muttered. "But you killed it?" Back to the orignal topic of conversation. Duo winced.
"It's not going to make it back to its master, I don't think."
"So you didn't kill it." Duo looked insulted.
"I had nothing but my bare hands, man, what did you want me to do?" Trowa made a calming motion with his hand.
"So long as Ayden got away all right." Duo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but thought better of it after seeing the expression on Trowa's face. Trowa was by now looking off towards the east, hoping that Ayden had finally reached the stupid mobile mountain.
"There's nothing you can do for her," Duo's hand found Trowa's shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze. "There's nothing any of us can do for her. She's got Tasuki and Heero, and that blue haired guy too. We might as well get ourselves back to the palace, right?"
"Little problem with that," Trowa said, still gazing off east at the mountain range, any one, or none, of which could be hiding Ayden right now.
"What's that?"
"We don't know how to get there."