Same Warnings and disclaimers apply.
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Part 2--Sairou
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Sairou. A beautiful emerald city, placed in the heart of an oasis and vast deserts stretching as far as the eye could see. It was rumored the endless sky and sea of sand could drive a man mad, on its own. After a month of hard traveling, Tasuki was inclined to believe it. Almost three months before, Nakago had told the tent leaders that they were moving out. A journey across the sea on three rickety wooden boats and then the desert...it made Tasuki want to pull out his hair. If someone else didn't go crazy here pretty soon, he'd have to, just to alleviate the boredom.
For three, long, agonizing months he'd only had Suboshi to amuse him, which wasn't much. If he wasn't dripping over Yui, he was finding new ways to annoy him. And Yui! He couldn't melt that ice with his tessen if he wanted to. He personally couldn't believe Miaka could ever have been friends with her, and if Suboshi weren't a murdering, annoying bastard, he probably could have done better. Tasuki snorted.
These days it was easier just to forget everything that had happened. He kept fairly busy with just general work around the camp, and occasionally they would be mistaken for an unarmed traveling caravan, letting Tasuki get a little exercise. No honor between bandits, sorry pals.
This was all well and good during the day, but the nights he spent with Nakago and by himself were hell. Now that he'd gotten everything he'd wanted from Tasuki, he was just another body to screw and another soldier for the Kutou army. A high-ranking soldier, but soldier nonetheless. Tasuki hadn't honestly hoped or expected anything better from the blond general. He'd earned the scorn from his fellow officers not only for being from Konan, but also for the nasty reputation he'd been given by "associating" with Nakago. Tasuki didn't have a problem with either of these things. More hatred meant more fights meant more fun. And if he closed his eyes or pictured someone else, the sex wasn't bad, albeit a little rough.
"You, there." A small voice called out to him. Ignoring it, Tasuki continued on his way. He wasn't in the mood to beat someone up. "You! Fetch me a glass of water!" On the other hand...he turned briskly. Standing a little ways away from him was Yui, priestess of Seiryu. He stared at her coldly.
"Get me a glass of water." Her imperious tone was enough to make Tasuki want to slap her. But he feared what Nakago would do to him if he did so. Tasuki smirked. He would try not to hurt her to much, then. Tasuki stalked up to her and grabbed her wrist as she tried to retreat.
"Listen to me." She jerked once hard against his grip, but Tasuki was a lot stronger than he looked. "I may be part of this army now, but I want you to remember, I was one of the Suzaku Seven and my home is in Konan." Yui glared hatefully at the mention of her enemies.
"What are you doing here, then?" She spat out.
"That's my business." Tasuki tightened his hold on her, grinding the fragile bones of her wrist together. "I don't owe you anything. I could care less why you're here or what you're doing. I don't want to protect you. I don't care if Seiryu is summoned, and since that is your only purpose, I suppose that makes me a little dangerous to you. So watch how you talk to me." He flung her hand away from him and walked away. He could see her out of his peripheral vision, rubbing her wrist and scowling after him. Tasuki was no one's--especially some little woman who mistakenly thought she was important--lap dog. She'd remember it next time.
That night he spent with Nakago, or rather, Nakago spent with him. The man preferred not to bring anyone into his quarters if he could help it. He also didn't like to stay very long once he was done. Tonight, Tasuki was surprised when Nakago didn't immediately begin to dress after rolling off of him. Instead, he settled in next to him on the wide pallet. Tasuki stared at him bemusedly.
"Your priestess was here." Nakago said with no inflection in his deep voice, as concise as ever. Tasuki stiffened beside him. He had no idea what this meant. Miaka...He hadn't thought of her in a while. He couldn't. If Nakago had done anything to her...
What was he going to do? Nothing. There was nothing he could do.
"Would you like to know why?" Nakago was smirking at Tasuki's bland expression that was obviously forced. "She came to see me for the same reason you did, a few months ago. Perhaps she was lonely. Or she finally lost interest in Tamahome. Whatever the reason..." He trailed off. He had made himself pretty clear.
"Why are you telling me this?" Tasuki finally said. He was shaking with the effort it took to restrain his rage and disgust. Nakago laughed in a mirthless way. He lifted himself up on one elbow.
"Because," he said, "I thought you might be interested." Nakago looked down at Tasuki with cold, smiling eyes. "And also," Nakago reached out for the smaller man. "I like to see you squirm."
Tasuki's eyes widened and he tried to pull away. He didn't like the look in Nakago's eyes. He'd seen it before, a few days ago, when a couple of soldiers had committed some indiscretion...Tasuki couldn't remember what it was...but every time the soldiers looked at their stumps of arms, they certainly would. Tasuki shuddered.
"Scared, are you?" Nakago loomed over him. "That's good. So was your priestess." His hand reached up and grasped his face roughly. "You're so much more beautiful when you're scared."
This time, Nakago wouldn't just let him close his eyes and picture someone else.
++
It was six months ago, it seemed like forever. Hadn't it always been this way? Their arrival in Hokkan, the discovery of the enemy camp...why did it seem so long ago? So much had happened between that time and now. Tasuki remembered. Sometimes it was good to remember what had gotten you to the lowest point in your life.
Stepping off the boat and back onto land was like returning into a missed lover's embrace. He didn't think they would ever get to Hokkan. Tasuki would have fallen to the ground and kissed it if it hadn't been covered with mud, ice and snow. He could've cried with relief.
Everyone around him was chatted eagerly, making small talk as they removed their baggage from the ship. They bustled past and missed his profoundly grateful expression.
"Tasuki, are you alright? Do you need help with your baggage?" Chiriko piped from somewhere behind him.
"Ah, no. Just admiring the landscape. Too long on that damn ship, you know?" Tasuki stretched largely to illustrate his point. "It was so cramped in there."
Chiriko smiled. Sometimes, Tasuki's rough language still made him blush. The long trip on the boat had improved their friendship a little, but Tasuki still enjoyed making teasing the young man.
"How long do you think we'll be here?" Tasuki asked. Chiriko shrugged.
"There's no telling. The shinzaho might still be weeks away."
"I don't think I would mind staying here for a while." Tasuki cast a hopeful glance at the high mountain peaks. "Reminds me of home, just a bit."
"You were born in the mountains, weren't you, Tasuki?" Chiriko fixed him with a questioning glance. Tasuki nodded affirmatively.
"How wonderful it must have been..." Chiriko looked to the mountains himself. "Sometimes I wish I could've grown up in a place like this, like you."
"It wasn't always fun." When the younger of the two gave him a look he laughed. "Well, every now and then it wasn't."
"Are you guys ready to go yet?" Tamahome sauntered by, carrying several large bags. "We'll have to find an inn or something, quick." He shouldered one of the bags and overbalanced. Tasuki couldn't help laughing aloud as he toppled over.
"Just come on." He grumbled and picked up the luggage.
The inn was quite a ways away, after all, and Tasuki was glad he had traveled light. Poor Tamahome was almost dead by the time they arrived. Miaka looked hungry enough to eat one of them. Tasuki, however, was still full of energy, even though he had practically ran the whole way. After they had checked in and he had put his baggage in his room, he left to go for a walk. Everyone else had refused to go with him, and secretly he was glad. He needed time to himself after spending so much time in close quarters with those people.
Being outside in the trees and snow filled Tasuki with a sense of euphoria. His loud laughed filled the still air. A couple passed him along the dark road, staring the whole time. He just smiled, baring his fangs, assuring and warning them at the same time.
Before he knew it, he was far outside the town limits. In the distance, he could hear sounds--people yelling, heavy equipment colliding with more heavy equipment. Curious, Tasuki decided to check it out, he had his tessen with him if there should be trouble.
About half a mile down the road, a camp was being erected. The only light cast upon the scene was from a few lanterns hanging on poles. It was vague enough that he couldn't quite make out just who these people were. He stood a few yards from the camp and continued to watch men work hoisting poles and pitching tents for a few minutes.
Tasuki heard the scuff of feet through snow a second too late. "What do you suppose we have here?" Rough hands grabbed him from behind and swung him around. Two guards stood there, smiling in the self-satisfied way people do when they've fulfilled their purpose. Tasuki immediately recognized the crest on their helmets. They were Kutou! They'd followed them!
"Wait a second, don't you recognize him? He's of the Suzaku Seven!" By now, the noise they were making had attracted a small crowd. Tasuki wasn't going to get out of this one very easily. He silently berated himself.
"Get him to the General." Tasuki was ushered through the camp to a large, blue tent, cursing and yelling the whole entire way. When a tall, blonde man emerged from the tent Tasuki closed his mouth. More than anything, this man terrified him. Tasuki was forced to kneel as Nakago approached.
"Ah, Tasuki." Nakago said, recognizing the other man. "How are you? I see you recovered nicely from Tamahome's beating." Tasuki glared up at the man and snarled. Nakago took Tasuki's chin and turned his face this way and that.
"Don't touch me!" Tasuki tried to pull away, but the guards held him fast.
"Nice. Very exotic." Nakago released him and turned away. "So you and your priestess have made it this far north. I can't say I'm really surprised, considering what a persistent bunch you are."
"What do you want?" Tasuki asked, his mind flooded with gruesome images.
"What do you want me to do to you, Tasuki?" Nakago turned to face him again, but because of his position, Tasuki's face reached only to his navel. He signaled the guards to let him up. They still held their holds on his arms, though. Without giving him much warning, Nakago retook his face and kissed him. Tasuki was too shocked to do much but stare.
Who was this man? Had he no shame? His men were standing right there! The man's power hit Tasuki like a punch in the face. He didn't care what people thought of him, he had no humility or shame, because who would challenge him? He could easily blow away anyone who said anything. Tasuki's fear of the General increased three-fold.
As Nakago pulled away, he could see the guards on either side of him cringing and or hiding their faces. None of them approved, but none of them would dare say anything. What strength...Tasuki thought. His mouth hung slightly agape.
"Let him go." Nakago said, moving to return to his tent. The guards let their grip slacken obediently. "Let Suzaku come." His voice rose with the challenge. The same men who had turned away now gazed upon him proudly. To be able to control them like that...! Tasuki's mind marveled even as he flew from the camp. He'd known that Nakago was a man not to be trifled with...but he'd underestimated him. Wildly underestimated him.
The question he was faced with now, was whether or not he should tell the others. On one hand it was integral for Tamahome to know...they could plan better and be more alert if they knew there was danger nearby. On the other, the camp obviously hadn't been prepared for attack. They probably weren't planning anything overt. Why let them worry unnecessarily?
The pros outweighed the cons. He had to tell Tamahome. Tasuki couldn't knowingly endanger his friends. By the time he returned to the inn, everyone was already asleep, or so he thought. He decided to wait until morning to impart with his news, everyone was so tired, it seemed too much of a hassle to wake everyone up. Tasuki returned to the room he shared with Chiriko for the time. When he entered, the young man was propped up in his bed reading.
"What's wrong?" He asked, taking in Tasuki's stricken expression. With wild eyes and panting breaths, he outlined the story for him, carefully leaving out the humiliating kiss. Chiriko didn't need to hear that.
"That is a problem...but you're right, if they were going to attack us, they would have done it already." The sandy-haired boy rested his head on his knees. "It doesn't seem like there's much we can do. Nakago and Kutou are just too powerful. It's just a race, now."
Tasuki nodded. He certainly didn't want to go head to head with Nakago. "I don't know about you, kid, but that guy scares me." Chiriko fixed him with a surprised look.
"He scares all of us, I think." It wasn't like the older man to admit such things, seeing Tasuki so vulnerable shook Chiriko a little bit. "Are you alright?" He asked, moving closer to Tasuki where he sat on the foot of his bed. The other man ran a shaky hand through his hair.
"I'm not sure, kid." Tasuki focused on something on the floor. "I've never been that scared in all my life, not even when I ran away from home..."
"Tasuki..." Chiriko placed a hand over Tasuki's where it lay twisted in the bed sheets. They stayed like that for a few moments, until Tasuki suddenly jumped up from the bed.
"I'm alright. I got away, didn't I?" He smiled hugely and started rummaging through his baggage. Chiriko was still concerned.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked. Tasuki didn't look up from what he was doing.
"Fine. Are you almost ready to go to bed?" Tasuki said, briskly changing the subject.
"Yes," he returned. Tasuki didn't meet his eyes as he lay down in his bed and extinguished the lamp.
"Good night, Chiriko," Tasuki said quietly.
"Good night." Chiriko was sure that his friend wasn't alright. Something had happened that he wasn't telling him. He didn't seem to be injured physically. Chiriko sighed into the darkness. He hated being so much younger than everyone else sometimes. No one ever told him anything. Sighing once more, Chiriko settled down in the uncomfortable pallet to sleep. It was a long ways off for both of them. Tasuki wasn't aware of when he had finally fallen asleep. It couldn't have been that much later that Miaka burst into his room.
"Are you ever going to wake up? Tasuki?" Miaka chimed from the doorway of their room. She was pleasantly surprised that she wasn't the last one up like always. A shock of red hair sprouting from the sheets was all she could see of the man; he was so burrowed into bedding. At her insistent voice he rolled over, still asleep.
"Maybe you should let him sleep a bit longer, Miaka. We all need to talk downstairs." Chiriko stood behind her in the hallway, his arms tucked into his sleeves.
"Why? What happened?" The girl cast a concerned look at the bed.
"I'll tell everyone when we get downstairs." Chiriko smiled politely.
"Okay..." Closing the door after her, Miaka headed for the common room downstairs.
Awakened by the noise, Tasuki slowly returned to the land of the living. He took a deep breath and stretched. So he'd lived through the night, had he? Half of him honestly hadn't expected to. He had felt cursed, there in the dark. A kiss of death had been bestowed upon him--surely he would never see the light of day again. Tasuki chuckled, his voice still roughened from sleep. In the daylight time it was easier to forget about his troubles...he couldn't dream when he was awake.
His room was far enough away from the main part of the building that he could only hear the murmur of voices and the occasional raucous laugh. To his left there was a small window. When the sun emerged from behind the clouds, bounced off the snow and filled the room with wan light. He could have kissed Chiriko for letting him sleep in and not face the frantic questions of his teammates.
Tasuki's muscles screamed as he rose out of bed. He hadn't ran like that in a few months. He was still wearing the clothes he put on yesterday, which were covered in dried mud. More than anything, Tasuki needed a bath. He was getting up to inquire where the bath house was when six people tried to enter through the three-foot-wide doorway at once.
"Are you alright? I was so worried for you! Chiriko told us what happened!" Everyone seemed to be talking at once. For several moments the room was filled with a rush of noise and probing questions.
"HEY! Where's the bath-house?" Tasuki yelled. The voices halted at once.
"Just to the left of the building." Tamahome answered.
"Thank you." Tasuki grabbed a change of clothes and shoved through his friends.
"Let me come with you." Tamahome asked. Tasuki gave him a tired look.
"Fine..." The two men descended the stairs. The five people left behind exchanged confused glances.
"Does he seem alright to you?" Among them, they passed doubtful glances.
++
Will I ever be happy again?
No. You lost that privilege long, long ago. No one wants to make you happy anymore. You don't deserve to be happy. His actions had led Miaka to...Tasuki never would have guessed it would have turned out this way. Had he, he would have done so many things differently...he never would have joined Miaka at all. He was never meant for a life other than that of a common criminal.
The colors of Tasuki's world had seemed to fade. It had been a week since Miaka was in the Seiryu camp. His daily struggle had gotten that much harder. Now it was a trial just getting out of bed at all. What was the point? He didn't have much longer, anyway. His days, now, were spent waiting out for the end. There had to be an end. Please, Suzaku, let there be an end. Oh, yes. Suzaku wouldn't listen to him anymore...
Out of the corner of his eye, Tasuki saw Suboshi stumble towards Nakago's tent. Tasuki vaguely remembered him leaving late last night--he'd stirred up so much attention, yelling and screaming about his brother. No one, not even Nakago was able to stop him from leaving. Tasuki had watched Suboshi stand up to the cruel, heartless man with out batting an eyelash. Even a child-murdering psycho was stronger than he was. But what did that matter?
An hour passed before the screams started echoing throughout the camp. Suboshi's tortured voice rang from every surface. Tasuki was surprised to find he was sympathetic. A wry laugh filled him. After everything that had happened, he could still care for that kid? The irony was beautiful.
As he neared Nakago's tent, the sound of a whip cracking against youthful flesh was more apparent. Tasuki wished he could curl up and block the sound out, but there was no escaping a something like that. Suboshi's agony had to be heard. To block it out would be an injustice to him. Tasuki wished he could cry for him.
The screams stopped. Whether it was because Suboshi passed out or his voice finally gave out, Tasuki wasn't sure. Several minutes passed before two guards emerged from the tent carrying the battered young man. Tasuki's stomach turned over as he took in his flayed back. What had the boy done to deserve that?
Tasuki knew the answer. He'd challenged Nakago in front of his men. He showed them it could be done. Nakago showed them it had consequences. Suboshi was just another example. He watched the guards return him to his room. After they had come out, Tasuki slipped in.
For a moment, he was able to forget his own problems, and tend to another human being. The whole ordeal hadn't quite robbed him of all his humanity, yet. He could still pity the boy, could still care for him, even after all he'd done to him and his friends. Tasuki winced. For the other Suzaku warriors, then.
If he was feeling queasy earlier, Tasuki could surely wretch now. If there was a square inch on Suboshi's back that wouldn't be scarred, he'd be genuinely surprised. He covered his mouth, to stop from screaming, to stop the curses that were itching to get out. If he was going to help the young man, it would probably be best if Suboshi was unconscious.
There was a basin of water sitting on a table. After a few moments searching, Tasuki turned up enough clean linen. He sat on the edge of the bed and tried to clean the blood off of the wounds.
There were places where the blood had already dried and the remnants of Suboshi's clothing were stuck in the wound. The boy would whimper in his sleep when Tasuki pulled it away. He hated to cause the boy any more pain, he'd been through so much already. He was wrapping the wounds when Suboshi finally woke up.
"What are you doing?" His voice was faint, barely a whisper. If Tasuki hadn't had such good hearing, he would not have caught it. Suboshi tried to lift himself up but Tasuki restrained him.
"Don't. You'll just make it worse." Suboshi fell silent, letting Tasuki do as he pleased with him. Tasuki lifted the young man's torso to continue wrapping. He almost dropped him when he noticed Suboshi was crying.
"I'm sorry about that," Tasuki carefully lowered him back on the pallet.
"Why?" Suboshi choked out. His hands tightened into impotent fists beside him.
"Because, you needed my help." Suboshi gazed up at him from the pallet. Tasuki watched something break inside the smaller man as he collapsed into tears. Looking down at him, he realized he couldn't leave now. Tasuki placed one hand on the boy's head and smoothed his hair as the story came out.
Suboshi had felt his twin, Amiboshi. He was in pain, he said. Suboshi didn't even think about defying Nakago and rushed off to help him. When he'd gotten there, Suboshi said, Tomo and Tasuki's priestess had been there as well. Tomo had been about to kill Amiboshi, the other twin sobbed out. What was he supposed to do? If he'd let him die, it'd be like killing himself. After Amiboshi took the herb to erase his memory, Suboshi had left him in the care of an old couple his brother was familiar with. Suboshi would probably never see him again.
Tasuki stayed with him, even after his cries had quieted. It was funny, he thought. He'd always considered Kutou the enemy, even after he joined them. He'd become the bad guy then. But wasn't it possible they saw Konan in the same way? Wasn't it true that people on both sides were suffering? It seemed so stupid, now. They were all useless. What they were doing was useless. Nobody really needed people like him, Suboshi, or Nakago. What were they fighting for?
He let Suboshi's head rest on the pillow. While he was sitting there, his leg had fallen asleep, and it was awkward when he rose to get up. Tasuki brushed Suboshi's hair out of his eyes once more before he turned to leave. As he pulled away, a hand latched on to his wrist.
"Don't go." Suboshi said weakly. "Stay with me. Just for tonight, be my brother." Tasuki's expression softened. Why not? The comfort of another's presence, a warm, living body next to him...it'd been so long since he'd been comforted...
He gently moved Suboshi and made room for himself. As he settled into the uncomfortable bed, Suboshi reached out and intertwined his fingers with Tasuki's. Laying at an angle with his head resting on Tasuki's shoulder, Suboshi was drifted into a deep sleep. Tasuki found the young man's presence soothing, and was finally able to sleep for the first time in days. For once, his dreams were pleasant.
++
He'd spent two weeks deliberating, and here he finally was. Since their arrival in Hokkan, Tasuki hadn't been able to focus on much of anything. His mind kept returning to the Seiryu camp and his unfortunate run-in there--to the forbidden kiss and all the unspoken promises held therein. Nakago's eyes had reflected ice, but his body told of greater things to come.
Maybe if Tasuki hadn't been celibate since leaving Mount Reikaku things would have turned out differently, but it still wasn't just lust that had called him to Nakago. The power the man contained, displayed every time the man moved, every time he spoke...that's what made the largest impact on him. Oh, the things this man could do for him! His mind would whisper as he laid down to sleep. He'd repress it, shove it to the back of his thoughts, but as the cold days dragged on, it had gotten harder and harder. Eventually, he found himself pulled hopelessly to the camp just outside of town.
Almost immediately after stepping into the camp, it lost some of its mysticism. Was this really the place where all of his wishes could be fulfilled? After watching two soldiers kill each other around a camp fire, Tasuki was less than sure. He stepped lightly around one of the tents--he did not wish to be caught by one of these men. Still, he wasn't the best at stealth. Tasuki was surprised he hadn't been caught already.
He found what he was looking for rather quickly. The big blue tent, flying a banner of Seiryu. Just inside of there, he told himself, he'd find what he was looking for. Tasuki couldn't say what it was, exactly, he was looking for, but these past months he'd known something was missing. Watching Tamahome and Miaka grow ever closer, he'd been filled with jealousy. For a long time Tasuki hadn't known what the emotion was, the way his chest tightened when they hugged, the rage he'd feel when he happened upon them kissing. He wanted what they had so badly. Why couldn't someone love him like that?
But could Nakago give him that? That kind of love? Tasuki was doubtful, but he had to try. He'd never missed an opportunity, and under any other circumstances, he wouldn't even have dreamed of turning Nakago down. Even if it was for one night...wasn't that better than what he had now?
When Tasuki entered the tent, he found Nakago sitting at a table, reading. The semi-domestic tableau struck Tasuki as outrageous. Surely a man as omnipotent as Nakago preferred to put babies on spikes, rather than read in his spare time. The man didn't even look up as he entered.
"You're late." Nakago said, snapping his book shut. "I expected you a week earlier. You are stronger than I thought."
Tasuki wasn't surprised that he was expected. Manipulating people was Nakago's other past time. He was surprised, however, to hear that Nakago had underestimated him. The direct insult to his willpower sent him boiling below the surface. How much of his anger was self-directed, though, Tasuki couldn't tell. If he was a stronger person, he wouldn't be here at all.
"Wine?" Nakago offered, finally turning to look at his guest. He poured a moderate amount of the red liquid into a glass and held it out, waiting for Tasuki to take it.
Tasuki noticed Nakago didn't pour himself any wine. Accepting the glass anyway, he stared suspiciously into the red depths. Finally he shrugged and chugged the glass. He didn't have much to lose, anyway.
"Brave man," Nakago said appreciatively, leaning back in his chair. Tasuki wasn't sure whether to be upset or pleased. "Please, sit down." Glancing around, Tasuki found another chair behind him.
"What can I do for you, Tasuki?" The look on Nakago's face showed he clearly knew what he could do for him, but he delighted in making Tasuki say it.
"I don't know. That's what I'm here to find out." Tasuki answered, meeting the other man in the eye.
"I'm a very powerful man. I can provide you with many things." Tasuki wanted to laugh. He hadn't doubted Nakago could. The question was, what would he want in return?
"I know." Tasuki said. "What would you get out of all of this?"
"Now, now, you haven't even named a price yet." Nakago smiled in that cold way of his. "I assume you're looking for something your teammates can't give you."
But was it something he was willing to sell his soul for? Yes. All his life he'd been looking for somewhere...someone...He'd thought when the Suzaku Seven had finally come for him his search was over. It the past few months, he found he still continued to search. Was he stupid to think that Nakago could be the one he was looking for?
Tasuki knew the answer to that question, at least. But he also knew he'd been to Konan, he'd been with the Suzaku Seven. There was nothing there for him. Nothing but friendships unfulfilled...It was time to start down a new road.
"I think we both know what I'm here for, Nakago." Tasuki finally said.
The man lifted himself out of his chair, slow deliberate movements. Tasuki doubted he could move any other way--secret meanings dripping from him every time he flicked his wrist. "Why don't you just say it, anyway?" Nakago said, leaning over the table, his eyes leveled with Tasuki's. He remained stubbornly silent.
"Have it your way," Nakago said. "Come over here and maybe we can work something out."
Tasuki crossed the room. And moving as he did, he couldn't help looking back.
