Between Two Places
A week had passed since Amiboshi joined the Suzaku gang. Within that period of seven days, he had learned many things; many interesting things about his new companions.
The first and most important thing he learnt was that Nuriko was no lady, but a cross-dresser. He had to give him credit though, for being more womanly than the Suzaku no Miko. He found it very confusing and weird, but then he remembered Tomo, the opera-painted, cackling, gay illusionist from the Seiryuu Shichiseishi, and decided that cross-dressing was an easier idea to accept. The gods must have decided to put in a mixed selection of people among all the seishi to make things less boring for them, he thought.
The next thing he learnt was about the fanged bandit. Tasuki loved water just about as much as a cat would. However, Amiboshi mused, he would happily drown himself in a sea of sake, if there was one.
And if anything, he did not want to hear Mitsukake sing, unless they happened to be out in the open. Then again, maybe Mount Taikyoku would collapse if he did.
Lastly, and most intriguing, was the study of Suzaku no Miko herself. She was just about the most fantastically crazy person he'd ever met. Her obsession with Tamahome was record worthy, and even more so her appetite. And she seemed to have a need to read some weird things out loud in the middle of the night, saying it was for the sake of exams in her world. Must be, for Amiboshi had never heard of any Japanese Revolution or whatever those are in his entire life. She was so bubbly and energetic, ready to lift anyone's spirits. All in all, he was glad he joined them. Among these people, he found a sense of kinship and friendship he never knew among the Seiryuu seishi. Already his heart felt lighter, though he still worried deeply for his twin. He vowed that he would get Shunkaku out of it. Chichiri had agreed to help, and he had total confidence in the blue haired monk.
A day ago, Chichiri made a connection with Hotohori in the palace, and they received surprising, but good news. The last of the Suzaku seishi, Chiriko, had found his way to the palace, and they needn't search for him any more. Miaka was ecstatic, and everyone shared her joy. They'll be going back to the palace soon.
"Koutoku!! Want to join me fishing?" Chichiri shouted from not far off.
The flute-player smiled.
"Hai! Coming!!"
He picked up his flute and walked to where his old friend stood waiting, unaware of two pairs of eyes following his every move from the forests, and then silently disappearing into the lush forest growth…
***
"Koutoku, maybe it's time you told them who you are."
Amiboshi stared at the still surface of the translucent pond, his thoughts in a confused jumble. Chichiri was right, of course. He couldn't hide the truth for long. But he wasn't looking forward to the upcoming confrontation.
"How am I supposed to tell them, Chichiri-san?"
"Maybe being forward would be the best course," Chichiri mused thoughtfully, "Miaka, Tasuki, and Nuriko will probably understand your situation no da.
Amiboshi sighed. "I might as well get it over with now."
***
"WHAT!!!!???" Tasuki shrieked. "You freaking son of a bitch, WHO did you just say you were?!!"
Amiboshi squirmed. This wasn't going very well. "Seiryuu Shichiseishi Amiboshi… uh…" he muttered inaudibly. Chichiri placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I'm Seiryuu Shichiseishi Amiboshi." There, much better.
Tasuki and Nuriko's faces had just turned the colour of their hair. Miaka's mouth hung open in disbelief. Amiboshi shuffled his feet uneasily. The once peaceful clearing seemed to be in danger of being blasted into oblivion.
Tasuki pointed an accusing finger at Chichiri. "You fuckin KNEW! How can you hide something like that from us!?"
Chichiri spread his hands in a placating gesture. "Tasuki-kun, I just felt that it wasn't time to let you know. It's…"
"THAT BASTARD COULD HAVE KILLED US A DOZEN TIMES ALREADY!!" Tasuki yelled.
"Why are you here? Spit it out, Seiryuu scum, or I'll fry your ass till you'll wish that your father never stole that first kiss from your mother!" Tasuki held out his tessen menacingly.
Oh no. How am I supposed to tell them? Only the feel of Chichiri's hand on his shoulder kept him from grabbing his flute and planting a ten-foot barrier around himself. The look on Tasuki's face meant business.
"I…uh…was…"
"STOP FOOLING AND TELL US ALREADY! I BET YOU WERE HERE FOR OUR HEADS!"
"Tasuki! Calm down already and let the kid talk!" Nuriko cracked his knuckles for extra emphasis. Tasuki quieted down a little. Very little. It seemed that even the threat of Nuriko's wrath wasn't enough to restrain him today.
"I was…sent to…foil your attempt at summoning Suzaku…"
Tasuki's eyes bulged dangerously.
"and assassinate Suzaku no miko and her seishi."
"THAT DOES IT! YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!" Amiboshi barely managed to dodge in time as a lance of fire shot over his head.
"Tasuki! How could you! Stop!" Miaka yelled.
"TASUKI! You baka! Obviously he's not going to do it, or he wouldn't have told us his true identity!" Nuriko smashed the fiery bandit into the nearest wall, then turned his attention on Amiboshi.
"So…Kou…I mean Amiboshi, you were sent by Nakago." It wasn't a question, but Amiboshi nodded anyway.
"I…I just want to stop the war between Konan and Kutou…Nakago-sama said that Suzaku no miko must not summon Suzaku…I didn't know…I really didn't…"
Amiboshi's voice broke. He dropped his gaze to the floor. "Gomen nasai."
Nuriko smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, we understand. You were being deceived, that's all."
Miaka nodded enthusiastically. "Hai! You're such a nice person, Kou…Amiboshi. I knew you wouldn't hurt us!"
"What did you mean by we? YOU understand, I don't! THAT FREAKING KID WAS GOING TO BUTCHER US!" Another punch sent Tasuki flying.
Nuriko spared Tasuki a casual glance. "Don't worry. Tasuki has always been denser than an ordinary person. He'll get over it soon enough."
He grinned. "I agree with Chichiri. You don't have any evil intentions."
"Well, welcome to the party, Amiboshi-kun."
Amiboshi could only blink in surprise as Nuriko drew him into a tight hug. He couldn't help being touched by the level of trust Nuriko displayed.
Oww…it hurts. "Nuriko-san?"
"Hai?"
"Would you mind if you loosen your grip a little? I…I can't breathe."
"Oh. Sorry."
***
Nakago eyed the black-cloaked spies kneeling before him, his expression unreadable. A faint look of disgust flashed across those blue frosty eyes as he noticed his underlings cowering. That was to be expected, however. They did not bring good tidings.
Cowards. Nakago wasn't sure if his current anger was directed at his minions or someone else, though he highly suspected the latter.
All his plans…ruined by one
foolish boy.
That flash of irritation was gone
almost as fast as it had came. Already Nakago's mind was weaving an even more
intricate and convoluted weave of deception.
"You are dismissed."
He would have his revenge. This turn of events was certainly unexpected, but his plans can be easily modified.
***
"Suboshi."
Suboshi turned to face the shogun walking towards him. As usual, Nakago's features and voice were void of any feelings or expression. Was it his imagination, or were the blonde shogun's eyes even colder and merciless than before? Aniki didn't trust him, and Suboshi agreed whole-heartedly with his brother's sentiments.
Be careful of Nakago, Shun. Try to avoid him if you can.
He didn't need Koutoku to tell him that. But there were just times like this when Nakago would decide to come searching for him. Till now, Suboshi still hadn't managed to figure out a way to hide from someone who seemingly has eyes posted at every corridor of the palace.
"I think there is something you would like to know," Nakago told him.
Suboshi seriously doubted that. Judging by the look on Nakago's face, the young Seiryuu seishi wanted nothing better than to be twenty leagues away from the shogun, though that was certainly nothing new.
He hated Nakago. It was all Nakago's fault that Aniki had to leave him in the first place. Aniki had told him it was necessary that he went, and it was better to get all of this over with as fast as possible. Once they've summoned Seiryuu, they can see okaasan and otousan again.
His parents… he missed them so much. But not as much as he missed his brother. In his opinion, this entire affair was already taking too long.
He could feel Nakago's eyes regarding him coldly, dissecting his every move. Why did he have to feel as though Nakago knew what he was thinking at this very moment?
Nakago's confident smirk certainly didn't help in putting Suboshi at ease.
Suboshi gritted his teeth. You're being paranoid. Get a grip on yourself.
"The Suzaku seishi have located Chiriko."
Suboshi blinked. Why was Nakago telling him this? Wasn't Aniki sent to pose as Chiriko in the first place?
Wait a minute…
How long since his brother had been sent to Konan? It seemed like such a long time ago…and Suboshi knew that didn't come from just missing his brother, Koutoku had been gone for a long time.
Koutoku had told him not to send him any messages via their physical bond. He was afraid that the Suzaku seishi might discover their from of communication, thus blowing his cover. Suboshi understood. He would never do anything that might remotely endanger his brother. Besides, he could sense his brother's soothing presence, and that in itself offered him comfort, something to ease his loneliness.
The Suzaku seishi have located Chiriko. But… could Nakago actually mean… that they have located the true Chiriko?
Either he was displaying his every thought on his face, or Nakago had a psychic gift among his seishi powers.
"The Suzaku seishi Chiriko is a boy of thirteen, his gift appears to be intelligence. He presented himself at the Konan royal palace yesterday." Whatever Nakago saw in Suboshi's reaction, it obviously satisfied him.
"Demo… Aniki…"
"Amiboshi did not masquerade as Chiriko. He is known to the Suzaku seishi as Koutoku…" Nakago paused.
Suboshi hung on to the shogun's every word fearfully, hoping against hope that his brother would be alright.
"…and Seiryuu seishi Amiboshi."
Suboshi stared at the leader of the Seiryuu seishi in horror. But deep down, he was absolutely confused. The Suzaku seishi hadn't harmed his brother. He knew that. He would have felt something if they had. Why hadn't they killed Amiboshi when they discovered who he was?
"Your brother has evidently decided to betray his country for the Suzaku seishi. The Suzaku seishi must have found his seishi powers extremely useful."
Nakago started advancing. Suboshi stared up at those cold blue voids, as impassive and detached as ever.
"However, he has much stronger ties here."
Suboshi gasped as he felt a sharp kick in his belly. He tried to struggle as Nakago's hand gripped his hair painfully, calling onto Seiryuu's powers to do something, anything, however weak he might be compared to Nakago…only to find a shield between him and Seiryuu seikun's power.
I'm dead… oh no…
"As everyone knows, blood is thicker than water." Nakago's words had a sound of smug satisfaction within them as Suboshi found his vision gradually fading into darkness.
***
It was dark, dank, and extremely cold. Suboshi blinked, trying to get his hazy vision to focus.
Great, that jerk's finally decided to dump me in the dungeons.
His wrists were really sore. He looked down to see his hands in shackles. Sighing, he tried to lean back against the grimy wall, trying to position himself so that the manacles wouldn't chafe his flesh.
He gingerly tested the psychic shield barring him from using his seishi powers… and immediately pulled back. No need to let Nakago know that he was already conscious by bashing against Nakago's barrier. Besides, he needed his ryuuseisui to actively channel his telekinetic powers, and Nakago had already thoughtfully removed his weapon.
"This just had to be my lucky day." Suboshi thought sarcastically.
***
The gentle melody halted in mid-air. Amiboshi lowered his flute, trying to shake off the feelings that washed over him. He felt cold, hungry, and lonely. The sensations were faint, as if they weren't his own.
"Koutoku? Is there something wrong?" Chichiri inquired concernedly.
Amiboshi shook his head, still trying to shake off the feelings that were now growing more intense by the second.
Aniki…please…
Amiboshi's eyes widened in shock.
Shun, is that you? Was it just his imagination, or had his brother somehow managed to send him a psychic message?
There wasn't any answer from Shunkaku's end.
Shun? Shun? He must be imagining things. But the feelings he had, they could not have been his own, and they were too realistic for him to brush it off as his imagination. Those must have come from his twin.
"Koutoku?" Chichiri was starting to sound rather worried now.
"Chichiri-san…" Amiboshi began, but abruptly cut off when his visualization was clouded over by a red haze of pain.
The agony… it won't stop… his whole body felt as if it were on fire…
Shun? What's happening to you? Shun!
The torture did not end until Amiboshi collapsed into Chichiri's arms, finally rendered unconscious.
***
Suboshi had finally settled on resting his head between his knees. He tugged at the chains irritably. Stupid things. They really chafe.
"I hope you're doing well, Suboshi."
Oh
Seiryuu, please let it not be him, I'm hallucinating. Yeah, that must be it.
I'm so cold and hungry that I'm beginning to hear things.
A hand jerked his head up roughly. Cold blue eyes stared into Suboshi's face.
Suboshi tried to pry himself out of that firm grip, all the while glaring at Nakago, but ending up earning more assault on his hair instead. He knew he was being foolish, but he couldn't let the shogun think that he was going to listen to his orders like some lost puppy after being locked up in some musty old cell for a few days.
Locked up with no food, barely any water, and having to endure this freaking cold temperature. Suboshi was actually beginning to wonder if he had any frost in his hair.
Suboshi gasped as Nakago delivered a punch to his mid-section, which was still sore from the kick that Nakago had given him last time.
"Obedience is truly a lesson you must learn, Suboshi," Nakago's lips curved into a cruel smirk. "I would be more than willing to give you a few tutorials."
Suboshi's eyes widened as he watched Nakago bring out his whip and calmly stripped Suboshi down to his waist.
It was all he could do to bite back his scream of pain as the first lash connected with his bare skin.
Aniki…please…
***
Some time later, he couldn't bring himself to care anymore. He hadn't even made an effort to hold back the screams of pain.
Footsteps resounded down the corridors of the dungeons. Nakago stopped in mid-lash and turned around.
"Yui-sama, it would be better if you didn't interfere in this."
Somebody answered Nakago. It was a girl, judging from the pitch of her voice. Suboshi's head hung limply, their conversations flitting at the edge of his consciousness.
Suddenly Nakago released him from the chains around his arms, letting Suboshi fall onto the hard ground. His whole body trembling violently, Suboshi tried desperately to lift himself from the cold hard surface.
"Suboshi, I would like you to meet Yui-sama, the Seiryuu no miko."
A girl appeared. Suboshi blinked, trying to get himself to focus. The world kept spinning around him. Vaguely, he managed to make out the outlines of her features.
She was of his age, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a ridiculously revealing skirt of unfamiliar cut, probably clothing from her own world.
Seiryuu no miko, the girl that he and Aniki had been waiting for all along. The girl who would finally put an end to all this senseless fighting. The girl he was supposed to protect as a Seiryuu seishi.
She wasn't what he had expected at all. The Seiryuu no miko in his dreams was warm and bright, forever happy and joyful, spreading warmth to all those around her. But this girl…her eyes were so cold. Cold and unfeeling, made of blue ice.
"You're forgetting your manners, Suboshi." A kick sent him back to his knees again. "Address your miko."
Tears of pain started to cloud his vision. "Yui…sa…ma…"
The girl regarded him coldly, her expression unchanging.
***
He was being chained to the wall again.
No…please…I can't take anymore of this.
As the whip started to lash his blood-streaked back mercilessly, Suboshi mustered all of his strength to look at the girl before him, still watching the scene impassively with her arms folded. Blue eyes met indigo for an instant. Wordlessly, Suboshi pleaded to her, trying to get her to help him.
Was it his imagination, or did those cold eyes soften for an instant?
His hopes, however, were cruelly dashed as she broke the gaze, looking away from him.
Doushite? Doushite?! She's Seiryuu no miko! Isn't she the one who's supposed to help me? She was supposed to bring us happiness! How could she stand aside like this! Why!?
Tears started rolling down his cheeks as Nakago's lashes increased in intensity. Doushite?
***
His eyes silently pleaded me to help him, to end his suffering. Those large indigo eyes shone with unshed tears, their misted depths covered by pain and agony.
He was only a child. And one of my seishi. Yet now he looked so vulnerable…he was begging me to save him.
His name…Suboshi. Suboshi…I can't. Please forgive me…I can't.
Even as Yui cruelly turned her face away, she could imagine the look of despair and accusation on his face.
She forced herself to look at him. He didn't have any strength left to scream, merely hanging there limply, his body jerking with each lash of Nakago's cruel punishment.
What did he do to deserve this? She did not know.
The wounds on his body were similar to that of Tamahome's. Only Suboshi's were twice as bad.
Tamahome…I couldn't help him back then, and now I can't help Suboshi either.
Yui wasn't ignorant. She knew that Nakago deferred to her and seemingly obeyed her. But he would not refrain from doing as he wished behind her back. Even if she told him to stop whipping Suboshi now, he might very well whip the boy after he made sure of her absence. And the whipping the second time around would be even more painful than the first. He knew that she would never agree to whipping Tamahome, but he went ahead and did it anyway.
He was only a child. Even now, Yui couldn't banish the image of those lavender eyes, imploring her to do something to help him.
Yui shook herself. Why was she feeling so guilty? She was doing it only for the boy's own good! She needn't even care. Nakago must have very good reasons for punishing the boy in this way.
She glanced at his face. His cheeks were wet. Suboshi was crying…
Suboshi…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…
***
Seiryuu must have finally heard my wishes. After the seemingly infinite torture session, Suboshi finally felt himself drifting off to an unconscious bliss.
She was watching him.
Her eyes were filled with…pity. Pity? Why now? If she pitied him, why didn't she do anything earlier?
Seiryuu no miko…Yui-sama…
Suboshi gratefully allowed the darkness to take over.
***
When Amiboshi woke up, he found himself on a soft warm bed, in a large, well furnished room. His whole body hurt as if he was lying amongst millions of needles. He grimaced as he held up his left arm, and gave a gasp of shock. It was covered with criss-cross slash wounds, still fresh, but there was no blood. He checked his whole anatomy, disregarding the pain, and found that he was covered from top to toe in similar wounds.
"Koutoku, what happened?" He heard Chichiri say from the foot of the bed. His mask was off, and was very worried.
"You were playing your flute when we were making our way back to the palace, and then you collapsed. Moments later, these wounds just appeared on your body. Mitsukake tried healing you, but his powers had no effect. I teleported all of us back to the palace immediately. These wounds aren't ordinary, Koutoku…what happened?" Chichiri continued.
Amiboshi quickly recollected his memories, and then his eyes widened as realization dawned upon him.
Shun-chan…He's being tortured by the shogun. Gods, no…
"Koutoku! Are you okay? What's wrong?" Chichiri probed again.
Amiboshi stifled a sob.
"These wounds are Shunkaku's. Nakago has been torturing him…He…he must have found out that I've betrayed him…" Hot tears flowed freely down Amiboshi's face, as he was overcome with grief for his brother.
"…I thought as much, since it was impossible for Mitsukake being unable to heal any physical wounds…unless the wounds weren't made on that person himself..." Chichiri reasoned, as he placed a comforting arm on Amiboshi's quivering shoulder. Then he looked at Amiboshi straight in the eye.
"Listen, Koutoku. I've already told the rest of the Suzaku seishi about what's going on right now. They've agreed to help. We will save your brother. Rest, for the moment, and then we can sort out strategies later."
Amiboshi looked up gratefully, tears glimmering in his eyes.
"Shunkaku's a strong person. He'll make it. Everything will be all right…Now, rest. I'll send you some dinner afterwards." With those comforting last words, Chichiri left the room.
Hang in there, Shun… Just bear with it a little while longer…We will get you out…Trust me, Shun.
Everything will be all right.
Amiboshi prayed that his message reached Suboshi, and soon drifted into a restless slumber.
***
· Snowdancer : Tum tum tum…Suboshi torture! Oooo… I had so much fun writing this one.
BloodyCrystal : (stares at the over-excited Snowdancer) No wonder she actually likes Nakago, and to think that I sat behind her at school. She could have murdered me!
Snowdancer : Oh come on… who doesn't like it when their favourite character gets tortured? It's just so…exotic.
BloodyCrystal : Exotic? Is it just me, or are you really sadistic?
Snowdancer : (shrugs) Couldn't find a better to describe it. Oh dear… Subo-chan's hurt badly. I must go bandage his wounds. (needless to say, Snowdancer is delighted at the idea of hugging a topless Suboshi)
BloodyCrystal : (vein starts to pop out of forehead) I just KNOW that you are thinking hentai thoughts! For the last and FINAL time, don't make your advances on the twins! They're MINE! Why can't you ever be satisfied with Chichiri?
Snowdancer : Many reasons. Firstly, it's totally unfair for you to have two cute guys while I only have one. I'm kind of entitled to sharing, you know. Second, the twins have more screen time in this chapter, especially Suboshi. Third, I like Suboshi a LOT, he's behind Chichiri by that tiny little inch. Fourth…
BloodyCrystal : I get the picture. But since I put first claims on the twins, shouldn't I do the bandaging?
Snowdancer : I'm the one who tortured him, naturally I'm the one who does the bandaging.
BloodyCrystal : Since you've already had your fun, why don't you let me have mine?
Snowdancer : Fine…we'll share.
BloodyCrystal : Shouldn't I be the one to say that? The twins were BOTH mine in the first place, you act as if you're doing me a favour! (decides to be nice for once and head off any future arguments) Great, we'll share for THIS time.
Snowdancer : Did you notice that we've actually finished this chapter in a day? Counting by the hour, it was probably only half a day. A record for slowpokes like us.
BloodyCrystal : You probably had too much fun torturing Suboshi. Subo-chan, that girl there was the one behind all this. Avoid her in the future, ne?
Snowdancer : (looks around frantically for any signs of Suboshi) You liar! He wasn't here!
BloodyCrystal : (smirks in triumph) Serves you right. Ha.
· We would like to thank our beta-reader Valerie for actually putting all those effort into nit-picking every chapter. (If you bother to reread the past chapters, you'll notice that they're much more presentable) Arigato Valerie-san!
· Oooh, we have more reviews for the past chapter than the previous ones. People are actually reading this fic! We're so touched. ^-^
