Endings and Beginnings
The entire Konan palace was in uproar, with the return of Miaka and her seishi, together with the newly reunited twins. Of their plans, only one had succeeded. And at no minor cost either. Physically, Miaka had a broken arm, Amiboshi was still in pain, covered in his brother's wounds. The two who took it the worst were Tasuki and Suboshi. Tasuki was battered and bruised, suffering from some dislocated bones, a couple of broken ones, and his hair and clothes were matted with drying blood. Suboshi fared no better, and was already drifting in and out of consciousness due to fever. However, everyone was dealt a severe blow mentally, due to the recent change in situation, and Miaka took it worst of all. One thought lingered in everybody's mind.
Tamahome…What… How…Why…What happened?!
They hadn't a clue.
They could only hope that maybe Suboshi, the only one who's been in Kutou all this time, could provide them with an answer, but until Suboshi was cured, he could only mumble incomprehensibly when he was semi-conscious, as if hallucinating.
The resident healer, Mitsukake, faced a dilemma. His divine powers could only be used once per day, and yet, there were three who all needed urgent treatment. Miaka was their priestess, logically, she should be given priority, and yet, Tasuki's vocal chord seemed to be the only organ left intact of the redheaded bandit. And there was Suboshi, another Seiryuu seishi, who was on the verge of death.
It was Miaka who spoke first, the first words she'd uttered since coming back.
"I…I'm alright…I can wait, Mitsukake…Please, use your powers on Tasuki or Amiboshi's brother first…They need it more." She then continued staring into nothing.
"Hey, what are you waiting for, you bucket-head?! Heal the brat first, dammit! He needs it more than me. I'm not made of glass, you know, and…" Tasuki felt a hard jab against his injured ribs. "…OOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW! NURIKO!!!!!!! THAT FUCKIN' HURTS!!"
"I was just trying to find out since when did you have a nice, warm, compassionate heart…besides helping you prove your point as well." retorted Nuriko. "Anyway, they're right. Suboshi needs immediate treatment. Maybe then he can also give us the information on why Tamahome…"
At the mention of Tamahome, Miaka's eyes focused for a moment, then instantly became downcast again.
Nuriko decided to shut up, realizing he had violated a taboo. Everybody else nodded. Mitsukake went over to the twin brothers.
"So it's decided. Amiboshi, I will heal your brother first." The huge man looked down kindly at Amiboshi, whose eyes were filled with gratitude, brimming with tears of relief.
***
Amiboshi hadn't expected this. They were willing to treat an outsider before their own.
"Arigatou Mitsukake-san… Arigatou, mina-san…"
Shun, you're really going to be alright.
***
A warm green glow filled the room, as it enveloped Suboshi. Then, with a flash, it disseminated. The wounds on him faded, then disappeared, and his skin color returned to a healthy shade. Miraculously, the wounds on Amiboshi disappeared as well. The younger twin's rhythmic breathing indicated that he was asleep.
"It's done now. Let him rest. Now, I'll bandage up the maiden and Tasuki, and let's all rest as well. We can think better tomorrow." Mitsukake ushered everyone, almost in a motherly tone.
***
"Mitsukake, how's the Miko? She hasn't spoken at all since last night… Are you sure she's alright?" A very worried Hotohori asked the healer, not even once taking his attention off Miaka, who was just staring into blank space. Occasionally she'd blink back tears; every once in a while she'd just let them trickle down her expressionless face.
"Her physical wounds are completely healed, but unfortunately my powers do not extend to healing wounded souls. She'll have to get out of it on her own. I'm sorry, I've done all I could."
"It's okay, I understand. I think you should go see to Tasuki now. He's been cursing and swearing since he came back, and his wounds are in bad shape as well."
***
"OOOW! OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHI~T! DAMMIT MITSUKAKE CAN'T YOU BE GENTLER?! Geez… and you're supposed to be the kind gentle healer…OWW!!"
"…How'd you expect me to bandage you up properly if you squirm and shout every time I come within a ten-centimeter radius of you?" Mitsukake went and came back with some huge planks.
"Wh…what do you need those huge planks for anyway?! And what is that weird icky green stuff that stings like hell?!!"
"It's called first-aid, my dear fang boy; for your broken bones. Actually, it's also to tie you up with so you won't kick me again. For safety measures, I think I'm going to tie you to the bedpost as well. And if you don't plan to shut up, I'm going to bandage your mouth up…"
"AAAAHHHH!!! FIRST DEGREE MURDER!!!! HEEEEEEEELP!!!! Where's my TESSEN?!!!!"
"…Nuriko? Do me a favor and hold this squirming idiot down."
"It would be my pleasure…"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! OKAY! OKAY!!! I'll be good…"
***
"Aniki…"
Amiboshi's eyes flew open in an instant, his arms going around his younger brother protectively.
"Shun! You're awake…are you thirsty? I'll get you a glass of water…I suppose you're hungry as well…"
Suboshi shook his head, his hand grasping his twin's. "No…" His eyes widened slightly after taking in his surroundings.
"Aniki, where are we?"
Amiboshi smiled, though his eyes never left his brother's. "We're in the Konan imperial palace, Shun." As he talked, he slipped his hand out of Suboshi's and began pouring his brother a glass of water.
Suboshi nodded slowly, comprehension finally dawning as memories of the past night flooded back.
Amiboshi passed the glass to his brother, his indigo eyes suddenly pensive with thought.
"Otouto," he began, his voice taking on a distant tone, "if it weren't for the Suzaku seishi, I would never be able to save you, and I…owe them everything, especially after what I've done. If it weren't for them, you would still be hurt, and because of me…" he stopped abruptly as he noticed the pained look on his brother's features.
"Aniki, it really…"
"No, Shun. I'm the one to take the blame, if I didn't do what I've done…"
"Aniki!" Suboshi protested, "You didn't do anything wrong!"
"I would like to talk about something else." Amiboshi's voice held a ring of firm finality. Suboshi subsided, albeit a little sullenly.
Trying to break the awkward silence, Amiboshi began to talk about the first topic his mind could come up with—Chichiri.
"He hasn't changed at all, has he, Shun?"
Suboshi immediately brightened at the mention of their old friend. "I would never have imagined that Chichiri-san was a Suzaku seishi. Aniki, why didn't you tell me? You must have known ages ago…you could have sent me a message," His voice took on a petulant tone. "Aniki…don't you trust me?"
Amiboshi looked at his brother in shock, "Hai, Shun, of course I do. I always do. The one whom I didn't trust was Nakago. What if he found out that we were friends with one of the Suzaku seishi? What would he have done?" his face fell, "Not that it would have made much of a difference…"
Suboshi bit his lip. Why won't Aniki see that it wasn't his fault? He's so stubborn!
"Aniki, what are the other Suzaku seishi like? Are they all like Chichiri-san? If they are, no wonder you like them so much!" he said cheerily.
Amiboshi frowned thoughtfully. "Deep within, they're all like Chichiri-san. They care, Shun. They really do. They help others because they want to, not as a means to achieve their own goals."
He started describing each of the Suzaku seishi. "Firstly, there's Tamahome-san, Miaka's lover and protector, or so I've heard. I don't really know him…and when we met, it wasn't under the best of circumstances. I really do not understand, why he acted the way he did at…"Amiboshi didn't dwell long on the topic.
"Next there's Nuriko-san, if you hadn't noticed, Nuriko-san's actually a man. He's a cross-dresser, try to get on his good side if you want to have your body parts intact, though. And there's Tasuki-san…"
Suboshi was in tears from laughing when his brother had finished listing all of the Suzaku seishi.
"They are weird, Aniki," he wheezed. "But then," he added thoughtfully, "I don't suppose we're in the position to criticize, are we?"
Amiboshi blinked. "Now that you've mentioned it…"
"Hmm…" Suboshi grinned, "On our side we have a…sadistic shogun," Suboshi hurried over the mention of Nakago, not wanting to relive the painful memories, "an ex-prostitute with an unhealthy obsession, a painted freak, a baby monk, a wolf-man…"
"And a pair of messed-up twins who don't know what in the name of Seiryuu they are doing," Amiboshi finished.
Suboshi grinned. "Yeah…the gods must have gone for variety instead of talent when they chose their seishi."
Both twins burst out laughing.
***
Chichiri heard voices and laughter as he approached the twins' room. So, Shunkaku's finally awake.
Knocking lightly on the door, he waited for the twins' simultaneous replies before entering.
"Chichiri-san!" Chichiri suddenly found himself being attacked by an over-enthusiastic fifteen-year-old. Smiling, he tried to disentangle himself from Suboshi's tight hug. It seemed that Suboshi hadn't changed at all in the span of six years.
"I see that you've recovered fully from your injuries no da, Shunkaku-chan," Chichiri commented, "How are you feeling today no da?"
"Fine, Chichiri-san!" Suboshi exclaimed while dragging Chichiri to the nearest chair.
"Shun! Where are your manners!?" Amiboshi chided.
"Chichiri-san won't mind, Aniki. You won't, will you, Chichiri-san?" Suboshi sat next to his brother on the bed.
"Of course not, no da," Chichiri looked at the twins in amusement. Now that Suboshi's wounds were healed, there was no way for a stranger to differentiate between the twins at all. He could still remember his shock and confusion at meeting them for the first time. He thanked Suzaku that he wouldn't have to go through the entire charade for a second time. Tasuki's reaction might prove interesting, though.
"I'm glad that you're all right, Shunkaku. Koutoku was very worried about you no da."
Amiboshi shot Chichiri an indignant look. "Of course I was worried! There wouldn't be anyone for me to browbeat if Shun weren't here!"
"Aniki!!!" Suboshi protested.
Amiboshi's eyes twinkled mischievously. "I actually managed to have some peace when you weren't around. You couldn't imagine how quiet it was without you pestering me," grinning at his brother's outraged look, he added, almost as an afterthought, "In fact, it was a little too quiet…it actually started to get boring. I really wouldn't want to die from boredom, would I? Why else would I go to such trouble to rescue you?"
Suboshi glared daggers at his twin. "Excuse me!!!??? Try putting yourself in my position for once! Then you'll see how it feels to have an elder brother who constantly nags on about…"
Chichiri looked on as the twins bickered, relieved that Suboshi had seemingly recovered from his physical and emotional trauma.
***
"Chichiri-sama!" The door banged open to reveal a guard, leaning heavily against the doorframe, still gasping for breath. "Chichiri-sama…Suzaku seishi Tamahome has returned! Heika-sama is now on his way to meet him…he…" The guard was pushed roughly aside as Chichiri rushed out of the room, with Amiboshi and Suboshi following close behind.
***
"Chichiri-san! Why can't you do something?!" Amiboshi pleaded as the battle between Hotohori and the bewitched Tamahome raged on.
Chichiri could only stare on helplessly. "I can't, Koutoku-kun, Hotohori-sama has committed all of his chi and fury into this duel. Both of them might die if I interfere now."
The battle became even more heated as both participants grew in anger and ire. Hotohori, in his desire to avenge the Suzaku no Miko, and Tamahome, under the control of the Kodoku potion, to kill her.
"Tamahome!!!!" At the most inopportune moment, the main cause of the conflict—Miaka, appeared.
"Tamahome! Please stop! This isn't you! Tamahome!!!!!!"
In his frenzied state, Tamahome turned to find his target—and with a crazed gleam in his gray eyes, raised his sword for the final strike.
"Tamahome!!!!!!!!" Miaka's eyes were filled with horror as she watched her lover fall to the ground, crimson blood flowing from his fatal wound. Hotohori lifted his sword, now stained with Tamahome's blood.
"Tamahome…" Miaka wept as she cradled her seishi, her tears mingling with the falling rain, "Tamahome…don't leave me, you promised…"
Even in his final moments, Tamahome fought to reach his fallen sword, still seeking a way to kill his Miko.
"Tamahome…if this is what you really want, do it." At her words, even Tamahome's eyes widened in shock. "If killing me would make you happy, then I would happily die for you. Tamahome, I just want you to be happy."
"Miaka…" Miaka looked up at the sudden change of her lover's tone, tears still flowing freely down her cheeks, "Miaka, I'm so sorry…"
At his words, Miaka knew that Tamahome was finally himself. "Mitsukake!!!!!"
At Miaka's request, Mitsukake was immediately at Tamahome's side, putting his gifts to use.
"Everything will be all right, Miaka," he assured her. Miaka nodded thankfully, her tears, now tears of joy and relief at having finally redeemed her lover's lost soul.
***
"Are you SURE!!!????" Tasuki asked doubtfully, still glaring at Tamahome suspiciously despite Miaka's assurances that Tamahome would never lift a finger against her.
"Hey, Tasuki. We've only just met. I just can't understand why you seem to hold a personal grudge against me," Tamahome commented innocently.
Red veins started to show on Tasuki's forehead. "PERSONAL GRUDGE!!!!?? And you actually dared to say that we've only JUST met!!!!!?? Look at me! Who did you think fuckin' bashed me!!!!!??? It was YOU!!!! DEMON CREEP!!!!!!"
Tamahome's oni symbol started to glow. "Who were you just calling a demon creep?" he asked dangerously, "Now look here…"
Hotohori sighed while placing his hands on his forehead to prevent an imminent headache.
"They seem to be getting along quite well," Miaka said brightly.
Chichiri sweat-dropped. "It was much more peaceful before Mitsukake healed Tasuki-kun's wounds no da."
Tasuki took his attention off Tamahome long enough to glare at Chichiri. "And what did you mean by THAT???!!!"
Chichiri immediately waved his hands in a placating gesture. "Ehhh, nothing no da, Tasuki-kun."
Amiboshi sat by quietly while watching the byplay of the Suzaku seishi. He was already used to their informality towards each other. Suboshi, however, stared open-mouth as lances of fire streaked past with occasional shrieks closely following, the result of someone being flung through a wall due to Nuriko's strength. Hotohori winced every single time a clash reverberated throughout the entire Konan palace, no doubt silently calculating the additional expenses.
"Amiboshi." Amiboshi lifted his head in surprise.
"What are your plans for the future? Now that your brother is safe, have you decided what you would like to do next?" Hotohori inquired.
Amiboshi's heart sank. He knew it. He and Shunkaku couldn't possibly stay in the Konan palace for the rest of their lives, but if they went home now…
"We were thinking that you and Suboshi would like to stay with us for the time-being." Hotohori continued, "Well? It is your decision."
This time both twins stared at the Konan emperor in disbelief.
"Amiboshi, Suboshi, please stay! We would love to have you!" Miaka exclaimed.
Amiboshi immediately turned towards Chichiri, who nodded reassuringly. "Hai, Koutoku-chan, you and Shunkaku are welcome here."
"But…I…we…" Amiboshi still couldn't believe his ears. They were actually asking him and his brother to stay. The Suzaku seishi were still willing to extend their generosity unconditionally, even after everything they'd already done for him and his twin.
"Amiboshi, I do not mean to alarm you, but Nakago would not give up his seishi so easily, especially since you're essential in the summoning of Seiryuu. Further more, we have already gathered all of our seishi, and Tamahome has already volunteered to go and retrieve the lost Shijin Tenchi Sho tonight. It would be safer if you remained." Hotohori lifted his eyebrows questioningly.
Amiboshi couldn't trust himself to speak. In fact, he couldn't bring himself to look at any of the Suzaku seishi in the eye. They were actually trying to protect him and Shun-chan. First, they had offered their help in saving his twin, now they were offering their protection.
"We…we would love to…" he choked. Suboshi nodded shakily, his eyes paranormally bright.
Amiboshi felt his eyes brimming with tears of gratitude as well. "Arigatou gozaimasu, minna-san!"
***
Tamahome was silently making his way down the corridors of the Kutou palace in his search for the Shijin Tenchi Sho went he came face-to-face with his hated nemesis.
"Tamahome, how pleasant. Have you succeeded in killing the Suzaku no Miko?" Nakago asked with a smirk.
"Yes." Tamahome forced himself to wear a mask of total submission and obedience. Damn that bastard!
"I…see." Nakago's eyes narrowed suddenly when he noticed the absence of his earring on Tamahome's ear as the Suzaku seishi started to walk away.
"Tamahome," Tamahome spun around. "you have returned to normal." Tamahome leaped out of the way as Nakago's whip lashed out violently.
"Yes, I am no longer controlled by your devices, Nakago," Tamahome's glare intensified as he threw a blue earring towards the shogun, "You are unable to harm me now either. Chichiri is now transmitting a protective shield around me. I know I'm not your match now, Nakago. But sometime in the future, I will return, and you will die in my hands."
Nakago raised one of his eyebrows. "I see. How amusing. And why have you returned today, Tamahome?"
"I am not particularly eager to see you, Nakago. I came back for the Shijin Tenchi Sho. I don't suppose you would care to return it, would you?"
Nakago seemed to be growing increasingly amused with each passing second. "You insult me, Tamahome. I wouldn't keep something that is by right yours. Catch this, since you've so kindly returned my earring."
Tamahome caught the bag deftly, quickly untying the strings to reveal—ashes.
"So, Tamahome? I hope that the ashes of the Shijin Tenchi Sho would satisfy you. You should appreciate the effort I've put into keeping the ashes after I've burnt the scroll."
Tamahome's eyes widened in shock. "You…you filthy bastard…"
"Yes, Tamahome? Would you actually pit your power against mine?"
"Nakago, no!!!" Both men turned to see Yui, her eyes filled with fear and anxiety.
Tamahome looked into Yui's tremulous eyes. Try as he might, he could not bring himself to hate her. Gripping the bag tightly, he turned back to Nakago, his eyes once more filled with hatred.
"I will find a way to defeat you, Nakago. I will!"
Tamahome left without another word, his heart clenched in worry and trepidation.
Miaka…what would you say when you found out?
***
. BloodyCrystal: My birthday was over just a few days ago…and since we updated only after my birthday, I don't suppose I can have a few delayed birthday presents…in the form of reviews?
Snowdancer : Sorry that we took so long to update (looks pointedly at BloodyCrystal), and this time we don't have any other excuse besides the lame old writer's block. At least we managed to post something, after goodness knows how long. @_@
