Paying The Price In Blood
"WHAT!!!!!!!!!??" Tasuki shrieked, "WHAT DID THAT BASTARD DO!!????"
Tamahome placed the ashes of the Suzaku scroll on the table, his features dark with worry and anxiety. "These are the ashes of the Shijin Tenchi Sho," he said simply, yet even in those simple words, one could tell that Tamahome was as agitated as Tasuki was.
Everybody stared at what remained of the Shijin Tenchi Sho. Silence reigned. No one, it seemed, was ready to accept the dire news that Tamahome had brought back with him.
The stillness was suddenly shattered by broken sobs. Tamahome turned to see Miaka weeping, her small frame quivering uncontrollably as tears ran down her cheeks.
"Miaka…" Tamahome began gently.
"Gomen nasai, Tamahome! Gomen nasai, minna-san…gomen nasai…" Miaka cried. "I'm so sorry…"
"Miaka, this wasn't your fault!" Hotohori protested.
Miaka shook her head adamantly, refusing to listen to all the voices of denial from her seishi. "You've all tried so hard, we were already so close to summoning Suzaku, and now…this is all my fault!"
"SHIT! DAMMIT MIAKA! How many times must we say that this has nothing to do with you at all!! IT WAS THAT DUMBASS NAKAGO!!!"
Miaka continued sobbing, "No…it was I who lost the Shijin Tenchi Sho in the first place. If I hadn't dropped it in the Kutou palace, Nakago wouldn't be able to get hold of it. We would be summoning Suzaku, and everybody would be so happy…things weren't supposed to be like this!"
"Miaka…" Tamahome tried to console her, but Miaka only continued crying.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" she continued babbling, only half of her words coherent, "So many people were hurt because we wanted to summon Suzaku, some have even died…and now we couldn't even do it! "
Miaka lifted her head to look at the twins, "Amiboshi, Suboshi, you were hurt because you supported our cause, I'm sorry…"
She then turned to Mitsukake, "Mitsukake, you've lost Shouka…she sacrificed herself for me and the rest of the villagers…I'm sorry…"
"Hotohori…as the priestess of Suzaku, I've failed to protect Konan and its people from harm…so many more people would die…"
"Tamahome, Chichiri, Tasuki, Nuriko, Chiriko…you've all sacrificed so much, and I've still failed in carrying out my duty…"
Miaka's voice broke. "I'm so angry with myself! I'm supposed to be helping, and now everyone has suffered because of me! Why!!??"
Nobody could answer her question.
"I see you've matured a lot, Suzaku no Miko," a voice that sounded like gravel being slowly ground to dust commented.
"AHHHHHH!!! SUKANAKE BABA!!!!!" Tamahome and Tasuki screamed in unison.
The great creator of the universe—Taiitsukun, scowled. On her, the effect was tremendous. "Who were you calling an old hag, you incompetent idiots?!" she demanded, looming over Tamahome and Tasuki menacingly.
Tamahome and Tasuki immediately tried to make themselves as unnoticeable as possible. "Heh…we didn't exactly mean what we said…"
Taiitsukun snorted, once more turning her attention back to Miaka. "You've failed in your duty, Suzaku no Miko. Now that the Shijin Tenchi Sho has been burnt to ashes, it can be no longer used to summon Suzaku."
Miaka's lower lip trembled, "I'm no longer able to summon Suzaku…I've failed…then everyone's sacrifice was in vain…"
Tamahome glared at Taiitsukun. "Sukanake Baba, Miaka's already did her best, don't be so harsh on her!"
Taiitsukun virtually exploded. "YOU HAVE PLENTY OF NERVE, SUZAKU SEISHI TAMAHOME!!!!"
Tamahome cowered back while mumbling senseless apologies.
"I did not say that you were unable to summon Suzaku." Taiitsukun commented casually. Miaka's head snapped up at her words.
"But…you said…"
"I said that the Shijin Tenchi Sho could no longer be use as a means to summon the beast god. I did not say that there was no other way."
Miaka stared at Taiitsukun in shock. Tamahome started spluttering indignantly, "Why didn't you say so earlier, old hag?"
Taiitsukun swelled impressively, "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME JUST NOW!!!!???"
Tamahome fled.
"Suzaku no Miko, there is another way to summon Suzaku, but this approach is extremely challenging and exigent, and it requires the utmost dedication from the priestess and her seishi. Are you willing to accept this responsibility?"
Miaka's eyes had steeled in resolve. "Yes, I am."
Taiitsukun nodded. "Then so be it. In order to summon Suzaku, you must now journey to the lands of Hokkan to acquire the Genbu Shinzaho."
"The Genbu Shinzaho…" Miaka mused.
Taiitsukun turned towards the Suzaku seishi. Incandescent globes materialized above their palms. As the blazing light faded, the awed Suzaku seishi found themselves armed with newly-enhanced weapons and chi.
"You will have to face greater dangers and trials to protect your priestess on this journey. These will aid you in your task." She then fixed her attention on the twins. "Amiboshi and Suboshi, would you like to accompany the Suzaku no Miko and her seishi on this journey?"
Both twins were startled by Taiitsukun's question. She was actually asking if they, as Seiryuu seishi, would like to join the Suzaku seishi on their mission.
Amiboshi recovered from his initial surprise. "Yes…we would…that is…if they want to have us…"
"Of course we do!!" It seemed that Miaka had reverted to her former bouncy nature now that she had regained hope of summoning Suzaku.
"Then you should be better equipped to protect the Suzaku no Miko," Taiitsukun's voice grated.
Both twins stared at her in disbelief. "You would…actually ask us, Seiryuu seishi, to protect the Suzaku no Miko?" Suboshi stuttered.
Taiitsukun snorted. "I supposed you're rejecting the offer, then…"
"No! We'll go!" both twins exclaimed.
Two blazing globes appeared before the twins, not dissimilar to that of the Suzaku seishi. When the globes dissolved, the results were obvious. Amiboshi fingered his flute wonderingly, then started to play a short tune with it, marveling at how the instrument now picked up every twist and eddy of his chi, so that the melody that he played was even more hauntingly beautiful, thus establishing a connection between his soul and his music that wasn't there before.
Suboshi found himself holding a very familiar weapon—his ryuuseisui. He held the ryuuseisui in his hands, trying to get the balance and feel of his replaced weapon. Like Amiboshi's flute, his ryuuseisui responded to the slightest direction of his chi, and he found it even easier to control than his old weapon.
Tamahome's eyes bulged as he took in the sight of all the seishi admiring their new gifts. Tugging at Taiitsukun's sleeve, he began to whine, "Taiitsukun, what about me? Aren't you giving me something?"
Taiitsukun started laughing hysterically. "No, and you can stop pestering me, since gifts from an old hag are unlikely to satisfy the likes of you."
Tamahome looked ready to faint.
***
"We're ready to go!!!" Miaka sang happily. Everybody smiled at her obvious enthusiasm.
Hotohori suddenly addressed Tamahome, "Tamahome, would you like it if I offered your family lodging at the palace? You're probably worried about having to leave them while you're on the search for the Shinzaho, and it would be safer if your family was under my care."
Tamahome gaped at the emperor, his eyes shining with joy. "Real…ly?" He was suddenly on his knees, showering Hotohori with speeches of thanks and gratitude.
Chichiri stood by as Hotohori blushed profusely at the exaggerated display of appreciation from Tamahome when he noticed the twins watching the scene with apparent longing written in their eyes.
"Koutoku and Shunkaku-kun, do you miss your parents?"
Amiboshi looked embarrassed, "Hai…it's just that we haven't seen them for some time, and…"
"I don't know how tousan and kaasan are now…" Suboshi muttered.
"Would you like to visit them? I remember that you lived at the border, it wouldn't take to long," Chichiri suggested.
Hotohori overheard their conversation. "Your parents would be welcome at the imperial palace."
The twins' eyes went wide. "Thank you…" Amiboshi choked.
"Why don't you go now? Tamahome-kun's going to bring his family to the palace." Chichiri couldn't help smiling underneath his mask as the twins immediately ran off, with Suboshi hauling him along by the arm.
***
"Suboshi-kun, is this where you and Amiboshi-kun live?" Yuiren asked, looking at the small cottage with its vegetable beds and animal pens, her little hand firmly latched on to Tamahome's arm.
"Hai, Yuiren." Suboshi answered as he quickened his steps.
"Suboshi-kun, Yuiren does not understand," Yuiren asked innocently, "Why do your parents live in a different place? Onii-san told me that this is Kutou, and Yuiren is living in Konan. You and Amiboshi-kun are in Konan, but your parents live in Kutou. Why don't you all live in the same country? Isn't there work for you to do in Kutou?"
Suboshi bit his lip. How could he ever answer that?
Tamahome sensed Suboshi's dilemma and immediately shushed his little sister.
"Tousan! Kaasan!" Amiboshi called as they approached the old cottage.
Grabbing Suboshi's hand, Amiboshi flung open the wooden door. "Tousan! Kaasan! Why didn't you…?"
Amiboshi's hands trembled as he stared at the sight before him. "Tousan…"
***
"Tousan…" Amiboshi whispered shakily.
Their father's body lay among a dark pool of red blood. The stench of death hung thickly in the cottage. The old man's face was contorted in agony from his final moments of life, his hand outstretched as if asking…begging for mercy. His eyes stared blankly at the walls, the once kindly light in them now dimmed by the veil of death.
"Onii-san!!!" Yuiren screamed. Tamahome instantly twisted his siblings around, trying to shield them from the horrifying sight.
Amiboshi huddled his dead father. "Tousan…please…no…." This isn't real. Tousan, wake up! You must wake up!
The tears were coming. He squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to give in to the urge to cry. This isn't real. "Tousan…"
"Tousan…" an identical voice echoed him. Amiboshi looked up tearfully to see his twin leaning against the wall, shaking his head in denial, shedding the tears that Amiboshi hadn't allowed himself to shed.
"Shun-chan…"
***
Suboshi stared at the carnage before him. His brother was cradling their dead father…this had happened before…it all seemed so unreal…
"Nii-chan!!" a young boy of about five wept, clinging onto his brother's shirt.
"Hush…otouto…don't cry, don't cry."
"Nii-chan, where's otousan and okaasan? I want okaasan!"
"Shh…Shun-chan…otousan and okaasan have gone to live in another world, they won't be with us anymore," his brother pulled him closer.
"But nii-chan…otousan and okaasan are lying there…I can see them. Why aren't they moving?"
"They can't move anymore, Shun-chan. Otouto…please don't cry, I'm still here. No matter what, I'll always be here…"
"Tousan…" Suboshi shook his head violently. No…it is all happening again…why is everything the same?
"Shun-chan…" Aniki's calling him. Otousan…why isn't he moving?
His cheeks were wet. Suboshi brought a hand to his face. Why am I crying?
"Shun…" a comforting hand held his firmly. Suboshi wiped his eyes. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see clearly. Aniki…
Blood. So much blood. It's the same…Aniki…Suboshi's eyes fell onto dark red words, words that were written in blood on the walls. Otousan's blood…
"Aniki…I can't read it…I can't see…Aniki, can you read it?" Why is Aniki looking so worried?
***
Amiboshi held his sobbing twin tightly. His eyes ran over the dark words, smeared in his dead father's blood.
People have paid for your betrayal, Amiboshi and Suboshi. Your mother is currently in my hands…still unharmed. I will not guarantee how long her present situation will last. It is your decision.
Amiboshi faltered, his heart lurching violently, but his hands never once letting go of his otouto's. Nakago…it's him.
"Aniki…Aniki? What does it say? Aniki, tell me!"
"No, Shun-chan…not now. No…" Amiboshi tried to hide the words from his brother, but Suboshi twisted himself out of his grasp and stumbled towards the wall
"Shun-chan, no!!!!!"
***
Suboshi felt the world spinning around him, if it weren't for his Aniki, he would have fallen.
No…not him…it couldn't be Nakago…
"Shun-chan…please…don't be like this, everything's going to be all right…"
"It's the same…" Suboshi muttered incoherently, "it's the same…the same…"
"Shun-chan, please…"
"No!!! Aniki!!" Suboshi screamed, tears of grief still running down his cheeks, "Nothing changes…nothing ever changes…nothing's ever all right…"
"Shun-chan, listen to me…"
Suboshi shook his head, his words still barely audible, "I didn't want anything, I just wanted to be happy with you, and otousan…and okaasan…it wasn't to much to ask, was it? Aniki…why did he have to destroy everything?"
Amiboshi stared at his brother in horror as Suboshi babbled on, "I'm tired of this, Aniki…I'm so tired. We left otousan and okaasan for the promise of peace, we left the Seiryuu seishi for the fight for peace, and now…we've lost otousan again…why does it always happen to us? Why us?"
"It's wrong…maybe all of this has been a mistake in the first place…a mistake…" Suboshi's voice trailed off, sobs wrecking his body.
"Shun…" Amiboshi tried to console his twin, but he didn't know what to say. Unconsciously, he was sharing the same thoughts as he brother. What if they didn't deserve a normal peaceful life? What if he and Shun were only supposed to follow the destiny of a Seiryuu seishi? Maybe they were going against what was written in the stars…they were betraying Seiryuu-seikun…
Suboshi wept into his brother's shirt, as he did so long ago. "I'm scared…I'm so afraid…what if it's you the next time? I can't lose you…I can never lose you…"
"Shhh…I've promised that I'll never leave, I'll never break my promises to you. Shun. I won't leave you…"
Suboshi suddenly pushed him away roughly. Amiboshi noticed that his brother was now crying tears of anger.
"Aniki, I want this to stop…I can't go on anymore…I want this to stop!" With that, Suboshi ran out of the cottage, leaving his brother behind.
"Shun!!!"
***
Chichiri could only watch in shock as the dreadful reality unfolded itself. It was he who had brought the twins to their new home. Because of him, the twins were reliving another tragic episode of their life. Because of him, they were enduring the pain and terror of their childhood.
Nakago…you didn't have to do this…is there any remnant of humanity left within you?
Or perhaps Chichiri himself had made the wrong move. Now a life was lost because of what he had done six years ago.
No…I will not berate myself over this. I promised that I would not blame myself needlessly. It was Nakago…and it is Nakago that I must deal with, not myself.
"Aniki, I want this to stop…I can't go on anymore…I want this to stop!"
Shunkaku…
Amiboshi stood in paralysis as his brother ran out. The elder twin might be more composed, but Chichiri could see that Amiboshi was in as much pain as his twin was.
"Chichiri-san…I don't know what I'm supposed to do…Chichiri-san…"
"I'll speak to your brother, Koutoku," Chichiri said gently. Amiboshi nodded gratefully before turning his face away.
"I…don't dare to face otouto…right now…I don't want to cry in front of him. I'm the only one he has right now…and if I told him that I didn't know what to do…"
"I understand," Chichiri left the cottage unwillingly.
Koutoku…heal quickly. Shunkaku needs you, you know that. He needs you.
***
. Time for authors' notes again! Yeah, we wrote a death scene, but it's one of the teeny-weeny minor characters. After all, we need to do something to let this fic deserve its PG-13 rating, right? So any killing of the characters is not our fault. If we didn't do it, the readers would have thought that we were chicken (since this fic has been soooo tame). Fine, we are chicken (or we would have written a NC-17 or R fic), but we don't want to admit it, ok?
. We're doing something most ff.net authors do…replying to individual reviews (or when there's a need to explain, anyway).
rj—Yep, we definitely prefer a psychotic Suboshi. (Snowdancer: Suboshi's not psychotic! He's just emotional! Yeah, sure…) So we've found a way to return Suboshi to his psychotic self…or half-psychotic self, anyway. He's a lot more matured than in the series. ^-^
