Part fourteen: To the rescue and fighting
Disclaimer: Sigh.I still don't own Fushigi Yugi (surprise surprise!) but I did invent the kids.
A/N: Just to let you know, I cried through the last part of that chapter. Don't hate me! I had to! I can't say any more or I will ruin the story! ( Anyway, this is really getting somewhere, and I am very glad. I played around with not having Tasuki die, and even wrote an entire chapter of that, but it just didn't flow right. I happen to be a very sensitive person so writing that sad part was very hard.Anyway, sorry so long between chapters, I've been working on my Inu-yasha fic, but I won't ever forget this one. Its actually only going to be a few more chapters! This one is a bit gory, as warning, and very pg13. So ya. ^^
Jielain lay in bed the next morning for a long time, thinking. She had fallen asleep alone before Chichiri had a chance to get Chuei and Boshin, and she dreaded having to face the others. So her father was her weakness. So what? Most people got a little emotional if they suddenly come home and the life they had always known was ripped to shreds.
Finally, she got up and dressed making her way to the kitchen to get some food. She didn't want to talk to anyone quite yet. Even if Chichiri had told everybody, she didn't want them to fawn over her. She was a big girl capable of handling life and loss on her own, right? Jielain sighed, taking the biscuits and milk from a serving girl. Was she just lying to herself? Losing a father really was a big thing, maybe she wasn't being fair to him.
Jielain took her breakfast to the gardens and paused by a bush covered with pink roses like the ones Miaka had given her that day. Only yesterday, she thought, smelling the sweet fragrance. She took her dagger from her waist and cut one at the stem, but her hands shook and the blade slipped, cutting the back of her wrist.
"Dammit." She said quietly, wiping away the thin beads of blood. Just what she needed right before her mission too.
"Are you alright?" Jielain whipped around, ready to strike, but caught herself. It was only Chiharu. She put away her weapon and turned back to the roses.
"Course I am." She muttered. Chiharu stepped up next to her with frown.
"Then why won't you yell at me? Normally we'd have fists flying by now." Jielain ignored her. "I was going to thank you for saving Mako, but with that attitude why should I?!" She turned to stomp away, but Jielain spoke, her voice low.
"Your welcome anyway. I'd have done the same if you were captured." Chiharu stared at her with her big gray blue eyes wide.
"Really?" Jielain nodded.
"I have to go save Hinako today too. She's my friend, and the emperor's fiancé."
"That's nice of you."
"It's duty. Wish I could go alone." The blonde frowned, swishing her hair over her shoulder and flaunting herself.
"Maybe, but I want to know what you're going to do about Chuei. That creepy cat guy said he couldn't stay in this world, even if we do manage to complete the ceremony." Jielain laughed, tears coming to her blue eyes.
"That's just great." She said, taking the rose she had cut in her hand. It pricked her with the thorns, but she didn't mind. The irony was just amazing. She goes on a mission for a few days, comes back and finds out her father died, but at least she has her friend's right? Now they all have to go back and leave her by herself. Maybe dying in battle would be better so that she wouldn't have to live out the rest of her lonely life.
"That's just great! Why the hell did you leave me here!? What did I ever do to you Suzaku ya bastard!" Chiharu stepped away from the bandit with obvious apprehension.
"Jielain settle down." She said. Jielain only threw down the flower and crushed it under her boots, not hearing a word.
"Fuck this life, this world, and all the other ones!"
"Someone needs to learn anger management ya know." Jielain stopped her rant, staring at Chichiri. He leaned down and picked up the flower,
"I know you feel bad but there is no need to take it out on a defenseless rose ya know. And I'd take back those awful curses. You wouldn't want to get what you wish for ya know." Jielain flushed.
"Sorry, I just think it's a little late for that since I'm already screwed." The monk shook his head and placed the broken rose in her hand, stabbing her with the thorns.
"A wounded rose may still cause damage." A light shined from his hands into hers. "And a damaged rose may still become renewed." Suddenly the flower was once again as it had been before Jielain stomped on it. The two girls stared in wonder.
"You two had better head over to the palace, they will be leaving shortly ya know. Boshin told them why you feel bad so they won't bother you." Jielain tossed the flower to the ground.
"I ain't a flower." She said, turning away coldly. Chiharu and the monk watched her go sadly.
Gathered in one of the palaces rooms, Chichiri told them what they needed to do. They would go to the Kutou palace, find Hinako and bring back an enemy warrior, simple as that. Chuei had been taught a little about his magic the night before with Chichiri, and all were armed with daggers. Chiriko carried a transportable 'chi scanner', that, in combo with Jielain's internal chi scanner, would allow them to detect anyone coming near and find Hinako easier. Everyone quieted when Jielain entered. She smiled.
"Well, let's go, we haven't got all day." Boshin frowned.
"Jielain are you alright?" he asked. Jielain nodded curtly at him.
"I'm fine Dammit. Leave me the hell alone. We have work to do."
"Jielain-"
"Fuck off." She turned to the others on her mission. "Chichiri says he'll teleport us over, but coming back will have to be like getting the book." Chuei nodded.
"I was up until two in the morning learning some things that might help us." He smiled at Jielain. Did he know that he couldn't stay with her? Did he care? The bandit tried to ignore him, watching Chichiri spread his kesa on the floor and began chanting. At the right moment, Jielain stepped onto it and disappeared. Chuei followed her, then Chiriko, then Kourin.
Chuei and Chiriko were wearing some clothes that Chichiri loaned them. Chuei was dressed in a red shirt that used to belong to his father, and Chiriko looked like a bandit in his green sleeveless shirt and tan pants. Kourin however, was dressed as a pretty Konan princess, complete with a Nuriko style kimono overdress and sash. Her hair was done in small buns on either side of her head, since it was much too short for a braid.
They landed in a pile, Kourin on top. Jielain shoved them off of her and stood up to make sure that all was clear. The sun was just coming up over the imperial garden, casting the Suzaku warriors into shadow. While the others sorted themselves out, Jielain reviewed the plan.
Since Hinako was likely to be in the dungeon, Chiriko would get captured and brought there, and then Kourin would go and insist on seeing him. Once in the dungeon, she would dispose of the guards and release Hinako and Chiriko, meeting back at the garden. Meanwhile, Chuei and Jielain would go to capture one of the enemy maidens. Simple right?
"Alright, you guys know the plan. Lets go."
Jielain and Chuei snuck into the palace without trouble, and quietly made their way to the emperor's chambers. Jielain was hoping that the emperor would have a few women in there, possibly even a celestial warrior. When they opened the door, they met the smiling face of a young man in his early twenties.
"Suzaku warriors sneaking around? Do you wish to share my bedchambers also?" He had a deep drawl, and was dressed in fine silk robes. Jielain could make out a few other figures on the bed. One of them stood and joined him in the doorway.
"Kazuo?" Chuei asked. She had a blanket over her shoulders, but other than that appeared nude. Her short blond hair covered her eyes, casting them into shadow. Jielain glared at the two.
"How the hell did you get here?" Jielain demanded. She shoved the young man out of the way and faced Kazuo's apathetic face. She seemed to have no emotion at all. So different from her great concern for Mako that was apparent before.
"She can't speak." The boy said. Jielain glared.
"Of course she can." Jielain retorted. Chuei looked at Kazuo's empty face thoughtfully. "No Jielain, she's been put under a spell."
"How very observant of you, young ones, she has indeed been put under a spell by me. She was a gift from my dear friend Masami, who will be joining us shortly."
"Who the hell are you?!" Jielain demanded. The boy smiled.
"I am the emperor of this country. My mother was a friend of your father's actually. She shared a bed with many a men, and I believe your father was among them. I bear her celestial mark." Jielain gasped.
"No, never! My father was honorable! He'd never!" He was accusing Tasuki of being with an enemy celestial warrior, at that a common slut!
"And you, Tamahome? I believe you remember my mother?" Chuei took a deep breath. "Jielain, don't listen. He's lying." Her hands were shaking in eagerness to kill. She took her dagger and stepped forward.
"I challenge you on my fathers honor. I swear to kill you." The emperor smiled.
"Yes, Tasuki. I will take your challenge on your father's honor. If I win you must become as dear Suboshi has." Jielain gritted her teeth and ignored Chuei's protest.
"Ladies, leave my chambers." The figures on the bed and Kazuo filed out the door past Jielain and Chuei. A few of them looked as young as twelve. Chuei, who had never seen such things before, felt his stomach lurch painfully. If Jielain could kill him, he surely deserved to die. But he must leave that to her. He watched helplessly as the emperor picked up a sword from a table and discarded the robe, revealing tan pants tied at the waist with an extravagantly sculpted gold belt. His light hair, a mockery of red and blonde, was down to his shoulders and neatly trimmed. He bowed to Jielain.
"No rules at all my dear. Anything at all goes, good bad or otherwise." He smiled at the bandit girl's fierce sneer.
"Bastard." She spat, charging forward to strike. He stepped away, dodging the dagger, but taking her weight full force. She turned quickly, prepared to gut him and was surprised that his speed matched hers. He was already at her throat when she realized it.
"Jielain!" Chuei yelled. His heart jumped at the sight of her at his mercy, and he longed to help, but he knew that the bandit would never forgive him if he did. He gritted his teeth as the evil emperor swished his sword at her neck, drawing blood. Jielain stilled, standing perfectly still as not to provoke the deadly blade. She dropped her dagger before she even saw the man's haughty smile.
"Epacse ym rof edalb eht tlem." She whispered. Suddenly the sword melted into a blob of molten metal, and the emperor dropped it in surprise. His confusion gave Jielain enough time to snatch up her dagger and knock him to the floor. Pinned, the boy smiled.
"So. The bandits have taken up magic as well." He said. "You surprise me." He looked amused. Jielain reached for her tessen.
"You will be even more surprised at how slowly I kill you." She said. Her voice was murderous and cruel. Chuei shivered. How could someone so kind and caring be a brutal murderer?
"Jielain, don't kill him." He said. She looked at her friend with utter surprise. Was he for real? Didn't he understand what this was about? Honor is more valuable than a person's life, and hers depended on his death. She saw the tears in his eyes.
"Chuei, I have to, someday you will understand the ways of this cruel world of hatred and fighting. Until then I must protect the innocent. That means killing this man." Chuei felt his fists tremble. Jielain was in one of those weird moods again, where he didn't know if it was really her talking.
"No." he whispered. The symbol on his forehead flared to life, blinding the emperor from his place under Jielain's weight. The bandit ignored him and drew her dagger.
"Turn around if you don't want to watch." She said coldly. The dagger flashed, and the man yelled out in agony.
"Jielain stop! You aren't yourself!" he ran to her and knelt down. She continued to strike at the body under her, faster until tears were streaming from her eyes. With a last scream, she plunged the dagger into his chest and he lay still. Blood stained her clothes, some of it hers and some of it her victims. Chuei pulled her to her feet and tore the dagger from her hand.
"Jielain!" he yelled. It was an attempt to get her to stop screaming. Finally he just kissed her on the lips, silencing her with the surprise. Her legs gave, but she clung to Chuei's shoulders. The screaming had ceased, but she still cried quietly.
"I never killed a person before." She whispered. Chuei tried to make her walk with him towards a door at the far side of the room and avoided looking at the corpse on the floor. His stomach churned with disgust and pity, but they had to get away before the guards found them. The door led them to a private garden. He half carried her to the fence then stopped, hidden behind a huge rose bush. Thorns pricked his back, but he was more concerned about the bandit girl.
"Jielain, come on, we have to get out of here." She sat up dizzily and looked around. Where was everybody? Then she remembered what she did and her mouth went dry. She had killed someone. That alone gave her the shivers.
"Yes," she said. "I'm sorry Chuei. You don't know how it is.those little girls.I couldn't let him hurt them anymore." He nodded. How could he understand? His parents had protected him from those kinds of threats, so that he never even thought about them.
"C'mon" Jielain stood up and they crept through the bushes to find the others.
Meanwhile..
"Chiriko, wait up." Kourin pleaded with the older boy, hurrying after him in the long fancy dress. She was so unused to such garb that it was hard for her to walk and retain her dignity all at the same time. Chiriko stopped, turning and smiling at her. Even in the dangerous mission, he had the nerve to grin like a schoolboy.
"Sure thing. You okay?" he took her hand and led her around the corner of the building, hiding behind the trees. They could see some guards standing at a post not far away. "Stay and follow after they attack me, okay, so that you know where the dungeon is. And whatever you do, don't get caught." Kourin nodded. She was slightly in awe of his bravery, and his smile. Could she actually be falling for him?
"Yes, please be careful." Chiriko grinned.
"Of course. See you in a bit!" he darted out from behind the tree and into the view of the guards.
"You there!? Are you permitted?" Chiriko looked around.
"Who me?"
"Yah! Get him!" The boy dashed out of sight, the guards chasing after him.
"Oh mister guard person, I'd like to see one of the prisoners you captured." Kourin hid her face behind her sleeve and stared at the huge guard tremblingly. She knew that he wouldn't hurt her, but she was terrified anyway. The guard looked her over lecherously, but unlocked the door and let her pass into the dungeon.
"Chiriko!" she said, flying to the place where he was kept. He was bleeding from a bash to the head and his wrists were manacled to the wall. He smiled at her.
"Kourin, Excellent that your disguise worked. I have reached the conclusion that the girl in the cell next to mine is the lady Hinako, the woman we were sent to find." Kourin nodded and peered into the dark cell from her vantage by Chiriko. A girl sat on the bench gloomily. Other than her mood, she appeared unhurt.
"Ok, I'll get you out." She whispered. Pushing back her sleeves, the young girl gripped the bars and pulled. Sweat trickled down her forehead, and her arms trembled with strength. Just when she was about to give up, the bracelets on her wrists began to glow, and the bars stretched open.
"Oh!" she said, noticing that Chiriko had climbed out and was hugging her tightly. She blushed at the closeness, and immediately turned to help Hinako out.
"Who are you?" Hinako asked, pulling her ragged robes into a more dignified way. Her dark eyes were fearful, but since they had helped her escape, they must not be that bad.
"The emperor sent us." Chiriko said, taking her hand and leading her to the small window. Kourin was already at work pulling the bars out, but paused to smile at Hinako.
"My name is Kourin, and I am the celestial warrior Nuriko."
"My name is Dokun, but I'm also called Chiriko, the celestial warrior." Hinako beamed with a radiance that made her look like a queen, despite her condition.
"So nice to meet you! I just want to see Boshin again. He was so sad that Jielain left, I am grateful of you for rescuing me." She bowed regally, and allowed Chiriko to lift her to the window and climb through. Next he lifted Kourin, who blushed at his touch. Finally, he climbed up himself and took out his chi scanner.
"Jielain and Chuei should be back soon. Let's go to the meeting place."
Jielain and Chuei were hiding from some guards, sweating in effort to conceal their chi and crawling along at the same time. Finally they reached an empty corridor and let off the magic. They were looking for a maiden, any maiden at all, but there seemed to be none. None, that is, except the one standing behind them.
"Suzaku warriors." The maiden said. Jielain and Chuei jumped, and turned to face the speaker, and found it to be a friendly looking dog.
"I will bite your heads off!" The dog jumped up, and met a wave of bandit-borne fire. "Rekka Shienen!" Jielain said, frying the dog. On the ground lay a maiden, naked as anything, She seemed stunned, but wasn't burned.
"This is new." Jielain muttered poking the girl with her boot. The girl opened her eyes and jumped back, crouched down in a feral position. Her long dark hair covered her nakedness mostly, but Chuei avoided looking at her anyway.
"I am Ashitare of the Seriyuu seven." She snarled. "You have killed my master and now I will kill you!" Jielain cursed.
"What makes you think you can defeat me? I was the one who killed your master!" The dog-girl showed her fangs.
"NO! You will be the one to die!" Jielain spat on the floor, and then cleared her throat.
"Epacse ym rof ecalp ni ezeerf." The girl gave a shriek, but it was cut short when she was surrounded by a red light, immobile. Chuei rushed to her and began another chant.
"Su htiw emoc!" The girl then rose to her feet, eyes blank, and followed Chuei's awkward backwards steps. Jielain bound the girl's hands and threw her own coat over her body. Chuei sealed the spell.
"I don't know how long it will last, but she shouldn't be able to get away." Jielain nodded, pushing the captive in the appropriate direction.
"You made it!" Hinako rushed to Jielain and threw her arms around the bandit. Jielain hugged her, but pulled away gruffly. Hinako held onto her tightly.
"Oh, I knew you would come back to us Jielain, I'm so sorry about your father, Boshin and I were there with him, we waited to have our wedding even! Just for you! You were so nice to me at the palace even when I didn't know anyone!" she broke into tears. Jielain sighed. Still the same old Hinako.
The warriors of Suzaku pushed Ashitare to the middle of the circle and linked hands around her and Hinako. They concentrated on the palace, and the people waiting for them there. In a flash of red light, they teleported to Konan.
***Author: well? What did you think?
Disclaimer: Sigh.I still don't own Fushigi Yugi (surprise surprise!) but I did invent the kids.
A/N: Just to let you know, I cried through the last part of that chapter. Don't hate me! I had to! I can't say any more or I will ruin the story! ( Anyway, this is really getting somewhere, and I am very glad. I played around with not having Tasuki die, and even wrote an entire chapter of that, but it just didn't flow right. I happen to be a very sensitive person so writing that sad part was very hard.Anyway, sorry so long between chapters, I've been working on my Inu-yasha fic, but I won't ever forget this one. Its actually only going to be a few more chapters! This one is a bit gory, as warning, and very pg13. So ya. ^^
Jielain lay in bed the next morning for a long time, thinking. She had fallen asleep alone before Chichiri had a chance to get Chuei and Boshin, and she dreaded having to face the others. So her father was her weakness. So what? Most people got a little emotional if they suddenly come home and the life they had always known was ripped to shreds.
Finally, she got up and dressed making her way to the kitchen to get some food. She didn't want to talk to anyone quite yet. Even if Chichiri had told everybody, she didn't want them to fawn over her. She was a big girl capable of handling life and loss on her own, right? Jielain sighed, taking the biscuits and milk from a serving girl. Was she just lying to herself? Losing a father really was a big thing, maybe she wasn't being fair to him.
Jielain took her breakfast to the gardens and paused by a bush covered with pink roses like the ones Miaka had given her that day. Only yesterday, she thought, smelling the sweet fragrance. She took her dagger from her waist and cut one at the stem, but her hands shook and the blade slipped, cutting the back of her wrist.
"Dammit." She said quietly, wiping away the thin beads of blood. Just what she needed right before her mission too.
"Are you alright?" Jielain whipped around, ready to strike, but caught herself. It was only Chiharu. She put away her weapon and turned back to the roses.
"Course I am." She muttered. Chiharu stepped up next to her with frown.
"Then why won't you yell at me? Normally we'd have fists flying by now." Jielain ignored her. "I was going to thank you for saving Mako, but with that attitude why should I?!" She turned to stomp away, but Jielain spoke, her voice low.
"Your welcome anyway. I'd have done the same if you were captured." Chiharu stared at her with her big gray blue eyes wide.
"Really?" Jielain nodded.
"I have to go save Hinako today too. She's my friend, and the emperor's fiancé."
"That's nice of you."
"It's duty. Wish I could go alone." The blonde frowned, swishing her hair over her shoulder and flaunting herself.
"Maybe, but I want to know what you're going to do about Chuei. That creepy cat guy said he couldn't stay in this world, even if we do manage to complete the ceremony." Jielain laughed, tears coming to her blue eyes.
"That's just great." She said, taking the rose she had cut in her hand. It pricked her with the thorns, but she didn't mind. The irony was just amazing. She goes on a mission for a few days, comes back and finds out her father died, but at least she has her friend's right? Now they all have to go back and leave her by herself. Maybe dying in battle would be better so that she wouldn't have to live out the rest of her lonely life.
"That's just great! Why the hell did you leave me here!? What did I ever do to you Suzaku ya bastard!" Chiharu stepped away from the bandit with obvious apprehension.
"Jielain settle down." She said. Jielain only threw down the flower and crushed it under her boots, not hearing a word.
"Fuck this life, this world, and all the other ones!"
"Someone needs to learn anger management ya know." Jielain stopped her rant, staring at Chichiri. He leaned down and picked up the flower,
"I know you feel bad but there is no need to take it out on a defenseless rose ya know. And I'd take back those awful curses. You wouldn't want to get what you wish for ya know." Jielain flushed.
"Sorry, I just think it's a little late for that since I'm already screwed." The monk shook his head and placed the broken rose in her hand, stabbing her with the thorns.
"A wounded rose may still cause damage." A light shined from his hands into hers. "And a damaged rose may still become renewed." Suddenly the flower was once again as it had been before Jielain stomped on it. The two girls stared in wonder.
"You two had better head over to the palace, they will be leaving shortly ya know. Boshin told them why you feel bad so they won't bother you." Jielain tossed the flower to the ground.
"I ain't a flower." She said, turning away coldly. Chiharu and the monk watched her go sadly.
Gathered in one of the palaces rooms, Chichiri told them what they needed to do. They would go to the Kutou palace, find Hinako and bring back an enemy warrior, simple as that. Chuei had been taught a little about his magic the night before with Chichiri, and all were armed with daggers. Chiriko carried a transportable 'chi scanner', that, in combo with Jielain's internal chi scanner, would allow them to detect anyone coming near and find Hinako easier. Everyone quieted when Jielain entered. She smiled.
"Well, let's go, we haven't got all day." Boshin frowned.
"Jielain are you alright?" he asked. Jielain nodded curtly at him.
"I'm fine Dammit. Leave me the hell alone. We have work to do."
"Jielain-"
"Fuck off." She turned to the others on her mission. "Chichiri says he'll teleport us over, but coming back will have to be like getting the book." Chuei nodded.
"I was up until two in the morning learning some things that might help us." He smiled at Jielain. Did he know that he couldn't stay with her? Did he care? The bandit tried to ignore him, watching Chichiri spread his kesa on the floor and began chanting. At the right moment, Jielain stepped onto it and disappeared. Chuei followed her, then Chiriko, then Kourin.
Chuei and Chiriko were wearing some clothes that Chichiri loaned them. Chuei was dressed in a red shirt that used to belong to his father, and Chiriko looked like a bandit in his green sleeveless shirt and tan pants. Kourin however, was dressed as a pretty Konan princess, complete with a Nuriko style kimono overdress and sash. Her hair was done in small buns on either side of her head, since it was much too short for a braid.
They landed in a pile, Kourin on top. Jielain shoved them off of her and stood up to make sure that all was clear. The sun was just coming up over the imperial garden, casting the Suzaku warriors into shadow. While the others sorted themselves out, Jielain reviewed the plan.
Since Hinako was likely to be in the dungeon, Chiriko would get captured and brought there, and then Kourin would go and insist on seeing him. Once in the dungeon, she would dispose of the guards and release Hinako and Chiriko, meeting back at the garden. Meanwhile, Chuei and Jielain would go to capture one of the enemy maidens. Simple right?
"Alright, you guys know the plan. Lets go."
Jielain and Chuei snuck into the palace without trouble, and quietly made their way to the emperor's chambers. Jielain was hoping that the emperor would have a few women in there, possibly even a celestial warrior. When they opened the door, they met the smiling face of a young man in his early twenties.
"Suzaku warriors sneaking around? Do you wish to share my bedchambers also?" He had a deep drawl, and was dressed in fine silk robes. Jielain could make out a few other figures on the bed. One of them stood and joined him in the doorway.
"Kazuo?" Chuei asked. She had a blanket over her shoulders, but other than that appeared nude. Her short blond hair covered her eyes, casting them into shadow. Jielain glared at the two.
"How the hell did you get here?" Jielain demanded. She shoved the young man out of the way and faced Kazuo's apathetic face. She seemed to have no emotion at all. So different from her great concern for Mako that was apparent before.
"She can't speak." The boy said. Jielain glared.
"Of course she can." Jielain retorted. Chuei looked at Kazuo's empty face thoughtfully. "No Jielain, she's been put under a spell."
"How very observant of you, young ones, she has indeed been put under a spell by me. She was a gift from my dear friend Masami, who will be joining us shortly."
"Who the hell are you?!" Jielain demanded. The boy smiled.
"I am the emperor of this country. My mother was a friend of your father's actually. She shared a bed with many a men, and I believe your father was among them. I bear her celestial mark." Jielain gasped.
"No, never! My father was honorable! He'd never!" He was accusing Tasuki of being with an enemy celestial warrior, at that a common slut!
"And you, Tamahome? I believe you remember my mother?" Chuei took a deep breath. "Jielain, don't listen. He's lying." Her hands were shaking in eagerness to kill. She took her dagger and stepped forward.
"I challenge you on my fathers honor. I swear to kill you." The emperor smiled.
"Yes, Tasuki. I will take your challenge on your father's honor. If I win you must become as dear Suboshi has." Jielain gritted her teeth and ignored Chuei's protest.
"Ladies, leave my chambers." The figures on the bed and Kazuo filed out the door past Jielain and Chuei. A few of them looked as young as twelve. Chuei, who had never seen such things before, felt his stomach lurch painfully. If Jielain could kill him, he surely deserved to die. But he must leave that to her. He watched helplessly as the emperor picked up a sword from a table and discarded the robe, revealing tan pants tied at the waist with an extravagantly sculpted gold belt. His light hair, a mockery of red and blonde, was down to his shoulders and neatly trimmed. He bowed to Jielain.
"No rules at all my dear. Anything at all goes, good bad or otherwise." He smiled at the bandit girl's fierce sneer.
"Bastard." She spat, charging forward to strike. He stepped away, dodging the dagger, but taking her weight full force. She turned quickly, prepared to gut him and was surprised that his speed matched hers. He was already at her throat when she realized it.
"Jielain!" Chuei yelled. His heart jumped at the sight of her at his mercy, and he longed to help, but he knew that the bandit would never forgive him if he did. He gritted his teeth as the evil emperor swished his sword at her neck, drawing blood. Jielain stilled, standing perfectly still as not to provoke the deadly blade. She dropped her dagger before she even saw the man's haughty smile.
"Epacse ym rof edalb eht tlem." She whispered. Suddenly the sword melted into a blob of molten metal, and the emperor dropped it in surprise. His confusion gave Jielain enough time to snatch up her dagger and knock him to the floor. Pinned, the boy smiled.
"So. The bandits have taken up magic as well." He said. "You surprise me." He looked amused. Jielain reached for her tessen.
"You will be even more surprised at how slowly I kill you." She said. Her voice was murderous and cruel. Chuei shivered. How could someone so kind and caring be a brutal murderer?
"Jielain, don't kill him." He said. She looked at her friend with utter surprise. Was he for real? Didn't he understand what this was about? Honor is more valuable than a person's life, and hers depended on his death. She saw the tears in his eyes.
"Chuei, I have to, someday you will understand the ways of this cruel world of hatred and fighting. Until then I must protect the innocent. That means killing this man." Chuei felt his fists tremble. Jielain was in one of those weird moods again, where he didn't know if it was really her talking.
"No." he whispered. The symbol on his forehead flared to life, blinding the emperor from his place under Jielain's weight. The bandit ignored him and drew her dagger.
"Turn around if you don't want to watch." She said coldly. The dagger flashed, and the man yelled out in agony.
"Jielain stop! You aren't yourself!" he ran to her and knelt down. She continued to strike at the body under her, faster until tears were streaming from her eyes. With a last scream, she plunged the dagger into his chest and he lay still. Blood stained her clothes, some of it hers and some of it her victims. Chuei pulled her to her feet and tore the dagger from her hand.
"Jielain!" he yelled. It was an attempt to get her to stop screaming. Finally he just kissed her on the lips, silencing her with the surprise. Her legs gave, but she clung to Chuei's shoulders. The screaming had ceased, but she still cried quietly.
"I never killed a person before." She whispered. Chuei tried to make her walk with him towards a door at the far side of the room and avoided looking at the corpse on the floor. His stomach churned with disgust and pity, but they had to get away before the guards found them. The door led them to a private garden. He half carried her to the fence then stopped, hidden behind a huge rose bush. Thorns pricked his back, but he was more concerned about the bandit girl.
"Jielain, come on, we have to get out of here." She sat up dizzily and looked around. Where was everybody? Then she remembered what she did and her mouth went dry. She had killed someone. That alone gave her the shivers.
"Yes," she said. "I'm sorry Chuei. You don't know how it is.those little girls.I couldn't let him hurt them anymore." He nodded. How could he understand? His parents had protected him from those kinds of threats, so that he never even thought about them.
"C'mon" Jielain stood up and they crept through the bushes to find the others.
Meanwhile..
"Chiriko, wait up." Kourin pleaded with the older boy, hurrying after him in the long fancy dress. She was so unused to such garb that it was hard for her to walk and retain her dignity all at the same time. Chiriko stopped, turning and smiling at her. Even in the dangerous mission, he had the nerve to grin like a schoolboy.
"Sure thing. You okay?" he took her hand and led her around the corner of the building, hiding behind the trees. They could see some guards standing at a post not far away. "Stay and follow after they attack me, okay, so that you know where the dungeon is. And whatever you do, don't get caught." Kourin nodded. She was slightly in awe of his bravery, and his smile. Could she actually be falling for him?
"Yes, please be careful." Chiriko grinned.
"Of course. See you in a bit!" he darted out from behind the tree and into the view of the guards.
"You there!? Are you permitted?" Chiriko looked around.
"Who me?"
"Yah! Get him!" The boy dashed out of sight, the guards chasing after him.
"Oh mister guard person, I'd like to see one of the prisoners you captured." Kourin hid her face behind her sleeve and stared at the huge guard tremblingly. She knew that he wouldn't hurt her, but she was terrified anyway. The guard looked her over lecherously, but unlocked the door and let her pass into the dungeon.
"Chiriko!" she said, flying to the place where he was kept. He was bleeding from a bash to the head and his wrists were manacled to the wall. He smiled at her.
"Kourin, Excellent that your disguise worked. I have reached the conclusion that the girl in the cell next to mine is the lady Hinako, the woman we were sent to find." Kourin nodded and peered into the dark cell from her vantage by Chiriko. A girl sat on the bench gloomily. Other than her mood, she appeared unhurt.
"Ok, I'll get you out." She whispered. Pushing back her sleeves, the young girl gripped the bars and pulled. Sweat trickled down her forehead, and her arms trembled with strength. Just when she was about to give up, the bracelets on her wrists began to glow, and the bars stretched open.
"Oh!" she said, noticing that Chiriko had climbed out and was hugging her tightly. She blushed at the closeness, and immediately turned to help Hinako out.
"Who are you?" Hinako asked, pulling her ragged robes into a more dignified way. Her dark eyes were fearful, but since they had helped her escape, they must not be that bad.
"The emperor sent us." Chiriko said, taking her hand and leading her to the small window. Kourin was already at work pulling the bars out, but paused to smile at Hinako.
"My name is Kourin, and I am the celestial warrior Nuriko."
"My name is Dokun, but I'm also called Chiriko, the celestial warrior." Hinako beamed with a radiance that made her look like a queen, despite her condition.
"So nice to meet you! I just want to see Boshin again. He was so sad that Jielain left, I am grateful of you for rescuing me." She bowed regally, and allowed Chiriko to lift her to the window and climb through. Next he lifted Kourin, who blushed at his touch. Finally, he climbed up himself and took out his chi scanner.
"Jielain and Chuei should be back soon. Let's go to the meeting place."
Jielain and Chuei were hiding from some guards, sweating in effort to conceal their chi and crawling along at the same time. Finally they reached an empty corridor and let off the magic. They were looking for a maiden, any maiden at all, but there seemed to be none. None, that is, except the one standing behind them.
"Suzaku warriors." The maiden said. Jielain and Chuei jumped, and turned to face the speaker, and found it to be a friendly looking dog.
"I will bite your heads off!" The dog jumped up, and met a wave of bandit-borne fire. "Rekka Shienen!" Jielain said, frying the dog. On the ground lay a maiden, naked as anything, She seemed stunned, but wasn't burned.
"This is new." Jielain muttered poking the girl with her boot. The girl opened her eyes and jumped back, crouched down in a feral position. Her long dark hair covered her nakedness mostly, but Chuei avoided looking at her anyway.
"I am Ashitare of the Seriyuu seven." She snarled. "You have killed my master and now I will kill you!" Jielain cursed.
"What makes you think you can defeat me? I was the one who killed your master!" The dog-girl showed her fangs.
"NO! You will be the one to die!" Jielain spat on the floor, and then cleared her throat.
"Epacse ym rof ecalp ni ezeerf." The girl gave a shriek, but it was cut short when she was surrounded by a red light, immobile. Chuei rushed to her and began another chant.
"Su htiw emoc!" The girl then rose to her feet, eyes blank, and followed Chuei's awkward backwards steps. Jielain bound the girl's hands and threw her own coat over her body. Chuei sealed the spell.
"I don't know how long it will last, but she shouldn't be able to get away." Jielain nodded, pushing the captive in the appropriate direction.
"You made it!" Hinako rushed to Jielain and threw her arms around the bandit. Jielain hugged her, but pulled away gruffly. Hinako held onto her tightly.
"Oh, I knew you would come back to us Jielain, I'm so sorry about your father, Boshin and I were there with him, we waited to have our wedding even! Just for you! You were so nice to me at the palace even when I didn't know anyone!" she broke into tears. Jielain sighed. Still the same old Hinako.
The warriors of Suzaku pushed Ashitare to the middle of the circle and linked hands around her and Hinako. They concentrated on the palace, and the people waiting for them there. In a flash of red light, they teleported to Konan.
***Author: well? What did you think?
