*teehee*… We just got new systems up, so I can be onlinea heck of a lot more now!! Isn't that great?? Yeah. But hey! It means I might be updating alittle more… if I can even get  around to updating… I am so sorry you peoples!! I know you missed me and wanted to see more of my story, and then I let you down!!!

But anyway, here is the next installment…

Um… yeah. I own diddly-squat, as you already know, but my parents have finally decided to let me buy a car!! So i might be owning a hunker $1000 P.O.S. sometime soon… whoo hoo!! Other than that, natta.

But wait! I just noticed baka-san's wuvly wittle review… THANKIES!! And I'mso sorry… I am so bad about updating… but I have another life, I swear! You just wouldn't think so… But anyway… yeah. We're getting to the point to where Tasuki doesn't shut up… wait, he never DID shut up, did he? ^^ Gomen… I'm really hyper right now…

So on with the story… Chapter Twenty One: Departure of a New Beginning

It was a beautiful day on the shores, reflecting the moods of the travellers. An enormous boat had been prepared, upon further inspection of the plan, and was prepared to take the Priestess, her seishis, Miaka, and the crew as far inland of Genbu's country as possible.

Kori let out a contented sigh as she watched the waves crash back and forth against the sandy shore. It had been so long since she had seen a beach of any sort—such was the reqard for living in the Midwest U.S.—and she just loved the water.

"Priestess!" Kori turned, half-dazed, towards where the Emperor was calling her name. She gave him a light smile before waving and heading in his direction.

"Are we ready to go?" she asked as she approached him, her eyes still wandering the watery horizon in the distance.

"Yes, the boats are finally prepared," Hotohori replied, placing a stray strand of hair back into its rightful position. He then offered his arm to Kori, who hesitantly took it, and led her to the boat in which they would be traveling.

"It's a shame you can't come, Hotohori…" Kori whispered, gently touching the young man's sleeve. He gave a light sigh.

"I agree. I truly wish to, but there is so much work that I must get done here…"

Kori grinned and let out a giggle. She then spotted Nuriko and Tamahome having a hearty discussion. She raced over to talk to them.

"I can't believe we're leaving today! I can hardly contain myself!" Nuriko oozed, gazing admirantly up at the ship that would be transporting them. Tamahome nodded in agreement, then glanced back and noticed Tasuki hiding rather conspicuously behind a tree and watching the ship with an undo contempt.

"What's the matter, Tasuki?" Tamahome called, cupping his hands around his mouth and giving the ex-bandit a worried glance. Kori and Nuriko both also turned and looked at him expectantly.

"Aint nothin' the matter with me…" Tasuki humphed, crossing his arms and glaring at Tamahome. All the martial artist did was grin.

"Is that so…? He asked, slowly. Tasuki glanced at him uneasily before Tamahome jumped in front of him. "I get it!" he cried triumphantly, "You can't swim!!"

Tasuki sweat-dropped immediately and tried to step back, sweating profusly.

"What're ya talking about, Tama-buddy?" the redhead gulped. "Me? Not be able ta swim? How pathetic do ya think I am??" he took another step back as Tamahome advanced. "It's absurd…!"

Before Tasuki could get another word in, Tamahome had taken hold of him and had him dangling helplessly over the water. Tasuki's arms and legs all desperately but futilely flailed as he fought to be back on the nice, firm, dry land…

"Tamahome put me the hell down I swear I'll kill you you stupid bastard I'm gonna die I don't wanna die I've got guys ta take care of an' I gots a weapon an' put me down and I swear I'll never burn ya again and SOMEBODY HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" the helpless bandit called. Tamahome finally took mercy on him, and let him drop harlessly to the ground beneath him. It was another level of the dock. Tasuki, realizing such trickery, let out a humph and dusted off his coat. He then promptly began chasing Tamahome across the inland grounds.

Kori sweat-dropped. "You know, I sure hope they behave better than that on the ship…" she sighed deeply, knowing fully well the answer to her hope was hell no.

Nuriko just laughed and headed for the ship. Miaka chose this moment to come running out, a large suitcase in her hands. Kori rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a grinwhen she noticed the rather camera-like apparatus in Miaka's hands. Miaka, being the ever-sneaky perosn that she is (hint any sarcasm… sorry, I don't hate Miaka…), managed to get her first photo within a minute of walking out.

"Smile, you guys!" she called, and automatically Nuriko, Tamahome, Tasuki, and Kori had all posed for the camera. Miaka clicked the button and the light flashed, nearly blinding all of them. She waited a moment for the picture to develop; when it did, the four posers grabbed it to admire it.

"Wow!" Nuriko sung, "That's amazing! How did it—"

"What the hell!?!" Tasuki cried, interrupting Nuriko. "This guy looks exactly like me! Who the hell does he think he is, coming around an'…" His statement trailed of as he noticed the other four staring at him funny as growled at the picture.

Miaka grinned and took the picture from his hands, a sweat-drop forming on her head. Kori smiled lightly, but sighed inwardly.

An addendant approached them and began to speak with Tamahome and Nuriko. Kori listened intently to the conversation, trying to decifer what the girl was hurriedly saying.

"There's a—and—we couldn't—I don't—"

"We're on our way!' Nuriko stated. He called over to the other seishis, who were scattered across the dock doing random tasks and having random conversations. They all joined her and talked in hurried whispers, keeping quiet whenever it seemed Kori or Miaka were listening. Suddenly Tamahome and Chichiri disappeared.

"What's going on?" Kori finally asked, tugging gently on Mitsukake's sleeve.

"There was a little trouble, but everything is under control," Hotohori replied quickly, and Kori nodded.

"What kind of trouble?" she asked, catching the seishis, who had assumed she was finished, off guard.

"Just a little bi—" Nuriko went to answer, but was cut off by a loud… battle cry?

The remaining five seishis, Miaka, Kori, and all the attendants turned towards the roof from which the cry had come. A boy appeared at the top of the roof, a cloak covering his body and most of his face. At first, only his eyes were visible, but he pulled back his cloak to reveal his face and put a flute to his lips.

"Amiboshi…" Kori huffed, squinting her eyes as a strangled, anguished tune floated towards them. The boy stopped playing, however, and jumped down. Chichiri and Tamahome both appeared at the spot where the boy had just been, both looking quite pissed.

"He got away and we couldn't catch him!" Tamahome cried from the roof.

"Hai!" the boy shouted. "Because it's your fault!" he pointed at Kori, then the seishis. He hugged himself tightly. "It's your fault my brother is dead!" As if with new resolution, the boy stood tall and proud. "So now I, Suboshi, a Seiryu Seishi, will destroy you all!"

A collective gasp escaped the group, settling the air that had bcome so thick you couldn't cut it with an axe anymore.

Suboshi suddenly released his weapon.

"You die now, Priestess of Suzaku!"

With that out, Suboshi hurled his spheres at Kori, who braced herself for the lethal impact.

***

Whoo-hoo! Crappy chappy!!!

Well, I am so sorry it so long to get out such a shit chapter, but I've been so freakin stressed with school! But I'm on Spring Break this week, so hopefully I'll get up a few chappies for you guys… and then I'll get a hold of myself and keep up until summer!!

Wish me luck ('cause I'll sure as hell need it)!!!

Anyway, that concludes this not-so-fantastic episode of Secrets Best Left Alone!

Looks like Suboshi is out to kill his brother's "murderers…" only without that horrible murder of… *shudders*… Poor Tamahome…

NONE SHALL DIE!!!

Um… yeah. Just stay tuned for the next exciting (and action-packed, mind you) installment of Secrets Best Left Alone, Chapter Twenty-Two: A Warrior's Reprisal, where Suboshi will fight against the seven seishis to try and avenge his deceased brother!! Whoo-hoo, fight scene!!!

~Tayrn Eithne

Oh, here's the teaser line:

"'You were lucky enough to evade the wrath of a Seiryu yet, but you will, warrior, you will…'"