Chapter 32
The Seishi stared at each other in an awkward pause of silence.
Suboshi and Amiboshi stood close to Martha's sides, and Tasuki and Nuriko were standing with Caitlin in between them.
"What do we do?" Amiboshi finally said. "The Lone Wolf Warrior is ruining everything for us, but one of us has got to get to the Shinzaho."
Suboshi smiled. "I'll go get it," he whispered to Martha. "I know where it is. Let me go get you your Shinzaho."
Martha gulped, thought about it for a moment, then turned and whispered back into Suboshi's ear, "Alright . . . you go and get it. But be careful. The Lone Wolf Warrior might strike while you're alone. Are you sure you would be able to stand an attack by him on your own?"
"I'm strong," Suboshi insisted, "I can do this."
Martha gave a small nod, and wished him farewell, as he backed up into the alley, his eyes on Tasuki the entire time before fleeing.
"Where does he think he's going?" Tasuki growled.
"Perhaps he's gone off to the Shinzaho!" Nuriko exclaimed. "Perhaps I should follow him, Caitlin?"
Caitlin knew what would happen if Nuriko ran into the Wolfman, Ashitare, up on the mountain where the Shinzaho lay. He would surly be killed.
"Just let him go," Caitlin said, but Nuriko seemed determined.
"No, no," he insisted, "let me go after him. How else are we going to find the Shinzaho?"
"Have Tasuki go with you," Caitlin said, "In fact, we'll all go with you."
"Why is it all of us?" Tasuki growled. "You afraid Nuriko can't do it? Ha, she's insulting you, homo!"
Tasuki found himself with a black eye before the three turned to face a rigid Martha, smiling nervously beside Amiboshi.
"We have to go," Caitlin said. "I'll tell Kristin you say high."
"And tell her I say thanks about the whole Soi thing," Martha said, suddenly smiling as if everything was back to normal.
The three Suzaku Seishi left, departing in the same direction Suboshi had gone. Martha frowned.
"They're gonna follow him to the Shinzaho!" Amiboshi exclaimed. "What should we do? That's three against one!"
"Not unless we join him. Come on," Martha said, and followed the departing Suzkau Seishi in secret. Amiboshi gave a whine, but began to follow.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he complained. "You're the Priestess. You might get hurt by the Lone Wolf Warrior or Ashitare, and I might not be able to do anything about it."
"What are you talking about?" Martha whispered, sneaking along the street behind Caitlin and friends. "You're a Seiryu Seishi. You have the power of annoying flute music. You can protect me as well as any of the other Seishi . . . except for Nakago. No one can protect as well as Nakago can."
And thus Suboshi ran up the mountain side, going as fast as he could through the thick blanket of snow towards the top of the mountain where there lay a cave which hid the Shinzaho of Genbu. Caitlin, Tasuki, and Nuriko followed his footsteps, and climbed the mountain top, and Martha and Amiboshi followed their footsteps, keeping a close watch on them.
But the two couldn't keep quite well hidden in the open air of the mountain. First, Suboshi took a glance back and saw the figures of Caitlin, Tasuki and Nuriko following him, so he started to pick up speed as he raced for the top. As soon as Caitlin, Tasuki and Nuriko saw this, they began to pick up their speed for the race to the top. Tasuki tripped and fell at one point, and this allowed him to glance back and see Martha and Amiboshi gaining speed as they came up the mountain side.
"Da!" he cried out to Nuriko and Caitlin. "The Priestess of Seiryu and that flute boy are following us!"
"Grrr," Caitlin growled. "I hate doing this to Martha, but I got to get the Shinzaho first to Kristin! Darn, she's good at faking bad guy roles!" She looked down to see Martha shaking her fist up at her.
Suboshi, naturally, got to the top first, panting from his long run. He threw his arms high in the air as he approached the top, and cried out, "Ha! I'm the victor and no body can stop me!"
He came to a halt as he reached the top. The Lone Wolf Warrior was already there along with Ashitare, Phil, Katie . . . and Tamahome.
"What's going on?!" he shouted.
"Time to stop this nonsense," The Lone Wolf Warrior drawled. "To be the bad guys, I must eliminate you and your fellow Seishi. You are the obstacles in my way of getting my Priestess. Ashitare, you may take care of this one for me."
The Wolfman growled and leapt forward at Suboshi. Suboshi swung his yo-yos at Ashitare, and struck him hard over the shoulders and face. Ashitare howled in pain, landing before Suboshi. Then, he growled, and leapt at the boy. But Suboshi turned just then, and soon, he was being chased down the mountain, with Ashitare at his feet.
The Suzaku Seishi saw this, and Tasuki brandished his fan, screaming, "REKKA SHINEN!" he devoured the Wolfman in flames, saving Suboshi. Ashitare lay in the snow, burnt and whimpering in pain.
From above them, the Lone Wolf Warrior appeared on the crest of the snowy mountain, looking down at the figures gathered below them.
"You want to reach your precious Shinzaho?" he called. "Well then, you must get past me in order to do so! Ha, ha ha ha ha ha!"
Tasuki growled. "I'm taking you down once and for all, Wolf Lone Warrior!"
"Tasuki!" Caitlin cried, "it's LONE WOLF WARRIOR, get it right!"
Tasuki ran up the mountain, but stopped as Tamahome came into view besides the Lone Wolf Warrior. "What the hell?" Tasuki cried, stopping.
The Lone Wolf Warrior gave a snicker. "Meet my newest member, Tamaafro."
Tamahome glared down at Tasuki.
"Tamahome!?" Tasuki cried. "What's wrong with you? You're supposed to be on our side!"
"Sorry," Tamahome said. "You wouldn't understand. Not now, anyways. But for now, I'm going to have to stop you AND get rid of the Sieryu. You'll like that part at least."
"We'd rather have the Sieryu as an enemy than you," Nuriko called. "Come back to us, Tama-chan!"
"No!" Tamahome cried, as Katie appeared at his side. "Leave me alone, you freakin' gay!"
Nuriko narrowed his eyes at Tamahome. "You're mine, Tamahome!" he shouted rather manly, and ran for Tamahome. Tasuki followed, and soon, Nuriko was swinging his fists madly at Tamahome, and getting beat up pretty heavily by Tamahome himself. Tasuki was battling it out, man to man, with the Lone Wolf Warrior, throwing his fists into the Lone Wolf's gut, and his own face being pumulted by the Lone Wolf's fists.
"I have to go up there!" Suboshi cried as his brother and Priestess caught up to him. But, Ashitare got to his feet just then, and Suboshi was caught in a deadly battle with him, his yo-yos flying about in the air, blood being drawn by both yo-yo and claws, and Suboshi, unfortunately, losing. Amiboshi was about to help him when Katie showed up, and began to play her flute against him. Amiboshi had no other choice but to bring up his own flute, and the two were caught in a deadly match of high, blood- curtling notes.
Caitlin tried to rip the flute out of Katie's hands, but Phil managed to tumble down the mountain and began to blast his tuba theme at Caitlin. Caitlin fell to the ground, fingers stuck in her ears, trying to hide the noise of the terrible music which was echoing around the mountain. She was sure Kristin and the others had to be able to hear this, and they would come and save them soon.
Tasuki was scratched up and torn, with a battered face, some broken ribs, and yet, he was still fighting the Lone Wolf Warrior, who had turned himself into Wolf Form, and injured just as badly. Nuriko was in pathetic shape but still holding on to his strength, trying to knock Tamahome out, who was jumping around and fighting like mad. Suboshi was near death in wounds, as his yo-yos which were terribly wounding Ashitare didn't seem to put a dent in the sudden vigor that the Wolfman was displaying. Katie and Amiboshi were blue in the face, blasting notes at each other, trying to go higher and higher with each note. And Caitlin was immobile, a ringing in her ears that was causing her head to ache so furiously, she was sure it was going to burst.
Just then, a voice cut into the action.
"Uh, guys? I just got the Shinzaho."
Everyone stopped as the dramatic music that was going on during all of this ended abruptly with a zipper-like noise. All attention was on Martha, who stood at the mountain with Tomite, and the Shinzaho hanging about her neck.
Amiboshi grabbed his weak brother and limped over to Martha in the awkward silence that filled the mountain top. Tomite was guarding her, and no one dared to make a move on the Priestess. Along with Amiboshi and the much injured Suboshi who had passed out, Tomite walked the Priestess back to her camp.
Everyone else just sweat dropped.
The Seishi stared at each other in an awkward pause of silence.
Suboshi and Amiboshi stood close to Martha's sides, and Tasuki and Nuriko were standing with Caitlin in between them.
"What do we do?" Amiboshi finally said. "The Lone Wolf Warrior is ruining everything for us, but one of us has got to get to the Shinzaho."
Suboshi smiled. "I'll go get it," he whispered to Martha. "I know where it is. Let me go get you your Shinzaho."
Martha gulped, thought about it for a moment, then turned and whispered back into Suboshi's ear, "Alright . . . you go and get it. But be careful. The Lone Wolf Warrior might strike while you're alone. Are you sure you would be able to stand an attack by him on your own?"
"I'm strong," Suboshi insisted, "I can do this."
Martha gave a small nod, and wished him farewell, as he backed up into the alley, his eyes on Tasuki the entire time before fleeing.
"Where does he think he's going?" Tasuki growled.
"Perhaps he's gone off to the Shinzaho!" Nuriko exclaimed. "Perhaps I should follow him, Caitlin?"
Caitlin knew what would happen if Nuriko ran into the Wolfman, Ashitare, up on the mountain where the Shinzaho lay. He would surly be killed.
"Just let him go," Caitlin said, but Nuriko seemed determined.
"No, no," he insisted, "let me go after him. How else are we going to find the Shinzaho?"
"Have Tasuki go with you," Caitlin said, "In fact, we'll all go with you."
"Why is it all of us?" Tasuki growled. "You afraid Nuriko can't do it? Ha, she's insulting you, homo!"
Tasuki found himself with a black eye before the three turned to face a rigid Martha, smiling nervously beside Amiboshi.
"We have to go," Caitlin said. "I'll tell Kristin you say high."
"And tell her I say thanks about the whole Soi thing," Martha said, suddenly smiling as if everything was back to normal.
The three Suzaku Seishi left, departing in the same direction Suboshi had gone. Martha frowned.
"They're gonna follow him to the Shinzaho!" Amiboshi exclaimed. "What should we do? That's three against one!"
"Not unless we join him. Come on," Martha said, and followed the departing Suzkau Seishi in secret. Amiboshi gave a whine, but began to follow.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he complained. "You're the Priestess. You might get hurt by the Lone Wolf Warrior or Ashitare, and I might not be able to do anything about it."
"What are you talking about?" Martha whispered, sneaking along the street behind Caitlin and friends. "You're a Seiryu Seishi. You have the power of annoying flute music. You can protect me as well as any of the other Seishi . . . except for Nakago. No one can protect as well as Nakago can."
And thus Suboshi ran up the mountain side, going as fast as he could through the thick blanket of snow towards the top of the mountain where there lay a cave which hid the Shinzaho of Genbu. Caitlin, Tasuki, and Nuriko followed his footsteps, and climbed the mountain top, and Martha and Amiboshi followed their footsteps, keeping a close watch on them.
But the two couldn't keep quite well hidden in the open air of the mountain. First, Suboshi took a glance back and saw the figures of Caitlin, Tasuki and Nuriko following him, so he started to pick up speed as he raced for the top. As soon as Caitlin, Tasuki and Nuriko saw this, they began to pick up their speed for the race to the top. Tasuki tripped and fell at one point, and this allowed him to glance back and see Martha and Amiboshi gaining speed as they came up the mountain side.
"Da!" he cried out to Nuriko and Caitlin. "The Priestess of Seiryu and that flute boy are following us!"
"Grrr," Caitlin growled. "I hate doing this to Martha, but I got to get the Shinzaho first to Kristin! Darn, she's good at faking bad guy roles!" She looked down to see Martha shaking her fist up at her.
Suboshi, naturally, got to the top first, panting from his long run. He threw his arms high in the air as he approached the top, and cried out, "Ha! I'm the victor and no body can stop me!"
He came to a halt as he reached the top. The Lone Wolf Warrior was already there along with Ashitare, Phil, Katie . . . and Tamahome.
"What's going on?!" he shouted.
"Time to stop this nonsense," The Lone Wolf Warrior drawled. "To be the bad guys, I must eliminate you and your fellow Seishi. You are the obstacles in my way of getting my Priestess. Ashitare, you may take care of this one for me."
The Wolfman growled and leapt forward at Suboshi. Suboshi swung his yo-yos at Ashitare, and struck him hard over the shoulders and face. Ashitare howled in pain, landing before Suboshi. Then, he growled, and leapt at the boy. But Suboshi turned just then, and soon, he was being chased down the mountain, with Ashitare at his feet.
The Suzaku Seishi saw this, and Tasuki brandished his fan, screaming, "REKKA SHINEN!" he devoured the Wolfman in flames, saving Suboshi. Ashitare lay in the snow, burnt and whimpering in pain.
From above them, the Lone Wolf Warrior appeared on the crest of the snowy mountain, looking down at the figures gathered below them.
"You want to reach your precious Shinzaho?" he called. "Well then, you must get past me in order to do so! Ha, ha ha ha ha ha!"
Tasuki growled. "I'm taking you down once and for all, Wolf Lone Warrior!"
"Tasuki!" Caitlin cried, "it's LONE WOLF WARRIOR, get it right!"
Tasuki ran up the mountain, but stopped as Tamahome came into view besides the Lone Wolf Warrior. "What the hell?" Tasuki cried, stopping.
The Lone Wolf Warrior gave a snicker. "Meet my newest member, Tamaafro."
Tamahome glared down at Tasuki.
"Tamahome!?" Tasuki cried. "What's wrong with you? You're supposed to be on our side!"
"Sorry," Tamahome said. "You wouldn't understand. Not now, anyways. But for now, I'm going to have to stop you AND get rid of the Sieryu. You'll like that part at least."
"We'd rather have the Sieryu as an enemy than you," Nuriko called. "Come back to us, Tama-chan!"
"No!" Tamahome cried, as Katie appeared at his side. "Leave me alone, you freakin' gay!"
Nuriko narrowed his eyes at Tamahome. "You're mine, Tamahome!" he shouted rather manly, and ran for Tamahome. Tasuki followed, and soon, Nuriko was swinging his fists madly at Tamahome, and getting beat up pretty heavily by Tamahome himself. Tasuki was battling it out, man to man, with the Lone Wolf Warrior, throwing his fists into the Lone Wolf's gut, and his own face being pumulted by the Lone Wolf's fists.
"I have to go up there!" Suboshi cried as his brother and Priestess caught up to him. But, Ashitare got to his feet just then, and Suboshi was caught in a deadly battle with him, his yo-yos flying about in the air, blood being drawn by both yo-yo and claws, and Suboshi, unfortunately, losing. Amiboshi was about to help him when Katie showed up, and began to play her flute against him. Amiboshi had no other choice but to bring up his own flute, and the two were caught in a deadly match of high, blood- curtling notes.
Caitlin tried to rip the flute out of Katie's hands, but Phil managed to tumble down the mountain and began to blast his tuba theme at Caitlin. Caitlin fell to the ground, fingers stuck in her ears, trying to hide the noise of the terrible music which was echoing around the mountain. She was sure Kristin and the others had to be able to hear this, and they would come and save them soon.
Tasuki was scratched up and torn, with a battered face, some broken ribs, and yet, he was still fighting the Lone Wolf Warrior, who had turned himself into Wolf Form, and injured just as badly. Nuriko was in pathetic shape but still holding on to his strength, trying to knock Tamahome out, who was jumping around and fighting like mad. Suboshi was near death in wounds, as his yo-yos which were terribly wounding Ashitare didn't seem to put a dent in the sudden vigor that the Wolfman was displaying. Katie and Amiboshi were blue in the face, blasting notes at each other, trying to go higher and higher with each note. And Caitlin was immobile, a ringing in her ears that was causing her head to ache so furiously, she was sure it was going to burst.
Just then, a voice cut into the action.
"Uh, guys? I just got the Shinzaho."
Everyone stopped as the dramatic music that was going on during all of this ended abruptly with a zipper-like noise. All attention was on Martha, who stood at the mountain with Tomite, and the Shinzaho hanging about her neck.
Amiboshi grabbed his weak brother and limped over to Martha in the awkward silence that filled the mountain top. Tomite was guarding her, and no one dared to make a move on the Priestess. Along with Amiboshi and the much injured Suboshi who had passed out, Tomite walked the Priestess back to her camp.
Everyone else just sweat dropped.