Notes: Um---I know I said I was gonna give it two weeks for the Nuriko
thing, but I figure, in two days I already had four people say they wanted
Nuriko and I really doubt that a whole bunch of Nuriko haters are going to
some in and say no. Nuriko will enter back into the story either in this
chapter or the next, it depends on how far I get in this one. I'm going to
leave until the end of the week though, just for any late readers.
One more thing, since FF.net won't show the three dots every time I do it, it is now three dashes. (---) It makes things a little neater.
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The morning after everyone talked to Kei, they began to make plans for her rescue. Chichiri said only two people could go besides him. It had pretty much been a given that Tasuki would go as well. Hotohori suggested that Taki or Lily should go as well. The only question was which one. Taki and Lily were sitting in an empty room, arguing.
"Taki, I don't understand why you don't go! You're her best friend!"
"Lily, that's exactly the reason why I think you should go!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't really follow that." Lily sat back in her chair.
Taki sighed. "Look I do consider myself her best friend and I want her back safely, but you're stronger than I am! You're far more capable of helping her than I am. We both know that."
Lily was quiet. She had never known Taki to be so serious. "You really think I'm more capable?"
"I know you're more capable. With all my heart and soul, I want to go and get her, but I know if I went I'd only be in the way."
"Taki, you wouldn't---"
"Quiet, I wasn't done yet. Out of all the years we've known each other, we never got along much, right?"
"Right, but we did for Kei."
"Exactly, now I've never asked you for much, hell never talked to you much, but I need you to do this. You can do this better than I can." Taki put her hand on Lily's shoulder. "Now please, go with Chichiri to get her tonight. I know you'd rather be with him anyway." She giggled
Lily blushed. "Is it that obvious?"
"It's painfully obvious. When are you gonna tell him?"
"I dunno I'll ever do it. I'm too nervous."
"Never thought I'd see the day when you were too nervous to do something."
"Shut up. You aren't one to talk really. Need I remind you of Hotohori? Let's go tell the guys we made our decision." Lily stood up.
"Okay. Fine." Taki blushed and followed her out of the room.
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Night fell. Chichiri, Tasuki and Lily readied themselves to leave. As Tasuki finished his final preparations, Huan-Lang pushed his door open with his nose. He walked over to Tasuki and whined softly.
Tasuki bent down and tentatively reached out to pet him. Huan-Lang began to wag his tail as Tasuki scratched his neck. "What's wrong, boy? You never liked me before. So why now?" Huan-Lang pushed his cold, wet nose into Tasuki's ear, making him stumble back. Then he remembered something, Kei told him Huan-Lang only did that to people he liked.
"So have we finally made peace, boy?" Tasuki rubbed Huan-Lang behind his ears. His tail thumped against the ground and his tongue lolled out of one side of his mouth making him look like he was smiling. Tasuki chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."
Huan-Lang followed him out the door and to the spot where everyone was waiting.
Taki laughed. "Tasuki, does Huan-Lang finally like you?"
"I think so." He looked up at Chichiri. "Hey, Chichiri, can we take him with us? I mean, he could probably find her faster than we could."
"I suppose we could, no da. It's easier to take animals than humans." Chichiri spread out his cape and got ready to cast his spell.
Taki stood in Hotohori's arms. "Lily, if you don't get her back---"
"I know, you'll kill me."
"You got it." Taki smiled and leaned back into Hotohori as the three people and Kei's dog disappeared into the cape. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kei paced around her room, she hated waiting. She was also worried. It was almost midnight, the soldiers had all left and it would be awhile until the next group came in. But she wondered what would happen if they didn't come for her? Was she doomed to spend the rest of her life in Kutou?
Nakago entered her room, looking furious.
"What do you want?" She didn't face him. Without a word, Nakago spun her around and slammed her into the wall. "Ow! What the hell?"
"You stupid bitch! Why are the Suzaku bastards here? What did you do?"
Kei kept a totally straight face though she was incredibly relived. "How should I know? They're probably here for me."
Nakago backhanded her across the face. A ring on his finger cut into her face. "You brought them here, didn't you? Didn't you?!?!"
Kei winced in pain. She felt blood trickle down her cheek. "No! I don't know anything about that! Let me go!"
"Fine!" He threw her into the corner of the dressing table, knocking her out. "Let's see how your little friends react when they see you." He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.
Tasuki ran around the palace with Huan-Lang while Chichiri and Lily were in another part. Everywhere he went, he heard Nakago's laughter. It quite frankly made him sick. Every so often, Huan-Lang would stop and sniff the air, looking for his mistress.
"Come on, boy. Please find her."
Eventually Huan-Lang brought Tasuki to a large garden. Chichiri and Lily were there as well.
"Chichiri, Lily, why are you two here?"
"Chichiri said he felt Kei's presence here."
The three began to look around. Out nowhere, Huan-Lang began to growl and his fur stood on end. He crouched low to the ground in an attack position.
Tasuki looked in the same direction and the dog. "You---you bastard!"
Nakago stood a few meters from the group with the unconscious Kei in one arm and held a knife to her throat with the other. He had a smile of pure evil pasted on his face. "Watch what you say, boy. Her life is in my hands, isn't it? I'm in control now."
"You bastard! Let her go!" Lily felt her eyes tear up.
"It's you." Nakago frowned. "Now I can pay you pack for that fight we had. But not before I get rid of her." He looked at the girl in his arms.
Kei began to regain consciousness. The first thing she felt was the dried blood on her face and arm. 'Nakago must have injured me while I was out.' She also felt his arm and the knife. When her vision cleared, she saw two of her friends and the man she loved. "Tasuki---" Her voice was soft and forced.
"Be careful what you do, child. It could mean your end." Nakago pressed the blade a bit harder just to make him point.
"What do you want?" Tasuki tried to keep his voice calm and level.
"Well, quite simply, I want her power. She's very useful. The fact that she's a beautiful young woman is just a bonus." Kei tried to pull away from his touch as his fingers caressed her face. It made her sick to her stomach.
Tasuki bared his fangs. "Put her down and fight like a real man. Or is that impossible for you?"
"Didn't I tell you to watch what you say?" Nakago grinned evilly as he slid the blade across Kei's other cheek, leaving another gash. "Every time you insult me, she pays for it."
Tasuki took a few steps back and bit his lip. He bit so hard he split his own lip.
Lily couldn't believe what she was seeing. 'Great, now what? He has all the cards and I am not willin' to lose the queen.'
Nakago began to laugh. He found his own sick humor in the dilemma of the seishi. He also knew he could take it as far as he wanted. They weren't going to risk losing her. With another evil smile, Nakago took the blade away from her face, pulled her face to his and kissed her.
Kei's eyes widened and she let out a muffled scream. She felt as if she would throw up. She was trying as hard as she could to get away or throw up, then maybe he'd let go.
Tasuki began to feel tears of his own in his eyes. He had never felt so helpless in his entire life. He felt his character begin to glow on his arm. An unbelievable amount of power began to flow through his body. "Let her go now, or I'll kill you." He pulled out his tessen, which also seemed to be glowing, and pointed it at Nakago.
Lily and Chichiri backed up from the enraged seishi. "Chichiri, what's happening? What's Tasuki doing?"
"I have no idea. I've never seen him so mad, no da."
Lily held onto Chichiri for dear life as he did to her when Tasuki let out an almost primal scream that echoed through the palace as a wave of energy exploded from his body as spread out across the gardens. It merely felt a bit warm to Chichiri, Lily and Kei, but the blast sent Nakago flying into a wall. When the wave passed, Nakago fell to the ground in a crumpled heap and Kei, eyes closed, dropped to her knees on the grass.
Tasuki then began walking ever so slowly towards the fallen general. Still powered by the unknown source, Tasuki picked Nakago up by the collar. "Now who's in control, huh?"
Lily rushed to Kei. "Kei! Kei! Are you alright?" Kei's eyes slowly opened. They were glowing as red as a fire. A symbol began to form on her forehead. Yoku, wing, Tasuki's symbol. Lily gasped. "You---you're the one giving Tasuki his power!"
Kei stood up and turned to watch Tasuki. "How perceptive of you---he couldn't do it otherwise. The body of this girl I'm in must be kept safe. He's so in love with her, he was willing to do anything to save her. All I had to do was offer the power and he took it. Human emotions, so strange. They make people do such strange things." Her voice lilted and sounded deeper than Kei's. Kei was no longer who they were talking to.
"You speak as if you don't have them, no da."
"I don't. Why should I? They will only get in the way. They already have." Her hand softly glowed as she passed it over her face, closing the recently made gashes.
Lily clenched her fist. "Bring Kei back." Her voice was calm and level, though it hid her anger.
After Kei finished healing herself she turned to Lily. "What did you say to me?"
"I said, bring her back. You can't take her yet."
"And who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? I have more power than you could possibly imagine. I can do what I want."
"No, you can't. I know you're here to save people, but Kei's here too. And if you take her now, you'll have to live with it for all eternity. Emotions or not, you'll feel it."
"Don't talk to me like that." Kei raised a glowing hand, ready to attack.
Lily showed no fear, though she was terrified. "Are you going to kill me, too? Do you want to live with that too?"
Kei lowered her hand so it was parallel to the ground. She was ready to kill Lily. Though something was stopping her.
Tasuki was standing behind her, still glowing, holding her back. "Stop it. You don't want to, you can't do it, can you? Kei still has control over what you do. She's stronger than you give her credit for."
"You! Why aren't you attacking Nakago? That's what the power I gave you was for, not to hold me back!"
"I took care of it." Nakago was lying face down in the grass on the other side of the garden. "Now, let Kei come back."
"Never! I'm in control now!" Suddenly Kei's knees buckled and she collapsed to the floor. "Stop it! I won't let you kill anyone!" Kei's voice rang out across the garden.
"No! How is it that you're still alive?"
"I'm not ready to go! I won't go!"
Tasuki, Chichiri and Lily watched in awe as Kei took on what seemed to be her other self in front of them. Huan-Lang whined as her stood next to Tasuki. Kei was clutching at the sides of her head, screaming in pain.
"Stop this! You'll kill us both if you don't back down!"
"If that's what it takes, fine! You won't hurt my friends!" Tears began to roll down her cheeks. "Tasuki, help me! Please!" Tasuki knelt down and pulled Kei into his arms. He kept whispering words of encouragement to Kei. Though she thrashed around, he held tight. After a few minutes, she stopped. The glow disappeared from Tasuki's body and Kei's eyes. Kei's head rested on his shoulder. "Tasuki?"
"Yeah?" He looked into her eyes. He was as tired as she was.
"Thank you." She smiled weakly and passed out in his arms.
"Tasuki? Are you alright, no da?"
"Take Kei. I can't---" As soon as Lily took Kei from him, he passed out onto the grass.
"Let's go back, Chichiri. We have what we came for."
"Yes." He smiled at her and took them back through to T.I.'s palace.
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Hotohori and Taki waited impatiently for their friends' return. When Chichiri and the rest reappeared in the area where they left from, Taki freaked out when she saw Kei passed out.
"Lily! What happened? Why is she---Is she---and Tasuki---"
"Taki, They're both alright. They both passed out from exhaustion. After some sleep, I think they'll both be alright."
"What happened to Kei's injuries?" Hotohori stared at his cousin's arms, which were totally healed, not what they had been when they talked to her before.
"Long story, no da. We should get these two into bed first." After a bit of discussion, they agreed to put them in the same room, since they'd probably ask for each other when they did wake up.
Lily was sitting at a table in the room where Kei and Tasuki were sleeping while Chichiri told the others about what happened in Kutou. She had her elbows up on the table and her face in her hands. She was shaking like a leaf and breathing harder than normal. Chichiri was the first to notice.
"Lily? Daijobu, no da?" He put his hand on her shoulder and she jumped a little.
"That's a---uh---relative term right now Chichiri. I'm still a little, you know, jumpy from what I did in Kutou. I'm just scared period."
"Understandable, no da. But what you did there was very brave."
"Maybe, but stupid too. That was my good deed for the year. Don't ask me to do that again."
Taki looked over her shoulder. "What did you just say?" She looked a bit startled.
"What? All I said was 'that was my'---Oh jeez---I don't know why I just said that. If y'all don't mind, I'm gonna go get some sleep." Lily quickly stood up and hurried out the door. She looked very upset
"What's wrong with Lily, no da?"
"Well, it might sound weird, but that thing she said about her good deed, that was something I haven't heard her say in years. There was a guy who was part of the group of people she hung out with before she met us that used to say that. He took care of her a lot after her parents died. We haven't seen him in at least four years though and she never said that after we stopped seeing him."
"Were they that close?" Hotohori looked up.
"I'd have to say they were closer than Kei and I are, but he wanted more. But five years ago when he was 18 and she was 16, he went into the military and it got too hard for them to keep in touch. They tried for a year or so, but it didn't work. Things really went to hell when Lily came to Japan with us without telling anyone. She ran with us and stared her own new life without her past."
"She ran, no da?"
"That's what she says. I mean, after all she's been through I don't blame her."
"All she went through?"
"Well, I really don't know much, but I know she's had a hard time and I'm not one to get myself into other people's business so I leave it at that." Taki looked thoughtfully at Kei and Tasuki sleeping together. "Um---let's get out of here. I think they need some quiet." The seishi nodded and followed her out so that their friends could have some peace and quiet and recover sooner.
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It was 3 days before Tasuki woke up in the middle of the night. 'Where am I?' He looked around in the dark. 'I'm back in T.I.'s palace. Where's Kei?' His question was answered when he felt a pair of arms around his chest. He found a lamp next to the bed and lit it. He found Kei hugging him while sleeping. 'Thank Suzaku she's alright. She can finally go home.' He sighed. As much as he wanted to get her back home, if he did, he couldn't be with her anymore.
He sighed and slowly pushed a few strands of her hair form her face. "I love you, Kei. I love you." He almost jumped out of his skin when she shifted in his arms.
"Mmm---love you---Tasuki---" There was an ever so small smile on her face.
'She must be talking in her sleep. No way that was real.' He sighed again and held her close as he drifted off, back to sleep.
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Say anything you like I am open to it all. I didn't get to Nuriko here so it will definitely be next time.
At this moment, I want to thank the people who have been coming back to read and review more than once. I don't think I would have kept going if it hadn't been for readers like Usako and LanaPanther. I appreciate all readers who review but I really appreciate people coming back more than once and telling me my work is good.
DragonOfDarkness and Otaku Pitcher, if you're still out there, there's more to read since either of you reviewed. Are you reading and not reviewing or just not around anymore? Maybe change your name and not tell me?
~*~Shadow Hawk~*~
One more thing, since FF.net won't show the three dots every time I do it, it is now three dashes. (---) It makes things a little neater.
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The morning after everyone talked to Kei, they began to make plans for her rescue. Chichiri said only two people could go besides him. It had pretty much been a given that Tasuki would go as well. Hotohori suggested that Taki or Lily should go as well. The only question was which one. Taki and Lily were sitting in an empty room, arguing.
"Taki, I don't understand why you don't go! You're her best friend!"
"Lily, that's exactly the reason why I think you should go!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't really follow that." Lily sat back in her chair.
Taki sighed. "Look I do consider myself her best friend and I want her back safely, but you're stronger than I am! You're far more capable of helping her than I am. We both know that."
Lily was quiet. She had never known Taki to be so serious. "You really think I'm more capable?"
"I know you're more capable. With all my heart and soul, I want to go and get her, but I know if I went I'd only be in the way."
"Taki, you wouldn't---"
"Quiet, I wasn't done yet. Out of all the years we've known each other, we never got along much, right?"
"Right, but we did for Kei."
"Exactly, now I've never asked you for much, hell never talked to you much, but I need you to do this. You can do this better than I can." Taki put her hand on Lily's shoulder. "Now please, go with Chichiri to get her tonight. I know you'd rather be with him anyway." She giggled
Lily blushed. "Is it that obvious?"
"It's painfully obvious. When are you gonna tell him?"
"I dunno I'll ever do it. I'm too nervous."
"Never thought I'd see the day when you were too nervous to do something."
"Shut up. You aren't one to talk really. Need I remind you of Hotohori? Let's go tell the guys we made our decision." Lily stood up.
"Okay. Fine." Taki blushed and followed her out of the room.
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Night fell. Chichiri, Tasuki and Lily readied themselves to leave. As Tasuki finished his final preparations, Huan-Lang pushed his door open with his nose. He walked over to Tasuki and whined softly.
Tasuki bent down and tentatively reached out to pet him. Huan-Lang began to wag his tail as Tasuki scratched his neck. "What's wrong, boy? You never liked me before. So why now?" Huan-Lang pushed his cold, wet nose into Tasuki's ear, making him stumble back. Then he remembered something, Kei told him Huan-Lang only did that to people he liked.
"So have we finally made peace, boy?" Tasuki rubbed Huan-Lang behind his ears. His tail thumped against the ground and his tongue lolled out of one side of his mouth making him look like he was smiling. Tasuki chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."
Huan-Lang followed him out the door and to the spot where everyone was waiting.
Taki laughed. "Tasuki, does Huan-Lang finally like you?"
"I think so." He looked up at Chichiri. "Hey, Chichiri, can we take him with us? I mean, he could probably find her faster than we could."
"I suppose we could, no da. It's easier to take animals than humans." Chichiri spread out his cape and got ready to cast his spell.
Taki stood in Hotohori's arms. "Lily, if you don't get her back---"
"I know, you'll kill me."
"You got it." Taki smiled and leaned back into Hotohori as the three people and Kei's dog disappeared into the cape. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kei paced around her room, she hated waiting. She was also worried. It was almost midnight, the soldiers had all left and it would be awhile until the next group came in. But she wondered what would happen if they didn't come for her? Was she doomed to spend the rest of her life in Kutou?
Nakago entered her room, looking furious.
"What do you want?" She didn't face him. Without a word, Nakago spun her around and slammed her into the wall. "Ow! What the hell?"
"You stupid bitch! Why are the Suzaku bastards here? What did you do?"
Kei kept a totally straight face though she was incredibly relived. "How should I know? They're probably here for me."
Nakago backhanded her across the face. A ring on his finger cut into her face. "You brought them here, didn't you? Didn't you?!?!"
Kei winced in pain. She felt blood trickle down her cheek. "No! I don't know anything about that! Let me go!"
"Fine!" He threw her into the corner of the dressing table, knocking her out. "Let's see how your little friends react when they see you." He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.
Tasuki ran around the palace with Huan-Lang while Chichiri and Lily were in another part. Everywhere he went, he heard Nakago's laughter. It quite frankly made him sick. Every so often, Huan-Lang would stop and sniff the air, looking for his mistress.
"Come on, boy. Please find her."
Eventually Huan-Lang brought Tasuki to a large garden. Chichiri and Lily were there as well.
"Chichiri, Lily, why are you two here?"
"Chichiri said he felt Kei's presence here."
The three began to look around. Out nowhere, Huan-Lang began to growl and his fur stood on end. He crouched low to the ground in an attack position.
Tasuki looked in the same direction and the dog. "You---you bastard!"
Nakago stood a few meters from the group with the unconscious Kei in one arm and held a knife to her throat with the other. He had a smile of pure evil pasted on his face. "Watch what you say, boy. Her life is in my hands, isn't it? I'm in control now."
"You bastard! Let her go!" Lily felt her eyes tear up.
"It's you." Nakago frowned. "Now I can pay you pack for that fight we had. But not before I get rid of her." He looked at the girl in his arms.
Kei began to regain consciousness. The first thing she felt was the dried blood on her face and arm. 'Nakago must have injured me while I was out.' She also felt his arm and the knife. When her vision cleared, she saw two of her friends and the man she loved. "Tasuki---" Her voice was soft and forced.
"Be careful what you do, child. It could mean your end." Nakago pressed the blade a bit harder just to make him point.
"What do you want?" Tasuki tried to keep his voice calm and level.
"Well, quite simply, I want her power. She's very useful. The fact that she's a beautiful young woman is just a bonus." Kei tried to pull away from his touch as his fingers caressed her face. It made her sick to her stomach.
Tasuki bared his fangs. "Put her down and fight like a real man. Or is that impossible for you?"
"Didn't I tell you to watch what you say?" Nakago grinned evilly as he slid the blade across Kei's other cheek, leaving another gash. "Every time you insult me, she pays for it."
Tasuki took a few steps back and bit his lip. He bit so hard he split his own lip.
Lily couldn't believe what she was seeing. 'Great, now what? He has all the cards and I am not willin' to lose the queen.'
Nakago began to laugh. He found his own sick humor in the dilemma of the seishi. He also knew he could take it as far as he wanted. They weren't going to risk losing her. With another evil smile, Nakago took the blade away from her face, pulled her face to his and kissed her.
Kei's eyes widened and she let out a muffled scream. She felt as if she would throw up. She was trying as hard as she could to get away or throw up, then maybe he'd let go.
Tasuki began to feel tears of his own in his eyes. He had never felt so helpless in his entire life. He felt his character begin to glow on his arm. An unbelievable amount of power began to flow through his body. "Let her go now, or I'll kill you." He pulled out his tessen, which also seemed to be glowing, and pointed it at Nakago.
Lily and Chichiri backed up from the enraged seishi. "Chichiri, what's happening? What's Tasuki doing?"
"I have no idea. I've never seen him so mad, no da."
Lily held onto Chichiri for dear life as he did to her when Tasuki let out an almost primal scream that echoed through the palace as a wave of energy exploded from his body as spread out across the gardens. It merely felt a bit warm to Chichiri, Lily and Kei, but the blast sent Nakago flying into a wall. When the wave passed, Nakago fell to the ground in a crumpled heap and Kei, eyes closed, dropped to her knees on the grass.
Tasuki then began walking ever so slowly towards the fallen general. Still powered by the unknown source, Tasuki picked Nakago up by the collar. "Now who's in control, huh?"
Lily rushed to Kei. "Kei! Kei! Are you alright?" Kei's eyes slowly opened. They were glowing as red as a fire. A symbol began to form on her forehead. Yoku, wing, Tasuki's symbol. Lily gasped. "You---you're the one giving Tasuki his power!"
Kei stood up and turned to watch Tasuki. "How perceptive of you---he couldn't do it otherwise. The body of this girl I'm in must be kept safe. He's so in love with her, he was willing to do anything to save her. All I had to do was offer the power and he took it. Human emotions, so strange. They make people do such strange things." Her voice lilted and sounded deeper than Kei's. Kei was no longer who they were talking to.
"You speak as if you don't have them, no da."
"I don't. Why should I? They will only get in the way. They already have." Her hand softly glowed as she passed it over her face, closing the recently made gashes.
Lily clenched her fist. "Bring Kei back." Her voice was calm and level, though it hid her anger.
After Kei finished healing herself she turned to Lily. "What did you say to me?"
"I said, bring her back. You can't take her yet."
"And who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? I have more power than you could possibly imagine. I can do what I want."
"No, you can't. I know you're here to save people, but Kei's here too. And if you take her now, you'll have to live with it for all eternity. Emotions or not, you'll feel it."
"Don't talk to me like that." Kei raised a glowing hand, ready to attack.
Lily showed no fear, though she was terrified. "Are you going to kill me, too? Do you want to live with that too?"
Kei lowered her hand so it was parallel to the ground. She was ready to kill Lily. Though something was stopping her.
Tasuki was standing behind her, still glowing, holding her back. "Stop it. You don't want to, you can't do it, can you? Kei still has control over what you do. She's stronger than you give her credit for."
"You! Why aren't you attacking Nakago? That's what the power I gave you was for, not to hold me back!"
"I took care of it." Nakago was lying face down in the grass on the other side of the garden. "Now, let Kei come back."
"Never! I'm in control now!" Suddenly Kei's knees buckled and she collapsed to the floor. "Stop it! I won't let you kill anyone!" Kei's voice rang out across the garden.
"No! How is it that you're still alive?"
"I'm not ready to go! I won't go!"
Tasuki, Chichiri and Lily watched in awe as Kei took on what seemed to be her other self in front of them. Huan-Lang whined as her stood next to Tasuki. Kei was clutching at the sides of her head, screaming in pain.
"Stop this! You'll kill us both if you don't back down!"
"If that's what it takes, fine! You won't hurt my friends!" Tears began to roll down her cheeks. "Tasuki, help me! Please!" Tasuki knelt down and pulled Kei into his arms. He kept whispering words of encouragement to Kei. Though she thrashed around, he held tight. After a few minutes, she stopped. The glow disappeared from Tasuki's body and Kei's eyes. Kei's head rested on his shoulder. "Tasuki?"
"Yeah?" He looked into her eyes. He was as tired as she was.
"Thank you." She smiled weakly and passed out in his arms.
"Tasuki? Are you alright, no da?"
"Take Kei. I can't---" As soon as Lily took Kei from him, he passed out onto the grass.
"Let's go back, Chichiri. We have what we came for."
"Yes." He smiled at her and took them back through to T.I.'s palace.
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Hotohori and Taki waited impatiently for their friends' return. When Chichiri and the rest reappeared in the area where they left from, Taki freaked out when she saw Kei passed out.
"Lily! What happened? Why is she---Is she---and Tasuki---"
"Taki, They're both alright. They both passed out from exhaustion. After some sleep, I think they'll both be alright."
"What happened to Kei's injuries?" Hotohori stared at his cousin's arms, which were totally healed, not what they had been when they talked to her before.
"Long story, no da. We should get these two into bed first." After a bit of discussion, they agreed to put them in the same room, since they'd probably ask for each other when they did wake up.
Lily was sitting at a table in the room where Kei and Tasuki were sleeping while Chichiri told the others about what happened in Kutou. She had her elbows up on the table and her face in her hands. She was shaking like a leaf and breathing harder than normal. Chichiri was the first to notice.
"Lily? Daijobu, no da?" He put his hand on her shoulder and she jumped a little.
"That's a---uh---relative term right now Chichiri. I'm still a little, you know, jumpy from what I did in Kutou. I'm just scared period."
"Understandable, no da. But what you did there was very brave."
"Maybe, but stupid too. That was my good deed for the year. Don't ask me to do that again."
Taki looked over her shoulder. "What did you just say?" She looked a bit startled.
"What? All I said was 'that was my'---Oh jeez---I don't know why I just said that. If y'all don't mind, I'm gonna go get some sleep." Lily quickly stood up and hurried out the door. She looked very upset
"What's wrong with Lily, no da?"
"Well, it might sound weird, but that thing she said about her good deed, that was something I haven't heard her say in years. There was a guy who was part of the group of people she hung out with before she met us that used to say that. He took care of her a lot after her parents died. We haven't seen him in at least four years though and she never said that after we stopped seeing him."
"Were they that close?" Hotohori looked up.
"I'd have to say they were closer than Kei and I are, but he wanted more. But five years ago when he was 18 and she was 16, he went into the military and it got too hard for them to keep in touch. They tried for a year or so, but it didn't work. Things really went to hell when Lily came to Japan with us without telling anyone. She ran with us and stared her own new life without her past."
"She ran, no da?"
"That's what she says. I mean, after all she's been through I don't blame her."
"All she went through?"
"Well, I really don't know much, but I know she's had a hard time and I'm not one to get myself into other people's business so I leave it at that." Taki looked thoughtfully at Kei and Tasuki sleeping together. "Um---let's get out of here. I think they need some quiet." The seishi nodded and followed her out so that their friends could have some peace and quiet and recover sooner.
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It was 3 days before Tasuki woke up in the middle of the night. 'Where am I?' He looked around in the dark. 'I'm back in T.I.'s palace. Where's Kei?' His question was answered when he felt a pair of arms around his chest. He found a lamp next to the bed and lit it. He found Kei hugging him while sleeping. 'Thank Suzaku she's alright. She can finally go home.' He sighed. As much as he wanted to get her back home, if he did, he couldn't be with her anymore.
He sighed and slowly pushed a few strands of her hair form her face. "I love you, Kei. I love you." He almost jumped out of his skin when she shifted in his arms.
"Mmm---love you---Tasuki---" There was an ever so small smile on her face.
'She must be talking in her sleep. No way that was real.' He sighed again and held her close as he drifted off, back to sleep.
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Say anything you like I am open to it all. I didn't get to Nuriko here so it will definitely be next time.
At this moment, I want to thank the people who have been coming back to read and review more than once. I don't think I would have kept going if it hadn't been for readers like Usako and LanaPanther. I appreciate all readers who review but I really appreciate people coming back more than once and telling me my work is good.
DragonOfDarkness and Otaku Pitcher, if you're still out there, there's more to read since either of you reviewed. Are you reading and not reviewing or just not around anymore? Maybe change your name and not tell me?
~*~Shadow Hawk~*~