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Chapter 9 – In The Midst of Bandits Part 2

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"Shut up!" Genrou banged Miaka on the head as she cheered along with the other bandits outside the hideout.

"You're supposed to be on our side!" Kouji hissed. Genrou pulled out some more of the cards that had summoned the wolves from earlier. Miaka brought up the point.

"They're enchantments. Got 'em from a magician."

"Got as in stole?" Nikyia smirked.

"He gave 'em to me. Or else I wouldn't know how to use 'em. You write whatever you want on 'em and they appear when you call them."

Miaka took them to look.

"Intriguing…" The flapping of wings told Nikyia to hold out her arm for a landing. Arafae alighted his post softly.

"Your pet?" Kouji poked the bird.

I'm not a pet… Arafae hissed to Nikyia.

"He's not my pet. More of a guardian."

"Hah! You've got a bird for a guardian?" Genrou laughed. Then he realized Miaka still had the cards.

"Give those back!" he grabbed them from her. "We gotta figure out a way to get into the hide-ouT!!!" Genrou eeped as the edge of a sword entangled itself around his necklace, barely missing his throat.

"Alright you thief, where's Miaka?" Hotohori appeared from the bushes.

"Hotohori!" Nuriko was beating up Kouji a bush away. "Nuriko! You're alright!"

"Aren't we supposed to say that?" Nuriko blinked, stopping pummeling Kouji.

"Does it really matter? Oh! Nuriko! Wait til I tell you what Arafae was thinking!"

Shut up!

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Inside the hide-out…

"So, where's this fan gonna be?" Nikyia poked her head around a corner, making sure no one was there.

"With Eiken, o'course ya idiot…" Genrou hissed.

"Miaka, Nikyia, are you sure we can trust these bandits?"

"I'm sure Hotohori. Don't worry your head about it," Nikyia turned and grinned at Hotohori. Her face fell as a blur was racing towards them. "Hotohori! Look–"

"GAHHH!!!!" Hotohori shrieked as he found that bandit from earlier latched around his waist again.

"I finally found you!" he exclaimed happily, hearts in his eyes.

"–out…" Nikyia finished.

"C'mon guys, gimme a hand please?" Hotohori whined, very un-emperor-like.

"There they are!" A crowd of bandits began forming at the side of the hall.

This can't be good… Arafae muttered.

"I concur…" Nikyia backed up to join Nuriko and Hotohori.

"I'll take care of this…" Genrou took out one of his cards. "Ghost wolves appear!" The card was thrown at the group. With a pop…a chocolate cake fell to the ground.

"Uh….try again. Canine demons come!" Genrou threw the rest of his cards. Numerous food items popped into existence.

"Someone was hungry…" Nikyia sweatdropped.

"Miaka!" Nuriko scolded.

"Ehehe…"

"REKKA SHINEN!"

A blast of fire shot at Genrou and Kouji. Arafae jumped into the air as Nikyia jumped in their way.

"What the hell?!" Genrou and Kouji stared in amazement and the fire burned around the girl then vanished. It seemed as if the fire hadn't hurt her at all. Nikyia smirked.

"Not bad, Eiken."

The fat bandit stood in front of the group of bandits, gripping the fan tightly.

"Now's my chance…" Nikyia heard someone say behind her. A blur of brown shot past her.

"Miaka! No!"

Before anyone could react, Miaka was latched onto the fan, tugging with all her might.

"Give it back! It's not yours! It's Genrou's by right!"

"Miaka! Get away!"

Moving rather fast for a fat bandit, Eiken tightly gripped Miaka by the neck.

"Move and the little mouse gets it…" he grinned.

"Idiot…" Nikyia hissed, her teeth and hand clenched. Her symbol fared to light on her forehead.

"Nikyia, don't attack…You'll hurt Miaka too…" Nuriko gripped her shoulder tightly.

"You think I don't know that?"

"You…" Miaka forced out. Her voice trembled slightly. "All of you…how can you just stand there knowing that your old boss's replacement should be someone else who would be much better? You're all just afraid…afraid of a fan!"

"You should be ashamed!"

Nuriko and Nikyia looked over their shoulders. Appearing from the darkness was a glowing red symbol…and Tamahome! Not giving Eiken a chance to attack, Tamahome sent a punch into the bandit's face. Miaka dropped to the ground and scrambled over towards her friends.

"Tamahome…you came back…" Miaka whispered. Nikyia's eyes narrowed.

"Something's not right with this…"

Moments later, Eiken, along with some other bandits, laid in a pile after a Tamahome-style whooping. Miaka jumped to her feet and ran to embrace him.

"Miaka…" Tamahome faded away with the whisper of his love's name. One of Genrou's cards fell to the ground. On it was written Tamahome's name. Carefully, Miaka picked up the card and wept.

"Well…at least she did one thing right…" Nikyia smiled lightly. "What a goof…"

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"What do you mean Tasuki's dead?!" Nikyia shouted.

"I told ya. Tasuki was the name of the old boss, and ya know the old boss is dead."

"But that means…I won't be able to summon Suzaku…" Miaka whispered.

"I'll see what my father can do…later though." Nikyia rested a hand on Miaka's shoulder. Miaka looked close to tears again.

"Hey, Genrou. You wanna go down to his grave? I know ya wanna see him one last time?" Kouji spoke up.

"Yeah." Genrou smiled at his friend.

A group of the bandits headed down the mountain, Miaka, Nuriko, and Hotohori with them. Nikyia paused for a moment.

"No…this can't be right…Father would never let one of his seishi die before being found. Never. It's not right," Nikyia thought to herself.

"Nikyia! Come on!" Nuriko called, part of the way down the mountain.

"Oh! Coming!" Nikyia dashed down to join them.

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At the tomb…

"We were too late…" Miaka sobbed quietly. "I'll never be able to summon Suzaku…and Tamahome will never come back…"

"Calm down Miaka…It will be alright. I know it will…"

"Can seishi be born again after one dies Nikyia?!" Miaka suddenly jumped.

"Uh…I…don't think so…No idea…"

"Oh…"

"Besides, if Tasuki was, he'd be a baby."

"Oh! I heard a rumor. Don't know if it's true though…Might help you…" a bandit spoke up.

"What is it?" The Suzaku group looked towards the speaker.

"I heard of a woman in the city near here who can bring the dead back to life. Just a rumor though."

"We're going!" Miaka exclaimed.

"It's just a rumor Miaka…" Hotohori reminded her.

"I know, but if there's any chance that the rumor could be true, it's better than not trying at all! We'll leave tomorrow! But…before then…" Miaka pulled out a bowl from her pocket. "One bowl of rice! To go!"

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That night….

I'm too tired for this… Arafae groaned, curling up in his own wings.

"Up, you," Suzaku ordered, appearing in front of them both.

"Father, I'm glad you called me back. I have something I–"

"I know." Suzaku raised his hand to quiet his daughter. "About Tasuki. You're certainly right that I would never let one of my chosen die before being found. Tasuki is another bandit."

"I guessed as much. Which one?"

Suzaku shook his head.

"I can't tell you, I'm afraid. And you also won't be able to force him to go with you. It will be up to him to go with you when he desires to."

"But if he can't find us…"

"He will. I will guide him to you. I think you'll be rather pleased with his one, Arafae."

Nikyia paused for a moment.

"It's Tasuki or Kouji isn't it?"

Arafae blushed again.

You two aren't going to let me live that down will you?

"Nope," God and daughter said together.

"Nikyia, you go get your rest. I assure you, you'll need it for your journey tomorrow. In the village you're going to, you'll find the next seishi, and someone else. A small surprise."

Before she could ask what he meant, Nikyia found herself in her bed, wide awake.

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Next day…

"Thanks for everything Genrou! Kouji!" Miaka waved as she led her horse away. The bandits had found Red Wing grazing on a nearby plateau.

"I'll be with you in a moment Miaka!" Nikyia called after her. Miaka paused for a second then continued on with Hotohori and Nuriko. She turned towards Genrou.

"Well…Genrou…thank you for your hospitality. I didn't expect to see such kindness in thieves."

"Hell, y'all got me back as the boss. I owed it to ya. Don't expect the same treatment if ya come here again."

"I doubt that…" Nikyia smirked. "I hope you make up your mind to join us soon…Tasuki."

Genrou froze.

"Yah!" Nikyia kicked Red Wing. The horse bolted off to join the others.

"How'd she know?" Kouji leaned over and whispered to Genrou.

"There's a lot of things I'm curious about with her…"

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TA: Little characters be mine own. Next chapter, beware of plot twists! A number of things you will not expect shall come! MWAHAHAHA!!