Okay, after receiving a second request to write longer chapters so it doesn't take people a minute to read them *ahem* I'm going to attempt to do so *gasps are heard all around and Deity faints* I know I know, it's a miracle. Anyway, here is the next installment. Enjoy! *Grabs the white-hot sword and hides it* heh heh heh. I'll just take this just in case.
Miaka stared at the blonde haired general as he approached her. She didn't know why but she so did not want to get that close to him. Nakago smirked at the fear in Miaka's eyes as she backed away from him. This was the Priestess Ashitare had run from? What a joke.
"What do you want?"
"I told you, just to talk," he replied, malice filling his eyes.
"Fine. But do it from over there. You're invading the hell out of my personal space."
This comment both shocked and confused Nakago. He had never heard another female speak the way this one did. It was…intriguing. He looked the Priestess over from head to toe, trying to figure out what it was about this girl that would so amaze one of his best fighters that he would spend all day with her. She was nothing special to look. Oh she was pretty enough, but still he could not discern what it is people found so interesting.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Does it matter?"
Miaka seemed to think about this for a moment. No, it didn't really matter, but she felt like a mouse being hunted by a rather large cat that was about to pounce on her at any moment. She didn't really so much care about why he was looking at her, but the manner in which he was doing it. It was down right unnerving.
"No," she replied," I guess it doesn't."
The blonde general took another step forward and another. Again Miaka took a step back. Her new goal in life was to never get close to Nakago.
"Guess you aren't too familiar with the term too close for comfort," Miaka blandly.
"You think I care about your comfort? You're nothing to me."
He rushed her then, hoping to catch her off guard, but he was too slow, and Miaka too quick. She rolled out of the way and off the end of the bed, taking the covers with her. Of course, that isn't all she took. When Nakago had charged her and Miaka began to roll away, with her right hand she had grabbed one of the daggers belted at his side. She now held the blade loosely on her hand, keeping at her side out of the light.
"You're quick. But not quick enough!"
He charged the girl again, his eyes going wide with shock as he felt the cold hard still biting into his flesh. Miaka drove the dagger in at an angle, hoping to hurt him enough that he would stay away for while. She pulled the gagger from him and backed away. No need to stay so up close and personal.
Nakago smirked at the girl. There were other ways of getting what he wanted. Oh yes, and he had just the plan.
"Your friend Yui never gave me this much trouble."
Miaka froze her body rigid, and her heart thundering like a caged beast within her chest. What was he talking about? How did he know about Yui? He must have been listening to her and Amiboshi. That had to be it. But the growing cold feeling in the pit of her stomach said otherwise.
"How do you know about Yui?" Miaka demanded.
"Didn't you know? Lady Yui is the Priestess of Seiryu."
No. That couldn't be true. Yui couldn't possibly have…but if she too found that book…Miaka's heartbeat was going faster and faster, as though it would burst through her chest.
"Bullshit," Miaka replied," There's no way Yui would ever come here."
"You don't sound so sure. Shall I prove it to you? Lady Yui!"
The door to the room opened once more and Miaka looked past Nakago to the girl who stood there. She was tall and blonde, and had blue eyes, but there was no way that could be Yui. Large dark bruises and cuts covered what Miaka could see of the girl's body. She was so frail, as if she had not eaten in months.
"Yui…? Yui?!"
"Miaka? Is that…could it really be you?!"
The two friends ran to each other and hugged one another. Miaka was careful not to touch the bruises. It was more than obvious that they hurt. But from the tears, and pain filled expression on Yui's face, there were more bruises beneath her clothes.
"Yui what happened?"
"Miaka…I waited for you…but you never came…"
Yui was sobbing now, deep guttural sobs that seemed to cause her even more pain. She carefully helped her friend to the bed, and then turned to face Nakago, rage plainly written on her face.
"What have you done to her? You bastard! You unimaginable bastard!!!!" Miaka screamed.
She held the knife once more in her hand, ready to fight him. She would not let him touch Yui ever again.
"If you want to know what happened to her I'll show you."
A large, round, blue light appeared before Miaka. It was as if a blue haze shrouded the light. Suddenly the haze begin to slip away.
"Miaka! Miaka where are you?"
"Yui…"
The images went by in a blur, each one burning a scar on Miaka's heart as she saw the torture and pain that her dearest friend had gone through.
"No! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"
Yui…she had gone through so much. Much of her pain had been at Nakago's hands, and she was unable to escape.
"I'll never forgive you," she said through clenched teeth," For what you've done, I'll never forgive you!!"
Miaka rushed Nakago, slicing his cheek with the dagger, but she was too slow in getting away. Suddenly time slowed down. There was all the time in the world to see him raise his hand, and suddenly the world became dark.
When Miaka awoke she was bound at the wall at the hands and ankles. Where was Yui? What had Nakago done with her?
Suddenly the door to the room creaked open, but she could not turn her head to see who had come in, but the spine tingle rush of energy that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end told her who it was long before he spoke.
"I have to admit, you're quite a fighter, Priestess of Suzaku. But I do not tolerate being stabbed or cut easily. You're friend learned that the hard way, as will you."
She heard the inaudible sound of something hitting the floor. His whole body sang with fear and tension when she heard the crack of a whip.
"Oh no…oh God please no!" her mind screamed.
But what she thought did not matter. Nakago was an expert in pain, and he was about to give Miaka her first lesson. The whip cracked again and this time the whip bit into her flesh, tearing a scream from her throat.
"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"Hmph. You better have more strength than this Priestess, because we are far from done."
Again and again, over and over the whip bit into her back. After awhile Miaka had lost count of the number of times it hit her. Her mind had turned everything into a dull white buzzing. Her throat was raw from screaming, and nothing she could do would stop Nakago from turning her back into red ruin.
Finally, when it was done, Nakago approached her.
"You surprise me. I never knew you would remain conscious for so long. No matter. We will finish this at another time."
"Nakago," Miaka managed weakly," My new goal in life is to never be alone with you."
The comment struck Nakago as funny, and with the scent of blood so impossibly close he could not resist his next move. He turned Miaka's face toward him and kissed her with a bruising force, then lowered his mouth to the mass of cuts, and lapped at the blood, moving his hands to lower places, making her scream.
"I will return Priestess. Have no doubt."
Shortly after he left, Miaka gave herself over to the pain and the primordial darkness creeping into her mind, and passed out. This time, she did not care if she ever woke up.
"Miaka? Miaka wake up."
"Hmmm?"
Miaka's eyes fluttered open weakly, threatening to close. She was tired. So very, very tired. She just wanted to sleep. Sleep was good. Sleep was her friend. But the voice nagging at her refused her the sweet surrender of sleep.
"Miaka, blink if you can hear me."
She blinked and suddenly recognized the voice.
"Ami…boshi?"
"Yes. I'm going to get you out of here."
"Save…Yui…first."
"Yui?"
"She's…my best friend…"
Amiboshi understood now why Miaka reacted the way she had to seeing her friend so beaten, but there was nothing he could do to change it.
"I will, but first we must get you out of here."
Miaka could do very little to protest. She was just so tired, and there was nothing more she could do to fight it off. Amiboshi carefully picked the unconscious girl up, trying not to irritate her wounds any further. He had done what he could for her after Nakago had gone, but her back had been severely damaged, only an expert doctor might be able to repair some of the damage.
Amiboshi and Suboshi had both sat outside the doors and listened, completely helpless while Nakago tortured the poor girl. They had both seen what he had done to her friend, they did not want him to do the same to her. Especially since he and his brother had been the ones to clean up and care for Lady Yui after the beatings. The very memory of what Nakago had done sickened them both. No one had the right to treat another human being as he did.
"Suboshi, what do you see?"
"It's clear, but we've got to be quick. If Nakago finds out what we've done we're next on his list," the younger twin replied.
Quietly the two young men crept in and out of the shadows, making their way down the long corridors till they reached the entrance of the palace.
"Suboshi…you stay here and look after Lady Yui."
"What?"
"I promised the Priestess that we would take care of Lady Yui. If Nakago finds out that I've taken the Priestess back he might try to take it out on Lady Yui."
"She won't survive another night with Nakago. He'll kill her."
"I know. That's why you have to stay and protect her."
"Alright. Be careful brother."
"Aren't I always?"
The two young men parted ways. As Amiboshi quickly, and quietly made his way to the palace gates, Suboshi headed to the room where Lady Yui had been taken. She was so fragile now. Not like before. She had been so full of life. So energetic, so happy. Now, now she was only a frail shell of the young woman that she once was. She and the Priestess of Suzaku couldn't have been any older than himself, or Amiboshi.
He carefully settled himself beside the unconscious girl. Yes, he would protect her. He would not let Nakago cause her any more pain. The only big question was, who would protect him?
"Rest easy Lady Yui. He won't hurt you again. I promise."
"Su…boshi…"
"Yui?"
The frail girl turned on her side so she could look up into Suboshi's eyes. He was rather handsome. All this time he had constantly been coming in to check on her, always watching her.
"Is Miaka safe?"
"Yes. Amiboshi is taking her back to the Suzaku Seven as we speak."
"Good…I'm glad…she'll be safe."
"How are you feeling Lady Yui?"
Yui raised an eyebrow at this. Her appearance was only the tip of the iceberg. Her body felt as though it were made of 3,000 tons of lead, and every nerve screamed in agony. She had never known it was possible for the human body to produce this much pain at one time.
"I'll be alright," she finally said," It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't hurt so much."
Suboshi didn't know what to say to that. There was nothing he could say. All the words in the world would not take back the pain Nakago had caused her. All he could do was watch over her, and do his best to protect her.
Meanwhile Amiboshi was slowly making his way through the woods toward the village. He hoped the Suzaku Seven Warriors would still be there. They had to be there, otherwise he didn't know what he was going to do.
"Don't move."
He knew that voice. Tamahome. That's what Miaka had called him. He would be able to help her, surely!
"I didn't come here to fight."
"Then why are ya here?"
This from Tasuki. All the Suzaku warriors were behind him, oblivious to the limp, blanket wrapped body Amiboshi carried in his arms.
"I've brought the Priestess," he said," She needs help."
This drew all the warriors, including Mitsukake and Chiriko out of their hiding places. They were all a gasp when they saw Miaka in the young man's arms. The blanket she was wrapped in was soaked with blood from her back that was now all red ruin due to Nakago's ministrations.
"What did you do to her?" Nuriko said angrily.
"I didn't do anything to her. It's what the General did to her…"
"What did he do?" Hotohori asked from his position.
"I think this is something you should see for yourself," he replied.
"Let's get her back to the village," Mitsukake cut in.
Sitting around in the woods wasn't going to help Miaka heal. Not at the rate she was going. Amiboshi carried the unconscious girl to the village where she slowly but surely gained consciousness.
Miaka was unwrapped from the blood soaked blanket and lain on her stomach on the bed. No one knew what to say when they saw what was left of her back. There was nothing but blood, bones, and small bits of flesh here and there. Nakago had completely destroyed her back. Chiriko stared at the gore and fought desperately to keep from vomiting.
"What did this?" Tamahome asked angrily.
"Answer 'im ya little punk!" Tasuki yelled.
"A steel whip. Nakago, I mean, the General sometimes uses it as a minor punishment. He doesn't like to be challenged."
"What did she do to merit this?" Nuriko asked.
" He attacked her, and she fought back. He wouldn't have done anything about it if she had not stabbed him and cut his face."
"So what was she suppose to do? Just stand by and take it?"
"That's not it. She fought him for what he did to her friend."
"What are you talking about?"
As Mitsukake worked at using his healing powers to restore Miaka's back, Amiboshi told the Suzaku Seven all about Miaka's friend and the tortures Nakago had put her through, the tortures he put everyone through.
"She should be alright, but her back will be covered in scars. They will never fully heal."
"Miaka…"
Amiboshi looked about the room and felt something inside him dying. These people, they did not deserve this torture. Not them.
"I must get back. If Nakago finds out I'm missing he may torture my brother to find me."
The warriors looked at the young men and had a new respect for him In coming here with Miaka, Amiboshi had risked not only his life, but the life of his brother as well.
It was something they would try hard to repay.
"Take care of her."
"Amiboshi…thank you."
"You're welcome."
As Amiboshi left the small but humble shack, he was completely unaware that he was being watched.
"I always knew you were a traitor."
To be continued…mwahahahahaa!!! Please review!!!!!
