Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi. I do own Horiko, Yule, etc. If you recognize the characters, then most likely not mine. If you don't, they are and leave them alone.
Chapter 7
Horiko let his gaze drift to the ground as he maintained his hopeless appearance. He tried his hardest not to watch Chichiri speak with the guards at the front gate, but his curiosity got the better of him. Watching Chichiri in action was amazing. The whole time Chichiri spoke with the guards, his duplicates were glaring, snarling, and looking down upon the 'prisoners'. They seemed to thoroughly despise them. It was a rather convincing display as well when one of them smacked Yule in the back of the head for the mean look he sent toward the prison walls.
Five minutes had passed since they approached the guards. The guards seemed to wonder why we were there. The only prisoner that had passed through the gate was Boushin-sama, and they hadn't been expecting more.
Chichiri's story was long and confusing, but Horiko got the gist that Chichiri claimed to have been sent after them when they had escaped Briddidon before. Chichiri's wisely manipulated truth was only aided when one of the guards recognized Yule. Apparently the guard was non-too happy to see Yule, and proceeded to beat on him while he was bound. Chichiri managed to intervene in a casual, non-traitorous way soon enough.
But that was when Horiko caught glimpse of the Chichiri duplicate beside him. He seemed a little antsy for some reason. He kept glancing down toward the ground and did his best not to look anyone in the face. Horiko did his best to get a good look and soon realized why. Chichiri's aid to Yule had left him distracted. The duplicates face was starting to revert back to appear more Chichiri-like. Horiko glanced over at the other copy to see him doing the same thing. Horiko feared things were about to turn for the worse when he followed the nearer copies gaze down and caught sight of his foot.
Or did catch sight of it rather, as it seemed to have disappeared.
Horiko's eyes went wide as he realized the copy was fading away! Chichiri was too tired to hold the image in place. A quick glance at Chichiri alerted him that Chichiri was all to well aware of that as he attempted to keep the guards attention on himself.
"We must be off," Chichiri said, in voice sounding more and more like his own. "My men are tired and I'd like to get these prisoners off my hands."
The guards nodded and stepped aside. They filtered through the gate and everything seemed to be going their way again.
Until the guards disappeared all together and Chichiri fell from his horse.
The guards took notice of that almost immediately, but the shock left them immobile as the Horiko watched his shackles disappear and broke into a run. Tasuki paused only to scoop up Chichiri as he too, made a run for it. The group ran headlong into the prison with the guards trailing behind.
The alarm went off as a man in the bell tower caught sight of them and soon they found themselves diving around corners and hiding behind barrels and nooks and crannies until the guards were lost behind them.
Horiko peak from behind his barrel to discover that the party had split up. Next to him was Krin, who he had dragged behind him. Across from them was Tasuki, still cradling the limp form of Chichiri and hiding in an old storage room with a caved in door. Hiding behind a crate not far from them was Yule and a young lad from Yule's squad known as Kamali.
"!@$%* great," Tasuki mumbled, "Just $@#% great."
"Do we search for the others, or go for the emperor?" Horiko asked.
"Go for the emperor," Yule said immediately, "Those men were trained to fend for themselves; they'll do fine without us. We must rescue Boushin-sama."
Tasuki sighed and gazed down at Chichiri, who was just beginning to stir. Then he glanced into the storage room behind him. "Here's the plan. I can't #@&% carry Chichiri around, so I'll hide him in this room. I'm not &*#@ leaving him by himself."
"Krin can stay with him," Horiko said quickly. "She can take care of him."
"But what will she &#%@*& do if they are found?" Tasuki asked.
"I can use this," Krin said, holding up a bow and quiver.
"Where the &#^* did you get that?" Tasuki said, having long reverted to his older speech patterns.
"I lifted off a weapons rack near the entrance," Krin smiled, "I thought I needed to arm myself."
"Fine," Yule said, "leave the girl with Chichiri-sama. If we have to fight that witch and her giant then we need all the capable men available."
Tasuki relented and take the time to carefully stowaway Chichiri before the group headed down the corridor. Krin waved calmly after them before ducking into the room.
"Where are we going?" Tasuki asked, "Where would he be?"
"If they do the same to him that they did to Krin-san, then we'll find them on that raised platform," Kamali said.
"But is it still there?" Yule asked. "That golden demon nearly toppled it with his magic. It might have collapsed."
"But it's the only place we can start," Horiko admitted and rushed forward on his way to the platform.
The four of them made there way silently and soon they felt the darkness that the witch Subaratte radiated. Their steps slowed with the weight of it and they unconscious huddled closer together. Horiko felt fear invade his heart and knew Yule felt it too. The only one who seemed unaffected was Kamali. Surely he felt it as well?
As they slowly made their way to the window they had used before, they tuned their ears to hear what was happening on the other side of the wall. They could hear the deep-throated laughter of Takashi, but little else pervaded through the walls. The ducked down and slowly peered out the window.
The scene was familiar. Once again Subaratte hovered above the platform and Takashi stood beside their victim. Subaratte landed and walked forward touch Boushin's cheek. Boushin turned his head away with defiance clearly unspoken. He wore very little. He was topless and had on a pair of pants that must have been taken from a farmer. They were dark brown and matched the chunky boots that seemed too large for him. Even in the disheveled state, it was hard to deny his bloodline traced to the handsome seishi Hotohori. Boushin's beauty and grace shone through regardless of the fact he was bound and upon his knees.
Yule braced one hand against the window's ledge and prepared to vault over it. Kamali halted him with a hand upon the shoulder.
"Not yet," Kamali stated, "We need them to talk. We need information at what they are after."
Yule seemed ready to knock Kamali into the wall and leap out to rescue his emperor, but one malicious look from Tasuki held him still. Yule watched anxiously as Takashi paced back and forth behind Boushin.
"If he even twitches with hostile intent, I'm going out there," Yule said, "My duty it to him. I have pledged my life to his safety."
Tasuki nodded understanding without looking over. He was busy searching for alternate ways off the platform to escape the inevitable chaos about to occur. He noted that there was another building about a five-foot jump from the opposite side of the platform. If the exited that way he'd have to come back to this building to retrieve Chichiri and Krin. The best way out would be the way they got in.
Subaratte stood up straight and petted Boushin on the head, "Well, my pretty little emperor. It seems that the time has come for die."
Takashi gave an amused 'hn' as he came to a halt behind Boushin and tugged in the boy's long hair. Subaratte stroked Boushin's cheek once more before continuing.
"Unlike with the girl, I can take your talisman myself. You have no other hidden power guarding it. I wonder which one you carry."
Subaratte knelt down to lightly touch Boushin's chest, "Just what are you hiding in here."
Boushin didn't respond cause he knew not of what she spoke. Despite his 18 years beneath the eyes of the greatest scholars of Konan, he knew of no talisman. He merely followed her gaze down to his chest and gave her a dirty look.
Subaratte found that quite amusing and laughed thoroughly. She tilted her head to look up at Takashi. "Our young emperor doesn't like the touch of a woman. I wonder if this bloodline would die if when decided to let him live."
Takashi smiled down upon Boushin as he glared daggers at Subaratte. "He has no sense of taste, Mistress Subaratte, if he doesn't like your touch."
Subaratte gave her underling a smile for the comment and took a deep breath. "Might as well get on with it. Let's see what I can pull out of here, shall we?"
Subaratte held her hand against Boushin's chest and mumbled words beneath her breath. Boushin visibly stiffen and his eyes widen. Brave or not, to feel that dark power within him could make any man feel fear. Boushin shuddered as the feeling went away.
"Irony is sweet, Takashi. His father was a swordsman and he holds the Star Dagger," Subaratte smiled. "I wonder what it looks like."
And with that the only sign of trouble she pushed her hand into Boushin's chest. Boushin's cried out in pain and Yule was out the window and his feet beat upon the platform. He lunged and knocked Subaratte back. Subaratte hit the ground beneath him and quickly kicked him off. Subaratte stood up and was about to draw her rapier when she realized she held the Star Dagger in her hand.
"It's beautiful," She whispered, turning it over in her hands. She fingered the brilliant jewels and the golden design.
Yule did not spend time admiring the dagger as he dove back to stand over the slumped form of his emperor. The wind began to pick up and catch in his cape. He drew his long staff and held it ready to fend of Takashi.
The others sprung from their hiding place moments later and stood guard over Boushin's form. Kamali however walked over to Subaratte and held out a hand.
"Hand over that dagger, demon warrior," Kamali said, fear not even evident in his voice.
"Who do you think you are, ordering the Demon Warrior of the Sacred Darkness?" Subaratte said with disdain in her voice.
"You don't need to know my name, witch," Kamali said. "Hand over that dagger now, before I have to take it from you."
"Try to take it, child!" Subaratte said, pulling her rapier free and the battle began.
Kamali's efforts were ignored by his three companions, as they did their best against the humongous Takashi. Takashi seemed unmoved by Tasuki's tessen, and Horiko and Yule's weapons merely bounced off his armor. Takashi found their efforts amusing.
"I told you to come back when you are ready, boy," Takashi laughed. "You haven't improved at all."
"I fight when necessary," Horiko answered.
"That can lead to an early death, boy," Takashi said. "Not the wisest of life styles."
And with that, Takashi sent the flying to the ground by stomping his foot and shaking the earth. Subaratte barely stayed upright, but Kamali didn't seem effected. Takashi then stood over the emperor and brought his ax to bear.
"Early death and loss, boy," Takashi said as he paused in position.
Everything seemed to halt. Subaratte watched with interest, her fight with Kamali forgotten. Kamali had his eyes locked onto Yule, as if waiting for him to do something. And do something, he did.
The wind had picked up earlier, but now it was moving at unbelievable speed. Yule had arisen from the ground and his cape had flown about him, hiding him from view. Then the wind died and the cape fluttered away, revealing Yule looking much different. Yule was covered in green armor and had green bat wings identical to Takashi's golden ones. He know wore a helmet shaped like a bird head and in his hand, was a holding a green swallow with a crescent blade on one end and a lance point on the other.
Yule's face was set in a confident determination. He raised his new weapon to bare and caught Takashi's eye. "Back away from my emperor."
Takashi did as instructed, if only in shock. "Well, who would have thought? You are the Green Demon Warrior of Roaring Wind. I never expected you to appear."
Yule walked forward and stepped between Takashi and Boushin. "You must always except what you fear."
"Fear?" Takashi laughed, "And why fear you?"
Yule didn't lose his edge, "I'm not stupid, but I admit, I never suspected that I was one of you 'demon warriors'. But it doesn't take a genius to spot clashing elements. Just as Fire and Water are opposites, so are Wind and Earth. You're magic will not work on me."
"Fool! You believe in false legends!" Takashi cried. "No one is immune to my power!"
"He lies!" Kamali shouted, "He fears an honest fight! Your powers cancel each other out! It'll be just man-to-man now!"
"And there you go again, boy!" Subaratte shouted, turning once again to Kamali, "One of your size should not be heard."
Kamali didn't back down as battle between them picked up again. Horiko and Tasuki rushed forward between the two battles to retrieve Boushin. Tasuki glanced across the platform.
"Stay here, Horiko, and help if you can," Tasuki said. "I'm taking Boushin and I'm heading for Chichiri. I've got a bad feeling about leaving him alone any longer."
Horiko nodded and watched Tasuki go. He turned and sighed. He wanted to fight but didn't know how. If only he could figure out how that armor worked. He felt certain that he could end this now if he could make it come back again.