CHAPTER 3 ~ A Secret Revealed

"Hope is the denial of reality."

-Margaret Weis, Dragons of Winter Night

Ayumi looked at the strangers in her house with a mixture of surprise and humour. The scene in front of her would make the most stony heart laugh, but her surprise and suspicion won over. Turning slowly, she placed the tea down on the counter never taking her eyes off the intruders. As if sensing her mind calculating the distance between herself, the trespassers and the door, the flame haired man started to laugh, making Ayumi jump.

" Don' worry yerself. We're not here to hurt ya. We jus wanted to get outta the rain."

His voice was loud and brash, and fit his bandit exterior exactly. Ayumi kept her distance, not particularly mollified by his speech. Ayumi looked him over and decided that despite the dirt, his face was honest and open and his amber eyes were as warm as liquid gold. Glancing at his companion who had by now sat up, she saw an equally dirty visage, but the same kind face and warm eye.

" That last step was really slippery no da." He said, putting a finger to his chin.

Ayumi's eyes widened as she saw for the first time the muddy mess on the floor. Emitting a half gasp half scream she began to wave her arms, making both men jump back toward the door in shock. " Ahh! Look at the mess! My mother will be home soon and will have a fit if she sees all this mud! Take your shoes off, " she said pointing to an alcove next to the door, " and don't touch anything!"

Ayumi ran back into the kitchen to get some hot water and rags, and returned to see both men standing in the doorway with stocking feet. The chastised expression on their faces made her feel slightly abashed, and she set down her pail quickly. " I'm sorry, " she said bowing slightly, " A dirty floor is not an excuse for me to forget my manners. My name is Ayumi."

" I'm Tasuki," she flame haired man replied, " and that's Chichiri," he said, jerking a thumb at the blue haired man beside him. " We're on a journey from the palace an' got lost in the rain. We saw yer light on and wanted to find some shelter for the night."

" The palace?" Ayumi's eyes widened at the thought that she was so rude to palace courtiers, but Tasuki laughed at her stricken expression. " Don't worry that ya offended us, we're not the kind that gets easily offended." He grinned broadly, reading her mind for the second time that night.

Ayumi smiled back relieved that they weren't going to throw her in the palace dungeon. "There is a bathroom at the back of the house where you can change and clean up. I will put some more tea on while I clean up the mud."

" That is very kind of you no da." Chichiri said breezily at he walked by, followed by Tasuki who tiptoed through the pools of water and mud. Ayumi watched their retreating forms for a moment, before she busied herself with the floor.

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" It's not fair, just not fair."

The bartender Tanka watched as Juno's hunched form leaned over the counter that was wet from his almost continuous tears. Once he had learned his son was born dead, and his beloved wife was still fighting to live from the difficult birth, he had walked directly to Jaina's Tavern and proceeded to get resoundedly drunk. So far the townspeople had kept out of his way, his grief mirrored in their own. Mia was much loved by the entire town, and everyone had rejoiced in the impending birth almost as much as the happy couple. However, no one could have been happier than Juno could as he counted the days until the arrival of his child. In an instant all of his joy had crumbled into a bitter pain.

" Give me another drink Tanka."

Tanka looked warily at Juno, but complied. Normally Jaina's Tavern is a busy meeting place but the day's events and the storm had kept everyone confined to their homes. Tanka too wanted to close up but he didn't have the heart to kick Juno out. He knew what kind of scene he would go home to, and the fact that he was drunk wouldn't help matters.

" Juno, why don't you go home? I'm sure that Mia would like you to be there with her."

" Home?" Juno spat venomously; his black eyes flashing at he raised his head to look at Tanka balefully. " What 'home' do I have to go to? I have one dead baby and a wife who is just waiting to die."

" Juno, you don't know if Mia is going to die. Who knows? By now Saori might have helped her and she is better and waiting for you to come home."

" Saori, ha!" he said, standing up awkwardly, sending the stool toppling out from underneath him. " You know what Saori has done? Nothing! She couldn't save my baby and she can't save Mia either."

Juno grabbed at the drink still on the counter, downing it in one gulp. " You know what the worst thing is Tanka?" He said, levelling a finger in Tanka's face. " It's that Saori has her own child when she can't save anyone else's. That woman raises a daughter alone and gets everyone's respect!" Placing his palms on the bar counter, Juno struggled to steady himself; " I don't think that she should have Ayumi. Maybe if Ayumi were to die then she would work harder to save other people's children from dying!" He spat malevolently, pushing himself away from the bar violently.

" Juno you don't know what you're saying!" Tanka said, shocked at Juno's hatred. " Saori and Ayumi would do anything for you and Mia, and for your baby. Saori did everything in her power to save the baby, but even she can't work miracles. That is for the gods. " He looked at Juno's defeated form a moment before putting his hand somewhat hesitantly on his shoulder, " Look, I'll walk you home so that you can be with Mia."

" Don't say her name!" Juno screamed, throwing Tanka's hand of his shoulder and nearly losing his balance in the process. " Don't talk about her to me. No; Saori failed as a medicine woman and must be punished. She must be made to realise that he can't make mistakes with people's lives."

Juno turned abruptly and ran out the door into the rain, leaving Tanka staring helplessly after him. Tanka thought about going after him, but assured himself that Juno was just blowing off some anger and would never do anything stupid, but somehow Tanka couldn't quite make himself believe that was true. ************************************************************************

Ayumi had listened to her new-found guests' adventures with bated breath, even letting out a gasp at the more suspenseful parts. Tasuki was in his element, for it had been a long time since anyone had listened to any of his stories with such rapt attention. Chichiri sat back and watched the pair with a bemused eye as Tasuki waved his arms in theatrical gestures, shamelessly embellishing the tale, his golden eyes shining. Ayumi for her part played right into his hands, her blue eyes sparkling with wonder.

"What amazing adventures you and Chichiri have had!" Ayumi said fixing both men with an admiring gaze. " I have never been more than twenty minutes outside of this village my whole life. My whole world revolves around this place. My friend is getting married next month, and she will be leaving to live in a town a few hours travel away." Ayumi rose to clear the dishes, her face uncommonly sober. " I fear that I will never see her again, once she gets settled and has a family." Surprised, Ayumi felt tears prick her eyes and she looked quickly away lest she embarrass herself in front of her visitors.

Tasuki however had seen the change in her expression and felt a slight tug in his chest. Surprised, the feeling made him take a second look at the woman he had just met, but who still caused him to feel emotions he had not felt since, well since Miaka. Fortunately, before he would have to deal with the uncomfortable questions that such feelings would most certainly raise Chichiri put out a hand to stop Ayumi from clearing the dishes.

" You have already done so much for us no da, that we should clear the table, after all we owe you much for taking us in from the storm." Taking off his mask he levelled a stern gaze on Tasuki who at the moment had found a piece of lint floating by very interesting; " and when I say 'we' I do mean 'we' na no da."

With a roll of his eyes, Tasuki nonetheless stood up to help his friend; while Ayumi returned to her seat to watch the pair in interest. Ayumi had managed to cover her start of surprise when Chichiri had revealed his scarred face; but found she preferred his true visage to the ever-happy mask he wore. That scar must have deep meaning to cause him to hide it like that, and Ayumi found herself wondering what story lay behind it. Ayumi's reverie was broken by the sounds of an argument starting in the kitchen. She looked up to find Chichiri giving a blow the back of Tasuki's head as he attempted to leave unnoticed from the kitchen by the other man. Ayumi suppressed a gasp as the flame-haired man clutched his head and let forth with a stream of obscenities that would make anyone blush. That earned him another blow from Chichiri with a pointed look in Ayumi's direction. Their playful attitude made Ayumi smile despite herself, and she thought that having Tasuki and Chichiri around would take her mind off of the painful events to date, and perhaps those yet to come.

A loud knock at the door made her jump, for her mother would have just walked into the house. Looking over he shoulder she saw that Tasuki and Chichiri were still locked in their argument, so she moved to the door with a slight apprehension. If this was a messenger to inform her that her mother was still with Mia, then perhaps her friend was not out of the woods yet.

Turning the handle, Ayumi gasped as she a rain-soaked and bedraggled Juno standing in the shadows. " Juno! What are you doing here in the rain? Is Mia okay? Is my-"

Ayumi's question broke off into a strangled scream as the knife Juno was hiding behind him came up suddenly, slashing her deeply in the arm. The force of the Juno's blow knocked her backward, and it was by sheer luck that she managed to avoid a second swipe that was aimed for her chest. Ayumi stood back from Juno, watching him with frightened eyes clutching her injured arm, as blood pooled from under her fingers. " Juno, what are you doing?" She asked, fear and confusion clouding her voice.

"He shouldn't be dead, she should have saved him." Juno said, more to himself than her, as he banged the knife loosely on his thigh, as Ayumi's blood dripped onto the floor.

" You mean your baby-"

" I mean my son is dead because of your mother!" Juno's hate-filled gaze fixed on Ayumi as she took a cautionary step backward. "Your mother failed and now I have no child and soon no wife! And she calls herself a healer!" Juno took a menacing step toward Ayumi, the knife now raised threateningly in his hand. " So soon she will have no daughter and will truly feel my pain!"

Juno lunged toward Ayumi as she raised her arms to defend herself against the fatal blow, but none came. Ayumi opened her eyes to see Juno pinned against the opposite wall by a furious Tasuki, the hand with the knife in it immobilised out of harms way. " What kinda man are you attackin' an unarmed woman!" he spat, his eyes flashing golden fire. " Nothing that's what! Chichiri come an' hold him while I get my tessen and flame his ass."

" Tasuki," Chichiri said calmly, his voice belying the anger he felt. " We cannot hurt him."

" But he was ready to kill Ayumi! Why should I spare him?"

"Because you heard what he said; about his son dying. His judgement is clouded with grief and anger; it doesn't excuse what he tried to do, but we cannot hurt him for that. We must hand him over to the proper authorities."

Tasuki's eyes sparked amber fire as he tightened his grip on Juno's neck, seemingly unheeding Chichiri's words. Tasuki's grip caused the smaller man to begin clawing at his neck frantically, while he turned visibly blue in the process

" No! Please, Juno didn't mean to hurt me!" Ayumi's anguished cry caused both of the men to look at her as if they just realised that she was there. " He just lost his first child, and his wife is still very sick. My mother has been with them all day, and she is still there. He has probably been at Jaina's Tavern all day drinking away his pain. He doesn't know what he is doing. Please don't hurt him." Her voice broke on the last word, tears streaming down her face.

Tasuki stared at her a moment, every line in his body the picture of fury. Ayumi was a ghastly sight as she stood gripping her arm as the blood dripped down the front of her dress, yet she still pleaded for his life. Sighing he took a step back releasing Juno from the grip he had on his neck. Gasping Juno fell to the floor, the knife forgotten as he gripped his throat with both hands. Kneeling down, Tasuki looked at the crouching man venomously; " It's because of her you're alive now, an' don't you forget that. If it had been up to me you would be a pile of ashes now." Opening the door, he grabbed the cowering Juno and promptly threw him into the mud, watching him crawl away with more than a little satisfaction.

Turning, he froze as he saw Ayumi still bleeding from the gash on her arm. " Ayumi, " he said softly, "someone should look at yer arm."

Starting as if she had seen her injuries for the first time, her face blanched. " Chichiri, in the kitchen cupboard there is a brown jar with some ointment in it, please bring it to me." Nodding, Chichiri turned to the kitchen. Ayumi then sat down and attempted to remove her arm from her dress, but every time she removed her hand, the wound would begin to bleed profusely. After a few failed attempts, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Tasuki looking down at her.

" Let me help ya Ayumi." He said gently, kneeling beside her. Picking up Juno's discarded knife he began to gingerly remove the cloth of her sleeve around the wound. Prying Ayumi's fingers away from the wound, he looked at the gash with a critical eye. " Looks like the idiot jus' managed to graze you, doesn't mean that it still isn't dangerous. Luckily you'll jus' have a small scar. It'll make ya look more like a bandit though." He said winking as he used a small cloth to wipe the blood off her arm, and Ayumi found herself laughing despite herself.

" I'm sure that my mother would like that, her daughter turning into a bandit."

" Well, there are worse things ya know."

" Oh yeah like what?" Ayumi teased with a sidelong look at Tasuki as he finished cleaning the wound. Smirking at her, he turned as Chichiri came back into the room carrying the jar of ointment from her mother's stores. Smearing some on his fingers, he gingerly spread some on the wound and then proceeded to bandage the wound carefully. Chichiri watched the scene with growing interest. He could not remember when Tasuki had been so considerate, at least not since Miaka left. Tasuki never let on, but Chichiri was sure that the flame-haired bandit had harboured a secret love of the priestess; but for that matter all of her Seishi loved Miaka.

" See all better." Chichiri was broken from his daydream by Tasuki's voice and focused on Ayumi moving her arm gingerly at first, but then with growing confidence. "You are a really good healer Tasuki, you'd even give my mother a run for her money."

" All of us bandits know how to take care o' ourselves." Tasuki replied loftily, hooking his thumbs in his belt as he stood to admire his handiwork. " We're always gettin' inta some kinda trouble or other."

" Well I am not used to getting into trouble, and I should clean myself up before my mother gets home and I give her a shock. I'll be back in a minute." Ayumi laughed, turning she swept her long, bloodstained hair off her shoulders, exposing her birthmark for the briefest moment.

It was not brief enough for Chichiri to miss however, and he found that he was the one that was now paralysed with shock. Could he be mistaken? Could the young women they just met have the mark of Suzaku on her? If it were true; but Chichiri found himself not wanting to believe it really was true.

" What's up Chichiri." Tasuki noticing his friend's expression had moved to his side. "Are ya sad that ya didn't let me flame the bastard?"

" No," Chichiri said slowly, readjusting his mask on his face as he turned away from Ayumi's retreating for. " It's nothing at all."