The Secrets that Last
Chapter 4
Tasuki stood with the rest of the seishi, Miaka, and Touji at the palace gates.
"Where is he?" Nuriko grumbled. "We've been waiting for hours!" he whined.
Tasuki grunted.
Touji yawned. "Ya know, he might not get here until tomorrow."
Tasuki glared at him. "Iie." he growled. "He'll be here. Soon." "And how, may I ask, do you know?" Tamahome asked doubtfully.
Tasuki frowned slightly. "I just feel it. I can sense it in every fiber of my being. He's on his way."
Almost immediately the shadow of a figure riding a horse came into view. Everyone stared in awe as the figure grew clearer.
"Kami-sama.." Miaka breathed.
Tasuki's eyes widened as Touji grinned.
The man wore black fighter pants and a silver Chinese muscle shirt with designs of dragons, tigers, turtles, and a Phoenix on it. His well-muscled arms had gold bands around them and he wore black wrap from his wrists to his elbows. Mysterious midnight blue eyes sparkled in a lively manner behind unruly golden bangs. His long silver-streaked blonde hair was bound behind him in a sexy ponytail. A silver chain with an amulet with gold designs dangled from his neck.
"Ren." Tasuki breathed. "And Starlight." He choked out as he took note of the silver horse the man rode on. The horse's scorching black eyes matched his ebony main and tail.
The man stopped a ways before them and dismounted, still remaining silent as a certain pair of people gazed at him with misty eyes. He casually swung the reigns over the silver beast's head, his eyes never wavering from Tasuki's. He absentmindedly flicked his left earring, bringing several eyes to his pierced ears and the small silver hoops that dangled from them.
Hotohori was in shock. "It's not possible." He choked out. "There is in existence a man with superior beauty to my own." He whimpered in distain. Everyone ignored him.
"Ren." Touji grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. "You always did have to have a big entrance. What's with the secrecy anyway? You said you'd tell me, so what's the deal?"
Ren ignored him, eyes still on Tasuki. Touji noticed his stare.
"Oh," he smirked. "You remember Genro, Ren. What was it you used to call him? Phoeno? No, what was it?"
Ren smiled softly, a heart-breaking smile that sent Nuriko and Miaka swooning. "Phoenix." The voice was velvety smooth, deep and gentle. The perfect man.
Tasuki walked slowly toward him.
"Ren.you've.changed." He fumbled with the words.
Ren shrugged slightly. "Tis the scars of age set upon my body that alter my appearance, old friend. Demo, I assure you that I have not changed from the Ren that you knew."
"You're right," Tasuki wiped absently at his eyes. "You still talk like a complete fool!" he laughed and Ren chuckled.
"I have so missed you and your childish habits." Ren sighed. "It has been a long journey, but my mission is near complete." He smiled, putting his hand on Tasuki's shoulder. "Will you promise to keep my presence as low key as possible? There are many who would wish to reveal me for a profit. The Darkness has at last awakened and soon I may finally end my long journey. We will return to the mountains as I always promised." Tasuki was too ecstatic to notice the spark of pain in Ren's eyes at that last statement. He tackled his friend with a hug, bawling on his silk shirt.
"Oh Ren! You don't know how hard it was without you there! Everyone searched for months, and I always knew that you would return! But when you told me I'd never see you again, I just didn't believe it!" he blubbered.
Miaka and Nuriko popped up behind Tasuki with their hands clasped at their chests. "Ren-san," they chorused. "Are you by any chance single?"
Ren blinked. His face melted into a handsome grin. "I see, are you not a man beneath your womanly attire?" he chuckled at a shocked Nuriko. "And you, ah.Priestess of Suzako, the Red Star.It is certainly a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and everyone else. I am honored to stand before the legendary warrior's of Suzu-Suzako-sama." He quickly corrected himself, taking Miaka's hand and laying a gentle kiss upon her palm. Tamahome went red. "Hey pal,"
Hotohori interrupted him. "Ren-san, may I ask what land it is that you come from? It is plain to see that you are not from any land I know of."
Ren shrugged. "That is not surprising. My father was a descendent of the Hin tribe while my mother was a foreigner. I was found by our old boss near the destroyed village of my clan. I was informed that there was but a single survivor beyond myself. His name is unknown to me though." He said calmly, gesturing toward Touji and Tasuki at his sides. They nodded.
"And your speech? Certainly it is rare to find an unaccented voice in the mountains." Hotohori continued.
"What's that s'posed to mean?" Touji demanded indignantly.
Ren laughed. "You are correct. It is very rare to find one; I have no knowledge of any others beside myself that do not slur their speech. That is because of my heritage. I learned at a very early age that I was not normal. I was not an outcast as my tribe had been, but I was different none the less. My studies of literature and the arts were extensive and well curved over the years." He smiled. "I learned through stories how to present myself as a child and speak as an adult."
Chichiri cocked his head to the side. "I sense.something very powerful about you, no da."
Ren shrugged again. "My training has left my aura rather powerful; you may also be sensing this." He tapped the amulet. "It was given to me by a sorcerer; he gave it to me as a protection device of sorts to keep me safe from harm. I suppose it works." He smiled wryly at this.
"Ren, when are you gonna tell me?" Touji whined, interrupting. Ren smirked.
"Right now. Emperor?" Hotohori looked at him.
"May we speak somewhere in private? What I must tell you is very important and should only be heard by you and the other warriors of Suzako."
Hotohori nodded. "Come." He began to lead them all to the study.
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
On the way to the study, Miaka popped up next to Ren, grinning like an idiot. Nuriko popped up on his other side, knocking an aggravated Tasuki out of the way.
"Ren-san?" Miaka piped up. Ren looked down at her.
"Hai? And please call me Ren or Ren-chan." He smiled.
Miaka blushed. "Ok, Ren-chan, how do you know Tasuki? You seem to be really close or something." She blinked as Ren laughed out right.
"My dear miko, Tasuki and I were practically raised together. Did he never speak of me in all this time?" he laughed.
Miaka looked down, embarrassed. "Well, actually." she mumbled.
Nuriko answered for her. "Tasuki doesn't talk much about his past, in fact, he hardly ever talks about anything worth while. We've never even heard mention of your name before last night."
Ren glanced at Tasuki, who avoided his gaze.
"Is that so? Well then the fault is my own. I apologize for embarrassing you priestess." He gave Miaka a chaste grin. She turned as red as a ripe tomato.
"It's ok." she giggled.
**
Tamahome grumped next to Tasuki.
"Geez," he whined. "What's so great about *him*?"
Tasuki sighed, putting his hands behind his head. "He hasn't changed at all. Still a lady's man. Jerk. He's always been like this." He mumbled.
Touji grinned, slapping Ren on the back. "Hey Ren!"
"Hai Touji?" Ren glanced at his friend patiently.
"When are you gonna stop flirting with the girls?" The question was asked as carelessly as if it were the time of day.
Ren looked at him blankly. "I beg your pardon? I was merely having a conversation with the miko. Must you assume that all contact with members of the opposite gender is flirting?"
Touji laughed outright. "Hey Genro! You're right! He hasn't changed!"
Ren blinked cutely, then shrugged.
"Nuriko, could you help me with something?" he asked calmly. Nuriko looked at him with puppy eyes.
"Of course Ren-chan!" he chirped.
"Could you tell me where the stables are?"
Nuriko's face fell. "Yeeaaah." he dragged it out in a whine.
Ren chuckled. "Wonderful."
**
Tasuki smiled at his friend's back. "We'll talk later." He thought to himself. "Ren always makes time for me. He won't just not tell me anything." He nodded slightly at his thoughts and grinned.
Touji elbowed him in the side. "Hey Genro," he grinned. He whispered something in Tasuki's ear.
His gold-tinted eyes went wide.
"NANI?!" he shouted. Ren began to turn around but was clobbered by a furious Tasuki. "YOU TOLD ABOUT THE RIVER!!!!" Tasuki shouted. Ren sweat- dropped as everyone stared at them.
".Genro, could we discuss this later?" he chuckled nervously.
"Iie! I can't believe you told them!!"
"Well it wasn't on purpose."
"What do you mean?! How can you say anything by mistake!"
Ren glanced around nervously. "Genro, it's not that big a deal." He managed softly.
Tasuki shook his head. "Yeah it is!"
Tamahome popped up behind Tasuki, a skeptical look on his face.
"Ahem, mind sharing?" he asked calmly, giving them a dubious expression.
Ren laughed nervously under Tasuki's fiery glare.
"Ne, you see.When Genro and I were younger, well, uh.hee, hee.He fell into the river and almost drowned. But uh, the thing was that this log was floating by and he sorta thought it was a snake so he screamed really loud and I came running. But well, the water was only five feet deep and Genro had been so freaked out that he just kept splashing around. I had to jump in and save him."
Tamahome covered his mouth with his hands. His eyes were huge and wet. His face got red.
He burst.
"HA! HA! HA! You were afraid of a log!!!! HA! HA! HA! In five feet water!!!" he fell over laughing like a wild man.
Ren blinked. He sweat-dropped as Tasuki began ranting loudly about age.
"Well, it was a rather interesting situation. I mean, Genro didn't know how to swim and he hasn't gone near a large body of water since then." He offered helplessly.
He blinked as he realized that Nuriko had joined Tamahome laughing on the floor and the rest of the seishi, including Miaka, were desperately trying to contain their laughter. Touji just had this huge smirk on his face.
Ren sweat-dropped.
"Uh.yeah." he said.
Suddenly a loud neigh broke through the laughter.
"Starlight!" Ren shouted, recognizing his companion's distress call. The laughter stopped short.
Everyone rushed out of the palace in pursuit of Ren, halting as they saw the cause of Starlight's distress.
"Youma." Ren growled. "Damn, I thought I'd checked everywhere."
Tasuki gasped. "Oh shit." Were the only words that left his mouth.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Touji yelled, pointing at it shakily.
The youma stood about twelve feet tall and vaguely resembled a lizard. Its entire body was covered in reptilian scales and its eyes were yellow with red pupils. Its fangs were too big for its mouth and its reptilian tongue tasted the air every few moments. It was obviously female with its skimpy black leotard. Its eyes focused and it slowly shifted its gaze between each gawking member of the small audience it held.
Until it reached Ren.
It smiled grotesquely.
"The Crystal Bearer." Its raspy voice came out in a harsh bark. "I challenge you, creature of light. Come and let me devour you. Your energy would bring the darkness great power."
Ren took the hilt of his sword, smirking handsomely, and stepping up to the challenge. Tasuki grabbed his wrist.
"Ren," he whispered, eyes never leaving the monster. "Are you sure you can handle this thing?" He glanced warily at the repulsive youma.
Ren flicked his earring, smiling. "Don't worry Genro, it knows it's going to die. I simply must deliver it to its death. Not a very difficult task for a third class youma such as this."
Tasuki slowly retrieved his hand. He watched Ren walk steadily toward the youma, drawing his sword.
The long silver blade had a fine gold hilt with many designs on it. It glistened in the light.
Ren smiled.
"Ne, creature born of darkness, any last words?"
"I should be saying the same to you Crystal Bearer." The thing rasped out.
Ren shrugged. "Alright then, have it your way."
The youma didn't have time to comprehend what was going on as Ren seemed to disappear before reappearing behind it and slammed the hilt of the sword into its neck. The creature let out a cry of shattering pain.
Ren sighed, closing his eyes and leaning his sword on his shoulder casually. "Really now, you should never scream. Then I know your weaknesses." He shrugged slightly, opening his eyes and in a lightning quick movement, he drilled his blade into the creature's heart. Or rather, where it would have been.
The unearthly screams of pain and anguish that flooded the senses of all those watching was indescribable. Miaka buried her head in Tamahome's chest as everyone shivered at the sound.
Ren growled. "You know," he ground out. Tasuki and the other seishi looked up. "Chaos is beginning to make you youma a little too realistic." He twisted the sword, watching as the youma disintegrated into a pile of dust.
He snorted. "Vermin. How in the seven hells did you get through the barrier? Must have been in an egg." He turned to his pale audience.
"Minna," he began, smiling casually. They stared at him. Tasuki stepped forward, looking at his best friend curiously.
"Ren, you said that was a third class youma?"
"Hai."
"Then what else is there?"
The silence that followed was deafening.
Miaka shivered. "You mean there's more?"
Ren glanced at Hotohori. "I believe we should take this discussion inside. Emperor?"
Hotohori nodded slightly. "Hai, I'd say you are correct. Let's get inside everyone."
He led everyone to the study, this time in complete silence. Everyone's minds were filled with questions and suspicions. Tasuki and Touji walked on either side of Ren, glancing at his steady form every now and then.
Ren frowned. "I wonder what a third class youma is doing here. I've not fought one so low since I was a child." His eyes darkened. "Unless that one wasn't intended for me. Kuso!" Ren's eyes widened slightly in realization. "Chaos must be testing the Suzako seishi! But what purpose would that serve?" Ren glared at nothing as he was escorted into the large study, suspicions forming in his own mind.
Chapter 4
Tasuki stood with the rest of the seishi, Miaka, and Touji at the palace gates.
"Where is he?" Nuriko grumbled. "We've been waiting for hours!" he whined.
Tasuki grunted.
Touji yawned. "Ya know, he might not get here until tomorrow."
Tasuki glared at him. "Iie." he growled. "He'll be here. Soon." "And how, may I ask, do you know?" Tamahome asked doubtfully.
Tasuki frowned slightly. "I just feel it. I can sense it in every fiber of my being. He's on his way."
Almost immediately the shadow of a figure riding a horse came into view. Everyone stared in awe as the figure grew clearer.
"Kami-sama.." Miaka breathed.
Tasuki's eyes widened as Touji grinned.
The man wore black fighter pants and a silver Chinese muscle shirt with designs of dragons, tigers, turtles, and a Phoenix on it. His well-muscled arms had gold bands around them and he wore black wrap from his wrists to his elbows. Mysterious midnight blue eyes sparkled in a lively manner behind unruly golden bangs. His long silver-streaked blonde hair was bound behind him in a sexy ponytail. A silver chain with an amulet with gold designs dangled from his neck.
"Ren." Tasuki breathed. "And Starlight." He choked out as he took note of the silver horse the man rode on. The horse's scorching black eyes matched his ebony main and tail.
The man stopped a ways before them and dismounted, still remaining silent as a certain pair of people gazed at him with misty eyes. He casually swung the reigns over the silver beast's head, his eyes never wavering from Tasuki's. He absentmindedly flicked his left earring, bringing several eyes to his pierced ears and the small silver hoops that dangled from them.
Hotohori was in shock. "It's not possible." He choked out. "There is in existence a man with superior beauty to my own." He whimpered in distain. Everyone ignored him.
"Ren." Touji grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. "You always did have to have a big entrance. What's with the secrecy anyway? You said you'd tell me, so what's the deal?"
Ren ignored him, eyes still on Tasuki. Touji noticed his stare.
"Oh," he smirked. "You remember Genro, Ren. What was it you used to call him? Phoeno? No, what was it?"
Ren smiled softly, a heart-breaking smile that sent Nuriko and Miaka swooning. "Phoenix." The voice was velvety smooth, deep and gentle. The perfect man.
Tasuki walked slowly toward him.
"Ren.you've.changed." He fumbled with the words.
Ren shrugged slightly. "Tis the scars of age set upon my body that alter my appearance, old friend. Demo, I assure you that I have not changed from the Ren that you knew."
"You're right," Tasuki wiped absently at his eyes. "You still talk like a complete fool!" he laughed and Ren chuckled.
"I have so missed you and your childish habits." Ren sighed. "It has been a long journey, but my mission is near complete." He smiled, putting his hand on Tasuki's shoulder. "Will you promise to keep my presence as low key as possible? There are many who would wish to reveal me for a profit. The Darkness has at last awakened and soon I may finally end my long journey. We will return to the mountains as I always promised." Tasuki was too ecstatic to notice the spark of pain in Ren's eyes at that last statement. He tackled his friend with a hug, bawling on his silk shirt.
"Oh Ren! You don't know how hard it was without you there! Everyone searched for months, and I always knew that you would return! But when you told me I'd never see you again, I just didn't believe it!" he blubbered.
Miaka and Nuriko popped up behind Tasuki with their hands clasped at their chests. "Ren-san," they chorused. "Are you by any chance single?"
Ren blinked. His face melted into a handsome grin. "I see, are you not a man beneath your womanly attire?" he chuckled at a shocked Nuriko. "And you, ah.Priestess of Suzako, the Red Star.It is certainly a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and everyone else. I am honored to stand before the legendary warrior's of Suzu-Suzako-sama." He quickly corrected himself, taking Miaka's hand and laying a gentle kiss upon her palm. Tamahome went red. "Hey pal,"
Hotohori interrupted him. "Ren-san, may I ask what land it is that you come from? It is plain to see that you are not from any land I know of."
Ren shrugged. "That is not surprising. My father was a descendent of the Hin tribe while my mother was a foreigner. I was found by our old boss near the destroyed village of my clan. I was informed that there was but a single survivor beyond myself. His name is unknown to me though." He said calmly, gesturing toward Touji and Tasuki at his sides. They nodded.
"And your speech? Certainly it is rare to find an unaccented voice in the mountains." Hotohori continued.
"What's that s'posed to mean?" Touji demanded indignantly.
Ren laughed. "You are correct. It is very rare to find one; I have no knowledge of any others beside myself that do not slur their speech. That is because of my heritage. I learned at a very early age that I was not normal. I was not an outcast as my tribe had been, but I was different none the less. My studies of literature and the arts were extensive and well curved over the years." He smiled. "I learned through stories how to present myself as a child and speak as an adult."
Chichiri cocked his head to the side. "I sense.something very powerful about you, no da."
Ren shrugged again. "My training has left my aura rather powerful; you may also be sensing this." He tapped the amulet. "It was given to me by a sorcerer; he gave it to me as a protection device of sorts to keep me safe from harm. I suppose it works." He smiled wryly at this.
"Ren, when are you gonna tell me?" Touji whined, interrupting. Ren smirked.
"Right now. Emperor?" Hotohori looked at him.
"May we speak somewhere in private? What I must tell you is very important and should only be heard by you and the other warriors of Suzako."
Hotohori nodded. "Come." He began to lead them all to the study.
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
On the way to the study, Miaka popped up next to Ren, grinning like an idiot. Nuriko popped up on his other side, knocking an aggravated Tasuki out of the way.
"Ren-san?" Miaka piped up. Ren looked down at her.
"Hai? And please call me Ren or Ren-chan." He smiled.
Miaka blushed. "Ok, Ren-chan, how do you know Tasuki? You seem to be really close or something." She blinked as Ren laughed out right.
"My dear miko, Tasuki and I were practically raised together. Did he never speak of me in all this time?" he laughed.
Miaka looked down, embarrassed. "Well, actually." she mumbled.
Nuriko answered for her. "Tasuki doesn't talk much about his past, in fact, he hardly ever talks about anything worth while. We've never even heard mention of your name before last night."
Ren glanced at Tasuki, who avoided his gaze.
"Is that so? Well then the fault is my own. I apologize for embarrassing you priestess." He gave Miaka a chaste grin. She turned as red as a ripe tomato.
"It's ok." she giggled.
**
Tamahome grumped next to Tasuki.
"Geez," he whined. "What's so great about *him*?"
Tasuki sighed, putting his hands behind his head. "He hasn't changed at all. Still a lady's man. Jerk. He's always been like this." He mumbled.
Touji grinned, slapping Ren on the back. "Hey Ren!"
"Hai Touji?" Ren glanced at his friend patiently.
"When are you gonna stop flirting with the girls?" The question was asked as carelessly as if it were the time of day.
Ren looked at him blankly. "I beg your pardon? I was merely having a conversation with the miko. Must you assume that all contact with members of the opposite gender is flirting?"
Touji laughed outright. "Hey Genro! You're right! He hasn't changed!"
Ren blinked cutely, then shrugged.
"Nuriko, could you help me with something?" he asked calmly. Nuriko looked at him with puppy eyes.
"Of course Ren-chan!" he chirped.
"Could you tell me where the stables are?"
Nuriko's face fell. "Yeeaaah." he dragged it out in a whine.
Ren chuckled. "Wonderful."
**
Tasuki smiled at his friend's back. "We'll talk later." He thought to himself. "Ren always makes time for me. He won't just not tell me anything." He nodded slightly at his thoughts and grinned.
Touji elbowed him in the side. "Hey Genro," he grinned. He whispered something in Tasuki's ear.
His gold-tinted eyes went wide.
"NANI?!" he shouted. Ren began to turn around but was clobbered by a furious Tasuki. "YOU TOLD ABOUT THE RIVER!!!!" Tasuki shouted. Ren sweat- dropped as everyone stared at them.
".Genro, could we discuss this later?" he chuckled nervously.
"Iie! I can't believe you told them!!"
"Well it wasn't on purpose."
"What do you mean?! How can you say anything by mistake!"
Ren glanced around nervously. "Genro, it's not that big a deal." He managed softly.
Tasuki shook his head. "Yeah it is!"
Tamahome popped up behind Tasuki, a skeptical look on his face.
"Ahem, mind sharing?" he asked calmly, giving them a dubious expression.
Ren laughed nervously under Tasuki's fiery glare.
"Ne, you see.When Genro and I were younger, well, uh.hee, hee.He fell into the river and almost drowned. But uh, the thing was that this log was floating by and he sorta thought it was a snake so he screamed really loud and I came running. But well, the water was only five feet deep and Genro had been so freaked out that he just kept splashing around. I had to jump in and save him."
Tamahome covered his mouth with his hands. His eyes were huge and wet. His face got red.
He burst.
"HA! HA! HA! You were afraid of a log!!!! HA! HA! HA! In five feet water!!!" he fell over laughing like a wild man.
Ren blinked. He sweat-dropped as Tasuki began ranting loudly about age.
"Well, it was a rather interesting situation. I mean, Genro didn't know how to swim and he hasn't gone near a large body of water since then." He offered helplessly.
He blinked as he realized that Nuriko had joined Tamahome laughing on the floor and the rest of the seishi, including Miaka, were desperately trying to contain their laughter. Touji just had this huge smirk on his face.
Ren sweat-dropped.
"Uh.yeah." he said.
Suddenly a loud neigh broke through the laughter.
"Starlight!" Ren shouted, recognizing his companion's distress call. The laughter stopped short.
Everyone rushed out of the palace in pursuit of Ren, halting as they saw the cause of Starlight's distress.
"Youma." Ren growled. "Damn, I thought I'd checked everywhere."
Tasuki gasped. "Oh shit." Were the only words that left his mouth.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Touji yelled, pointing at it shakily.
The youma stood about twelve feet tall and vaguely resembled a lizard. Its entire body was covered in reptilian scales and its eyes were yellow with red pupils. Its fangs were too big for its mouth and its reptilian tongue tasted the air every few moments. It was obviously female with its skimpy black leotard. Its eyes focused and it slowly shifted its gaze between each gawking member of the small audience it held.
Until it reached Ren.
It smiled grotesquely.
"The Crystal Bearer." Its raspy voice came out in a harsh bark. "I challenge you, creature of light. Come and let me devour you. Your energy would bring the darkness great power."
Ren took the hilt of his sword, smirking handsomely, and stepping up to the challenge. Tasuki grabbed his wrist.
"Ren," he whispered, eyes never leaving the monster. "Are you sure you can handle this thing?" He glanced warily at the repulsive youma.
Ren flicked his earring, smiling. "Don't worry Genro, it knows it's going to die. I simply must deliver it to its death. Not a very difficult task for a third class youma such as this."
Tasuki slowly retrieved his hand. He watched Ren walk steadily toward the youma, drawing his sword.
The long silver blade had a fine gold hilt with many designs on it. It glistened in the light.
Ren smiled.
"Ne, creature born of darkness, any last words?"
"I should be saying the same to you Crystal Bearer." The thing rasped out.
Ren shrugged. "Alright then, have it your way."
The youma didn't have time to comprehend what was going on as Ren seemed to disappear before reappearing behind it and slammed the hilt of the sword into its neck. The creature let out a cry of shattering pain.
Ren sighed, closing his eyes and leaning his sword on his shoulder casually. "Really now, you should never scream. Then I know your weaknesses." He shrugged slightly, opening his eyes and in a lightning quick movement, he drilled his blade into the creature's heart. Or rather, where it would have been.
The unearthly screams of pain and anguish that flooded the senses of all those watching was indescribable. Miaka buried her head in Tamahome's chest as everyone shivered at the sound.
Ren growled. "You know," he ground out. Tasuki and the other seishi looked up. "Chaos is beginning to make you youma a little too realistic." He twisted the sword, watching as the youma disintegrated into a pile of dust.
He snorted. "Vermin. How in the seven hells did you get through the barrier? Must have been in an egg." He turned to his pale audience.
"Minna," he began, smiling casually. They stared at him. Tasuki stepped forward, looking at his best friend curiously.
"Ren, you said that was a third class youma?"
"Hai."
"Then what else is there?"
The silence that followed was deafening.
Miaka shivered. "You mean there's more?"
Ren glanced at Hotohori. "I believe we should take this discussion inside. Emperor?"
Hotohori nodded slightly. "Hai, I'd say you are correct. Let's get inside everyone."
He led everyone to the study, this time in complete silence. Everyone's minds were filled with questions and suspicions. Tasuki and Touji walked on either side of Ren, glancing at his steady form every now and then.
Ren frowned. "I wonder what a third class youma is doing here. I've not fought one so low since I was a child." His eyes darkened. "Unless that one wasn't intended for me. Kuso!" Ren's eyes widened slightly in realization. "Chaos must be testing the Suzako seishi! But what purpose would that serve?" Ren glared at nothing as he was escorted into the large study, suspicions forming in his own mind.