~An American Miko~
Chapter Seventeen
Life & Death
They looked at the two big doors in front of them. "Knock knock. Who's there? It's Kouji with something really important to show the boss. I hope he doesn't mind. Oh no Kouji come right in but be quiet. Thank you."
Mitsukake just stared at Kouji and Myst smiled as he opened the doors. They walked quietly into the room. Another bandit was sitting by the bed bathing the face and upper body of the man in the bed with a cool moist rag. He stood when they came in, and passed by Kouji. They exchanged sad looks and the man mouthed, 'not long now.' Kouji nodded and watched him go.
Myst had walked forward to kneel by the bed. Hakurou was drenched on sweat, his dark hair a snarled waist-length mass. His eyes were shrunken and his skin was a pasty yellow-gray color. His breath was raspy and caught as he struggled to force it passed his cracked and parted lips. His once handsome face was twisted weakly in the pain that racked his body. One could tell that he would most likely not last the night.
Myst brushed some wet, dirty, tangles out of his face and took his hand, much like she had for Nuriko. Hakurou sighed and finally won the struggle to crack open weak eyes that were crusted shut with the blood that was leaking from them. He focused on her as he began to speak. "It has been a long time since I have felt the gentle touch of a woman."
Myst smiled warmly and dabbed a cloth by the bed to his lips. It came away spotted with the blood that came from his simple whisper. "It will not be your last Hakurou. This is our gift to you."
On cue, Mitsukake knelt next to her and lifted his left hand above the dying man. He shut his eyes and groaned a little as green light enveloped Hakurou. When the light finally fade, Mitsukake put his hand to his head and swayed.
Myst slowly guided him to lay on the floor. She kissed her seishi's forehead and ruffled the furry head of the cat that popped out of his shirt. "That took more out of you than I thought. Just rest now and thank you. You did such a good job Mits."
Mitsukake nodded and closed his eyes. Myst turned back to the wide-eyed Hakurou who was now struggling to sit up and helped him sit the rest of the way up.
Kouji who had been watching from a corner ran up with a happy exclamation. "Boss!"
Myst smiled and kept her hand on Hakurou's back. "How do you feel?"
Hakurou let out a hushed but clear whisper. "It's gone. The pain. for the first time in years, it's gone!" He looked over at her with relief and gratitude practically dripping from his swiftly coloring features. "Who are you, and how can I ever thank you?"
Myst shook her head and kept smiling. "No thanks is needed. No debt is owed. The only thing I really want from you is your friendship."
He clasped her forearms as she clasped his. "You have it. If you or any of your friends ever has a need, come to me and I shall do ten above my best. Now may I know your name sweat lady?"
Myst smiled. "Now that's a charmer wit if I ever heard one. My name is Seishuku Mistyc. My friends call me Myst and I am Suzaku no Miko."
Hakurou nodded and still being weak, leaned back against the pillows. Kouji finally stammered to life again. "Holy shit! Then aren't you the Empress too?! Aren't you afraid that we might turn on you and ransom you back to the Emperor?"
Myst shook her head. "Two things. No, because I have Hakurou's word and I know that he is an honorable man. Plus that would be a little hard to do since you have my husband tied up in the other room."
Kouji blanched and backed quickly out of the room. "Scuse me boss. I just thought of somethin' we can use those ropes for and don't worry, I'll keep shut 'bout who they are."
The two smirked as he left. Hakurou nodded to the sleeping man on the floor. "He had a symbol on his hand. He is one of your seishi?"
Myst nodded. "His name is Mitsukake and you just witnessed his healing ability."
"Is he all right?"
"Yes. Healing takes a lot out of him. He has only enough strength to do it once in a day. He'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Now thanks to you so will I."
Myst blush and he continued. "May I ask you something Miko-sama? I heard rumor that their is an heir. Is it so? Have you a son?"
Myst straitened up proudly. "Yep! You heard it right my man. A beautiful boy named Boushin. He's as beautiful as his father and as far as we can tell right now, a mix of our temperaments. Thank god he also has his father's patients."
Well if his father is the man who just walked in, then the child-prince is very beautiful indeed."
Myst turned around to see. "GYAA! God Hotohori!" She smacked him in the leg. "Fuck! For a second I thought I was being attacked by a big red blot! I just turn around and there's a big fucking leg in my face! Make some fucking noise when you walk damnit, or next time I just might be forced to kick the shit out of you!"
Hotohori smiled and put his hand on her head. "That's quite a mouth my love. You fit right in here."
Myst waved him off. "Ah, shut up and sit down. Hotohori, this is Hakurou, leader of the Mt. Reikaku bandits. Hakurou, my husband, the Suzaku seishi Hotohori.
Hakurou nodded his head. "Your Majesty. It is an honor that you and your wife should grace this mountain with this visit."
Hotohori nodded and the rest of the seishi walked in.
Hakurou looked passed Hotohori to see them. "Who are they? More seishi I assume?"
Myst nodded. "The tall one is Tamahome, the short cute one is Nuriko, and the blue-haired monk helping Mitsukake is Chichiri." She smiled when Hakurou yawned. "Right now I think it would be better if all of us, especially you got some rest. Kouji promised us some rooms that we could share, so I think we'll go check on that. Why don't we say goodnight and talk more tomorrow. I also can't wait to see the look on your men's faces when you walk down there well tomorrow.
Hakurou chuckled as he settled back down into the bed. "That will be interesting for me as well. Goodnight then Miko-sama, and thank you all once again."
With that and her kiss to his still sweaty forehead they all left leading and lending support to an exhausted Mitsukake.
**********
Myst smiled as she brushed through the long, damp, clean, hair. "I do this for Hotohori sometimes. He really likes it."
Hakurou's eyes were closed and he had a look of calm pleasure on his now healthy face. "I can see why Miko-sama, you have very gentle hands."
"Well, if I'm not mad at you anyway." She chuckled. "Hand me that leather hair-tie would you?"
He opened his rich, brown eyes and handed the requested tie over his shoulder.
Myst pulled his hair back and tied it at the nape of his neck, save for a thick lock of his bangs that she let go. She smiled and met his eyes in the mirror over his shoulder. "A very handsome man. If I wasn't married, and happily I might add, I might just hit on you."
He reached up and kissed her hand. "As would I Empress."
She smiled as he stood. He was taller than Hotohori and quite striking in his garb. He carried the air of a confident strong leader about him.
"Thank you Hakurou. I only have a favor to ask you. Please don't tell your men Hotohori's or my status other than Miko and seishi. If they don't know exactly who we are, the better." She tilted her head then, and listened. She signaled for Hakurou to wait quietly as she walked to the side of the door and slid it open.
Hotohori, Tamahome, and Nuriko all fell at her feet. Myst planted her hands on her hips. "A fine thing, when the leaders and higher-ups of the country are reduced to spies and casual peeping toms."
The three picked themselves up and looked sheepishly at their Miko. Hotohori was the first to speak. "We just wanted to see what you were doing."
She shook her head and grinned. "Yeah, well I've learned a thing or two in my short life time about that. One: it is a tad difficult to see into a room while your ear is pressed against the closed door. Two: since you will in fact not seep through said door simply by leaning against it, you must actually open said door to enter said room. This is your brain." she made a lude hand gesture, "this is your brain on drugs." She clasped her hands together. "Any questions?"
They all turned as Hakurou's rich laughter filled the room. He walked over to them with no sign that he had ever been ill. "I have never seen or heard a woman act or speak in such a way. You are truly from another world and truly refreshing to have in company. I assure you Your Majesty, she was simply helping me untangle my hair. She is very good at it and her hands are very gentle. Thank you lady." He bowed and kissed Myst's hand. "Well, shall we go down for breakfast? I am eager to be among my men again after so long of being ill."
Myst nodded "Why not. That is." She buried both hands in Hotohori's hair and laced her fingers behind his neck, pressing up against him and kissing him soundly. "If my beloved husband is not too jealous to walk strait."
Hotohori blushed and Nuriko laughed and patted Myst on the back. "Looks like you hit the nail strait on. Anyway, I'm starved, shall we go?" He hooked his arm through Hakurou's and smiled up at the handsome bandit leader.
Hakurou smiled back at the purple-haired beauty. "Well shall beautiful one, but I think you might be happy on the arm of a woman perhaps? However it is very tempting to 'forget' that you are a man. As beautiful as you are, it would be hard to tell."
Nuriko's mouth opened in shock, then he looked at Myst and whined. "Myst! You told!"
Myst smiled and hooked her arm lovingly around Nuriko's tiny waist. "Yes I did Little Love. You should be happy though! This just goes to show that I can't stop talking about you. You're more than my best friend and I love you so much!" She hugged him and kissed his lips. They held the kiss and when they finally broke they stayed in each others arms with foreheads touching and eyes closed.
Hakurou leaned over at Hotohori who was smiling at the two. "You are not worried about this your Majesty?"
Hotohori answered in his calm smooth voice. "No. It is a different kind of love than she has with me. Maybe in a way stronger, but not romantic. Not quite. Nuriko is very special to her and has been since the very beginning. It gives me no end to joy to see them like this. He has become very special to me as well."
Tamahome took this opportunity to speak up. "I think these three might even be closer than the rest of us."
Hakurou turned a slightly confused eye to Tamahome now. "And that fact doesn't bother you?"
Tamahome shook his head. "Not at all. We are all equally and strongly close. Bound and tied by the bond of Suzaku, but something just a little stronger seems to pull them together. Maybe their shared age, maybe not. I don't think they'll ever get tired of each others company. Whereas the rest of us in time, might."
Hakurou shook his head. "Well, after you." He motioned to the door and this snapped the two snugglers out of their little world.
Nuriko shook his head al pushed Hakurou out the door first and down the hall. "Nu uh! This is your day. You're the star! You go first!"
Hakurou smiled and nodded. They were joined in the hall by Chichiri and Mitsukake. Hakurou stopped and put his hand on Mitsukake's shoulder. "I owe you much Mitsukake. If there is anything I can to for you, anything you ever need, you have but to call on me. I owe you my life and I will repay you any way I can."
Mitsukake shook his head. "If I don't use these powers to help other people, what good are they? Moreover, what good would I be as a doctor? You're thanks are taken gratefully, but not needed. I just thank you for helping the Miko."
Hakurou nodded. "Well, spoken! Let us continue. I am eager to see my men."
Myst patted him on the back. "And their reactions."
He laughed. "Indeed."
They trekked once more down the hallway, Hakurou in the lead, Myst behind him on his left and Hotohori beside her on his right, Nuriko behind Myst and Tamahome beside him, with Mitsukake and Chichiri behind them.
**********
A.N.: YAY! Chapter seventeen is now done! COOL NO DA!!!!! Well, can't type much. gotta go. JA NE NA NO DA!!!!! Keep reading and enjoy!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman
They looked at the two big doors in front of them. "Knock knock. Who's there? It's Kouji with something really important to show the boss. I hope he doesn't mind. Oh no Kouji come right in but be quiet. Thank you."
Mitsukake just stared at Kouji and Myst smiled as he opened the doors. They walked quietly into the room. Another bandit was sitting by the bed bathing the face and upper body of the man in the bed with a cool moist rag. He stood when they came in, and passed by Kouji. They exchanged sad looks and the man mouthed, 'not long now.' Kouji nodded and watched him go.
Myst had walked forward to kneel by the bed. Hakurou was drenched on sweat, his dark hair a snarled waist-length mass. His eyes were shrunken and his skin was a pasty yellow-gray color. His breath was raspy and caught as he struggled to force it passed his cracked and parted lips. His once handsome face was twisted weakly in the pain that racked his body. One could tell that he would most likely not last the night.
Myst brushed some wet, dirty, tangles out of his face and took his hand, much like she had for Nuriko. Hakurou sighed and finally won the struggle to crack open weak eyes that were crusted shut with the blood that was leaking from them. He focused on her as he began to speak. "It has been a long time since I have felt the gentle touch of a woman."
Myst smiled warmly and dabbed a cloth by the bed to his lips. It came away spotted with the blood that came from his simple whisper. "It will not be your last Hakurou. This is our gift to you."
On cue, Mitsukake knelt next to her and lifted his left hand above the dying man. He shut his eyes and groaned a little as green light enveloped Hakurou. When the light finally fade, Mitsukake put his hand to his head and swayed.
Myst slowly guided him to lay on the floor. She kissed her seishi's forehead and ruffled the furry head of the cat that popped out of his shirt. "That took more out of you than I thought. Just rest now and thank you. You did such a good job Mits."
Mitsukake nodded and closed his eyes. Myst turned back to the wide-eyed Hakurou who was now struggling to sit up and helped him sit the rest of the way up.
Kouji who had been watching from a corner ran up with a happy exclamation. "Boss!"
Myst smiled and kept her hand on Hakurou's back. "How do you feel?"
Hakurou let out a hushed but clear whisper. "It's gone. The pain. for the first time in years, it's gone!" He looked over at her with relief and gratitude practically dripping from his swiftly coloring features. "Who are you, and how can I ever thank you?"
Myst shook her head and kept smiling. "No thanks is needed. No debt is owed. The only thing I really want from you is your friendship."
He clasped her forearms as she clasped his. "You have it. If you or any of your friends ever has a need, come to me and I shall do ten above my best. Now may I know your name sweat lady?"
Myst smiled. "Now that's a charmer wit if I ever heard one. My name is Seishuku Mistyc. My friends call me Myst and I am Suzaku no Miko."
Hakurou nodded and still being weak, leaned back against the pillows. Kouji finally stammered to life again. "Holy shit! Then aren't you the Empress too?! Aren't you afraid that we might turn on you and ransom you back to the Emperor?"
Myst shook her head. "Two things. No, because I have Hakurou's word and I know that he is an honorable man. Plus that would be a little hard to do since you have my husband tied up in the other room."
Kouji blanched and backed quickly out of the room. "Scuse me boss. I just thought of somethin' we can use those ropes for and don't worry, I'll keep shut 'bout who they are."
The two smirked as he left. Hakurou nodded to the sleeping man on the floor. "He had a symbol on his hand. He is one of your seishi?"
Myst nodded. "His name is Mitsukake and you just witnessed his healing ability."
"Is he all right?"
"Yes. Healing takes a lot out of him. He has only enough strength to do it once in a day. He'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Now thanks to you so will I."
Myst blush and he continued. "May I ask you something Miko-sama? I heard rumor that their is an heir. Is it so? Have you a son?"
Myst straitened up proudly. "Yep! You heard it right my man. A beautiful boy named Boushin. He's as beautiful as his father and as far as we can tell right now, a mix of our temperaments. Thank god he also has his father's patients."
Well if his father is the man who just walked in, then the child-prince is very beautiful indeed."
Myst turned around to see. "GYAA! God Hotohori!" She smacked him in the leg. "Fuck! For a second I thought I was being attacked by a big red blot! I just turn around and there's a big fucking leg in my face! Make some fucking noise when you walk damnit, or next time I just might be forced to kick the shit out of you!"
Hotohori smiled and put his hand on her head. "That's quite a mouth my love. You fit right in here."
Myst waved him off. "Ah, shut up and sit down. Hotohori, this is Hakurou, leader of the Mt. Reikaku bandits. Hakurou, my husband, the Suzaku seishi Hotohori.
Hakurou nodded his head. "Your Majesty. It is an honor that you and your wife should grace this mountain with this visit."
Hotohori nodded and the rest of the seishi walked in.
Hakurou looked passed Hotohori to see them. "Who are they? More seishi I assume?"
Myst nodded. "The tall one is Tamahome, the short cute one is Nuriko, and the blue-haired monk helping Mitsukake is Chichiri." She smiled when Hakurou yawned. "Right now I think it would be better if all of us, especially you got some rest. Kouji promised us some rooms that we could share, so I think we'll go check on that. Why don't we say goodnight and talk more tomorrow. I also can't wait to see the look on your men's faces when you walk down there well tomorrow.
Hakurou chuckled as he settled back down into the bed. "That will be interesting for me as well. Goodnight then Miko-sama, and thank you all once again."
With that and her kiss to his still sweaty forehead they all left leading and lending support to an exhausted Mitsukake.
**********
Myst smiled as she brushed through the long, damp, clean, hair. "I do this for Hotohori sometimes. He really likes it."
Hakurou's eyes were closed and he had a look of calm pleasure on his now healthy face. "I can see why Miko-sama, you have very gentle hands."
"Well, if I'm not mad at you anyway." She chuckled. "Hand me that leather hair-tie would you?"
He opened his rich, brown eyes and handed the requested tie over his shoulder.
Myst pulled his hair back and tied it at the nape of his neck, save for a thick lock of his bangs that she let go. She smiled and met his eyes in the mirror over his shoulder. "A very handsome man. If I wasn't married, and happily I might add, I might just hit on you."
He reached up and kissed her hand. "As would I Empress."
She smiled as he stood. He was taller than Hotohori and quite striking in his garb. He carried the air of a confident strong leader about him.
"Thank you Hakurou. I only have a favor to ask you. Please don't tell your men Hotohori's or my status other than Miko and seishi. If they don't know exactly who we are, the better." She tilted her head then, and listened. She signaled for Hakurou to wait quietly as she walked to the side of the door and slid it open.
Hotohori, Tamahome, and Nuriko all fell at her feet. Myst planted her hands on her hips. "A fine thing, when the leaders and higher-ups of the country are reduced to spies and casual peeping toms."
The three picked themselves up and looked sheepishly at their Miko. Hotohori was the first to speak. "We just wanted to see what you were doing."
She shook her head and grinned. "Yeah, well I've learned a thing or two in my short life time about that. One: it is a tad difficult to see into a room while your ear is pressed against the closed door. Two: since you will in fact not seep through said door simply by leaning against it, you must actually open said door to enter said room. This is your brain." she made a lude hand gesture, "this is your brain on drugs." She clasped her hands together. "Any questions?"
They all turned as Hakurou's rich laughter filled the room. He walked over to them with no sign that he had ever been ill. "I have never seen or heard a woman act or speak in such a way. You are truly from another world and truly refreshing to have in company. I assure you Your Majesty, she was simply helping me untangle my hair. She is very good at it and her hands are very gentle. Thank you lady." He bowed and kissed Myst's hand. "Well, shall we go down for breakfast? I am eager to be among my men again after so long of being ill."
Myst nodded "Why not. That is." She buried both hands in Hotohori's hair and laced her fingers behind his neck, pressing up against him and kissing him soundly. "If my beloved husband is not too jealous to walk strait."
Hotohori blushed and Nuriko laughed and patted Myst on the back. "Looks like you hit the nail strait on. Anyway, I'm starved, shall we go?" He hooked his arm through Hakurou's and smiled up at the handsome bandit leader.
Hakurou smiled back at the purple-haired beauty. "Well shall beautiful one, but I think you might be happy on the arm of a woman perhaps? However it is very tempting to 'forget' that you are a man. As beautiful as you are, it would be hard to tell."
Nuriko's mouth opened in shock, then he looked at Myst and whined. "Myst! You told!"
Myst smiled and hooked her arm lovingly around Nuriko's tiny waist. "Yes I did Little Love. You should be happy though! This just goes to show that I can't stop talking about you. You're more than my best friend and I love you so much!" She hugged him and kissed his lips. They held the kiss and when they finally broke they stayed in each others arms with foreheads touching and eyes closed.
Hakurou leaned over at Hotohori who was smiling at the two. "You are not worried about this your Majesty?"
Hotohori answered in his calm smooth voice. "No. It is a different kind of love than she has with me. Maybe in a way stronger, but not romantic. Not quite. Nuriko is very special to her and has been since the very beginning. It gives me no end to joy to see them like this. He has become very special to me as well."
Tamahome took this opportunity to speak up. "I think these three might even be closer than the rest of us."
Hakurou turned a slightly confused eye to Tamahome now. "And that fact doesn't bother you?"
Tamahome shook his head. "Not at all. We are all equally and strongly close. Bound and tied by the bond of Suzaku, but something just a little stronger seems to pull them together. Maybe their shared age, maybe not. I don't think they'll ever get tired of each others company. Whereas the rest of us in time, might."
Hakurou shook his head. "Well, after you." He motioned to the door and this snapped the two snugglers out of their little world.
Nuriko shook his head al pushed Hakurou out the door first and down the hall. "Nu uh! This is your day. You're the star! You go first!"
Hakurou smiled and nodded. They were joined in the hall by Chichiri and Mitsukake. Hakurou stopped and put his hand on Mitsukake's shoulder. "I owe you much Mitsukake. If there is anything I can to for you, anything you ever need, you have but to call on me. I owe you my life and I will repay you any way I can."
Mitsukake shook his head. "If I don't use these powers to help other people, what good are they? Moreover, what good would I be as a doctor? You're thanks are taken gratefully, but not needed. I just thank you for helping the Miko."
Hakurou nodded. "Well, spoken! Let us continue. I am eager to see my men."
Myst patted him on the back. "And their reactions."
He laughed. "Indeed."
They trekked once more down the hallway, Hakurou in the lead, Myst behind him on his left and Hotohori beside her on his right, Nuriko behind Myst and Tamahome beside him, with Mitsukake and Chichiri behind them.
**********
A.N.: YAY! Chapter seventeen is now done! COOL NO DA!!!!! Well, can't type much. gotta go. JA NE NA NO DA!!!!! Keep reading and enjoy!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman