~An American Miko~
Weakness & Clarity
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The picnic was over and the big group was heading back into the palace as the sun began to set. Myst carried Boushin and leaned against Hakurou since Hotohori had developed a headache shortly before the end of the picnic. That was part of the reason they had not stayed to watch the sunset.
They spoke in soft laughing voices with each other, all of them happy to see Myst doing so well. Myst was happy especially since she could see that Amiboshi had been fully embraced for who he was. They had all firmly bonded with him and would give their lives for him as they would each other.
The Empress stopped suddenly and snapped her fingers. "I forgot Boushin's hat outside!"
Hotohori looked back at her with a pained crease between his brows. "We can have one of the servants fetch it."
Myst shook her head. "No, it's all right. I can easily go get it. I want to walk a little longer anyway."
Hotohori was about to protest when Hakurou wrapped his arm around Mistyc's shoulders for support. "I'll walk with her Your Majesty."
Hotohori looked at them for a moment longer in silence, then nodded his head once. "Very well. Thank you my friend. Only there and back Mistyc."
Myst nodded and kissed his cheek then added playfully, "Yes father. It's what I had intended anyway. You go and lay down my lover. I'll be there in a little bit."
Hakurou and Myst, still carrying the little prince turned and walked back the other way. The seishi turned back the way they had been heading before Myst stopped and began walking again. A little ways ahead the stopped and looked back again as Chichiri said, "Kotoku? Is there something wrong no da?"
The young seishi was still standing where Myst had left them and was still looking back the way that the Empress and bandit leader had gone. He looked back at the group and shrugged. "I guess I just feel a little uneasy is all. I'll just walk it off. You guy go on ahead."
Mitsukake spoke up at this. "Just don't overdo it. You still have a lot of energy to gain back. If you feel tired or lightheaded then take a break."
Kotoku nodded and began hobbling along leaning greatly on his staff and already looking a little tired.
The other seishi shrugged it off to nerves and began walking again.
**********
Myst and Hakurou were talking quietly about odds and ends when they reached the now vacant pond area. Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was Suzaku's divine intervention. Whatever it was that made Myst bend to pick up Boushin's hat at that moment saved bother her and her son's lives.
Myst felt something whiz over her head and had the good sense to drop the rest of the way. Hakurou, however, was not so lucky. Myst clutched her baby to her and looked up at her friend who was making pained grunting noises. She gasped as she saw that he was lifted off the ground by what looked like living rope.
Hakurou's body was wrapped tightly as he struggled. His strong arms were trapped at his sides and he was gagged by a bit of the rope between his teeth. His struggles seemed to be getting weaker by the moment and Myst saw why. The cord trailed around his neck and tightened with every breath.
"Hakurou!" Myst's cry sounded as she stood and began tugging at the cord with one hand as she held her child in the other. The cord tightened in response and Hakurou's head fell forward at the pain, his struggles all but ceasing.
Myst looked up into her handsome friend's eyes as the light in them slowly dimmed. She shook her head and turned to follow where the cord lead to a person in the shadows. She screamed, "I am Empress Seishuku Mistyc, Suzaku no Miko! I am the one you want! Let this man go!"
The sun flashed bright for a moment then the light dimmed as it set in the west. Myst heard a somewhat familiar voice shout, "Very well Empress! Then I shall take you!" With that the weapon of sorts fell away and Hakurou crumbled bonelessly to the ground.
Myst knelt and checked on him. He was breathing but it was labored and there was a dark red mark circling his pale throat. Myst then heard something else that froze her blood.
"Now I will take your life and the life of your whelp as well. Then there will be no heir to threaten my country!"
Myst jumped up and out of the way, holding her son protectively. "That was not in the deal! Who are you?!" The young man stepped out of the shadows and Myst gasped. "Suboshi!"
This seemed to emblazon his anger and he flung his hand up over his head. Myst could now clearly see the weapon that had been wrapped around Hakurou was a ryuuseisui. It whipped around him and his arm like a writing snake.
Myst went on. "Your brother said that your ability was telekinesis."
Suboshi screamed at her in rage. "Did you torture that out of him too? How long did he suffer?!"
Myst shook her head and dove out of the way as he whipped his hand down and the ryuuseisui shot at her. "You don't understand! He didn't suffer! He's not dead! He's very healthy!"
"Liar!" He sent his weapon back at her and this time she was too slow.
She tripped over the cord and twisted in the air to land on her back so as not to crush Boushin. Her headdress was long gone and her hair was in snarls.
Suboshi stood over her now and lifted his hand again. The word slid out of his mouth with venom. "Die."
Myst barely surprised him and sweep-kicked his feet out from under him. She slowly got to her weary feet and tried to run.
Suboshi was up again and was about to sling the ryuuseisui again when he heard a voice so like his own shout, "NO!" Suboshi looked and saw his brother standing there looking the worse for wear since he had hurried to get there.
He looked on the verge of collapse as he leaned heavily on his staff and panted for breath. "Brother, stop this..." Suddenly his knees gave out and he dropped down to kneel still leaning heavily on the staff.
Suboshi's eyes flashed and he looked back at Myst. "What have you done to him?"
"Nothing! I haven't done anything to him! You don't understand!"
"Shut up! I see what you've done to him!"
Kotoku cried out, "Shun-chan! Stop!"
"I will Aniki! I'll stop her right now!"
Myst saw no way out this time and she turned her back to Suboshi, clutching her child to her, hoping to protect him with her life and body. The poor little thing was screaming his lungs out. Myst closed her eyes and waited. She heard one or both of the twins scream "No!" though it sounded like and echo with one falling slightly behind the other. She felt arms wrap tightly around her and a weight fall onto her back. She looked over her shoulder and thought at first that it was Suboshi, then he opened his eyes and looked into hers and she knew those eyes in an instant.
"Empress, are you alright?" Kotoku asked.
Myst nodded and then they both looked over Kotoku's shoulder as a quiet voice spoke.
"Why. why did you do that? Aniki, why risk your life for the enemy?"
"Because Ototo, she's not my enemy. She's my friend and she once risked her life for me, knowing already who I was. She." He wobbled a little and to keep him from falling over completely Myst wrapped her arm around his shoulders and brought him to lean against her. He did so gratefully and smiled over at Boushin who was still in the other arm. He looked back at a confused Suboshi and continued. "She knew exactly who I was and she almost died."
Amiboshi went on to tell his brother what had happened over the last month and a half and about Nakago's threats. To Suboshi's even greater astonishment, Myst had Kotoku lie in her lap and hold Boushin in one arm while she ripped the expensive silk sleeve of her robes and bound the deep wound on Kotoku's arm made by the ryuuseisui from when he had jumped in front of Myst.
Suboshi had by now come to kneel beside his brother, but his weapon still whipped wildly around him. "Does she mean that much to you brother?"
Kotoku smiled. "They all do. Shun, they're nothing like the Seiryuu Seishi. They've shown and given me so much. We were all going to go and face off everyone in Kutou to get you once we were all back up to strength. I guess it didn't work out that way though. Mistyc and Saihitei are my sovereigns now. Saihitei is one of my fellow seishi, Hotohori. He treats me like an equal. They all do. Konan is my country and Myst is my miko. Please Shun, stay with us and learn what they all have taught me."
By now the rest of the Suzaku Seishi had arrived and Suboshi was a little more than apprehensive. Five of the six stood in a fighting stance while Tasuki went to check on Hakurou. Even Rouko was there, albeit he stood behind the rest. He had run after Nuriko when he had run back.
Tasuki stood after a moment and turned angrily to Suboshi who was once again on his feet and at a ready. "What did you do to him? What did you do?!" He raised one of his fists and took a step forward. "You come here and try to kill my friends, after all that we've done for your brother.!"
"Tasuki! Stop now!" All eyes turned to Myst as she now spoke quietly with her head down. "Enough Tasuki. He was pushed past all reason. He thought his brother; his other half was taken from him. Think about how close they are. Even now I know that Suboshi has a painful welt on his arm from where Kotoku's wound is."
Suboshi's head whipped around to face her at the familiar use of his brother's real name. She hadn't used it before in front of him. Not even all the Seiryuu Seishi knew their real names. "How do you know my brother's name?!"
Myst raised her head a little so that they could see the tears on her cheeks. "Because he's my friend."
Suboshi's eyes widened and the ryuuseisui finally fell to the ground. "You. you stop your Seishi from attacking when you are in danger and you cry for your enemy. Why? Who are you?"
Myst smiled through her tears at him. "I've seen the hidden light in his eyes that he now shows freely and openly. He's a good man who just wants to live in peace. He talks about you all the time. You've both lived only for each other for so long. It's not loyalty to Nakago or to your country that really drives you. Truly, it's love. I've seen the same light in your eyes just from this little time you've been in front of me. All this was only for your brother." She smiled and smiled down at Kotoku as well.
They both looked up at Suboshi who was kneeling again. All fight was now gone from the boy.
Myst continued as she looked into Suboshi's blue eyes. "As for who I am, I'm Myst. Just Myst. No one special or important."
All the seishi objected then. Hotohori was the first to step forward. "That's wrong! You are love!"
Nuriko joined him. "You are happiness."
Mitsukake, "You are life."
Tamahome, "You are hope."
Chichiri, "You are peace."
Tasuki, "You are forgiveness."
Rouko, "You are protection."
They turned to look when they heard sounds from Hakurou and saw him struggle to sit up as he rasped out, "You are loyalty."
Kotoku looked up at her and said, "You are family."
At that Suboshi closed his eyes and let tears slip out. He leaned over and touched his forehead to his brothers. "That much. She means that much to you brother?"
"That and so much more Shun. Stay with us. We can live here peacefully. Fight Nakago with us! Stay and see what it's like to be free and have a real life and family. People who trust and love you."
Myst ran a hand gently through the back of Suboshi's hair. "You won't be punished for anything that has happened here today. Hakurou is alive and will recover. Even now Tasuki is helping him to stand. You may leave whenever you like as long as it is not to betray us and you can stay as long as you'd like. You don't even have to join us in our fight. You were not chosen from birth by Suzaku, you are not bound to me as these Seishi are and as your brother has chosen to be. He is the same as the other Seishi and Hakurou and even Rouko and the Sou family. They are my family and I love them all. I will love you the same either way you choose to go. Just please don't hurt anyone else."
Suboshi looked up for a moment, then back down at his brother. "Do I? It's been so long. Can I trust her my Aniki? After all that's happened?"
Kotoku tipped his chin up and kissed his brother's lips gently. "Yes Ototo. They are the family we have been looking for, for so long."
Suboshi smiled and looked up again. He looked at each of them that were there. "Never have we trusted anyone since our parents deaths. My brother trusts you and so will I, though it may take some time to get used to it. Please, please forgive me."
Hotohori smiled. "I know Hakurou well enough to know that he has already forgiven you."
Hakurou nodded and Hotohori continued. "We welcome you."
Boushin chose that moment to let out a squeal and everyone looked down into Kotoku's arms. Myst smiled. "That's right my son. You have another uncle."
She looked up at Suboshi. "Would you like to be known among us by your seishi name or by your birth name?"
He thought for a moment and then answered, "Shunkaku. Like my brother I hold no more allegiance to Seiryuu or to Kutou. When I'm not fighting or using my abilities, I'm just another man."
Myst smiled. That's just what your brother said, and well said it is. Welcome, Bu Shunkaku, Suboshi, now of the Suzaku Seishi."
With that said, everyone welcomed him and helped the injured inside. Myst mused to herself. 'Your family, my family, is growing Suzaku. Chiriko is the next. There are many more too. The Sou family, the mountain bandits, Hakurou and even Rouko, now two of your brother's seishi as well are part of our family. Yes, finally I have the family I've always wanted.
**********
A.N.: AHA!!!!! I finally have the next chapter out no da!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Well, I'm sorry it took so long to get this one out, but I also promised that it would be up this week, so here it is!!! Thank you to all those who have stuck with me so far. I really LOVE all the reviews and I'm so flattered that so many people like this fic so much. Heck, that's why I'm still writing it. I don't write it for myself, I write it for all of you and I want to hear what you guys think of it. Keep reading and definitely keep reviewing! Like I said, if you leave an e-mail addy, I respond back to you!!! Luv Ya Lots!!! I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but I will be working on it!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman
The picnic was over and the big group was heading back into the palace as the sun began to set. Myst carried Boushin and leaned against Hakurou since Hotohori had developed a headache shortly before the end of the picnic. That was part of the reason they had not stayed to watch the sunset.
They spoke in soft laughing voices with each other, all of them happy to see Myst doing so well. Myst was happy especially since she could see that Amiboshi had been fully embraced for who he was. They had all firmly bonded with him and would give their lives for him as they would each other.
The Empress stopped suddenly and snapped her fingers. "I forgot Boushin's hat outside!"
Hotohori looked back at her with a pained crease between his brows. "We can have one of the servants fetch it."
Myst shook her head. "No, it's all right. I can easily go get it. I want to walk a little longer anyway."
Hotohori was about to protest when Hakurou wrapped his arm around Mistyc's shoulders for support. "I'll walk with her Your Majesty."
Hotohori looked at them for a moment longer in silence, then nodded his head once. "Very well. Thank you my friend. Only there and back Mistyc."
Myst nodded and kissed his cheek then added playfully, "Yes father. It's what I had intended anyway. You go and lay down my lover. I'll be there in a little bit."
Hakurou and Myst, still carrying the little prince turned and walked back the other way. The seishi turned back the way they had been heading before Myst stopped and began walking again. A little ways ahead the stopped and looked back again as Chichiri said, "Kotoku? Is there something wrong no da?"
The young seishi was still standing where Myst had left them and was still looking back the way that the Empress and bandit leader had gone. He looked back at the group and shrugged. "I guess I just feel a little uneasy is all. I'll just walk it off. You guy go on ahead."
Mitsukake spoke up at this. "Just don't overdo it. You still have a lot of energy to gain back. If you feel tired or lightheaded then take a break."
Kotoku nodded and began hobbling along leaning greatly on his staff and already looking a little tired.
The other seishi shrugged it off to nerves and began walking again.
**********
Myst and Hakurou were talking quietly about odds and ends when they reached the now vacant pond area. Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was Suzaku's divine intervention. Whatever it was that made Myst bend to pick up Boushin's hat at that moment saved bother her and her son's lives.
Myst felt something whiz over her head and had the good sense to drop the rest of the way. Hakurou, however, was not so lucky. Myst clutched her baby to her and looked up at her friend who was making pained grunting noises. She gasped as she saw that he was lifted off the ground by what looked like living rope.
Hakurou's body was wrapped tightly as he struggled. His strong arms were trapped at his sides and he was gagged by a bit of the rope between his teeth. His struggles seemed to be getting weaker by the moment and Myst saw why. The cord trailed around his neck and tightened with every breath.
"Hakurou!" Myst's cry sounded as she stood and began tugging at the cord with one hand as she held her child in the other. The cord tightened in response and Hakurou's head fell forward at the pain, his struggles all but ceasing.
Myst looked up into her handsome friend's eyes as the light in them slowly dimmed. She shook her head and turned to follow where the cord lead to a person in the shadows. She screamed, "I am Empress Seishuku Mistyc, Suzaku no Miko! I am the one you want! Let this man go!"
The sun flashed bright for a moment then the light dimmed as it set in the west. Myst heard a somewhat familiar voice shout, "Very well Empress! Then I shall take you!" With that the weapon of sorts fell away and Hakurou crumbled bonelessly to the ground.
Myst knelt and checked on him. He was breathing but it was labored and there was a dark red mark circling his pale throat. Myst then heard something else that froze her blood.
"Now I will take your life and the life of your whelp as well. Then there will be no heir to threaten my country!"
Myst jumped up and out of the way, holding her son protectively. "That was not in the deal! Who are you?!" The young man stepped out of the shadows and Myst gasped. "Suboshi!"
This seemed to emblazon his anger and he flung his hand up over his head. Myst could now clearly see the weapon that had been wrapped around Hakurou was a ryuuseisui. It whipped around him and his arm like a writing snake.
Myst went on. "Your brother said that your ability was telekinesis."
Suboshi screamed at her in rage. "Did you torture that out of him too? How long did he suffer?!"
Myst shook her head and dove out of the way as he whipped his hand down and the ryuuseisui shot at her. "You don't understand! He didn't suffer! He's not dead! He's very healthy!"
"Liar!" He sent his weapon back at her and this time she was too slow.
She tripped over the cord and twisted in the air to land on her back so as not to crush Boushin. Her headdress was long gone and her hair was in snarls.
Suboshi stood over her now and lifted his hand again. The word slid out of his mouth with venom. "Die."
Myst barely surprised him and sweep-kicked his feet out from under him. She slowly got to her weary feet and tried to run.
Suboshi was up again and was about to sling the ryuuseisui again when he heard a voice so like his own shout, "NO!" Suboshi looked and saw his brother standing there looking the worse for wear since he had hurried to get there.
He looked on the verge of collapse as he leaned heavily on his staff and panted for breath. "Brother, stop this..." Suddenly his knees gave out and he dropped down to kneel still leaning heavily on the staff.
Suboshi's eyes flashed and he looked back at Myst. "What have you done to him?"
"Nothing! I haven't done anything to him! You don't understand!"
"Shut up! I see what you've done to him!"
Kotoku cried out, "Shun-chan! Stop!"
"I will Aniki! I'll stop her right now!"
Myst saw no way out this time and she turned her back to Suboshi, clutching her child to her, hoping to protect him with her life and body. The poor little thing was screaming his lungs out. Myst closed her eyes and waited. She heard one or both of the twins scream "No!" though it sounded like and echo with one falling slightly behind the other. She felt arms wrap tightly around her and a weight fall onto her back. She looked over her shoulder and thought at first that it was Suboshi, then he opened his eyes and looked into hers and she knew those eyes in an instant.
"Empress, are you alright?" Kotoku asked.
Myst nodded and then they both looked over Kotoku's shoulder as a quiet voice spoke.
"Why. why did you do that? Aniki, why risk your life for the enemy?"
"Because Ototo, she's not my enemy. She's my friend and she once risked her life for me, knowing already who I was. She." He wobbled a little and to keep him from falling over completely Myst wrapped her arm around his shoulders and brought him to lean against her. He did so gratefully and smiled over at Boushin who was still in the other arm. He looked back at a confused Suboshi and continued. "She knew exactly who I was and she almost died."
Amiboshi went on to tell his brother what had happened over the last month and a half and about Nakago's threats. To Suboshi's even greater astonishment, Myst had Kotoku lie in her lap and hold Boushin in one arm while she ripped the expensive silk sleeve of her robes and bound the deep wound on Kotoku's arm made by the ryuuseisui from when he had jumped in front of Myst.
Suboshi had by now come to kneel beside his brother, but his weapon still whipped wildly around him. "Does she mean that much to you brother?"
Kotoku smiled. "They all do. Shun, they're nothing like the Seiryuu Seishi. They've shown and given me so much. We were all going to go and face off everyone in Kutou to get you once we were all back up to strength. I guess it didn't work out that way though. Mistyc and Saihitei are my sovereigns now. Saihitei is one of my fellow seishi, Hotohori. He treats me like an equal. They all do. Konan is my country and Myst is my miko. Please Shun, stay with us and learn what they all have taught me."
By now the rest of the Suzaku Seishi had arrived and Suboshi was a little more than apprehensive. Five of the six stood in a fighting stance while Tasuki went to check on Hakurou. Even Rouko was there, albeit he stood behind the rest. He had run after Nuriko when he had run back.
Tasuki stood after a moment and turned angrily to Suboshi who was once again on his feet and at a ready. "What did you do to him? What did you do?!" He raised one of his fists and took a step forward. "You come here and try to kill my friends, after all that we've done for your brother.!"
"Tasuki! Stop now!" All eyes turned to Myst as she now spoke quietly with her head down. "Enough Tasuki. He was pushed past all reason. He thought his brother; his other half was taken from him. Think about how close they are. Even now I know that Suboshi has a painful welt on his arm from where Kotoku's wound is."
Suboshi's head whipped around to face her at the familiar use of his brother's real name. She hadn't used it before in front of him. Not even all the Seiryuu Seishi knew their real names. "How do you know my brother's name?!"
Myst raised her head a little so that they could see the tears on her cheeks. "Because he's my friend."
Suboshi's eyes widened and the ryuuseisui finally fell to the ground. "You. you stop your Seishi from attacking when you are in danger and you cry for your enemy. Why? Who are you?"
Myst smiled through her tears at him. "I've seen the hidden light in his eyes that he now shows freely and openly. He's a good man who just wants to live in peace. He talks about you all the time. You've both lived only for each other for so long. It's not loyalty to Nakago or to your country that really drives you. Truly, it's love. I've seen the same light in your eyes just from this little time you've been in front of me. All this was only for your brother." She smiled and smiled down at Kotoku as well.
They both looked up at Suboshi who was kneeling again. All fight was now gone from the boy.
Myst continued as she looked into Suboshi's blue eyes. "As for who I am, I'm Myst. Just Myst. No one special or important."
All the seishi objected then. Hotohori was the first to step forward. "That's wrong! You are love!"
Nuriko joined him. "You are happiness."
Mitsukake, "You are life."
Tamahome, "You are hope."
Chichiri, "You are peace."
Tasuki, "You are forgiveness."
Rouko, "You are protection."
They turned to look when they heard sounds from Hakurou and saw him struggle to sit up as he rasped out, "You are loyalty."
Kotoku looked up at her and said, "You are family."
At that Suboshi closed his eyes and let tears slip out. He leaned over and touched his forehead to his brothers. "That much. She means that much to you brother?"
"That and so much more Shun. Stay with us. We can live here peacefully. Fight Nakago with us! Stay and see what it's like to be free and have a real life and family. People who trust and love you."
Myst ran a hand gently through the back of Suboshi's hair. "You won't be punished for anything that has happened here today. Hakurou is alive and will recover. Even now Tasuki is helping him to stand. You may leave whenever you like as long as it is not to betray us and you can stay as long as you'd like. You don't even have to join us in our fight. You were not chosen from birth by Suzaku, you are not bound to me as these Seishi are and as your brother has chosen to be. He is the same as the other Seishi and Hakurou and even Rouko and the Sou family. They are my family and I love them all. I will love you the same either way you choose to go. Just please don't hurt anyone else."
Suboshi looked up for a moment, then back down at his brother. "Do I? It's been so long. Can I trust her my Aniki? After all that's happened?"
Kotoku tipped his chin up and kissed his brother's lips gently. "Yes Ototo. They are the family we have been looking for, for so long."
Suboshi smiled and looked up again. He looked at each of them that were there. "Never have we trusted anyone since our parents deaths. My brother trusts you and so will I, though it may take some time to get used to it. Please, please forgive me."
Hotohori smiled. "I know Hakurou well enough to know that he has already forgiven you."
Hakurou nodded and Hotohori continued. "We welcome you."
Boushin chose that moment to let out a squeal and everyone looked down into Kotoku's arms. Myst smiled. "That's right my son. You have another uncle."
She looked up at Suboshi. "Would you like to be known among us by your seishi name or by your birth name?"
He thought for a moment and then answered, "Shunkaku. Like my brother I hold no more allegiance to Seiryuu or to Kutou. When I'm not fighting or using my abilities, I'm just another man."
Myst smiled. That's just what your brother said, and well said it is. Welcome, Bu Shunkaku, Suboshi, now of the Suzaku Seishi."
With that said, everyone welcomed him and helped the injured inside. Myst mused to herself. 'Your family, my family, is growing Suzaku. Chiriko is the next. There are many more too. The Sou family, the mountain bandits, Hakurou and even Rouko, now two of your brother's seishi as well are part of our family. Yes, finally I have the family I've always wanted.
**********
A.N.: AHA!!!!! I finally have the next chapter out no da!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Well, I'm sorry it took so long to get this one out, but I also promised that it would be up this week, so here it is!!! Thank you to all those who have stuck with me so far. I really LOVE all the reviews and I'm so flattered that so many people like this fic so much. Heck, that's why I'm still writing it. I don't write it for myself, I write it for all of you and I want to hear what you guys think of it. Keep reading and definitely keep reviewing! Like I said, if you leave an e-mail addy, I respond back to you!!! Luv Ya Lots!!! I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but I will be working on it!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman