~An American Miko~
The Lash & Thoughts
Chapter Thirty-Three
Hotohori woke to a sharp kick to his back. When had he fallen asleep? He moaned at the pain in his face and body, and slowly opened eyes that were bruised and swollen from the broken nose. He looked up to see Nakago circling him slowly.
"So, Hotohori, Are we ready to be a little more respectful?"
Hotohori tried to sit up some, but failed. "You don't deserve my respect, or anyone else's." He gasped and cringed struggling for breath again as Nakago's foot slammed into his already bruised stomach.
Nakago grabbed him by the hair and hauled him up to his knees again, and then motioned to the guards he had brought down to the cell with him. He let go of Hotohori's hair as the guards grabbed hold of Hotohori themselves. The two first unwrapped the chain from around Hotohori's bruised throat, and then unlocked the shackles that bound his wrists.
The battered Emperor gasped in air and hung limp in their arms dizziness swept over his tired form.
One of the guards lifted Hotohori off his feet while the other brought his stiff arms up and once again secured his wrists tightly in shackles, this time that were hung from the ceiling. Hotohori's voice echoed in the cold dungeon, crying out as the one holding him up let go of him, letting his weight swing down on his already abused arms. The guards went next to his ankles and unshackled them, only to spread them slightly and secure them again in shackles chained to the floor. Finally they stepped out of the cell again.
Nakago circled his bound prey slowly. He watched Hotohori try to breathe deeply as he tried to ignore the new intense pain pulling at his arms and shoulders. He watched in pleasure as Hotohori whimpered and jerked when Nakago tore his silk robe clean from his body.
Nakago walked around to the front of his and Hotohori couldn't help but stare at the whip now in the blonde man's hands.
Nakago pushed the whip's handle under Hotohori's chin, forcing his captive to look at him. "My, what a mess I've made out of that once pretty face of yours. Now that I think about it, it doesn't really matter weather you give me your respect or not since it means nothing to me." Nakago stepped back. "I'll settle for you fear."
With that the whip came cracking down. Hotohori howled as a trail of fire and blood burned from his right collarbone and down across his heart, ending at the tender skin of his left waist. He gasped in breath as his body trembled with the new-felt pain of the lash. Not given time to get used to it, he screamed again as another lash fell, crossing the last and even landing across a nipple. Then the next fell, and another after that, and another. Finally there wasn't a part of his body, front back legs or arms, that wasn't crisscrossed and bloody from the whip.
How long did it last? His vision was graying and his body was almost too weak to tremble anymore. His throat was horse from screaming and the shackles on his wrists tore into the tender skin as his body weight pulled down. Finally, he realized that it had stopped. Not the pain, that seemed like it would never stop.
Hotohori slowly opened eyes bright and full of pain, and looked at Nakago. Blood dripped audibly from his body onto the floor in drips and rivulets. He tried to curse the blonde man before him, but all that came out was a pained whimper from his horse throat.
Nakago smiled again and trailed his hand through the blood on Hotohori's chest. "I wonder, how long will you be able to stand this?"
Hotohori, breathing heavily, still managed to glare at Nakago.
Nakago pulled his arm back and slapped Hotohori making his head snap to the side and his vision go gray for a moment as it jarred his broken nose.
When Hotohori could finally look at the blond again Nakago said, "If you hadn't guessed, I'm breaking in my new puppet. Soon you will kneel before me of your own free will."
Hotohori spat in his face again when this was said.
The mixed spit and blood hit Nakago's cheek and the Shogun's smile melted into an angry glare. He wiped the spit off his face as Hotohori spoke with venom.
"I will never bow or kneel before you. You are a foul dog and I..." He was cut off with a scream as Nakago brought the whip down again and again in anger. Finally, Hotohori stopped screaming.
Nakago sent the lash at him a few more times before stopping.
Hotohori hung limp in the shackles, his unbound, tangled hair clinging in some areas to his blood-covered body. His head hung and his eyes fluttered showing the whites.
Nakago stepped up to Hotohori and grabbed a handful of his filthy hair, pulling his head back. He looked at the bruised, bloody face and let the head drop again. He turned his own head and looked at one of the shadowed figures outside the cell. "He's unconscious. He lasted a lot longer than I expected. He didn't beg either. Perhaps next time I will let you try your hand at him. We'll see if he likes being burned."
The figure stepped into the light, the fire from the torch turning her already red hair into flames and glinting off her armor. Soi nodded. "Yes Lord Nakago. It would be an honor to assist you in breaking the will of a Suzaku Seishi."
Nakago smiled at her then nodded back at the guards, who came in and released Hotohori from the shackles letting him crumble in a heap to the blood-soaked floor. The poor man didn't even twitch.
Nakago walked out of the cell to stand beside Soi. "Keep him from dying, then bind him again. Force some honeyed water into him if you have to. We can't have him getting too weak now. Just enough to keep him a live and coherent. Clean up any messes he makes as well."
The guards saluted and the two Seiryuu Seishi walked together out of the dungeon.
*****
It seemed so peaceful. A breeze played across the otherwise still water and through Myst's unbound hair an the surrounding bushes and flowers, all in bloom for a final time that year, and yet all of the colorless to the Empress.
Myst sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them and her chin resting on her knees. She sat on a large rock bordering the large pond, or small lake, looking at the water without really seeing it.
Tasuki, Hakurou, and Chichiri stood on the walkway across the distance behind Myst, watching her. They watched as Nuriko walked out to her and sat beside her wrapping his arms around her. Only then did Myst move and lean against Nuriko.
The playful breeze turned mournful as it carried whispers of Myst's sobs to them. Tasuki leaned his elbows against the railing. "Che, damn. I wish I could do something. She pretends to be strong around us, but just breaks down when she's just with Nuriko. She won't even let me go with ya guys ta help. Damn that bastard Nakago!" He slammed his fist down on the railing.
Hakurou put a hand on Tasuki's shoulder. "Then why didn't you try harder to make her let you go like you normally would?"
Tasuki sighed. "Because she's right. I am a hothead, and she didn't need any shit from me right then. Che! Just look at her." He gestured out to Myst who was now in Nuriko's lap, fully clinging to him and sobbing in earnest. "I hate seeing her cry. Why did this have to happen to someone like her?"
Chichiri leaned back on the railing beside him and took his mask off. "Because we're seishi, and as such we are now in a war with enemy seishi. Myst is our Miko, our leader. They've taken the thing that means the most to her, trying to weaken her and us. With Hotohori being the Emperor as well, it's a double insult to both us and the country itself."
Hakurou nodded in agreement. "They underestimated all of us though. Myst is strong. So much stronger than anyone I've met. She only losses her head when alone of at appropriate times. She's disciplined as well. As she said, she grew up knowing a martial arts master. She's just the person to get Hotohori back. Then her heart will heal."
The other two nodded then they all looked back out at the other two by the water.
*****
Nuriko held Myst in his lap and rocked her. Her tears had stopped and she simply leaned against him. "Nuriko?"
"Hmm?"
"When we get him back we're all going on a vacation."
Nuriko chuckled and rubbed her back. "Sounds good to me dear-heart. Sounds good to me. I'm sure the others will have no problems with the idea either."
Myst smiled and closed her eyes as she relaxed against her best friend. "Has Hakurou been healed yet?"
Nuriko nodded and ran his fingers through her loose hair. "He has. Mitsukake is sleeping now to make sure he has enough strength for whatever may come tomorrow night."
Myst opened her eyes and sat up a little. "Tomorrow night. We're going to get him back tomorrow night. One more night without him. If Nakago has done anything to seriously hurt him, I swear I'll do my damnedest to bury that blonde fuck!"
Nuriko kissed her head soothingly. "I'll help you dig the grave. You and Hotohori accepted me when even most of my own family didn't. You two are my true family I've had in a long time and no one messes with my family!"
Myst laid her head back against Nuriko again and the two stayed like that for some time until one of the handmaidens came out to them and bowed.
"Your Highness?"
Myst looked up. "Yes Keisha?"
"Highness, lunch is ready."
"Thank you Keisha. We will all be there shortly."
The girl bowed and was off again.
Myst and Nuriko stood and walked side by side to the walkway where Hakurou, Tasuki, Chichiri and now Chiriko were waiting for them. Myst smiled at them. "Let's go get Boushin and the others."
They all nodded and headed off to Tamahome's family's rooms. Myst knocked on the door, and it was Rouko who answered. He seemed to have formed quite a friendship with the family and the children.
"Oh! Myst, come in." He stepped to the side and let the group in hugging his little brother briefly.
Myst smiled and knelt on the floor when the children came in the room, so they could exchange hugs with her. She hugged each of them and Yuiren asked, Are you still sad Myst?"
Myst smiled almost sadly at the innocent child. "Yes a little. Nothing a lot of hugs and another day won't fix Little-Wing."
With that all the children hugged her again. Myst stood as Tou-san, Tamahome, and the twins came in the room. She stepped out of the circle of children and made a beeline strait into Tou-san's outstretched arms.
The man who had become a father to her hugged her as if she was one of his daughters and kissed her cheek as she pulled away. "Are you sure you are all right my dear. Is there anything else I can do?"
Myst shook her head and smiled at him. "Your being here is enough, and I am fine. I'll be much better when this is over and Hotohori is back. Tou-san, I would be honored if you and all your children would join us for lunch and dinner in the great hall today."
Tou-san smiled and nodded. "It would be a pleasure my dear."
Myst smiled and the children cheered. Shunkaku stepped up and held Boushin, who was in his arms out to her. Myst reached over and pulled her son to her. "Oh... my sweet son, you look so much like your father. So beautiful."
Boushin grunted like only a baby can do and patted his mother's hair gently. Then he looked up into his mother's face with a wanting look. "Dada. Wan Dada."
Myst's face fell and she hugged him to her. "I know my son. I want your father too. I know you miss him. But you are so like him. So be strong for just a few more days. Your father will be here after that." With that she pulled away from him a little and kissed his cheek gently.
He smiled at her, so like his father that she had to struggle to stop her eyes from tearing up. "Well little one, shall we go eat?" Boushin stick his thumb in his mouth and nodded. "Okay. Are you little munchkins ready?" The children nodded and cheered as the whole group left the rooms.
They passed by Mitsukake's door and Myst stopped. She signaled for the children to be quiet and mouthed that she would be right back. She tapped lightly on the door and when she got no answer she opened it and slid inside with Boushin still in her arms.
The room was very dark, but light enough to see the large lump under the blankets. Myst walked over to the bed and gently brushed some of Mitsukake's loose bangs out of his face.
Mitsukake's features were softer and his hair looked really different when he wasn't wearing his headbands. His eyes fluttered open slowly and he grunted a little.
Myst spoke quietly smoothing his bangs back gently. "We're all going to lunch, do you want to join us or sleep some more?"
Mitsukake closed his eyes and yawned. "Sleep. Not hungry right now."
Myst nodded and kissed his temple gently, this kind of action something that all the seishi save maybe Chiriko had gotten used to. "All right. If you get hungry later, just send for something."
Myst looked over and noticed the gleaming eyes of Tama-neko on the wardrobe, looking a little hungry. "We're taking Tama-neko with us for a bite. Sleep well my friend."
"Mhm..." Mitsukake was already more than halfway back to sleep.
Myst walked to the wardrobe and turned one of her shoulders to it, looking up at the small cat. "C'mon Tama. There's a fish with your name on it."
Tama-neko meowed and jumped down to sit on her shoulder. Myst smiled at the cat and walked back outside where she rejoined the others, and together they all headed off to lunch.
**********
A.N.: AHHHHH! *ducks* Don't hurt me! I'm really not insane or some sort of torture freak... I love Hotohori! I really do! I just felt that I had to give them all a reason to eventually beat the living Shit out of Nakabitch. BTW... a warning for the future... the torture is going to get slightly worse. Not much and no nudity or anything nasty or stuff like that... after all, I do now have to keep it rated R. And there will be happiness at a later time. Well, I gotta go now, am still working on that art commission. Have work to do. Please review ne?!?!?!?!?!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman
Hotohori woke to a sharp kick to his back. When had he fallen asleep? He moaned at the pain in his face and body, and slowly opened eyes that were bruised and swollen from the broken nose. He looked up to see Nakago circling him slowly.
"So, Hotohori, Are we ready to be a little more respectful?"
Hotohori tried to sit up some, but failed. "You don't deserve my respect, or anyone else's." He gasped and cringed struggling for breath again as Nakago's foot slammed into his already bruised stomach.
Nakago grabbed him by the hair and hauled him up to his knees again, and then motioned to the guards he had brought down to the cell with him. He let go of Hotohori's hair as the guards grabbed hold of Hotohori themselves. The two first unwrapped the chain from around Hotohori's bruised throat, and then unlocked the shackles that bound his wrists.
The battered Emperor gasped in air and hung limp in their arms dizziness swept over his tired form.
One of the guards lifted Hotohori off his feet while the other brought his stiff arms up and once again secured his wrists tightly in shackles, this time that were hung from the ceiling. Hotohori's voice echoed in the cold dungeon, crying out as the one holding him up let go of him, letting his weight swing down on his already abused arms. The guards went next to his ankles and unshackled them, only to spread them slightly and secure them again in shackles chained to the floor. Finally they stepped out of the cell again.
Nakago circled his bound prey slowly. He watched Hotohori try to breathe deeply as he tried to ignore the new intense pain pulling at his arms and shoulders. He watched in pleasure as Hotohori whimpered and jerked when Nakago tore his silk robe clean from his body.
Nakago walked around to the front of his and Hotohori couldn't help but stare at the whip now in the blonde man's hands.
Nakago pushed the whip's handle under Hotohori's chin, forcing his captive to look at him. "My, what a mess I've made out of that once pretty face of yours. Now that I think about it, it doesn't really matter weather you give me your respect or not since it means nothing to me." Nakago stepped back. "I'll settle for you fear."
With that the whip came cracking down. Hotohori howled as a trail of fire and blood burned from his right collarbone and down across his heart, ending at the tender skin of his left waist. He gasped in breath as his body trembled with the new-felt pain of the lash. Not given time to get used to it, he screamed again as another lash fell, crossing the last and even landing across a nipple. Then the next fell, and another after that, and another. Finally there wasn't a part of his body, front back legs or arms, that wasn't crisscrossed and bloody from the whip.
How long did it last? His vision was graying and his body was almost too weak to tremble anymore. His throat was horse from screaming and the shackles on his wrists tore into the tender skin as his body weight pulled down. Finally, he realized that it had stopped. Not the pain, that seemed like it would never stop.
Hotohori slowly opened eyes bright and full of pain, and looked at Nakago. Blood dripped audibly from his body onto the floor in drips and rivulets. He tried to curse the blonde man before him, but all that came out was a pained whimper from his horse throat.
Nakago smiled again and trailed his hand through the blood on Hotohori's chest. "I wonder, how long will you be able to stand this?"
Hotohori, breathing heavily, still managed to glare at Nakago.
Nakago pulled his arm back and slapped Hotohori making his head snap to the side and his vision go gray for a moment as it jarred his broken nose.
When Hotohori could finally look at the blond again Nakago said, "If you hadn't guessed, I'm breaking in my new puppet. Soon you will kneel before me of your own free will."
Hotohori spat in his face again when this was said.
The mixed spit and blood hit Nakago's cheek and the Shogun's smile melted into an angry glare. He wiped the spit off his face as Hotohori spoke with venom.
"I will never bow or kneel before you. You are a foul dog and I..." He was cut off with a scream as Nakago brought the whip down again and again in anger. Finally, Hotohori stopped screaming.
Nakago sent the lash at him a few more times before stopping.
Hotohori hung limp in the shackles, his unbound, tangled hair clinging in some areas to his blood-covered body. His head hung and his eyes fluttered showing the whites.
Nakago stepped up to Hotohori and grabbed a handful of his filthy hair, pulling his head back. He looked at the bruised, bloody face and let the head drop again. He turned his own head and looked at one of the shadowed figures outside the cell. "He's unconscious. He lasted a lot longer than I expected. He didn't beg either. Perhaps next time I will let you try your hand at him. We'll see if he likes being burned."
The figure stepped into the light, the fire from the torch turning her already red hair into flames and glinting off her armor. Soi nodded. "Yes Lord Nakago. It would be an honor to assist you in breaking the will of a Suzaku Seishi."
Nakago smiled at her then nodded back at the guards, who came in and released Hotohori from the shackles letting him crumble in a heap to the blood-soaked floor. The poor man didn't even twitch.
Nakago walked out of the cell to stand beside Soi. "Keep him from dying, then bind him again. Force some honeyed water into him if you have to. We can't have him getting too weak now. Just enough to keep him a live and coherent. Clean up any messes he makes as well."
The guards saluted and the two Seiryuu Seishi walked together out of the dungeon.
*****
It seemed so peaceful. A breeze played across the otherwise still water and through Myst's unbound hair an the surrounding bushes and flowers, all in bloom for a final time that year, and yet all of the colorless to the Empress.
Myst sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them and her chin resting on her knees. She sat on a large rock bordering the large pond, or small lake, looking at the water without really seeing it.
Tasuki, Hakurou, and Chichiri stood on the walkway across the distance behind Myst, watching her. They watched as Nuriko walked out to her and sat beside her wrapping his arms around her. Only then did Myst move and lean against Nuriko.
The playful breeze turned mournful as it carried whispers of Myst's sobs to them. Tasuki leaned his elbows against the railing. "Che, damn. I wish I could do something. She pretends to be strong around us, but just breaks down when she's just with Nuriko. She won't even let me go with ya guys ta help. Damn that bastard Nakago!" He slammed his fist down on the railing.
Hakurou put a hand on Tasuki's shoulder. "Then why didn't you try harder to make her let you go like you normally would?"
Tasuki sighed. "Because she's right. I am a hothead, and she didn't need any shit from me right then. Che! Just look at her." He gestured out to Myst who was now in Nuriko's lap, fully clinging to him and sobbing in earnest. "I hate seeing her cry. Why did this have to happen to someone like her?"
Chichiri leaned back on the railing beside him and took his mask off. "Because we're seishi, and as such we are now in a war with enemy seishi. Myst is our Miko, our leader. They've taken the thing that means the most to her, trying to weaken her and us. With Hotohori being the Emperor as well, it's a double insult to both us and the country itself."
Hakurou nodded in agreement. "They underestimated all of us though. Myst is strong. So much stronger than anyone I've met. She only losses her head when alone of at appropriate times. She's disciplined as well. As she said, she grew up knowing a martial arts master. She's just the person to get Hotohori back. Then her heart will heal."
The other two nodded then they all looked back out at the other two by the water.
*****
Nuriko held Myst in his lap and rocked her. Her tears had stopped and she simply leaned against him. "Nuriko?"
"Hmm?"
"When we get him back we're all going on a vacation."
Nuriko chuckled and rubbed her back. "Sounds good to me dear-heart. Sounds good to me. I'm sure the others will have no problems with the idea either."
Myst smiled and closed her eyes as she relaxed against her best friend. "Has Hakurou been healed yet?"
Nuriko nodded and ran his fingers through her loose hair. "He has. Mitsukake is sleeping now to make sure he has enough strength for whatever may come tomorrow night."
Myst opened her eyes and sat up a little. "Tomorrow night. We're going to get him back tomorrow night. One more night without him. If Nakago has done anything to seriously hurt him, I swear I'll do my damnedest to bury that blonde fuck!"
Nuriko kissed her head soothingly. "I'll help you dig the grave. You and Hotohori accepted me when even most of my own family didn't. You two are my true family I've had in a long time and no one messes with my family!"
Myst laid her head back against Nuriko again and the two stayed like that for some time until one of the handmaidens came out to them and bowed.
"Your Highness?"
Myst looked up. "Yes Keisha?"
"Highness, lunch is ready."
"Thank you Keisha. We will all be there shortly."
The girl bowed and was off again.
Myst and Nuriko stood and walked side by side to the walkway where Hakurou, Tasuki, Chichiri and now Chiriko were waiting for them. Myst smiled at them. "Let's go get Boushin and the others."
They all nodded and headed off to Tamahome's family's rooms. Myst knocked on the door, and it was Rouko who answered. He seemed to have formed quite a friendship with the family and the children.
"Oh! Myst, come in." He stepped to the side and let the group in hugging his little brother briefly.
Myst smiled and knelt on the floor when the children came in the room, so they could exchange hugs with her. She hugged each of them and Yuiren asked, Are you still sad Myst?"
Myst smiled almost sadly at the innocent child. "Yes a little. Nothing a lot of hugs and another day won't fix Little-Wing."
With that all the children hugged her again. Myst stood as Tou-san, Tamahome, and the twins came in the room. She stepped out of the circle of children and made a beeline strait into Tou-san's outstretched arms.
The man who had become a father to her hugged her as if she was one of his daughters and kissed her cheek as she pulled away. "Are you sure you are all right my dear. Is there anything else I can do?"
Myst shook her head and smiled at him. "Your being here is enough, and I am fine. I'll be much better when this is over and Hotohori is back. Tou-san, I would be honored if you and all your children would join us for lunch and dinner in the great hall today."
Tou-san smiled and nodded. "It would be a pleasure my dear."
Myst smiled and the children cheered. Shunkaku stepped up and held Boushin, who was in his arms out to her. Myst reached over and pulled her son to her. "Oh... my sweet son, you look so much like your father. So beautiful."
Boushin grunted like only a baby can do and patted his mother's hair gently. Then he looked up into his mother's face with a wanting look. "Dada. Wan Dada."
Myst's face fell and she hugged him to her. "I know my son. I want your father too. I know you miss him. But you are so like him. So be strong for just a few more days. Your father will be here after that." With that she pulled away from him a little and kissed his cheek gently.
He smiled at her, so like his father that she had to struggle to stop her eyes from tearing up. "Well little one, shall we go eat?" Boushin stick his thumb in his mouth and nodded. "Okay. Are you little munchkins ready?" The children nodded and cheered as the whole group left the rooms.
They passed by Mitsukake's door and Myst stopped. She signaled for the children to be quiet and mouthed that she would be right back. She tapped lightly on the door and when she got no answer she opened it and slid inside with Boushin still in her arms.
The room was very dark, but light enough to see the large lump under the blankets. Myst walked over to the bed and gently brushed some of Mitsukake's loose bangs out of his face.
Mitsukake's features were softer and his hair looked really different when he wasn't wearing his headbands. His eyes fluttered open slowly and he grunted a little.
Myst spoke quietly smoothing his bangs back gently. "We're all going to lunch, do you want to join us or sleep some more?"
Mitsukake closed his eyes and yawned. "Sleep. Not hungry right now."
Myst nodded and kissed his temple gently, this kind of action something that all the seishi save maybe Chiriko had gotten used to. "All right. If you get hungry later, just send for something."
Myst looked over and noticed the gleaming eyes of Tama-neko on the wardrobe, looking a little hungry. "We're taking Tama-neko with us for a bite. Sleep well my friend."
"Mhm..." Mitsukake was already more than halfway back to sleep.
Myst walked to the wardrobe and turned one of her shoulders to it, looking up at the small cat. "C'mon Tama. There's a fish with your name on it."
Tama-neko meowed and jumped down to sit on her shoulder. Myst smiled at the cat and walked back outside where she rejoined the others, and together they all headed off to lunch.
**********
A.N.: AHHHHH! *ducks* Don't hurt me! I'm really not insane or some sort of torture freak... I love Hotohori! I really do! I just felt that I had to give them all a reason to eventually beat the living Shit out of Nakabitch. BTW... a warning for the future... the torture is going to get slightly worse. Not much and no nudity or anything nasty or stuff like that... after all, I do now have to keep it rated R. And there will be happiness at a later time. Well, I gotta go now, am still working on that art commission. Have work to do. Please review ne?!?!?!?!?!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman