A.N.: Yes, another author's note at the beginning. I just wanted to tell
people who hate things like death fics. READ THE WHOLE THING FIRST!!! I
don't like writing torture fics, but you see I can do it. The same goes for
deathfics, I don't like them, but I'm sure as hell not afraid to write
them. Now, also, if you don't like the torture scenes, I've put up this
symbol ~@~@~@~ right after the scene. You'll go strait to Myst if you just
skim down and look for that. So... Review, tell me what you think! C&C
Welcome as long as it's not flames. BTW. THIS IS ALSO THE LAST TORTURE
SCENE! Well. except for emotional. but that's just called angst. So,
consider yourself thoroughly warned ne? If you want a REAL tearjerker, try
reading it while listening to that really pretty/sad sounding song from
Record of Lodoss War. That's what I wrote it too. Damn... I could barely
type it! ENJOY!!!
~CHH
~An American Miko~ Strike Three, No More Chances Chapter Thirty-Five
The next time Hotohori was awakened, he did it with a scream as an unnecessary blast of chi from Nakago shattered the bone in his right upper arm. He moaned, curled on his side and shackled in the customary way again. He opened his eyes and the events of the previous day came back to him, as all he saw was darkness.
Another scream was forced from Hotohori as he was freed for a moment and the strung up again by his already mangled wrists. This seemed to bring a whole new definition of pain as his weight was put on his now broken arm.
Nakago walked forward and grabbed a hold of his filthy hair again, pulling his head up to look into the blind eyes. "I told you, you would remember this one. Now see? I can be generous. I let you sleep the whole morning away and some of the afternoon. But you wouldn't know that even if there were windows would you? However, I grow tired of this game. I'll make you a deal. If you admit defeat and call me master, just once, I'll take you down, have your wounds treated and soothed, and make sure that you are treated very well for the rest of your life. This is the last I give to you. Otherwise you will die a slow and painful death, never knowing what became of your wife and child."
Hotohori's eyes widened and became frightened for a moment as his breath caught at the biggest fear he had since waking in the dungeons.
Nakago saw this and went on in a cold voice. "Now, who is your master?"
Hotohori thought he would go insane from the pain that had become his body. The burns and blackened scorches were pulled and bleeding, as were the previous lashes, even the infected ones. It was hard to swallow since the chain they had wrapped around his neck while he was bound on the floor, had bruised his throat and vocal cords deeply. Fever still burned deep within him now. And yet, he managed not to scream as he opened his mouth. "N...N..."
Nakago smiled. "I'm waiting. Who is your master?"
Hotohori resigned himself to the truth of Nakago's promise and his fate. "No one."
Nakago frowned and shook his head. "So be it." With those three words he stepped back and uncoiled his whip.
Hotohori screamed again and again as the whip burned and tore through the horrible wounds already covering his body.
Nakago circled, lashing high and low, finding every tender and soft place on Hotohori's body that had been missed. Even along his face and neck was hit. After a while, Hotohori's body looked like it had been stripped of skin altogether, and in some areas, it had been.
Nakago paused, only when Hotohori had passed out. He brought a vile of smelling salts out and held it under Hotohori's badly broken nose. The poor Emperor came awake with a jerk and a cry.
Nakago spoke to him coldly. "Who said you could get out of it that easily?" Then the lashing began again, ripping through muscle and flesh since there was no untouched skin left. Each time Hotohori would pass out, he would be awakened, and the whole hideous dance would begin again.
The third time he was awakened, Hotohori did something he had not yet done. His quiet, weak, raspy voice stilled Nakago's hand. "Please."
The blond man stepped closer to hear. "What was that?"
Hotohori had not even the strength to lift his head anymore. "Please. No more. No more. Please. Beg you. Please..."
Nakago smiled in triumph and coldly said, "It's too late for that Hotohori. You've missed your chance." The lash came down again and the vicious circle of lashes, passing out, and reawakening started with a new vigor.
Finally, after what must have been hours since Nakago's arm ached from using the whip, when the salts were held under Hotohori's nose, he just didn't awaken. There was a rattle to his breathing and blood mixed with fluid, steadily and slowly dripped from his parted lips. His eyes were closed and his body so weak that it didn't even tremble.
Nakago took the seal on Hotohori's abilities and the wards down as he left the cell with a smile. He looked at the guards and said, "I'm feeling generous. Take the rest of the day off. No one needs to be here. He'll be dead in less than a few hours anyway. We'll leave him there until then."
The guards nodded and walked up the stairs just as Soi was walking down them. She looked into the cell, then back at the Shogun. "You did quite a job."
Nakago nodded and looked back into the cell. The floor looked like it was made from blood and the walls looked like they themselves were bleeding. Still more blood was dripping on the floor from Hotohori's dying body suspended above the floor. Nakago nodded again in great satisfaction.
Soi touched his arm and looked up at him suggestively. "Now that you're done with him, why don't we go upstairs and I can loosen you up a bit."
Nakago smirked and headed up the stairs with Soi. "Very well. I could use a burst of energy."
***** ~@~@~@~
Dusk had fallen over the Konan Empire. Myst stood on the dais in no mood to joke for any reason. She was dressed in the well-kept clothes from her world and a loose, warm cloth shirt like the one Tasuki wore beneath his jacket. She wore the light boots like Hotohori's traveling boots that laced up to her knees and now hid daggers in them. She hid more daggers strapped to her thighs. She also wore her bracers with the throwing daggers on her arms and her jeweled sword at her hip.
No one was going to fuck with her in the mood she was in right now. Myst could hear Boushin crying in the next room and she ignored it. The tiny prince wasn't stupid. He knew something was going on.
Finally, all the Seishi, Hakurou, guards, advisors, and extra doctors were gathered. Some smiled at her, but Myst only nodded her head, strait-faced at them. She was all business and she wanted to get this done and Hotohori back, now! She stood tall and regal, ready to address the small crowd.
Myst raised a hand and all the noise drifted into silence. She lowered her hand while her left was perched on the hilt of her sword, and spoke clearly. "In just a few minuets, I will leave on a dangerous mission to bring back the Emperor, Seishuku Saihitei, from the Kutou palace. Accompanying me on this dangerous journey will be, Seishi Nuriko, Seishi Tamahome, Seishi Suboshi, Seishi Chichiri, and Lord Hakurou. Staying, and in charge here in our absence will be, Seishi Chiriko, Seishi Amiboshi, Seishi Tasuki, and Seishi Mitsukake.
"We do not know how long it will take or what may befall us on this mission. We do know, should anything happen that we do not return, the country is in good hands with the Imperial Advisors, the remaining Seishi, and a child though he is now, the Crowned Prince Seishuku Boushin. Now, I don't wish to wait any longer. Seishi, are you ready?!"
The seishi, even Hakurou, all and shouted and affirmative.
"Then Chichiri, prepare your spell." With that Myst walked swiftly down the steps of the dais, tying her hair back tightly into a ponytail.
Chichiri spread his kesa on the floor. Shunkaku and Kotoku, embraced and shared a quiet moment together, their foreheads touching before they let go and Shunkaku stepped onto the kesa.
Kotoku smiled. "Good luck my brother."
An identical smile met his. "I will protect our Miko for the both of us Aniki." They both nodded at each other firmly.
Rouko stepped up to Nuriko and pulled him into a fierce hug. "You'd better come back. I don't want to loose you too."
Nuriko hugged him back. "Baka. I'll come back. I'm stronger than that remember?" And he stepped onto the Kesa."
Tamahome's three youngest siblings were with Boushin. Chuei and Tou-san stepped up to him and hugged him as well. "We're proud of you my son. You are a fine warrior and we know you will succeed and come back to us." "Yeah, be careful big brother. Go for it!"
Tamahome hugged them back. "Thank you both. Watch over the little ones. We'll be back before you know it." He too stepped onto the kesa.
Tasuki stepped up to Myst's side as she adjusted and tightened her bracers. "You look like you8 did when we first fought if not more pissed. You'd better sure as hell have the same outcome this time, only this time, with a little less blood on your part ne?"
Myst looked at him out of the corner of her eye and after a moment finally twitched the corner of her mouth up in a smile. "Thanks Tasuki." She hugged him and he hugged her back tightly. "Watch over my son. Protect him, and if need be, love him for me."
Tasuki hugged her a little harder. "I'd do it without you asking Myst."
Myst pulled back and ruffled his messy hair. She turned next to Mitsukake and hugged him just as tight. "I know I don't need to tell you, but be ready for anything Mits. I'm trusting you to keep these other guys up to medical speed."
Mitsukake nodded and released her. "Of course Myst. You just bring him back alive and I'll make sure I keep him that way."
Myst nodded and moved to the newest and the youngest. She caressed Chiriko's cheek gently. "You just make sure things don't get panicked here if we're gone to long. Listen for us. We'll need your wisdom in case we get stuck in a bind."
The fourteen-year-old nodded. "You can count on me Mistyc."
Next she went to Amiboshi and put her hand on his shoulder. "We wouldn't be able to do it without you and your brother. Thank you."
Amiboshi smiled at her. "Keep me posted. You'd better get going now."
Myst nodded and stepped onto the kesa with the others. Chichiri tapped his staff in the center and the kesa glowed brightly. With a finally wink and a good luck wish, they sank into the depths of the kesa, pulling it through with them and completely disappearing.
*****
There were a few thuds in the dark to signify that the group had arrived/landed/crashed, in one of the gardens of the Kutou palace. Chichiri, used to his landings by now was the first on untangled and on his feet and he looked down at the heaped figures on the ground, SDing a little. "Sorry about that no da. I still haven't quite gotten the hang of the landings na no da."
Nuriko moaned softly and untangled himself looking around. "Wait... we're missing some people. For one, where's Myst?"
A voice in the dark called softly, "Right here. And yes, Tamahome and I would like to get, out, of the tree now."
The four on the ground looked up and into the tree they were under. Sure enough there was Myst, slung over a thick branch, while Tamahome played koala with the tree trunk.
Chichiri scratched the back of his head while Suboshi and Hakurou picked themselves up. "Sorry no da."
Myst shook her head. And began worming her way towards the trunk to make her descent, thankful that her abdomen was still firm after having a child. "That's okay. At least you got us all here in one piece."
Finally they were all safely on the ground and grouped together. Myst asked, "Chichiri, are we shielded tight?" The monk nodded. "Good. Now, Suboshi, where are we?"
"South of the dungeons, east of the building where Nakago's rooms are."
Myst nodded again. "All right. Send word to your brother that we've arrived and are going to begin the attempt to get the dungeon keys from Nakago. One more time, are we sure that he's keeping Hotohori in his private dungeon?"
Suboshi nodded as he scratched the note on his forearm. "Positive."
"Okay. Tread softly. Chichiri if there's nowhere for us to hide or duck into and we need one, we'll depend on you. You all know the rest of the plan. Try for no confrontation until we have Hotohori." They nodded and Suboshi gave the signal that he was done. "Suboshi, you take the lead. Move out."
So it was that the six of them snuck into the palace, a well-oiled team. With Suboshi as a guide and all of their quick reflexes, it was almost too easy to get in unnoticed. Soon they stood hidden down the hall from Nakago's room. They decided that seishi of any sort should not get near it incase he was awake or could sense through the shielding.
This left Hakurou as the only choice. He glided down the hall silently as only a master fight or master bandit could do, and Hakurou was both. They held their collective breaths as Hakurou inched the bedroom door open to peak in. He then gave them the signal that the Shogun was asleep. They could let their breathes out at that.
They swiftly held them again and Chichiri had to physically hold Myst from flinging herself down the hall as Hakurou suddenly vanished into the room. So they waited... and waited... and waited, with no sound from the room. Finally, Hakurou slipped back out of the room untouched and closed the door silently.
Myst thought to herself, 'Good... 'cause I'm gonna kill him.'
Hakurou rejoined them and Myst glare Holy-Death upon him. Then he held up a key on a chain and whispered, "We wouldn't have gotten a chance like that again. I was solo before I was with the bandits. Pretty damn good too. I still got it."
Myst muttered under her breath, "For now until I get you alone..." But she merely nodded, determined since he had gotten the key without mishap that she would not yell at him. Yet. Later was a whole new ballpark. She whispered for them all to hear, "All right, now, swiftly, silently. It's now almost fully a matter of time. Let's do this before he wakes up and finds the key gone."
Hakurou said, "You mean they. He was in there with some tough looking, red- haired woman."
Suboshi said, "Soi. She's 'with' him sometimes. She's another Seiryuu Seishi and big trouble. Lets go. There's a shortcut to the dungeons through here."
So once again they slipped out unnoticed and once again arrived at their goal without hassle. Outside there were no guards. Inside the normal dungeon, Myst cringed at the conditions but only said, "No guards, though no prisoners either. Still, this is almost too easy. Why would they leave so much room for Hotohori to escape?"
Suboshi, still leading the way to the back of the dungeon said, "There may be some in here. This is the door that leads to the dungeons below. It only works on doors though, not on any other locks. There also might be wards up here, so be on guard."
Myst walked up to the door and tried the key saying. "If there are other locks, and hopefully no wards, then Nuriko can break them." The door swung open and she handed the key to Tamahome. "Suboshi, send an update to Amiboshi."
Suboshi nodded and did what he was told.
Myst lead the way through the door. They stepped quietly down the stairway, and seeing no guards in the short strait hallway between the four cells, they hurried down the rest of the way. Myst looked first to the right and saw nothing in that cell. She then turned to look in the one on the left, and turned faster away and into Nuriko's chest, muffling a scream behind her own hand.
Myst trembled as Nuriko held her as he himself stared in horror into the cell. When the others looked, they did about the same.
Myst's wide eyes watered only slightly and her breathing became harsh. "It's the dream. My god! Nuriko, it's my dream!" She turned and looked again and her face contorted into a mask of anguish. She walked up to the bars and pressed her forehead against them as she looked through very slowly growing tears at her worst nightmare come to life.
The mangled body of her beloved husband, hanging and abandoned from cruel shackles, showing no signs of life, no sound coming from him. His body beaten and twisted almost beyond all recognition.
Tamahome snapped out of it and unlocked the cell door. The other snapped out of it as Myst pulled herself away from the bars, her eyes never leaving Hotohori.
Myst walked into the cell, ignoring the gore on the floor as it stained her boots, and stepped up to Hotohori's lifeless body. Her hand hovered just above his blood-soaked, still, chest and she looked up past the tangled, filthy mass of hair, to the now ruined face. Her tears didn't fall yet, but her voice was strained as she said, "Nuriko! Get him down!"
Nuriko went strait to work, snapping first the chains connected to the ankle-shackles, leaving the shackles and a bit of chain there since it was faster and easier. He couldn't reach the higher chains, so Hakurou lifted his small light frame so he could snap the chains above.
With that done, Hotohori's body fell to the gory floor with not so much as a twitch or a huff of breath, before it could be caught. Myst was on her knees in the gore by him in less than a second. She turned him gently onto his back feeling the deep gashes and tearing wounds with her own hands. She saw now that he truly was not breathing. This is when the first sob came and the first tear fell.
Myst felt as if her heart had been ripped out and felt it physically. She cradled his head in her hands and kissed his ruined, cold lips, tasting the old blood. This only made her cry harder. Her world was crashing down around her and there was nothing to hold onto. Strangely, the part of her mind still working, saw only one good thing in Hotohori's condition. That he had been granted a shred of dignity in the form the shredded silk pants which barely clung to or covered him.
Chichiri seemed to be the one who was most with it right then and hopelessly checked his Emperor and friends body over. After a moment, he gasped suddenly and the sound broke through Myst's sobbing and the other's tears as well. "We still have a chance! I just felt his heart beat, if barely!"
Myst looked up with wide eyes and acted instantly shouting, "Everyone here now! Chichiri, do it!"
Chichiri raised his hand, and then they all screamed as they were jolted. "What?!"
Suboshi was the one that answered. "It's Nakago! He brought the wards back up! We won't be able to leave from inside here! We need to get outside! He knows we're here!"
Myst nodded and jumped up knowing that if they had to fight for too long, they would run out of time. "Nuriko! Get Hotohori! Let's move it!"
With that, Nuriko scooped up the nearly lifeless body and the raced out of both dungeons... only to be met with what seemed like a legion of guards.
Myst looked to Chichiri who shook his head. "He's transmitting another barrier from out here! I can't break through it!"
Myst drew her sword and fended off the first attack sent at her. "Suboshi, get your brother and the others back home on it now! Nuriko, hand Hotohori to Chichiri and all of us will protect those two."
Suboshi started fighting as well, after he had scrawled his message. Not only were they all now dodging physical attacks, but the occasional lightning strike as well. Myst vaguely saw a tall handsome blonde man standing off to the side, watching them slowly lose with a smirk.
They all took several good hits and were bleeding from various minor and moderately serious wounds, including a possible concussion for Tamahome. Still, they all kept fighting.
When at last it seemed like they were really done and Nakago had won, a piercing melody burst forth from Suboshi's now glowing Ryuuseisui. Chichiri screamed, "Now!" and they all dove strait for Chichiri, who held Hotohori's body in his arms.
Brilliant crimson light burst around them, blocking all attacks on them and Myst looked out from the center of it. She spotted Nakago who now had a slightly shocked and very angry look on his face. The last thing he saw from her was far from the last thing she was planning to do to him.
Myst lifted her arm high and shouted clearly for all to hear, "Hey, Nakabitch!" Then she distinctly stuck up her middle finger. "Sit and spin fucker! I'll never give you another chance to hurt him again!" Then there was another burst of red light and they were gone.
**********
A.N.: Awwwwww... yes... another author's note. Oh! And look! Another cliffhanger too! Damn I'm bad... really evil... Well, psychotic chapter I know. And you'll just have to wait until the next chapter to see it they were in time or not. Yeah... *nods head* did... did I mention I was evil yet? Well, yeah... really evil. DO PLEASE REVIEW NE?! Love ta hear from you guys! And trust me! The next chapter won't be that bad!!!!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman
~An American Miko~ Strike Three, No More Chances Chapter Thirty-Five
The next time Hotohori was awakened, he did it with a scream as an unnecessary blast of chi from Nakago shattered the bone in his right upper arm. He moaned, curled on his side and shackled in the customary way again. He opened his eyes and the events of the previous day came back to him, as all he saw was darkness.
Another scream was forced from Hotohori as he was freed for a moment and the strung up again by his already mangled wrists. This seemed to bring a whole new definition of pain as his weight was put on his now broken arm.
Nakago walked forward and grabbed a hold of his filthy hair again, pulling his head up to look into the blind eyes. "I told you, you would remember this one. Now see? I can be generous. I let you sleep the whole morning away and some of the afternoon. But you wouldn't know that even if there were windows would you? However, I grow tired of this game. I'll make you a deal. If you admit defeat and call me master, just once, I'll take you down, have your wounds treated and soothed, and make sure that you are treated very well for the rest of your life. This is the last I give to you. Otherwise you will die a slow and painful death, never knowing what became of your wife and child."
Hotohori's eyes widened and became frightened for a moment as his breath caught at the biggest fear he had since waking in the dungeons.
Nakago saw this and went on in a cold voice. "Now, who is your master?"
Hotohori thought he would go insane from the pain that had become his body. The burns and blackened scorches were pulled and bleeding, as were the previous lashes, even the infected ones. It was hard to swallow since the chain they had wrapped around his neck while he was bound on the floor, had bruised his throat and vocal cords deeply. Fever still burned deep within him now. And yet, he managed not to scream as he opened his mouth. "N...N..."
Nakago smiled. "I'm waiting. Who is your master?"
Hotohori resigned himself to the truth of Nakago's promise and his fate. "No one."
Nakago frowned and shook his head. "So be it." With those three words he stepped back and uncoiled his whip.
Hotohori screamed again and again as the whip burned and tore through the horrible wounds already covering his body.
Nakago circled, lashing high and low, finding every tender and soft place on Hotohori's body that had been missed. Even along his face and neck was hit. After a while, Hotohori's body looked like it had been stripped of skin altogether, and in some areas, it had been.
Nakago paused, only when Hotohori had passed out. He brought a vile of smelling salts out and held it under Hotohori's badly broken nose. The poor Emperor came awake with a jerk and a cry.
Nakago spoke to him coldly. "Who said you could get out of it that easily?" Then the lashing began again, ripping through muscle and flesh since there was no untouched skin left. Each time Hotohori would pass out, he would be awakened, and the whole hideous dance would begin again.
The third time he was awakened, Hotohori did something he had not yet done. His quiet, weak, raspy voice stilled Nakago's hand. "Please."
The blond man stepped closer to hear. "What was that?"
Hotohori had not even the strength to lift his head anymore. "Please. No more. No more. Please. Beg you. Please..."
Nakago smiled in triumph and coldly said, "It's too late for that Hotohori. You've missed your chance." The lash came down again and the vicious circle of lashes, passing out, and reawakening started with a new vigor.
Finally, after what must have been hours since Nakago's arm ached from using the whip, when the salts were held under Hotohori's nose, he just didn't awaken. There was a rattle to his breathing and blood mixed with fluid, steadily and slowly dripped from his parted lips. His eyes were closed and his body so weak that it didn't even tremble.
Nakago took the seal on Hotohori's abilities and the wards down as he left the cell with a smile. He looked at the guards and said, "I'm feeling generous. Take the rest of the day off. No one needs to be here. He'll be dead in less than a few hours anyway. We'll leave him there until then."
The guards nodded and walked up the stairs just as Soi was walking down them. She looked into the cell, then back at the Shogun. "You did quite a job."
Nakago nodded and looked back into the cell. The floor looked like it was made from blood and the walls looked like they themselves were bleeding. Still more blood was dripping on the floor from Hotohori's dying body suspended above the floor. Nakago nodded again in great satisfaction.
Soi touched his arm and looked up at him suggestively. "Now that you're done with him, why don't we go upstairs and I can loosen you up a bit."
Nakago smirked and headed up the stairs with Soi. "Very well. I could use a burst of energy."
***** ~@~@~@~
Dusk had fallen over the Konan Empire. Myst stood on the dais in no mood to joke for any reason. She was dressed in the well-kept clothes from her world and a loose, warm cloth shirt like the one Tasuki wore beneath his jacket. She wore the light boots like Hotohori's traveling boots that laced up to her knees and now hid daggers in them. She hid more daggers strapped to her thighs. She also wore her bracers with the throwing daggers on her arms and her jeweled sword at her hip.
No one was going to fuck with her in the mood she was in right now. Myst could hear Boushin crying in the next room and she ignored it. The tiny prince wasn't stupid. He knew something was going on.
Finally, all the Seishi, Hakurou, guards, advisors, and extra doctors were gathered. Some smiled at her, but Myst only nodded her head, strait-faced at them. She was all business and she wanted to get this done and Hotohori back, now! She stood tall and regal, ready to address the small crowd.
Myst raised a hand and all the noise drifted into silence. She lowered her hand while her left was perched on the hilt of her sword, and spoke clearly. "In just a few minuets, I will leave on a dangerous mission to bring back the Emperor, Seishuku Saihitei, from the Kutou palace. Accompanying me on this dangerous journey will be, Seishi Nuriko, Seishi Tamahome, Seishi Suboshi, Seishi Chichiri, and Lord Hakurou. Staying, and in charge here in our absence will be, Seishi Chiriko, Seishi Amiboshi, Seishi Tasuki, and Seishi Mitsukake.
"We do not know how long it will take or what may befall us on this mission. We do know, should anything happen that we do not return, the country is in good hands with the Imperial Advisors, the remaining Seishi, and a child though he is now, the Crowned Prince Seishuku Boushin. Now, I don't wish to wait any longer. Seishi, are you ready?!"
The seishi, even Hakurou, all and shouted and affirmative.
"Then Chichiri, prepare your spell." With that Myst walked swiftly down the steps of the dais, tying her hair back tightly into a ponytail.
Chichiri spread his kesa on the floor. Shunkaku and Kotoku, embraced and shared a quiet moment together, their foreheads touching before they let go and Shunkaku stepped onto the kesa.
Kotoku smiled. "Good luck my brother."
An identical smile met his. "I will protect our Miko for the both of us Aniki." They both nodded at each other firmly.
Rouko stepped up to Nuriko and pulled him into a fierce hug. "You'd better come back. I don't want to loose you too."
Nuriko hugged him back. "Baka. I'll come back. I'm stronger than that remember?" And he stepped onto the Kesa."
Tamahome's three youngest siblings were with Boushin. Chuei and Tou-san stepped up to him and hugged him as well. "We're proud of you my son. You are a fine warrior and we know you will succeed and come back to us." "Yeah, be careful big brother. Go for it!"
Tamahome hugged them back. "Thank you both. Watch over the little ones. We'll be back before you know it." He too stepped onto the kesa.
Tasuki stepped up to Myst's side as she adjusted and tightened her bracers. "You look like you8 did when we first fought if not more pissed. You'd better sure as hell have the same outcome this time, only this time, with a little less blood on your part ne?"
Myst looked at him out of the corner of her eye and after a moment finally twitched the corner of her mouth up in a smile. "Thanks Tasuki." She hugged him and he hugged her back tightly. "Watch over my son. Protect him, and if need be, love him for me."
Tasuki hugged her a little harder. "I'd do it without you asking Myst."
Myst pulled back and ruffled his messy hair. She turned next to Mitsukake and hugged him just as tight. "I know I don't need to tell you, but be ready for anything Mits. I'm trusting you to keep these other guys up to medical speed."
Mitsukake nodded and released her. "Of course Myst. You just bring him back alive and I'll make sure I keep him that way."
Myst nodded and moved to the newest and the youngest. She caressed Chiriko's cheek gently. "You just make sure things don't get panicked here if we're gone to long. Listen for us. We'll need your wisdom in case we get stuck in a bind."
The fourteen-year-old nodded. "You can count on me Mistyc."
Next she went to Amiboshi and put her hand on his shoulder. "We wouldn't be able to do it without you and your brother. Thank you."
Amiboshi smiled at her. "Keep me posted. You'd better get going now."
Myst nodded and stepped onto the kesa with the others. Chichiri tapped his staff in the center and the kesa glowed brightly. With a finally wink and a good luck wish, they sank into the depths of the kesa, pulling it through with them and completely disappearing.
*****
There were a few thuds in the dark to signify that the group had arrived/landed/crashed, in one of the gardens of the Kutou palace. Chichiri, used to his landings by now was the first on untangled and on his feet and he looked down at the heaped figures on the ground, SDing a little. "Sorry about that no da. I still haven't quite gotten the hang of the landings na no da."
Nuriko moaned softly and untangled himself looking around. "Wait... we're missing some people. For one, where's Myst?"
A voice in the dark called softly, "Right here. And yes, Tamahome and I would like to get, out, of the tree now."
The four on the ground looked up and into the tree they were under. Sure enough there was Myst, slung over a thick branch, while Tamahome played koala with the tree trunk.
Chichiri scratched the back of his head while Suboshi and Hakurou picked themselves up. "Sorry no da."
Myst shook her head. And began worming her way towards the trunk to make her descent, thankful that her abdomen was still firm after having a child. "That's okay. At least you got us all here in one piece."
Finally they were all safely on the ground and grouped together. Myst asked, "Chichiri, are we shielded tight?" The monk nodded. "Good. Now, Suboshi, where are we?"
"South of the dungeons, east of the building where Nakago's rooms are."
Myst nodded again. "All right. Send word to your brother that we've arrived and are going to begin the attempt to get the dungeon keys from Nakago. One more time, are we sure that he's keeping Hotohori in his private dungeon?"
Suboshi nodded as he scratched the note on his forearm. "Positive."
"Okay. Tread softly. Chichiri if there's nowhere for us to hide or duck into and we need one, we'll depend on you. You all know the rest of the plan. Try for no confrontation until we have Hotohori." They nodded and Suboshi gave the signal that he was done. "Suboshi, you take the lead. Move out."
So it was that the six of them snuck into the palace, a well-oiled team. With Suboshi as a guide and all of their quick reflexes, it was almost too easy to get in unnoticed. Soon they stood hidden down the hall from Nakago's room. They decided that seishi of any sort should not get near it incase he was awake or could sense through the shielding.
This left Hakurou as the only choice. He glided down the hall silently as only a master fight or master bandit could do, and Hakurou was both. They held their collective breaths as Hakurou inched the bedroom door open to peak in. He then gave them the signal that the Shogun was asleep. They could let their breathes out at that.
They swiftly held them again and Chichiri had to physically hold Myst from flinging herself down the hall as Hakurou suddenly vanished into the room. So they waited... and waited... and waited, with no sound from the room. Finally, Hakurou slipped back out of the room untouched and closed the door silently.
Myst thought to herself, 'Good... 'cause I'm gonna kill him.'
Hakurou rejoined them and Myst glare Holy-Death upon him. Then he held up a key on a chain and whispered, "We wouldn't have gotten a chance like that again. I was solo before I was with the bandits. Pretty damn good too. I still got it."
Myst muttered under her breath, "For now until I get you alone..." But she merely nodded, determined since he had gotten the key without mishap that she would not yell at him. Yet. Later was a whole new ballpark. She whispered for them all to hear, "All right, now, swiftly, silently. It's now almost fully a matter of time. Let's do this before he wakes up and finds the key gone."
Hakurou said, "You mean they. He was in there with some tough looking, red- haired woman."
Suboshi said, "Soi. She's 'with' him sometimes. She's another Seiryuu Seishi and big trouble. Lets go. There's a shortcut to the dungeons through here."
So once again they slipped out unnoticed and once again arrived at their goal without hassle. Outside there were no guards. Inside the normal dungeon, Myst cringed at the conditions but only said, "No guards, though no prisoners either. Still, this is almost too easy. Why would they leave so much room for Hotohori to escape?"
Suboshi, still leading the way to the back of the dungeon said, "There may be some in here. This is the door that leads to the dungeons below. It only works on doors though, not on any other locks. There also might be wards up here, so be on guard."
Myst walked up to the door and tried the key saying. "If there are other locks, and hopefully no wards, then Nuriko can break them." The door swung open and she handed the key to Tamahome. "Suboshi, send an update to Amiboshi."
Suboshi nodded and did what he was told.
Myst lead the way through the door. They stepped quietly down the stairway, and seeing no guards in the short strait hallway between the four cells, they hurried down the rest of the way. Myst looked first to the right and saw nothing in that cell. She then turned to look in the one on the left, and turned faster away and into Nuriko's chest, muffling a scream behind her own hand.
Myst trembled as Nuriko held her as he himself stared in horror into the cell. When the others looked, they did about the same.
Myst's wide eyes watered only slightly and her breathing became harsh. "It's the dream. My god! Nuriko, it's my dream!" She turned and looked again and her face contorted into a mask of anguish. She walked up to the bars and pressed her forehead against them as she looked through very slowly growing tears at her worst nightmare come to life.
The mangled body of her beloved husband, hanging and abandoned from cruel shackles, showing no signs of life, no sound coming from him. His body beaten and twisted almost beyond all recognition.
Tamahome snapped out of it and unlocked the cell door. The other snapped out of it as Myst pulled herself away from the bars, her eyes never leaving Hotohori.
Myst walked into the cell, ignoring the gore on the floor as it stained her boots, and stepped up to Hotohori's lifeless body. Her hand hovered just above his blood-soaked, still, chest and she looked up past the tangled, filthy mass of hair, to the now ruined face. Her tears didn't fall yet, but her voice was strained as she said, "Nuriko! Get him down!"
Nuriko went strait to work, snapping first the chains connected to the ankle-shackles, leaving the shackles and a bit of chain there since it was faster and easier. He couldn't reach the higher chains, so Hakurou lifted his small light frame so he could snap the chains above.
With that done, Hotohori's body fell to the gory floor with not so much as a twitch or a huff of breath, before it could be caught. Myst was on her knees in the gore by him in less than a second. She turned him gently onto his back feeling the deep gashes and tearing wounds with her own hands. She saw now that he truly was not breathing. This is when the first sob came and the first tear fell.
Myst felt as if her heart had been ripped out and felt it physically. She cradled his head in her hands and kissed his ruined, cold lips, tasting the old blood. This only made her cry harder. Her world was crashing down around her and there was nothing to hold onto. Strangely, the part of her mind still working, saw only one good thing in Hotohori's condition. That he had been granted a shred of dignity in the form the shredded silk pants which barely clung to or covered him.
Chichiri seemed to be the one who was most with it right then and hopelessly checked his Emperor and friends body over. After a moment, he gasped suddenly and the sound broke through Myst's sobbing and the other's tears as well. "We still have a chance! I just felt his heart beat, if barely!"
Myst looked up with wide eyes and acted instantly shouting, "Everyone here now! Chichiri, do it!"
Chichiri raised his hand, and then they all screamed as they were jolted. "What?!"
Suboshi was the one that answered. "It's Nakago! He brought the wards back up! We won't be able to leave from inside here! We need to get outside! He knows we're here!"
Myst nodded and jumped up knowing that if they had to fight for too long, they would run out of time. "Nuriko! Get Hotohori! Let's move it!"
With that, Nuriko scooped up the nearly lifeless body and the raced out of both dungeons... only to be met with what seemed like a legion of guards.
Myst looked to Chichiri who shook his head. "He's transmitting another barrier from out here! I can't break through it!"
Myst drew her sword and fended off the first attack sent at her. "Suboshi, get your brother and the others back home on it now! Nuriko, hand Hotohori to Chichiri and all of us will protect those two."
Suboshi started fighting as well, after he had scrawled his message. Not only were they all now dodging physical attacks, but the occasional lightning strike as well. Myst vaguely saw a tall handsome blonde man standing off to the side, watching them slowly lose with a smirk.
They all took several good hits and were bleeding from various minor and moderately serious wounds, including a possible concussion for Tamahome. Still, they all kept fighting.
When at last it seemed like they were really done and Nakago had won, a piercing melody burst forth from Suboshi's now glowing Ryuuseisui. Chichiri screamed, "Now!" and they all dove strait for Chichiri, who held Hotohori's body in his arms.
Brilliant crimson light burst around them, blocking all attacks on them and Myst looked out from the center of it. She spotted Nakago who now had a slightly shocked and very angry look on his face. The last thing he saw from her was far from the last thing she was planning to do to him.
Myst lifted her arm high and shouted clearly for all to hear, "Hey, Nakabitch!" Then she distinctly stuck up her middle finger. "Sit and spin fucker! I'll never give you another chance to hurt him again!" Then there was another burst of red light and they were gone.
**********
A.N.: Awwwwww... yes... another author's note. Oh! And look! Another cliffhanger too! Damn I'm bad... really evil... Well, psychotic chapter I know. And you'll just have to wait until the next chapter to see it they were in time or not. Yeah... *nods head* did... did I mention I was evil yet? Well, yeah... really evil. DO PLEASE REVIEW NE?! Love ta hear from you guys! And trust me! The next chapter won't be that bad!!!!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman