Howdy-ho! I bring you this in between power outages, and as my computer marches itself into its inevitable death. Welcome, November!
Enjoy.
-Shivers-
After a proper burial of all the dead in the village, the marketers and Suzaku party made camp in a clearing off the road and away from the village. Tia made sure to avoid Kishuku, lest she fall for another scam or money scheme. But, to her relief, he gladly volunteered to run an emergency message to the municipal building for the province. They would need to know of the destroyed village, after all. It was for a fee, but apparently his pricing was reasonable and his work commendable so… whatever. She's still burned at what he did. She and Tasuki were surprisingly united in not bothering to see him off.
But it was during their brief commiseration together at the campsite that they learned of the city of Chouko and its recent plight. A frightening plague ravages the people there, creeping around as if a demon of suffering. Because of its high death rate, it was aptly named "Shikonki."
This, of itself, was of no real consequence to them. While sad to hear, a disease is exactly the opposite thing they want to be in contact with, as their quest is important. It was the mention of Chouko's one ray of hope through their troubles, a healer woman who could bring the dead back to life, that coaxed their ears back to listening. That's the sort of thing that they're looking for!
"A… necromancer…! Yyyyyeah," Tia had thought, unsure of what to believe. Given what they're doing, it couldn't be bad. Context matters. But given all the rather straightforward powers of her warriors so far, she's not sure how a sudden necromancer of all things fits in.
"Young Priestess, please take care on the rest of your journey," a traveler says, earnest and still in awe. Tia smiles and waves, thoughts too muddy to cobble together a verbal response. She relayed their plans to go to Chouko through the hat the evening before. Now, on this glorious morning, the sun plans to see them through this leg of their travel. It feels like a promising start!
"No need ta stall more, c'mon!" Tasuki complains, ruining the moment and earning dirty looks from his companions. He notices and begins grumbling under his breath, his horse wandering from his control to a nice bit of grass nearby.
"We only got a late start cuz someone felt he needed to shave his already non-existent mustache," Tia snaps, feeling invincible in her spot atop the horse with Hotohori. Tasuki doesn't miss a beat, twisting around with a leer.
"If anyone here needs a razor ta deal with a mustache it's YOU!" he snaps back. Tia snarls in rage and Hotohori has to clamp a hand on her shoulder to keep her from falling off the horse to go after him. Tasuki guffaws as her face goes crimson in anger at being unable to come up with a good enough clapback.
Nuriko trundles his horse forward, Chiriko holding onto his back, and rides past his fellow warrior with a resigned poise settled into his posture. Once close enough, he casually leans over and flicks his finger purposefully onto Tasuki's shoulder. The force, while not enough to make the man go flying through the air, does make him howl and forget that he is on a horse. He topples off, foot caught in a stirrup and thus keeping his left leg in the air as his string of complaints are muffled by dirt. The horse, in its horsey calm and contentedness, merely continues chewing at its patch of grass.
Hotohori now has to keep a hand on Tia's shoulder so she doesn't laugh herself off to the same fate. She wheezes and puffs and coughs, wiping streams of tears from her eyes as Tasuki pries himself from the ground.
"Oh my god, Nuriko, that was fantastic. The timing and execution was perfect, I'm never forgetting that," she howls, though her fit begins to calm down. Tasuki resettles onto his horse, grumbling under his breath before he points menacingly at both Tia and Nuriko.
"Just you two wait! What goes around comes around!"
Tia shrugs with a half-smile.
"Sure. But for now, we should just go, don't you think?"
Defeated, Tasuki shifts back around and gets his reluctant horse away from its wonderful graze patch. Hotohori maneuvers he and Tia to the front of their small party and starts them off to Chouko.
"If number six is here already, I'm on a roll," she thinks, positivity flowing. Chouko won't be a pretty sight when they get there according to the story from the merchants, but she's ready.
After nearly a day's ride (with a few stops to rest), the land begins to show signs of mistreatment. What once were well-traveled roads are now becoming overgrown and weedy. They pass rotting farmhouses with wasteland fields. Any livestock that persists are rattling on last breaths and last legs, their caretakers gone and no way or will to jump the aging fences to better pastures beyond their confinement. Yes, as the group gallops closer in it seems that misery surrounds them. A short posted warning sign tells them all they need to know: "Turn back; Plague is here!"
The dilapidated city isn't very large, and without crowds filling the streets it takes them minutes to get to the city square. If it weren't for the inn still operating there with a place to tie and water their horses, they would've guessed that the city was already abandoned anyway. A swift dismount later, and it's time to ponder their next move.
"Wow," Tia breathes, searching around for signs of anyone. Not a soul. "They undersold the desertion of this place. Chouko might as well be a ghost town."
Tasuki shuffles over and pats the top of her head expectantly.
"Well, get to it, lil missy. Find us that new warrior so we c'n get outta here," he says, scanning the area himself as if the person they're looking for could possibly pop out when called for. It'll be dark soon, and all the creepier in the empty streets.
"For one," Tia snips, stepping away from him, "it doesn't work that way. They've gotta be using their powers or be highly emotional."
Nuriko, Hotohori, and Chiriko know quite well that she's baiting him into asking, and only slightly feel the compulsion to stop him from doing so. Tasuki scrunches his face in confusion.
"What's number two?"
"Number two is deez."
"Huh? What the hell's 'deez?'"
Tia beams, practically hopping around the courtyard as she yells, "Deez NUTS!"
While clearly slander, Tasuki still has confusion mixed in with his humiliation. The others only watch on, not quite getting it either. But, they do notice that Tia's joyous parading is leading her to a crash course!
"Tia, watch where you're-!" Nuriko calls, but the warning is too late. Tia whoops in surprise when she bumps into another woman, who had exited the inn. The priestess immediately swoops down to offer aid and sincere apologies as the warriors surround them both.
"Oh, the blame is also mine. I should have watched where I was going. Are you new to the city? You're quite brave to venture in despite the Shikonki Disease," the woman says, meek and quiet. She's quite beautiful, with long dirty blonde hair pulled into two loops while the rest falls down her back, and large dark eyes that glance between each of them curiously.
"Well, we're the Priestess of Suzaku and her warriors, searching for the last two of the bunch. We heard there was some miracle work going on here and thought we should look into it. I'm Tia, by the way," Tia explains, and points to each of her warriors in turn to introduce each of them as well. The small woman bows to them respectfully.
"My name is Shouka. Please, allow me to host you at my home while you commence your search. I insist," she invites, her smile warm to match her enticing offer. How could they resist?
While following her, Shouka explains the downfall of the city, after Hotohori asks for details. It had been a year ago when the first cases emerged. Victims would come down with fevers that would rise and rise, and they would suffer some form of paralyzation. The suffering would continue and mount to extremes until the victim would die. It spread so fast and so viciously, it was blamed on a demon.
It's when they arrive at her house that another citizen of the city runs up calling desperately for Shouka. Tia, full of information, is startled at the interruption.
"Shouka-san, it's my brother! Please, you have to revive him!"
Shouka calms the young man and mutters conversation with him while Tia and her warriors exchange stunned glances. Tia leans to Nuriko, who's closest.
"Uh, is this our necromancer?" she whispers, and Nuriko bites back a laugh at the descriptor.
"Who knows? And don't use that word, I don't think she'll appreciate it," he whispers back, to which she responds a disappointed "okay."
Shouka and the distraught lad finish their conversation, and the lady turns to them with a look of apology.
"I'm afraid I must leave you to tend to business. You are free to make yourselves comfortable until I return," she says, bringing a sleeved hand up in front of her mouth. Tia looks up at Hotohori, who has the most authority. Chiriko, hands folded in his sleeves, glances around and steps forward.
"Perhaps you should go with Shouka-san, Tia? Tasuki and I can stay here and settle our packs while you, Nuriko, and Hotohori go along," he suggests, earning a pout from Tasuki.
"Would that be okay with you, Shouka? We might be able to help fight off this plague while we search for the sixth warrior here, and for that we need to see anything you do firsthand."
At the nod of acquiescence, the group hands off their packs to Tasuki and Chiriko. Tia sighs, but tugs the bandit's elbow before he mutters himself into a cranky storm.
"Hey, thanks for doing this for us. We won't be long," she says, and notes the bright pink that sprouts over his nose.
"Aw shuddup. Get goin', me n' Chiriko have it all covered fer now."
Tia nods and makes sure to wave at Chiriko before flouncing to join those heading out. The young man, impatient, starts them at a hurried pace. Her breaths get a bit ragged, and Nuriko shoots her worried glances, making sure to keep alongside her. The worry is wasted on her, it seems; Shouka can't go very fast and slows them down much more. Her face grows paler the closer they get to his house, and once they arrive, Hotohori is kindly lending her an arm.
Once inside, Tia heaves a deep, bracing breath and puts her hands on her hips. If she was honest, she's really tuckered out from their day already. But Nuriko is scrutinizing her, so…
"That was a good little powerwalk after riding all day," she comments to cover up, glancing around at their surroundings as they enter the medium-sized house. The air inside is stifling, the walls and floors dirty. The young man leads them into a back room where an older couple, presumably his parents, stand weeping over a bed.
"He suffered until the end, Shouka-san. Please, please, bring him back to us," the mother sniffs, her husband nodding pleadingly over her shoulder. They remain too focused on their child to question the other strangers in the room. Shouka walks forward dutifully to the bed where the deceased patient lies.
"I understand. I will revive him."
Her resolute words have Tia, Hotohori and Nuriko exchange glances. Shouka leans over the patient, and to the morbid fascination of her tagalongs, gently kisses him. She straightens, either not seeing or flat-out ignoring Tia's failing attempt at hiding her disgust. Then, a few seconds later, the parents shriek in joy!
"He's back!"
"Oh thank you, Miss Shouka, thank you!"
The patient is back to life! And that's weird... It's getting pretty warm in here, as if once he came back to life, all the heat flushed into the area. A spear of ice through this sudden heat grips her as shivers also seem to rip through her.
"Am I sick…? But how?! I just GOT here!" Tia doesn't voice her worry, as she has no confirmation that she has any fever anyway, and could simply need a little rest.
Shouka approaches them with a benign smile, unfazed by her actions. She's a bit pale, perhaps, but otherwise fine.
"That is quite the power, Shouka-san," Hotohori starts, too startled to say much else. Tia would normally tack on to say more but the room is so warm, she wishes they'd maybe move outside. Nuriko notices her lack of response to his own comment and raises an eyebrow.
"Maybe we should take the serious talk outside, huh? Tia looks troubled," he teases. He slings an arm around her shoulders and steers her out of the house, her unwitting savior.
Outside, all attention is on her, the Priestess of Suzaku. Hotohori and Nuriko are near bursting at the seams with wonder. She feels too terrible to even know the answer.
"So Tia, did you feel anything when Shouka-san used her power?"
Tia opens her mouth to answer, and pushes air through her throat, forms the words, but. No sound. No response. Nothing.
Her hand, on instinct, goes to her neck in fear as she looks down in panicked confusion. Shouka stares in concern as Nuriko and Hotohori grip each of her shoulders.
"Tia, do you need some tea? What's happening?" Hotohori asks, noting that her continued attempts at speaking are failing. Nuriko growls under his breath and slides a hand onto her forehead. He removes it shortly with a curse.
"She's burning up bad. We've been here such a tiny amount of time, and she caught Shikonki?"
Hotohori's face tightens with anxiety. A bad fever and loss of speech serving as partial paralysis… It would fit. His head swirls around the proper course of action before Shouka rests a graceful hand on Tia's shoulder.
"We must return to my house at once. She can rest there, and you can plan the future with more focus," she suggests. With no better option, and with Tia becoming paler as her shivers grow worse, Nuriko scoops her up and they hasten back to Shouka's.
Immediately upon entering, Tia and Nuriko bypass Tasuki and Chiriko to a bedroom. Hotohori stays to explain.
"Here you go, don't forget to tie the knot securely here or else you'll flash everyone when you get up," Nuriko points out, handing her a spare sleeping robe provided by Shouka. Tia nods, changing into it while her warrior keeps his back turned. She can't voice it, but she does find it a bit funny; Back in the seraglio, back when she thought Nuriko was "Kourin: The stuck-up lady from the city," she wouldn't have thought twice about changing clothes in front of her. But seeing him stand the way he does, his shoulders somehow seem broader.
"Glad I can't talk, he'd probably call me stupid for saying that," she thinks, double-checking that the knot on the silk tie around her waist is reliable. She wobbles to Nuriko once she's satisfied, tapping him on the elbow. He turns, and then grimaces.
"You shoulda just clapped or just gone to bed, you know? Keeping your strength is crucial right now," he scolds, immediately scooting her toward the bed and making her lie down. Any argument is useless and weak.
"I'm tired anyway. Maybe once I get some sleep I'll feel good enough to have a good look around this town for a celestial warrior. Can't be coincidence that I'm here, right?"
She shoots Nuriko a small smile as he busily tucks the blankets around her. She's well taken care of. But if it's the Shikonki Disease, she's got quite the uphill battle…
Tia shuts her eyes to begin her dive into slumber.
"I can't give up until I save Konan, and I can't die until I tell him how I feel!"
Because her eyes are closed, she doesn't notice when Nuriko slips a precious item away from her bag.
... ... ...
"Ya can't be serious about this, can ya? Yer tellin' me we haveta let 'er die?!" Tasuki protests, slamming his fists on the dining table. He's been told the diagnosis, and the subsequent prognosis, for Tia. All of the Suzaku Warriors are feeling healthy as ever, but the most important person of all, the Priestess, is the one who fell ill. How are they supposed to fight that?!
"Tasuki, please, we can find a way, Tia would want us to stay strong and think of a way," Chiriko reassures, though signs of upset are visible on his face as well. Hotohori remains gravely silent, tea untouched before him. Their hostess had finished explaining to them that their only options are to either let the disease run its terrible course, or to kill her mercifully, and in either case, she would be revived.
But… but it seemed wrong.
Especially without confirmation of all their options from anyone else.
"I think it's time, Hotohori-sama."
The group jumps a bit when Nuriko creeps in from the entrance to the dining room. In his hands, he holds the straw hat. Hotohori's eyes widen. But the resolve on Nuriko's face lays any doubt to rest. Tia comes first. And if things go wrong, it would be cruel of them to keep her from seeing him.
Then, Nuriko huffs in laughter and smirks.
"Don't you think we're going to need his help on this one anyway? It is a demon disease, after all," he snorts, and any tenseness in the air disappears. Hotohori smiles, sighing shortly.
"I suppose you have a point. I shall call him, then. Please excuse me."
Hotohori stands, retrieves the hat and promptly exits the house, to the confusion of Shouka and Tasuki. Only Tasuki decides to ask for clarification.
"Sooo, what's happenin'?"
Nuriko slumps down next to him and gratefully accepts a cup of tea.
"He's getting Chichiri. We told you what that hat is, right?"
"Yeah, but you made it sound like Tia needs him more than we do," Tasuki says. In the next moment, he is flying through air, howling before slamming into the far wall. Chiriko watches on in fearful fascination.
"Stupid moron…" he growls, sipping at his tea. Chiriko makes the mental note that Nuriko doesn't enjoy having the truth pointed out to him in obvious manners.
He couldn't help but admit extreme relief when he started hearing the whispers of her voice again. Doubtless his hat and the spell attached to it remains intact, and she has firm hold of it even now. If Tia was in any danger, she made it through. He expected nothing less.
Chichiri himself is walking the razor's edge. On pure coincidence, he found the general of all Kutou's military forces. Even further, Chichiri believes this light-haired man is a member of the Seiryu Seven! Whether it's luck or fate, he's unsure. Either way, he's not willing to test the general's powers when he already figures they must be phenomenal. He's the commanding general at that young age, after all.
As for the priestess, no sight of her. She's kept within the palace, as far as he knows. The palace itself is a fortification of intense measures, unsurprising given the civil conflict going on beyond its walls. He doesn't go in. He can gather enough information from around the walls and from within the local temple he's boarded at.
"-san? Houjun-san?"
Chichiri is roused from his meditation by an acolyte at the door to his room. Ever since he made the decision to come here, he couldn't very well go by his celestial warrior name.
"Ah, my apologies. What is it?"
"Two special guests have arrived at the temple, and the abbot is requesting assistance," the acolyte says, still nervous around the newcomer. Chichiri's interest is piqued, but it makes sense; the shabby temple is short-handed in the first place when most men are going to war.
"Of course. Please lead the way, no da."
With that, he rises and follows the acolyte out through the hallways toward a front part of the temple. He's been helping to clean and patch up the place, and already it seems a bit lighter around the building. The Seiryu Shrine is busier, and though he didn't dare step near it as a servant of Suzaku, the difference is notable: People in Kutou revere their god of battle much more than a Buddha of peace.
The room he's led to has the abbot of the temple, as expected. He's conversing quietly with two boys, perhaps in their early to mid-teens given their height and face shape, both apparently identical from what he can tell. They're dressed differently, one in softer tones, purples and blues. His brother contrasts with oranges and yellows. Both wear headbands around their foreheads, possibly to keep their unruly light brown hair from drifting into their eyes. What Chichiri sees has him instantly recalling the raucous innkeeper, who was so sure he met the Priestess of Seiryu. He said she had been traveling with two boys, twins.
To top it off, he can see a flute on one boy's belt.
There can be a lot of coincidences in the world, but with his life as a celestial warrior, fate is the more probable cause. Now he has the chance to observe if they could be Seiryu celestial warriors!
He bows and makes his presence humbly known to them, and sets about helping the one acolyte prepare tea and a table to serve it at. Before long, he is invited to sit with the abbot and the two boys. Chichiri is wary; the boy in purple is perfectly civil and mannered, but his brother is sullen. It means the one with manners is definitely more dangerous.
"Up until recently, this monk here also traveled the world. He came here to help those in need. We are grateful every day," the abbot explains, saving Chichiri from that at least. The boys stare at him, and the one in cooler colors with the flute smiles politely.
"How do you do? My name is Amiboshi, and next to me is my younger twin, Suboshi. We were also traveling until recently. We came here today to pray for our parents, as this is the anniversary of their deaths," the boy says, soft-spoken with that tell-tale glimmer of grief in his eyes. His brother refuses to look up from the table, a sour expression on his face.
Chichiri recognizes the two names. It confirms the innkeeper's ravings, at least.
"There is a terrible amount of sadness and strife in this world, no da. I'm sorry that you and your brother had to share in it. I am called Houjun," he replies, feeling quite sincere. After all, these warriors may be adversaries in the future, but they're not evil. The nature of conflict can be cruel that way.
Perhaps once the meeting is over and he has time to himself, he can find his way back to Tia and the warriors to trade information and check in at last. Ignoring his own desires on the prospect, it would be smart reasoning. Better to get what information he has to his friends before anything happens to him here. Not that he's really planning on his position becoming compromised.
He spends the next hour in simple conversation with Amiboshi in particular. The state of Kutou and its constant civil wars, famines and droughts, and offerings for the deceased. His own past never came up. Suboshi never speaks up much, but his aura exudes that he wants to be anywhere but here. The ambling nature is altogether pleasant, and Chichiri is fairly confident that he hasn't let slip that he's anything but a regular monk.
Then, the abbot winds down the conversation and takes the two back out to the entrance. Chichiri and the acolyte are left to clean up. That doesn't take long, at least. Once finished, he excuses himself and returns to his room. He has to plan his return to Tia's side, even if it's only a brief moment before he returns here.
When he enters, he hears the spell and gasps. It's not Tia's voice calling faintly through his kesa, hanging on the wall; it's Hotohori-sama's! He strides to it and listens, a jolt of panic stirring through him when he hears the simple, vague words of "Tia is in trouble."
He takes up the robe and, mind reeling at the possibilities, at what he could do, at how he can go without being suspicious, he decides merely to leave a note. Someone came along at the back of the temple for help, yes! He went with them to their home outside the city, and he will be back soon. Perfect! Finished with the hasty letter, he gathers up his belongings and, with a quick feel to ensure no one is approaching his room, he enacts the traveling spell to transfer him through the fabric.
"Hang on, Tia. I'll be there soon, just keep fighting," he prays, even though he is unsure what's wrong. Whatever it is, he knows they can fight it together.
... ... ...
Down the street from the temple, Amiboshi and Suboshi walk with the abbot behind them. Their goal is just around the corner, waiting for them with crossed arms and in the armor befitting his status.
"Ah, General Nakago! It is an honor to meet you in person," the abbot greets, bowing deeply. The tall young man before him, with light blond hair and piercing blue eyes, didn't change his serious demeanor nor did he bow in return. With the amount of power he holds, he doesn't need to. The twins are his focus instead.
"So, was my information correct? I felt a strange chi when on my rounds collecting from my inner-city network, and I traced it to that monk in there," Nakago says, sounding bored. Normally he'd check himself but a trap like this one requires delicacy. Amiboshi rubs his chin.
"He evaded every opportunity presented for me to play my flute. I would've been able to sense if he had any great power if I could have played at all. While it may not mean much, it is strange that he bounced around that topic, as if he knew," he relays, ignoring when his brother crosses his arms angrily. Neither of them were keen on using the death of their parents for espionage, but it's for the good of everyone in the end, right?
Nakago grunts.
"Perhaps we shall have to merely capture and interrogate him, then. I'll gather the proper resources for that time. Should he prove to be a Suzaku Warrior, perhaps using that idiot Asuke would be prudent. I trust that the good abbot understands his place in this matter?"
The abbot dips his head unflinchingly, knowing his loyalties. A large, generous donation came in a few days ago, and many more are promised for his cooperation. It does sadden him to turn over such a polite young man, dedicated to helping others, but the world is cruel. Sacrifice is needed.
"Good. We must return to the palace, then," he says, referring to himself and the twins, "the priestess is easily bored. I fear that should she hear more of the Priestess of Suzaku, she may grow envious, though I wouldn't blame her…" Nakago trails, thinking on reports he's heard of his as-yet faceless adversary. The twins glance at each other curiously as the abbot begins to sweat nervously. Shivers shake his spine. The look on the general's face is not normal, not genteel… It is filled with malice.
I mean... Right? Chichiri ain't a hostage, I can bring him back whenever I want. Ah, the goodness of it all.
Thanks for reading everyone, and my sincere appreciation to those who follow/fav/review. It really bumps my attitude up.
Til Next Time,
-A