Chapter 3: Even a Strong Willow Branch Cannot Survive With a Root of Illusion
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PTomo smiled. It wasn't gentle, but it was amused. He was reviewing Keishu's life before creating the
illusion he intended to use. So that's how it was. He watched Keishu's past for the little details he knew
were there, and then he saw it. For a moment, he pitied the child. This was a rival he could crush easily.
Keishu's weakness was the fact that he loved everyone and could easily be hurt by it.
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P*****
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P"Hiryu-san!" Yui called.
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P"Eh?" Ichimu looked at her from where he stood. It was mid-day now. "What is it?"
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P"Nakago called everyone to talk about strategies, but no one has seen Tomo since breakfast."
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P"Don't worry about Tomo. He'll be fine."
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P"Nakago wants to talk to you."
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P"Really?" Ichimu smiled. "Would it happen to be about this 'Priest of Suzaku' that Soi told me about?"
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P"I want to talk to you about that. It's Chuusei-San."
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P"Keishu? You're sure?"
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P"Nakago was informed the boy had pink hair. Who else could it be?"
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P"You're right." Ichimu frowned. Against a friend. He pondered wether his friendship or his freedom meant
more.
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P*****
PThe young man bowed before the Emperor of Konan, Suzaku Seishi Hotohori. Hotori gave him a
scrutinizing glance.
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P"You claim to be Suzaku Seishi Tasuki?" Hotohori asked. "Can you prove this?"
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PThe young man looked at the emperor with dazzling golden eyes. His hair was shorter, but this was no
doubt Tomo. He held out his hand and the symbol 'Yoku' appeared on the palm.
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PMiaka, standing behind Hotohori, suddenly felt a strange shock. "Shouldn't it be on your right arm?"
She didn't know why she had said that, but she had.
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PKeishu looked at her. He cared for her, yet he didn't dare touch her. She was a woman after all. "On his
right arm?"
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P"Something about this isn't right... Why isn't your hair red?"
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PTomo focused his attentions on this girl. "Red? Why would it be red?"
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PKeishu looked at Tomo suddenly. "She's right. You're not a Suzaku seishi." He took a step forward.
"I've seen you before somewhere." His eyes lit up with recognition. "Painted-faced warrior of Seiryu!" A red
aura glowed around Keishu at these words. Tomo's make-up faded into existence, his hair shot out in long strands.
PTomo's eyes narrowed. "You broke my illusion. I suppose it only fair to introduce myself then before I
kill all of you."
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P"Seiryu Seishi Tomo, I already know your name."
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PMiaka seemed to look out into space. Her voice was trance-like. "But Yui said Suboshi killed Tomo.
Tomo killed his older brother."
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PTomo stared at Miaka. What was this? Seiryu Seishi Suboshi? He hadn't met Suboshi yet. What was
with this girl?
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PA single tear trickled down Miaka's face as she continued, as if hypnotized. "She told me that I'd never
be in his illusionary world again. She lied."
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PTomo stepped back, away from this girl. Sudden images flashed before his eyes. Green-haired boys.
Two of them. Identical. Himself kissing this girl. No. Aono kissing this girl. What was happening?
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P*****
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P"Ow." Ichimu winced. The symbol 'root' faded and Ichimu rubbed his face. "They got him. Rr."
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P"What?" Yui questioned. She watched as the red mark of a delicate hand appeared on his face.
"What's happening?"
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P"She slapped him before I could cut the connection."
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P"Who?"
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P"Miaka. You're right though. Keishu is the priest."
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P"Miaka?" Yui looked suprised. She couldn't hide it, she still cared about Miaka even though Nakago
had continued attempts to tear her away from her bestfriend.
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P"I'm not worried, though. It's Keishu. Tomo is in good hands."
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P"What?!" Yui looked at Ichimu, hurt. "You planned something and didn't tell me?!"
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P*****
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P"I say we teach this guy a lesson." Tamahome spoke up.
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P"No!" Keishu rushed in front of Tomo. "You can't hurt him! How is that fair just because he's not one of us?"
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PWhat was this? Tomo looked up at the back of the young man. Was he defending him? Why?
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P"He's the same as us, just on the wrong side. We shouldn't waste a life or damage it just because it
was born with an ill-will toward us."
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PAs Keishu shifted his stance, Tomo caught an eyeful of someone he hadn't noticed before. This
someone had long purple hair. Tomo didn't have to give more than a cursory glance for his theatre-knowledge to reveal the person, though elegantly dress in a court lady's apparel, to be a man. He scowled.
All-wrong! The make-up was too heavy, his stance a touch too manly, and his outfit too loose. Tomo stood.
"You dare to come out of your dressing room like that?!" He growled angrily at Nuriko. There was an instant
hatred between the two of them.
P"You're one to talk!" Nuriko shot back. "No wonder they've kept hidden! If they're all as wretched as this
one, they must be ashamed of themselves!"
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P"Atleast I don't go wearing the disguise of a woman so poorly!" He then added, on a second thought,
insult to Soi. "You look better than Soi on a good day, though! I give you credit for that!" Tomo smiled
inwardly. Just like everywhere he went. There was always someone who hated him. Soi hated him, half of
the men that had been in his troupe had hated him, now this boy hated him.
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