Fighting Protozoa
Chapter Two
Souryuu leapt for the drapes with a strangled cry. Dimly, he was aware of Kurikara's startled grunt and knew, somewhere in his subconscious, that the drapes were now burning with Dragonfire, too. He very narrowly avoided slamming into the wall as he threw a spray of water at the offending flames. This only made him step on Tsuzuki who started burning his pants with a piteous squawk.
The Dragon snarled, tore down the curtains and seized Tsuzuki around the tail. Protecting himself against the fire with a small globe of water, he slid open a door and dumped the baby phoenix in a birdbath. There was a moment of calm, where he turned and looked back at his smoking house, nestled in between two delicate gardens.
Souryuu attempted to breathe evenly, fists clenched. This didn't get him very far, so he stalked back inside, choking on the smoke filtering through the open shoji.
Inside, it was very quiet. Kurikara was squatting over a small spark, fanning it merrily. Souryuu moved further inside to loom over him menacingly. The smaller Dragon smirked up at him, unrepentant.
'One of my best, I'd say,' chirped Kurikara. 'Did you see him?'
'I want you to die,' stated Souryuu coldly.
The rest of the guests were staring at them, smudged with soot and in various cowardly crouches about the room. Except Touda, of course, who was sitting precisely where he'd been all along. All eyes moved to the door, collectively. Byakko left quickly, edging around Souryuu, to save Tsuzuki from his horrible fate.
Souryuu stared intensely at Kurikara, who sighed and gave up on his fledgling spark. They glared at each other in silence until there was a crash from outside, coupled with a shriek filled with pain. After that, they glared some more.
Tsuzuki limped in, leaning on Byakko. He was drenched and had pieces of stone stuck into his body at weird angles. He looked distinctly unhappy.
This didn't precisely stop the staring match between the two Dragons.
'It's been a long day,' said Touda pointedly, flashing the pair a Look. They turned their glares on him.
'Don't be mean,' Tsuzuki squawked at them frantically. 'Don't try and kill him!'
'What,' said Souryuu, 'makes you think I would?'
He didn't get a reply for some time. Finally, he noticed the room's inhabitants looking at him strangely. He scowled at them.
'I want you to fix this mess before you do anything else,' he barked at Kurikara. 'Tsuzuki, stop dripping and do something useful with yourself. The rest of you - find Baaya and get your rooms sorted out.'
'And you?' asked Byakko, frowning.
Souryuu glared at him, then swished out the door to the garden without a word.
The gardens were always a pleasant place to enjoy the finer beauties of the world. They almost never stank of smoke, and didn't have annoying people. Mostly.
At least, they were usually quiet if they were there. Kijin wasn't an idiot, and he was quiet, too. Those two features were quite redeeming in Souryuu's eyes.
So he didn't immediately attack his son when Kijin interrupted his gloomy sulk. The boy sat down next to him on the garden bench shyly.
'Father? Could I talk to you?' He looked extremely embarrassed.
Souryuu sighed. 'What did you do to your sister this time?'
'Nothing! I mean.. that is.. Nothing! That's not what I wanted to talk about.'
'I'll bet,' muttered Souryuu, looking out over the small pond glittering with the last light of dusk. They sat for some time while Kijin fidgeted with the hem of his robe. The boy took a deep breath.
'Hisoka.'
Souryuu looked at him blankly.
'I.. Like him.' Kijin waited apprehensively for the sword cut that would end his existence. He waited for quite a while, and when it didn't come, he peeked up at his parent nervously.
Who hadn't reacted much. 'Personally, I find him disdainful. But there's no need to let that colour your judgement.'
'That's not what I meant! I.. Like him like you like Byakko.'
'So you're saying you hate him?'
'NO!' Kijin looked like he was visibly restraining himself from an act of violence. 'I'm in love with him!'
'What do you mean by - WHAT?' Souryuu barked. 'I do not find that sack of fuzz attractive!'
He shot to his feet and loomed over Kijin angrily. The boy, after having confessed without being mauled, had returned to his passive personality. He looked up calmly. 'Father, that's not what the point of this conversation is. But if you insist it is, then I'll just have to say that everyone knows. And, because you're the one who obviously needs counselling on the matter, I won't ask you for help.'
Kijin then primly rose to his feet, ducked past his father and flounced back to the house. Souryuu stared after him, aghast.
He was dead certain Tenkou had been giving her brother lessons on Parente Tormente. Or maybe Kijin was just going through that phase. With a repressed shudder, he vividly recalled how Kurikara had acted at four hundred.
Kijin's strange behaviour coupled with the torment the other gods were currently putting him through was cause enough to panic. But hadn't his son said he was in love with Byakko?
In love with Hisoka. Hisoka, damnit. Souryuu ran a hand through his hair. Stupid Tiger, anyway. Why did I even let him stay here?
He sat and pondered this until the sun drew away from the sky completely and the sounds of Suzaku's arrival jerked him back to reality. With a pained expression, he stalked back to his home, sniffing for burning wood.