A New Discovery

Part Seven

"Hey, Chichiri!" Megyn called when she saw him exit the room he shared with Tamahome. "Where are you going?"

Chichiri poked his head in the room. "I just remembered the horses and our supplies, you know. I'm going to get them." Chichiri began walking down the hallway.

"Chichiri, wait!" she pleaded. He poked his head back in the room. "Can I come with you?"

"I would love to have you with me, no da, but, your leg…"

"Oh, it's all better now." She stood. "See. It's fine."

"Well," he began. "If you can walk, I guess you can come, you know."

She cheered. "Thanks, Chichiri!"

"What is she doing?" Genrou asked once Megyn and Chichiri left.

Jamie started to say something, but Tamahome interjected. "She is going to do one of the hardest things in her life."

"Weren't they over here?" Megyn asked.

"The horses should be further in yet, no da," Chichiri said. He pushed aside a branch and allowed Megyn to pass through.

"You were right, Chichiri. Here they are." She sighed. "After you lead them to the stream, um, can I talk to you?"

"Of course," he said with a smile.

"I thought I told her to stay off her leg," Genrou said.

"Look," Tamahome said. "Whether she hurts her leg more or not, isn't any of our business."

"How can you say that, Tamahome?" Jamie burst.

"She knows what she's risking and who she's risking it for. She made her choice and we should leave them alone."

Genrou quietly left the room. He strode several doors down the hall until he came to his room. Pushing open the door, he walked in and took an inventory of the sparse room. The first thing he noticed was his bluish-haired friend.

"GENROU!!"

"Hey, Kouji," Genrou said, refusing the arm offered to him. "Can I ask you a favor?" Kouji raised an eyebrow. "Can you meet me at our place and make sure to pack it with drinks? I have a feelin' I'll be needin' it."

"Sure."

Genrou nodded graciously to his friend and left the bandit den to find that stupid woman.

Megyn led Chichiri to a secluded area under a tree. "I just wanted to say that I like you Chichiri, a lot." Chichiri's unmasked face smiled happily. "However, I don't love you." His smile faded. "I'm sorry."

"But, Megyn," Chichiri began. "I love you."

She shook her head. "No, you don't."

"But, I do," he said sincerely.

"No you don't!" she cried. "You were just infatuated with me because I said you were handsome. You are, but that doesn't mean I love you. You are my teacher and my friend. Nothing more."

Chichiri just stood there, not fully understanding. Maybe he just didn't want to. She hated to do this, but she had to. "GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Megyn screamed. She pointed to the stream where the horses stood drinking.

This shocked him back to reality. He put his mask on and walked to the stream to get the horses. He gathered the three leads in one hand and led them back towards the bandit den.

Once he was out of sight, Megyn fell back against the tree and sobbed. The image of the sadness and the pain in his eyes wouldn't leave her. She couldn't stop herself.

Chichiri led the three horses solemnly up to the bandit den.

"Chichiri!" he heard Jamie cry. "What's wrong? Where's Megyn? What happened?" She ran up to him.

He lifted his masked face. "Nothing is wrong, no da," he said cheerily. "Megyn just needed some time alone. She'll be back when she's ready, no da."

Jamie nodded in understanding. "I hope she comes back soon."

Genrou looked at the girl sobbing below him. Her shoulders shook and her cries filled the forest. She looked so different then. It couldn't be the same girl he had met early that morning. She was too vulnerable. She wasn't the same strong, fearless person from before.

Yet, she was. Unbeknownst to Megyn, Genrou sat in a tree above her and to her left. He had seen the whole ordeal. He saw her strengths and weaknesses all in the few minutes he watched her, them, from the tree.

He looked at her again. She reminded him of Reirei. They even looked alike. If Reirei were alive, they would be about the same age he suspected. That was how he decided. He slid out of the tree.

Without looking up, she asked, "You saw the whole thing, didn't you?"

"Yeah," he said, solemnly. "I'm sorry."

Megyn looked up. "Sorry? For what?"

"For calling you an old man," Genrou said. "You're not old." The corners of her mouth twitched. "Was that a smile?" he asked.

"No." She was so stubborn. Did she want to sit there crying all day?

"Miko-sama?" Hakurou asked. He put his hand on Jamie's shoulder. She turned her head. "May I have a word with you?"

She nodded. "Of course. You have been so kind to us. How could I deny you this simple request?"

"Although I have no right to tell you this, I feel I must," Hakurou began. Jamie studied him closely. "I wish Genrou to accompany you on your journey."

"Why?"

"He is not what you think. He's a seishi. The seishi Tasuki."

"I thought it was a smile." Genrou reached over to Megyn and began tickling. She squirmed and fought trying to block his fingers.

"Stop!" she squealed. "No!" Her left shoe kicked off. "GENROU!" She kicked his stomach with her bare foot. "Lay OFF!" A familiar feeling crept up her leg. Clumsily, she scrambled for her shoe and stuffed her foot in it. "Genrou, would you just leave me alone?"

"I can't let ya walk when your leg looks like that." Genrou pointed to her ankle. It was swollen and a greenish color that one's ankle shouldn't be. "I'll carry you."

Megyn jumped back. "You absolutely will NOT!"

Jamie's mouth dropped open. "That stupid idiot? A seishi? You have GOT to be kidding."

"Don't be stupid," Genrou told Megyn as she attempted to stand.

"I'm not being stupid," she retorted.

"You could at least wait awhile," he said. "I mean, just look at it." He pointed to her ankle. "I told you not to move around in the first place."

"Go to Hell."

"Not before you. Ladies first, you know." He paused. "Wait, you're not a lady, are you? You're just a stupid little girl."

Tempers began to rise. Megyn stood on her good leg with hands on hips, glaring at the young bandit. Genrou crossed his arms across his chest and glared right back.

"Well," he said, "if you don't need me, I'll just be going."

"Fine!" she said. "Be that way!"

He stalked back towards the bandit den.

Jamie paced in the room she shared with Megyn. There is no way Megyn will believe this, she thought. She is going to flip out.

Tamahome walked in the room and watched Jamie for a moment. "She's not back yet?"

"Not yet."

"And the idiot?"

"Not him either."

Genrou looked back again. Megyn was still struggling behind him. To make it seem like he hadn't seen her, he continued to walk towards the bandit den.

After another few minutes of walking, he finally turned completely to say, "Why are ya followin' me?"

Megyn leaned against a tree. "Because, I don't know where to go."

He raised an eyebrow. She admitted weakness. Although he hadn't known her a day, he thought this was out of character for her. "Fine," after a moment of silence, "I'll take ya back, if you aren't a pain in my ass."

"Deal," she gave him a thumbs-up. Suddenly, her face contorted and she collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest with her left hand.

Tamahome looked in the room.

"They still aren't back yet!" Jamie yelled. "I'll tell you when they're back! Jeez…"

"I'm going after her then! There's no way I'm leaving her with that annoying bastard!"

Genrou ran to Megyn. "What happened?" He knelt beside her. "What's wrong?" Megyn only continued to gasp and whimper. Her grip on her chest tightened. Finally, her body went limp. Genrou shook her. "Hey!"

This is how Tamahome found them: Genrou shaking Megyn's limp body.

"What are you DOING to her!" Tamahome demanded.

The young emperor stared out across his land. It had been only a day since the party had left, but it had seemed eternal. What could be happening with them? Is everything all right?

Hotohori bent his head and let out a heavy sigh. "Why was I destined to be an emperor?" he asked himself. "I want only to protect my priestess."

"Your highness."

Hotohori turned to the advisor bowing his head. "Yes."

"There is a boy here who wishes to speak to you. He says that it is quite urgent. We tried to turn him away, but he insisted."

"A boy? Well, I suppose I will hear him."

"He awaits you in the throne room."

The young emperor nodded and made his way through the maze of corridors to the throne room. Attendants pushed open the heavy doors for him. Before him stood a small boy who bowed as he entered the room.

"Your highness," he said.

Hotohori waved off his bow as he sat on the throne. "I hear you wish an urgent council with me. Of what business?"

"I fear, your highness, that our priestess may be in greater danger than we expected. I am unaware of the kind of danger, but we must get to her before it is too late."

The young emperor stiffened. Jamie just couldn't be in danger. Tamahome, Chichiri, and Megyn were with her all the time. Besides, Jamie could handle herself. "Who are you that you know so much?"

The youth bowed. "I am a scholar, but, more importantly, I am Suzaku sichiseishi, Chiriko." As he said this, he lifted his robes slightly and slid his left foot out from under them to reveal proof: the symbol for stretch glowing a bright red.

Hotohori gasped. This was Chiriko: the fourth seishi. This boy, this child had been chosen by Suzaku himself to protect his priestess.

"I am afraid though, your highness, that I may not be of much help."

Jamie found Chichiri in his room, on the bed, back facing her. She sat on the opposite side of the bed, back facing him. Apparently, this startled him since the bed seemed to jump.

Chichiri gasped slightly, though it really wasn't a gasp. More of a sudden inward sigh.

"You don't have to worry, Chichiri. It's just me," Jamie said softly. "I didn't have anyone to talk to. They've all left to find Megyn."

Genrou looked up from his crouched position beside Megyn. "I didn't do ANYTHING! She just fell," he defended.

"We have to take her back," Tamahome said urgently. Scooping her up in his arms, he said, "Hurry."

Tasuki pointed to the northeast. "There's a secret place Kouji and I have. It's not too far from here. It's quicker than going back to the stronghold."

"I just wanted to thank you, Chichiri, for protecting me even though, so far, there hasn't been anything to protect me from, really. So just…thanks." Jamie stood to leave the room, but stirring on the bed caused her to look over her shoulder.

Genrou kicked at the door. "Oi! Kouji! Open the door!"

"Knock, knock! Who's there?" they heard from the opposite side of the door. Kouji. Kouji who? Genrou's buddy that's who. Oh, well, then come on in. Thank you." The door swung open, revealing Kouji on the other side.

"Go get some blankets or something," Tamahome ordered. Kouji scampered off to follow these orders and Genrou led Tamahome to a room where Megyn could rest. She stirred in Tamahome's arms.

"Hey, guys. Did I fall asleep?" she asked, opening her eyes and looking around.

At that same instant, Jamie turned around to look at Chichiri. She gasped in pain as two long, black feathers pierced her stomach.

"Jamie!" Tamahome and Megyn cried in unison.

Hotohori, Chiriko, and the royal advisors, that very day, discussed Chiriko's prophecy.

"But, sire!" one of the advisors interrupted. "This…this boy… He's only a child. How do we know that his prophecy is true?"

"No one knows whether a prophecy is true, but the object here is to prevent it at all costs," Hotohori said, seriously.

"How do we know he is telling the truth?"

"The symbol of Suzaku on his foot would not allow him to lie."

"It is true," Chiriko said, standing, ready to reveal his symbol to the advisors. "I do indeed possess Suzak—" The boy stopped. A strange tremor ran through him. He looked at his emperor. Hotohori's face mirrored his.

"Jamie!" the emperor cried as he realized what that feeling was. He rushed to the door.

"WAIT!" his advisors called. "We can't have our emperor in danger. There is no heir. Think of the consequences, sire."

Hotohori stopped. "What about the priestess?"

"The consequences, sire."

He sighed. "You are correct. I cannot risk leaving the throne."

"Your highness?" Chiriko said. "If you would allow it, I could take the throne while you were away. I am fully aware of the government's activities and duties as I have been studying extensively for the Kakyo."

"You would do that, Chiriko?" Hotohori asked hopefully.

"Anything for the priestess, your highness."

"Then it is settled! Chiriko will reign in my place until my return. Treat him as you would treat me. Thank you, Chiriko." With that, he ran out the doors to rescue his beloved priestess.