Search For the Shinzaho: Take Two

Chapter Five: Meet Nakago

The moment the group reached the top of the rise, a blue chi blast flew past their heads.

Jiyuna froze behind Chichiri.  That blast, that color, she'd recognize it anywhere.  Nakago.  She felt a twinge of pain in her side as she remembered the blue ball exploding onto her skin.

Chichiri had felt Jiyuna tense when the chi blast had flown by.  He removed his mask and turned to her, his one good eye full of concern.  "Jiyuna-sama…" he started.

Jiyuna shook her head emphatically, hearing only Chichiri's voice, she hadn't looked up.  When she did however, she stared into an eye as crimson in color as her own.  The other one was forever closed due to a scar that extended from the arch of his eyebrow at an angle across to the top of his nose.  She stared at him, not sure what to say or think.

He spoke for her.  "It's a long story, no da.  But remember this, Nakago will kill you without a thought, no da."

She nodded.  His voice was so deep when he was serious, it didn't sound like him at all.  She was about to say something, when another voice interrupted.

"Taking in peasants now, Miaka?"

Jiyuna saw Miaka's eyes grow wide and heard the quiet whisper, "Yui-chan."  She looked in the direction the voice came from, seeing an angry looking blond haired girl sitting on a horse with a young, light brown-haired boy.  They must have a history, she thought.  It was then she saw him.

He was sitting atop his horse, blonde hair fallen over a pure blue eye.  He was glaring at Jiyuna, but with an amused smirk on his face.  Nakago, the man who had murdered her parents in cold blood, was little more than 25 feet away from her.  She shivered under his icy stare, why was he looking at her like that?

Flanking Nakago on one side were the girl Miaka called Yui-chan with the other boy, while a tall, slender woman with auburn hair rode on his other side.  Her hair was long and braided, and she wore a form fitting leather outfit.  Behind them, were a slew of guards and assassins like the ones from the night before.

"Suzaku no Miko," Nakago spoke finally, not tearing his eyes away from Jiyuna.  "This will be as far as you go.  I will not allow you to get to Sailo Country.  You have the first shinzaho, do you not?"

"Do not answer him, Miaka," Hotohori said.  "Nakago, you will not stand in our way.  We are going to Sailo Country, and we will get the shinzaho."

Nakago smiled a little more, shifted his gaze at the emperor.  "Then, you will die," he answered simply.

Another chi blast, directed toward Chichiri and Jiyuna, flew from the palm of his hand.  Jiyuna could only watch it as it got closer and closer.

"NOOOO!"

Jiyuna felt a heavy body fly into her, knocking herself and Chichiri to the ground.  She tried to sit up, but Tasuki had landed right on top of her.  "Dammit," he muttered.  "When are you guys gonna learn to fuckin' move when something is coming right at ya!"

"Can we argue about it later, Tasuki?" Jiyuna asked, staring in horror as a wolf-like beast approached them, snorting and growling.  The three scrambled to get untangled, but the creature moved closer, crouched down, and lunged.  Jiyuna closed her eyes, bracing herself for the attack, but it never came.

Just as the creature lunged, Nuriko jumped into its path, kicking it hard in the head.  The wolf-thing yelped in pain, recoiling back from Nuriko for only a second.  Then, it leaped again, claws bared and attempted to slash the seishi across the chest.  Nuriko jumped up, flipped, and landed behind the beast.  He grinned as the bracelets Taiitsukun gave him began to glow red.  They grew and extended up his arm, filling him with a new strength.

Chichiri, Tasuki, and Jiyuna finally picked themselves off the ground, and Tasuki went to aide Nuriko while Chichiri led Jiyuna over to where Chiriko still sat on Mitsukake's horse.  Miaka stood next to him, brandishing a stick in front of her.  Jiyuna gave her a sidelong glance.  "Miaka, I don't think that's going keep the assassins away."

The young Miko jumped about 4 feet in the air at the sound of Jiyuna's voice.  "Hyah!" she screamed, attempting to hit Jiyuna with the stick.  Jiyuna ducked and grabbed the stick out of Miaka's hand.

"What the hell are you doing?  I'm on your side!" she yelled.

Miaka smiled sheepishly, blushing.  "Gomen ne, Jiyuna-sama.  I didn't know it was you!"  Then, she turned back around and watched Tamahome, who was trying his damnedest to fight off a dozen assassins who attacked him at once.  Chichiri left the other three and went to help him.

Jiyuna looked around for Hotohori frantically.  Where is he? she thought.  A clanking sound made her turn to her right.

There, engaged in battle with Nakago, was a very angry Hotohori.  Jiyuna watched with impressed fascination as he attacked and thwarted Nakago's attacks with great skill.  Suddenly, remembering there was another seishi, she looked up at Chiriko.  "Where's Mitsukake?"

Chiriko pointed, wide-eyed, directly in front of him.  Jiyuna's gaze followed his finger and saw the healer fighting off the small boy who had been riding with Yui.  The boy had a weapon that looked to Jiyuna to be something of a toy, but also looked a bit dangerous.  He kept throwing it at Mitsukake, but the healer was quick and ducked around it.

She looked back at the battle between the emperor and the shogun.  She almost leapt for joy when Hotohori disarmed Nakago, but gasped when the latter blasted him in the chest with a chi ball.  The emperor flew back and landed heavily on the ground.

The moment she started for him, three assassins closed in around her, grinning evilly.  Jiyuna started at all three, waited.

"Where are you going, pretty girl?" one asked.

"Me?  I'm not going anywhere.  But you… well, we'll just where you go."  I have to get to Hotohori, she thought, panic beginning to tear away her calm façade.  She leapt at the men, using the skills she'd been taught.  A dropkick landed the first on his back, and the other two came at her at the same time.  She did a flip, landing with her legs around the smaller one's neck.  She spun to the side, heard his neck snap.  The moment she hit the ground, she rolled, coming to her feet to stare at the remaining assassin.  He sized her up, then backed down.

Jiyuna ran to Hotohori's side, and saw blood seeping through his robes.  "Hotohori, are you all right?" she asked, cradling his head in her lap.  "Mitsukake, come quick!"

The healer, thinking as quickly as he could, whistled loudly.  Tama-neko came running at full speed and launched himself into the air, only to land directly on the young boy's face.  The boy screamed and grabbed at the cat, trying to get him to stop scratching at his face.

Mitsukake ran to Hotohori, and knelt at his side.  "Hang on, Heika," he said.

Hotohori managed a weak smile at Jiyuna.  "I thought I had him."  Then, his smile faded as a shadow was cast over him and Jiyuna.

"You."

Jiyuna looked up at the where the mysterious voice had come from.  Nakago stood over her, an evil glint in his eyes.  "I will take the shinzaho from you now," he said.

She stood up and stared directly into his icy gaze.  "Sorry… I left it in my other suit of armor," she spat out.  She hoped to Suzaku that he couldn't see the fear that she was feeling at that moment.

"I see," Nakago said.  "Then I will just take you instead."  He reached and grabbed her roughly by the wrist.  His other arm snaked around her waist, and he dug his fingers into the wound.  Jiyuna winced in pain and a yip escaped her lips. "Ah," he smiled.  "I see this still hurts you."

Jiyuna said nothing, but struggled against him futilely.  She looked down and saw Hotohori, a fearful look in his beautiful eyes.  He fought vainly against the unconsciousness that was coming on… If he could just stay awake… He looked once more at Jiyuna, remembering her face, then slumped against the ground.

"HOTOHORI!!!!!!!!"

The wail that rose from Jiyuna managed to make everyone stop fighting and look at her.  She was crying now, sobbing while still trying to extract herself from the grip Nakago had on her.  The panic had taken over all rational thought, and she couldn't think of what to do.  He dragged her toward his horse, ignoring the pleas she was sobbing out to let her go.  She spun finally, and kicked him as hard as she could in the shin.  She saw Nakago stumble only slightly, a scowl come over his face.  He pulled her close to him.  "That will cost you," he whispered.  Then, he picked up his sword from the ground and brought the hilt of it down on her head.  Jiyuna fell against him, unconscious, allowing him to lift her into the saddle of his horse.

"If you wish to see her alive," he said to the rest of the seishi who were gathering around their emperor.  "Bring me the shinzaho."

"You fucking bastard!" Tasuki screamed, and started to run after him.

"Soi." Nakago called.

The woman in leather nodded.  Then, she summoned a wall of fog to block the exits of Nakago, herself, and the others.

"Dammit!" Tasuki screamed, stomping the ground angrily.  "How could we just let him fucking take her!"

Tamahome came up behind him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.  "We'll get him, Tasuki.  We'll get him."

Jiyuna awoke sometime on the ride back to wherever the Seiryuu were going.  She was sitting side-saddled in front of Nakago, and he had one arm around her as he reined his horse with the other.  Her head was throbbing horribly, and she wanted to simply throw herself off the horse and let it run her over.  Anything was better than allowing this murderer to hold her hostage.

Nakago apparently thought of that, and tightened his grip on her when he realized she was awake.

"What are you going to do me?" she whispered, not wanting the others to hear her.  The woman who rode beside Nakago, especially, creeped her out.

He looked down at her.  How in the hell did this peasant girl manage to survive?  He was sure he'd hit her so she'd be dead in a day's time.  "Wait," was her only answer.

When they arrived at their camp, Jiyuna saw it had already been set up for them.  Nakago reigned in his horse, dismounted smoothly, then plucked Jiyuna from the saddle.  He handed her over to the guards, with orders to put her in his pao.  Jiyuna felt like a possession rather than a person.

She was thrown roughly into a large tent.  Her side hurt like hell, and when she examined it, she saw the wound had reopened and was bleeding.  "Dammit," she muttered.  She looked around the tent. It looked to be Nakago's personal tent from the few articles of clothing that were lying around.  She sighed.  They had ridden for hours, and who knows how long she had been unconscious.  She was sure Hotohori would come after her, but how long would it take them?  And would they even be able to find them?


She was still looking around when the flap of the tent opening fluttered.  She turned, frightened, to see who had entered.  There, bathed in shadow, was the tall, looming figure of Nakago.

"Nakago," she said, her voice thick with fear and anger.  He stepped into the torch light, looking different than he had before.  He was no longer wearing his blue armor, but was dressed comfortably in white robes with a maroon cape.  He swept his hand toward a chair.

"Onegai, sit down."

Jiyuna stood defiantly in the middle of the tent.  "What do you want from me?" she asked, meeting the cold blue eyes of Kutou's shogun.


Nakago chuckled, his hard features softening for a second.  "It's very simple. I get the shinzaho, you go free."

"They won't give it to you."

The blond man walked up to her, bent until their faces were less than an inch apart.  "Oh, but they will," he whispered.  "If that simpering emperor cares about you, they will give me the shinzaho."

Jiyuna backed away, and cursed herself for being weak.

Nakago stood, brushing off whatever thought had crossed his mind.  "Just be happy that I don't kill you right now.  Especially since you had the shinzaho and managed to get away from me."

The young girl became irate.  She jumped up from the chair, threw her hands in the air.  "I didn't even know that the necklace I had was the shinzaho!  And if I had, I probably would have given it to you, because dying is not something I look forward to.  But now that I know what I know, I'm glad you don't have it, you bastard!"


She never saw the backhand coming.  It hit her across her cheekbone, sending her flying backwards onto the hard ground.  She grabbed her cheek, which was throbbing.

Nakago was standing over her, still cool and calm.  "You will not address me in such ways.  Remember, I hold the power over whether you live or die."

Jiyuna stayed on the ground.  How am I going to get out of here?  She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, more as gesture to ward off the cold coming through the tent opening.  It was then she realized that Nakago had not moved from the spot in front of her.  He dropped to one knee and grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"Hmm…" he looked thoughtful, then snickered.  "Maybe I will keep you around for a while anyway.  You could be good entertainment."

She shoved his hand away roughly.  "Jiyuna does not entertain."

Nakago nearly got a surprised expression on his face.  "Jiyuna?  So, that's your name."

Shit, that was stupid! She thought angrily.

He smiled again.  "Well, Jiyuna.  It's late, and I need my rest."  He grabbed her by the wrist and started to drag her towards his bed.

"N-nani?!"  She felt like a caged animal, scared, but perhaps slightly dangerous.  "NO!" she screamed and fought him with everything she had.  She clawed at his hand and arm, kicked his legs, and spat curses out like water.

Nakago, however, did not even flinch.  He practically threw her into the bed, and crawled in with her.  Pinning her arms above her head, he lay on top of her to keep her from moving while he bound her wrists together with rope, and then tied the end of the rope to a leg of the bed.  As he lay on top of her, despite the loathe that she felt for him, Jiyuna could not help but think that he was really rather good-looking, for a heartless coward.  Nakago saw how she looked at him, and stared directly into her red eyes.  She stiffened beneath him.  What was he going to do?  She could feel her eyes widen to the point where they hurt.  Then, ever so gently, Nakago lowered his lips to hers and kissed her.  Jiyuna's head was spinning.  What the fuck is he doing? she asked herself.  The truth dawned on her, then.  "Good entertainment," he had said.

She tore her lips away.  "I told you, I don't entertain."

He smiled.  "Could have fooled me."

A loud, rather anguished shriek was heard right outside the tent.  Jiyuna and Nakago both turned toward the opening.

"I demand to see Nakago!" a female voice was heard.

"The shogun wants no visitors," a guard informed her.

Jiyuna looked back to the man who still lay on top of her.  His eyes had narrowed to tiny slits.  "Soi," came the whisper.

Almost as though she heard him, a girl Jiyuna recognized as one who was with Nakago today, came bursting into the tent.

"Nakago-sama!" she gasped, looking at him laying on top of the girl he had taken today.  She glanced from Nakago to the girl and back again.

The shogun pushed himself off the bed and stood before her.  "Soi, you ignore my orders," he said.  "You know I don't stand for insubordination."

The girl became frightened and bowed deeply to Nakago.  "Gomen nasai, shogun," she said, then lifted her head to glare menacingly at Jiyuna.  "Nakago-sama, you shouldn't bother with her.  I can raise your chi, that pitiful peasant can not."

Nakago got an amused look on his face.  "That pitiful peasant is mine, Soi.  And what I do with her or to her is no concern of yours."

Jiyuna could only lay and watch as the leather-clad woman's face turned red with anger.  "Fine.  Have fun!" she said angrily.  Then, she turned to Jiyuna.  "And you… you better watch your back if you live through this."  Soi spun on her heels and exited the tent.

Nakago shook his head. What was with her?

"It seems you're quite the popular guy," Jiyuna piped up from the bed.  "The fact that she's jealous of me is actually rather amusing."

He turned back to her, opened his mouth, and closed it again.  It was the first time she had ever seen the shogun struggle for words.  Whatever he was going to say, he shrugged off, for he silently walked back over to the bed.

Jiyuna winced when he got back on the bed and pulled her body against his.  He had managed to grab her side that was still wounded and pushed against it.  Nakago noticed her flinching, and pulled back the blankets to see blood where it had seeped through her robes.  He sighed in annoyance.  "I don't want you to die before I get the shinzaho, so I suppose I should have that dressed for you."

She rolled onto her back to glare at him.  "Hey, Nakago, don't do me any favors."

He reached up and stroked her now bruised cheek.  "Good, good…keep that fire in you and we'll get along famously."

Jiyuna glare at him.  How the hell was she going to survive this?