Warnings and Disclaimers on Chapter one!!
Thanks: Thank you so muchee to Shamanic Nuriko, korry-chan, Ryoko-onee, Eiri-faerie, lilee, kittykat, Rei-chan (Yikes, I have to keep Nakago away from you!), and kawaii tenchi (It's alright! She explained it all to me, but I can't give away her username: she got to me first) for all your support and I'm sorri this took so long!!! I had exams and now I'm waiting for report cards, then Fanfiction.net had to go and upgrade, then not fully be ready by the supposed date! Anyways, I finished this chapter and I'm working on the next chapter as we speak. I'll get it out ASAP because I have extracurricular stuff later! Have fun reading and R&R!
Willow's Heart-- The Revealing
Tasuki stepped forward baring his fangs and his tessen. Nuriko's lips curled into a smile that was not very pleasant and once again flipped his sword into the air, catching it before its tip hit the ground. The death-marked seishi tilted his head in an impish manner that made Tasuki wince. It was just like how Nuriko, the Nuriko he loved, always acted like.
"I don't suppose you feel like attacking soon, bandit." Nuriko asked, still with his head tilted. Tasuki met the dull rose eyes, golden eyes blazing before coming closer to the other seishi. "Trying to intimidate me? It's not going to work."
"Rekka Shinen!" Flames flew suddenly from the tessen and straight towards Nuriko. The violet-haired seishi went into a controlled spin to avoid the heat and came up a few feet away from the Reikakuzan bandit. Tasuki used his fist to throw Nuriko to the ground. The blow knocked the sword from the lithe seishi's grasp. The bandit threw the fallen sword far away and turned to his 'enemy' again.
"Nuriko, try to remember who you really are!" Tasuki yelled as the fallen seishi got up. "You are a Suzaku seishi! Try to remember, please."
Nuriko's arm lashed out and caught Tasuki in the face. "I am of the Seiryuu! Don't waste your breath trying to sway me!" He spun a harsh kick into Tasuki's stomach. The bandit stumbled backwards, but got a proper hold on his tessen again. He slashed it at his former fellow seishi and caught him in the face. Shadows fell over his face.
Nuriko's aura flared blue and he slowly lifted his head. A drop of red fell onto the dusty ground, staining it, tainting it. A long gash fell across the violet-haired seishi's pale cheek. It started directly under the beauty mark under one rose eye and blood dripped down to his chin. His eyes seemed to change colors, turning an eerie blue that made Tasuki feel bitter cold inside.
"No! You are of the Suzaku Shichi Seishi." Tasuki's breaths came out hard and hoarse. "We all need you. You are here to protect Miaka, the Suzaku no Miko. Please." The last word came out sounding desperate. He truly did not wish to fight Nuriko. This was someone he loved, someone he cared for. His companion, his comrade, his friend. He could not give up on him. Nuriko looked up at those words as though he was confused.
He speaks so confidently, with such conviction, but no, Nakago… I need to be with him… Why does this hurt so much? Nuriko grimaced and stood up straight. He used his thumb to wipe the blood of his cheek. He looked between the two. Suzaku and Seiryuu.
Koi, I don't want to lose you. Not after everything we've been through. Nakago's voice echoed through Nuriko's head full of compassion and worry. Nuriko smiled kindly, as if he found something important, confusing Tasuki. I need you by my side. Came the voice again from Nakago.
"You remember! Nuriko… don't smile like that and say that you don't remember." Nuriko stood straight and met Nakago's eyes. Fear and anxiety hid behind the blue eyes in the general's face. The rose eyes turned to the Suzaku seishi. He started to walk towards them.
Nuriko. No, please. Nuriko suddenly turned and ran to Nakago. He kissed him softly and then Nakago felt something empowering flowing into him. He immediately recognized it as Nuriko's life force. Then he looked down into the rose eyes.
Nakago. Can you hear me? Nakago's head shot up. I feel you in my head too, koi. Just let me go to them. With our connection, I can tell you the perfect time to attack. I'll always be here for you, so don't worry yourself so. Nakago smiled.
Then you will forgive me if I pretend to know that your Seiryuu seishi powers are gone now.
Yes, my love. I will be in touch. I forgive you. Nuriko said in advance before he felt the slightly powered down chi ball slam into him. I love you. He hit the ground harder than he expected.
"Nuriko!" Miaka screamed. Tasuki sped toward the fallen seishi and picked up the limp figure. "Is he okay, Tasuki-kun?"
"Hai!" Tasuki was relieved to find Nuriko's pulse and breathing coming regularly. Turning to Nakago, Tasuki snarled dangerously. "If anything had happened to him, you would pay dearly." Nakago did nothing, but stare coolly at the bandit's flamed eyes.
"He means nothing to me anymore. He has gotten past my spell so he is dispensable." Nakago brushed the entire thing off. Tasuki turned a nasty glare towards the general, but he got distracted as Nuriko shifted on the ground. The figure moaned as if in slight pain. I hope I toned that chi ball down enough so I did not hurt him. Mitsukake knelt down beside the violet-haired seishi and stretched out his powers.
"He seems fine, Tasuki-kun." They all saw the bandit relax physically before he realized his own wounds from the battle with Nuriko. The healer once again had to check over another warrior. "You have a broken rib. I'll heal it here." Nakago looked at the scene with a bit of amusement. Had the Suzaku not realized where they were and whom they were with?
"Nakago-sama, we can attack now. Destroy them while they are still weak, ne?" Soi stood poised, lightning crackling and sparkling around her blue aura. Nakago stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Nani? Nakago, what is wrong?"
"This is not how I wanted things. They are not weak, just empowered by anger towards me. It is too dangerous to fight them now. I cannot lose any more seishi." Nakago gazed at Soi with a flat expression and saw her nod. Nakago walked into the dark of the forest, out of sight. Keep safe, Nuriko.
"This is not over Suzaku seishi!" Suboshi turned angrily and followed their leader. The others turned briskly as well, not caring to give a look back. The Suzaku seishi just sighed in relief unconsciously, tuning their attention back to their injured seishi.
"We need to get Nuriko back to the palace!" Tasuki lifted the older boy into his arms and put him in the carriage along with Miaka. "Take care of him, Miaka." Tasuki brushed a lock of violet hair away from Nuriko's pale face. Miaka saw the care and love he felt for the other seishi in that simple motion and put her arms around Tasuki in a tight hug.
"I'll take care of him, Tasuki-kun." Tasuki looked up at her gratefully and turned to get on his horse.
I'll tell him when he gets well. I have to. Tasuki mounted his horse and immediately the horse evaded him and knocked him over. "Ah ya stupid animal! Let me on!" He kept trying to mount. Chichiri smiled for real under his mask. He knew that the horse was putting some of the old Tasuki back in him after the recent tense situation. This horse was breaking the ice on the tenseness of the situation and for that, Chichiri was grateful. A loud sound made the mage focus on a struggling Tasuki who at the moment was hanging on for dear life as the horse tried to dismount him.
At least he got on. Chichiri pulled his white horse beside the misbehaving horse and started to stroke its muzzle. It calmed down suddenly and Tasuki could get his bearings.
"Let us leave this place." Hotohori's imperial voice made them all nod and head off into the horizon.
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~Hotohori's POV~
I do not want to admit this, but I was afraid to lose him. When he was attacking me with skills he never had before, I did not truly want to hurt him. He gave me no choice because we are Suzaku seishi first and our relationship, though over, comes last. I do care for you, but for my country, for my people, I must follow what is expected of me. Just looking at the back of the carriage as we head back to the palace leaves me with an aching pain in my chest.
"Nuriko…" I whisper and find myself drawing closer to the side of the moving carriage. Miaka lifted the silk curtains and I saw Nuriko inside, just lying on the seating area, his head on Miaka's lap. "We could not prevent this from happening, ne, Miaka? He has been hurt deeply." Miaka looked up at me with questioning eyes, but then they softened and she nodded.
"He will need to recover from this Hotohori. We all need a good rest. It's been a long day." She smiled and I was slightly comforted. No one could see Miaka's smile and not be changed emotionally, if even just a bit. "I'll take care of him. He just needs to sleep." I watched the silk slide back into place and quickened the pace of my horse.
"What happened 'tween you and Nuriko?" I turned and found myself beside Tasuki. His golden eyes were scrutinizing, burning into mine own. "What happened?" He said it again with more force.
"Nothing happened. I told you, the monster said that to distract us. It then escaped, thus proving my point. What makes you think differently?" Tasuki looked forward and sighed, suddenly looking like a young child rather than a tough mountain bandit.
"Just a feeling, but I guess you make sense. I'm sorry bout the whole thing. I just jump ta conclusions, is all." He started to focus on the road once again and I felt myself feeling guilty. It was my fault that Nuriko ran into the gardens. It was because I had broken his heart without really wanting to, but hurting him more than I wanted to with my anxiousness and words. Now I have a bad feeling as I take one glance backwards at the carriage. Something does not seem right about this. Nakago had given in too easily and why had it been Tasuki to bring him back.
My eyes snap open wide. Tasuki loves Nuriko. I realize it now. Tasuki may always be teasing Nuriko, but he is usually as careful as he can be and the way he worries now can only point to the fact that Tasuki cares deeply for Nuriko. Will I lose him? What if I want him back? How am I going to look Nuriko in the eyes ever again? I am so sorry, Nuri-chan.
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~Normal POV~ (back in the Seiryuu stronghold)
"Nakago! Why did you let them off so easily?" Suboshi gave a sigh of exasperation at his completely silent leader. He turned to his aniki and Amiboshi met his eyes and just shrugged. "Nakago! Why won't you say anything?"
Something's wrong with Nakago-sama. Now we just have to figure out what it is. Soi sidled up to the blonde-haired general and started to reach her hands towards his shoulders to massage them. Nakago felt the light pressure and briskly walked away. Soi frowned and in a silent rage, went to her quarters. Tomo sat in a nearby chair and started to file his nails.
"Nakago-sama misses the brat." Suboshi turned to the painted seishi in surprise. "It's obvious." Tomo met Suboshi's eyes. "Can you not see it? The chi ball he sent at the Suzaku seishi was not as powerful as he is capable of. Something is happening and we need to find out what Nakago's plan is." Amiboshi gripped his flute tighter and nodded stiffly. A long silence stretched for the Seiryuu seishi.
"Would someone please take Ashitare outside where he won't mess up the woodwork!" Tomo got up and left. The twins looked at each other and started to laugh. That was more like normal: a pissy Tomo! Then they glanced at Ashitare who was at the moment chewing on a chair leg.
"You or I, aniki?"
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Oki, sorri this chapter took so long, but I had final exams, very important. I could get a gift if I get high marks. Anyways, now I'll try to finish more chapters since it is summer holidays. The more romance between Nakago and Nuri-chan was just a suggestion from one of my friends when I brought the story to school. It's just for her. He's still under a spell, remember. OK! If you have any suggestions pleez share, but no big flames. I don't have a fire extinguisher in hand. Once again, I might be slow, but this story will never be abandoned (it's in my profile). So R&R and I realli appreciate all support and comments! BiBi!
~Nuriko no Tenshi~