Koji looked at Tasuki. He was standing stock still, holding his scratched hand tightly and staring at the Emperor. Then a look of pain flickered across his face.
"Genro?" Koji dropped his voice.
Tasuki turned his back on Koji and moved stiffly to the small brazier. He put his hand in the pot of warm water and carefully washed the nail scratches. Then he picked up one of the bandages on the table and awkwardly wrapped it around his right hand.
"Genro? What happened, just now? What was he saying?"
Tasuki kept his back turned. He was silent for a moment. Then he replied, "Shortly after I left here with the Emperor and Miaka, Tamahome--remember I told you about him? He's a Warrior of Suzaku, like me--anyway, Tamahome fell under the control of one of the Celestial Warriors of Seiryu. General Nakago from Kutou. Chichiri and I went to Kutou to get Tamahome back, but while we were there he attacked Miaka and tried to kill her." Tasuki rubbed the bridge of his nose. "We managed to bring her back to the Palace in Eiyo, but Tamahome had followed us there. Hotohori, the Emperor, um, challenged Tamahome to a duel, and, well, he won. By stabbing Tamahome, his friend." Tasuki shook his head.
Koji looked down at the Emperor and put a hand on his shoulder. Hotohori remained silent.
"Well, Mitsukake managed to heal Tamahome's wound, and he's not under Nakago's influence anymore. But, I think His Majesty was dreaming about that." Tasuki shoved his hair out of his eyes and turned back to Koji. "I don't know if I could have done it. We've all practically become brothers. But the Emperor seems to take this protecting the Priestess thing pretty seriously, even more so than the rest of us. Sometimes I wonder if he's in love with her. Maybe, but Nuriko . . . huh. I don't know. Well, I do know Miaka loves Tamahome. And I really don't want to get involved." Tasuki leaned against the table, tapping his fingers.
"But that's not what you're thinking about, right now, Boss."
"Nah. When I shoved him back in the chair, I felt the arrow break. That's pretty bad news. We're gonna have t' take each piece out separately, which means it's more likely to leave slivers or come out crooked and do a lot more damage." He walked over and kneeled next to the Emperor. "I don't want him to die like this."
Koji thought about it. "Hey, don't worry, Boss. You've got me. We'll do just fine."
Tasuki smiled at that. "Yeah? So? What have you got that I don't?"
As Nuriko came out of the mountainous region, the fog lifted and the moon lit the way. Nuriko urged the Emperor's horse to a faster pace, charging past Choko, up to the small house outside the city. He leapt off the horse, ran to the door and flung it open. "Mitsukake! Mitsukake, are you here?" The place was dark, but tended to, as if somebody had been there recently. "Not here, right now. Okay, I'll try Miss Shoka's." Nuriko jumped back on the horse and thundered into the village. The streets were quiet and the place where the illusion of Shoka's house had been was dark and empty. Nuriko was running out of ideas. Maybe Mitsukake had already returned to Eiyo.
He hoped not.
Nuriko sighed and turned the horse to go out the city gate. Ahead was the cemetery where Miss Shoka was buried. The horse whinnied and shook its mane, recognizing this place as dangerous. Nuriko patted the horse's neck. "Don't worry, horsey. All the zombies are gone. I think."
Suddenly, a tall shadow rose up among the graves. The horse pranced back, Nuriko nervously pulled the reins.
A deep voice sounded. "Nuriko? Why are you here? I thought you'd left Konan."
Nuriko super-deformed, flapping his arms and legs. "Don't scare me like that, Mitsukake!"
"I didn't mean to startle you, Nuriko." Mitsukake picked up his small lamp and waited for Nuriko to calm down. "Why are you here?"
Nuriko, still slightly breathless from the long gallop, laid the reins on the sweaty horse's neck and it pranced in a circle. "I need you to come back with me to Mount Rekakou! The Emperor is injured!"
"What? How?"
"While we were resting, on the trip home from the north, we were attacked by an assassin. And the Emperor has taken an arrow through his chest."
"Through the chest? He's still alive? How deep did it go?" Mitsukake's voice held concern that blurred into consternation as he realized where they were going. "How did he get to the bandit's hideout?" Nuriko shook his head. "I'll explain on the way." He held out a hand to help Mitsukake onto the horse, but the healer was staring at the saddle with misgivings. Did Nuriko really ride all the way from the hideout on that? Amazing! And surely uncomfortable. Mitsukake sighed. Well, they had to get back somehow. He swung up behind Nuriko.
Nuriko kicked the horse's sides, and it took off at a gallop. Mitsukake grabbed at Nuriko's tunic to keep from falling off. The shirt was barely damp, stiff with dried blood. He leaned down to talk into Nuriko's ear. "Just how long ago was this?"
"Several hours," Nuriko shouted back. "Early evening. We rode to the hideout from the north border, part way in the dark." Nuriko's voice took on a worried tone. "Tasuki is going to remove the arrow, but I don't know how well it will go. The Emperor was very weak when I left!"
"Blood loss. What kind of wound is it? From a composite bow?"
"Likely. The arrow angles from his left shoulder and protrudes from his stomach on the right side. While we rode, I could tell he could barely get his breath."
Mitsukake sounded slightly angry. "Of course! Riding a horse is not something a person injured that way should be doing! I'm surprised it didn't kill him."
"I didn't have a choice!" Nuriko shouted back.
Mitsukake realized he was taking out his worry on Nuriko. He tried to center his focus on Hotohori. "Where was everybody else? The guard should have prepared a litter to carry him."
"The guard wasn't there! Tamahome sent them to catch the assassin. The Emperor's horse took off during the attack, and we lost His Highness. We finally had to split up to find him. I was alone! Whoever found Hotohori was supposed to take him to the palace, but he wouldn't have made it that far." Nuriko paused. "He was still alive when I left. Do you think he'll be all right?"
Mitsukake shook his head. "I won't know until I see him and find out what Tasuki has done."
But Mitsukake was not thinking about healing the Emperor as he rode behind Nuriko. Instead, he wondered what had prompted Tamahome to send the whole garrison after one assassin. Shouldn't he or Nuriko have stayed to try to sense the assassin in his hiding place? No. Perhaps that choice had not been obvious at the time. Tamahome would always protect his friends.
The horse raced up the hill toward the bandits' hideout.
In a shadowy room, the assassin kneeled before his master.
"I did not kill the Priestess of Suzaku."
"You missed?" General Nakago vaulted from his chair and pounced on the assassin's throat. He lifted the man into the air and shook him. "How did you miss?"
"General," the man gasped, "I did not. There is more!"
Nakago stared into his eyes, then threw the assassin to the ground. He returned to his seat, impatiently brushing his cloak to the side, and sat. "Hmm. Then tell me, before I kill you."
The assassin struggled to his knees and rubbed his throat. "General. I swear. I had a clean shot on the Priestess. However, the Emperor of Konan was there." He looked up, a mixture of disbelief and hatred on his face. "He is a Warrior of Suzaku!"
Scorn colored Nakago's face; his thoughts were merciless. This man is a fool! He thought the Emperor was an ordinary man! No wonder he missed. The senshi probably sensed him before he even fired. "Yes, he is. Saihitei knew you were there."
"Yes, General."
"So you faltered."
"No, General! I took the shot. But the Emperor jumped in front of her. He took the arrow for the Priestess."
Nakago was startled and sat forward with interest. "He did? Was it a mortal shot?"
"General, I don't know. I was unable to track him. His horse bolted into the forest. The Emperor had to have been alive then, or the horse would have thrown him. It was, however, a very worthy shot. It is not likely he lived long at all."
Yui walked toward Nakago's room. She felt something. She didn't know. Bored? Sad? Lost in a strange land. She needed to be with somebody who understood. Nakago was so kind to her. He understood her, her position as the Priestess of Seiryu. His voice was soothing, and he always told Yui the truth. She could talk to him. She was going to go to him and let him comfort her. Yui paused by the closed door.
A man was speaking, his voice muffled. She listened closer.
"Then the guard came after me. I have returned as instructed, but I believe that the Priestess is now only guarded by Tamahome and Nuriko. I will go back and kill her if you wish."
"No. I will find her myself. I have changed my plans." Suddenly, Nakago's eyes narrowed. "Leave." The assassin bowed and vanished.
Nakago turned to the door. "Lady Yui. Come in."
Yui squeezed through the barely open door and closed it quickly behind her, keeping her hand on the latch. "Nakago!" Her voice was accusing. "How dare you try to kill Miaka! She is my mine to do with as I please. You have disobeyed my direct wishes regarding her!"
Nakago was silent a moment, allowing Yui's anger to subside. Then he spoke. "I have not tried to kill the Lady Miaka, Priestess." The General's voice was smooth and compassionate. "Rather I have just ordered one of the Emperor's assassins not to kill her. I was making plans to find her and bring her back as you wished."
She balled her fist and looked at the floor. He was lying. Yui knew it. But she wanted to believe him. Desperately.
He walked to her and put his arm around her, guiding her from the door. "I will never disobey you, Priestess of Seiryu. Your commands are mine to follow. It is my duty to protect you. Just as it is your duty to gather the Seven and summon Seiryu. You can do this despite your enemies." He looked into her eyes.
Yui searched his face a moment, then looked at the floor again. "Oh, Nakago. I don't know what I feel. Miaka was my friend for so long. Why did she betray me? Why did Tamahome?"
Nakago put a finger to her chin and gently forced her to look at him. He rubbed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Priestess. You were betrayed. But you have it within you to find all the Celestial Warriors, summon Seiryu, and wish away their betrayals. Tamahome will love you, and you would never have to think about Miaka again."
Yui moved away from his touch. "Nakago, I don't know if that's really what I want."