Chapter Nine: Nakago vs. Namame

Nuriko blinked his eyes a few seconds then placed a hand to his lips.

"I don't know which part to be more surprised about" he replied, "The fact that Nakago had someone he was in love with, or the idea that he was your ally at one time."

"Hard to imagine that at all" Taka said angrily, "Especially since he only cares about himself. So let me guess he betrayed you somehow?"

"Good guess" Tomite replied, "But the one he betrayed the most, was Namame himself."



Namame was now standing clenching his fists as he spoke.

"We grew up together he and I. We were inseparable. It didn't bother him even that I was a prince. And it didn't bother me that he was an outsider. A person of foreign blood. That's what I liked about him. He was different. When he was a small child, his people were attacked on the outskirts of Hokkan by the Kutou army. His mother was killed and he was found by my father's soldiers. The funny thing of the matter is, my father accepted him too. He allowed him to stay in the palace as my companion. He was given every luxury.

"Not unlike his second life" Miaka replied.

"Miaka. What do you know about his second life anyway? Was it the same?"

"It was very different, but then it was also very similar. Taka when he was Tamahome told me all about it. The same thing happened years later. He was born once again in the same tribe, only this time they were on the outskirts of Kutou. The village was attacked. His mother was raped and killed. But she was killed by Nakago himself."

"What?" Namame's eyebrows rose.

"You see. He couldn't stand the pain she was going through because he was watching everything. His powers of Seiryuu surfaced and he instantly with one blast killed those men and his mother. Then he was taken to the Capitol of Kutou where it was discovered that he was a Seiryuu warrior. I don't know what sort of tortures he went through in that place. All I know is that it was enough for him to seek revenge against the emperor."

"And now he is alive for a third time isn't he?"

"Although I don't know why. That he would be alive so many times that is?"

"I don't know" Namame sat back down, "But he is. And there is nothing I can do to stop that."

"What did he do to you Namame? To you and Takiko?"

"What didn't he do?" Namame replied with a huge sigh, "First of all you should know that when he found out that I was a Genbu warrior he was very jealous. I told him that it was just something I was born with. I would sometimes talk about the Priestess who would some day come and help save our kingdom, which was under threat of Kutou."

"Kutou? Why is it always Kutou?"

"Because Kutou only cares about war and fighting" Namame explained, "Any way I was about seventeen when she first appeared. Nakago was with me that day. The truth is she looked like just any ordinary girl, except there was a green glow that surrounded her. And then I knew. It was the Priestess of Genbu. The priestess I had waited my entire life to meet. I immediately took her to the palace and we then started to look for the Genbu seven. But during that time I noticed a change in my friend. He started spending less time at the palace. And I never knew where he went off to. Of course I was so preoccupied with the Genbu warriors and Takiko that I barely even noticed it. I just shrugged it off. I mean I knew that we would go our own separate ways when I became emperor. Perhaps it was time. About that time though, Tenkou first appeared. And I saw Nakago for what he really was."



"He attacked us in one of the places where we discovered Uruki, who was one of the many outlaws" Tomite replied.

"Outlaw?" Tasuki said, "You mean like a bandit?"

"We don't prefer to call ourselves bandits" Uruki said with a grin, "But I suppose it could be something close to that."

"As I was saying," Tomite replied a little irritated, "Tenkou appeared. Now mind you I'm sure he was much younger back then."

"But what astonished us the most was his companion" Hikitsu said, "You see a terrible tragedy occurred before we left to find the last three warriors of the Genbu seven."



"Nakago was killed?" Miaka replied.

"No he was alive. But I had believed he had been killed. I even mourned over his loss. Big mistake. Anyway after three months we set out to find the last warriors. Much to my surprise, he wasn't dead. He was alive. At first I was overjoyed to see him and rushed to him. But he took an arrow from his quiver and shot it towards me. It missed, but not by much."

"Then what?" Miaka asked.



"I have never seen Namame shake so much in all my life" Tomite said, "He was scared yet confused. Who wouldn't be? Hikitsu and I we barely knew anything about Nakago. In fact I think it was Iname who explained it to us."

"That's right" Iname nodded, "I remember him shouting. Demanding to know why Nakago was doing what he was doing. And his answer was less than satisfactory."

"His answer?" Yui asked.

"He looked straight at the Priestess of Genbu" Iname continued, "And just smiled."



"I knew" Namame frowned, "I knew at that moment what he was thinking. I knew everything he thought about. I shook my head furiously at him and stood in front of her. He betrayed me. He joined the other side. Just so he could have Takiko. By that time I was falling in love with her and wasn't about to give her up without a fight. From that day on, Nakago and I were enemies. Once friends torn apart by one girl. Not that it was her fault, but that's what happened. I couldn't help falling in love with her. I just couldn't."

"Of course not" Miaka nodded.

"Sire!" Namame's head servant approached him.

"What is it?" he asked.

"We have a problem sir" the servant was shaking, "There is a man outside, demanding to see the Priestess of Seiryuu."

"A man" Namame frowned even more as he stood up, "Who is it?"

The servant continued to shake until Namame grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up from the ground from where he was kneeling.

"Who is it? Tell me!"

"I'm so sorry sir, but it's Nakago sir" the servant replied, for he too had been reborn and remembered his past life.

"Nakago?" he lowered the older man, "Are you sure?"

"Yes sir. There's no mistaken it."

"He's here for Yui" Miaka shuddered.

"Don't worry Miaka I won't let him take her without a fight" Namame said as he grabbed her hand and they ran from the garden.



"Suboshi what are you doing?" Yui demanded as he locked her in her room.

"Sorry Lady Yui. If it's Nakago. You have to stay in there!" he called through the door after he had closed it.

"But! Hey!" she said as she pounded on the door, "Let me out! Suboshi!"



Suboshi ran to catch up with the other warriors who were heading towards the gate. Nuriko was in front with Taka, and Tasuki who was out of breath.

"Chichiri are you sure it's Nakago?" Nuriko asked exasperated.

"I can sense his life force you know" Chichiri replied as he ran, "It's him."

"I can sense it too," Iname said after.

"Then let's hurry" Tomite replied grabbing his bow from his back.



They arrived at the front gate where Nakago, Soi, and the others waited. The Suzaku seven stopped right in front of him. The Genbu seven were right behind them, while the remaining Seiryuu warriors were off to the side with frowns on their faces.

"Nakago" Taka hissed at the sight of him.

"The Suzaku seven" Nakago grinned, "I should have known that you would be protecting Lady Yui. Stand aside if you don't want to get hurt."

"You stand aside Nakago!" Suboshi shouted, "If you want Lady Yui, you'll have to take me on first!"

"He'll have to take both of us on," Amiboshi added angrily.

"Hey I want a piece of this too!" Tasuki yelled.

"Not to mention we have our own issues with him as well" Tomite said.

They all began to argue over who was going to fight him, but one voice rang out over them all.

"No!"

They all looked back and spotted Namame coming down a near staircase with Miaka at his heels carrying two swords in his hands. He stopped at the bottom step and stared angrily at his former friend.

"If anyone is going to take on Nakago, then it shall be me" he pulled his sword out his belt and flung the other sword at Nakago, "Pick it up!" he ordered.

Nakago stared at the sword on the ground. Then raised his head and smiled a bit as he kicked it away. Namame saw his gesture and frowned even more.

"I would think you would know me a lot better than that my old friend" Nakago sneered, "I always have my own weapon at my side."

"So be it," Namame replied, "Let's go!" he began to charge.

"No wait!" Miaka grabbed his arm, while everyone looked on stunned.

"Miaka let me go!" he demanded.

"You can't do this!" she said, "Don't you see this is what Tenkou wants! He wants us to be enemies. We are no longer enemies Namame. That was all in the past. The warriors of Genbu, Suzaku, and Seiryuu are no longer enemies. We're allies."

"Allies? With that bastard I don't think so!" Namame shouted.

"But you are whether you like it or not. This is a new time. We only have one mission and that is to save this world and my own."

"Miaka" Taka whispered to himself.

"I won't let you fight him" she insisted stepping in front of him and blocking him from Nakago, "What happened in the past is over. It's time to forgive. Forgive him for what he did. I know it's not easy. But you have to. It's what's Takiko would want and you know it."

Namame dropped his shoulder at the mention of Takiko's name and his eyes widened. Nakago and everyone else were shocked by the words coming out of the young girls mouth. Most of them placed their weapons back where they belonged. Finally even Nakago attached his sword to his belt and crossed his arms. Namame dropped the sword to the ground and fell to his knees as if he wanted to cry, but didn't. Then he gazed up into Miaka's face and smiled, the first genuine smile she thought she had ever saw on him. She took his hand and helped pull him up.

"Thank you Miaka," he replied as Yui and Takako approached the entire group.

"Lady Yui? How did you get out?" Suboshi said stunned.

"I had a little help from another Priestess" she replied as she pointed to Takako, "Miaka is right Nakago. It's time to put the past behind us."

"I agree Namame" Takako said, "It is time. It's time for the warriors and the Priestesses to join as one to save this world."

Namame nodded and turned to Nakago.

"I don't like it. And I'm sure you don't either. But we have no choice in the matter. We have to join despite what I feel and the past."

"Yes" Nakago nodded, "You're right. Though I hate to admit it."

"So I guess this means that we are going to have a temporary truce right" Nuriko replied with a giggle.

Most of the warriors frowned but agreed as the three Priestesses joined each other. Suddenly from high in the clouds they heard clapping.

"What in the world is that?" Taka looked to the heavens as Miaka walked over to be by his side.

A voice, all to familiar came from the clouds. A sneering, yet deep masculine one.

"Congratulations" he replied, "That only took you what a few weeks for you all to join together? But you still haven't joined with Byakko yet. That's a shame."

"I know that voice" Yui said with a frown, "That is. No it can't be."

"I know that voice too," Miaka added, "But how is that possible?"

"Anything is possible," the voice continued, "When you got the power. And I do. Oh by the way Priestess of Suzaku your world is so much fun. I'm having an absolute ball without having you two around to stop me. The school is my playground" he chuckled on the last line.

"I knew it" Yui said.

"It's him" Miaka added, "That's Ren Shigyou."

"That's right" he replied, "You thought you got rid of me for good didn't you? Guess what? I'm back!"

Authors Note:

Next Chapter: Seven Warriors in Tokyo; What's a Priestess to do?

Not telling!