Blinking around he then registered for the first time where he actually was – definitely not his own bed room, that much was certain. Vaguely he remembered having snuggled against a warm hard body, somebody holding him close…
Rikugo.
Tsuzuki groaned and carefully climbed out of the large bed – Rikugo's bed, no doubt, just great – and fished for his clothes.
Great. Just great. He had gotten stinking drunk and somehow managed to end up in GensouKai in his condition, where he had had nothing better to do than to annoy the astrologer. Rikugo would probably be angry with him, though not as badly as Sohryu would have been had he ended up at the dragon's place.
Tsuzuki!>
The call almost made him keel over with its intensity and he groped for support, sitting down on the mattress again.
Touda?>
The only answer was an unrestrained rush of emotions – anger, fury, confusion… and anxiety. Touda's emotions – anxiety? Touda??
"Touda?! Where are you?"
Sohryu wasn't happy, not at all. The moment Rikugo had stormed into
his office he knew that there was something deeply wrong – the astrologer
usually didn't storm. Nor did he normally come into his office unannounced.
Unless there was a briefing or meeting, Rikugo kept to his own place. The
two shikigami couldn't stand each other's hide but usually the limits were
clear.
"Something I can do for you, Rikugo?" he asked quietly.
"Arrest Touda."
"Touda?" Sohryu asked surprised. "What did the serpent do? Burn one
of your precious books?"
Rikugo snorted. Sohryu noted the aura wafting around him like a living
creature. Rikugo was upset. Highly upset and… bordering to fury at the
moment. His eyes, usually warm and gentle, were filled with rage.
"Not something that simple. He went after Tsuzuki!"
"What?! Impossible!"
That had the dragon sit up straight. It wasn't unusual for a shikigami
to go after his master when a weakness was sensed. Shikigami were challenged
by those seeking their service. A master who had won the loyalty of his
shikigami had to show his strength, had to show his worthiness, even after
the challenge was over. Shikigami were prone to strike out at weak masters,
freeing themselves from the servitude; never to get rid of an unworthy
master – a shikigami's strength increased through his master. Therefore
if the master weakened so did the guardian spirit. None of Tsuzuki's shikigami
had ever remotely considered even the possibility, least of all Touda.
They had a very special bond, a balance. True, Touda had tried to kill
Tsuzuki once, but that had been because he had been ordered to by his master.
"What did he do?"
"He intruded into his mind by using the bond, sending him a dream that
had Tsuzuki totally disturbed. He came here yesterday, dead drunk. Sohryu,
Touda could have forced himself on Tsuzuki! That would have been as serious."
Sohryu felt cold. Touda had abused the bond to Tsuzuki's mind and soul?
He had tried to influence him? He had hurt Tsuzuki?
"How do you know?" he growled.
"I Saw."
Sohryu inhaled deeply. He couldn't doubt what the astrologer Saw with
his eyes. No one could. And Rikugo wouldn't lie. He was as protective of
Tsuzuki as the rest of them. They were guardians, all of them, especially
when it came to their little master. Every shikigami loved Tsuzuki, and
to do something like that to him, especially when he was neither expecting
it nor able to defend himself… it was an outrage! Tsuzuki's connection
to Touda was on a level none of the others could ever dream of reaching.
Should the serpent harm the young shinigami that way, no one could come
to his help.
Now he had hurt him.
Badly.
Rikugo's expression told Sohryu enough.
"Arrest him!" the dragon ordered sharply.
This would have to be taken care of immediately.
Tsuzuki didn't need long to find his shikigami – the ruckus in front
of the palace was a dead give away. Touda was with is back against a wall,
Rikugo and some palace guards cornering him. The astrologer's aura was
flaring like a torch, something Tsuzuki had only ever seen once, and that
had been when he had defeated him, claimed him as his shikigami. The guards
were visibly affected by the force that hissed and licked around Rikugo,
and the expression on the astrologer's face was far from gentle. It was
murderous.
Touda didn't fight, just stood there in a defensive stance. He had
no active powers to draw on, had only his speed, his wits, and the weapons
he carried. He was no match for any of the others if one of them ever got
serious.
But his shikigami had never fought against each other! Tsuzuki thought
desperately. Never!
"Touda? Rikugo! What the hell is going on here? Would somebody please
explain this to me?"
Rikugo turned to look at him, and Tsuzuki almost stumbled back. The
astrologer was a powerful and dangerous being, his usually gentle demeanor
more than deceiving. Now two pairs of eyes glared at him, giving away the
fury his shikigami was feeling. Tsuzuki felt his breath catch in his throat,
the last remains of his hangover blown away by the sheer shock, and shields
flared. He had beaten Rikugo once and had called it sheer luck. He had
no idea what he would do should his shikigami turn against him now…
"Tsuzuki," Rikugo said softly, but there was a steely edge in his voice,
"the reason why you came here yesterday – it's his fault. He misused the
bond you two share to meddle with your mind. He sent you that."
Tsuzuki felt like hit in the stomach, hard. With a brick the size of
Sohryu's palace. Watching Touda with disbelief he took one step closer.
"Touda? Is that true?"
It couldn't be! He trusted Touda!
The serpent nodded sharply. "Yes, but I never meant to do any harm."
"It doesn't matter what you meant to do, serpent," Rikugo snarled,
"it's a crime. You're no ordinary shikigami to go after your master in
a moment of weakness! You swore eternal loyalty to Tsuzuki. That's the
only reason you aren't still rotting in Tenkuu's depths. But believe me,
when Sohryu's trial is done with you, you'll wish for it! Take him away!"
The last was an order to the guards, and Tsuzuki watched open mouthed
and shocked to the core as the lead Touda away.
Touda?> he whimpered.
There was no reply. All he could feel was the confusion, the desperation,
the disbelief. His own emotions.
He felt the weight of Rikugo's hand on his shoulder, a gentle caress
against his skin, as if to soothe him.
"Touda…" Tsuzuki whispered, still not able to believe what he had just
heard. "Touda… why?"
Warm arms embraced him as he buried his face in Rikugo's robes as hot
tears of disappointment and betrayal started to fall.