CAST:
Miakaede: Kaede Rukawa (Miaka)
Tamakira: Akira Sendoh (Tamahome)
Hotosashi: Hisashi Mitsui (Hotohori)
Nurikenji: Kenji Fujima (Nuriko)
Chirikoshino: Hiroaki Koshino (Chiriko)
Chichitoru: Toru Hanagata (Chichiru)
Mitsugami: Ryoji Ikegami (Mitsukake)
Taskuragi: Hanamichi Sakuragi (Taski)
Yohei Mito (Reader)
Tetsuo (Reader)
Makigo: Shinichi Maki (Nakago)
Kiyuita: Kiyota Nobunaga (Yui)
Soi-ichiro: Soichiro Jin (Soi)
Miyaboshi: Ryota Miyagi (Amiboshi)
Moroboshi: Dai Morohoshi (Suboshi)
Tomoichi: Hikoichi Aida (Tomo)
PART X
Taskuragi was looking extremely agitated and yelled at his followers, "Alright, alright, leave this place at once, do it!" nobody moved, "I'm serious, I said move out!"
"But captain, they will kill you for sure," one of his men stammered.
"Do you not trust me? If you don't do as I command all of us will be burned alive, just head to the mountains and I'll meet you in no time," for the first time Taskuragi was serious. His men let go of Rukawa and Nurikenji and turned to leave.
"Now, this is between you and me, loyal servant of the emperor. If you lose I shall have what I ask for and if not, the emperor will have my faithful service. Agreed?" Taskuragi said as he drew his sword.
Hotosashi tried to answer but,
"So be it." Tamakira answered as he faced the thief.
"But before our blades meet let me make this thing clear to you, the lady you vow to protect has turned her heart towards the emperor, I saw it with my two eyes. But," he paused, throwing a very nasty look at Hotosashi then at Tamakira, "as soon as this is over, she'll have me," he finished with a smirk.
"No,"
"Then if your desire to believe what you want comes to this, you might as well ask his majesty," Taskuragi turned his head to the emperor.
But before Tamakira could ask Hotosashi,
"Tamakira, his blade is poisoned, be careful not to let it touch your flesh for the snakes of the mountains have caused the death of many!" Nurikenji warned, anxiety crossed his face.
"Yes, that's right my lady." Taskuragi told Nurikenji and turned to Tamakira, "I see, so you have failed to win the heart of your beloved yet the love of the fairest lady is yours, that's good enough for you…" Taskuragi told Tamakira.
Hotosashi couldn't believe what he had just heard, he turned to look at Nurikenji but he didn't seem to notice him; his eyes were still on Tamakira. Chichitoru managed to tap Nurikenji's shoulder gently though pain was in his heart, but no one knew of this. Rukawa, on the other hand, had no idea about what he was hearing. All he knew was that for the first time, he was on Tamakira's side.
Tamakira could bear this no longer, he swung his sword at his opponent as the other one managed to avoid his attack. The two fought vigorously, to where victory lied, no one could tell. Blood was streaming from Tamakira's lip while Taskuragi's left arm was heavily wounded.
They were tired. And at that moment, Tamakira knew he was winning, his energy was refilled but he didn't know how. When their swords met again, a glowing sign was on his forehead. Taskuragi drew himself backward, looking at Tamakira's forehead with an unexplained expression across his face. They both stopped. Tamakira was now aware that all eyes were on him. Hotosashi seemed to be muttering something to himself, whatever it was no one could hear. Tamakira touched his forehead and he felt it warm. He looked up at Taskuragi,
"What are you looking at? I don't know what this is but that's no reason for me to stop slaying you." Tamakira told Taskuragi.
Their blades met again but this time, Taskuragi's sword flew out of his hand, the next moment, it was in Tamakira's hand. Everyone gasped, for the first time, horror was in Taskuragi's face. Tamakira pointed both swords straight at Taskuragi's throat.
"You know the price of your intrusion and lustful attempts. I will bear the honor of taking your life." Tamakira said. Sweat streamed from Taskuragi's scalp. Tamakira held up his sword, Taskuragi closed his eyes in defeat. Tamakira swung his sword but before it cut Taskuragi's neck, something made him stop: a faint light illuminated Taskuragi's forehead and a sign was visible just like Tamakira's.
TBC
A/N: If you review, well keep posting.