Touda?! he cried.
More fear, suppressed by the shikigami, trying not to show it. The vision of guards, Touda being led away from Byakko's palace.
No!
Touda!
Tsuzuki… Touda's voice was shaky.
//What's wrong? What happened?
Sohryu asked to see me.
Tsuzuki pushed forward, caught the thought of guards and maybe even a prison cell. NO!// he roared. How dare he…!
Without conscious thought he rose, breathing hard, eyes wide open.
"Tsuzuki!" Konoe called, clearly annoyed at being interrupted.
Dilated, violet eyes suddenly narrowed and Tsuzuki felt the darkness flare.
How dare that dragon? How dare he take Touda back under guard? How dare he make that call?!
"Tsuzuki!"
The voice was his partner's, was Hisoka's, but he didn't react. He just concentrated on Touda.
I'll be there, he whispered, fiercely. It was a vow, a promise he wouldn't break.
And then his power unlocked the gate, the way into GensouKai, and without
looking at any of his colleagues or his superior, he went through.
Hisoka just sat in his chair, stunned, mouth a fine line, eyes narrowed. Emotions from Tsuzuki still assaulted him, even though the shinigami had left the room, the dimension. He had felt Touda's presence, filled with panic and fear and the need for his master, but there was nothing clear. He still couldn't say why it had come all of a sudden.
"Hisoka?"
Tatsumi's voice drew him out of his thoughts. "Yes?"
"Do you know what happened?" the Shadow Master asked.
"No. He felt something… from Touda. Something bad."
Blue eyes grew distant, thoughtful, then Tatsumi nodded.
Hisoka wondered what had happened to the fire serpent. It had to be something very bad for him to be so panicky, to call for Tsuzuki… and given that lately a lot of bad things had happened… Hisoka sighed. This one had felt almost climatic.
Right now he just wished he could follow his partner and be there for him.
As it was, he couldn't.
##############################
Byakko, despite his youth compared to the other shikigami in the room, held a powerful aura that could make such dangerous beings like Rikugo cower in submission. He was the Protector of the West, a God, after all. Now that aura was flaring, spiking, brushing against that of the shikigami he was currently facing.
And he was furious.
"By all GensouKai, Sohryu, what is it this time? Touda hasn't done anything! He hasn't so much as set a foot into the town! He was with me…"
Sohryu met the outraged wind shikigami with his usual calm. Blue eyes gave nothing away, but they warned his subordinate to watch just how far he went.
"Byakko, I ask you to sit down."
Byakko growled softly, eyes glowing a deeper red than usual, and he was baring his canines in a clear warning himself.
"What is going on here?!"
"A hearing."
The tiger snarled. "A hearing? A damned hearing?! How come you didn't tell me a word about it? I am one of the four Gods, in case you forgot, dragon! I am part of your hearings!"
Sohryu smiled a little. "I didn't forget, Byakko. And because this hearing concerns Touda you will be replaced by Rikugo today."
"What?! Rikugo? I demand…"
Sohryu cut him off. "You are not objective anymore when it comes to Touda, Byakko. I asked you to be here, but you won't have a say. Do you wish to leave?"
The aura flared again. Byakko bristled. "Of course not."
There was a pointed look from Sohryu and Byakko took a seat at the side. But he was far from pleased.
And then something else registered on the senses of all assembled. An aura they knew only too well. An aura that was coiling and uncoiling, hissing and spoiling for a fight. An aura that had a touch of such darkness, they all moved uneasily. Their eyes went to Sohryu who was standing in the middle of the hearing chamber, calmly facing the doors.
The doors flew open, revealing a very furious shinigami. They all winced at the raw power and anger their master was radiating. Violet eyes were flaring, hard as stone, and the darkness was like a living, breathing creature hovering over them like a snake about to strike.
"Sohryu! I demand to know what is going on here! Why is there another trial? What are you accusing him of this time?" Tsuzuki yelled.
Sohryu was a model of calm on the outside, but there was a tell-tale wince around his eyes.
"Master Tsuzuki, I am very glad that you are here for this hearing."
Tsuzuki snarled at the word. "Hearing? A trial is more like it, right? Do I have to remind you who Touda's life belongs to?"
"No. You made it quite clear the last time and this jury is not here to take what is yours. But there are matters to discuss and facts to confirm, and I respectfully ask you to let us proceed."
"What matters? What facts? What are you accusing him of?"
Sohryu raised a calming hand. "There are no new accusations. Tsuzuki, please let us proceed. You have the right to object at any given time, but as I said before, we are not here to take what is yours. This is GensouKai jurisdiction, therefore it doesn't affect you."
Tsuzuki didn't look all too happy. "It damn well affects me, Sohryu," he growled. "This is Touda we're talking about. He is one of my shikigami – like all of you."
They didn't need to be reminded.
Tsuzuki glared at the dragon, bringing a point across. He was their master, but he would accept Sohryu's authority for now.
"No accusations?"
"No."
"No death penalty?"
"No."
Tsuzuki huffed and sat down beside Byakko, and the tiger squeezed his hand reassuringly. He didn't feel reassured himself, but Tsuzuki sent him a short smile nevertheless.
And then Touda was let in.
Byakko noticed with a sigh of relief that there weren't any chains or shackles. But the guards accompanying him didn't do much to let his fear fade. Nor did the mask-like expression on his lover's visible half of his face.
Sohryu spoke.
"This hearing has gathered concerning the case of Divine Commander fire serpent Touda."
Case? Byakko thought confused. What case?
"New evidence has been found and made it necessary to confirm the accuracy of some facts that have to be taken into account before this hearing can come to a conclusion whatsoever." Sohryu turned to the blond man who had taken Byakko's place. "Rikugo."
The astrologer rose and walked toward Touda, who was still showing no emotions, let alone a reaction.
"What the…" Tsuzuki hissed and was down there as well in a flash before Byakko could even finish the thought.
"What do you think you're doing? I won't allow such a farce again!"
Sohryu looked at his master. "Tsuzuki, please step aside and let Rikugo do his work."
"You can't scan him without permission…"
"They have my permission already, Tsuzuki," Touda cut in softly, making the other man whirl around.
"You gave them permission for Rikugo to scan you? Do you have any idea what they want?" the shinigami demanded.
"No. But whatever it is, they will get it. That was part of the agreement."
"Touda…"
"Sit down, Tsuzuki. Let them do it."
Tsuzuki stared at the dark-clad man, torn between protecting him and following his request.
"Touda, no… you can't let him do it," he whispered softly.
"I can and I will. Whatever this is about, they will get what they want. Tsuzuki… please…"
A tremor went through the slender human and he briefly touched the serpent's
wrist, a loving, supportive gesture, then he stepped aside.
But he didn't take his seat again.
A point made, he shot Sohryu a dark look that told the dragon that he would have to remove him by force. Sohryu let him be.
Rikugo sighed softly, visibly feeling unwell as he took his place in front of Touda. He opened his eyes – all two additional pairs, Byakko noticed – and Looked at Touda intensely.
Silence reigned.
"Tell me what you see," Sohryu's voice echoed loudly.
"The balance is there," the astrologer said, nodding. "Darkness calls to darkness. Shields have been shattered, others have been placed. It's strong... "
"Strong enough?" Sohryu queried. "Can the power be controlled?"
Tsuzuki groaned, and Byakko finally got what Sohryu was talking about – the bond of darkness Touda and Tsuzuki were sharing since his master had been triggered by Enma-Daio.
For Rikugo to See this… he had to go deep. Past the surface thoughts, past the inner feelings, past everything that was Touda, that was private, intimate… to the core. He was touching a place that belonged only to Touda and Tsuzuki.
Byakko hated Sohryu.
"Yes," Rikugo answered slowly.
"What will happen if the stability is unbalanced or destroyed?"
Rikugo was still gazing at Touda, who stood stock still. Byakko noticed a faint shiver, one echoed by Tsuzuki. "Imbalance will backfire, as will destruction. It is a two way road."
"Is Tsuzuki strong enough to counter the darkness? Could he stop the tidal wave should the blood rage take away all control?"
Both Byakko and Tsuzuki's heads flew up at the matter-of-factly uttered question. What the hell…?
Rikugo nodded. "Because they are connected he is."
"Can Touda prevent it?"
Byakko's anger turned into fury, his hatred deepening. Sohryu had no right! No right at all! This was something wonderful between Tsuzuki and Touda! This was a violation…
"No. They are equal. He would never turn against what he protects."
"Thank you, Rikugo."
The eyes closed and Rikugo seemed infinitely relieved to be allowed to stop the scan. He looked at Touda, appeared almost apologetic, and he bowed his apology to Tsuzuki. The shinigami was shaking with rage, but he kept his silence.
Byakko watched as Sohryu exchanged glances with all the other gods and Rikugo, and received nods in return.
"Divine Commander fire serpent Touda, because of the most recent developments and emergence of new facts this hearing has gathered and reopened the proceedings of your pardon. We reviewed past evidence and have taken Rikugo's scan into account. "We have come to the conclusion that due to these new facts the arrangements of your pardon are no longer valid.
Both Tsuzuki and Byakko gasped in shock, and a quick glance showed Byakko that Touda had paled considerably.
Tsuzuki stepped protectively between his shikigami and the council, eyes darker now, the aura flaring with an almost audible hiss.
"Objection! You can't do that! He hasn't violated the agreements…"
"Please let us proceed," Sohryu said calmly. "This doesn't concern you."
"It damn well concerns me! Down to the last second of this stupid hearing! You can't…!"
"Tsuzuki! Let me finish!"
There was sheer agony in Tsuzuki's face. He was close to unleashing his anger, but he was holding it back. He didn't want to use what was his power. He would never hurt any of his shikigami.
Touda raised a hand and placed it on his protector's shoulder. "Tsuzuki…" he whispered, voice holding a slight tremor. "Let them."
"No, Touda, no! They can't!"
"Tsuzuki, please. It's all I ask," the serpent continued.
"But…"
Gloved fingers touched the pale face, relaying his love, and Byakko whimpered silently.
"Please." It was a barely audible plea.
Tsuzuki's eyes glistened wetly, but he stepped aside.