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"So this is your village, kid?" Tamahome asked.
"Yes!" the girl, called Iris, they found out, said happily.
Nuriko looked exasperated, "The girl is very..."
"Childish?" Mitsukake asked, "You're right...she acts more like a five-year old than a ten-year old"
"Yeah..."
They had followed Iris to a small house, "Mama!" she yelled inside, only to stop in her tracks, "Papa?"
"Iris" a man's voice said hoarsely. Nuriko stepped into view and what she saw made her wince and Mitsukake covered the child's eyes, even if it was too late.
The girl's father was lying in a pool of blood, a set of teeth marks visible around his upper body. A woman and a boy about the age of two also lay on the ground, but unlike the man, they were here dead, "come here Iris" he said. Iris stepped forward hesitantly, seemingly scared that if she did, her father would go too, "Daddy..." she started crying, "I'm sorry I got home late; I'm sorry...I got lost but these people brought me back"
"Iris...I have to tell you something..."
"What is it, Daddy?"
"Iris...you...you're adopted" he stuttered out.
"Way to put the truth lightly..." Miaka muttered to herself.
"No...no..." Iris said, "You will always be my papa...nothing you or anyone says will change that fact"
"I'm glad...you grew up well, Iris...so young and already so mature...you'll grow up to be a great young lady...I wish your mother...both of them, could be there to see you...I wish I could too..."
"Iie...no, you're going to be fine! Don't talk like that!"
"I can heal you..." Mitsukake said, interrupted the father-daughter moment.
"Iie...I want to be with my wife..." he said, sighing, "Iris...don't make hasty decisions" and with that he closed his eyes and all life left his body.
"Iie!" Iris screamed, starting to cry again. The warriors and Miaka could only watch as grief overtook the young girl, someone too young to have to face the death of the family she had known for her entire life.
"Iris?" Miaka walked over to her.
"Miaka..." she sobbed, "they're gone...they weren't my real family but how come I'm still crying?"
"It's okay, kid" Mitsukake said, "C'mon, let's take you to the palace...since you're adopted, I don't think you have anywhere else to go?"
"What about the search?" Miaka asked.
"We'll still continue the search" Tamahome said, "Just with one extra person"
"Well..." Nuriko commented, "We would have to fight that thing off first"
"What thing?" Miaka turned and was faced with a giant wolf.
"Uh...yeah; that's a good idea" Tamahome said, "Let's get it!"
"Take this!" Nuriko yelled, getting behind it and pulling its tail. It gave a howl of pain.
"It's probably the one that murdered them!" Tamahome yelled, giving it a kick.
"Hey, what the hell? That was a powerful kick!" Tamahome protested when it did nothing to the wolf.
'It's probably the one that murdered them...' those words kept repeating in Iris's head as the two warriors fought the wolf. The one who murdered her family; anger started to rise deep within her, but she could do nothing. If she attacked, she would die. Miaka turned just then to see Iris covered by an angry glow of red.
"Take this!" Nuriko yelled, punching it away. The wolf gave a howl of pain as it hit the nearby tree and then lay still and didn't get up.
"Is it...dead?" Miaka asked.
"I dunno..." Tamahome poked it with a stick.
Miaka sweatdropped, "How is that supposed to tell if it's dead or not? If it's unconscious, it's going to lie there anyway"
"Oh yeah...I didn't think of that!"
"Let's go find a place to stay for tonight..." Mitsukake said, "Let's hope that the others had more luck than we did..."
"Um...Mitsukake?"
"Yes?" Mitsukake smiled down at Iris.
"Are you sure I can stay at the palace?"
"Of course...you're needed there" Mitsukake said, 'Better not tell her that she's s warrior...yet...'.
"So you say you found a girl dressed in strange clothes in town?" Chichiri asked.
"Yeah, I'll take you to her" Koji said, leading them further into the base where the boss headquarters were. He was using that now, since Tasuki had left.
When they neared, a soft singing could be heard.
I still remember the world from the eyes of a child. Slowly those feelings were clouded by what I know now. Where has my heart gone? An uneven trade-the voice stopped as Koji pushed the door open.
"Interrupting something?" Koji asked, "No, Koji, come in" Tasuki and Chichiri sweatdropped while Chiriko looked a little confused, "Thank you"
"You'll never change, Koji" Tasuki said.
"And you're glad for it, right?"
"Koji, who are these people?"
"Sakuya...this is Genroh, also known as Tasuki, Chichiri and Chiriko; three of the Suzaku seven" Koji said.
"I see...and what are they here for?" Sakuya asked. Koji smiled at her, "Blunt as always"
"And ya love me for it" Sakuya said, grinning too. Tasuki couldn't help staring. The girl's complexion was slightly tan and clear of any blemishes. Her hair was straight and cascaded down here back to reach her waist. She was indeed wearing some weird clothes. He recognized the type of clothes. Miaka called the top...a tank top? And a...miniskirt? Yeah, that was it. The girl was drop dead gorgeous, he had to admit.
"So what are they here for?" Sakuya asked. Koji grinned and then explained the situation.
"You think I'm the Warrior of the Oracle?" she asked.
"Yeah" Tasuki said, rolling his eyes, "That's what he said, didn't he?"
"Well, EXCUSE me for trying to make sure I'm hearing right!"
"What? You have hearing problems?"
"More like you do"
"Why you-!" Tasuki was about to say more but Koji stopped him with a laugh, "Looks like you two are gonna get along fine"
"Looks more like they're arguing to me, no da" Chichiri said, but he was laughing too. Chiriko was smiling.
"So you'll have to go with them" Koji said.
"But Koji!"
"Sakuya" he said sternly, "It's a little late to be traveling right now, so you can stay here for one night...besides, I expect you want a drink" he said to Tasuki.
"Drink?" Chiriko said.
"You'll see" Koji promised.
"No ya won't" Tasuki said, "Chiriko's too young to see drunk men an' stuff like that"
"But Tasuki!"
"He's right, no da" Chichiri said, "But don't worry; you're not missing out on anything"
"See ya; I have to pack my stuff!" Sakuya ran off.
"Hey, Genroh's back!" one of the bandits yelled.
"Stupid Genroh..." Eiken mumbled.
"I heard that" Tasuki said, taking out his fan.
Eiken gulped and then ran off to a corner.
"That was too easy..." Tasuki laughed.
I saw that guy. Koji said he hadn't raped me, but it's hard to believe when I was unconscious through the whole thing. Koji's face appeared before me. He was like my brother, well, the way a brother should act anyways. And the bandits are decent; they're all like my designated protectors or something.
That guy's face was still fresh in my mind. I was filled with so much rage when that had happened. I just wanted to kill them. The rage filled me again when I kept seeing his face. Why? I hadn't thought about it in a while.
Maybe that guy had something to do with it? Tasuki, was it?
Hair that resembled fire. Amber eyes. Black and blue clothes. Fanged smile, which I admit, looks really cool. When I saw him, I got defensive...again. Every time I'm near a guy I don't know that was strong, my defense goes up instead of down. And then the memories will come back. I guess I'm afraid of being hurt...again. How stupid...who'd think that I, Sakuya, the rebel, the one that always got into fights would get scared of getting hurt? It was stupid.
But this guy had me on defense so much that I started insulting him. This is weird...
Sakuya opened her eyes. She was floating about an inch above the bed. That was how she cleared her thoughts; it was like meditating but more like a dream that she could control. It was how she figured out her feelings; it usually worked.
A bang on the window had woken her. She walked over and opened it. There stood her worst nightmare.
End
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