Disclaimer: Me no own Fushigi Yuugi. Me own ketsu and plotline, but me no make money off this. Me very sad
Warning: Violence and some not-nice thoughts on Doukun's behalf. One thing I'd like to mention before we get started is the fact that I'm very bad at getting into previously mentioned Seishi's head. If it sounds like I'm getting too far OOC with him (even though I've been taking a few liberties with all the Seishi) please let me know and I'll see what I can do.
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He entered the sanctuary with utmost caution and quiet, shutting the door so silently the lock didn't even click as it fell into place. It was far past twilight, probably closer to morning than night, and though it seemed he wanted to keep from bothering any of the Priests, it would be more precise to say that he didn't want anyone to bother him.
It's been the week from Jigoku. The last thing I want is to deal with is a bunch of "god-fearing" Priests ranting and raving about the Chosen Shichiseishi. He snorted softly. Like I don't know anything about them. I probably know more than they do, the heartless bastards!
The room he entered was the smaller of the two sanctums, putting him more at ease than he would have felt in the gigantic temple. He stopped in front of the altar and paid reverence to the statue looming over it. Then he knelt, focused his ki, and began to pray with uncharacteristic fervor to his god.
I know it's been more than a week since I've last come to pray, my Lord, and I apologize. Things over on this side of existence tend to get a little busy and, despite the irony that I've been distracted because of You and Your Chosen, I haven't been able to give You Your proper due. But tonight… I knew I had to come and pray tonight.
Because I'm lost. Things are changing and I'm not sure what to do. I… I know I'm one of Your Chosen Shichi but it only makes me more uncertain of everything. I'm afraid to tell someone because… because I know there are people who don't want us to succeed, who want to see the country fall, and I… he took a deep breath, trying to calm his storming mind. I don't want to lose what I've worked so hard to gain and keep safe. All my friends, my family, my beloved… I would die if anything happened to them. Please help shepherd me through these uncertain days and help me find the way to go, for that is the reason I came tonight.
A forked path looms in front of me, and both avenues are equally worthy and equally dangerous in their undertaking. I know I should follow what the Emperor asks of me but… something inside is telling me what he wants is wrong. My ketsu will not advise me, saying that the choice must be made on my own, but I don't know what to do. How can I follow my heart when it leads me away from my country and possibly my own destiny? So I ask for a sign - any sign - that will guide me on the correct road to travel. And please, dear god, please watch over Shun and the ketsu and those we care about during these violent times.
He didn't know how to end the prayer, so he merely left the thought off there and stood up. Looking deep into the gemstone eyes of the statue, he waited for an answer.
Disappointment coursed through him like fire when several minutes passed with no results.
I should have known nothing comes that quickly or easily, he thought bitterly, turning from the altar.
And from the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow fly across the wall.
"Who's there?" he called and spun around, his every nerve on edge. He reached out for any trace of danger and found… nothing was in the room with him. About to berate himself for being so foolishly jumpy, he realized the shadow came from something moving outside the nearest window. With curiosity overriding fear, he stepped over to it and looked out.
Hope it's not hostile.
It wasn't. Perched on a branch, warming up for its morning wake-up tune, was a small sparrow. However, with the backdrop of a young sunrise, the sparrow's wings were not it's usual woody brown, but tinged a lively red and orange.
A fiery bird – like Suzaku.
The revelation sent him stumbling backward. Asignasignasign he mentally chanted, running out of the Shrine and not caring who heard him. 'Heisei! Heisei!'
The ketsu responded to the mental call immediately, asking, 'What's wrong, love?'
'I know what I have to do,' he replied. 'We're leaving tonight.'
And Bu Koutoku, the Chosen Seiryuu no Shichiseishi Amiboshi, set out for Konan on a journey that would make him both an ally and a traitor.
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Doukun thought he'd heard it all. Being so connected to Lau-sama, he knew practically all the going-ons within a ten-mile radius of the Palace. Naturally, big city gossip tended to hitch a ride on most of the updates, reaching him as often as not. The tales ranged from slightly believable to downright stupid, yet he had no choice but to listen to each and every one of them and find the speck of truth hidden inside.
This one was dangerously close to stupid.
He took a deep breath and rubbed his Chiriko symbol like a silent plea for help. "Let me see if I understand you correctly: you two are the Tasuki and Tamahome Chosen Seishi," he repeated to the two Seishi sitting across from him.
Kishuku and Shun'u looked at each other, then answered together. "Uh huh."
"Our friend Ryuuen is the Nuriko Chosen."
"Yeah."
"High Priest Ri-sama and Emperor Saihitei are the Chichiri and Hotohori Chosen, respectively."
"Pretty much."
"And you think I'm the Chosen Chiriko Seishi?"
"Ya got it!" Shun'u nodded firmly. "What'cha think, kid? Pretty cool, huh!"
"Are you two sure you're cleared of the medications?"
The elder boys face-vaulted. "Oh that's real polite!" Shun'u said in exasperation.
"But seriously Doukun, we're pretty certain it's you. Lau-san herself suggested it at first," Kishuku put in.
Thank Suzaku I'm home and not at the Center, Doukun sighed deeply. This could get really… difficult. "I think you have the wrong Chiriko Seishi," he shrugged truthfully and let his symbol fade. "I do not believe it's me."
Kishuku snorted. "Yeah, that's what we thought when we heard about ourselves. It's weird at first, but it starts to make more sense the more you think about it."
"I don't know," Doukun bit his lip. "I am only thirteen. This… "journey" you're talking about sounds… sounds…"
"Too dangerous for a kid?" Kishuku finished the thought, and Doukun could only nod mutely, shame coloring his cheeks. "But you're not just some kid. You're a Seishi, first off. But you're also a Chosen Seishi, which has to mean something more than just being a title. Suzaku personally chose for this - you have to be suited for it!"
"B'sides, Ryuuen told us about how you showed off in front o' Donai-san and Lau-san with a nice lil' speech about bein strong 'cause yer a Seishi," Shun'u grinned proudly. "Ya got more guts than ya know, kid. Proud o' ya for it."
Doukun's blush changed from shame to self-conscious. "Yes well…"
"Look, Doukun," Shun'u leaned forward, his voice softer and lower. "We're not expectin you t'just take the news like that." He snapped his fingers for emphasis. "Think on it for a bit, run it through that big brain o' yers, 'n come find one of us when ya got a decision. Me, Ki-ku, even Houjun-san'll be glad ta talk with ya."
The visitors stood up, bowed politely to Doukun, and made their way to the door. I can't do it it's not me I don't know I'm so lost, the stream of consciousness ran through his head. Outwardly, he simply stood up and thanked both of them for coming, a shy smile on his face. But when he shut the door, Doukun dropped the façade and slid down the wall, trying to decide if he should scream, cry, or do something in between.
Suddenly, it occurred to the resident genius that there was a better way to spend his time reflecting over the news. He got to his feet and was immediately set into motion.
"Okaa-san!" he shouted through the house while heading to his room.
"Yes, Dou-chan?" came the detached voice.
"I'm going over to the Center," he told her while shrugging off his three dress robes and replacing them with a casual overcoat. All right, so maybe that's not the whole truth. I do plan to visit, just not right now…
"I take it Chie is going with you?"
'Do you want to come?' he 'spoke to his ketsu. 'I'm not doing anything of particular interest, you know.'
'I'll meet you halfway across the sky,' Chie sent back to him, a private joke shared between the Seishi pair.
"Of course," Doukun said aloud as he folded the discarded clothes, staring at them with a weary eye. Despite the fact he wore the same robes every day and never complained, inwardly Doukun hated the heavy cloths. Not because of the responsibility they implied, but because he was literally weighed down by them.
Birds were meant to be light as feathers. I just wish I could shed these as often as I'd like, he thought heavily, then shook his head and left the room. "I'll be back by dinner!"
"Take care, my dear."
"I will," Doukun reassured his mother as he opened the front door. "Goodbye, Okaa-san! I love you!" he called just before closing the door and sprinting down the beaten path from his home to the rest of the village. He only made it about four steps before calling upon the transformation to engulf him.
The first thing he felt was the sudden blossoming of feathers everywhere. They protected and warmed his naked skin; they balanced him through all forms of motion, and they were the reason why he was able to dance through the sky - a power and gift that no grounded creature could begin to comprehend the enormity of. Doukun flung his arms out and felt the muscles and joints begin to move until they were in just the right place to be called wings. Bones themselves became stronger and lighter at the same time, making sure there wasn't too much weight for his arms-now-wings to carry. His whole body changed in ways that weren't scientifically possible, with only the grace of the gods to thank for all he had. With one push of his quickly mutating feet/talons against the enslaving ground, Doukun was released from the bonds of humanity and brought into the loving arms of the heavens above.
At first overloaded with his new-and-improved senses, the young owl managed to turn and soar before hitting a nearby tree at top speed. Doukun let out a screech of pleasure to inform the rest of the world on his success with noted maneuvering skills. He had only bonded with Chie about four months now, meaning that there were still moments of chaos whenever he tried to do something new in his ketsu form, but he was definitely getting better. However, the one thing that came completely naturally was this ability to fly, to move across that crystal-blue ceiling with the instinctual ease he was and wasn't born with.
Chie had told him 'gravity is truly what you make of it' back when he was still a fledgling, still struggling to shift without becoming painfully sick. At the time he didn't understand what she meant, but when he took flight for the first time the insight hit him without the use of his Seishi power. It was only his illusions, his previously held beliefs about flying and the rational impossibility of the act that held him so close to the earth. He must have spent a good three hours suspended by the wind before tiring out and heeding to gravity's call after that moment of clarity.
Now, whenever there was a problem he was wrestling with and he found his intelligence wasn't enough to help make the decision, he went out for a long flight. It served to put things in perspective far better than simply wandering the countryside, and it was much safer too.
Less commotion up here, Doukun joked to himself. No one here but us birds.
'And the occasional interfering Seishi,' Chie's thoughts tickled his own. 'But I suppose we'll let them visit for a time.'
Hovering in mid-air, Doukun searched with his razor-sharp vision for Chie and saw her flying up from underneath. 'I take it, then, that you know of my situation.'
'I do. I heard it before you did, my beloved,' she informed him, flying circles around his owl form. At the moment, Doukun was too distracted to play and simply kept moving in a straight line headed for nowhere in particular. 'I take it you are troubled about the news.'
'Why didn't you tell me?' he questioned, suddenly feeling more hurt than anything. 'Were you afraid I would not believe you? You still should have said something to me!'
The owl let out a hoot of amusement. 'Dearest Dou-chan, you have no choice but to believe me, for in sharing one mind do we not know each other's wisdom and emotions, our lies and truths?'
Doukun could no more argue that than argue over the symbol that shone on his avian breast. 'But why didn't you say anything?'
'Think for a moment.'
The Chiriko Seishi let his mind relax, counting the beats of his wings. The motion of flying and the brush of the wind against his feathers helped to focus Doukun's thoughts like a glass lens. He was silent for a few minutes before the answer came in a blinding flash.
'I had to hear it from my brothers because they are the ones I will have to give so much of my life to. We are a Seishi/ketsu pair, already bonded, but this has to do with forming a connection with the other Chosen Seishi. I had to see that they cared enough to come to me and not just leave me alone without any knowledge, so that we may be able to hold strong under more dire times.'
'So you believe Shun'u-san and Kishuku-san then?' And Doukun couldn't help but notice the satisfaction in Chie's telepathic words.
He took a deep breath, or what could be considered deep for a bird. 'I think I always did, but it was too much to acknowledge at once. Hearing about being part of a legend is really quite disconcerting, to say the least.'
This time Chie really laughed - a sound that made Doukun feel warm from the inside out. He loved hearing her laugh, for it reminded him of the joy that the ketsu could bring and how it seemed to make all his pains momentary transform into happiness. Thus, with an idea born of delight (and more than a little boyish mischief), he dove for the ground like a falling rock.
Chie let out a surprised cry, diving after him though she quickly realized the ruse. 'So you want to play 'chicken', don't you?'
All she received in reply was a mental grin.
The twin owls plunged towards the ground, each testing the other's bravery and timing. In this game, there was no telepathy shared and no hints as to what the other was up to. This was a contest of will and flying aptitude to see who would be the first to turn from certain danger.
I see the ground! Doukun's heart was racing with a mixture of excitement and anxiety, a combination he'd never felt before. His eyes, now almost a hundred times better due to owl-vision, could see every speck of dust his beak was plummeting towards and only served to intensify the rush. I'm gonna win, I'm not gonna give her the satisfaction of turning! But almost more than wanting to prove anything to Chie, Doukun wanted to prove to himself that he had the potential to be everything the other Seishi said he could be, and pushing limits was the best way to do it.
But he never got the chance to find out who would win. A twang of bowstring, a screech of anguish shattered Doukun's world like nothing else.
'CHIE!' he shouted for his ketsu, who was now falling for a much different reason than before. Though he felt no pain, the sudden emptiness in his head was enough to momentarily stop his heart. When he received no response from her, horror and adrenaline began to overflow his system like a broken dam. Turning his head the Chiriko Seishi saw blood running from his beloved's wing Oh my god she's hurt! Her wing's hurt! And it was about here that Doukun began to panic. Oh my god!
No, you cannot lose control! His sensible side shouted back. When Chie is safe, then you may break, but until then you must stay calm.
The logic could not be ignored, but Doukun was still only thirteen and had never dealt with an emergency like this. The chaos had overridden all thoughts but one: Chie was dying and he was totally and absolutely lost without her.
But she's hurt! And I don't know-
CATCH HER OR SHE'LL DIE!
Doukun looked and saw how close they were getting to the ground and that while he could pull out of the dive, Chie couldn't. Without hesitation, he went from frenzied falling to a controlled descending dive. All his world was concentrated on getting underneath Chie and giving her as much lift as possible. He clipped his wings, quickly swooping under his ketsu. Slowly spreading his wings to allow air to catch under them, he took Chie's weight upon his own. However, the task was harder than it looked and he let out a pained cry as his muscles and bones were hit from above with Chie's body and strained from below by gravity.
She can't die I won't let her die I promise I won't stop trying I'm not gonna give up I'll do it!
The ground was still rushing up to him, but not at breakneck speed. When he was about six feet from the ground, Doukun began to shift back to his human body. In the blink of an eye, the small barred owl changed to a young boy holding another owl against his chest and bracing himself for the fall.
This is going to hurt!
Surprisingly it didn't hurt as much as he thought it would. All he did was allow his legs to take the brunt of the drop, then spilled to the ground with Chie still shielded against his chest. Granted it was one of the least graceful landings he'd ever done, but at least both he and Chie made it to earth in one piece. Relatively…
Standing up, he was happy to note that his legs were in working order, though he doubted they'd feel this good tomorrow. Then he pulled Chie from his chest and his eyes widened with shock.
Her right wing had an arrow jutting out of it, neatly embedded in her forewing. Her feathers were matted with blood and when Doukun found the courage to look at her face, he saw her eyes becoming dangerously cloudy. It was more than the young Seishi could stand, and he lost his already-tenuous grasp on his self-control.
"Help!" he screamed across the tree-strewn land. "Someone help me!" Looking furiously around, he saw a small shack just over the pass and his heart jumped. Oh thank Suzaku! His relief, combined with his terror and trauma, brought a flood of tears streaming down his cheeks. Running like his life depended on it, it seemed to take forever to cross the field and finally reach the edge of the house. He screamed for help again, praying to all four gods that Chie wouldn't die right here, right now in his crimson-colored arms. "HELP!"
"What is it, boy?" a cross voice asked from next to him. Doukun spun around and saw a dirty man leaning out the window, looking slightly annoyed.
"Sir, please help me! My ketsu's hurt and she needs help!" Doukun begged. "Please help us! Please!"
And to his utter relief, the man's face morphed from irritated to startled. "Go around this way and through the fence," he spoke quickly and pointed to his left. "I'll have the door open and everything ready inside."
Doukun felt his legs turn to mush but somehow managed to run around and make his way inside. Once there, he saw the man kneeling on the floor with all sorts of jars and bandages scattered around, and a white sheet spread next to everything. He saw Doukun and reached his arms out to take the owl. The boy's first instinct was to hold Chie closer, but he realized that this man was trying to help and allowed his arms to go limp so Chie could be passed to more proficient hands. Finally, knowing that there was nothing else he could do for his beloved, Doukun gave himself up to the anguish and collapsed to the ground, sobbing into his hands.
If she dies… oh Suzaku, if she dies I don't know what I'd do, the child wept. I think I'd just die right with her. Please, Suzaku, please don't let her die!
It is known that for every blessing of the gods, there always comes the price to pay - be it in this life or the next. For Seishi, the price is that the life force of both human and ketsu become so intertwined that the bondmates come to share each other's souls. Though one would consider that to be a godsend, the curse came when the ketsu died. A Seishi without a ketsu would not only be spiritually torn in half, but also physically. The Seishi's body cannot survive after the loss of its ketsu counterpart, and they will be forced to join their beloved in the heavens.
But with any God-given luck, Suzaku won't call His Chosen home just yet.
Doukun had absolutely no recognition of time's passage, too wrapped up in praying and crying to do much else. When he managed to get a meager check on his sorrow, where the tears weren't so blinding and the fear wasn't killing him, he began to watch the man at work as a distraction. The doctor (or at least Doukun assumed he was a doctor) worked in silence, the only sounds being infrequent mumbles that gave little indication to Chie's state of health. So far, he had removed the arrow and was creating a splint to support Chie's broken wing. He worked with definite skill, but his eyes were always kind and concerned - a trait Doukun didn't think all healers had.
Looking at Chie, Doukun could see her cho character glow faintly and his heart soared at her renewal to life.
'…Chie?' he reached, as if trying to touch a spiderweb without breaking the fine strands.
And her response was a flash of empathy, quick as light and just as delicate. Though he felt her pain as sharply as if his own arm had been wounded, Doukun found gratitude and love to be the strongest emotions to sense and pushed away everything else.
'Chie! Oh gods, oh love I'm right here for you. Everything's going to be fine,' he spoke in a mental whisper, the same way a mother would comfort an injured child - in the same way she had once comforted him. 'You're going to get through this. You're so brave and strong… I'm so proud to be your Seishi. I love you so much, you know that?' Chie responded with a soft screech and a burst of telepathic affection.
"I'm going to give her some medicine to make her sleep," the doctor broke their connection. "It'll ease her suffering but you won't be able to 'speak, so don't be alarmed if she doesn't respond to your call." Doukun nodded in understanding and said an empathic goodbye. The doctor held a small jar to her beak and gently aided her in drinking it. Within the minute, Chie was fast asleep and Doukun was more composed than he'd been since the attack.
"Sir?" he asked softly.
"Yes?"
"May I ask your name?"
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."
Doukun thought it to be an odd response, but he obliged. "My name is Ou Doukun- Chiriko Seishi- and that's my ketsu Chie that you're helping."
"My name is Myou Juan. Nice to meet you, though it's too bad we had to meet under these conditions," the man spoke, but with only a touch of remorse.
"Yes, it is," Doukun murmured, then he began to really study Juan's face and features to occupy his aching body and spirit.
Juan was dirty and unshaven, with black hair straggling over his eyes and down his chin. His clothes were in a less-than-perfect shape, ripped and torn and basically in terrible condition, but the thing that stood out in Doukun's mind the most was Juan's height. Even sitting down, Doukun figured the other to be at least a foot and a half taller as his own 4'10". Yet Juan carried himself as if he were totally unaware of his daunting size and the possible fear he could have inspired in any smaller being. His entire world was centered on Chie and Chie alone, trying to help this injured animal as if it was another person equally worthy of his time.
"Juan-san… are you a physician or a veterinarian?"
He replied, "I am both, actually. My skills encompass humans and animals/ketsu alike, so that I may help both when the situation arises. Recently, though, I have taken more of a liking to animals rather than people… for reasons which will remain my own." Doukun didn't miss the tone of Juan's voice ending the conversation, nor the way that the elder's hands never stopped working and dressing Chie's wing.
Quite incredible, the boy mused. That a person could be so focused on others rather than himself. Reminds me a bit of Shun'u-san and Ryuuen-san.
"I do need to ask you this, Doukun," Juan spoke into the silence, a habit Doukun was beginning to dislike. "How did your ketsu receive an arrow through her wing?"
The boy frowned and bit his lip. "I'm not entirely certain. To be honest… it was an extremely random event. We were flying towards the ground, in a dive perpendicular to the land, when an arrow hit Chie in the wing. I… don't know many more details, since I wasn't looking at her when it happened. But why do you ask?"
"Well… you said you two were flying towards the ground beak-first, correct?" the doctor questioned, and Doukun nodded in agreement. "From the way the arrow entered, it looks as if someone was standing behind you two and hit her," Juan thought aloud, then animated the scene with the removed arrow and his hand. "See, the arrow went through her wing like this, and came out the other side. But if you stand straight up, the arrow's facing behind her and not in front as you'd expect a normal hunter to shoot a diving bird. Normally the arrow would enter the back and exit the chest, pointing in front. Odd, wouldn't you say?"
The words began to create a gnawing pain within Doukun's chest but he listened to what else the doctor was saying.
"It's the wrong time for owl hunting. The sun's straight up in the sky- you'd go blind trying to shoot- and no normal owl would be flying around this time of day. The trees around here aren't tall enough to provide any shade," he explained. "Now I'm not telling you this to hear myself talk. Words often get in the way of truth. But tell me… why would a hunter go out and shoot owls in the broad daylight, in a position that was not only awkward for shooting birds but also damn near impossible to hit even the broad side of a tree?"
Doukun swallowed, trying to bite down his fear. But before he could utter the words "I don't know", his character lit up the room and his mind. "Chosen Chiriko!" he cried out. "Chie and I… we're the Chosen Suzaku no Shichiseishi Chiriko pair! Someone knows and…"
And this "distinguished title" has nearly killed Chie and myself!
Juan made no action of surprise as to the sudden rise in prestige of his guests. He merely nodded and continued working, cleaning away the last of the blood from Chie's wing and chest. It was that small action of kindness that suddenly brought a rush of anger burning through Doukun's body. The unfairness of the attack, the injustice done unto this undeserving victim (especially someone so close to him)- it offended his sense of morals and ethics in a way nothing else could, especially knowing that this was no mere accident. The words that he spoke next, so dark and cold and savage, did not feel like his own.
"Whoever did this will pay in their blood."
But oh Suzaku, he meant them with every beat of his wounded heart.
The doctor didn't bother to hide his astonishment, didn't play off his reaction as a mistake. He stopped working to look at Doukun with shock-white eyes and mouth poised to speak but the younger simply raised a silencing hand and stood up. "Thank you for watching Chie," his clipped voice came out as he turned and walked out of the house.
Doukun had no intention of actually leaving the premises, but he definitely needed to get out the dwelling filled with the smell of blood and medicine and uncertainty. He didn't want to shift- that would asking to be shot at again - but he didn't want to just stand there like a fool. Noticing all the trees surrounding the house, he decided it would be best to sit down under their comforting branches, and still be within screaming distance in case something else happened to his beloved.
Picking a tree right next to the open window, Doukun fell to the ground and realized, with odd detachment, that his legs were starting to cramp and ache. Oh, they're just mad at me because I did something foolish rather than trying to grab Chie with my talons and bring her to the ground that way, he thought ironically, spreading his legs in front of his body and rubbing them down. I guess I can't think of everything.
As much as he tried to lighten his mood, he always fell back into the same pit of despair. To be perfectly honest, Doukun was scared that he felt this way. Never before had he felt such a call for vengeance, but then again he'd never lived through such a life-threatening event, or even known anyone that had. No matter how much he tried to rationalize with himself the truth boiled down to the fact that he didn't really want to let go of the anger. Doing that meant letting whoever hurt Chie get away with the action and he would die before seeing anyone else hurt again, be it Chie or another innocent. He felt like a child throwing a temper tantrum, refusing to release his immature rage, but there was more than just injured pride at stake here.
I want whoever did this to feel what it's like to have an arrow through his arm. I want him to feel the all-encompassing fear when he thinks he's going to die. I want him to suffer so much he'd wish he was dead, and even then I want him to keep suffering, Doukun thought, the darkness of such wants making him shiver and shake. It's evil and wrong to feel this way, but I can't get rid of the desire…
'And I don't think you should get rid of said feelings, Doukun-san,' a mindvoice entered his head at the same time a fuzzy round-thing bumped itself against his hand. Doukun jumped to his feet and saw a white cat sitting by his side and looking at him with intelligent exasperation.
And a crimson Seishi symbol evident on its forehead.
"You're a ketsu!" Doukun cried out automatically.
The cat chuckled. 'You say it as if you'd never seen one before. You really should loosen up, young one, or you might end up as stiff-necked as my Seishi,' he (it was definitely a he by the voice) joked. 'Not that I don't love him, but still…'
Doukun felt more than a little surprised. Most ketsu were undyingly polite, never starting a conversation unless either spoken to or already close friends with the human receiver. This one, however, was different than most and looked quite proud of that fact.
"So…" he began hesitantly. "What is your name? You obviously know mine."
'Tama-neko, at your services,' he mimicked the very human action of bowing, looking very strange but undeniably cute at the same time. 'Mitsukake kitty, to be precise. And since I know you're wondering it, my bondmate is Juan.'
"Juan's a Seishi!"
'You bet! Best one I ever picked.'
Doukun raised an eyebrow. "How many have you picked?"
'Oh, just him, but even if I picked more he'd still be the best.'
The boy sighed and sat down again. "You know, you're very small but Juan is a big man. How did that work out with those two extremes?"
'Luck, I guess.'
"Luck…"
'You're repeating sentences again; having a few problems today, aren't we?'
"I've had a bad day," Doukun grumped, crossing his arms and leaning against the wood.
Tama gave him a look of sympathy. 'I understand those. Boy, do I understand those!' The cat shook his head and lead to the more sensitive topic. 'So I take it Chie's not doing so well? And feel free to 'speak around me; I have nothing to hide.'
Doukun took up Tama's offer and switched to telepathy. 'I don't know. Juan-san didn't mention any sort of complications, so I assume there is nothing wrong… er, more wrong with her. But it's just… you know. She's my Chie, and I just want her to be well.'
'That's reassuring. You two seem like a very nice Seishi/ketsu pair. It's really a shame this had to happen to you.'
That comment brought back the flood of anger Doukun had momentarily set aside. However, Tama didn't seem the least bit put off by it and continued to speak. 'Like I said before, don't think you're a bad person for having these feelings. It's perfectly human and perfectly normal. In fact, I'd be worried if you didn't have revenge on your mind,' he half-teased, then became more serious. 'But it's what you do with that anger that matters. Suddenly deciding to take it out on someone undeserving is bad and should be avoided at all costs. Channeling the energy into something you're good at, say like figuring out this mystery of who the attacker is, is more positive. Do you understand?'
Doukun did see Tama's point of view, and a part of him did feel better after talking to the ketsu, but it simply wasn't in his nature to let go of his emotions so easily. It seems I'm doing a lot of things that aren't within my personality spectrum… he sighed.
'Talking or thinking about doing something is a lot different than actually acting upon your impulse,' Tama told him. 'Just be careful about what you do and what drives your actions. Don't become obsessive or do anything too extreme, all right?'
'I think I can do that.'
'That's the spirit! Buck up, Dou-kun! Chie will be back to her ol' self in no time flat, just wait and see!'
Despite himself, Doukun felt a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Tama was really nice, and Doukun found he was becoming somewhat attached to the playful cat. 'Come on, kid! Lemme take you into our gardens and you can help me dig up some herbs for Juan. He'd appreciate it, even though he'd never admit it. Plus, it'll give your hands something to do rather than clench like that.'
Feeling that it would be a good way to compensate Juan back for all he was doing for Chie (though the debt would never be fully paid), Doukun got to his feet and followed Tama's lead. He didn't want to leave Chie, but with Tama's assurance that she was doing well, he tore himself away from the window and went to help.
"Just don't travel too far," Juan's voice rumbled out to them, and Doukun reassured him they would be cautious. Then Tama led him into the woodier section of the landscape and Doukun found himself delving through dirt in a way he hadn't since his early childhood.
'This is an-shih-liu, one of the more potent herbs Juan collects. This stuff helps with everything from a sore throat to ulcers, but too much of the cure can make you just as sick as the ailment,' Tama pointed out as Doukun picked a few of the fruits off one tree. 'This scrawny thing here is hsia-ku-tsao. Pull it up by the roots - Juan can make a tea for liver problems.'
"How does he know all these plants? Surely they cannot teach each and every one of them at the Center! …can they?" Doukun questioned, cleaning his hands of excess soil.
'I don't know - I wasn't there most of the time. School is (and will forever be) boring to us ketsu,' he admitted slyly. 'Besides, he's been doing this since he was little, so he's had some time to memorize all these plants. Oh, hey hey hey! Look here!' The ketsu was distracted again, his feline mind jumping from topic to topic without much regard for Doukun's attention span. 'This is nosebleed- great name for a plant, right? But that's what it helps- get a nosebleed or a cut and this stuff takes care of it real quick. We better bring a little of it back since Juan used so much up today.'
Some time later, a rather dirty cat could be seen pouncing all around an equally dirty boy carrying a small armful of plants. Thank goodness I wasn't wearing my good robes. Okaa-san would throw a fit if she saw me now, Doukun thought.
The duo entered the house and saw Juan sitting on the ground, sipping a warm drink. At his side and resting peacefully was Chie, her wing completely bandaged and in no apparent life-threatening danger. Doukun let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding and said a stream of thankful words to all four gods. Tama quickly ran to his Seishi's side and jumped onto Juan's shoulders, purring and 'speaking so loudly that Doukun couldn't even hear himself think. "Tama…" Juan grumbled. "Shut up."
The ketsu let out an indignant hiss, then stalked over to Chie. Brushing his head against hers in a rather tender gesture, he curled himself around her body and promptly felt asleep.
…Well that was odd, Doukun sweatdropped.
"Pass the herbs here, boy," Juan stood up and put his drink to the side. Doukun handed over his load, too busy trying to figure out the other Seishi to react to being called 'boy'.
"Juan-san?"
"Yes?"
I hate this game. "Would you mind if I asked you a personal question?"
Juan shrugged as he separated the plants on his table. "Depends on the question. If I want to, I'll answer."
Doukun figured that was the best he was going to get and plunged forward. "The nearest village is at least half a mile away, by my estimate. Why are you out here instead of by them?"
A tense silence rested between the two, and the Chiriko Seishi realized his question was most likely not going to be answered.
"Your Chie is going to be fine," Juan waved a free hand towards the sleeping owl. "But if you have someplace you need to go, perhaps to inform any family about this event, neither Tama nor myself will go anywhere. We will watch over her."
"Oh, that's right!" Doukun smacked his forehead. "I told Kishuku-san and Shun'u-san I would give them my answer." Though it looks as if it was already half-made for me.
The problem for him wasn't leaving Chie alone; she was incredibly capable hands and he deeply doubted the would-be murderer would dare to enter the house to finish the job. Logically, it wasn't a safe move. But to attack a lone Seishi… now that had potential to be an easy kill, especially since Doukun was so young and had little to no fighting skills. The thought of leaving this temporary refuge wasn't high up on his list of 'good ideas of the day'. Yes, it's right up there with 'catch Chie's body with my own' and 'go gliding over unfamiliar terrain'.
Still, there wasn't much of a choice. Not only did he have to talk to the others about his decision but also he had to tell them about his attack and the possibility that they too would be targeted.
Again.
Doukun didn't think the tiger's attack was a coincidental event, anymore.
"Juan-san, where are we in relation to the Capital?"
The big man tapped his fingers as he thought. "It's about a day away by foot. If you left right now you wouldn't get there until early morning, not counting the sleep you'll have to take. If you had a horse you could get there just at nightfall, and by wing you'd get there within the hour."
"Flying means putting myself at grave risk again," Doukun frowned.
"Just remember that you're the owl, not the being behind the bow. In fact, I would almost suggest you leave here at nightfall, since your eyes would be best accustomed to the flight."
Doukun didn't like the idea of leaving his family and newfound friends in the dark about his whereabouts, but Juan had a good point. It wouldn't hurt for him to wait and it would definitely do him some good to catch up on sleep. "Would you mind if I stayed here and slept until then?"
"No. There's a bed in the next room if you'd care to use it."
As much as he loved Chie, Doukun knew that she'd be fine with him sleeping on the bed rather than on the hardwood floor next to her. "Thank you, Juan-san," he bowed to the doctor and, with a passing finger-brush on Chie's breast, he went off to attempt to get a good 'night's' rest.
We shall see how well I can sleep after all this excitement.
Doukun spent a whole three minutes in quiet contemplation before joining his ketsu in dreamless sleep.