Part 12 Rebellion
Slaves form various regions stared at her in a mute awe when she passed by them. It more than slightly disturbed her. She desperately wished everyone would mind their own business and leave her alone. She wasn't exactly in the mood for company right then.
The stables in this place were much larger than those at home. Hundreds of horses of all sizes and color filled the area but she found Set-shou and Akai with ease. They were the only two who responded when she broadcasted a signal. They stood in neighboring stalls and snorted excitedly when they saw her.
"It's been a while since you've seen a familiar face ne?" The stable was alive with workers scurrying all over but Miya didn't care who saw her talking to the horses. She was pretty sure no one would confront her about it. She stroked their manes absently, lost in thought.
Lord Hiei, he made her so damn angry. She swore she would get him for this; he would pay for all the pain her caused her. He had played with her emotions, causing her to suffer like she never imagined possible. On several occasions he almost broke her, so close to breaking her and now more than ever she was grateful to her mother for her stubborn streak.
Her fingers brushed against the H shaped scar on her neck. She had basically been branded by Hiei. This scar would never go away. But if he thought she would take this laying down then he was mistaken. The she was to go with moment this Koenma she would escape. The thought hit her.
"You're only using her to avenge Kurama's death." So Hiei knew her father, she shuddered at the thought of all the things Hiei potentially knew about her. But why would Hiei use her to avenge her father? Did he know how Kurama died? How did he know Kurama anyway? The questions tumbled through her head, leaving her more than slightly depressed. She had finally figured out the cause of Hiei's behavior but instead of answering all her questions it merely unlocked a plethora of new ones.
"Everything would be a hell of a lot easier if I'd just kill him and get it over with!"
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The horses nipped at her hands impatiently in order to regain her undivided attention. The crimson Akai nuzzled against her shoulder while the midnight-colored Set-shou set about chewing her fingers. Miya smacked him jokingly and managed a half-hearted smile.
"Would you two just knock it off?"
"They want you to themselves." Miya looked from the corner of her eye. A tall, well built man with a whitening scar leaned on the gate beside her. She didn't even hear when he came up. He stood looking directly at the horses, avoiding looking at the red-headed kitsune as if unwilling to admit her presence. "Your sword is glowing."
Miya looked down and sure enough, a red glow emanated from the sword hilt; red, she had learned, was the color displayed when she was angry. She focused on breathing evenly and squelching the rage building up inside of her. When her eyes re-opened she was once again in charge, emotions well hidden.
Unfortunately the man was still there.
"I saw your match today. I have to admit, I've not seen anything quite like that before. My name is Tokoro."
"Kirai." Miya proffered, wondering what he wanted. "Is there anything in particular I can help you with?"
He looked surprised for a moment.
"Not one to beat around the bush, are you?" Miya barely nodded.
"You want something and I would like to know what it is." An awkward reigned between them. Miya wanted him to just mind his own business and go away; he seemed to have no intention of leaving.
"Any reason why you're hiding down here in the stables?" She glowered but managed to keep her voice even.
"Why would you assume that I'm hiding?" He shrugged noncommittally.
"Everyone has been trying to find you and here you are in the last place most people would look. You know, most people wouldn't be so anti-social after a major victory like that. You're famous."
"You're right; most people wouldn't be avoiding the spotlight. I'm not like most people."
"No, you're a lot stronger." He seemed undaunted when she ignored his statement and he rapidly changed the subject. "You're Lord Hiei's right."
"Maybe."
"A slave?"
"I don't plan to answer any more of your questions until you've answered mine. Who are you and what do you want with me?"
Tokoro reached out and petted Akai's nose before answering, his expression becoming more serious. "I am a fighter, like you. I want to talk to you about a very important matter."
"So talk."
"Not here." He looked around to make sure there was no one close enough to overhear them, then continued in a much softer tone of voice. "Right after dinner in the winery. You'll find a trap door under the third from the back. We'll talk there."
"I don't feel like trusting you. I don't think it's very wise to be meeting an opponent in secret before the beginning of the match." Tokoro chuckled quietly.
"You are definitely one of Ryoutou's students! You're just as stubborn as he is!" Miya looked over when she heard her teacher's name.
"You know Ryoutou?"
"Son, after a while in this tournament the other competitors become like some weird sort of a family. Old Ryoutou first entered the tournament seventeen years ago, he was the first fighter Lord Hiei entered. We gave him a hard time about his having a human parent but he did pretty well. He's been back every year since then. Rumor had it that he was training someone to take over since he was getting too old. I was a bit worried about you, you know, being a rookie and all, but it looks like you've proved me wrong." Miya nodded absently.
"You still haven't given me a reason why I should listen to you." Tokoro made as if to answer, but fell silent as several people and their slaves leading horses passed within earshot. He watched them stealthily until they were out of range. Then he regarded her seriously.
"I heard you talking to the horses. You were wishing you could kill someone. You certainly have the strength to fight whomever you were speaking of, so that wouldn't be the issue. Yet obviously you can't kill said person for some reason. You were wishing you could kill your lord, weren't you?" Out of nervous habit Miya glanced around. The stable had emptied yet she didn't feel comfortable talking about a touchy topic like that.
"I've got to go!" She tried to rush through the door but he held her arm.
"Don't worry, I'm a dampener; Hiei can't hear our thoughts."
"You underestimate him."
"You're one of the strongest fighters to ever stand in the ring yet this Lord has you terrified. I can help you. I just want you to hear me out. There are others of us who've had enough of this. Come tonight and see for yourself."
Hiei would be furious. She probably wouldn't survive another of his punishments, although, the prospect of finally paying Hiei back appealed to her.
"I don't know."
"It's your choice." With that he was gone.
Miya didn't move, trying to decide what had just happened. Things were weird enough as it was around this place without someone else making her life more complicated. She didn't trust anyone quickly; it was just her nature: suspicious until proven trustworthy.
Set-shou, annoyed at being ignored grabbed a mouthful of her hair and pulled. That single gesture reminded her of what she had intended to do before she had overheard Lord Hiei. She debated with herself, trying to decide whether she should go through with it or not.
She had a while before dinner. It was probably best if she did it now. She bade her equestrian friends adieu and headed to her room.
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Miya regarded herself silently in the mirror and sighed dejectedly. She had to do this, no matter how much she hated it; the fight with Lord Jougen taught her that. Reluctantly she raised the scissors she had borrowed from Yaku.
She loved her hair. The crimson curtain was her crowning glory. It was what made her most seem like her father. It was the thing about her that brought her the most pride. She couldn't bear to lose it but it was obvious that she couldn't fight with it. She couldn't afford another mishap like what happened with All weaknesses had to be eliminated. Besides, vanity had no place in a fighter.
She took a handful of hair and slowly positioned the scissors. No sooner had the first snip finished than HE threw open the door and stormed into the room
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She swung around and sprung to her feet, hatred forcing a bitter taste of bile to her mouth. To her credit she kept calm.
"My Lord, I was merely…". He glanced down at the minute pile of hair on the floor.
"Did I give you permission to cut your hair?" Not meeting his glare she quietly replied,
"No my lord."
"Then why the hell do you assume I would agree?" She looked up.
"But my lord, it only gives my opponent an advantage…" She stopped when he struck her in the face, claws raking across skin.
"I didn't ask for you to justify your actions, Kirai, I asked why you didn't get my permission." He glared at her. "You are never to cut your hair; do I make myself perfectly clear?" She didn't answer, instead her mind revised her 101 ways to kill a prick list. "DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!?!" he repeated, basically screaming in her face and hitting her again.
"Yes, my lord," she replied quietly.
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"I can't tell whether you're brave or stupid!" Chi devised a scheme – folding Miya's hair in half, bringing the ends up to the roots. Using an elastic band, she held the hair in place while she plaited it into a single braid down her Miya's back. It was pretty tedious but it shortened her hair by more than half. "I can't believe you saw Lord Hiei in a snit and didn't just sat the customary 'yes, my lord' or 'no my lord'. You tried to explain what you were doing! After the past lickings he's given you you'd think you'd learn by now!" Miya didn't answer, feeling under her eye. Chi ranted for an eternity before proclaiming she was finished. "You can't even see the hack-job you did!"
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No doubt he had been much too hard on her. His hand smarted from the quick slap struck, meaning it had been harder than he had intended. Hiei sighed. She wouldn't have understood why he became so angry when she tried to cut her hair.
Kurama grabbed his hair and pulled it over his shoulder. Shinbi liked short hair; as it was her purple-and-silver hair came only to her ears. He would cut his too! As the scissors neared it there was a gust of wind rushing in his window. Kurama looked up to find Hiei's katana at his neck.
"Hiei! What are you doing?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Put down the scissors; if you ever cut off your hair I'll cut off your head!"
Never again did Kurama try to cut his hair.
For some reason Hiei remembered that and the tome when he had first met Miya as a baby. He couldn't allow her to destroy one of the few things that brought back good memories.
He barely glanced at her when she came to the dining hall for dinner, only long enough to make sure her hair was intact. He disregarded her for the whole meal, barely noting when she left. Good riddance, at least we won't have to face each other.
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Miya slipped into the overwhelming darkness of the winery and silently closed the door behind her, careful to avoid all contact with those of the House of Hiei. She didn't want to have to explain where she was going to any of them. She felt for the trap door and sure enough, it was there, just as Tokoro said. With more than a little trepidation she climbed down into pitch blackness. Somewhere in the distance water lapped gently.
Slowly hushed voices came to her ear and she moved in that direction. After a few steps the soft glow of a lamp fell on her face.
"I'm glad you came Kirai."
Her eyes adjusted to the sudden introduction of light and she was able to make out his face.
"You said you could help me."
"And I can. Follow me." The broad-shouldered fighter turned and led the way to another room with a few other people waiting. Miya recognized some of them from the front of the crowd while she fought and others from watching them practice. The rest, which was the majority, were unfamiliar to her. "People, I'd like you to meet Kirai. He's old Ryoutou's replacement." There were a few half-hearted greetings and an apparent common tenseness although only one man showed open hostility. She was directed to a seat next to a woman dressed as a kitchen slave. There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone stared at her. Then, as if on cue they turned and continued their different conversations.
"From your fight?" the woman beside her asked, indicating the bruise beneath her eye. Miya hadn't even remembered it was there.
"No," she replied, gently touching it. It had split open and blood dripped from the laceration. She took the offered hanky gratefully and out pressure on it, stopping the flow. "This came after." The woman's eyebrow rose.
"After?" Slightly embarrassed, Miya nodded.
"I…wanted to cut my hair and…well…Lord Hiei didn't approve." Mistrust dissolved into sympathy.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to pry." Miya shrugged it off, insisting that it was nothing, that things like that happened all the time. "As in, he draws blood often?"
"I'm lucky it was only a small one this time. Last time I lost consciousness."
"Kuso!" Before she had a chance to comment further the door swung open and a late arrival came tumbling in, grinning sheepishly and taking the seat on the other side of the kitsune. Tokoro got to his feet and cleared his throat.
"Now that we're all here," he said, directing a pointed glare at the slightly chubby man now seated beside Miya, "we can begin."
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The hair on the back of her neck stood in end and chills ran down her spine. She turned slightly to find one man glaring at her, the same one who had glared at her when she first came in. The whitening-scar covered face housed dark, accusing eyes. She felt cold creeping through her veins; he seemed to know something about her, but she just couldn't figure out what that something was. She settled back in her seat, more than slightly uncomfortable. The feeling didn't go away and she just knew; he was still watching.
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"We've put up with too much too long. Their guard is down; they would not expect something like this. They planned this tournament for a year. They will not expect us to rebel the morning before." Miya's ears twitched at Tokoro's words. Rebellion! They're planning to attack the Lords!"
"The guards will hold us back!" A voice from the audience piped up. Tokoro smiled serenely.
"You do not have any idea how many of them are with us. We will strike before dawn; the lords will be asleep and the few guards who aren't with us will not be alert and will be drowsy from their all-night vigil. By the time they sound the alarm it will be too late."
Miya listened as they made battle plans, entire body feeling numb as if in a dream.
"We'll show them what it's like to have their women violated and slaughtered! We'll take back our bodies and exact our revenge at the same time! After tomorrow no one will be able to stop us. No lord will be able to stand against us! The slaves back at the castles will have no one to stop them from freeing themselves. We'll destroy this era of dominance and make our own history!" Points of entry and signals were appointed. These people were going to do what every slave dreamed of; they were going to take back their lives. She was barely aware when Tokoro nodded and everyone got up to leave.
"We fight for freedom!" The battle-cry and mantra echoed off the lips of all present
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He pulled her aside the moment she passed through the door.
"Didn't I tell you? You won't ever have to worry about that lord again. You can even request that he be left for you to personally finish off.
"I…I've heard so many people talking about rebelling but…I've never seen anyone who was able to work towards it, to do more than talk!" Tokoro chuckled.
"I'm assuming I have your support then?" Without even understanding why, she nodded immediately. Tokoro smiled and patted her shoulder. "Good! I really wouldn't want you to be the enemy. In this situation you're either with us or against us." He followed the others down the passage to their different points of entry. Miya remained in the same spot until a hiss in her ear caused her to jump.
"You don't fool me. You're a traitor, planning to sell us out." She whirled to face the same man who had been so malignant.
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about!" He crossed his arms and glared.
"I know your type, boy. You're that Lord Hiei's pretty boy. The moment you get out of here you'll go directly to him and he'll warn the others. The leaders of this rebellion will hang for plotting against royalty. You'll get away and you and your okama'll live happily ever after while the rest of us die!" Miya felt rage building up in her, threatening to cause her to explode. How dare that man call Lord Hiei her GAY! She could feel her entire body shudder with anger. Slowly she tried to regain control of her emotions.
"I …am…not…gay!" She replied through clenched teeth. "And you have absolutely no right to suggest that I'd sell you out merely because you don't like my face! At least come up with decent proof!"
He snorted. "Just remember: you're either with us or against us."
"Rest assured, I plan to fight in this battle. I honestly don't care what the hell you think of me."
He glared wordlessly and disappeared. Miya finally unclenched her fists; she wasn't even aware that she had been clutching them. She let out a shaky breath and headed to her room to await the signal bell.