Miaka knew she was being stupid in trying defeat Nakago. All she could do was scurry around like a disoriented rat in a dizzying maze trying to avoid traps. Her ankle was fractured and her right leg broken, so instead of running, Miaka could only crawl.
"Suzaku no Miko, are you ready?" Nakago asked.
"Wait," Miaka begged wearily. "Please, release Rurii."
"Why do you care so much for that brat?"
"Let's just say I made a promise."
Miaka recalled the day Chiriko had died. How he had made her promise to protect his sister right before he died.
Don't worry, Chiriko, Miaka thought. I'll keep my promise, even if it means my life.
"All right then," Nakago said. "Get ready."
"Stop!"
Miaka gasped. "Rurii!"
Sure enough, it was Rurii. She seemed a little pale and out of breath, and her hair was dirty and tangled, but it was still Rurii. The other difference was the mark on her ankle. The character for sound was glowing and so was the one for strength.
"You! How did you get out?" Nakago demanded.
"My brother helped me," Rurii said.
"Impossible. I killed your brother."
Ooh, bad move, Miaka thought, watching a fire of pure hatred burn in Rurii's eyes.
"So it was you who murdered my brother?"
Nakago smile with satisfaction. "Yes. I rather enjoyed hearing the sweet, little brat scream."
"What sort of monster are you, you soulless freak?" Rurii asked in a low, angry voice. "You will be sorry for causing so much pain."
"What will you do? Whisper me to death?"
Rurii didn't answer. Instead, she began to sing. "Sometime, in some place, you saw something like a crowd of stars in a certain month and they were blue. I'm only merely a human at this hour, always having my spirit being taken away. . ."
Miaka watched Rurii. The girl obviously had good control over her feelings. Miaka could see the deep pain and grief that was locked behind her gray eyes.
Nakago hit Rurii in the face with his whip. Miaka winced when she heart the crack of the whip, but Rurii stood her ground.
"The star being led by the night of day, it's spirit floating, you then murmured. . ."
"Stop singing!" Nakago barked. "I order you to stop."
"Only in my eyes, you see just one regret. You just smiled, the moonlight pouring. Only in my heart, can't take away the regret. Regret stops, but the owrd is repeated three more times. I am trembling. . .in the blue, blue moon. . ."
Nakago was beginning to feel a deep, painful feeling. Not physical pain, but still, it was a pain large enough to hurt him. He realized Rurii's singing was making him feel sad. "Stop."'
"Only in my eyes, you see just one regret. To the beginning of the season, forgetting things, I wonder. . .Only in my heart, can't take away the regret. I experienced even the smallest pain. To be smiling again. . .in the blue, blue moon. . ."
Nakago couldn't take it anymore. Another verse sung by Rurii and he would've burst into tears like a little baby. Swiftly, he called Yue and they both left.
Even after they left, Rurii continued to sing.
"Only in my eyes, you see just one regret. . . Only in my heart, can't take away the regret. . .Only in my eyes, you see just one regret. . ." Silent tears fell down Rurii's face, but she managed to keep her voice as clear as a crystal vase.
"Blue, blue moon. . . Just mourning. . .in the blue, blue moon. . ." Rurii sank to her hands and knees. "Ode."