Tasuki sat uncomfortably in the dining hall with his fellow celestial warriors. Well, Chichiri and Hotohori, anyway. Nuriko still hadn't arrived, and Yumi was missing as well. Tasuki realized he was glaring at Hotohori and stopped himself.

"We really should start looking for the last three celestial warriors, no da." But neither Tasuki nor Hotohori were listening to Chichiri. Tasuki stared at Hotohori, and Hotohori stared right back. This jus isn't gonna work… he thought. How can I cooperate with this pretty-boy pansy who's all rarin' and ready to jump my girl? How will he be able to protect the priestess, anyway? I'll bet he's never seen a fight in his life, let alone been in one… Tasuki saw Chichiri looking at him oddly, and realized that he had his hand over his shoulder, ready to grab the harisen strapped to his back. Trying to play it off, Tasuki ran his hand through his hair before bringing his hand to rest on the table, trying to be patient. He couldn't take any more of this. Just as he was shoving his chair backward, he heard the door open and everyone looked to see who it was. He sat back down, hoping to see Yumi.

"Hello, Hotohori-sama!" Just Nuriko. Tasuki looked back at his untouched plate and studied the items in front of him, wondering if they were edible. Grabbing a nearby knife, he poked a questionable item. It jiggled. Tasuki stared at it as though it would attack him.

"Eat your food! Don't play with it, no da!" Chichiri said sternly.

"Hell, no! It jiggled! There's no way I'm eatin' somethin' that moves like that!" Tasuki said testily, earning a reproving glare from Nuriko and Hotohori. Well excuse me if I won't eat this palace crap!

Nuriko sidled over to Chichiri and started whispering something in his ear. Chichiri tried not to giggle, but was not doing a very good job at it. Tasuki could see Hotohori trying to listen in, and stubbornly decided he didn't care what the two were up to. Despite himself, he heard some of what Nuriko was whispering, and was trying to hear a little better, but was distracted when the door to the hall opened once again. A young woman walked in and took a seat near the end of the table. Tasuki looked at her again, and gasped when he realized the girl was his priestess. She wasn't wearing that skimpy thing she called a "uniform" any more; it looked as though Nuriko had dressed her up. And done something else that made her eyes look… intense. Yes, that was the word. She was dressed just like one of the women of the inner court. She looked very different with her hair all done up and wearing regular clothes. Yumi looked over at him and smiled, blushing slightly. Nuriko rushed over to Yumi and began talking to her. Why are those two such good buddies all of a sudden? Tasuki wondered. But Yumi never said anything to either him or Hotohori, so it was up to Chichiri to keep a conversation running.

"Well, no da, it looks as though Yumi is finally dressing like us, no da. Or should I say, like Nuriko, no da. Like a woman anyway…" Chichiri trailed off, taking a moment before picking up in a different train of thought.

"What do you think we should do now, no da? As I have been saying, there are three more celestial warriors for us to find…" Nobody answered.

"", no da? We need to think about the country, no da! Please, put your eyes back in your head, Tasuki, and answer me, no da!" Tasuki came to himself and realized he had been staring into space. He had been planning how he would beat the emperor if he ever needed to. I still have use of those wolf spell cards, but I would rather use fire and my fists… but he was jerked out of his thoughts when he saw that everyone was leaving. He was the only one still at the table, and Hotohori and Yumi had already left.

Cursing to himself, he quickly stood up and went out into the corridor. He had just walked out the door when he felt something grab his arm and hold him back. He turned to see Nuriko.

"Hey, Tasuki!" He said brightly. "What do you think of the priestess' new getup?" Tasuki thought about it, but didn't comment, hoping he didn't blush. Nuriko just giggled.

"Do you think the distraction worked?" Nuriko asked. Tasuki looked at his fellow celestial warrior questioningly.

"Distraction? For what?" He asked, wondering what on earth was going on. If he was supposed to notice something, then the "distraction" had worked, apparently.

"Well, you'll see. But we weren't just changing her clothes, and we needed a reason for the priestess to be late. I think you'll enjoy this. I know I will!" Nuriko ran off, leaving Tasuki slightly suspicious and extremely confused.

-------

Nakago walked down the hallways of the palace, a scheme swirling around in his head. The Seiryu warrior had a slightly pensive look on his face, which meant that he was very angry. His first plan had not worked at all. The priestesses were not supposed to be friends. He needed them to hate, he needed them to want to beat each other, to want to win over the other, or this whole thing would fall apart.

He had left Soi in his rooms. That woman was very skilled in her… profession, and he needed her talents. He did not need her, however, just her talents. She was merely a means to an end, a way to boost his chi constantly. Whether she had feelings for him he was not sure of and did not care. People were pawns to him, including the priestess of Seiryu.

Nakago drew his long cloak about him and turned a few corners in the hallways, leaving it to the pitiful servants to move themselves out of the way before he simply ran over them. He needed each of the celestial warriors to obey him unquestioningly and serve loyalty to him, not to the priestess. She was too soft, too sure of her friendship with the Suzaku chosen. She might corrupt the warriors into sympathizing with Konan, and that was intolerable. If the Seiryu warriors would not swear loyalty to him, then they needed to fear him.

He had almost installed that fear within the twins, but the priestess had prevented that. He may have succeeded with Amiboshi, but there was no way to be sure. He swore softly, turning yet another corridor. He was relying on his ability to manipulate the priestess. He needed her to move where he directed her, and think what he made her think. He couldn't believe that he was stuck with this girl… this soft, dependant, suicidal girl. He couldn't allow the priestess to take her own life before Seiryu was summoned. After she had made the wishes he placed in her mind then she could stab herself or cut her throat as she cared to, but not a moment sooner.

Nakago ignored the salutes of each guard he passed, his blond hair streaming behind him at the brisk pace he set. He needed to instill fear in Amiboshi and Suboshi. He couldn't sense the priestess' chi from her rooms, which meant that the twins were without the benefit of her protection. Now was his chance, and he would take it.

-------

Amiboshi watched his brother stare at him from the corner of his eye. Suboshi pretended to be looking out the window, but he was staring. Amiboshi fidgeted under his brother's gaze. Suboshi continued to stare. Amiboshi twitched.

"WHAT IS IT?" Amiboshi finally shouted, grabbing his twin by the shoulder and shaking him roughly. His nerves had been on edge ever since Megumi had slept less than a foot away from him. When Amiboshi finally realized what he was doing, he released Suboshi's shoulders and stared out the window guiltily.

"I'm sorry. You did nothing to deserve that. You don't have to tell me what you're thinking…" Amiboshi said quietly, looking down at his hands. He knew he shouldn't take any of his own troubles out on Suboshi. His younger twin always looked to him for guidance and protection, and for Suboshi to see his older brother so unbalanced was probably hurting him.

Suboshi was about to open his mouth to say something when the door slammed open and in stepped a thing from nightmares. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed general stood there, looking extremely smug.

Nakago fingered his whip subtly as he looked from one to another. Both of them stared at him wide-eyed. Amiboshi let his hand wander to his flute. So much for Megumi protecting us. He felt bad about that, and at least a little pathetic. Two celestial warriors having to rely on the protection of their own priestess. Megumi had said she'd stay with them as long as possible, but everyone had to take a bath. She had asked if they wanted to come with her, but Amiboshi wouldn't intrude on her privacy like that.

Nakago crooked a finger towards Amiboshi, smiling in what he assumed was a disarming manner.

"Amiboshi… I need to see you in a matter concerning the priestess…" Nakago said, his eyes flickering momentarily towards Suboshi. Amiboshi stiffened. Nakago was not going to touch his brother. He stood up stiffly, ignoring his twin's silent protests. The whip scores on his back throbbed as he stared at the general in front of him, but he followed Nakago nonetheless, keeping one hand on his flute as they walked.

"What was it you wanted to speak to me about, Nakago?" Amiboshi demanded as soon as they had reached one of the inner council chambers. The man did not respond right away. Instead he sat down on a rather ornate chair and propped his chin on his hand, scrutinizing Amiboshi as if searching for flaws. Amiboshi willed his hands to stay still. Don't show any weakness… Nakago finally chose to speak, twirling a small pouch between the fingers of his right hand.

"It has come to my attention that you are rather close to Her Eminence. You are aware that the priestess must be a virgin in order to summon Seiryu, are you not?" Amiboshi hoped the blush on his face was not as bright as he thought it was. Don't act guilty. I haven't done anything wrong…

"N-Nakago… I am aware of that." Amiboshi replied, hating the fact that his voice was slightly unsteady. He was not going to let this man get to him. The general arched one of his eyebrows and poured the contents of the small packet into his hands, sifting a fine powder around on his palm.

"Then I would think you'd be so kind as to not sleep with Her Eminence?" Nakago said absently. Amiboshi knew that the general was just trying to mess with his head, but he blushed all the brighter anyway. How did he know? I haven't done anything wrong!

"Yes, sir." He said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Nakago smiled briefly and motioned to the side. A servant stepped out from an alcove and placed two wine glasses on a nearby table before exiting the room. Don't let him get to you… stay calm, no blushing. Amiboshi thought to himself as Nakago motioned for him to take a seat. He did, wary for any traps or tricks.

"Surely you drink?" Nakago said when Amiboshi did not touch his glass, taking a drink himself as if trying to assure the younger man that it wasn't poisoned.

"No, Nakago, I don't." He said, ignoring the condescending look Nakago was now directing at him. The general turned his head briefly before swirling his glass in his hand.

"I have always wondered, Amiboshi. You and Suboshi are twins… what happens if one of you dies?" Nakago said softly, a smile tugging at his lips. Amiboshi stiffened and glared, afraid and enraged at the same time. He's so low as to use my younger brother against me? He knew he was caught now. He couldn't disobey Nakago if it would cost Suboshi his life…

Nakago smiled fully and motioned to the wine glass, and under his gaze, Amiboshi hesitantly took a sip. Nakago stared at him, and Amiboshi drank a little more, hoping everything would turn out all right. He blinked. He felt so light-headed… so faint. He looked down into the goblet, vaguely wondering what was inside it, but found he couldn't focus on the glass in his hands. In the distance he heard the sound of breaking glass as he dropped the goblet and it shattered on the floor. The last thing he could remember hearing was Nakago's voice, as if coming from a distance.

"This is what Her Eminence wishes you to do…"