"I have found you, Priestess of Suzaku." Yumi didn't wait to see the dark cloak of the Kutou assassins before turning around, trying to get back out of the forest. She caught a glimpse of the cloaks that haunted her nightmares and somehow managed to kick Kohaku into a trot, or canter, or whatever the hell it was when he moved faster than a walk. Why can't these anonymous Kutou assassins stop plaguing my footsteps!?

"Tasuki!" She cried, "Tasuki! Nuriko! Somebody!" An arrow whizzed past, not three inches from her face. She felt the wind of it, and a sharp pain as it ripped out a few strands of her hair. She leaned low on Kohaku's neck, trying to provide a smaller target.

"Tasuki!" It will really suck to get hit by an arrow… "Tasuki!" Suddenly she was falling off of Kohaku.

"Damn!" She cried, "Why can't I even ride? TASUKI!" She fell to the earth in a heap, and watched as Kohaku ran off without her. She stood up hastily, with some difficulty, and tried to find somewhere to hide. Without the option of hiding, Yumi turned to face her attackers. She couldn't make out much more than their approximate shapes, due to their large, bulky cloak. But she could see their eyes burning with a feverish hate. Yumi tried not to panic, but it was hard. Her right leg didn't seem to be working properly, and it was painful to even stand up.

She ignored the pain and tried to get out of range, but found she no longer had anywhere to go. Why do I always get cornered? She felt like crying. Yumi stumbled and fell on her knees, her injured ankle giving up on her. She twisted around to face the attack. Now Yumi got a good look at the shrouded men, not that it revealed much. They were swathed in fluttering black cloaks, their bodies invisible except for their eyes, which were narrowed in concentration. There were about half a dozen of them visible, and Yumi didn't know if there were more in hiding. Her attackers were aiming their bows at her, and there was nowhere to hide. As if in slow motion, she saw them let their arrows fly. Five. She couldn't dodge all of them. For that matter, in her condition, she couldn't dodge anything. Yumi shut her eyes tightly and covered her head with her arms, trying to make a smaller target, bracing for the blow.

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Tasuki searched for Mitsukake, but he was more worried about Yumi going out on her own. She said herself that assassins might come for her… He tried to stay near her, but for some reason, an invisible force seemed to be pushing him away from her and he couldn't sense her at all. He had only taken his eyes off of her for a few seconds, but she had disappeared into the air, it appeared. He closed his eyes and concentrated, but he couldn't sense her chi at all. It was just like when she had disappeared over a month before. But this time, he knew she wouldn't be safe. As fast as he could, he directed his horse in the direction he thought she had been taking before he lost her. He tried not to panic, but there was a tightening in his chest that warned him of danger.

"Yumi! YUMI!" He cried, but she didn't answer. Then he felt something. It definitely was not Yumi, but he knew he had sensed this before. What is it? He didn't hesitate to rush toward the feeling of…evil. That was the only way to describe it. Branches slapped his shoulders and face as he kicked the horse, urging Yatsu to move faster.

"YUMI!" This is so stupid! I'm faster than this dumb animal, so why am I still riding it? He cleared the trees, looking about frantically. Why does everything always get so screwed up? He saw Kohaku run by, panicking, eyes rolling, but Yumi wasn't on his back. He urged Yatsu forward in the direction Kohaku had come from. He rounded a block in the road, hoping he wouldn't be too late. That's when he heard Yumi screaming his name.

"Tasuki! Tasuki!" A moment later, he saw her to his right, about forty feet off, trying to run. She wasn't moving very quickly, limping slightly. The evil chi swelled, and Tasuki felt as though he could smell it. He looked to his left. Not twenty feet away he saw men swathed in black robes. They were armed with bows and… they're aiming at Yumi! He jumped off of Yatsu as he saw the men release their arrows as one. I know I'm fast, but I won't be able get Yumi out of the way in time! She'll probably die if even one of those arrows hits her, and ALL of them are well aimed… This all passed through his head in the space of one moment. He knew there was only one way to save her, and with a fierce growl, he ran as fast as he could, determined to do what he had to. I promised I'd protect you, Yumi… Even if I die…

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Yumi squeezed her eyes tight, waiting to feel the arrows pierce her body. It will probably kill me… I'm about to die… She heard a cry, followed closely by a dull thud. Yumi winced, but she didn't feel anything. Yumi didn't move; she was too scared even to breathe.

"Rekka… Shin'en!" Yumi heard a familiar voice cry. She opened her eyes to see Tasuki's silhouette directly in front of her, framed by a cascade of fire. When the flames died away, she saw that there was no trace of the men intent upon her murder. For a moment, she was too shocked even to react. She ran the ten paces separating her and her warrior, ignoring the pain shooting up her leg, but before she could reach him, he stumbled. Yumi caught him and threw her arms around him from behind, trying to steady him. He swayed again, but caught himself, dropping his harisen on the ground with a muffled clang. He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled weakly.

"Always gotta keep an eye on you, huh?" Yumi saw blood trickle from the corner of his mouth. He caught her hands in his, but he couldn't seem to hold them very well. She hugged him to her, trying to get her breathing back to normal. It was then that Yumi's hands found it. His shirt was wet, and she was sure it wasn't sweat, but blood. Frantically, her hands searched for the wound. An arrow? Shaking, she grabbed Tasuki's elbow and turned him to face her.

"Oh… omigod!" She cried when he was facing her. He had taken the arrows meant for her! Three of them, anyway, the other two must be on the ground somewhere. How he was still standing, Yumi couldn't guess. Her hands shook, but she managed to support Tasuki before he fell to his knees, bringing her down with him.

"I wasn't fast enough… to stop 'em, so… only way…" Yumi put her hands over his mouth. This can't be happening! Why!?

"Shh… don't talk. We'll be okay…" She was lying to herself and she knew it. She tried not to look at the arrows in his chest, causing his shirt and coat to be soaked with blood. If that one arrow hadn't hit his heart, then it was way too close, and that doesn't even account for the other two! Yumi held herself together as she helped Tasuki sit down, and then broke into tears as she tried to pull the safest arrow out of him.

"You idiot…" She sobbed as she tore her sleeve to wipe away some of the blood. "I'd rather I died than see you killed! Why…?" Tasuki smiled up at her and wiped away her tears with a gentle hand.

"Yeah, well, I feel the same way." He closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing. Yumi heard several sets of feet rushing toward her, but she didn't want to look away from Tasuki even for a moment. She put her hand on Tasuki's face, unintentionally smearing more blood on him, and leaned forward to kiss him even as the footsteps grew louder.

"I love you." She whispered, her voice trembling, tears leaking out from the corners of her eyes.

"What happened?" Yumi heard Nuriko's shocked voice ask. She didn't want to answer. If I wasn't so proud… If we hadn't split up… Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong hands pull her away from Tasuki. She didn't want to let go, but her hands were too slippery with blood and shaking from shock, and she couldn't keep hold of him.

"Please move, miss. I'll take care of him." A deep, soothing voice said to her. Yumi didn't recognize the voice. She looked up and saw the man she had glimpsed before. Yumi felt Nuriko put his arms around her shoulders and whisper to her, turning her away from the man she loved. She didn't hear what he was saying, though. She was numb from shock. He's dying… He's going to die! All she could see was her hands. They were covered in blood. Tasuki's blood. Her eyes blurred with tears, and when she tried to wipe them away, she smeared blood on her cheeks as well. But her tears wouldn't stop.

She heard Tasuki cry out in pain, but she couldn't see him because Nuriko was blocking her view. She pushed Nuriko out of the way in time to see the stranger hold his hand above Tasuki's chest. There was a bright red glow, and then soft green glowing bubbles wafted softly down onto her warrior. Right before her eyes, the blood disappeared and Tasuki's coat was mended. She was so shocked that she immediately stopped crying. It couldn't be real, but it was. Yumi wiped her tears away hurriedly, trying to clear her vision, and that's when she noticed that the blood on her hands had disappeared as well.

Tasuki sat up and touched his chest as though searching for the arrow wounds, and when he found that he was no longer injured he looked up at Yumi, smiling to expose his fangs. Yumi crawled over to him and hugged him, burying her face in his shirt.

"Thank you, sir, thank you!" She said to the stranger, gripping Tasuki's coat. The stranger was speaking again, but Yumi barely heard it, she was too busy listening to Tasuki's heart. It's still beating! He's alive! He's still alive! He put his hands in her hair, just holding her. She leaned in close to him and closed her eyes, willing her own heart to slow down.

"I usually don't care about people." The strange man was saying, "When she found me, though," he paused, and Yumi supposed he pointed to her, "I felt her pull me. That's when the assassins appeared. I couldn't do anything about the attackers, but I followed as fast as I could, to see what she would do. When that man showed he was ready to give his life for her… well, I don't think death should separate people who love one another." His voice became quiet as he concluded, and Yumi looked up at him. He looked as though he were remembering something painful. Yumi's brain started working in fast forward. The jewel's bright flash, "she pulled me," the red glow…

"You're Mitsukake, aren't you?" She asked him. He nodded and showed her his palm, where a red symbol was quickly fading from view. How odd that his symbol should be "grief" when he has such wondrous powers… Yumi thought absently.

"I'm very glad to meet you, Mitsukake. I am Yumi, the priestess of Suzaku. Thank you! Thank you so much for healing Tasuki!" She hugged him tighter, as though he might disappear if she let go. She felt him holding her, and almost cried with happiness. Yumi didn't care what kind of impression she was giving Mitsukake; she just knew that she loved Tasuki. "He's another celestial warrior, and that's Nuriko…" She indicated her other warrior.

"And I am Hotohori." Yumi looked around and saw that Hotohori was there too. She hadn't noticed him arrive, but then again, she HAD been a little distracted. She continued, allowing her voice to return to normal with her heart rate.

"And Chiriko and Chichiri are back in the capitol." She looked up at him. "And now we have you too, I hope. Mitsukake, will you join us?" For a moment he did not answer, but then he nodded slightly.

"Of course. It's the duty of Suzaku's chosen to protect the priestess, right?" Yumi smiled, showing her thanks. Tasuki bonked her lightly on the head.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Yumi thought about it for a moment. Quickly, she fished Taiitsukun's jewel out from under her shirt and held it in front of Mitsukake. It glowed brightly for a moment, and a small, sealed jar appeared in the man's hands.

"Only one more to go!" She said happily. Tamahome. I wonder what kind of powers he will have… "Then we can summon Suzaku!" As soon as she said it, though, Yumi remembered her promise to both Chichiri and Taiitsukun to help Megumi before summoning Suzaku. She didn't say anything about that now, but she wouldn't let herself forget.

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Suboshi tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible. That was always the best way to act when women were angry. The three of them rode slowly along a dirt road leading to Konan. Suboshi just did not understand Megumi. She was angry, tired, and sore, but she also seemed so… happy. Giddy, almost. But that did not apply for Soi. There had been quite a clash when she woke up this morning to find that all her clothes were gone, replaced by full-length kimonos and dresses that hung at least to her knees. The new attire made Suboshi more comfortable near her, but Soi did not seem to care about that. Megumi seemed to be enjoying this thoroughly. She kept giggling. Soi huffed, and Suboshi looked over at her. She was wearing a skirt that hung past her knees, and the bodice was much better than what she had worn the day before. Suboshi looked ahead, watching Konan come ever nearer, and hoping that by the time they got there, Soi's bad mood would run out.

Even with things the way they were between the women, he couldn't help but feel happy. He was away from Nakago and soon he would be reunited with Amiboshi. I can finally act like a Seiryu warrior and protect the priestess, instead of having to hide behind her. He watched the road, wary for any dangers. If anything happened, he was the only man, and he would have to protect the women. I don't know what Soi can do… well, she controls lightning, but my ryusuisei are better! Glad that Soi and Megumi were quiet now, he tried to slow down and rejoin them. When they caught up with him, he saw that they had put him between them.

"Suboshi." Megumi said, "Are we almost in Konan?" Suboshi sighed. He knew she was sore, but riding slower only made the journey take longer.

"At the pace we've set, we'll be in Konan in two days. Or, I should say, that's about how far Amiboshi is, I think. If we pick up some speed, we might be able to cut it down to a day and a half." He looked over at Megumi.

"We'll walk." She said. Suboshi sighed. What was it with this girl and horses? It's not gonna kill them to run for an entire day! He thought. Soi was busy simmering to his right, and he desperately wished he could go on ahead, but then he would be attracting attention to himself. He heard Megumi giggling again, and he sighed once more. Are we ever going to find Aniki?