He was walking again. He didn't know where he was supposed to be going, but apparently his feet did. Amiboshi closed his eyes briefly, trying to remember what he was doing. Oh yes, I am going to Konan. And Megumi wants me to. That was all he could recall. But, it had to be something important, right? Hopefully Suboshi was okay, and doing a good job protecting the priestess. He was very, very hungry. He hadn't eaten in a few days. There was a road ahead, and he headed for it, this time both his will and his feet going in the same direction. Maybe I can stop to eat… Why can't I?
Amiboshi followed the road for about a mile when he collapsed, weak from hunger. He tried to get up, but his legs just wouldn't work anymore. He looked ahead and saw the outskirts of a small town. Maybe someone will see me and help. But probably not. He forced himself to crawl toward the town, now fully in control. Just to check, he tried to stop for a moment and felt no resistance. Just knowing he was in control again gave Amiboshi the strength to stand. Somehow he made it to the town and he knocked on the door of one of the cottages. It was a simple, one-room affair. When no one answered, he called to the inhabitants.
"Hello? Is anyone in there?" Still there was no answer. There was no one in the streets, and everything was completely silent. Amiboshi felt goose-bumps rise on his arms.
"What's wrong with this town?" He asked silently, but there was no answer. Fearing what he might see, Amiboshi pushed the door open and looked inside. The table was set as though a family was about to sit down and eat, but there was no food, no people, no life. Amiboshi left the house and checked another house, almost a twin to the first, and found it in much the same condition. It was as though this town had been alive, but suddenly all the people had disappeared. It was scary. However, Amiboshi could not forget that he was about to die of hunger. At the next empty house, he actually went inside and checked the cupboards. All he found was some stale bread, but he gratefully took it. He felt a little bad about stealing, but he didn't see anyone to object. He sat alone in the house and looked about him. Nothing. Now that he had food inside of him, Amiboshi felt himself standing up, no doubt heading for Konan again.
He left the house and walked through the small town, passing half a dozen cottages just as lifeless as the three as he already checked. Then, his feet stopped and he turned, looking past the row of houses to a clearing. What he saw made him want to cry. One young man was tending four rows of fresh graves. He walked as though broken, placing flowers here and there. Amiboshi found himself rushing over to the stranger.
"What happened here?" He asked as he ran. The man looked at him, and Amiboshi saw that he carried a small girl in his arms. She was either terribly injured or… dead. Amiboshi felt tears spring into his eyes. Why am I so sensitive? I don't even know him, yet my heart goes out to this stranger…
"There was an attack…" The stranger said. "We had no warning… no defense…" Amiboshi watched as the young man shut his eyes tightly, holding back his tears. Amiboshi came up to the man, and realized he couldn't have been more than two years older than himself. He could see several wounds on him that he hadn't noticed from afar.
"I am a traveler," Amiboshi was surprised by the way he greeted the stranger. He could feel the chi of the little girl waning, and realized that she was still alive. "Get her into a bed! We need some bandages and hot water; she's still alive, but if you don't act quickly, she'll die." The stranger looked at Amiboshi in amazement and hurried to follow him to the nearest cottage. Amiboshi made a little bed out of some spare sheets and helped to make the child comfortable.
"I am Sou Kishuku." The man said as he left Amiboshi and the girl in the cottage while he went out to get water. Amiboshi suddenly felt the urge to kill the child coming from the force that was driving him, but managed to suppress it this once. I never kill! Why can't this demon go away and leave me alone? I know Megumi wouldn't want me to kill this child… What is going on? He looked down at the girl. She was unconscious, but she was regaining feeling in her body, judging by the way her expression changed. She was in pain. I need to help her…
Amiboshi pulled out his flute and played a soft, soothing melody. Now she will forget her pain, at least until we can get her to wake up. He pulled back the bloody cloth around her, and gasped. She had several deep gashes across her chest and stomach. The bleeding had already stopped, thankfully. It was a miracle that she was even alive. She couldn't have been more than six years old. She's tough, but will she be tough enough? She must have a lot of faith to have held on to life this long. Amiboshi ripped up a sheet and made new bandages for the tiny girl. Sou Kishuku came back into the hut carrying a bucket filled with water. He set it down next to the fireplace and started to make a fire.
While they each set about their tasks to save one small life, they talked a little.
"Sou Kishuku." Amiboshi began. "What happened here? Was there an attack?" Sou Kishuku had his back to him, tending the fireplace.
"Kutou finally attacked us. We were hoping that the priestess of Suzaku could save us, but the Kutou were too quick for her. I'm sure she is doing her best… There was no way anyone could have survived… Yuiren here was the only one I managed to save, and I didn't even think I saved her at first." Amiboshi's brain felt jammed.
"Kutou attacked? Why would Kutou attack here?" He couldn't understand what was going on. Sou Kishuku shrugged as he came over to Yuiren with a hot cloth. His hands were very gentle as he tended to the child. Amiboshi found himself wondering whether Yuiren was his daughter or his sister.
"Konan and Kutou are enemies. What other reason is there for killing?" Enemies? Then that means… I've reached Konan! And that's why I'm finally in control again. Sou Kishuku continued his story.
"They had one of the Seiryu celestial warriors with them. He said his name was Miboshi. I tried to fight him, but I ended up having to hurt my own friends, and he got away in the end." Nakago sent Miboshi to murder an entire village of innocent people? Why? Is there something dangerous in this village? Yuiren moved slightly, attracting both men's attention. She opened her eyes and looked up at Sou Kishuku.
"Onichan…" She said softly, "I knew that you would protect me." She smiled. Amiboshi couldn't help but notice how sweet Yuiren was. He wanted to help, but had no real healing powers of his own.
"You should get her to a doctor. The best doctors are in the capitol. She should be okay now. I must be going now." Amiboshi stood up, getting ready to leave. He walked over to the door and reached to pull it open when he heard the man say something.
"Before you leave, you must tell me your name, please." Without turning around, Amiboshi answered.
"I am Amiboshi, one of the Seiryu celestial warriors. We aren't all bad. I've never even met half of them, including this Miboshi, so please don't hate us." He turned to look at Sou Kishuku's expression. He looked confused.
"Why did you tell me that, knowing I would probably want to kill you?" Amiboshi shrugged. He couldn't explain why he had answered like that.
"I know that you have a good heart. I trust you to let me walk away, even when my back is turned and I am unarmed. Goodbye, Sou Kishuku." Amiboshi left the tiny house, a huge weight in his chest. That bastard Nakago! Does he think he'll get away with this? Once he left the village, though, he was no longer in control of his body, forced to obey the will of some unknown force.
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Chichiri was gaining a new respect for people of high office. Their jobs were so boring he wondered why they didn't all jump off a cliff after a few weeks. Chichiri was filling in for Hotohori, and so was taking on the emperor's appearance. I hope he comes back with the other warriors soon, no da, because I don't think I can take much more of this, no da. An attendant entered the room and bowed. Chichiri sighed, but remembered to act the part.
"You may approach us with your news, if it is important." He said, hoping he sounded sufficiently self-important. I even have so forgo my "no da."
"Your Highness." He bowed again. "Kutou has attacked some of the border villages of Konan. The number of casualties cannot be determined, but there are rumors that a Seiryu warrior is among the attackers. His name is Miboshi, and he has steadily been making his way to the capitol. At the rate he is moving, we should expect a visit sometime today."
Chichiri didn't know how to react, and decided no reaction would work best for the position he was filling. A Seiryu warrior is attacking us, no da? Miboshi…
"Thank you for the report. You are dismissed." Chichiri knew he would have to be the one to face the threat. Alone, most likely. Maybe I can catch him outside the capitol and protect the innocent people living here, no da. The royal attendant backed out of the room silently, leaving Chichiri to his thoughts.
I wonder what Miboshi can do, no da. All the Seiryu warriors I have seen so far are very powerful, no da. Amiboshi, Suboshi, Soi, and Nakago, though I never met the general, no da.
"Your Highness." A small voice reached his ears. Chichiri looked down and saw Chiriko bowing before the throne. Chichiri quickly looked around to see that they were alone. He jumped off of the throne and popped back into his true form.
"Chiriko, what is it, no da?" He asked, wondering what Chiriko knew.
"I heard." Chiriko said. "I heard about Miboshi, and I want to fight him. I am a member of the Suzaku seven. Let me do my part." The boy looked up at him, his eyes full of grim determination. Chichiri couldn't tell the boy that he was too young. It would be better to have someone at his side anyway.
"Of course, no da. We'll take the Seiryu warrior down, no da. Though I am a little surprised, no da." Chiriko's eyes asked the question for him. Why?
"The priestess of Seiryu is Yumi's best friend, no da, so I don't believe that she would attack us, no da. But maybe her warriors are not loyal to her like we are to Yumi, no da." Chiriko nodded.
"If the priestess of Seiryu is like Her Eminence, Yumi, then I can't see her getting along with her warriors. I didn't see much of Yumi, but it was obvious that she cares about her warriors." He giggled. "Especially that bandit… Suzaku is the god of love. Seiryu is the god of war and destruction." Suddenly, Chiriko looked around.
"Did you feel that?" He asked. Chichiri nodded, wincing. That hurt, no da! He felt as though he was injured, but the pain was distant, as though it wasn't within his body. Strange. Chiriko was shaking.
"That hurts! What's going on, Chichiri?"
"I don't know, no da…" He thought hard, wondering why both he and Chiriko felt the pain at the same time. Then he remembered that the Suzaku seven were connected. If we are connected, then so are the other members we have found.
"One of the Suzaku seven is dying, no da!!" He said as he realized what was going on. And I can't even do anything to help him, no da! Suddenly, the pain disappeared. Chichiri didn't know how to interpret the change, but he didn't have time to wonder about it. A completely different presence distracted his attention. He transformed back into the emperor's form.
"Chiriko. We must go at once." Chiriko looked questioningly at him, but must have realized he would not get any answers. Chichiri stood up and left the hall. I can't attract too much attention to myself, no da. There is no need for a panic, no da. Chichiri looked back and saw that Chiriko had stopped following him.
"Chiriko? What's wrong?" Chichiri asked the young Suzaku warrior. He didn't answer immediately. Chiriko looked down a side passage.
"Chichiri? I sense something this way…" Chichiri couldn't feel anything odd, but he didn't want to be separated from Chiriko. He went back to the boy and looked down the hallway. It looked basically like any other richly decorated hallway in the palace…
"What's wrong Chiriko?" Then he felt it. "Chiriko, stand back." Two seconds later, a shadow rounded the corner at the end of the hall, and then a creature rushed toward them. He heard Chiriko gasp. What is this thing, no da? He transformed back into his natural form. It's easier for me to fight this way…
Chichiri put one hand up, grasping his staff in the other and concentrated on the destruction of the creature. Almost too easily, it was killed.
"That was just a distraction, no da. We must find the source, before too many show up." Pulling Chiriko along with him, Chichiri ran down the hallway in the direction the monster had emerged from. He passed several other vile creations much like the first, and also the bodies of palace help. He shook his head. Such needless killing; it was the trademark of Kutou.
"Just follow the creatures. They are getting stronger, so I think we'll reach the source soon." Chiriko said breathlessly. Of course I notice they are getting stronger, no da… Abruptly, they came out into the courtyard. Chichiri knew they had reached their goal. He looked around, and saw a small man floating over the pond in the garden. Wait a moment… FLOATING, no da!?
The small man came closer to them, and Chichiri could feel the chi of a Seiryu warrior. He looked to be a monk, judging from the way he was dressed. But he was creepy. Why does he have THREE eyes, no da!?
"Greetings, Suzaku chosen." He said as he approached. "I am Miboshi. I'm afraid I have to tell you that you can never summon Suzaku." Chichiri didn't like the sound of Miboshi's voice.
"Why would that be, no da?" Chichiri said, trying to sense the enemy's strength before he attacked. I need to know both his strength and his weakness before I move…
"If a Suzaku warrior dies, Suzaku will never come. Also, if your priestess is not pure, you cannot summon the god. Whatever you do, one or the other will stop you." He closed his two normal eyes, and the unnatural, red eye on his forehead opened. A strange, spiked instrument in his hand began spinning faster and faster. Chichiri felt a surge of energy, and a monster appeared, much stronger and larger than the previous ones he had to destroy.
"Chichiri, be careful!" Chiriko called to him. "He led us the long way around the palace to try to drain your energy. We must defeat him as quickly as possible, or he will overcome us!" Chiriko ran off to one side. Chichiri hoped he would be okay, but he had to deal with the matter at hand. The monster was approaching him, and Chichiri could sense another one in the making, before he had even begun to deal with the one trying to smash him. Chichiri jumped back. He felt the wind as a powerful claw swiped at his head, missing narrowly. The bulk of the creature blocked Chichiri's view of the courtyard. Before he closed his eyes, Chichiri noticed that monsters seemed to be reptilian, judging from the scaly bodies and spiked tails, along with slits for pupils. He concentrated as hard as he could, and managed to freeze both monsters and Miboshi, including the odd tool he held.
He heard the sound of running feet, and saw several palace helpers running to attack him, armed with kitchen knives. Dirty trick! He can control others too, no da? I can't kill them! Managing to keep the first threat frozen, he used his staff much like a quarterstaff and knocked out the first servant. He had to maneuver around to get next one. THOK. Chichiri winced as the next innocent person went down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chiriko run back, now armed with a bow and arrows in one hand and a short sword in the other. So that's where the little guy went off to, no da. Chichiri finished off the business he was attending to when he saw Chiriko rushing over to Miboshi, sword raised.
"How dare you attack Chichiri!" He cried, ready to kill the Seiryu warrior. Chichiri felt his spell break.
"Chiriko! Get out of there! I can't hold him anymore!" Chichiri was so surprised he even forgot to say "no da." Chiriko ignored him, running to attack the Seiryu warrior. He was already past the creatures Miboshi had summoned when they broke free of the spell, putting them between him and Chiriko. Chichiri knew he would have to keep attacking, or Chiriko would not stand a chance. He directed an attack at the monsters, but they still kept their attention on Chiriko. Chiriko dodged the blows well, but he wouldn't be able to keep up with the ferocity of the attacks. One blow will kill him, no da, either one of them. Chichiri concentrated a huge amount of energy into his next attack. He opened his eye and saw that Chiriko couldn't make it. He was less than a foot from Miboshi, ready to stab the vile being, but Miboshi's creature was in the middle of a swing, about to hit Chiriko. Chichiri couldn't look away, but he didn't want to see Chiriko sliced into pieces.
"MIBOSHI!" He cried, hoping to distract the killer, "This way!" Blue lightning shot from his staff, redirecting the attention of everyone in the courtyard. Except Chiriko. With a triumphant yell, Chiriko managed to get a solid blow into Miboshi, stabbing him in the heart. The Seiryu warrior dropped his spinning toy and grabbed the weapon Chiriko was shoving through his body. How did I do THAT, no da?
"Do you really think… that you have won?" He said, and both the Seiryu warrior and Chiriko fell to the ground now that Miboshi was no longer floating. The monsters disappeared as though they had never existed. But the warrior's chi had not disappeared. Chichiri rushed over to the two. Chiriko sat up, but he didn't look right. His eyes were narrower.
"You haven't won yet, Suzaku fools." Chiriko is speaking with Miboshi's voice, no da? Chiriko reached for the toy Miboshi had dropped. "I can take any body I want, especially children. And now, my body is that of your precious Chiriko. Did you think I would let you kill me that easily, fool?"