Mitsukake quietly reentered the cabin and sat down, careful not to disturb the others. He reached for the bowl Nuriko had used to cook last night's meal and was rewarded when he found that a few pieces of meat were left at the bottom. He set Tama down next to the bowl and watched as the creature licked the bowl clean in record time. Since Tama would survive his injuries, Mitsukake decided to hold off on using his powers to heal him, in case something happened and one of his fellow warriors, or, heaven forbid, Yumi, and they needed immediate attention. As Tama finished his meal, Mitsukake stroked the creature's fur, gently smoothing it out and sweeping away the dirt.
Mitsukake heard a soft sound and looked around, wondering which of his companions was coming awake. He smiled slightly at the priestess, all sprawled out on a cot as though she didn't have a care in the world. He felt an urge to fix the blankets on her, but at the same time, he didn't want to disturb her. Mitsukake couldn't figure out his place with the Suzaku seven, but he knew he belonged with them. Somewhere.
"You're up already?" Tamahome's incredulous, yet sleepy voice mumbled at him. Mitsukake looked over at the young man. He was sitting up and shielding his eyes from the sun, since the glare had intensified as the day began. Something was wrong with Tamahome. Couldn't really figure out what it was, but he didn't seem… right. Banishing the thought from his mind, Mitsukake stroked Tama's fur one final time before getting up to wake the others. Just to be safe, he shook Tamahome a little, since he didn't look completely awake.
"Hey! What was that for?" Tamahome asked, confused, when Mitsukake released his shoulders after a good jostle.
"I'm waking you up." Mitsukake said simply. He ignored the odd look Tamahome shot at him as he moved to wake Nuriko. They need to get up. The sun is already up! Why are they still sleeping? Mitsukake couldn't understand.
"Hey, Nuriko." That was all it took to get Nuriko up and out of bed. He opened one eye and looked at Mitsukake for a moment, then sat up and stretched.
"Wow! It's tomorrow already, but that would make it today, right? What are you doing up already?" Nuriko asked Mitsukake and Tamahome. Mitsukake just shook his head and moved on to wake Hotohori. Hotohori really is too full of himself… I wonder how he got to be like that? But Nuriko reached him first.
"Hotohori-sama! It's time to get up!" In the blink of an eye, Hotohori had woken up and was backing away against the wall, shielding himself with the thin protection his sheet could offer him. Mitsukake could feel his eyes widening in surprise at Hotohori's reaction. While Hotohori was telling off Nuriko for sneaking up on him, Mitsukake could hear Tamahome wake Yumi.
"I told you never to come near me when I was sleeping, didn't I?" Hotohori said sternly, but Nuriko just grinned and began brushing his hair. "Nuriko! Are you listening to me?"
"What was that, Hotohori-sama?" Nuriko said innocently while he expertly braided his waist-length hair. Hotohori clenched his fist but said nothing.
"Where's Tasuki?" Yumi said sleepily before flopping back down on her cot and falling asleep before anyone could answer. Mitsukake was starting to wonder about that himself. Tamahome cleared his throat and tried again.
"Yumi, its time to get up. The quicker we get back to the palace, the sooner you'll see this 'Tasuki' person again, right?" Hearing that, Yumi got up and out of bed so fast that Mitsukake couldn't follow her movement. How she had managed to get dressed, do her hair, and heft her pack over her shoulder all in an instant, Mitsukake would never be able to figure out. Nuriko laughed slightly at her behavior.
"Come on, you guys! We need to get back to the capitol! What are you waiting for?" Yumi strode out of the house and disappeared from view. A minute later, she reappeared while everyone was still staring at one another in disbelief.
"Umm… Where are the horses?" She asked timidly. Mitsukake wondered that he had EVER compared this strange girl to Shoka. Nuriko passed the rest of the group to guide his priestess to where they had hitched the horses the night before. Mitsukake looked back at the remaining two warriors. They shrugged and made as though to get ready to leave. Mitsukake followed Yumi out into the village. He tried not to notice the emptiness of the village as he strode into the clearing at the edge of town.
Yumi had frozen, looking where the horses had been tethered. Mitsukake looked blankly at two figures standing by their horses. Mitsukake could recognize one of them by his fiery orange hair, but the other…
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Yumi could have jumped for joy. After all this time, Tasuki had finally come back. She didn't know who that other person was, but it was probably someone Tasuki knew, even though he looked a bit… fruity. I hope he didn't hang out with him too much. She stepped forward and dropped her pack, running forward and flinging herself against Tasuki's chest, hugging him tightly. It had only been a few days, but it had seemed like an eternity. She hadn't known that it would hurt so much to have him gone. Tasuki's arms enfolded her as well, and she smiled softly.
"Tasuki, I'm so glad you're finally back." Yumi said, her voice muffled in his coat. It was a different coat than what he normally wore, but he had probably changed at Mt. Reikaku. She could see the pink necklace around his neck. At least he hadn't lost THAT.
"Hey… Tomo? This girl is the Priestess of Suzaku, right?" She heard that voice, and instantly tried to pull away, but strong arms held her tightly in place, crushing her against the Tasuki's chest. That wasn't Tasuki's voice. His voice was fiery and spirited; this one was cold and distant, dead.
"You are correct Ashitare, that is indeed the priestess." Came the fruity man's voice. Yumi turned her head to get a better view of the stranger. The man, Tomo, was wearing an elaborate costume and headdress with feathers trailing down both sides. His face was covered in heavy makeup; black, gold, white and blue. He smiled at her maliciously, making her shiver. She could feel Tasuki rummaging around in his sleeve before she felt cold steel on the back of her neck. She stiffened, and looked up. Tasuki, or, whoever he was, grinned down at her, exposing the fangs she loved so much. She stood riveted, watching his piercing brown eyes that no longer held the fire and warmth of the one she loved.
"What's going on? Tasuki?" Yumi whispered. The man grinned down at her again before she felt the dagger slide down across her back, slicing into her skin. That was when she screamed. The weapon moved slowly down her back, slashing a thin wound down her spine, not deep enough to damage her nervous system. Yumi tried frantically to get away, pushing and shoving, but Tasuki was too strong and he easily held her in place. She ceased screaming and whimpered, going limp from shock. Yumi felt herself being turned around to face her warriors. The dagger, covered in her blood, was now placed at her throat.
"If this is the priestess, then these must be her warriors. Do you want me to kill them as well, Tomo?" Tasuki said hollowly, with just a trace of cruelty in his voice. The man nodded, and though she was still stunned, Yumi noticed the faintly glowing symbol on his back. Tomo, the Seiryu celestial warrior Tomo. She looked down at the man's arms around her waist, holding her easily against him. It… it was Tasuki, but it wasn't. Tasuki would never act like this. He loved her, she knew that.
She could faintly see Hotohori and Nuriko, followed by Tamahome and Mitsukake, all running towards her. They stopped when Tasuki pressed the dagger to her throat. Hotohori had a hand on his sword, and Nuriko's fists were balled, shaking angrily. They didn't know what to do.
A small blue symbol shone on Tasuki's wrist. It was the symbol for Ashitare. She wouldn't believe it. She refused to believe it. If… if this was happening, did Megumi know about it? She couldn't. She wouldn't do something like this to her.
"Tasuki… can you hear me, Tasuki?" She whispered softly, barely audible, though she could tell he was listening. "Why are you doing this, Tasuki?" There was no response from Tasuki, except for a slight increase in the pressure of the dagger at Yumi's throat, causing her to cease in her attempts to communicate. Yumi stared listlessly ahead, wishing she could wake from this nightmare, when she saw Nuriko step forward.
"You jerk! Who do you think you are? Why are you doing this to Yumi? WHAT ARE YOU!?" Nuriko screamed at his fellow warrior. He looked angry, and the bracelets Taiitsukun had given him were glowing brightly, as was the symbol on his chest. There was no red symbol on Tasuki's arm, although the bandit was preparing to fight.
"Here, Tomo. You take the girl; she's getting my coat bloody. I'll kill that warrior there. This shouldn't take long." Yumi was traded hands like a sack of flour, as though of no more important. She could hear Tomo cackling in a strange manner behind her. Her view of Tasuki's back blurred with tears as he drew a sword. But he still had his harisen strapped to his back.
"Priestess of Suzaku… you had better give up on that man now. Nakago has given him almost enough kodoku to kill him. He is completely under our control now. Nothing, not even the fabled powers of Mitsukake, can break it. You might as well give in, for you are going to die soon anyway." The words had hardly registered in her brain before she felt a sharp pain in her neck and she blacked out, the scene of Tasuki striding to meet Nuriko in battle imprinted in her mind.
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Nuriko stared at the man across from him, a fellow comrade. Tasuki grinned in an almost feral manner, his fangs seeming much more menacing than they once had. Hotohori made to assist him, but Nuriko held up a hand.
"Stop right there, Hotohori-sama. I am going to fight Tasuki. This is my fight." Nuriko was surprised that the emperor pulled back, but it took the added insistence of Mitsukake.
"Going to take me all alone, Nuriko? Can you handle this as a woman?" Tasuki said, looking at the man's feminine choice of clothing, even though it technically was men's clothes. Nuriko struck a fighting pose, his eyebrows lowered in rage. He didn't think he had ever been so angry since Korin had died.
"I'll handle this as a man. How dare you do that to Yumi? How DARE you!" Nuriko screamed at the passive man standing before him. He could still see Yumi's jewel around Tasuki's neck. From the corner of his eye, Nuriko saw that Yumi had fainted, or lost consciousness. Nuriko saw the other man, Tomo, standing over her self-importantly, cackling insanely.
Making full use of his demonic speed, Tasuki appeared in front of Nuriko, sword already raised. Nuriko was caught off guard by the sudden movement and barely had enough time to clap the blade between his hands, wrenching it to the side. He tried in vain to break the blade that was slicing his hands.
"Aren't you going to beat me, Nuriko? Or am I going to have to go through you Suzaku warriors one by one? First you, then the emperor, the healer, and then the flutist. Come on… why are you doing this anyway? Do you love Yumi?" Nuriko couldn't break the sword, so he flung it wide to create a weakness in Tasuki's defenses. He barely noticed his armlets turning into bracers and new strength pouring through his body.
Somehow, Tasuki jumped back at the last moment to avoid Nuriko's punch. He pulled his sword closer, licking a bit of blood from the blade. Nuriko held his ground. Tasuki was just trying to bait him.
"So what do you say Nuriko? Are you in love with her? Is that why you're all manly now?" Tasuki taunted, circling Nuriko like a wolf cornering its prey. Nuriko ground his teeth, before he reached to grab one of Tasuki's arms.
"How can you say that to me, you ass?! How can you talk to me about love when she loves you so much?" Nuriko screamed, barely noticing the fact that it had begun to rain. He squeezed the arm he had caught, Tasuki's left, and swung with all his might, bringing his body behind the bandit's. Nuriko had caught Tasuki, pinning his left arm behind him. He heard a sickening pop as Tasuki's shoulder dislocated. No, Nuriko did not love Yumi. Well, not as a man loves a woman, but as a little sister. He would not have Korin die again.
Tasuki panted briefly, and plunged his sword into the earth with his good hand. He whirled about and Tasuki's hand shot behind Nuriko's head to swing him back in the opposite direction. Nuriko fought for his balance as he stumbled in front of Tasuki, while, as quickly as lightning, the bandit grabbed his word and swung it one movement. Nuriko had just barely regained his balance when Tasuki completed his first movement. Nuriko tried to take advantage of the brief respite by stepping back, but the bandit reversed directions, slicing cleanly across Nuriko's chest.
Nuriko tripped backwards, a hand coming to his chest, feeling the blood already beginning to mingle with the rain. Tasuki grinned at him and stuck his sword in the earth again. He gripped his left shoulder and calmly popped it back into place. Under what would usually make a man grimace or cry out in pain Tasuki only smiled menacingly. Nuriko backed away slightly, panting. How could he defeat the monster that Tasuki had become?
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Hotohori would have intervened long before, if not for the light in Nuriko's eyes. The emperor knew what the fire in Nuriko's eyes had meant. Nuriko was willing to die, willing to sacrifice his life for something. When someone was in that state, there was nothing anybody else could do about it. Hotohori knew that he would have to intervene soon or one of them, either Nuriko or Tasuki, would die. He clutched the sword given to him by the lord of Heaven, wishing passionately that there were something he could do. If he tried to step in now, he might distract Nuriko, and a mistake would be fatal. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Mitsukake, stoic and stern, and on the other side of him was Tamahome, watching in horror.
He looked at Tamahome twice. For some reason, he thought he had just seen someone else standing there. The person he had seen briefly was a little younger than he usually appeared. His hair was lighter and his eyes were blue, not dark. Hotohori blinked, but everything was back to normal. Must have been stress and the rain.
He turned to the battle again, brow furrowed. Nuriko was holding his own, but he didn't know how long the man could hold out with that wound under Tasuki's assault. He knew he had to do something, and they had to get out of there fast. He knew what he had to do.
The emperor of Konan reached out his chi towards the warrior in Konan who was assuming his form at the moment. Chichiri... we need your help now… please… help us… He prayed. He could feel a bit of power escape from him, and he thought it worked. Now he had to get Yumi away from… that man.
He knew that he was too conspicuous now. Tomo was watching him after feeling the brief flare of power. Hotohori looked at Tamahome and whispered the plan to him before the younger man nodded and slipped off.
The emperor watched as Tamahome crept into the shadows of the rain and houses, returning his gaze to the battle in time to see Nuriko get the wind knocked out of him as Tasuki jammed the hilt of his sword against Nuriko's wounded chest. Nuriko staggered back, returning to his fighting stance. Bruises covered his entire body and his clothing was torn, blood staining him from several different wounds. He wouldn't last much longer. It looked at though Tasuki hadn't been hit at all.
"WHY WON'T YOU DIE, DAMN YOU?!!" Tasuki screamed, losing his composure and renewing the ferocity of his attacks. That was when Hotohori felt the familiar chi of his fellow warrior. Chichiri's hat floated several inches above his head, before his mirror image popped out of the hat.
"That was hard, no da! You got me out of a meeting!" Chichiri resumed his normal form and took in the scene quietly. "This is very bad, no da…"
Upon seeing Chichiri, Tamahome took his chance and dashed forward, scooping up the unconscious priestess and running towards them. Chichiri spread his cloth on the ground quickly and Tamahome and Yumi disappeared into it. Mitsukake followed and Hotohori waited until Nuriko had stumbled back into it before he followed, letting Chichiri close the portal on the man they once knew as Tasuki.