"Yumi! Damn it, Yumi answer me!" Tasuki called, looked around the long corridor he was standing in. There was no answer, only the slight echoes of his voice traveling back to him. The hallway stretched forward for what seemed like an eternity, on and on. He knew what he had to do, though. He had to find Yumi. With measured steps he strode down the hallway, looking for a door of any kind. The walls were richly decorated, gilded with gold, with delicate vases on stands every now and then, but he didn't care about that. Appearances weren't all what they were cracked up to be.

He strode on for a long, immeasurable amount of time. The only thing he could note was his boots clicking on the polished marble floor. Suddenly there was a large archway on his right, decorated with a trailing sapphire dragon on the edge of the frame. He paused and ducked his head in, looking in on what seemed to be a shrine. There was a young woman sitting on a white slab bench, staring into the small crystalline pool before her. A huge, looming statue of a dragon crowned the back of the room, directly in front of him. Small pools of water and waterfalls lined each wall, making soft, lilting noises as they rippled around set stones.

The girl looked at him sadly through dull brown eyes. That wasn't Yumi. He didn't know who it was, but it wasn't her. She had thin brown hair, dressed in rich court attire and she looked very lost. He didn't speak at all, and was about to leave when she stood up.

"Ashitare?" She said in a whisper, cocking her head. He shook his head vehemently. That was not his name. The girl sighed softly and blinked. "Who are you?" He didn't answer. The girl turned around for a moment before looking back at him and seeming to search his eyes for something. "I'm looking for my warriors…" She said, as if that would somehow interest him. She blinked again and then once more.

"She's that way, behind the statue… you'll find her in that room…" The girl said, her voice still hardly audible. She raised an arm in what seemed like slow motion, as though it were hard for her to move, and pointed limply to the huge dragon statue. He strode towards it and looked up from where it leered down at him, menacing and dark, but he wasn't afraid. He ducked behind it and was surprised to see another arch. He didn't hear the girl's last word, barely whispered at his back. "… Ashitare…"

This arch had a fluttering ruby phoenix over the arch, though it was tarnished and scratched. He paid no heed to it and looked around the new room he found himself in. This room was the opposite of the other, barren and quiet, devoid of all sound but someone crying softly. He stepped forward and saw a figure huddled in the corner of the room, her clothes ripped and dirty.

"Yumi?" He spoke for the second time, bending down to put a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened and pulled away without looking at him. "Yumi, it's me…" She slowly peeked out from under a torn sleeve and her blue eyes widened in horror and revulsion. "… Ashitare…"

She screamed when he unsheathed a sword in a fluid movement, but her cry died abruptly in her throat when he thrust the blade through her chest, watching silently as her blood coated the silver metal. The priestess of Suzaku fell slowly, her eyes glazing over before she ever hit the floor. Even so, her lifeless stare accused him. He was the Seiryu celestial warrior, Ashitare. Konan and the priestess of Suzaku is my enemy...

Tasuki awoke with a jolt, biting back a yell and twisting the sheets in his hands. He was covered in a cold sweat from head to toe, panting heavily. I killed her! I killed Yumi! It took him a few moments to calm down fully, breathing deeply. No, it was just a dream, just a dream.

His brain didn't register the faint sunlight coming in through the window until Chiriko knocked softly on his door before entering, smiling.

"Tasuki? Chichiri, Hotohori and me are ready to leave. We'll wait outside." He said before walking out as briskly as he had come. As Tasuki pulled on his clothes, ready to rescue Yumi from those Seiryu bastards, he desperately hoped that the dream was not a portent of things to come…

-------

"You know that only a virgin can summon the god-beast, Priestess of Suzaku."

Nakago sat down comfortably on the edge of his bed and studied the girl he had captured, laughing inwardly at her pathetic attempt to escape from him. He slowly doffed his shirt and removed his boots. He smiled. This may be fun, even. He knew he would enjoy breaking the girl's sprit before breaking her body. While it was true that the priestess of Suzaku was pretty, she was still just a girl. Unlike his usual bed partner, Soi, Yumi was small and petite, almost fragile. It looked as though he could break her body with one hand. Nakago strode over to where she had fallen and kneeled. Her eyes blazed a bright blue color, giving away her fear. Nakago laughed at her as she lay frozen on the floor. Manipulating chi into a controlling force really was a useful trick.

"You can't move, can you?" He crooned, delighted by her helplessness, and reached forward to stroke her face, instilling yet more fear into the girl. Yumi's shoulders shook, but otherwise, she couldn't move. Nakago almost sighed. It will be too easy… His logic was simple, yet pure genius. He couldn't kill the girl because then his own priestess would leave his grasp forever. But he couldn't let Yumi summon Suzaku either. The priestess could not be allowed to summon the god, and thus could not remain a virgin. But none of her people would do the honor, so…

"Stop…" Yumi whimpered when he grabbed hold of the girl's wrist. Does she think mere words can stop me? Nakago pulled Yumi into a standing position and shoved her over to his bed. Her steps were awkward and faltered slightly, but she was not allowed to resist. He tried to imagine how she felt. She could watch, but no opposition was allowed. His mouth curved into a slight smile. When he had satisfactorily arranged her on the soft, blue silk, Nakago decided to have a little fun. In a fight, you need to know your opponent. You need to know how he will react to certain tactics. It was the same when making love. He needed to know what his partner would do when he touched her in certain ways and said certain things…

He grabbed both of Yumi's wrists and held her legs down with his knees. Suddenly, Yumi was able to move again, slightly. She must have panicked and somehow gained more strength. Stupid girl. I wonder if she thinks she can overpower me? I must have been careless. Despite her struggling, Nakago roughly held Yumi down and managed to pull her mouth into a violent kiss. What will you do now, priestess? For a moment, the girl was so surprised that she stopped struggling; she didn't even respond. She just lay motionless with him on top of her, eyes widening in surprise until she came to her senses. Nakago felt a sharp pain in his mouth as she bit his lip, but he was ready with a counterattack of his own. All in good time.

"What do you think you're doing?" She protested loudly, her screams causing Nakago to flinch slightly. "Get off! Don't touch me! Tasuki!!! Help me!"

"Come on, sweetie, you know you like it. How is this?" He asked softly, licking blood from his lower lip as he slipped his right hand up under her skirt, exploring between her legs.

"Stop! Please stop!" She screamed, slapping his face with all the strength her little body could muster. He hardly even felt it. With her other hand the girl tried to push away his offending touch.

"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" He taunted. "I can see why that warrior of yours likes you… what was his name again? Oh, yeah, Tasuki. But he won't be coming to save you…" He smiled cruelly at her, trapped beneath him. Nakago began to wonder why it was so easy to take the priestess. Shouldn't she be able to protect her right to summon the god better than this? He turned his attention to the girl's clothing. The buttons were easy enough to undo, but he was glad he had warded the room so that none of the racket the priestess was making could be heard outside.

"Get away from me! What have I done to deserve this? Tasuki, help me!" She screamed and struggled a while more. However, she must have run out of strength, for suddenly it became much easier to play with her. He poked, prodded and stroked her in different ways and places, testing to see if she really had given up. She just sobbed and stared up him, having realized finally that no help was coming and he wasn't going to stop until he had fulfilled his objective.

"That's better. I don't prefer to take young girls, but the look on Tasuki's face when he finds out how I used you will be priceless." She whimpered at this remark. By now he had managed to discard both her skirt and shirt. She looked up at him in fear, unable to move. However, when he reached beneath her to undo the last article of clothing, Yumi managed to dig her fingernails into his bare shoulder, and even as he hesitated, she clawed him more viciously. Nakago could feel warm blood spreading from the wound. She was starting to cause him considerable annoyance. He grabbed her wrist and pressed it against the pillow, and lowered his face to within an inch of hers. She shut her eyes tightly and tried to shy away. He ignored the hot tears streaking her cheeks.

"I told you not to struggle, stupid girl… You're starting to annoy me. I think I've had enough fun." He brought his left hand to her throat and pressed hard. He watched silently as Yumi gasped, but in the next moment her eyes had closed and she lay limply in his arms.

"Now we finish this…"

------

Chiriko blinked, puzzled. His fellow celestial warriors, Tasuki, Chichiri, and Hotohori were looking around in a confused manner. They had finally reached Kutou, yet somehow it felt a little strange, like they had gotten in too easily. But he must have just been mistaken, because Tasuki was already clambering over one of the walls that stood around the capitol. He must want to rescue the priestess very badly, Chiriko thought.

Hotohori was following just as quickly. Chiriko knew that most of the warriors thought he was just a little kid, but he understood what was going on between the bandit and the emperor. Both of them loved Yumi very much. He had to admit that he was rooting for Tasuki though. He looked up to the loud-mouthed bandit. Without his above average intelligence, he was virtually useless, especially in a fight.

"Come on, no da! The others might leave us behind, no da!" Chichiri said, offering his hand. Chiriko took it quickly. He didn't want to be left behind. He wanted to be useful. In a flash, Chichiri had transported them over the wall, just behind Tasuki and Hotohori. The bandit had his arms crossed over his chest in an irritable manner while the emperor was looking from right to left.

"The palace is that way, no da." Chichiri offered, pointing to the left. Tasuki grinned as he made his way in the direction Chichiri pointed, while Hotohori nodded. Chiriko tugged on the cloth Chichiri had slung across his other clothing. The monk looked down questioningly, his mask making his face look comical. Chiriko knew better than to believe it was his real face.

"Chichiri? How do you know the layout of Kutou's capitol so well?" He asked. He knew it as well, after studying several maps back at the Konan palace. Chichiri smiled and patted him on the head affectionately.

"I came here with Nuriko and Yumi before, no da. We came to deliver a few things to the priestess of Seiryu." They were still walking, trailing a little ways behind the two eager men in front. Thankfully they hadn't been noticed too much, and they hadn't run into any guards.

"Is Seiryu's priestess nice? I know she and our priestess are friends, but isn't she the one controlling her warriors? They've tried to kill us." Chiriko pointed out. Chichiri nodded and shrugged.

"Most of that is Nakago's doing. He has a great deal of talent in many areas, including manipulation. I believe the priestess of Seiryu is unaware of the things happening around her. Nakago probably tells her only what he thinks she needs to know." Chichiri explained.

"Oh…" Chiriko lapsed into silence as they made their way towards the center of the capitol where the palace was. That was when Chiriko thought he heard something. It sounded like ceremonial gongs, such as those sounded in parades and public events.

"Yo, Chichiri! What tha hell is that infernal sound fer?" Tasuki called back at them. Hotohori stopped walking suddenly, his face drained of color. Tasuki waved a hand in front of the man's face.

"Hey, Hotohori? Yer spacing out here!" People were beginning to head towards the direction of the palace. Chiriko ran forward, tugging on the emperor's sleeve as fright gripped him.

"Your Highness! What do we use gongs for in Konan?" Chiriko thought he knew, and he desperately hoped he was wrong. The emperor looked down, his fists clenching.

"We use them for only three things… parades, imperial proclamations… and… and…" Chiriko finished for him, wide-eyed.

"Public executions…?" Tasuki's jaw dropped, a look of utter disbelief written on his face. He gripped his harisen tightly, making his knuckles whiten.

"Those bastards! They wouldn't! They wouldn't dare!" He cried vehemently, but Hotohori bit his bottom lip, and Chiriko knew what he was thinking. They would.

"We need to get to the palace square, no da!" Chichiri exclaimed. Hotohori and Chiriko nodded.

"Holy shit…" Tasuki murmured, a look of pain in his eyes before he turned around and raced off, pushing through the crowd of Kutou natives, muttering a stream of obscenities. Hotohori followed in his wake, and Chiriko gripped the back of Chichiri's clothing as they too pushed their way through the crowd.