After a retelling of the tale of her journey to the Stronghold on Reikaku-zan, Keiko, Chichiri, and Liang settled down to sleep. Despite much protesting, Keiko ended up in the middle of the huddle. She adamantly insisted that Chichiri should be in the middle, receiving warmth from both sides, but the men won out.
"If you get worse I shall be most upset," Keiko warned the blue-haired seishi.
"Hai, hai, na no da," he responded with a grin.
Keiko lay in the dark, in a cocoon of warmth and listened as the man on either side of her fell asleep. Their gentle breathing eventually lulled her to sleep too.
She was soaked. Her silk of her gown clung to her body and her violet hair obscured her vision with long wet strands. She had gone down to the river. They had had a place there, where they would go with each other, and separately, when they needed peace. Something now told her that that was where she'd find Hikou and Houjun.
She slipped and fell with a cry as a portion of the bank gave way next to her. Another small cry escaped her as the comb that Hikou had given her clattered across the ground and then fell over the bank into the swollen river. She put a hand to her breast, a small thrill going through her as her fingers curled around the comb that Houjun had given to her.
Suzaku keep them safe, she prayed, feeling a shadow of impending doom fall over her.
She staggered to her feet again, heedless of the mud and river weeds that clung to her dress. Lightning lit the sky with a spectacularly huge bolt and the thunder that followed drown out all other sounds. In the next flash of light she saw them. They stood at the edge of the river, Hikou holding Houjun's arms. She missed the silver glint in her beloved's hand.
They're alright, she thought, happiness filling her heart. Then she heard Houjun's anguished cry above the roar of the river.
"Why Hikou? WHY?!"
She knew in her heart that she was the cause of the strife between the two men. She could never take back the words that she had said to Houjun, and she would never be happy with Hikou. If she were no longer in the picture, then the man she loved and his best friend could reconcile and everything would be right again.
As she watched the ground give way underneath Hikou and Houjun dive for his friend's hand. She began moving toward them. With her help Houjun could pull Hikou from the river, and then she could quietly drift out of their lives. The ground beneath her feet shifted and groaned. In a moment of panic, she called to him.
"Houjun!"
He turned to look at her and smiled, unaware of her peril. Then he turned back to Hikou, determined to save his friend. He didn't see the ground give way beneath her. He didn't hear her scream above the crashing thunder as she fell into the river, and she never saw the log that claimed his eye.
Cold water closed over her head and her body was flung against rocks as she was carried downstream. She struggled against the current, her head breaking the surface so she could catch a breath before being dragged under again. Finally, mercifully, she fell into unconsciousness before death claimed her.
Keiko gasped, relief filling her as her lungs took in air instead of water. Hot tears began coursing down her cheeks. Why was this dream still plaguing her? Why did she have to keep reliving the death of a girl she didn't know? Something brushed her cheek and she opened her eyes to find herself almost nose to nose with Chichiri.
"Are you alright?" he asked, brushing another tear from her cheek.
"I will be," Keiko answered, attempting to get herself under control.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Keiko shook her head as fresh tears began to fall. To her surprise, Chichiri put his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Just sleep now," he said quietly. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
With a muffled sob Keiko buried her face in his chest and cried. It felt right to be held by him. Somehow familiar and welcome. Gradually she relaxed and fell into sleep again. Muted sunlight woke her later. She found Liang gone and Chichiri still sleeping at her side. The pale light filtering in through the various cracks in the walls and ceiling told her that it was past time that Chichiri was usually up and saying his morning prayers. She put a hand to his forehead and groaned. He was warm to the touch, and his breathing was slightly ragged.
"Baka," she said softly. "I told you not to get sick again."
Keiko rose and pulled on a robe to ward off the chill of the small room. She tucked the blankets tight around Chichiri, lingering for a moment to brush the bangs from his forehead, and then moved to the door. When she opened the door of the shrine she was greeted by a blast of cold air and a scene of white outside. The large band of men who had been gathered around the shrine since the captives' arrival had become a group of six men. They were huddled around a small smokeless fire over which a small kettle warmed.
"Where is Liang?" Keiko called, catching the men's attention.
The bandit leader stood and brought her a bowl of steaming food.
"The healer is at a nearby village getting supplies with some of my men. He said that the Suzaku warrior had started to wheeze last night and he was worried about not having all the medicines he needed."
"I'll do what I can for him until Liang returns," Keiko said, taking the food and moving back into the shrine.
She walked back to the mound of blankets and got back in under their warmth. She tried to wake Chichiri, offering him some of the food that Cho-Yen had given her. The warrior groaned and rolled away from her. Keiko sighed and ate quickly, then snuggled back into the warmth of the blankets. She moved so that Chichiri's back was against her, wrapping her arms around him and offering him what warmth she could. Keiko wasn't aware of falling asleep, but when she opened her eyes next, Liang was in the room. The tall doctor was leaning over Chichiri and urging the other man to drink.
"How is he doing?" Keiko asked, sitting up.
Liang shook his head. "His fever is getting worse and he won't drink."
"Kouran," Chichiri moaned.
Keiko and Liang looked at each other.
"Maybe you should try," the healer said, offering her the cup.
Keiko gave a minute shake of her head. "I'm not Kouran."
"We're trying to keep him alive right now," the healer said. "If that means pretending you're Kouran, then I'm willing to do it."
Liang could see the internal battle she fought before she took the cup from him.
"Please drink, Chichiri," she said.
The delirious seishi turned to the sound of her voice and drank the water she offered. Liang began to mix herbs with a bit of water and proceeded to mash them. He pulled Chichiri's robe open, revealing a thin, sunken chest.
"Kuso," the healer swore.
"I thought he was getting better," Keiko said. "He's been eating. His bowl is always empty."
"It's possible that he's been using his powers to make it look like he was getting better. He probably didn't want us to worry."
Tears fell down Keiko's cheeks as she helped Liang spread the herbal mixture over Chichiri's chest. When they had the seishi bundled up in the blankets again, Liang stepped outside to brew some tea.
"Why won't you take care of yourself?" Keiko whispered as she sat near Chichiri.
"Kouran?" came the feeble call.
Keiko laid her head down on Chichiri's shoulder and let her tears fall.
"Kouran janai," she whispered.
Chichiri's hand came up and rested on her head, and a small smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
"Chen and Li have gone back to the palace to get reinforcements," Liang said later that day. "They said they'd get here as soon as they can, but it might take a few days."
"Chichiri may not have a few days," Keiko said.
"I realize that, but the snow will make travel up to this place hard. Especially with a large group of men."
Keiko turned her gaze to the sleeping form under the blankets.
"We'll just have to keep a close watch on him until then, I guess."
Liang sighed and gave her a weary smile and a nod. Keiko spent the rest of the day watching Chichiri. She would mop sweat from his brow and tried to get him to drink. Sometimes he would and sometimes he wouldn't. His sleep seemed disturbed by dreams of the flood that Liang had told her about. He would call out for Kouran and Hikou by turns, and at one point it seemed that he was holding a conversation with someone.
Liang brought her a bowl of food near sunset and told her to get some sleep. She ate automatically, not tasting the food, and handed the empty bowl back to the healer. Then she lay down under the blankets. For a long time she watched Chichiri. His brow was furrowed, as if his dreams were not pleasant, and his breaths came is short, rapid gasps. A tear traced a hot path down Keiko's cheek and she turned away.
Please Suzaku, she prayed. Please let Tasuki get here soon.
"Chichiri!"
Keiko's scream tore through the night.
"What is it?" Liang demanded, jarred out of sleep. "What's wrong."
There was no answer, just the sound of movement in the darkness.
"Keiko, tell me what happened!" Liang shouted.
Sudden light filled the small room as the doors burst open revealing Cho-Yen and his men.
"What's all the ruckus?" the bandit leader asked.
The bandits moved into the room, torches held high. In the light of the torches, all eyes focused on Keiko who was bent over Chichiri's still form. Her lips were sealed over his and after a moment she moved her hands to his chest and began a rhythmic pumping action.
"Keiko, what's wrong?" Liang asked.
"He's not breathing, and his heart's stopped," she said, tears streaming down her face.
Liang's eyes went wide. "He's dead then. Leave him be."
Keiko shook her head as she leaned down to breathe into Chichir's mouth again.
"We've worked so hard to keep him alive," she said as she began to pump his chest again. "I don't want to lose him now!"
Liang grabbed her and held her as she fought to get back to Chichiri.
"Let him go!" the healer shouted. "He's gone."
"No!" she screamed. "Houjun, don't leave me!"
In the stillness that followed her desperate cry, there was a soft gasp and Chichiri's chest lifted as he took a breath. And then another. Keiko turned in Liang's arms and wept into his chest. A sudden shout from outside the small shrine sent Cho-Yen and his men back out into the night. Dozens of torches burst into flame, lighting the small clearing and revealing thirty of the emperor's best soldiers led by a red-haired figure.
"Get those men!" the captain of the soldiers yelled.
"I'll find Chichiri!" Tasuki called.
"They're in the shrine!" Li and Chen shouted in tandem.
Dozens of men in the armor of the Konan army filled the clearing, surrounding the bandits, who surrendered without a fight. Tasuki strode into the shrine followed by Chen and Li. His amber gaze took in Keiko huddled near Chichiri's still form. The fiery-haired seishi knelt at Chichiri's side and felt for a pulse.
"He's alive," Tasuki whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought for a moment, that he... his life force..." The ex-bandit took a steadying breath. "Bring up that sleigh!"
Chen and Li helped Keiko to her feet and draped a heavy fur-lined robe around her shoulders.
"It's alright now," Li said. "We'll get you back to the palace and everything will be okay."
"Where's Liang?" Keiko asked.
The two bandits looked at each other.
"There was no one else here," Li said.
"Just you and Chichiri," Chen agreed.
Keiko nodded distractedly and moved to stand next to Tasuki.
"He's alive?" she asked.
The fanged warrior looked down at her with a gentle smile.
"Barely, but yes. We brought Han-sensei and Chichiri'll get the best medical attention when we get back to the palace."
"He's alive," Keiko whispered.
She swayed on her feet and her vision blacked out. Tasuki caught her as her legs buckled. He nodded to Chen and Li.
"You two get these scum rounded up. I'm starting back with Chichiri and Keiko."
The two men nodded and took charge. Tasuki carried Keiko to the carriage that had been converted to a sleigh and set her next to him on a seat. Chichiri was laid out on the other seat with the healer leaning over him.
"He's in a bad way," the elderly man said.
"I know you'll keep him alive Han-sensei," Tasuki said.
The elderly healer nodded. "Things will be better once we get him back to the palace. What about the girl?"
Tasuki looked down at Keiko. "She's just tired."
Opaaru Tsuki: Thanks for the review. You may hate me before this is ended tho. (sweatdrop)
Thanks also to chichiri-4-ever, Ashie-kun, and KittyLynne. You guys seem to be my biggest 'fans' on this story. Sorry bout all the cliffies Ashie-kun. I really don't like to torture you, I just seem to always be ending in a bad spot. And sorry bout the short chapters. They won't be getting much longer.... (grin)
