Disclaimer: Kohana, Piaoliang Feng, Shen Yuan, Nanase, An Hua, Ayame and Ruri are my characters. I suppose that's it.
Red Wings of Fate
Chapter 8: Origins Realized
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
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"Say it!"
"No!"
"Come on! Say it!"
"No!"
"But it's true!"
"I'm not gonna say it!"
"Please?! I'll stop bugging you!"
"Fine!" Piaoliang threw her hands up in exasperation. "You were right. Happy?"
"Very." Kohana smiled smugly. "I told you Shen loved you. I don't get why you wouldn't believe me."
"Can we leave this subject alone now? I'm engaged to him now, you can drop it!" Piaoliang set a full bucket of water down on the ground.
"But it's so much fun bugging you!" Kohana giggled as she filled up the other bucket at the river.
"Are all girls from your world like you?"
"Not most. I'm special."
"Seems like a good thing to me."
"Oh! Piao, you wound me!" Kohana placed her hand over her heart and threw her head back.
Piaoliang laughed. "You are so strange."
"And so proud of it."
The two girls picked up the bucket and started walking back Piao's village.
"So, how are things with you and his highness?" Piao asked slyly.
"Huh?" Kohana turned red.
"Come on now, moonlight strolls…"
"I have trouble sleeping here!"
"Stolen kisses…"
"I…he…"
"Watching each other from across the table…"
"I happen to sit across from him during dinner! I can't help but look at him when I look up!"
"Uh huh…" Piaoliang rolled her eyes. "I'm sure that's all it is."
"Not another word or this bucket will be on your head." Kohana raised the bucket to eye level.
"Who said this one wouldn't?" The formerly shy maid brandished her own bucket at the priestess.
"Is that a challenge?"
Piaoliang shrugged and continued walking.
"You…" Kohana smiled. "So how much farther do we have to go to get through the woods or whatever?"
"Well, we'll hit the entrance to the forest almost as soon as we leave the village…from there you have to follow some pretty weird directions. Definitely nothing someone unfamiliar with the land could come up with."
"Are the woods like haunted or something?"
"Some people think they are. Not me though. I grew up in there. I know every little thing about it."
"I think I would have liked to grow up around here…"
"Really?"
"Yeah. There's something about this place that I just like."
"Personally I couldn't wait to get out…I wanted to see the city."
"I grew up in the city…not the same as a city here of course…" Kohana sighed, thinking about home again.
"You'll be home soon. Legends say that the great Oracle was able to help a priestess get home about 50 years ago. I'm sure she can help you."
"She's already helped a lot…" Kohana whispered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" She mentally slapped herself. She still wasn't sure about whether or not she should tell the seishi about her history with the book or ask Tai Itsukun what to do when she saw her.
"Okay." They reentered town and headed back to Piaoliang's house. They handed over the water to Piao's mother and she went to begin dinner.
While the others talked Piaoliang excused herself to take a walk around the village. It was very quiet, nothing like the capital. Though she understood Piao's desire to live a bigger life, she sometimes wished for a smaller life.
In one corner of town, a large tree, probably a good century or so old, grew. Limbs stuck out from almost every angle, making it perfect for climbing. She climbed up to a pretty high limb and dangled her legs off the branch. After a quiet moment, she heard footsteps below her. She looked down, thinking it was Hotohori, but instead found Tamahome. He was holding something in his hand.
"Hey. Gotta sec?"
"Do I have to come down? I'm really comfortable up here."
"Nah. You can stay there. I just wanted to give you something."
"What?" She cocked her head to one side.
He tossed something up to her. She barely caught it. It was a small fabric pouch with ties. She pulled them open and upended it. Her gold earrings fell into her hand. "Hey…what are you giving me these back for?"
"I don't want 'em anymore."
"But I gave them to you for protecting me."
"I uh…look, just take 'em okay? They should be yours."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah."
"Well…thanks…" She put the earrings back in the bag and shoved them into a pocket.
"Sure. Anything you want." She arched on eyebrow as he walked away.
'What was that all about? He hasn't really been nice to me before…so why now?' A sudden realization hit her. 'Suzaku, please don't tell me he likes me, or worse, loves me! Damn those love triangles!' She balled her fists. 'I'm in love with Hotohori! Crap…did I just admit that to myself?' She rested her head on the tree trunk. 'I did…no sense in denying it…Piao's gonna laugh at me…' She started to hop down the branches. 'So much for a quiet moment alone…'
Kohana sighed and began walking back. Home was looking more and more welcoming by the second.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Momo slowly turned the page of her book. She hadn't had much to do lately. After Nakago found out about her attack in town, she forbid the priestess to leave the palace without a large number of guards. She sighed and wondered what Kohana was doing.
Thoughts of Suboshi danced in her head as well. She slipped her bookmark inside the book and set it down. 'Why'd I try to kiss him? And why on Earth didn't he move away? I just don't get it…' She got up and left her room.
A group of servants that always seemed to follow her appeared out of nowhere.
"Are you in need of something, Lady Momo?"
Momo sucked in a quick gasp, taken completely off guard by the ghost like group. "Ah…ummm…I was thinking about taking a bath…"
Without a word, the girls whisked Momo off to the bathhouse despite her cries of protest. She didn't like being dragged around.
She soon found herself in a nice warm, relaxing bath, with maids still bustling around her.
"Hey could you girls just go? I really don't need to be watched." She muttered as the girls looked at each other.
"We cannot. Nakago told us to attend to you at all times."
"Do you always listen to everything Nakago says?"
"Yes. She's practically the leader of the country."
"Well, they best way you can attend to me is to leave me alone for now. I don't need to be watched in the bath. In my world, this is a very private thing." She sank low in the water, incredibly uncomfortable with all the extra eyes.
Again, the girls wordlessly looked at each other.
"Very well, my Lady…we will leave your presence…but we will not be far."
"That's fine. Just go." 'Those are some strange girls…they're really robotic…kinda creepy…' She held her breath and sunk beneath the water. The warm water eased her tired muscles and mind.
She had started wondering if she ever should have followed Kohana into this world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kohana, Nuriko, Hotohori and Tamahome waited outside the town gates while Piaoliang and Shen said goodbye to their friends and family in the town. Kohana was standing next the one of the horses, brushing its mane.
Nuriko joined her. "Hey, you okay? You look a little sad."
"I'm fine…" She wouldn't meet his eyes.
"You know I don't really believe that…" He held onto the reigns.
"Well…" She looked around for Hotohori and Tamahome. They were off with the other horses. "Promise not to say anything to anyone else?"
"Sure."
"I think I got myself stuck in a love triangle…"
"With Tamahome and Hotohori?"
"You already knew?"
"Yeah. Pretty hard to miss. Tamahome talks about you a lot."
"Shit…" Kohana let the brush drop to the ground. "Why would he like me?"
"Most of the men in the palace like you. It doesn't surprise me."
"You?"
Nuriko rolled his eyes. "I said most. You're like another little sister to me. That's kinda creepy you know?"
Kohana smiled. "Thanks."
"Sure. Anyway, why don't you sound very happy?"
"I don't like Tamahome. I think…I know…that I'm in love with Hotohori…"
"Boy, am I glad I get to be on this trip." Nuriko smirked.
"Don't be mean!" She swatted at his arm.
"Sorry." He sighed. "I'm not really sure what to tell you, but if you ever need a guy's opinion on something…"
"Thanks a bunch Nuriko." She sighed. "I just…I wasn't ready for this…"
"Who would be?"
"I suppose so."
"Hey you two, we're ready to go!" Piaoliang was already sitting on the horse with Shen.
"Coming!" Kohana hurried over to Hotohori and climbed up with him.
"What were you talking about?" Hotohori picked up the reigns.
"Nothing."
"You sure?"
"Uh huh. Let's go." Kohana kicked her heels into the horse and made it run before Hotohori could ask any more questions.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Momo sat in front of her mirror wrapped in a silk robe. Her bath was her moment of peace in this strange world. After combing out her slightly wet hair, she got up to find a shirt and bra. After picking one out, she untied the robe and dropped it to the floor.
"Hey Momo, do you wanna…" Suboshi had just walked into Momo's room.
Her eyes widened as he stood there, frozen, staring at her. All she had on was a pair of pajama pants.
His mind raced. 'Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT! Look away! Why won't you look away?!?!? Get out while you still can!' He couldn't help but stare.
After a moment, Momo regained control of her body and flung her arms and hands over her chest. "YOU PERVERT!!!!!! GET OUT!!!!"
"I'm sorry!" He turned his head away when her voice snapped him out for his trance.
"WHATEVER!!!!!!! JUST GET OUT!!!!!!!!!" With one arm over her chest, she flung a brush at him with the other. It hit him squarely in the head as he ran out of her room.
The door slammed shut and the brush hit the floor with a dull thud while Momo calmed down. Her face was bright red and her eyes burned. "That idiot! Who does he think he is walking in on me like that?!" She paused for a moment and looked at her mirror. 'Wait…why am I sounding so high and mighty? He's not lower than me. I shouldn't be like that…' She clenched her fists. "He just should have knocked…it's common decency." She growled softly.
A sudden cold wind blew through her room making her pick the robe up again and wrap it around her shoulders while she picked up her shirt and bra.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Amiboshi was sitting alone in his room, minding his own business when Suboshi burst into the room, completely red faced. Amiboshi stared at his twin in surprise. "What have you been doing?"
"I…um…I…uh…" He stumbled over every word.
"Would you just spit it out?" Amiboshi could feel his twin's embarrassment, he just couldn't tell why.
"IwalkedinonMomowhenshewasntwearinganything…"
Amiboshi stared for a moment, trying to put spaces in the words. When he finally put the sentence together, his eyes widened. "Don't you ever knock!?!?"
"I didn't think she'd be half naked!! You act like I did it on purpose!!!"
"What were you going to her room for anyway?"
"I was gonna ask her if she wanted to go into town with me."
"Why? You know she can't go into town anymore without practically a legion to guard her."
"We've snuck out of the palace before."
"You what?"
"I shouldn't have said that…should I?"
"No…no you shouldn't have…do you have any idea how much trouble you could get in?"
"I know…but she hates having guards…I don't want her to be miserable…"
"You like her…"
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"She's our priestess."
"And?"
"Isn't that like illegal or something?"
"Suboshi…"
"What?"
"Just go apologize to her later."
"Okay, okay…I will…if she doesn't kill me on the spot next time I see her…"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oh how cute…" A shadowed figured had just witnessed the event between Momo and Suboshi through a very large dream catcher. Dark eyes burned with hated as it sensed the growing feelings between the priestess of Seiryuu and her seishi. "I think I'm going to puke."
With an annoyed snort the figure dispelled the image of the Kutou palace and replaced with an image of four horses in the woods. "Let's check up on the other pretty little priestess…"
The horse carrying Piao and Shen was leading the group through the darkening woods. Kohana was curled up as close to Hotohori as she was able to on a horse. The figure tossed its head back, letting long strands of white hair loose, and laughed. "The brave little fire priestess doesn't like the Northern Woods I see…she's afraid of them…"
It began to move one hand in a random pattern. "Let's make sure she always has those fears…Creature of the darkest energy, I summon thee to slay for me." The hand glowed with an eerie purple and black energy as she touched the image of the people in the forest. It pulsed with dark energy. The figure grinned evilly.
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Piaoliang suddenly grabbed the horse reigns from Shen and pulled the horse to an abrupt stop. Shen struggled to keep his balance and hold the horse steady. "Piao, why you do that?" He looked concerned. Her face was very pale.
"Something's not right…" She got off the horse. "The woods feel different…darker…can't you feel it?"
"No…" Shen was now confused.
"I can…" Kohana winced. Whatever was surrounding them simply exuded dark power.
The men looked at each other, unable to understand what the girls were feeling. Piaoliang clutched at her chest. "It's so dark…yet…it feels familiar…"
"Can't say it feels the same to me…it's just dark…cold…and empty…"
Shen went over to her and wrapped on arm around her. "There's other ways through the forest. We'll use one of those…"
"But it's here…" Kohana was staring off into the forest where the mist was the thickest.
"What's here?" Hotohori had his hand on his sword.
Hotohori's question was answered by a shrill scream and a shadow darting out of woods. It moved to fast and tackled Kohana. She didn't have enough time to react and ended up flat on her back with a pair of sharp claws in her shoulders. Its face loomed over hers, breathing heavily, burning red eyes digging into her soul.
Kohana couldn't move. Nuriko was the first one to react. He ran over and tore the demon away from her. She let out a cry as the claws tore at the skin on her shoulders, cutting deeply into her. Tamahome joined Nuriko in keeping the creature away from Kohana, no matter how hard it struggled.
"Kohana!" Piaoliang ran to her friend.
Kohana struggled to sit up. "I'm…I'm okay…"
"No you're not!" Piaoliang supported her. "We gotta get away from that thing…"
By now, Hotohori and Shen joined in on fighting the demon. But it seemed like no matter how much they hacked at and beat up on it, it still continued to go after Kohana.
Suddenly the demon swept its claws in a giant arch, knocking back all four men. It took the opportunity to start after the wounded priestess again. Piaoliang stood up, ready to defend her friend and priestess. Shen saw her standing there.
"Piao! What are you doing?! Run!"
"No. Everyone else fights. So can I." She had a look of fierce determination on her face.
Her companions watched as Piaoliang suddenly became…not herself. Her eyes became dull. They seemed vacant, empty. Her hand came up and began to move it in a random pattern. "Dark Demon, your powers are mine to keep, I send you now to go to sleep!" With the last word of the newly formed spell, the tip of her finger connected with the chest plate of the demons armor.
White bands of light streamed from her fingers and wove themselves around the creature. It screamed and struggled, but couldn't break free of its bonds. The bands of light grew brighter, causing even more pain until a blinding flash of light forced everyone to look away.
When it cleared, the demon was gone. Piaoliang was standing there, hand still outstretched. Kohana, despite her horrible injuries and dizziness from blood loss, stood up and walked over to her. "Piao…what was that?"
Her eyes returned to normal as the men came over. "I don't know…" The words came out weakly before she collapsed.
Shen caught her. "Piao!" He gently shook her. "Piao! Wake up!"
"I think she's just tired…" Kohana clutched her shoulder. She suddenly noticed something and smiled. "Baba can help us…"
"Baba?" Hotohori and Nuriko looked at each other in confusion. "Who's Baba?"
"She is." Kohana pointed to a familiar old woman approaching them, looking rather worried. Then Kohana collapsed into Hotohori's arms.
The old woman was small, yet everyone could sense a lot of power from her, good power.
"Who are you?" Tamahome asked.
"I'm the one you all came here to see. I am Tai Itsukun. Come, hurry. Kohana needs medical attention now. And Piaoliang needs rest." A large carpet was spread out on the ground. "Get on and we'll head to my palace."
The men were still confused but obeyed. They had no choice. Kohana needed help.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Miserable creature!" The shadowed figure from earlier punched the image of Kohana and the others leaving the forest, giving the illusion of shattering glass. "They're never good for anything!" A few lamps suddenly blazed to life.
"And that girl…Piaoliang, was it? How could she kill my demon? She just an average mortal…what power could she have against my dark army?" Light danced across a female face, a face both Momo and Kohana had seen before. Nanase.
"Well…" She murmured. "I'll just have to find another way to kill them. Why send minions when you can have the pleasure yourself? I have to find out about Piaoliang anyway…" She reached for a glass of blood red wine. She sipped the drink slowly.
After holding it for a moment, her hand lost its substance and the glass fell to the floor, shattering into a million pieces and spilling the wine everywhere. Nanase stared at the wine. "Damn…I have to find a way to sustain myself for longer periods of time…maybe I'll drain that maid, have the power to sustain myself and get my answers at the same time…" She relished the thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"She needs blood."
"How much?"
"A lot."
"I'll give her whatever she needs."
"Are you sure?"
"Do I look like I'm unsure?"
"Very well. Anyone else?"
Silence.
"There will be no turning back once I start."
"Do it! She'll die if we don't hurry!"
"As you wish, your highness." Tai Itsukun began casting a blood transfusion spell. Hotohori bit his lip as he felt his own blood leave his body in order to save Kohana. The pain jolted Kohana awake. Through blurry vision, she saw Hotohori in front of her, Tai Itsukun beside them and Nuriko and Tamahome off to the side. In the haze of her pain, she wondered about Shen and Piao. "Hotohori? What's going on?" She asked weakly.
"Shhh…you need rest… Piao and Shen are fine…" That was all she managed to make out before pain overtook her senses again and she blacked out.
Hours later, Kohana began to come to again. This time she was in a large bed made up with many red silk sheets and blankets. She tried to moved, but just didn't have the energy.
"You always try to over extend yourself, don't you?" A soft voice chuckled next to her.
She turned to her side and saw Hotohori's smiling face. "Hotohori…wh…where are we?" She began to push herself up.
He held her down with one arm. "Stop…you're body is exhausted. We're in Tai Itsukun's palace…or Baba as you called her."
"Oh…yeah…I think I vaguely remember that…" She put her hand against her forehead. She suddenly realized something. Hotohori didn't have a shirt on. Then she realized she wasn't wearing a shirt either, just a bra. Despite the pain, she sat bolt upright and wrapped the sheet around her body. "What the hell is going on?!" She glared at him.
"Nothing!" He realized what was going through her mind. "Tai Itsukun took your ruined shirt before she did the blood transfusion."
"Blood transfusion?" She stared at his arm. It was bandaged up. "Wait…did you…you gave me your blood?"
"You would have died." He looked at her with a slightly pained expression, as if he couldn't bear the thought of losing her.
"Hotohori…" She touched his face with the hand that wasn't still gripping the sheet.
"Kohana…" He pulled her into his embrace. She held onto him tightly.
"So…this is the place where I'm supposed to be able to go home?"
"Yes…Tai Itsukun said she could help…" He sounded a little disappointed.
"You…you don't want me to go…do you?" She looked up at his eyes.
"I…no…I'm worried you won't come back…"
"I could never do that…I told you I'd be your priestess…I meant it…"
"Is that the only reason you'd come back? Because of a promise to my country?" His embrace loosened.
"No! No, it's not. I have other reasons…"
"Like?"
Her blush deepened. "You."
"Me?"
"Yes, you." She turned her eyes from his. "I love you…I realized it this morning…I would come back here to see you even if I wasn't the priestess, okay? Are you happy now that I've told you?" Her voice sped up. She was just a little afraid, a little panicked since she put her feelings out into the open.
Her fears seemed a million miles away though when Hotohori pulled her close once again and kissed her passionately. She barely felt the sheet slid off her body bringing them closer. "I love you Kohana…" The words were like music to her ears. She sighed happily in his arms. Somehow, she felt compete. She hadn't felt this happy or complete since the day her sister and Tasuki admitted their feelings for each other.
After a few minutes, Kohana began to think about Piaoliang and Shen Yuan. "Hotohori?"
"Yes?"
"Where are Piao and Shen? I can't remember seeing them…"
"Shen took Piao to another room to rest. Tai Itsukun told us she'd explain what happened to Piao once you and her were both awake."
"Can we go check on them?"
"Of course. You seem well rested now." He smiled.
She blushed and found a shirt next to the bed and put it on. With Hotohori's help, Kohana got to the other room.
Hotohori knocked on the door. After a moment, Shen said they could come in. Shen was sitting on the bed with Piao. She was awake, though still dazed. She smiled when she saw Kohana. "You're okay!"
"Yeah. A little shaky but mostly okay."
Piao arched an eyebrow as she looked back and forth at Kohana and Hotohori. Kohana gave her a 'Don't say anything' look.
"Oh good you're both awake." Tai Itsukun appeared behind Kohana and Hotohori. Tamahome and Nuriko brought up the rear.
"So what exactly just happened?" Nuriko asked.
"You all just fought with a demon created by a lost spirit who calls herself Naraku. You've met her before." Tai Itsukun looked at Kohana.
"A lost spirit? I haven't met that many people here and certainly no one named Naraku…" Kohana sat on the bed with Piaoliang.
"Well, she didn't tell you her name was Naraku. She told you her name was Nanase."
"The girl in the forest?"
"I knew she was creepy!"
"Wait! Can you please explain to me what I did out there? I'm still confused!" Piao protested.
"You, Piaoliang, cast a spell. There is only one other besides you that can destroy the demons Naraku creates." Tai Itsukun continued before Piaoliang could interrupt. "It all started almost 400 years ago.
"A family of powerful magicians lived in this world. They lived in a part of the world that no god calls its own. These magicians had two daughters, both inheriting all the power of their family.
"The older sister enjoyed using the power to destroy, the younger to help. As you can imagine, the younger was therefore very well loved and welcomed everywhere. The older of course despised her younger sister but wouldn't change her ways. She was shunned from many places and became very bitter. People ignored her, she was forced to bask in the shadow of her younger sister.
"The time came for the older sister to be married, but no one wanted her, every man vied for the hand of the younger magician, particularly a young man who's own powers rival those of either sister. He was completely in love with her, as she soon was with him.
"The date was set for the wedding between the younger sister and the young man. The older sister's jealousy raged. She ranted and raved to her parents about the disgrace of having her younger sister married before her, but nothing could be done. No one, not even her own family, could stand the older girl's evil heart. They banished her from the town after she attempted to kill her younger sister in her sleep.
"A few months past, and the older sister was forgotten. The town was almost prepared for the wedding when the evil one appeared again. She went on a killing spree in nearby towns in order to draw her sister out. And her sister rose to the challenge, vowing to punish her sister for everything she'd done. Her fiancé went with her to face the evil one.
"The battle between the sisters lasted for days. Rage sustained the older while the younger and the young man sustained each other. Eventually, the younger won and had no choice but to kill her sister for the good of the world. With her last breath, the older sister vowed to return and have her revenge.
"The younger woman and man realized something after the evil one was gone: They couldn't stay together. Their love had been the last straw for the older sister. Staying together would most likely rouse the vengeful spirit, so they decided to go their separate ways, never to see each other again. The younger sister when her way and had a family. The young man went his way and had his own family. Though they never forgot each other.
"Naraku is that older sister, come back to seek her revenge. And Piaoliang, you are descended from the younger sister."
Piaoliang's jaw dropped. "I'm what?!?!"
"You heard what I said."
"Wait, you said there was someone else who could fight Naraku. Who?" Kohana asked.
"A descendant from the young man. Shen. Who else?"
Shen stared at the oracle in disbelief. Piaoliang fainted. Everyone stared in silence.
"Wow." Kohana was amazed. "Cool."
"Well, I'll leave you with that for now. Kohana, when you feel ready, we can send you home for a time."
"Okay."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later in the evening, Piaoliang and Kohana sat in one of the bedrooms thinking about the day. Piaoliang sighed.
"Thinking about what Tai Itsukun said?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"True."
"I mean, why wouldn't my parents tell me about some powerful magician in my family?"
"Maybe they didn't know. It's possible that the younger sister never told anyone about her powers or something."
"Maybe…but then Shen…if my family and his family went separate ways, how'd we end up in the same village?"
"Just lucky I suppose."
"Jeez…it's too weird…"
"Well, Naraku seems to have found her way back here. You and Shen might have to be the one to get rid of her."
She sighed. "And to think, this morning, I was just a girl from a small village who worked in the palace."
"Almost the same thing I was thinking the first night I spent here."
"Oh yeah…you ready to go home?"
"I think so…" She looked at the floor.
"I take it your gonna miss a couple of things…"
Kohana rolled her eyes. "Yes I will. But it's not like I'm not coming back."
"Hotohori was worried about that."
"Yeah, I know. But that's been settled."
"Oh? What happened?"
"Whatever happened between you and Shen by the river."
"I was wondering when that would happen…"
"Oh, shush!"
The two girls laughed.
"So you'll come back soon?"
"As soon as I can."
"Good. The palace won't be the same without you."
"I know. I'm just so special." Kohana grinned.
"Most definitely." Piaoliang faced Kohana. "There was something I wanted to ask you."
"Yeah?"
"Why do you know Tai Itsukun?"
"Umm…well…we don't we go see Tai Itsukun?" Kohana went for the door. Piaoliang didn't really understand, but went after Kohana.
The men were in the main room with Tai Itsukun. She looked at Kohana. "Ready Kohana?"
"I think so."
"Do we get to find out how you two know each other now?" Piaoliang was getting impatient.
"In due time, Piaoliang. You've had enough complicated stories for today."
Piaoliang was about to protest again when Shen's hand on her shoulder quieted her. She stopped complaining and let Tai Itsukun continue.
The last thing Kohana remembered before arriving at home was looking at Hotohori. She mouthed the words 'I'll be back soon.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kohana woke up in the park. It was pretty dark out. Stumbling to her feet, she headed for the bus stop. She got on and waited patiently until the bus got to a top near her home. She ran off the bus and down a couple of streets to a nice home. She found her keys in her bag and opened the front door. All the lights were out. She yawned and went into the living room. Too tired to change clothes and go into her own room, she curled up on the couch and fell asleep.
A few minutes later, someone came walking through the door. It was Tasuki. He saw her lying on the couch and went over to her. "Kohana?"
She sleepily looked up. "Ni-chan?"
"Welcome home, Kohana."
"Thanks, Tasuki. Is Ayame still up?"
"No. She's been pretty stressed all day."
"I can imagine…"
"You wanna go into your room?"
"If you carry me."
He chuckled and picked her up. He carried her into the bedroom. "Good night Kohana."
"Night." She quickly drifted off to sleep.
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Woo. That was a long one. Hope you guys liked it.
Random Disclaimer: The 'spells' used in the chapter are slight alterations of some spells used in vol. 2 of Under the Glass Moon. Technically not mine. Just thought I had to say that.
~*~Shadow Hawk~*~