Tatsumi had called him into his office and detailed the situation to him, and Terazuma had voluntarily accepted the task to use the Key to go into GensouKai and get an explanation. Upon arrival, Terazuma immediately headed over to the main palace, Sohryu's palace. If there was something seriously wrong- and there had to be- this was the place to start asking questions and demanding answers.
He was met by the usual flurry of activity, some of the regular servants greeting him, but there was a dullness to their smiles and greetings that alerted Terazuma to the wrongness of it all.
"Where's Sohryu?" he asked one of the assistants he knew.
"He's not here," was the reply. "There was an emergency."
"Let me guess. Touda?"
The assistant's eyes widened. "You know?"
"Kinda. Where is he?"
"His private quarters."
Terazuma turned on his heels, almost jogging over to the innermost sanctum. What he found when he entered the familiar central structure was a very deserted main room, a few servants milling around, and one of the assistants looking worriedly toward the door leading into the inner chambers.
"Lord Terazuma!" the woman exclaimed and Terazuma winced a little at the title.
"What happened, Zan?" he asked.
"Commander Touda is sick! He collapsed! It's so terrible... no one knows what's going on!"
Terazuma nodded to himself. "I need to talk to Sohryu."
Zan wrung her hands. "Please do so. I have orders not to let anyone disturb him, but you are Lord Sohryu's partner..."
Terazuma gave her a little smile. "I'll handle him. Thank you, Zan."
He walked past the woman and into the private area of the palace where no one but the personal assistant and few select servants were allowed to be.
The Black One moved uneasily, aware of the tension around them, and Terazuma could almost feel the worry permeating the air. It grew in strength as he entered the inner residence and nearly ran into Sohryu. His lover and partner looked bad. Worry lines were carved into his face, his blue-gray eyes were hooded, the hair undone and falling in heavy waves down his back. When he looked at Terazuma, those tired eyes widened and he stopped abruptly.
"Hajime?"
Damn, and he sounded bad, too.
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?"
"Trying to find out why Tsuzuki's lying in the hospital, unconscious."
Sohryu paled. "W-what?"
"Tsuzuki broke down a few hours ago. Physically he's fine," Terazuma explained, "but Hisoka says he felt something coming from Touda, something bad, and it affected Tsuzuki. He's out like a light and he hasn't woken since."
Sohryu rubbed one temple as if he was feeling a headache coming. He probably was.
"Sohryu?" Terazuma asked softly. "What's going on?"
Exhaustion briefly flitted over the dragon's features. "I don't know," he answered. "Rikugo's with Touda. He collapsed in the computer room, feverish, sick... and all we can tell is that something's raging through him. It's fast, extensive, and makes him sick."
"Sounds like a virus."
"Yes, it does, but none of us ever contracted one like that. All of us feel fine. Byakko once had a cold, but this is different."
Sohryu walked toward a couch and sat down. Terazuma did the same.
"Rikugo says it's eating away at his life force. Kochin's healing songs can't even ease the fever a bit. Rikugo's the only one who can do something, but it's not much..."
A slight shudder ran through the tall frame and Terazuma reached out, grasping one hand. His lover squeezed it gently, smiling a little.
"They are so much connected," Sohryu murmured. "They are one on so many levels. All things reflect on the other."
Terazuma knew what the dragon was talking about. Tsuzuki's power was balanced and anchored by Touda, and Touda's fierceness was gentled by his master's calming influence. Both had only profited from the forced bond by Enma-Daiou, but it also had drawbacks.
Like now.
"Maybe we can help?" he offered.
Sohryu's expression was wry. "How?"
"You say shikigami can't get sick that easily, and if they do, it's never worse than a little cold. Touda wasn't hurt lately, so what could be the reason?"
"We don't know."
Terazuma smiled a little. "We can try to find out what happened. This concerns us as well. I consider Tsuzuki more than a colleague now; he's a friend."
A tired nod. "You can try to help."
"We will."
Terazuma hoped it wasn't just an empty promise. Too much was at stake; two lives so intricately interwoven that one's pain and illness reflected on the other.
He leaned forward and kissed Sohryu gently, affectionately, relaying so much that he felt with the simple gesture. His lover answered the contact, hands gliding over Terazuma's arms, around his back, one stroking over his hair. Sohryu briefly hugged him, held on tight, trembling with the tension. Then he drew back.
"I need to go back," he murmured.
Terazuma stroked over the full, blue hair, smiling gently. "I know. I'll tell the others what's going on. We will find a cure, Sohryu. We will."
He truly prayed they did.
°
Sohryu watched his lover go and finally turned back to his office. It was where his personal assistant already expected him. The man looked rather nervous, which was rare enough. He had been working for Sohryu long enough to change from groveling to respectful assistance.
"My Lord Sohryu? I have word from Lord Rikugo. He... called a quarantine and Commander Tenkuu has effectively closed down. No one is allowed to come or go."
Sohryu stared at the man in shock. "What?" he demanded.
"One of Tenkuu's servants reported to me just now..."
Sohryu whirled around and stalked off, leaving his palace and heading over to the Palace shikigami.
° ° °
Rikugo infused some of his energy into the feverish serpent and let his hand rest on the broad chest, feeling the uneasy way the lungs struggled for air.
Touda was getting worse.
Each energy infusion helped, but the virus was so incredibly strong... it overpowered the astrologer's energy and multiplied even more.
By now, Touda's conscious moments had dwindled to a few rare occasions, and he wasn't clear-headed any more. He was whimpering, crying, then fighting invisible forces, or lying completely still. It was getting to Byakko, who was trying to so hard to keep the other man awake and his senses working, but things weren't looking good.
Rikugo had to use a different tactic, he had to enable Touda's immune system to get past first base and win the first fights. And he had to work in two alternating phases.
Rikugo steadied himself, reaching deep inside his own self, drawing out energy, then he began feeding it into his patient. It was risky because it was now depleting him of his core energy, but he had to try.
For Touda.
For Tsuzuki.
For all of them.
If Touda lost and... died, they would lose their master, too.
I won't let that happen! he thought with determination. Never!
"Rikugo?" came a deep rumble.
"Yes?" he answered distractedly.
"Sohryu has just left after demanding entry," Tenkuu informed him calmly.
The astrologer looked up and smiled dimly. "I suspect he wasn't happy?"
"No, he wasn't, but he has to respect your call as the healer in charge of medical emergencies on this."
It was the one case when Rikugo could overrule Sohryu; the one and only case. It had never happened before. Now he had pulled rank, so to speak, and the dragon was probably fuming.
"I explained it to him," Tenkuu went on. "I think he understands, but he doesn't like it."
"He never likes being told that he can't do something," Rikugo muttered, then concentrated on his patient again.
There was a soft hum echoing through the massive Palace, then even that was lost in the silence that descended.
° ° °
Terazuma had brought back the news and it had stunned everyone. Watari shook his head.
"They think he has a virus? But... how? Shikigami have the same healing powers we have and all I ever heard of them getting was a cold. A devil can poison them, but a virus?" He tapped a finger against his chin. "Was he injured?"
"No. They can't explain it."
"So the virus couldn't have come from the outside?"
"Rikugo doesn't think so. At least not through an open wound."
Watari frowned. "I need data, guys. Terazuma, can you get me Touda's medical data?"
The possessed man shrugged. "Sure. I can ask."
"You have an idea?" Tatsumi wanted to know.
"Nope, but I want to look into this. Maybe it's airborne or was in the water or the food. Who knows?"
Terazuma prepared to leave again. The Black One almost sent a sigh at having to jump again, but the lion didn't complain. It was more action than he usually got.
"Hold on, Terazuma. I'll give you a list as to what I need. C'mon." Watari grabbed him and pulled the former detective along.
Two hours later he was on his way, a catalog of questions and a long list with him.
°
Sohryu didn't know what worried him more- Touda or Tsuzuki. The news that his master had broken down at the same moment as the black serpent was... shocking. He would have suspected maybe a shock to his system, a flash of pain, a headache, because that was what Touda had told him were the usual symptoms should one of the bonded partners experience something unusual, especially pain. But a breakdown coupled with sudden loss of consciousness?
He sighed and rubbed his eyes.
All of Tsuzuki's shikigami were worried by the news, but none could truly help. Touda was the reason their master was comatose and without the black serpent improving, nothing would change for Tsuzuki either. It was a vicious circle.
"Father?"
He looked up and met the blue eyes of his son. Kijin, like everyone, was worried and it showed in his whole demeanor. A shadow had fallen over GensouKai's most powerful shikigami, including the two youngest.
"Yes?"
"Tenkou is asleep now, but she was asking for both Touda and Tsuzuki."
"I know," the dragon murmured. "I know. There has been no change for the better."
The teenager looked grave.
"You should get some rest as well, father."
Sohryu smiled darkly. "I will, Kijin."
Kijin gave him a long look, then nodded and left. Sohryu turned back to his musings, but there was no real improvement in his thoughts.
Finally he rose and left the palace, walking out into the dusk of the approaching night. He needed the air to clear his head, and he wanted to be alone.
I can't lose you, Tsuzuki.
tbc...