All right, again the writing isn't great, and I noticed I left out a lot
of Chichiri's "no da's", but I think I got most of them back. The fight
scenes later in the story will get much better too, hopefully. Please keep
reading!
Chapter 4 : Swift Reunion
"Nakago... of the SEIRYU SEVEN?!!!!!!" Tetsuya shouted loud enough for all other apartments to hear.
Taka froze stiff. Miaka leaned against a wall in disbelief. Yui's eyes teared up. Keisuke was practically dead.
"How... how can he be alive?!" Yui shouted, tears running down her cheeks, though she was in confusion to why she cried.
"He must have been reborn, just like Hotohori and Nuriko..." Tetsuya whispered.
"Damn" Taka cursed. He threw his fist into the table. "DAMN IT ALL!!!" He yelled. He turned angrily to Tetsuya. "Does this mean the rest of them are alive as well?!!" He asked.
Tetsuya put down the book. "I'd imagine there's a good chance." he said, taking off his sunglasses.
"What if they're looking for another priestess? They'd do anything to get even." Yui wondered, rubbing her eyes. Tetsuya put an arm around her. He looked up at Taka.
"I'm going back."
Everyone turned towards the voice. Miaka was standing there. She threw off her apron and walked towards the book. "I'm going back!" She shouted. "I have to help!"
"Miaka!" Keisuke yelled. "It's too dangerous!! You'll be killed!"
"I don't care!" Miaka cried. "Hotohori needs his warriors, so Taka," She turned to her husband. "You're coming too!"
Taka was shocked a little by Miaka's outburst. However, he nodded.
"No! You can't!!!" Keisuke shouted again, standing up.
Miaka dodged around her brother and grabbed the Universe of the Four Gods out of Tetsuya's hands. She ran to the other end of the room with it. She opened it. "Take me back!" She called. "Do it!"
Red light burst from the pages, answering her call. Miaka looked up at Yui. "Take care of Hikari!" She called. The red light engulfed her figure. Taka ran into it as it disappeared. The beaten book fell to the ground. They were gone.
************************
"It is very urgent that you return as soon as possible." Hotohori told Tasuki and Chichiri. "We don't know when Kutou will strike again."
"Don't worry 'bout it." Tasuki said, acting cheerful. "We'll find 'em all and kick some serious Seiryu..."
"Thank you." Hotohori interrupted before Tasuki's language reached him. Saori was seated in front of Chichiri on the horse again, nervous.
"I'll see you off." Hotohori stood back.
Tasuki kicked the horse and started off. "This will be fun." He mumbled.
Suddenly a huge pillar of red light appeared in front of them, scaring the horse and nearly throwing Tasuki off.
"What the?!!!" He shouted.
"Mayo?!!" Saori yelled.
The red light vanished, and a man and a woman stood before them, looking slightly dazed.
"Tamahome!" Chichiri yelled.
Hotohori was extremely surprised. "What. what are you two doing here?"
Miaka ran to Hotohori. "Hotohori, we heard you were in danger. We came to help."
A surge of confused gratitude filled Hotohori's brown eyes. "Thank you. Konan will surely need her priestess."
"Alright!" Tasuki shouted. "That's one warrior we don't have to find!"
******************
"Immediately Taka and Miaka were provided with a horse, and the team of five went in search of the three remaining warriors." Keisuke read from the place Miaka and Taka had disappeared from. "They went to the seishi who lived the closest..."
***********************
"Come on.... just a few more!" a brunette man called to his coworker. "Lord Rouku wants this done within the next three days! Hoist men!"
The crowd of men pushed up on a pile of long, clean cut wood pieces, which were bound together by rope. They struggle to haul them onto the rooftop of a large house.
"Pull!!" Yelled another man, who tugged on the top rope. The pile of wood suddenly hoisted up very easily. The man on the roof cheered. "I must be getting stronger!" He said.
The man in blue at the bottom of the large pile had his free hand on his hip. He looked at his brother who sat outside. "Rouku," he complained. "Why don't you just call me when you need construction done?"
The other men pushing up the pile gaped in disbelief.
"I don't want to work you, Ryuuen." He replied.
The man with purple hair rolled his eyes at his older brother. "Get out of the way!" He yelled to the people on the roof. He bent his elbow and flung the pile on the roof, listening to it land with a loud thud. He brushed his hands off.
"I'm not going to drop dead if I do manual labor." Ryuuen argued with his older brother, adjusting his collar.
"The men are paid for their work, Ryuuen." Ryoku argued.
"Well, I guess they'll get more done today, ne?" Ryuuen said.
"Nuriko! Is that you? Nuriko!"
The man turned around, and shielded the sun from his eyes with his hand. He saw three horses coming his way, finally able to recognize them.
"Miaka?!" He exclaimed, running out to the horses. "Taka too! How have you guys been?" He looked at Tasuki. "Lazing around?"
Tasuki made a face. "That was cruel!"
"He's only joking." Miaka smiled. She got off the horse and ran to Nuriko, throwing her arms around him.
"Good to see you too." Nuriko commented, patting Miaka on the head. He looked up at Saori, who for some reason blushed furiously.
"So Nuriko, talking a break from pink?" Tasuki laughed.
Nuriko gave him a look that said "shut up or you'll have a one-on-one with that wall over there."
Tasuki hushed.
Nuriko pulled away from Miaka and looked at her. "You're a young lady, aren't you?" He smiled. "Why are you herein Konan?"
Miaka frowned. "Didn't you hear, Nuriko? Kutou attacked us!"
Nuriko looked at Chichiri. "Is this true."
Chichiri nodded. "They attacked the bordering cities, no da. His majesty Hotohori wanted us to gather the Suzaku seven..."
"That 'ol blonde brute's back." Tasuki interrupted.
"What 'brute?'" Nuriko wondered.
"Nakago." Tasuki replied. "He's the new general for the Kutou army."
Nuriko's jaw nearly hit the ground. "You're kidding."
Tasuki shook his head. "He was reborn, just like the rest of us. Same ugly face and everything."
Nuriko looked at Taka. "Are you sure?"
Taka nodded. "We need to get everyone together. They plan to overtake Konan."
Nuriko let go of Miaka entirely and looked at Chichiri again. "Doesn't that mean the rest of them are back too?"
"Most likely." Chichiri responded.
Nuriko through his fist into his other hand. "I'll kill that Ashitare...."
"What's wrong, Ryuuen?" Rouku asked, now standing with the group.
Nuriko turned to his brother. "I have to leave." He said, walking towards the horses.
Rouku ran after him. "Leave? What? Now?" He asked. Nuriko began untying a horse. "I won't let you leave again with those people! You died last time!"
Nuriko jerked his head around and gave a rageful look to his brother. "Look. how many time do I have to tell you? I'm NOT going to die!" He pulled the horse around.
"Ryuuen!" Rouku objected.
Nuriko looked up at the others standing there. "Well? What are you wasting time for!? Get a move on!" Nuriko swung onto the already saddled horse. He looked down at Rouku. "I'll be back, alright?"
His elder brother reluctantly nodded with tears in his eyes. Though he was older, much older now, Ryoku was a passive and at times, immature person. When Tasuki, Chichiri, and the others had gone into his home looking for Nuriko's memory jewel, he had given them a hard time. In the depths of his mind, he still blamed the Suzaku seven for Nuriko's death.
***************
"Very happy with Nuriko at their side, the group of now six rode on. Hotohori, Taka, Tasuki, Chichiri, and Nuriko had all been found, and now Mitsukake and Chiriko were needed. They could possibly be one of the greatest strategies in any war or fight -- Mitsukake could heal the wounded, and Chiriko would be able to use his mind to help find the best solutions." Keisuke took a breather. He handed the book to Tetsuya. Yui leaned on his shoulder, worry plaguing her mind.
"I still don't see how any of this is going to help." Keisuke said gloomily.
"Of course it will help!" Yui scolded. "The Suzaku seven are an unbeatable group, even in death they still protect Miaka. Believe in them. They defeated Seiryu once, I'm sure they can do it again." Yui's train of thought left her when she heard crying down the hall. She got up and sprinted to the baby's room. In a moment, the crying stopped. Tetsuya read on.
"Saori, who was very confused by what was happening, listened to stories the warriors told her of what had happened nearly 15 years ago. She began to understand why it was so important to get the group together. She still worried greatly about her friend Mayo...."
************************
"We should get an inn." Chichiri suggested. "It's getting dark, no da."
Taka nodded in agreement. "Chichiri, you and Miaka go look for an inn. Mitsukake should be around here somewhere, the rest of all will split up and look."
Chichiri nodded. He got off his horse and helped Saori down. "You can come with Miaka and I."
Saori shook her head. "No, I want to help look! The sooner we find all of you guys, the sooner I get Mayo back, right?"
Chichiri looked around, unsure.
"I'll take her."
"Thank you, Nuriko." Chichiri said. Saori walked over to Nuriko's horse. Chichiri took Miaka onto his and they started off in a different direction.
"Give me your hand." Nuriko directed.
Saori lifted her arm up. Nuriko took hold of her right hand, and pulled her up so fast Saori nearly screamed. He was so ... strong!
"Alright back there?" Nuriko asked.
"Yes, thank you." Saori replied.
Nuriko turned back to the rest of the remaining group. "Taka, you and Tasuki start over there..." Nuriko pointed. "Hospitals are a good place to look. Saori and I will start over here."
Taka and Tasuki nodded, and took off.
Nuriko kicked and his horse began a fast walk. Saori clung on as if for her life. It was much bumpier riding in the back.
"Mitsukake is a really big guy with brown hair. He also has a white and brown cat, so you can keep an eye out for that too." Nuriko suggested. They stopped to a slow walk. "I know you're not from around here, but look for any medical stations."
"Okay." Saori agreed.
"Here Mitsukake! Here Kitty kitty!" Tasuki shouted.
"Ugh, you are so annoying." Taka complained. "Can you be quiet for just a second and keep that big mouth shu..."
A wave of fire hit Taka. He coughed up some black smoke. "Not funny." he added.
"Yes, do you have any rooms available?" Chichiri asked a chunky clerk behind a desk.
The man got out a paper. "Yeah." He said in a gruff voice. "We have a one bed room and a three bed room, which 'un do ya want?"
"Three bedroom, please." Chichiri got out some of the money Hotohori had provided him with.
Miaka looked around the large lobby. There were a few groups of men sitting around tables, laughing and having drinks. There were stairs in the back that lead up to the rooms. It had been so long since she had to stay in one of these. She looked around. Chichiri thanked the Innkeeper and turned back to her. "So, ready to go?" He asked. Miaka nodded. The two left through the wooden door, and set back out to look for the others.
"Excuse me, does a Mr. Mistu...kake work here?" Saori asked a woman folding towels.
The woman looked at her, stopping what she was doing. "No, I'm sorry, I don't know a Mitsukake." She replied. "Is there anything I can help you with?" Saori frowned and shook her head. She bowed, and left.
"Hey lady, do you know any one by the name Mitsukake around here?" Tasuki asked a blonde at an Inn.
"Maybe we should ask by Mitsukake's REAL name." Taka whispered. Tasuki turned around. "And what exactly is it?"
Taka put a hand behind his head. "I...uh.... I dunno."
Tasuki turned back to the woman. "Well?"
The girl looked upset. "Are you going to get a room or not?"
"Are you going to answer the question or not?" Tasuki shot back in an annoying tone.
"Any luck?" Nuriko asked as Saori emerged from the clinic. Saori slumped. "Nope."
Nuriko ran his hand through his hair. "Dang... this is more difficult than I thought. Why couldn't he be easier to find, like ME?"
Saori giggled.
"Nuriko! Saori!"
The duo turned towards Miaka's voice.
"Any luck?" Chichiri asked.
The look on their faces told him they hadn't found the doctor.
Chichiri sighed. "Oh well, we should turn in. I got us a room at the Kikuwa Inn."
********************
"With disappointment on their minds, the group retired to the comfort of the Inn." Tetsuya read. "Back in Kutou, the man known as Nakago arranged his plans..."
******************
"The emperor wants Konan as soon as possible. His impatience may make us lose the war." Nakago said in his low voice.
"What do you suggest?" Asked a woman with scarlet hair.
"We get rid of our main challenges first." Nakago said with an evil grin. "Soi, I want you to go out and take care of the Suzaku Seishi before they gather." Nakago turned to three men in long, dark blue cloaks. "Continue prevalence."
"Yessir!" The men replied, shooting out so fast they were nearly invisible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Chichiri, you're still awake?" Tasuki asked as Chichiri walked down the stair to the bar where Tasuki and Nuriko were.
"I sense a bad omen, no da." Chichiri replied. "Some kind of evil force is coming."
"Are you sure?" Asked Tasuki.
Nuriko let out an irritated moan. "Everything is so screwed up! What is wrong with people these days? You wake up in bed at home where everything is just fine and by nightfall you're searching for seishi to save the whole dang empire!" Nuriko got so caught up he accidentally crushed the glass he was holding in his hand. "Oops..." He made a face. "They just don't make glasses like they used to..."
Chichiri tensed up. "Something's here!" He shouted. He ran back to the stairs, followed by Nuriko and Tasuki.
Chichiri burst into the room where Saori, Miaka, and Taka lay sleeping. Miaka looked up. "Chichiri.... what's..."
"Get down!" Chichiri shouted.
Miaka ducked into her pillow. Chichiri waved his hands and shot out yellow lightening right over Miaka's head. A Kutou spy dropped down, landing with a thud. He ran for the window.
"REKKA SHINEN!!!!"
The man's cape was engulfed in flames, but he crashed through the glass of the window and onto the street below.
"What? Huh?!" Saori shot up from her position next to Miaka.
"Chichiri! get him!" Tasuki yelled.
Chichiri jumped out the window, floating to the ground. He looked around.
Everyone staring at him, Chichiri emerged back into the room. "He's gone." Chichiri stated.
"It isn't safe here." Taka said, standing up from his bed.
"You're probably right." Chichiri agreed. "We should leave."
"Where will we go?" Saori asked.
Chichiri thought.
"We can go out and look for Mitsukake some more." Tasuki suggested.
"Miaka!" Saori cried, shaking the redhead.
"What is it?" Taka asked, jumping over.
"She's not waking up!" Saori exclaimed.
Everyone circled the bed.
"Miaka! Miaka!" Taka called, shaking his wife.
"That's not going to help!" Nuriko scolded. He put his hand on her head. "She's got a fever, a bad one too. We need a doctor!"
*******************
Yui cleared her throat, holding back tears. "The girl, the priestess of Suzaku, was brought to a small medical clinic, carried by Taka on a horse ahead of everyone else." Yui sniffed. "Brought into one of the hospitals Saori and Nuriko had checked earlier, she was given immediate medical attention..."
********************
"None of the tonics seem to be working..." A nurse said, feeling Miaka's forehead again. "I'll get another cold rag." The nurse turned and quickly walked into a back room where a water pump was located.
"I don't think it's a regular fever. no da." Chichiri said, leaning on his stick. "She was just fine a moment ago, I think that black dressed man did it."
"That wasn't a regular guy, it was a Kutou spy." Taka said, hate in his voice. "I would know them anywhere. All they ever did was give us trouble." He leaned over Miaka's bed, stroking her hair away from her face.
The nurse came back in, with a bowl of water. There were several gray rags in it. She placed the bowl on a counter and began to ring one of them out, folding it and putting it on Miaka's steaming forehead. She turned to the others. "I'm sorry, but could some of you leave? It's a small room, and You are in the way." She said, trying to sound polite.
Tasuki looked like he was going to say something, but Nuriko pulled on his beige sleeve, motioning towards the door. Taka stayed on Miaka's bedside while the others filed out. Saori looked grief-stricken. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up to see Chichiri.
"We should go, no da." He spoke simply. Reluctantly, Saori walked towards the door as well.
Nuriko was sitting down in the front room.
"Where's Tasuki?" Chichiri asked, following behind Saori.
"He went outside." Nuriko stated arms crossed. "Just let him cool off before he gets in one of his moods."
The door leading outside opened. Saori felt the cool air hit her. She looked around. Tasuki had his arms folded, and his back was leaning against the building.
"Are... Are you alright?" Saori asked, keeping the door open with her foot.
Tasuki glanced her way. "Yeah kid," he replied, "I'm fine."
Saori slapped on a smile and went back inside. "He's alright, just cooling off, right Nuriko?"
Nuriko smiled from his chair.
They sat there quietly for about ten minutes.
"Uh, Chichiri?" Saori asked timidly.
Chichiri gave her his attention.
"Are... are you sure this is the right village?" She asked again. "I mean, is Mitsukake here? For sure?"
"He was here when I visited him about six months ago, no da." Chichiri answered. "It's not that big of a town, so perhaps he did go somewhere..."
Saori jumped at the sudden sound of thunder. She turned around. A few drops of water hit the window, followed by a few more, until the window was chattering with the sound of rain. The front door opened and Tasuki came inside. He looked around, all eyes on him.
"What?" He blurted out. "It's RAINING." He walked over to a chair. "Morons..." he muttered.
A streak of lightening fell across the sky. "I hate it when storms come so suddenly like this." Nuriko pointed out. "No warning."
Just then, Taka came from the back. He looked around. "She's still out of it." He sighed.
Saori walked over to the window and propped her elbows out on the sill. She stared at the lights in a home a little ways off. 'I wonder if my parents are worrying about me...' she wondered. This was her what, second night here? And still no sign of Mayo.
Saori's chestnut eyes caught something running down the street. It was an animal, or so seemed...
"A cat!" Saori jumped away from the window. "There's a cat out there! Poor thing, it'll be soaked!" Saori pulled open the door and ran outside, the door closing right before Nuriko's objection.
Saori looked around. The cat was under a small eve across the street to the right of where the medical clinic was. Saori looked down the street and ran across, running so she could at least try to keep some of her dry.
She bent down towards the cat, arms open. "Come here little kitty, come on..."
The door to the hospital opened again, and Nuriko was standing in the doorway. "Saori! Get back here! We don't need TWO sick people!" He nagged.
The white cat jumped into Saori's arms, getting her shirt even wetter. Saori lifted it to her chest, petting it softly. "I'm coming!" She called. She started across the street, when...
~*BOOM!*~
A huge bolt of lightening hit right in front of Saori. Saori fell several feet back, clutching the cat with one arm, and supporting herself from the street with the other. She looked at where the lightening hit. There was a large crack in the packed dirt.
"AH!" She squealed, scooting farther away from the crack. She felt something tug up on the back of her collar, making her stand upright.
"What in the world do you think you're doing?!" Nuriko shouted.
"I'm... I'm sorry!" Saori cried back.
Nuriko rolled his eyes, followed with an exasperated sigh. "Get back in..."
A second bolt hit right where Nuriko stood. Before it touched, Nuriko pushed Saori one-way and himself the other. He landed with a fiery burn rolling up his legs.
Nuriko squinted. The water on the roads conducted the electricity.
Tasuki came bursting outside, followed by Chichiri. "What the hell is going on?!!!" Tasuki shouted.
Nuriko stood up and looked up into the raining sky. "There's lightening! It hit twice already, like it's aiming for us!"
Chichiri held his stick up, a clear dome forming from its tips. He and Tasuki, now followed by Taka, ran across to where Nuriko and Saori lay.
Another gleaming blast of electricity hit down on the protective dome, running down it and into the ground.
Chichiri clutched his stick. "It's strong no da!" As fast as the first on came, another hit, blasting part way through Chichiri's shield and scattering the people in it over the cracked street.
The clouds in the sky began swirling together in a spiral design. Saori, shaking and holding onto the frisky cat, looked up in fear at the sky.
She turned to Chichiri. "There's someone up there!" She yelled through the noisy storm.
"What?" Chichiri called back.
Saori took in a big breath. "There is someone out there!" She yelled again, pointing to the sky.
Chichiri looked up. "Soi." He quietly confirmed.
"Is that ((edited, sorry)) back from hell?" Tasuki cursed.
Lightening fell from the clouds again, but this time hitting the top of the medical center, blowing off chunks of wood.
Taka darted across the street into the shattering hospital.
A strong wind blew, and the person in the sky was now much closer to the ground. Her hair, which was pulled into a ponytail, blew violently in the wind.
"Warriors of Suzaku, we meet again! This time however, you will not prevail!" Came the low voice from the sky. Everyone recognized her as Soi, of the Seiryu Seven.
Tasuki reached behind him and ripped out his favorite toy. "Rekka Shinen!" He shouted.
The flames soared up through the rain, and was met by a blast of lightening. The fire, already being depleted by the rain, disappeared, taking the lightening with it.
Tasuki swore again. "You'll have to do better than that!" Soi laughed. She focused on the bandit. "It is YOU I want to kill the most!"
Lifting two fingers into the air, Soi called again upon her powers. She pointed her hand at the wet redhead, sending a very large energy spear at him.
"Ka wai ei no CHI!" Chichiri shouted, standing in the lightning's path. A burst of red came out of his staff, hitting away the lightening.
Soi now used both hands, shooting lightening at the warriors again. Chichiri recalled on his spell, but it wasn't quite enough...
In a huge flash, Tasuki was sent hurdling down the street, landing hard and skidding across the mud to a stop. "Now, fulfill my destiny!" Soi called up to the sky. Swirls of clouds spun around her hands like a tornado. She smiled as she felt her power reaching the maximum. "Now, DIE!!!!"
"Oh no you don't!"
In a flash of purple and blue, a large carriage went flying up into the air, hitting full blow into the unexpecting woman.
The carriage fell back down, landing and breaking as gravity took its toll. Soi was gone.
Turning from the storm, Nuriko ran back down the street to where is injured friend was. Saori was already kneeling over him, still holding onto the cat.
"Hang on Tasuki!" Nuriko yelled shook the bandit's shoulders.
Chichiri stood over Tasuki.
Saori started crying. She held her hand up for Nuriko to see. There was blood pasted on it.
"If we don't get him help fast, we'll lose him!" Nuriko pushed his soaking hair away from his eyes.
"Let me help."
All three looked up. The first thing Saori saw was a pure, green light shining down. It looked like a bunch of bubbles. It was so warm....
Dawn was starting to break, and the rain poured down slower. The cat in Saori's arms finally freed himself and jumped at the strange man.
Tasuki squinted and opened his eyes, looking around him. "Did I miss something?" he asked. he looked straight up. "Oh, hi Mitsukake. How have you been?"
Chapter 4 : Swift Reunion
"Nakago... of the SEIRYU SEVEN?!!!!!!" Tetsuya shouted loud enough for all other apartments to hear.
Taka froze stiff. Miaka leaned against a wall in disbelief. Yui's eyes teared up. Keisuke was practically dead.
"How... how can he be alive?!" Yui shouted, tears running down her cheeks, though she was in confusion to why she cried.
"He must have been reborn, just like Hotohori and Nuriko..." Tetsuya whispered.
"Damn" Taka cursed. He threw his fist into the table. "DAMN IT ALL!!!" He yelled. He turned angrily to Tetsuya. "Does this mean the rest of them are alive as well?!!" He asked.
Tetsuya put down the book. "I'd imagine there's a good chance." he said, taking off his sunglasses.
"What if they're looking for another priestess? They'd do anything to get even." Yui wondered, rubbing her eyes. Tetsuya put an arm around her. He looked up at Taka.
"I'm going back."
Everyone turned towards the voice. Miaka was standing there. She threw off her apron and walked towards the book. "I'm going back!" She shouted. "I have to help!"
"Miaka!" Keisuke yelled. "It's too dangerous!! You'll be killed!"
"I don't care!" Miaka cried. "Hotohori needs his warriors, so Taka," She turned to her husband. "You're coming too!"
Taka was shocked a little by Miaka's outburst. However, he nodded.
"No! You can't!!!" Keisuke shouted again, standing up.
Miaka dodged around her brother and grabbed the Universe of the Four Gods out of Tetsuya's hands. She ran to the other end of the room with it. She opened it. "Take me back!" She called. "Do it!"
Red light burst from the pages, answering her call. Miaka looked up at Yui. "Take care of Hikari!" She called. The red light engulfed her figure. Taka ran into it as it disappeared. The beaten book fell to the ground. They were gone.
************************
"It is very urgent that you return as soon as possible." Hotohori told Tasuki and Chichiri. "We don't know when Kutou will strike again."
"Don't worry 'bout it." Tasuki said, acting cheerful. "We'll find 'em all and kick some serious Seiryu..."
"Thank you." Hotohori interrupted before Tasuki's language reached him. Saori was seated in front of Chichiri on the horse again, nervous.
"I'll see you off." Hotohori stood back.
Tasuki kicked the horse and started off. "This will be fun." He mumbled.
Suddenly a huge pillar of red light appeared in front of them, scaring the horse and nearly throwing Tasuki off.
"What the?!!!" He shouted.
"Mayo?!!" Saori yelled.
The red light vanished, and a man and a woman stood before them, looking slightly dazed.
"Tamahome!" Chichiri yelled.
Hotohori was extremely surprised. "What. what are you two doing here?"
Miaka ran to Hotohori. "Hotohori, we heard you were in danger. We came to help."
A surge of confused gratitude filled Hotohori's brown eyes. "Thank you. Konan will surely need her priestess."
"Alright!" Tasuki shouted. "That's one warrior we don't have to find!"
******************
"Immediately Taka and Miaka were provided with a horse, and the team of five went in search of the three remaining warriors." Keisuke read from the place Miaka and Taka had disappeared from. "They went to the seishi who lived the closest..."
***********************
"Come on.... just a few more!" a brunette man called to his coworker. "Lord Rouku wants this done within the next three days! Hoist men!"
The crowd of men pushed up on a pile of long, clean cut wood pieces, which were bound together by rope. They struggle to haul them onto the rooftop of a large house.
"Pull!!" Yelled another man, who tugged on the top rope. The pile of wood suddenly hoisted up very easily. The man on the roof cheered. "I must be getting stronger!" He said.
The man in blue at the bottom of the large pile had his free hand on his hip. He looked at his brother who sat outside. "Rouku," he complained. "Why don't you just call me when you need construction done?"
The other men pushing up the pile gaped in disbelief.
"I don't want to work you, Ryuuen." He replied.
The man with purple hair rolled his eyes at his older brother. "Get out of the way!" He yelled to the people on the roof. He bent his elbow and flung the pile on the roof, listening to it land with a loud thud. He brushed his hands off.
"I'm not going to drop dead if I do manual labor." Ryuuen argued with his older brother, adjusting his collar.
"The men are paid for their work, Ryuuen." Ryoku argued.
"Well, I guess they'll get more done today, ne?" Ryuuen said.
"Nuriko! Is that you? Nuriko!"
The man turned around, and shielded the sun from his eyes with his hand. He saw three horses coming his way, finally able to recognize them.
"Miaka?!" He exclaimed, running out to the horses. "Taka too! How have you guys been?" He looked at Tasuki. "Lazing around?"
Tasuki made a face. "That was cruel!"
"He's only joking." Miaka smiled. She got off the horse and ran to Nuriko, throwing her arms around him.
"Good to see you too." Nuriko commented, patting Miaka on the head. He looked up at Saori, who for some reason blushed furiously.
"So Nuriko, talking a break from pink?" Tasuki laughed.
Nuriko gave him a look that said "shut up or you'll have a one-on-one with that wall over there."
Tasuki hushed.
Nuriko pulled away from Miaka and looked at her. "You're a young lady, aren't you?" He smiled. "Why are you herein Konan?"
Miaka frowned. "Didn't you hear, Nuriko? Kutou attacked us!"
Nuriko looked at Chichiri. "Is this true."
Chichiri nodded. "They attacked the bordering cities, no da. His majesty Hotohori wanted us to gather the Suzaku seven..."
"That 'ol blonde brute's back." Tasuki interrupted.
"What 'brute?'" Nuriko wondered.
"Nakago." Tasuki replied. "He's the new general for the Kutou army."
Nuriko's jaw nearly hit the ground. "You're kidding."
Tasuki shook his head. "He was reborn, just like the rest of us. Same ugly face and everything."
Nuriko looked at Taka. "Are you sure?"
Taka nodded. "We need to get everyone together. They plan to overtake Konan."
Nuriko let go of Miaka entirely and looked at Chichiri again. "Doesn't that mean the rest of them are back too?"
"Most likely." Chichiri responded.
Nuriko through his fist into his other hand. "I'll kill that Ashitare...."
"What's wrong, Ryuuen?" Rouku asked, now standing with the group.
Nuriko turned to his brother. "I have to leave." He said, walking towards the horses.
Rouku ran after him. "Leave? What? Now?" He asked. Nuriko began untying a horse. "I won't let you leave again with those people! You died last time!"
Nuriko jerked his head around and gave a rageful look to his brother. "Look. how many time do I have to tell you? I'm NOT going to die!" He pulled the horse around.
"Ryuuen!" Rouku objected.
Nuriko looked up at the others standing there. "Well? What are you wasting time for!? Get a move on!" Nuriko swung onto the already saddled horse. He looked down at Rouku. "I'll be back, alright?"
His elder brother reluctantly nodded with tears in his eyes. Though he was older, much older now, Ryoku was a passive and at times, immature person. When Tasuki, Chichiri, and the others had gone into his home looking for Nuriko's memory jewel, he had given them a hard time. In the depths of his mind, he still blamed the Suzaku seven for Nuriko's death.
***************
"Very happy with Nuriko at their side, the group of now six rode on. Hotohori, Taka, Tasuki, Chichiri, and Nuriko had all been found, and now Mitsukake and Chiriko were needed. They could possibly be one of the greatest strategies in any war or fight -- Mitsukake could heal the wounded, and Chiriko would be able to use his mind to help find the best solutions." Keisuke took a breather. He handed the book to Tetsuya. Yui leaned on his shoulder, worry plaguing her mind.
"I still don't see how any of this is going to help." Keisuke said gloomily.
"Of course it will help!" Yui scolded. "The Suzaku seven are an unbeatable group, even in death they still protect Miaka. Believe in them. They defeated Seiryu once, I'm sure they can do it again." Yui's train of thought left her when she heard crying down the hall. She got up and sprinted to the baby's room. In a moment, the crying stopped. Tetsuya read on.
"Saori, who was very confused by what was happening, listened to stories the warriors told her of what had happened nearly 15 years ago. She began to understand why it was so important to get the group together. She still worried greatly about her friend Mayo...."
************************
"We should get an inn." Chichiri suggested. "It's getting dark, no da."
Taka nodded in agreement. "Chichiri, you and Miaka go look for an inn. Mitsukake should be around here somewhere, the rest of all will split up and look."
Chichiri nodded. He got off his horse and helped Saori down. "You can come with Miaka and I."
Saori shook her head. "No, I want to help look! The sooner we find all of you guys, the sooner I get Mayo back, right?"
Chichiri looked around, unsure.
"I'll take her."
"Thank you, Nuriko." Chichiri said. Saori walked over to Nuriko's horse. Chichiri took Miaka onto his and they started off in a different direction.
"Give me your hand." Nuriko directed.
Saori lifted her arm up. Nuriko took hold of her right hand, and pulled her up so fast Saori nearly screamed. He was so ... strong!
"Alright back there?" Nuriko asked.
"Yes, thank you." Saori replied.
Nuriko turned back to the rest of the remaining group. "Taka, you and Tasuki start over there..." Nuriko pointed. "Hospitals are a good place to look. Saori and I will start over here."
Taka and Tasuki nodded, and took off.
Nuriko kicked and his horse began a fast walk. Saori clung on as if for her life. It was much bumpier riding in the back.
"Mitsukake is a really big guy with brown hair. He also has a white and brown cat, so you can keep an eye out for that too." Nuriko suggested. They stopped to a slow walk. "I know you're not from around here, but look for any medical stations."
"Okay." Saori agreed.
"Here Mitsukake! Here Kitty kitty!" Tasuki shouted.
"Ugh, you are so annoying." Taka complained. "Can you be quiet for just a second and keep that big mouth shu..."
A wave of fire hit Taka. He coughed up some black smoke. "Not funny." he added.
"Yes, do you have any rooms available?" Chichiri asked a chunky clerk behind a desk.
The man got out a paper. "Yeah." He said in a gruff voice. "We have a one bed room and a three bed room, which 'un do ya want?"
"Three bedroom, please." Chichiri got out some of the money Hotohori had provided him with.
Miaka looked around the large lobby. There were a few groups of men sitting around tables, laughing and having drinks. There were stairs in the back that lead up to the rooms. It had been so long since she had to stay in one of these. She looked around. Chichiri thanked the Innkeeper and turned back to her. "So, ready to go?" He asked. Miaka nodded. The two left through the wooden door, and set back out to look for the others.
"Excuse me, does a Mr. Mistu...kake work here?" Saori asked a woman folding towels.
The woman looked at her, stopping what she was doing. "No, I'm sorry, I don't know a Mitsukake." She replied. "Is there anything I can help you with?" Saori frowned and shook her head. She bowed, and left.
"Hey lady, do you know any one by the name Mitsukake around here?" Tasuki asked a blonde at an Inn.
"Maybe we should ask by Mitsukake's REAL name." Taka whispered. Tasuki turned around. "And what exactly is it?"
Taka put a hand behind his head. "I...uh.... I dunno."
Tasuki turned back to the woman. "Well?"
The girl looked upset. "Are you going to get a room or not?"
"Are you going to answer the question or not?" Tasuki shot back in an annoying tone.
"Any luck?" Nuriko asked as Saori emerged from the clinic. Saori slumped. "Nope."
Nuriko ran his hand through his hair. "Dang... this is more difficult than I thought. Why couldn't he be easier to find, like ME?"
Saori giggled.
"Nuriko! Saori!"
The duo turned towards Miaka's voice.
"Any luck?" Chichiri asked.
The look on their faces told him they hadn't found the doctor.
Chichiri sighed. "Oh well, we should turn in. I got us a room at the Kikuwa Inn."
********************
"With disappointment on their minds, the group retired to the comfort of the Inn." Tetsuya read. "Back in Kutou, the man known as Nakago arranged his plans..."
******************
"The emperor wants Konan as soon as possible. His impatience may make us lose the war." Nakago said in his low voice.
"What do you suggest?" Asked a woman with scarlet hair.
"We get rid of our main challenges first." Nakago said with an evil grin. "Soi, I want you to go out and take care of the Suzaku Seishi before they gather." Nakago turned to three men in long, dark blue cloaks. "Continue prevalence."
"Yessir!" The men replied, shooting out so fast they were nearly invisible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Chichiri, you're still awake?" Tasuki asked as Chichiri walked down the stair to the bar where Tasuki and Nuriko were.
"I sense a bad omen, no da." Chichiri replied. "Some kind of evil force is coming."
"Are you sure?" Asked Tasuki.
Nuriko let out an irritated moan. "Everything is so screwed up! What is wrong with people these days? You wake up in bed at home where everything is just fine and by nightfall you're searching for seishi to save the whole dang empire!" Nuriko got so caught up he accidentally crushed the glass he was holding in his hand. "Oops..." He made a face. "They just don't make glasses like they used to..."
Chichiri tensed up. "Something's here!" He shouted. He ran back to the stairs, followed by Nuriko and Tasuki.
Chichiri burst into the room where Saori, Miaka, and Taka lay sleeping. Miaka looked up. "Chichiri.... what's..."
"Get down!" Chichiri shouted.
Miaka ducked into her pillow. Chichiri waved his hands and shot out yellow lightening right over Miaka's head. A Kutou spy dropped down, landing with a thud. He ran for the window.
"REKKA SHINEN!!!!"
The man's cape was engulfed in flames, but he crashed through the glass of the window and onto the street below.
"What? Huh?!" Saori shot up from her position next to Miaka.
"Chichiri! get him!" Tasuki yelled.
Chichiri jumped out the window, floating to the ground. He looked around.
Everyone staring at him, Chichiri emerged back into the room. "He's gone." Chichiri stated.
"It isn't safe here." Taka said, standing up from his bed.
"You're probably right." Chichiri agreed. "We should leave."
"Where will we go?" Saori asked.
Chichiri thought.
"We can go out and look for Mitsukake some more." Tasuki suggested.
"Miaka!" Saori cried, shaking the redhead.
"What is it?" Taka asked, jumping over.
"She's not waking up!" Saori exclaimed.
Everyone circled the bed.
"Miaka! Miaka!" Taka called, shaking his wife.
"That's not going to help!" Nuriko scolded. He put his hand on her head. "She's got a fever, a bad one too. We need a doctor!"
*******************
Yui cleared her throat, holding back tears. "The girl, the priestess of Suzaku, was brought to a small medical clinic, carried by Taka on a horse ahead of everyone else." Yui sniffed. "Brought into one of the hospitals Saori and Nuriko had checked earlier, she was given immediate medical attention..."
********************
"None of the tonics seem to be working..." A nurse said, feeling Miaka's forehead again. "I'll get another cold rag." The nurse turned and quickly walked into a back room where a water pump was located.
"I don't think it's a regular fever. no da." Chichiri said, leaning on his stick. "She was just fine a moment ago, I think that black dressed man did it."
"That wasn't a regular guy, it was a Kutou spy." Taka said, hate in his voice. "I would know them anywhere. All they ever did was give us trouble." He leaned over Miaka's bed, stroking her hair away from her face.
The nurse came back in, with a bowl of water. There were several gray rags in it. She placed the bowl on a counter and began to ring one of them out, folding it and putting it on Miaka's steaming forehead. She turned to the others. "I'm sorry, but could some of you leave? It's a small room, and You are in the way." She said, trying to sound polite.
Tasuki looked like he was going to say something, but Nuriko pulled on his beige sleeve, motioning towards the door. Taka stayed on Miaka's bedside while the others filed out. Saori looked grief-stricken. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up to see Chichiri.
"We should go, no da." He spoke simply. Reluctantly, Saori walked towards the door as well.
Nuriko was sitting down in the front room.
"Where's Tasuki?" Chichiri asked, following behind Saori.
"He went outside." Nuriko stated arms crossed. "Just let him cool off before he gets in one of his moods."
The door leading outside opened. Saori felt the cool air hit her. She looked around. Tasuki had his arms folded, and his back was leaning against the building.
"Are... Are you alright?" Saori asked, keeping the door open with her foot.
Tasuki glanced her way. "Yeah kid," he replied, "I'm fine."
Saori slapped on a smile and went back inside. "He's alright, just cooling off, right Nuriko?"
Nuriko smiled from his chair.
They sat there quietly for about ten minutes.
"Uh, Chichiri?" Saori asked timidly.
Chichiri gave her his attention.
"Are... are you sure this is the right village?" She asked again. "I mean, is Mitsukake here? For sure?"
"He was here when I visited him about six months ago, no da." Chichiri answered. "It's not that big of a town, so perhaps he did go somewhere..."
Saori jumped at the sudden sound of thunder. She turned around. A few drops of water hit the window, followed by a few more, until the window was chattering with the sound of rain. The front door opened and Tasuki came inside. He looked around, all eyes on him.
"What?" He blurted out. "It's RAINING." He walked over to a chair. "Morons..." he muttered.
A streak of lightening fell across the sky. "I hate it when storms come so suddenly like this." Nuriko pointed out. "No warning."
Just then, Taka came from the back. He looked around. "She's still out of it." He sighed.
Saori walked over to the window and propped her elbows out on the sill. She stared at the lights in a home a little ways off. 'I wonder if my parents are worrying about me...' she wondered. This was her what, second night here? And still no sign of Mayo.
Saori's chestnut eyes caught something running down the street. It was an animal, or so seemed...
"A cat!" Saori jumped away from the window. "There's a cat out there! Poor thing, it'll be soaked!" Saori pulled open the door and ran outside, the door closing right before Nuriko's objection.
Saori looked around. The cat was under a small eve across the street to the right of where the medical clinic was. Saori looked down the street and ran across, running so she could at least try to keep some of her dry.
She bent down towards the cat, arms open. "Come here little kitty, come on..."
The door to the hospital opened again, and Nuriko was standing in the doorway. "Saori! Get back here! We don't need TWO sick people!" He nagged.
The white cat jumped into Saori's arms, getting her shirt even wetter. Saori lifted it to her chest, petting it softly. "I'm coming!" She called. She started across the street, when...
~*BOOM!*~
A huge bolt of lightening hit right in front of Saori. Saori fell several feet back, clutching the cat with one arm, and supporting herself from the street with the other. She looked at where the lightening hit. There was a large crack in the packed dirt.
"AH!" She squealed, scooting farther away from the crack. She felt something tug up on the back of her collar, making her stand upright.
"What in the world do you think you're doing?!" Nuriko shouted.
"I'm... I'm sorry!" Saori cried back.
Nuriko rolled his eyes, followed with an exasperated sigh. "Get back in..."
A second bolt hit right where Nuriko stood. Before it touched, Nuriko pushed Saori one-way and himself the other. He landed with a fiery burn rolling up his legs.
Nuriko squinted. The water on the roads conducted the electricity.
Tasuki came bursting outside, followed by Chichiri. "What the hell is going on?!!!" Tasuki shouted.
Nuriko stood up and looked up into the raining sky. "There's lightening! It hit twice already, like it's aiming for us!"
Chichiri held his stick up, a clear dome forming from its tips. He and Tasuki, now followed by Taka, ran across to where Nuriko and Saori lay.
Another gleaming blast of electricity hit down on the protective dome, running down it and into the ground.
Chichiri clutched his stick. "It's strong no da!" As fast as the first on came, another hit, blasting part way through Chichiri's shield and scattering the people in it over the cracked street.
The clouds in the sky began swirling together in a spiral design. Saori, shaking and holding onto the frisky cat, looked up in fear at the sky.
She turned to Chichiri. "There's someone up there!" She yelled through the noisy storm.
"What?" Chichiri called back.
Saori took in a big breath. "There is someone out there!" She yelled again, pointing to the sky.
Chichiri looked up. "Soi." He quietly confirmed.
"Is that ((edited, sorry)) back from hell?" Tasuki cursed.
Lightening fell from the clouds again, but this time hitting the top of the medical center, blowing off chunks of wood.
Taka darted across the street into the shattering hospital.
A strong wind blew, and the person in the sky was now much closer to the ground. Her hair, which was pulled into a ponytail, blew violently in the wind.
"Warriors of Suzaku, we meet again! This time however, you will not prevail!" Came the low voice from the sky. Everyone recognized her as Soi, of the Seiryu Seven.
Tasuki reached behind him and ripped out his favorite toy. "Rekka Shinen!" He shouted.
The flames soared up through the rain, and was met by a blast of lightening. The fire, already being depleted by the rain, disappeared, taking the lightening with it.
Tasuki swore again. "You'll have to do better than that!" Soi laughed. She focused on the bandit. "It is YOU I want to kill the most!"
Lifting two fingers into the air, Soi called again upon her powers. She pointed her hand at the wet redhead, sending a very large energy spear at him.
"Ka wai ei no CHI!" Chichiri shouted, standing in the lightning's path. A burst of red came out of his staff, hitting away the lightening.
Soi now used both hands, shooting lightening at the warriors again. Chichiri recalled on his spell, but it wasn't quite enough...
In a huge flash, Tasuki was sent hurdling down the street, landing hard and skidding across the mud to a stop. "Now, fulfill my destiny!" Soi called up to the sky. Swirls of clouds spun around her hands like a tornado. She smiled as she felt her power reaching the maximum. "Now, DIE!!!!"
"Oh no you don't!"
In a flash of purple and blue, a large carriage went flying up into the air, hitting full blow into the unexpecting woman.
The carriage fell back down, landing and breaking as gravity took its toll. Soi was gone.
Turning from the storm, Nuriko ran back down the street to where is injured friend was. Saori was already kneeling over him, still holding onto the cat.
"Hang on Tasuki!" Nuriko yelled shook the bandit's shoulders.
Chichiri stood over Tasuki.
Saori started crying. She held her hand up for Nuriko to see. There was blood pasted on it.
"If we don't get him help fast, we'll lose him!" Nuriko pushed his soaking hair away from his eyes.
"Let me help."
All three looked up. The first thing Saori saw was a pure, green light shining down. It looked like a bunch of bubbles. It was so warm....
Dawn was starting to break, and the rain poured down slower. The cat in Saori's arms finally freed himself and jumped at the strange man.
Tasuki squinted and opened his eyes, looking around him. "Did I miss something?" he asked. he looked straight up. "Oh, hi Mitsukake. How have you been?"