To Metajoker: Sorry for any confusion! I didn't mean you didn't like any
Genbu warriors, I was referring to Inami alone. He kills his sister huh?
sad!
*hugs metajoker* You are the first person to notice and ask me that!
(the thing with the picture) Thank you, but I can't answer that. My
pixation of Uruki totally rocks, and if you like her. well. stay tuned for
my sequel ^_^.
Author's note: Ok, I was a bit wrong on Chapter 37. THIS should be the last chapter with a lot of anything Inami in it for a while. I hope.
Chapter 38 : A Life Saved, A Life Lost
"But we are housing the very man who attacked me!" Seki shouted, trying to push past the woman in front of him, his father watching a bit angry himself from behind.
"Seki-sama, please forgive me, but you must let them continue with what they're doing!" Inami said, trying to hold back her prince by the shoulders in one of the large open rooms.
Seki calmed down for a moment to speak with Inami. "Miss Cheinun, how can I..."
"He didn't know what he was doing, there may be time for him to be healed!" Inami persisted. "You met Nuriko, you know who he really is!" Inami dropped down to her knees and bowed her head. "Please remember they are under my stay here, and I will take any punishment for their actions, Sire! Please remember that I am the one who failed in my duties, don't be wrathful on them, please!" She begged.
"Akue..." Seki said, a little shocked in the girl's behavior.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"AAAHHH!" Nuriko screamed as he pulled against his temporary restraints and well and the force of Tamahome and Tasuki holding him down in a separate room of the palace.
"We should heal him!" Miaka cried.
"I don't... think that's such a good idea...." Tamahome grunted, trying to hold back the injured man. "If he's this strong like this... and he's still insane!"
"I don't understand!" Miaka called out. "The bracelets are gone!"
"Perhaps his systems were poisoned too much. Hotohori said quietly, his eyes quivering.
Chichiri sat before the struggling Nuriko, a hand brought before his face, two fingers raised in concentration. His mask lay on the ground beside him.
"He'll die if we do not do something soon." Mitsukake whispered to the monk.
The site of Nuriko was certainly a poor one, perhaps one of his lowest moments. The man once so full of life and energy was suffering greatly. His constant struggling opened new wounds in his skin and worsened the ones he all ready had from his battle. His head pounded. He seemed insane at the least, crying out as if in sheer torture. His state had not lessened at all in the near hour he had been in that room, even though both his bracelets were gone.
Actually, his bracelets were on a small tray in the corner by Hotohori, it was dangerous for them to touch them. One lay there, dull in the room despite all the lighting, the other was in pieces, some as small as grains of dust.
A barrier of red began to glow around Nuriko, as well as his holders, Chichiri, and Mitsukake. Chichiri held his staff up in his other hand, and he began chanting lightly. Miaka cried in the corner, clinging onto Saori's shirt. Saori looked on with wide eyes, not knowing what to think. She just remained quiet, not able to comfort herself or the priestess.
Mitsukake got up a little and crawled over towards Tamahome, kneeling beside him. He opened a small container, letting a bit of the remaining water drip into his hands. He closed and opened his hand again over Nuriko's head, the crystal liquid flowing like mist over the man's face. A red symbol on Mitsukake's hand began to glow, and he bowed his head in concentration. What he was doing was actually two things. One, though he would not heal Nuriko fully, he did just enough to keep him from killing himself, and though it was nearly impossible, he would try to defeat the Shidoku curse inside of him.
Nuriko's desperate screams subside some, the red barrier around him brightening. He still struggled against Tasuki and Tamahome, but his body grew weak and tired. Chichiri and Mitsukake were trying to reach him, trying to save him. Unlike Tasuki though, it may all ready be too late.
"I can't lose him..." Miaka whispered, still clinging onto Saori.
Saori looked down onto the priestess. "What?" She asked quietly.
"I can't lose him..." Miaka repeated, soaking Saori's shirt with her tears. "I can't lose him again." More tears welled up in her eyes. "Oh please Chichiri, save him!!!" She called. Her voice seemed to echo into any distances, a red light glowing from her chest.
"Miaka..." Saori said, looking back onto the scene.
"Please Suzaku..." Miaka prayed. "Please save your warrior... please save Nuriko... I'm begging you... bring him back to us!"
Suddenly red light engulfed the room, so bright it blocked out everything else.
"What's this?!" Chiriko asked before he too was covered by the light.
It was warm, blinding, almost not like light, but something indescribable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What in the world?!" The Emperor called, pointing.
Inami and Seki both turned around, a bit of red light shining down an adjourning hallway.
"Suzaku..." Inami whispered. She stood up, pushing away the tears in her own eyes. "This... this is the light of Suzaku, the god of the south..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nuriko slowly opened his eyes, surrounded by red. There was no floor, no up, no down. Before his very eyes the strange wounds he didn't know how he acquired disappeared, his robe perfecting itself like new. He seemed to be alone, in some strange vortex between dimensions.
"Nuriko..."
Nuriko mind slowly began to work and piece together to give him some comprehension of what was going on. He felt a dark energy suddenly lift from him, as if a weight being taken off his shoulders.
"Nuriko."
Nuriko looked up into the eyes of his priestess, the woman he had calmly loved for so long, whom was floating lightly above him, hand extended.
"Miaka?" He asked. He suddenly noticed the emotions swarming around her. "Why... why are you crying?"
"Nuriko..." Miaka repeated, extending her hands. "Come back." she whispered.
Nuriko lifted one of his hands, feeling Miaka's warmth as she grasped it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What happened?" Hotohori asked.
Nuriko opened his tired eyes, feeling the hard ground beneath him.
"Nuriko!" Tasuki shouted, noticing his friend's quiet alertness.
"He's been healed..." Mitsukake said, not sure if it was he who did it.
"What... happened?" Nuriko asked as Tamahome lifted him into a more sitting position.
"Nuriko, you dummy!" Miaka cried, running over and collapsing onto him. She threw her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his chest. "Don't ever... don't ever do that again!"
"Do... what?" Nuriko asked. He could barely hold himself up, his entire body felt limp and tired. "How... how did you all get here?" He asked, his eyelids heavy.
"It's a long story, no da." Chichiri smiled.
Nuriko closed his eyes, placing an arm around Miaka, holding her close to him. "I'm... really.... tired...." he spoke faintly.
Saori stood up by the doorway where Inami now was. "I saw it." She whispered.
Inami looked over at the girl.
"I saw it..." Saori said, barely audible. "Suzaku, I saw the power of Suzaku..." She clutched her hands together under her chin. "It... was amazing."
Inami smiled and looked at the Suzaku seven, all huddled around Nuriko. The Suzaku seven, a group of people she never would have expected to meet; Seven men, and a woman, who constantly surprised her, who constantly impressed her.
"She's a lot like her." She thought, looking softly upon Miaka. "She's a lot like Takiko."
*****************************
"Finally! We're finally going to Sairo, to get the fourth clue!" Miaka said happily, pulling on the packs fastened to a brown horse's saddle. "I'm so excited Tamahome!"
Tamahome placed a hand on her head. "We'll be there soon."
It was a warm Hokkan morning, the sun shining on the wet paths and grass the snow had left behind. There was faint chatter in the distance, and finally they would be leaving Hokkan, the land where Miaka felt she had been in for an eternity.
"Where's Chichiri?" Tasuki asked, pulling a horse by the reins up to Tamahome and Miaka's.
"Huh? Oh, he's inside still, I think. He's with Nuriko, apologizing." Tamahome smiled. "Nuriko was even more confused than you were when he woke up earlier."
Tasuki smirked. "Don't think I ain't gonna make him feel it, too." He made a fist. "Man, this is going to be great! He'll be sucking up for weeks!"
"Tasuki!" Miaka scolded, laughing.
Chiriko and Mitsukake came into sight, carrying a few packs in their arms. Hotohori was behind them.
"We are nearly ready to leave." Hotohori said, pulling along another horse, a white one. "I was able to send a message to Boushin."
"Really?" Miaka said, smiling. "How nice Hotohori!" She looked around. "Well, let's go inside and get the rest of what we need."
"I'm sorry!"
"Nuriko, you've apologized enough." Seki said. "You're just like Tasuki. perhaps even worse."
"We really are sorry, no da." Chichiri added.
Emperor Sanoii looked around him. "Chichiri, have you seen Miss Cheinun anywhere?"
Chichiri shook his head. "I saw her early this morning, but not of late, no da."
Nuriko sighed. "If you want, I'll look for her." He said, still feeling guilty.
"That would be nice." the emperor replied.
Nuriko turned around and left the throne room, half glad to get out of there. He felt terrible for what he did, and he didn't even remember it. This must have been what Tamahome felt like... Nuriko remembered how Tamahome took the news when he found out what he did to Tasuki and how he broke Miaka's arm. Nuriko sighed. "Let's see, where oh where is Inami?"
It had been nearly twenty minutes and Nuriko had asked several people, and no sign of the Ambassador. Nuriko was about ready to give up. He passed by a window, revealing the reverse garden to the palace, the largest and nicest one. In his admiration he noticed long hair blowing in the breeze in the back on a small hill. "Finally." He said, looking for the door to exit the palace.
"Inami, Sanoii-sama is looking for you." Nuriko said, slightly out of breath as he finished climbing the hill. It was some walk out here. "Inami? Did you hear me?" Nuriko looked past the woman who was about his height, and noticed what she was looking at.
Tombstones. In the back of this garden was the imperial plot, a cemetery where past Kings and royalty were buried. There were a number of headstones, at least 20. The one in front of Inami said "Entato Chen" in large, bold letters. In much smaller ones, it had dates and a short delivery sentence. Under the "Rest in Peace" in smaller bold letters, the tombstone read "Hikitsu of the Genbu Seven."
Nuriko was silent for a moment, wishing he hadn't disrupted the silence. Inami knelt down and placed a small bouquet of white flowers on the grave, a few petals escaping in the wind.
"You miss him, don't you?" Nuriko asked. He had been with Miaka in spirit when she and the others had entered the cave on Mt. Koku after his death to get the shinzaho, and they had met two of the Genbu seven. He knew Hikitsu to be one of them.
Inami nodded. "I do." She answered. She stood back up. "Sanoii-sama needs me again? Thanks for coming out here, Nuriko." Inami said, smiling. She walked past him quietly, back towards the palace.
Nuriko stood there for a moment, looking at the white flowers on top of the grave of the Warrior who held tohis duties even after death. Nuriko, and all the Suzaku seven for that matter, thought of Hikitsu and his partner, Tomite, to be great heroes, and Miaka saw them as idols. He didn't know about Inami's relationship with him, but he felt a tight bond between the two.
As Nuriko turned to leave, his eye caught onto another tombstone's name. He turned around and looked at it, taking a step closer to read it fully. Quite similar to the one that flowers laid upon, the name read "Akue Ribiki," and the base read "Inami of the Genbu Seven."
Nuriko remembered Inami's story of being reborn, but he guessed he didn't think this far into it. Come to think of it, his body was still buried in the soils of Mt. Koku. Nuriko looked around, a palace wall in the distance. As he turned to leave again, he placed a hand gently on the stone.
Nuriko gasped as a strange sensation course throughout his body. He closed his eyes hard, opening them, the images around him becoming blurry.
~
"It's certainly something we can't easily deal with."
Nuriko found himself looking into a room of a small home, several people sitting or standing around a tall man in a dark robe next to someone in imperial clothing. The man had an eye patch on.
"But how do we know how to deal with it?" A young-looking man with dark blue hair asked, a bow and arrow strapped onto his back.
"How do you deal with a demon?" Another man asked, he had short off- white hair that reached a bit past his shoulders.
"I do not know if he is so much a demon, Urumiya." The first man replied, leaning against a desk. "But he puts Hokkan in danger. Perhaps his limitations won't stop here."
"I say we just go out and deal with him ourselves." A girl in the corner said, her arms folded against her chest. "It won't be THAT hard. C'mon, Tsuku. We could at least try."
Nuriko wondered what he was seeing. The people in the room obviously didn't see him though.
"Akue, that is too reckless, it's too dangerous." Hikitsu answered firmly.
The girl frowned, brushing her short brown hair behind her ear. "Well, than what do you want to do? Tenkou is terrorizing everyone, he's killed hundreds! We can't just sit here and think!"
"Akue, please." Urumiya said quietly.
"Oh shut up." The girl snapped, sitting in a chair. She calmed down some and looked up thoughtfully. "Hikitsu, another war is breaking out. I don't want to lose any more important people."
"And you won't, have faith." The tall man replied.
"Please, we need your help." The man in imperial robes declared.
"Perhaps we could fight him, but use safer tactics." Another man with dark hair suggested, glancing over at the girl.
"You may be right, Hatsui."
Nuriko closed his eyes as the images flashed in a bright light, and when he opened them again, the scene had changed entirely. It was a long, wide field, covered in dried yellow grass. Screams were heard in the background, and a huge, wide pillar of light swirled like a tornado in the center of the field, glowing with magenta and purple light. A feeling of intense evil surrounded it.
"We need to seal him!" Akue screamed as the wind pushed against them. She took off running towards the pillar.
Hikitsu grasped onto her arm firmly. "No Akue! Not by yourself! Stay here!"
Akue looked back at Hikitsu, then at the tornado of light. Nuriko could barely see her reach for a gold object at her side and swing a sword at Hikitsu's arm.
Hikitsu let go before the blade struck him, watching the girl run for the light. "Akue!!!" He shouted after her, about to run himself.
"Hikitsu!" Urumiya shouted, keeping the man back.
The scene flashed and changed again, but only slightly, as if moving forward in time.
Akue's sign glowed brightly as she flew in the tornado, using her powers to keep her still while the debris and energy swirled around her. "Tenkou!" She shouted.
At the base of the tornado, a man Nuriko recognized looked up at her, his form larger than that of a human's. "You cannot stop me." He said, yellow eyes fixated on the Genbu Warrior.
Akue fell back as the energy blast hit her, trying to stay up in the air. Bruises and scrapes covered her entire body. "Now Tenkou!" She held out her double sword, her symbol glowing as bright at the swirling energy around her.
The black rip beneath Tenkou grew larger, slowly sealing him away. He was being sucked into it like a black hole, a desperate look on his face as he felt himself disappearing. "NO!" He shouted. "I WILL NOT BE BEATEN!!!!" He screamed as his head was sucked into the void. With a last chance, a large yellow orb formed in his outstretched hand, releasing itself in a large beam, right at the girl above him.
It moved so fast. The light hit the girl, passing through her like a sharp knife. The symbol of the ox on the girl's forehead immediately disappeared. Akue seemed to give one last feeble look, one last breath into eternity as her life was instantly taken from her.
The images blurred again, the scenery of the cemetery slowly starting to make it's way into the scene. The last thing Nuriko could interpret was the same field, calm, and Hikitsu crying over the brunette's lifeless body.
"AKUE!!!!!!!!!!"
~
Nuriko collapsed onto the ground, breathing hard as he removed his hand from the headstone. It took a moment to regain his composure.
"What... what was that?" He asked breathlessly. What had he seen?
After a moment his body calmed from the shock and he looked up at the tombstone. "So that's it..." He whispered. "That's how you died, Inami."
Nuriko stood up, still shocked that he saw such a thing. He walked back down the hill, heading back to the throne room. Should he tell Inami what happened, or... was it too personal? Why had he seen it?
Before entering the palace, Nuriko looked back at the cemetery. "Maybe, maybe she wanted someone to understand..." he thought. He smiled just a little as he entered, making his way to the throne room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A loud group of people entered into the throne room, led by Miaka. Miaka ran ahead, going up to the others. "We're just about ready to leave now." She said, bowing politely.
"Despite all that's happened..." The Emperor began, "Part of me is sorry to see you go. You've brought a bit of excitement to Hokkan."
"Perhaps too much excitement." Seki joked. Inami elbowed him a little.
Miaka smiled, looking over to Inami. "Inami, I have to ask..."
*POP!*
"GAH!!!" Saori screamed, falling over onto the floor.
"What in..." Seki began.
"Taiisukun?!" Miaka called out, surprised, walking over. "What are you doing here?!"
"Like always, I have business to discuss with you that you've seemed to have overlooked." Taiisukun snapped, though she didn't sound rude.
"TAIISUKUN!!!" Inami shouted from behind Miaka, running up, smiling. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in ages!"
Taiisukun looked over, identifying the loud voice. "Ah, Inami. I see you've chosen a slightly different appearance in this life."
Miaka tugged on Inami's robe. "You know Taiisukun?"
Inami nodded. "Of course!" She lifted her gold rod off her waist. "She's the one who gave me this back when we summoned Genbu."
Tasuki and Tamahome made a face. "Just... how old are you?" Tamahome asked.
"It's not polite to ask a woman's age!" Taiisukun shouted. "Nuriko, smack him."
"Ow!"
"This is the Taiisukun of legend?" Seki awed. He bowed, leaning over to his father. "Not the prettiest face I've ever seen..."
"First thing first." Taiisukun said, looking over to Nuriko as she floated above the ground. "I'm aware that right now you are recovering from a great ordeal and you may not understand everything that's going on, but you will in due time." The bag around Nuriko's shoulder lifted and opened, a bracelet and some shattered pieces rising out towards Taiisukun. Two pink bubbles encircled them, flashed, and disappeared, leaving two beautiful works of jewelry, which disappeared and reappeared around Nuriko's wrists. "You may now wear those safely."
"Thanks!" Nuriko said.
Taiisukun turned towards Miaka. "Miaka, you have been delayed in your mission and you must hurry, it is very important you obtain the shinzaho. I came because I sensed a great evil, one that is increasing."
"A great... evil?" Miaka asked, swallowing at the thought.
Taiisukun nodded. "It is not only here, but in your world as well, and I sense a slight connection."
"A connection of evil between my world and this one?" Miaka asked, looking back to Tamahome.
"Yes." Taiisukun said. "I fear something horrible will happen if you do not complete your mission. I must leave now, but remember what I said. I believe you are going to Sairo, is that correct?"
Miaka nodded.
"Than I wish you all the best." And with that, Taiisukun's image flashed and disappeared, leaving the Emperor and Prince somewhat flabbergasted.
"Sairo... that's right!" Miaka turned around to the tall woman behind her. "Inami, I've been meaning to ask you, will you come with us to Sairo and help us with the shinzaho?"
Inami looked at Miaka for a moment, then past her to the others, sighing. "I can't Miaka." She answered. "My duty lies here, in Hokkan, and here is where I must stay. Besides..." Inami looked to the side. "I may be needed in Konan again, and I was only help because I know the land."
"You can help us in Sairo too, though." Miaka said, sounding hopeful.
Inami shook her head, glancing over to the orange haired bandit. "I can't. I'm sorry."
Miaka nodded, then smiled again. She bowed. "Thank you then, for all you have done for us."
Inami smiled. "No need for thanks, I really didn't do that much."
Miaka turned around. "Is everyone ready? Let's go to Sairo!"
Everyone left the throne room and began heading towards the horses. Tasuki came out last, most likely to say a few words more than the others.
"Akue."
Inami turned around to her emperor. "Yes, Highness?"
"You want to go with them, don't you?" He asked.
Inami smiled. "I'm needed here, Sire. It's my whole purpose in living this life."
Sanoii placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, keeping his voice low. "One can protect a country and not be in it."
After a moment, Inami bowed humbly. "Thank you, Highness."
"I thought you weren't coming!" Tasuki said as Inami pulled up her own horse.
"I changed my mind." Inami joked.
Miaka smiled.
***************************************
"Blue light?" Yui asked herself, looking at her wet arm. She had just come out of the bathtub, and was wrapped in a towel. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw a flash of blue light on herself.
"Yui, are you okay in there?" Tetsuya asked, knocking on the door.
Yui looked forward, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "Yeah, I'm fine Tetsuya."
"Okay.' Tetsuya replied. "Just to let you know, everything is fine again and they're all headed to Sairo."
Yui smiled, relaxing. "That's good." She said. "Stay safe Miaka, I believe in you."
*************************************
"They come." Nakago said.
"You gave Nuriko back to them, Nakago." Mayo said coldly.
Nakago smirked. "Again, the Suzaku Seven prove me wrong, but that will changed. Once again we are ahead of them in the search for the shinzahos, and we will summon Seiryu and wipe them out before they see what's coming."
Mayo smiled. "What do you have in store for them now?"
Nakago turned around. "Is it ready?"
Mayo turned to see who he was talking to, seeing a face in the darkness.
"Yes." A cackly voice answered. And soon, we will be able to...___________"
Nakago smiled. "See priestess? We are one step closer to our goal."
Author's note: Ok, I was a bit wrong on Chapter 37. THIS should be the last chapter with a lot of anything Inami in it for a while. I hope.
Chapter 38 : A Life Saved, A Life Lost
"But we are housing the very man who attacked me!" Seki shouted, trying to push past the woman in front of him, his father watching a bit angry himself from behind.
"Seki-sama, please forgive me, but you must let them continue with what they're doing!" Inami said, trying to hold back her prince by the shoulders in one of the large open rooms.
Seki calmed down for a moment to speak with Inami. "Miss Cheinun, how can I..."
"He didn't know what he was doing, there may be time for him to be healed!" Inami persisted. "You met Nuriko, you know who he really is!" Inami dropped down to her knees and bowed her head. "Please remember they are under my stay here, and I will take any punishment for their actions, Sire! Please remember that I am the one who failed in my duties, don't be wrathful on them, please!" She begged.
"Akue..." Seki said, a little shocked in the girl's behavior.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"AAAHHH!" Nuriko screamed as he pulled against his temporary restraints and well and the force of Tamahome and Tasuki holding him down in a separate room of the palace.
"We should heal him!" Miaka cried.
"I don't... think that's such a good idea...." Tamahome grunted, trying to hold back the injured man. "If he's this strong like this... and he's still insane!"
"I don't understand!" Miaka called out. "The bracelets are gone!"
"Perhaps his systems were poisoned too much. Hotohori said quietly, his eyes quivering.
Chichiri sat before the struggling Nuriko, a hand brought before his face, two fingers raised in concentration. His mask lay on the ground beside him.
"He'll die if we do not do something soon." Mitsukake whispered to the monk.
The site of Nuriko was certainly a poor one, perhaps one of his lowest moments. The man once so full of life and energy was suffering greatly. His constant struggling opened new wounds in his skin and worsened the ones he all ready had from his battle. His head pounded. He seemed insane at the least, crying out as if in sheer torture. His state had not lessened at all in the near hour he had been in that room, even though both his bracelets were gone.
Actually, his bracelets were on a small tray in the corner by Hotohori, it was dangerous for them to touch them. One lay there, dull in the room despite all the lighting, the other was in pieces, some as small as grains of dust.
A barrier of red began to glow around Nuriko, as well as his holders, Chichiri, and Mitsukake. Chichiri held his staff up in his other hand, and he began chanting lightly. Miaka cried in the corner, clinging onto Saori's shirt. Saori looked on with wide eyes, not knowing what to think. She just remained quiet, not able to comfort herself or the priestess.
Mitsukake got up a little and crawled over towards Tamahome, kneeling beside him. He opened a small container, letting a bit of the remaining water drip into his hands. He closed and opened his hand again over Nuriko's head, the crystal liquid flowing like mist over the man's face. A red symbol on Mitsukake's hand began to glow, and he bowed his head in concentration. What he was doing was actually two things. One, though he would not heal Nuriko fully, he did just enough to keep him from killing himself, and though it was nearly impossible, he would try to defeat the Shidoku curse inside of him.
Nuriko's desperate screams subside some, the red barrier around him brightening. He still struggled against Tasuki and Tamahome, but his body grew weak and tired. Chichiri and Mitsukake were trying to reach him, trying to save him. Unlike Tasuki though, it may all ready be too late.
"I can't lose him..." Miaka whispered, still clinging onto Saori.
Saori looked down onto the priestess. "What?" She asked quietly.
"I can't lose him..." Miaka repeated, soaking Saori's shirt with her tears. "I can't lose him again." More tears welled up in her eyes. "Oh please Chichiri, save him!!!" She called. Her voice seemed to echo into any distances, a red light glowing from her chest.
"Miaka..." Saori said, looking back onto the scene.
"Please Suzaku..." Miaka prayed. "Please save your warrior... please save Nuriko... I'm begging you... bring him back to us!"
Suddenly red light engulfed the room, so bright it blocked out everything else.
"What's this?!" Chiriko asked before he too was covered by the light.
It was warm, blinding, almost not like light, but something indescribable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What in the world?!" The Emperor called, pointing.
Inami and Seki both turned around, a bit of red light shining down an adjourning hallway.
"Suzaku..." Inami whispered. She stood up, pushing away the tears in her own eyes. "This... this is the light of Suzaku, the god of the south..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nuriko slowly opened his eyes, surrounded by red. There was no floor, no up, no down. Before his very eyes the strange wounds he didn't know how he acquired disappeared, his robe perfecting itself like new. He seemed to be alone, in some strange vortex between dimensions.
"Nuriko..."
Nuriko mind slowly began to work and piece together to give him some comprehension of what was going on. He felt a dark energy suddenly lift from him, as if a weight being taken off his shoulders.
"Nuriko."
Nuriko looked up into the eyes of his priestess, the woman he had calmly loved for so long, whom was floating lightly above him, hand extended.
"Miaka?" He asked. He suddenly noticed the emotions swarming around her. "Why... why are you crying?"
"Nuriko..." Miaka repeated, extending her hands. "Come back." she whispered.
Nuriko lifted one of his hands, feeling Miaka's warmth as she grasped it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What happened?" Hotohori asked.
Nuriko opened his tired eyes, feeling the hard ground beneath him.
"Nuriko!" Tasuki shouted, noticing his friend's quiet alertness.
"He's been healed..." Mitsukake said, not sure if it was he who did it.
"What... happened?" Nuriko asked as Tamahome lifted him into a more sitting position.
"Nuriko, you dummy!" Miaka cried, running over and collapsing onto him. She threw her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his chest. "Don't ever... don't ever do that again!"
"Do... what?" Nuriko asked. He could barely hold himself up, his entire body felt limp and tired. "How... how did you all get here?" He asked, his eyelids heavy.
"It's a long story, no da." Chichiri smiled.
Nuriko closed his eyes, placing an arm around Miaka, holding her close to him. "I'm... really.... tired...." he spoke faintly.
Saori stood up by the doorway where Inami now was. "I saw it." She whispered.
Inami looked over at the girl.
"I saw it..." Saori said, barely audible. "Suzaku, I saw the power of Suzaku..." She clutched her hands together under her chin. "It... was amazing."
Inami smiled and looked at the Suzaku seven, all huddled around Nuriko. The Suzaku seven, a group of people she never would have expected to meet; Seven men, and a woman, who constantly surprised her, who constantly impressed her.
"She's a lot like her." She thought, looking softly upon Miaka. "She's a lot like Takiko."
*****************************
"Finally! We're finally going to Sairo, to get the fourth clue!" Miaka said happily, pulling on the packs fastened to a brown horse's saddle. "I'm so excited Tamahome!"
Tamahome placed a hand on her head. "We'll be there soon."
It was a warm Hokkan morning, the sun shining on the wet paths and grass the snow had left behind. There was faint chatter in the distance, and finally they would be leaving Hokkan, the land where Miaka felt she had been in for an eternity.
"Where's Chichiri?" Tasuki asked, pulling a horse by the reins up to Tamahome and Miaka's.
"Huh? Oh, he's inside still, I think. He's with Nuriko, apologizing." Tamahome smiled. "Nuriko was even more confused than you were when he woke up earlier."
Tasuki smirked. "Don't think I ain't gonna make him feel it, too." He made a fist. "Man, this is going to be great! He'll be sucking up for weeks!"
"Tasuki!" Miaka scolded, laughing.
Chiriko and Mitsukake came into sight, carrying a few packs in their arms. Hotohori was behind them.
"We are nearly ready to leave." Hotohori said, pulling along another horse, a white one. "I was able to send a message to Boushin."
"Really?" Miaka said, smiling. "How nice Hotohori!" She looked around. "Well, let's go inside and get the rest of what we need."
"I'm sorry!"
"Nuriko, you've apologized enough." Seki said. "You're just like Tasuki. perhaps even worse."
"We really are sorry, no da." Chichiri added.
Emperor Sanoii looked around him. "Chichiri, have you seen Miss Cheinun anywhere?"
Chichiri shook his head. "I saw her early this morning, but not of late, no da."
Nuriko sighed. "If you want, I'll look for her." He said, still feeling guilty.
"That would be nice." the emperor replied.
Nuriko turned around and left the throne room, half glad to get out of there. He felt terrible for what he did, and he didn't even remember it. This must have been what Tamahome felt like... Nuriko remembered how Tamahome took the news when he found out what he did to Tasuki and how he broke Miaka's arm. Nuriko sighed. "Let's see, where oh where is Inami?"
It had been nearly twenty minutes and Nuriko had asked several people, and no sign of the Ambassador. Nuriko was about ready to give up. He passed by a window, revealing the reverse garden to the palace, the largest and nicest one. In his admiration he noticed long hair blowing in the breeze in the back on a small hill. "Finally." He said, looking for the door to exit the palace.
"Inami, Sanoii-sama is looking for you." Nuriko said, slightly out of breath as he finished climbing the hill. It was some walk out here. "Inami? Did you hear me?" Nuriko looked past the woman who was about his height, and noticed what she was looking at.
Tombstones. In the back of this garden was the imperial plot, a cemetery where past Kings and royalty were buried. There were a number of headstones, at least 20. The one in front of Inami said "Entato Chen" in large, bold letters. In much smaller ones, it had dates and a short delivery sentence. Under the "Rest in Peace" in smaller bold letters, the tombstone read "Hikitsu of the Genbu Seven."
Nuriko was silent for a moment, wishing he hadn't disrupted the silence. Inami knelt down and placed a small bouquet of white flowers on the grave, a few petals escaping in the wind.
"You miss him, don't you?" Nuriko asked. He had been with Miaka in spirit when she and the others had entered the cave on Mt. Koku after his death to get the shinzaho, and they had met two of the Genbu seven. He knew Hikitsu to be one of them.
Inami nodded. "I do." She answered. She stood back up. "Sanoii-sama needs me again? Thanks for coming out here, Nuriko." Inami said, smiling. She walked past him quietly, back towards the palace.
Nuriko stood there for a moment, looking at the white flowers on top of the grave of the Warrior who held tohis duties even after death. Nuriko, and all the Suzaku seven for that matter, thought of Hikitsu and his partner, Tomite, to be great heroes, and Miaka saw them as idols. He didn't know about Inami's relationship with him, but he felt a tight bond between the two.
As Nuriko turned to leave, his eye caught onto another tombstone's name. He turned around and looked at it, taking a step closer to read it fully. Quite similar to the one that flowers laid upon, the name read "Akue Ribiki," and the base read "Inami of the Genbu Seven."
Nuriko remembered Inami's story of being reborn, but he guessed he didn't think this far into it. Come to think of it, his body was still buried in the soils of Mt. Koku. Nuriko looked around, a palace wall in the distance. As he turned to leave again, he placed a hand gently on the stone.
Nuriko gasped as a strange sensation course throughout his body. He closed his eyes hard, opening them, the images around him becoming blurry.
~
"It's certainly something we can't easily deal with."
Nuriko found himself looking into a room of a small home, several people sitting or standing around a tall man in a dark robe next to someone in imperial clothing. The man had an eye patch on.
"But how do we know how to deal with it?" A young-looking man with dark blue hair asked, a bow and arrow strapped onto his back.
"How do you deal with a demon?" Another man asked, he had short off- white hair that reached a bit past his shoulders.
"I do not know if he is so much a demon, Urumiya." The first man replied, leaning against a desk. "But he puts Hokkan in danger. Perhaps his limitations won't stop here."
"I say we just go out and deal with him ourselves." A girl in the corner said, her arms folded against her chest. "It won't be THAT hard. C'mon, Tsuku. We could at least try."
Nuriko wondered what he was seeing. The people in the room obviously didn't see him though.
"Akue, that is too reckless, it's too dangerous." Hikitsu answered firmly.
The girl frowned, brushing her short brown hair behind her ear. "Well, than what do you want to do? Tenkou is terrorizing everyone, he's killed hundreds! We can't just sit here and think!"
"Akue, please." Urumiya said quietly.
"Oh shut up." The girl snapped, sitting in a chair. She calmed down some and looked up thoughtfully. "Hikitsu, another war is breaking out. I don't want to lose any more important people."
"And you won't, have faith." The tall man replied.
"Please, we need your help." The man in imperial robes declared.
"Perhaps we could fight him, but use safer tactics." Another man with dark hair suggested, glancing over at the girl.
"You may be right, Hatsui."
Nuriko closed his eyes as the images flashed in a bright light, and when he opened them again, the scene had changed entirely. It was a long, wide field, covered in dried yellow grass. Screams were heard in the background, and a huge, wide pillar of light swirled like a tornado in the center of the field, glowing with magenta and purple light. A feeling of intense evil surrounded it.
"We need to seal him!" Akue screamed as the wind pushed against them. She took off running towards the pillar.
Hikitsu grasped onto her arm firmly. "No Akue! Not by yourself! Stay here!"
Akue looked back at Hikitsu, then at the tornado of light. Nuriko could barely see her reach for a gold object at her side and swing a sword at Hikitsu's arm.
Hikitsu let go before the blade struck him, watching the girl run for the light. "Akue!!!" He shouted after her, about to run himself.
"Hikitsu!" Urumiya shouted, keeping the man back.
The scene flashed and changed again, but only slightly, as if moving forward in time.
Akue's sign glowed brightly as she flew in the tornado, using her powers to keep her still while the debris and energy swirled around her. "Tenkou!" She shouted.
At the base of the tornado, a man Nuriko recognized looked up at her, his form larger than that of a human's. "You cannot stop me." He said, yellow eyes fixated on the Genbu Warrior.
Akue fell back as the energy blast hit her, trying to stay up in the air. Bruises and scrapes covered her entire body. "Now Tenkou!" She held out her double sword, her symbol glowing as bright at the swirling energy around her.
The black rip beneath Tenkou grew larger, slowly sealing him away. He was being sucked into it like a black hole, a desperate look on his face as he felt himself disappearing. "NO!" He shouted. "I WILL NOT BE BEATEN!!!!" He screamed as his head was sucked into the void. With a last chance, a large yellow orb formed in his outstretched hand, releasing itself in a large beam, right at the girl above him.
It moved so fast. The light hit the girl, passing through her like a sharp knife. The symbol of the ox on the girl's forehead immediately disappeared. Akue seemed to give one last feeble look, one last breath into eternity as her life was instantly taken from her.
The images blurred again, the scenery of the cemetery slowly starting to make it's way into the scene. The last thing Nuriko could interpret was the same field, calm, and Hikitsu crying over the brunette's lifeless body.
"AKUE!!!!!!!!!!"
~
Nuriko collapsed onto the ground, breathing hard as he removed his hand from the headstone. It took a moment to regain his composure.
"What... what was that?" He asked breathlessly. What had he seen?
After a moment his body calmed from the shock and he looked up at the tombstone. "So that's it..." He whispered. "That's how you died, Inami."
Nuriko stood up, still shocked that he saw such a thing. He walked back down the hill, heading back to the throne room. Should he tell Inami what happened, or... was it too personal? Why had he seen it?
Before entering the palace, Nuriko looked back at the cemetery. "Maybe, maybe she wanted someone to understand..." he thought. He smiled just a little as he entered, making his way to the throne room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A loud group of people entered into the throne room, led by Miaka. Miaka ran ahead, going up to the others. "We're just about ready to leave now." She said, bowing politely.
"Despite all that's happened..." The Emperor began, "Part of me is sorry to see you go. You've brought a bit of excitement to Hokkan."
"Perhaps too much excitement." Seki joked. Inami elbowed him a little.
Miaka smiled, looking over to Inami. "Inami, I have to ask..."
*POP!*
"GAH!!!" Saori screamed, falling over onto the floor.
"What in..." Seki began.
"Taiisukun?!" Miaka called out, surprised, walking over. "What are you doing here?!"
"Like always, I have business to discuss with you that you've seemed to have overlooked." Taiisukun snapped, though she didn't sound rude.
"TAIISUKUN!!!" Inami shouted from behind Miaka, running up, smiling. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in ages!"
Taiisukun looked over, identifying the loud voice. "Ah, Inami. I see you've chosen a slightly different appearance in this life."
Miaka tugged on Inami's robe. "You know Taiisukun?"
Inami nodded. "Of course!" She lifted her gold rod off her waist. "She's the one who gave me this back when we summoned Genbu."
Tasuki and Tamahome made a face. "Just... how old are you?" Tamahome asked.
"It's not polite to ask a woman's age!" Taiisukun shouted. "Nuriko, smack him."
"Ow!"
"This is the Taiisukun of legend?" Seki awed. He bowed, leaning over to his father. "Not the prettiest face I've ever seen..."
"First thing first." Taiisukun said, looking over to Nuriko as she floated above the ground. "I'm aware that right now you are recovering from a great ordeal and you may not understand everything that's going on, but you will in due time." The bag around Nuriko's shoulder lifted and opened, a bracelet and some shattered pieces rising out towards Taiisukun. Two pink bubbles encircled them, flashed, and disappeared, leaving two beautiful works of jewelry, which disappeared and reappeared around Nuriko's wrists. "You may now wear those safely."
"Thanks!" Nuriko said.
Taiisukun turned towards Miaka. "Miaka, you have been delayed in your mission and you must hurry, it is very important you obtain the shinzaho. I came because I sensed a great evil, one that is increasing."
"A great... evil?" Miaka asked, swallowing at the thought.
Taiisukun nodded. "It is not only here, but in your world as well, and I sense a slight connection."
"A connection of evil between my world and this one?" Miaka asked, looking back to Tamahome.
"Yes." Taiisukun said. "I fear something horrible will happen if you do not complete your mission. I must leave now, but remember what I said. I believe you are going to Sairo, is that correct?"
Miaka nodded.
"Than I wish you all the best." And with that, Taiisukun's image flashed and disappeared, leaving the Emperor and Prince somewhat flabbergasted.
"Sairo... that's right!" Miaka turned around to the tall woman behind her. "Inami, I've been meaning to ask you, will you come with us to Sairo and help us with the shinzaho?"
Inami looked at Miaka for a moment, then past her to the others, sighing. "I can't Miaka." She answered. "My duty lies here, in Hokkan, and here is where I must stay. Besides..." Inami looked to the side. "I may be needed in Konan again, and I was only help because I know the land."
"You can help us in Sairo too, though." Miaka said, sounding hopeful.
Inami shook her head, glancing over to the orange haired bandit. "I can't. I'm sorry."
Miaka nodded, then smiled again. She bowed. "Thank you then, for all you have done for us."
Inami smiled. "No need for thanks, I really didn't do that much."
Miaka turned around. "Is everyone ready? Let's go to Sairo!"
Everyone left the throne room and began heading towards the horses. Tasuki came out last, most likely to say a few words more than the others.
"Akue."
Inami turned around to her emperor. "Yes, Highness?"
"You want to go with them, don't you?" He asked.
Inami smiled. "I'm needed here, Sire. It's my whole purpose in living this life."
Sanoii placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, keeping his voice low. "One can protect a country and not be in it."
After a moment, Inami bowed humbly. "Thank you, Highness."
"I thought you weren't coming!" Tasuki said as Inami pulled up her own horse.
"I changed my mind." Inami joked.
Miaka smiled.
***************************************
"Blue light?" Yui asked herself, looking at her wet arm. She had just come out of the bathtub, and was wrapped in a towel. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw a flash of blue light on herself.
"Yui, are you okay in there?" Tetsuya asked, knocking on the door.
Yui looked forward, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "Yeah, I'm fine Tetsuya."
"Okay.' Tetsuya replied. "Just to let you know, everything is fine again and they're all headed to Sairo."
Yui smiled, relaxing. "That's good." She said. "Stay safe Miaka, I believe in you."
*************************************
"They come." Nakago said.
"You gave Nuriko back to them, Nakago." Mayo said coldly.
Nakago smirked. "Again, the Suzaku Seven prove me wrong, but that will changed. Once again we are ahead of them in the search for the shinzahos, and we will summon Seiryu and wipe them out before they see what's coming."
Mayo smiled. "What do you have in store for them now?"
Nakago turned around. "Is it ready?"
Mayo turned to see who he was talking to, seeing a face in the darkness.
"Yes." A cackly voice answered. And soon, we will be able to...___________"
Nakago smiled. "See priestess? We are one step closer to our goal."