Ah! One more chapter and you're caught up! Hopefully I get more done
over the break!
To Metajoker: Considering they're looking for a horse in the boundaries of a small village, it really isn't too difficult. By the time slots given it took them most of the day. Japan not having hot chocolate? Who in their right mind doesn't have hot chocolate?! J/k But that thing about Miaka is a very good thing to point out to me, it could come in quite useful. Your favorite character? Let me guess. Inami? lol, j/k. Please don't shoot me for that comment. I'll take a wild guess with 3: Tasuki, Nuriko, or Saori. But honestly? I'm clueless.
To BD: *pat pat* Saori and Chichiri are on safe lines no da!
To Amaya: Yes, Inami is gone with Chichiri *gives her an odd look for her comments in the review* Well, I'll kill whoever I want!
Chapter 55 : Elements of the Night
"I'm tired." Nuriko announced as he led the horse by the reigns that Saori was on. Saori was dozing off, her head leaning against the horse's neck. The sun had just finished setting, and the sky had a deep blue look about it.
Miaka walked up with Nuriko. Tasuki was some distance ahead of them on his horse, Chiriko, Mitsukake, and Tamahome behind them.
Miaka seemed truly happy, and her hands were clasped together in front of her as she walked. She looked back at Tamahome, whose eyelids were dropping. She smiled and turned back to her good friend. "Say Nuriko... do you think you'll ever get married?"
Nuriko looked down at Miaka, lifting an eyebrow. "Well, that was out of the blue."
Miaka smiled. "But really."
Nuriko grinned and look forward at the few stars glimmering in the sky. "I don't know... though the woman I marry would have to be a very patient person."
"Nuriko..." Miaka giggled slightly.
Nuriko placed a hand on Miaka's shoulder. "Don't worry too much about me, Miaka. My brother is already bringing by every girl he meets trying to hook me up. It's... irritating."
Miaka leaned a bit into Nuriko's arm, walking further in silence.
However, it was only a moment when Nuriko's grip tightened, and he stopped the horse as well as his priestess.
"Nuriko?" Miaka questioned.
"Nuriko!" Chiriko called from behind.
Nuriko looked back up at the sky, his violet-pink eyes widening a bit. "Oh no... not now..."
Miaka looked back at what Nuriko was referring to, and her stomach turned. She recognized those clouds forming very well. The same dark color... the same spiral formation.
Tasuki turned around from further ahead. "Oh hell..." he muttered. He leapt off his horse and ran back to Nuriko. He instantly jolted Saori awake.
"Ah! What!" Saori suddenly snapped up.
Chiriko was now approaching on his horse.
"Chiriko, Take these two and get 'em outta here." Tasuki urged. They had to at least get Miaka out of sight before the storm witch herself showed up.
The youngest warrior nodded. Nuriko lifted Miaka onto his horse, and Chiriko took the reigns of Saori's. He quickly kicked and leapt off.
"Mitsukake, don't go anywhere." Nuriko informed as Tamahome approached. "We may need you."
Mitsukake nodded.
Now all the Suzaku seven could do was prepare themselves, and within minutes, their enemy appeared.
"I see you're ready for me, warriors of Suzaku." Soi smirked, appearing in a blue glow on top a building. A radiant blue symbol glowed on her upper thigh. Soi didn't bother for a speech before she thrust her right hand into the air, spirals of smoke forming around her fingers. In response the growing clouds in the sky thundered loudly, expanding their territory.
"MOVE!" Nuriko shouted, right as a large bolt of lightening shot down between the celestial warriors. The ground exploded under the pressure. The newly formed crater began to steam as rain followed the electric blast.
"Don't bother running!" Soi shouted.
"What the...?!" Tamahome turned around. Soi was now on another building, electrical sparks forming around her hands. But...
"There are two of them!" Tamahome shouted.
The others saw it too. "What the hell?" Tasuki bellowed.
"We can't fight her if she's up that high." Nuriko informed. "We either need to get up, or bring her down."
"Leave that to me." Tasuki reached behind him and cleanly whipped out a diamond fan, holding it with both hands and bringing it above his head. "Rekka.... SHINEN!"
A wall of immense fire burst from the angles of the weapon, shooting out at the second Soi. It engulfed the roof of the building, quickly dieing down in the rain. Soi was gone.
"Where'd she go?!"
"Pathetic attempts will get you nowhere."
Tasuki whirled around to see not Soi, But Tomo on a different building. In his hand was a large shell, glowing lightly.
Nuriko stepped back as the ground in front of him melted down into a stream of boiling lava. The line of molted rock grew and surrounded the battle arena, consuming anything in its path.
"It's just an illusion..." Nuriko coaxed, the rain having no effect of the hot liquid.
"His illusions are real. They're powerful." Tamahome reminded.
They were interrupted as a second bolt of lightening hit, but instead of seeping its energy into the ground, it stayed up right, trailing through the earth, destroying everything in its path. The warriors leapt out of the way best they could, but Tamahome was hit in the hip, and he flew into the dirt, skidding to a stop.
"Tamahome!" Nuriko shouted. He held up a fist and allowed his bracelet to expand into a red armband. He ran and leapt over the lava river, heading to the building where Soi stood. With a running charge and all his might, Nuriko balled his hands into fists and struck into the brick of the building. Like an earthquake, the structure shook madly, the side where Nuriko hit breaking apart. Soi leapt off the building and onto the ground, barely avoiding the shards of brick that fell near her.
Soi turned in time to see Tamahome's fist hurtling towards her face. She quickly moved out of the way as Tamahome swung his foot towards her stomach.
His foot stopped abruptly. Soi had caught it with both hands. Her fingers lit up like a candle, sending electric sparks up Tamahome's leg. Tamahome screamed in pain as Soi twisted and pushed him away, making him land inches from the lava stream. He was still conscious, but as he tried to get up, he found he couldn't move his lower body.
"Tamahome!" Nuriko screamed, trying to make a hit on the woman surrounded by her own lightening barrier. "Get up!"
"Rekka, SHINEN!" Tasuki shouted. His voice echoed through the dark, the shot of fire fuming towards the illusionist. His feathers flew through the air as he leapt out of the way. He ran a fingernail over Shin, smiling.
The ground suddenly started shaking violently in an earthquake. Tasuki fell to one knee, holding his hands out to keep from falling. It appeared that he was the only one affected.
Nuriko cursed to himself as Soi leapt into the air, flying higher towards her swirling clouds. "It's no use..." Nuriko mumbled to himself, watching her every move. "Our attacks are too physical to effect them..."
Tamahome had finally been able to stand up, though he was still a bit wobbly, and his legs tingled up to his knee, a blunt pain in his shins. He looked up, facing away from the battle between Soi and Nuriko, and saw Tasuki, who was acting strangely. He looked over, but Tomo was gone.
"Where... is he?" Tamahome asked. He suddenly became more aware of the rain around him. He looked back at Soi. How was it that Soi wasn't being shocked by the electricity spread by the water?
Nuriko leapt up into the air as the lightening spark transferred over the ground, which was becoming wet enough to act like a large conductor. Nuriko leapt onto a woodpile outside a small home. Soi couldn't see him too well, but he'd have to come up with a plan, and fast.
"Tasuki!" Tamahome called, finally catching up with him.
"Tamahome, look out!"
Tamahome turned around. "Tasuki!?" He turned back around, and jumped. "AH!" He screamed, backing away. A second Tasuki was looking him right in the eyes, his fan out.
"Tama! Get away from him!" The second Tasuki shouted. "It's Tomo!"
The red sign of ogre lit up on Tamahome's head as he lifted his foot. The first Tasuki looked at him like he was insane.
"Whatta ya doin'?!" He shouted. "HE'S the intruder!"
"Don't listen to him!" The second one yelled, raising his fan. "Think ya can out smart me, huh? Rekka Shinen!"
The diamond fan shot out fire in a wave of light, heading straight to the identical opponent.
Tasuki-1 leapt out of the way, tumbling a bit as he landed. "Tamahome! Get him!"
Tamahome lowered his fists, dually confused.
"Shuddap!" Tasuki-2 shouted. "I'll roast ya for this! Tamahome, Miaka's in danger! Fight him!"
At the word of Miaka's name, Tamahome's symbol flashed again and he charged for the first Tasuki. Tasuki-1 intercepted his fist with his diamond fan, which was spread. Tamahome pushed him back some before Tasuki swung over his weapon and Tamahome stepped back.
"Ya moron! What the hell is wrong with you?! He's a damn imposter! I can't believe you believe this ((edited))!" Tasuki-1 shouted loudly.
Tamahome stared for only a moment, shrugged, and turned around, a wicked smirk on his head. "Well, that proves it." He said, charging Tasuki-2.
Tasuki-2 stepped back, his eyes wide in shock. He scowled, his eyes narrowing. As Tamahome neared him, Tasuki-2's face paled and colored, revealing him to be Tomo. Tomo's feathers shot out to intercept the first of the Suzaku seishi.
Nuriko hit the side of a small building hard, his fists crossed in front of him. He landed on the ground, but managed to stand up. He had a slight burn on his skin, his robe ripped just enough for the red symbol of "willow" to peek. Nuriko only took a moment to step back into play, Soi grinning at him from her place in the sky.
She held both hands together, a large ball of light forming between them. "I will have the victory of killing the first of the Suzaku seven." She laughed, the ball ready to be shot out.
Nuriko got into a stance to intercept, but as he did he heard something whistling behind him. He turned his head and leapt back, watching as a large, thin wheel of what looked like water hurtled passed him like a throwing star, rising up into the sky, striking Soi dead on. Because of the immense electric ball in her hands, Soi screamed as her own powers shocked her, and she lost balance in the sky and fell to the ground, steam rising from her hair and clothes. Her shoulder shook as she tried to stand up.
Instead of taking the opportunity, Nuriko spun around, a somewhat confused look on his face.
Two blue eyes smiled at Nuriko. "It does seem we always show up at the right moment."
Nuriko didn't get a chance for an explanation before he was struck in the back with a sharp, knife-like sensation. He fell into the building, the second man running up immediately to help him. Soi stood in the background, gripping her stomach, her hand outstretched, still sparking with lightening.
A blue symbol of "rain net" glowed under the man's blue bangs. He held his hand out, the rain from the sky suddenly redirecting itself and flying into his palm, spinning madly to form another wheel of water. It spun so quickly it hummed, and Ame sent it out from his fingers.
Soi leapt, but not high enough. Again the hydro disk struck her, her breastplate cracking and busting off with its pressure and she fell back down. With her last bit of energy, she raised her hand, her body disappearing in blue light.
Tasuki stood at Tamahome's shoulders, the front of Tamahome's shirt ripped and stained lightly with blood. He was lying on the ground, but his shoulders and head were lifted.
Tomo's shell opened up fully, blue smoke shooting up from it. Tomo smirked at the two men, Tasuki holding his smoldering fan.
Tomo moved his hand out to make his attack, holding it for a moment before a bewildered look came on his face. Nothing was happening. The wind around him picked up, and as he looked down at shin, the smoke it was emitting sucked back into the shell, disappearing.
The two yellow eyes behind the Suzaku warriors died down a bit. "You see, when two old guys like us have to bail you out of these situations, it says something."
Tasuki turned around, and he nearly fell over. The rain was steadily slowing, and the woman's hand was directed towards the shell. The symbol on Tamahome's forehead suddenly vanished.
"Ko...Kokie?" Tasuki asked, dumbfounded.
Kokie leapt over the two crouching men, running up and sticking her face right into Tomo's. Tomo stepped back, but Kokie caught his wrist and stopped him. "So sorry about this..." She whispered.
Tomo, feeling his powers fading completely, didn't have time to stop what happened next.
Kokie pressed her lips hard against Tomo's, her hands pulling up to his cheeks to pull him in as close as possible. However, after the momentarily shocked and disgusted look on Tomo's face, his pupils narrowed to small pins, and his eyes rolled back into his head. His body fell limp.
Kokie let him go, and his body collapsed to the ground, his eyes showed only the whites, and his hands shook.
Tasuki looked like he was going to throw up, the lava completely gone along with the rain. However, on a second look, Tomo's body was lost too.
"What... did you do?" Tasuki asked, purely sick at the scene he had just witnessed.
Kokie turned around, smirking and running the back of her hand along her mouth. "One of my little tricks."
"Paralysis." Amefuri said, approaching the group. Nuriko's arm was slung over the man's shoulder, Amefuri helped him walk.
"Mitsukake!" Tasuki shouted, standing up and calling into the distance. "Mitsukake! Get over here! Get Miaka and the others!"
************************************
The other end of the telephone was silent for a moment, the very slight hollering of girls and stomping of feet in the background.
"Keisuke?"
"I'm here." Keisuke said. He sighed into the phone. "The book wrote that?"
"Yeah." Tetsuya replied. "It says 'The Priestess of Seiryu looked deeply into her mirror, apologizing to a man of the other world, Keisuke Yuuki. However, the spell of remorse over her heart quickly subsided, and..."
"That's enough." Keisuke said, stopping Tetsuya mid sentence. Keisuke leaned against the wall of the gym room, holding a basketball under his arm. "This is just like Yui, ya know?"
"Yeah." Tetsuya answered. "Almost exactly like her, as if the book was replaying itself. A lot of what Mayo has done is a lot like Yui. Before summoning the beast god, Yui felt remorseful too."
"But she still went through with it."
"Different things are happening though. Miaka has a really good chance of summoning Suzaku."
"What's the latest right now?" Keisuke questioned.
Tetsuya laughed a bit into the receiver. "Do you remember the two Byakko warriors from Sairo?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well... they're back."
*************************************
"But did you have to KISS him?" Tasuki asked, sitting back in a soft chair in the palace.
"Only way it works, Tasuki-chan." Koki smiled.
"Don't call me 'chan'." Tasuki mumbled.
The Suzaku warriors were healed up by Mitsukake, and traveled all night long to arrive at the palace. It was now early afternoon. Koki and Ame had been greeted warmly by Hotohori, who were glad to see familiar faces in a time of suspected turmoil. It was surprising to see how busy the palace was upon return.
"So why'd you come back? Over to Konan?" Nuriko asked.
" Afraid that was my doing." Ame announced. "After meeting all of you, I found our life in Sairo was a bit on the dull side."
Kokie put on a dumb smile in agreement. "Nice place you got here though... I only got to see the Sairanian palace once... this is much nicer."
"You only saw the throne room." Ame reminded.
"Yell, blame Tokaki for that! Dumb idiot..." Koki mumbled.
The duo received blank looks.
Miaka, who had been eaves dropping, suddenly jumped up. "I want to hear about them! About all your adventures! Tell me about the Byakko seven!"
Ame smiled. "I suppose I could, if you'd like."
**However, the enjoyable stay at the palace only lasted a few days. It was exactly one week later when Konan's east border was blown in a massive Kutou attack, reaching all the way from the northern ocean to the southern boundaries. Cities in southern Hokkan were attacked simultaneously. Though the two countries were preparing for it, neither had suspected Kutou would hit as hard as they did. It wasn't a single battle, either. The fighting between the armies of three countries continued on for two days, at which point, it was time to call in for more help.**
"I'm not sure I'm doing this right..." Saori said quietly as she tied a few strings between two plates of metal.
Nuriko smiled a bit. "You're tying it just fine, Saori."
Nuriko wasn't the only one suiting up for battle. Tasuki, Tamahome, and Chichiri were all ready to head out to help in the war. Hotohori had been out from day one, riding on his white steed in the battlefields. So far, He had only noticeably returned to the palace once. Boushin was in full leadership in his father's absence; at it was amazing to see how much control the fifteen year old had. It was soon discovered that the young- looking Amefuri and Kokie were going to battle as well, which surprised the Suzaku seven.
"I'm sorry, but I will not allow you to return to Hokkan."
Inami stood with Boushin, who was a couple of inches shorter than herself.
Boushin continued. "It is far too dangerous for me to send you out. Kutou armies have spread beyond the border, I discovered today that our west border has been hit as well."
"Sairo?" Inami asked.
Boushin shook his head. "No, luckily. Kutou has been planning this a long time. I'm not sure how they arrived there."
Inami nodded. "I will wait then."
Meanwhile, Miaka was clueless on where their shinzaho was hidden, the horseshoe pointed in no direction from the palace. There was no way to look for it now. Miaka looked up from her bed, seeing Tamahome in the far corner of the room, adjusting the plates over his shoulders.
It was only hours later that the warriors left, heading off into the battle of their lives.
To Metajoker: Considering they're looking for a horse in the boundaries of a small village, it really isn't too difficult. By the time slots given it took them most of the day. Japan not having hot chocolate? Who in their right mind doesn't have hot chocolate?! J/k But that thing about Miaka is a very good thing to point out to me, it could come in quite useful. Your favorite character? Let me guess. Inami? lol, j/k. Please don't shoot me for that comment. I'll take a wild guess with 3: Tasuki, Nuriko, or Saori. But honestly? I'm clueless.
To BD: *pat pat* Saori and Chichiri are on safe lines no da!
To Amaya: Yes, Inami is gone with Chichiri *gives her an odd look for her comments in the review* Well, I'll kill whoever I want!
Chapter 55 : Elements of the Night
"I'm tired." Nuriko announced as he led the horse by the reigns that Saori was on. Saori was dozing off, her head leaning against the horse's neck. The sun had just finished setting, and the sky had a deep blue look about it.
Miaka walked up with Nuriko. Tasuki was some distance ahead of them on his horse, Chiriko, Mitsukake, and Tamahome behind them.
Miaka seemed truly happy, and her hands were clasped together in front of her as she walked. She looked back at Tamahome, whose eyelids were dropping. She smiled and turned back to her good friend. "Say Nuriko... do you think you'll ever get married?"
Nuriko looked down at Miaka, lifting an eyebrow. "Well, that was out of the blue."
Miaka smiled. "But really."
Nuriko grinned and look forward at the few stars glimmering in the sky. "I don't know... though the woman I marry would have to be a very patient person."
"Nuriko..." Miaka giggled slightly.
Nuriko placed a hand on Miaka's shoulder. "Don't worry too much about me, Miaka. My brother is already bringing by every girl he meets trying to hook me up. It's... irritating."
Miaka leaned a bit into Nuriko's arm, walking further in silence.
However, it was only a moment when Nuriko's grip tightened, and he stopped the horse as well as his priestess.
"Nuriko?" Miaka questioned.
"Nuriko!" Chiriko called from behind.
Nuriko looked back up at the sky, his violet-pink eyes widening a bit. "Oh no... not now..."
Miaka looked back at what Nuriko was referring to, and her stomach turned. She recognized those clouds forming very well. The same dark color... the same spiral formation.
Tasuki turned around from further ahead. "Oh hell..." he muttered. He leapt off his horse and ran back to Nuriko. He instantly jolted Saori awake.
"Ah! What!" Saori suddenly snapped up.
Chiriko was now approaching on his horse.
"Chiriko, Take these two and get 'em outta here." Tasuki urged. They had to at least get Miaka out of sight before the storm witch herself showed up.
The youngest warrior nodded. Nuriko lifted Miaka onto his horse, and Chiriko took the reigns of Saori's. He quickly kicked and leapt off.
"Mitsukake, don't go anywhere." Nuriko informed as Tamahome approached. "We may need you."
Mitsukake nodded.
Now all the Suzaku seven could do was prepare themselves, and within minutes, their enemy appeared.
"I see you're ready for me, warriors of Suzaku." Soi smirked, appearing in a blue glow on top a building. A radiant blue symbol glowed on her upper thigh. Soi didn't bother for a speech before she thrust her right hand into the air, spirals of smoke forming around her fingers. In response the growing clouds in the sky thundered loudly, expanding their territory.
"MOVE!" Nuriko shouted, right as a large bolt of lightening shot down between the celestial warriors. The ground exploded under the pressure. The newly formed crater began to steam as rain followed the electric blast.
"Don't bother running!" Soi shouted.
"What the...?!" Tamahome turned around. Soi was now on another building, electrical sparks forming around her hands. But...
"There are two of them!" Tamahome shouted.
The others saw it too. "What the hell?" Tasuki bellowed.
"We can't fight her if she's up that high." Nuriko informed. "We either need to get up, or bring her down."
"Leave that to me." Tasuki reached behind him and cleanly whipped out a diamond fan, holding it with both hands and bringing it above his head. "Rekka.... SHINEN!"
A wall of immense fire burst from the angles of the weapon, shooting out at the second Soi. It engulfed the roof of the building, quickly dieing down in the rain. Soi was gone.
"Where'd she go?!"
"Pathetic attempts will get you nowhere."
Tasuki whirled around to see not Soi, But Tomo on a different building. In his hand was a large shell, glowing lightly.
Nuriko stepped back as the ground in front of him melted down into a stream of boiling lava. The line of molted rock grew and surrounded the battle arena, consuming anything in its path.
"It's just an illusion..." Nuriko coaxed, the rain having no effect of the hot liquid.
"His illusions are real. They're powerful." Tamahome reminded.
They were interrupted as a second bolt of lightening hit, but instead of seeping its energy into the ground, it stayed up right, trailing through the earth, destroying everything in its path. The warriors leapt out of the way best they could, but Tamahome was hit in the hip, and he flew into the dirt, skidding to a stop.
"Tamahome!" Nuriko shouted. He held up a fist and allowed his bracelet to expand into a red armband. He ran and leapt over the lava river, heading to the building where Soi stood. With a running charge and all his might, Nuriko balled his hands into fists and struck into the brick of the building. Like an earthquake, the structure shook madly, the side where Nuriko hit breaking apart. Soi leapt off the building and onto the ground, barely avoiding the shards of brick that fell near her.
Soi turned in time to see Tamahome's fist hurtling towards her face. She quickly moved out of the way as Tamahome swung his foot towards her stomach.
His foot stopped abruptly. Soi had caught it with both hands. Her fingers lit up like a candle, sending electric sparks up Tamahome's leg. Tamahome screamed in pain as Soi twisted and pushed him away, making him land inches from the lava stream. He was still conscious, but as he tried to get up, he found he couldn't move his lower body.
"Tamahome!" Nuriko screamed, trying to make a hit on the woman surrounded by her own lightening barrier. "Get up!"
"Rekka, SHINEN!" Tasuki shouted. His voice echoed through the dark, the shot of fire fuming towards the illusionist. His feathers flew through the air as he leapt out of the way. He ran a fingernail over Shin, smiling.
The ground suddenly started shaking violently in an earthquake. Tasuki fell to one knee, holding his hands out to keep from falling. It appeared that he was the only one affected.
Nuriko cursed to himself as Soi leapt into the air, flying higher towards her swirling clouds. "It's no use..." Nuriko mumbled to himself, watching her every move. "Our attacks are too physical to effect them..."
Tamahome had finally been able to stand up, though he was still a bit wobbly, and his legs tingled up to his knee, a blunt pain in his shins. He looked up, facing away from the battle between Soi and Nuriko, and saw Tasuki, who was acting strangely. He looked over, but Tomo was gone.
"Where... is he?" Tamahome asked. He suddenly became more aware of the rain around him. He looked back at Soi. How was it that Soi wasn't being shocked by the electricity spread by the water?
Nuriko leapt up into the air as the lightening spark transferred over the ground, which was becoming wet enough to act like a large conductor. Nuriko leapt onto a woodpile outside a small home. Soi couldn't see him too well, but he'd have to come up with a plan, and fast.
"Tasuki!" Tamahome called, finally catching up with him.
"Tamahome, look out!"
Tamahome turned around. "Tasuki!?" He turned back around, and jumped. "AH!" He screamed, backing away. A second Tasuki was looking him right in the eyes, his fan out.
"Tama! Get away from him!" The second Tasuki shouted. "It's Tomo!"
The red sign of ogre lit up on Tamahome's head as he lifted his foot. The first Tasuki looked at him like he was insane.
"Whatta ya doin'?!" He shouted. "HE'S the intruder!"
"Don't listen to him!" The second one yelled, raising his fan. "Think ya can out smart me, huh? Rekka Shinen!"
The diamond fan shot out fire in a wave of light, heading straight to the identical opponent.
Tasuki-1 leapt out of the way, tumbling a bit as he landed. "Tamahome! Get him!"
Tamahome lowered his fists, dually confused.
"Shuddap!" Tasuki-2 shouted. "I'll roast ya for this! Tamahome, Miaka's in danger! Fight him!"
At the word of Miaka's name, Tamahome's symbol flashed again and he charged for the first Tasuki. Tasuki-1 intercepted his fist with his diamond fan, which was spread. Tamahome pushed him back some before Tasuki swung over his weapon and Tamahome stepped back.
"Ya moron! What the hell is wrong with you?! He's a damn imposter! I can't believe you believe this ((edited))!" Tasuki-1 shouted loudly.
Tamahome stared for only a moment, shrugged, and turned around, a wicked smirk on his head. "Well, that proves it." He said, charging Tasuki-2.
Tasuki-2 stepped back, his eyes wide in shock. He scowled, his eyes narrowing. As Tamahome neared him, Tasuki-2's face paled and colored, revealing him to be Tomo. Tomo's feathers shot out to intercept the first of the Suzaku seishi.
Nuriko hit the side of a small building hard, his fists crossed in front of him. He landed on the ground, but managed to stand up. He had a slight burn on his skin, his robe ripped just enough for the red symbol of "willow" to peek. Nuriko only took a moment to step back into play, Soi grinning at him from her place in the sky.
She held both hands together, a large ball of light forming between them. "I will have the victory of killing the first of the Suzaku seven." She laughed, the ball ready to be shot out.
Nuriko got into a stance to intercept, but as he did he heard something whistling behind him. He turned his head and leapt back, watching as a large, thin wheel of what looked like water hurtled passed him like a throwing star, rising up into the sky, striking Soi dead on. Because of the immense electric ball in her hands, Soi screamed as her own powers shocked her, and she lost balance in the sky and fell to the ground, steam rising from her hair and clothes. Her shoulder shook as she tried to stand up.
Instead of taking the opportunity, Nuriko spun around, a somewhat confused look on his face.
Two blue eyes smiled at Nuriko. "It does seem we always show up at the right moment."
Nuriko didn't get a chance for an explanation before he was struck in the back with a sharp, knife-like sensation. He fell into the building, the second man running up immediately to help him. Soi stood in the background, gripping her stomach, her hand outstretched, still sparking with lightening.
A blue symbol of "rain net" glowed under the man's blue bangs. He held his hand out, the rain from the sky suddenly redirecting itself and flying into his palm, spinning madly to form another wheel of water. It spun so quickly it hummed, and Ame sent it out from his fingers.
Soi leapt, but not high enough. Again the hydro disk struck her, her breastplate cracking and busting off with its pressure and she fell back down. With her last bit of energy, she raised her hand, her body disappearing in blue light.
Tasuki stood at Tamahome's shoulders, the front of Tamahome's shirt ripped and stained lightly with blood. He was lying on the ground, but his shoulders and head were lifted.
Tomo's shell opened up fully, blue smoke shooting up from it. Tomo smirked at the two men, Tasuki holding his smoldering fan.
Tomo moved his hand out to make his attack, holding it for a moment before a bewildered look came on his face. Nothing was happening. The wind around him picked up, and as he looked down at shin, the smoke it was emitting sucked back into the shell, disappearing.
The two yellow eyes behind the Suzaku warriors died down a bit. "You see, when two old guys like us have to bail you out of these situations, it says something."
Tasuki turned around, and he nearly fell over. The rain was steadily slowing, and the woman's hand was directed towards the shell. The symbol on Tamahome's forehead suddenly vanished.
"Ko...Kokie?" Tasuki asked, dumbfounded.
Kokie leapt over the two crouching men, running up and sticking her face right into Tomo's. Tomo stepped back, but Kokie caught his wrist and stopped him. "So sorry about this..." She whispered.
Tomo, feeling his powers fading completely, didn't have time to stop what happened next.
Kokie pressed her lips hard against Tomo's, her hands pulling up to his cheeks to pull him in as close as possible. However, after the momentarily shocked and disgusted look on Tomo's face, his pupils narrowed to small pins, and his eyes rolled back into his head. His body fell limp.
Kokie let him go, and his body collapsed to the ground, his eyes showed only the whites, and his hands shook.
Tasuki looked like he was going to throw up, the lava completely gone along with the rain. However, on a second look, Tomo's body was lost too.
"What... did you do?" Tasuki asked, purely sick at the scene he had just witnessed.
Kokie turned around, smirking and running the back of her hand along her mouth. "One of my little tricks."
"Paralysis." Amefuri said, approaching the group. Nuriko's arm was slung over the man's shoulder, Amefuri helped him walk.
"Mitsukake!" Tasuki shouted, standing up and calling into the distance. "Mitsukake! Get over here! Get Miaka and the others!"
************************************
The other end of the telephone was silent for a moment, the very slight hollering of girls and stomping of feet in the background.
"Keisuke?"
"I'm here." Keisuke said. He sighed into the phone. "The book wrote that?"
"Yeah." Tetsuya replied. "It says 'The Priestess of Seiryu looked deeply into her mirror, apologizing to a man of the other world, Keisuke Yuuki. However, the spell of remorse over her heart quickly subsided, and..."
"That's enough." Keisuke said, stopping Tetsuya mid sentence. Keisuke leaned against the wall of the gym room, holding a basketball under his arm. "This is just like Yui, ya know?"
"Yeah." Tetsuya answered. "Almost exactly like her, as if the book was replaying itself. A lot of what Mayo has done is a lot like Yui. Before summoning the beast god, Yui felt remorseful too."
"But she still went through with it."
"Different things are happening though. Miaka has a really good chance of summoning Suzaku."
"What's the latest right now?" Keisuke questioned.
Tetsuya laughed a bit into the receiver. "Do you remember the two Byakko warriors from Sairo?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well... they're back."
*************************************
"But did you have to KISS him?" Tasuki asked, sitting back in a soft chair in the palace.
"Only way it works, Tasuki-chan." Koki smiled.
"Don't call me 'chan'." Tasuki mumbled.
The Suzaku warriors were healed up by Mitsukake, and traveled all night long to arrive at the palace. It was now early afternoon. Koki and Ame had been greeted warmly by Hotohori, who were glad to see familiar faces in a time of suspected turmoil. It was surprising to see how busy the palace was upon return.
"So why'd you come back? Over to Konan?" Nuriko asked.
" Afraid that was my doing." Ame announced. "After meeting all of you, I found our life in Sairo was a bit on the dull side."
Kokie put on a dumb smile in agreement. "Nice place you got here though... I only got to see the Sairanian palace once... this is much nicer."
"You only saw the throne room." Ame reminded.
"Yell, blame Tokaki for that! Dumb idiot..." Koki mumbled.
The duo received blank looks.
Miaka, who had been eaves dropping, suddenly jumped up. "I want to hear about them! About all your adventures! Tell me about the Byakko seven!"
Ame smiled. "I suppose I could, if you'd like."
**However, the enjoyable stay at the palace only lasted a few days. It was exactly one week later when Konan's east border was blown in a massive Kutou attack, reaching all the way from the northern ocean to the southern boundaries. Cities in southern Hokkan were attacked simultaneously. Though the two countries were preparing for it, neither had suspected Kutou would hit as hard as they did. It wasn't a single battle, either. The fighting between the armies of three countries continued on for two days, at which point, it was time to call in for more help.**
"I'm not sure I'm doing this right..." Saori said quietly as she tied a few strings between two plates of metal.
Nuriko smiled a bit. "You're tying it just fine, Saori."
Nuriko wasn't the only one suiting up for battle. Tasuki, Tamahome, and Chichiri were all ready to head out to help in the war. Hotohori had been out from day one, riding on his white steed in the battlefields. So far, He had only noticeably returned to the palace once. Boushin was in full leadership in his father's absence; at it was amazing to see how much control the fifteen year old had. It was soon discovered that the young- looking Amefuri and Kokie were going to battle as well, which surprised the Suzaku seven.
"I'm sorry, but I will not allow you to return to Hokkan."
Inami stood with Boushin, who was a couple of inches shorter than herself.
Boushin continued. "It is far too dangerous for me to send you out. Kutou armies have spread beyond the border, I discovered today that our west border has been hit as well."
"Sairo?" Inami asked.
Boushin shook his head. "No, luckily. Kutou has been planning this a long time. I'm not sure how they arrived there."
Inami nodded. "I will wait then."
Meanwhile, Miaka was clueless on where their shinzaho was hidden, the horseshoe pointed in no direction from the palace. There was no way to look for it now. Miaka looked up from her bed, seeing Tamahome in the far corner of the room, adjusting the plates over his shoulders.
It was only hours later that the warriors left, heading off into the battle of their lives.