To Holly DA: Ah! The ratio of anti-Inami's is now 2:4. Sorry, guys, but
she's in favor. ^_^ Thanks for your kind words! I'm not losing my touch
then? That works out great. I'm glad you liked the chapter!
BD: You liked the chapter too? I'm glad. I usually don't like making one chapter about one individual. Yes, her ice buddies rock. ^_^ Who here wants to guess at who the mysterious speaker was?
To Poly: Yeah, she probably doesn't fight as much as the others, ne? I've actually purposely found excuses to get her out of battles! (Like the spider thing, being at the inn when Amiboshi attacked, stuff like that.) I'm glad you guys bring stuff like that up. I recently discovered Amaya knows my plot better than I do. ^_^
You like the Homo? How nice. I don't. :) And I got Seki's name from reading through my eikoden book, so yes, it is Chichiri's voice actor.
To Metajoker: AH! You like a genbu guy! Yes, Urumiya is quite the little devilish man. If it makes you feel better, his was the last symbol on Inami to disappear. ^_^
To Amaya: Your review cracked me up! Yes, the queer is dead. I will update as soon as possible!
Author's note: I'm sure some are getting sick of reading about war, and it does get tiresome to write it! I'm attempting to find some interesting fillers that do not involve the word "soldiers" in it. (Any ideas would be appreciated.)
Chapter 60 : Swords could never do so much
"We can't get close enough to use the ladders or ropes, sir!" A young Kutou soldier quickly reported over the noise of the battle.
"Then get closer!" The general shouted back. "We need to get ahead while the element of surprise is in tact!"
~
Hokkan soldiers were quickly running out, the defense army that was always near the palace getting into line. Enemy arrows were aimed at the windows, as well as slings loaded with rocks. The palace shook again as another stone from a catapult hit the tall walls.
Seki ran to a window, looking out in disbelief at the army attacking, getting closer to the walls with every minute. If more reinforcements didn't come, he would worry for any victory. Attacking the heart of Hokkan could lead in their fall in the war.
Suddenly, the window in front of him shattered as an arrow pierced flew, flying at him. He gasped as it stopped.
"Seki-sama!" Inami shouted, running down the long corridor.
The arrow snapped in the middle and Inami reached him, pulling him away from the window.
"Seki-sama, please stay away from these." Inami said urgently, trying to catch her breath.
"Miss Cheinun!" Seki exclaimed.
Inami tried to look out at the army. "Is his Highness back yet?"
Seki shook his head. "I'm afraid my father isn't here."
"The armies?"
"The defense army is beginning to fight back."
Inami sighed, thinking. "That won't be enough..." She said with a bit of panic. She snapped out of her worry and grabbed Seki's wrist. "Sire, you need to get out of here."
"I need to..."
Inami was pulling him down the corridor all ready, running. Several others passed them, especially ladies in waiting and other palace servants frantic for cover.
*******************************
"You must go out?" Miaka asked.
"I am a warrior of Suzaku, I need to protect my homeland." Tamahome answered, finishing the tie on his breastplate.
Miaka just watched him quietly, sitting on the edge of their bed. They had the shinzaho, they were so close, and this war was ruining everything. Miaka hadn't even seen Kokie for two days. Everyone except for Hotohori and Chiriko was returning to the battlefield. Mitsukake hadn't been back for a long while either.
Her hazel eyes just drifted back to her husband. He was almost done, which meant he was leaving soon. After what happened to Ame, Miaka was scared.
Tamahome put his second glove on. "You know, I..." Tamahome stumbled at the sudden force hitting him from behind. He saw Miaka's arms wrap around his waist.
"Please... just please be safe..." Miaka whispered, her voice a bit shaky.
Tamahome looked down solemnly, then removed Miaka's hands from him. He turned around. "Miaka, I promise nothing will happen to me. You need to trust me." His voice was comforting.
Miaka put her head down and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Okay." She stuttered.
Tamahome put his own arms around her, holding her close and resting his chin against her hair. "You'll be all right here." He whispered.
"I know." Came the almost inaudible reply.
Tamahome pulled back a bit, and when Miaka looked up he kissed her, the same way he always did.
A tear ran down Miaka's cheek.
************************
"How can you be so calm about this?" Amiboshi asked. "Tomo's life force is gone, don't you care?"
Nakago looked up from the table and from the drink he held. "If I had known Tomo would have done so badly at the assignment, I wouldn't have sent him. I thought he'd have an upper hand."
Amiboshi shook his head. "That doesn't answer my question."
"If he couldn't even rid us of a stranded warrior, then he was no good."
Amiboshi looked slightly frustrated, but wisely left the room without further argument. It was true he and Tomo were never on the best of terms, but that didn't make his death right.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Mayo stood out in the sunny garden of Kutou, un-phased but what was happening around her. She just walked slowly in the green grass and by the tall trees, thinking... clearing her thoughts. She had too many to do much concentration.
She had the Seiryu shinzaho, but what good was it if she didn't have Suzaku's as well? She was sure Nakago was planning something about it, but she felt as though they excluded her. And what about her wishes? What would she wish for once Seiryu was summoned? She knew she'd do something about the war, that was for sure.
She stopped for a moment, looking over, seeing a boy sitting by a tree. Walking a little further, she recognized him.
"Do you often come out here, Priestess?" Apparently he knew of her presence.
"No." Mayo answered. "But I thought I'd look around."
Suboshi didn't meet her gaze, he just looked forward and twirled a plain white flower by the stem between his fingers.
Mayo looked forward to see if anything in particular was of interest, but there wasn't much difference from there to here.
Suboshi let the flower fall to the grass.
"Are you feeling better?" Mayo asked.
He nodded, but still faced forward. "Yes, I am."
Mayo thought for a moment. "Amiboshi... I saw him just earlier, he looked kind of upset."
Suboshi didn't do much, but Mayo could tell he was still listening. The sun was shining on him, though the shade of the tree kept it out of his eyes. There was something about him, something she couldn't put her finger on... just something that seemed to make him different from Nakago... even Soi. He and Amiboshi really did look alike, but Mayo was beginning to be able to tell them apart without having to look at their clothes.
Suboshi stood off, brushing off his brown and yellow garments. He looked at Mayo and nodded a bit. "I'll find him." He said.
He left.
Mayo watched him go until she couldn't see him through the trees anymore. She looked forward into the sunny garden. A sigh escaped her lips. "Saori-chan..." She spoke quietly. "I hope you're all right... and I hope you're not mad at me."
**********************
"Fire!"
The order sounded, and the rope to the catapult was cut, the large hunk of rock hurtling towards the palace. However, it pulled a U-turn and flew right back at its senders.
"LOOK OUT!" They yelled, scattering away from the target. The stone flew into the catapult itself and shattered it.
~
Inami looked away from the thing window. "I think a second pavilion is on its way, it should be here shortly."
"Let us hope so." Seki stated.
Inami bit her lip and carefully looked back out the window. It seemed like some of the soldiers were starting to climb over the wall. A good size of the defense army was behind the wall protecting the palace, the rest were fighting Kutou soldiers outside the grounds. She started to wonder if perhaps Tomo was a distraction.
~
"WHA!" A soldier yelled as his ladder fell backwards just as he was about to reach the top rung. He fell back onto more soldiers. Several of the other ladders coming up fell back as well, ropes came alive almost and disconnected themselves from the wall.
~
"I don't think he's with them."
"Who?" The dark-haired prince asked.
"Nakago. He's the head general of Kutou."
"He is a Seiryu warrior, is that not correct?"
Inami sighed, brushing her bangs back. "Yes."
**********************************
"HA!" Tasuki shouted, bringing his sword down on another Kutou man. He and the bandits of Mt. Reikaku were fighting in the bright, late morning. Kutou gained track in some places, and lost track in others. The bandits were with a Konan army keeping them from reaching in too far.
Koji, who wasn't too far off, side swiped under a man's armor, several other Konan fighters around him.
"How many bloody men does this place have?!" Another Reikaku bandit shouted as he dodged a spear and made a hit.
More Kutou soldiers seemed to show up with everyone that Koji killed. He and the other bandits became swarmed with them, and Koji couldn't take the break to even get a breath in.
"REKKA, SHINEN!!!"
The diamond fan spat out huge waves of fire over the immediate area, catching onto Kutou uniforms and forcing soldiers to turn on their heels and run to avoid contact with the hot flames. Why was this soldier able to shoot fire?
Tasuki intercepted a blow from above with the edge of the indestructible weapon, again shouting the words to activate its spell. The Kutou man's eyes widened as he was surrounded by the bright blazing light and thrown from Tasuki, fire swarming around him.
Tasuki had used the fan at an odd angle and had to close his eyes a bit to avoid the embers. When he finally opened them,, the soldier was history. He smirked.
That was, until he felt the piercing pain come up his side.
Tasuki dropped his fan as another Kutou soldier ran his broad sword right through his torso, continuing until the blade well emerged from the other side.
"GENROU!!!" Koji shouted, seeing the incident. With rage he struck away all the soldiers in front of him and ducked down under their clashing weapons, running down a small dusty hill towards his friend.
The man pushed the sword in further, a smile on his face as Tasuki dropped his sword.
~*CLING!*~
Koji's sword meshed with the soldier's armor and sliced through it, right into the back of the man. In shock the soldier fell backwards, ripping his sword out of Tasuki as he did so.
Koji dropped his weapon and ran up to Tasuki. "Genrou man, are you okay?!"
Tasuki put his hand over the fresh wound, pulling it away with a coating of deep red blood. Without words, he could only look up at Koji as he lost his strength, and fell back.
"GENROU!!!"
* *
Nuriko dropped the jug of water by the riverbank. "Chi...Chichiri... did you just feel that?"
Chichiri looked up through the trees into the blue sky. "I did."
*****************************
Keisuke yawned. "What now?"
"Why do you keep asking that?"
"Because you don't read out loud."
Tetsuya sighed. "Nothing's looking up. Right here, it says: 'As Mitsukake was forced to walk by the bodies of victims who didn't make it, he noticed the corpse of the Byakko Warrior, Kokie, and his soul filled with remorse.'"
Keisuke frowned. "At least they know now."
"Yeah."
"Can I read now? What's going on in Hokkan?"
Tetsuya shook his head. "Go get Hikari."
"Oh... yeah..." Keisuke stood up. "I'm just staying over there tonight after I bring Hikari here to her "mother." Call me if anything major happens."
"All right."
Keisuke reached for his jacket. "You're not going to call me, are you?"
"Nope."
"Fine." Keisuke sighed. "I'll see ya."
Tetsuya waved as Keisuke left out his front door.
He read silently for a little while, pulling back a bit after one line.
"Oh no..." He mumbled. "Not Tasuki too..."
*************************
"Sanoii-sama!!"
Seki turned around at Inami's out burst. "What? My father?"
Inami turned back from the window. "His highness's own army has arrived! I can see his horse! Kutou's outnumbered by too many to count!"
Seki stood up and quickly ran to the window himself. He scanned the dim battlefield, seeing a large army coming from the east. A look of relief spread over his face. "Thank goodness, I do believe this palace is saved."
***************************
"HELP! Someone!"
Two young women in white dresses ran to the doors of the palace. "What is it?!" One shouted. The other gasped in horror.
"Hurry, get him some help!" Koji pleaded.
"I'll be right back!" The first alerted, running back to the palace.
The second helped take some of the orange-haired man's weight off Koji. "Quickly, we must carry him inside. This looks bad."
Koji re-adjusted Task's limp arm over his shoulder and pulled him up more, carrying him either to his salvation, or his grave.
BD: You liked the chapter too? I'm glad. I usually don't like making one chapter about one individual. Yes, her ice buddies rock. ^_^ Who here wants to guess at who the mysterious speaker was?
To Poly: Yeah, she probably doesn't fight as much as the others, ne? I've actually purposely found excuses to get her out of battles! (Like the spider thing, being at the inn when Amiboshi attacked, stuff like that.) I'm glad you guys bring stuff like that up. I recently discovered Amaya knows my plot better than I do. ^_^
You like the Homo? How nice. I don't. :) And I got Seki's name from reading through my eikoden book, so yes, it is Chichiri's voice actor.
To Metajoker: AH! You like a genbu guy! Yes, Urumiya is quite the little devilish man. If it makes you feel better, his was the last symbol on Inami to disappear. ^_^
To Amaya: Your review cracked me up! Yes, the queer is dead. I will update as soon as possible!
Author's note: I'm sure some are getting sick of reading about war, and it does get tiresome to write it! I'm attempting to find some interesting fillers that do not involve the word "soldiers" in it. (Any ideas would be appreciated.)
Chapter 60 : Swords could never do so much
"We can't get close enough to use the ladders or ropes, sir!" A young Kutou soldier quickly reported over the noise of the battle.
"Then get closer!" The general shouted back. "We need to get ahead while the element of surprise is in tact!"
~
Hokkan soldiers were quickly running out, the defense army that was always near the palace getting into line. Enemy arrows were aimed at the windows, as well as slings loaded with rocks. The palace shook again as another stone from a catapult hit the tall walls.
Seki ran to a window, looking out in disbelief at the army attacking, getting closer to the walls with every minute. If more reinforcements didn't come, he would worry for any victory. Attacking the heart of Hokkan could lead in their fall in the war.
Suddenly, the window in front of him shattered as an arrow pierced flew, flying at him. He gasped as it stopped.
"Seki-sama!" Inami shouted, running down the long corridor.
The arrow snapped in the middle and Inami reached him, pulling him away from the window.
"Seki-sama, please stay away from these." Inami said urgently, trying to catch her breath.
"Miss Cheinun!" Seki exclaimed.
Inami tried to look out at the army. "Is his Highness back yet?"
Seki shook his head. "I'm afraid my father isn't here."
"The armies?"
"The defense army is beginning to fight back."
Inami sighed, thinking. "That won't be enough..." She said with a bit of panic. She snapped out of her worry and grabbed Seki's wrist. "Sire, you need to get out of here."
"I need to..."
Inami was pulling him down the corridor all ready, running. Several others passed them, especially ladies in waiting and other palace servants frantic for cover.
*******************************
"You must go out?" Miaka asked.
"I am a warrior of Suzaku, I need to protect my homeland." Tamahome answered, finishing the tie on his breastplate.
Miaka just watched him quietly, sitting on the edge of their bed. They had the shinzaho, they were so close, and this war was ruining everything. Miaka hadn't even seen Kokie for two days. Everyone except for Hotohori and Chiriko was returning to the battlefield. Mitsukake hadn't been back for a long while either.
Her hazel eyes just drifted back to her husband. He was almost done, which meant he was leaving soon. After what happened to Ame, Miaka was scared.
Tamahome put his second glove on. "You know, I..." Tamahome stumbled at the sudden force hitting him from behind. He saw Miaka's arms wrap around his waist.
"Please... just please be safe..." Miaka whispered, her voice a bit shaky.
Tamahome looked down solemnly, then removed Miaka's hands from him. He turned around. "Miaka, I promise nothing will happen to me. You need to trust me." His voice was comforting.
Miaka put her head down and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Okay." She stuttered.
Tamahome put his own arms around her, holding her close and resting his chin against her hair. "You'll be all right here." He whispered.
"I know." Came the almost inaudible reply.
Tamahome pulled back a bit, and when Miaka looked up he kissed her, the same way he always did.
A tear ran down Miaka's cheek.
************************
"How can you be so calm about this?" Amiboshi asked. "Tomo's life force is gone, don't you care?"
Nakago looked up from the table and from the drink he held. "If I had known Tomo would have done so badly at the assignment, I wouldn't have sent him. I thought he'd have an upper hand."
Amiboshi shook his head. "That doesn't answer my question."
"If he couldn't even rid us of a stranded warrior, then he was no good."
Amiboshi looked slightly frustrated, but wisely left the room without further argument. It was true he and Tomo were never on the best of terms, but that didn't make his death right.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Mayo stood out in the sunny garden of Kutou, un-phased but what was happening around her. She just walked slowly in the green grass and by the tall trees, thinking... clearing her thoughts. She had too many to do much concentration.
She had the Seiryu shinzaho, but what good was it if she didn't have Suzaku's as well? She was sure Nakago was planning something about it, but she felt as though they excluded her. And what about her wishes? What would she wish for once Seiryu was summoned? She knew she'd do something about the war, that was for sure.
She stopped for a moment, looking over, seeing a boy sitting by a tree. Walking a little further, she recognized him.
"Do you often come out here, Priestess?" Apparently he knew of her presence.
"No." Mayo answered. "But I thought I'd look around."
Suboshi didn't meet her gaze, he just looked forward and twirled a plain white flower by the stem between his fingers.
Mayo looked forward to see if anything in particular was of interest, but there wasn't much difference from there to here.
Suboshi let the flower fall to the grass.
"Are you feeling better?" Mayo asked.
He nodded, but still faced forward. "Yes, I am."
Mayo thought for a moment. "Amiboshi... I saw him just earlier, he looked kind of upset."
Suboshi didn't do much, but Mayo could tell he was still listening. The sun was shining on him, though the shade of the tree kept it out of his eyes. There was something about him, something she couldn't put her finger on... just something that seemed to make him different from Nakago... even Soi. He and Amiboshi really did look alike, but Mayo was beginning to be able to tell them apart without having to look at their clothes.
Suboshi stood off, brushing off his brown and yellow garments. He looked at Mayo and nodded a bit. "I'll find him." He said.
He left.
Mayo watched him go until she couldn't see him through the trees anymore. She looked forward into the sunny garden. A sigh escaped her lips. "Saori-chan..." She spoke quietly. "I hope you're all right... and I hope you're not mad at me."
**********************
"Fire!"
The order sounded, and the rope to the catapult was cut, the large hunk of rock hurtling towards the palace. However, it pulled a U-turn and flew right back at its senders.
"LOOK OUT!" They yelled, scattering away from the target. The stone flew into the catapult itself and shattered it.
~
Inami looked away from the thing window. "I think a second pavilion is on its way, it should be here shortly."
"Let us hope so." Seki stated.
Inami bit her lip and carefully looked back out the window. It seemed like some of the soldiers were starting to climb over the wall. A good size of the defense army was behind the wall protecting the palace, the rest were fighting Kutou soldiers outside the grounds. She started to wonder if perhaps Tomo was a distraction.
~
"WHA!" A soldier yelled as his ladder fell backwards just as he was about to reach the top rung. He fell back onto more soldiers. Several of the other ladders coming up fell back as well, ropes came alive almost and disconnected themselves from the wall.
~
"I don't think he's with them."
"Who?" The dark-haired prince asked.
"Nakago. He's the head general of Kutou."
"He is a Seiryu warrior, is that not correct?"
Inami sighed, brushing her bangs back. "Yes."
**********************************
"HA!" Tasuki shouted, bringing his sword down on another Kutou man. He and the bandits of Mt. Reikaku were fighting in the bright, late morning. Kutou gained track in some places, and lost track in others. The bandits were with a Konan army keeping them from reaching in too far.
Koji, who wasn't too far off, side swiped under a man's armor, several other Konan fighters around him.
"How many bloody men does this place have?!" Another Reikaku bandit shouted as he dodged a spear and made a hit.
More Kutou soldiers seemed to show up with everyone that Koji killed. He and the other bandits became swarmed with them, and Koji couldn't take the break to even get a breath in.
"REKKA, SHINEN!!!"
The diamond fan spat out huge waves of fire over the immediate area, catching onto Kutou uniforms and forcing soldiers to turn on their heels and run to avoid contact with the hot flames. Why was this soldier able to shoot fire?
Tasuki intercepted a blow from above with the edge of the indestructible weapon, again shouting the words to activate its spell. The Kutou man's eyes widened as he was surrounded by the bright blazing light and thrown from Tasuki, fire swarming around him.
Tasuki had used the fan at an odd angle and had to close his eyes a bit to avoid the embers. When he finally opened them,, the soldier was history. He smirked.
That was, until he felt the piercing pain come up his side.
Tasuki dropped his fan as another Kutou soldier ran his broad sword right through his torso, continuing until the blade well emerged from the other side.
"GENROU!!!" Koji shouted, seeing the incident. With rage he struck away all the soldiers in front of him and ducked down under their clashing weapons, running down a small dusty hill towards his friend.
The man pushed the sword in further, a smile on his face as Tasuki dropped his sword.
~*CLING!*~
Koji's sword meshed with the soldier's armor and sliced through it, right into the back of the man. In shock the soldier fell backwards, ripping his sword out of Tasuki as he did so.
Koji dropped his weapon and ran up to Tasuki. "Genrou man, are you okay?!"
Tasuki put his hand over the fresh wound, pulling it away with a coating of deep red blood. Without words, he could only look up at Koji as he lost his strength, and fell back.
"GENROU!!!"
* *
Nuriko dropped the jug of water by the riverbank. "Chi...Chichiri... did you just feel that?"
Chichiri looked up through the trees into the blue sky. "I did."
*****************************
Keisuke yawned. "What now?"
"Why do you keep asking that?"
"Because you don't read out loud."
Tetsuya sighed. "Nothing's looking up. Right here, it says: 'As Mitsukake was forced to walk by the bodies of victims who didn't make it, he noticed the corpse of the Byakko Warrior, Kokie, and his soul filled with remorse.'"
Keisuke frowned. "At least they know now."
"Yeah."
"Can I read now? What's going on in Hokkan?"
Tetsuya shook his head. "Go get Hikari."
"Oh... yeah..." Keisuke stood up. "I'm just staying over there tonight after I bring Hikari here to her "mother." Call me if anything major happens."
"All right."
Keisuke reached for his jacket. "You're not going to call me, are you?"
"Nope."
"Fine." Keisuke sighed. "I'll see ya."
Tetsuya waved as Keisuke left out his front door.
He read silently for a little while, pulling back a bit after one line.
"Oh no..." He mumbled. "Not Tasuki too..."
*************************
"Sanoii-sama!!"
Seki turned around at Inami's out burst. "What? My father?"
Inami turned back from the window. "His highness's own army has arrived! I can see his horse! Kutou's outnumbered by too many to count!"
Seki stood up and quickly ran to the window himself. He scanned the dim battlefield, seeing a large army coming from the east. A look of relief spread over his face. "Thank goodness, I do believe this palace is saved."
***************************
"HELP! Someone!"
Two young women in white dresses ran to the doors of the palace. "What is it?!" One shouted. The other gasped in horror.
"Hurry, get him some help!" Koji pleaded.
"I'll be right back!" The first alerted, running back to the palace.
The second helped take some of the orange-haired man's weight off Koji. "Quickly, we must carry him inside. This looks bad."
Koji re-adjusted Task's limp arm over his shoulder and pulled him up more, carrying him either to his salvation, or his grave.