Chapter 81 : Today, We Die
"General! General!" A thin Kutou soldier stumbled up the stairs at the base of a large hallway in the palace, running to Nakago. Dawn had broken just a quarter of an hour ago, and seeing the energy in this man sparked Nakago's interest.
Nakago turned away from the two captains he was speaking with to give attention to this young man. "What is it?"
The man stopped, but continued to talk while panting for air. "Konan soldier.... the gate... they're at the gate. It's... a surprise attack... from Konan..." He coughed hard, the sound echoing off the phlegm in his throat.
Nakago's blue eyes showed a deal of surprise, for him, anyway. He turned to the two captains. "Get your armies to the west wall, now!" He barked sternly. "Open the brigades and prepare to strike Konan's army!"
"Yessir!" Came the quick reply, and the captains ran back the way the messenger had come. At that moment, the war horn could be heard blowing in the distance, alerting others of Konan's bold strike.
"Inform the Emperor immediately." Nakago said lowly before following at a quick pace behind the captains.
"Sir... Nakago-san..." The man still gasped, "There... is one more thing..."
"Oh?" Nakago raised an eyebrow.
"Three men... three other men are on the wall... but they do not wear Konan military uniforms." The man swallowed and stood taller before his superior. "One of them broke the west entering arch with nothing but his hands, and at the same time, one who wore no armor wiped out the entire set of guards there with..." He took another breath of air, "with merely a sweep of a staff." He had finally recomposed himself, and took a serious look to his face. "The third is shouting obscenities at the soldiers and is waving some sort of torch around."
"I see." Nakago smirked a bit. "So this is their game, is it?"
"None of our men can touch them, we need the armies."
"You orders have changed." Nakago broke in. "The emperor will be informed if not already, you are to alert the palace guards to gather the members of the Seiryu Seven and send them to the west wall, is that understood?"
"...Yes sir."
--- --- --- --- ---
"M-Matte!" Mayo called down the hallway, her fingers just missing the hem of Suboshi's sleeve.
"Nani yo?!" Suboshi turned around in a hurry.
Mayo clenched her hand to the front of her dress. "Where are you going? Where is everyone going?"
"The Suzaku seishi have come to our walls, we are going to destroy them!" Suboshi made a fist and ran down the hallway.
"Suzaku?" Mayo repeated. So... was this the final battle? The REAL one?
Mayo picked up her skirts and darted after Suboshi. She would be there this time, she would see the defeat of her enemies...
A pound of intense emotion suddenly struck her heart. Almost like guilt, or fear... was Mayo ready for this? Did she want this?
Meanwhile, as he took a flight of stairs, Suboshi ran to the Seiryu meeting place and towards the war. As Soi and Nakago, both on horseback, came into view, he whispered to himself, "Please forgive me, Saori."
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"Tasuki, Chichiri, and Nuriko ran from the wall once their message had gotten through, allowing the Konan forces to take over and begin their invasion of Kutou territory. The battle among celestial warriors wouldn't take place among common men, but it would stay among the battlefields, the un-named border area of eastern Konan. When they reached Tamahome, Hotohori, Mitsukake, and their priestess, the Miko desperately called for their attention before the Seiryu seven arrived..."
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"Hold on, everyone..." Miaka said in what sounded like near-tears, worry plaguing heavily on her voice.
The group turned around, dropping their guard against the upcoming enemy for a moment.
"Miaka, what's wrong?" Nuriko asked, concerned.
"Minna..." Miaka lifted her head and gazed at her warriors. Tears really were filling her eyes now.
"Miaka..." Tamahome returned his paces and went to her side.
"You... this is so dangerous..." Miaka said, trying to smile but finding it near impossible. "We... we almost didn't make it last time, and I don't want to lose you..." She looked to Nuriko, "again." She took a deep breath, and relaxed her shoulders. "For you, I want to make my third wish now before it's too late, for Hotohori and Mitsukake too..."
"You're making your third wish now, no da?" Chichiri asked. He glanced behind him. The Seiryu life forces were in his range now, he could feel them coming. They were practically breathing down his neck.
"Kai jin!" Miaka shouted. Her entire body began to glow, forcing Mitsukake and Tamahome to step away from her.
Chichiri knew it wasn't his place, but their enemy was closing in. "Hurry up Miaka, no da! We don't have time no da!"
"We've been working for this so long... I don't want everything my friends have done go to waste..." She spoke more to the heavens than anyone else. "Please, all of these warriors who have helped me so much..." She glanced again at the surprised and sympathetic faces around her, "I wish for them to have the ability to be reborn after this battle. I don't care how you do it, but let their spirits return!"
The borders of the wish Miaka had requested must have been in the powers of the God of Love, because the well-known, valiant beam of red light shot up from her body and into the sky, the symbol on her forehead slowly fading out.
The pillar was a beacon for Nakago, and he took the chance to close in.
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Saori's eyes ripped open, a blaze of fire shining over her brown irises. The covers around her felt like hot irons, and...
Thump!
Saori hid the floor of the bedroom hard, watching in terror as the pain released itself from her torso and limbs and surged through her skin, lighting instantly upon contacting the air like gasoline. Her entire body burned into an aura of red and orange, the searing flames licking against her skin and the carpet, though they didn't physically burn anything. As she curled up on the floor and held her breath in an attempt to withhold Suzaku's power, a lock of tomato-red hair fell over her face. She felt herself losing her mind, she couldn't think straight. Where was she? No, wait... what's happening?
"Ya... me... ro..." Saori gasped, clenching her teeth together and balling her fists up so tight the white knuckles shone threw the flames. It hurt, like heartburn that was spreading through her veins, growing worse and worse with every breath she took. It didn't matter how strong her heart was, Suzaku would not have mercy in dropping his side of the deal.
She could barely make out the furniture in the room, all she saw was ruby red light blinding her, her vision clouding into a shade of scarlet.
"Onegai!" She cried up, her tears turning into steam before they could fall. "I... I can't...!"
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wwwwwhhhhhoooooOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!
"Miaka, look out!" Tamahome shouted, grabbing the priestess in both arms and flying into the trees as a massive blue bomb of light crashed into the ground, knocking several trees over and sending cracks through the ground like capillaries.
"K'sou!" Tasuki shouted, shielding his eyes with his forearms as debris blew everywhere. "We weren't payin' attention!"
Miaka sat up from behind the trees. "Tamahome! Daijoubu?!"
Tamahome lifted his head and smiled. "Don't worry... I'm fine... just a scratch." In truth, the back of Tamahome's shirt was ripped up, several long, red, burn-like scratches netting over his back. Mitsukake crawled up beside them, a patch of robe from his chest missing, trickles of blood staining the yellow fabric.
"Tamahome, I will take Miaka to safety. You must hurry before they find us." Mitsukake said seriously.
"Mitsukake, you're hurt too!" Miaka cried.
"It is not serious, I will use my healing powers for someone who needs it." Mitsukake gave a smile. "Tamahome, go."
Tamahome nodded and pushed himself off the ground, running back into the new arena.
"Miaka, please come with me." Mitsukake directed, standing up and grabbing the Miko's hand. Miaka accepted without reply, and Mitsukake quickly lead her off further into the forestry.
-
"Hm hm hm hm hm..." The first, sickly voice rang out as the massive light slowly began to diminish. "You rang, oh Suzaku warriors?"
Chichiri lifted his staff, a scowl shining through his mask. "Miboshi, no da."
The form of the floating man emerged from the effects of the Seiryu grand entrance, the spindle in his hand already rotating, making a smooth humming sound that grew louder and louder. As he prepared to attack, Soi, Nakago, and Suboshi came into clear view, the remaining blue light now gone.
"I'll take on Nakago, you know." Chichiri said quietly to Tamahome. "You should team up with his Highness."
"We must not let them have the first strike!" Hotohori's bold call came in. He drew his holy sword, running with pure agility to the Seiryu warriors. He kicked off the ground and leapt into the air, ready to come down on his opponent.
"Rekka..." Tasuki began shouting as he ripped the diamond fan from its holder on his back. "SHINEN!"
Miboshi laughed in his throat and waved his spindle around, a large, brown monster appearing before him. The beast seemed to have mud for skin, and one large, hallow hole for a face. Hotohori's sword came down upon it, cutting off one of its top branch-like limbs before the monster had a chance to attack.
Tamahome pulled a sword of his own and charged for the monster, but not before something whizzed dangerously close to his nose.
"Where do you think you're going, hm?" Suboshi smiled from the sidelines, throwing a meteor bell up in his hand, and catching it again.
"Suboshi..." Tamahome muttered his name. He didn't care what he had overheard Saori saying about him, this battle was his for the fighting. He redirected his charge and headed straight for the youngest of the eastern seishi.
Suboshi's face lit up as Tamahome drew near, and the rope of the ryuseisui materialized behind him just as he threw one of its ends out to meet his opponent.
-
"It's good to have confidence when you fight, no da, but you're a little overboard." Chichiri spoke, spinning his staff around in his hand.
Nakago smirked. "At least my confidence is silent." At his last word, his blonde bangs rose up off his forehead as his symbol glowed so brightly that it was illegible, and a train of blue power shot off towards the monk.
Chichiri leapt up into the air, shooting his staff forward. "Kai ha!" He commanded, yellow sparks channeling to Nakago's spot. Instead of hitting the general, they hit the protective orb around him, causing no damage. Chichiri landed on an outstretched branch of a tree not far off. "This is going to be harder than I thought, no da." He thought to himself. "I have to get serious."
-
Tasuki spread his fan out right when Soi's lightening bolt hit it, the diamond refracting the beam and sending it to the ground, though Tasuki still got a shock out of it. He nearly somersaulted to get past another, finding little in the ways of shelter to protect him.
"Tasuki!" Nuriko's voice boomed from his far right. "You have to get in the air to fight her, Come on!"
A grin formed on Tasuki's face, and he sheathed his fan, nodding. Before Soi could strike again, he took off at immense speed towards Nuriko.
Once Nuriko saw the bandit coming, he quickly netted his fingers together and bent his knees. Once the blur reached him and he felt Tasuki's boot in his palms, Nuriko stood and threw his arms up with incredible force, sending Tasuki into the air like a rocket. Tasuki unsheathed his fan as he flew higher and higher.
Soi turned to see the projectile coming to her. "...What?!" She shouted.
"REKKA SHINEN!"
The sky witch was smothered in Tasuki's flames, and both she and the 'wing' seishi fell to the ground, one a bit more gracefully that the other.
Soi shakily stood, brushing charred pieces of hair out of her face. "Why you..."
The bracelets on Nuriko's wrists spanned into armbands. "We have to keep you on the ground." He said, bolting for her.
-
"LAAAAH!" The mud monster bellowed, extending one of its muddy legs to Hotohori. Hotohori took a few steps back and struck, severing the end of the limb. As that extension drew back, another shot forward, taking material out of the body in order to increase its length.
"How can one monster be so powerful?!" Hotohori questioned, ducking under a leg and darting for the body. He had almost reached the beast's center before another limb beat into his torso an flung him back. Though the emperor was inhabiting a body of a nyan-nyan, he could still quite clearly feel pain.
-
All the while, Mayo watched unnoticed from a portion of the Kutou wall, at a safe distance from both the fight among men and the fight among seishi. She couldn't see the Konan and Kutou armies, but she could make out every chi blast, flame, and bolt that went on in the battle before her. It seemed about even, at the moment. She could say that Suzaku had the upper hand, with five warriors fighting four, but it was obvious that Hotohori and Taka didn't have the same strength as the others, especially since Taka had never fully received all the powers that Tamahome had had.
Mayo bit her lip. This battle, she had decided, would tell her if she had been right all this time, that Miaka was only a self-righteous glory hog whose only true pleasure was in tormenting her, or if she was wrong, and she was the self-centered one, the one who cared for nothing but herself because her own unhappiness was not fair unless shared.
No matter how hard she strained her eyes, Mayo could not find any trace of Saori, Miaka, Chiriko, or Mitsukake. She knew Saori had to be back in Konan, from what few hints she could pick up from Suboshi's words that previous night. Perhaps she, along with the priestess, Chiriko, and Mitsukake, had stayed behind at the palace. Saori had every right to, but Miaka was a coward. Mayo was a priestess too, wasn't she? And she would stand by her warrior's sides and watch the fight.
Mayo heard something whistling towards her and quickly ducked, nearly falling onto the top of the stone wall. She scanned behind her and saw one of Suboshi's meteor bells careening into the abyss of the sky.
"Baka..." She grumbled.
-
Tamahome landed back on the ground, a shooting pain going up his calf when he put weight on his right leg. Suboshi was too fast... and the ryuseisui were faster.
"You're a very boring opponent, Tamahome." Suboshi yawned, catching a meteor bell on the end of his magenta rope.
Tamahome panted as he tried to catch his breath. He didn't have a single advantage against Suboshi. If only...
"Tama! Help his highness!" Nuriko yelled from behind him, running to the battle with Suboshi. He had a bright red mark going down the side of his neck, but didn't seem to notice. "Hurry, he needs you! I'll take on Suboshi!"
Tamahome didn't wait for further explanation, but took off in the opposite direction as the 'willow' warrior took up his spot. Suboshi scowled at this sudden change.
"Go, Ryuseisui!" He leapt off the ground and threw both ends of his rope at Nuriko.
Nuriko ducked and got hit along his left shoulder, managing to avoid the right ball. He turned his body and made a grab for the rope, yanking it back and throwing Suboshi's balance off, sending him hurtling towards the earth. Suboshi stood up only to be hit in his ribs, the same spot that Nakago had bruised earlier that day. Nuriko's punch was much stronger, and Suboshi was hurled off the soil and right into the trunk of a half-demolished tree. With the onset of dizziness still on him, Suboshi raised his hand and summoned three separate meteor bells, each propelling to fight Nuriko on their own while Suboshi took the few seconds of space to recover.
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"I can't hold it..." Suzaku's sacrifice breathed, "I.... I can't hold it...."
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Chichiri pulled off the ripped portion of his mask and let the scrap fall to the ground. He'd get a better look at Nakago now anyway. He touched the side of his face gently, touching the wetness of fresh blood.
"Your perception is surprisingly good, not what I'd expect." Nakago said, still calm despite the battle. He brought a hand up, several chunks from the ground rising up into the air, shooting forward like bullets to feast upon the monk.
Chichiri planted his staff before him firmly and muttered something, a protective barrier forming around him as each clump and grain hit, turning into dust upon contact with the shield. Once the shower was over, Chichiri skipped on words and returned the favor. With one solid strike the ringed end of the staff smashed into the earth, forcing forward a massive fault the channeled unmercifully towards Nakago, sending out projectiles much larger than what Nakago had been playing with. Chichiri wouldn't give Nakago a chance to wait, he quickly chanted another spell and shot forth solid thunder from his hand. The thunder dispersed and the debris in the air cycloned into a tornado that struck back at him. Nakago had anticipated Chichiri's every move, the monk had yet to make a scratch on the general, while suffering several minor injuries himself. Half of him began concentrating on something larger while the other half paid every ounce of attention possible on Nakago to defend his relentless attacks.
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"Relaying back to the fast-moving battles between Celestial Warriors, Soi had temporarily teamed up with Miboshi in a clever stride to get Tasuki off her tail, but abandoned the man once his first monster had been defeated by Tamahome and Hotohori." Tetsuya took a deep breathe before continuing. "The master of storms now found herself facing the emperor of Konan himself, and the holy sword that stood resistant to her lightening powers. Miboshi summoned up a larger monster than before, the beast known as Kishukun from another realm. The demon's body was made of tight-stretching green hide, and had two fur-covered red heads that threatened massive ivory horns. Tasuki's fire and Tamahome's martial skill battled Kishukun, while Nuriko riskily dodged one attack after another from the Seiryu twin..."
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Nuriko's foot slid from under him and he tumbled onto the ground, wincing at the new gash in his side, layering over the healed wound from one of Kutou's deadly arrows. Nuriko was forced to try his strength and get up, because Suboshi's ryuseisui struck hard into the earth where Nuriko had lay just milliseconds before.
Suboshi wasn't quite yet winning this fight, either. His movements had been slowed from a broken rib, and he could feel the corner of his jaw swelling. Nuriko had a hard time getting to him with his constant protection of the deadly spheres that twirled around him, but every time contact was made, it hurt.
Nuriko hit Suboshi with his specialty next. The chosen area for the fight was rigged with bits of forest, and in one swoop, Nuriko dug his nails into the bark of an oak and uprooted it, sending the massive object straight for Suboshi. Suboshi sent meteor bells after it, but the weapons only chipped away pieces of wood, and with Suboshi's injury, he had trouble leaping out of the way. The bark of the tree cut down the length of his left leg before Suboshi got free of its range. Suboshi breathed heavily, temporarily out of sight of Nuriko, feeling blood slowly pour over his ankle.
"I can't let them win..." he thought between breaths, "If they win, Miaka will make her final wish, and Saori.... Saori...."
Nuriko inhaled sharply as he searched for Suboshi. That coward wasn't hiding, was he? Nuriko wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. This fight wasn't like the first one, they were in the pure light of day; there was no hiding. Anyone who fell here would fall under the sun.
-
Soi had to hit Hotohori without striking the sword, which was near impossible with the man's exquisite aim. With the wind holding her in the air, Soi thrust her hands into the sky, circling dark storm clouds above her, forcing the warriors on ground to adjust to the dimmer light. The thunder rolled above her as she called forward the majority of her power, planning on wiping Hotohori out in one swipe. White electricity waved around her body, and she sent one large bolt straight down on the Konan royalty.
With a severe shock to his shoulders, Hotohori's holy sword absorbed most of the lightening, and he shot it straight down to his feet, the high charge breaking into the ground and giving him a boost behind his leap to get into the air. He pushed his tired body as high as it would go, making the final swipe for Soi.
Soi saw the robed man coming, and smiled. "You die twice!" She called, thrusting both arms forward, letting a blinding, gargantuan force of lightening flow out from her entire body, striking dead center on and around Hotohori's body.
Soi felt the powers drain from her body, but caught glimpse of one thing in her blast brighter than the white light she had given off. It was the symbol "star."
"N....Nani?" She asked. Her question was cut short as the fiery charged blade of the Holy Sword pierced into the base of her neck and cascaded down, cutting threw her breast armor and releasing her at her navel. With a gasp, she plummeted from the sky, hitting a number of tree branches before thudding onto the ground.
Hotohori felt his back slam onto the dry, hard soil, and he slowly opened his eyes. His entire body was numb and tingling. He suddenly felt lighter, like a feather, and he caught sight of a burned nyan-nyan body hovering above him, gradually disappearing into the atmosphere.
"Thank you, Nyan-Nyan, for what you have done here." His words spoke. Hotohori had exited this battle.
Soi sat up, blood running from her chest and torso and onto the clumped green grass beneath her. She peered through the brush and saw a flash of blue ki, and smiled.
"Nakago..." Blood choked the name. Soi's hand dropped from her chest and her body fell forward, lying in a final rest in the border forest.
-
Nakago felt something pull at his spirit, one of the Seiryu seven had fallen. He couldn't locate whom it was, because Chichiri released his staff, his body glowing with brilliance. The magician had been charging up for a chi blast of his own.
"HAAA!" Chichiri shouted, a laser of light shooting from his hands in a perfect line towards Nakago.
"Soi." It came to him, she was the one who had fallen.
Nakago only deflected part of Chichiri's attack, the majority of the power melting his armor away and striking into his arms and chest. Nakago winced and skidded back, heels digging into the dirt as he remained upright.
The metal on his clothes sizzled as he caught sight of Chichiri again, who looked worn and tired. It was only one hit, but making one hit on Nakago was a hard thing to do.
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"I CAN'T HOLD IT ANYMORE!!!!!"
"Saori...?" Amiboshi saw red light piercing through the wooden door of Saori's room, and ran down the hallway to reach it.
The loud call of Suzaku echoed in the palace corridors, a shriek that could be heard for miles. The walls around Saori's room were ripped from their foundations, and an immense fireball shot threw the roof of the Konan palace, unfolding its wings into the beast form of Suzaku, the phoenix. With another shrill screech, Suzaku flew into the air, flapping its large wingspan and flying over the capitol of Eiyo, speeding to the location of its priestess and warriors.
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"What the..." Tasuki limply turned around, seeing the southern deity flying in the sky.
Miaka gasped from her hidden spot with Mitsukake. "Su... Suzaku?!"
The fight between Suboshi and Nuriko came to a halt as the two gawked at the bird in the sky.
"Saori..." Suboshi whispered.
Mayo froze on the wall top, fear anchoring her feet to the stone. Suzaku flew overhead, passing her by and turning on its course, flying back over the wall and into Konan's territory. Miaka had made her final wish, and this... this was Suzaku.
"Mayo..."
Mayo perked up. "Sa... Saori?" She had just barely heard her best friend's voice.
Then her heart froze, and she locked her violet eyes onto the phoenix. She felt something pull at her heart, and at that moment she knew. Suzaku couldn't have engulfed Miaka, she was too strong, and Miaka's last wish couldn't have been to bring the god itself here... so...
"No... not Saori..." Mayo felt a tear run down her cheek. "Saori... how...." Mayo made a fist. "BAKA! HOW COULD YOU?!"
-
The battle was getting too intense for the warriors to continue watching in awe of the live god circling its rounds. Miboshi had summoned another monster to fight Tamahome alone while Tasuki worked on finished off Kishukun. The monster was a tall, stick-like body with tentacles like a squid's, each armed with dozens of morbid spikes. The monster grabbed Tamahome by the leg and lifted him into the air, sending another tentacle out to wrap around his torso. Tamahome cried out in agony as the beast's thorns punctured his skin.
"Tama!" Tasuki tried to run towards his friend on a bad leg, but Kishukun slammed a paw down between the warriors, swatting Tasuki away and gnashing at him with its two mouths.
"Rekka Shinen!" Tasuki shouted, releasing the power of his talisman into one mouth of the monster. Tasuki kept his hand in the beast as it shook violently, the fire in its mouth and throat growing so much that the entire head exploded, giving Tasuki nothing left to hold onto, and he hit back to the earth hard, feeling the pain of a hammer thrust up his tailbone.
The other head of Kishukun roared madly, shaking its fur and diving in for Tasuki.
-
Chichiri has spent so much energy in the chi blast on Nakago that he was now purely in the defensive. He raised his hands to block another blast from the blonde, feeling it rush painfully over his side as he did so. Nakago then stuck both feet to the soil and began forming a dangerous looking sphere between his hands.
Chichiri glanced over at the other battle. Hotohori was no where in sight, and...
He gasped. Tamahome was entangled in tentacles from a monster no doubt brought on by Miboshi, and blood was running down his entire body as the beast shook him hard, forcing its spikes deeper into Tamahome's flesh. He would die, no one was there to save him.
A bright light in Chichiri's peripheral vision caught his attention, And Chichiri barely had time to block Nakago's next attack. This wasn't just a chi blast though, it was a continuous stream of ki power, one that Chichiri had to put his entire life force into blocking in order to stay alive.
-
The feelings inside Mayo would not leave her, though she did try to push their nagging away. Saori, even though they were on opposing sides, was still her friend, she was there through thick and thin, and really thick. Mayo wiped a single tear from her eye.
"This is my atonement, then." She said, though no ears would hear her. "Not just for you, Saori, but for myself.
"Kai jin!" Mayo shouted, feeling Seiryu's power race in her veins. "I wish for Saori to be saved! Take me, Seiryu, but get my best friend out of that damn bird!"
A pillar of light rose up from Mayo, unnoticed by the persons in war, and Mayo watched the blue scales crawl up her legs and over her body. She fell back off the wall, the wind rushing by her ears as she neared the bottom.
-
"SHEEE!" Suzaku bellowed out as a blue light seem to ignite in its belly. The fire bird flew higher into the air, flapping its wings faster as an orb dropped out of its breast. The precious cargo fell immediately into the pull of gravity, just as the beast god Seiryu rose from behind the Kutou wall.
Suboshi's cobalt eyes immediately locked onto the falling orb behind Nuriko. He growled at the Suzaku warrior. "This fight is won!" He threw a meteor bell at Nuriko and ran for him, but instead of making a physical attack, Suboshi leapt over the purple haired man and ran from the battle field, going as fast at his legs would take him, searing pain emanating from the one that had been torn up by the oak tree. He entered another part of the forest and ignored his body's limits, redirecting all his strength into his lower half. He leapt into a tree, got footing on the lowest branch, and soared out into the air, his body just barely connecting with Saori's. He wrapped his arms around her and fell to the ground, landing on his toes and dropping into kneeling position. One eye shut as he winced at the pain in his leg, but he managed to smile relentless. Saori was alive and breathing, though every inch of her pale skin was open to the environment. Her eyes were peacefully closed, seemingly in a deep slumber.
"Saori..." Suboshi brushed a strand of her hair off her forehead. He adverted his eyes more to concentrate on getting his robe off than to save himself from Saori's nakedness. He slipped the off-white robe from his shoulders, revealing a plain gray undershirt with a tear in it underneath, and threw the garment over Saori, tying it around her to conceal her best he could. He glanced back where he had come, where the war was still too close for comfort. With the nail on his pinky, he scratched something into his forearm, then bent down and slid his arms under Saori's knees and neck, picked her up, and went at a sprint away from the battle field.
"The fight for me is over, Saori." He said to the unconscious woman. "I don't care if I'm labeled a coward, but I'll take you back to the palace where you'll be safe. Amiboshi will be waiting for us there."
-
The monster Kishukun raised its mighty paw and sent it crashing against towards Tasuki, who was still trying to get off the ground. He turned his head away, ready for impact.
Wham!
"Bakero... Can't you do anything yourself?"
Tasuki peered up to see Nuriko holding up Kishukun's paw, and with a push, Sent it back up and making the beast take a step back.
"Thanks... Nuriko..." Tasuki said and Nuriko helped him up.
-
Chichiri's heel slid slightly in the dirt as he kept his arms outstretched, still keeping Nakago's grand power at bay. He glanced over again. Tamahome was still being lashed at, his clothes thoroughly covered in blood. He would die if someone didn't do something.
Chichiri pulled one hand away from Nakago and shot it out towards Miboshi, a smooth, short line of red energy emitting his palm. It blazed through the air like a knife, and pierced the Seiryu warrior in the back of the neck. A choking sound emitted from Miboshi's mouth and his back arched, the spindle falling from his hand and clamoring into the dirt. The pink-haired man fell from his invisible throne and landed beside his strange weapon, the two monsters vanishing back to their realms.
Chichiri quickly moved his hand back, but the use of his power away from his own battle was a poor mistake. The rush of energy from Nakago hit into his hands like a cannon ball, pounding into him the way waves beat against the shore in a storm. Chichiri heard the sound of ripping flesh and snapping bone in the bright light, and was hurdled back into the trees.
Dizziness washed over the monk as he tried to sit up, the world blurry, and his body aching with fatigue. He felt a pain he wasn't use to burning at his left...
Chichiri winced in more ways that just in pain. It was gone. Nakago's life force had been too strong for him to physically barricade.
Quickly pulling his kesa off his shoulders, Chichiri wrapped the indigo material around the bloody, handless limb, trying to stop the outrageous flow of crimson life from his body. Luckily Nakago's focus had moved to something else, giving Chichiri time to maneuver a makeshift bandage before he bled to death.
-
Nakago scanned the field. Suboshi was missing, Soi was probably hidden by the forestry, and Miboshi's lifeless form lay several meters ahead of him. His view turned sharply right, seeing the healer at Tamahome's side, the fatal injuries on the pathetic boy's body fading.
"Do not interfere." Nakago held his hand out and shot out three needles of light, each one slicing into Mitsukake, into his head, heart, and neck. Mitsukake gasped and fell down, his large body transforming into that of a lifeless blue-haired child. The Nyan-Nyan floated like she was held up by invisible strings, then vanished.
Tamahome had not had time to be fully healed, but luckily Mitsukake had healed him enough to make him fighting worthy again.
The "spirit" symbol lit up on Nakago's forehead, a plate of ki energy digging into the ground before the seishi, sending all the remaining three bodies flying over the decimated land. Tamahome had been closest to the blast, and was shot into the lining forest again, just like at the start of the battle. Nuriko and Tasuki landed near each other, Nuriko hitting hard on his shoulder and Tasuki once again of his injured tailbone.
Nakago smirked, sensing the magician's life force behind him. However, it vanished shortly after. With such an injury as the one he had just given Chichiri, with the other ones he had sustained, the man didn't have enough strength left to attack, especially to attack with anything strong enough to be of any trouble.
"Suboshi must have run, I can still feel his life force." Nakago stepped up to the dead Miboshi, and kicked the corpse with his boot. "Pathetic, he did no real fighting." Nakago's eyes locked onto number three and number five of Suzaku, raising his hand in soon-to-be triumph. Despite his battling with the strongest of the Suzaku, he still had plenty of juice left in him.
-
"Tamahome..."
"Tamahome..."
"Tamahome, you idiot! Get off the ground!!!!"
Tamahome's eyes shot open, the world around him spinning for a moment. Finally he pushed himself up, staring into two sets of transparent knees.
"Tamahome, we must hurry before he sense our life forces here." A male voice came.
Tamahome slowly stood with surprise on his face. "What... What are you doing here?"
"No time to explain." Tomite's spirit rushed.
"Tamahome, let us inhabit your body." Inami urgently pleaded. "Your colleagues are injured, you're so close to accomplishing so much! We must do it now!"
"Inhabit me?" Tamahome asked.
"Give us your hands, quickly." Tomite ordered.
Tamahome did as instructed, holding his hands out. Tomite and Inami both touched him and began to glow a pale shade of green, then in a spark, they disappeared. Tamahome gasped as the incredible serge of power trailed up his arms and pounded into his chest, his own spirit rising back to its full potential.
Nakago's charging attack suddenly stop as his vibrant eyes stared to the forestry. He had felt a strong life force there... too strong. Was it the Magician?
His question would not stay unanswered. From out of the treetops, leaves flying about everywhere, flew Tamahome, armed with his sword as he came thundering down to Nakago. Nakago lifted his hand and blocked the attack with a blue light in his palm, then shot the light out in attack as Tamahome leapt back. The attack was blocked by Tamahome's own green shield.
"What's... goin' on...?" Tasuki asked, peeling himself from a dry patch of grass.
Nakago was just as surprised as Tasuki. He pulled both hands back, the symbol on his forehead flashing wildly, and sent a tunnel of ki towards the first of the Suzaku warriors.
Green light formed like smoke beneath Tamahome's feet, and it rocketed him into the air when the tunnel hit, Tasuki and Nuriko having to dodge out of the way to avoid being pummeled themselves. Nakago shot more chi blasts into the air after Tamahome, but each one was sent off in another direction by spikes of ice that shot out from Tamahome's palms. Green light spiraled around the last batch that were sent out, and the speed of the frozen water flashed beyond eyesight and hit into Nakago, crashing against the armor of his shoulders and piercing into his legs and arms. Any other attacks the Kutou general gave off were blocked by Tamahome's barricade, and the warrior drew his sword, a cursive "ogre" gallantly beaming on his forehead. Tamahome thrust the sword forward, and straight into Nakago's gut.
Nakago coughed hard on impact, a line of blood forming at his lips. He looked at Tamahome coldly, the blade still imbedded beneath his ribs. "Twice now... Tamahome..." He whispered.
Tamahome pushed the sword up, and got closer to Nakago's ear. "Pity," he said in a voice not his own, "I expected more from you."
Tamahome withdrew the sword from Nakago, stepping back and dropping the bloody blade. He watched Nakago fall into the dirt, lifeless.
"We..." He spoke cautiously. "We did it."
Tasuki and Nuriko stood up from the back, carefully making their ways forward.
"Is he dead?" Nuriko asked.
Miaka came running out from her hiding place, tears falling from her eyes as she outstretched her arms to her husband. "Tamahome!" She shouted.
The two other spirits inside Tamahome's body stepped out before Miaka collided with him, her arms encircling his neck and her face burying into his dirty shirt.
"I am so very proud, of all of you." Hotohori's spirit could just barely be made out in the sunlight.
"We're all alive, no da." Chichiri began half-stumbling towards the reunion, holding his left arm close to his body.
Miaka gasped. "Chichiri! What happened to your hand?"
Despite his injuries, Chichiri did manage a faint smile. "Back there somewhere, no da."
Tasuki raised an eyebrow. "Wait... 'Chiri, what happened...?"
"I had a feeling that wasn't just Tamakins out there." Nuriko piped up, noticing the faint outlines of Inami and Tomite. "I thought you guys left, you just can't stay away, can you?"
Tomite put his hands on his hips. I do what I feel like, and you..."
"Not so fast."
Those three words startled every member of the Suzaku warriors, even the two spirits who had returned from Genbu. They turned around in shock.
The body of a young girl, about the age of eight or nine, floated up into the air, her eyes glowing red and her voice abnormally low. "You haven't won, my poor warriors. In fact, you won't leave this sight." The black haired girl reached out her small hand and beckoned a golden spindle out of the dirt.
"Miboshi?!" Nuriko almost accused. "You're... you're still alive?"
Rage instantly took hold of Tasuki's features. "Damnit, just like what he did to Chiriko!" He pulled out his fan. "You bastard!"
"Where..." Tamahome shook his head, "Where did he find a girl so close by?"
"She must have been fleeing the war in Kutou, no da!" Chichiri quickly offered one explanation.
The possessed girl grinned. "And now, my darlings, I will summon a monster even greater than the one in Sairou so long ago, one that will destroy your souls..." The spindle began to spin to fast that it glowed.
"REKKA....!"
"Tasuki, NO!" Miaka cried out, grabbing his arm. "She's an innocent child! You'll kill her!"
Tasuki stopped his chant, but kept his eyes locked on Miboshi. This was just like in Sairou... but couldn't save Chiriko, he had to... he had to...
"Wait, Let me try." Inami's spirit announced.
Tomite looked at her shocked. "What th' hell do you think you're gonna do?"
Inami stepped a foot back, then ran off charging towards the girl. She leapt up into the air and entered the young body where the last Seiryu warrior lay.
The girl's eyes widened in pain, and her head shot back and forth wildly. Her body stretched out and shook. She screamed, and then spat Inami's spirit back out.
Inami cried out as her knees ground into the soil, clutching her sides. So she was a spirit, she seemed injured. Her image began flashing rapidly.
"Damnit, Inami!" Tomite shouted.
Tasuki dropped his fan and ran forward. "What th' hell did you do ta her?!"
Inami whimpered one more time, and then her spirit vanished.
Tomite and Tasuki both stopped in their tracks, though Tasuki was the only one who actually made them.
"INAMI!" Miaka cried. "Is she... Is she...?
"Spirits can't die." Tomite spoke harshly.
A portal in front of the youth began to open, preparing for the beast that would emerge onto the field.
"You can't let that thing come out!" Tomite shouted to the others.
"The only way is to kill the girl, no da." Chichiri said sorrowfully.
"No!" Miaka pleaded.
The portal grew wider, a rumbling noise coming from it.
"Tamahome, may I use your body one more time?" Tomite asked quietly beside the warrior.
Tamahome looked unsure, but didn't ask questions. He nodded.
"I'll need full control."
Another nod. Tomite closed his eyes and entered into Tamahome's body, the serge of power spreading through it again, but not as great as the first time. The image of Tomite's spirit could be seen outside of Tamahome, as though it really were the Genbu seishi.
Miboshi started laughing as the portal grew almost to its full size, knowing the Suzaku warriors would not injure such a young victim.
However, Tomite was not a Suzaku warrior. Without checking with the others, Tomite stepped forward and held his left hand out, green light arching over it into a bow. He brought his right hand forward and brought it back, and arrow made of pure ice forming between his fingers.
Miboshi's eyes widened at the appearance of this, but before anything could be done, Tomite released the arrow, and it flew on a narrow path into the child's chest.
Miaka screamed, Nuriko looked away. The child dropped to the ground, the portal shrinking to the size of a baseball.
The skewered body chuckled. "You have not defeated me... Suzaku.... warriors..." It stated in broken chants.
Tomite lowered his temporary bow and walked forward, standing next to the young victim, the one who did not deserve to be involved in such a war. Tomite formed another arrow in his hand.
"Your priestess... will die... and your loved ones...."
Tomite aimed the arrow at the child's forehead, and released it.
Miaka covered her eyes and turned towards Nuriko.
The girl's eyes faded from red into a mild blue. She smiled, then closed her eyes.
Tomite separated himself from Tamahome and began walking towards the rest of the group, his head down. He gave a sad glimmer to Miaka. "I'm... sorry." He continued past the Suzaku no Miko, and faded into the sunlight.
Tamahome approached Tasuki, Chichiri, Nuriko, and Miaka, as well as the spirits of Hotohori and Mitsukake.
"Let's go home." He said sincerely. "I think we deserve a nice break."