Reply to Comments: No individuals this time, Minna-san! Taiisukun is gone! This is one of the biggest plot twists of the story! Other than that… I can't say anything.

Author's comment: This chapter pulls away from the plot just slightly, but enjoy it anyways. Thanks to Amaya for helping me Beta it… I finally got her email that she sent nearly a month ago… Computer just work that way, ne? Chapter 9 sucks right back into the plot… I just need to write it!

Thanks again to my reviewers. You make me want to write. And if any of my Hajime readers read this, I got the beginning of chapter 14 onto the PC, so I may actually work on it now.

FYI: Kirei means "pretty"

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Chapter 8: Only Two Feet Away

It felt good to be back, to be away from the troubles that had no end… for a little while. He wasn't running away from them, by any means, but he had responsibilities to his men, and they probably weren't getting anything done in his absence… not that he didn't trust Kouji's leadership skills.

Tasuki didn't ride up to the front of Reikaku, but into the bandits' pass that could only be reached by taking a certain shortcut several miles back. The pass immediately lead to the horse stables where Reikaku's animals were--mostly stolen or stray.

He didn't get very far into the stables when a bandit who had been snoozing beside a haystack woke with a start, leaping to his feet and having a short dagger ready for an intruder. Before he got his threat out, though, he recognized the unique but familiar appearance of the man putting the palace horse away.

"Hey Boss!" The bandit, only about 17 or 18 years of age, sheathed his weapon and sprang towards the older man. "Where've ya been! Ya jus got right up and dis'peared on us!"

Tasuki smiled and shut the door to the horse's pen. "It's a long story, Juun. Everyone will hear it eventually. Where's that pathetic second n' command of mine?"

Juun blinked in confusion for a moment, but then lit up. "Ah, Kouji? Probably drinking more than his share o'sake upstairs." Juun hesitated before continuing, "Actually, I think he was down here not two hours'go getting' his horse out 'n goin' off somewhere… dun think he's come back yit, 'less it was while I was sleepin'."

Tasuki sighed. "So I finally git home and no one's here ta welcome me?"

"Guess not, Boss."

Tasuki waved the young boy aside and headed down through the stable into the entrance to Reikaku. "If he gits here, make sure ya tell him Genrou's back."

"Will do Boss!" Juun saluted.

Tasuki went through the fairly dirty hallway that lead from the Reikaku main building to the stables. Most of Reikaku was pretty hygienic, but not the area where dirt-clod boots trampled every hour. Places like that a bandit just couldn't keep spotless, nor did he care. Once inside he passed a few bandits here and there, either giving him a greeting or nodding, one just ignoring him. He really didn't want a grand greeting from every man he passed like Juun had given him, he just wanted to go up to his room, take a bath, and go to bed.

Tasuki reached the first set of stairs to the upper level when he heard a faint cry, followed by a small wave of laughter. Maybe that would answer his question as to where everyone was. He listened again, then got an all-to-familiar uneasiness in his stomach. That was a woman's cry, and last time he checked, there wasn't a single female taking up residence at this mountain.

Tasuki briskly passed the steps and headed in direction of the noise. The sounds lead him to one of the summit rooms, where he found about fifteen of his men standing with their backs to him, all talking at once and laughing at the spectacle in front of them. Tasuki tilted to get a better look, and sure enough there was a young girl in near-tears on the floor, her sleeves ripped and a purely terrified look on her face. Her dark hair was tangled from a scuffle, and she was trying to move away from two of the bandits approaching her.

And everyone knows that Tasuki hated seeing girls cry.

With one hard blow from his fan to the wall, Tasuki's voice shouted over the volume of the others'. "WHAT TH'HELL ARE YA DOIN'?"

The bandits jumped and turned at the sight of their boss, each one of their jaws dropping in surprise.

"Damnit Ryou, Karo!" Tasuki called a few bandits by name. "Y'know I hate you bringin' girls up here!"

"S-sorry boss, we just…"

"I ain't sorry for nuthin'!" One of the other bandits called out, interrupting the first. "Dis is what bandits do, and ya can't just be goin' off with yer own business and expect us ta follow yer dumb rules!"

Tasuki's eyebrows lowered over his amber eyes and he pulled his fan away from the wall, taking several steps forward, his height towering over the rebellious man. He held his fan to his chest. "Wanna say that again?"

The young bandit's teeth clattered together and he looked away. "No sir."

Tasuki stepped back and dropped his fan. "Get out, go do somethin' useful with yerselves." Tasuki ordered the group. He turned towards the door, where a few men were gawking at the spectacle. "Haryu!" Tasuki called over one of them. "Git a horse 'n take this girl back to wherever she came from. Now."

"Sure thin, Boss." Haryu quickly entered the room and helped the frightened girl off the floor. She shakily looked from Tasuki to Haryu, then hid her face with her hand as she was lead out.

Tasuki sheathed his fan and cursed. "Damnit Kouji, y'jus can't wait fer me ta get back before ya head out, c'n ya?"

zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz

Nuriko wiped his forehead with the back of his hand before grabbing another weed by the root and yanking it out of the soil bed. It was getting really hot outside with the oncoming of summer, but it was still perfect gardening weather. The roses were coming into bloom.

"Kirei…"

Nuriko glanced over his shoulder to see Seii standing over him, looking at the flowers that Nuriko had transplanted in the ground he's already covered, a few more in a basket beside him waiting their turn. Seii carried a small silver tray with a glass of orange juice on top of it.

Nuriko stood up and dusted his gloves together, slipping them off and taking the drink from Seii. "Domo." He breathed.

Seii looked over the violets and yellows that bordered the house. "It's very beautiful, Ryuuen." She said quietly. "Demo, it's getting hot out here, would you like some lunch?"

Nuriko smiled and placed the empty glass back on the tray. "In a while. I might as well finish this row while I'm out here." Nuriko sighed and looked back at his work. "10 more minutes, maybe."

"Hai." Seii responded, heading back for the house.

"Hey Seii? When are your parents supposed to get here?" Nuriko asked after her.

Seii paused. "Tonight, I believe, before sunset. Will Rokou be attending too?"

"I… have no idea."

Seii nodded with a shy smile. "I'll set his place."

zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz

Tasuki emerged from the bathroom that connected to the master bedroom that was privileged to the leader of the gang, shaking the remaining water droplets from his orange mane and securing the towel around his waist with his free hand. He rolled his shoulders back, his spine cracking once or twice. There was nothing like a hot bath to get you into the mood for sleeping, but after the previous accident he had run into upon his arrival, he figured he'd better check up on everything else before granting himself the time to sleep.

Tasuki went to his long dresser to find some clean clothes to change into. The top of it was fairly empty, not much for decoration, minus a few random trinkets, prayer beads, and a fairly old picture on the corner of his family. He figured that since he didn't see them too much anyway, he might as well keep a picture around, even if he didn't get along with have of him. They were all there, Aidou, who still hadn't married; Mai, Li'An, Jiang, Pa'Liu… on one edge of the picture was his father, barely peeking a smile, and on the other edge was his overly-endowed mother, who's grin was big enough to compensate. A small, 11-year-old Shun'u was wedged in the middle between Li'An and Pa'Liu, looking as if he'd rather die than be stuck that close to all his sisters. The photo put a small smile on Tasuki's face.

He pulled out a drawer, then another, barely finding any clothing in there at all. He'd have to do the laundry soon. He grumbled at that idea and grabbed a beige pair of pants out of the second drawer, shoving his legs into them. Did he even have a clean shirt? He shook his head. He was getting too used to the palace treatment…

He shuffled around the half-empty drawer for even a hint of a white sleeve when his finger jammed into something hard. He pulled away the clothing in that corner of the drawer and pulled the object out.

It was a golden rod, a small ruby and emerald studded into either end of it. Tasuki solemnly studied it. He had forgotten he had put it in there.

--"Oyasumi."--

Inami lightly grasped Tasuki's hand. "Stay with me a little longer… please…"--

Tasuki ran his thumb over the patterned gold, sighed, and tossed it back into the drawer.

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Nothing, there was nothing. Keisuke Yuuki stood at the last shelf of the reference room in Tokyo's National Library, after scanning every dusty shelf for any clue he could find… and came up empty handed, again. He could go over the articles of Einosuke again, but what did that have to do with anything? He sighed. He had probably squeezed out all the information he could get towards the location of the book and the odd disappearings from this library, any further searching was pretty pointless.

Walking back to the door, he opened it just a crack to make sure the coast was clear. Seeing the stairs to the room empty, he quickly stepped out and shut the door behind him. Whistling in a poor attempt to remain inconspicuous, he planted his hands into his pockets and casually walked down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Kazuki was having difficulty sticking the staff to the broom into its rightful slot on the large, gray garbage bin he rolled around. His shift was over, his floor was clean (at least as clean as he cared to get it) and he was eager to get home to play with his newest toy.

With a shove and a kick, Kazuki slammed the broom into the bin and shoved the bin into the janitor's closet, knocking down a few bottle of miscellaneous cleaner as he did so. He switched of the light and shut the door, taking out his large key ring and locking the closet for the next sucker to come along.

"Finally." Kazuki complained, brushing lingering dust off his short hair and shoulders. "You just wait until I publish a masterpiece," he spoke to himself, "then we'll see who does the low-life jobs around here."

Smiling at his personal comment, Kazuki clapped his hands together and headed for the main desk. Upon reaching it, he began talking before asking for the librarian's attention.

"Alright Hakio-san, I'm done and packed for the day. Chart me, will you?"

The plump woman turned around and adjusted her glasses, looking over Kazuki. "Ah yes, I will write you down right away. Going home?"

Kazuki nodded. "So would you be a dear and fork over my stuff?"

Ms. Hakio walked to the edge of the des k and bent over, picking up a one-strap backpack and handing it to Kazuki. "Have a nice day."

Kazuki shouldered his pack and headed straight for the main doors, his excitement for continuing the book finally breaking free. In fact, he was so excited about his magic book that he failed to watch where he was going, and in turn smacked head on into another man.

"Hey!" He shouted, rubbing his forehead.

Keisuke rubbed his shoulder. "Uh, Sorry."

Kazuki rolled his eyes and brushed past the taller man, heading straight for the doors without so much as an apology.

"Sheesh." Keisuke watched after him. Without anything more to do, Keisuke decided to leave as well. Maybe Mayo or Tetsuya had better luck finding the book today than he did.

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"Check it out, Boss!" Haryu stormed into one of the lounging rooms of Reikaku, followed by Kishuu and "Blade". "We've brought us back some winnin's!" He dropped a bag onto the table where Tasuki's feet were resting, the sound of coins clanking together catching Tasuki's attention.

Tasuki smiled, a fang showing over his lip. "And where did we git this?"

"On the way back from dat village afta droppin' off dat girl." Blade announced. "We happened to run inta sum merchants er sumthin' on our way here 'n got a load of money."

"I'd say theres 'bout 900 hunded ryou in there!" Kishuu spoke up.

"Good job boys." Tasuki sat up. "You know where to put it, feel free to keep some fer yerselves."

"Thanks boss!" Haryu snatched up the money and left the room with a slight jump in his step, Kishuu and Blade following him like ducks.

Tasuki rested his head on his hand. "Least someone's doin' their share 'round here."

"Knock knock!" A voice interrupted Tasuki's thoughts.

"Who's there?"

"It's…"

"Kouji!" Tasuki shouted, "There ain't a door! Jus' come in!"

And, of course, in walked Kouji, a big smile on his face to see his best friend again. "Hey Genrou! Long time no see!"

Tasuki sat up. "I could say th'same fer you! Runnin' off before my big welcome party. That's harsh, man!"

(Cue Bandit Dance)

Tasuki unlaced his arm from Kouji's. "C'mon Kouji, let's take a break from this dump fer a while. I need ta get out and do some normal stuff… I've been spendin' too much time around that palace."

Kouji shook his head. "No c'n do, Genrou. It just so happens I got a previous meetin'."

Tasuki raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? With who?"

Kouji smirked. "Some nice lady I met at a bar a couple'a weeks ago. Told her I'd be there by sunset t'day, and I ain't breakin' any promises to a face that cute."

"Psh." Tasuki said, "A girl ain't that important. We've got better things t'do."

Kouji shook his head, his smirk fading a bit. "Sorry, not t'day." He put a hand in his trouser pocket. "We don't all age like ya do, Genrou. Hell, I'm only two years yer senior and it looks like y'could put a decade between us. I gotta take these chances while I c'n still git 'em. B'sides, you ain't goin' back or nuthin' soon, are ya?"

Tasuki shook his head. "Nah, not for a few days, at least."

"Well then, we'll have one hell of a drinkin' party come tomorrow… or t'night if I get th'old slap in the face." Kouji gave Tasuki a thumb's up. "But I better get looking half-decent before I go."

zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz

Several handmaids rushed passed Chichiri, all screaming in panic as they ran.

"H-hey! What's going on, no da!" Chichiri shouted over the panic.

One of the handmaids stopped to answer him, voice quickened with alarm. "Chichiri-sama! In Shouei's room! It's… it's a monster!"

"Shouei! Is he in danger!"

"I… I don't know!" The girl quickly answered. She glanced behind her, and quickly rejoined the stampede.

Without a moment's hesitation, Chichiri picked up his staff and started in a full-run towards the young prince's quarters.

"Get back!" Tamahome shouted, sending his heel into the dark monster's gut.

The monster blubbered loudly in response, shaking its slimy tentacles angrily. It didn't move, and probably couldn't with the way it's drop-shaped body stuck so heavily to the floor. It swung a tentacle at Tamahome, the slimy piece detaching from its body and landing on the wall behind the Suzaku warrior.

"Taka!" Miaka shouted, reached her hand out from the entrance. Chiriko held her back.

Chichiri rushed into the room from behind Miaka and Chiriko, lifting his staff as he ran. "Kai ha!" He shouted, red sparks flying from his staff and hitting the monster in one of its three eyes.

The attacker shrieked loudly, all of its tentacles flying up to its face to cover the new wound.

"Where's Shouei!" Chichiri asked in the slim time frame he had bought.

"He's safe, but we have to worry about THIS!" Taka pointed to the demon.

All at once, the monster slashed out each tentacle, crashing each one against the different walls of the prince's chambers. Rubble from the ceiling showered onto the floor.

"Miaka, look out!" Chiriko pushed Miaka onto the floor, a stone from the doorframe dropping near their feet.

Chichiri concentrated and put one hand in front of his face. "Ai sou ku da…"

The monk was forced to halt his spell as a thick, greasy limb swung at him. Chichiri ducked, feeling his bangs caught up in the motion. "Tamahome!" He shouted. "You need to distract him no da!"

"Allow me!" A lower voice shouted over the affray. Hotohori leapt into the room, his holy sword raised. He came down onto the side of the monster, making a worthy slice into the main body.

The monster roared, sending its tentacles on frantic mayhem again. One shot for Tamahome, and he didn't quite get the air he needed to duck. His feet were swiped from under him and he fell hard on his back, another leg from above swooning down for him.

"HA!" A man yelled as a sword cut smoothly through the tentacle, the sliced member squirming on the floor. The swordsmen wheeled around with perfect agility to fight off a third shot from the monster.

"Careful, Tamahome!" The man offered a hand to help the "ogre" warrior off the floor.

Tamahome smiled. "I didn't know you had your father's skill, Boushin."

Boushin quickly released Tamahome's grip. "Quickly, we do not have the time!" Boushin dodged under another attack, leaving Tamahome for the time being. "Chichue! I do not think it can move freely!" He shouted to Hotohori.

Chichiri took his chance. "Ai sou ku da MIN kairo!" Chichiri spun his staff around his good hand and shot the ornamented end towards the beast. A bright blue light shot out in perfect form from the staff, circling around the monster in a spiral until it encircled all of it. The light pulsated for a moment, then shot inward, slicing the monster through in several placed. Without even so much as a growl, the demon fell in chunks of slime to the floor.

Everyone waited, panting, then relaxed a bit.

"Chichiri…" Tamahome tried to regain his breath, "When… did you learn… to do that?"

Chichiri smiled. "Kutou, no da. It's new to my repertoire, no da."

Miaka darted into the room and flung herself at Tamahome, hugging him tightly. "Thanks goodness you're alright…" She turned towards the others. "Arigatou."

"My current theory is that this incident is another recurrence of these strange symbols we've been experiencing," Chiriko announced, stepping over some of the rubble and entering the room as well, "Perhaps we just happened to miss it this time."

Boushin rested the point of his sword on the ground. "I do believe I've had my work out for the day. I should see how Mother is doing."

"That is a good idea." Hotohori concurred.

Chiriko's heart suddenly sunk in his chest, and a feeling of great anxiety rushed over him. "Matte!" He shouted, eyes flitting to the corpse of the monster. He saw the broken sections of it start to wiggle individually. "Minna, we're not…"

But Chiriko's warning was a second too late. The pieces of the original monster shot out like bullets, crashing into the walls and splitting on contact. One hit squarely into Hotohori's gut, sending him into the dresser. Each of the newly developed members of the monster began hissing and sliding around like snakes, opening wide jaws that bore hundred of small, razor-sharp teeth.

Boushin quickly ran to Hotohori's side, fending off a few of the serpents from further injuring him.

"Miaka, get out now!" Tamahome shouted, sending Miaka to the door. However, there were two monsters waiting for her, each bobbing what can be assumed as a head, waiting for a taste of her flesh.

Tamahome instantly changed his mind and tucked Miaka away behind him, raising his fists as a swarm of the snakes thronged to him.

"Kai ha ro!" Chichiri smacked his staff into the floor, red energy spreading over it and vanquishing several of the snakes.

Chiriko pulled his sleeve away from the jaws of one of the smaller demons, hitting it with the back of his hand to knock it down. It squirmed on the floor for a few seconds, then jumped right up again for a second attack.

"Hold on Chiriko!" Chichiri raised his staff and headed for the youngest warrior, but instead hit an invisible wall. The force field ricocheted the magician backwards, falling only four feet before hitting another wall.

"What the…" Chichiri reached his hand out, feeling four walls around him, each glowing faintly red when he touched them. There was a roof too… Chichiri was trapped in a box.

"Chichiri!" Boushin slit open another serpent with his blade. "What is the matter!"

"I.. I don't know no da!" He punched the wall, only to have his fist repelled. "I'm trapped, no da!"

"Tamahome!" Boushin redirected his attention. "I do not believe these ones will re-spawn! Chichiri and my father are unable to battle! We must destroy them!"

Despite Boushin's words, Hotohori picked up his holy sword and used it to help him off the ground. His chest throbbed with pain, but nothing was broken. "I… can fight…"

"Chichue…" Boushin turned around. He only met his father's glance for a moment before being attacked by another snake.

Miaka had found herself drawn away from Tamahome, and chased to the corner of Shouei's bed by the demons. They yipped at her ankles, and began to leap onto the mattress along side her.

"Tamahome!" She cried out, trying to swat the serpents away.

"Miaka!" Tamahome tried to get across the room to her, but was being bombarded by too many of the monsters himself. "Miaka, hold on!"

Miaka kicked at one of them, only to feel a tooth scrap across her shin. She looked for something to use as a weapon, but came up empty handed.

Miaka, hold still!

Miaka jumped at the sound of Chiriko's voice. She glanced across the room to see watching her, back pressed against the wall as though he were a statue.

A serpent latched onto her foot. Miaka cried out as she felt the teeth sink through the leather.

Miaka! Chiriko's mind called out again. Miaka, stop moving! They have nothing to provide optical senses, stop moving!

Miaka held very still, trying to ignore the pain in her foot. She held her arms firmly at her side, holding her breath.

After a moment, the snakes leaping at her seemed to get confused, and settled down a bit. At that moment, Boushin's sword sliced through all of them in one strike.

Tamahome was now holding still, as was Hotohori. The few snakes that were left flew for the first prince of Konan. Boushin marveled his fighting skills, and in three swift spins, slaughtered the remaining attackers.

All the severed pieces of the monster began to glow red, and they vanished without a trace.

Chichiri nearly fell onto the floor as the box around him was lifted, but luckily regained his footing.

"What… happened…?" Tamahome asked, even more out of breath than before.

Chichiri took off his mask and studied the tiles beneath him. "Impenetrable…" He glanced at the others in the room. "We are at the mercy of the one who controls our world."

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Kazuki tucked his pen away in his pocket as he exited the elevator on his floor. He had done pretty well for himself, interpreting a battle into the novel without the help of Hachiro, though he didn't like the extra work. He glanced at his watch. It was pretty late, and he should probably get ready for bed… but who could sleep when you have an entire universe at your fingertips?

As he turned into his hallway, he spotted a familiar face leaning against his door, guitar case on the floor.

"Do you always get home this late?" Hachiro asked.

Kazuki shrugged. "I don't keep myself on a schedule." He fished his hand into his pocket and pulled out his keys. "I'm glad you're hear, Hachiro. I want you to read this battle scene to me… I want to make sure I didn't pass up any important details."