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MS

Chapter Five: Mysteries

A flash of black light distracted Nakago from is search for Amiboshi. A figure in a long black dress that clung tightly to her every curve, exaggerating them seductively, emerged from the light, muttering curses. Then she saw Amber.

"Shit. Is she alright?" There was an uncomfortable edge to her voice.

"Fine." Nakago responded tersely.

"Good." Solei collapsed from relief and exhaustion.

Amber's eyelids fluttered open at the thud. "Kamai?"

Solei grinned weakly. "Surprise?"

"Nakago?"

"Yes?"

"Would you please take her to her room? It is two down from yours. She needs rest." He scooped up the crumpled girl and walked out the door, staunchly ignoring Nuriko's glares.

Amber looked down at herself and flushed. "May I have a shirt please? My room is just down the hall…" she was silenced by a piece of white linen. Quickly she slid it on, inhaling the unique scent. "Thank you. Now…" she looked down at herself, then at Tasuki. He looked at himself, realizing that he had just tossed her his shirt. Amber looked away blushing, burrowing further into the shirt she had just realized was his. He helped her back to her room, delicately closing the door and pondering the flare of chi that had come from her. He walked across the hall to the room he shared with Nuriko and walked right into his friend.

"Sorry, Nuriko." He muttered, then walked through the door to the room. Nuriko stared after his buddy for awhile; curious as to why he was acting so strange. He shrugged Tasuki's politeness off as a one-time thing, then lay down himself and fell into a restless sleep plagued with nightmares.

Kamai popped out of the portal, still muttering obscenities at her uncle when she spotted Amber bleeding on the couch. "Shit. Is she alright?" She padded over quickly, ignoring the amazed looks on the male faces as she moved.

"Fine."

Solei shivered at the voice. "Good." 'It should be a sin to have a voice like that.' she thought.

"Kamai?" Solei glanced over at her friend, trying a grin; Amber's eyes fell and she knew it had been weak.

"Surprise?" Her vision began to cloud and she felt strong arms lift her and she burrowed closer, relishing in the warmth she found. She felt herself being set down, but as she let her eyes flutter open, she saw a scene that was decidedly not her own room.

"Hello, love."

"Piss off. You are not wanted."

Wyvern's leer widened. "On the contrary, I think I am." He leaned in to kiss her and she spit in his face, grinning at his grimace. "That you will pay for."

"How?"

Black lightning crackled at his fingertips and he smirked as her eyes went wide. "I have my ways."

"Bastard! You're leaching his power!"

"Of course." he answered modestly. "And you are going to help me overthrow both of them."

"Not by choice." She closed her eyes and tried to focus on any outside influence and when she opened them, was relieved to find ice blue staring back at her with an expression that could almost have passed as concerned.

Nakago carefully set Solei down on the bed before glancing around at the room to find a cloth to wipe off the blood. The walls were deep blues, the colour of the ocean at night, and the ceiling was the colour of the night sky, constellations painstakingly painted on perfectly. Silver-blue curtains hung in gauzy columns framing the windows, and a small waterfall splashed gently in the corner. He allowed himself to smile inwardly; it was so peaceful, unlike she would be when he was through. He pulled over a chair from the desk on the opposing wall and sat, watching her again as he began to sponge the blood off her back gently.

She began to talk in her sleep as he finished. "Piss off. You are not wanted." He arched an eyebrow at her words, but realized that she was speaking to something he could not see.

'Curious.' He noted, turning his full attention to the one-sided conversation.

"How?" She was mocking someone, sarcastic laughter in her voice. "Bastard! You're leaching his power!"

'From sarcasm to fury…'

"Not by choice." He had leaned closer during her soliloquy and was momentarily set back by the sight of silver eyes turning lavender staring at him.

"Welcome back." he murmured.

"Thanks." she retorted sharply. "Although, I don't think I went anywhere." She paused. "Did I say much?"

"Nothing intelligible." Nakago lied smoothly.

"Right…" she hesitated to take his word, but decided that, if he had heard, none of it would make sense. 'Yet…' her traitorous mind added.

"Till then love…" The voice was disembodied and Solei shuddered as phantom fingers brushed across her cheek.

"What was that?" he asked coolly.

"Nothing." she answered.

'That was too fast.' His mind noted, 'lie.' "Really?"

"Honest."

He studied her for a moment and an idea blossomed in his mind. "Very well then. Good night, Kamai." She looked up sharply at the name, and his lips brushed hers teasingly. Smooth steps guided him out the door. She touched her fingers to her lips.

"He just…I…oh my…" A silly grin spread across her face. "He called me Kamai…"

Nakago closed the door behind him softly, grinning as he overheard her comments.

"He just…I…oh my…" he smirked. "He called me Kamai…" it widened slowly.

'She is so naïve.' He thought to himself as he entered the drab room she had generously provided. 'I would have expected more from the Goddess Protector.'

Amiboshi opened his eyes, only to see that he was back in the shrine.

"Why am I here?"

A deep, unfamiliar voice answered. "You know too much." A dark imposing figure stood before him, power and majesty draped around him like a cloak.

Coal black eyes gazed at him, and he fidgeted nervously. "Who are you?"

"I am Hades, Lord of the Underworld." He thundered. "You have been released from your celestial duty. No longer shall you go to that world from which you just returned."

Amiboshi tried to contain his anger. "But Amber…"

"Ahh yes, the Daughter of the God. Shakaku will be fine."

"You mean…"

"Yes."

"Why was she affected by my song of demon sleep? Is she a…" he trailed off.

The underworld lord looked amused. "If you do not know, I will not tell you."

"But Nakago should know, so we can find the Goddess Protector and then bring them here."

The god looked at him, annoyed. "Your part in this has finished, Musician." The god raised his hand in farewell to Amiboshi and disappeared in a brilliant flash of black light.

Yeah… Root Beer high…Extra energy… WHEEEE!

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MS