Darkness falls

Chapter three: More questions...no answers

Rating: M (and for good reason!)

Summary: On a stormy night in southern Konan a mysterious figure makes it way to the palace, killing a demon in guise of a seishi. Friends and enemies...Heaven and Hell...The truth and the lies...Where is the real Tasuki? DARK CHICHIRI!

Disclaimer: Uh...uh...NOPE. I do not own Fushigi Yuugi and its characters, but I guess you could say I own the way Chichiri acts in this...and the ring...and the demon...other than that...

A/C: hehehe...second update. I like this one better!

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"I see." Hotohori sighed, rubbing at his eyes. "And once again the puzzle becomes even more complicated."

"Koji cant remember Tasuki acting strange at all, and you recall he did accompany him here, so we can rule out the possibility that something attacked them on their trip. Its not that far to Mt. Reikaku in any account." The warrior of strength could only growl in frustration, covering his face with his hands. "I just don't understand! Why would anyone want to impersonate Tasuki? It just doesn't make sense. Why not you, or Mitsukake, or even Chichiri? And speaking of Chiri, how did he know what was going on? He hadn't been to visit in months!"

"Nuriko...May I ask your opinion of something? Something that has been bothering me?"

Sitting up a little, the other blinked, "Of course. What's wrong, Hotohori?"

"Its Chichiri." The emperor got up and started to pace. "I cant help but fear this power of his, and in doing so, I have many unanswered questions that need to desperately be answered. One you already stated; how did he know? How, in that case, did he even realize Tasuki was here? Its not like him, in any case, to travel in a storm, walk in without being introduced, and above all, I haven't seen his mask since he came here! Not once. I would like to merely say he is finally opening up, but that hardly seems to be the case. However, that is not the thing that has been really bothering me."

Nuriko's voice was soft, gentle, "Then what is, sire?"

Hotohori didn't even pause to chastise him about the title, he just kept up his pacing. "What if he is lying? What if we were all fooled? If Chichiri has the power to vanquish a demon, it is also possible he would be able to make us see one. Wouldn't you agree?"

"You cant mean...?"

The emperor nodded once, short, staccato. "What if the one who is a demon...wasn't Tasuki?"

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And how exactly, will you make me do this? The question seemed to voice itself again in that mahogany eye, that thin line that were his lips, and the way he sat in the bed, not getting up, but not entirely staying still either.

Mitsukake wasn't having it. "Make you? I will not make you." For his credit he didn't recoil as that cold eye bore into him. "However, if you dare to ignore me and get out of that bed before I say so, never mind going gallivanting off in your condition- take care to not injure yourself. For you will find no help here, from me or from those I command!"

Chichiri's eyebrow nearly receded to his hairline, the hand that was adorned with the ring moving slightly as it lay on the bed. That movement was not lost to the healer, as it were, and Mitsukake's warning bells began to ring loud and clear in his head. He had done it now.

The monk's voice was soft and lethal, "Is that so?"

The younger man's fists clenched, this was it. He was going to die. Once and for all, he was going to be sent to stay forever with his beloved Shouka. He had just never thought one of his own star brother's would be the one to do it. His eyes followed the hand as it rose, the hand that had shown so much compassion, the hand that had protected them all, the hand that had pierced through Tasuki's chest...the hand that would end it all...

The jewel of the ring glinted in the light as the hand paused in the air and Mitsukake held his breath. Long fingers moved slightly and...flipped the covers back over himself. Chichiri sighed as he burrowed into the thick blanket, glancing up at the other with a small grin. "You worry too much, no da."

Needless to say, the healer was thoroughly perplexed. Letting the tension leak out of his body, he shook his head, "Chichiri, what-"

"Im rather tired, Mitsukake. I would like to get some sleep if you wouldn't mind." Fatigue began to drift back into the elder's voice again even as his eyes began to close. "I will call you if I have any problems."

"I-I'll make sure no one disturbs you then." Spinning on his heel he nearly got out the door before a soft voice stopped him in his tracks, froze him where he stood.

"Oyasumi, nii-chan." Chichiri murmured softly, his voice gentle, and loving...the voice of a child lost in the darkness, unable to break free of what held him.

It wasn't until Mitsukake was halfway down the hall did he realize, with a soft chuckle, what had happened back there in the room. It had all been a test, and one he was certain he had passed with flying colors.

He was also fairly certain that the man back there in his bed was the only one who could say 'good night big brother' to someone who was considerably younger than him with such utter seriousness to someone when it was the middle of the morning with a bright sun shining just behind the dark curtains.

He turned slightly so he could gaze back at the closed door at the end of the hall. His lips turned up into a soft smile, "Oyasumi ototo-chan." he whispered fondly.

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"No."

The emperor raised an eyebrow. "You sound so certain."

"I am certain." Nuriko ran a hand through his already messy hair, "There is no doubt in my mind that the person we are talking about is the real Chichiri. He is not an imposter."

"But how can you be so sure?" He asked, finally stopping to stand in front of the other's chair, "If what he says is true than the Tasuki who has been with us for nearly a year was a fake. How can you be sure this is Chichiri when you were fooled just as the rest of us with Tasuki?"

"I know because-"

"SIRE!" The doors flew open with a band, revealing a guard in armor. "Sire, I must speak with you immediately!"

"I...I..." Hotohori was torn between the two men, his heart wanting to desperately to hear the rests of the sentence Nuriko had begun- but his mind seeking to find out what the problem was. He didn't need to worry, for Nuriko made the choice for him.

"I was just about to leave anyway. Cant stay in these dirty clothes all day!" He bounced to his feet and bowed before the emperor before making his way to the door. He paused ,however, on the threshold. "Hotohori." He murmured, "I know he's who he says he is, because no imposter would stick his hand through his best friend and then sit in his room nearly ten minutes after he wakes up...and cries."

The last had been a mere whisper, but the other heard it well enough and he stared at the other man's back even as the door swung shut behind him. "Nuriko." He whispered as his guard began babbling some nonsense and incoherent story of an army of demons with glowing red eyes and mouths full of sharp teeth making their way to the cities gates through the woods.

"Young man, I think you need to go home and rest." Hotohori said with a frown. He hadn't been overworking his guards that much, had he?

"No! Sire you must believe me! They slither across the ground as fast as the wind, shrieking something terrible in tongues heard no where on this earth! As their eyes roamed over us we felt-" He shuddered, arms going around himself, unable to go on.

"Your bodies freeze to the very ground you stand on, your veins bursting under your skin, your voices lost, the warmth of your soul stolen away until there was only one option left to you?"

The guard nodded quickly, his breath coming in ragged pants. "Yes! Exactly like that!"

Hotohori frowned at the man he was sure had not been there a moment before. "How long have you been sitting there?"

"Long enough." Chichiri replied, clad only in his bed clothes. "Heed me well, Saihitei Seishuku, the demons of the abyss have come to their masters call. If they make it within the walls of this city they will feat upon every living person they find, man, woman, or child, until they achieve their goal and kill who it is they are sent to kill."

"And who is it that they are sent to kill?"

"I have no idea." For some reason, the elder wouldn't look at him, and that gave the emperor enough strength to force the next sentence through his fear.

"But you have a suspicion, don't you?"

The other man was still, utterly still, and Hotohori knew he had struck the nail on the head. "Chichiri. Tell me."

The emperor's stomach turned over a split second before the monk sighed, looking up to lock eyes with him. "It could very well be you, sire."

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I really liked Chichiri in this chapter. Of course...I ALWAYS like Chiri...but thats not the point. -smile- Anywhoo, go and review this! Use the little button on the bottom left that says 'submit review'