Authors Note:
Raeka-chan: kahhhhh...this is taking so loooong -pout-
Raebef-chan: What did u expect?
Raeka-chan: Please review!
It was Chichiri who found Miaka, seated on the stones, gazing off into the distance.
"Miaka-san." he said softly. She turned, looking at him, a smile touching her lips as she rose, straightening out her short skirt. "Dinner is ready, no da!" the monk announced cheerfully.
"Arigato, Chichiri!" she said before following the monk back inside the palace. Before she entered, she turned to gaze back out across the empty courtyard before smiling and following her friend indoors. The door closed, cutting off the stream of light from inside, leaving the night to envelope the courtyard in her cloak of darkness. After the monk had settled his priestess at the table, Chichiri made his way to the far end of the room that was still partially hidden by shadow, for the lamps lights did not reach that far.
"Is Tasuki with you no da?" He asked Nuriko softly who was hidden by the shadow.
"No, didn't he come with you?" he asked, slightly surprised. When the eldest warrior shook his head, Nuriko swore softly to himself, quietly leaving his place in the corner and disappeared into the hallway. Chichiri sat quietly, his good eye closed. He felt... restless. Looking around to room he surveyed the remaining warriors, briefly looking at each one in turn. Suddenly he started, causing Hotohori to turn at the sudden movement. Chichiri stood quickly, his grip tightening on his staff.
He had felt a presence, almost a disturbance in Nuriko's life force. Moving silently, he left the room, the sounds of the others voices falling deaf upon his ears as he strode quickly the way that Nuriko had last gone. /Baka.../ he growled to himself, his face crease in worry. He had been gone too long... His sudden energy born of the concern for his two young friends's caused the monk to set into a sprint, as he ran for the courtyard.
The moon washed the enclosure in a pale light, causing everything to throw wild and strange shadows across the ground. Chichiri slid to a halt, quickly scanning the seemingly empty courtyard. As his eyes adjusted to the strange half light, he gave a jerk as he saw a figure lying to the side of the venue, hidden by the deep shadows. The monk took a cautious step forward, and then cried out in horror as the moonlight caught some metal on the figures wrist, causing it to glint and show Chichiri the red and gold arm band of Nuriko.
At the sound of his yell, Hotohori, who had followed the monk in concern, burst into the courtyard to find Chichiri kenneling over the still form of Nuriko. He stood, rooted to the spot as Chichiri felt for the young warriors pulse. Finally he looked up, meeting the emperor's gaze with a relieved smile.
"He's fine, no da!" he said, hoisting Nuriko up and sliding an arm around him. "He is only unconscious no da, not even injured."
Hotohori let out his breath in a low sigh that he realized he had been holding in. As Chichiri started to move forward with Nuriko, the emperor rushed to help. Together, the two companions carried/dragged Nuriko back to the sounds of the other's.
"Nuriko...weighs a lot... no da..." the monk panted as they turned the final corner of the halls.
"I... should do... something about... the length of these halls..." Hotohori speculated out loud between gasps for breath,
"They... are far... to long..."
"da..." the monk agreed before he had to stop talking to save his breath.
"Tamahome! Mitsukake!" Hotohori called urgently as they reached the door. After the expected cries of surprise as the others saw Nuriko's unconscious form, Tamahome gripped him under the arms as Mitsukake grabbed his legs. Together, the two celestial warriors laid the cross dresser into his bed. As Mitsukake checked him over for any injuries that Chichiri had missed, the monk explained how he had sensed a slight disturbance in Nuriko's life force and so he had gone to investigate.
/no need to tell them about Tasuki no da/ he thought to himself.
"Tasuki?" Nuriko called into the dark plaza, his voice echoing off the stone walls as the warrior scanned the seemingly empty enclosure.
"I'm here." said the bandit softly, and Nuriko turned in the direction of his voice. "How's Miaka?" he said as Nuriko took a seat near the fountain.
"Fine." he said, giving a grin at the thought of the Miko eating enough for twelve of any of them. He was jolted from his thoughts when Tasuki sighed, and the companion turned to his sharply.
"What is it?" he asked, narrowing his eyes, curiosity in his voice. When the bandit didn't answer, Nuriko got angry. "You better tell me baka, or you will once again become acquainted with that wall over their."
Tasuki froze, in the act of slipping away. Nuriko was looking right at him and he sighed, recognizing defeat.
"I can't stay here." he said, and Nuriko jerked back in surprise at his answer. He had not expected that from the bandit at all and immediately rose to his feet, scanning the empty air around him.
"What are you talking about Tasuki?" Nuriko said his mind racing for an explanation. "You can't leave!" A growl from the bandit sent the short hairs at the back of the warrior's neck on end.
"It's not a question Nuriko. I made up my mind. I'm leaving here tonight." Still circling the courtyard in an attempt to locate Tasuki Nuriko spoke again, a note of desperation in his voice.
"But you can't go idiot, you're a Suz-"
"Goddammit, I KNOW I'm a Suzaku Seven Celestial Warrior! That's why I'm going! I'm a celestial warrior! My purpose in life is to guard the Priestess of Suzaku!" he cried angrily. Now it was Nuriko's turn to get mad.
"How is running away going to solve anybody's problems Tasuki." he said coldly, glaring into the darkness. Inside he was scared. Tasuki had never acted this way before. Something was wrong. The warrior came to a stop in front of the door that led out of the courtyard.
"Move Nuriko." said Tasuki softly, the edge in his voice once again sending a chill down Nuriko's spine.
"No Tasuki. I won't move to let you run away." In his mind, Tasuki was fighting a battle with himself. He knew that his plan would not help his fellow Suzaku. But neither will being dead help them he shot back. Stomping on his last doubts, he took a step toward Nuriko.
"I don't want to fight you." he said softly and once again the warrior was stunned at his manner. No trace of the old Tasuki was in his cold voice. When he still did not move, Tasuki gritted his teeth and steeled his mind, drawing the fan he stood back.
"This is your last chance Nuriko!" he yelled, swinging the fan back as Nuriko crouched into a fighting position.
"Try me!" the warrior yelled back, his mark blazing to life.
"REKKA-" the bandit yelled loudly, and in the pause that naturally followed he silently ran to the warrior's side who's eyes were still looking at where he had last spoke, waiting for the fire to come at him. With a quick jab to his neck, Tasuki hit Nuriko, and the warrior collapsed instantly to the ground.
"I'm sorry Nuriko, I didn't want to do this but I need to get out." With a last look around the courtyard, the bandit strode quickly through the gates and passed the guards guarding the entrance to the Konan palace. Pausing outside the city walls, the bandit turned back to the palace, now far away.
"Goodbye, Miaka. Woo ai Ne." he said softly, and then he turned, and was lost.'
"Tasuki!" Nuriko cried, sitting straight up in bed. He saw the other faces of the Suzaku Seven crowded around him, their faces showing their relief at his outburst. "I gotta stop him!" Nuriko cried.
"Shh... It's alright now, Na no da." Said the quiet voice of the monk. Chichiri approached his younger warrior softly, looking deep into his shockingly violet eyes.
"Chichiri, Tasuki is trying to leave! He's-" The monk smiled, laying a hand on Nuriko's shoulder. "I know, no da." he said softly to him so that the others could not here.
"Wait until they are gone, no da." Surprise, then comprehension dawned on the warriors face as the monk stepped back to allow Mitsukake access to his new patient.After awhile, Mitsukake seemed satisfied that Nuriko was fine. One by one the others left, until Nuriko and Chichiri were left alone. As soon as the door closed behind Mitsukake, who was carrying Chiriko in his arms as he had fallen asleep, Nuriko spoke.
"I knew he would do something like this, the baka! I tried to stop him, but..." he faltered, lowering his eyes in defeat. "I couldn't stop him Chichiri. But I saw something..." he shivered slightly as he thought back.
"He was... different. Like it was a different Tasuki for a moment. An evil Tasuki..." then he trailed off into silence before raising his violet eyes to the monk. "I'm sorry." Chichiri quietly looked at the younger seishi.
"Its okay, no da!" he said softly. "You did well." Suddenly Nuriko's face split into a yawn that he tried unsuccessfully to hide behind his hand. The monk grinned, rising from his place beside him.
"I agree with you, no da. We both need rest. We shall talk more in the morning, no da." He turned and reached for the door.
"Chichiri!" he stopped, turning back towards Nuriko. "What about Tasuki?"
"He'll be fine until tomorrow, no da!" he reassured the tired seishi. Closing the door behind him, he strode down the darkened halls of the palace. Pausing, he gazed up at the moon, leaning on the railing as he did so. He wanted to believe that Tasuki would be fine, but the monk wasn't so sure. Tentatively, he reached out with his ki to touch the bandit, but recoiled as he was blocked by an ice cold substance like water.Frowning he tried again, jerking back as he made contact.He shivered slightly, even though it was warm. He had located Tasuki.
Unlike when the spirit was in a body, touching a spirit Ki was like trying to hold water in your fist. Because he had no solid essence, the monk could not read his ki. With a sigh, he opened the door to his chambers, securing it tightly behind him. Though it was late, Chichiri was unable to find sleep, until as the first morning light touched the horizon his eye closed.