Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Thanks to all you guys who are reviewing! Here's the next chapter. ChirikoFan pointed out something to me and I wanted to comment - it's really HARD keeping this Tasuki/OC like I promised! But I will persevere! Anyway, I hope you guys like this update!
Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.
"Wow, Konan is really big," Kae thought, wandering the streets aimlessly with her two bodyguards – one whom was doing nothing but grumbling, while the other was trying to both pacify his friend and keep an eye on the young woman. "Maybe bigger than Tokyo."
"It's grown in the past years," Chichiri informed her, dragging Tasuki out from a bar. She waited until they caught up before she started walking again, taking in the scenery around her. "Although what Houki told you is true, she neglected to mention that the cities are still prospering, no matter what conflict may trouble the countries."
"It's beautiful – it really is," she added. Even though they had been walking for about several hours she still seemed amazed by the sights and sounds surrounding her – which was understandable, considering they were in ancient China – and none of them seemed to be running out of energy, which was a good thing. Except that Tasuki kept trying to sneak some sake, but Chichiri had a handle on that as well.
"Tasuki!" Chichiri grabbed the jug of sake away from the bandit as one would take away a favorite toy of a child and handed it back to the merchant. "You can get drunk later, when we don't have to watch her, no da!" he informed the irritated young man firmly, his long fuse of patience quickly reaching its end.
"Why do we hafta watch her anyway?" Tasuki demanded, glancing at the young woman who was now busying herself with one of the stalls, inspecting the foreign jewelry and goods. "I mean, she fits right in. Well, maybe not right in, but she's more normal than some people."
"Her…arrival at the palace drew quite a lot of attention, with all the commotion it caused," Chichiri said with a rueful shrug. "And Tai Yi-Jun told me that we're not the only ones who knows she's here. That means that there are enemies of Suzaku and Hong-Nan who would like nothing better than to get their hands on a strange girl and use her for a hostage somehow."
"Ain't that the way," Tasuki grunted, remembering the times Seiryu had tried using hostages. "So, Houki sent us with her to make sure nothin' happens? I thought it was weird we both had ta go, instead of just some maids."
"Finally, you get it," the long-suffering monk sighed in relief. He double-checked to make sure Kae was still occupied with the vendor and Tasuki with grumbling before stealthily turning back to the merchant with some money.
"On the house – you look like you need it, monk," the man said sympathetically, as Chichiri quickly took a swig from the jug and sighed in relief.
"No da," he nodded gratefully before resuming his vigilant watch on the bandit and young woman, sure he would need another drink soon.
"Do you guys usually eat here?" Kae asked curiously, as they were being served their afternoon meal in a local tavern.
"No," Chichiri shook his head. "Why?"
"People seem to know you," she shrugged.
"That's because they know who we are," Tasuki told her. "And you're no local either, woman."
"Would you cut that out?" she asked in annoyance, and he smirked at her as he began to dig into his meal.
"Chickie."
"You two remind me of toddlers," Chichiri sighed, and gazed at Kae as she began to eat the food. "Is it good, no da?"
"I've never had anything like it," she said, grinning. "It's really good!"
"You may not have an appetite like Miaka's, but ya sure know how to pack it in," Tasuki said grudgingly, once they had finished. "How does a girl eat that much and not get fat?"
"Talent," she said breezily, sighing in contentment. "Maybe it's the change in the air, but I'm starving!"
"That can do that," Chichiri nodded in agreement, the two Warriors sitting across from her at their table. "How do you like Konan so far?"
"I certainly like it better than my world, that's for sure," Kae told them. Chichiri, after paying the bill, stood up and looked around observantly.
"Well, we may as well be going so you can see more," he suggested. Tasuki shot to his feet, eager to be out in the streets again, and Kae quickly clambered to her feet. She tripped slightly on the bench and tottered backward, bumping into a man passing behind her.
"Oh, excuse me," she apologized, straightening herself out. Unfortunately, the man had been drinking all day and was in no mood to deal with clumsy young women.
"You've got a lot of nerve, wench," he growled, leering at her. "You should compensate me. I could be injured."
"Hey – ow!" Kae winced as he grabbed her arm, and Tasuki stepped forward with a glare.
"Let her go," he said warningly. The big man eyed him loftily before retuning his attention to Kae.
"She injured my person, and she's gonna pay for it," he grinned, and began to drag her after him as he headed toward the door. Chichiri stepped in front of him calmly while Tasuki leapt forward and pulled Kae free with one quick tug.
"Geez, wanna be a little more gentle next time?" she grumbled, rubbing her arm where there were sure to be bruises.
"He attacked me!" the man announced. "It's self-defense, whatever happens next!"
"Fer a drunk, ya sure don't act like one," Tasuki grinned, and clenched his fists eagerly. "'Bout time I got a good fight outta my system. Betcha I can beat ya to the ground, ya lush."
"What did you call me?" the man yelled, all pretense of being drunk gone. "You'll learn not to interfere in my business again, you little bastard!" He lunged at Tasuki, but the younger man easily dodged the blow and landed a punch on the man's back, pushing him to the ground.
"Perhaps you should wait outside, no da," Chichiri suggested calmly, resting his hand on her shoulder. "We'll join you soon, but it's better you not get too involved."
"Sure," Kae nodded agreeably and snuck out a side door, finding herself in an alley which was rather quiet compared to the rowdiness of the tavern. Looking around she sighed and tapped her foot, leaning against the wall. "I hope it doesn't take too long…" she thought, and jumped when something suddenly wrapped around her ankles. Suppressing a shriek, she looked down and saw with relief that it was merely Tama. "What the hell are you doing out here?" she wondered, as he jumped up to her shoulder easily.
"Meow," he yawned, and she winced when his claws dug into her shoulder. "I couldn't let those two have all the fun, could I?"
"Whatever, cat," she shrugged, quickly regretting the movement when Tama promptly gripped her shoulder to keep from falling off. "Ow!"
"Well, what've we got here?"
"Oh, crap," she muttered, as several men approached her, wearing black and reminding her of ninjas for some reason.
"Looks like a girl stupid enough to wander around alleys alone," a second added, leering at her.
"Seems to me she's that girl that arrived at the palace," the first thought out-loud, obviously mocking her. "Where're the two Suzaku Warriors, woman? Aren't they supposed to be guarding you from guys like us?"
"Ta-" Kae began to scream, but one of the men moved instantly and clamped a hand around her mouth before she could finish. She bit his hand but he didn't release his grip – but when Tama pierced his skin with the hypodermic needles the cat called claws, the man couldn't resist a yelp and loosened his grip slightly. Luckily, it was enough for Kae to push him off and finish her cry. "Tasuki! Chichiri!" she shrieked, and crumpled to the ground when the man recovered and clocked her on the back of the head.
"Damn it!" the first one swore. "We've got to get out of here, now!"
"Tasuki!" Chichiri said suddenly, as the bandit knocked the big man unconscious. "Out the side door! Quick!"
Deciding not to argue, Tasuki shot outside into the alley, followed by Chichiri, and saw the men in black turning the corner with Kae draped over one of their shoulders.
"Get back here!" Tasuki shouted, and rushed with wolf-like speed after the men. Chichiri tried to keep up but was unable to find his friend in the ensuing crowd, and focused instead on locating Kae's chi.
"You're still here?" Kae groaned, noticing Tama laying on her side as she moved stiffly. She found herself on a stone floor who-knows-where, and discovered her head was barely able to move, thanks to the pain the man had inflicted on it when he hit her. "Damn it…" she muttered, struggling to her knees. "Where are we?"
"You're in our hideout until we resume the journey," a man informed her, entering the room looking nothing short of smug. "We were hired to take you to someone who wants to see you very badly. Lucky for us Binh managed to distract those two Warriors long enough for us to snatch you from right underneath their noses."
"Bastard," she snapped, but he merely chuckled at her. Crouching down in front of her, he cupped her chin in his hand and forced her face to look at him, receiving a dirty look for his troubles.
"We're just following orders," he informed her calmly. "So wipe that look off your face. The guy never said what condition you had to be in when we delivered you – and you're not half bad-looking."
"Get off me!" she ordered, and Tama hissed at the man.
"Aw, get off, cat," he said lazily, kicking the cat out of the room and locking the door. A cold fear began to seep up Kae's spine as the man approached her and she struggled to move away from him. "Now, don't be like that," he coxed. "I won't hurt you much, so just relax."
"Get away from her, ya ugly bastard!"
"Tasuki!" she realized, as the bandit broke the window and leapt in easily.
"So, it's the bandit one," the man grinned, drawing a dagger. "Before I kill you, why don't you tell me your real name, Warrior of Suzaku?"
"I'm known as Huan-Lang," Tasuki said casually, and the weapon clattered to the floor.
"Hu-Huan-Lang?" the man stammered. "I was never told you were a Warrior!"
"Well, yer gettin' told now. Now, this woman's mine, so I'll be taking her back if ya don't mind," the bandit informed him, swinging Kae up and over his shoulder unceremoniously. Tama barged back into the room as the man tried to escape and easily jumped onto Kae's back along for the ride.
"Men! The Warriors are here!" the man yelled, trying to rally his troops.
"Don't bother," Tasuki smirked, and unleashed his harisen as he jumped clear of the run-down shack. "Rekka Shin'en!" he cried, waving the iron weapon at the building. Kae watched in shock as fire spat from the fan and engulfed the place that passed for a hideout. "Damn woman, getting yerself caught," he snorted, retreating into the trees as the enemy tried to save themselves from the flames.
"You were supposed to watching me!" she yelled, stumbling a little when he dropped her to her feet.
"Ya can't even walk?" he demanded, and she glared at him.
"They hit the back of my neck – I think they injured some of the nerves in my spine," she retorted, and gasped when he hauled her off the ground. "Hey!"
"If ya can't walk I hafta carry ya," he informed her dryly. "Chichiri used his powers to let me know where ya were, since I was followin' close behind anyway. So much for a thank you."
"What was that remark about me being your woman?" she demanded. Tasuki stammered for a second before regaining his composure, but was unable to hide his blush.
"I said I was known as Huan-Lang, leader of the bandits in Ligé-San Mountain," he said stiffly. "That kinda gives a guy a reputation, ya know? Maybe bandits won't be so eager to be hired kidnappers if they think I'm protecting ya personally."
"Still as arrogant," she huffed, crossing her arms in protest. "Where's Chichiri?"
"Back in Konan – we're a few miles outside the city," he told her.
"So I'm stuck with you?"
"Gee, thanks."
"Thank goodness, no da!" Chichiri sighed, meeting them at the edge of the city. "Are you all right?" he added, inspecting them both intently.
"She says one of 'em did somethin' ta her neck," Tasuki grumbled, and Kae nodded.
"It doesn't hurt much now – I think he bruised my nerves or something," she explained, and Chichiri's mask wrinkled in thought.
"Hmm…I think you just need some rest to recover your strength," he decided. "We'll go through the back of the city so we don't run into anyone. Who were the people who kidnapped you?"
"Some low-life bandits," Tasuki said, interrupting her. "They said someone hired 'em."
"Tama? What are you doing here, no da?" Chichiri asked in confusion, noticing the cat suddenly sitting on Tasuki's head, while the Warrior glared up at it.
"He came with me," Kae shrugged, then winced slightly. "Ow – I forgot Tama clawed me there. Dumb cat."
"Well, we can fix you up once we get to the palace," the monk nodded, and glanced at Tasuki. "Did you carry her all the way here?"
"Of course I had to!" he yelled, wanting to dump the young woman onto the ground. "Here – you take her!" he ordered, thrusting Kae towards a surprised Chichiri, who caught her before she landed on the ground.
"You idiot," she muttered.
"Yer the one who got caught," he retorted, crossing his arms stubbornly as he followed Chichiri through the streets.
"It seems your suspicions of enemies were correct, Chichiri," Houki sighed, once they had returned the palace and Kae had been settled into a comfortable chair. "Do you have any idea who might have hired them? It doesn't seem Seiryu's way, but…"
"I don't think Seiryu was involved – at least, they're not the ones who hired the bandits," Chichiri mused. "You're right, it's not their style. Which means that a third party is somehow involved."
"Well, I don't know anything," Kae said, as the two turned to look at her. Tasuki snorted from the spot on the floor he was occupying.
"Well, that's obvious."
"When I was summoned here nothing was said about a third enemy or something, just that I had to discover why on my own or everything was going to die," she sighed, ignoring the annoying bandit. "And that he would watch over and guide me when the time was right."
"Who?" Chichiri asked curiously, and Kae shrugged carefully.
"I don't know. I was in a place with red stars," she told them. "And that's all. Next thing I knew, I was dropping in on Houki."
"I see," the monk fell silent in contemplation, and Houki furrowed her brow.
"Perhaps that was Suzaku speaking to you," she suggested. "We've already concluded he must be the one to have summoned you here, after all."
"I wish we knew for certain, no da," Chichiri said absently. "Until we can determine who is trying to kidnap you, Kae, you should remain in the palace with one of us at all times. I should go to see Tai Yi-Jun and see if she has information for me, which means you, Tasuki, are in charge of guarding her."
"What? You've gotta be jokin'!" he protested, and Kae groaned.
"Please, not him," she pleaded. "He drives me nuts!"
"And yer annoyin' as hell!" the bandit retorted.
"Then I can teleport you and you can deal with Tai Yi-Jun, while I stay here in the palace," Chichiri said, calmly interrupting their argument. Tasuki froze for a moment, considering his options, before sighing heavily and glaring at his friend.
"Yer damn evil, Chichiri," he announced. "What kinda choice is that?"
"So, you'll stay here then?" the monk said, barely holding back a smile.
"Damn," Tasuki huffed, stalking out of the room.
"Are you sure he'll be all right?" Houki asked anxiously, as Kae suddenly yawned. Bo stepped forward to help her to her room, leaving the two alone. "I mean…Kae's rather shy, and Tasuki's…"
"Shy?" Chichiri repeated in surprise. "Are we talking about the same young woman? She struck me as a little reserved, and shy in public, but she seemed fine today with us."
"Maybe she's comfortable with you two," the Empress thought. "Well, Bo will stay with her at any rate, so that's fine. How long do you think you'll be gone?"
"Perhaps a day or more," Chichiri shrugged. "With Tai Yi-Jun, I can never tell. Don't worry, no da. Tasuki's capable of handling anything that might come up, and I'll keep in contact with him as well. But I don't think there's any immediate danger. They failed in their first attempt, and whoever's behind this will consider their options and strategy before they move again."
"When will you leave?"
"Now, actually," Chichiri waved with a grin, and promptly teleported out of the room. Houki took a moment to recover the surprise before calling in her guards, preparing to order a heavier guard until Chichiri returned to the palace.
Well, now Chichiri's not here to handle them! Review and you'll find out what happens!