Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
The beginning of this story was originally a little different, but I decided that I liked this better. Here's the next chapter! And don't worry, I'm working on my other stuff too...if you've got a fav you want updated, let me know!
Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.
"I'm never gonna get to sleep," Tasuki grumbled later that night, slumped outside Kae's room with a bottle of sake beside him. "Damn monk, takin' off like that and leavin' me here with that woman…I'll teach him when he gets back." He continued to mutter to himself, mainly about monks and women in general, and the bottle was almost empty an hour later when the bandit was startled out of a doze by a shriek coming from Kae's room. "Damn it!" he swore, barging immediately into the room.
"Tasuki!" Kae yelled, pulling a sheet over her quickly. "What the hell are you doing in here?"
"I heard ya scream!" he retorted, and noticed she was stark naked, her hair dripping wet and covered only by a sheet clinging to her figure. He also saw Tama sitting at her feet, looking smug. "Uh…that damn cat scared you, didn't he?" he demanded, trying to regain his composure.
"Get out, you…you…!" Kae started to yell, as they both turned red, but Bo flew into the room and charged straight at Tasuki.
"Lord Tasuki!" she shouted, a club-like object in her hand. "What do you think you're doing in here? Get out this instant! Now! Out – out! Don't let me catch you in here again!" she ordered, beating the cowering bandit, who was overwhelmed by the situation, over the head as she chased him out of the room.
"Damn women! Protect yerselves!" he howled, running down the hallway with Bo waving her weapon at him.
"Stupid men," Kae grumbled, recovering from the shock after a few moments and reaching for a towel to dry herself. Bo had securely shut and locked the door behind her and eyed it dubiously.
"I thought we couldn't trust that bandit, Warrior of Suzaku or not," she said firmly, and turned to a surprised Kae. "Don't worry, he won't bother you again."
"But…Bo, he heard me scream when Tama here scared me," she tried to protest in embarrassment, but the older woman was having none of it.
"There's no need to make excuses for him, Lady Kae," she said stiffly, stalking back into her room. "Just yell again if you need me."
"Um…look what you did!" Kae accused the cat, as Bo left her alone in the room. Tama merely yawned in her face, and she could have sworn he had shrugged.
"What happened to you?" a fellow guard asked Tasuki curiously, as he stumbled out of his room the next morning.
"I don't wanna talk about it," he grumbled, stalking past the man.
"Bo beat you up too, huh?" he guessed sympathetically. "Don't worry about it – she's done it to a bunch of guys. No need to be embarrassed."
"It wasn't like that!" Tasuki shouted, whirling away from the guard. He paused when he saw Kae coming down the corridor toward him, but she gasped when she realized he was there and quickly turned around, attempting a hasty retreat. Tasuki rushed forward and grabbed the sleeve of her forest-green robe with gold trim, causing her to stumble a bit.
"I'm sorry about last night," he growled, releasing her sleeve and staring at the ground in annoyance. "I don't want ya thinkin' I'm some pervert."
"That's all right," she said quietly, moving to go past him. He realized the embarrassment from last night must have made her too shy to talk to him again, and he grumbled to himself.
"Hey, look, I'm tryin' to apologize!" he informed her, blocking her from leaving.
"I need to get going," she said softly, trying to go past him.
"This is why I hate women!" he yelled, glaring at her. "They're nothin' but trouble!"
"Good point," she admitted after a moment, surprising Tasuki. The guard was long-gone, having suddenly remembered something urgent he had to do on the other side of the palace. Tasuki waited, expecting her to say something else, but her gaze returned to the ground as she turned pink.
"Ah…it was nothin'," he shrugged. "It's not like a woman can hit very hard any-ow!"
"What was that, young man?" Bo demanded, tapping her foot as she waited for an answer.
"Not you again!"
"Bo, please don't beat him up again," Kae asked, and they both blinked in surprise at her suddenly-confident tone. "I'm fine – I'm just going for a walk. Tasuki's just doing what Chichiri told him to, right? I don't need you shadowing me all the time."
"Thanks," he forced out, as the attendant reluctantly left the two alone. Kae merely shrugged, her business with him obviously finished, but Tasuki frowned in frustration. "Chichiri'll kill me if he thinks I did something! Damn woman!" Tasuki also had the uncomfortable realization that he actually wanted to get along with this woman, even if she did drive him out of his mind.
Kae began to pass him, but the persistent bandit took her arm, causing her to turn and look at him in surprise.
"Have you eaten breakfast yet?" he asked suddenly asked, and she eyed him suspiciously.
"No. Why?"
"Why don't we go and see what we can find?" he suggested, but she shook her head.
"Chichiri said I'm supposed to stay in the palace," she reminded him, and he raised her eyebrow at her.
"Since when do you follow orders so meekly," he pointed out, and she shifted uncomfortably. "I'm tryin' ta apologize, damn it! I'll get ya out of here for a while to move around the city without any guards, and you'll talk ta me again, deal?"
"I guess," she shrugged, realizing the Warrior wasn't going to give up for whatever reason.
"You're saying the four gods are at peace?" Chichiri repeated in surprise, and his mentor nodded solemnly. "That means that Suzaku wasn't the one who summoned her?"
"That, I'm not entirely certain of," Tai Yi-Jun admitted reluctantly, but eyed him sharply. "I do know, however, that it is not a god that seeks the power the young woman holds, but an evil spirit that has been trapped for centuries underneath the land, sealed away by spells of the gods."
"What made it wake up now?"
"The strife that has run rampant through China these last years have strengthened the spirit's power and the summoning of the gods has slowly weakened the wards as well," she informed him. "If this thing manages to awaken entirely, everything will be destroyed. And he needs her power unleashed to do so."
"What is Kae's power?" Chichiri asked.
"She has the power to heal the land of the diseases within it, and to restore China to prosperity once more," Tai Yi-Jun said. "However, if that spirit is able to use her power, it will not heal, but destroy everything. This thing is very powerful – the antithesis of a god, you might say. It's name has been lost to history, but his very aura still seeps through the wards, causing men to destroy each other and the land to die. If this young woman uses her power as they are supposed to be, he will be once more sealed away."
"I see," the monk mused, and remained silent for a moment. "It seems I will have to strengthen myself as well," he decided, and she nodded.
"Of course. That loud-mouth isn't worth much without that fan of his, but your spiritual powers will be useful," Tai Yi-Jun agreed, and Chichiri nodded.
"I'll remain here for a few days to strengthen my powers. Tasuki can handle anything that might come up," he said firmly. "And I can sense their chi – as long as I can, then I know they're safe."
"Where is the damn monk?" Tasuki demanded the next day, having expected his friend back that morning. "It's almost night! Where'd he get off to?"
"Maybe he had to stay with Tai Yi-Jun longer than he planned?" Kae suggested, swinging her legs as she sat on the raised porch that led out to the garden. "I thought she was his teacher – maybe he's learning some new ways to kick ass?" Tasuki had learned Kae's weakness for sake, and had used it to his advantage to make her relax again – she had been mad when she returned to her senses, but they were back to their usual arguing selves. However, an invisible wall seemed to have been erected between them, and seemed to be something that wasn't going to go away any time soon.
"Yeah, right," the bandit snorted, but was momentarily pacified. The previous day they had been found later in the afternoon and escorted back to the palace, and Houki personally had ordered them to stay inside the palace walls. For extra-measure, she had placed two guards on them at all times. "This is ridiculous," Tasuki grumbled. "I'm supposed to be guarding you, not be guarded myself!"
"You'll manage, I'm sure," she said breezily. "Still got that sake?" she asked quietly, and he grinned. The young woman had grown greatly in Tasuki's opinion when he learned she enjoyed a good drink when the opportunity arose, since he rarely found a woman willing to admit she liked sake at all.
"Of course," he retorted, patting the slight bulge in his side where the jug was hidden.
"Give it here," she ordered, "I just need a quick swig. It's too dull around here." He shook his head, but handed it over without any objections. True to her word, Kae just took a gulp before handing it back to the bandit, who also downed some before tucking it back in his jacket.
"Where'd that damn cat go?" he wondered, noticing Tama had once again disappeared. "Sometimes I wonder if that thing's really a cat," he observed, and Kae eyed him curiously.
"Now you've come to the point where you're questioning whether a cat is a cat?" she asked, and grinned. "Tasuki, some days I wonder how Chichiri puts up with you."
"I do too," he admitted with a shrug. "But we can' help it – we're the only Warriors left, after all. And he's the only friend I've got that that's not a bandit like me."
"Really?" she blinked, and then nodded. "Yeah, that's easy to believe."
"What's that supposed ta mean?" he demanded, but she merely laughed at him before returning to staring at the garden.
"This place makes me feel so at peace, for some reason. I like it, even though I've never been much one for flowers and stuff like that. What's it like at Ligé-San Mountain?" she asked, and Tasuki was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt question.
"Huh? Why'd ya want to know?" he prodded, and she shrugged.
"Just wondering."
"Well, it's a mountain," he thought. "I dunno – pretty quiet, 'cept fer the fightin' and drinkin'. Knei-Gong's been my friend ever since I got there – we're best buds."
"I'll have to meet him some day," she said thoughtfully, and Tasuki jumped.
"There ain't no way yer ever goin' there!" he informed her, and she looked at him curiously.
"Why not?"
"Because," he huffed, and she grinned.
"Oh, I see," she said knowingly. "You couldn't live down the shame of brining a woman there, right? After all, you're Huan-Lang, the famous bandit and woman-hater!" She grinned at him, but he only folded his arms and snorted.
"It's no place fer a woman," he informed her, and she sighed.
"Fine, whatever," she said finally, and looked down as Tama crawled into her lap. "Crazy cat."
"Who're you calling crazy?"
"What're ya always getting dressed up fer?" Tasuki asked, meeting Kae for dinner that night. "And why do I always have ta get dressed up?" he complained, and she shook her head. Her hair was in the same arrangement as the first banquet, but the dress was a deep plum color with a scarlet phoenix embroidered up the side.
"Houki wants to show her advisors and the officials that the Warriors of Suzaku are behind her, I suppose," she shrugged, the loose sleeves of the gown flowing over her fingertips. "And the best way, since Chichiri isn't back yet, is to show you support her by showing up for the banquets."
"I guess," he grumbled, plucking nervously at the cloth. He had grown accustomed to the outfit, but that didn't necessarily mean he liked it yet. "Why do you come?"
"Houki invites me," Kae told him calmly, as they approached the banquet room. "And it's known I'm from another world – I guess they think I'm some priestess or whatever, and my presence just enforces that. I don't know – I hate being a pawn, but Houki seems to need the help, so I can put up with it. She's so nice to me."
"I just hope there's booze there," Tasuki muttered, a sour look on his face.
"Is that all you do?"
"What?"
"Drink, swear, complain about women – well, about everything," she amended, gazing at him curiously.
"Is that what it seems like I do?"
"Yes."
"Well, ya forgot I fight," he corrected her with a wolf-like grin, and she shook her head in amusement. She abruptly stiffened and grabbed her head with a groan. "What's the matter?" he asked anxiously, as she bent over in pain.
"Something…something evil is here," she managed, bracing herself against a wall. "It…it's inside my head. It hurts!"
"Where is it?" he demanded, drawing his harisen and peering around in the dark suspiciously.
"I don't…know," she said. "It feels like it's trying to take over my mind! It hurts!"
"I gathered," he replied testily, gripping his weapon tightly. "Damn it! Where's the damn guards?" he wondered, noticing for the first time the usual guards Houki had posted with them were gone. A scream suddenly reached their ears, following by a howl. "What the hell's goin' on?" Tasuki demanded to the following silence, broken only by Kae's groans. "Are ya okay?" he asked, glancing at her.
"Not really," she admitted. "I can't even move my head…"
"Where's that fucking monk?" the bandit spat out, and hauled Kae to her feet. "Sorry 'bout this," he said quickly, before tossing her over his shoulder again. "We gotta get movin'."
"I'm sensing something strange occurring at the palace in Konan," Tai Yi-Jun informed Chichiri, breaking his meditation abruptly. "A holy power is being used by someone, and an evil aura is surrounding the area."
"Their chi is disrupted," Chichiri realized with a frown, and swiftly rose to his feet. "I'll go immediately."
Tasuki reached the palace gates without hearing anything else, and he lowered Kae gently to her feet while trying to open the gates. "They won't open!" he grunted, and then noticed a strange mist that hung over the land, obscuring any vision they might have had in the moonless night. "What the hell?"
"It's like when I was brought here!" Kae realized, the pain in her head receding slightly. She straightened and looked around nervously. "What's going on? Tasuki?"
"I don't know!" he retorted, gritting his teeth. "I was hoping ya would."
"Sorry," she shook her head, and jumped when a noise sounded from in front of them. She gripped the hem of his tunic and edged closer to him, and he shifted to place himself between Kae and the unseen enemy.
"Ah, the medium and the Warrior of Suzaku," a voice hissed, and they looked around when panting suddenly seemed to surround them. Tasuki edged closer to the gate, so that Kae's back was pressed against the wood and she was sandwiched between the gate and Tasuki. "You've been quite a nuisance."
"Who the hell're ya?" Tasuki demanded into the fog, and the voice barked a laugh.
"We are the minions of the one who desires the woman."
"We?" Kae repeated quietly, and Tasuki stiffened defensively.
"Show yerselves," he ordered.
"If you so wish," the voice said, and figures stepped through the mist toward them. Kae stifled a shriek and Tasuki felt bile rise in his throat at the sight of the creatures. They appeared to be rotting corpses, but the way they carried themselves and several odd features suggested they were dogs somehow.
"What the hell are ya?" the bandit repeated harshly, sounding more brave than he was currently feeling.
"I told you – minions," the one in front repeated patiently. "We are here for the medium."
"Her?" Tasuki realized in surprise, and the humans exchanged a surprised glance. "Sorry, but my friend'll kill me if I didn't do like he told me," he shrugged, shifting into a fighting stance.
"Then we have no choice but to kill you," the thing said calmly.
"Go ahead and try! Rekka Shin'en!" Tasuki yelled, flashing his harisen. The flame enveloped the monstrosities, but he gaped in surprise when they continued to close in on the pair as if nothing had even happened.
"Attack!" the leader ordered, and several instantly charged toward them. Tasuki crossed his arms in front of his face, ready to defend himself, but Kae hid her face in his back and shrieked in agony.
"Stay away from him!"
"What the…" Tasuki found himself at a loss for words, as the mist rose around them and the things simply bounced off it. He felt Kae shivering behind him and prepared for another attack, but the creatures backed off and the leader looked angry.
"Our master is stronger than your god – we will return for you," he promised, before they disappeared into the fog.
"Hold up!" the bandit ordered, and tried to chase after the fading figures. "Damn it!" he yelled, and whirled around when he heard Kae hit the ground. "What the hell happened?" he pressed, helping her to her knees.
"I…don't know," she admitted, holding her head in her hands. "I just…it…the pain came back so bad, I just wanted it to go away…I don't know."
Ah! Now Kae beings to display certain powers, and the enemy is on the move. Please review!