Disclaimer: I don't own FY, nor anything canonical. I own the ketsu, the new characters, and anything unfamiliar.

Musical Accompaniment: The Art of War by Vanessa-Mae (CD – Best of Vanessa-Mae)

Author's Notes: Thanks to Ryuen, Purple Mouse, and Roku Kyu for their amazing beta-ing efforts. They spent a lot of time and effort helping me polish this chapter to what you see right now. Many, many thanks to them.

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Touran, Hokkan (Chapter 5)

'She's late,' Kangeki said, pacing around the floor in front of the three girls. 'It's almost twenty minutes past the midnight hour. I don't know about you, but I'm nervous as a cat.'

"You and me both," Tenkei said, fiddling with her pack.

"So why are we in separate rooms?" Miaka asked. "I'd feel safer sitting with Chichiri or Nuriko. I just keep thinking something is going to happen. Something bad."

"In case one of the servants or a Faithful Seishi comes by, we don't want them to think that we're plotting anything," Nezumi explained, trying not to convey her own nervousness upon the already unsettled Miko. "We wanna look like everything is normal, that we're not really waiting for someone to come and talk to us."

"Do you think Takiko-san or the others will come for us?" Miaka asked. "I mean… I know she's got nothing to lose by doing this, but what if the Inami Seishi doesn't agree? What if something goes wrong? What if something is wrong and they've been found out and they're going to die oh my gods what if she is dead!"

"Miaka. Relax," Tenkei said, taking the Miko's shoulders and leaning her forehead against Miaka's. "Everything's going to be okay. Saihitei-heika told us what to do in case they don't come or in case they've been hurt. Everything will work out. We've – you've – done more than your fair share. I'm sure Takiko-san is fine, and so are the other Genbu Seishi. I'll bet they're still waiting on Inami."

"Maybe they're sending someone to us right now," Nezumi said, trying to lighten the situation. "And it's just taking them a few mi-"

'Nezumi! Get out of the palace!'

The Hotohori Seishi snapped her head up. 'Zouge? What are you-'

'I just saw a bird shift to woman – and she had a blue Seiryuu symbol! I think we're being set up!'

Horror rose up in Nezumi. "It's a trap!"

'Get out, everyone!' Zouge screamed.

At that moment, a heavy, angry pounding echoed off the oaken door, and the sound of a large explosion shook the stone walls. All three girls fell to their knees by the reverberating force and the shock of the sudden attack.

Tenkei quickly hauled Miaka to her feet and pulled her to the window. She shouted, "Nezumi! Brace the door while I get Miaka outta here!"

Nezumi nodded, her mind racing before deciding her telekinesis would suffice. She shoved back against the door, using all her power to keep the wood from collapsing into the room.

Tenkei grabbed Saihitei's sword and thrust it into Miaka's hands. "Miaka, you have to get out of here. Find a place to hide in the forest, and if we don't come for you, fly south to Sairou."

Miaka looked horrified as she realized what Tenkei meant, clutching the weapon in both hands. "You're not going to come with me?"

The banging grew louder and louder, and Nezumi saw shards of wood flying to the floor. She pushed one of the beds against the door, propping it up as an added barrier. "Hurry up!"

"I can't – but I think Chiriko will be with you," Tenkei said, nearly yelling at the Suzaku no Miko. "We're going to protect you from in here. I'm going to push you out the window – fly to safety, Miaka. Promise me you'll find somewhere safe to hide!"

"I-I-I…."

"Please, Miaka!"

"I promise!"

"Hold your breath!" And Tenkei pushed the Miko through the outside wall, her arm following the motion.

Through the thick glass, Nezumi watched an owl fly away into the dark, foreboding night, still carrying a sword in its claws. The floor shook again, and two more owls suddenly swooped in to join Miaka. Thank Suzaku she'll have the Chiriko Seishi pair. 'Zouge?'

'I'm all right for now. Our windows lead to a back alley of the Palace – it's a dead end on this side. I can take care of myself.'

"And us?" Nezumi asked aloud, wincing as a particularly loud and hard strike boomed into their ears.

"Next room," Tenkei said curtly. Nezumi pulled the packs to her with telekinesis just as Tenkei grabbed her hand. "Hold your breath." She pulled them through the left-hand wall and they passed through the stone into Tasuki's room. She had only a moment to take in the scene – a blond-haired Warrior throwing ki at a brilliant red sphere – when both parties suddenly saw the two girls. The shield dropped for a second, and the blond smiled as he shot another attack at the unprotected group.

Nezumi screamed, "Look out!"

-

Chichiri strained to hold up the ki shield against the relentless blows. Gi Ayuru was a powerful ki manipulator, as evidenced by the strength of his attacks, and it took all of Chichiri's concentration to make sure that none of the explosive ki got around his protection. Ayuru stood within the room, blocking the doorway and the Suzaku Seishi's only chance of escape.

Thank Suzaku and Zouge, Chichiri thought, blessing the latter for the quick warning. Had the elephant not sent out that mind-call in time, Chichiri was certain that they would have been immediately killed. A hit from the ki blast would be fatal; the Nakago Seishi had given no warning except to destroy the door, blasting it into the room.

Behind him, Mitsukake was carrying their packs. Tasuki had unsheathed his tessen, his stance showing his readiness to fight, but with the shield up it was impossible for him to use it without burning his own brothers. The ketsu faced off with Chichiri, snarling and baring their fangs with the promise of death upon the Seiryuu intruder.

The only advantage was that, although Chichiri couldn't push Ayuru away, the blond could not come any closer. Chichiri's shield repelled both physical and ki attacks; they were trapped in a stalemate.

And then Tenkei and Nezumi came through the wall, surprising both sorcerers. Chichiri's concentration wavered for a split second, and one of the ki­-blasts ricocheted off so powerfully that it forced him to drop the shield and restart the spell. Ayuru recovered more quickly, throwing another attack straight at the defenseless Seishi. Chichiri's heart jumped to his throat when he realized that he couldn't cast the shield in time.

"Look out!"

We're going to die.

Tenkei pushed Nezumi and Kangeki towards the group as she ran in front of them, and she took the ki blast while still in ghost-form.

To Chichiri's shock, she wasn't immediately killed by the attack. But the blue ki arced like electricity through her body, and a bone-chilling shriek was torn from her throat. Nezumi screamed as Tenkei collapsed to the floor, unconscious and convulsing. She pulled Tenkei's body to them just as Chichiri finished the second ki shield. Ayuru began his ruthless assault with barely a hitch in his breath.

Chichiri wasn't able to watch what happened next, his attention wholly on Ayuru, but he could barely hear the other Seishi over the sounds of ki crashing against ki.

"What's wrong?" Tasuki demanded. "Heal her more!"

"She's badly hurt but not dying," Mitsukake said grimly. "I don't know about Nuriko or Chiriko or Miaka. I can't afford to use up all my ki right now."

"What do we do?" Nezumi asked, her voice hoarse.

Chichiri gritted his teeth, quickly dividing his mind between Ayuru and Shonin. 'Tell her to attack Ayuru. Distract him.'

'Got it!'

Though his gaze never wavered from the Nakago Seishi's face, Chichiri's peripheral vision caught sight of a heavy lantern floating behind Ayuru's head. With a defiant cry, Nezumi swung the metal construct into the back of his head, and Ayuru grunted with pain and shock.

Dodging forward, Chichiri swung out with his left arm and pinned Ayuru to the wall, holding Ayuru's neck so hard that his fingers would leave bruises.

"RUN!" Chichiri roared, right hand grabbing his prayer beads. He barely noticed the group dashing out of room as he performed one of the most difficult spells he knew.

Using up his excess ki, Chichiri cast a spell of paralysis that would last even after he stopped the chants and prayers. Arcane, dangerous words flew from his lips with almost physical force, and a red aura began to encompass Ayuru's body. The other man had struggled under Chichiri's iron grip and will, but went completely limp as soon as the Priest finished the spell and pulled away.

Despite wanting to question Ayuru, Chichiri knew better than to stay. The spell would only last ten minutes – if that, considering how strong the Nakago Seishi was proving to be – and he wanted to make sure the rest of the Seishi and Miaka were safe. They were his priority, not the Seiryuu.

Grabbing his shakujou and throwing his kesa over his shoulders, Chichiri ran outside. He had barely exited the room when his ki­­-sense shouted a warning. But it came too late as something cracked against the side of his head, and the last thing he saw was the rush of the floor coming up to meet him.

-

Tasuki cursed as he sped down the hallway, praying to Suzaku that this was all some fucked-up dream. He didn't really see the imposing Kutou general break down their bedroom door; he didn't really see Tenkei nearly die to buy them a few minutes' time. And he didn't really leave Chichiri to defend himself against Ayuru.

Alone.

Without help.

FUCK IT!

Turning right back around, he quickly passed Nezumi and Mitsukake when he saw it.

Coming out from one of the rooms – the same room that Tenkei and Nezumi had come from – was Shunkaku. And as Chichiri stepped through the threshold, looking determined as hell and utterly unaware of the danger he walked into, Shunkaku moved. Tasuki didn't even get the chance to shout a warning to his brother before the ryuuseisui struck a blow off Chichiri's temple. Letting out a roar of inhuman fury as the echoing sound of breaking bone reached his ears, Tasuki watched his brother's body crash to the floor. He shapeshifted before his conscious mind knew what happened, and tackled Shunkaku with enough speed and power to break the boy's ribs.

DIE, YOU SONOFABITCH!

The Seiryuu Seishi also shifted, and they began rolling on the ground in a flurry of fangs and claws. Tasuki barely noticed that Genrou and Shonin were beside him, fighting off the white badger ketsu with every bit of ferocity they could muster.

'Get Houjun to Juan!' Shonin suddenly shouted. 'Take my Seishi to safety!'

Tasuki's vengeful anger fought to overcome his rationality, but the thought that Chichiri might still be alive gave him control. Biting hard on Shunkaku's forelimb, Tasuki extracted himself from the fight and shifted into human form. He carefully picked up Chichiri – oh gods the blood is everywhere – and his staff.

Then he ran as if he could outrun the wind. He ignored the two gashes in his side and the bites in his left arm; they were inconsequential compared to Chichiri's injury. He couldn't spare a glance at his brother's wound, but if he could get Chichiri to safety than that was all that mattered.

Mitsukake can heal him, make him better!

The corridor he ran down seemed to go on forever, but Tasuki saw that he was quickly catching up to the other Seishi, and the two canids – fur matted with blood not all their own – following hot on his heels. Tasuki passed Nezumi and Mitsukake by, racing for the double doors standing only a hundred feet away. They flew apart without help, and Tasuki nearly collapsed with relief as he stepped out into a perfect and cloudless night. No snow, no foul weather to further mock them.

Tasuki dropped to his knees and laid Chichiri down with infinite care. "Don't worry, 'Chiri," he said, knowing that Chichiri couldn't hear him but needing to say it anyway. "Mitsukake's gonna be here real soon, and yer gonna be okay."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," a familiar voice said. Tasuki whipped his head up – you've got to be fucking joking! – and saw Soi standing on the second-story rooftop. "Try dodging this, vulture!"

She lifted her hands as Tasuki pulled out his tessen.

"Hakuujin Raihou!"

"Rekka Shin'en!"

Tandem screams sliced the air. Soi had barely moved in time, and her boots and tassels showed scorch marks as evidence. But when the lightning didn't hit him, Tasuki realized a second too late who the attack had been meant for.

"Chichiri!"

The lightning struck Nezumi, who was suddenly standing protectively over the monk's body. Arms crossed over her head, she had pushed herself a few inches off the ground with her power and took the attack without a second thought. Tasuki slid and caught Nezumi's falling body, the sound of her screams momentarily deafening him.

As Mitsukake took her, Tasuki turned and bared his fangs in deadly challenge. "Fight me! Damn you, fight me Warrior to Warrior!"

Soi smiled, unsheathing a pair of small, slender blades. "Gladly!"

And they charged each other, fire and lightning meeting in the middle of the Hokkan gardens.

-

Nuriko heard thunder rumbling and lightning striking over the sounds of chaos in his room.

SHIT! Gotta be that weather woman. As if we don't have enough to worry about!

He swung the tetsubo in an arc and, even in the confines of the small room, managed to create a small circle of protection against the Seiryuu Seishi pair. The cold of the Hokkan night sent a bitter wind against Nuriko's back, evidence of his necessary destruction. He had literally shattered the entire back wall and window to provide a way for Chiriko to escape and find Miaka. Then his attention had been devoured by the breaking of the door and the imminent attack.

This Seishi was more animal than human, with talons extending from humanoid fingers and fangs gleaming brightly in the moonlight. By his side was a wolf with wild eyes and a blood-stained muzzle.

Kohana's blood.

They stood apart now, breathing heavily and studying each other with a Warrior's eye. Nuriko ignored the burning sensation in his arms and found his mind focusing on Kohana's injury. The wolf ketsu had taken a bite at her head, missing her neck but catching her ear and nearly tearing it in two. She had viciously retaliated, her powerful claws leaving four parallel gashes along the wolf's flanks before it could jump away. Nuriko could feel her pain as keenly as if it was his injury, and he was glad to bring the fight to a standstill, even for a moment.

"Who the hell are you?" Nuriko demanded, still holding the tetsubo in guard position. "What are you doing here?"

The man said, "We are the Chosen Ashitare Seishi. We will lead an army into every home and land, drinking the heartblood of all who fall before us." He licked his lips and Nuriko shivered. "Was her blood to your liking, Manyoun?"

'Like rich wine,' the wolf answered, his voice wrapping around Nuriko's mind like heavy tar. It was thick with hate and bloodlust. 'We will rejoice in your death.'

Nuriko backed up a step, purposefully pushing Kohana in the direction of the broken wall. 'Get out of here!'

'I can't, beloved!' she said. 'Zouge… Zouge's fighting the tiger just outside. He doesn't want anyone to come close or else they'll get killed!'

The Nuriko Seishi gritted his teeth, returning the wolves' growls with one of his own. I refuse to stand here and die. I've killed before, and I will do it again.

But to his utter shock, Ashitare disappeared; simply vanished as if he'd never existed.

Where -

And suddenly he was flying backwards through the air, the breath forcefully driven from his lungs as he hit the ground. Nuriko barely had time to recover when a punch to his cheek sent him crashing face-first into the side wall, away from Kohana.

He groaned as he sat up, spitting out blood – shit, think I broke something – and struggling to focus. Kohana was in the middle of a violent wrestling match with Manyoun, and as Nuriko prepared to launch himself at the wolf, a giant claw seized him around the neck and hauled him off his feet. He dropped the tetsubo, trying to pull the invisible fingers away from his throat.

Can't breathe can't breathe can't breathe…

Ashitare's face slowly became visible, a vicious smile on his face as he tightened his grasp, making Nuriko's struggles more futile. "Can't hit what you can't see," he said, licking blood from his fingers. "Too damn easy. Wonder if your Miko's gonna die this quickly."

NO! He grabbed Ashitare's wrist in both hands and, as his vision started to fade, crushed the bones with all his power. Ashitare let out a howl of agony, dropping Nuriko and giving him enough time to roll to the opposite side of the room. With his back to the wall and the tetsubo back in his hands, Nuriko coughed and gasped for breath. Ashitare's talons had dug into Nuriko's skin, and he felt the warmth running down his neck and on his fingers where he touched the wounds.

Gotta end this fight now, he thought wildly. I can't win, not like this. Gotta run and get outta here, but how -

He looked up; a lantern had survived the earthquake and rampant destruction of the room, still burning brightly. With a downward swipe, Nuriko knocked the lantern from the hook and shattered it, sending fire-touched oil across the room. Most of it landed on one of the beds, and the sheets immediately caught fire. Within moments, the room was filled with fire and smoke.

'Kohana, run!' Nuriko mentally yelled, swinging the tetsubo at Manyoun. The two ketsu separated, and though Nuriko missed hitting the wolf, Kohana turned and jumped over the broken wall. He kicked the burning bed toward the shattered wall, creating a fiery barrier between the Seiryuu and his freedom. Tetsubo in one hand and pack over his shoulder, Nuriko dove over the leaping flames, hissing in pain as he felt heat envelope him. He landed outside, frantically putting out the fire at the end of his braid, and followed a loping Kohana in the direction of blue lightning and sky-reaching fire.

-

Mitsukake couldn't see the battle between Tasuki and Soi, but he had a good idea of what was happening. Metal rang against metal, and though he could hear various chants, none were hitting their intended targets. Genrou was baiting the hawk ketsu, neither gaining nor losing any territory, and the remaining ketsu were huddled around the unconscious Seishi.

He had to heal Chichiri – there was no question about it. Without prompt treatment, the High Priest could die. Mitsukake was very aware that, despite the minute healing he had done for them, Tenkei was still seizing and Nezumi was bleeding out of both ears. But there was no choice; Chichiri needed immediate attention.

I'm so sorry, Tenkei, Nezumi.

He held up a hand and focused his ki through his fingers into Chichiri's wound, knitting bone together and relieving the pressure in his skull. He was most of the way through the healing when something hard struck his shoulder, the force of it knocking him away from Chichiri. He let out a shout of pain, rolling off the injured shoulder, and saw his attacker step through the doorway.

"You won't survive!" Shunkaku yelled, one arm hanging lifelessly at his side. The other was still manipulating the ryuuseisui, and he pulled back for another attack. Hasaki was rolling on the ground with Tama, Shonin, and Kangeki as they fought for their bondmates' lives. Shunkaku took aim at the unconscious Seishi, and Mitsukake moved to try and block the attack.

"STAY DOWN!"

-

Tasuki heard Shunkaku's voice, and snarled in frustration. Goddammit! I keep getting chances to kill that little shit and I don't take them! I ain't stopping this time!

But first, he had to cover himself from Soi's attacks. Despite how much he really hated her, he wasn't stupid enough to ignore the fact that she was a good Warrior. And he couldn't let her attack him while he was fighting for Mitsukake and the others.

Gotta try this new technique I made! He knelt down and stabbed the end of the tessen into the ice-covered grass.

"REKKA SHIN'EN!" he shouted, and rather than a horizontal stream of fire exploding from the tessen, a giant wall of flame shot from the ground to the sky. It wouldn't last more than a few seconds, but it was long enough for Tasuki to sprint forward and deflect the ryuuseisui away from the vulnerable Seishi. It bounced off the diamond fan and left Shunkaku's defenses wide open.

"STAY DOWN!" he yelled at Mitsukake. As Shunkaku dove down, Tasuki released a second, "Rekka Shin'en!"

And as his attack hit Shunkaku, double blades stabbed Tasuki under his right shoulder blade and in the lower left back. He let out a strangled cry, arching his back before the blades were withdrawn and his body was kicked to the ground.

I'm so sorry, Miaka… I can't protect you anymore…

-

It was as if the world had drastically shifted under her; as if someone suddenly changed the force of gravity to pull her sideways.

'Did you feel that?' Miaka asked, fear coloring her mindvoice.

'Yes,' Chie said tersely. 'That is a death-blow. The last time I felt that was when Kishuku….'

The owl realized a second too late that it was not what she should have said. Miaka suddenly took off from the branch, heading away from the protection of the forest into the exposed Hokkan night.

'Miaka!' she yelled, flying with Chiriko as they sped towards their Miko. 'Miaka, come back here!'

'That was Shun! That was Shun! He's not going to die! I am not going to lose anyone else! I have to help him!'

'Don't fly that way! You're exposed to atta-MIAKA, LOOK OUT!'

From above, another bird flew towards Miaka with its talons exposed. It dove sharply, and though Miaka tried to dodge the attack, she wasn't a natural flyer. In addition, her claws still carried Saihitei's sword; though useful when human, it was a terrible hindrance to Miaka's balance. The hawk ketsu – Amarante, Chie realized – dug her talons in and scored a set of gashes into Miaka's back. The Miko let out a shriek and began to fall, barely remembering to keep her wings out to catch herself.

'Take care of Miaka, beloved!' Chie yelled. 'I will deal with this traitor of ketsu.'

Chiriko followed Miaka down while Chie winged up to meet Amarante. The hawk was circling, ready to dive and repeat her attack. But owls flew silently and their eyes penetrated the darkness with ease; Chie slammed into Amarante, her beak open and ready to tear out eyes or throat. She pulled hard on the exposed flesh, ripping a wound into Amarante's shoulder that left her almost unable to fly.

Chie made to attack a second time when Amarante, who had moments before looked deathly certain she wanted to fight, suddenly let herself fall. Not quite a free-fall, but she let out a cry that Chie immediately interpreted as the ketsu's pain.

Her Seishi must have been terribly injured or killed.

'Doukun, where are you?'

'Down on the ground with Miaka-san, in human form. She's not dying. The other bird left four gashes in her back, but not deep enough for her to bleed to death from them.'

'I'm going to follow Amarante; I have a feeling that her Seishi has been injured. I will call and let you know what to do. You may have to force her to fly away.'

'We'll be waiting. Suzaku bless.'

Chie couldn't believe that Suzaku was listening, not with what had happened tonight.

-

Mitsukake stood before the unconscious Suzaku Seishi, knowing that he was nothing more than a flesh-shield against Soi's attacks. She had left Tasuki's body lying on the ground and hit Genrou with an electric shock when he attacked her. In the doorway, he had seen where Shunkaku had fallen, writhing in agony from Tasuki's attack.

"I will ask you one time," Soi said, her voice toneless and cold. She shook with pain from diving through Tasuki's fire-wall; it had been hot enough to leave burns on her skin and char her clothes. "Where is your Miko?"

"I don't know."

"Then I will kill your friends one-by-one until you do know."

She positioned herself to run forward, and Mitsukake forced himself not to smile as he looked behind her.

Kohana suddenly tackled Soi, slamming her into the ground and knocking the woman out with a single blow from her large paw. Behind her, Nuriko and Zouge followed. The Warrior was bruised and bloodied, especially around the neck, but the fact that he was conscious brought a measure of relief to Mitsukake. Zouge had some scrapes on his trunk, but he did not act nor appear to be injured.

'Tiger claws have a tough time ripping through my hide,' the elephant said sardonically. 'Just as I told you all to run, Taiyo jumped me, but I took care of him.'

"Good," Mitsukake said, running to Tasuki, his main priority. Nuriko knelt beside him, his face white with worry and shock. "I'm going to use all my healing ki to save Tasuki."

Nuriko looked over the doctor's shoulder, at Chichiri and the non-Chosen Seishi, wincing as he understood Mitsukake's quandary. "Do it."

And Mitsukake quickly emptied himself of his ki, feeding the rest of his healing power into Tasuki's beaten body. A punctured lung and chest cavity, ruptured intestines and massive internal bleeding… all this damage, done by two blades. But suddenly he hit an unbreachable wall, and let out a curse.

"Why are you stopping?" Nuriko asked, his voice course and faint.

"I have no more ki. Tasuki's deep wounds are healed, but I wasn't strong enough to completely regenerate him." Nuriko pursed his bloodied lips and looked at his hands.

Mitsukake shook his head and said, "I can't take your ki. Not only am I incapable of such a thing, but you need it."

From the sky, a hawk landed on a rock beside Soi's head, but one swipe from Kohana's paw put her back in the air. Following quickly on her tail feathers was Chie; Nuriko reflexively offered his gauntleted arm and she took it.

"Where are Miaka and Chiriko?" Mitsukake asked.

'Coming. Miaka got hurt.'

"What happened!"

'Her back was scratched up by Amarante. Here they come.' Two more owls suddenly landed beside them. Both immediately shifted back, and Mitsukake had Miaka lay down beside Chichiri and Nezumi.

The sight of faint blue light coming from an inner room made Mitsukake turn cold. "Damn! We have to get out of here now! Someone here, in this Palace, must have told the Seiryuu Seishi where we were. They might be coming back to finish the job, and none of us are in well enough shape to handle it."

'So what do we do?' Kangeki asked.

Kohana looked up at Amarante, still circling overhead. 'Ketsu! If you want your Seishi back, tell us what you know!' she snarled.

The hawk shrieked in anger and fear, but said with bravado, 'You wouldn't kill a defenseless Seishi! You are too honorable.'

'Fucking try me,' Genrou said coldly, putting his fangs against Soi's exposed neck. 'You have three seconds.'

'Wait, wait!' Amarante said, her voice shaking with desperation as she landed next to Kohana. 'Don't go to Lerra! Your boat's been destroyed, and the crew was slaughtered! Nakago – Ayuru – has set up ambushes all along the southern roads,' she said, and Miaka whimpered. 'Head to the western border for your best chances. I swear upon Seiryuu's blades that it's all I know. Please leave her alone!'

"Let her go," Nuriko said softly, and Kohana and Genrou slowly moved away from Soi.

Mitsukake looked at Nezumi's ketsu. "Zouge! We need a way to carry everyone."

'Me.'

"There's not enough room. Did you and Hotohori ever deal with this problem?"

'If Nuriko and Chiriko help, we can get this set up in a few minutes.'

"Then we need to leave now," Mitsukake said, urging Chiriko and Nuriko into motion.

Two minutes later, Mitsukake sat on the elephant's back. The healer supported Tasuki and the smallest ketsu in front of him, and Miaka leaned on his back so as to relieve pressure from her wounds. Tenkei and Nezumi had been wrapped up in makeshift slings supported by ropes and strong fabric, one on each side of Zouge. In Nuriko's arms was Chichiri, and by their side Genrou and Kohana were ready to run.

By now the blue light had become distinctly brighter, and Mitsukake knew they had to leave.

"W… wait."

Looking down, he watched Chichiri lift a weak hand. "Hey, don't move too much," Nuriko said. "You've been badly hurt."

"I know," the Priest groaned. "But we could be tracked. I have… to prevent that." He brought two fingers to his sei symbol, and with a quick swiping motion he shouted, "Scatter!" Red light shot out from his forehead along the trail of his fingers, and it dissipated into millions of sparks surrounding the group.

Mitsukake's eyes widened; he'd seen that technique in training for Priests. It allowed one to use their ki and destroy all physical and spiritual traces of their presence. And he knew that it took a great deal of energy to do. He wasn't surprised to see Chichiri faint afterwards, and he gritted his teeth at the sight of so many fallen Seishi.

He looked down at Nuriko, whose rose-red eyes were wide with fear. "Run hard and fast. Run for your lives."

-------------

It was the dead of night. No one should have had any sane reason why the emperor should need to be bothered. However, when two of the Imperial soldiers knocked heavily on Hoshitaro's bedroom door, he calmly answered it not a second later.

"What news do you bring me?"

"Heika, a large explosion destroyed the section of the palace that had been housing the Konan ambassadors! We are here to make sure that you are protected!"

The emperor smiled benignly at the men; he always smiled this way to his devoted people. "I assure you that I am currently under the watchful eye of one of my Faithful Seishi. I ask that you continue the standard watch, and please see to the care of the people caught in this crossfire. Call for the healer-Priests if you must."

"Yes, Heika!" And the soldiers ran off to do their duty. The emperor's smile suddenly became more amused and menacing. He shut the door and turned to the figure hiding in the shadows.

"I see all went as planned, correct?"

"Not quite," the voice answered, thick with early-early morning disuse. "The Suzaku no Seishi escaped."

The emperor frowned thoughtfully. "Not what I was planning, but it will suffice. It is enough to prevent the summoning of Suzaku, at the very least. Enough to prevent harm from falling upon me and my Faithful Seishi."

"I most humbly beg pardon for speaking, My Lord Emperor," the voice said, "but Okuda-san can still summon Genbu, and I still fear for your safety. Okuda-san is deeply entrenched in her traitorous beliefs. She may become desperate enough to wish for your demise, even without the benefit of another god to hold the responsibility for such an act."

"Takiko is a zealot; it makes her ridiculously predictable. She will wish for the Kutou-jin to be driven out and for Hokkan to be protected before she wishes for harm to befall me. I am, to her, simply the personification of evils that she wishes to battle."

"I am not sure I understand what My Emperor is saying."

"I am saying that although I do not want Takiko to summon Genbu, it would be foolish to pretend that it cannot happen. I will do what I can to stop her. But if she is too self-absorbed and fanatical to see that her plans will destroy Hokkan before saving it… then I give you leave to act accordingly."

The shadowed face smiled. "I am honored to be your hands, my Gracious Emperor. And what of the Chosen Seiryuu?"

"We have already forged a pact with the Emperor of Kutou, solidified by giving them the Chosen Suzaku to kill. It is not our fault they are incompetent."

"And if they meet with Okuda-san?"

"The Seiryuu Seishi are masters of illusions and lies," he said enigmatically. "Now, bow before me."

The figure knelt low, its head touching the ground as the emperor laid his hand on it. "You are my beloved Seishi, and it is time to take the next step of our stratagems. All you do is in my name and in the eyes of Genbu. Blessed are you among your Chosen brothers and sisters.

"In the name of the Genbu's Holy Emperor, go and kill those who would betray Hokkan and its Faithful children."

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Author's Notes: 7/6/06

Yeah… I'm really cruel to my characters. So, uhm… sorry?

I'm going to try and update in a month or less. I went to a Big Writer's Conference, where my work was edited by three impressive talents. Hopefully, with their guidance and constructive critiques, I can have the next few chapters ready to upload on a regular basis. I'd really like to finish this story sometime before the next century.

Thanks for your time and energy, Jaa, mata!