Chapter Fourteen
The Shouryuu was running high through Seisen as Kayu and his band of young travellers crossed into the village's territory, dismounting their horses as they negotiated rooms for the night in the only local inn. Seisen had once been part of mainland Kutou, and even now its correct geographical alignment was somewhat dubious, but after a long day's riding Kayu found that he didn't care either about the politics or the awkwardness of spending the night in a place that had such wary ties to his homeland. On the river's far bank was Kounan, and in the morning they would head over the sturdy stone bridge into Suzaku's country, bypassing the usual border patrols that had been all the more severe since the re-emergence of unrest in the East.
It had been a long day's travel, and with his loyalties still so torn within him, Kayu found he was glad to dismiss his men to find food and drink, slipping away once he was sure they were well occupied as he surveyed the peaceful village scenery.
Seisen was rumoured to be beautiful, and as he walked through the rows of Eastern-style brick houses he realised that despite how much it had suffered from flooding in the past, the accounts he had heard had been correct. As he crested the brow of a small hill, he saw the bridge that led into the Phoenix's land, and he approached it hesitantly, running his fingers against the carved stone as he pondered the details of his mission one more time.
"Aoi and Maichu...the Shinzahou...the relic. Sukunami Hikari, too." He murmured, counting them off in his head as he did so. "So few of us for so many tasks. The Emperor really is counting on me...I mustn't let him down."
He took a step or two onto the bridge, gazing down into the fast-flowing, dizzy river water as he did so. Maybe it was his imagination, but he thought he saw the glitter of silver scales as fish danced and played beneath the surface, and for an instant he envied them their free, easy movement. Though Seisen had Eastern roots, it did not share Kutou's civil unrest, and for some reason he felt resentful towards the local people for wresting their independance away while the pillars of the Eastern capital had been crumbling in the dust around Nakago's final assault.
It was a limbo, he acknowledged wryly to himself. A no-man's land that served neither Seiryuu nor Suzaku with all its heart. And yet to him, patriotic as he was, he still considered it territory that fell under his Emperor's troubled crown.
"You look deep in thought, nii-san." A woman's voice startled him and he jerked his head up, reddening slightly at having been caught so off guard. The stranger was about the same age as his Commander, with thick wavy hair pulled back in a common married style and robed in fabrics that would not have been out of place in any of the villages within Kutou's boundaries. Bright, sparkling eyes told of a warm, open personality and somehow Kayu felt at ease with her, even though they had never met before.
The woman offered him a smile, clearly amused by his confusion as she held up her hands in apology.
"I startled you. I'm sorry." She murmured. "You just looked like the weight of all the world was on your shoulders."
"The world, no." Kayu sighed, shaking his heads. "But weight enough, for sure."
"You're travelling through Seisen?" The woman asked him curiously. "You're not local, but you speak with Kutou's accent. You're heading South, then? To the Phoenix's land?"
"I have business with contacts in the South West." Kayu agreed, immediately drawing on his merchant's cover as he nodded his head. "But it's a long road and a treacherous one. Many of my fellows have been killed taking the path between the heartland of Kutou and the Southern border. But Seisen is meant to be a haven of peace and I felt that here would be a good place to stop the night as a result. It hasn't failed my expectations so far."
"Ah, well, Seisen isn't exactly part of Kutou these days." The woman shrugged her shoulders, eying him with an amused smile. "Though I'm sure Lord Kintsusei would have other things to say about it. But because we're not the East now, we don't share it's taint. This is always a peaceful place, now."
"How?" Kayu questioned. "I mean, with war so close - and especially in the Southern Province. How can you keep so secure?"
"Ah." The woman's eyes twinkled. "That's almost a secret, you know. A special arrangement made between a friend of this village and friends of his who live far from here."
"A...secret?" Kayu's brows knitted together. "Surely it can't be something to conceal, the secret to keeping Seisen-mura's peace?"
"I suppose not." The woman relented, shaking her head. "We have Imperial protection, that is all."
She gestured to the land around her.
"More than twenty years ago now, a young man almost drowned in this river." She added. "My father and I pulled him out, and in return he helped to save our village from flooding. That man was Suzaku's Chichiri - and he has never fully released his connections with this place. As a result, the Crown of Kounan have always ensured that we have protection if we need it. We are not part of Kounan, but we are Kounan's ally. And Kutou are wise folk - they know when not to push the issue."
"Kounan..." Kayu bit his lip. Then he frowned, shaking his head.
"I don't know about the politics of it." He murmured. "But I wish it was so easy for all of Kutou. Still, relying on the intimidation tactics of your neighbours...is that really freedom, when you look at it closely?"
The woman stared at him, then she laughed.
"You are an astute young man." She remarked. "What is your name? You can't be old enough to remember the terrible war, surely?"
"I was two or three when it was fought." Kayu shook his head. "I don't remember it, but my family were killed during it. My name is Hei Kayu - although that was the name given to me by the man who rescued and raised me afterwards. My original family name was Sai - but they were wiped out to a man during the conflict. So I remember the aftermath quite clearly."
"I suppose so." The woman's expression softened. "Then I'm sorry for your loss - and I hope that you see the same peace in Kutou soon as we have here."
"So do I." Kayu said fervently. "It's what I hope for more than anything - that the Emperor of Kutou no longer has to fear rebels and treason and that Kutou can prosper again. With...with or without Seisen-mura."
"Indeed." The woman laughed. She spread her hands, bowing her head towards him amiably.
"My name is Ryuu Kouran." She continued. "My family have lived in Seisen always - my husband and I grew up here together and we've both seen the land be devastated and reborn in that time. Our children have grown up here too, and I'm sure theirs will, in the future. Peace is a wonderful thing - and I do think that's what it is. Hou Jun wouldn't allow it to be any other way. This place is treated with kindness and respect by the crown of Kounan because it's a place so dear to Chichiri's heart...and so long as that remains so, we're Kounan's friends. Not their subordinates."
"Even so, it seems a peculiar arrangement." Kayu admitted. "I don't see the benefit to Kounan to do such a thing."
"Some things are done simply from friendship." Kouran shrugged her shoulders. "One day, I'm sure, Kutou and Kounan will be able to reach out hands and share in the same kind of alliance...even if it takes its time in coming."
"I don't know." Kayu glanced back down into the water. "Maybe one day, although I don't know whether it'll be in this lifetime or the next. There are a lot of scars that haven't healed yet...and a lot of people are afraid of another war. Kounan's army is strong and cohesive...and Kutou is still very divided. People fear invasion more than anything else, I think."
"Then you can put your mind at rest, Kayu-san." Kouran shook her head. "The Emperor of Kounan is not that kind of man."
"I suppose time will tell." Kayu pursed his lips. "Though I hope you're right."
"Will you stay the night in Seisen, Kayu-san?"
"Yes, that's the plan." Kayu agreed. "My me...companions have taken rooms at the local inn and I'll join them shortly. I just wanted to see our route for tomorrow. It's the first time I've led the party, and I want to make sure we get to our destination smoothly."
"To see friends in the South-west?"
"Business associates...but yes, I suppose you might call them friends." Kayu agreed. Kouran smiled.
"I almost envy you. I've never been far into Kounan, though I'd like to have found the time to." She admitted. "I know there are great mountains, lakes and valleys in the South-west - a beautiful place, green and full of life."
"So it is." Kayu could not keep the wistfulness out of his voice, and Kouran chuckled, resting a hand on her arm.
"Your friends can spare you a little longer, I hope?" She asked gently. "I'd like to hear more about your trip...and your prior visits. Won't you come eat with my husband and I tonight? My daughter is already preparing a meal, and we can certainly feed you."
"But my companions..." Kayu faltered, then his eyes narrowed as he remembered her mention of the Suzaku warrior Chichiri. Slowly he nodded his head.
"No, to refuse such kindness would be rude of me." He corrected himself, bowing his head apologetically. "And my guardian would be upset if he thought I'd behaved dishonourably in any way. Thank you, Kouran-san. I would like that - and I would also like to hear more about this village's peculiar friendship with Kounan. The rapport between you and Suzaku's people - it gives me hope that the same might happen in my own land, so I'd like to hear the whole tale...if it wouldn't inconvenience you to tell me."
"Not at all." Kouran was surprised. "I don't ever mind telling people about Hou Jun and his visit to our village. He's a very special kind of a friend to us here...the day the dragon rose from the river is a day that lives in my memory forever. If you really want to hear it, I'll tell you, of course."
"I really do." Kayu offered her a smile. "Then I accept your invitation wholeheartedly. Let me just pass a message to my comrades so they know my whereabouts - then I would be honoured to accept your hospitality."
Kouran dimpled, nodding her head.
"Do so." She agreed. "The house is the third on the right, just beyond the great tree. I'll look forward to it, Kayu-san."
With that she was gone, and Kayu headed slowly in the direction of the inn, his expression thoughful.
"So will I." He mused. "I know little about Suzaku's people except what Kikei-sama told me, and I have yet to meet either Chichiri or Tasuki in person. Yet Chichiri was here - and more, he shares a connection with this village that is strong enough to gain them Reizeitei-sama's protection without his overlordship. Such a thing is peculiar...I need to understand what it is about this man. He is a sorcerer - this I know. But to go into his territory unprepared...it would be a risk indeed. Whatever I can learn from Kouran-san and her family will stand us in good stead. After all...after all, if we're going after Sukunami Hikari...we might just wind up facing this Chichiri person sooner or later...and for Kintsusei-sama's sake, its a battle I don't intend on letting us lose."
So Chichiri had gone North.
Myoume stepped into the sick room, casting a glance at the patient as she pursed her lips. Inwardly her emotions tore at her as she took in the uneven nature of his breathing and the sweat that beaded his brow. Even despite her own intervention, and Chichiri's remedies, she knew that he was losing his fight against the fever's grip, and that the toxin had begun to spread to his chest, labouring the drags of air he fought to pull into his lungs. Although she knew Chichiri had gone to find a remedy, it was only too clear that Hyoushin's determined grip on life was faltering as his strength began to give out, and despite herself, she felt a lump rise in her throat, panic washing over her at the thought of letting the Meihi's life slip away.
She frowned, fighting to regain control of her emotions. It was unlike her, she knew, to feel so personally involved in a stranger's fate, and yet, as much as Jin's passing had upset her, she knew that her connection to Hyoushin was somehow stronger than that. By breaking through his consciousness and into his memories, she had strengthened the tentative bond between them, and although she didn't understand the reasons, she knew more than anything that she did not want the Meihi to die.
She sighed, coming to sit beside the bed as she slipped a gentle hand behind his shoulders, guiding him into a more upright position. He let out an involuntary gasp of pain that shot through Myoume's senses, but she steeled herself, instead reaching for the spare pillow as she added it to the pile already supporting his back.
"You'll breathe more easily this way." She said softly, and the Meihi cast her a questioning glance.
"Toroki?" He murmured, and Myoume nodded.
"Our paths continue to cross." She said evenly.
"Why are you...bothered...by my suffering?"
"Because I don't like to see it." Myoume said frankly. "Especially not when its my brother's handiwork."
Hyoushin's eyes clouded slightly, but he did not respond, and Myoume nodded her head.
"What you did in Sairou, taking the Shinzahou from me...is nothing to what my brother's done to you and to other people." She added quietly. "And you could easily have killed me in the West, had you wanted to. Still you didn't. Isn't that worth something in terms of my kindness to you now?"
"I...doubt it." Hyoushin's breathing was still hampered, and although he fought to conceal it from her, Myoume could tell that each breath was causing him considerable pain. "If you...had wanted...to fight..."
He faltered, and Myoume shrugged.
"I suppose I did let you win, rather." She agreed. "But it's the past now. Let's leave it there, shall we? We both have the same enemy now - and we have to work together if we're to do anything to help your country."
Hyoushin frowned, then he nodded slowly.
"If...not for...that...I would not be fighting...so hard to...breathe." He murmured. "My body would...rather I stopped. Even since...Chichiri left...I can feel...that the toxin is..."
He trailed off, closing his eyes briefly, and Myoume felt her heart clench as she registered how hard he was working to keep conscious.
"You're in a lot of pain, aren't you." She said gently, and Hyoushin sighed, opening his eyes once more.
"I have...always been...resistant to pain." He said softly, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper. "My past...at least...taught me that. But..."
He hesitated, and Myoume rested her hand gently on his arm.
"Fever causes hallucinations, and unlocks things you'd rather stayed locked away." She said quietly. "I know, Hyoushin. I know."
At this he cast her a startled look, then his eyes narrowed.
"How could...you understand...that?" He gasped out, and Myoume bit her lip, holding up her hands apologetically.
"I'm sorry." She confessed. "But when you were delirious, I...I invaded your privacy, and broke through to your thoughts. I know it was unforgivable to use my power that way, and I...I feel really bad that I did. But I didn't have much choice."
"The woman in white..." Hyoushin's eyes opened wide with shock and realisation. Then they clouded, as the full implication of her words sank in.
"How much...did you see?"
"Enough." Myoume said vaguely. "But I swear, I won't repeat any of it to anyone, not ever. Your private thoughts are your own and I won't share them. I wouldn't have taken the actions I did, only I had to do something to bring you out of your panic. Your heart wouldn't have stood it - and I need you to live, Hyoushin. Kutou needs you to live, and so do I. So..."
"You...need me to?" Hyoushin looked faintly confused. "So you do...not have...to bury...another...of your brother..'s victims?"
"It's too complicated to even begin to explain when you're not fully fit." Myoume responded evenly. "And I don't think I fully understand it myself. I just know...that's how it is. And in any case, you have enough to worry about without adding my eccentricities to your list."
Despite himself, Hyoushin smiled slightly.
"Youare...strange." He acknowledged. "And yet...I am...not angry. You...were indeed...the woman I saw, weren't you? The ghost who stepped into...my thoughts...and protected me...from myself?"
"I'm afraid so." Myoume agreed, twisting her hands together absently as she spoke. "I didn't expect quite so much...I mean, I hadn't registered exactly how much you had been through in the past. It was difficult to be rational, when I was so close to your own feelings - and I acted a little bit more impulsively than I intended to. Still, in the end...it did the trick. Somehow."
"Then I should...thank you." Hyoushin pursed his lips. "Even for the intrusion of it. So long...as you...do not...repeat...to anyone...what you saw."
"I swear on the honour of the Tiger of the West." Myoume said solemnly. "On my life and everything it stands for, too. I won't ever betray your memories to anyone."
"It is odd." Hyoushin murmured. "Considering...to this point...we have been as foes. But...you seem...to understand. Like...Chichiri. You...really...do not seek...to hurt me."
"Not at all. It's honestly the opposite." Myoume shook her head. "To which end..."
She glanced at her hand, then carefully slipped her glove off, glancing at the glittering white character that glowed on the tip of her index finger. She held her hand out to him.
"I can make the pain easier." She said gently. "Both physical and mental, if you like. Till Chichiri gets here. I can't...I can't alter the effects of the poison. I'm not a healer. But I can dull the edges of it. If you'll let me break into your thoughts again...it might buy you some time."
"Even if...I forgive your...earlier...intrusion...I don't...like people...in my head." Hyoushin responded. "Even if once...was unavoidable. I am not...dying yet."
He drew a painful breath into his lungs, wincing as he did so, and Myoume knew that, despite his words, he was weakening in his fight.
"You've survived as long as you have through will alone." She observed, sitting back as she observed him. "But even you must have a limit. You should swallow your pride, Hyoushin. I truly won't betray anything I encounter in your thoughts...you have my word. We all have nightmares we'd rather keep hidden, and I can understand why you deal with yours in the way that you do. I won't dig any deeper. I'll only do what I said - dull the pain and suppress things for the time being."
"The coward...in me...wants to say yes." Hyoushin murmured. "The gentle...feeling you brought...before...helped me...to fight back. But...even if...such cowardice...has got me thus far, I will not let...it guide me...further."
"How, exactly, are you a coward?" Myoume snorted. "Don't be stupid. You're a long way from that. Whatever your flaws, Hyoushin, you don't lack for courage."
"Then why...am I so...afraid of my own...past?" Hyoushin arched an eyebrow. "So much...that I needed...the interference of...an outsider to...conquer it? I...have...avoided the...obvious. I have...not questioned enough. And now..."
He coughed, his words lost as pain flickered once more across his expression, and instinctively Myoume reached out to support him, feeling the hot dryness of his skin against hers as she held him still.
"You're not a coward but you are a fool." She whispered, tears glittering in her eyes. "Let me stop this...or you won't be here when Chichiri returns!"
"Toroki?" At the emotion in her tone, Hyoushin's head jerked up, and he stared at her in confusion. "Am I really...so important...in Kutou's survival?"
"You're important. Leave it at that." Myoume said firmly. "So stop being silly and let me help you. Aoiketsu, Maichu - they're both worried about you. You're more to them than just a Commander who barks out orders...they have faith in you, too. But your body can't stand up to this alone. You must know that."
Hyoushin sighed, and Myoume felt his tense form go limp against hers.
"I cannot fight." He muttered. "It is pathetic. But...I...cannot...breathe like this...indefinitely. Every breath...has become...a conscious...effort, more so...since Chichiri...departed for...Hokkan. My body...seeks to...give in. If not...for Kutou...I would stop...fighting it. I...cannot keep...going like...this. I...cannot."
Myoume swallowed hard, nodding her head.
"Then I'll send you to sleep." She said gently. "I can knock you out like I did before, and then you won't feel anything at all."
"No." Hyoushin shook his head gingerly. "I...will not...sleep. I must...not. If I…do…my breathing…will surely…still. It will…be my last…sleep. But..."
He stopped, and Myoume interpreted the silence. She sighed.
"If that's how you want it, I'll meet you half way." She agreed reluctantly, pressing her exposed index finger down gently against the Meihi's arm. As she did so, he flinched, letting out a faint gasp, and she shook her head.
"Don't fight me." She ordered. "I know it's hard, but you have to let your barriers down and let me in. I won't hurt you, I promise."
Hyoushin did not answer, but very slowly Myoume felt the barrier to his thoughts yield, and she was suddenly flooded with a wash of emotion and pain, fragmented images merging into one vivid memory as she forced herself to keep going. She was there to suppress the memory, and to dull the pain, she reminded herself. She must not let her own emotions become wrapped up in what she did - she could not become distracted. To stay detached from the things she was seeing, that was her only defence...and she knew that the chances of her maintaining her own composure against Hyoushin's dark memories were slim.
"I'm too tied to him." She realised. "Since the last time, or maybe before - beyond anything I even understood was possible. My man of peace is real...and he's here. He's right here. A man I can trust...is that truly all it is? An ally in this fight? It confuses me so much and I can't make head or tail of what it means. The way Hikari spoke in Choukou - maybe I wondered for a brief moment if she was right. But that's madness...I know that much now at least. I've met him now - when the both of us may yet die fighting for Kutou. Myself, in particular. I can't become distracted - I know what I must do and till I've completed Byakko's tasks I can't stop and think of anything else. But even with that said, one thing I will make sure of first! I might not save my own life - but Iwon't let Miramu take Hyoushin's!"
This resolve seemed to strengthen her and she gathered her wits, closing her eyes as she focused her energy on the taunting, cruel memories that danced before her. In her mind's eye she extended her hands, a soft white haze engulfing them as she sought to confine Hyoushin's nightmares in a secure, reassuring cocoon of Byakko magic. It was harder this time, for he was conscious and aware of everything she did, and no matter how carefully she moved around his thoughts, she was aware of the occasional flinching or tensing of his body as she went about her work.
She gritted her teeth, unwilling to retreat until she had completely isolated the dark memories back where they had come from, and as she worked to shield the pain impulses from the forefront of her companion's thoughts, she was gratified by the sound of his breathing easing. She let out a sigh, suddenly weary as she drew her hand away from his skin.
"There." She whispered, as she gently guided him back down onto the raised pillows. "I did my best. Is it better than before?"
Hyoushin did not answer at first, his eyes closed, and for a brief instant Myoume was afraid she'd gone too far and dulled his senses in sleep anyway, despite his wishes. But then he let out his breath in a rush, his amethyst eyes meeting her indigo ones. At their expression, Myoume's heart clenched in her chest, and it was all she could do not to let out an exclamation. Far from the usual, reserved glance of the Meihi Commander, she saw a flicker of the man's true humanity in his gaze, as genuine gratitude touched his expression.
"Miramu spoke of your power as sinister, but he lied." He murmured, the hoarseness gone from his voice. "And I was wrong, too. You are not like your brother in the least. Where he harms, you seek to do the opposite."
Myoume smiled, blinking back her tears.
"It's not easy, doing something like that on a conscious, aware subject." She admitted. "And I have...I can use my power for uglier ends, if the need arises. But...I don't want to make you suffer any more than you already are. I told you - it matters to me that you live. Even if just because I doubted in your integrity once and have been proven wrong. If I can help Chichiri save your life, I will - I'm not willing to sit back and let you die."
Hyoushin eyed her for a moment. Then he smiled, and once again Myoume was touched by the genuine, unreserved nature of the expression.
"I am indebted to you." He whispered. "Perhaps it is not my lot to die after all. Not...yet."
"Not yet." Myoume echoed, shaking her head. "Definitely not yet. Maybe not for many years, yet. You're young still, after all."
"Thirty-five summers." Hyoushin agreed. "That is all...though it seems like plenty."
"Time enough to have a life, then, after you've done your duty." Myoume said evenly. Hyoushin eyed her pensively.
"You understand more than you should, saying things like that." He reflected. "You've seen my thought processes far too clearly."
"All living things seek to live, not to die. At least, they should." Myoume responded. "Even ones who have suffered. Your instinct was always survival - that's all. Your memories are awful, Hyoushin. But even so, running through them is that determination to live - to survive somehow, no matter what. That's why you're still living now, I'm sure. Why Miramu's poison hasn't killed you yet. Because more than anything, you've always fought to live."
Hyoushin inclined his head slightly.
"Perhaps you are right." He agreed. "I was ten years old when my life was stolen from me. I would like the opportunity to claim it back...even if I do not know how to do so. By serving Kintsusei-sama and by bringing peace to Kutou I can repay my debt to him and honour the memory of the slaves who died in servitude...slaves like my brother. Maybe then I will have a chance to live for myself."
"Strangely, I understand the sentiment better than you think." Myoume sighed, a wistful expression flickering in her indigo eyes. "To live for oneself...must be a pleasant thing indeed."
"You sound like its something you have no chance of achieving."
"Miramu will kill me, when next we meet." Myoume said frankly. "Such is the nature of Toroki's sight - I've known for a long time that such a confrontation must happen. And I am not a killer. I haven't that instinct. Miramu is still my brother...no matter what he's done, I can't hurt him. But he...he told me we were no longer siblings, and that he was simply the western assassin...the shadow. So...in the end, that will decide matters. My time is limited."
Hyoushin was silent for a moment, and Myoume was startled to see a faint flicker of compassion and regret in his amethyst eyes.
"Your gift is as much a burden as my memories are to me." He observed. "My past and your future...we both have weights we must carry somehow."
"Yet we must move forward." Myoume managed a rueful smile. "For the sake of this world, Hyoushin - we must."
The mountain slopes were still dusted in a sheen of soft white snow as Chichiri made his landing on Koku-zan's impressive rock face, pausing for a moment to get his bearings as a wave of nostalgia washed over him. Memories of another climb many years earlier pricked against his senses, and he frowned, biting his lip pensively as he gazed across the ground towards a distinctive twist of pinewood thrust deep into a mound of snow. Slowly he approached it, holding out his hands towards it as the barrier he had long since erected there sparked and danced with ruby light.
"Nuriko." He murmured. "Sorry, old friend - for using you as a point of reference. But of all places on Koku-zan, this place is burned forever into my memories."
He eyed the grave for a moment, noticing with approval how the elements had not worn at the wooden marker nor disturbed their hard work.
"My barrier has held fast all these years, even though your spirit is long gone from this place." He reflected, bringing his hand up before his face in an automatic gesture of prayer. Then he faltered, smiling ruefully as he glanced at his fingers.
"Old habits die hard when in the company of former allies, it seems." He murmured sheepishly. "Well, even a man such as me can pray without the robe of a monk. I'd like to stay here longer, but I have other things to do. There's a Meihi settlement somewhere between here and Touran, and I hoped that I might be able to see it from here. After all, time is of the essence. Hyoushin has a strong will, but he is still just a man and a man can succumb to poison far too easily. I won't waste my time on nostaglic remeniscences."
He turned, moving to the edge of the cliff as he gazed down into the valleys below. The cold wind whipped against him, teasing at his long tail of hair and his grip on his kasa tightened as he realised that although it was summer in the south, in Hokkan the seasons had barely changed.
"I wonder if that's because Genbu's been preoccupied with other things." He wondered absently. "Or if nature's just dealt the north a particularly long, harsh winter this year. I don't know...it seems odd. Even when I've travelled in Hokkan before, it hasn't always been so cold as this. The levels below the mountain should be clear for grazing. Is it truly still snowing even in the lowlands? This can't be a coincidence. It must be because things are out of balance again."
He frowned, sniffing the air as he picked up the faint scent of wood smoke and he turned, squinting against the bright glare of the snow as he picked out the source of the smell. In the midst of the white, almost hidden by heavily-laden pines and the lie of the land, he thought he saw what might be the roofs of buildings, and his good eye widened as he realised what it was he had found.
"The Meihi village. Midway, just as Hyoushin said." He murmured. "Right. Then I can see it...I hope I can transport to it based on that. It's well hidden...but that's undoubtedly the place I'm looking for. And time is of the essence, so I'll just have to take the chance."
He gripped his kasa tightly, murmuring a spell as he brought his hand down before his face in a firm, decisive movement. As he closed his eyes, he felt the world around him swirl and twist, pulling him into the dark expanse of space and then out again as he dropped carefully down on the soft white surface of snow once more.
He opened his eyes, relief flickering inside his heart as he realised that his impulse had been correct and that he had landed not far from a ring of stones that seemed to mark a territorial boundary. Beyond these strangely carved markers, he could see the walls of houses unlike any he had seen before, and faintly he was aware of the sound of laughter on the wind as small figures ran and played between the buildings. Although there was a nip in the air, Chichiri did not sense that these young children were aware of it, and even as he suppressed a shiver of his own, he remembered what Hyoushin had said about the Meihi and cold.
"Truly snow people, then." He murmured to himself, sliding his hand into the folds of his clothing, his fingers brushing against the black-stone pendant. "The Meihi of the mountains. I hope they can help me."
He stepped resolutely over the stone boundary, pausing to survey the scenery and as he did so, he became aware of eyes on him. He glanced up, seeing that the children who had been playing so freely had stopped their game, pausing to stare at this odd stranger who had suddenly appeared in their midst. Despite himself, Chichiri's fingers automatically went to his scarred face and he frowned, worried that his unconventional appearance might have frightened them.
"I'm not one of them, and I look like this." He berated himself. "Not well thought out, Hou Jun."
One of the children darted forward at that moment, peering up at him as she pulled gently on the fabric of his sleeve. She said something in a gentle, lilting tongue, and Chichiri gazed at her in surprise, unable to understand her words but sure from her gesture that she was not afraid of him. He eyed her curiously for a moment, and the girl repeated her gesture, tilting her head on one side as if waiting for an answer. She was probably about the same age as his own daughter, he realised, with the ice-fair complexion of her tribe and big, amethyst eyes that glittered with life. Unruly silver curls framed her face, making her appear almost ethereal, though a faint flush to her cheeks told of robust health in the brisk mountain air of the tribal settlement. Something about the guileless nature of her greeting touched the sorcerer's heart, as he remembered Hyoushin's words about the Meihi tribe.
"Greeting people as friends and not fearing them as enemies." He reflected. "Though they have great reason to fear those from outside. This child is the same as Meikyo – she looks different, true, but her trust and her innocence are the same. Hyoushin is right – all children deserve a chance to grow up in a free world. These can because their parents fled the East…but even in the East things have to begin to change sometime. Children are children after all. Noone's born an enemy…they're taught to be it, or otherwise."
The girl said something else to him at that moment, drawing him back to the present with her soft, lilting words. She eyed him hopefully, and Chichiri sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry." He admitted. "I don't understand your words."
At the sound of the harsher Chinese dialect, the girl's eyes widened, and she turned, saying something in rapid, urgent speech to her younger companions. In a moment they had dispersed, leaving him alone with the young girl who was obviously the oldest of the group. She eyed him carefully for a moment. Then she moved her fingers in an odd gesture, offering him a smile. She held up her hands, and Chichiri knew she was telling him to wait, although what he was waiting for was unclear. He did as he was bidden, however, gazing around at the small settlement as he did so.
It was not big, yet nor was it tiny, with several of the odd dwellings dotted around the flat of the mountain land. All around the edges were mountain pines, and in the centre was something which resembled a well, although the design was unlike anything Chichiri had seen before. Though he and the small girl were the only ones outside, he got the feeling that, behind the security of their curtains he was being observed by other members of the tribe as they tried to work out who he was and what his mission among them had been.
At length one of the younger children re-emerged, an older man in tow, and at the sight of him, the little girl darted forwards, saying something in rapid, excited Meihi. The man eyed her for a moment, then he smiled, patting her on the head as he nodded. He said something to her gently, gesturing towards the houses beyond, and the girl's grin widened as she grabbed the young boy by the hand, skipping off towards the property that he had indicated.
For a moment, Chichiri and the stranger eyed one another. Then the Meihi raised his hands in the same gesture that the girl had made earlier.
"So, another visitor has stepped over the boundary of our village." He said softly, in clear, if accented Chinese. "How may I help you, stranger? You do not look like a man of war to me...yet appearances can be deceptive."
"I'm no man of war." Chichiri held up his hands hurriedly, relief flooding his heart at the fluency of the other man's speech. "Are you...by any chance, are you Bakaru-san?"
"Yes, that is my name." The man was startled. "How came you by it, stranger?"
"Thank Suzaku for that." Chichiri sighed. "I've come looking for you - or you and your companions, to be more accurate. I realise I'm intruding on the peace of your settlement and I'm sorry...I'm not usually so ill-mannered as to trespass into a place I've not been invited. But this is a matter of some urgency...I need your help."
"My...help?" Bakaru eyed him in confusion. "I don't understand. On what errand have you come here, my friend? And who are you? I cannot help a man who does not have a name."
"Ri Hou Jun." Chichiri said simply. He paused, then shook his head. "No, that's deceiving you, and I mustn't do that. I want your help honestly, and I came to ask for it in the same way. I can feel from the flicker of your aura that you're one half of the soul known as Urumiya - Genbu's man of the stars. And if that's the case, I'll appeal to you as one Seishi to another...I am also known as Chichiri of the south, a man of Suzaku's choosing."
He hesitated, then drew back the leg of his trousers to show the glittering red mark on his right knee, and Bakaru's eyes widened.
"Suzaku." He murmured. "I see. So this is a stellar visit? If it is Genbu's treasures you seek, my friend, I cannot help. These are things I do not have."
"I haven't come for Genbu's treasure." Chichiri recovered his symbol, shaking his head. "I've actually come on another errand. You are acquainted with a man called...called Lilaihi, aren't you?"
"Lilaihi?" Bakaru's eyes narrowed. "Somewhat...by what manner do you know this name, Ri Hou Jun-san?"
"From his own lips." Chichiri said frankly. "I'll be honest, since there is no time to hesitate. Hyoushin...Lilaihi...is currently in my village in the South. He's suffered an injury and I seek to help him recover from it. But it seems he's taken some poison in and I have no way of curing it. My family are apothecaries, but limited in this area. He told me that you...might have a way to cure him. And I came by way of my Suzaku magic...in case it was true."
Bakaru stared at him for a moment. Then he nodded.
"You are honest." He murmured. "I feel it from you - you speak the truth. Yet when I saw him last, Lilaihi was certainly not seeking the aid of Suzaku's men. And your news concerns me...that he should be so hurt, in the pursuit of his duties..."
He sighed, then beckoned towards his companion.
"Come with me, Ri Hou Jun-san." He said quietly. "We will discuss this in the seclusion of my home - after all, if it concerns Lilaihi, there is another who should know of it."
"Li...Rayi-san?" Chichiri asked, and Bakaru started, then nodded his head.
"Yes."
"Hyoushin gave me this." Chichiri pulled out the black pendant, holding it out. "He said that if I took this to you, you'd know that I'd come on his bidding. He said Lirayi-san made it - that the character on it is from her name, although I can't read your language. He said it meant hope...and that you'd recognise it if I showed it to you."
"Indeed." Bakaru looked surprised, taking the pendant and glancing at it. "Rayi's craft is very distinctive...and this is her pendant. That he gave such a thing to you, and told you its history...Lilaihi has placed his trust in you, or so it seems."
"Suzaku and Seiryuu are not really fighting one another, but another enemy we had neither one of us perceived." Chichiri said sadly, following the older man into one of the dwellings as Bakaru shut the door behind them, blocking out the chill of the mountain air as he gestured for his companion to take a seat. Chichiri did so, sinking down against the soft-woven fabric as he cast Bakaru a hopeful look.
"So you will help me?" He asked softly. Bakaru spread his hands.
"If I am able." He said cautiously. "I need to know more of what has befallen Lilaihi before I can tell you any kind of answer. A Meihi only gives his word if he intends to keep it - I cannot promise to help you until I know if it is within my capabilities."
Chichiri stared at him, and Bakaru's expression softened slightly.
"If I can do anything to help Lilaihi survive, I will do it." He added. "I am fond of him, foolish and stubborn though he may be. And for Rayi's sake...I will do what I can for her brother. But the Meihi are not magicians. We are just men and women with ordinary skills. If your Chinese methods have no cure, I cannot guarantee ours will."
He smiled, gesturing towards the sorcerer as he took a seat himself.
"You look like one who has already been in the wars, my friend – I suppose even the expertise of Kounan's physicians can't do anything about the loss of an eye."
"Well, yes and no." Despite himself Chichiri returned the smile with a rueful one of his own. "I lost it in the flood that destroyed my village, which was more than twenty years ago now. I did have an opportunity to heal it, but I decided…for my own reasons…it was better to live the way I was. But your young folk weren't at all perturbed by the sight of it – which surprised me. In my own village, of course, the people are well used to the one eyed eccentric who potters around the place at all times of day and night. But here…with me being from outside as well…"
"Our children don't learn to look at someone's appearance, only at the way they are inside." Bakaru told him softly. "It's necessary, you know…many people here have been slaves. Several wear the scar on their cheek – others have suffered more debilitation or disfigurement than that. Some of my fellows have lost hands, fingers, ears…yes, one or two have sacrificed their sight in order to find their freedom. So the children learn from the moment they're able that people aren't how they look. They're how they feel. And as for you being from outside – to most of the youngsters here 'outside' means the market in Touran where the people are both tolerant and friendly towards us. They don't know the things that us older Meihi do…they've not been so tainted by that past."
"I see." Chichiri looked interested. "Yes, I suppose that makes sense. This is a peaceful place – a haven – despite all the things that the people here must have once been through. It's refreshing to find that outlook – it's been a long time since I travelled with a mask to hide my missing eye, after all."
"There's no reason to hide anything here." Bakaru told him evenly. "The Meihi are not like other people…they do not like to judge."
"Bakaru?" At that moment, a fresh voice came from the doorway, and Chichiri glanced up, his eye widening as he took in the figure of a woman staring at him uncertainly. She faltered, her gaze flickering to her older companion, who smiled, gesturing for her to enter. As she did so, Chichiri got to his feet, bowing his head towards her even as he observed the unevenness of her gait, the faint clouding of her left eye and the distinctive, familiar white curl of a scar on her cheek. Yet, despite these imperfections, she was clearly much younger than his impromptu host, and although the marks of her past were clearly visible, she was not unattractive. Gazing at her, Chichiri thought he saw a fleeting resemblance to his stricken Meihi acquaintance back in Kounan, and in an instant he realised who this stranger was.
"Lirayi-san?" He asked softly, and at the sound of her name, the woman's head jerked up as their gazes met fully for the first time.
"This man has come from Kounan, Rayi." Bakaru spoke in slow, gentle Chinese, and Lirayi's expression became confused. "He has been sent by Lilaihi."
"by Oniichan?" Lirayi gazed at Chichiri anew, and Chichiri nodded his head.
"He needs help from his people." he agreed, and Lirayi's gaze darted back towards Bakaru, who held out the pendant. He said something in Meihi, and Lirayi's eyes widened, fear flickering in her gaze as she grasped the black stone to her chest. She hugged it tightly to her, staring at Chichiri in horror.
"Lilai-nii..is hurt?" She asked softly, in uneven, hesitant Chinese. "How is this?"
"He was attacked...and he's been poisoned." Chichiri said carefully. "He's been quite unwell. I came here because I hoped that you could help me find an antidote."
"Antidote?" Lirayi murmured. "Poison? What poison is?"
"We don't know." Chichiri admitted, frustration in his gaze. "Hyoush...Lilaihi said that when he was a boy, he was bitten by a snake and that it had the same kind of symptoms - fever, hallucination, burning pain and paralysis near the site of the wound. But it was a long time ago and he doesn't remember clearly what the remedy was. All he knows is that the Meihi had some such remedy for snake poison - if indeed we're dealing with the same kind of snake."
Lirayi glanced at Bakaru, who murmured something in Meihi, and Chichiri realised that in his desire to explain the problem, he had spoken too fast for the younger woman to understand. He bit his lip, battling his impatience as Bakaru carefully explained his meaning, and as he did so, Lirayi nodded her head emphatically.
"Oniichan was bitten." She agreed. "But...I...I was...baby then. No remembering it."
"No, I realise you must have been very young." Chichiri agreed. "But even so - if there's anything you can think of - either of you - that can help me to heal him..."
"You...want help Lilai-nii?" Lirayi asked hesitantly. "You...his friend?"
"Yes." Chichiri agreed, realising as he did so that he meant what he was saying. "Yes, I suppose that's it. And I do want to help him live, Lirayi-san. He's suffered enough...and he has a lot of things he believes in doing."
"He promised...come get me...when work is over." Lirayi said slowly, the glitter of tears in her eyes. "Must cure him, Bakaru...must!"
"If we can." Bakaru agreed. "Certainly we can ask Mikoyi if he has any remedies that might help."
"Mi...koyi?" Chichiri repeated, and Bakaru nodded.
"The settlement's healer." He responded. "Although...you believe Lilaihi's injury was caused by a snake?"
"Snake venom. Yes." Chichiri agreed. "Why? What about it?"
"Joyilaei." Lirayi murmured, and Chichiri stared at her, non-plussed.
"I'm sorry...I don't understand."
"Joyilaei is a type of snake that is common among Meihi settlements." Bakaru explained. "Along the southern border of Hokkan and the northern boundary of Kutou, these creatures are numerous. Their bite is highly toxic - causing paralysis, delusion, fever and death. Joyi is the Meihi word for nightmare. Laei is the Meihi word for snake. Such is it called, in our tongue."
"I see." Chichiri frowned. "A snake that populates the north of Kutou...which is where Hyou...Liliahi and Lirayi-san are originally from?"
"Yes." Lirayi nodded anxiously. "Many Joyilaei there. Many, many. Father drove away with sticks - bites made people very sick."
"Sick - but didn't kill them?"
"Meihi cured with herahisa herb." Lirayi shook her head. "Not die. But sick. Very sick."
"I think Rayi's right." Bakaru's expression cleared. "You said that Lilaihi was suffering from fever and hallucinations, didn't you, my friend? The poison of the Joyilaei is not quick acting, but if not treated quickly can be fatal. However...if he had been bitten by the same snake before, he would have developed a little resistance to it. Perhaps his memory is correct. Maybe he has been unlucky enough to be struck twice by the same beast."
"And there is a cure?"
"Possibly." Bakaru rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I believe that in your language, the name of this snake is 'gendoku-ja' - though I might be mistaken - the illusion venom snake. In my time as a slave, I remember that the masters were very anxious about this particular beast - it was considered an ill omen within Kutou, to have one cross your path. To be bitten by one was certain death for anyone at that time. They did not use herahisa - or seem to know the remedy. And I remember that death was not swift nor pleasant for any struck by the creature's fangs."
"Gendoku-ja." Recognition flickered into Chichiri's ruby gaze. "That means something to me. On my travels, I'd encountered the stories of that snake - the one whose bite brings madness, paralysis and death. How did I not make that connection myself? The creature doesn't exist within the far south of Kounan, where I live - the climate is too hot to sustain it, I think. But I've travelled all over the four lands in my life. I should have been more aware."
He frowned.
"Herahisa is another Meihi word?" He asked. "I grow many herbs, but I don't know that one."
"That's because only the Meihi realise its true value." Bakaru said ruefully. "It is an invasive, stifling plant if not kept under good control, and it is generally seen as a weed in other places. Only here, we know its benefits and cultivate it accordingly. It is strong enough to grow anywhere, after all - in the coldest snow or hottest desert, herahisa has the luck and strength to thrive. And the leaves provide an antidote for the poison of the gendoku-ja...although not without some side effects. Still, considering the situation, I think..."
"Mikoyi." Lirayi said quickly, and Bakaru nodded.
"Go, find him." He agreed. "I will speak some more to our unexpected guest. Don't look so frightened, Rayi-chan. We will do what we can to help your brother, I'm sure."
Lirayi's gaze clouded, but she nodded her head, making a strange gesture of farewell in Chichiri's direction before withdrawing from the room. As the door shut behind them, Bakaru sighed heavily.
"She has lived for so many years not knowing if her brother lived or not." He said softly, and Chichiri was aware of the pain in his eyes. "She always believed...she clung onto that faith that somehow Lilaihi had survived, even though she had seen her parents and her other brother cruelly killed. Lilaihi had promised to come back for her, you see - and she held onto that belief for as long as I knew her. When he came here, not so long ago, I saw her face truly light up with joy for the first time. And yet...now..."
He bit his lip.
"He said he had to complete his Emperor's business, and intimated that Suzaku was his enemy." He continued. "Yet here you are."
"There have been a lot of misunderstandings." Chichiri said softly. "He still seeks to protect his Emperor. And I seek to help him. My friends and I."
"And Seiryuu no Miko, no doubt?"
"Seiryuu no...?" Chichiri stared, and Bakaru nodded.
"The young girl." He agreed. "Kutou's Miko, yes?"
"Yes." Chichiri agreed. "But how did you...?"
"I am Urumiya, at least in part." Bakaru reminded him. "I know more about the Gods and their ways than the average Meihi."
"And more Chinese too, thankfully." Chichiri said ruefully. "Hyoushin said that you'd help me - that you'd understand, and you have. If more people took your attitude, the world wouldn't need saving."
"Perhaps." Bakaru looked thoughtful. "Although the Meihi have always pulled away from the outside world, too. They do not judge, but they also do not mix – most Meihi will never learn to speak Chinese, so communication about our ways and thoughts with people beyond our lands is almost impossible to do. That creates fear and misunderstanding...no, in truth I rather admire Lilaihi's conviction to do what is right and not to ignore the suffering of the land in which he was born. He has suffered too, Hou Jun-san. Like all of us, he has lost his family and been a slave. Yet even despite that...he wants to free Kutou. It's a noble thought...don't you think so? To not hate the land which caused him pain, but to want to free it, instead?"
"Yes." Chichiri nodded his head. "But I'm beginning to realise that he's a very resolute kind of person...and if he believes in something, he's not easily swayed from that purpose."
"A Meihi never gives his word lightly." Bakaru replied. "But once he has, he swears it heart and soul and only death can break it. Lilaihi has learnt those values - even if he lives as 'Hyoushin' and serves at Kutou's Imperial Court. He is still a Meihi at heart...and those values make him strong now."
"It strikes me that Kutou's court could use a fair few more Meihi, if that's the case." Chichiri said ruefully. "Or at least, their poor Emperor certainly could."
"So it seems to me, also." Bakaru admitted. "Lilaihi's loyalty to that man overrides even his wish to stay here in safety with his sister. Yet I understand that sentiment, Hou Jun-san. Till you have had freedom taken from you, you don't appreciate what it means to have it returned. And had I been rescued by such a man - whoever he might be - I too would be willing to risk everything to help him."
Chichiri's expression softened as he gazed at this older man, the faint white pattern of a slave scar still faintly visible on his own pale cheek. He nodded slowly.
"Maybe when we're done, there won't be any people in this world who understand freedom being taken away." He said quietly. "I have children myself – my daughter is about the same age as the young girl who first greeted me within the village, and my son is little older. I want them to grow and thrive in a free, peaceful Kounan, you know. But even if Kounan is peaceful, this world isn't going to stabilise and settle down until all of our neighbours are quieted too. We've closed our eyes to Kutou's problems far too long - that almost makes us guilty by omission, doesn't it? But I think it's changing. Little by little I'm understanding better what it was Suzaku asked of us this time around...and with any luck, we'll succeed in completing his and Seiryuu's requests."
He shrugged, his ruby eye darkening as he remembered the gravity of Hikari's original prediction.
"After all, we have to." He concluded. "In the end there's not really much leeway for failure."