Chapter Nineteen
"What exactly are you playing at, Miramu?"
Kikei wheeled on the assassin, annoyance flaring in his beady black eyes as he gazed at his companion indignantly. "Theorising about Seiryuu no Miko - why would you not tell me that, before dropping it into the Emperor's lap? I thought we had agreed - we would share information with one another and hold nothing back."
"I'm not a fool, Kikei." Miramu said simply, leaping deftly up onto the dais that housed Seiryuu's golden statue and settling himself against the dragon's tail. "You didn't divulge everything to me, and so I was making a point. I'm happy to be loyal to you - to give you every shard of information I unearth - so long as I know I'm not being duped in the meantime. Did I make it clearly enough? I'd like to think that I did. I'm your ally, but I can be swayed - if you do not show me the same trust as you expect me to show you."
"I see." Kikei's eyes narrowed. "Be more explicit - just what do you imagine I've kept from you, Miramu?"
"That you plan to use Seiryuu no Miko to eradicate the Celestial Warriors from this world." Miramu said frankly. "Suiko said as much to me - and when I think about it, I'm sure that she told me the truth. She's a funny beast, that mage - but she has Seiryuu on the brain and it makes her tongue loose."
"Suiko." Kikei pursed his lips, then he shrugged, spreading his hands.
"All right." He acknowledged. "Yes, this is the truth. That Seiryuu no Miko's power can annihilate the Seishi's irritating presence is beyond doubt. When Hongou Yui was here, she wished to seal Suzaku's power away and so she managed to do, until a weak heart made her unseal it again. That being the case, I thought to take it one step further. But you should be glad, Miramu - if I succeed, then the one whose presence dogs your existance will no longer be a threat to you - will she?"
"I presume by that you mean Toroki." Miramu said softly, and Kikei nodded his head.
"Yes." He agreed evenly. "So in the end, my plans benefit you as well. Perhaps you'll think on that the next time, before dropping information on me unawares like that."
"My apologies, Lord Priest." Miramu bowed his head mockingly in the other man's direction. "I'm sure that it won't need to happen again."
He shrugged.
"Besides, it isn't like I kept the information from you, in the end." He reflected. "If Hyoushin and Suiko are right, that brat Hikari is the Miko. And so bringing her here suits your plans, doesn't it?"
"It does." Kikei agreed, moving over to the holy flames as he raised his hands alongside it. "And the sooner I convey that to Kayu, the better. I have no interest in his recovering his comrades - to arrange for their removal would be messy and troublesome since you don't seem inclined to carry out the task yourself. If he only finds the girl, so much to the good. We don't need another mage - we have two powerful spirits already in our power, after all. And if Seiryuu no Miko possesses Suzaku's Shinzahou, then truly that is all we need."
"She does. Of that I am quite certain." Miramu gazed pensively up towards the dragon's glittering azure eyes. "But she might not come easily. She has allied with the South, after all."
"But once her duties are explained to her, I'm sure she'll come around." Kikei responded. "And if not, I'm sure there will be ways to make her do so...don't you agree?"
"Forcing a child to act on your wishes." Miramu tut-tutted. "You're becoming even more shameless in your quest for power, you know. You're beginning to startle even me - do you really plan on torturing a girl to make her do as you please?"
"My magic is not feeble, and I'm sure something could be arranged." Kikei said levelly. "More to the point, however, girls from the other world have soft hearts. If she can't be persuaded verbally, then I'm sure she can be convinced in other ways. The Southerners are dispensible, after all...if she has any fondness for them, perhaps she'll act in our favour to keep them safe."
"But by your own words, Chichiri and Tasuki will be killed." Miramu said softly, and Kikei smiled.
"Such are the spoils of war." He said glibly. "Now shut up. I need to concentrate on my magic - making contact with Kayu when he's so far away isn't an easy task."
Miramu pulled a face, but obediently fell silent, folding his arms across his chest as he watched the Priest draw his hands across the flame, murmuring a soft incantation as he did so. For a moment the fire glittered and danced, then, with a flicker of light it dropped, the edges of the glow touched with a faint reddish tinge. Kikei frowned, reaching out to touch it gingerly, and as he did so, a tongue of flame flared up and licked at his fingers, causing him to let out a cry of surprise.
"Well?" Miramu eyed him keenly. "They say those who play with fire get burnt, Kikei - what have you done now?"
"Nothing." Kikei glanced at his hand, then back at the fire in disbelief and consternation. "I cast the usual spell to contact the mirror, but something is in my way. Something strong...I don't know what it is, but it's blocking my path to Kayu."
"Something strong, huh?" Miramu leapt down from his perch, crossing the floor as he peered into the flames. "Perhaps your boy has got himself into trouble."
"Kayu isn't a fool." Kikei snapped, but there was anxiety in his dark eyes. "Something has intercepted our mode of contact - that's all. A spell...a barrier...something of that nature."
"So you can't make contact, then?" Miramu asked innocently, and Kikei's expression darkened.
"Don't mock me." He snapped. "I will find a way to reach the mirror...it may just take more time."
"I would give up now, if I were you." Miramu said lazily. "That flame is red-gold, Kikei - the colour of the Phoenix. On my travels south I encountered Suzaku's people - the bandit who throws fire and the apothecary who casts spells. If I'm not mistaken, this is Chichiri's work...he's a more skilful sorcerer than you are a Priest. Likely he's put a barrier around his territory to protect it from adverse magic - and Kayu is no longer within your reach. You can try all you like - but you won't break through."
"Chichiri, huh?" Kikei folded his hands in the voluminous sleeves of his robe, looking thoughtful. "And this is your expert opinion? That his magic is strong enough to block the link with mine?"
"Without doubt. He is a Seishi, after all." Miramu said evenly. Kikei's eyes narrowed.
"There is more than one way to send a message, however." He mused. "And I must make contact with Kayu."
"Why do you not just allow your boy to act on his own?" Miramu asked. "He knows his mission, after all. Or don't you trust him?"
"He won't betray me. I've made sure of that." Kikei shook his head. "Perhaps you're right. He is a strong fighter and a resourceful young man. Besides, I have preparations to make. Sooner or later, if that girl is Seiryuu's Miko, she will come here even if Kayu does not manage to locate her. I must just be patient, and make sure everything is ready for when she does. After all, her fate and Kutou's fate coincide. And I'll be ready and waiting to greet her when they do."
Now what should he do?
In the bright summer sunlight, Maichu pushed through the trees and bushes, his mind half numb as he stumbled forward, away from the scene of the fight. He did not know or care where he was going - just away, as if somehow by putting distance between him and Kayu's body, he could pretend that it had not happened at all.
It was still a blur, he acknowledged bitterly to himself. How it had gone from a battle of words to a fight to the death still eluded him - and as he thought on it, guilt stabbed through him once more, almost paralysing his breathing as he relived the encounter in his head, trying in vain to piece together what had happened.
Kayu had been his friend, after all. And yet, in the end, that had meant nothing at all.
"Toroki's warning came true." He muttered. "One slain by a brother or a friend. Damn it all to hell, Maichu, what were you thinking? To protect the Commander - sure - but when you raised your sword you only meant to disarm him...not this."
He closed his eyes, resting his hands against the trunk of a nearby tree as he struggled to get his wrenched emotions under control. Tears pricked at the back of his eyes, and he fought to keep them back, knowing that if he lost that battle, he would disgrace himself utterly.
"But what kind of soldier does that make me?" He whispered. "One who'll kill his comrade...what kind of person am I, dammit, when I can do something like that?"
He drew a shaky breath into his lungs, pushing forward once again as he remembered Aoiketsu's shocked expression and the glazed tinge of Kayu's dark eyes as he had fallen to the ground. He had died at once, Maichu knew that. He had struck through the boy's heart in the way he had been trained to take out enemies on the battlefield, and even before he had hit the earth, the young soldier's life had been stolen away. Yet even the knowledge that it had been a quick, clean death did nothing to comfort Maichu's anguish.
"If only he had killed me." He whispered, clenching his fists. "That would have been better...if he had killed me instead."
At that moment he reached a break in the trees, and he faltered, gazing uncomprehendingly at the white-stone structure that stood before him. For a moment he did not know where he was, but then flickers of memory returned to him and he took a hesitant step or two forward, resting his hands against the bright white walls as if somehow he could draw strength from their sturdiness.
"I've come to that mountain, haven't I?" He realised dully. "Shit, I walked that far? I wasn't even payin' attention...but this is the place that boy Jin was buried. That's what Aoi told me, when we came to get that goddamned sword from Tasuki. I should'a left it with him - then this wouldn't have happened. I ain't old enough to handle it properly - the bandit was right, I am still just a stupid kid after all!"
"Maichu?" A voice from the trees startled him and he swung around like an animal cornered in headlights, staring all around him for the speaker. As he did so, there was the rustle of tree branches overhead, and then a slim figure dropped down deftly in front of him, brushing the stray leaves and bark from her clothing as she eyed him in consternation.
"Shishi." Somehow Maichu managed to speak, though for a reason he couldn't define the sight of the forthright young bandit caused his emotions to choke up inside him once more. He held out his hands, shaking his head firmly as he did so.
"Don't come near me. I don't want to talk to you - or anyone. Jus' leave me be."
"Shit, melodramatic much." Shishi's brows creased in confusion. "What the hell bit you, you idiot? You've come here on your own - weren't you supposed to be playin' guard over your Commander? Chichiri an' the rest have gone lookin' for you as it is...and you're here all of a sudden?"
She eyed him quizzically.
"Dammit, you lost your friggin' sword again, already? Yeesh, you really are a goddamn liability, aren't you?"
"You have no idea." Maichu turned his back on her, afraid that if the conversation continued, he might lose his tenuous grip on his self control. "Get lost, will you? I told you - I don't want to talk to you. This ain't something you could understand - after all, you're just a kid."
"Don't call me that, when you're only a few years older an' a lot less smart." Shishi snapped, crossing the clearing and clipping him across the back of the head. "Besides, you're the one who shouldn't be here. This is Jin's restin' place, not some joint you can scramble all over playin' hide an' seek with your sword. If you want to be alone, you should go somewhere else, an'...shit, Maichu, you've got blood on your sleeves!"
At this exclamation, Maichu raised his gaze to hers, eying her mutely, and Shishi's bronze gaze darkened with comprehension.
"Some o' those Kutou jerks did gatecrash you as well then, huh?" She asked softly. "Chichiri was right - there was a fight. Maybe Kashira an' I should'a followed on, instead of makin' sure Hisei's shrine was sealed back up safe. Is that why you're here? You don't look hurt - but that's blood, for sure...is someone else in trouble?"
"No." Maichu said flatly. "It's over."
Shishi eyed him for a moment, then she reached across to grab him around the wrists, holding them up to examine them more closely.
"Fresh blood nonetheless." She realised. "Somethin' must've happened all right. An' that's how you lost your sword?"
"Let go of me." Maichu wrenched his arms away, glaring at her indignantly. "I told you, it's over. I took care of it. It's over. I don't need you interfering - just leave it alone and butt out o' things that aren't your friggin' business, will you?"
Shishi's eyes narrowed, as she glanced from his bloodsoaked arms to his clouded, troubled expression. She pursed her lips.
"Shoutin' round Jin's memorial ain't somethin' I easily forgive." She said softly. "My brother's restin' an' he doesn't need the likes o' you yellin' an' disturbin' his peace."
"It hardly matters." Maichu muttered. "Why won't you just leave me alone, Shishi? What the hell is wrong with your ears?"
"Because you look like you might do somethin' you'll regret, right now." Shishi said frankly. Maichu let out a derisive snort.
"Do something?" He echoed, and Shishi nodded.
"You look like a man ready to slash his own throat." She said bluntly. "An' that'd make a shitload of mess over Jin's clean burial place, wouldn't it?"
Maichu didn't answer, and Shishi sighed, shaking her head.
"Are you goin' to tell me what you've done?" She asked softly. "Or do I have to force it out of you?"
"It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is." Shishi was unmoved. "This is Kashira's mountain. I'm Kashira's cub. You've come here, so you can answer to one of us...or both. Besides, we're allies now, ain't we? On the same side in all of this. So you can spill it, an' I'll tell you what an idiot you are, an' then we'll move on an' do somethin' useful...okay? None of this melodramatic sulkin' - it just wastes time."
Maichu opened his mouth to retort, but before he could do so, there was the sound of footsteps and both youngsters turned to register the presence of the bandit's Kashira at the clearing's edge. He glanced at the young soldier, then frowned, nodding his head.
"So you already found him, Shishi." He said softly. "Good. That saves me time."
"Found...him?" Shishi looked blank, and Tasuki nodded.
"Myoume just arrived back here...she said that he'd taken off an' that she thought she sensed him somewhere on this mountain." He agreed, walking towards them and resting his hand firmly on Maichu's shoulder. "An' I guess her hunch was right. Well, kid? You want to tell me what this is all about, or what?"
"It ain't your business either." Maichu said frankly, raising his dark eyes to Tasuki's bronze ones. "Myoume shouldn't have been interferin' - she's damn well done enough, makin' predictions an' shit..."
He trailed off, and Tasuki sighed, shaking his head.
"She seemed to think it would be a good idea if I found you." He said evenly. "She told me what happened in the forest...an' I can see from your eyes that it ain't somethin' you'll accept easily. So I guess that means I'm goin' to have to talk it out with you - at least, since there are folk worryin', I'm goin' to make sure I don't let you out of my sight for a while."
"What do you mean, Papa? What happened in the forest?" Shishi demanded, and Maichu flinched as Tasuki's expression became grave.
"The kid fought to defend his Commander an' drew blood as a result." He said evenly. "That's all."
"All?" Maichu reacted angrily, pushing the bandit away as he glared up at him. "How can you say it like that, as if it ain't important! Kayu was my goddamn friend, dammit! My friend! And yet I go an' do something like that..."
"Youkilled him?" Shishi's eyes became huge, and at her expression, Maichu felt the fight drain out of him. He groaned, sinking down against the memorial's reassuring stone wall as he buried his head in his hands.
"I didn't mean it to happen that way." He murmured, his words muffled behind his hands. "But Kayu was goin' to kill the Commander an' the next thing I knew we'd gone from shoutin' to fightin' an...an'...and then he was there, an' I'd put my blade through him like...like he was my enemy."
"Wasn't he?" Tasuki asked bluntly, and Maichu's head shot up, staring at him in confusion.
"Kayu was my friend." He responded. "He and I...we've always been buddies. Always. Aoi, Kayu and me...well, me more than Aoi, where Kayu was concerned. He even said that - that we were friends an' he'd come to try an' prevent me goin' down for treason. But I..."
"He drew his sword on his Commander, didn't he?"
"Yes, but..."
"An' you ain't the kind of boy to stand back when someone you respect is in danger, are you?" Tasuki dropped down beside him, gesturing for Shishi to follow suit, and slowly the young bandit did as she was bidden, crossing her legs as she made herself comfortable on the grass. She peered at Maichu like he was some kind of zoo exhibit, and Maichu bit his lip, aware that his tears were on the verge of falling.
"But Kayu was my friend." He whispered. "Even if he did attack Hyoushin-sama...he was still my...my friend."
"Well, we all fight battles we don't like, an' have things we're ashamed of rememberin'." Tasuki said reflectively. "I know where you're comin' from, kid - I understand better'n you think, because I'm a bandit an' Reikaku-zan's rogues are almost like a brotherhood in their loyalty to one another. If I'd run through one of my fellows - I'd feel pretty shit about it too, by all accounts. But if that guy had betrayed me...if he'd turned against this mountain an' joined Kaou-zan instead...then even if I hated it, I'd still do it. Because it'd be my job to, as Kashira of Reikaku-zan. Even if I felt sick about it after. That's how it is, after all, when you learn to wield a blade."
Maichu stared at him in surprise, and Tasuki smiled, a wolfish, rueful glint entering his bronze eyes.
"My men fought for the Emperor in the last war." He said softly. "But even aside from that, I was chosen by Suzaku to help save Kounan. That meant, sometimes, I fought people I didn't want to fight. I killed people I wouldn't normally have killed. An' worst, I stood back and wasn't able to help people I wanted to save, because of the goal we had to complete. Betrayin' someone is the worst crime a man can commit...I understand that, an' that you feel so strong about it proves you have good stuff inside o' you - good enough to even be a bandit, if you really worked hard at it. But even despite that, kid, you ain't the one who did wrong. The betrayal wasn't yours this time."
"Even if you say that, I still feel like it's something unforgivable." Maichu lowered his gaze. "Because we trained together, travelled together...we were good buddies an' I didn't want it to end up this way."
"An' if you'd stood back an' let him kill a wounded man...what would that have made you?" Tasuki demanded. "A goddamn coward, that's what. Shit, listen to me. Chichiri an' me - Kouji an' me - we're old friends an' I trust them more than I trust myself, sometimes. But if one o' them attacked Anzu or Shishi...I'd not hesitate to draw my weapon an' fight 'em. Even kill them. Because in the end, they would'a betrayed my trust first...an' there ain't no way I would stand back an' let someone I cared about get hurt."
Maichu stared at the bandit for a moment, feeling the warm trickle of tears begin to roll down his cheeks. He cursed, dashing them away, but Tasuki grinned, shaking his head.
"It ain't a crime to cry if it's over somethin' like this." He said evenly. "It doesn't make you a wimp, because you feel to blame. At the end of the day, kid, you killed him an' that's somethin' you won't ever be able to forget. But you gotta get over it an' move on. Kayu was your friend, but he was a friend who betrayed you an' your Emperor. A friend who might have helped to destroy everythin' you an' that Meihi of yours believe in - right? You're a soldier, after all. You're trained to fight in your Emperor's name. Ain't that what you did, today? After all, bein' a warrior ain't a game. You can't pick an' choose your opponents. You can only follow your instinct an' do the thing that's right."
Maichu closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath into his lungs to steady himself. Then he frowned.
"Aoi and the others...I don't know how to face them." He admitted. "When Aoi saw...what I'd done..."
"Aoi is a soldier too." Shishi said frankly. "And Papa's right, you know. Kayu came here to hurt people and to get Hiki, most likely...didn't he? So you got rid of him and that's that. Even if it's a bit shit for you right now - you just did your job, that's all. Chichiri left you to protect Hyoushin, right? You can't sit and cry over having done so. Sounds to me like that Kayu was an idiot...and he just got what was coming to him in the end."
"Shishi." Maichu glared at her, and Shishi shrugged.
"It's how it seems to me." She said evenly. "Besides, this is almost a war, ain't it? It's not a full blown one, yet - but it might as well be. Jin's already died because of all of this - an' now we have soldiers turning up in Kounan looking for our treasures. If you hadn't killed that guy - what do you think he'd have done? Even if he hadn't killed your Commander, or you - do you think he'd have kept his mouth shut? He'd have gone after Hiki and he might've hurt her - and if that happens we're all screwed. He might've gone back to Kutou an' told them all kinds of shit...includin' the fact Hyoushin was still here an' whatever else he might've learnt. On that basis, if I'd been there, I'd have probably killed the guy myself. Because he's dead, he can't talk. That's better than havin' him runnin' riot around the place, even if you can't see it that way yet."
"Maichu's a touch close to the problem to see it that way, kid." Tasuki said evenly. "But you ain't wrong. From a tactical perspective, it's one less enemy we have to worry about."
"I guess I ain't much of a soldier, then, if I can't see it tactically." Maichu said bitterly, and Tasuki grinned, shaking his head.
"You seem like a damn good one to me." He reflected. "Your principles an' your heart are in the right place, after all. Hatin' your duty is fine, so long as you do it. An' you did...so I guess that means you ain't such a kid after all. You'll come to realise that, I guess, as time goes on. That for Kutou's sake, you made a sacrifice. An' if you really want to help your country, that's what you might have to do again. That's what it means, in the end...these things ain't easy pathways."
He got to his feet, pulling his companion up with him.
"I saw four friends die." he continued. "One sacrificed his life to heal those who had been injured. One stabbed himself to take down the enemy that had possessed him. One died in the snows, just too late for us to have helped him. And one martyred himself in battle, trying to protect the country he had been raised to govern. All of those times there was nothin' I could do to stop it. An' I hated that...I hated it more'n anything. But in the end, the only thing we could do was go on. For Kounan's sake...for their sake. An' you have to think the same way. Aoiketsu told me this Kayu was patronised by the Priest we're fightin' against - so more than likely he was a puppet doin' his mentor's bidding. If you want to be pissed at someone, be pissed at the one pullin' the strings...pull yourself together an' focus on avengin' your buddy. His death ain't your fault - it was a consequence of other things. You have to focus an' help to take out the one responsible."
"Kikei." Maichu's eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists, nodding his head.
"You're right." He murmured. "Kikei must've sent Kayu - Kikei is the one who's done all of this. To Hyoushin-sama, to us...everything. And it's his fault Kayu was blind...its his fault Kayu attacked Hyoushin. I hate what I've done right now, but I guess I have to focus that into fighting against the one behind this. Then maybe I'll feel better about it - if I'm able to avenge Kayu's death."
"That's more the spirit." Tasuki looked approving. "Listen. Myoume said that you should stop here with us for now - if you don't want to go back an' face Aoi an' the others, then that's no problem with me. But you will have to face them - so work on gettin' your head straight, huh? Noone here will blame you for doin' somethin' you had to do. Reikaku-zan doesn't work that way, after all. I've told you how I think about it an' so has Shishi, so you know we ain't on your case. But dwellin' on it won't solve anythin'. So since you're here, you can help out with some mountain tasks an' work off your feelin's a little that way. So long as you're here, noone will worry about you. An' tomorrow, we'll see what the day brings. Okay?"
"Okay." Maichu's expression flickered with faint relief. "Thank you, Tasuki-san. I guess I'm not ready to go back...yet."
"Then you can come help me cut wood." Shishi grabbed him by the hand. "You're strong enough an' it's boring when there's only one. Jin used to do it with me - but he ain't here, so you'll do instead."
"I'll leave him to you then, kid." Tasuki nodded approvingly. "A few swings of the axe might shake some sense into him, after all. I'll go reassure Myoume that their stray turned up safe and sound here and that we'll keep him for the time being."
He eyed Maichu for a moment, then nodded.
"Chin up, kid. You're strong and you'll get past this." He said softly. "You're the type who'll blame yourself more'n anyone else'll blame you, an' that's a fact...you an' me, we ain't different that way, so I can see it all too clearly on your face. But give it some time an' get some perspective - all right? An' in the meantime, put those feelings into finishing what you came here to do...after all, your Emperor is countin' on you."
With that he was gone, and Maichu sighed, rubbing his eyes as a sudden sense of weariness rushed through him.
"Are you coming?" Shishi demanded, and he glanced at her, nodding his head.
"Yeah." He agreed. "Shishi...I..."
"Don't." Shishi held up her hand. "Jus' listen. More you babble about it, more annoying you're goin' to get. Swallow it, okay? You heard the Kashira an' he's right. So listen an' take it on board...cos right now there are some logs with your name on at the back of the mountain."
Maichu paused, glancing back at Jin's memorial with a pensive look on his face.
"I never thought about it, when that guy died." He admitted. "He was just an enemy - I never thought about his family. But...you're it. You an' Tasuki-san. Yet you keep goin' forwards...an' you've let us into your trust, even though your buddy was killed by someone who aligns himself with Kutou. What you said about a war...I don't think it is, yet. Because Tasuki-san is right. We're on the same side an' there are folk countin' on us."
"Jin was a pretty smart kind of guy, and he'd tell you to snap out of it, too." Shishi told him firmly. "But I guess that's the difference between a soldier and a bandit. A bandit does what he has to - or she - no matter what."
"I don't think it's all that different." Maichu glanced at his hands. "Do you know how long it's been since I friggin' shed tears? Not since I was a kid back home with my family, an' my brother ran the cart over my feet. Yet..."
"Losin' a friend is always shit, no matter what they do." Shishi said gravely. "You've forgiven this Kayu for what he did, haven't you? Even though he betrayed you first, you ain't mad at him."
"No." Maichu realised. "I'm really not...I just...I feel like I'm the bad guy. Not him."
"If you can forgive him, you gotta forgive yourself, too." Shishi said simply. "Else you'll be friggin' useless to everyone else, won't you?"
She gave his arm an impatient tug.
"Come on. This way." She added. "Right now you can forget about it and help me instead."
"Shishi, you have some kind of magic - don't you?" Maichu questioned. "Like your Pa...when you let me out of the cell, you used it. Didn't you?"
"I suppose." Shishi looked surprised. "Though it ain't entirely mine. It's Doryoku. Genbu's mage. She an' I have kinda become buddies...in a closer sense of the word than we anticipated."
She held up her right hand.
"That band is Genbu's relic, an' it's sort of attached itself to me, so Doryoku's magic can work through me an' my sword." She continued. "It's friggin' strong, too, when it wants to be...an' I'm sort of afraid to use it to fight, since I don't want to hurt someone by mistake just by losin' my temper. But I'm startin' to get a hold of it, I think. What I did to let you out...that was pretty controlled, after all."
"Doryoku, huh." Maichu frowned. "If she's anything like Suiko or Kitora, you'd do better throwin' that thing off a cliff, Shishi. Believe me."
"Well, Do-nee's not hostile." Shishi shook her head. "Intrusive, maybe, but not psycho. But you've met both o' the other mages properly, haven't you?"
"Yes." Maichu agreed. "Why?"
"Then that's what you can tell me about, while we're cuttin' wood." Shishi decided. "Kitora an' Suiko. Because Hisei said we had to disable their magic if Hiki was goin' to be able to raise Seiryuu. An' you're the one who knows best what they're like - so you can make yourself useful an' tell me everything you know so that Do-nee and I are prepared for when we leave. It's better than fretting over something you can't change, and Aoi an' the rest will forgive you for those things in any case, I'm sure of it. Like Papa said, they will more quickly than you will, so you should turn your mind to other things, right?"
"It doesn't bother you, then, that I killed someone today?" Maichu eyed her hesitantly, and Shishi snorted.
"What do you think I am, a little kid?" She demanded disparagingly. "Don't be stupid. You make it sound like you went out and murdered someone - an' if you'd done that, I'd have issue with you. But this is somethin' else - besides, do you think that livin' on the mountain, noone's ever been killed? You're naive if you think that way - Reikaku-zan's bandits may protect the people round here, but they don't show any mercy to Kaou-zan's thugs or anyone who tries to cause trouble in these parts."
"I guess." Maichu thought this over carefully, then,
"Have you ever done it?"
"Killed in Reikaku-zan's name?" Shishi looked surprised. "No. But I would, if Papa would let me near battle. He's always been a bit protective, though - an' Jin was always there, anyway. But I'm not afraid to fight. Not to protect the place I call home...be it Kounan or Reikaku-zan."
"I was pretty stupid before, wasn't I?" Maichu pursed his lips. "You even said it, when we first came down the mountain - about how naive it was to jump into life as a soldier with all these dreams an' shit. I thought I knew what the deal was, that's all - but...I didn't realise how much was at stake, or how much we'd have to do to get to a point where Kutou could even be free. But today it hit home."
He sighed, glancing down at his hands.
"For that freedom, I've killed a man. A man who was my friend." He said softly. "It's not just about fightin' an unidentified enemy - people have names an' faces an' lives - people like your Jin. This time it was a name and a face I knew that crossed the line, an' I had to...for Kutou's sake...didn't I? But it might be...that way again. If I'm really committed to Kutou an' the Emperor, I may...I may have to kill more people I know and like. Mightn't I? If they're as duped as Kayu was."
He shut his eyes briefly, remembering the confrontation in Hokkan and Hyoushin's subsequent disappearance into the snow.
"They didn't fight against the Commander's deposition. Only Aoi an' I have." He murmured. "So it could happen...that I'll spill the blood of more friends before this is over. An' I don't know...if I can handle that. Even if it is my duty to, Shishi...I don't know...if I can."
"Well, that's fine." Shishi offered him a rueful grin. "So don't panic about it. If it's that way, point them towards my sword instead. I don't have anything to hold me back. Kutou's soldiers mean nothing to me, after all."
She paused, eying him thoughtfully for a moment.
"I guess, you and Aoi are excepted, since you've got the sense to realise we ain't the enemy." She amended. "But otherwise, if they're idiots, they're fair game. So don't worry about shit that might not happen yet. You an' Aoi ain't goin' into this battle alone. We're all goin' together. And we're goin' to win - no matter what. For Jin's sake - hell, even for Kayu's, if you like. We're goin' to put an end to all this shit once an' for all...an' we're goin' to do it together."
"So Maichu's on Reikaku-zan?"
As Myoume stepped inside the Ri family home, Chichiri offered her a relieved smile, shutting the door behind her as he did so. "I'm glad you managed to find him, Myoume - if his spirits are as wrenched as they appear to be..."
"He's very confused and upset, because I can feel it a mile away." Myoume said frankly. "But I spoke to Tasuki and he said he and Shishi'd kick sense into him. It seemed the right thing to do - after all, Maichu's a direct soul, and so is Tasuki. I think that the bandit approach might be the best one at the moment."
"Yes." Chichiri looked thoughtful. "I think you're right. Tasuki's as you say - direct and straight down the line. He'll leave the boy in no doubt about the situation, and he'll speak from his own experience. It's a good thought - especially when we don't have time for Maichu to properly grieve for his friend's death."
He spread his hands, a regretful look in his ruby gaze.
"Aidou's prepared everything for him to be buried." He added. "Later this evening, when the sun has gone down, I'll do it myself. I'll cast Suzaku's blessing over him, too. It makes me sad, and angry too, Myoume. Kayu might have been wrong but he was just a young man manipulated by greater power. Hyoushin's said the same...he really wanted to prevent this because of that fact."
"I wish I'd been able to, as well." Myoume looked guilty. "But I knew too late exactly how things were going to be. By the time I got to the clearing, they were already in the heat of battle..and there was nothing to be done to separate them."
"And Maichu's aim is true." Chichiri agreed. "I saw the body...one clean blow to the heart, no mistake about it. An inch either way and Kayu might have lived - but Maichu knew where he was aiming and instinct drove him to do what he'd been taught to do. The one thing is that I don't believe Kayu knew much about it. He would have been dead the moment the blade pierced his heart."
"Yes." Myoume frowned. "Small mercy though it is."
She sighed, rubbing her temples.
"At least Maichu's own life doesn't seem to be in danger imminently." She added. "I was worried - his spirits were so unsettled when he left the scene that I thought he might try and hurt himself - after all, he's an impulsive young soul. But I think Tasuki and Shishi will prevent that, now."
"Yes." Chichiri pursed his lips. "I had that thought too."
"Hyoushin and Aoiketsu are all right, I trust?"
"Hyoushin has slept most of the afternoon - under duress - and I've managed to keep him resting since he woke up. I even talked him into eating something this evening." Chichiri nodded. "Aidou prepared some fish, vegetables and rice for him and he's working his way through it as well as can be expected when his usual arm is incapacitated. He won't accept help, though, so I've let him get on with it at his own speed. At least he's eating, which is a step forward. As for Aoi..."
He frowned.
"You said something to me about Seiryuu's seal and Aoi's dislike of blood." He murmured. "Hyoushin and I both think...that's gone now. Kayu's death has broken through it. He seems all right, but...I don't know. There's an anger simmering in his spirit, too. And something else...something stronger."
"Nakago." Myoume sighed. "Yes, I can feel it too. I thought you'd probably have noticed. Still, like I said before, I don't know how I feel regarding that. I really think that I've pushed him towards Hikari and into this situation so much to bring this about. To break that seal and turn him into a proper soldier. I can't be sure, but with Kayu's death being something I saw...if I'd thought about it carefully, I might have reasoned out sooner what it meant. And I say that I wanted to prevent it - but Chichiri, honestly, I didn't even think about trying. I knew when I stepped into the clearing what would happen - I saw it as clear as if it had already happened, Maichu's blade striking through Kayu's body and him falling to the ground. Yet even though Hyoushin was ready to kill himself to try and separate them - all I did was tell him it was hopeless and hold him back. My drive was to protect him from hurting himself - not to worry about preserving Kayu."
"You're not going to feel guilt for the boy's death too, are you?" Chichiri asked softly, and Myoume shrugged.
"As it happens, I did know too late to change it." She said frankly. "And my power probably wouldn't have done any good, even if I had tried to come between them. But I do wonder, if I'd known earlier...what I would have done. So long as Kayu is dead, there's no chance of him leaking information back to the East. I'm sorry for Maichu and Aoi - and for Hyoushin, too. Even for Kayu himself. But everything is panning out in the way Byakko's told me so far - overall, I...don't think it's a bad thing that this happened. And now Kayu is dead...I can see...a little more clearly what our path ahead is. The cold hard truth is that Kayu's life was expendable when it came to the big picture. Aoi's, Hyoushin's - they're not. But Kayu...wasn't important. And so...really...it was the lesser of evils for it to end that way."
She grimaced.
"Does that make me a terrible person?"
"No." Chichiri shook his head gravely. "As a Seishi, I understand what a bigger picture can mean. Sometimes we're driven to do inexplicable things for the Gods we were born to serve - even things that seem incomprehensible to those around us."
"I'm glad you understand it from that point of view." Myoume admitted. "It makes me feel a little less cold and sinister, if I know that someone else sees it from my perspective."
"I've been known to manipulate situations myself, in the past." Chichiri owned. "Sometimes, for this world...things have to happen the way they do, after all."
He frowned.
"But I'm grieved for Kayu's death." He added. "Because that young boy will have to carry it with him for the rest of his life - and that in itself isn't fair."
"No..." Myoume agreed. "No, I agree. Poor Maichu...I never saw anyone quite so shattered before. That's why I asked Tasuki to take him in hand. I really felt it was the best thing...somehow. Especially since I think...Maichu's purpose in all of this has now been fulfilled. That his sole role in protecting Kutou was to come here and kill the soldier known as Hei Kayu, to preserve the life of Tou Hyoushin - the Meihi "Lilaihi". If that is the case, I thought that he should have a chance to recover from it. At least, it doesn't matter if he wants to come back East with us or not, when we go. If he wants to hide on the mountain - so be it. His duty here is done, after all."
"A hunch?" Chichiri asked quizzically, and Myoume snorted ruefully.
"As much as I trust those at present." She agreed acerbically. "Yes. Somehow it seemed to be the right place for him to be. Though he arrived there unconsciously of his own accord - I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence. One of the Gods guided his steps there...just another thing in the big puzzle that's starting to make itself clearer in my mind's eye."
"Which leaves us with things to settle, doesn't it?" Chichiri asked, and Myoume nodded.
"Many things." She agreed. "Kayu's death clarified a few things for me. Hyoushin must face his Emperor again, because he's the only one who can. I know that for sure now - he's the only one who might talk Kintsusei-sama around. That's why I was so driven to protect him today."
"The only reason, Myoume?" Chichiri raised an eyebrow, and the prophet sighed.
"Byakko only knows what connection I have to that man." She admitted. "Only that one exists, and has fated us to meet time and time again. But yes, for the time being. Besides, I don't think it matters beyond all of this. My next meeting with my brother will be the encounter that divides us forever. I know now, more clearly than ever that we will face each other in Kutou - in the Imperial Chamber, and one of us will die. Miramu is the assassin - and I know I will not kill my brother. So the outcome is clear. I'm bringing things closer to a conclusion - not just for Kutou, but for myself, as well. I may help save this world, Chichiri, with all my meddling. But I don't expect to be alive to see the result."
"That's not something you can change?" Chichiri looked grave. "It seems a shame...when you've worked so hard, just to give up."
"I don't seek to escape it." Myoume shook her head. "With all the work I've put in to manipulate others into making my sight become reality, I won't shy away from my own destiny. That's how it will be, and I will face it. But until I do, my job is to try and help guide the rest of them - and to make sure Hyoushin survives as far as Kutou. Not just him, either. Hikari is Seiryuu's Priestess, just as Hisei confirmed. And...if we can get there...if we can get past Kikei...Seiryuu's ally will be waiting for us. One whose involvement might just turn the scale."
"Seiryuu's...ally?" Chichiri eyed her keenly, and Myoume reddened, shaking her head as if to clear it.
"Toroki again." She murmured. "I'm sorry. I don't know what it means. It just...slipped out."
"Then maybe you'd do better to come with me, and we can talk things over together." Chichiri suggested. "Hikari and Aoi are with Hyoushin and since Maichu's staying on the mountain, we were just waiting for you to get back. Aidou's taken the children to Souun to the market to fetch a few things, and they're not yet back. We can talk freely without fear of scaring the young ones."
"You have a plan, don't you?" Myoume asked, and Chichiri shrugged.
"Perhaps." He said cautiously. "But there's a lot that needs to be talked about first."
"Isn't there always." Myoume sighed, but obediently followed him through the hallways to the back chamber which had become Hyoushin's makeshift sick room. The Meihi was sitting up in bed, robed in nightclothes with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders to protect his fevered form from the cooling air. His thick silver hair fell loose over his back, and a wooden tray lay across the bedcovers, confirming Chichiri's words about Aidou's food preparation. At their entrance he glanced up, setting down his chopsticks as he offered them a quizzical glance.
"Maichu?" He asked softly, and Myoume nodded.
"He's not with me, but he's safe." She replied, sinking down on the end of the bed. "So don't look worried, Hyoushin - it's not good for you. Tasuki and Shishi have him, and he's going to stay there tonight. I think he needs that headspace - and we think Tasuki is probably the best person to handle him in this condition."
"He'll be all right, though, won't he?" Aoiketsu demanded, and Myoume shrugged.
"He's not physically hurt." She said simply. "His mental scars...I can't judge those. That's up to him."
"Damn Kikei." Aoiketsu clenched his fists, anger glittering in his blue eyes. "I swear, if I ever come within a few feet of that fat old Priest..."
"Aoi-kun, stop it." Hikari chided, anxiety on her face. "I know you're cross, but..."
"We need to go to Kutou." Aoiketsu cut across her, glancing at Chichiri for confirmation. "We have to avenge this, before more people get hurt!"
"Calm down, Aoi." Myoume scolded. "Hikari's right. Rushing into anything isn't the answer."
"But we can't do anything sat around here!"
"No, we can't." Chichiri agreed. "Still, if we let a hot-headed young soldier charge in, don't you think there'll be more blood spilt?"
"Yes. Kikei's." Aoiketsu's gaze hardened. "I'm serious, Chichiri. I'm not going to let him get away with this. Miramu either. I don't care if he is Myoume's brother. I want to kill him and Kikei both, for messing with us. I'm fed up with people I care about being hurt or killed because of their games. It's time they stopped, and I want to put a stop to them."
"Aoi." Hyoushin said sharply, and Aoiketsu's head jerked up, staring at his Commander in surprise.
"Hyoushin-sama...?"
"Stop this. Now." Hyoushin's expression held reproach, and he shook his head. "I will not tolerate it...calm yourself, else you will not go to Kutou at all."
Aoiketsu's eyes widened, and a faint smile touched Chichiri's lips.
"Well, and that almost sounded like a father scolding his son, you know." He mused.
"You've never called me Aoi before." Aoiketsu's brow furrowed in confusion, and Hyoushin nodded.
"As your Commander, there is always the need for distinction of rank and position, and favouritism must not be permitted." He said softly. "You were in my charge, after all, and abbreviations are inappropriate in that situation. This time I am not speaking to you as your Commander, but as the man who taught you values in this life. I wanted you to heed me. Speaking so rashly - and before Myoume, whose brother you just swore to strike down - stop and consider your words before you speak. I didn't teach you to be reckless, after all. Did I?"
Aoiketsu gaped, and Hikari reached over to squeeze his hand.
"Hyoushin-san is right. Calm down." She begged. "You've been tense and angry since this morning, and it's not like you. I don't know what to do with you when you're like this - you're not like the Aoi I love at all."
Aoiketsu groaned, burying his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I just...Maichu's expression...I know how he's feeling. How he must feel. And I hate that. It's bad enough that Kayu's dead...but dammit, in that situation I'd have struck him through as well. But I wasn't there in time to do anything...and Maichu's the one who's got to carry it instead. He's such a loyal person - and he and Kayu were always closer friends than Kayu and I were. This is really going to hurt Maichu - a lot. And I hate that. Ihate it!"
"So do we." Chichiri said gravely. "And for that reason I think that going to Kutou is definitely something that shouldn't be delayed."
"But Hyoushin can't ride in this condition!" Myoume protested, anxiety flaring in her indigo eyes. "He'd never survive the journey, even if he could grasp the reins!"
"That decision is mine to make, not yours." Hyoushin said quietly. "You said yourself that I must face my Emperor. So I must."
"But if you leave like this, you won't survive the journey." Myoume said desperately. "You're not strong enough to ride anywhere - don't you realise that?"
"Of course I realise it." Hyoushin said impatiently. "This morning made it clear precisely how weak I currently am. But even so, I must do what I must do. I am not afraid to die in my Emperor's name...and I believe my will is great enough to hold out until I have spoken to him. I am determined, even if I die. We must go to Kutou, and we must go soon."
"Tomorrow was my plan." Chichiri admitted, and Myoume stared at him in horror.
"Tomorrow?" She echoed. "Are you serious? Even with him hurt like this?"
"It's the Commander's decision, like he just told you." Aoiketsu said evenly. "Not yours, Myoume."
"It's all right." Chichiri held up his hands. "I don't anticipate anyone riding anywhere. But the situation has become grave if soldiers are appearing on the mountain. Tasuki and I might yet have to repel more would-be treasure hunters, and so we can't come to the East with you - although I wish we could. That said, however, I can probably go one way. And if I was to take you all into my kasa, then there'd be no long journey or any need for Hyoushin to get on a horse. I could transport you to somewhere in the vicinity of Kutou's capital - after all, I'm more than a little familiar with the Eastern lands. It would be one way of looking at it."
"Thekasa?" Hikari's eyes widened. "Oh!"
"You could really take all of us so far?" Aoiketsu stared at him. "Your magic is strong enough?"
"Yes." Chichiri agreed. "I've done it before, with my Seishi brethren. It's not hard, you know. And even if I can't stay and fight, it would be something I could do. That is, if you're all agreeable to submitting to my spells."
"It seems like a viable solution." Hyoushin's expression became one of relief. "Thank you, Chichiri. If you can do so, it appears to be the best answer to the problem."
"In which case, it's settled, you know?" Chichiri responded. "Tomorrow, to Kutou. Although..."
He paused, glancing at Hyoushin.
"I expect you to sleep well tonight, and eat as good a breakfast as any of us before we leave." He said firmly. "Because unless your fever is down, I won't take you anywhere."
"Yes, sensei." A wry twinkle entered Hyoushin's amethyst eyes. "Haven't I already kept my word once today? I understand your conditions and I accept them. I will not be missing from the party."
"Good." Chichiri nodded. "Then tomorrow morning we'll head up to the mountain and get Shishi...Maichu too, if he's feeling up to coming along. And we'll make for Kutou."
"The grounds of the Kaiga estate seems as good a place as any to aim for." Hyoushin said thoughtfully, and Aoiketsu started, staring at him in disbelief.
"The Kaiga estate?" He repeated. "But Sir, you were..."
"A slave there. Yes." Hyoushin agreed evenly. "But despite that, I think it would be adequate. It is not too far from the capital - and Chichiri has already commented on Kikei's spells, so going directly to the city itself may be dangerous. I think it would be a good place - since noone lives there now."
"If that's how you feel." Chichiri eyed the Meihi keenly. "Then that can be done, you know. I've been there before and I know where to head. And you know better than me the landscape of Kutou."
"Then that's what we'll do." Hyoushin sank back against his pillows. "Tomorrow morning."
His gaze flitted across to Aoiketsu, and he pursed his lips.
"Aoiketsu, I do not want you to forget yourself on this trip." He said softly. "No matter how cross you are with the circumstances...do you understand?"
"Forget myself?" Aoiketsu repeated, and Hyoushin nodded.
"This desire for revenge is not characteristic of your nature, and you must get a hold on it before it puts you or others in danger." He said evenly.
Despite himself Aoiketsu reddened, lowering his gaze.
"I'm just angry." He defended himself. "Aren't you?"
"Of course." Hyoushin agreed. "But even so..."
He hesitated, then,
"You are Kaiga Aoiketsu." He continued carefully. "Not Gi Ayuru. I want you to preserve that distinction."
"Gi Ayuru?" Hikari whitened. "Nakago? What do you mean, Hyoushin-san? What do you think's happening to Aoi?"
"Kayu's blood didn't bother me." Aoiketsu's expression became troubled. "Even though I didn't have the shinken - that's what you mean, isn't it, sir? That I've nothing to stop me getting carried away with things, if I'm no longer going to pass out at the sight of blood."
"You have one thing, and that's your own will." Chichiri said gently. "We don't know how much of Nakago's spirit is running through you, Aoi, or how much influence it might or might not have on your actions. But you've not grown up the way he did - and that's something important for you to keep in mind. As Hyoushin said - you're not Gi Ayuru. You're Kaiga Aoiketsu."
"I know that." Aoiketsu admitted. "I can't be anyone else, at the end of the day. Kaiga Aoiketsu is who I've always been raised to be."
"Yes. Your own man." Hyoushin agreed. "I believe you're strong enough to govern any elements of your father's resentment that might stir within you - but even for something that seems right and just, I want you to stop and consider your actions. I do not want you to do something you regret."
Aoiketsu glanced at his hands. Slowly he nodded.
"I understand." He murmured. "And I'll do my best. I know...what you're talking about. I can feel it...something inside of me that's angry and burning to rip to shreds the people who've hurt those I care about. But you're right...I haven't been taught to fight that way. And I'm not going to let it take over me. I'm not going to mess up, Commander. I promise. I'm going to protect Hikari and save Kutou - I'm not going to make the same mistakes my father made."
"Hikari will need her own strength too, however." Chichiri pursed his lips. "Hikari-chan, how much do you know about Seiryuu - and Hongou Yui's raising of him over Sairou?"
"Not enough, probably." Hikari admitted. "I guess there's some kind of spell - but I haven't really thought much about it. Why?"
"Because Seiryuu is an exceptionally strong spiritual force." Myoume said quietly. "You saw how just a little of Doryoku's power almost severed Shishi's soul from her body, in the shrine in Hokkan. Doryoku is simply a mage spirit - the God that gave her that power is infinitely stronger. And that's just Genbu - Seiryuu is the God known as the fighting dragon - of all of them, perhaps, the most difficult to tame."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Hikari asked anxiously. "Don't I already have something of a God inside of me? I mean, won't Suzaku help?"
"You'll need to use that, probably, to raise Seiryuu. That and the other treasures, like Hisei said." Chichiri confirmed. "But what Myoume means is..."
He hesitated, then he sighed.
"There's no easy way to tell you." He admitted. "If not for your mother, Yui would have been entirely consumed by Seiryuu's spirit. As she made her wishes, she was little by little devoured by him. Had Miaka not wished for her to be safely returned, Yui would have ceased to be...she would have been destroyed by the God's strength."
"Devoured?" Aoiketsu's eyes almost fell out of his head. "Shit...but that...you think that could happen...to Hikari?"
"That depends on Hikari." Chichiri admitted. "Miaka was strong enough to withstand Suzaku's demands on her body, after all. She didn't get devoured - she survived, conquered it and since then was able to use her connection to the God to save Kounan again. But that was Suzaku - a much more understanding God in many ways. Not that Seiryuu is a malignant force - but...they are different. Well, you only have to look at the lands they protect."
"Am I really in that much danger?" Hikari looked frightened. "If I raise Seiryuu - is it going to kill me?"
"There's a fifty percent chance...given past history...that you could be...hurt." Myoume admitted. "Okuda Takiko and Hongou Yui were not strong enough to hold off the God's spirits and if not for outside interference, they would have been devoured. Yuuki Miaka and Ousugi Suzuno-sama fought off the lure of the Beast God's magic and survived intact. The difference seems to be a matter of strength."
"But...Yui-san and Takiko-sama survived, didn't they?" Hikari said softly. "In the end, because people helped them."
"Okuda Takiko was slain by her father to prevent her from being engulfed by Genbu." Chichiri said soberly. "Miaka told me that her brother had found evidence of that in her world - that she'd returned only to take the curse with her. No, Hikari - I don't think you can rely on outside protection. From Aoi or anyone else. They can get you to that point - and I'm sure they'll do everything they can to do that. But like us Seishi couldn't do Miaka's duty for her - in the end, it lies with you."
"And that's why I need to get stronger?" Hikari whispered, tears glittering in her eyes. "Or I'll be a sacrifice for Kutou?"
"It's my opinion that you already possess strength, Hikari-san." Hyoushin said evenly.
"But enough of it to...do something like that?" Aoiketsu bit his lip. "Can...can she? Really?"
"In the end, it's up to her." Myoume spread her hands. "To give her heart and soul to raising the Dragon - to jump into it unreservedly with the resolve and will to save the land, no matter what risk to herself...that's what a Miko needs to have. Any doubt, any hesitation - those are the cracks that weakness seeps into. I've no doubt you've enough spirit, Hikari - just as Hyoushin says. But rallying it is what's important. When it comes to it...that's something only you'll be able to decide."
Hikari was silent for a moment. Then she reached up to dash her tears away, nodding her head.
"I keep saying I'm sick of being protected, and that I want to do more to help." She said bravely, her voice shaking slightly as she fought against her emotions. "So I'll go and I'll do my best. After all, my mother was strong enough. And so many things have already happened...so many sacrifices...Jin, and now Kayu, too. Hyoushin-san got hurt. Meikyo, too. Everyone else has suffered for this. I...I won't run away from it. I promised Jin that I'd not do that, and so I guess I'll have to just find the strength somehow. Whatever happens...I can't turn tail and flee. So I guess we're going to go to Kutou and raise Seiryuu - whatever it takes to do it."