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Words Once Spoken: Chapter 16

Kichiro was moving up in the world. After nearly ten years of service as an officer in lord Yomi's army, he had been entrusted to lead a caravan carrying a very important payment to Lord Mukuro; a payment that would ensure an alliance between the two lords. In other words, he, the beautiful Kichiro, and his men, were delivering a very large bribe.

He was sure to get a promotion out of this! An overwhelming feeling of pride filled him, this would teach his younger brother just who was the better demon. Kichiro began to chuckle. Suzuka thought he was so special just because he got to fight in the Dark Tournament, well now he would learn his place!

Kichiro's eyes blazed as the image of his foolish brother bowing before him burned in his mind. "I'll show you who is truly beautiful!" he yelled. Kichiro had always been popular and was one of the most desired demons in Yomi's court. His current lover, Yoshi, seemed especially determined to win him over.

For once, Kichiro didn't know what to do. Confusion quickly turned into blinding anger directed towards his current predicament. Kichiro stripped off the distasteful iron helmet that was a part of the standard army uniform. Behind him, two scouts waited for his command. Oh how he mourned the loss of the time when he didn't have to make decisions!

But, if he was to prove his worth, it was naturally worth the cost. These men would witness the impressive brilliance of Kichiro the Amazing, as he had knighted himself. His whole company of men had come to a halt in the center of the valley behind him. The lower demons pulling the wagon grunted and stamped their feet in the snow.

His men were well trained, and immediately fell into formation around the single wagon containing six chests packed tightly with gold. Those chests represented his golden future. He alone had been deemed worthy to travel these passes and make it to Mukuro before the snows came.

In Makai, once blizzard season began, travel was nearly impossible. These mountains were known especially as being treacherous to cross in the winter. Nevertheless, Kichiro would do it, and in doing so, would secure his future as an important member of the army.

All of his hopes now rested on the success of his mission. That success depended almost entirely on the arrival of the snows. Well, that and his ability to make this stupid demon shut up.

"Kichiro, Kichiro. My darling Kichiro! It is I, Yoshi, your beloved. Come to me, my love!"

Loud and clear, a passion-filled voice rand out through the valley. It echoed, the words sounding over and over. Kichiro felt his fair skin redden as the words continued to echo. This wasn't really Yoshi -of course not!- it was merely some other demon that lusted after him.

"Come to me my love! Take me here, in the hills. Make me yours!"

It was not good for someone with a rising reputation in lord Yomi's court to have this kind of request made in public. By anyone. Especially not in a place where others could notice. And here, of all places! The words were most noticeable as they continued to echo through the frigid air. Someone was amusing his self at Kichiro the Amazing's expense, and someone was going to pay for that.

Kichiro was careful not to glance back at his men, but as the demon's voice, full of longing, shot out various proposals, he heard stifled laughter from among his troop.

"Come, my handsome Kichiro! I must have you. Make me yield to your greatness, my love!"

The two scouts brought news of a possible ambush waiting ahead. One horny demon, no matter how damaging to his career, was completely different from the threat of armed enemies.

Despite his youth, Kichiro was a perceptive leader. The importance of his mission weighed so heavily in his mind that he had set scouts on all sides. Normally, he would have felt safe among a group this large, but not today.

"Oh Kichiro, I burn for you! I am your lover first and a demon second!"

It was very hard to concentrate with that voice filling the air. Kichiro managed it, of course. There were no ruling forces that could have gotten here this fast, so the only solution was that thieves waited ahead. What thieves would be daring enough or powerful enough to challenge a part of Yomi's army was beyond him.

"I yearn, I desire, I die! Come to me with the dagger of your loins!"

The dagger?

Behind him, he heard one of his officers cough. A multitude of sounds were discernable behind him, where his men stood waiting. That was it! Kichiro could tolerate this insult no longer.

"Kichiro, my king, I am your slave! Come, I am naked, awaiting your warmth!"

"There is an ambush in the hills ahead." Kichiro informed his officers, effectively distracting them from their embarrassed amusement. "You!" he singled out the youngest officer. "Take a few men to silence that racket. The rest of you, follow me. They can't be very smart if they think to challenge Kichiro the Amazing!"

"Ride me into paradise!

Kichiro growled. "What is that idiot doing!"

Behind him, scouts from the southern end ran up. "My lord, there is an enormous company behind us!"

"How many?" he asked automatically.

"Too many my lord." The scout replied, out of breath.

"Damn it!" he cursed. There was only one way to go now, straight into the ambush. Returning the helmet to its place, he yelled. "For lord Yomi and the kingdom, charge!"

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Youko found that there was something immensely stimulating about shouting out in feverish desire –as Yoshi of course- to the whole of the valley below them. At first, he'd thought Nori must be crazy to suggest this.

Beside him, two thieves had hands clamped tightly over their mouths in an attempt to hold back their laughter. He'd grown quite inventive during this little escapade. Youko had to admit that their unwavering amusement had been what led him to making more and more reckless suggestions.

Now he watched as his hard work paid off and Kichiro's company charged blindly into an ambush. Closer though, were the few men that had been sent to deal with him. The young officer leading them paused and looked around blankly when he fell silent.

Grinning, he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled.

"Kichiro, my golden knight! It is Yoshi, I tremble for you!"

The young officer looked towards their hiding place and continued his ascent up the hill.

Youko looked up when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Kuronue's laughter had ceased. "Alright Youko, I think you can stop now." Youko nodded determinedly and looked down as the young officer was called back to the main group.

"Those idiots." Shizuka muttered from behind him. "They're running right into our traps."

"They should be honored." Kuro muttered absently as he gave the battlefield his undivided attention.

"I'm quite impressed with how Akiko's talents have grown." Kurama said amiably to Shizuka. "To make an illusion solid enough to convince trained soldiers that there was a threat behind them takes quite a bit of skill."

Shizuka nodded. "Yes, she surprised us all by working so hard, even after you two were gone."

"Shhhhh." Kuronue told them. "It's time to move. Shizuka, see if you can eliminate Kichiro."

And with that, he'd leapt from the hillside and went soaring down over their quickly dying victims.

An orange crossbow made from energy appeared in Shizuka's hands in an instant.

As she sought out her target, Youko's staff hollowed out into a long tube. Putting his lips to one end of the tube, Kurama shot three seeds out over the wagon below. Seeds became vines in mid air and covered the wagon, fixing it into the hillside.

Demons panicked and began a futile effort to free the wagon from its thorny blanket. As more and more of them fell into stake-filled pits or were trampled by their companions, Kuronue called for the bandits to attack.

Beside him, Shizuka fired.

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Kichiro wasn't quite sure how he ended up lying on the ground, but he wasn't able to get up either. The screams of his men around him as they rushed to their deaths filled his ears. Whoever his foes were, they had outsmarted him.

It really wasn't fair; he was so close. Kichiro cursed silently. I suppose I won't be able to prove I'm better after all, Suzuka… That was his last thought as darkness closed down on him.

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Hmm, I think that last segment with Kichiro was a little weak. This was a fun chapter to write. I kept putting it off, but I finally just sat down to do it. Sorry for the wait. I hope I don't lose any more of you guys…

This chapter was inspired by The Lions Of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Only a few more chapters to go! See ya next time.