Disclaimer: The characters from Fushigi Yuugi are the creations and property of Yuu Watase and related enterprises. I do not own them and do not make any profit from this fiction other than my enjoyment in spending time with them.

However, the plotline for this story, as well as all original characters, do belong to me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission.

Warning: Major spoilers for OVA 2, and yes, some oblique references (and spoilers) for "White Stones in the Moonlight."

****

Chapter 2. Distant thunder

The eye of the sorcerer tracked the lone figure as it wandered pensively through the quiet streets of the town, skirting open doorways from which spilled golden lamplight and the cheerful laughter of bar patrons. The figure seemed to shrink away from human companionship, keeping its secrets to itself. He let out a quiet sigh. It was bad, then; if his friend was avoiding his usual escape routes of casual sociability and strong drink, then his spirits must be even more depressed than expected.

He trailed his companion, watching as the man crossed the ornate bridge that arched over the small river running along the outskirts of town. The figure stopped at the top of the bridge, leaning his elbows on the carved rail and contemplating the moonlight rippling on the water. Suddenly, in a movement almost too fast to see, he scooped up several stones and fired them at the river. The water exploded upward from the rapid impact of the stones, the reflection of the moon shattered across the choppy waves. The figure leaned his elbows on the rail once again, watching the moon piece itself back together on the water's surface, unaware that he had just betrayed his rage and frustration to his friend.

The sorcerer sighed once again, then stepped out into view, allowing the rings of his shakujou to announce his presence with their musical chimes. His friend did not look up from his dark contemplation yet moved further along the rail to make room for him. The two men stood in silence under the moonlight, watching the water as it flowed under them. Finally, Chichiri removed his mask and faced his brother seishi.

"I don't think he meant it that way."

"Yes, he did; don't try to dress it up, 'Chiri," Tasukii snarled, then adopted a phony, sycophantic tone. "Oh, arigatou, Suzaku no Seishi, for saving our miserable asses--but stay the fuck away from our daughters!"

"Tasuki…"

"No, forget it! I don't fuckin' blame him – if I were him, I'd probably say even worse things to someone with my reputation." He snorted in contempt, his voice edged with bitter sarcasm. "Nice ta know that my fame grows by the hour; here in Sairou, I'm not only a would-be rapist, but also a potential child-molester. 'Course when you consider that Miaka was only sixteen when I attacked her, I guess they're not that far off the mark, are they?"

"Stop it!" Chichiri was enraged. "You know damn well that you've been unfairly accused! None of this would have happened to you if it wasn't for me – me and my miserable past. Tenkou used Hikou to strike at me through you and Miaka; you know damn well that you weren't responsible!"

"Oh, wasn't I?" Tasuki's voice was suddenly soft and dangerous. "Are you so certain, Chichiri? Don't you remember? I wanted her long before Hikou caught me in his spell."

"What you felt for Miaka was pure and beautiful; Hikou just took those feelings and twisted them, making you and Miaka and Tamahome re-enact what had happened between him and me. You could never have raised a hand against her on your own. How could you forget what you did to save her and Tamahome in the end?"

The younger seishi turned back towards the water again, once more fixing his gaze on the moon's rippling reflection. Chichiri held his breath. This was the most that the two had spoken of those dark events of eight years ago in a very long time – in many years, in fact. Had he gone too far in reminding Tasuki of his own suicide attempt? Gods, these were the moments in which he missed Mitsukake the most! He felt the overpowering need for the physician's sage advice in how to deal with all the mental wounds inflicted on his brother seishi in that battle against Tenkou. Yes, he himself had been psychically savaged by the encounter with the demon shade of his best friend, but in the end, he had found peace, both with Hikou and the memory of Kouran. Tasuki, however...all Tasuki had found was a burden he would carry for the rest of his days. That, and a new maturity that enabled him to assume masks with a skill that rivaled that of the magician.

Chichiri waited silently, sensing that Tasuki was letting the mask slip tonight. Finally, the voice came out of the darkness, devoid of all accents and colloquialisms, in language as pure as that spoken in any Imperial court.

"I haven't forgotten, Chichiri...but you see, it raises a question that I've asked myself over and over again through the years. Why was I willing to kill myself to save Tama, but not to save Miaka? If I had within me the power to break the spell…why didn't I do it when I first had her down on the bed?"

Chichiri's throat tightened at the bitterness and self-hatred in Tasuki's soft words. He didn't know the exact details of what had passed between Tasuki and Miaka in the inn that night – of course he didn't! Only Tasuki and Miaka knew for certain...and one had disappeared back to another world, while the other kept silent out of shame and bitterness. Whenever he thought about that night--and it was a rare occasion when he allowed his thoughts to turn to that traumatic, horrifying event--he prayed that the worst had not happened. True, Miaka had thrown her arms around Tasuki at the end, weeping over his attempt to end his life, but she had a heart so big that she would have done so no matter what had transpired. And Tasuki's depths of self-hatred made the monk fear that the worst had happened. Did it really matter in the end? In the end, Miaka was gone, and Tasuki was left to pick up the shattered remains of his heart. Chichiri searched for the words that could ease his pain, but before he could speak, Tasuki's voice came out of the darkness once more.

"I wonder if the reason was this: deep in my heart, I knew that I didn't want to kill Tama. But in that same deep, dark part of me…did I truly want to rape Miaka?"

"No!" The denial was explosive, startling Tasuki--and Chichiri himself.

Chichiri knew the reason for his rage – not the events of eight years ago, but the events of ten years past. A late summer's night; a mystical mountaintop; a young couple's love, beautiful, pure--crushed in its infancy for the sake of the Greater Good. Two years later, blooming again in only one of them, only to be twisted by evil into something dark and obscene. Chichiri choked, his own bitterness rising like bile in his throat. Dear gods, would he be forced to carry the burden of this knowledge alone until the end of his days? And what of Tasuki? Was he, too, condemned to spend the rest of his days in misery? What crime had the two of them committed that warranted this harsh punishment, other than being the only two seishi who had fought successfully to remain alive in this world?

Chichiri gave himself a mental shake. Self-pity served the same purpose as always: no purpose at all. These were the lives they were given, and they had only one another to lean on. Well, Tasuki had Kouji and the bandits, too, but they were back at Mount Reikaku, so it was up to Chichiri to offer what little comfort he could.

"You wrong yourself, Tasuki. You wrong yourself more than any gossip could ever accomplish. You forget; I was there, right from the beginning, and I knew what you felt for her before you knew it yourself. You loved her. It's that simple and that profound. Tenkou and Hikou were able to blind you, making you believe that you were helping her instead of hurting her…but in the end, you realized the truth, and you saved them both."

Tasuki looked into his brother seishi's eye for a long moment, then turned back to the river once again. Chichiri covertly tested his ki: Tasuki was not convinced, yet he drew comfort from his fellow seishi's belief in him. The darkness was once again receding to the secret place at the back of his soul, where it would lie dormant until some thoughtless cruelty brought it to the forefront of his mind again.

Chichiri tried to reinforce his companion's defenses one more time.

"You see, I know you, Tasuki; I've known you for over ten years now, and I know that you're not capable of hurting anyonein that way, let alone her. As I said before, you could never have hurt her of your own volition; your feelings for her were too pure."

An unexpected gleam of amusement appeared in Tasuki's eyes. "Not all that pure, 'Chiri – I was nineteen, remember?"

Chichiri laughed, relieved to feel the darkness pull back from Tasuki's soul. "That's right; I believe I said back then that you had just reached puberty, right?"

"Asshole!" The bandit cuffed him affectionately. "Makin' me sound like a backward, ignorant hick!"

"So explain to me where I was wrong?"

"Hey!" protested Tasuki, then both men began laughing.

"Come on," said Chichiri, ruffling the younger seishi's hair affectionately, although he had to stretch up to do it; Tasuki seemed to have gained an extra inch or two in height over the past eight years. "Let's go back, and see what we can do to convince a worried…"

"Paranoid!" grumbled the bandit.

"Misinformed…"

"Ignorant!"

"Overprotective…"

"Asshole!"

"…of a father to release his daughter to our care. But Tasuki… "

"Hmmm?" Tasuki looked up scowling as Chichiri touched his arm.

"Better let me do the talking."

"Oh, shut up!"

****

They slipped quietly into the house, expecting the family to be asleep, but grateful to see a lamp had been kept lit for them.

Chichiri nodded towards a room off to one side of the entry area. "That one's for us," he murmured.

Tasuki started towards the door, when the lady of the house suddenly entered, trailed by a boy of about nine years of age. Tamure Yukari's features were drawn and white, her eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion and tears. She moved awkwardly towards Tasuki with the burden of her near-term baby, then suddenly began to crumple to her knees. Tasuki leaped forward to catch her, but she continued to collapse towards the floor, catching her weight on her hands and leaning forward, not stopping until her forehead touched the ground in a deep and humble bow. Her young son fell into a deep bow beside her.

"Gomen nasai!" she gasped, her voice choked with tears. "Please accept my apologies, Tasuki-sama, for my husband's words. Please forgive us…" her voice broke as the sobs racked her body.

Her young son bowed beside her, solemnly intoning "Gomen. Gomen nasai, Suzaku no Seishi."

Horrified, Tasuki tried to raise her from the floor. "Please…Lady…please don't do this! You're gonna hurt the baby! There's nothin' to apologize for!"

But she just wept harder, resisting his efforts to pull her out of her obeisance. Tasuki turned a helpless glance towards Chichiri, and the monk moved forward.

He raised a hand over the distraught woman, closing his eyes in concentration. Soon she calmed, her sobs growing gentler. Chichiri stooped beside her, and she allowed him to raise her to her feet and guide her to a nearby chair. Her young son also rose to his feet, hovering anxiously beside his mother.

"Benjiro-kun, please make some tea for your mother. She is cold and tired, and you would help her a great deal by doing this." Chichiri's voice was kind, understanding the boy's need to do something useful in this situation.

"H-hai, Chichiri-sama!" The boy ran off to the kitchen to boil water and gather the tea leaves. The monk turned his attention to the young, tearful mother again.

"Tasuki is right, Tamure-san. You must not distress yourself; it's bad for the baby. There is no harm done here – Tasuki didn't take offense at all," he lied boldly.

Tasuki was still flushed with embarrassment but took the cue and flashed a grin at the young woman. Tears welled up in her eyes once again, and she began to sob softly.

"Aww, no, lady, aww, shit – I mean damn – I mean darn it! I didn't mean ta scare ya; it's the fangs, right? I can't help it, I was born with the damn things! No, I don't mean I was born with 'em; my mom woulda had nothin' ta do with feedin' me if that was the case! I mean that they just sorta grew later."

Tasuki's panicked stammers finally caused Yukari to giggle through her tears. Chichiri exchanged a wink with him over the young woman's head as she calmed and turned her eyes towards Tasuki once more. She was not much older than him, perhaps only a year or so, and although her eyes were the same blue-grey shade as her daughter's, her fair hair was not nearly so light.

"My apologies once again, Tasuki-sama. I didn't mean to lose control like that; it's just that I was so frightened that you would take offense and leave her here undefended." She caught her breath once again.

"Could we drop the –sama, please? I'm no lord; just a common bandit, that's all! And if people here have been talkin' about me, you must've heard that I got a pretty hot temper…but it blows over real quick, too. So no, we don't have any intention of leaving Doulin unprotected, so stop cryin', willya?"

The young woman gazed at the Tasuki's handsome, chiseled features, her eyes shining with unshed tears and…something else. "You're not a common bandit. You're not a common… anything." Tasuki flushed bright red at her compliment. Yukari also blushed and began stammering. "I mean, you're a Suzaku no Seishi; more than that, a Miko no Seishi! You have to understand: my husband wasn't there this afternoon. He didn't see the creature that pursued my daughter; he didn't see it try to kill her. I saw it. I saw it as it brushed past me, and then…then I knew that my little girl was as good as dead!" She bit back her sobs once again. "But the two of you appeared out of nowhere, and I pointed to where that beast pursued her--and you brought her back alive! My baby is alive and sleeping tonight in her bed because of you, and I will never forget that, never!"

Tasuki blushed harder, growing more miserable by the minute under her effulgent praise. Chichiri grinned briefly at his discomfiture but moved in to help him.

"We intend to keep her alive, Tamure-san, but we need your help in convincing your husband that we must take her to a safer place. As I told you before, this was not the only creature seen in this country, and you are not the first to have your child attacked." His voice softened in sympathy. "I know that this is hard to believe, but the fact that your daughter is a Byakko no Shichiseishi will continue to make her a target for attacks...and unfortunately also draw the rest of your family into danger."

Yukari nodded, her features suddenly filled with the calm resolve seen on the faces of mothers caught in a war zone: women forced into making hard decisions for the survival of all of their children. "I understand, Chichiri-sama. I have spoken with Gennai, but I will try again. You must understand: he adores Doulin and can't bear the thought of being parted from her." Tamure-san's features darkened. "Unfortunately, he also spends too much time listening to the gossip of his customers in the shop – useless idlers who live to spread poison and lies!"

Tasuki's eyes darkened. "Not all lies," he murmured softly.

"Nor the whole truth," interjected Chichiri, frowning at his brother seishi.

Tamure-san's eyes went from one seishi to the other, astutely perceiving the pain in one's eyes and the anger in the other's. Her heart clenched in sympathy for them. "A half-truth is nothing more than a lie," she assured them softly. "I can believe nothing but good of either of you, and I know that Gennai will soon realize his mistake and apologize--"

"You have apologized for me enough, Yukari!" Tamure Gennai moved into the room, his features drawn and tight. "I don't need my wife to apologize for me; I am not the sort of man to hide behind a woman!"

Tasuki tensed at his approach, unconsciously moving his hand towards his sword hilt, knowing that the man thought the worst of him. Gennai was still young, perhaps in his early thirties, his light green eyes forming a startling contrast against his dusky skin and dark hair. He was much shorter than the younger seishi but stocky and muscular, a noteworthy opponent in any fight. He continued to approach Tasuki in a purposeful manner, his eyes flicking to Tasuki's sword hand but showing no fear. Chichiri moved closer to his brother seishi, one hand on his prayer beads and the other on his shakujou, reading the turmoil in Tamure's ki.

Just when Tasuki thought that he would have to draw his sword, the older man stopped, staring fiercely into the amber eyes – then dropped down into the same deep and humble bow his wife had just made minutes ago, touching his forehead to the ground. His voice was low and intense.

"Gomen nasai, Suzaku no Seishi Tasuki, for my thoughtless insult to your honor. I ask that you continue to offer your protection to my daughter...and that you take my worthless life in compensation."

Tasukii stared in shock, stunned into silence. Finally he regained the ability to speak. "What the fuck?" he asked weakly.

At that moment, young Benjiro re-entered the room balancing a tray with a steaming pot of tea and four porcelain cups. His mouth dropped open at the sight of his proud father kneeling humbly before the Suzaku seishi. Uncertain of what had just occurred, he set the tray quickly on a nearby table and dropped down into a bow next to his father.

"Awww, crap!" swore Tasukii. "Wouldja all just quit bowin' ta me? You're makin' me nervous, goddammit! I ain't takin' nobody's life, ya hear me?"

Chichiri moved in once again. "Please get up, Tamure-san. As Tasuki has said in his, er, expressive way, your apologies are accepted, your daughter will remain under our protection, and we would never think of taking the life of a man who protects and loves his family as much as you do."

Gennai rose heavily to his feet but continued to stare at the ground, not meeting their eyes. His shame was apparent in the bitter twist of his mouth and the weight of his pained words. "Thank you, Suzaku no Seishi, for your kindness to myself and my family...but I'm afraid that I am worthless as far as protecting my family is concerned." He finally lifted his eyes to meet Tasuki's gaze, his eyes dark with pain. "I wasn't there for her," he explained simply. "I wasn't there – and she would have died if you hadn't been there in my stead. I let my shame at failing her overtake my good sense, and instead of thanking you, I struck out at you, wanting you to feel the same pain I felt. I knew that I was repeating half-truths and lies...but for one moment, I wanted to punish you for having the ability to succeed where I failed."

Tasuki stared at the man, once again struck silent, this time by the man's brutal honesty. Chichiri also remained silent, knowing that this time, forgiveness would have to come from Tasuki himself if it was to mean anything at all to Gennai. Finally, Tasuki gathered his wits and began to speak.

"Ya didn't fail your family, Tamure-san; not unless ya have a fire-spewing tessen, a magician friend, and a personal warning from Taiitsukun hidden in your back room. That's what it took to find and stop that fu…thing. You're just plain stupid if ya think that ya could've stopped it with your bare hands, or even with your life. It took everythin' both me and 'Chiri had ta kill that fucker, I mean monster. So as far as I'm concerned, you're no failure in protectin' your family." Tasuki's eyes narrowed. "But you're right about one thing: you were a complete asshole, I mean idiot, ta say that shit ta me before about a situation you know nothin' about. I ain't gonna pretend that I wasn't royally pissed off; ya probably picked up on that when I stormed outta here. So I figure you owe me somethin' in compensation, but I don't want your fu…damn life!" Tasuki glanced over at the tea and cups. "There's only four teacups there, and I ain't one for tea if there's somethin' better around. So I figure you owe it to me to break out your best bottle of sake, pull out a couple of cups, an' you an' me could have some real drinks, leavin' the tea to the children, ladies, and monks."

Tamure Gennai stared at the seishi, his shoulders straightening at the return of his dignity by the younger man. His jaw grew tight. "I accept your terms, Suzaku no Seishi Tasuki – on one condition only." His eyes held a challenge. "You must stop calling me Tamure-san and must address me as Gennai."

Tasuki's eyes danced. "All right, Gennai; I accept your terms on the condition that you stop callin' me 'Suzaku no Seishi Tasuki' – fuckin' mouthful, anyhow – and start callin' me just Tasuki. Oh, and that sake had better be your best sake, not your second-best!"

"Done!" snapped out Gennai... then both men burst out laughing.

Chichiri smiled to himself, Yukari leaned back into her chair in relief, and young Benjiro gazed at Tasuki with admiration and hero-worship spilling from his eyes.

"Ain't," the boy whispered to himself, having seized upon a new role model. "I ain't…. goddammit…" His whispers were very soft, sensing that his father would not appreciate the new additions to his vocabulary, but at the same time, his father would be unable to rebuke him without insulting the bandit-seishi again.

At this moment, a small figure appeared in the room, her bare feet peeping out from beneath her nightdress, her long white hair in wild disarray around her face. She smiled at Tasuki and began approaching him.

Tasuki looked at her in trepidation. "I swear, if one more person in this family tries ta bow to me, I'm goin' out to sleep in the fuckin' barn!"

Subaru laughed merrily, at this moment in full possession of her reincarnated personality. "No fear of that, Fang-boy!" she taunted him, making her mother draw in her breath at her daughter's insolence, and in wonder at the adult tones issuing from her small child. "I came in because I didn't want to miss the party!"

"Doulin-chan," began Yukari in an admonishing tone.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Tamure-san," assured Tasuki. "I hadda put up with stuff from Subaru when she was an old lady...but now I know how to get even with that smart mouth."

He jumped at the little girl and swept her up into his arms, tickling her mercilessly. Subaru screamed and shouted in laughter, hanging half-upside-down out of his arms.

"Fuckin' barn!" whispered Benjiro in admiration, once his father left the room to get the good sake. He looked up to see his sister's blue-grey eyes staring upside-down into his as she dangled from the seishi's arms.

"Listen, aniki – you get to talk like a bandit only when you're old enough to be a bandit, you hear me?" Reaching out, she grabbed and tweaked her brother's nose.

****

The next morning dawned gray and overcast, reflecting the dejected mood of the young family as they prepared to bid farewell to their youngest member. Chichiri drew near to Gennai and Yukari while Tasuki distracted the children with a game of tag around the courtyard, making them squeal with delight as he used his seishi speed to escape them at the last possible moment before capture.

Gennai watched the tall, slim figure of the red-haired seishi as he darted about the courtyard, unmindful of the dust he kicked up onto his dark blue velvet tunic and breeches while laughing in unrestrained delight as he teased the children. Gennai shook his head.

"He's amazing!" he breathed in wonder. "That speed! It's no wonder that you were able to overtake that creature!"

Chichiri smiled. "Yes, he is incredible. After so many years together, he's finally realized that I can't keep up with him over short sprints, so he's taken to throwing me onto his back. Undignified, yes, but considerably less painful than being dragged through the streets by one arm!"

Gennai stole a glance at the unmasked visage of the warrior-monk, his smiling features as catlike and mysterious as the strange mystical mask. He tried not to stare at the scar that slashed across Chichiri's left eye, but he couldn't help wondering…

"No, it causes me no discomfort at all. In fact, I've barely noticed it these past few years." Chichiri looked up apologetically at the startled expression on Gennai's face. "Oh, I'm sorry; I didn't mean to intrude on your thoughts." He smiled ruefully. "It's an unfortunate habit I picked up from an old friend." The smile grew sad and wistful.

Yukari met his gaze compassionately. "Someone you've lost?" Her tones were gentle and sympathetic.

Chichiri's eye grew warm with memory. "Someone I miss," he replied simply. He was startled by the direction in which his thoughts had turned. Ever since Mitsukake had made the decision to be reborn into the world, thus leaving his past--and his friends--behind, Chichiri had found himself reminiscing more and more often about his first confidant. Not Hikou, but the man who came later, in those dark days following the deaths of everyone he loved; the first man to pull him out of his dark and lonely existence. Chichiri felt his throat tighten with sorrow, then turned his thoughts with an effort to comforting the family who was now experiencing a similar feeling of loss.

"Tamure-san," he addressed both husband and wife, "I wish to assure you that we will protect Doulin with our lives. But I won't lie to you and tell you that she is out of danger. For that reason, I can't tell you exactly where we are taking her or for how long; the information might endanger you as well as her. We don't know enough about this enemy: where it comes from, what it seeks, and why it is singling out all of the shichiseishi from every country. Nor do we know how it is able to find our whereabouts. For this reason, I would ask you to tell me the name of someone you would trust with your own lives, someone you would trust as if they were family. I will contact that person through my own intermediary to let you know when we have reached our destination. In this way, there will be no direct way to trace Doulin's whereabouts, no direct communication between us." He sighed. "However, nor can I promise you regular communication on this situation. For one thing, I'm not certain if Tasuki and I will remain with the children, or if we'll be sent out to fight once again. You must trust in Byakko, in all of the seikun and Taiitsukun to keep Subaru safe."

Gennai burst out in sudden agitation. "Do you mean that you're just going to leave her alone somewhere without your protection? You never told us that! What's the point of taking her away if you're not even going to guard her!"

"Tamure-san, I assure you that all of the children we have found so far still remain safe in this...hidden place. There are other equally powerful guardians watching over them. Furthermore, Subaru is not the last of the young shichiseishi left out in the world unprotected; would you have us abandon the rest to their fates?"

Yukari placed her hand on the monk's arm. "No, Chichiri-sama; I wouldn't wish on any other mother the experience of watching that creature…" she choked, then forced herself to continue. "I will have faith that Byakko and Suzaku sent you here to rescue Doulin for a reason, and that they will continue to protect her, even if you are needed elsewhere."

Gennai bowed his head in accord with his wife. "It seems that I'm always having to apologize to one of you for doubting you," he replied heavily. "Please forgive my impertinence, Suzaku no Chichiri."

"There is nothing to forgive. There was no impertinence; only the loving concern of a father for his beloved daughter." Chichiri gripped Gennai's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "There may be dark days ahead for all of us, but you may take comfort in knowing that your daughter is an extraordinary person, Tamure Gennai. I knew her ten years ago, in her former life, and she was impressive then. I can see that she is every bit as exceptional in this life."

Gennai shook his head. "It's so confusing to think of her that way - as an adult and a celestial warrior to boot! I hardly know if I'm awake or dreaming; I mean, I've known through family legend that I was distantly related to Byakko no Subaru, but I never expected her to be reborn as my own daughter." His eyes grew wide as he recalled something else about his famous distant relative. "But wait; Subaru had been married to another Byakko no Seishi - Tokaki, I believe. Have you found him yet?"

Chichiri shook his head sadly. "Not yet. We have others out seeking him, but there are too few of us on this mission. Of the Suzaku seishi, only myself and Tasuki are of sufficient age and power to go out on this quest, and I'm sorry to say that the shichiseishi of Genbu and Byakko are widely scattered in age range: some are too young and many are too old. As for the Seiryuu seishi…" He paused, then continued softly. "Well, we killed all of them ten years ago, so we certainly have no age-related peers among that group." His voice held sadness at the bitterness of the disastrous battle between the two sets of "miko no seishi" - celestial warriors who were born fairly close in age, so as to be capable of joining with their otherworldly priestess in the quest to summon their patron god.

"And the young reincarnate Seiryuu seishi; have you found all of them?" Yukari's voice was filled with maternal compassion.

"Nooooo… and I don't know if we ever will. You see, Kutou was the country where these creatures struck first, but we didn't know of it, being that the Imperial government never let us know anything of their troubles. Not that Konan is in much better economic condition after the ravages of the war with Kutou, but at least we have a stable government and the same emperor from year-to-year, young though he may be. The Dowager Empress Houki is also a fine and compassionate regent, and she would have summoned Tasuki and me to help whoever is currently Emperor of Kutou to defend the reincarnate Seiryuu seishi. But they didn't let us know that this atrocity was going on in their country until it was almost too late. In fact, it was Seiryuu himself who finally intervened in desperation when the souls of his young shichiseishi began disappearing. He let the Oracle know, and she in turn sent us out there."

Yukari's eyes were wide in horror as she contemplated the thought of those nightmare creatures ravaging the Kutou countryside without opposition. "And you found…"

"Terrible things," whispered Chichiri. "Not only the ravages of those beasts against the children, but also the state of abject poverty that holds that country in its merciless grip. The last emperor had used all of the coffers of his country to fund his relentless war efforts and his personal perversions. When he was assassinated, and Nakago disappeared from that country forever, it left Kutou without a leader and without any financial stability. In essence, Kutou is as poor as its poorest peasants." The monk's eyes were dark with memory. "The capital city is falling into ruin, the people fight like dogs for the scraps in the street, and the government changes nearly hourly with whatever military leader can round up a few starving soldiers to help him in a takeover." His voice dropped lower. "And the children - dear Gods, their bones sticking out above and below their swollen bellies, begging for whatever you can give! Tasuki and I gave away all of our rations in the first day we were there. You can imagine how little the people care about a few missing children, no matter what manner of beast descended to carry them away. In the end, it was the other children who let us know what happened to their friends; no one else cared. But we had to leave, because although as seishi, we can go without food for longer periods of time than normal people, even we began to grow weak and faint."

Chichiri smiled ruefully. "And by the Gods, did we ever catch a scolding from Taiitsukun! She pointed out that our deaths by starvation would hardly help to protect the other shichiseishi, and although she knew that Tasuki wasn't the brightest light in the night sky, she expected better of me!" He laughed. "Of course, Tasuki became infuriated and started shouting at her - which was precisely what she intended, I believe, because it brought him out of the depression he fell into after seeing the children of Kutou."

"So all of the Seiryuu seishi are lost?"

"We managed to rescue two of them: the twins." Chichiri smiled. "Mere infants, but they grow stronger every day. I think the fact that there were two of them, each dependent upon the other, helped them to survive the deprivations of their environment."

"But the rest?"

"We can't find them. Not even Seiryuu knows where they are. We even went to the Hin tribes; they're actually better off than the rest of the people in Kutou, being that they're accustomed to living under harsh conditions. They are a secretive people, born out of the persecution they've suffered through the ages, but finally they opened up to us." Chichiri faltered, his words slow and difficult. "It appears that they were attacked shortly before we arrived. Out of nowhere, this beast… One of their children, fair and gentle by all accounts, a beautiful boy even by their standards, and the Hin are a beautiful people in general. Had we gotten there even one day earlier, we might have been in time. As it was, his mother tried to defend him, but she…" He stopped again, unwilling to continue. Finally he resumed, his voice very soft. "I would say it was the will of the gods, but I'm afraid that the gods have very little to do with this. Yet it seems wrong that one soul should have to suffer so much in more than one lifetime."

The three stood in silence for a moment.

Finally, Tasuki grew weary of the game in the courtyard and shouted from beneath a pile composed of two children and a stray dog. "Hey, 'Chiri, we stayin' here for the rest of the year, or what?"

Yukari blinked back sudden tears, handing Chichiri a small bundle. "Here are Doulin's clothes; I packed for both extreme heat and cold, as you had instructed. And some of her favorite toys…" she clenched her teeth, determined not to stage a traumatic farewell for her daughter.

"Doulin!" Gennai called out to his daughter, his voice husky.

Tasuki lifted her off his chest and sent her running to her parents with a quick swat to the behind. He then turned to Benjiro, knowing that the farewell would be painful for the boy as well. "Hey, Benjiro, how would you like to fetch Makaze for me outta the stable? He's all saddled up and ready to go, so whaddaya say?"

Benjiro's eyes went wide at the thought of being allowed to lead the giant black stallion. "H-Hai!" he replied breathlessly. "Hai, Tasuki-san!" He ran off to the barn as if he were afraid that Tasuki would change his mind.

Doulin flung herself into her father's arms, biting back sobs. Gennai held her close, burying his face in her little neck, memorizing the scent and feel of her baby skin, her brilliant white hair falling like soft clouds around him. He held her tight for a few more moments...then slowly released her, holding her frail shoulders so that he could look once more into the deep blue-grey eyes.

Tears spilled from his eyes, but his voice was steady. "You be strong now," he cautioned her gently. "And always remember that I'm thinking of you - every minute of every day."

She nodded as she wept, then wrapped her arms around his neck for one last squeeze. He held her tight once more, then gently turned her towards her mother.

She ran to her mother, who clutched her and wept openly, unable to keep to her resolve now that the final moment had arrived. Yukari choked out broken phrases of love and grief. "My baby," she whispered. "My heart's joy. Stay safe for your 'Kaa-chan…and listen to these nice men." She drew in a sobbing breath. "Love you," she wept brokenly. "I'll miss you, baby!"

Doulin hugged her tight as she wept, then suddenly gave a choked laugh as her unborn sibling kicked her angrily. "You take care, too, 'Kaa-chan, and make sure that you tell the baby about me every day, 'cause I want him or her to know me when I come back!"

Her mother nodded and smiled at her through her tears.

Benjiro re-entered the courtyard, proudly leading a huge midnight-black stallion. The horse pranced in a self-satisfied manner, arching his neck and flicking his tail high.

"Fuckin' show-off!" grumbled Tasuki, striding up to take the reins from Benjiro while surreptitiously wiping at his eyes.

Chichiri smiled at his companion as he passed on his way to fetch Hikari, his own white mare.

"Damn dust gettin' in my eyes," muttered Tasuki defensively, shaking some of the particles from his fiery locks.

"Of course," agreed Chichiri serenely.

Benjiro turned towards his little sister, suddenly hesitant at the sight of her tear-streaked face. But she rushed forward unselfconsciously and caught him in a strong hug.

"You have to promise me that you'll take care of them, Beni-nii-chan," she whispered in his ear, using her nickname for him.

"I will," he promised huskily, fighting back tears.

Subaru's face suddenly grew mischievous. "Or else… I'll do this!" she cried, giving him a good, hard pinch. He jumped, then began chasing her around the courtyard, their parents smiling at the two in spite of their tears.

Chichiri returned, leading a snow-white mare. He glanced at the family, then leaned over and whispered to Tasuki, "I think we need a fire-show here."

Tasuki frowned. "D'ya think it's safe?"

Chichiri scowled. "I don't care; they've had enough tears, let's give them something to remember!" He suddenly raised his voice.

"Just look at you!" he shouted at his companion in mock disgust. "Covered in dust from head to toe: you're a disgrace to shichiseishi everywhere!"

The family looked over in trepidation, uncertain if the seishi were suddenly going to begin fighting with one another.

"Oh, yeah?" shouted Tasuki belligerently. "Well, just watch this!"

Whipping out his tessen, he pointed it at the monk, making Yukari gasp in horror while Gennai started forward, then suddenly redirected it at the sky. He bent his knees slightly, then shouted "RekkAAAAA Shin'EEEEENN" as he leaped into the air, spinning around in his famous spiral as the flames exploded to swirl above him. He touched down lightly, the dust having been pulled from his clothes and hair by the force of his spin and the heat above him. Tasuki spread out his arms, showing off his now pristine appearance - and the Tamure family burst into cheers as Chichiri clapped him on the back.

He sheathed the tessen in one swift movement, then leaped onto Makaze's back, spurring the stallion towards the little family. They held still, trusting him to know what he was doing--then suddenly cried out as he slipped to one side of the horse and swept up Doulin, depositing her neatly in the saddle before him.

Makaze wheeled around and raced towards the northern road, Doulin's laughter floating back to them on the wind. Chichiri saluted the family from Hikari's back, then turned to join Tasuki.

The small family watched the seishi and their daughter ride off into the distance, listening for Doulin's laughter until it faded away over the next rise. Gennai placed his hand on his wife's and son's shoulders and turned them back towards their home.

Yukari couldn't help expressing one last concern. "Do you think they'll look after her all right?" she asked anxiously. "I mean, she's just a little girl."

Gennai looked back over his shoulder at the now empty road. "As if she were their own," he replied simply, then closed the door.

****

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Glossary of Japanese terms:

Shakujou – monk's staff

Arigatou – Thank you

-sama – suffix used as a term of high respect, as in "Lord"

Gomen nasai – I'm very sorry

-san – suffix of respect, meaning Mr. Or Mrs. Or Miss – no sex differences in usage

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Author's Note: (1-14-02) Okay, everybody – I'm reeeeeeally tired, it being about 2AM my time, but I was determined to get this chapter out before I left on vacation on Wednesday. Yes, I'm going to vacate! Someplace warm and sunny with palm trees, but here's the best part – with humpback whales! I looooovve whales! So I thought I'd let you know so that you won't think I'm being ignorant in case I fail to answer e-mails for the next two weeks. I also intend to put up an absence note on my author page.

Well, here's a longer chapter at last; nearly 5000 words more than the last chapter! (Kryssa: Yay, Aikido-chan: Booo!) Yes, we're skating around the 7500 word mark today, and we're also beginning to set up the background for the world of the ShiJinTenChiSho as I see it, ten years after the fall of Kutou. Lotsa exposition and politics –no, I'm not joking! Not yet, anyway. But for you "White Stones" fans, I also threw in a fair bit of angst. This is a full-service fic, people. Anyway, if you have any questions you need me to answer, feel free to e-mail me; it's not impossible that I'll find e-mail access somewhere on vacation, maybe even in my hotel room!

Aikido-chan: Yeah, Roku sniffs out Internet cafes the way that dogs sniff out bones!

Roku: (grinning) Shut up, you! No fair tellin' on me!

Next topic: the first appearance of Makaze, Tasuki's black stallion, in this fic. Yes, he did make a couple brief appearances in "The Good Fight" but those don't really count, since that was a weird little protest fic. The point that I wish to make is that Makaze has existed in my mind for nearly a year now...and I'll give you a little sneak preview of a future chapter that features him at length. Picture a veiled and turbaned rider, dressed all in black, exploding out of a sand cloud on a giant black horse, plunging down a dune like the Angel of Death.

Miaka: No, that's Angel of Life, Roku – Angel of Life!

Why this weird commercial for a future chapter? Because my sister, Chichiri's Girl, was kind enough to tell me that she has seen trailers for a movie called "The Black Stallion Returns," featuring a black stallion racing through the deserts of North Africa, ridden by veiled and turbaned men. She says that this movie isn't coming out until Spring or Summer 2003 – but I don't want to be accused of stealing my characterization and plot points for Makaze from that movie – a movie I haven't seen yet, of course. This is just one of those weird juxtapositions that happens purely by fate, like Chichiri's line from WS11 that says "I never claimed to be a saint." That line was apparently used in the movie "The Count of Monte Cristo" – a movie I've never seen, yet ended up appearing to have borrowed my line from. As for this new movie… I've been researching the Kel Tagelmust and the Berbers of North Africa for many months now, as both Aikido-chan and Kryssa can tell you – and Kryssa has even been given a complete rundown of the above-mentioned scene, complete with dialogue aaaannnnd music! So when that scene appears in my fic, I will credit any influences and sources, but "The Black Stallion Returns" is truthfully not one of them. Thanks for listening to this strange diatribe defending the originality of my plot!

Now for the straaaaangest part of these notes. Like I said, I'm overtired, plus I've been working on "Casting Stones" a little too much. The end result: an akugi for this chapter! Yes, "Hidden Paths" is essentially a serious fic… but I just couldn't resist! So read on if you think this may amuse you – but skip it if it interferes with your enjoyment of the real plot!

See y'all in a couple weeks – and wish me luck in "writing beneath the palms!"

Ja ne!

Roku

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Akugi ahead – beware!

In the spirit of studying for the approaching ACTs or other standardized tests for my younger fans (all of you are supposed to be over age seventeen, ya know!) – and because of something that Kaze-chan wrote to me regarding the helpfulness of "White Stones" in teaching her vocabulary words, specifically "cathartic" – I decided to create, with Tasuki's help, a study guide using some of the "tougher" vocabulary words found in this one chapter alone. The thing is… I ended up counting over thirty-five ACT-worthy words! That would make this akugi longer than the damn chapter! So I cut back to the "top ten" – but I will also issue a challenge to my readers at the end of this akugi! So read on if you dare!"

Here's the format – first I will list the word, then the dictionary definition (this is actually correct) and THEN Tasuki's definition! Hint: Please do not use Tasuki's definitions on the ACTs – you will not only fail those questions, but also get a pretty heated rebuke from the test committee!

Let's try it out with Kaze-chan's word "cathartic"

Cathartic

dictionary definition 1.: cleansing, purging

Tasuki definition 1: Violent, destructive FUN! (as in cathartic use of the tessen)

Dictionary definition 2: a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension

Tasuki definition 2: Hey! That sounds like whacking off!

Roku: (hits him with a rolled-up newspaper)

Okayyy, if you survived that one – here comes the rest!

Patrons

Dictionary: people who frequent a business or other establishment

Tasuki: Fuckin' drunk-ass barflies

Sycophantic

Dictionary: servile, self-servingly flattering

Tasuki: Ass-kissing!

Sage

Dictionary: wise through reflection and experience

Tasuki: I thought that was somethin' ya found in turkey stuffing!

Colloquialism

Dictionary: a local or regional or informal dialect expression

Tasuki: Fuck!

Effulgent (Roku's – and Spike's! - favorite)

Dictionary: brilliant, radiant, glowing

Tasuki: Fuckin' too much!

Idlers

Dictionary: those lacking employment or purpose

Tasuki: Fuckin useless, do-nothin', gossiping ASSHOLES!

Interjected

Dictionary: to put in between; interpose or ejaculate

Tasuki: (suspicious) Sounds sexual to me! So why the hell is Chichiri doin' it? He's supposed to be a goddamn monk!

Astutely

Dictionary: shrewdly; wisely

Tasuki: (laughing) Sounds like someone had too many beans to me!

Roku: (hits him with a rolled-up newspaper again)

Siblings

Dictionary: one of two or more individuals having a common parent

Tasuki: (darkly) Fuckin' pain-in-the-ass, lyin', cheatin', no playin' fair SISTERS!

Surreptitiously

Dictionary: secretly, stealthily

Tasuki: Hey! I wasn't fuckin' crying!

Okay, that's enough from me! So what's the challenge? For extra points, see if you can name another "vocabulary" word from this chapter – and give the correct definition. For extra, extra points and a lovely take-home hostess gift, see if you can do an accompanying "Tasuki" definition, too! Or any other seishi, for that matter! (Note to – this is a JOKE – I'm not actually giving out gifts!)

Hope you had fun! Ja ne!