Chapter One
The sun was climbing high in the sky above the mountain that morning, as birds wheeled and hovered in the air over the rocky, rugged peaks, calling to one another as they built their nests in preparation for the start of yet another cycle of life. In the gentle morning sunlight, two men sauntered up the mountain path in companionable silence, each one at ease as he absorbed the different sights and sounds that surrounded the infamous blessed mountain, Reikaku-zan.
To an independant observer, that these two misfittish young men could have anything in common would be difficult to believe. One was brawny and tall, a shock of red hair falling in unkempt style over his wolfish, lean features. He was certainly no more than twenty at the most, but there was something that marked him out from other youths his age, and the hint of a sharp-tipped fanged tooth protruded slightly from beneath his lips as he smiled up at the mountain peak. He was dressed sharply, his fine clothing accentuated by a string of beads casually strung around his neck and azure gems dangled from his ears, glittering in the bright sunshine. Strapped to his back was an odd implement that, at first glance, resembled a simple metal fan, and as he walked along, his stride held the easy, confident swagger of one who was alive with energy and impetuosity, ready to jump into the next fray with an enthusiastic yell of triumph.
In contrast, his companion was robed in the garb of an itinerant monk, his bright patterned kesa, or cape strung around his body almost as if to conceal the slightly shabby appearance of his other clothing . Despite the gold-edged shakujou, or staff that he carried with him, he seemed as agile and lithe as a monkey through the difficult passages of rock and shrubbery, and though he swung it absently from side to side on occasion, it seemed more of an accessory than any kind of useful tool. His features were concealed by the smiling face of a kitsune mask, hiding both his true expression and his age from public view, and his shorn hair was gathered in a rough tail down his back, tied at the nape of his neck with a loose band to keep it out of his way. Atop his head he wore a slightly fraying kasa to keep the sun from his eyes, and although his manner was gentle and calm, there was something prepossessing in his demeanour that demanded a second glance.
And yet, despite the contrasts in their appearances, these two strange figures shared a bond that ran deeper than any shared even by brothers - for as warriors of Suzaku, chosen members of the Suzaku-Shichi-Seishi, they had both risked life and limb to protect their country and their fellow people from harm and damnation. For all their differences, under the arched wing of the firebird God of Kounan, this hotheaded bandit leader and this gentle travelling monk had forged a strong friendship and it was this, even now the battle was over, that had kept them in each other's company as they had returned to their homeland.
"You know, it seems like a long time since I came home."
The redhead was the first to break the silence, gazing up at the mountain peaks as he felt the jolt of coursing, penetrating energy tingle through his nerves. "The mountain is just the same as it was, but each time I come back here I feel like so much has happened. Ya know what I mean? It makes you wonder when the next time will be that Miaka'll come droppin' on our heads an' makin' us run round the country after her."
"I know what you mean." The monk nodded his head, a smile twitching at his lips as he removed the kasa from his head, following his friend's gaze. "Now Tamahome's gone to Miaka's world for good, though. The others will be reborn into new bodies with new lives. And you and I..."
"We gotta get on with our own. I know." The redhead sighed, an uncharacteristically pensive look glittering in his beady bronzeish eyes. "Seems a bummer though, to end it all like that. Not seein' Chiriko an' the others again now they're gettin' new bodies an' all. Stupid really, but it feels like we're turnin' our backs on them. There are only two Suzaku Shichi Seishi left now, Chichiri. You an' me. How's that meant to work, huh?"
"Well, we did what we were supposed to do. We raised Suzaku and we saved Kounan. Twice, actually, you know." The monk whose name was Chichiri spread his hands, offering his companion a slight, amused shrug. "What's wrong, Tasuki? I thought you were dying to get back to your mountain and retake control from Kouji after all this time doing Suzaku's work. Did you change your mind?"
"No, I ain't changed anything." The wolf, who went by the name of Tasuki shook his head decidedly. "Jus' seems sad that the party's over. I dunno. It's a whole big bummer, when you look at it. Either I run out on my Reikaku-zan buddies by fighting for Miaka an' Suzaku. Or now I'm turning my back on my Seishi buddies to be king of the mountain all over again. Makes me feel like a double turncoat, when you put it in those terms."
He reached up to pull the metal fan from its strap, glancing at it with a rueful smile.
"At least this thing is back home where it belongs now, though." He acknowledged. "Without it, the bandits here aren't exactly well protected."
He paused, glancing at his companion quizzically for a moment, then,
"You ain't takin' off right away, are you?" He asked slowly. "I mean, you can an' all. Disappearing around the country is what you do, right? With that weird hat and cape of yours. But if you ain't goin' anywhere specific, you know, you're welcome on Reikaku-zan. After all, you're a Seishi, like me. Even if you ain't a bandit. An' the other's won't mind."
Chichiri's expression broke into a broad smile, giving his kitsune appearance even more of a surreal air as he nodded, twitching his staff so that it jangled playfully in the wind.
"I'm in no hurry to do anything, now." He admitted. "Like you, I'm at a loss, to tell you the truth. I spent a long time training to be Miaka's ally, and learning to be Chichiri. Now I don't even need to be him any more, and I'm not sure what kind of life Ri Hou Jun has planned out for him next. So sure, Tasuki. I'll stick around - at least for a day or two, just to get my bearings and think about what I want to do next. Maybe I'll travel out and see if I can sense where our friends' souls are ending up - but it's been a hard battle and to be honest, a break would be nice."
"Well, relaxing, peaceful breaks don't tend to come in a mountain full of bandits, but considerin' what we've faced against Tenkou and his goons, I guess it'll probably be an improvement." Tasuki offered his companion a rueful grin of his own, exposing his fanged teeth once more as he nodded his head decidedly. "All right, then. Better let these idiots know that Genrou's back - although they're morons if they haven't realised it already. Kouji's getting really lax about security, if he isn't aware that his Kashira's come to call...I guess I'll give them a wake up call with my little toy here, and see if that doesn't spark them into life."
"Who are you callin' lax, idiot?" A voice from above startled them and Tasuki, who had been preparing to wield his glittering harisen in the direction of an unsuspecting tree paused, his gaze drifting across the landscape until he saw the speaker. Then he grinned, lowering his weapon as he recognised his friend.
"Hi there, welcome to Reikaku-zan." The man deadpanned. "Well, and hello to you too. My name's Kouji, and I'm actin' Kashira of this place till my good buddy Genrou gets back. It's good to see you, Kouji, and I brought a buddy along too. Any buddy of Genrou's is a buddy of Reikaku-zan - guess you'd better come on up. Thanks so much, I think I will. You're most welcome, right this way!"
"You're still a blockhead, Kouji." Tasuki snorted, but there was pleasure in his eyes as he greeted his friend, hugging him firmly. "That trick's not getting any funnier...you should really drop it now."
"What, and ruin my fun?" Kouji raised an eyebrow, eying his friend in some amusement. "And what was all that about lettin' mountain security go to the dogs, huh? I knew you were here - we've been watchin' the both of you from a distance for a while. But ambushin' our Kashira when he's wieldin' that tessen isn't the most rational tactical move in bandit history. We figured two warriors of Suzaku ain't here to raid the mountain, after all."
"This time I think I'm probably back for good." Tasuki disentangled himself, eying the tessen pensively for a moment, then sliding it back into its holding place. "Suzaku and the Miko probably aren't comin' back to Kounan. An' so that's that, for this lifetime. Now I'm not really Tasuki any more...so Genrou's back with a vengeance an' so you'd really better not have let anything fall apart, Kouji!"
"Moron." Kouji cuffed his companion playfully. "It can't be any worse than with a bone brain like you in charge."
Chichiri watched the interplay with some amusement, letting out a chuckle as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Reikaku-zan bandits never really change, you know." He observed absently, and Kouji cast him a grin.
"You're Chichiri. The disappearin' monk, right?" He said frankly, and Chichiri nodded his head, tilting his hat in mock acknowledgement of his identity. "Well, like I said. A buddy of Genrou is a buddy of the mountain's, so you'd both better come on up an' eat before there's no food left in the joint. We had a feast planned for tonight as it was - I guess you followed your stomach all the way back home, huh, Genrou?"
"A feast? Since when?" Tasuki's eyebrows twitched in surprise, and Kouji laughed, a semi-rueful expression touching his face at this.
"There's another reason I came down the mountain to greet you. I wanted to give you some, well, advance warning." He said slowly. "We've got a visitor - actually, we've had one for a while, probably for the past two or three weeks together. I thought you should be prepared, that's all - I think they're wantin' to see you in particular."
"A visitor?" Tasuki looked startled, eying his friend in confusion. "On Reikaku-zan? To see me?"
His expression became wary.
"It ain't my sister Aidou, is it?" He asked cautiously. "She didn't come follow me up the mountain because I left somethin' unweeded when I went off chasin' demons with Tama and the others...did she?"
"Aidou?" Kouji blinked, then laughed, shaking his head. "No, though dammit, Genrou, that sister o' yours should get herself a husband to kick around and quit chasin' after you all the time. If the guys knew how much she hen pecks you when you go home..."
"They don't need to know that." Tasuki said firmly. "And good. I'm glad it ain't her. But who, then? I can't think of a damn other person who'd come lookin' for me in particular. Noone except Miaka or one o' the Seishi, but they're all either gone or reborn or somethin' now, 'cept Chichiri an' me and we're right here. Who else would come to Reikaku-zan? It's not like it's a happy home for travellers - it's a bandit hideout!"
"Well, she doesn't seem to be too concerned by that aspect of it." Kouji admitted dryly, and Tasuki faltered, staring at him in consternation.
"Wait a minute...did you say...she?" He asked cautiously. Kouji nodded.
"You're sure it's not my sister?"
"Genrou, believe me, it ain't Aidou." Kouji looked amused. "But whether you'll be any gladder to see who it is than you would her is anyone's guess. Still, she's persistant, and she was determined she wasn't going anyplace until she'd seen you, so, well, she's kind of been here on and off waiting for you to come home. If it'd been any guy I'd have sent him packin' with a flea in his ear, but I ain't real good at fightin' off girls an' besides, I wasn't sure whether you'd told her to come or what the deal was. I figured, wait till Genrou comes back. Then it'll all be settled out."
"Kouji, when have you ever known me to ask a girl to do anything?" Tasuki demanded, as they headed up the rest of the mountain path towards the steep slope that led to the heart of the Reikaku-zan bandits' lair. "Your trouble is, you're soft, that's all. You start letting girls into this place and...have you forgotten what happened to Reirei? Women don't belong on Reikaku-zan, an' we both know that. Not even Aidou with her steel fist could hack it with us up here for long and you know it!"
"Reirei?" Chichiri interjected at that moment, startling both bandits by appearing between them and offering them both a curious grin. "Ah, now let me see...do I know who Reirei is?"
"Was." Tasuki said flatly. "A girl who thought she could play men's games and wound up getting killed for it. That's all."
"A girl who sacrificed her life in battle to get the tessen back for you." Kouji corrected, sending his friend a glare. "Don't make so light of it, Genrou. You know that she wasn't just another girl."
"Perhaps." Tasuki paused, his gaze flitting across the landscape towards the hidden pathway between the base and the place where the girl's tomb lay, and for a moment his gaze softened, belying the harshness of his words. "But my point is, she was a girl and she couldn't hack bein' a bandit, at the end of the day. Girls do stupid things like that - they let emotions cloud their judgement an' then they get crazy, takin' stupid risks. And they're just not as strong as men - why did you let any girl up here at all, Kouji? After Reirei, I woulda thought you'd have known better than that!"
Chichiri tilted his head in the Kashira's direction at this impassioned speech, and had it been possible for the bandits to see beyond the mask, they would have realised that he had truly appreciated the irony of Tasuki's surprising words. He said nothing, however, merely inclining his head to indicate that he remembered the story.
"Now I think I know what you're talking about." He said evenly. "Though really, Tasuki, you should find out who this visitor is before you go jumping to conclusions. You're always too impulsive, you know?"
"Well, I'm not sure I like surprises." Tasuki said warily. "Not where girls are concerned, anyway. They're too sneaky and difficult to figure out...and besides, I just managed to get rid of one woman from my life, now Miaka's gone back to her world for good. I thought here at least was a safe place, and now I find you've let some chick come in and take over the place in my absence!"
"Not quite, though she cooks a mean meal and it's easy to buy a bandit's heart through good food." Kouji admitted. "And she has been here before...it's not that she's a stranger to Reikaku-zan. Chill out, will you? You're back now, and you can put it all to rights. You have the tessen, after all. It's not like anyone is goin' to question your decisions."
Before Tasuki could respond, they had reached the centre of the bandit stronghold and at the sight of Tasuki, several of the men let out yells and cheers, one or two raising brimmed glasses of ale in his direction as they toasted the return of their leader. Despite his earlier unease, Tasuki was clearly flattered and pleased by the reaction to his return, and he grinned, lounging back against the door frame as he took in the scene before him.
"Well, that's more like it." He said decidedly. "Genrou is back and boy is he! It's been too damn long, it really has...I'd forgotten how good it feels to be home."
"Genrou!"
From the centre of the milling bandits, a young, female voice rang out and immediately the clamour dulled to a hush as a slim figure pushed through the heaving male bodies, causing them to part and make way for her as she neatly crossed the floor towards the new arrivals. There was a definite grace to her movement, and as she reached them she stopped, raising her gaze to meet Tasuki's confused gaze with a pair of sparkling brown eyes.
"You're finally back." She said, a warm grin crossing her face and she flung her arms around him, eliciting cat-calls and yells from the assembled bandits and causing Tasuki to momentarily lose sense of what was going on, unable to comprehend what was happening as the girl's thick dark hair brushed against his cheek. Then, as he registered her body so closely pressed against his, he let out a yelp, grabbing her by the arms and pushing her away from him.
"What the hell are you doing?" He demanded, hot colour flushing in his cheeks as he met the girl's gaze indignantly. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my bandit hideout, huh? And why the hell are you hanging all over me, like we were long lost relations or somethin' stupid? What's goin' on here - did everyone lose their minds or somethin'?"
"Genrou?" The girl pouted, tilting her head as she gazed at him with a sorrowful look. "Don't tell me you don't remember me? It's only been two years...have you forgotten so easily?"
Tasuki continued to look blank, and in the awkward silence that followed, Chichiri stepped forward, bowing his head towards her as he offered her a smile.
"Anzu-san. It's been a while." he said levelly. "You're quite the young lady now."
"A...A...Anzu?" Tasuki's eyes widened at this, and Chichiri chuckled, giving his fellow Seishi an elbow in the ribs.
"Don't mind him. He's had his brain frittered once too often in battle, you know?" He said amiably. "Tasuki's still as thick as two short planks - not everything changes in the course of two years."
"I did expect he'd at least remember who I was, though." Anzu looked crestfallen. "I mean, even if it was that long ago, and even if you have been fighting for Suzaku and stuff since. It was...it was only two years. And..."
"Don't you dare cry!" Tasuki exclaimed, as tears began to glitter on the girl's lashes. "Don't be so stupid, you idiot girl! Noone's forgotten anyone, all right? I just didn't recognise you, that's all! Your hair is different, ain't it? An' you're taller than you were before - you were a shrimp the last time I saw you."
"Well, I'm seventeen now." At this, Anzu's smile returned and she spread her hands, casting him an affectionate look. "You've changed too, Genrou...but I'd know that red hair anywhere. In a million years, I couldn't forget what you looked like - you look more like your nickname than ever."
Tasuki frowned, running his gaze over the young woman who stood before him. It was true, he realised detachedly, that the young girl who had infiltrated his bandit lair two years earlier had grown into a woman over the course of their time apart. The fiesty young girl of fifteen who had so easily wielded the tessen in his face and who had challenged his very position as leader of the Reikaku-zan bandits had evolved into an attractive young woman, her thick dark hair tied in a loose tail over her shoulders, and her cheeks faintly pink from mountain air and exercise. She was dressed in very masculine clothing, obviously in an attempt to better appear one of the bandits, but even despite this there was no mistaking the fact the attire cloaked a very well formed feminine figure beneath it, and Tasuki hurriedly drew his mind away from this fact, meeting her gaze again as he struggled to focus on the situation at hand.
"That doesn't explain why you're here, though." He said quietly. "Or why you've been spongin' off Kouji and the others while I've been away from base. We parted company two years ago, Anzu - and you're a circus performer, you're not a bandit. You only came here back then because of the demon Tenkou and his plots - why would you come here again after so long? Tenkou's destroyed now. He's gone. And there's no reason for you to be in Kounan."
"Genrou." Anzu eyed him reproachfully, then she laughed.
"You really haven't changed a whole lot, have you?" She reflected. "I shouldn't be surprised to see it - even after two years fighting for Suzaku, you're still the same as ever."
"You didn't answer my question." Tasuki realised.
"I came to see you of course. Why else?" Anzu shrugged, as if this explained everything. "Aren't you happy to see me, Genrou? Two years ago we were friends, weren't we? I mean, after everything - you and Chichiri did help my sister and I a lot, all in all. And when you disappeared, I was a lot angry about it, but Karin-neechan said you'd probably been called by Suzaku again, so I decided that I'd keep doing what I was doing, working hard and then one day I'd come back to Kounan and find you, on Reikaku-zan where we first met."
She eyed him again, then,
"Are you saying you haven't missed me at all?" She demanded. Tasuki flinched, then,
"I ain't thought about it at all." He said simply, shrugging his shoulders. "Two years was two years, right? A lot's happened - a guy can't remember everything."
"Genrou!" Anzu grimaced at him, and some shred of self-preservation borne out of a long time living with temperamental women caused Tasuki to take a step away from his companion.
"Where is your sister anyway, Anzu-san?" Chichiri asked softly, neatly diffusing the situation with his calm, even tones. "You came back to Kounan on your own?"
"On my own. Yes." Anzu nodded, momentarily distracted, and Tasuki took the opportunity to put Kouji between him and the young circus performer, still eying her more than a little bit warily. She frowned, dropping her gaze as she twisted her fingers together. "Karin...she...she's not with me any more. Not at all. She...she died, about two months ago now. In Sairou."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Chichiri said solemnly. "I remember you two were very close."
Anzu nodded.
"She took sick with a fever after a performance we did not far from the Sairou capital." She agreed sadly. "I tried to nurse her, but it took to her chest and she didn't recover. We'd had trouble finding food and shelter for a while before that, actually - someone stole a lot of our takings and we had trouble getting by. I guess she wasn't strong enough to fight it, in the end. I stayed to see her buried, but then I guess I didn't know where else to come. So I decided...I decided I should come back to Kounan and find Genrou. It's not like I have any family looking for me, after all. With Karin gone, I'm sort of on my own."
She raised her eyes, offering Kouji a smile.
"Kouji-aniki has been good to me, letting me stay here." She added. "When he knew what had happened with Karin and everything - when I got here, I guess I was exhausted as much as anything. But I told him I'd come to see Genrou, and so he said I might as well stick it out here until you came back. So I have. And here you are...just like I hoped."
"Kouji, you really do go soft in the head where women are concerned." Genrou cast his friend an accusatory look, and Kouji spread his hands.
"Hey, far as I knew, Anzu was your woman." He said defensively. "Not all of us have as short a memory as you, you know. Seemed to me she was as much your woman as any chick ever is. Besides, she came crawlin' in half dead with cold and exhaustion. Did ya think I was going to leave her out on the mountainside for a real wolf to come rip her to shreds? What kind of a man would that make me, if I'd done that, huh?"
"She isn't my woman!" Tasuki reacted to this. Then he frowned, eying Anzu anew. "But I guess if it was like that...you couldn't exactly toss her out, could ya? I mean, even being a soft hearted idiot an' all."
"We didn't know when you were coming back." Kouji added. "But I was sure you would be, because you always do. And she ain't just done nothin', either. Since she recovered from her trip, she's cooked for us, and she's damn nimble for a girl, too. She's pulled her weight around the place, so it's not been a bother."
"Yeah, but Kouji, she's a girl." Tasuki said, pointing out the obvious, and Chichiri laughed.
"Well, fighting alongside Miaka has taught you the difference at least." He teased, and Tasuki glared at him, reaching a fist out to cuff the monk for his remark. Chichiri was too fast for him, however, disappearing and re-appearing across the other side of the room where he cast a nonplussed bandit a smile, holding out his hand for a mug of the coarse alcohol the other men were drinking.
"Thanks." He said lightly, as one was provided. "It's been a long and thirsty journey, you know, and I have a feeling it might yet get even more interesting."
"So now you're back, Kashira, what's the first order of business?" Kouji asked evenly. Genrou frowned, his gaze flitting to Anzu for a moment. Then he shrugged.
"Find something to do with her, I guess." He said at length.
"So I can stay?" Hope flickered in Anzu's eyes. "Genrou, do you mean it - you aren't going to throw me out, are you?"
"I guess...I guess not." Tasuki sighed gustily, shaking his head. "I mean, not at the moment. But listen, Anzu, this is a bandit stronghold. It ain't like last time. You don't have demons on your side or holy talismans to make people do your bidding, right? And you're a girl. Even dressed up in whatever that is you're wearin', you're still a girl. This place ain't for girls, and I don't know why you're so keen to come visit when you know full well I hate girls."
"So you hate Suzaku no Miko too, do you?" Anzu demanded, and Tasuki grimaced in her direction.
"I can't even use the tessen on a girl." He said disparagingly. "Miaka's different. She's from another world so the rules are different - stop being annoying, will you? Kouji said you were cooking, right? Is that true? Are you cooking for the guys?"
"I did last night, and I was going to today, as a thank you for them helping me out." Anzu put her hands on her hips, poking out her tongue, and for the first time Tasuki saw the fifteen year old spirit he remembered within this older, more elegant form. "But if you're going to be a jerk about it..."
"If you want to stay here, you can damn well give me a reason why to let you." Tasuki said frankly. "I'm starvin' and I'm thirsty, too...I've come down from Taikyoku-zan and I really don't wanna bother about all this right now."
"Guess this is gonna turn into a full blown domestic." Kouji smirked, amused at his friend's total lack of composure, and Tasuki wheeled on him, tessen primed as he did so.
"I can flame you, you know, so don't even think it." He threatened, although there was no real malice behind his words. Kouji laughed, spreading his hands.
"Anzu, you'd better come with me and do somethin' about feedin' the hungry wolf. You won't get any sense outta him until you do, you know, so you might as well give it your best shot." He said playfully. Anzu frowned, turning to send Tasuki another reproachful look, but he pretended not to see it, and she turned on her heel, flouncing across the floor of the chamber towards the rear door. Kouji cast his friend a thoughtful glance, then followed her, the door swinging shut behind them.
"I think you hurt her feelings, you know." Chichiri's voice suddenly at Tasuki's elbow made him jump and he turned to see the monk casually sipping his drink, offering him a grin. "You should be nicer to her, Tasuki...she has just lost her sister."
"Yeah, yeah. I know." Tasuki sighed. "Don't chew me out, okay? I'm tired and she surprised me. I'd forgotten all about Anzu and Karin and fighting that stupid boy and his monkey over the Shinzahou. I've just got Tenkou firmly out of my system, that's all. Last thing I expected was to see her pop out of the woodwork. Not forgetting that the last time she was here she tried to take over my perch."
"Yes, but you don't think she'll do that this time, do you?" Chichiri looked mildly surprised, and Tasuki snorted.
"Not if I can help it." He said frankly. "But you never know with women. They're sneaky things - look how they get you to do things without you even realisin' it! Miaka, Aidou, my Mother - I don't need one of them in the heart of my home territory on top of all that. She's already got Kouji's tail between his legs, running around after her because she can cook a few plates of food...why of all places did she come here? I don't get it. We were friends, sure, but why come seek me out after two years? Yeesh, all the way from Sairou? On foot? Is she crazy?"
"No, I think she's in love with you, you know?" Chichiri said casually, draining his glass and setting it down on the nearby windowsill as Tasuki shot him a look of abject horror. "Don't look at me like that - there are enough girls in the world for one to even be attracted to you, you know."
"Don't be stupid." Tasuki gathered himself. "She's down on her luck and she hopes she can be a bandit, because she ain't gonna be in the circus any more. But women don't belong on Reikaku-zan, and that ain't gonna change. We tried that with Reirei, when she chose to fight for us against her brother's gang...and we ended up burying her in the mountains. She was barely grown - not even Miaka's age. I ain't going to try the same experiment again."
He stifled a yawn, stretching.
"But for now I want food and I want drink...plenty of the drink." He said decidedly. "I'll worry about her in the morning. For now I'm home and I'm not going to think about it any more!"
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"He has a nerve."
As the bandits ate their meal, punctuated by the loud laughter and raucous drinking humour that often permeated the hideout, Anzu slipped away from the main building, heading slowly and sullenly down the path towards the quiet, peaceful location where the bandits buried their hallowed dead. Alongside the tomb of Hakurou, Tasuki's predecessor stood another, more recent burial place and Anzu grimaced, then pushed her hand against the doorway, slipping into the cool darkness as she drew some flint from her pocket, striking the tinder and lighting the torch in its dust-coated sconce.
"All men are idiots, you know, Reirei, and especially ones with red hair that think they're special just because they're mountain bandit leaders." She said with a sigh. "They're fickle and stupid and they forget about things - about us, even. I thought at least Genrou would recognise me - but he didn't. He remembers we were friends but that's it - just friends. Could he be any more dense about it? I came all the way here from Sairou based on a memory - I was so sure that coming here would be the right thing to do, and yet...and yet..."
She sighed, sinking down onto her hands and knees as she ran over the conversation in her head.
"I told you I'd take care of him, didn't I?" She murmured. "But right now I don't know how to do that. I know you gave me your blessing, Reirei, but I feel I've failed you in some way, right at the moment. He really does hate girls - and he really isn't that glad to see me. But where else can I go? Genrou's Genrou and he wouldn't understand if I did try and explain to him how I feel. That he's the one thing that I had to keep faith in, after Karin died...was it a stupid, girlish fantasy, then? Did I imagine we were closer than we were? Probably. But even so...I feel kind of let down, now he's back. Like...I was never anything to him at all, despite everything we went through."
There was no answer from the darkness, although the flame flickered slightly in the wall sconce, and Anzu leant up against the cool wall, staring across at the coffin of the young girl as she did so.
"You and I have never met face to face." She realised. "You were dead before I ever came to Reikaku-zan, yet somehow I feel like you and I have a connection. You gave up your life for Genrou - didn't you ever doubt that he would understand what you'd done for him? You loved him, but dammit, didn't you care that he didn't love you in return? I know he didn't - Kouji's told me that. You were like his sister, but nothing else. Yet you did it anyway. I don't know. Maybe you were more of a bandit than I am, considering everything. But the truth is, seeing him again, I know I still have feelings for him. All the things that were there before - all the things I called you on before I recognised them in my own heart - they're still there. No matter how he reacts to me or what he says - even if he is a tactless oaf and even if he does push me away. I wanted to be with him again, and now I know it more than ever."
She rested a hand against the smooth coffin surface, half hoping to hear a soft voice in response, but Reirei's spirit was still that night, and Anzu wondered if she had ever heard the girl's voice at all.
"Perhaps it was imagination." She reflected. "Maybe you never gave me your blessing after all. But I still think that you did, Reirei. That we've become friends, even though we never met. Stupid, isn't it? But because of Genrou, we have a connection...at least you'll listen to me, huh? Even if he's too stupid to do it himself."
The sound of voices outside the door made her freeze, worried that her words had been overheard, and she inched closer to the door of the chamber, pulling it back slightly as she assessed who the interlopers were. Her eyes widened in surprise as she recognised the clear silhouette of the Kashira himself, and then the taller figure of Kouji beside him, even as the merriment and laughter continued in the central base beyond.
"He's not there drinking with the men...he's here, by Reirei and Hakurou's tombs." She murmured. "That's not like Genrou - what's he doing, anyway? Don't tell me he's thinkin' about something, because I just won't believe it!"
"I just wish you'd not done it. That's all." That was Tasuki's voice, the roll of his accent clear and distinctive on the wind, and despite herself Anzu pressed closer, straining to hear the conversation. "Last thing I needed was to come home to a woman, Kouji, after spending the last damn months fighting to save the sanity of one."
"I always thought you were fond of the Miaka kid." Kouji responded, kicking a pebble idly against the trunk of a tree as he cast his friend a curious look. Even in the dim light of the moon, Anzu could make out the tension in the leader's body, and she frowned.
"It ain't so simple as that." Tasuki hesitated before answering, and Anzu was surprised to hear a note of seriousness enter the bandit's tones. "Listen, Kouji, I ain't the kind of man who'd take advantage of a woman, right? You know me better'n that. It ain't something I'd do. Right?"
"Right." Kouji was clearly confused. "When Reirei first stopped with us, the old boss put her in your room because of that fact. You don't like girls. What of it?"
There was a moment of silence, then Tasuki spoke in low, faltering tones, and Anzu had to strain to pick up the threads of what he was saying.
"Suzaku no Miko...spell...travelling between...old friend of Chichiri's." She managed to make out, and she frowned, pushing the door open further as she struggled to understand. "I didn't know what I was doing, or what possessed me, Kouji - but it turned me over. I...I guess I didn't know that person was inside of me. I hate women. We both know that. But..."
Another period of silence, then Anzu saw Kouji drop his hand companionably on his friend's shoulder.
"I see. Hit you hard an' fast, an' you couldn't do a thing about it." He said evenly. Tasuki started, then nodded.
"It was a spell." He said slowly. "But even so...even so...it was part of me, too. I didn't like it, Kouji. It ain't me - it goes against everything I am an' everything else too. I don't like women, an' dealing with what happened to Miaka...I tried to make it up to 'em, an' I did my best to, somehow. Even so, though, I was ready to blast myself to embers at the time. I don't betray friends, on top of everythin' else - what I almost did to Tama, too, acting that way! I jus' don't do those kinds of things - an' now I come back here an' Anzu's suddenly showing up and...dammit, I don't know what to do about her. She shouldn't be here. This ain't a place for women!"
"So you love Miaka, then." Kouji reflected, and Anzu's eyes opened wide at this. Tasuki did not answer at first. Then he sighed.
"Dunno." He admitted finally. "I don't think...it was that. I mean...hell, I don't know, dammit. Maybe...it was. Truth is, I really don't know. I've never been in that position before, when I've felt so...out of my own control. I don't know what was Hikou's spell and what was me! An' if it was me, whether it's safe for me to even be around women like Anzu. Because if it ain't, I mean, if it was me..."
"Shut your face, you imbecile." There was a swing of shadow as Kouji brought his hand neatly down against the back of Tasuki's head. "You already told me, you ain't like that. And you ain't. It was a spell, buddy, so deal with it. And hey, I'm sorry I brought Anzu in on top of everything, but you know, you're Kashira. You can tell her to get lost, if things are that way."
"Yeah, for sure." Tasuki said darkly, and Anzu's heart clenched as she heard her name. "No, I can't, not now she's here. If she ain't got anywhere else to go - I can't do that, even to a chick. Until somethin' else works out for her to go or do, I guess she has to stop here, doesn't she? But I don't need to be around her. Not until I know what the hell's goin' on with me and my brain."
"You should spend more time talkin' to your big brother Kouji, an' you'd have a better understanding of the female mind." Kouji bantered, and Tasuki snorted.
"I know how the female mind works." He said ruefully. "I lived with five of them till I ran away from home to join up here. I ain't ever been so glad to leave a place in my life, as I was to get away from my Mother and sisters back then. I don't want Reikaku-zan turnin' into some hostel for stray women, that's all. Even aside from my hatin' them, there are some guys who might get drunk and mess them about a bit - or worse, if we were raided..."
He trailed off, and Kouji nodded his head.
"That's why I took the trouble to teach Anzu a few safety tricks." He admitted. "But yeah, I know. And after Reirei..."
"Reirei." Tasuki's eyes flitted in the direction of the girl's tomb, and Anzu held her breath, hoping against hope they wouldn't notice the open door. Then he turned away, shrugging.
"Well, Anzu's here now, so I guess that's that." He said wearily. "And I'm beat. I need sleep, then maybe I'll think clearer about everything."
He paused, then,
"Don't mention what I said to Anzu, or the others." He added. "About...Miaka, an' all. Chichiri - he knows, of course. But I don't think he'll mention it. I mean, well, there ain't much about one another we don't know, now, considerin' everything."
"You can trust ol' Kouji-aniki to keep it under wraps." Kouji assured him. "But really, Genrou, it was a spell. Don't let it torture you. If you were that kind of guy, Reirei would never have been safe spendin' so much time with you, and dammit, feeling about her the way I did, I wouldn't have let you spend so much time that close, either! It ain't your way, to do things like that. So don't think it'll happen over...besides, Miaka's different, ain't she? Being from another world and all. An' I don't know...Anzu mightn't be fightin' it, if you chose to move in that direction."
Anzu's cheeks coloured hotly at this, and it was all she could do not to burst out of her hiding place and slap Kouji roundly across the cheek for his remarks. Tasuki laughed, however, shaking his head.
"Let's go back and enjoy the night. Get a few drinks, and just hang out." He said finally. "That's where we should be, after all."
"Sounds good to me." Kouji agreed. "But hey, you know I've always got your back, right? No matter what - you can trust me."
"Hell, I know that." Tasuki responded. "I've missed Reikaku-zan, you know. It'll be good...good to be back here properly now that all the Miaka madness is finally at an end."
With that they drifted out of earshot, and Anzu sank back against the wall, absorbing everything she'd heard.
"Something happened between Genrou and the Miko and he doesn't want people to know about it. Something he's ashamed of, which means..." She trailed off, her eyes widening. "No, he couldn't! Could he? Did he?"
She sighed, rubbing her temples.
"I'm so confused. I wish I hadn't eavesdropped." She admitted out loud. "They say no good comes of it, and it's true - but when they were so close and with Genrou so serious - he's never that way, so something's on his mind. I don't know...I wish I could help him, and yet I'm damn mad at him, too. Reirei, why is it such a mess, being in love with a blockhead like him?"
A faint breeze blew through the chamber, teasing at the torchlight once again, and this time Anzu was almost sure she could hear a faint breath of a voice on the wind.
"Have faith in him." Was what she thought it said. "I'm counting on you."
Anzu got slowly to her feet, resting her hand once more on the coffin.
"All right. I'll try." She said quietly. "Thanks for listening, Reirei. As always. I'll try not to let you or him down. After all, I'm not a quitter. Karin believed she'd be with Raimon again, so she wasn't afraid of dying. And I believed I would be with Genrou, so I tried not to be afraid of coming here, even though it was such a long journey and so many times I could have given up. I'll try my best to keep faith with him, and hang on in there. Maybe I can find a way to help him. After all..."
She faltered, a slight flush touching her cheeks as she contemplated the conversation.
"After all, whatever it means, it sounds like Genrou's realised he's a man, and that he definitely likes women." She murmured. "And he doesn't hate me, which means there has to be a chance I can bring him around, surely? I just have to believe in myself and keep focused. No matter what - I will stay with him this time, no matter what!"
Characters from the "Gaiden" novels...
Reirei - the sister of a rival bandit leader, Kieron of Kaou-zan. Despite her brother's twisted attitude and untrustworthiness, Reirei is pretty straight down the line. Loved by Kouji, she in turn falls for Genrou and winds up sacrificing her life for him to get the tessen back from demon hands. Despite her death, and the fact they never met, Anzu and Reirei have a close bond through their mutual love of Genrou and her grave is frequented by both Anzu and Kouji. She exists in the Genrou Den novel and is mentioned in Sanbou Den also.
Hakurou - Tasuki's predecessor as Kashira of Reikaku-zan's bandits. (You haveta wonder if the "Haku Rou En" spell Tasuki uses in the animated OVA is actually a fleeting reference to this guy, the tessen's former master, or if it's just a coincidence!!)