Nemesis: Forgotten Anathema

by Cheetara

[Complete] Some doors should never be opened. Some secrets should remain as they are, buried in the dark soil of the past. But the past always holds the key to the future and the children must bear the consequences of the sin of their forefathers.

47. Chapter 37

Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter 36:

The world had shrugged off her cloak of the night and applied herself to the activities of a new day with gusto. A couple sat on the porch that bordered their backyard garden watching the changing colors of the sky and the slow progress of Dawn's golden fingers as she smoothed out the last traces of the darkness, which still lingered. The lady was not in the first bloom of her youth, nor the gentleman as dashing as he used to be, but it was clear that they were just as much in love now as they were when they first met. The lady rested her gray head on the gentleman's shoulder with a small sigh.

"Taka..."

"Hmm."

"I am hungry."

A small gurgle of laughter escaped his throat as he pressed her wrinkled hands lovingly. "Miaka." His tone was long suffering.

"What?" Her lips curved into a small smile. "We need to eat you know."

"Yes, that we do." He said with perfect sincerity even though his eyes fairly danced with mirth.

A sharp trill interrupted his speech. "There is someone at the door." His voice was more than a little irritated. "At this time of the day?"

The sharp trill sounded again and again. With a groan he got up, retrieving his cane from the place where he had put it.

"Oh dear." Miaka looked up at him. "Is that back of yours troubling you again?"

"So it is." He frowned. "But don't worry dear. I am quite able to rescue our poor doorbell from the villain who is so intent on mauling it."

She laughed. "Then Godspeed my Hero."

He gave an irritated grunt as the shrill cry of the doorbell interrupted his well-formed speech once more. He opened the back door and made his way towards the source of his discomfiture swearing speedy and terrible retribution on the one who had dared disturb him so early in the morning.

Miaka stared after her husband's form. He still retained the lean form of his youth, though he leaned a little more on his walking stick these days, a small limp induced in his once fluid gait. Even though his face had eroded like a weather-beaten cliff and his hair turned to gray, he was still the same man she had fallen in love with so many years ago.

Lately, she found herself thinking more and more about her past. And she knew that he thought about it too. There was that brooding sad look in his eyes when he thought about the ones who fought by his side, his brothers, her seishi ...

"Miaka."

With a start Miaka turned around, her gaze widened a little. "Yui ?!"

There was an obviously fake smile on Yui's lips. "Surprise !" The starchy smile on her face faded. "Come inside Miaka. There is something we need to talk about." With that she turned and walked inside. "You too Taka. I hope you have coffee. I have a feeling that you are going to need it, because I know I do."

There was a certain ominous ring to her tone, which caused Miaka to exchange a speaking glance with Taka. He nodded his head, shrugging his shoulders. It was clear that he was just as clueless as her. There was little tinge of anxiety in her heart as she made her way to the kitchen.

Soon, they were sitting around the neat round table, the smell of fresh coffee filling the room. Yui held the steaming cup within the palm of her hands staring down at the dark fluid. It was clear that her mind was elsewhere. After that first greeting she had responded to their queries with a mechanical civility, delivering almost well practiced answers with absent grace.

She was always beautiful. Age had added a certain dignity to the mix ... that and the skillful ministrations of head honcho of an exclusive and extraordinarily pricey salon that catered to the needs of that narrow frequency band of the rich and the famous. Yet today, she appeared less than her exquisite self. There was a tinge of darkness under her eye, which the cleverly applied makeup had not managed to cover.

"You know Yui, I have always wondered ..." Miaka made her third valiant attempt at small talk. "How do you manage to look so ... young ?"

Yui made an irritated sound before sipping into her cup. "Makeup ... That and a really fat bank balance." She looked over her freind critically. "You know Enrique could do wonders for you, if only somebody ..." She cast a caustic look in Taka's direction. "Could be persuaded to loosen his purse strings a little."

Taka bristled, limping to a seat beside Miaka. "Don't listen to her honey." He bestowed a loving smile on his wife. "I like you just the way you are."

"Che. You should. That doesn't cost you a thing. When are you going to quit being a miser?"

"And since when do I have listen to your opinion you old hag ?"

"Yes, but I am a sexy and extremely wealthy old hag."

Miaka smiled, glad to see Yui come out from behind whatever wall she had built around herself. She gave a silent squeeze to Taka's hand, effectively silencing him.

"You know Yui." She smiled at her friend. "I like it this way."

"Yeah, I suppose you do." Yui shrugged. "I mean you are tailor made for the role of the kind, plump and rosy granny, who bakes cookies for the all the Dennis the Menaces in the neighborhood and I ... I am cut out for the role of the woman who makes all those size seven bimbos wonder : How does the old hag manage to look so good ?" She gave a small chuckle putting the cup down. Then her face turned serious. "Do you know that your granddaughter and mine ... are best friends."

"Yes. I know that they are bosom buddies." Miaka laughed. "Reminds me of us when we were young."

"Yes." Yui agreed. "They are like us. Perhaps a little too much like us."

"And that is bad ?"

Yui did not answer and all of a sudden Miaka was aware of a tangible anxiety in the air. Taka was the first to break the uneasy silence.

"Yui, what has happened ?"

Yui did not answer. She lifted her hand to massage her throbbing temples lightly. "Lee is missing."

"What ?! " There was a shade of white around Taka's mouth. "And why wasn't I informed about this ?"

"Taka calm down." Yui snapped dryly. "It will not do us any good if you pop a vein."

"How can you be so unfeeling ?" Miaka got up, towering in her rage. "How can you sit there, cool as a cucumber and inform us in that matter of fact way that Lee is missing ?"

"Because, I do not think that my enacting a tragedy is going to help bring them back!" There was a kind of suppressed passion in her words, which took Miaka aback. Yui took a deep breath to calm herself. "Well ... sit down. I am not finished yet."

Miaka sat down fixing a smoldering eye on her friend wondering what was going on under her apparently unruffled calm.

"Lee and Yang went to the library to research on their project." Yui refilled her cup. "No body made a big deal about it since the both of them hang out together and more that often stay over at each other's place. Naturally, it did not occur to Hikaru that anything was wrong. Keiko on the other hand assumed that Lee had gone home. It was not until the next evening that Hikaru decided to call Keiko in order check on Lee. That was yesterday. That was when the cat came out of the bag." Yui paused. "Keiko went upstairs to ask my lovely granddaughter if she knew anything. Only she was not in the room as well, having played hookey through the bedroom window. Now she is missing as well."

"Oh joy." Taka said sarcastically. "Is there more to your story ?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Pray continue."

"My daughter has an unfortunate predilection for missing details. She entirely overlooked this." Yui held up a small diary.

"That's ..."

"Its Yang's. It was under the mess that she likes to call her bed."

"And why are we intruding on a girl's obviously secret diary ?" Taka questioned.

Yui ignored him. Fetching the gold-rimmed reading glasses from her purse she placed it delicately on the bridge of her nose. "Listen to this ..." She opened the diary and began to read :

' Lee is a fool. I mean how dumb can she be ? It is she who drags me along to those stupid C grade horror movies. She has seen enough of those movies to understand this simple equation.'

The words ran in Yang's neat, precise handwriting.

' Overly cute brats added to perfect island must be equal to trouble.

If I were Faraco, I would let the brats kill her and be done with it.

PS: Scratch that. If I were a guy desperate enough to get on Lee's good books this would be my chance to be the hero and get the girl.

Note to self : Faraco is a fool. Not as big a fool as Lee but nearly there. '

Yui paused looking up. "Are you getting this ?"

Miaka's voice shook a little. "I ..." She cast a half worried, half fearful look at Taka. "Taka ...?"

Taka was looking very grim. "Yui, is this ..." He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Are you trying to say…"

"I am not trying to say anything Taka." Yui snapped. "I am saying that they have been drawn into the book of the Four Gods. I don't know about Yang ... but Lee is surely in that book." She put the diary down on the table. "See for yourself. Yang is not capable of such flights of fancy." She pushed her chair back and went to stand by the window. "Believe me. Nobody will be happier than me if I am proven wrong."

Taka's ordinarily steady hands shook a little as he picked up the diary and turned the pages. His deep sonorous voice filled the room.

' What a legacy we have inherited !

Given the book's erratic way of choosing mikos why did we stumble onto the book? What was the probability that amongst all the girls in Tokyo we were the only two virgins to stumble onto that book.

I know that we are boyfriend less ... but we can't possibly be the only virgins left in this city.

PS : What's the deal with this virgin sacrifices anyway ?

Note to self : Who cares anyway ?

Note to self: Remember to wring Lee's skinny neck when you get your hands on her. Or you could kick her sorry ass. Whichever comes to your mind ... either ... or ... both. Yeah, definitely both.

I am finally beginning to understand what grandma felt when she saw her friend come so perilously close to death.

PS : Does pepper spray work on the undead ?

Somehow I don't want to find out.

PS : Must think of something, something to fight undead zombies ... Somehow I don't think that garlic and holy water will work. Well I could always use the chainsaw.

PS: Starch that. Firstly, I can't use it. Its like super messy. Need something clean, like a silver bullet perhaps.

PS : I am becoming a bloodthirsty savage.

Back to the original point. Why us ? I should have listened to Lee and gone to that mall to see that movie she was dying to see ... Oh why bother! Somehow in my guts I feel like this is destiny.

When Lee entered the book, I had this weird sense of deja vu. It was the same circumstance that grandaunt Miaka found herself in so many years ago : a ray of hope in a war torn land. But lets not reiterate that. I was wrong. The circumstances only seem to be the same, we are playing with a whole different set of parameters here. '

Taka paused to take a breath and then continued.

' If I remember correctly Seiryuu was sealed in magical scroll due to a wish made by Grandaunt Miaka. If I am not mistaken then Grandma and Grandaunt went back through that book again after their first adventure in the Book of the Four Gods. Grandma could not have gone in as the Seiryuu any miko ... Could she?

Here's a disturbing thought. The world is bound by rules. Everything moves in a predetermined path. Even Gods are bound by the rules they created. I mean think about it. Suzaku is not stronger than Seiryuu. Nor can I believe that there is any magic strong enough to contain a God. Then how was it that Seiryuu was imprisoned so quickly?

This is my answer. Because it was a rule. Because it was already preordained that when a miko gathers the seven seishi and makes a wish, it will be granted. Therefore, when Grandaunt Miaka invoked Suzaku and wished that Seiryuu be sealed ... it was granted!

Now Seiryuu was put in a cage and locked away so that the hero may defeat the villain and save the world and get the girl and all that rubbish, but what after that ?

Things are not tying up.

I need coffee.

I swear I have devoured enough coffee to sustain an hippo but this hasn't cleared my brain a jot.

Fact remains that once again we are bang in the middle of a war. I fear we may be caught on opposite sides. Yet there is something that strikes me rather forcefully.

Would Keeah have wanted to release Seiryuu if Lee had not arrived?

Yeah I know she was mulling over the idea, considering the pros and cons, yet somehow it was the presence of the Suzaku no Miko that spurred her into action.

Is the miko some sort of catalyst?

Yes ... but to what?'

Taka paused putting down the book with a shaking hand. "When did you find this ... Yui ?"

"Yesterday evening." Yui massaged her temples. "Keiko wanted to call you last night. But I stopped her. I told her that I would come down here personally and break it you gently." She chuckled bitterly. "So did I do my job well ?"

Taka gave an irritated grunt.

"As soon as I found the diary, I checked all the places where I thought Yang could have gone to." Yui sat down again. "Of course, I wasn't surprised when I didn't find Yang in the library. She is very intelligent you know." There was a tinge of pride in her voice. "She knew that if I found out, the library was the first place I would look for her."

"But how could she have known that you would find her diary ?" Miaka frowned.

"I don't know about you Miaka." Yui retorted dryly. "But every time the words missing and library occur in the same sentence, the words Book of the four Gods flashes in Technicolor in front of my eyes."

"She is right." Taka gave a rueful smile. "It was a stroke of good fortune that we found that diary. So, what is to be done now?"

There was a long uneasy silence. Finally Miaka spoke. "I am worried." Her voice was calm. "We all are. But Yang is right. Perhaps this is the legacy we have bequeathed onto them. True when we went into the book we suffered a lot, but we also learnt a lot ... About friendship." She looked at Taka. "About responsibility, about …love."

"The only thing I learnt was being a bitch." Yui snapped. "Not that it hasn't helped me in real life, but the fact remains that I saw the darkest spectrum of human nature." There was deep sadness in her eyes. " I did a lot of things which I regret. Sometimes, I wish I could turn time back and undo it all. You are right though. I did learn a lot ..." She looked up, her eyes flashing. "But I'll be damned if I let Yang go through everything I went through."

"Yui calm down ..."

"How can you talk of suffering so calmly Miaka ? Has time dulled your memory so much ? Well I have not forgotten. I still remember what it felt like to know that you betrayed me. It was like a crab slowly clawing at my stomach. Every stolen moment you shared with Tamahome, every happy instant with friends who adored you ... it was like a poison that was slowly killing me."

"But Yui ..."

"I know. It was all a lie and even though your words healed my wound, the signs of that scar will always remain. I don't want it to fade either. It reminds of me mistakes I made ... and the fragility of human nature."

"Yui." Taka cut in. "Miaka is right. Calm down." He paused a bit. "But, I agree with you."

"Taka!" Miaka's voice was agitated.

"Honey, she is right. There are a lot of things that I have done but which I definitely would not want Lee to do. Many years ago I fought those desperate battles so that I could keep you safe." He paused. "Destiny or not, I do not want my granddaughter to be in a position that could endanger her. We have to bring them back. Somehow."

"They will not return." Miaka said quietly. "I know they are in danger and I know the risks involved. But Lee is my granddaughter and I know her. Those people in the book, they are not arbitrary characters painted by some invisible brush, they real people of flesh and blood and both of you know that. Before I went into that book I was just another girl, having normal dreams. But in that book I found me. Don't you understand? We can't deny them that chance."

There was a moment of silence. When Yui spoke her voice held grudging admiration. "Miaka ... that was ... very enlightening." She turned towards Taka. "So where do you want to start searching ?"

"Didn't you hear anything of what I said ?"

"Of course we did dear." Taka patted her hand absentmindedly. "We have to search everywhere you went once more. Maybe I'll notice something that you missed."

"Taka ..."

"Right." Yui got up. "I'll ask John to drive us."

" Stop it! Both of you, listen to me."

"Miaka, enough." Taka snapped, quite loosing his temper. "I do not want Lee to be in the path of some crazy power hungry guy who wants to rule the world or be a God or something similar. Got it." He got up, pausing only to add a rejoinder, as if in an afterthought. "And she is too young to have a boyfriend."

"Taka, I was only fifteen when I met you."

"Ah, but if I were your grandfather, I would have disapproved of your choice as well." He limped towards the door. "Come on. We don't have all day."

Miaka sighed. "Very well."

"Oh come on Miaka." Yui picked up her handbag. "I'll buy you breakfast."

Miaka curled her lips. "What do you take me for Yui? Do you wish to move me by the mere mention of food?"

Yui rolled her eyes.

"Throw in lunch and we have a deal!"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Hotohori was not sure where he stood. From his position he could see a wide plain stretched beneath him, the green carpet under his feet slowly sloping downwards to meet with silvery sand. He could hear the roar of the sea and watch the dark waves roll, their white crests tossing like the mane of a defiant stallion. The clouds rumbled overhead complimenting the call of the ocean and where the sky met the vast blue expanse he could see lightning tear through the dark curtain like a warrior's katana.

There were ships moored along the coast, their masts lowered. There were men on board locked in a desperate struggle. He saw their shadowy forms struggle in the darkness, the clash of their weapons drowned by the roar of the waves. Arrows blazed through the night, cutting a trail of fire across the inky blackness of the sky as they landed on the ships. He shivered as the ships turned into blazing infernos, the shadowy forms continuing their struggle around it.

' Why is it that I always dream of war ?'

He saw a man standing not far from him. The man's dark cloak flapped in the wind, his stance indifferent as he watched the carnage below him. Another warrior approached this man. He saw the man's shoulders stiffen before turning to face the other person who approached him.

His eyes widened. There was something familiar about the man who had just arrived.

' Is it him ? The warrior who haunts my dreams ?'

"So." The new arrival spoke, his voice was a little tired. "You are Ryutoshiki."

The silent beholder's voice rang a bell in his head. "Are you surprised Shinwa?"

Shinwa sighed. "No."

Ryutoshiki unsheathed his blade, his voice shaking with some suppressed emotion. "Finally ... Fight me Shinwa. Let this end now."

Shinwa's voice was a little careworn. "I will not fight you."

He moved like a flash crossing Ryutoshiki and moving down into the fray below. With a frustrated roar he tried to follow Shinwa but two people blocked his path now, blades drawn, intent on stopping him.

Once again he felt it... that overwhelming sense of pain...

"Shinwa..." There was something forlorn about Ryutoshiki's call. He could almost sense the anger, the frustration ... the pain. "Shinwa ... Don't you dare turn you back on me..."

The wind mocked his cry and the ocean drowned his plea. Yet his voice rose above the din like the mournful cry of a lone wolf.

" Shinwa..."

His eyes flew open. He was breathing heavily. The world slowly returned to focus. He became aware of the sooty lamp that hung from the wooden planks that formed a ceiling over his head and the slight sway of the floor under him. He could hear the dull creak of wood and felt a steady pressure on his arm. He was also aware of the intense pain in his body that almost rivaled the dull ache in his heart. The pressure on his arm receded.

"I am sorry to have woken you up Demon." The voice, cool and self-possessed was vaguely familiar. "But you were tossing and turning so much that I was afraid you would reopen your wounds."

Hotohori turned at the source of the voice. "Keeah?" He did not like how weak his voice sounded.

"You might feel a little light headed." She continued in a matter of fact manner. "Sotisku gave you a medicine to dull your aches, unfortunately it dulls your senses as well."

His mouth felt like he had straw in it and his throat was parched. He found that he was not quite ... lucid yet. He ran his eyes across the cabin locating a small dented jug kept in a corner.

' Water.' He tried to sit up. His limbs would not move.

"I said you would need some time to regain your faculties." She seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. "Fortunately for you I am considerably less wounded than you are. That means I can crawl over there and get that water."

' I don't want your help. '

It was clear that she too was in pain. Her movements were jerky and sluggish, quite unlike her usual arrogant stance.

She held the jug to his mouth, putting her hands under his head and holding him up a little. "Drink."

' Go to hell witch.'

Needless to say he more than angry when his tongue betrayed him. "Thank you." He had not intended for his voice to sound so meek and so ... well ... grateful.

She gave a grunt, quite unladylike, waving her hand in a dismissive manner, almost as if to say that his gratitude was not required. The water however seemed to clear the fog of his mind and he was able to reconstruct part of what happened the previous day.

' Menesku ...' He felt a cold dread creep up his spine, his eyes searched in vain for a glimpse of his friend.

"He is upstairs." Once again she seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. There was a shadow of anxiety in her eyes as well. "Sotisku is attending to his wounds."

He felt the dread in his heart recede a little only to return with double the force combined with a flood a guilt.

' What of the rest of my crew ?' His mind was a panicked whirl. ' Lee ... Faraco ... Liang ...'

"The rest of your crew is upstairs." She settled back into her place. "You do remember that we have decided to be temporary ... allies." She took a while to mouth the word allies. "So we are tolerating each other's presence for a while."

He frowned, his mind returning to the moment before the world turned black in front of his eyes.

"I did not defeat Shizimi." Her voice was quiet. "In fact I was quite sure that I was going to be killed. You might wonder how we got away." Her voice was brooding. "In fact, I wonder that myself as well. I prefer to call it sheer dumb luck."

He raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

Keeah frowned, talking more to herself than to him. "A cloaked man held off Shizimi while we escaped." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I don't know who it was or why he helped us ... Fact remains that we ... I owe him my life." She paused. "I don't like owing anybody anything, especially to weird hooded guys who come out of nowhere. Gives rise to undue complications."

He had no problem in agreeing with that statement.

The sound of footsteps caught his notice. He saw Keeah cock her head towards the door. "I think our food has arrived."

The door opened and a familiar face emerged from behind the door.

"Yer up." Liang's eyes shone a little as they landed on Hotohori, limping forward with the laden tray in his hands. "Me self's glad." His eyes rested on Keeah almost as if in an afterthought. "So yer up as well." His tone was bland.

Keeah's lips twitched, her voice was very polite. "Well hello to you too, Fang boy."

Liang bristled. "Are ya making fun of me fangs?"

Keeah was the very picture of wide-eyed innocence. "Oh my. You are not as stupid as you look."

"Why ya little..."

Hotohori was beginning to think that things were getting out of hand. With some effort he roused himself on his elbows. "Liang stop." Try as he might he was unable to induce the sufficient amount of dignity in his voice as he wanted. "And while we may be allies Lady Keeah, you have no right to insult my men."

Again he felt that strange unpleasant sensation in the pit of his stomach as the corners of her lips curved up into that infuriatingly enigmatic smile. "I apologize." She did not sound sorry at all. "Hand us the bowls Fang boy."

Liang spat something under his breath about women and trouble and handed her the bowl. She favored him an obviously fake smile and a sickeningly sweet…

"Thank you."

Liang snorted before helping Hotohori sit up. "Can ya manage?"

Hotohori nodded taking the bowl. He stared in horror at the gooey contents that resided in it. "What the hell is this?"

"Meself likes to call it: Taasha's surprise." Liang said brightly.

"You interest me Fang boy." Keeah gingerly lifted a bit of the concoction to her lips. "What went into this ... err ... surprise?"

"Ya don't wanna know." Liang said darkly. "That's why it's called surprise."

Hotohori put the bowl down. "I think I'll pass."

"But ya gotta eat something." Liang argued. "Come on, it ain't that bad."

"No."

"For Seiryuu's sake Demon." Keeah rolled her eyes. "Don't act like a spoilt child."

"Who asked ya to help?" Liang rounded on her angrily.

"You should stop pleading with him as well." She calmly sipped the contents of the bowl. "You are beginning to sound like his nursemaid."

"Meself really does not like ya." Liang said with feeling. "Yer just like me elder sis Mihiru."

"I'll take it as a compliment then." She put the empty bowl down.

Despite himself Hotohori felt the ends of his lips twitching, but the constant banter was giving him a headache as well. He glanced at the bowl once more and with a distasteful grimace downed the contents of the bowl. It was just as he expected, horrendous.

"There." He said tiredly. "Now please stop."

His head was throbbing badly.

"Well, ya need to rest." Liang did not seem to mind his sudden crankiness. "Get some sleep."

He collected the bowls, getting ready to leave. Hotohori put out a hand and restrained him. "I am sorry Liang. I didn't mean to sound so rude."

Liang grinned. "Meself ain't need no apology." He got up. "Beside the Doc said ya ain't gonna feel yerself for a few days. Get some rest." He gave a fleeting look at Keeah. "Ya too."

Keeah cocked her head to a side favoring him with a sardonic smile. "I will. By the way send my compliments to the chef. This was a very ... interesting dish."

Liang snorted disbelievingly before exiting, closing the door softly behind him.

The room fell quiet again. His head ached and he laid down among the furs once more, raising a hand to massage his head. He tried closing his eyes, but somehow the silence of the room sounded deafening to his ears. He cracked an eye open. Keeah had leaned back against the wall, her head bend a little to the side, eyes closed. There was something peaceful about her pose and he grudgingly accepted that like this she almost looked almost ... harmless.

That was before she opened her eyes and stared directly into his.

"I cannot sleep." He wasn't sure why he offered her that lame excuse.

A faint smile touched her lips. "Neither can I."

"So how long have we been at sea?"

"Probably a week or so, but I can't say exactly. I was out for the most of the time."

"Oh."

"You are not very good at making small talk, are you?"

"I am just not comfortable making small talk with somebody I have ... hated since forever."

To his surprise Keeah laughed. It wasn't like the usual smiles she bestowed on him, cynical and hard, but a true emotion that seemed to flash momentarily like lightning in a thunder cast sky.

"Surely not forever my Prince. You must have hated me for six years or so. I am sure that before that you were not even aware of my existence."

Her voice was casual, but he was not fooled by her indifferent attitude. In a way she was correct. He was not even sure when this animosity towards her was born, probably the first time he tried to find his father in the battered, bruised, lifeless husk they had brought back. These years of war had deepened that feeling into a simmering resentment. That coupled with a unquenched thirst for revenge is perhaps what created this illusion of hatred in his mind.

"I was wrong. I don't hate you." He said at last. "Hate is too strong a word. Its..."

"Its too personal a word to applicable to the relationship we have." Keeah's voice was brooding. "Sure I resent you. But don't know you well enough to hate you." She chuckled. "So if I kill you one of these days, remember its nothing personal."

To his surprise, he found himself chuckling as well. "Better people than you have tried, but failed."

"Have they? How many times?"

Hotohori wasn't sure why he was even having this conversation. He did not like to talk about the first few years of his rule.

"Thirteen."

Keeah gave a low whistle.

"What about you?"

"You kill a Prince. But a Princess you wed and bed and get the throne by proxy."

"Oh." He noticed the familiar hardening in her eyes. "You must have had persistent suitors. How did you get rid of them?"

She smiled, an action, which chilled him to the bone. "I had them hanged."

There was moment of silence. Women were supposed to be soft, kind hearted ... gentle. At least that was what he was always taught. Hotohori wasn't sure why he wasn't appalled by her evident ruthlessness. He shrugged.

"I responded sort of similarly myself." He paused. "Actually Menesku did the dirty work for me." His words were bitter and try as he might he was unable to keep his voice even.

"He will live." Keeah's voice was casual. "He is very resilient. Take it from one who knows, he has the most irritating habit of returning from the dead. A dreadful inconvenience I would say."

"Are you trying to console me?"

"Perhaps."

"Don't."

"Suit yourself."

They relapsed into silence. Hotohori realized that his head was not aching any more. Thoughtfully he brushed a hand across his temples.

"The pain is gone."

"Hmm. The effect of the drug must have worn off."

Hotohori stared at Keeah. "That medicine which is supposed to heal me, gives me an headache?"

"A minor problem. It takes your mind off your other injuries."

"I do not feel anything."

"You do not feel anything yet. But you will."

Hotohori was about to say something when he began to feel sharp searing pain sporadically shooting through his body. Little flames seemed to lick at his side and the ache in his head returned with a vengeance.

"Witch, I just realized something." He gritted his teeth. "I really do hate you."

OoOoO

The wooden stairs creaked a little as Lee stepped down them into the belly of the ship. She bit her lip as she felt a little jot of pain shoot up her leg. Though the wound in her shoulders had healed, the one in her legs till troubled her somewhat.

' Hey it could be worse.' The voice in her head consoled her. ' You could be dead.'

Lee snorted. That much was obvious. She made her slow progress through the shadowed passageway that was flanked by dark rooms on either side. At one time they had doubled as the living quaters and storerooms of they who had manned it.

Lee could not repress the shudder that ran through her body when she thought of the fate the unfortunate crewmen of this ship faced.

' This ship may have been bad luck for them but its extremely lucky for us. Without this baby we would be still marooned on that island.'

"Don't remind me." Lee hissed.

The passageway was lit by two small oil lamps, which failed to dominate the dark shadows of the path. It was just enough to dilute the darkness a little and ensure that a person would not stumble over their own feet.

" I am not afraid of the dark." Lee gulped, swallowing rather valiantly. "But I wish they had put a few more lamps here."

' They can't.' The voice in her head reminded her. ' Like everything else on this ship, oil is also in very short supply. Well not as short as the doctor's temper but nearly there. '

Lee flinched having been on the sharp side of Sotisku's tongue several times during these last few days. He dealt with the wounds speedily and there was no doubt about his skill, but Menesku and Suraco were not responding to his treatment.

She paled remembering the battered and bruised forms that were brought abroad and even with her meager knowledge of medicine she knew that the both of them were merely hanging on by threads. Suraco's just a tad bit thicker than Menesku's. Of course, neither Keeah nor Hotohori knew about the real state of affairs and Sotisku promised dire consequences to they who dared break the news before he said so.

' Yeah and you better remember that.' The voice in her head warned. ' No use worrying Hotohori.'

She sighed. Menesku was sinking away from them and the less Menesku responded to Sotisku's potions the more irritable he got.

" Its not his fault. He is just anxious."

' We all are. ' Her inner voice said darkly. ' He didn't have to become Mr. Hyde under pressure. '

She paused in front of a door. A dull shaft of yellow light was seen through the crack under the frame of the door. She felt a twinge of guilt in her heart. Between licking her own wounds and obeying Sotisku's imperious commands she had little time for anything else.

' And besides you were just as eager to put as much as distance possible between Fa Sang and yourself as the rest of them. You could not have achieved that by moping over your wounded friends.'

" Who asked for your opinion?" Lee scoffed at the voice in her head before lifting a hand and easing the door open.

"Hotohori." She stepped inside the room bestowing her most dazzling smile on the prone figure on the makeshift bed before her.

' Yeah Baby. Dazzle him with that smile.'

" Shut up." Lee growled. "I hope you are well."

' That was by far a really asinine remark. Does he look well ?'

Ignoring her inner voice she turned at the other occupant of the room. "I hope you are well too Lady Keeah."

Keeah raised her eyebrows in a manner that clearly said ' you gotta be kidding me.' But she smiled nevertheless.

"I am better now Miko." Her voice was polite. "Thank you for your concern."

Silence descended.

' Heh. Heh. This is uncomfortable.'

Lee agreed vehemently. Plastering a fake smile on her face she took a seat beside Hotohori uneasily aware of his penetrating gaze on her face. She could feel her cheek heat up.

' Good lord. If you want to say something just say it ... don't stare like that.'

He put up a hand and touched a bruise on her cheek that had now turned into what her inner voice aptly termed as ' a hideous purple welt.' Almost instinctively she flinched. He retracted his hand with an angry hiss.

"You are hurt." His voice sounded bitter and angry. "I am sorry."

Lee grinned, eager to reassure him. "Its all right. I was frightened in the beginning but Faraco saved me."

Strangely that did not seem to reassure him a bit. His face contorted a bit and Lee assumed that it was the pain.

' Yeah Right.' The voice in her head sounded skeptical.

When he spoke his voice was formal, almost distant. "I'll remember to thank Faraco for his ... bravery."

' What the hell was that about ?'

"Heh ... Heh..." Her voice was just as fake. "You don't have to that."

"Nonsense Miko." Keeah's voice drew her attention; there was more than a gleam of amusement in those dark eyes. "As a seishi Faraco did his duty and as an Emperor Hotohori must do his."

' Ok ... I don't like that look.'

"I do not need you to remind me of my duty Lady Keeah." Hotohori both looked and sounded murderous, or as much threatening as he could in his condition.

"I apologize." The glint of amusement in her eyes deepened. "I had forgotten that Faraco is your friend Miko. Is he not?"

' Yo something is going on here.' The voice in her head warned as she watched Hotohori and Keeah.

' Like some kind of a silent warfare. Is that what they do all day? Sit and have a staring match. '

"Yes." She said aloud. "He is a very dear friend of mine, just like the rest of my seishi."

"Oh." There was a sardonic gleam in Keeah's eyes.

' Is it me, or is she sounding sarcastic ? '

"I am glad to know that Lady Lee." Hotohori spoke to her but his eyes were trained on Keeah and his voice contained none of the warmth it usually had when he addressed her. "We treasure you above all else."

' Yeah and if you were looking at me when you said that I would have almost believed you.'

"You should." Keeah chuckled. "She is after all, your ... Miko."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She could feel the anger in Hotohori's voice.

"Exactly what you think my Lord."

She could feel that Keeah was deliberately provoking Hotohori.

' Now why the hell would she want to do that ?'

She saw his nostrils flare and scarlet sparks swim in those dark eyes. Looking up she saw a calculating, almost curious gleam in Keeah's eyes before being replaced the same enigmatic veil.

"You are fool my Lord." Her voice was casual. "You make your weakness so obvious."

Hotohori controlled himself with a visible effort. "Lady Lee is not my weakness."

"I wasn't talking about the Miko demon."

OoOoOoOoOoO

Sotisku massaged his head, drawing his cloak closer around himself. Looking around he had the sensation that he was moving through a sea of clouds, as the thick fog that surrounded their ship overran the borders of their vessel and intruded on its deck, laying their moist cold fingers on his cheek.

' Damn the Ku Youg Sea and damn its fog.' He cursed moving towards the blurry figure of their navigator. "Taasha."

Taasha turned around. He was overworked, like the rest of them, his woolen cloak tied in a clumsy knot in front.

"Oh ... Sotisku."

"How far are we from civilization?"

"I don't know Sotisku." Taasha's voice sounded strained. "My best guess is fourteen sunsets ... maybe."

"That's a long time. Shizimi guided our ship to Fa Sang in seven days." Another voice spoke from behind them.

"Well Lady Chulivey, Shizimi also tried to kill you." Taasha spat. "There is no way I can go any faster in this fog and I don't know how he did it, unless of course he already knew the way."

"What are you doing here?" Sotisku rounded in on Chulivey. "I gave you specific instructions not to leave Menesku and Suraco's side."

"Yes you did ... I left Liang in charge." Chulivey stepped forward, on her brown eyes looking overlarge on her pale face. "But ... Come and see Menesku. He is burning up."

"Burning up?" Sotisku almost muttered to himself. "Excuse me Taasha."

"Sure." Taasha sounded almost relieved.

The Captain's quarters were situated at one corner of the deck. A low door from the deck led to a small room. At one time this room had functioned as the study of the Captain. Now, it housed Faraco. This room led to a small sleeping quarter, which now housed Menesku and Suraco.

He stopped by Faraco's bed briefly, his blue eyes examining Faraco's prostrate form.

' Hmm... he'll live.'

Faraco was a most satisfactory patient, responding to his medicines with gusto, his body healing fast.

Entering the inner room he paused a bit. Liang was bend over Menesku. At the sound of his feet he looked up.

"Yo doctor." His amber eyes were clouded with worry. "Me ain't liking the way Menesku's looks."

Sotisku moved forward, casting a casual eye over Menesku and Suraco. Even though he maintained an indifferent mask, he quailed inwardly. Suraco looked pale but where Menesku was concerned, never had he felt the shadow of death so close at hand. It circled like a vulture over Menesku's head, patiently waiting for him to teeter over the abyss into the nothingness of the afterlife.

' Not on my watch brother.' Sotisku gritted his teeth, examining his patient carefully.

Even in this cold Menesku was covered by a thin film of sweat and his body seemed to be on fire. His light brown hair clung to his damp forehead and his breathing was laborious, almost as if he had a congestion in his throat, which prevented him from breathing properly. A faint putrid smell also floated in the air, a circumstance, which caused a deep nauseating feeling in his stomach.

Sotisku pursed his mouth. Turning he delved into his medicine bag. "Which amongst the two of you feel queasy at the sight of blood?"

There was a moment of silence before he heard Chulivey's voice. "Me."

"Very well, then you can go boil us some hot water and find something that we can tear up and make bandages, plenty of them." He looked up. "Leave them outside the door as soon as you are able."

Chulivey nodded making good her escape.

"I hope you have a strong stomach."

Liang looked affronted. "Me ain't not afraid of no blood."

"Hmm." Sotisku raised an eyebrow. "Just don't puke in the basin I'll give you to hold."

"Get on with yer work. I'll do mine just fine." He looked at the thing in Sotisku's hand. "Is that ... Why do ya need incense?"

"You'll see." He lit the fragrant sticks and placed them in a corner of the room.

Next he carefully began to undo the bandages that were wrapped around Menesku's torso and cast the soiled linen in a corner. He bit his lips taking in the numerous wounds that marked his body, though nothing worried him more that the narrow incision in Menesku's abdomen. Dark blood had clotted and formed a black dried plug over it.

Biting his lips he chose a scalpel from his arsenal and made a fresh cut on the wound. Immediately a stench filled the room as the scab burst open and a stale mixture of blood and pus poured out of the gaping wound.

"What the fuck!" Liang grimaced, a little green about his mouth.

"Hold the basin up Liang, I need to clean this wound."

"Well, yer the boss." His voice quivered only a little.

Sotisku painstakingly began to clean the wound, drawing out the poisonous blood till he was sure the wound was cleaned properly. The wound look just as angry as before, red lips bared menacingly at him. With a sigh he began to rebinding the wound.

There was a clunk outside the door.

"Get the water and the bandages Liang."

Liang put down the basin and fetched the said articles. Though Menesku was not burning up any more, he looked paler than before and he did not need to be a doctor to know that Menesku just lost a shitload of blood.

He sat quietly as he watched Sotisku bathe Menesku's forehead and gingerly draw the furs over him.

"He ain't getting any better is he?" He asked glumly.

Sotisku pondered on what to say before deciding on the truth. "No."

"So what now?"

Sotisku pursed his lips. "We appraise Lady Keeah..."

"And Lord Hotohori..."

"And Lord Hotohori." Sotisku rolled his eyes. "Of this situation."

OoOoOoOoO

"I wasn't talking about the miko Demon."

Keeah leaned back, watching Hotohori and Lee from under hooded lashes. Lee's eyes openly showed her confusion but even though she felt his piercing gaze on her face and sense the wheels in his head turn, his face gave no indication of being even remotely affected by her words.

' Demon you wear your mask so well.' She smiled inwardly. ' Still, it is time to put on my mysterious but bored face and watch them both stew over what I said. ' She frowned stifling a groan as a white-hot pain surged up her side as she tried to move. ' Now that would be amusing if only this damn pain would leave me alone.'

"So how is Faraco Lady Lee?" Hotohori continued smoothly, almost as if the last conversation had not even taken place. "I hope he is not too injured."

"Don't worry Hotohori." Lee smiled, gladly following Hotohori's lead. "He is fine now."

' Good grief girl.' Keeah smirked, knowing that her sardonic attitude was making Lee nervous. ' Learn to conceal your emotions better. Otherwise you will not even last two seconds in the court.'

"I am glad." Hotohori smiled, but it came out as a wince. His wounds were troubling him again.

Lee had noticed it as well. She put a hand on his arms and even though she smiled, there was genuine anxiety in her eyes. "Enough of that Hotohori. Quit worrying. Everything is fine." Her voice shook only a little towards the end.

' Miko, you lies are so apparent.'

Hotohori's nostrils flared only a little, apparently he too had noticed that slight inflection in Lee's voice. But he chose not to comment on it.

He returned the pressure of Lee's hand, smiling at her. "I know. After all, you are with me now."

Lee flushed, her cheeks heating up.

Keeah rolled her eyes. ' How cliché.' Her eyes rested on Lee's flushed countenance. ' But masterfully delivered. This is most amusing.' She could not stop the chuckle that rose to her lips.

Hotohori turned his angry eyes in her direction and Lee flushed harder than before.

"I am sorry." Another gurgle of laughter rose to her lips. "Go on Demon."

Hotohori narrowed his eyes.

Lee's face resembled a tomato. She put up a hand, almost instinctively to cool her heated cheeks. "I ... am glad." There was a terribly fake smile on her face. "But…" She gulped. "I have to go now ... Sotisku ... Bye Hotohori."

This had hardly any resemblance with dignified speech she had no doubt wished to deliver. She patted Hotohori's hand once more, getting ready to leave.

Hotohori looked at her. He was dead serious now. "I understand." His hold on her hand was light but firm. "And Lee, I meant what I said before. I treasure you above all else."

Lee froze. "Ho ... Hotohori..."

Keeah could not control herself no more. The little gurgle that rose to her lips now gave way to a full-blown laughter.

No bigger anticlimax could have been offered. Lee made some disjointed excuse and promptly fled. The door closed with a small sound behind her before Hotohori turned his angry eyes towards Keeah.

"I hope you are happy witch."

Keeah wiped the tears from her eyes. "I am sorry Demon. I ... could not control myself."

"That much was evident. What did you find so funny?"

"Let me see." Keeah's lips trembled. "Everything."

"Oh really." Hotohori's voice was sarcastic. "Maybe you are just jealous."

"Jealous?" Keeah's started to laugh again. "That must be it. I was floored by your terribly witty and original one-liners and so angry that you delivered them to somebody else."

Strangely, her admission seemed to make Hotohori more enraged. "You…" He seemed to be at a loss of words.

"Witch." Keeah offered helpfully.

"Yes." Hotohori sputtered angrily. "You ... don't understand. You have no ... heart."

Keeah's eyes twinkled. "So I am told."

"Gah! I just insulted you. Do you even realize that I just called you heartless?"

"You want to get under my skin? Try harder."

"Hmph." Hotohori wanted to turn away from her, if only his body permitted him to do so. "Damn." He groaned, turning a smoldering eye in her direction. "Liang is right. Women are trouble and you rank right at the top of that list."

Keeah bit her lips, trying to control her laughter. "Oh ... you flatterer." She stated with mock seriousness.

Hotohori narrowed his eyes, turning his head away, determined to ignore her.

Keeah grinned. ' My, he is angry. I guess I should not have laughed when he was trying to score a point with his Miko. ' She snuggled a bit deeper into the furs that covered her, much sober now.

"My Lord." Her voice was meek, though her eyes fairly danced with mirth. "I am sorry."

For a moment Hotohori stared at her. "No you are not." He said bluntly, quite forgetting his vow to ignore her.

"No I am not." Keeah admitted. "But I should not have laughed. I mean you were trying your best to be romantic and I ruined that."

"And what is your apology suppose to achieve now?"

"Aren't you glad that I recognized the error of my ways?"

Hotohori's lips twitched, but he kept his expression stern. "Have you?"

"Not really." She said seriously. "But next time, I give my word to hold in my laughter until after your Miko has left the room."

Hotohori could not keep a straight face any more. "Well, how thoughtful of you." He chuckled.

"Admit it. Your moves were lame."

"Forgive me for trying. I am new at this you know."

"As I said, lame moves, but I give you a point for sincere effort."

"I have been petted and worshipped all my life." Hotohori said quietly. "I have never tried to woo a woman before. I never needed to. Lee is different." He flushed. "I cannot believe that I am having this discussion with you."

"Well, neither do I." Keeah shrugged. "You would rather have this discussion with Menesku. But, I know what you are talking about." She paused. "You might not like what I say Demon, but the crux of the matter is, you are the Prince of Konon. Think before you make a move."

Hotohori frowned. "What are you trying to say?"

"Simply this, that while a common man may chose to do what he wants to do, a Prince must chose what is best for his state. Advice from one ruler to another, don't let your heart rule your head."

Hotohori's eyes flashed but then a small, resigned smile rose to his lips. "How true. Don't you wish that you were not a Prince, that you never had a drop of royal blood in you, that you were merely a commoner?"

For a while Keeah was silent. "No I don't." She said suddenly. "If you want to make a mark on society, if you want to change something, you will need power. Sure the crown gets heavy after a while, but it gives me the power I need to do what is best for my people. Without that, I am just a pebble in the road, which anyone could pick and throw away."

"Are you that power hungry witch?" Hotohori smirked.

"Don't be a hypocrite Hotohori." Keeah snapped. "Would you have even looked at Lee if she were not the miko? Would you have even noticed her if she had not the power to grant you your dearest wish?"

There was a startled expression in Hotohori's eyes, but before he could speak a sharp rap sounded on the door. Almost immediately Sotisku bounded in imperiously.

"Ah my Lord." He executed a prim bow in Hotohori's direction before plopping down beside Keeah and favoring her with a tired smile. "Princess."

Behind him Chulivey and Liang entered, dropping a curtsy to the both of them before taking a seat.

"Now that we all are here, let's begin." Keeah noticed that Sotisku was looking extremely pale and it was clear that under his brisk manner he was extremely exhausted. "I trust you are uncomfortable."

"I beg your pardon?" Hotohori was stumped.

"Well are you in pain?"

"Excuse me?"

"If you are not then it'll be useless to talk to you, after all the drug I gave you not only dulls your pain, but also your brain and if you are still under its influence…"

"I am not." Hotohori cut in sharply.

"I did not think you were."

"Yo doc." Liang broke in. "Get to the point."

"I will, when you shut up."

"Sotisku." Keeah's voice held a warning edge. "Is ... everything all right?"

"No." Sotisku's answer was quiet. "Everything is not all right."

Hotohori paled. "Menesku..."

"Is getting worse." Sotisku continued bluntly, with remarkable absence of tact. "And Suraco is only marginally better. With the resources that I have at present, there is only so much I can do."

"You are running out of medicine?" Keeah bit her lips.

"Princess, I am running out of medicine and time. Menesku and Suraco need that sort of attention, which cannot be provided on this ship. I do not have the resources to carry out the proper healing techniques, which they require. We need to dock somewhere, peaceful, mind you and..."

"We cannot return to Tur." Keeah said firmly.

"Tur?" Hotohori questioned. "Where is that?"

"Long story." Keeah frowned. "We are in no position to fight Sairi again."

"Or anybody else." Sotisku reminded her.

"Or anybody else." Keeah agreed.

"Then there's Nobu." Liang frowned. "But we ain't going there. I don't trust them thugs, especially that Izuke fellah."

"No, Nobu is not a place for us to go when we are so weakened." Hotohori agreed. "They'll be only too glad to rip us up and sell our hides to the highest bidder. Chulivey could you..."

"No." Chulivey's voice was small. "I can't transport us back to Konon. I had used too much chi during the last battle."

"Besides, she hasn't had much rest." Sotisku said grimly. "Her body did not have a chance to recuperate enough to perform such a long distance teleportation spell."

Silence descended.

"So what now?" It was Liang who finally spoke.

"Well, we could stay in Hokkan for a while." Sotisku said quietly.

Keeah looked at him sharply. "Hokkan?" Comprehension dawned in her eyes. "Lao Shin?"

Sotisku smiled. "You remember."

"Meself don't understand nothing." Liang frowned.

"You are not the only person." Hotohori said grimly. "Though the name does ring a bell."

"Lao Shin?" Chulivey massaged her temple. "I have heard of him! Isn't he that legendary doctor?"

"Yes." Sotisku smiled. "They say that if he touches a person, even the dead sit up. Now that's bullshit. But, fact is, he has unparalled healing powers, perhaps even surpassing those of the Suzaku seishi Mitsukake."

"Indeed?" Hotohori frowned.

"Of course, he is very eccentric, treating his patients only during the night. But that is merely the sign of a genius." Sotisku paused. "We should solicit his aid. I am persuaded that he will assist us."

"Do you know where he is?" Keeah asked.

"Yes." Sotisku grinned. "After all, I planned on visiting him one of these days. It is near the place they call the Old city. Chulivey should be able to get us that far, once we are reasonably close to land."

Hotohori looked at Chulivey.

She nodded.

"Very well." Keeah said. "Then we shall go to Lao Shin and solicit his aid."

OoOoOoOoO

For as far the eyes went, this seemed to be a land where no colors existed but the white of snow that carpeted the ground and the black of the sky that stretched like an upturned bowl over it. The winds that blew over the desolate scenery were harsh and cold, howling through the broken columns that still stood like silent sentinels in the white plain.

A solitary figure stood beside one of the columns, unwavering as the claws of the ruthless wind tore at his self. The cloak of dark wool, which swathed his erect body, flapped in the wind like the wings of a nocturnal bird. Slowly he put out a hand, receiving in his palm the soft icy flakes that had begun to rain from the heavens.

"Ah ... the winds of change ..." His voice was soft and cryptical. "Have you come at last?"

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Keep Reading !

Please Review !