Chapter One
"So, run this all by me again."
The bandit Kashira folded his arms, his bronze gaze flicking between Chichiri and the young, confused schoolgirl as he slowly digested what they had been saying. Deep within the bowels of the bandits' Reikaku-zan lair, to Hikari it seemed that she was a mile away from the odd, ethereal mountain-top and she sank back against the wall with a sigh, wrapping her arms around her knees as she struggled to arrange her long, heavy skirt in such a way that it wouldn't irritate her.
"You're sayin' that somewhere buried in this mountain is what, a bit of Suzaku or something? And that all of this stuff to do with your mark and mine, Chichiri, is because this brat Shishi picked up in the valley is actually Miaka's Shinzahou?"
"That's about the size of it, yes." Chichiri nodded his head, casting Hikari a smile at this juncture, and she returned it with a faint one of her own. "I'm pretty sure she was called here by Suzaku, you know. Taiitsukun seems to think it's likely, too. And that we can't just sit around here and do nothing, Tasuki. This world that Hikari saw when she first came here…"
"Yeah, an' that's another thing." The aforementioned Tasuki rubbed his chin, fang-tipped teeth glittering over his lip as he nodded his head. "This vision o' hers – or whatever it was. Kounan's destruction…right? What caused that, exactly? I thought we saved Kounan already! Is it because of this guy in the East, dabblin' in things that none of us understand? I get that you want us to up sticks an' go to Hokkan to see Amiboshi an' get the Seiryuu Shinzahou…but then what? Are we goin' to fight another war with Kutou over that stupid dragon of theirs or what?"
"Let's hope war doesn't factor into the equation." Chichiri said grimly. "So long as we prevent the Emperor of Kutou from aligning all four Shinzahou, I think we have a good chance of preventing whatever it was Hikari saw. But there's another thing – Hikari's powers are dormant. She's never had to use them, and aside from being drawn here, she's not been able to do anything like what a Shinzahou should be capable of. Which is why we can't disturb Suzaku's relic for the time being. And it also means something else – that she's potentially in danger. While she can't protect herself, Tasuki, you and I have the task of doing it for her. I'm sure her coming here is meant to help save all four of our lands, but now all of the Shinzahou are in this world, the opposite can also happen. So we need to definitely make sure it doesn't, all right?"
Hikari paled slightly at this, and the wolfish bandit shot her a keen-eyed glance.
"You scared, kid?" He asked softly. Hikari bit her lip, then slowly, she nodded.
"Some." She agreed. "But you would be too if you turned up in a world full of nothing but dead people."
"You ain't got any reason to be." Tasuki told her frankly, and for the first time since the two had met, Hikari saw a flicker of something else in the bandit's expression, something that hinted at the kind heart beyond the lupine exterior. "Chichiri an' me, we're pretty hot on protecting things. We did all right by your ma, an' I wouldn't let Taka or Miaka call either of us to heel for neglectin' our duties. If you're here, and you're the Shinzahou, sure…we'll protect you – but shit, I'd do it anyway, seein' as you're their brat. After all, ain't much else I can do for Tama or Miaka now. Like as not I'll never see either of them again an' I'm resigned to that fact now. But you got my word on it, Hikari…Chichiri an' I, we'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe while you're in Kounan…or wherever else, for that matter."
"Really?" Hikari eyed him in surprise. "I mean…really?"
"Your old man was a pretty good buddy of mine, once upon a time." Tasuki looked rueful. "An' your ma…well, she was the first girl I didn't hate, an' that's sayin' a lot. Of course, you little idiot. I said so, didn't I? Chichiri an' me, we'll see you safe."
"But we do have to go North, and Hikari will have to come with us." Chichiri reflected. "I know you can leave this place to Kouji and Anzu, Tasuki…I haven't broached the subject with Aidou yet, though I know what kind of a reception it will probably get. Still, there's nothing else to be done, you know. And I think maybe she'll understand, when I tell her it's to prevent what Hikari saw from coming true. Hikari…Hikari saw my children, Tasuki. My wife and my children, in this dead world. And she gave Aidou – and me – her word to try and help us stop it, in any way she could."
"She did, huh?" Tasuki eyed her anew, and Hikari felt a faint glimmer of pride inside of her as she registered the approving look in the bronze eyes. "Well. Jus' like Miaka, an' all. If I'd had any remaining doubts, Chichiri…"
"There's no doubt, you know." Chichiri shook his head. "Taiitsukun confirmed it. And she was able to come with me, to Taikyoku-zan…she's not a Seishi, nor a Miko. But she's still connected to the heavens. She probably has more spiritual power than I have, if she's able to shift between time streams like she has."
"But right now she can't switch it on, right?" Tasuki reflected. "Still, I suppose that's not surprising. Miaka's world is a weird place, after all. Noone probably taught her how to, an' Taka's not much use since he made the cross-over. He ain't the same Seishi he was when he was Tamahome – he's built differently, an' his power ain't inside o' him the way it used to be. So I guess noone bothered to tell Hikari here how to be useful…yeesh, what we have to do as babysitters, huh?"
He offered a wry smile, and despite herself, Hikari found she was returning it.
"Do I really have…some kind of power?" She asked. Chichiri nodded.
"Beyond all doubt." He agreed. "You are the Shinzahou…it's beyond question, you know. We just have to find a way to help bring it out – but right now, there's no hurry. We have other things we need to do…we need to head towards the northern border. I'm still thinking about what Taiitsukun said – it's better we're as prepared as we can be, because Hokkan's a cold place at the best of times and if she was right – about the Shinzahou's guardians…I don't know what kind of a threat Suboshi might be."
"He's dead. He won't bother us." Tasuki shook his head, but Chichiri's expression remained troubled.
"We know from our own experiences that spirits can still be strong and determined fighters." He said gravely. "And Suboshi had a lot of grievances stored up inside of him. If he knew who Hikari was…considering his animosity for Tamahome and Miaka both…"
He trailed off, and again Hikari felt a chill at the implications in his words.
"I really don't want to meet this guy." She admitted. "Are you sure I need to come with you?"
"We can't very well leave you here unprotected." Chichiri reminded her.
"But if he's that scary and dangerous…I can't fight a real person, let alone a ghost." Hikari objected. "I can't even get over the vaulting horse in gym class. What do you expect me to do if he attacks me?"
"Get your head down an' leave it to us." Tasuki said grimly, his hand brushing against the tip of his metal fan as he did so. "But we ain't gonna let you meet him, if there's another option. Don't worry about it, kid. Chichiri and me, we've had dealings with Shinzahou, ghosts and demons an' survived them. And we've faced Suboshi before, too. We'll deal with it. You'll be fine."
"Then all that's left to do is speak to Aidou." Chichiri said heavily. "And Kouji and Anzu, of course, too."
"I know which I'd rather negotiate." Tasuki smirked, and Chichiri looked rueful.
"Yes…" He reflected. "Oh well. This time, at least, I think she will understand. At least, considering our last conversation – I really hope she will. That this time it's for her and the children as much as anything – I think she might be willing to let it go. She might even prepare food for our journey, you know."
"Tell her to do that." Tasuki nodded. "We'll need it, if we're goin' snow-walkin'."
"Is it really so cold in the North?" Hikari looked surprised. "It's so warm here, I suppose I thought…"
"Hokkan's mountains are always covered in snow, and the land is harsh." Chichiri nodded. "But the area we're going to – if my memory serves me correctly – is probably closer to the Western border with Sairou than it is in the real North. It will still be cold, you know – but not as bad as if we were to go right to the uppermost tip."
"Sairou?" Tasuki looked blank. "Why there?"
"Because the last time we saw Amiboshi was on our trip between the two." Chichiri reflected. "And Suboshi took him somewhere…somewhere nearby. Miaka said he was staying in a village – and it must have been near the Hokkan/Sairou border. So that's where, I think, we'll begin. It's the best clue we have to go on, anyway."
"I suppose it is." Tasuki reflected. "All right. Then I'll go grab Anzu an' Kouji an' explain. And also tell them to keep the cub in harness till we're gone – just in case. She has some hair-brained idea that the next Suzaku mission I go on, she's comin' too – an' you can imagine how well that went down with Anzu, when it was mentioned."
"If by cub you mean Shishi, it's probably already too late to keep it a secret, you know." Chichiri said casually, eying his friend in wry amusement.
"What do you mean?" Tasuki looked startled, and Chichiri grinned. He raised his hand, spreading his fingers as the door of the chamber swung back, revealing a small, red-haired figure who tumbled forward at the sudden and unexpected loss of her support.
"Shishi!" Tasuki's eyes widened, and Chichiri spread his hands.
"Told you, you know." He said evenly.
Shishi scrambled to her feet, a defiant look in her eye as she dusted herself down.
"You were going to go without me!" She said accusingly.
"You were listenin' to stuff that doesn't concern you." Tasuki responded. "What are you playin' at, you little ape? Do you really think I'm going to take you somewhere an' get you killed?"
"I'm not going to get killed." Shishi folded her arms. "But I want to come with you and Chichiri. If that brat can come, why can't I? I can at least use a sword – she can't even walk without falling over."
Indignation rose inside Hikari at this, and she stood, putting her hands on her hips.
"You try walking straight when your legs are wrapped up in something as heavy as this!" She exclaimed. "You try wearing it and see how much luck you have!"
"Besides, Shishi-chan, if you were listening, you'll know why Hikari has to come with us to Hokkan." Chichiri added softly. "This is Suzaku's work. Hikari is a servant of Suzaku, just like your father and I. She is also our responsibility…this has nothing to do with you."
"Father?" Hikari blinked, then, "Wait a minute – Genrou…Tasuki is your…dad?"
"You can't be that stupid…hadn't you noticed that already?" Shishi was scornful. "It's not like we don't look alike. And so what if he is? It's none of your business either way."
"But you call him Kashira!"
"Of course I do. It's who he is, an' I ain't the kind of girl who gets favours because my Dad happens to be in charge, or because he's one of Suzaku's chosen, unlike some people!" Shishi said indignantly. "Kashira is Kashira. Papa or not. That's how it works, although you're too weird to understand anything about it. And I don't care if you are some kind of holy treasure, or if your father was Tamahome! It doesn't make you any better than me – even if the Miko was your mother, you still look like a stupid kid to me!"
"Shishi, shut your trap." Tasuki said bluntly. "You ain't coming. Hikari is. It's decided. You have other things t'be doin', so go do them."
"I am too coming with you." Shishi said darkly. "If you go without me I'll just sneak out and follow you anyway, you know – or did you forget that when I was little you showed me all the ways in and out of the mountain, just in case there was an attack and I needed to get to safety? You can't keep me here and even Okaasan doesn't know all the passages I do. Besides, you're breaking your word. You more or less said I could come before, so why are you backtracking now? Is it because of her,"
She jabbed a finger in Hikari's direction.
"Or are you jus' scared of what Okaasan will say, huh? I want to come with you – what's so wrong about that? I'm almost fifteen, dammit – I'm not a little kid and I'll never be a proper bandit if you don't let me outta the mountain!"
"Chichiri, tell me why it is Meikyo never yells at you like that?" Tasuki sent his comrade a helpless look, and amusement glittered in Chichiri's ruby eye.
"Meikyo's eight years old, you know." He said simply. "Shishi's almost an adult. She wants to spread her wings a little, that's all. But Shishi-chan, it is dangerous, doing Suzaku's work. If there was another way than to take Hikari, I'd leave her behind – but it isn't safe or fair to expect people here to look after her when Tasuki and I are the only ones who really can. You'll make your mother worry, and it won't be as much fun as you think, I'm sure. Remember that your father and I lost friends fighting for the God's cause."
"I know." Shishi seemed to calm some at this, raising serious bronze eyes to her uncle's, and a surprised jolt ran through Hikari's body as she registered the almost instantaneous change in demeanour between the petulant, angry fourteen year old and the young adult warrior. "But Chichiri – maybe I shouldn't've been listening, but I did, an' I heard what you said. About Meikyo an' Eiju an' Aunt Aidou. And they're my family, too. So if you an' Papa can protect them, well, so can I. I'm serious about it, too. Eiju wants to be a fighter but he's still a kid – more of a kid than I am, and he ain't grown up with Aniue and Kashira an' everyone teachin' him how to survive in the mountains. And Meikyo…Mei-chan's still tiny. I ain't gonna sit here in Reikaku-zan knowin' something horrible might come to eat them up. I want to help – this is my fight too. So I'm coming with you. No matter what…I am."
"Shishi…" Tasuki faltered, and the young bandit turned pleading eyes on her father.
"Jin said he'd come with me, if you agreed." She added. "Because I figured if he came too, you'd know I'd be all right. Jin's strong, and he fights good, an' he's the only one better than me with a sword. And maybe we can help…you never know. You and Chichiri, you're not so young any more, you know."
"Cheeky whelp." At this Tasuki laughed, brushing his hand playfully against the back of her head. "How old do ya think ancient is, anyway? I'm no more'n thirty five an' I'll tell you when Chichiri an' I were fighting for Miaka, we met Byakko Seishi in their nineties who still packed one hell of a fightin' punch. You pipe down about age already…we're far from past it, believe you me."
"You know what I mean." Shishi was unperturbed. "So is it all right? Jin and I, we'll come too?"
"Your Ma'll have kittens." Tasuki shook his head slowly, and Chichiri grinned.
"Kittens like Shishi, no doubt." He reflected. "Tasuki-kun, you shouldn't be surprised. Shishi's your daughter. She's taking after her father, that's all. She's just as stubborn, impulsive and bull-headed as you were when we first met."
"What's that mean?" Tasuki looked startled, and Shishi nodded triumphantly.
"There you are! I'm like you." She said firmly. "So in that case, you must understand why I want to go too, mustn't you? Please, Papa. Okaasan will agree, if you tell her it's okay with you. And Jin will come too. You know you can trust him, don't you? And he's stronger than most of the others."
Tasuki sighed, casting Chichiri a glance, and the other man shrugged.
"It's not up to me." He said evenly. "She's your wolf cub, Tasuki."
"Lion cub." Shishi corrected. "Papa's a wolf. I'm a lion."
"You're a goddamn pain in the ass, too." Tasuki muttered. "Fine. If Jin comes too, then…then all right. But listen. If it gets dangerous, you an' he get outta the line of fire, you understand? An' you can do your share of helpin' Hikari, too…believe me, it won't be any picnic for any of us – you are not goin' near any Seiryuu Celestial Warriors, I want that understood now. All right?"
"Alright." Shishi nodded solemnly, though excitement sparkled in her bronze eyes. "Are we leaving right away, or…?"
"Not right away. I have to speak to your Ma and to Kouji and explain everythin', and Chichiri the same to his family." Tasuki shook his head. "But you can do somethin' to make yourself useful in the meantime. Take Hikari an' find her somethin' better to wear…somethin' she can travel in, because she doesn't seem to take well to bein' dressed in Aidou's fussy skirts."
"That was only because we were going to see Boushin, you know." Chichiri said mildly. "And we wanted her to make a good impression. But you're right – she needs something she can travel in more easily. Her own clothes were completely destroyed?"
"Burnt an' fallin' apart when she got here." Tasuki confirmed. "Well, Shishi? You heard what I said. Take Hikari an' do as I tell you."
"But…" Shishi cast Hikari a doubtful glance, then, "You won't skip off without me, if I do?"
"Idiot, of course not. We're taking Hikari too, remember?"
"Promise?"
"Kashira's word."
"All right then." Shishi sighed heavily, but nodded her head. "Hikari, you better come with me."
"Do I really have to?" Hikari sent Chichiri a glance. "I'd rather come with you…Aidou-san is at least nice to me."
"Oh, stop whining and get up already." Shishi snapped, grabbing her roughly around the wrists and hauling her to her feet. "You might think you're special, but I'm no happier about this than you are. Kashira's orders are Kashira's orders, so deal with it and come with me."
Hikari sent Chichiri an emploring glance, but the Seishi spread his hands.
"Better you're with Shishi than with Aidou when she finds out where we're going." He said lightly. "Trust me, Hikari-chan – and let Shishi do as she's told. Besides, if you're going to travel together, you should at least get to know each other a little – at least so you're at the point where one of you won't kill the other while Tasuki and I are sleeping, you know."
His ruby eye twinkled with mischief.
"After all, you'll have to be room-mates, if we find an inn." He added innocently.
The identical looks of horror on Hikari and Shishi's faces made Tasuki let out a low chuckle, tapping his daughter on the shoulder.
"Still want to come, kid?" He murmured. "You can back out, I won't blame you."
"I'm coming." Shishi said obstinately. "Even if I do have to spend time with her. I'm coming, and that's that. Hikari, stop just standing there gawking. I don't want to have to pull you along again, and I'm not going to hang around waiting all day. Come on!"
And with a hefty tug, Hikari found herself hauled out of the room towards the narrow corridor that led up to the chambers in which Anzu had first confined her on her last visit to the mountain. Instead of following the same route, however, Shishi led her through a side hallway, and up a different flight of stairs to a small room at the very top. Banging open the door, she gave her companion a little shove, pushing her inside, and Hikari found herself in a bright, if plainly furnished chamber, a wooden chest against one wall, and a bed similar to the one in the other room placed up against the other.
"Well?" The young bandit demanded. "Undress, then. You can't put anything else on over the top of that, and you can't go walking in a skirt like that one."
"Are you going to watch me?" Hikari was appalled. "I'm not just stripping off, you know – not till you give me something else to put on first!"
"I was getting to that." Shishi snapped back. "Just do as you're told already. I don't really want you wearing my clothes, you know…I'm going to have to find something that I really don't care about, since it'll probably get wrecked anyway."
"Your clothes are already wrecked." Hikari shot back. "You look like a girl who wants to be a boy. Or a street fighter from one of the stupid computer games that my brother thinks are so cool. I don't want to look like that!"
"What are you babbling about?" Shishi looked non-plussed. "I dress like a bandit, that's all. I don't even know what a computer game is – are you insane? Is that what Suzaku's magic does if it's inside of you – makes you nuts?"
"I'm not insane and I don't want to be here any more than you want me to be." Hikari snapped back, nonetheless beginning to loosen the ribbons that held the top of her outfit in place.
"So why not go home then?" Shishi demanded.
"Because I promised Chichiri and Aidou-san that I'd help." Hikari said darkly. "And I didn't ask to be the Shinzahou, you know, so there's no reason for you to get pissy at me."
"No reason, huh?" Shishi snorted. "You have Kashira and Chichiri flustering around you saying you have to be protected, when you're just a damn useless, whining wimp of a girl…and you say there's no reason? If you weren't the Shinzahou, noone'd care what you did or where you went, you know."
"Are you jealous because your father paid me some attention?" Hikari knew she was being catty now, but she didn't care. "Is that it?"
"Kashira is Kashira. You wouldn't understand anything about it." Came the brusque reply, as the bandit threw back the trunk lid, rummaging around inside and then pulling out a few items of clothing, tossing them on the bed. "There. Put that on, and get a move on. If you dress too much like a bandit, people might make the mistake of thinking you're worth fighting, and there's no way in hell I'll ever be wearing this kind of stuff…you can have it with pleasure. You're that kind of girl, after all."
Hikari bristled, bending to pick the items up.
"You're really rude, you know that?" She muttered.
"Well, you're really pathetic." Shishi returned. "Shit, can't you even unlace your own clothing?"
"The knot is tight…I have it now." Hikari grimaced. "Just stop picking on me already! I'm doing my best, all right? I don't know anything about your stupid world and it's not my fault. You've been a bitch to me since you found me in the valley and just because you can wave a sword, it doesn't make you better than I am. You're younger than me. You need to shut up – if anyone in the grade below spoke to my friends or I like you do, we'd just laugh at them."
"You'd be laughin' less, then, when I used the sword to slit your throat." Shishi said, her tones dangerously low. "It's a good thing for you that Kashira wants you around. Else…"
She trailed off meaningfully, brushing her hand against the hilt of her weapon, and Hikari snorted.
"You wouldn't hurt me. You're bluffing."
"Am I?"
"Yes." Hikari said frankly. "Because Meikyo likes you, and I can't imagine she would, if you were that kind of girl. So this must be a special effort for my benefit – and you might as well quit. I don't care if you like me or if you don't. I don't even really want to speak to you, or wear your clothing. I'm only doing this because in the end, I want to go back home. And I can't do that…I can't until I've helped in rescuing your world."
"Now the truth comes out – you don't really want to help at all."
"Yes, I do." Hikari snapped. "Chichiri offered to send me back anyway but I told him not to. I said I'd stay and I will, but you're not making the experience any nicer. Why can't you learn something from Meikyo anyway? She's been nothing but sweet to me since I arrived – she even called me Hikari-neechan, like she'd known me forever. If you are cousins – and she said you are – why is she so gentle and you such a crazed bitch?"
"What have you been doing to Mei-chan?" Shishi's eyes narrowed. "If you've done anything to her with your Suzaku weirdness…"
"What, you're jealous of that, too?" Hikari snorted. "Does everyone belong to you or something? Yeesh. You're such a baby. Of course I didn't do anything to her. She was just nice to me, that's all. She and Chichiri and Eiju and Aidou-san were all nice to me. That's why I'm staying. Because even if you're insane, they're good people, and I don't want bad things to happen to them."
"Geez, your parents must be glad to get a break from you, if all you do is whine all the time…what the hell kind of world is your world anyway?" Shishi dropped down onto her bed, eying her companion with wary dislike. "And do you ever shut up talking? You must really love the sound of your own voice – do people actually listen to you or do they fall down asleep?"
Hikari sent Shishi a dark glower, but the mention of parents had sparked both doubt and homesickness inside of her and, unwilling to let her companion see her weak enough to cry, she chose not to retort, instead turning her attention to changing out of the long skirted gown and into the more practical, if still clearly feminine clothing Shishi had tossed her way. She glanced at herself, then shot the bandit a doubtful look.
"Why do you have clothes like this anyway?"
"What now?" Shishi frowned. "What do you mean? I do have clothes, you know."
"I mean clothes that don't look like they lost a battle with a dust-cloud…clothes that aren't half-way to being out of a budget-rate bandit movie?"
"My Grandmother made them." Shishi snorted. "I never wear anything that girly, if I can get away with it. But Obaachan is sort of hard to argue with. Even Jii-chan and Papa…I mean Kashira…have trouble in that department. So it's easier to shut up an' just take it, else you might get whacked. That's all."
"Grandmother?"
"Yeah…why, don't you have one of those, or something?" Shishi looked startled. Hikari frowned, nodding her head.
"Yeah. I guess I have…two." She acknowledged. "But they're both kind of weird. I only really see one, and her only occasionally. She doesn't like my Dad all that much, and she and my Mother don't always speak. I guess I never imagined a bandit'd have other family outside this mountain – I guess there's no accounting for taste."
"You're an idiot, then, because you already know I do. Aunt Aidou an' Chichiri and Meikyo and Eiju." Shishi snapped.
"Yes, but…I meant other family."
"Papa's the youngest and he has a shitload of sisters. Aidou-obasama is the oldest but the others are just as forceful." Shishi shrugged. "Papa…Kashira ain't real keen on women, an' if you'd met my aunts, you'd know why. Obaachan too. Aidou-obasama is the only one I can stand to be around all that much – she ain't quite so crazy on the subject of Reikaku-zan as the others."
Hikari reached up to loose her hair, fingering it thoughtfully, then casting her unwilling guide a glance.
"Do you have something I can use to brush my hair with?" She asked doubtfully. Shishi raised an eyebrow, then nodded, burrowing back into the chest and tossing a brush in her companion's direction.
"There. Use that. But if you have lice, I'm warning you…"
"Lice?" Hikari paused, staring at the redhead in indignation. "What do you mean, lice?"
"Well, I don't know what your world is like." Shishi shrugged her shoulders. "So I'm just saying. If you do, I don't want them."
"I don't have lice." Hikari snapped. "Or any other kind of nasty bug. I actually wash, you know – something which you look like you could do more of!"
"I bathe every day." Shishi shot back. "Just because I get a little dusty runnin' about the mountain don't make me dirty, you know. Kashira an' Okaasama both always drummed it into me that way."
"Your hair looks like you haven't brushed it in a year."
"Your hair looks like someone skinned a horse an' used the tail to decorate your head." Shishi retorted.
Hikari sighed, brushing out her thick, dark hair as she prepared to tie it into its habitual braid.
"I wish you weren't coming with us." She said at length. "I don't want to go anywhere as it is, but at least Chichiri is nice to me. And your father…Genrou…I think he will be, too. But you're not. And it's going to be a crappy enough trip without that."
"Don't call him Genrou." Shishi said firmly. "You're not Aniue or Okaasan and noone calls him Genrou just like that…it's not polite, an' you're just a brat from another world. You're nothing special."
"Then what the hell do you think I should call him, brainiac?" Hikari demanded. "Genrou's his name, isn't it?"
"Tasuki." Shishi said evenly. "Because Chichiri said you were one of Suzaku's people – although the God really messed up when he chose to do anything with you. So call him Tasuki…but don't call him Genrou, like you're better than every bandit on the mountain. I told you – only Aniue an' Okaasan call him that. You ain't qualified, so don't even try."
"Fine." Hikari tied the ribbon in the end of her long hair, tossing the finished article back over her shoulders. "Tasuki then. Either way, you acted like a brat to make him let you come along. And who's this Jin, anyway? You have a boyfriend or something, stuck in this anthill?"
"A boyfriend?" Shishi stared. Then she burst out laughing. "You're a real case, you know that? Don't be dumb. Of course Jin's not my boyfriend – idiot girl."
"What, then? Your brother?"
"Uh-uh. I'm Kashira's only kid." Shishi shook her head. "Jin's my friend, that's all. I guess we've grown up together, so in that sense, we are like brother an' sister a little bit. But shit, he's not my boyfriend. Like I'd even have time to worry about pathetic, girly things like that when I'm going to be a bandit like my Pa an' wield the tessen one day. Yeesh. You are literally from another world, an' that's for sure."
"Well, duh." Hikari snapped back sarcastically. "No surprises to me that you're an only child, though. I'm sure that Tasuki took one look at you when you were born and decided that one was more than enough."
She put special emphasis on the Kashira's celestial name, and Shishi bristled.
"At least he didn't fill me full o' magic so that he could kick me outta my world an' get rid of me." She retaliated. "I know what a Shinzahou is, an' that's what your mother did. She put Suzaku's magic into you so that one day you'd wind up here and she'd be rid of you. Shinzahou belong in this world, after all – how does that feel, to know that?"
Thwack!
At this, something inside Hikari snapped and before she knew what she was doing she had lashed out, slapping her companion clean across the cheek as anger glittered in her dark eyes.
"Don't you dare say anything about my family when you don't know anything about it!" She exclaimed, not far from tears now as she struggled with her emotions. "My mother did no such thing – my mother loves me and you've no right to say things like that when you don't even know her! Besides…besides…if I went back home, it wouldn't just be Chichiri and his family who'd be killed, but you and your mum and your dad and your stupid mountainful of bandits too! So get that into your thick, stupid head before you shoot your mouth off – because even if you can yell at your dad, you're not going to yell at me!"
With that she turned on her heel, stalking for the door as she felt the tears spill down her cheeks, determined not to let the bewildered bandit see her cry. She flung it back, hurrying down the hall-way as she sought some kind of sanctuary, her homesickness welling up inside of her as she wished – not for the first time – that she had never gone to the library that night.
"Or that I'd never taken the money from Uncle Keisuke." She whispered, dashing the tears away as more fell. "I did that, and now I'm here…and I don't want to be stuck in this place with that girl! And what if she's right…what if that is how Mum and Dad feel about me? They didn't…come after me. What if they do know where I am…but they don't care? What if…what if they could come into this world to find me, but…they just don't want to do it?"
"Woah, girl."
As she rounded the corner, she ran headlong into someone, almost falling and strong arms grabbed a hold of her shoulders, steadying her on her feet. "Where are you runnin' off to in such a hurry – and hey, what's with the waterworks? What's a girl doin' running loose around Reikaku-zan – somethin' happen to you, kid?"
At the friendly tone in the young man's voice, Hikari swallowed hard, raising her gaze uncomprehendingly to the stranger's, and he grinned.
"Hey, I know. You're Hikari, ain't you?" He said warmly. "But why're you cryin'? Surely you can't hate the mountain that much already?"
"How do you know…my name?" Hikari swallowed hard, finally finding her voice.
"Everyone does, right at the moment." The boy – for yes, he was not much older than she was – cast her another genial smile. He touched her cheek, dashing the tears away, then, "Lemme guess. You an' Shishi aren't seein' eye to eye on a few things – am I right?"
Hikari swallowed hard, nodding her head.
"She's a bitch and I hate her." She muttered. "Let me go, will you? I don't want to be here. I'm going to the village…I'm going to Chichiri. At least he's nice to me – I don't want to be with that stupid girl any more, so get out of my way!"
"No can do, kid." Her companion shook his head. "It's dangerous on your own, and I doubt you know your way down to the Eastern Village anyway, do you?"
"Not really." Hikari admitted. "But it's just…I…I don't…"
"Shishi's got a tongue on her, and not much tact or discretion." The young man looked amused. "But it's all right. Really. Her bark is worse than her bite – you'll get used to it, I promise."
"She said some things…about my family. And the fact I…came from another world."
"Well, she should know better." Her companion said firmly. "An' I'll tell her so, if you want me to. But stop with the cryin', huh? I'm not sure what to do with you, when you're leakin' like that. And besides, it's not normal to cry all over a stranger – at least, it ain't in this world. I can't speak for yours."
Despite herself, Hikari smiled.
"Sorry." She murmured, obediently drying her eyes, and the bandit's grin widened.
"No problem." He said easily. "Though to be honest, I'm kinda glad you ran into me…even if it was literally. I've been curious to see you, but you were spirited away off the mountain before I got back to it from an errand last night. I'm Jintsui – Jin – an' Kashira's jus' told me that I'm comin' North with you, to Hokkan – right?"
"Jin?" Hikari blinked, then she bit her lip. "You're Shishi's friend Jin?"
"Yeah." Jin nodded his head, his tail of dark hair swinging as he did so. "Why? You think I'm taking sides? Believe me, girl fights ain't something I take any sides in…I'm with Kashira on this. Girls are fine, but let them sort out their own shit…besides, you're Suzaku no Miko's daughter, right? So your Ma is a friend of the Kashira. An' Kashira's pretty much family to me – to all of us, on the mountain. So I got no bones with you. We're allies…an' travel companions."
"I guess so." Hikari looked surprised. Then she smiled. "When Shishi said you were coming too, I was worried you'd be ganging up on me, like she has been."
"Well, as I said, Shishi shoots her mouth off before she thinks about it." Jin shrugged his shoulders. "Truth is, she's stir crazy – bein' trapped in the mountain when she's dyin' to see some action. She's so determined to be like Kashira and wield the tessen, but she's a girl, an' understandably noone wants her getting hurt. I mean she's tough – an' good with her blade. But…not everyone sees it like that. An' besides, Kashira'd go up a tree if anythin' happened to her. Anzu-sama too. So…"
He shrugged, sending her a crooked smile.
"She's probably kinda jealous of you. You got invited along and she had to fight her corner." He added. "Kashira said he wanted me to come help keep an eye on the both o' you, and I said I would…but I got the feeling he ain't too happy about Shishi's taggin' along. Thing is, though, if he said no, she'd trail us anyway. Ain't noone who knows the passages better'n Shishi, except Kashira himself."
"I still don't like her." Hikari said decidedly. She frowned, glancing up at him.
"What is a tessen, anyway? I mean…what's so special about it – whatever it is?"
"You've seen the Kashira's silver fan, right?" Jin looked surprised, and Hikari nodded.
"Sure. What of it?"
"That's it. That's the tessen. Iron fan. Get it?"
"Yes…but…why such a big deal?"
"Well, no doubt you'll get to see, if we meet any trouble on our trip." Jin reflected. "Kashira's always had it, for as long as I can remember. An' before him it was Hakurou, the old boss – he's still a legend in the mountains, too. But Kashira is more powerful – because of Suzaku. The tessen has a holy spell on it – it always did have, even before Kashira was on Reikaku-zan. But because of who Kashira is, it's stronger than it was. It's controlled by the will of the person who holds it – and it throws fire."
"Fire?" Hikari's eyes widened. "As in…?"
"As in red hot flames." Jin nodded. "It's one hell of a sight, I'll tell ya. He ain't had to use it much, not lately. But I've seen it once or twice…I'm tellin' you, if you ever had doubts why Kashira was Kashira…"
He shrugged.
"You'll see." He added. "When we go North."
"I hope we won't meet trouble." Despite herself, Hikari shivered. "I'm really not looking forward to going on this trip."
"It'll be fine." Jin assured her. "Me, I can't wait. Ain't never been so far north as Hokkan. Never been out of Kounan, to tell you the truth."
"Are your family…from near here?"
"Good question." Jin laughed, as if Hikari had just told a joke. "Honestly? Not a clue. My Ma worked near here for a while, when I was little. But we travelled around the southern cities of Kounan quite a lot – she died in Souun, in the end – that's the city at the foot of the mountain – it's Reikaku-zan territory, but it's also near Kaou-zan, where our rivals hang out, so it's pretty fierce territory, sometimes. Anyway, when Ma died, I kinda just drifted here. No idea what kind of family she came from, or anything about her, really. I was too young to ask and my dad took off before I was even born…I don't know who he was, so I can't really tell you anything about it."
"I…I'm sorry."
"Why? Ain't nothing to cry about with me." Jin grinned. "I was lucky. Wound up wi' Aniki an' Kashira an' learnt the tricks o' the trade. This mountain's home to me now…I don't have any regrets. My Ma wasn't a great ma anyway."
"I see." Hikari bit her lip. "So you've been here a long time."
"Shishi an' I grew up together, almost." Jin nodded. "That's why you can trust me when I say she ain't as bad as you think she is. Jus' give it time. You'll see I'm right."
He grinned at her.
"An' I'll tell her the same about you, because I don't think you're a monster or a freak, either." He said with a shrug. "You might be from another world but you look pretty normal to me."
"I am normal." Hikari objected. "Why wouldn't I be? This is the weird world...not mine."
Jin eyed her keenly, then he laughed, nodding.
"If you say so." He said genially. "Come on. Where did you leave Shishi? Kashira was talkin' to Anzu-sama and Aniki when I left 'em, about keepin' this place running. I got the impression we weren't goin' to be hanging around longer than need be - I think we're headin' to the Eastern Village to meet Chichiri an' then we'll be off. We'd better find the lion cub, else she'll scratch our eyes out."
"We should leave her behind. Serve her right if we did." Hikari said bluntly. Jin raised an eyebrow.
"That bad, huh?" He asked lightly, and Hikari nodded.
"Yes." She agreed flatly. "And I left her in her room. I'm not going back up there, though. So if you want to go look for her, be my guest. But I'm not going."
"Her room?" Jin frowned. "I ain't allowed up there. Girl's room, an' all...Kashira's the only one allowed in Shishi's room, because he's her Pa an' all. Rest of us...mountain rule. Just cos some of us ain't so nice an' cuddly as others, if you know what I mean."
"Nice and...?" Hikari looked bewildered. "No, I haven't a clue what you mean."
"Well, let's put it this way. First time Anzu-sama came to stop here, one of the bandits here then tried t' rape her, because she was a woman on the mountain an' that was unusual." Jin said frankly, and Hikari's eyes opened wide with alarm. "O' course, these days, Anzu-sama ain't the kind of woman you'd think of crossing...she's got a mean sword arm, for a chick - some people say she was taught some by the Emperor's father, Hotohori-sama, an' I ain't never heard Kashira refute it, so maybe it's true. Either way, she's pretty formidable with a blade - besides, she's Kashira's woman...so if anyone tried it, I guess Kashira'd be none to amused. He's pretty laid back most of the time - he's not into randomly attackin' fellow bandits. But I figure, there's a rule for a reason an' that's it. Shishi an' the little one - Chichiri-san's Meikyo - whenever they're here, they're off limits. An' that includes Shishi's chamber. So I can't go get her. You'll have to."
"Not happening." Hikari tossed her head. "I told you. I don't want her to come. And I'm not speaking to her more than I have to, anyway. Not till she apologises for saying my mother made me the Shinzahou to get rid of me to this world!"
"She said that?" Jin looked startled, and Hikari nodded.
"Yes." She said evenly. "And it made me mad."
"Shit, the cub was shooting her mouth off good an' proper this time." Jin sighed, then shrugged, offering her a smile. "All right. Well. We'll go find Kashira. Shishi'll probably come down on her own, if she's so keen on travellin' with us to Hokkan. An' there's probably something we can do that's more useful, in terms of preparin' what to take with us."
He grinned at her.
"You didn't bring anything with you to this world? Nothin' magical or anythin' like that?"
"Magical?" Hikari stared, and Jin spread his hands.
"Well, I don't know what's in your world. It was just a wondering." He said easily. "Guess not, huh?"
"I don't even have my clothes." Hikari frowned. "All I have is my stupid watch, which doesn't even work. But I don't want to take it off, because if I do, I feel like I'll completely lose myself in this weird place. So no. I don't have anything to take with me. I'm stuck wearing Shishi's clothes - or hadn't you noticed?"
"I had. They suit you." Jin remarked. "You're more of a girl than Shishi is, that's for sure."
"That isn't hard." Hikari muttered. Jin just laughed, steering her along the hallway and down some steps towards a chamber at the bottom. From inside came the noise of laughter and voices, and Hikari felt suddenly awkward, Jin's words about Anzu still fresh in her mind. She faltered, and Jin cast her another grin.
"It's all right. I'm not putting you up for market." He said softly. "Not this door. The next. Go on. Knock. The door won't bite ya."
"O...Okay." Hikari did as she was bidden, and at the sound of the bandit's accent, Jin raised his voice.
"It's Jin, Kashira, and Hikari-san is with me. Can we come on in?"
"Yeah, better had." Came the response, and Jin winked at his companion, pushing back the door and leading her inside.
"I thought you were with Shishi?" Tasuki eyed her in confusion, and Hikari pulled a face.
"Shishi is rude." She said firmly. "And I don't like her."
"Did she say something to you, Hikari-chan?" Anzu looked startled, but somehow, in front of the girl's mother, Hikari couldn't bring herself to be quite as explicit as she had been to the forthright Jin. She shrugged.
"She's rude." She repeated. "And I'd had enough. She's still in her room, but I found Jin and he said he'd bring me here."
"Anzu, go get the cub, will you?" Tasuki looked impatient. "Yeesh, bringing girls on any mission creates six times the complications."
"I'll go." Anzu nodded. "Genrou...take care, won't you? I mean, going North."
The bandit paused for a moment, and Hikari saw his gaze soften slightly. He nodded.
"You know me better than to think I'll get killed by a little snow and a couple of jumped up Seiryuu Seishi." He said frankly. "Besides, I don't think Amiboshi'll give us any shit. His brother - maybe, but hopefully it won't come to that. And besides, Chichiri an' I, we can take Suboshi. He was a hothead, but an idiot."
"Just make sure you do." Anzu eyed him for a moment, and Hikari bit her lip, remembering her mother and father as she saw the unspoken affection between the bandit couple. "And for God's sake, make sure you bring Shishi back in one piece. All right?"
"I wouldn't be taking her, but it's better that than she go of her own accord." Tasuki grimaced. "I knew showing her all those tunnels was a bad idea...now she's almost fifteen it's damn impossible keepin' her on the mountain. At least if she's with Chichiri and me, she won't get into as much trouble. An' Jin is coming too...so..."
"Yes. I'm glad...Jin, Shishi listens to you, so make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Anzu's gaze shifted to Jin, who nodded, saluting playfully.
"You got it, Anzu-sama." he said genially. "Don't worry. Shishi'll be just fine. Hikari-san too. I'll make sure of it."
Tasuki sighed.
"See..." He said resignedly. "It's much simpler, when you're dealing with a guy. You tell him what to do, and he does it."
Anzu's eyes twinkled slightly at this, and she glanced at Hikari.
"You do what Genrou and Chichiri tell you, too, okay?" She said softly. "I know you're new to this world, but none of us want harm to come to you, either."
"I...I will." Hikari looked startled, then nodded her head. "I...I promise. I'm not going looking for any trouble, believe me."
Anzu nodded, smiling at her. Then she was gone, and Tasuki sighed.
"I already have a headache and we haven't left yet." He reflected, glancing at Kouji, who smirked appreciatively.
"Anzu an' me will keep things here." He assured his companion. "It's not ideal, but if what you say is true, it can't be helped. So go an' come back quickly, okay?"
"You got it." Tasuki agreed. "With any luck, we'll hat-hop part of the way, if not all of it, anyway."
"Hat-hop?" Hikari looked startled. Tasuki nodded.
"Using Chichiri's kasa." He agreed. "It's quicker than walking - but it depends what he thinks about it. And what his landings are like - he's out of practice a little an' he was never perfect at it before."
"Oh..." Hikari frowned, pursing her lips. "That was how...when we went from the mountain to the village. Chichiri said he was a sorcerer...I suppose it didn't really sink in. But all that way - isn't the North a long way off? I mean, is he that powerful?"
"He's pretty strong." Tasuki nodded. "Well, kinda goes without saying, really. He's a Celestial Warrior, ain't he?"
"I don't really know what that means, yet." Hikari sighed. "And you say Dad is one too, but to me he's just a regular guy. It's all still...a bit new and strange."
"I was telling her about the tessen, Kashira." Jin remarked, and Tasuki offered a wolfish smile, nodding his head.
"I see."
"Is that your...Seishi power then? Throwing fire with that?" Hikari asked hesitantly. Tasuki shook his head.
"Naw. I mean, I guess partly it is, but the tessen was throwin' fire before I got my hands on it."
"Then what is...your power?"
"Surviving death, I think." Kouji looked amused, and Tasuki laughed.
"Maybe it is." He responded evenly. "Shit, I don't know. I'm fast, I'm strong, I'm determined. That stuff, I guess. I channel it into firin' the tessen, but I ain't a bad fighter without it. But I don't cast spells, like Chichiri does. I guess I'm just an all round tough kinda guy...that's all."
"Thick skinned, Hikari." Kouji laughed. "That's all. Genrou's always been thick skinned."
"Shut up, idiot." Tasuki cuffed his old friend playfully across the back of the head. "Just make sure this place doesn't fall down in my absence, okay?"
"I've had enough practice - you should know better by now that I can handle the mountain as well as you can, Genrou."
"Maybe...the mountain but not the tessen."
"Yeah, yeah." Kouji shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "Jus' don't worry about us. We'll be fine. Do what you haveta do. I know the spiel. You're Suzaku's Tasuki again, and that means ol' Kouji-aniki's up. I know. I got it."
"Right. Then as soon as Shishi's here, we'll head to the village an' see if Chichiri's sweet-talked Aidou." Tasuki reflected. "An' see if we can't sweet talk her into sendin' us with a few snacks to take along the way..."
"If your sister doesn't brain you for goin' off into the wilds, Genrou, it'll be a victory." Kouji pointed out, and Tasuki laughed, shaking his head.
"Naw, not if we're doin' it to protect her brats as much as anythin'." He said evenly. "Women are like that...where kids are concerned."
"Men too, some of 'em." Kouji sent Tasuki a meaningful look, ducking out of the way as his companion snorted, reaching across to cuff him again. Hikari watched them blankly, and seeing her expression, Jin grinned, nudging her playfully.
"S'okay. Kashira an' Aniki grew up together, like Shishi an' me. They're always like this. An' one day, I guess, if Shishi gets her hands on the tessen, we'll be like them too. Maybe."
"Maybe." Hikari echoed, and a flash of the dead, still mountain village flickered into her mind. She shivered, forcing the thought away.
"But we're going to the North so we can stop this." She murmured to herself. "And then...then maybe I can go home!"