Chapter Eight
"So this is the village we've been looking for, huh?"
As the travellers recovered from the slightly bumpy landing, Tasuki glanced around him, surveying the small settlement with a thoughtful, almost predatory gaze. "This is the place where the Shinzahou's hidden? We could'a walked right past it and not even known it was here."
"If not for Hikari." Chichiri reflected, retrieving his hat as he nodded his head. "Yes, I'm pretty sure it is here. I can feel Hikari's chi – but not just her. I can feel both Amiboshi and Suboshi in this vicinity, too. Suboshi's has the taint of death – as we surmised, he's become a spirit to protect Yui's Shinzahou."
"From bandits like us, Chichiri-san?" Jin's fingers brushed the hilt of his blade, and Chichiri nodded.
"Yes, which is why I don't want you or Shishi going too much further." He responded. "At the first sight of danger, I want you – both of you – to get out of the way and find cover. Tasuki and I have fought Seiryuu's Seishi before, and I'm hopeful we'll be able to avoid or deflect any kind of confrontation. But on the off-chance that we can't…"
"I thought we were looking for Hikari first." Shishi objected, pulling her cloak more tightly around her as she cast her uncle a quizzical look. "Or is it okay now for her to be caught in the middle and Jin and I not?"
"I thought you'd done with the jealousy, kid." Tasuki shot her a pointed glance, and Shishi shook her head.
"I wasn't thinkin' that way." She said levelly. "Just, Hikari's a wimp an' she probably doesn't know one end of a sword from another. If there's a fight, she'll be killed…that's all. After all, you said we needed her – isn't our Shinzahou more important than Kutou's right at the moment?"
"Shishi is right." Chichiri pursed his lips. "But to be honest, I don't think we can find one without the other. Hikari's energy is in that direction." He pointed. "And so are the Seiryuu Seishi. So I think we'll just…play it by ear, you know. Let's move on. If they haven't found her yet, then with any luck we can, before we arouse too many suspicions."
"Chichiri-san…" Jin hesitated, then nodded his head, casting the Seishi a questioning glance. "You've fought these guys before, yes?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Then they'll remember who you are, right?"
"Yes, I imagine so."
"But they don't know Shishi and they don't know me." Jin said evenly. "Cos we're not Seishi – we're just bandits, even if Shishi is the Kashira's cub. They probably don't have a clue about Hikari, either. I mean, it's like Shishi's said – she doesn't stand out as what she is. Her power's locked up and she can't fight – so they're probably not going to know she's a Shinzahou or that she's fighting for Suzaku – right?"
"Well…"
"So Jin and I should go and find Hikari." Shishi's eyes glittered with anticipation as she understood her companion's words. "And you and Kashira should go find the Shinzahou. That way, if these guys know you, they'll come looking for you. We'll be quite okay, and so will Hikari, because we'll take care of it. And they'll be too busy defending their treasure to worry about any of us. Right?"
"It could still be risky, you know." Chichiri looked doubtful. "I mean, we don't really know what we're dealing with, yet."
"But you don't want to be worrying about us and I refuse to hide in a barn like a baby while we could be doing something useful." Shishi objected. "Papa, what do you think? After all, these Seiryuu people will be more bothered by you than us…won't they?"
Tasuki frowned, the tip of a fanged tooth protruding over his bottom lip as he considered the situation carefully. At length he nodded.
"I think it's the best idea we got." He reflected, though from his expression it was clear that he had misgivings about allowing his daughter her way. "I mean, the kid has a point, Chichiri. They will worry about us, but they shouldn't care about them. And if we can lure the troublesome twins away from wherever it is Hikari's hidin' out, they can grab her an' get to the outskirts of the village, well away from any kind of action. We don't want to be worryin' about them or bringin' them into a fight, after all. Even if it is still a risk, I think we gotta go with Jin an' Shishi's idea."
Chichiri pursed his lips, then shrugged.
"All right." He agreed cautiously. "Hikari's on a farm not far from here. In fact, I think it might be the next farm along. It's in close proximity to the place we're looking for, though…and I don't want to bring any innocent villagers into a conflict – so Tasuki, you and I'll tackle this from the other direction. I don't think that Seiryuu's Shinzahou is within a house – I think it's further afield, in someone's unused farm outbuilding. Which one is still foxing me somewhat. But that Suboshi's chi is right on top of it – that's something that's unmistakeable. So we'll head for there, and let the kids go to the farm and get Hikari."
"Right." Tasuki nodded, reaching up to pull his tessen from his back. "Good. It's cold out here – I'm sure I could use a good blaze."
The silver fan glittered ominously at his words, and despite himself, Chichiri chuckled.
"Just remember, Suboshi's a spirit, you know." He warned. "Fire won't work on him so easily as that."
"We'll see." Tasuki returned. "It was good enough for Hikou…and if he annoys me, dammit, I'll blast him anyway. Spirit or no spirit – I never liked that little brat."
"We'll meet up on the outskirts of the village." Chichiri said, casting Jin a smile. "If you have any trouble, though, focus all your thoughts on finding me…that goes for you too, Shishi-chan. If we can, we'll come and help – don't try and fight on your own. Understood? These aren't mountain bandits."
"Promise." Jin flicked his fingers in a mock-salute, nodding his head. "We'll be careful, Chichiri-san."
"You be careful too, Papa." Shishi instructed. "Okaasan won't forgive me if I let anything happen to you."
With that the two young bandits were gone across the grass, and Tasuki sent his companion a rueful glance.
"What does she imagine she'd do about it, if it did?" He wondered. "Am I protectin' her, Chichiri, or does the runt think she's protectin' me?"
"Like father, like daughter, or so they say." Chichiri laughed, patting his friend on the shoulder. "You should be proud of her for that, you know."
"Guess so." Tasuki pursed his lips, shrugging his shoulders. "If it don't get her killed before she's grown enough to make use of it."
He turned, casting his gaze across the horizon.
"So we're going this way?"
"Yes." Chichiri agreed. "And we're going to go the quick way. Hang on tight, Tasuki-kun – I'd rather we'd engaged Suboshi's attention than risk him picking up on Hikari and the others."
"Right with you." Tasuki nodded grimly, grasping his friend's arm as the sorcerer muttered an incantation, tossing his hat up in the air over their heads as they were swept up into its dark depths. For a moment there was nothing but swirling blackness, then, as they exited the strange travel device, the two men found themselves facing a stone barn, gazing up at the walls with an identical look of recognition and determination on their faces.
"It's here." Chichiri murmured. Tasuki nodded.
"I can see the light." He agreed. "An' even I can feel that somethin' is in there. Which means we're goin' in there, doesn't it?"
"Right." Chichiri agreed, gripping more tightly onto his glittering shakujou as he returned his kasa to its travelling position. "Just be on your guard, you know. I think we're about to have company…and I don't think he's too pleased to see us."
Before Tasuki could respond, there was a swish of air as something brushed past the bandit's ear, and as he leapt back, raising his tessen with an exclamation, a figure hazed into view before them, glittering with blue light as he gazed at them through cold, angry eyes. Above his fingers, the spectral form of his Ryuuseisui whirled back towards his grasp, and as the apparition became more distinct, he glanced from one man to the other, his eyes slowly narrowing.
"Suzaku Shichi Seishi." He whispered.
"Well, there goes the surprise, you know." Chichiri sighed, even as he brought his fingers up before his face to form a barrier around both him and his companion. "I told you Suboshi was here."
"You do know that you're dead. Dead people aren't supposed to wander around farmland randomly attacking visitors." Tasuki eyed the spirit with dislike, and was rewarded with a look of equal venom from the young spectre as he seemed to be gearing up for a second attack.
"And you're from Kounan. You don't belong in Hokkan, or anywhere near Yui-sama's Shinazahou!" He retorted hotly. "If you – either of you – take a single step closer, I'll kill the both of you!"
"You'll have to get past Chichiri's barrier and my tessen first." Tasuki snapped, as flickers of orange light glimmered around the edge of the silver fan once more.
"What do you think you can do to me?" Suboshi demanded. "As you said, I'm already dead. And my duty is to protect the Shinzahou – to protect it from scum like the both of you!"
He flexed his hands, as the ghostly white glow of the spectral weapon wheeled round for another attempt, and this time he cast it in Chichiri's direction, his gesture flaring with blue energy as the ball-like implement battered against the sorcerer's barrier. Chichiri muttered an incantation to repel the attack, but although the weapon was forced back, Suboshi's aura seemed to glow with an even stronger azure light.
"Nice try, Chichiri." He said mockingly. "I told you. All the spells in the world can't cast me out of existance. Seiryuu left me here to guard Yui-sama's Shinzahou…there's no way you'll ever be able to get past me."
His eyes narrowed, and both men could see the flicker of pure hatred deep within his gaze.
"You can't hold that barrier against me forever." He added softly. "You'll get tired, and lose your concentration, and then I'll make you pay for coming here and daring to disturb my family! You're not going to steal this Shinzahou – no matter what you do!"
"Rekka Shin'en!"
A flare of flame shot out from within Chichiri's barrier, as Tasuki flexed his tessen in the spirit's direction, but it blazed through Suboshi's translucent body, scorching up the wall of the barn behind him as the spectre let out an amused laugh.
"You're as stupid as ever, Tasuki." He mocked. "You don't realise you can't burn a ghost?"
"I'm not aimin' at you, you big mouthed brat." Tasuki snapped back. "I don't care about you, or your threats. We came for the Shinzahou an' we're damn well goin' to take it, if it means blastin' the barn to smithereens to find it. You're jus' in the way – you're a nuisance, not a threat."
"Tasuki, no." Chichiri held up his free hand, shaking his head slowly as he did so. "No more fire. The land is damp from the snow, but we can't risk damaging the Shinzahou by bringing the building down on top of it. Besides, we're not here to fight – remember? We're here for another reason…calm down and save your strength. I can hold the barrier for now – he can attack us, but he can't hurt us, and we can leave anything else until we've had a chance to speak to Amiboshi. We've only got one of them so far…we need to find them both."
Suboshi's eyes flitted from one man to the other, a thoughtful look touching his features as he registered the look that passed between them. He frowned, flexing his fingers as the spectral weapon returned to his grasp, shimmering and then disappearing.
"You're going to hurt my brother." He murmured, anger in his eyes. "You'll distract me, and hurt Aniki…and you think then you'll be able to take the Shinzahou! Didn't you learn once that I don't tolerate anyone threatening my brother?"
"Aw, even after this long, the kid's as nuts as ever." Tasuki grimaced. "Shut your face, you stupid ghost…we're not here to hurt anyone. We just want…"
"I don't spend time talking with Suzaku's lackeys." Suboshi interrupted, and his aura blazed with blue light once more as he spread his hands, summoning the Ryuusuisei once more as they glimmered and shone with twice as much energy as before. Flexing his fingers, he cast his hand in the direction of the hapless Suzaku warriors, a glint of near madness in his eyes as he willed the weapons in their direction.
"I'll kill you both before you lay a finger on Koutaku-nii or his family." He hissed. "Prepare to die, Suzaku Seishi…you won't get away this time!"
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"Koutaku-san?"
As Hikari wrapped her cloak around her body, her companion stopped dead, a strange expression crossing his face as he did so. She frowned, hesitating also as she registered the sudden tension and alarm that ran through the farmer's face.
"Koutaku-san, what's the matter? Are you ill?" She demanded. "You've gone really pale - are you all right?"
"Shunkaku." Koutaku did not seem to be listening to her, and he darted forward, grabbing his flute from its resting place as he reached for the handle of the door, wrenching it back. "Dammit...Shunkaku, don't do this!"
"Kou...taku-san?" Hikari eyed him uncertainly, and for the first time he seemed to hear her, turning to glance at her with troubled, clouded eyes.
"Stay here. Stay here and don't come out!" He instructed. "I mean it, Hikari-san. You must stay here. Do you understand me? It's not safe. I have to go somewhere - will you promise me to stay where you are?"
"But...I don't..." Hikari faltered, and Koutaku grabbed her by the shoulders, meeting her startled gaze with an urgent one of his own.
"It's not safe." He repeated. "Will you trust me, Hikari-san? I know that you're here for Kounan, and whatever I pretend to be, I'm still a man of Seiryuu by birth. But your parents were good to me and I won't let harm come to you - will you stay here? I promise I'll come back and I promise...will you do as I ask?"
Startled by the intensity in his eyes, Hikari nodded her head, and relief flickered in the farmer's expression. He nodded, glancing at his flute as he seemed to make up his mind what he had to do.
"I'll be right back." He murmured. "Close the door, and don't let anyone in. All right?"
With that he was gone, and a bewildered Hikari slowly closed the door behind him, her heart skipping a beat in her chest as she remembered the sudden change in her companion's demeanour.
"He seemed frantic. Frightened. Like something was badly wrong." She murmured, leaning up against the wood as she contemplated. "But what? Why did he take the flute...and what was he going to do with it? I don't understand...all of a sudden..."
She froze, whitening as a sudden memory of something the farmer had said rang once more through her mind.
"You have to understand, Hikari-san, how close we were. Close enough that even our thoughts sometimes broke into one another's minds without a word being spoken."
"Shunkaku." She whispered, and an involuntary shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the cold look in the spectre's eyes as he had gazed down on her in the middle of the night. "Something...that's what Koutaku-san said. His brother's name, as if he knew...Shunkaku...was doing something. Something...dangerous. Something..."
Her eyes widened.
"Chichiri and Tasuki?" She murmured, a cold dread knotting up inside of her as she pieced the puzzle together. "Chichiri did say that Suboshi hated Suzaku's people...and Koutaku-san also - he said that he didn't know what might happen, if we tried to take the Shinzahou. What if Chichiri and Tasuki came here to find me - and what if they're getting hurt because of me? What if that ghost does something to them?"
Before she knew what she was doing, she had yanked back the door of the farm, hurrying out into the cold snow as she struggled to work out which direction the farmer had gone.
"Hikari!" As she scanned the ground for the freshest tracks, a voice cut across her senses and she started, raising her gaze to meet the relieved dark eyes of Jin, the fiery-headed Shishi not far behind him. Her sense of foreboding grew as she hurried across to greet them, anxiety flickering in her expression as Jin held out his hands to her.
"Well, mission accomplished - you're all right." He said with a playful grin. "That was painless enough - I guess you're better at the survival thing than we gave you credit for."
"Tasuki and Chichiri!" Hikari gazed up at him, apprehension in her eyes. "Where are they? Jin, where are they?"
"They went to find the Shinzahou." It was Shishi that answered, casting the young schoolgirl a confused look. "We came to find you. Why?"
"Something's happening." Hikari's heart clenched in her throat and she turned towards the direction of the farm outbuildings, remembering only too clearly the blue glow that had shone out like a beacon in the darkness. "Suboshi...we have to go. We have to go there - we have to go now!"
"Woah, girl, what are you doing?" Jin demanded, as she grabbed him by the hand, dragging him across the snow towards the place she knew Seiryuu's holy treasure was hidden. "Kashira an' Chichiri-san told us we were to get you out of the village - we ain't to go after them! We gotta let them handle this themselves!"
"Suboshi's going to kill them." Hikari did not slow down, panic in her eyes as she shook her head. "For the Shinzahou, he's going to...he's going to hurt them!"
"Kashira can handle him - they both can!" Shishi objected. "Hikari, you idiot, are you wantin' to get yourself hurt?"
"He's going to kill Chichiri and Tasuki." Hikari whispered, tears glittering in her eyes as a stifling wave of panic and distress overwhelmed her. "I can feel it...near the Shinzahou...Suboshi's more powerful than Chichiri is. And he hates Suzaku. He hates anything to do with Suzaku. We have to stop it - we have to!"
"Hikari, get a grip on yourself!" Jin begged, as they drew closer to the barns, and he finally managed to get a firm grip on her, pulling her back and holding her tightly against his body as she fought against his grasp. "You're getting hysterical, you silly idiot - what do you imagine you can do? Shishi's right - Kashira ain't no walkover, and Chichiri neither - he's one hell of a sorcerer - you mightn't know the legends but we do. No way this runt Seiryuu boy is stronger than he is...you're going to get yourself into trouble!"
"Jin, I can feel it." Hikari turned her gaze to his, sending him a beseeching look as she struggled to make him understand. "I don't know how, but I can! Chichiri...Tasuki...I can feel it inside of me. Chichiri's tired...I can't explain it, but I'm not being silly!"
"Pipe down and listen to Jin, all right?" Shishi put a hand on her arm, and Hikari glared at her, expecting to see censure in her expression. Instead, however, Shishi's gaze was deadly serious, and slowly the young bandit shook her head.
"Kashira's gotta do what he gotta do." She murmured. "If we go down there, then sure as heck someone will get killed. No way Kashira or Chichiri'd let anythin' happen to you or to us, if they could prevent it. Right now, if we interfere in anything, we might make things worse."
"But..."
"Shit, pay attention already, will you?" Shishi snapped. "You ain't the only one worried about it - but stop freakin' out like a baby, all right? Have some faith in them. There ain't anything we can do, Hikari. Jus' follow orders an' leave the village. Chichiri an' Kashira'll be all right. But if you run into the fray, you'll be the one ripped to shreds by this kid's Ryuuseisui."
"You don't understand." Hikari shook her head slowly, the fight draining out of her as she realised Jin's grasp was too strong for her to escape. "I know what you're saying, but you don't...you don't know..."
She faltered, not even understanding herself the feelings that were welling up inside of her, and Shishi sighed.
"Do you even know what Ryuuseisui are?" She asked softly, and Hikari shook her head again.
"Pray you don't find out." Jin said grimly. "Let's leave it at that. Remember what Chichiri said - this brat ripped apart your father's family, singlehandedly. You think Tamahome'd want his daughter goin' the same way as his Pa an' his siblings? Take a breath an' calm down. We both understand how you feel, you know. We want to help too. But the only thing we can do...is get out of the way."
"No...you don't." Hikari closed her eyes, fighting against her tears. "I can't even explain it properly to myself, so how can I explain it to you? It's not that I'm just scared...of course I'm scared, I've been damn well scared since I got dropped into this god-awful excuse for a world! But you don't know...I can feel Chichiri, like he's right here, fighting with all his strength. Whatever's happening...I can feel his energy and I can tell that he's in trouble. I know it doesn't make any sense," As Shishi stared at her. "But it's true. I can feel him...and he's...getting weaker. He's trying to fight something...and he can't do it alone!"
"Shit...you're serious, aren't you?" Jin eyed her in consternation. "You can really do that? Sense auras an' shit, like Chichiri-san can?"
Hikari shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know." She said miserably. "I don't know what it is. I just know I don't like this feeling...It's like he's calling to Suzaku for help and somehow he got a wrong number and wound up hitting me instead. I don't understand it - I just know it's there. He's tired, he's fighting...but the Shinzahou is stronger. It's making Suboshi stronger...they're going to get hurt, Jin - we have to do something!"
Jin cast Shishi a glance, and determination crossed the young girl's expression. Slowly she nodded her head.
"We'll go." She said quietly. "If Hikari's so sure, well, maybe she's wrong but maybe she ain't. We ought to check it out...I ain't goin' back an' telling Aniue or Okaasama or Aunt Aidou that they got killed in Hokkan, so...if there's anything..."
"Kashira made me promise we wouldn't fight anyone." Jin said doubtfully.
"You promised. Hikari an' me, we didn't." Shishi said firmly. "Come on. Do you really think we can stand back an' do nothing if it's really as she says it is?"
Jin sighed, then slowly he shook his head.
"Guess not." He reflected. "All right. You win. We'll go after them. But we'll go carefully, all right? Swords ain't much use with ghosts an' if we don't have any other weapon but the element of surprise, we'd better damn well use it. Let's see what's going on before we do anything drastic...it might not be as bad as Hikari thinks."
"Then we shouldn't waste time." Shishi's hand went to her blade, and for the first time Hikari was faintly comforted by the hard resolution in the younger girl's gaze. "Hikari, you know where this thing is?"
Hikari nodded.
"I can feel it, too." She whispered. "I can see...last night, I could see it, glowing blue in the darkness, like a ghost. Koutaku-san - he told me that it was...the Shinzahou."
"Koutaku-san?"
"Amiboshi." Hikari swallowed hard. "This is his farm. He went after his brother...I think...to try and stop him. But I don't think he can...I don't know if he can. I don't even know what power he has, if he has a power at all any more. He's not a spirit like Suboshi - he can get hurt, too. And he saved me from the snow - he's been kind to me."
"Then if you know where we're going, you lead the way." Jin said quietly, new respect burning in his gaze. "I'm sure Kashira can handle it, Hikari, but we'll go see. Even if Kashira gets mad at us - desperate times call for desperate measures an' we ain't got any time to lose!"
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"Chichiri!"
As Suboshi's weapon hit it's mark once again, Chichiri's barrier faltered, pushing him almost to his knees and he gritted his teeth, struggling to re-affirm its strength as he poured yet more of his magic into holding their defences. Sweat beaded his brow as he drew on the deepest of his inner resources, and out of the corner of his eye he was aware of Tasuki's concern, as the bandit shot him a sidelong glance.
"I told you." Suboshi's eyes narrowed. "You can't get past me. Yui-sama's Shinzahou belongs to my brother and I and I'm not letting you get any closer."
"Damn it, you brat, why do you always act first and talk later?" Tasuki demanded, shifting himself in front of his friend as if somehow he could protect him from Suboshi's ruthless, relentless attacks, and Suboshi laughed, shaking his head slowly.
"I don't need to think where Suzaku's people are concerned." He said softly. "You shouldn't have come here. I don't know why you want this treasure, and I don't care. It doesn't belong to you. It's Seiryuu's, it's not yours. And you aren't going to steal it from this place. Do you understand that? You're not!"
"Shunkaku, no! Stop this!"
At that moment a fresh voice interrupted the ever-more heated confrontation and as he registered the newcomer's life force, Chichiri turned in surprise, meeting the alarmed gaze of the man who was, quite clearly, the owner of the farm property. Despite the disparity of ages, there was enough in the stranger's bearing and appearance to give away his relationship to the ghost, and at the sight of the flute in his hand, he bit his lip, hesitating as he wondered which way Amiboshi's loyalties would go.
"They came to steal it, Aniki." Suboshi, momentarily distracted, spread his hands, the Ryuuseisui faltering and dropping into nothing but spectral ash as he met his brother's gaze. Koutaku frowned, then he shook his head.
"Let them." He murmured, and Suboshi's eyes opened wide with disbelief.
"Aniki?"
"It causes nothing but pain. Let them." Koutaku shook his head. "I don't want fighting on my farm, Shunkaku. Not here, not where my family live. We're not in Kutou now. And so long as that wretched treasure stays here, you can't leave this place or move on. Let them take it, little brother...it's no good to either one of us."
"It's Yui-sama's treasure." Suboshi faltered, then he shook his head, resolution glittering in his ghostly eyes. "I can't, Aniki. You might not feel like one of Seiryuu's warriors any more, but it's different for me. We both made those choices...and I won't ever walk away from protecting anything Yui-sama left in this world. This is our duty - both of our duties."
Chichiri's gaze flitted between the brothers, and with a sigh he lowered his hands, dropping his barrier as he sensed the flickering uncertainty in both twins' life energy.
"Amiboshi." He murmured.
"Chichiri-san." Amiboshi glanced at him, a troubled look in his eyes. "Tasuki-san. Have you really come to steal the Shinzahou? I thought men of Suzaku at least asked first...I didn't expect..."
"We came to distract that little worm while we tracked down something a little more important to the both of us than jewellery." Tasuki jabbed his tessen in the direction of the still fuming Suboshi, whose eyes narrowed at the blatant slight. "We were waitin' for you, because we wanted an adult conversation an' Suboshi here ain't quite got out of teenage temper tantrum stage yet."
"Do you want to be ripped to pieces, Tasuki?" Suboshi glowered in his direction, and Tasuki, forgetting for a moment that he was a father and the leader of a mountain gang pulled a graphic face in return.
"I'm not scared of you." He snapped. "Quit talkin' big an' let the grown ups deal with this already."
"Something more important?" Koutaku eyed Chichiri hesitantly, then, "Hikari-san?"
"That girl..." Suboshi's eyes widened with surprise, then, "She's part of this too? I knew she had something about her...Suzaku's touch! She was from Kounan - I knew there was something wrong...Aniki, don't you see that this is all a part of their plan? That girl, this, everything - to turn you against me and make you give up Yui-sama's treasure! We have an obligation to Seiryuu and to our Priestess - don't you care even a little bit about that?"
"If you care about Kutou, Suboshi, or about the things your Priestess came to protect, you should at least hear what we have to say." Chichiri said quietly, holding his hands up to prevent Tasuki from responding. "We haven't come to steal anything...like Tasuki said, we were hoping to attract your attention away from Hikari, because she's no older than you were when you were killed, you know. And she's not able to defend herself like you or we can...we wanted to make sure she was safe. After all, she's the daughter of someone very precious to us - as precious to us as I'm sure Amiboshi's children are to you."
Suboshi's eyes darkened, and the sorcerer realised that somehow he had hit a sore point. Inwardly he berated himself for his carelessness.
"Tactless as Tasuki when I'm tired." He reflected ruefully. "Suboshi's a ghost. His nephews and nieces can't probably see him...I should have thought that through before I said anything at all."
"Hikari said something about protecting your family, Chichiri-san." Koutaku said slowly. "About protecting...more than just that. That this whole world was in danger. Is that true?"
"Are you going to just believe their stories?" Suboshi demanded. "Aniki..."
"Shunkaku, please." Anguish glittered in Koutaku's clever eyes as he shook his head. "Please don't make this any more difficult for me. I want to know what the situation is - please, let's at least hear what they have to say."
Chichiri inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement of the farmer's words.
"We came to collect Yui-sama's Shinzahou because in the wrong hands, it might be used for significant evil." He said softly. "The war is over. Kounan is a peaceful country, and like any father, I want to keep it that way for my children to grow up never knowing the things that we had to face, eighteen years ago when your land and ours first clashed swords. We don't seek to use it to raise Suzaku, or even to harness its magic in any way, shape or form. But to prevent it from falling into hands that might use it destructively. Hands which may cause the deaths of not just Kounan's children - but all children. All people - everywhere. In all of the four lands, and beyond their borders, too. That's why we've travelled so far north, and why we've come to your farm, Amiboshi. That's why we want the Shinzahou. To ensure that my children - and your children - can grow up with peace that you and I were both born to ensure."
Koutaku's eyes widened, and slowly he nodded his head.
"Hikari-san said something very similar." he admitted. "And I...I have faith in your word, even if Shunkaku does not. Little brother, I believe them. And I want that thing away from this place. If evil hands seek it out, then my family's farm is a target...I don't want that."
Suboshi was silent for a moment. Then he brought his hands together, the spectral orbs hovering above his fingers as he gazed at the Suzaku warriors thoughtfully.
"My brother might believe you, but I don't see why I should." He said softly. "You've offered no proof that you're here on that errand...no proof at all."
"Yes, they have!" At the sound of Hikari's voice, Chichiri's heart sank in his chest and he turned, seeing the young girl running across the snow, hair flying out behind her as Jin and Shishi struggled to reach her and pull her back. She evaded their attempts, however, a wild, strange look in her eyes as she neatly put herself between Suboshi and the startled, dismayed Suzaku warriors. "I'm the proof, Shunkaku-san. I'm the proof that you need!"
"You." Suboshi glared at her angrily. "If I'd have known who you were last night..."
"Would you have killed me, in the house where your brother lives with his family?" Hikari demanded, and Chichiri stared, almost sure he could see something red flickering in her aura as she stood before him, eying him bravely. "My father was Tamahome. My mother was Suzaku no Miko. I come from the other world - the one you died in, trying to kill my parents. And Kounan don't need your stupid Shinzahou to make their bird come back to life. They have a Shinzahou already."
She put her hands on her hips.
"Koutaku-san said that you loved Yui-san." She said accusingly. "But if you really did, you wouldn't behave like this!"
"Tamahome and Suzaku no..." Suboshi's eyes widened, and a flicker of rage flared in them as he cast his hands out, sending the ghostly Ryuuseisui spinning in her direction. "And you have the nerve to come here, demanding these things from us? I couldn't kill your parents, but dammit, I won't miss you!"
"Hikari-chan!" Chichiri's tired body jerked into life as he fought to erect a barrier between his charge and the angry Seiryuu Seishi, but Suboshi flexed a hand in his direction, the force of the weapon's energy sending him flying backwards instead. He fell to the ground with a thud, wincing as pain jarred through his body even as he heard Tasuki yell his name.
"You both keep out of this." Suboshi snapped. "This is an old score I have to settle."
"Shunkaku, stop this!" Koutaku's grip tightened around his flute, anguish and uncertainty in his gaze and as Chichiri struggled to sit up, he realised that the flautist was trying to decide whether to fight his brother or not. Tasuki's tessen was already flaming, anger in his gaze and try as he might, Chichiri could not raise a flicker of a spell inside of him to protect his impetuous friend.
"Shishi, Jin! Get back!" He exclaimed, as he realised how close the two young bandits had gotten, and that in all likelihood neither one of them would be able to see the threat that hovered ominously in front of them. "Get back to the farm - get away from here!"
"But Chichiri-san..."
"Do it, now!" Tasuki snapped. "Jin, you gave me your word - do as you're told!"
His command snapped out across the winter landscape and Jin swallowed hard, then nodded his head, grabbing Shishi by the arm and pulling her back towards the main farm building, out of the line of fire. Hikari dropped down at Chichiri's side, holding out a tentative hand to him, and he bit his lip, grabbing her tightly around the wrists.
"You silly girl, are you trying to get killed?" He asked softly, but even as he asked the question, he saw the unearthly, intense look in her dark eyes and as she shook her head, he glanced up, seeing Suboshi preparing for another assault.
"Hikari-chan, get down!" He exclaimed. "I can't project a barrier - get down!"
Hikari did not seem to be fully listening, however, for she turned, getting to her feet and meeting Suboshi's gaze head on. She held out her hands, as if trying to bar the Seiryuu Seishi's line of fire.
"You're a real idiot." She said pragmatically. "You say you love Yui-san, but if you did, you wouldn't try to hurt me. Yui-san and my mother have been best friends since before I was born. She held me the day I was born...she's almost like another Aunt to me, and if you killed me, do you think she'd ever forgive you? I don't think so. You're stuck in some weird fantasy world - and for a dude who exists in a book, that's something of an achievement in itself! If you think that killing me - or Chichiri, or anyone - is what Yui-san would want, you're crazy. She's a kind person - she has a good heart. She would never, ever like anyone who could shed blood so easily!"
At her words, Suboshi looked stricken, as if, for the first time, something had penetrated through his fierce, defensive anger. His weapons faded once more, as he stared at the young girl and now Chichiri was quite sure that he could feel Suzaku's presence prickling against her aura.
"And if you love your brother so much, why do you want him and everyone else to die, huh?" Hikari had not finished, her expression both self-righteous and indignant, though Chichiri had the distinct impression that she was not entirely aware of her actions or of the things she was saying. "You must be really, really stupid. If we don't take the earring, someone else will come and they might just burn the farm down, or whatever - I don't know, but I know there are some people in this world who are pretty sick in the head. And if they get this stupid treasure of yours, well, it won't matter what you do or what you don't do. Everyone in this world is going to die. I've seen it. I've seen it! And if that's what you want, you're obviously a really, truly, completely stupid idiot!"
As she finished her heated speech, a faint crimson glow surrounded her body for the briefest of instants, and if it had been possible for Suboshi's face to drain of colour, his would have done so. Koutaku was looking equally stunned, staring at the young girl as if unable to believe his eyes.
"Hikari-san." He murmured. "Who...what...are you?"
"Suzaku no Shinzahou." Chichiri said softly. "She's drawn to your treasure just as you are...and just as we are to her. Suboshi, if you won't believe me, will you believe Suzaku's vessel, when she stands before you and tells you this world's future? Your life is over. Your brother's is not. Will you willingly consign him and his family to death, just to protect an earring which signifies nothing but pain and war anyway? Or have you forgotten all the people who lost their lives in the pursuit of summoning Seiryuu?"
"We both know something is in the air, little brother." Now Koutaku took a hand, taking a step towards his younger brother as he did so. "Shunkaku, can we really risk not believing what they say? I trust these people - they were kind to me, and continued to be kind to me even when they knew I was one of Seiryuu's chosen. And besides..."
He frowned, biting his lip.
"If we let the Shinzahou go, you can rest, and find peace, too." He murmured. "I hate how much you still suffer, Shunkaku - without that earring...maybe you can find a new start, and live a new life, free of this pain."
At this, Suboshi's harsh expression softened, and tears glittered in the depths of his eyes. Slowly he shook his head.
"I won't go anywhere so long as you're here, Aniki." He said quietly. "When we go, we'll go together. I won't let us be separated again."
"But Yui-sama's treasure...I want to let them take it." Koutaku said evenly. "I don't want to fight you - you're the one person I can't fight, no matter what you do. But Shunkaku, I don't want it here any more. I don't want more children suffering how we did. It's like Chichiri-san said. The war is over. We have to let it go and move on. Both of us. It's time to let Seiryuu take care of himself."
There was a long silence, as Suboshi seemed to be fighting this out with himself. Then, at length, he sighed, dropping his gaze as his azure aura faded to nothing.
"All right." He murmured reluctantly. "If that's what you want, Aniki...I...won't fight...any more."
"Suboshi?" Tasuki eyed him warily, and the spectre offered a sad, bitter smile.
"I don't like that it's you who're taking it from here." He said softly. "But I won't fight my brother, or spill blood on his family's farm. If it's true...what you say...I have other things to protect as well as Yui-sama's earring. Maybe she'd understand...if she knew...it was for the sake of Koutaku-nii's family."
"You believe me?" Hikari stared at him, and slowly, Suboshi nodded his head.
"I despise what you are, but I believe what you say." He said frankly. "I won't have any more to do with this, though. Aniki, if it's what you want, you give them the treasure. I won't be part of giving it into Kounan hands."
With that, he faded and glittered out of view, and if the energy had drained out of her, Hikari stumbled, dropping to the ground as she raised a hand to her head.
"Hikari!" Chichiri was immediately alert, shifting his own tired, aching body as he reached out an arm to support her. "Are you all right?"
"I'm...tired." Hikari murmured. "I don't know...what came over me. Something...was inside of me...and it wanted...to come out."
She stared at him, her eyes widened as she registered what had happened.
"Did I just face down that crazy ghost?" She demanded. "Am I completely insane? He might have killed me...what the hell was I thinking?"
"You were thinking of protecting Kounan." Chichiri grinned at her, patting her playfully on the back. "And me, Hikari-chan. I think you were also trying to protect me."
"You really are Suzaku's Shinzahou." Shishi's voice alerted them to the fact that though the bandits had withdrawn, they had not gone very far, and Chichiri eyed her reprovingly.
"You're meant to be somewhere safe." He scolded her. "Tasuki-kun, I think you've failed somewhere in teaching this one to follow instructions."
Tasuki offered his friend a rueful grimace and Chichiri saw colour flush Shishi's cheeks.
"Is Hikari all right?" Jin looked anxious, and Chichiri nodded.
"I think so. Just tired and a bit shell-shocked by what she's done." He agreed. "We both need to catch our breath a little, that's all. It's cold out here, you know."
"Will you really let us take the Shinzahou now?" Tasuki cast Koutaku a questioning look, and the farmer nodded his head.
"Shunkaku has agreed, and I will be glad to see it go." He said simply.
"Then you go with Amiboshi and retrieve it, Tasuki." Chichiri suggested. "I'll play babysitter this time, and make sure noone does anything they're not supposed to do."
"Hey, it ain't easy keepin' control of girls when they're determined to do somethin'" Jin objected, reaching out a hand to haul Hikari to her feet. "You're shakin', you stupid girl - you must be freezin'! Here..."
He slipped off his jacket, handing it to her, and clumsily she accepted it, shooting him a faint smile as she pulled it around her shoulders. "Yeesh...maybe you are nuts."
"But not as much of a wimp as I thought you were." Shishi admitted grudgingly. "I couldn't see what was attacking you, Hiki, but I heard you yellin' at it and I heard you defendin' Chichiri. So I guess...I take it back. You are Suzaku's Shinzahou...I guess there's more to you than I thought."
"Hiki?" Hikari eyed the younger girl in confusion, and Shishi shrugged.
"Seemed right." She said nonchalantly. "Why, you gonna yell at me about that now, too?"
Hikari looked startled, then a faint smile touched her lips, and Chichiri pulled himself to his feet, glancing between the two girls with some amusement.
"Guess not." Hikari said at length.
"S'pose this means we have a truce, then?"
"I...suppose so." Hikari hesitated, then she nodded her head.
Shishi held out her hand, taking the other girl's in her's and shaking it self-consciously.
"There. Sealed." She said brusquely. "And...I'm sorry...I said that stuff. Before. 'Bout your parents, an' you not carin' and shit. I didn't really believe you were...but now I do. You ain't what I thought...an' I'm sorry."
Hikari's eyes widened at this, then a proper smile touched her lips.
"Then I'm sorry too." She admitted. "I have...I suppose...I was moaning a lot. I just...really don't fit into this world. And till this...till now...I felt I was completely useless being here, too."
"Well, you've proved you're not that, you know." Chichiri rested his hand on her shoulder. "If you hadn't intervened, he might well have hurt me - or killed me. You said you'd stay to help my family, but I didn't realise it extended to me too, Hikari-chan."
Hikari dimpled, and Chichiri was encouraged to see the flicker of pleasure light up her hazel eyes. She nodded.
"I think Mother and Father'd want me to have done it. If that's why they made me be this Shinzahou thing, after all." She said thoughtfully.
"Well, now we've got what we came for, I guess we can go home?" Jin asked. "Are we walking or flying in the hat, Chichiri-san?"
"My power is completely drained." Chichiri shook his head. "It's probably not a good idea for us to linger in Makan, or in Hokkan for too much longer just in case there are people from Kutou already on the way North to find this earring of Yui's. But I'm afraid we're walking. At least, so long as Hikari can manage to walk - I know that yesterday she found it a trial and after this morning..."
"It's all right, Chichiri. Jin an' me, we'll see to her." Shishi said frankly. "Besides, you look about to fall down yourself, you know. Did you really blast yourself out?"
"Yes, but I'll be all right, once I've had a little rest." Chichiri's good eye twinkled at his niece's blunt concern. "We'll head towards the border, and maybe find somewhere to have a good meal and rest for a while, so both Hikari and I can catch our second wind. Then we'll head back towards Kounan. It might take a day or two for my power to restore enough to transfer us to Eiyou or the mountain, but there's no harm in using our legs - it's why we have them, after all!"
"And then Hiki can go home?" Shishi questioned. Chichiri frowned, as Hikari sent him a quizzical look.
"Can I?" She asked hesitantly. "I mean...is it enough...to just have Seiryuu's Shinzahou? Taiitsukun said..." She faltered, biting her lip as she considered.
"I suppose we'll find out." Chichiri admitted. "For now lets worry about getting back to safe and warmer territory, and finding somewhere secure for the earring. Then, Hikari-chan, we'll think about sending you back to your world. After all, Taiitsukun did say they needed the power of all the Shinzahou to achieve this devastation. And so it might, in the long run, be better to send you back..."
He frowned, rubbing his chin.
"We'll discuss it when we get back to the South." He decided.
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go already!" At that moment Tasuki re-emerged from the building, Koutaku in tow, and Chichiri's heart flickered with relief as he registered the small black box in his companion's grip. He nodded, bowing his head towards Koutaku in acknowledgement.
"You have my word that we won't use it to cause anyone harm." He said softly, and Koutaku smiled, shaking his head.
"My brother might not believe in you, but I do." He said simply. "I think it's probably safer with you than with me, anyway. I've never been a very good servant to Seiryuu, after all."
He glanced at Hikari, who offered him a grin.
"Take care of your own, too." He added softly. "Hikari-san, I'm glad to have met you. When you see your parents next, tell them that I wish them well. They always did belong together...more than any couple I have ever met. And I'm glad that, somehow, they achieved their miracle and made it happen."
"I...I will." Hikari nodded her head. "I promise. And I'll tell them that you saved me from freezing too, Koutaku-san. I...I know they'll be glad, when I tell them that."
Koutaku offered a rueful smile.
"It was the least I could do, in the end, considering you're Miaka-san's daughter." He reflected. "Have a safe journey back to the south, all of you. With any luck, the blizzard has passed and won't return for a few hours at least...make the most of the time while you can."
"That's what we're going to do." Chichiri agreed, holding out his hand to take the treasure from Tasuki, slipping it into the folds of his clothing as he nodded his head. "All right, kids, Tasuki...let's get moving, you know!"