Chapter 13
So this was the Eastern Village.
As the sun began to rise over the mountains of Kounan's south-west, Miramu leapt neatly down from his perch atop one of the tall trees surrounding the peaceful mountain settlement, gazing with a thoughtful, roving eye across the cluster of houses and other buildings that had, little by little been resurrected from the fire so many years before. As he stood on the village outskirts, he felt a sense of nostalgia run through him and a rueful smile touched his face as he slowly shook his head.
"One village is as much like another, whether it's the West or the South, I guess." He reflected. "So this is where Chichiri - no, Ri Hou Jun - calls home, is it? I suppose I can see the attraction. In the shade of Reikaku-zan..."
He paused, turning to glance behind him as he debated whether or not the body of his latest victim would be discovered before he could locate the Ri home. He had not intended on killing again before reaching the mountains, but as he had gotten closer to Reikaku-zan, he had realised that once more his lack of experience in Kounan's territories demanded further information.
"It's a shame, but I can't leave someone who might talk about me to people I don't want in my way." He reflected with a matter-of-fact shrug, slipping his finger down to his belt as he ran it pensively across the tip of his dagger blade. Though he had wiped it clean, it still seemed to hum with the taint of blood, and he laughed, amused as he remembered how surprised his unsuspecting target had seemed when he had drawn the blade.
"Too quickly for him to really know what was happening." He mused. "The best way, sometimes. Enjoy your oblivion, my friend - as your reward for your help. You don't know how I envy you. However..."
He gazed up at the sky, a bitter smile touching his lips.
"Today is not my day." He murmured aloud. "Today is simply...another day. A day in which to complete a mission and collect a payment."
As he made his way slowly through the gradually stirring settlement, he chewed on his lip, still able to taste the sharpness of the herb against his teeth. It had been his mother who had first taught him the benefits of certain native Sairou plants when he had been a small boy, showing him their medicinal qualities one at a time, but he had long since considered it more than a medicament. The effect of the plant on his concentration and his reflexes had always been significant, especially when he was otherwise tired, and by using it at regular intervals, Miramu had learnt that he did not need to stop or sleep as much as those he hunted down. In its simplest form, the herb had become a business investment, as well as being simultaneously a torture and a comfort to his often shattered mental state, and when he had realised that its alluring taint could enhance his natural abilities, he had ceased to care about such trifling things as side effects.
After all, as he well knew, nothing he could do could end his life. Not yet.
"So instead, I'll focus on other people's." He observed ruefully, as he slipped along the main street that passed directly through the village to the mountain pass. None of the few stirring villagers paid him any attention, and Miramu knew that they would not perceive his presence, no matter how blatantly he walked among them.
"But I may have to ask again, about the Ri family." He reflected. "And I don't want to spill blood that I don't have to spill, if it's likely to bring witnesses. Noone who's ever witnessed me kill has ever survived to tell the tale - and I won't start now by being sloppy. I have enough arrows to suffice, if need be - but if I slaughter a whole village and start a war for Kutou's nice guy Emperor, Kikei-sama might decide not to pay me. And then it gets messy..."
As he reached the centre of the village, he laid eyes on a sturdily built farm house, and his eyes narrowed as he approached it carefully, running a finger against the stone of the wall as he tried to decide whether he'd found his target.
"Suzaku's taint." He murmured, knowing that the herb running through his senses had heightened his tired wits. "Just a trace, but it's there. A warrior of the stars...I believe I've found the place I'm looking for. Well, so much to the good. Chichiri will have regrets enough to fill the whole of that damn hat of his when he realises what his reticence has done to his family. But he was warned - I did tell him that if he didn't hand it over, someone would die. Just because it wasn't him or his travel companions..."
He smirked, glancing at the low-slung fence that partitioned the land, before neatly vaulting it, slipping carefully across the rows of growing plants as he followed the excited sound of children's voices.
"So the sorcerer also grows herbs." He reflected with some amusement. "I could teach him a little about that...although I'm sure he wouldn't want to know how best to mix a formula to knock a man dead within a matter of minutes or hours. He struck me as an annoyingly pro-life person - very boring. He almost deserves the taint of blood in his life, considering that - maybe it'll give him fire to fight, instead of just running away!"
"Oniichan! Oniichan, give it back...give it back!"
The voice of a young girl cut across his thoughts at that moment, and he paused, his indigo gaze darting in the direction of the voices as he prepared himself for attack. As he did so, however, he caught sight of a boy of about twelve years old, something clutched in his hands, and then, trailing him, the young speaker, her red hair wild and loose in the wind as she hurried after him.
"Oniichan! Give me back Papa's mask...Oniichan!"
"Catch me if you can, and then I'll give it back." The young boy teased, holding it up out of her reach. "Come on, Mei-chan. Or are you giving up already?"
"Oniichan, stop being mean!" The young girl put her hands on her hips, something pre-possessing in her stance despite her tiny, fragile form, and at the sight of them, Miramu drew breath sharply, momentarily struck by the two children who, oblivious to his attention, continued to shout and play within metres of where he stood.
"Aw, you're no fun." The boy dropped what he had been carrying onto the ground, shaking his head with all the authority of one who was older and therefore qualified to pass such judgement. "Since Papa went away, all you've done is fuss and cling onto that thing - I'm not doing all of the weeding today, just because you miss him, you know!"
"I do my share!" The girl objected indignantly, gathering up the precious object in her hands and hugging it tightly to her chest. "I'm just worried 'bout Papa an' Shishi an' Uncle Wolf an' Hikari-neesan, that's all."
"And so's Okaasan, so shut up." The boy told her bluntly, and Miramu's eyes widened as memories flitted across his senses.
"Stop saying those things - you're just upsetting Mother, imouto-chan." His own voice, younger and less cynical echoed in his mind, and he swallowed, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Nobody wants to hear your stories right now - and besides, I'm not doing all the work on my own!"
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, forcing the sensation back with a muttered curse. His grip tightened around the hilt of his dagger, but his impulse to slay the bickering siblings had dissipated in an instant, and he swore again, this time loudly enough for the young girl to hear him. Her eyes widened at the coarse language, and she raised her head, staring right at where he stood with such an intense, searching gaze that Miramu half wondered if the child had inherited any of her father's unusual abilities after all.
For a moment, nothing moved. Then, in a flash, the spell was broken as, from the farm building, a woman with features enough like Tasuki's to prove them related emerged, wiping her hands on her apron as she cast a reproving look at the two youngsters.
"What are you doing, shrieking like that?" She scolded. "At this time in the morning - do you want to wake the whole village?"
"Kaa-san, the bushes said a bad word." The young girl turned to her mother, confusion in her tones. "Like the things Uncle Wolf says - the things you say we shouldn't copy."
"The bushes did?" Miramu froze, half expecting the woman to laugh it off as nonsense, but instead she frowned, gazing across the field. "Into the house, both of you. We'll continue this inside - there's no sense running around the land so early and besides, I have things for both of you to do inside."
"I want to write Papa a letter." As they were ushered into the building, Miramu heard the young girl say. "Can I do that, Kaa-san?"
"We don't know where he is, or how soon he'll be home, Meikyo." The woman shook her head. "And I've far more useful things for you to do than write. I've still laundry to go through - and Eiju, you know that I asked you to check the firewood already. Do you want Papa to come home and find a huge pile in a mess like it is now?"
"Can I use the axe?" The boy sounded hopeful, and his mother snorted.
"You know the answer to that." She said unsympathetically. "Go on with you! Mei-chan, you come with me. Papa can wait - there's far too much to do even if he isn't here to help."
With that they were gone, and Miramu's eyes narrowed as he plotted his strategy.
"The woman is Chichiri's wife, I suppose." He muttered. "But she and the little girl both look more like they're blood to the mountain wolf Tasuki. So Seishi keep these things in the family. All the better. However...to kill them might prove tricky. After all, three people...and all the time a chance of a witness..."
He frowned, not wanting to admit that his conviction was failing him and that he no longer wanted to kill the children.
"I might take out the wench." He reflected. "But really, all I need is one of the little brats. That should suffice...one of them as a trade for the Shinzahou. Seems they're a closeknit enough family to be enough of a lever - a hostage might work even better than slitting their throats, in fact. Murder is outside my brief, after all - if I can get the earring without spilling Seishi blood, therein lies the challenge. And I do like a challenge."
He poised himself for action, now certain in his own mind as to his course of action.
"One treasure for another." He whispered. "And Suzaku's Shichi Seishi will learn that I really do mean business, when I come to call!"
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Daybreak, and already the first rays of the climbing sun were beginning to spread over the Kahou city skyscape.
Jin leant up against one of the pillars that marked the front entrance of the dark-stone hotel, folding his arms across his chest as he gazed sightlessly across the slowly stirring town streets. Deep in thought, he did not even realise he had company until a hand came down on his shoulder, and he started, turning to face his companion in surprise.
"Kashira!"
At his reaction, Tasuki chuckled, eying him in some amusement as he nodded his head.
"You're up early." He reflected. "An' starin' off into space ain't one of your usual pastimes, neither. Somethin' bugging you, Jin? Too much Hokkan snow, or too much Kahou alcohol – which is it?"
"I'm all right." Jin reddened slightly, shooting his companion a rueful grimace. "I just didn't get much sleep last night. That's all. So I thought I might as well get up with the sun – mountain habits are hard t'break, after all."
"Mountain habits, huh?" Tasuki nodded his head. "Guess so. But we're not on the mountain now, Jin."
"No. We're in Kahou." A faint smile touched Jin's lips. "It's just like I remember it, too, from when I was a kid. Ma used to work just across the road from this quarter – brings back the memories some, comin' through it like this. Seems a long time ago, to tell you the truth."
He sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
"I ain't one for nostalgic musings." He added. "But lookin' at it like this, guess it struck me for a moment. That's all."
"Mm." Tasuki settled himself on the stone wall, fixing his young companion with a searching look. "When I came down, somethin' had struck you. But I doubt it was your ol' ma an' her career in the red light district of Kounan's cities. You ain't spared the woman a thought in twelve years – even comin' here, I don't believe you'd bother with it now."
"Perhaps." Jin glanced at his hands. "Guess I'm just real thoughtful this morning. That's all."
He sighed, shaking his head as if to clear it.
"I ain't been so far from the mountain since you an' Aniki took me in." He added. "It's been a weird trip, this one. Seein' the stuff you an' Chichiri-san can do, it brings it home how important it all is. An' that earring – that someone'd be willin' to kill for it, jus' because it was Seiryuu's."
"You should be used to that, kid. You've survived enough Kaou-zan raids." Tasuki reminded him. Jin nodded.
"I know." He agreed. "But in comparison, bandit squabbles seem kinda lame. I mean, we're dabblin' with Gods an' shit now, aren't we? Holy loot. It's a different level altogether."
"Guess that's true." Tasuki agreed. "I hadn't stopped to think about it, to be honest."
"Well, for you, it's sort of normal, ain't it?" Jin eyed him ruefully. "I'm a rookie, Kashira. Go easy on me, huh?"
Tasuki chuckled, nodding his head.
"I suppose."
"Do you think we're goin' to Eiyou this morning? Or back to the mountain?" Jin shot his companion a quizzical look, and Tasuki shrugged his shoulders.
"Dunno. Chichiri ain't said anythin' either way an' since we're dealin' with holy treasures, I'm gonna let him make the final call. I don't really want it on Reikaku-zan, if there's some assassin after it too, but we can't go put the Emperor in danger, so I guess it probably will be the mountains. But we'll see."
"Think the girls are awake yet?"
"Probably not. They're girls, after all." Tasuki looked amused, and Jin grinned.
"Shishi's usually around pretty quick in the mornin', though." He reflected. "Considerin'."
"But she's with Hikari, an' Hikari's a girl's girl." Tasuki said frankly. "God knows what kind of influence she's havin' on the cub…when I passed their room last night, I coulda sworn they were discussin' hair, so…"
He spread his hands.
"Guess we'll see."
"Hikari'll be going back to her world though, soon. Won't she?" Jin raised his gaze in the direction of the inn's many guest rooms, and at his words, Tasuki sent him a sharp look.
"Maybe. Dependin' on what Taiitsukun thinks about it." He said cautiously. Jin pursed his lips, and for a moment he didn't speak. Then he nodded.
"Probably be better if she does. Safer, an' all, with that Miramu on the loose. She ain't trained to fight, after all – even if she is plucky an' she does have fire inside of her. Her magic's pretty unreliable, after all – an' if he found out who she was…"
He faltered, and Tasuki's eyes widened slightly, as if he had just had some kind of revelation. He grinned, getting to his feet and standing beside his young protégée as he followed the boy's gaze upwards.
"That's a new one for you, kid." He said softly. "I ain't heard that note in your voice before."
"Huh?" Jin looked startled, turning to gaze at his companion in surprise. "What do you mean, Kashira? What note?"
"The one that says, 'I want her to be safe but I don't want her to go back jus' yet." Tasuki said baldly. "That one. An' now you're turnin' the colour of Suzaku, so we both know I'm right on the mark, don't we? Yeesh, an' you're still such a kid, really – ain't it good enough, bein' a bandit an' collecting toll?"
"I don't know what you mean." Jin got control of his composure, shooting his leader a faint smile. "There's nothing the matter with me. I'm fine."
"Jin, I ain't pretending I understand girls, or how they work or think." Tasuki said bluntly, clapping a hand on his young follower's shoulder and leading him over to the wall, pushing him down onto it as he re-took his former position. "There, stay, where I can see you properly. One thing I do understand is how men think. I've lived with an' governed enough of them to know when a man's wantin' a woman, you know. An' a specific woman at that. You've fallen for the young whelp, ain't you? For Hikari."
"I…I don't know about that." Jin looked discomfited. "Kashira, you're jumpin' the gun. I mean, Hikari's not like other girls, she's a Shinzahou - she's from another world. She's different. An' I'm jus' a bandit – besides, she's goin' back, anyway, so it doesn't matter. An' I'm not sure it's as clear-cut as you think…I just…in Makan-mura, she really impressed me. An' spendin' that day in Yukigase, it was like…I don't know. She was one of the gang, not jus' some girl from another plane of existence. It was like it was normal, you know? Spendin' time around her. Like she belonged with Shishi an' me. That's all."
"Well, you oughta put it outta your head." Tasuki advised him. "Whatever it is – undefined or what. Even if it's jus' in the early stages – stifle it now. Hikari will go home eventually – whether now or in the future. An' you don't want to be that screwed up. Besides…"
He frowned, shaking his head.
"Besides, you're too young to be messin' with girls." He reflected. "At least when there's work to be done on Reikaku-zan. Why not take a leaf outta Shishi's book an' forswear the whole business? The mountain family sure don't need any more complications, an' you are part of that family – it ain't like you need to forge another. Right?"
"I guess." Jin rubbed his temples. "I'm sorry. I don't even know how to explain it myself. I suppose I just realised…if she's going home…that I'm going to miss her. And it's dumb, because I ain't known her more'n a week. But maybe it's because she's different…I guess…I can't help feelin' somethin' about it. She was so brave, when she went to save Chichiri-san. Like…like a proper bandit. Like Anzu-sama, or Shishi. But…somehow…different, too."
"Girls from the other world have a funny effect on people, that's for sure." Tasuki reflected wisely, and from his expression Jin realised he spoke from experience. "Don't let it sway you. It's not a good idea, Jin…trust me. You'll end up in more trouble than you can handle – take it from me. If you must start playin' with girls, at least follow one that's from this world, not the other one. It ain't pretty, watchin' the fall-out from an inter-dimensional relationship. Tama an' Miaka were enough…you don't want to be caught on that path. It's doomed before you even begin. So whatever you think you feel, stop feelin' it now. You'll regret it, otherwise…if you don't."
"Guess so." Jin nodded ruefully. "All right. I'll try."
He frowned, eying his superior keenly.
"Kashira…?"
"Yes?"
"When you say that…about girls from the other world…were you…ever…with Miaka-sama?"
"I oughta cuff you for that, considerin' Miaka's daughter's sleepin' right above us." Tasuki said evenly, and Jin looked sheepish.
"I know. I'm sorry. But it jus' sounded like…"
"You think I speak from experience, rather than takin' my own advice – is that it?" Tasuki eyed him thoughtfully. Then he shook his head. "No. Miaka an' I had a bond, as Seishi an' Miko. As friends. As brother an' sister, maybe. But we were never lovers. Miaka was always Tama's. And Tama was like a brother to me too."
"I guess. I'm sorry." Jin ran his fingers through his hair. "I suppose it was a lot of trouble, then, when Tamahome left this world and went to Miaka-sama's."
"More than you want to know, kid." Tasuki rubbed his chin ruefully. "More'n you want to know. I'm glad it worked out for them – but yeesh, it's not an experience I'd want to repeat. Or see happen over again to any other poor sucker. So guard against it now, while you still can, okay? Like as not it's the novelty of bein' on the road with a woman who you ain't usually around. Reikaku-zan ain't exactly a haven for girls an' I know Shishi's like your kid sister – maybe that's just it."
"Maybe." Jin reflected. "Either way, I know you're right. And I'll try and do as you say, Kashira."
He faltered, then,
"You won't tell her, will you?"
"Naw." Tasuki shook his head. "It ain't my business an' believe me, if it involves girls an' sappy emotions, then it ain't my scene."
"But you have Anzu-sama…right?"
"An' don't think she didn't have to prove she was more than just a girl, before I let her stay." Tasuki grinned wolfishly at the memory. "I didn't make it easy on her, you know."
"I guess that wasn't too hard for her to do, though." Jin mused. "Anzu-sama's pretty strong…for a chick."
"She wouldn't be on Reikaku-zan if she wasn't." Tasuki said frankly. "So bear that in mind, too, Jin."
He eyed his young companion thoughtfully, then shrugged his shoulders.
"You an' Shishi remind me of Kouji an' me." He added. "An' since you've been on the mountain, you've been as close to a son as I've had, considerin' how young you were at the time we found you. I'd like t'keep you on the mountain, if I can – for Shishi's sake as much as for anything. So if you're goin' to go after a woman, Jin, try an' make it one who can survive on Reikaku-zan."
Jin stared at his companion for a moment. Then he grinned, nodding his head.
"It means something, that." He said off-handedly. "An' I'll do my best to remember."
His gaze flitted back to the inn, then,
"Maybe if Hikari went back, then, it'd be for the best." He added. "Outta sight, and all that."
"Maybe." Tasuki agreed. "Though if you can't fight it off yourself, kid, you ain't the bandit I thought you were."
"Well, I'm a rookie in this quarter too." Jin said ruefully. "So I guess that's two strikes against me on this trip, huh?"
Before the Kashira could respond, there was the sound of someone calling his name and as both men turned they registered Chichiri, a look of apprehension crossing his scarred features as he made his way towards them. As he drew closer, Jin realised that the Seishi was uncharacteristically shaken, and as he joined them, Tasuki grasped him by the wrists, shooting him a confused look.
"What's eating you?" He demanded. "Jin an' I ain't gone anywhere…why that face? Have the girls done somethin' we should know about?"
"No." Chichiri shook his head. "At least, I haven't spoken to either of them this morning. But…we have to leave here, Tasuki. We have to go…back home. Back to the mountain – to the Eastern Village. As soon as possible, or sooner. We have to go."
"To…go?" Tasuki stared at him. "Why? What's happened? Did you lose the Shinzahou?"
"It's not that." There was an edge of impatience in the older man's tone, and Tasuki gazed at him in surprise. "I just…something's wrong. I can feel it. Something's wrong at home. We have to get back there…right now."
Tasuki's expression underwent a transformation and he sent Jin a glance.
"Go wake the girls. Tell them it doesn't matter how their hair is, or what they're wearin', we want them down here pronto." He said quietly. "You heard Chichiri…we're goin' back and we're not hangin' around."
"Yes Kashira." Jin nodded, realising from his companion's tones that this was not the time to point out that going into a girl's bedroom was strictly against the rules on Reikaku-zan. "I'll be right back…I'll make sure they know."
With that he was gone, haring back into the building and up the stairs as he contemplated what could have happened to make the normally relaxed Seishi look so troubled and distressed.
"Something big." He muttered. "Somethin' on the mountain, perhaps? Dammit, I hope not. Kaou-zan had better not have chosen now to launch a raid."
At that moment he reached the right floor, and he pounded on the door of the bedroom the two girls had been sharing.
"Hikari! Shishi! Get out here, now!" He exclaimed. "Kashira's orders – we're goin' and we're doin' it now!"
"What?" Shishi flung back the door, staring up at him in disbelief. "Right now? We're not eating breakfast? Hiki's hardly even up – Jin!"
"It ain't me, I told you! It's Kashira…Kashira an' Chichiri-san!" Jin objected, as Hikari let out a shriek, scrambling for her discarded day clothing and hiding behind it as she registered his presence in the doorway. "Shit…Hikari, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…but I think it's an emergency. I didn't come to peep on you, I swear – jus' Chichiri-san looks like he's seen a ghost, an' he says something's happened, back home. We have to go – an' as soon as possible."
"Back…home?" Shishi stared at him. "On the mountain?"
"I don't know. He didn't say." Jin spread his hands. "Just that I was to get you girls up an' hurry you along."
"It's Meikyo." Hikari said softly, sitting down on her bed as she fiddled with the laces of her blouse. "Chichiri…he's worried about Meikyo. Meikyo, Eiju and Aidou-san."
Shishi's eyes widened, and she cursed, shaking her head.
"You don't think…that bastard assassin…somehow..." She faltered, and Jin's expression darkened.
"Sooner we go, sooner we'll find out." He said grimly. "Hikari, are you ready? We don't have time to waste."
"I think so." Hikari raised troubled dark eyes to his, and despite himself, Jin swallowed hard as he struggled to remember the Kashira's advice. As he looked at her, with her thick dark hair loose over her shoulders and a plaintive, helpless look in her eyes, he realised that fighting the way he'd begun to feel was going to be more difficult than he'd first imagined, and he gritted his teeth, forcing the thought from his mind.
"You really think it's his family, huh?" He asked softly. Hikari shook her head.
"I know it is." She whispered. "I can…feel it. Like before. When I try to find Chichiri, I can – but he's only faint against my senses. But…but when he's upset, or in trouble…I think…I think it's instinctive. He reaches for Suzaku's help…and…and I can feel that, because Suzaku…is inside me, isn't he? Sort of."
"Something like that." Shishi looked angry. "Dammit, if that creep has dared hurt Mei-chan…"
"Well, we won't know standin' around here." Jin said frankly, grabbing her by the arm and holding his other hand out to Hikari. "Let's hope it's not as bad as he thinks – and there's something we can do to help!"