Chapter Fifteen
Meikyo was gone.
Hikari gazed up at the wispy clouds that dotted Kounan's sky, a mixture of anger and frustration swirling in her young heart. Inside the house, Shishi had returned with water and she and Tasuki had bent their efforts to cleaning up and taking care of the dazed Aidou and the frightened Eiju. But Hikari's mind had been preoccupied only by the unknown fate of the small girl who had extended such a warm greeting to her when she had first arrived in the Eastern Village.
"Pleased to meet you, Hikari-neesan!"
Meikyo's words echoed in her brain once more, and she clenched her fists, tears glittering in her eyes as she inwardly called Miramu every bad name she could think of.
"What kind of monster rips a little girl away from her family like that, just over an earring?" She muttered. "Who cares if it's the Shinzahou? Mei-chan's only eight years old - she didn't do anything and she's not even involved! And Chichiri...poor Chichiri. What he's feeling..."
She sighed, sinking down against the wall of the property as the tears began to trickle slowly down her cheeks.
"I know what he's feeling." She admitted to herself. "And I don't like it."
"Hikari-chan?" Jin's voice startled her and she glanced up, offering him a faint, unconvincing smile. At the sight of her tears, Jin frowned, dropping down beside her with a sigh. He fumbled in his pocket for a crumpled scrap of fabric that might, in some universes pass as a hankerchief, handing it to her, and she took it hesitantly, folding it between her fingers.
"I'm sorry." She murmured. "I knew if I stayed in there with them, I'd just cry and upset Aidou-san more. I don't like this, Jin. Meikyo's such a little kid...what if he hurts her?"
"Kashira thinks he won't." Jin reflected evenly, eying her keenly. "Because he wants to make a trade. I think Meikyo's all right, Hikari. And you must, too. Chichiri-san's strong, anyway. He'll save her. You know that."
"How?" Hikari whispered. "Tasuki has the Shinzahou. How can he make a trade without the treasure?"
"I don't know, but he'll think of something." Jin admitted. "Besides, that earring thing is dangerous in the wrong hands, right? That's why we went to get it in the first place, isn't it? It sort of defeats the object, if we hand it over to the enemy like that."
"Meikyo's life matters more." Hikari murmured, and Jin rested a hand on her arm.
"Of course it does. All life does." He said, uncharacteristically serious, and Hikari stared at the gravity in his dark eyes. "But listen. You said yourself you'd seen the world all wrecked up, didn't you...?"
"Yes..."
"So in the end, us having the Shinzahou means that won't happen...doesn't it?"
"I don't know." Hikari admitted. "But I didn't mean..."
She frowned, rubbing her temples.
"When I came here, I saw Aidou-san and the children dead, as if they'd been sleeping for years, untouched and forgotten." She whispered. "But Meikyo is in danger now, Jin. And if she dies now, then I...by coming here, I have changed things, haven't I? I've brought her death forward. I stayed here to help Chichiri and his family, but what if I've made them suffer more? Meikyo's so innocent - I couldn't bear it."
"I told you. I don't think this Miramu guy is stupid - providing it is him we're dealing with and not some other random nut." Jin said gently. "He knows that he won't get any cooperation from us if Meikyo dies."
"But Chichiri doesn't have the Shinzahou." Hikari said helplessly. "And he can't get Meikyo back without it."
"I'm sure he can, you know."
Hikari was silent for a moment, staring out across the field of herb crops as she watched the leaves of the plants swaying slightly in the gentle breeze.
"So peaceful." She murmured, more than half to herself. "This is the world that Meikyo and Eiju know, isn't it? Not travelling and fighting and facing assassins or Seishi with murder on their mind. This village, this farm...it's all been shattered by Miramu's invasion."
"I know. It makes me mad, too." Jin agreed. "Women an' children should never be brought into men's battles...it's a low blow."
"Unless they choose to be there." Hikari said suddenly, and Jin stared at her.
"Well, sure. I mean, you're different, ain't you? An' Shishi, too." He reflected, offering her a rueful smile. "You're both connected to Suzaku in one way or another. But I meant people like Aidou-san an' the kids here. People who jus' mind their own business, livin' in the villages."
"Connected to Suzaku." Hikari murmured, toying idly with the end of her long braid of hair as she considered his words. Inside of her, she felt something flicker and dance, and she bit her lip, knowing that it was the flare of Suzaku's dormant magic.
"Chichiri can't do this on his own." She decided, getting to her feet. "He was never meant to fight battles by himself, after all. He's one of the Seishi - he's not a lone fighter."
"Hikari-chan?" Jin gazed up at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Suzaku." Hikari said softly. "I think. What you just said, about being connected."
"You've lost me."
"I know. I probably lost myself, too." Hikari admitted. "But think about it. If that Miramu guy really can pierce Chichiri's barrier, and disperse his magic, doesn't that mean he can hurt Chichiri as well as Meikyo? What's to stop him killing the both of them, especially if he realises they don't have what he wants? And besides, Chichiri's hampered - he knows that Meikyo could be in real danger if he acts...no matter how much of a Suzaku warrior he is, Jin, he's...he's still a father."
She bit her lip, dashing her tears from her lashes as she made up her mind.
"And he told me that all parents love their children more than anything." She added softly. "No matter what."
"What are you thinking?" Jin asked her warily, and Hikari glanced back towards the house, catching sight of the black casket that sat on the table forgotten as Tasuki tended to his wounded elder sister.
"I think someone should go after him." She said softly. "And make the trade."
"Hikari..." Jin's eyes opened wide and he shook his head. "Don't be stupid. We need that thing - don't we? If we don't have it, Kounan is still in danger. And shit, Hikari, you won't be able to go home - will you?"
Hikari faltered for a moment, as the truth of his words washed over her. Then her eyes narrowed and she shook her head.
"I can't help it." She admitted. "When Suzaku's people are in trouble, I feel...totally not like myself. And right now it doesn't matter to me that I can't go home. I'm Suzaku no Shinzahou and I have to be here to...to help protect Kounan, too. Isn't that right?"
"Hikari-chan..." Jin eyed her keenly, then he sighed, nodding his head.
"You mean to go yourself, don't you?" He asked softly. Hikari spread her hands.
"I think so." She admitted. "I don't see how else to do it. Tasuki and Shishi are busy with Aidou-san and Eiju - they probably wouldn't notice if I slipped out for a little bit. And...and I can find Chichiri. At the moment, I can find him really easily, Jin. I...I can't explain what it feels like, but it's just like what happened in Makan. I know he's in trouble and I can't sit back and not do anything about it. I don't even know if it's me making the decisions, or if it's Suzaku inside of me. But either way, I have to do something. I don't have a choice - I have to."
"It's dangerous, you know."
"Yes, I know." Hikari nodded her head. "But even so..."
"And what about your prediction? What about letting the enemy have their Shinzahou?"
"So long as Kounan has Suzaku's, nothing can happen, right?" Hikari said frankly.
"You'd really not go home?"
"I've already decided, Jin." Hikari agreed softly. "And I'll probably hate it...or regret it...when this is all over. But right now, I can't think of anything but Chichiri and Meikyo and doing Suzaku's bidding."
Jin's eyes narrowed for a moment. Then he sighed.
"Then I'm coming with you." He said softly.
"Jin?" Hikari eyed him in surprise, and Jin spread his hands.
"It might be dangerous, and you might need a diversion." He said frankly. "Two heads are better'n one, and Kashira'd brain me if I let you go off on your own. As it is, you're goin' to have to get past him an' Shishi without them realisin'."
"Right now, Tasuki's more preoccupied with Aidou-san." Hikari said sadly. "They're brother and sister, and she's been hurt. And Shishi, too. They're family. I doubt a stupid earring means much to them right now. And we're in the way, you and me. If you're really so sure about coming, I won't stop you. But you won't change my mind. I'll do what it takes to get Meikyo back safely, and Chichiri too...even if that means giving up Seiryuu's Shinzahou to a jerk like this Miramu!"
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He was getting closer.
As Chichiri crept carefully along the mountain path, he paused to raise a hand to the wind, his good eye narrowing as he realised he was on the right track. So, the assassin had not gone far, after all. A grim smile touched his lips as he realised that the tactic had been deliberate.
"He hoped to lure me here, so that I'd give him what he wanted and he can be on his way." He muttered. "Dammit, I don't understand how he got to the Eastern Village before we did, or how he manages to conceal himself from my senses. But this time he's not even trying to hide. I can sense both him and Meikyo up ahead - he must know that I'm here. That I'm tracing his trail and coming to confront him. Which means he can probably sense me as much as I can him - however he's doing it."
His gaze hardened.
"I won't forgive him if he's hurt my daughter." He added. "Don't worry, Mei-chan. Papa is on his way."
As he passed a copse of trees, a small,tile-roofed building loomed out of the greenery and he hesitated, realising with a jolt that this small, hidden hut was the place Miramu had chosen to hide.
"Almost concealed by trees." Chichiri murmured aloud. "In the depths of the mountains. I wonder if this is the hut Tasuki talks about - the secret hideout he and Kouji used to use as a refuge from time to time. He really hasn't gone far at all - so luring me out is his main objective, after all."
"An astute observation, Chichiri-san."
The voice echoed out of the landscape and Chichiri started, swinging around as he realised the assassin's life force had once more disappeared from his sensors. There was an amused chuckle, then a whoosh of air, and Chichiri was aware of something dropping down from the trees in front of him. His eyes widened with disbelief, even as he projected a barrier around his body, for little by little, the image of his enemy became clear before him.
"How did you..." He whispered, and Miramu smirked, shaking his head as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Assassins have tricks of the trade." He said softly. "You're predictible, you know. I had a feeling I knew what would bring you to me...and here you are."
"Where's Meikyo?" Chichiri gathered his composure, shooting his companion an uncharacteristically venomous glance. "If you've hurt her, Miramu, I swear..."
"You'll what?" Miramu eyed him keenly. "Kill me?"
"If I have to."
"Ah, I see." Miramu tut-tutted. "And I thought you were a more logical, rational man than that, Chichiri. Or should I say Ri Hou Jun?"
Chichiri flinched at the use of his real name, a dark look glittering in his ruby eyes.
"That depends." He said quietly. "On whether or not someone tries to harm people I care about."
Miramu's expression became one of amusement, and slowly he shook his head.
"You can relax." He said softly. "The child is alive. She's inside...you can come see her for yourself, if you want to."
"I don't have to. I can feel that she's alive." Chichiri snapped. "But just because you haven't killed her doesn't mean you haven't hurt her - frightened her. This isn't her battle, it's mine and yours. You have issues with me then you take them up with me, face to face. As Tasuki would say, involving others is a coward's game."
"Or an assassin's tactic." Miramu laughed. "You really look ready to strike me down, Chichiri - I didn't expect such vitriolic hate from a man who once walked the landscape in the garb of a monk!"
"That was a long time ago." Chichiri said softly. "And I'm not afraid to fight you, if that's what it takes to get my daughter released."
"I'd prefer it if you'd just hand over Seiryuu's treasure." Miramu admitted. "I'm not crazy about fighting someone who really doesn't pose me a lot of a challenge. Besides, you might as well know now that, no matter what you do, you can't kill me. It's written in the stars - you can try, but it's a lost battle before you begin."
Chichiri, who had been gathering his magic inside of him paused at this, eying his companion in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"What I said. Today isn't my day to die." Miramu said evenly. "I'll be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the next after that, you have my word on it. However, I don't know about you or your pup - I expect both or either of you could die here and now, if you were to choose not to cooperate with me."
Chichiri frowned, gauging his opponant for signs of bluff, but there were none. Miramu met his gaze evenly, his odd indigo eyes glittering with something beyond normal fighting instinct, and even though his quiver was nowhere in evidence, Chichiri suddenly had the sensation that if he chose, this mysterious man had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
"Well?" He asked quietly, as the Seishi hesitated. "Do you still want to fight me? Or can we negotiate like adults? I really have no interest in your little girl - in any regard. You have my word that I will release her, as soon as you hand over Seiryuu's earring."
"I don't have it." Chichiri said truthfully. "So you've gone to all this trouble for nothing. It's not in my possession, you know."
Miramu's eyes narrowed.
"I could kill you, still." He warned, and Chichiri spread his hands.
"You could try." He admitted evenly. "But even if you did, and you searched my body, you'd find I was telling you the truth. The Shinzahou isn't in my possession."
Miramu's lips thinned.
"You've left it somewhere." He murmured. "Let me guess - that fire-throwing oaf Tasuki has it? You really think you can come here and barter with me for your daughter's life without the treasure? You are more stupid than I thought. Or are you really willing to risk the child's life by taking the gamble? If so, you really are reckless."
"She's my daughter. I don't expect you to understand, but Shinzahou or not, there's no way I wouldn't have come." Chichiri said darkly. "Fathers protect their children, Miramu. No matter what."
At this a strange flicker crossed the assassin's dark eyes, and Chichiri had the definite impression that he'd said something to wound his opponant somehow. Miramu let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
"Not all fathers." He said softly. "Some lie pooling in their own blood as penance for what they've done. By coming here without the treasure, Chichiri, you've sealed your daughter's fate, and your own. She will die, and then I'll kill you too, just for being so arrogant to assume that the ties of parent and child are strong enough to save the day."
He flung back the door of the small hut, and for the first time Chichiri was aware of his young daughter, tears streaming down her face as she crouched in a corner, her wrists and ankles bound. As the assassin crossed the floor towards her, a flash of rage flooded Chichiri's heart and he lunged forward, grabbing the man by the arm and pulling him roughly back.
"You're not going to hurt her!" He exclaimed, and Miramu wheeled on him, a strange, half-deranged look in his dark eyes.
"What kind of a man do you think I am?" He hissed back. "I'm not someone you can reason with, or whose better nature you can appeal to. I have no better nature, Chichiri. I'm a killer. I spill blood for money."
He narrowed his gaze, wrenching himself free from the Seishi's grasp as he flung back his arm, sending the unprepared Chichiri flying back across the room.
"You should have brought the earring." He murmured. "I would have made a trade, then."
"Papa! Papa!" Meikyo's frightened screams penetrated Chichiri's consciousness and he pulled himself to his feet, his aura glittering with red energy as he drew on his strength to cast a spell, but as he did so, Miramu grabbed the child roughly, pulling her to her feet and holding her in front of him as a shield.
"Hit me and hit her too." He said evenly. "Your spells are legendary, and I've no intention of being hit by one of them, thank you."
"Let her go." Chichiri said flatly, and Miramu shook his head. He flicked his fingers and Chichiri's heart clenched as he registered the glitter of a blade that now pressed gently against Meikyo's throat.
"Papa! Papa, help me! Help me!" Meikyo was almost hysterical now, and Chichiri bit his lip, his aura fading as he realised there was no way to hit his opponant without bringing his daughter into the blast.
"And I can't project a barrier around her whilst he's holding her like that." He murmured.
"Well?" Miramu taunted. "Aren't you going to take your shot? I'm going to kill her anyway, right here in front of you. The only difference is whether you give her a quick death or I give her a slow one. It takes quite some time to bleed to death, you know...we could wait and see just how long. I had wanted to do this without spilling blood, but if this is how you want it, I'll oblige. If I have to kill your whole family to get what I want - so be it."
There was a glitter of metal, and Meikyo screamed, as spatters of red cascaded down onto the floor of the hut.
"Mei-chan!" Chichiri's heart stopped in his chest as he lunged forwards, realising as he did so that Miramu had sliced his dagger cleanly across the young girl's arm, and that blood was flowing freely from the wound.
"Well?" Miramu raised a challenging gaze. "Tick-tock. You can't kill me, I told you that. You can only kill her. Then I'll kill you. And if you'd brought the treasure, none of this would have happened. Tragic, isn't it, when parents make the wrong decisions for their kids?"
His eyes narrowed, and Chichiri saw a glitter of ice coldness in the indigo gaze.
"But then, I've always felt fathers were overrated." He said softly. "And I'm sure, right now, Meikyo feels the same way."
Chichiri glanced at them, gauging whether or not he could act fast enough to take the assassin off balance and release his daughter, but as he did so, something else assailed his senses and he faltered, his good eye widening with disbelief.
"Hikari-chan?" He whispered. "But...what the..."
"Hikari?" Miramu stared at him, confused. "Have you lost your mind now, Sorcerer? Has seeing your daughter bleeding driven you so far out of your wits?"
"Let her go, you jerk!"
Before Chichiri could respond, a fresh voice interrupted the conversation, and Chichiri shifted his gaze to the doorway, biting his lip as he registered the schoolgirl, determination in her gaze. Behind her stood the young bandit Jin, his sword drawn as if preparing for a battle, and at the sight of them, Miramu laughed.
"Well. More children coming to die for you, Chichiri? You are honoured, aren't you?" He taunted, and at this, Hikari's eyes narrowed.
"Let Meikyo go." She said again, taking a determined step into the room and Chichiri registered with a jolt that the same unearthly look as he had seen in Makan glimmered in her gaze.
"Suzaku..." He breathed. "But...Hikari-chan, no! It's dangerous - get out of here! I told you..."
"Hikari-neesan!" Meikyo reached a bloody hand out towards the teenager, and this seemed to harden Hikari's resolve. She approached Miramu determinedly, pausing a few feet away from him, and slipping her hand into her pocket. Slowly she drew out the small black casket, and Chichiri's heart skipped a beat.
"Hikari, what are you..."
"I have what you want, Miramu." Hikari ignored Chichiri's protests, holding the small box out. "The Seiryuu Shinzahou. Yui-sama's earring is inside this box. And I'll give it to you, if you let Meikyo go."
"Well." Miramu's eyes narrowed, his gaze flitting between Hikari and Chichiri as he digested this. "So you left it in the care of a child, Chichiri? You really are careless...or is this an extension of your paternal beliefs?"
"Hikari, you can't let him have it! You know you can't!" Chichiri objected, but Hikari shook her head.
"It's all right." She said softly. "Chichiri, trust me. It's all right."
She glanced back at Miramu.
"Meikyo for the treasure, isn't that what you wanted?" She repeated. "So let her go. Take it and go. You're sick and I hate the sight of you...if you want this thing so bad, take it and leave us alone."
Miramu frowned, reaching out to pluck the box from her grip. He opened it, and a blueish glow shone from the casket for the briefest of instants as he gazed down on Yui's sacred earring. A faint smile touched his lips, and he nodded, releasing his grip on Meikyo as the child tumbled to the floor.
"So one of you has sense." He reflected. "Very well. A deal is a deal."
He eyed Hikari pensively, then,
"Hikari, is it?" He murmured. "Well, Hikari. I'm glad that one of Chichiri's hangers-on has the sense to realise I don't play games. Thanks to you, noone's dying - providing, of course, that you can stop the child's bleeding before she loses too much."
He winked at her, then, as if by magic, he disappeared.
"What the..." Jin stared blankly at the space where the assassin had been, as Chichiri hurried forwards to gather his injured daughter up in his arms, glancing anxiously at her wound as she buried her head in his shoulder, sobbing violently.
"Papa...Papa..." She wept, and Chichiri held her tightly, stroking her tousled red hair.
"It's all right, Mei-chan." He murmured. "I'm here. You're safe now. I promise...you're safe."
"Is she...is her arm..." Hikari stepped hesitantly forward, and Chichiri nodded.
"It's a flesh wound." He agreed, pulling a length of fabric from his pocket and winding it tightly around the offending injury. "Hikari, you shouldn't have done that. I know you wanted to help Meikyo, but..."
"It was the only thing to do." Hikari said softly, and for a moment, her aura seemed to glitter once more with red, divine light. Chichiri's eyes widened.
"Suzaku...?"
"He's inside of me again." Hikari admitted. "He made me come. I can't explain it...but...it was like...I couldn't bear to do anything else. And...and it's all right, Chichiri. Really. They might have Seiryuu's Shinzahou, but they...they can't have Suzaku's. And I...I'm not going to let them have me, no matter what."
"Hikari-chan..." Chichiri trailed off, staring at her as he absorbed the resolution in her dark eyes. "But...without Seiryuu's treasure..."
"I can't go home. I know." Hikari sighed, sinking down beside them as she touched Meikyo gently on the arm. "But I made you a promise, didn't I? That I wouldn't go home until your family was safe. And me...being here...I wasn't going to let Mei-chan get hurt. I promised...and if that means I have to stay a little longer, then I...I'll stay. After all, I really don't know how to be Suzaku no Shinzahou yet. But...I was thinking about that. If...if I learnt how - if I really did wake this magic inside of me, couldn't I...couldn't I summon Suzaku?"
"Summon Suzaku?" Chichiri stared at her, and Hikari nodded.
"Shishi said something about wishes." She added. "Is that true? That you can make wishes and the Beast God grants them?"
"Yes." Chichiri agreed. "But..."
"Then I can wish for Kutou to be stopped." Hikari said evenly. "Can't I?"
"Hikari..." Chichiri faltered, then he smiled, reaching up to touch her cheek.
"Right now you look like your mother." He reflected absently. "You have that same resolve in your eyes as she had when she made up her mind to do something. I'll never forget how she looked, when she summoned Suzaku to your world to bring Nakago down and save us all. And right now, you could be her over again."
"Then I need to learn how to be Suzaku's Shinzahou." Hikari agreed.
"Right now, we need to get Meikyo home." Chichiri got to his feet, cradling his young child in his arms, and Meikyo tightened her grasp on her father, her tears quieted some by his comforting presence. "But we will talk about this, Hikari. I think it's time we did as you say - we discussed your power and whether or not there's a way of bringing it out of you."
His eyes narrowed.
"Did you trace me here?" He asked softly. Hikari nodded.
"I can do that, now. It's easy." She agreed. "Even when I don't want to, I think."
"Then that's a start." Chichiri reflected. "But we'll have to think about this carefully. And talk to Taiitsukun, as well. See what she advises. After all, if we're right, and Miramu is working for Kutou, they have one Shinzahou now and so do we. But this is a matter of all four treasures...we might find we're travelling again, and we don't know how much time we might have."
"It's no use, if Miramu just pops up like that again and again." Jin said darkly. Chichiri shrugged.
"Such is the nature of battle." He said sadly. "You're right, Jin. We need to find a way to take care of him, too. But he doesn't seem to have a clear weakness. He also told me that I couldn't kill him - that it was written in the stars. I don't know what he meant, but one thing I am sure of. There's something unusual about this particular assassin. He's not your average killer for hire. He has...something else about him."
"He vanished right in front of us." Jin agreed. "That's weird right there."
"Maybe he is a sorcerer of some kind." Hikari suggested. "He moves fast, and he's strange...perhaps it's a spell. He has crazy eyes, too...perhaps he's not even a man at all. Maybe he's some kind of demon - you have demons in this world, right?"
"Yes." Chichiri agreed. "But..."
He shook his head.
"Smell the air." He said softly, and Hikari stared at him.
"Huh?"
"Can't you smell it? The aura of herbs that linger around this place - and around him?"
"Herbs?" Jin frowned. "Is it all to do with potions, then? Is he that kind of spell-caster?"
"Hard to be sure, you know." Chichiri admitted. "But one scent does stand out over the others."
He grimaced.
"Ma Huang."
"Ma Huang?" Hikari looked blank. "What the hell is Ma Huang when it's at home?"
"It's a stimulant. People use it in medicines." Chichiri said evenly. "But judging by the way his eyes gleam, and the speed and aggression with which he changes temperament, I'd say our assassin uses it rather more than that. Whether or not he has any kind of underlying spiritual power, or whether he uses other herbs as illusory spells, I wouldn't like to bet. However, it's not all God-given...on that count I'm fairly sure."
"You mean, he's a drug addict?" Hikari's expression became derisive. "That's what you mean? That's how he got to the Eastern Village before we did? He didn't sleep, but just travelled through the night, stoked up on some herbal remedy?"
"Possibly." Chichiri agreed. "Either way, it makes him a dangerous opponent. Hikari-chan, you were lucky he was reasonable in his dealing with you. Ma Huang might speed up reactions and it's true that it has many medicinal benefits. But abused, it can make the user irrational, violent and unpredictable. If I'm right, we should treat him with extreme care in the future...if he is using it to hone his skills, there's no telling what else it might make him do."
"If he tries to hurt Meikyo again, I might get irrational, violent and unpredictable too." Hikari said darkly, and once more Chichiri was aware of the faint glittering in her aura. He smiled ruefully, shaking his head.
"You have the spirit to protect Kounan's people, when you talk like that." He reflected, and Hikari reddened.
"It's like having someone else living inside of me." She confessed. "I don't know how it switches on or off, but when someone's in danger – when Suzaku's people are – it's like I have to do something, or explode. Even if that something is dangerous. But it takes it out of me – I guess I'm just not used to it yet."
She sighed, and Chichiri was aware of the tiredness that flickered in her hazel eyes.
"We should go back to the village and let Chichiri-san treat Meikyo's arm." Jin said softly, holding an arm out to her and she took it, glancing at him gratefully. Chichiri nodded.
"Yes." He agreed. "And we won't worry about Miramu for the time being. As you say, Hikari-chan, if you can learn to be Suzaku's Shinzahou, then nothing he can do will be able to stop us saving Kounan and preventing this disaster. So for now, that's how we'll think."
He paused, glancing at his daughter, then at his young companions.
"I hope Tamahome and Miaka can forgive me for keeping you here so long." He murmured. "They must be worried…I wish there was some way to tell them you were safe."
"Is there a way?" Hikari looked doubtful, and Chichiri shook his head.
"I don't know." He admitted. "To communicate with the other world, we need a medium. Something that exists in your world and in this one. Miaka always used her clothing – the strange uniform she wore when she travelled into Kounan. But your clothes were destroyed when you came here, so that's no good."
Hikari's eyes widened, as she clasped her fingers around her left wrist, staring at the sorcerer with a sudden look of inspiration on her face.
"My watch!" She exclaimed. "Chichiri – could we use…could my watch…do you think it would work, to use this?"
"What the hell is that?" Jin sent her a non-plussed glance, as she unfastened the buckle, holding it out to the Seishi to look at. Hikari offered him a smile.
"In my world, we all have them, to keep track of the time." She explained. "Only mine is broken – it doesn't work any more. I just kept it because…well, it was the only thing from the other world I had left."
"So it's like some kind of water clock?" Jin's brow furrowed. "I don't see how it works. There are no numbers – how can it know?"
"Well, it's battery is flat." Hikari sighed. "Normally it has numbers – there. But I guess…it looks weird to you because it's digital. I'm lazy – it's so much easier to know what time it is, this way."
"Digital?" Jin stared, and Hikari nodded.
"Is that some kind of magic in your world?"
"I suppose it sort of is." Hikari considered, biting her lip. "Kind of. I hadn't thought about my world as having magic, but I suppose…it runs on battery power and that's electricity…and electricity is kind of like magic. It'd be like…well, controlling lightning and stuff, I guess. You'd think of that as magic, wouldn't you?"
"No kidding." Jin looked rueful. "And it tells the time, in your world?"
"Yes." Hikari nodded. "Chichiri – do you think it would be possible?"
Chichiri ran his fingers over the clock face, eying it thoughtfully for a moment. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"I can try, you know. Once we're back in the Eastern Village." He agreed. "It might or might not be possible – remember, you're on a different stream of time now to the one you were on before. But I'll give it my best, I promise. In the circumstances, it's the least I can do."
Hikari smiled, nodding her head.
"Then lets get Meikyo back to her mother." She suggested. "And then…then we'll work out a way of telling Mum and Dad where I am!"