Chapter One
"You know, for someone who's about to embark on a big adventure, you look kinda down in the dumps."
Shishi leapt neatly down from the stone wall that marked the Ri family land, narrowly missing the thriving row of herbal crops as she steadied herself, shooting her companion a playful grin. "What's on your mind, Hiki? Getting cold feet about our trip to the West before we've even left yet?"
"Yes...I suppose so." Hikari raised her head from where she had been huddled beneath the branches of an old tree, knees clutched to her chest as she had immersed herself deep in thought. "Tomorrow seems so soon, Shishi. And I don't feel...much stronger. I mean, I've done everything Chichiri has told me, and I've done my best to focus the magic I have, but it's still such alien territory to me. I'm worried about going to Sairou...without Tasuki and Chichiri, I don't feel like it's very safe."
"Ah. So today is a wimp Hiki day." Shishi dropped down beside her, casting her an amused look. "I should'a known. You flip between brave an' silly so easily, it's impossible to know which Hikari you're goin' to be at any given moment. Stop sweatin' it, okay? Look forward to it as an adventure. You won't be on your own, after all. You got Jin an' me comin' with you an', Aniue an' my parents aside, there ain't no better on Reikaku-zan when it comes to fightin' our corner. Besides, you needn't worry too much about your Shinzahou side. It tends to come out when there's trouble, right?"
"Right..." Hikari said cautiously.
"So if we meet trouble, you'll be fine." Shishi shrugged. "It's just because now you're not in danger. That's all."
"You're actually excited about this, aren't you?" Hikari realised, and Shishi grinned, nodding her head.
"Damn right." She agreed. "First time I've been allowed to go anywhere without Kashira, Okaasan or someone else grown up in tow. Jin's been off the mountain loads o' times to collect toll or run errands, an' noone's ever let me go with him because of the stupid reason of me bein' three years younger. But I'm not a kid any more. An' this is my chance to prove it."
She sighed contentedly, gazing up at the clear blue sky. It was three days since Hikari, along with Tasuki and Chichiri had mounted Taikyoku-zan to seek Taiitsukun's advice and when she had heard the news, Shishi had almost wished she could have hugged the imperial hermit for her advice.
"After all, if that Taiitsukun dame is Emperor of the Heavens, an' is as powerful an' important as Kashira's always sayin', they can't argue with what she said." She concluded now. "Which means, at long last, I'm goin' to get a chance to prove what I can do. If I'm ever goin' to be worthy of Papa's tessen, Hiki, I gotta prove how strong I am sometime."
"Maybe." Hikari sighed, shaking her head. "You know, the truth is, when you say things like that you make me feel like you're older than me. Except you're not. You're younger. Just...you don't seem to get scared of things all that easily, Shishi. In my world, they'd never let a fourteen year old kid go to another country on her own like that."
"Well, I won't be on my own." Shishi shrugged her shoulders. "You an' Jin are comin' too, right?"
"Yes, but..."
"An' Jin's almost eighteen." Shishi interrupted. "So stop frettin' about it. We'll be all right. You know we make a pretty good team, after our trip to the North. An' at least Sairou ain't covered in snow, right? You can't freeze to death so easily in the West, thank God."
"True." Hikari acknowledged. "You ever been to Sairou before?"
Shishi shook her head.
"Before we went to Hokkan, I'd never been out of the south." She admitted. "But I've heard Chichiri an' Kashira both talk about it. That's where Seiryuu no Miko raised the dragon, you know - Sairou. Using the thing we're goin' to find - Byakko no Miko's hand mirror. Chichiri's been all over the four lands in the past an' he's already given Jin a rough sketch map of the passage through the mountains that's easiest goin'. We'll be fine, Hiki. Trust me. You said yourself that we were goin' to go sweet-talk this Toroki person, not fight her, right? An' we're sure as hell not launchin' into battle with any other Byakko Seishi - that'd be damn near suicide. So what's the problem? Cheer up! I thought you were gettin' more used to this world now - don't freak out on me, okay?"
"Okay." Hikari sighed, nodding her head. "I just...I guess I've been here two weeks now, more or less. And I still don't feel I know very much. Or that I'm much use to you - any of you. You and Jin at least can both fight your corner if need be. I either glow like a radioactive idiot or I'm totally helpless. I don't like either one."
"Radioactive...?" Shishi eyed her curiously. "You say some weird things sometimes, Hiki. Is that another thing from your world?"
Hikari nodded.
"It's too complicated to explain, though." She admitted with a sigh. "And I'm not good enough at physics to even try."
She got to her feet, dusting her skirt down as she did so.
"I guess like it or not, we're going." She reflected ruefully. "And I suppose you have a point - that we're going to talk, not fight. So it will probably be okay. And the sooner we go, the sooner I can go home - right?"
"You're still that desperate to go back to your world?" Shishi looked surprised. "I thought of late you were kinda resigned to bein' here a while - that you'd even come to like it some. Was I wrong?"
"No." Hikari admitted. "I guess I do like it here. In Kounan, at least. In the Eastern Village, anyway. It's peaceful, and the people are nice, and I suppose I feel safe here, like nothing can hurt me. But going into other lands, and without Tasuki or Chichiri - I suppose I'm just chicken. And when I think of those things, that's when I get homesick for my world. There are dangerous things in Tokyo, sure enough. But I...I sort of know how to handle life there better. And my family are there, too - I'm still missing my parents."
"S'pose that makes sense." Shishi acknowledged. "But you don't hate our world now, right? I mean, you don't hate bein' round us?"
"No, not that." Hikari managed a smile at this. "Since you and I buried the hatchet, it's been a lot better. You and Jin are like proper friends to me now, after the things we've been through. It's just nerves, that's all. I guess that once we get going, I'll be fine."
"That's the spirit." Shishi grinned. "Hey...where are you off to now?"
"I promised Meikyo I'd help her and Aidou-san in the outhouse this afternoon, tying the herbs into bundles for market." Hikari replied. "I find it hard to say no when Mei-chan asks me something like that, Shishi - it really is like having a little sister, and I've never had one before. It's sort of nice...and tomorrow we'll be leaving."
"Well, you go play with the herbs if you feel that way." Shishi laughed, nodding her head. "Mei-chan sure has taken to you, that's true enough. Especially since you came to her rescue the other day - I guess you're someone's hero already."
"That's the reason I'm still here, and you know it." Hikari acknowledged. "To try and save Meikyo and Eiju and Aidou-san - and all the people in this place who've never done anything to deserve what I saw when I first came here. I'll see you later, okay? Duty calls."
Shishi raised her hand in a gesture of agreement, watching as the dark-haired girl headed back towards the farm building and she grinned, leaning back against the trunk of the tree as she contemplated things.
"I couldn't have asked for a better excuse to go exploring." She mused pensively. "Even Okaasan can't complain when Taiitsukun is the one giving the directions. Things have been a lot more interesting round here since Hikari came, that's for sure. Thanks to her, I've been to the Northern lands and now I'm going to the West...if ever I'm going to prove how strong I can be, now's the time. Even if Kashira ain't happy about me goin' off like this, I think he knows I have to. And Jin will be with us. So it will be fine."
"You look like someone died an' left you their fortune." A voice startled her out of her reverie and she turned, glancing up and grinning as she met the playful gaze of the older bandit.
"Jin!"
"Yep, that's me." Jin winked at her, settling himself on the ground opposite. "What are you doing here? Kashira's been lookin' all over the mountain for you...you could'a told him you were comin' to visit your Aunt and Uncle."
"Actually, I suppose I came to see Hiki." Shishi looked rueful. "Stupid, ain't it? A week ago we were ready to kill one another. But the girl's okay, Jin. I like her a lot now we've got past all of that. An' it's sort of nice to have a friend my age, if you know what I mean."
"I've been replaced then, have I?" Jin teased, and Shishi punched him lightly on the arm, shaking her head.
"Don't be an idiot! Besides, you're older'n me, and you're a guy. This is different. It ain't like that."
"Guess you don't know any other girls, except Meikyo." Jin relented, leaning back on his elbows as he contemplated. "An' she's a lot younger than you are. There ain't any other girls on the mountain - you're the only one, an' you're only there because you're Kashira's cub. I never realised it bothered you, though...you've never been much of a girl yourself."
"I could belt you for that." Shishi warned, but amusement flickered in her bronze eyes. "No. I ain't a girly girl - that's not it. An' I don't think it does bother me, really. Jus' havin' Hiki around is sort of cool - don't you think so? Aside from the fact she knows nothin' about this world an' she says an' does some of the strangest things - what you and she did gettin' Mei-chan back was really cool. An' what she did in Makan, too, standin' up to that weirdass ghost. She ain't quite like a bandit, but she's more fun than I thought she'd be, when I first found her in the valley."
"True enough." Jin nodded. "I won't disagree with you. And I'm glad you've stopped fighting. I like the both of you, and I don't like being stuck in the middle. This trip West would'a been a major headache for me if you were still arguing like you were before."
"Somehow I doubt anyone would've let us go." Shishi said ruefully. "But it'll be okay, now."
She eyed him speculatively.
"You know, you said just then you like the both of us." She reflected. "Right?"
"Right. An' gettin' involved in girl fights is not somethin' a guy who values his life should ever do - Kashira taught me that."
"But you've known me since we were small." Shishi tilted her head on one side, eying him curiously. "You've known Hiki a fortnight...yet you like us both the same?"
"You expect me to answer that? I ain't stupid." Jin snorted. "I've lived round you long enough to know when you're settin' me up for a fall, Shi-chan!"
"No..." Shishi faltered, then she narrowed her eyes, pursing her lips as an idea occured to her. "It's just...you have only known her two weeks, that's all."
"That doesn't mean I can't be friends with her, does it?" Jin raised an eyebrow. "I ain't taking sides against you, lion cub, so stop looking at me as if I'm your prey! I told you - girl fights are something I keep out of...end of subject."
"Hiki and I have nothing to fight about right now." Shishi shrugged unconcernedly.
"Then shut up an' change the subject to somethin' else."
"Okay." Shishi nodded, shooting him a thoughtful glance, then spreading her hands. "Are you nervous about this trip? Hiki is - I'm not. But sometimes you think of things that I don't - an' effectively, you'll be in charge. Can you handle it, Jin-kun? It's a lotta responsibility."
"I know." Jin admitted. "But I think it will be all right. Hikari did say that we were going to negotiate, after all. And I've given Kashira my word to make sure nothing happens to either one of you. I wouldn't want to face him if I let him down, to be honest - so I suppose I'm a little worried about it. But then again, sometimes you gotta do this stuff, right? A bandit has to do what he has to do...Kashira's orders. An' this is bigger than jus' Reikaku-zan - feels like it's Suzaku himself givin' this order."
"I know what you mean." Shishi pursed her lips. "I ain't seen Papa...Kashira like this before. Like one of Suzaku's people, instead of Genrou of Reikaku-zan. I always knew he was a pretty kickass King o' the mountain, but when the trouble happened before, he went away from Okaasan and me an' I never got to see him as Tasuki. When he fights to defend the mountain, he never seems to hold back. But when we were in the North - I never saw him flame his tessen the way he did at that Miramu creep. It's a pity he wasn't chargrilled - with Kashira makin' such an effort an' all."
"It would have been deserved." Jin murmured, and Shishi stared at him.
"That's more like somethin' I'd say!" She exclaimed. "I ain't heard you speak like that before!"
"I know." Jin admitted. "But I didn't like how he shot that arrow at Hikari without even knowing who she was. That's why I went with her, when she insisted on charging in there to save Meikyo. I still don't know if she did the right thing or not, giving him that thing. But I damn well wasn't going to let him hurt her if I could help it. If he'd have tried, I'd have gone for him - he made me angry."
Shishi's eyes became big, and Jin laughed, self-consciously running his fingers through his long hair.
"I guess Suzaku's got to me." He added. "She seemed so strong and decisive when she made up her mind to go find them. I suppose it took me along for the ride. Besides, if anything happens to Hikari, we're screwed, right? We need her if this world is goin' to survive...isn't that how it goes?"
Shishi eyed him in silence for a moment, then she smiled.
"I thought so, you know." She reflected, and Jin sent her a confused look.
"Huh?"
"I did wonder, but now I really am sure."
"What are you talking about, Shishi?" Jin frowned. "What are you sure about...want to clue me in?"
"Sure." Shishi settled herself more comfortably against the tree trunk, meeting his gaze with a searching, knowing one of her own.
"You like Hiki, don't you?" She murmured, and Jin started, stricken. Shishi nodded.
"I thought so." She repeated. "You do. You lamebrain - you've gone an' fallen in love with her, haven't you?"
"Shut the hell up, will you?"
Dismay flared in Jin's eyes and he held up his hands, gazing around him anxiously as he gauged whether or not anyone else had heard Shishi's carrying tones. At his reaction, Shishi laughed, swiping his hands down as she shook her head.
"Relax, you moron. There's only you and I here." She said airily. "Hiki's gone to dry herbs with Meikyo - or tie them - or something, I forget what. But Aidou-obasama won't let either of them bother about what's going on out here so long as there's work to be done. An' Chichiri an' Eiju went to the mountain to see Kashira about Eiju gettin' sword trainin' or something. So we're all alone. You can relax. An' tell me all about it."
Jin sighed, rubbing his temples.
"If it's that obvious that you've noticed it, I'm screwed." He muttered, and Shishi glared at him indignantly.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Nothing." Jin frowned. "I just...it isn't on purpose. Actually, Kashira told me to knock it on the head an' I'm tryin' - I'm not thinkin' about things from that angle. I don't even really understand it myself. Maybe it's like I said - Suzaku's spell. I don't know. But she'll go back to her world when all this is done, an' besides, she's the Shinzahou. She's important to the whole of Kounan - she's even on first name terms with the Emperor. An' I'm the son of a whore who drank too much an' then went an' died for it, leavin' me scrabblin' for crumbs an' coins where I could snatch them. The gulf could not be wider."
"Well, I won't pretend I ain't glad that you're not pursuin' it." Shishi said with a sigh. "Because I don't want to be playin' the gooseberry on our little tour. But Hiki ain't stuck up or nothin', you know. I don't think she cares who your Ma was, or that you don't know who your Pa was."
She grinned.
"For all you know, he could'a been anyone." She added. "A government official, a judge, someone real important. An' besides..."
"Before you get into your stride, lets not talk about this any more." Jin shook his head. "I really don't want to, Shishi. I like Hikari. Maybe it's more than I should...but I'll get over it. I belong on the mountain, anyway, an' I can't go followin' stupid ideas when there's no way in hell anythin' could ever come of it. Hell, she doesn't know - an' I don't want her to know - that I'm feelin' like this. Doubtless she hasn't even thought twice about me or anyone in this world. She's desperate to go home - anyone can see that. So forget about it - all right? It has no future, an' there's no point. I ain't a fool...jus' shut up about it an' let me deal with it myself. Okay?"
"Okay." Shishi eyed him in surprise. "If that's how you feel. I've no real desire to have a drawn out chat about romance with you, anyway."
She pulled a graphic face.
"You might think that there's a point to all that shit, but if you ask me, it gets in the way." She added.
"One day, Shishi, someone is gonna want to come an' tame the wild lion." Jin eyed her speculatively. "You ain't an ugly kid, an' you've fire an' spirit about you that's gonna get someone's attention. What'll you do when he comes along, huh? Claw his eyes out an' spit at him?"
"If he tries to feel me up, it won't be his eyes that he'll be losing." Shishi said sharply, touching the hilt of her sword as if to emphasise her point. "I'm not interested in any of that stuff, now or ever, Jin. I'm goin' to be Kashira of Reikaku-zan one day, an' I'll wield the tessen. Nothin' else matters."
"If you ask me, it'll be a bloody long time before Kashira snuffs it." Jin said reflectively. "You've got a lot of time to fill in the meantime. An' having Anzu-sama around hasn't weakened him any."
Shishi sighed, running her fingers through her thick red hair. At length she shook her head.
"Kashira's a guy." She said finally, frustration clear in her tones. "An' much as I hate it, I know that makes it different. If a guy takes a wife, he protects that wife. Well, I'd be the wife, an' some jerk of a guy would think he needed to protect me. An' I can't be Kashira an' have some oaf thinkin' he needs to stick his neck out every time someone challenges my blade. I ain't designed to be 'looked after', is all."
"Guess not." Jin laughed. "Maybe it would've been better, then, if you'd been born a boy."
"Sometimes I wonder that." Shishi admitted. "Although I don't know."
She pulled her sword from its sheath, eying the blade pensively.
"I don't know as I'd like scrapin' somethin' this sharp across my skin every mornin', just to look like a human an' not a mountain monkey." She added. "No, it ain't me that needs changin', Jin. I'm a girl an' that's okay. I just wish the rest o' the world would get over it. Girls can be tough too - we can fight, and lead, and do brave things. We're not all helpless. Look at Okaasama - she can fight her corner good as any man. An' I'm goin' to be that kind of woman, too."
She set her weapon down, resting her chin in her hands.
"Hiki says that in her world, women have jobs." She murmured. "They go to school with boys and learn the same stuff as they do - like readin' and writin' but other stuff, too."
She grimaced.
"I can read an' all because Okaasan an' Papa made sure I did, an' Chichiri's taught me bits an' pieces too. He teaches Mei-chan as well, but he's unusual in carin' so much about it." She added. "Aidou-obasama reads but only basic letters an' her handwritin' is real hard to read - she doesn't see the point in it, an' it bugs me that she doesn't. It ain't like I want to be some great literary genius, but dammit, girls should do what boys can do if they want to. An' in Hiki's world, it really sounds like they can. Over there, some women live on their own and just work for their own living. They don't have to marry or worry about some guy with a protection complex. She said that Yui-sama - Seiryuu No Miko - she went back to that world and she studied and became a doctor. I wish it was like that here. That women weren't always someone's property or whatever...that noone will take me seriously because I'm just a girl. I'm not just a thing to be married off, raped or tied to the house, dammit...that's not what I want at all. So I won't get married. Not ever. Because I'm not going to be that kind of woman."
"Strong words." Jin remarked, and Shishi nodded.
"I'm serious though." She concluded. "Hiki aside, Jin, if you met a girl, Kashira wouldn't mind if you brought her to the mountain or whatever. But you know it's different for me. Whatever I do - it's always goin' to be that way."
"I suppose so." Jin acknowledged. "I hadn't thought it out in those terms before. See, Shishi, I've always looked out for you - you know that. Like you're my kid sister, or something - it's just normal. But I've never really thought about the fact you were a girl. I've treated you the same as I'd have treated a kid brother - and dammit, one day, you're gonna knock my sword outta my hand when we practice, because you're damn near as good as I am now. I guess within the mountain, noone thinks of you as needin' that kind of attention. But outside of it..."
"The idiots at Kaou-zan have been tryin' to take me prisoner for years because they think I'm a weak target." Shishi frowned. "Before that, they used to try an' take Okaasan, too - back before I was born, when she was first livin' on the mountain. They always go for the woman, an' you know the kind of things those dirty, perverted bastards would do if they thought they had a girl in their power. It's sick an' twisted and I swear, any guy who tried it with me would lose somethin' very precious to my blade before the encounter was over. No matter what he did to me - I swear, he'd regret even lookin' at me, by the time I was done."
Jin eyed her ruefully.
"You're sort of scary, when you talk like that." He admitted, and Shishi laughed, patting her blade companionably.
"Don't worry about it." She assured him. "My sword likes you. Besides, you ain't the kind of slimy jerk who'd do that kind of thing. So you're safe. I promise."
"Glad to hear it!" Jin grinned, reaching over to ruffle her thick wavy hair playfully. "Ah, it'd be a strange day indeed that you brought a man back to Reikaku-zan as anything other than tribute, anyway. As you said, you ain't on that wavelength. And I wouldn't change you, kid. I like you this way."
"One day I'll be Kashira an' you'll be like Aniue." Shishi agreed. "Between us, we'll take care o' the mountain. But like you said, Kashira'll be around a long time yet. I heard some of the Byakko people lived to a hundred, so unless he loses some battle - an' like that's ever gonna happen, when he's got the tessen! - we'll have him a long time yet."
"I wonder what this Byakko girl we're going to see is like." Jin looked pensive. "Hikari seemed a bit confused on the subject when she explained it - has she said any more to you about what Taiitsukun told them?"
"Not really." Shishi acknowledged. "Only that she was a peaceful person and someone we should try to befriend, if we can. But first we have to find her."
"But Hikari found the last Shinzahou. She was drawn to it." Jin pointed out. "I don't think we'll have a problem with that part of things."
"Well, I can't wait to leave." Shishi's eyes glittered with anticipation. "Another adventure in Suzaku's name...I can't wait!"
---------------
"I believe that's everything."
Hyoushin stood at the railing of the ship, casting his impassive, even gaze across the deck as he observed the crew loading the last of the supplies for their journey to Sairou. It was at least a week's travel, possibly more, he mused, to be trapped aboard a floating target and as a rule he disdained sea travel in favour of land transport, since defence was always easier when you could find a place to hide. And yet, he acknowledged, the men who had rigged the craft had done a good job. Trading sails flew from the uppermost masts, with the flags of merchant guilds fluttering above them, and Hyoushin knew that at a glance no passing vessel would guess that this ship carried the representatives of the beleaguered Emperor of Kutou as they sailed to track down Sairou's holy treasure.
"And steal it." He reflected absently. "Seiryuu's was Kutou's by right, but this will be a little different. I only hope that we're not going to get caught up in difficult politics over it."
"Talking to yourself is a sign of insanity, so they say, Hyoushin." Miramu's distinctive Western accent pierced his thoughts at that moment and he turned, eying the assassin with a faint measure of dislike in his level amethyst gaze. "Or is that just a safety scheme, to make sure someone doesn't think you're someone's fine stone statue that's been stolen from the palace conclave?"
"Your humour will be the death of you one of these days, I imagine." Hyoushin said evenly, leaning back against the rail as he did so. "And as for insanity, I presume you to be an expert, considering your reputation. I therefore bow to your opinion in this matter, since you clearly know much more of such things than me."
"Some might consider that a challenge, you know." Miramu reflected, and Hyoushin offered a faint smile.
"But we are travel companions bent on the same errand, albeit for different reasons." He said lightly. "Quarrelling amongst ourselves is a bad example to the men we take with us - and not appropriate behaviour on board a ship chartered by Kutou's Emperor. So I suppose it will have to wait for another, more suitable occasion."
Miramu laughed.
"I always did like the way you covered cowardice with fancy words." He mused absently. "We both know I'd kill you in a heartbeat, because you believe in honour and I think it's a waste of time."
"Perhaps." Hyoushin acknowledged. "Although you mistake cowardice for forbearance, my friend. You are young yet, however. I imagine you'll have time to learn the difference."
Miramu eyed him for a moment, then he let out an amused chuckle.
"Of all of Kutou's court, you may be the only person who I actually find entertaining company." He reflected. "Your fine Emperor aside, and my interest in him and his cause is purely fiscal, as I'm sure you know. You are a fascinating man, Hyoushin. A cold-souled Northerner who fights for the East yet doesn't believe in Beast Gods or the divine power they bestow. You are quite an enigma - and I don't think I have yet fully figured you out."
"I think that's possibly a good thing, for both our sakes." Hyoushin said evenly, turning his gaze back to the ship. "I am not interested in figuring you out, however. You are a mean-spirited assassin who puts financial gain above the lives of even the people around him. There is no point wasting time on analysing such a character. I've spent enough time in my life with such narrow, greed-driven individuals. If you seek to provoke me into some kind of detailed conversation, you will be disappointed. I have no weakness for you to exploit - and you will have to remain ignorant."
"Fine, if that's how you feel." Miramu shrugged, folding his arms across his chest. "But we are travel companions, are we not? In close confinement for such a period of time - who knows what might be discovered?"
"You know that the Emperor will not pay you if you are responsible for the deaths of any of his men." Hyoushin was unmoved. "And if you threaten any of them, Shinzahou or not, I will have you thrown overboard. After all, you are a man of the desert. I'd like to discover whether or not men of the West can swim."
Miramu sent his companion an amused glance.
"You truly are as cold as you seem, aren't you?" He reflected. "I rather like that about you. Don't worry. I have no intention of killing any of the Emperor's men."
"Then we shall do just fine, I'm sure." Hyoushin observed. "So long as you have not lied...and you do really know where the Shinzahou is. You've not been any more forthcoming on its location since you offered to lead us to it - you must forgive my scepticism."
"I suppose I must, seeing as it's from you." Miramu spread his hands. "I will divulge all that you need to know, don't worry. For my own reasons as much as your own."
"Yes..." Hyoushin's eyes narrowed as a flicker of memory danced into his thoughts. "Kintsusei-sama told me that you wanted to see the Shinzahou removed from Sairou. Why is that, exactly?"
"Because it's the will of the man paying my tab, I imagine."
"No...I don't think so." Hyoushin shook his head. "There's another reason. One which fits your agenda, Miramu."
"Perhaps." Miramu shrugged. "But it's not your business, if it is."
"I suppose I don't care what it is, so long as whatever it is doesn't interfere with our errand or my King's orders." Hyoushin said levelly. Miramu shook his head.
"On the contrary. Taking the Shinzahou from Toroki will be to your benefit." He responded. "It's a cursed artefact, I told you - but it's only cursed in Sairou's hands. That's all you need to know. So long as you have it - isn't that good enough?"
"More curses." Hyoushin looked thoughtful. "Very well, I'll play your game for now. We will go, retrieve it and we will spare the life of the one you call 'Toroki'. So long as Lord Kintsusei has what he wants, nothing else concerns me."
There was silence for a moment, as the two men both stood side by side, contemplating. Then,
"The Emperor is your weakness, Hyoushin." Miramu said softly. Hyoushin started, eying him in surprise. Miramu nodded.
"You are cold. Ice to the core, with some of your looks and words." He added. "But not where the Emperor is concerned. He is your weakness...the one thing you are tied to. Did he free you from slavery, my friend? I imagine he must have done something pretty big to thaw through your frozen soul and obtain your unquestioning loyalty."
"My past is none of your business." Hyoushin said flatly. "The Emperor is the Emperor. There need be no other reason for a man to serve him than that."
"All right. Have it your way." Miramu grinned. "But I'm sure that I'm right. For a moment your expression flickered - I almost thought I saw humanity in your gaze. You better be careful you don't let that loose, Hyoushin. You might scare people, if they think you actually have feelings beneath that cool demeanour."
"You talk nonsense." Hyoushin said simply. "And I have other things to do than listen to it. Go amuse yourself with something else, Miramu. I'm bored of your company, and I will have enough of it once we leave dock."
With that he turned away from his Western companion, crossing the wooden deck towards the steps that led down into the accomodation quarters. However, as he did so, Miramu's words rang in his ears and he frowned, a flicker of icy anger flaring in the depths of his amethyst eyes.
"Cocky, arrogant fool." He murmured. "I wish there was justification to throw him from the boat right now. I do not trust him and I wonder at Kikei's boldness in recommending him to Kintsusei-sama. It seems reckless...can we really trust a Western rogue such as that to lead us to the Sairou Shinzahou?"
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So, they were coming.
Toroki's eyes snapped open, sweat beading her brow as she gazed around her at her surroundings. As the images continued to swirl and dance in her head, it took a moment for her to get her bearings and for a moment she just lay back against her blankets, staring up at the uneven cave ceiling that arched over her head. In the dust, image after image had been scribed, as she had struggled to make sense of her visions, but as ever the intensity of the pictures made it hard to see them clearly.
She sighed, pulling herself into a sitting position as she contemplated this latest image. Closing her eyes, she fought to order her thoughts, forcing herself to relive the vision step by step. The arching blue dragon, the ghost with his impassive, piercing eyes. The figure in the shadows - the one whose silhouette made her heart burn with a searing, regretful pain. And then, as she focused harder, she saw the flare of crimson light pooling across the scene, as a beast clawed and leapt from ledge to ledge, baring its teeth as it let out a mighty roar.
But it was not the tiger Byakko that pierced her vision this time. Instead of the familiar, fearsome snowy coat of her master, glittering in irridescent white light, this creature was composed almost of flame, its mane of bright hair thick and vibrant as it spread out in an arc around its head. Emblazoned on the beast's paw was the character for 'phoenix', and the girl shivered, understanding at long last what it meant.
"The dragon of the East." She whispered. "Versus the phoenix of the South. Both are coming...and yet...why does Suzaku hide himself in the form of a lion? What message does this bring me...what does it mean, to see him emulating Byakko's divine form?"
She turned, glancing at the glittering hand-mirror that lay protected and shielded by the shrine at the furthest point of her hermit's cave, and she bit her lip.
"They are coming for that." She murmured. "To take the power of Byakko - is that why Suzaku takes the form he does? Is it...a challenge? Yet I fear something much worse than the ambitions of Sairou's neighbours. It's coming. Just as I've always known...it's coming. The final confrontation..."
She got slowly to her feet, moving towards the mirror as she brushed her right index finger across its glittering, glassy surface. As she did so, a shudder of something intense ran through her body, creating waves of panic and fear through every nerve ending as it overwhelmed her. Being so close to the power of the Shinzahou had made her visions far more powerful and potent, but at a price, and she found herself afraid as she contemplated human company for the first time in four years.
"People whose futures I will see and whose minds I will lay bare before me." She reflected, rubbing her temples. "But they must come. I mustn't be afraid. They must...I must see things more clearly. I must...understand. Beyond the madness - I must see it clearly. The ones that come..."
She closed her eyes a second time, her touch not leaving the mirror's smooth surface as she focused once more on the image of the wild beast branded with the symbol of the phoenix. This time, a certain clarity rushed through her and she clenched her fists, suddenly understanding.
"The dragon fights. The phoenix brings new life." She murmured. "The lion and the light. The one who might yet save our world is tied between these two feuding beasts - the lion is an emissary of Suzaku, but not Suzaku. Suzaku is only the light...there is no bird, only the light."
She swallowed hard, trying to put the pictures back into a sense of logical order.
"They both seek the power of Byakko to solve their problems - but a terrible thing will come to pass, if she is not..."
She wetted her lips, drawing her hand away from the treasure as she felt the rushing, surging sensations begin to fade, and relief set into her tired, strained body.
"Sukunami Hikari." She whispered. "The only one...but...is there enough time? Can she truly be the one...to save this world from its own destruction?"