Chapter Five
"I guess that guy wasn't kidding about his friend's accomodation."
As the three teenagers stirred from the Hengei inn, Shishi stifled a yawn, stretching her hands over his head as she cast a glance up and down the main street. It was early the next morning and all around them, people were beginning to emerge for the day's trading. From long experience in the southern mountains, Shishi knew that before long the market would be in full swing as the local residents made the most of the cooler part of the Sairou day.
"You sound like you're still half asleep." Jin observed, and Shishi cast him a rueful glance, shaking her head.
"No." She replied. "I'm awake, I promise. We've just had a heavy day's travel yesterday. And it's going to be hot again today, isn't it?"
"It's hot in Kounan. Hotter than this." Jin gazed up at the sky with a smile. "You're getting wussy in your old age, Shishi - what happened to the girl who was born under the Lion's sign in summer, huh?"
"Oh, I'm not bothered by the heat." Shishi grimaced. "But it's so damn dry and dusty. It makes you thirsty and tired."
"I don't like the heat or the dust." Hikari admitted with a sigh. "You did remember what you said yesterday, Jin? No more horses...right?"
"Yeah, no more horses." Jin sent her an amiable grin. "We'll walk the next stage. But before we do, I want to make sure the Kashira's beasts are safe here till either we come back this way, or someone can get word to the mountain to pick 'em up. I ought to speak to the guy before we go...an' I want to double check the trackways outta here, too. If we're travellin' most of the day, we want to be nearish any sources of water."
"You really do sound grown up and sensible when you say things like that." Shishi sighed, shaking her head. "It's worryin', Jin. You know that?"
"Hey, you shut your yap, cheeky." Jin cuffed her playfully. "I'm bein' responsible, that's all. An' besides, I got Suzaku treasure with me, don't I? I ain't gonna face the Kashira if anythin' goes wrong."
"Suzaku treasure?" Shishi snorted. "Hiki?"
"Both of you." Jin said frankly. "You're Kashira's cub, remember. You're damn lucky to have a Ma an' a Pa like Kashira an' Anzu-sama - an' I ain't gonna repay their kindness to me over the years by seein' you get yourself killed."
"All right, all right. I get it." Shishi pulled a face. "Lighten up, will you? Does it seem dangerous to you?"
"No." Jin admitted. "But I like to be prepared."
"You two are still squabbling." Hikari observed with a frown. "Are you sure you didn't have a fight over something? You're both being kind of weird, if you want to know the truth."
"Jin's just getting way too big for his mountain boots. That's all." Shishi folded her arms, sending the older bandit a meaningful look. "Go check up on the horses, you ape. Hiki an' I will wait for you here. It's shady an' we might pick up some fruit or somethin' from the market before we trek out."
"I don't know if I should leave you on your own." Jin said doubtfully, and Shishi snorted.
"Don't insult me." She said frankly. "I'm almost as good as you with a sword, an' Hiki can glow red an' scare the shit outta people. Besides, she's got the Emperor's sword, so we'll be fine. An' like I said, there ain't any danger. Go speak to the damn innkeeper, before it gets too late in the mornin' an' we're makin' the most of our journey when the sun's climbin' highest!"
At his friend's blunt words, Jin offered a rueful smile, holding up his hands in surrender.
"All right. Fine. Whatever you say." He conceded. "I won't be long. Just stick around here and I'll see you in a minute."
"Right." Hikari nodded. "Jin, don't worry. Shishi's right - what's going to happen while you just go to speak to the owner of the inn?"
Jin sent her a sheepish smile, shrugging his shoulders.
"Nothing, I guess." He admitted. "I get it. I'm on overkill where the worryin' is concerned."
"Just go do it already." Shishi told him unsympathetically. "Geez."
"He does seem to be taking the whole thing really seriously."
Once the two girls were alone, Hikari cast her friend a pensive look. "Don't you think so? When we went north, he wasn't as bothered by things as this."
"But when we went North, Kashira an' Chichiri were here." Shishi said evenly. "He's over the top, no kidding. But truth is, I s'pose, it's first time Kashira's given him a task like this. An' he feels it, somewhat. He looks up to Kashira as much as any of us, to be honest. Well, that's why Papa is who he is. Because he's that kind of leader."
"I guess your family is kind of like Jin's family, isn't it?" Hikari looked wistful, and Shishi shot her a sharp look, nodding her head.
"Yeah." She agreed. "Hiki, are you gonna get weepy an' homesick on me? Because if you are..."
"No. No, I'm all right." Hikari shook her head. "Really, I'm fine."
"If you say so." Shishi pursed her lips. "An' hey, you know, while you're with us, we're your family too, right? Suzaku's family, an' all that. Didn't Chichiri an' Aidou-obasama say you were an honorary member of the Ri family already?"
"Yes, they did..."
"So that makes us family, unofficially." Shishi grinned, reaching out to grab Hikari by the hand and squeezing her fingers reassuringly. "An' Jin an' me are good as brother an' sister most days. So...don't you dare feel abandoned or homesick, okay? We're takin' care of you, so you ain't got a reason to moan."
Despite herself, Hikari smiled at this, and Shishi was relieved to see it.
"You're right." The schoolgirl said now. "I'm sorry. Just it gets me from time to time. But you're right. I'm not on my own. And I'm focused. Really. We're going to find Toroki and we're going to talk her into helping us."
"Can you sense where the Shinzahou is?" Shishi questioned, and Hikari frowned.
"No." She admitted. "But I guess we're just not close enough to it. I didn't deliberately try and find the Seiryuu one - it seemed to call out to me more than I did to it. This time is different because I know I might be able to do that kind of thing. But it's okay. We'll find someone who knows something about it...I'm sure of that."
"Me too." Shishi nodded. "An' the sooner we're off, the better it'll be. After all, even if Kutou are coming for this one, they've still got a hell of a journey to do. And they can't know any more than we do about where it is - right? They're not from Sairou any more than we are."
"Right." Hikari agreed. "With any luck, we'll get in there and convince Toroki before they even reach Sairou land."
"Hey, girls - it's early for you to be up and around on your own, isn't it?"
A voice interrupted their conversation at that moment, and Shishi instinctively tensed, her fingers twitching towards her sword as she turned to face the speaker. He was maybe three or four years older than Jin, and lean in his build, but Shishi could tell at a glance that he was far from a weakling, and from the swagger in his demeanour, he meant them no good. She narrowed her eyes, slipping in front of Hikari as her friend sent her a startled, uncertain look.
"It's early for your kind to be trawlin' streets, too." She said frankly. "Get lost - we don't have time to talk to you."
"The kid's got a lip on her." A second voice observed, a soft Western roll to his accent, and Shishi cursed, realising that where there had been one man there were now three, and each one was armed with a rough knife or blade.
"Hiki, get back in the inn." She said firmly. "Go find Jin, an' tell him some lowlifes think they can mess about the Kashira's bandits."
"Shishi..." Hikari eyed her friend hesitantly, and Shishi drew her weapon, sending the schoolgirl a glare.
"You heard me. Do it." She snapped. "Now. I'm fine - don't worry, I don't intend on fightin' anyone I don't have to."
"Hey, you're not going to leave on us, are you?" Before Hikari could react, one of the men had lurched forward, grabbing her by the arm, and Shishi swore again, brandishing her weapon as she dove in the man's direction.
"Let her go!" She exclaimed, even as Hikari struggled in the stranger's grasp. "I mean it - you don't want to be messing with us!"
"What're two girls gonna do to us?" The ringleader snorted, and Shishi could tell that, despite the early hour, the men had probably been drinking most of the night. "You're just kids - though if you play nice, we'll teach you somethin' about bein' all adult. How's that sound?"
"Like you need someone to teach you a lesson in manners." Shishi spat back, even as Hikari managed to shift herself slightly in her captor's grip, sinking her teeth into his arm. He let out a yell, loosening his grasp, and she wriggled free, hurrying to Shishi's side as the redhead inched back towards the inn, still brandishing her weapon as a warning.
"I ain't a rookie with this thing." She said flatly. "If you don't want to be hurt, stay where you are."
"You think you're a pro, huh?" The ringleader drew his own weapon, lunging towards her with his blade outstretched and Shishi reacted quickly, pushing Hikari back against the inn wall as she parried his shot, gritting her teeth against his strength. His skill was rough and clumsy, but he had strength in his sword arm and she knew that he could potentially hurt her, if she wasn't completely on her guard.
"I know what I'm doing." She said darkly. "An' I ain't afraid of some drunken lout who ain't got the technique to fight a proper, open battle."
The man chuckled at this, annoying the young bandit further and she narrowed her eyes, bringing her sword down hard against the bandit's rough-edged blade with a clang as she sought to use her speed and agility to push him back. At first taken off guard, the man backed off some, but before she could press her advantage, something came flying through the air towards her, slamming against her right arm. A sudden flash of pain, followed by the sensation of wetness struck Shishi's senses and her blade clattered to the ground as she cursed, aware of Hikari's exclamation in the background.
"We don't like girls with lip." The man who had thrown his knife bent to retrieve it, taking Shishi's sword at the same time. "You should have done as you were told. Now you're gonna get all cut up - you and your friend."
"It's a pity. She has such a pretty face." The leader advanced on Shishi once more, and the young redhead bit her lip, fighting the stinging pain in her arm as she struggled to evade his grip. He grabbed her by the arms, pinning her back against the wall as he pushed his weapon to her throat, and Shishi struggled against him like a wildcat, drawing blood from his skin with her nails as she fought to regain her freedom. He cursed, but did not release his grip, instead pushing his body towards hers as he pressed his full weight against her ribs, causing her to gasp as she felt her breathing suddenly restricted.
"Not so lippy now." The leader breathed alcohol fumes towards her, making her feel nauseous, and she grimaced at him, spitting in his face as he swore again, slapping her hard across the cheek.
"No manners, you little brat." He hissed. "You're goin' to learn a serious lesson, believe me."
"Let her go!" Hikari's voice broke through the commotion, followed by a sudden loosening of the man's suffocating hold on the young bandit, and Shishi slid to the ground with a bump, her vision swirling as she struggled to get to her feet. As she did so, she caught sight of her friend, Hotohori's blade clutched in her hands. Although her expression was a mixture of fear and resolution, her grip did not falter, and Shishi's eyes widened as she realised the blade was glittering and glowing with red light from hilt to tip.
The man who had minutes earlier held Shishi captive now turned his attention to Hikari, and Shishi registered the tear to the fabric of his clothing, realising with a jolt that Hikari had already made contact with the man's skin. Beneath the tear, the flesh was red as if the touch had burnt him, and Shishi swallowed the bile that rose in her throat, staring with a mixture of disbelief and amazement at the strange, glimmering blade her friend clutched in her hands.
"Leave us alone, or I'll hurt you with this." Hikari's voice trembled, but she did not break her stand, meeting the rogues' gazes as she wielded her weapon in front of her. "It's a cursed sword. Anyone it touches is damned. Don't you see the devil's magic dancing in the blade?"
"Hiki." Shishi murmured, her eyes huge as she registered the conviction on the schoolgirl's face.
"Well?" Hikari swept the blade through the air, and much to Shishi's amazement, the gathered drunks took a step back. "Do you want to anger the demon that lives in this sword? He doesn't like jerks who pick on girls and he'll eat the lot of you, if you touch us again."
"The blade...burnt my skin." The leader said unsteadily. "It really does...have a curse..."
"They ain't so much to look at anyway, boss - let's cut outta here." One of his associates suggested hastily. "Let's leave the brats alone...we can find better pickings."
"Right." The leader agreed, and as the three men beat a hasty retreat, Hikari bit her lip, glancing at the weapon in her hands as she slowly lowered it.
"Thank you, Hotohori-sama." She murmured. "I'm sorry I called you a demon. I don't really think you - or Suzaku - are. But...I had to do something, and I don't know how to fight with a sword."
She slipped it back into its scabbard with some difficulty, hurrying down by Shishi's side as her friend struggled to gather her scattered composure.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly, and Shishi swallowed hard, nodding her head as she allowed Hikari to help her to her feet.
"Yeah, thanks to you and your demon." She said, a faint smile touching her lips. "I owe you one. I guess your protective instinct spreads to bandits too, huh?"
"No." Hikari flushed, shaking her head. "I was scared as hell. And Suzaku didn't do this. I didn't feel him stir inside me. But I didn't want them to hurt you, and I...I had the sword. So I didn't know what else to do. I didn't want them to kill you...and I thought they would."
"I did too." Shishi glanced at her bloody arm with a wince. "Ouch. That stings. Flesh wound though, I think. I'm bruised, but I don't think it's anything serious."
"Let me see." Hikari suggested, and Shishi nodded, pulling back her stained sleeve to reveal the deep slice the knife had left across her skin. Hikari frowned.
"Looks deep to me." She murmured. "There must be something we can use to put on it and to wrap it up, in the stuff that Chichiri gave us to bring with us. Hold still, all right? I'll have a look."
"Sure." Shishi nodded, leaning back against the wall as she fought a wave of dizzyness. "Yeesh. I didn't expect to have trouble this early in the morning. Those jerks had been drinking all night, I bet. Worse than anyone on the mountain - they couldn't even handle their drink enough to act like human beings."
"Well, they were superstitious enough to be afraid of Hotohori-sama's shinken." Hikari reflected, as she carefully wiped the wound clean, fumbling in the backpack with her free hand for the length of white fabric bandages. "Stop flinching! I know it stings, but we have to do something."
"Give it me. I'll do it." Shishi held out her hand, and Hikari shrugged, doing as she was bidden.
"If you like." She agreed. "You're sure you're not hurt otherwise? You were slammed against that wall pretty hard."
"Bruises. Nothing broken." Shishi shook her head. "I'm fine. Thanks to you and the late Emperor's toy, that is."
She sent her friend a sidelong glance.
"Though if you'd gone got Jin..."
"You might've been killed." Hikari finished frankly. "You're damn good with a sword, Shishi. But you can't fight three men like that on your own."
She bent, scooping up Shishi's sword and handing it to her.
"Here. They dropped this when they ran off." She said. "You probably shouldn't leave it behind."
"Yeah." Shishi agreed, taking the weapon and sliding it into her belt. "Guess not. Although what use I'm gonna be wielding it till this quits seeping blood I don't know. Unless I want to splatter the opposition, of course."
"Ew. That's gross." Hikari pulled a face. "Don't even say things like that."
"Shishi?"
Before Shishi could reply, Jin's voice cut through the conversation and in a minute the young bandit was beside them, eying Shishi's bloodsoaked shirt with a look of dismay.
"Shit! What did the two of you do while I was gone?"
"Some drunken guys went for us." Hikari explained. "But it's okay. We got shot of them. Only they cut Shishi's arm...we were just making sure it was bandaged, else it'll keep bleeding out."
"Are you okay?" Jin cast Shishi an anxious glance, and Shishi nodded, forcing back the fleeting nausea as she tied the knot tightly in the end of the bandage.
"I am now." She agreed. "Don't look like that, Jin. I ain't killed. An' Hikari's found a novel way to use Hotohori-sama's sword...thanks to her they got the willies an' ran for the hills."
"Hotohori-sama's..." Jin cast Hikari a quizzical look, and Hikari blushed, shrugging her shoulders.
"I might have told them a demon was living in it." She admitted. "But it worked. I just hope Hotohori-sama forgives me for saying something like that...we don't need to tell Reizeitei-sama about it, all right?"
"Guess not." Jin eyed her keenly. "So long as it worked. And so long as you're both all right. Shit. I leave you for ten seconds...remind me not to do that again."
"Oh, quit fussing." Shishi snapped. "Did you settle with the horses?"
"Yes." Jin nodded. "Are you sure you're up to travelling? We could stop a while longer and you could..."
"We're going." Shishi cut across him. "Before the sun rises too high, remember? Stop clucking. I'm fine. I told you. Jus' a scrape which won't bleed long now I've wrapped it up tight. Sure, my sword arm might be a bit compromised for a few days, but it ain't serious. So we should move. Shinzahou's waitin', an' all that."
"If you're sure." Jin exchanged looks with Hikari, who shrugged.
"If Shishi says she's all right, we have to believe her." She said evenly. "And she's right. We shouldn't hang around. Those guys might've gone, but they could start telling everyone in Hengei that demons are after them. And we might cause a scene."
"That's true." Jin frowned. "All right. Then we'll go. The innkeeper said that if we head north-west we'll be on good track at least until the next village. And he also said that he'd heard the legend of Byakko was connected with that place, somehow. So we'd be doing well to go in that direction. It's not far, apparently. An' there's a town not much further than that which we can probably spend the night before headin' into the mountains. I think that's the best idea - so long as you ain't got any divine signals tellin' you otherwise, Hikari."
"No. Not yet." Hikari shook her head apologetically. "But maybe someone in the village will know what we're looking for."
"Then we'll head for this village." Shishi said decidedly. "Are you two coming? Geez."
She set off along the street, casting a glance back over her shoulder as she saw her companions exchange looks once more, but they obediently began to follow her towards the city limits and she let out a sigh of relief, shaking her head as she picked up her pace. Her ribs ached and her head still span from the collision, but she had no desire to spend any longer in the border town, and as the desert pathway loomed ahead, she took a deep breath, steadying her composure.
"Those men weren't kiddin' around." She murmured, casting one last glance behind them. "They'd have either killed or raped us - or both - if it hadn't been for the shinken. Kashira's right. No matter how damn strong I am with a sword, I'm still a girl to the outside world. An' that means I gotta get a hell of a lot stronger before I start branchin' out an' worryin' about bein' Kashira at Reikaku-zan myself. I guess I got a long way to go before I'm anywhere near my father's level."
The three teenagers walked in silence for some time, focusing their attention on the track that wound deeper and deeper into barren desert territory as they avoided holes and pitfalls in the road ahead. As they made their way between safe spots in the land, Shishi realised the wisdom of leaving the horses in Hengei.
"No way we'd have ridden this." She said softly, and Jin shook his head.
"We'd have wound up with a lame horse an' nothing else." He agreed. "It's hard enough goin' for us on foot."
"It's getting warmer, too." Hikari remarked, glancing up at the sun. "How much water do we have, Jin? I'm thirsty, but I'm trying to tell myself it's imagination."
"Enough for you to take a sip, if you want." Jin held out the gourd to her. "I refilled before I left the inn, and there are two more in my pack."
"Thanks." Hikari took it gratefully, taking a swig and then handing it back. "If it wasn't so dry it wouldn't be such a pain."
"At least it isn't a dust-storm." Jin said ruefully. "That'd be the last thing we need."
He glanced around him.
"It can be hot like this down south, without a doubt." He added. "But it's always green, in Kounan. It makes a difference, when it's desert."
"Yeah. So far Sairou pretty much sucks." Shishi agreed, grimacing.
"How far to the village?" Hikari wondered. "Did the man in the inn tell you how far we had to follow this trail before we reached civilisation?"
"About an hour and a half, he said." Jin remembered, glancing up towards the sky. "And where the sun is, I'd say we've been walking almost two hours. Considering that we're not familiar with the terrain an' it's damn hot, I'd say we must be quite near it. We ain't deviated from the track at all, so we can't be far away."
"Then we can stop there and take a break?" Hikari asked hopefully. Jin nodded his head.
"Guess we can." He agreed. "We gotta ask a few questions about Toroki, anyway. If we can, without upsettin' anyone. An' if it's a village, chances are there won't be any gangs operatin'. They tend to haunt cities...we shouldn't need to worry about attack."
"Good." Hikari looked relieved. "I've had my fill of thugs for the day."
She cast Shishi a glance.
"You're quiet." She added. "Shishi, are you sure you're all right?"
"Huh?" Shishi glanced up, frowning as she absorbed the concern on her friend's face. She nodded.
"Yeah - why do you ask?"
"Because you're usually a lot more rowdy an' sparky. Hikari's right." Jin's brow furrowed. "When we get to the village, Shishi, I wanna see your arm myself...okay? You look all in, an' I want to make sure it ain't still bleedin'."
"It's not." Shishi shook her head, pulling back her sleeve to display the snow white bandage beneath. "I know how to do a damn tourniquet, Jin. I ain't a baby. An' I've taken sword cuts to the arm before. It's no big deal...it's just a flesh wound. He didn't even scrape the bone. It stings, but it'll be fine. You don't need to worry. An' as for being quiet, it's hot an' dry an' I'm savin' my energy. That okay with you?"
"Sure." Jin looked surprised. "We're just lookin' out for you, kid."
"I'm not a kid." Shishi bristled at this, shaking her head. "Even if you are both older than me. I'm fine, all right? I don't need to be fussed over. Yeesh!"
"The lion still has its claws out." Jin pulled a face. "Fine...if that's how you feel. Noone's trying to baby you, Shi-chan. But if you're all right, then you are. I still want to see the arm when we reach the village, though. You've not had a chance to clean the wound, and you should."
"Whatever you say." Shishi sighed. "If it'll shut you up complaining."
"I think I can see the village." Hikari said suddenly, gesturing in the distance, and Shishi glanced up, seeing the faint outline of buildings somewhere in the heat haze.
"No kidding." Jin grinned. "Not far, then. Good. I'm startin' to feel hungry...walkin' in the desert don't half give you an appetite."
"Yeah...I know what you mean." Hikari owned. "Shishi, we have enough cash with us to pay for food, right? With the fight and all we never did get to hit Hengei's market...and noone's gonna give us food for free."
"I guess." Shishi answered absently, and Hikari frowned.
"Shishi? Did you even hear my question?"
"We have money." Shishi glanced up, nodding her head. "Isn't that what you wanted to know? And the village is up ahead...just like the innkeeper said."
"Yes, but..." Hikari faltered, trailing off as Shishi stumbled, tripping over an uneven stone in the ground and tumbling to her knees.
"Shishi...can't you even look where you're going?" Jin sighed, reaching out a hand to pull her up, but Shishi pushed it away as the world swam and twisted around her.
"I don't need your help." She muttered thickly. "I just wasn't looking where I was putting my feet."
"Okay, so get up already. We're going to the village." Jin said evenly. "And the sooner we get there, the sooner we can rest and eat."
Shishi closed her eyes against the dizzy, rocking landscape, swallowing hard against the bile that rose in her throat. She rested her good hand against the ground, struggling to regain her composure and her bearings.
"Shishi?" Hikari's voice suddenly seemed very far away, and she fought to focus on it, fighting against the blackness that threatened to overwhelm her. "Jin, I don't think she's okay. She's gone pale."
"Shishi?" Now Jin was at her other side, concern in his voice, but Shishi could not find the words to answer him. Instead a wave of nausea flooded her senses, and as the wave of sickness overwhelmed her, she fought against the rising sense of panic and helplessness.
From somewhere nearby, she heard Jin curse, and then someone's arms were around her, steadying her as she found she was no longer able to support her own shuddering body. As the sickness began to subside, she let out a sigh, sinking against her companion's body.
"You weren't all right." She heard Jin say, as someone's fingers brushed her thick hair out of her face. "Look at me, Shishi. I want to see your eyes."
Shishi struggled to obey him, opening her eyes as she tried to focus on his face. Jin's features loomed over her, and as the image became clearer, she was aware of the preoccupation in his expression. He shook his head impatiently.
"What did those thugs do to you?" He asked softly.
"I..." Shishi was beyond words by this point, and she shook her head weakly, indicating that she could not respond.
"They slammed her against a wall." Hikari said anxiously. "The guy pushed really hard against her - do you think he did some damage?"
"More likely she hit her head when he did it." Jin put his fingers to Shishi's brow, then bit his lip. "She's not fevered, but her eyes are strange. I think she's concussed. Dammit, Shishi! We shouldn't have left Hengei if you weren't right! You should have said..."
"I was all right...then." Shishi murmured, struggling to sit up as she slowly felt her senses returning to normal. She shivered involuntarily, gazing up at him. "Shit. Sorry. I didn't mean to puke up like that."
"You can puke all you want." Jin said with a sigh. "But not when we're in the middle of nowhere. You can't tell me you're fine now, Shishi. At the very least you hit your head, I'm sure of it."
"I guess...maybe when he shoved me." Shishi agreed. She reached a hand up to her brow, grimacing. "I feel woozy and all over the place. Guess fallin' over that stone was just the last straw - once I was down, I couldn't get up again. Dammit...I'm sorry."
"We're not far from the village." Hikari reminded them. "Shishi, can you make it that far?"
Shishi bit her lip.
"I don't know." She admitted. "Sittin' still like this, I feel better. But...walkin'..."
"Here." Jin loosened the gourd, holding it out to her. "Drink some of this, an' Hikari and I'll think what we should do. It's not so very far, an' I might be able to carry you...maybe. Although you ain't exactly a lightweight..."
"Shut your face." Shishi glared at him, and he grinned.
"That sounds more like you." He said, and Shishi could hear the relief in his tones. "You're still pale, though. Give me some warnin' if you're goin' to chuck up again, okay? I don't want to be caught in the crossfire, but we ain't gonna get you to the village if Hikari an' I don't help you somehow."
"Yeah, yeah." Shishi took a sip of the water, setting the gourd aside. "I feel better than I did. Maybe I'll be okay...if you help me stand."
"We both will." Hikari suggested, holding out her arms to support Shishi's other side as between them they hauled her to her feet. As they did so, she took a faltering step, biting her lip as the world swam once more before her vision.
"I can't see straight." She whispered.
"All right. Sit down again, before you fall down." Jin instructed, and Shishi sank back to the floor. "That ain't gonna work. We need a plan B."
"I could go on ahead to the village and ask for help." Hikari suggested. "And you stay with Shishi this time."
"Let you go off on your own?" Jin shook his head. "After this morning? Not a chance. Shishi's already in a state because I listened to you two once. I'm not doing it again. No, we stay together. We'll just have to find a way to carry her, that's all. It's not far...I guess we'll just have to and I'll hope for the best that she doesn't sick up all over my clothes."
"I'm not going to hurl." Shishi objected weakly. "I've done that already. I just feel dizzy an' strange. That's all."
"Well, don't you damn well pass out." Jin ordered. "Keep drinkin' the water an' sit still. Let me work this out."
"Jin, don't look now, but we have company." Hikari remarked, and Shishi glanced up, seeing that her friend was right and a cluster of three or four children stood on the pathway before them, staring at them with a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
"Great. An audience." Shishi groaned, sinking back against Jin with a sigh of resignation. "Brats. Just what I need."
"No...wait." Jin frowned. "Hey, you kids - are you from the village just over the rise?"
The children exchanged looks at his question, then the tallest of the group stepped forward, nodding his head as he eyed Jin warily. He was about Eiju's age, Shishi decided, although he carried himself with more decided confidence than the eldest Ri child did, and at his waist hung a small sword not unlike the ones Shishi had once used to train with herself.
"We're from Shouki-mura." He agreed. "Why? What's it to you?"
"We're heading towards your village from Hengei." Hikari said quietly, offering the boy a slight, uncertain smile as she did so. "Only our friend was hurt by thieves as we left the city, and she can't walk any further. Is there anyone in your village that might be able to help? We don't mean you or anyone any harm - we just need assistance for our friend."
"Geiyo-san has herbs an' medicines." The smallest member of the group said brightly, and the older child cast her a warning look.
You didn't need to have said that. Let me do the talking." He instructed.
"Geiyo-san?" Jin eyed the youngster keenly. "Is she an apothecary, then?"
"She grows herbs for healing, yes. She and her husband." The older boy said cautiously.
"Would she help us, if we asked?" Hikari said hopefully. "We have money...we can pay for her services. Please...it's hot and dusty out here, and our friend needs help."
The older boy eyed them for a moment. Then, slowly, he nodded his head.
"I think you're telling the truth." He admitted. "And that girl looks like she's gonna faint. Guess she does need Geiyo-san's remedies."
"I'm not going to faint." Shishi objected, although even as she said the words, she wasn't sure of their truth. "I just can't walk any more. That's all."
"Kiki, run to the village and get someone to come help." The boy turned to the small child, who nodded, offering the group a wide smile before turning and trotting off in the direction of the village.
"Thank you." Jin said softly. The boy shrugged.
"What's your names?" He asked bluntly.
"Jin." Jin said. "And my friends are Hikari and Shishi."
"You don't look like you come from Hengei." Another boy remarked, and his senior cuffed him smartly.
"Don't say things like that." He scolded. "You know it's rude."
"It's all right. We don't come from Hengei." Hikari shook her head. "We've come to visit Sairou from Kounan."
"You came all the way from the South?" The remaining child, a girl of about nine with her hair pulled back by ribbons demanded, and Jin nodded.
"Yes." He agreed evenly. "None of us have ever been to Sairou before...it's a first for us all."
"We never get visitors from outside." The younger boy, not noticeably quashed by his scolding, eyed them keenly. "So you're what Kounan people look like, huh?"
"I guess." Jin nodded.
"You look like the one in the stories." The oldest child admitted, pointing at Shishi. "People from Kounan came to Sairou once, before I was born. They came to find something and raise Suzaku. Our Celestial Warriors helped them, then."
"That's right." Jin agreed.
"One of them was my father." Shishi added blurrily. "Tasuki."
"Really?" The older boy looked suspicious, and Hikari nodded.
"Yes." She agreed. "My father was here too. Tamahome."
"Then you're friends of Byakko's people." The girl said decidedly. "Byakko is the God that protects Sairou, and if you're friends of his people, then you must be friends of ours too. Right? So it's a good thing we're going to help you. Geiyo-san always says that the Celestial Warriors aren't like other people, they're special...because they're holy people. Chosen by the Gods - they're not normal like other people are. And that Sairou is free because of them."
"They're all dead now though, huh?" Hikari said softly, and the girl frowned, shaking her head.
"Toroki lives in a cave." She said frankly. "Geiyo-san knows where, but she never tells us because we're not allowed to disturb one of the Chosen in her holy work. An' Amefuri..."
"Shut up, Fumi." The elder boy said sharply at this point. "We're not telling them about those things. They're from the south - they don't need to know."
"It's all right. We're interested to know about your Celestial Warriors." Hikari said, but the elder boy shook his head.
"We don't need to." He said pragmatically. "Toroki and Amefuri are gone. They don't live in the village any more. So we don't talk about them. Not even Geiyo-san. And you don't need to either. You don't come from Sairou, so it doesn't concern you."
"Kiki will be back soon with someone to help." The younger boy added. "Geiyo-san is a good healer. Your friend will be fine then."
"No doubt." Jin murmured, and even in her dazed state Shishi could hear the thoughtful note in her companion's tones.
"Toroki an' Amefuri, huh." She mused. "Well, if this Geiyo person knows anything about them, no doubt we'll find a way to ask her. Maybe it's a good thing I'm hurt, after all - it might be the opportunity we need to find out what we need to know!"