Chapter Eleven
"How much longer are we going to run for?"
As the trio of Southern travellers hurried through the underground trackways, it was Shishi who first voiced the question, darting around fallen shards of stone as they climbed higher and higher towards the mountain surface. "Hey, Jin, are you listening to me? How much longer are we going to hide like cowards?"
"Myoume...told us to go." Jin said grimly, as he took the next turning, following the twisting tunnel as he thought in the distance he could see the flicker of fading light in the evening sky. "Stop arguing, and save your breath. This is her business...not ours."
"Don't be so stupid." Shishi snapped. "She's on her own with...what the hell was that woman, anyway? Some kind of...ghost?"
"I think...she must have been...Seiryuu's mage spirit." Hikari gasped out, as they finally reached the surface, the schoolgirl collapsing on the warm sandy ground as she struggled to catch her breath. "Dammit, the pair of you, how could you go so fast? You know I'm not as quick as...as you are!"
"Are you all right?" Jin shot her an anxious look, unhooking his gourd from his belt as he held it out to her. "Here. Sorry. I wanted to get us above ground before it was dark, so we could at least see our surroundings before we thought about what we're going to do."
"Well, what are we going to do?" Hikari took a sip of the water, sitting back as she cast the two bandits quizzical looks. "Are we going to wait for Myoume here, like she told us?"
"I guess she wants to fight this herself." Jin said softly. "When you were washing, she told me that she didn't want us in Kitora's shrine. That it was important to her. So that's why we've come this way. This is Byakko's...she wants to do it her way."
"But that man..." Shishi faltered. "And the woman - if she's really a mage, that means she's got some of Seiryuu's power, doesn't it?"
"Something like that." Hikari agreed, handing the gourd back as she did so. "She did look funny...like some kind of water witch, or spirit, or...I don't know. And the guy with her...what did Myoume call him? Something that began with an H..."
"Hyoushin." Jin took a sip of the water himself, handing it to Shishi who took it gratefully. "That's what she said. Hyoushin of Kutou."
"Hyoushin." Hikari repeated. "Is there any reason we should know that name?"
"Guess not, because I don't." Shishi frowned. "But he...Jin, do you think he...is he one of those tribespeople? The ones who live in their own little settlements and speak their own language? The ones who hate violence and don't even have proper weapons because they don't believe in fighting?"
"Well, I guess he's not a very good example, if he is." Jin said ruefully. "A Meihi, you mean? Maybe. I guess he did look like he was - but I thought they were pretty much wiped out by the former Kutou Emperor."
"That one didn't seem to be too bothered about Emperors and slaughter. He had Kutou's crest on his armour. He's in Kintsusei's pocket and he more or less said as much." Shishi said frankly. "Tribal or not, he ain't really the peaceful type, that's for sure."
"What's a Meihi, please?" Hikari looked confused. "A tribe of people who don't fight? But...?"
"Once, when we were in the market in Souun, gathering supplies, there was some kind of performance going on in the square." Jin reflected, leaning up against the stone face of the mountain as he did so. "I must've been about ten or eleven - it was one of the first trips I took into the city on bandit business, an' it was in the midst of some festival or other, so it was busy as hell. The performers were from a travelling circus or somethin' - they had acrobats like Anzu-sama used t'be, so we stopped t'watch them."
"I think I remember." Shishi frowned, her brows knitting together as she pondered it. "I wanted to see the people tumble and perform like Okaa-san, so I begged and begged Pa…Kashira to let us stop for a while. And he did."
"You were only with us because you snuck out after us an' Kashira didn't want your Ma to find out you'd done it on your own." Jin shot her a rueful look. "So he made you promise that if you watched the circus, you wouldn't tell her you'd snuck out one of the tunnels."
"That's right." Shishi grinned. "He told Kaa-san that he took me to see the circus, later. I remember more clearly now."
"In any case, one of the performers was...I guess, silver was the only word for it." Jin mused. "They were an Eastern troupe, and this old guy was probably a slave - he sure as hell seemed like it, the way he was treated. He was pretty much there as an attraction in himself - he performed strange music for the crowd an' when he made a wrong note, the master of the circus brought his whip out an' whipped him. The reason I remember all this is because Kashira was took exception to the whip..."
He smiled faintly.
"You don't mess with Kashira when he's pissed off." He added. "The man with the whip found himself a few new bruises an' the circus found themselves evicted from Souun with Reikaku-zan's people relievin' them of a hefty amount of toll. But this silver guy...he went with them. They took him...even though he could've taken his chance to escape, I guess he had no hope or soul left in him. He just did as he was bidden. That's all."
"That's so sad." Hikari bit her lip. "And he looked like that Hyoushin guy?"
"Well, he had the same colouring. I wouldn't say they looked alike." Jin shook his head. "But Aniki told us he was a Meihi - silver hair and amethyst eyes. They're snow-people...they come from the northern Hokkan mountains or somethin' like that. An' I guess that Hyoushin guy was born one of them - whatever the hell he is now. He looked like he might be pretty ready with a sword, though - with all that armour, I'd say he's somethin' of a hotshot in Kutou's armed forces."
"Another reason we shouldn't just abandon Myoume, surely?" Shishi pointed out. "Even if we keep away from the shrine place, there must be somethin' we can do to help. We don't even know how many Kutou people there are...she could be facin' the entire damn army as far as we're concerned."
"True." Jin murmured, gazing up at the sky. "But the sun is about to set. The moon...it will soon be night time."
"So?" Shishi looked blank, and Hikari frowned.
"Myoume did say...that the moon would be up soon and we should stay here." She remembered.
"So maybe we should do as she says, huh?"
"I think we should go and help Myoume out." Shishi shook his head. "Why are you so reticent, Jin? This ain't like you!"
"It's not important." Jin shook his head. "And besides, Myoume has a point. Shishi, you and I, we have to protect Hikari. I won't say why, not when anyone could be listening - but you know it as well as I do. That's our role, just as she has hers. And Myoume is a Seishi. She's like Chichiri and your father...she's stronger than we are. We have to let her fight Byakko's battles too."
"But she's our friend, now." Shishi said stubbornly. "Ain't she? Didn't she lead us here, too?"
"I agree with Shishi." Hikari said unevenly. "Hyoushin and his men could really hurt her, and she doesn't have the Shinzahou to heighten her power. We can't just leave her...can we?"
"Myoume said..." Jin faltered, but Hikari could tell by his expression that he was not sure himself, and she sighed, getting to her feet.
"There's no way we can go back and take them by surprise?" She asked hopefully. "Distract them, perhaps? Or even...even take the fang, while Myoume is busy. Then we can give it to her, and it will be all right. Won't it?"
"The fang..." Jin's brow creased as he thought this over, and Hikari saw his gaze stray to the sky above their heads. He shook his head.
"Myoume was adamant that we weren't to go near Kitora's shrine if we could help it." He responded.
"I guess it's sacred." Shishi sighed. "All right. Then what can we do?"
"Maybe we could...try and get the Shinzahou?" Hikari suggested. Jin stared at her.
"The Shinzahou?"
"Well...I don't know for sure, but I think...the ghost man, the Meihi. I think he has it." Hikari shrugged. "And if Myoume's going to the shrine - to a place that guy can't get into - he won't be there. Will he? So if we found him, and took him off guard...mightn't we be able to steal it away? You two are bandits, after all. You must know some sneak tricks, and I don't mind playing mind games with some guy who's just come here to cause us trouble."
Jin was silent for a moment. Then, he nodded.
"You're right." He acknowledged. "If we did that...if we could grab the Shinzahou, then we'd have at least achieved something we came here to do. And if they came after us, we could lead them out here. If we could get them out in the open, we might have a better chance of fighting them - that cave is dark and it's easy to hide but it's not so simple to do that in a place like this. And as you say, Hikari, we're bandits. We know a few sneak tactics."
"Then we're going back in?" Shishi demanded. Jin hesitated, then he nodded, brushing his fingers against the hilt of his sword.
"I guess so." He agreed. "And hope Myoume forgives us for interfering. This is, after all, her fight...an' I know how Kashira'd feel, if someone barged in on his."
"Kashira is stronger than Myoume." Shishi said firmly. "She's not the same as he is. She might be Toroki, but she was only there to guard the Shinzahou. She's not there to protect a Miko - not like Father was. When he was born to be Tasuki, it was to defend Suzaku no Miko and raise Suzaku over Kounan's skies. In comparison, Myoume's just a guard on sentry duty. It ain't the same deal. An' like Hiki said, she could get hurt."
"Well, we have the element of surprise." Jin said heavily. "All right."
He hesitated, then he took Hikari by the hand, and she was surprised by the sudden solemnity in his gaze.
"Even so, it'll be dangerous in there." He said softly. "Listen. If we're separated, don't worry about me. I'll take care of things - it will be all right. An' I won't let anythin' happen to you. So don't panic an' worry about me, all right? I'm a bandit, an' I can fight my corner."
"Jin?" Hikari looked startled, a faint chill touching her heart at his expression. "Why? What do you mean?"
Jin gazed at her for a moment. Then he pulled her close to him, kissing her gently, and at first too surprised to resist, Hikari did nothing to pull away. As her thoughts returned to normal order, however, she pulled back, staring at him in disbelief.
"Jin, what are you..."
"I'm sorry." Jin touched his lips, slowly shaking his head. "I can't explain, and you can get mad - after this is over, you can yell at me all you like. All right? But I...just once...I'm sorry. I know it's wrong, but..."
"I..." Hikari faltered, lost for words, and Shishi sighed, rolling her eyes expressively.
"Yeesh, the pair of you, get a room already!" She exclaimed, tapping her blade against the stone impatiently. "Are we going or are we makin' out? Geez!"
"We're going." Jin said softly, and Hikari saw his gaze flit to the sky one last time. "Right now. After you, Shishi...try an' keep as quiet as you can. We want to take 'em all by surprise, if we possibly can."
"You don't need to tell me." Shishi tossed her head. "I did train on the same mountain as you, you know."
With that she disappeared into the tunnel once more, and Jin squeezed Hikari's hand, offering her a faint smile.
"Before we go after her..." He said softly, and Hikari frowned, eying him in confusion.
"Jin?"
"I just want you to know something." Jin faltered, then he shrugged his shoulders. "Hell, an' I'll jus' say it, since there doesn't seem to be a fancy way. I really am protectin' you because you're Hikari, that's all. I guess I'm realisin'...that's a damn important thing to do, for a lot of reasons - but in my eyes, that's still who you are. Hikari. An' it's all I want you to be."
"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?" Hikari demanded, and Jin shook his head.
"Later, we'll talk." He said briefly. "If we can, we'll talk a lot. But the things I said before...I meant them then an' I do now. All right? Even if you do want to go back to your world - it's all right. It don't change anythin'. I give. Even if we're not the same...I still...you know. I can't help it, and I'm not going to fight it...whatever you feel for me, I'm in love with you and I want you to know that means whatever happens in there - with that ghost or whatever else - I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. So...don't be scared of him or anythin'. I promise...I'll take care of you."
"Why are you saying all this now?" Hikari flushed, eying him in embarrassment. "Jin, you have the weirdest timing, I swear."
"I know." Jin looked haunted. "But I jus'...wanted you to hear it. That's all. Now let's go."
Hikari frowned, but she had no chance to argue, because he tugged her by the arm, ducking into the tunnel as he pulled her in behind him. There was a tight tension to his grip and to his demeanour as they headed back into the blackness, and silence seemed to hang heavy in the air following the bandit's awkward, heartfelt confession.
Jin pursed his lips, inwardly making up his mind.
"We'll try and avoid the shrine." He murmured. "I ain't forgotten, Myoume. I ain't forgotten any of what you said. An' shit, I'm scared, doin' this. But I ain't a coward. I'll see it through. If we tackle Hyoushin, then we're not facin' any Amefuri. An' you said it so specifically...besides, I ain't someone who runs away and abandons friends when they might need help. And more'n anything, I'll protect Hikari."
He swallowed hard, nodding resolutely as he accepted the gamble he had taken.
"I know how Kashira felt now, defendin' Suzaku no Miko." He realised. "An' I'm starting to feel the same way. To realise...my life is small. It's insignificant, even if I'd really like t'hold onto it. If anythin' happens to her, though, the whole of this world - will it even survive, if somethin' happens to Hikari? If it did, we'd all die anyway. So if I can prevent what Myoume saw, I will. But if it comes to it - I won't run away. I'll see it through, whatever the outcome."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Whatever the cost!"
------------
So, for better or worse, this was it.
Miramu paused outside the entrance to Byakko's shrine, biting his lip thoughtfully as he considered his best plan of action. From the flicker at the back of his senses, he knew that Toroki was not far from the fang's location herself, and inwardly he cursed, realising that he had only one course of action left open to him.
He slipped his fingers into his belt, pulling his small dagger out and glancing at it, before shrugging his shoulders.
"Pain makes you alive, and nothing comes without it. Isn't that what they say?" He murmured, as he drew the blade down cleanly and purposefully across his palm, watching as the hot red blood gushed from the gaping wound. Then, with a sigh, he re-sheathed his weapon, pressing the hand down hard against the seal that held the door to the inner sanctum firmly locked.
"Curse Byakko." He muttered, as the hard, gritty surface caused the fresh injury to sting and burn. "Curse him for forcing me down this path."
As the words left his lips, the door shuddered into life, and he drew his hand back, watching with mixed satisfaction as the heavy divide rumbled back to reveal the shrine within. It was untouched, and he realised with some relief that it had been that way for some time.
The chamber was round in shape, and in the centre stood the proud, erect figure of the hunting cat, his head raised and his fangs bared as if warning intruders against trespassing into Byakko's holy territory. His front left paw was raised, shielding a white bone chest, and the skill and devotion of the carver was evident in the detail applied to each claw that held the box firmly in place. Across the curved walls were the delicate, brightly painted images of the white tiger hunting in the scrubland of Sairou, but despite the overall vivacity of the designs, the entire chamber was coated in the dust of the desert, and Miramu snorted, taking a malicious amount of pleasure at it's seemingly neglected appearance.
"It's probably not been opened since the fang was first sealed here." He murmured, stepping into the chamber as he pulled a length of fabric from his belt, tearing it across and binding it tightly around his injured hand to stem the bleeding. "So much to the better. Myoume hasn't been here yet."
He ran a casual finger against the looming marble statue of the white tiger, staring up at the beast's glassy, glittering eyes with derision.
"You don't scare me." He said softly. "You can bare your teeth at me and hiss and claw all you like. You can't possibly make my life any more miserable than you already have, Byakko. So I'm here. Are you happy? I've come and acknowledged my blood for the first time in ten years. And for all that I've suffered, I demand repayment. I'm going to take your fang and I'm going to give it to Sairou's enemies. That will teach you to betray me...now won't it?"
He frowned, pursing his lips as memories flickered across his senses.
"To betray me and to betray my sister, too." He murmured. "You truly are the root of evil in this land. And I don't care if your power is ripped out of it. Let it be. You've done nothing but cause me pain...why should I treat you any differently?"
"Stop right there!"
The voice came so suddenly that for the briefest of instants Miramu thought it had come from the looming cat figure and it took him a minute to realise that in fact the shout had come from behind him, from where the door of the shrine was still gaping open. He swung around, his eyes narrowing as he took in the indignant figures in the doorway, his quick gaze flitting over each of them as he recognised them in turn.
"Well." he said smoothly, gathering his composure as he folded his arms across his chest. "If it isn't Suzaku's little folk."
"I knew something stank in here." The red-head, whom Miramu knew was Tasuki's daughter spat out. "I guess it was you. You have a nerve, coming in here like this. What do you think you're going to do now - are there no depths you don't sink to?"
"Seldom few." Miramu admitted. "But they don't concern you. And nor do my actions. This is no place for children - you'd do better to leave."
His gaze rested on Hikari, and he smiled.
"You had a little sense, the last time we met." He murmured. "Maybe you should use that this time, Hikari-chan...and take your hot-blooded companion out the way you came."
"The last time we met, you had a little girl scared and in tears." Hikari said coldly. "I did what I had to to make sure she was safe. But she's not here now. And I don't have to play by your rules. You might think it's okay, running around and stealing treasures...maybe you don't have any respect for the Beast Gods. But you've gone too far this time. This place...this is Byakko's shrine, isn't it? You've broken into the holy place where Byakko's fang is sealed, and that's beyond forgiving."
"Broken into?" Miramu's eyebrows twitched up, and his smile widened. "You stand on the threshold, Hikari of the south, flanked by mountain bandits from Reikaku-zan, by their looks...and you tell me I'm a thief and a trespasser? That I have no right to stand in Byakko's holy place and exchange words with the Beast God?"
"Damn right." The young man said quietly, and despite the resolution in his tones, Miramu detected faint apprehension in his stance. "What you did to Meikyo was inhuman. And this fang belongs to Byakko's people. To Toroki. It's nothing to do with you."
"I'd say it's less to do with you." Miramu countered. "I was at least born in this land - which can't be said for any of you, I'm sure."
"Born in...?" The redhead stared at this. "You mean you're from Sairou?"
"Well deduced, wolf cub." Miramu smirked. "Which gives me more of a right to be here than you. Or am I mistaken, when I assume you belong to Tasuki of Reikaku-zan - the daughter of Suzaku's flame-throwing Seishi, and therefore a child of Kounan?"
"I'm Shishi. I don't belong to my father...I'm my own bandit." The girl said hotly. "And it's not important where I was born. We're here to help Toroki. You're here to steal something. There's the difference. You're a low life creep who hurt my cousin and I'm not going to forgive that so easily."
"I don't really care about your forgiveness." Miramu was amused. "But you have your father's fire running through you. Shishi, is it? A lion cub, then, not a wolf? No matter. The same applies. You three have no business being here. Leave, before I make you regret that you came."
"You leave." Jin said softly, his fingers straying to his sword. "Before we make you."
Miramu stared at him for a moment, then he began to laugh. Slowly he shook his head.
"You are very, very stupid." He said derisively. "Did it not occur to you that perhaps I belong here far more than you do? That maybe I managed to get in here because, at the end of the day, I'm supposed to be able to? That you are the ones trespassing? You are the potential thieves - not me. Even if you come with Toroki's blessing, you are not Sairou's children and you are not Celestial Warriors. Your blood is nothing to this cave or this Tiger...nothing at all."
He tilted his head on one side, surveying them for a moment. Then, very carefully he reached up with his good hand to unloop the thick leather collar from around his throat. Hikari let out a gasp, her hand flying to her mouth as colour drained from her features, and Shishi cursed, her eyes widening in disbelief as the flesh of his neck became exposed. He nodded, lifting an idle finger to brush against the blazing white character that burned against his skin.
"As you can see, I'm both." He murmured. "Did I neglect to share that information with you on our last encounter? So sorry."
He bowed mockingly towards them, raising his head as cold humour glittered in his gem-like eyes.
"My name is Amefuri." He said softly. "Celestial Warrior of Byakko, Guardian of the Shinzahou and Protector of the Shrine of the Fang."
"Amefuri..." Shishi whispered. "Shit...you...you're Amefuri? You? All along, you were..."
"So that's how you got back to the Eastern Village before we did. And how you concealed yourself from Chichiri-san's senses." Jin said slowly, his brows knitting together in consternation, and Miramu saw him shoot Hikari a sidelong, almost protective glance. "You used whatever powers Byakko gave you."
"You're very sharp." The assassin nodded his head. "Toroki can see all things. Me, I can conceal myself from the sight of others. I can suppress my life force to the point where even a gifted sorcerer such as Suzaku's Chichiri cannot sense me. Why do you think I am so good at my chosen trade? And to get to your Eastern Village, I used another power. When my energy is suppressed, I can transfer myself short distances whilst invisible. It's not the most ideal form of transport, and I won't claim to be as talented as your Ri Hou Jun is at shifting across time and space. But it has its uses."
"But that's crazy!" Hikari gathered her wits, staring at him incredulously. "If that's true, why are you trying to hurt us? Why is it...why are you and Toroki at odds with one another? Why are you acting like this - for Kutou? I don't understand!"
"Because I hate Byakko." Miramu said simply, looping his collar once more around his throat and fastening the ties firmly. "Simple as that. I despise Celestial slavery, and I won't pander to an overgrown housecat who forced me into this world in the first place."
He shrugged.
"My motives don't matter." He added evenly. "The truth is that, by the will of that cursed kitty, I have the power to take Byakko's fang from this place. To unite it with the Shinzahou from Suzuno-sama, Byakko no Miko, and raise the power of the Western mage from her sleep. Whatever my will, you cannot contest that fact. I have the blood of Amefuri running through my veins. Whether you hate me or not - whether you consider me evil or not - this is my birthright."
He ran his tongue thoughtfully over the tips of his teeth as he pondered.
"And I suppose, as a Celestial Warrior, I am allowed to kill to defend the Tiger's treasure." He said ironically. "Fitting, don't you think so, for an assassin like me?"
His fingers stretched towards his quiver, but even as he unhooked his bow from his back, something came hurtling out of the air towards him, knocking the carved implement out of his hands and sending it clattering across the stone floor towards the painted panel walls.
He frowned, turning to stare at the trio as he realised that the boy among them had drawn a dagger from his belt, and that this weapon was now embedded neatly in the wood of his bow, pinning it against the wood-panelled imagery that seemed to mock him from all angles. He frowned, anger flickering inside of him as he registered the determination in the young man's gaze.
"We didn't intend to come here, but since we're here, we're not going to run away." Jin said quietly. "We want the fang too, and since you've let us in, there are three of us and one of you. There's no reason why we shouldn't take it. I might not be a Seishi, but I'm a damn good aim. You were lucky that wasn't your head - that I ain't as bloodthirsty as you are."
"Strong words." A faint smile twisted around the edges of Miramu's mouth at this audacity. "All right. I don't need my arrows to defend myself against children, anyway. Three of you is nothing. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
"No..." Hikari's eyes widened, and she shook her head. "Jin, we can't fight him! We can't fight Amefuri! Taiitsukun said it - we can't!"
"Taiitsukun?" Miramu arched an eyebrow. "The old fraud who claims to control this world? Do you come here on her orders, then?"
His eyes narrowed, as he crossed the floor, eying Hikari curiously.
"How is it you've spoken to Taiitsukun, Hikari-chan?" He asked softly. "What magic made that possible? A spell from your Chichiri, or maybe...something else?"
"Don't you dare touch Hiki!" Shishi exclaimed. "You do and I'll slice your head off - I don't care if Jin's too nice to do it. I'm not!"
"I'm sure you'll be quite frightening one day, screaming threats like that...if you get the chance to grow up and do it as an adult." Miramu cast her a disparaging look. "You have a lot to learn about knowing your enemy, though. Besides, you're being rude. I've not touched anyone, yet. I only asked Hikari here a question. She's met the fabled Taiitsukun - I wonder how that's possible?"
Hikari folded her arms defiantly across her chest.
"It's none of your business." She snapped. "I won't tell you anything."
"What if I was to offer you your life, in return for your answer?" Miramu asked softly, and for a moment he thought he saw a flicker of fear in the young girl's eyes. "This place is Byakko's. It's said to be sacred. You really shouldn't be here. I could make you all sacrifices to the Beast God who mocks me...stain his chamber in the blood of the South...but I'm interested to know your secrets, Hikari. You came to protect that child in the village...like you would walk through fire to protect her, without any fear of me at all. And now...now I find you've met the one who only those Chosen by the Gods can meet. Who are you, really? One of Suzaku's Seishi reborn? That would be a coup, wouldn't it? If I'd hidden my sign from you, and you from me."
"I'm not a Suzaku Shichi Seishi." Hikari shook her head. "I'm Hikari. That's all. I guess Taiitsukun's just such a good buddy of Chichiri and Tasuki's that she came to see me."
"Not possible." Miramu's eyes narrowed. "Do you think I don't know the legends about that hag, who takes the form of the most bizarre beings she can in order to hide her true nature? I was raised with Byakko in every corner of my life. Till I was fourteen, being Amefuri was all that seemed important to the ones around me. I'm not a fool, so don't take me for one. At least give me credit for knowing something about the things in which I've invested so much hatred over the past ten years."
"You're a sicko." Shishi told him bluntly, drawing her sword as she held it at her side. "If you're just going to babble, get out of the way. Myoume'll be here soon, and..."
"Myoume." Miramu frowned, as something flickered across his senses. "Toroki. Yes. You're right, which means I don't have time for this."
He pursed his lips, then, with a lightning quick movement, he reached out his uninjured hand, grabbing Hikari and pulling her close to him, his glittering silver dagger pressed up against her throat.
"Hikari!" Jin let out an exclamation, and Miramu laughed, shaking his head.
"I don't just use a bow and arrow. I'm an expert in many different types of execution." He said softly. "And this girl interests me. If she won't answer my questions, I'm sure she'll still be a saleable commodity if it transpires she has some connection to Suzaku's people."
"Let me go, you bastard!" Hikari wriggled against his grasp, but Miramu only tightened his hold, brushing the blade lightly against her skin.
"I will slit your throat if it's the only way to take you." He warned. "Alive is more interesting, but dead is more convenient. Either works for me."
He turned back towards the two bandits, a challenge in his gaze as his indigo eyes flitted from one to the other.
"Well?" He murmured. "Even Toroki won't seek to attack me if I have one of her precious new friends under my control. So it lies with you, Reikaku-zan No Sanzoku. What will you do? Is the fang important enough for you to risk Hikari's life over? We have an interesting game ahead of us, don't we?"
He smiled.
"Your move."