Chapter Nineteen
He was close by.
As Myoume darted through the undergrowth, tracking her way through foreign, unfamiliar terrain, she could still feel the faint but distinctive buzzing of her brother's chi echoing against her senses. He was still in Kounan, still within range, and as she remembered Jin's sacrifice anger welled through her.
"Not this time, Oniichan." She muttered, clenching her fists as she focused all her thoughts on reaching Miramu's location. "This is a place you shouldn't be. Fight me, if you must. But no more innocents. No more blood."
"You're working hard to track me down, imouto-chan."
The words echoed seemingly out of nowhere, and Myoume froze, her eyes widening as she realised for the first time in years Miramu had broken down the blockade between her thoughts and his. The gentle, telepathic communication that had bound them together when they were small washed briefly against her senses, but there was a melancholic taint to it now, and even though he had sought to answer her probing, he still held back.
She frowned, her brow creasing in confusion.
"Where are you?" She demanded, pushing the words relentlessly across the fragile connection. Without the Shinzahou, the link was tentative and easily broken, but she clung onto it, extending her power as far as she could towards the man she had always looked up to as a child.
"Nowhere you'll find me." Came the dispiriting reply. "I told you ten years ago and I'll tell you now. I will not see you, Myoume. So don't try and seek me out. You can't conceal yourself from me any more than I can from you."
"You can't avoid me forever." Myoume told him fiercely. "It doesn't work that way."
"We'll see about that!"
"Why did you kill Jin, Miramu?" Myoume demanded. "If you're so dead set against bringing my prophesies to life, why did you kill him before Byakko's shrine? To taint it? All you did was act the puppet in something Byakko had already made me see. You confirm my words by your current actions – don't you understand that? The moment you severed our connection and stopped being Amefuri, you made us enemies. You can't prevent it. It will come."
"I killed him because he was in the way, not because Byakko told me to." Came the scornful reply. "If you think you can weaken me with emotional blackmail, you really have become slow. I don't care about his life, or anyone else's. I'll fight whoever comes at me and whoever I'm charged to hunt down. You're the one I won't face, Myoume, because I will not let anyone dictate my future. If you don't like it, blame Byakko. I'm not Amefuri any more. I never will be."
"Until you are, Onii-chan, none of this will stop." Myoume blinked back the tears that glittered in her indigo eyes.
"I am not Onii-chan, either. My name is Miramu. That's all I am to you, now." Miramu responded coolly. "Your enemy. The Assassin. The Shadow of the West - Geiyo Miramu. Goodbye, Myoume. Don't try to find me. You know it's no good."
Abruptly the connection was severed, and Myoume closed her eyes, reaching out as far as she could for her brother's life force. At length she frowned, leaning up against a tree as she realised he had withdrawn not only from her mind, but also from the surrounding area.
"He's left Kounan." She murmured. "Which begs the question, why did he come here in the first place? To kill? To spy? To draw me away from the others? But Chichiri is with Hikari and Shishi…and Miramu isn't near the Eastern Village now. I don't understand. Something…have I really driven him back? Does he really fear our confrontation so much that he'd run away rather than finish whatever he came to do?"
She turned around, slowly making her way back through the forestland that, now she no longer had her brother's chi to follow, suddenly seemed strange and unfamiliar. Her brows knitted together as she focused her mind instead on picking out Chichiri's energy.
"Then at least I can find them." She reasoned. "Even if I can't reach into his thoughts and tell him what happened. That Miramu would allow me to do something I haven't done since we were children…but to tell me what? In his words there was nothing new. I wish I understood…and even more, that he understood. So long as he disdains his duty and forsakes Amefuri, nothing good can happen. He can't change the future any more than he can change the past…but at least if he would accept his stellar duty, it might…be different."
She sighed heavily, shaking her head.
"It's too late. He's pulled too far away to ever be rescued now." She murmured. "And I have to forget it – and focus on my duty as Toroki. This world is more important than my lost brother…I won't let Miramu's coldness shake me from my path. So long as I live, there's a chance I can change things. For now, I'll worry about that fact. When the day comes for him and me to face one another, then I'll contemplate what that will mean. Another day. Not this day. And now Hikari is in Kounan – maybe we can move forward once again."
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"Do you think Myoume has tracked that bastard down?"
As the trio made their way cautiously through the land surrounding the Eastern village, it was Shishi who voiced the question, casting her uncle a quizzical look as they pushed back branches, heading deeper into the nearby forest.
At her words, Chichiri frowned, shrugging his shoulders.
"It's hard for me to say." He admitted. "I can sense Myoume's life force somewhat. She seems to be trying to find him, or at least, lure him to her. She's not headed in this direction, so I don't think we'll encounter the assassin ourselves. I can't find any trace of Miramu himself, though. Even when Myoume said she could sense him, I couldn't. He really is able to conceal himself completely."
He bit his lip, frustration glittering in his red eye.
"It was slow of me not to realise it sooner." He added. "But with him taking us by surprise near the border, and then Meikyo being in danger, neither encounter with him has allowed me to think rationally. That he could so easily conceal his life force from those around him suggests some level of spiritual power…I should have realised he was probably a Seishi. That he fought for Kutou also threw me somewhat – none of Seiryuu's warriors could possibly have been reborn and be the age he is. But he's not from Kutou. He's from Sairou. I should have made the connection sooner."
"It's not your fault, Chichiri." Hikari said quietly. "It wasn't obvious to anyone, what he was."
"Aside from a bandit murdering, child-stealing, sadistic creep." Shishi muttered, kicking at a stray rock on the path as if to emphasise her point. "I don't think I could hate anyone more than I hate him. Myoume's brother or not, he doesn't deserve to even think the word Seishi. He's a twisted, sick bastard and I hope Myoume catches him and rips his throat out."
"I don't think she will." Chichiri reflected. "She's not spoken about it much, Shishi, but I think she still has a lot of affection for her brother."
"Why would she care about him, when he's done all of this evil stuff?" Shishi stared. "It's stupid. He's not like Jin – he's a psycho. Who could give a damn what happens to someone like that?"
"He's her brother and they grew up together." Hikari pursed her lips. "Anara-san told me they were very close as children. I'd forgotten till now – but Anara-san never actually said her son was dead. Just that he was beyond their reach and lost to them all. This must be what she meant – that Miramu had turned into…whatever the hell he thinks he is now. But he was still Myoume's brother, till he turned nuts. And Myoume probably knows more than we do about why he did."
"Even so, he murdered Jin for no reason!"
"I know." Hikari nodded. "But Shishi, if it had been the other way around, and Jin had killed someone for no reason – would you hate him for it, then?"
"He wouldn't have done it. He was Jin."
"I know that, but just supposing."
"It's stupid to even say it." Shishi said flatly. "Because Jin was Jin and Miramu is a sick, twisted bastard. No comparison is possible, so don't even try and make me sympathise with the jerk. I'm sorry for Myoume if she's crazy enough to still give a damn about him. But she really shouldn't. He doesn't deserve it. He's an asshole and if I hadn't promised Pa...Kashira I'd not go after him I'd be takin' that damn shinken an' thrustin' it somewhere painful."
"Shishi-chan, calm down." Chichiri said mildly. "And realise that half the forest can hear you ranting and raving. I don't mind, myself, but if there are Kaou-zan bandits in the vicinity, you'll probably be telling them exactly where Genrou's cub is, you know? And that's not a complication we need right at the moment."
"Shit." Shishi coloured, looking sheepish. "Sorry. I guess you're right. I just…I can't understand why anyone would care about Miramu. Brother or not, I'm sorry. He's crossed the line way too much to be forgivable. She should just forget about him and move on. It'd be better for her that way, and besides, we need her help. If she's sorry for Miramu can we rely on her to fight for us?"
"Yes, I think we can." Chichiri looked thoughtful. "Maybe because of how she feels about her brother. I don't know…but I'm pretty sure Myoume's sworn her life to Byakko, and therefore to this desire to protect this world from destruction. In this Suzaku and Byakko seem to be moving together…and because of that, no matter how much it hurts her to be opposed to him, I don't think Myoume will falter. Even for her youth, she is strong. Very, very strong. Not just in power but in her conviction…she's a valuable ally for us to have. And I will feel better, if she accompanies you on your next trip. I think she will be more than adequate protection."
"We are leaving Kounan again, then?" Hikari asked softly, and Chichiri nodded his head.
"I think it's impossible for you not to have to." He agreed apologetically. "So far, Kutou have managed to take their own treasure and Byakko's, too. Both of those things were facilitated by Miramu's involvement…but now we're on more open ground. We already have our Shinzahou right here, in you, Hikari-chan. That leaves one other. Genbu's treasure – Takiko-sama's necklace."
"Hokkan again." Shishi shivered. "Snow and ice…providing that's where it is."
"I can't imagine it would be anywhere else, but in this instance, we have no clues to its whereabouts." Chichiri admitted. "Hokkan is a large country…which is another reason I'm glad Myoume is going with you. Her perception may be able to find clues we otherwise can't. Taiitsukun has told us nothing about the location of Genbu's treasure. But that we must track it down…I think that's imperative. We can't risk Hikari being in Kutou – not right at the moment. So it must be Hokkan."
"I guess I'm going to need warmer clothes, then." Hikari glanced down ruefully at her school uniform. "I suppose I'll talk to Aidou-san when we get back, and see what she suggests. That is, if she's speaking to me for leaving one of the outfits she made back in my world."
"If I know Aidou, she's probably already prepared for this eventuality." Chichiri reflected. "After all, since you went West, it stands to reason that, sooner or later, you'll need to go North."
"Chichiri!"
Before Hikari could reply, Shishi had darted forward, bending to pick up something that lay discarded on the ground. She held it out, and Chichiri took it, frowning as he recognised what it was.
"An arrow head." He murmured. "But unused."
"Miramu was here." Hikari whispered. "That's what it means, doesn't it?"
"Probably." Chichiri agreed cautiously. "Although it seems careless for a man such as him to leave such blatant evidence of his presence. I almost wonder, if he did so, whether it was a calling card. A deliberate marker – perhaps for Myoume's benefit."
"Bastard." Shishi muttered. "At least it's a normal looking arrow-head…not one of his poisoned barbs."
"No, it's perfectly normal. It may not belong to him at all." Chichiri frowned, pocketing it. "But just in case…"
"Chichiri, look!" Hikari interrupted him, grabbing hold of his arm as she gestured anxiously ahead of them. "Beneath that tree – there's someone there!"
Chichiri followed her gaze, muttering a curse as he realised she was right. He hurried forwards, his hand already on the bag of supplies as he gauged whether or not the man beneath the tree posed them any kind of a threat. As he drew closer, he registered the blood staining the young stranger's sleeve and shirt, and from the pallor of his face and the style of his attire, he realised that the boy was both unconscious and unarmed. He frowned, relief and concern mingling through him as he knelt at the injured man's side.
"Is he…dead?" Hikari inched forward, her expression apprehensive, and Chichiri shook his head, gently brushing the long, thick black hair out of his way as he pressed his finger gently against the boy's throat.
"No. Unconscious, but not dead." He said quietly. "I think we found the one Miramu was attacking…certainly he's got quite a deep wound in his arm. It could be a defensive wound…and it's bleeding quite heavily."
"Who the hell is he?" Shishi demanded. "Look at his clothing – shit, look at his hair, all over the place like that! Who do you know in the mountains who dresses like that?"
"Who do you know in the mountains who dresses like me?" Hikari demanded. "It's more important that he's hurt, Shishi – we need to help him. Otherwise that stupid Miramu will have killed someone else and this guy's no older than Jin by the looks of it. If it was Miramu – do you want to let him take another life?"
"Dammit, of course not." Shishi dropped down on the opposite side of the stranger, eying him pensively. "He just looks far too pretty and spoiled for this neck of the woods. Could'a been a bandit as sure as it was that bastard assassin. One look at him and you'd think he'd have somethin' to steal – what kind of idiot wanders through the trees without a sword dressed up like God knows what?"
"You think her was brought down by a common thief, perhaps, looking for treasure?" Chichiri wondered. Shishi nodded.
"Well, Kaou-zan ain't far." She added. "Think Miramu'd have left him still breathing?"
"Maybe he's been poisoned. Like Jin." Hikari murmured, and Chichiri rolled back the boy's sleeve further, examining the wound with a thoughtful eye. At length he shook his head.
"I don't think so, you know. I can't see any sign of poison." He replied. "But this is the work of a blade much like the one Miramu used to cut Meikyo's arm. I'd dare to say the same one – the weapon was distinctive in its edging. I didn't see the wound on Jin's body, but Miramu's knife did leave a similar wound on my daughter, when he brought it across her skin. I think we are dealing with someone Miramu was after – though somehow he survived the encounter. What probably happened is that Miramu detected Myoume and fled the scene – at least, it's the only thing I can think of for why he'd leave a job half-done."
"But we still don't know who he is or why Miramu wanted to kill him." Shishi repeated.
Chichiri frowned, reaching across to brush the boy's right hand.
"He's from Kutou." He said softly.
"Kutou?" Shishi's eyes widened. "Dammit, then maybe we shouldn't be helping him at all!"
"If Miramu tried to kill him, Shishi, he's not going to be on their side, now is he?" Hikari demanded. "Stop it, all right? He's hurt and I don't want to see another person die because of that creep! Even if he is from Kutou – there must have been a reason for him to be attacked."
She cast Chichiri a glance.
"How do you know he's from Kutou anyway, Chichiri?"
"This ring." Chichiri ran his finger over the distinctive blue and gold insignia. "That's the crest of one of Kutou's most influential noble houses – the family Kaiga. And the fact he hasn't been relieved of it also suggests this was a murder for hire gone wrong, not an attack from Kaou-zan looters."
"So he's some rich Eastern kid?" Shishi asked. Chichiri shook his head.
"I don't know about that." He admitted. "When I travelled in Kutou, in the years before the war, I encountered the Kaiga family. They were very close associates of the former Emperor, Shoukitei. However, during the collapse of Kutou's regime, Shoukitei and his principle supporters were killed. When I visited Kutou's lands after peace had come to Kounan, I discovered that the entire Kaiga family had been eradicated by the Shougun – Nakago – and his army. Among that army was the current emperor, Shoukitei's sole surviving son, Kintsusei."
"Eradicated? Slaughtered?" Hikari whitened. "All those people…just because they were allies of the old Emperor?"
"Shoukitei was an unpleasant individual." Chichiri said evenly. "Kaiga Gin was said to be very much the same way. I don't think that massacre is ever the answer, but I think there were probably a lot of people who wanted to see them removed from power. And Nakago was never one to flinch at killing if it meant he obtained a particular goal for himself. That's all I know…and if this boy is a Kaiga, I don't know how he survived. But that ring is genuine – it's not something that could be easily reproduced. And that it should be in his possession…"
He shrugged.
"We'll help him, and when he recovers, we'll tell him nothing of what we already know about the family Kaiga or Kutou's past." He said evenly. "We'll just ask him who he is, and what's happened to him. Then we'll discover the truth of it."
"He's coming around." Hikari reported, and Chichiri's gaze flitted to the young man's face, realising she was correct as there was a faint flickering of the stranger's lashes. He murmured something incoherent, and Chichiri brought his hands together instinctively, in case the young man should prove to be hostile on regaining consciousness. As the injured stranger opened his eyes, however, Chichiri stared at him, all pretence at defence forgotten as he absorbed the strange seiran shade of the youngster's gaze.
"What…who…where am I?" The stranger gasped out, and Chichiri hurriedly gathered his senses, reaching out an arm to gently bring the boy into a sitting position.
"Kounan." He said briefly. "We're not here to hurt you, so relax. Take a breath and tell us what happened – you're wounded, and we'd like to know who by."
"Wounded?" Something strange seemed to flicker across those blue eyes, almost as if memory had bit by bit returned itself to the Easterner's mind. Chichiri nodded, indicating the still bleeding arm, and at the sight of it, the stranger let out an exclamation, colour draining once more from his face.
"What the hell's the matter with you? It's a sissy cut – even a baby wouldn't make a fuss over a wound like that." Shishi said bluntly. "Yeesh, what are you? Noone dies from that kind of a wound – there's no need to look like you're about to!"
"I…" The boy swallowed hard, closing his eyes, and Chichiri was half-afraid he was about to lose consciousness one more.
"Please, don't make me see it again." He whispered. "I don't…like…blood."
Chichiri frowned, resting a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder as he did so.
"You passed out because of the bleeding before?" He asked gently. "Or because someone hit you? I need to know, because I want to help you recover."
"I…don't remember." The boy said feebly. "There was…a man…with a..knife."
He opened his eyes cautiously, but as he caught sight of the edge of his torn, bloodsoaked sleeve he paled once more, and Chichiri could tell he was fighting the urge to be sick.
"All right." He said gently. "I think the best thing would be for me to tear free this ripped sleeve and bandage your wound so it stops bleeding. Then, if you return with us to my home, I'll see to doing something more about it. But if it's causing you distress, that should be our first focus. Sit very still, please…and if it distresses you, look away from it. I'll do what I can to stem the bleeding."
With one sweeping gesture he pulled the rest of the ripped sleeve free of the bloodsoaked arm, carefully wiping the worst of the reddish liquid away as he tied a strip of fabric around the boy's upper arm, neatly halting the pooling flow of liquid as he knotted it tightly. As he did so, the stranger let out a heavy sigh, and although it was clear the procedure had caused him some discomfort, his expression seemed more to be one of relief than it did of pain.
"Thank you." He murmured. "I…I'm sorry to be…so much trouble."
"What's your name?" Hikari settled herself more comfortably by the injured boy's side, sending him a hesitant smile as he did so, and the stranger eyed her in confusion, almost as if he was trying to assess her motives. At length he sighed, and some of the tension seemed to seep out of his young body.
"Aoiketsu." He murmured softly. "K…Kaiga…Aoiketsu."
"Kaiga!" Shishi's eyes widened, and she glanced at Chichiri, who nodded.
"You're a long way from home, Aoiketsu-kun." He said evenly. "How did you come to be here, in the Southern lands, when you speak with an Eastern accent?"
"Kounan…" Now that the wound was no longer within his line of sight, Aoiketsu seemed to be regaining his wits and he struggled into a more steady sitting position, glancing at his rescuers one at a time. "Wait…who are you people? Where in Kounan am I? What happened to…I was…"
He trailed off, biting his lip, and Chichiri sat back, registering the wary expression that had darkened the man's blue eyes.
"We don't mean you harm." He said at length. "My name is Ri Hou Jun, and this is my niece, Shishi, and my ward, Hikari. We heard there was someone in distress in the forest, so we came to see. I'm the apothecary for the local village, so I thought maybe I could be of assistance."
"Apothecary…" Aoiketsu repeated the word softly, as if it carried particular resonance. Then he offered a faint smile.
"I'm sorry, Ri-san. I have forgotten my manners." He said sheepishly. "I'm afraid I become unsettled at the sight of blood – and I have failed to thank you for your kindness."
"So, you really come from Kutou?" Shishi crossed her legs, peering at Aoiketsu as if he was a zoo exhibit. The young man nodded his head.
"By birth, yes." He agreed, wincing slightly as Chichiri's ministerings edged close to the edge of the jagged gash. "Although more recently I've been in Hokkan or now, here, in Kounan. My family were all slain before I was born – all except my mother, who somehow escaped long enough to give birth to me. Then she died, and I've been in hiding ever since. When the Emperor's men were sighted up north, I thought I'd have to leave...I even wondered if they'd come looking for me. Technically I'm the heir to the Kaiga estate, and I suppose they think I might raise an army and come try and claim my family's lands. Only I had a run in with a man…an assassin by the name of Miramu."
"We know all about Miramu." Shishi said darkly. "He's no friend of ours, believe me. He already killed my brother…it's a miracle he didn't do the same to you, too."
"Your brother?" Aoiketsu repeated softly. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't realise."
"Why would you?" Shishi sent him a funny look. "Your blood loss must've gone to your head, Aoiketsu…you should just thank the Gods you got away."
"You're right." Aoiketsu agreed, looking sheepish. "Although it concerns me that he came. I think…he was acting on the orders of people back in Kutou. They must truly consider my living a threat."
"You couldn't raise an army." Shishi snorted. "A wimp who goes white at the sight of a little blood? They should give up - you're no threat to them."
"This will sting a little." Chichiri put in at that moment, as he folded over a square of clean cloth, dipping it into one of the herbal concoctions he had learnt from Mitsukake before pressing it to the wound. "But it'll be over in a moment, I promise…and it will help to stop your injury becoming infected."
"So what do we do with him, now he's here?" Shishi asked.
"Can he stay with you, Chichiri? In the Eastern Village?" Hikari looked quizzical, and Aoiketsu faltered, his blue eyes becoming big as he stared at the apothecary as if seeing him for the first time.
"Chichiri?" He whispered, and Chichiri offered him a lopsided smile, pausing in his work as he nodded his head.
"That's the other name I'm generally known by, in these parts." He agreed evenly.
"I'm sorry." Hikari looked stricken. "Should I not have...said that?"
"It's all right." Chichiri shook his head. "In this neck of the woods, there are few people who aren't aware of it. It's not a secret."
He cast Aoiketsu an interested look.
"I'm not surprised that you understand its significance...I'm sure that even in exile, a descendant of one of Kutou's noble houses would find time to learn about the world in which he lives."
"I've always studied." Aoiketsu nodded. "The...the man who raised me made sure of it. That I could read, and write, and understand everything I would need to be the man I have to be."
"I didn't know you could have lessons in being a sissy." Shishi said, amused, and Aoiketsu shot her a dark look.
"I can't help it." he retorted. "It's just the way I've always been. Noone chooses to be squeamish, you know. Some people just are."
"Yes. Sissies." Shishi agreed. "But I guess, if you're some rich guy's spawn, it explains it. Most of those kind of people sit back and let everyone else do the hard work for them."
"So you do have someone...a manservant, perhaps?" Chichiri suggested, and Aoiketsu shook his head.
"I'm quite alone." He replied. "He...is no longer with me."
Chichiri frowned, pursing his lips as he interpreted the boy's reticence.
"I see." He said softly. "I'm sorry."
"I know the legend of the four Gods." Aoiketsu eyed Chichiri almost as if he was sizing up a potential predator for hidden claws. "Nakago was in charge of the army who slew the Kaiga family, so I'm well familiar with them and their so called divine power. But I only know the names of the other constellations - of Byakko, Suzaku and Genbu. Are you...truly the man born under Suzaku's sign of Chichiri? Is that...really who you are?"
"Yes." Chichiri agreed. "But I don't subscribe to the same philosophies of life as Kutou's blue-eyed avenger. I'd rather preserve life, not end it. Particularly innocent life caught in the crossfire."
He smiled.
"You can call me Chichiri, or Ri-san. I don't mind which." He added.
"You're kind." Aoiketsu offered a faint smile in return. "But it...may not be wise for me to spend too much time near here. I don't want to bring danger on your heads, especially if this assassin has already killed a friend of yours. If this is near a village, then I'm sure there are children who might get hurt."
"Yes." Chichiri frowned. "Miramu doesn't have any respect for borders…he's already put my own daughter in harm's way. But that's beside the point at the moment."
He reached out to touch the young man's ring.
"Tell me, what was your mother's name?" He asked softly. "Because this ring…surely…"
"Ruiren." Aoiketsu looked surprised. "Kaiga Ruiren. She was Kaiga Gin's widow – this ring was his and she gave it to me when I was born. It was a keepsake, because she knew she was dying and she didn't want me to lose all connection to my heritage."
"I see." Chichiri's gaze softened. "I met Kaiga Ruiren, once, though I never met her husband Lord Gin. She was a very beautiful woman – and I can see her features in your face, now I look at you again. It explains why you have the ring – in Kutou, to hold the ring of the family crest is to signify that you are effectively head of that family - correct?"
"Yes." Aoiketsu nodded slowly. "You've been to Kutou a lot, then, Chichiri-san?"
"In the past." Chichiri agreed. "Before the war, and before it mattered to anyone that I was more than just Ri Hou Jun. So I suppose by having that ring, you might be able to claim the land."
"I don't want to." Aoiketsu admitted. "Not if it'll get me killed. I just want them to leave me alone. And I really don't want to cause harm to people who've probably just saved my life."
"But now you're here, we can't just abandon you. Not if Miramu is after you." Hikari pursed her lips, casting Chichiri a glance. "Chichiri? What do you think?"
"Well, the wound will heal." Chichiri wound a thick white bandage around the man's arm, offering the girl a smile. "But he does have a point. Even if it's not his own fault, his being here could prove dangerous not just for my children but the others in the Eastern village and even so far as Souun."
"We can't just let that jerk to have a second shot, though." Hikari objected. "Can we? Miramu already killed Jin - we know he doesn't bluff."
"So what, we take him with us?" Shishi's eyes widened. "Hiki, are you nuts? He's soft in the head, and he'd be a liability from the get-go!"
"With you...?" Aoiketsu looked startled. "I'm sorry - take me...where, precisely?"
"Shut up." Shishi told him firmly. "There's no point in you coming with us anyway. You'd probably get us all killed, if you vomit at the sight of blood. Believe me, we don't need to be babysitting some Kutou exile, no matter whether Miramu is his enemy or not."
"But if he was with us, Myoume would always know if Miramu was around." Hikari reminded her. "So we'd be ready, if danger struck again."
"But look at him, Hiki!" Shishi objected. "It's not like travelling with Jin. Jin could fight! Even if Myoume is strong, what do you suppose he'd do if we were faced with a situation like we were in Sairou?"
"But that's just it." Hikari sighed, casting Aoiketsu a glance. "I...I want to help him, Shishi. I mean, I'm weak, too. I can't fight, either. Because of me, Jin gave his life - even if noone blames me, it's still why he did the thing he did. And I...I hate that I couldn't do anything to save him. But I...I can help Aoiketsu. And I want...I want to stop him from getting killed by that bastard Byakko Seishi..."
"Byakko...?" Aoiketsu's eyes almost dropped out of his head, and he swallowed hard, clearly startled. "But...are you saying that this Miramu is...?"
"Amefuri." Shishi nodded her head. "Jerk though he is, he's turned tail on his divine responsibilities and become a real pain in the ass for everyone. Especially us. He's meant to protect Byakko's Shinzahou...but he decided it would be more fun to be an arrow-happy bandit killer instead. And even worse, Miramu's definitely in the Kutou Emperor's pocket...lets just say that his murderin' Jin wasn't the only time he's done something crappy in our line of sight. You're just the next in a long list of atrocities - the difference is, you're still alive."
There was a faint note of bitterness in her words, and Chichiri shook his head reproachfully.
"That's not his fault, Shishi." He chided. "Don't say it like he should feel guilty. Jin's dying has nothing to do with Aoiketsu's survival...I know how you're feeling, but don't take it out on a stranger."
"I'm sorry." Shishi looked guilty. "I just...it pisses me off, that's all. All of it. When Jin fought so hard, and this guy..."
She trailed off, shaking her head slowly.
"It doesn't make sense." She murmured.
"I see." Aoiketsu looked grave. "I'm sorry then, for being alive and useless, Shishi-san."
"Nobody is useless." Chichiri said frankly. "But Shishi is right when she says you are lucky to be alive."
"No kidding." Shishi agreed.
"Taking him with you could be a danger in itself, you know, Hikari." Chichiri sat back on his heels, considering. "If he stayed here, it would be dangerous for the village. But if there really is a contract out on his life, it would attract Miramu's attention to you. He's already far too interested in what you're about - as Jin's death has sadly proven."
"True." Hikari agreed, drawing her knees up to her chest. "But the thing is, I don't see what else we can do. Like I said, we will have Myoume with us. And Miramu doesn't seem to want to hurt her, whatever he feels about the rest of us. He seems to avoid her if he can. So that'd help. Besides, either way, we can't sit around here...we're already wasting time."
"Excuse me..." Aoiketsu spoke hesitantly, then, "Where are you...we...where might we be going, please?"
"Hokkan." Shishi said frankly.
"Hokkan?" Aoiketsu looked surprised, and Hikari nodded.
"We have to go back north, and try and find out what we can about Genbu's Shinzahou." She agreed. "And we need to find the holy relic left behind by the Beast God somewhere in Hokkan."
"And that's a long way from here...some days at least." Chichiri acknowledged.
"Unless Hiki can take us quicker." Shishi eyed her friend, and Hikari shrugged.
"I doubt it." She said with a sigh. "My magic is still really, really unreliable, Shishi. We might end up anywhere...if we even moved at all. You know that the only times I've been able to really use it have been instinctive...and I've not yet managed to take anyone anywhere except myself. Even if I did...go home. It doesn't mean I have any more control than I did before."
"You think...I should go to Hokkan with you?" Aoiketsu was doubtful. "But I...I'm not very useful. It's like your friend says, Hikari-san. I'm just a noble son who's not much good for anything."
"That's why I want you to come." Hikari admitted ruefully. "Because maybe we can protect you. And I'm sick of being the protected one. I'm sick of being the most useless member of the party. If you're weak, Aoiketsu, I kinda identify with that. Besides, I think...it would be better. Myoume is the only one who always knows when Miramu is around."
"Who is this Myoume?" Aoiketsu's brows knitted. "I'm really not so sure about this idea. I...I think..."
"Don't think and don't argue." Shishi said evenly. "We don't have the time to waste on either. It's already pathetic enough that you might have to be protected by girls...don't make it worse by trying to have an opinion about it, okay?"
"Myoume is Toroki. One of Byakko's, like Miramu." Hikari explained, before Aoiketsu could respond to Shishi's cutting words. "She's strong, Aoiketsu. And she'll be able to tell when Miramu's around. They're brother and sister, so she always knows."
"Brother and sister." Aoiketsu's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I see."
"We can trust her." Hikari said hastily. "They're estranged - don't worry. She isn't working with him, or anything. The opposite, actually. She probably was the thing that drove him away from you and saved your life. Because she sensed he was around, we came to help."
"Then I suppose you're right." Aoiketsu hesitated, then, "But even so, going North..."
"We really shouldn't be wasting time playing nursemaid." Shishi said categorically, getting to her feet. "So far, Kutou have two Shinzahou, and two relics. We have one Shinzahou, an' we know where Suzaku's relic is. But Genbu's is still open season. An' we need to get there first. If he's just going to be a wishy-washy idiot even about making a decision like that...if he don't want our protection, lets ditch him already. He's no real use to us, after all."
"Shishi!" Hikari glared at her. "Jin would never say that and you know it...don't be so cold!"
"Jin ain't here to ask." Shishi said smartly.
"Even so, Hikari's probably right." Chichiri reflected. "And I think the safest option would be for Aoiketsu to accompany you girls when you go North. If only to preserve his safety until we find a way to deal with Miramu conclusively."
"You think we should protect him too?" Shishi looked startled, and Chichiri nodded his head.
"I do." He agreed gravely. "Because he's a target, just like Jin was. And he's not much older. You can't be more than eighteen summers, Aoiketsu-kun - am I right?"
"I was born three months after the end of the war with Kounan." Aoiketsu agreed. "So yes. I'm eighteen."
"Too young to die." Chichiri murmured, as memories of the friends he'd lost flitted through his thoughts. "Yes, Shishi. If we can preserve life, we must. That's what Suzaku would want us to do, you know. Aoiketsu was born in Kutou, but he's not our enemy. So we mustn't treat him like he is. If we do, then we become like the people we're fighting, making every innocent bystander and civilian a target just based on their country of origin."
Shishi chewed her lip pensively.
"Guess you're right." She admitted. "All right. I suppose so. I suppose Jin'd think so, too. But dammit, I'm goin' to have to kick some spirit an' fight into him, if that's the case. Because I ain't takin' a guy with us who can't even hold a sword."
"I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to discuss that, when you begin your journey." Chichiri said evenly. "For now, though, I think going back to the village is a better idea. I'd like to have a proper chance to look at Aoiketsu's wound, and to clean it thoroughly. Besides, Myoume will have returned by now, I think - and I want to mention this to her, too. Especially if I'm going to trust the quest for the Shinzahou in her hands."
"You keep saying that word." Aoiketsu frowned. "But...what's a Shin...zahou?"
"A holy treasure, left behind by the Gods of each land after their summoning ceremony." Hikari said with a sigh. "And right now, Kutou have one more than we do. They already used dirty tricks to get Seiryuu's, and robbed Myoume blind to take Byakko's. We can't let them get Genbu's, as well."
"And so long as you're here, Hiki, they can't get Suzaku's." Shishi said decidedly. "Well? Are we going, then? Even if Miramu's not around, Kaou-zan bandits might be, and if nothing else, I'm startin' to get hungry. Besides, we don't have time to sit around like lemons. We've got a lot of shit to get sorted out now Hiki's back - especially if wimp-boy here is coming with us!"
"Are you all right to walk?" Hikari cast Aoiketsu a hesitant look. "You are still pale, but Shishi is right. And it would be safer for you to stick with us...at least until Miramu's lost interest in finding you."
"You've been kind to me, but I don't want to burden you." Aoiketsu looked hesitant. "So long as I can't see the blood, I feel much better, but...are you sure I should come with you?"
"You said you've been to Hokkan, right?" Shishi eyed him curiously, and Aoiketsu nodded.
"Yes...in a manner of speaking." He agreed. "I spent time in the capital. When the Kutou Emperor's men were around, I hid...in a cave on Koku-zan. It was full of bones, and not very pleasant...I'm not sure I want to go back any time soon."
"Koku-zan, huh?" Chichiri's expression became thoughtful. "Then you know the mountain path from the capital to the peak?"
"Yes." Aoiketsu confirmed, surprise in his seiran eyes. "What about it?"
"It seems as good a place to begin the search as any, considering it once housed the Shinzahou, a long time ago." Chichiri smiled. "Perhaps Aoiketsu will be a greater asset to your party than you think, Shishi-chan."
"If that's so, I guess you might have a use, after all." Shishi glanced at Hikari, who nodded.
"Definitely." She agreed. "Except for visiting Koutaku-san's house, we haven't spent much time in the North country, and I...I really don't know much about Hokkan at all. I don't even know what their capital city is called."
"Touran." Aoiketsu said frankly. "And if that's where you're going, I...I can help guide you there. If you think...it would help."
"Then it's decided." Shishi nodded. "So long as you do your share of walking, and you don't whine, you can take us to Touran and we'll make sure you don't get a slit throat. Providing you don't have a completely stupid sense of direction to go with your sissiness, that seems reasonable. Fair enough?"
Aoiketsu's face paled slightly at her brutal assessment, and Hikari reached out to squeeze his hand.
"Is it a deal?" She asked quietly. Aoiketsu seemed to rouse himself from his reverie, nodding his head.
"All right." He agreed. "I'll help you get to Touran."
"Then it's settled." Shishi sighed. "Shit, I wish even more that Jin would be coming too - it's going to take all of us just to keep this one out of trouble."
"I'm not afraid of walking, Shishi-san." Aoiketsu pulled himself unsteadily to his feet, glancing at his now bound arm, and offering Chichiri a grateful smile. "Thank you. And I believe I can walk - to the village, at least. I may not be cut out for violence, but I have travelled and I can read maps...my navigation is good and I have a quick memory. If you really think I can be of assistance, then I will come with you to the North."
He paused, then,
"If I might ask a favour in return?" He asked softly, rubbing his fingers absently against the ring as he did so, and Hikari sent him a questioning look.
"What kind of a favour?" She asked curiously, and Aoiketsu smiled.
"I'd rather be called Aoi." He admitted. "Aoiketsu is an unusual name, after all. It's more easy for someone to find an Aoiketsu, whereas Aoi is less distinctive. Plus...it sounds more...friendly."
"Friendly, huh?" Shishi eyed him keenly. "Sure. I guess that's okay by me. You can be Aoi. After all, it's fitting - since that's the colour your face goes when you see blood."
"Shishi." Hikari sent her friend a rueful smile, and Shishi shrugged.
"It's true." She said frankly. "So we'll go back to the village and see what Myoume has to say about Miramu. Hopefully he's got the message he's really not welcome and he's cleared off back to the East or something. But even if he hasn't, she'll make sure he doesn't come near the village again."
"Then I guess you're coming back there with us right now." Hikari shot Aoiketsu a friendly smile. "I guess this is kind of like saying welcome to Kounan, Aoi-kun!"