Stealthwalker
13th August 2008
Series: The Seer
Summary: Don't bite off more than you can chew.
Warnings: Ninja!monk and magic action
Much love to Anyjen, curiousrobin, and profiterole for the alpha and beta reading. Without your help this fic would be riddled with flaws and would never make any sense.

Their assigned suite had a semi-circle shaped front room, two rooms branching off to each side, with the top most arch of the half-circle opening out into a small private garden.

At the bit of wall between Watanuki's and Shizuka's rooms sat Sorata. The priest had gotten comfortable on the floor with some cushions and a prayer scroll, leaning against the wall. He would be taking First Watch and this location made it perfect for him to move in any necessary direction should danger arise.

Watanuki and Jason had already gone to bed. 'I can finally have some privacy!' his master had declared with relish, smugly shutting the door in Shizuka's face and making Jason grin.

Sorata lifted his head to watch when Shizuka began to tap out most of the candles in the front room. "You heading out?"

"Aah," the monk replied softly. In the half-darkness, Shizuka stripped out of his hakama, the pleated trousers he wore over his robe-top gi and its matching loose trousers. He wore tabi, split toe socks, reaching up over his trouser legs to hold them down. Over this his rubber-soled lightweight split-toed shoes had been unfolded and tied up to just below his knees, shin guards laced into place over them. He made sure his arm braces were tied properly from wrist to elbow, the knives set securely within.

He glanced at Sorata and nodded. In Japanese, "Take care. We don't know yet what we've gotten ourselves into."

Sorata recognised the thread of tension in the monk's tone. "Like Jason-san said, welcome to the family." He looked a little repentant, "I said I'd do a better job of updating you. But I've not been keeping that very well." Cautioning, he added, "You take care too."

Bowing slightly, ready to go, the monk hooked his fingers over the cloth about his neck and pulled it up over the bottom half of his face.

Shizuka moved quietly, checking his weapons as he went to stand back on the wall by the suite front doors. Again, with another nod to Sorata, he carefully and deliberately unfolded his magic and masked his presence… a skill which he happened to be quite good at.

The priest's eyes widened and unfocused from him as he slipped into invisibility.

Shizuka listened as the guards posted at the door exchange pleasantries with the replacements coming to relieve them; right on time. He'd waited through the palace First Watch to determine how long a shift took and with this to judge by, would be better able to figure out the patrol and watch rotation schedules.

When a rough wind whipped down the hall toward them, even if the timing wasn't what Shizuka would have preferred, he curled his hand into a seal and used it, made it stronger and pushed it to force the door of the suite partly open. Silence descended in the hall suddenly, Shizuka sensing their emotions as unsettled and wary, on guard. He wove more light-bending about himself and peeked out into the hall to see their eyes trained carefully on the doorway… and through him.

Stealthily he moved past them, using a small portion of his spirit force to cling to the wall opposite… and crawl up to a corner of the ceiling. Gravity pulled at him awkwardly but he ignored it, internally recalibrating his consciousness to account for the new perspective. He tilted his head up and back… in order to look down toward the ground, the freedom of his skills amusing him and pulling a smirk to his lips.

He watched the guards shut the suite door and murmur to each other, and he quickly moved on.

--

With a maximum extension of his senses, Shizuka discovered the palace was laid out in a bulls-eye pattern. From the centre core there laid outward six rings of halls like levels, and he plotted a simple course: from the centre of the palace he would loop counter-clockwise outward in a perfect sweep.

The second ring of halls had tight security blocking off the centre of the palace and it had been difficult to get past, taking up a good portion of his time. But he discovered there a hall with an open ceiling to a skylight… and there an opening into the space between the ceiling and roof.

With only old charms guiding this new level, Shizuka made much better time, getting through to a garden at the palace centre, a lovely enclosed space around which the King apparently lived. Luckily for them he was not an assassin, he thought, peeking in at the elaborate bed in which the king slumbered, window open to allow the cool night air in.

Completing his rounds and investigating his hunches took a considerable amount of time. But the results were promising and he felt he and his group would make something of all this new information.

As Shizuka continued on, the route naturally brought him right back to Watanuki, to bed and rest. However when he got there he found a presence he did not appreciate, the aura of it similar to the bloody feel of Prince Amko's guards –but not familiar.

Presence fully masked, Shizuka moved closer to where the stranger clung to the rafters of the inner-scaffolding between ceiling and roof, peeking down into the main area of their suite via small slits in the ceiling meant to allow air circulation. When he had the man in sight, the soldier also dressed head to foot in black, he assessed the watcher but took no immediate action.

Instead, he carefully prodded at the man's magic, getting a discreet feel for it, annoyed that he found it had blanketed the suite of rooms below, sensing the people and presences there. The annoyance flared when the man retracted his senses then moved toward the room where Watanuki rested. Shizuka slung a shuriken, a four-point star-blade, into the wood in front of the man's stealthy leading foot.

Having used wind magic to propel it so as not to be sourced by the throw nor allow the whistle of it as it cut the air to warn the intruder, the guard did not see nor sense it coming and froze at the soft thunk of sound when it embedded into the wood mere inches from his toes.

Warning clearly expressed and understood, the man bowed slightly to his unseen opponent and slipped away.

Shizuka kept a tight track on the man's presence until he was sure the guard had left. Irritated, the monk slapped a paper warning charm on the rafter, willing it to cover a twenty-metre radius, blanketing their space in a barrier that would warn Shizuka of approaching magic-able persons.

He really ought to have done that before he left.

Prying loose a ceiling panel he slipped down into the front room and glared at Sorata, awake and alert, now giving him a puzzled look for the hostile regard. With a sigh, the monk decided he could not fault the man for not having superior ability. He would have to compensate.

Nodding, he relieved Sorata's post, the priest firing him one last puzzled look before heading for his room.

Removing his mask, Shizuka grabbed his hakama and slipped into Watanuki's room. The charm he'd put up would serve as a guard and he could get some light rest.

His master, as always despite the huge bed, slept on only a small portion of it, unmoving on his back, robes still perfectly arranged and his blanket smooth. His pair of wakizashi peeked out from under his pillow. Checking over the sleeping noble quickly, Shizuka set the hakama aside and, after only a brief moment of hesitation, settled into the unoccupied half of the grand bed.

If Watanuki didn't like it, and he was sure the noble wouldn't, he'd have to rail and rant about it in the morning.

Shizuka nearly smiled at the thought, closing his eyes and slipping into a restful doze.

--

Promptly eight and half seconds upon waking, Watanuki squeaked and tumbled to the floor.

Shizuka opened an eye and glanced over at the horizon of the bed, where the top half of Watanuki's red face appeared, his hair mussed and standing further on end than ever.

"What," the young lord hissed as he sat up on the floor, displaying his gritted teeth, "are you doing in my bed?!"

"I was sleeping," he replied calmly.

"And why," Watanuki seethed, brows furrowing, "did you not sleep in your own bed?"

"Yours is big enough to accommodate us both," Shizuka replied, deadpan. "I thought it best to remain close by you."

Watanuki blinked and his face lost its expression of temper. Looking contemplative he got up and slipped back into bed facing Shizuka and spoke softly, "How many?"

"Just one."

"Trouble?"

"Nothing happened but he stank of that blood-aura," Shizuka muttered. "Bad enough."

"I see." Watanuki frowned now. "This doesn't look good, whichever way you consider it. I can only give Prince Amko the benefit of the doubt for now, and assume he doesn't appreciate having strangers in his home."

Shizuka nodded, "You'll bring it up when you meet then?"

"Yes," Watanuki rolled onto his back. "I do not want there to be hidden things between us, if possible. And for all we know, he didn't send that spy. Perhaps this will help put him at ease with us, initiate openness. I don't want trouble."

"Yes, master," Shizuka murmured. Watanuki flashed him a glare and he repeated, amending, "Yes, Watanuki."

Huffing, Watanuki got up, pulling his swords with him and rummaged about in the small trunk he'd brought off the ship. "How did last night go?"

"Quiet." Shizuka admitted, "I only managed to snatch a few pieces of conversations and most were in the local language. But I set out wards and alerts spelled with our names."

Watanuki looked up, "You mean, should anyone speak our names within range, you are warned?" He gathered his selected attire and stood.

"Yes." A little awkwardly, Shizuka moved to and held up the curtain which separated off a dressing space. Watanuki disappeared behind it with a quick nod of thanks and the monk let it drop back. "It's just a precaution but I am hoping I will have enough time to tap into the ward and reach for the emotional state of the speakers. I'd prefer one day to be able to reach for spoken words but I am not that able. My apologies."

"We all do the best we can," Watanuki returned quietly, voice carrying easily over the soft rustle of clothes as he dressed. "And what you've done is pretty darn good. Besides, most of the palace doesn't speak English." When he stepped out, Shizuka stared.

Watanuki had dressed in just as lovely clothing as yesterday but this time they were more functional. Not the shirt-robes and trousers as he did on the ship, but a semi-formal half-robe in a cheery blue the colour of a morning sky, coming to the knee over black trousers tucked into his knee-high boots, fitted closely and embroidered with the swirling pattern of wind. He had a pristine white under-robe, the ensemble secured with a deep blue and white sash with a black silk cord to tie up his swords. Busy lacing up his arm braces, looking prepared and ready to fight if he needed to, Watanuki did not immediately notice him gawking.

When he looked up and did, he growled, "What are you staring at?"

"You," Shizuka replied simply, and as though merely relaying the grass was green added, "You look best in blue."

Watanuki blinked. Then with a dark flush he hurried past him to the front room. Jason and Sorata were already gathered there though not yet dressed for the day, munching on bread, fruit, cheeses, and dried meat brought for breakfast.

"Ohayo," Jason muttered lazily, chin propped up on the little table and dazed from recent slumber.

Sorata grinned, "I taught him to say that."

"Good morning," Watanuki repeated in the same tongue, smiling softly. He switched back to English, "Did you sleep well?"

"There's a shadow in the air," Jason replied cryptically, going back to sleepy eating. Shizuka flashed Sorata a glance, the priest waving to gesture he would explain later.

"Hm," Watanuki hummed in acknowledgement, settling on a cushion.

"Ohayo." Shizuka nodded to Jason and Sorata. He poured two cups of tea and set one before his master.

"Pardon us for the language change, cousin." Jason just waved, indicating them to do as they pleased. He turned to Sorata, "I don't suppose Doumeki-san managed to share his report with you before…" he trailed off and blushed before catching himself and continuing, "before he took over his watch?"

"No, he didn't." Sorata began to grin and Jason perked up at that, noticing the colour on Watanuki's cheeks.

Doumeki said nothing, attention, hands, mouth and eyes on the food. Replenishing one's energy took a lot of food when spending so much magic. He thought as he ate that his master's cooking was much better but he shouldn't complain.

Watanuki cleared his throat, "Yes, well." He gestured awkwardly to the quiet monk, ears turning red, "Perhaps we should finish eating and then talk." Gratefully he curled his hands around a cup of tea, hiding his pink cheeks behind the drink.

That sounded wise, the monk thought. He refilled his plate… wondering if anything could ever compare to that pie last week…

"Hey, Sorataaaa," Jason called in a sing-song, wickedly cheery tone promising dire ramifications, "I can't understand what you're all saying buuuuut…" He grinned cheekily, "Is my cousin blushing because he shared a bed with Doumeki-kun?"

Watanuki choked, and the monk calmly nudged a glass of water in his direction.

"Why, I do believe that is so," Sorata exaggeratedly replied, back to using English. He looked pointedly over at the monk, ignoring Watanuki's spluttering, "What about you? Aren't your cheeks going to turn red?"

Shizuka shot him a flat look, "Someone tried to get to him last night." Jason and Sorata both paused. To Jason, Shizuka nodded, "If we speak quietly enough, we can get away with talking in English. I have a warning barrier set up. Twenty metre radius."

Sorata nodded back and lowered his voice, "What was the guy like?"

"Blood-drenched, dangerous. I don't think he noticed my presence though I put a shuriken into the wood at his feet." The monk frowned, "I made sure he left. He didn't come back."

Nodding, Sorata glanced upward, understanding dawning on his face. Sheepishly he rubbed at the back of his head, "I guess that's why you glared at me. You got to him when you returned and I hadn't even noticed he was there. Sorry."

Shaking his head, Shizuka continued eating. "Aah."

"Seems to me," Jason murmured, "That maybe it's not just Watanuki who needs lessons." Sorata scowled at him for that and bopped him on the head. Jason reached for the offended portion of skull and protested. Loudly.

Ignoring them, he monk glanced at Watanuki, alert and waiting beside him, "I did find something in the palace. Smoke. A faint cloud of it ringing a woman's fourth finger." Pausing at eating he fixed Watanuki with a pointed look, "The same woman you indicated to me yesterday."

"Did you see anything strange about her when Watanuki pointed her out?" Sorata asked eagerly, shoving Jason one last time. The Englishmen returned to eating, a little eerily quiet.

"No," Shizuka shook his head. "I wasn't really looking. Unlike Watanuki, I can only See things if I cast the spell for the Seeing Eye. Otherwise, I only perceive what isn't hiding or is on the surface."

"Like spell residues?" Sorata pressed.

"Yes." Shizuka shook his head again, "All I knew at the time was that she wasn't spelled. Nor cursed." He noticed Watanuki flash Jason a meaningful look –just as Jason tensed very slightly for the barest of moment. The implications and meaning were lost on the monk, however, so he let it go for now.

"Same as me. I saw her but noticed nothing." The priest sat back and sighed, "Then what?"

Shrugging, "She is a concubine; she resides in the second circle of halls from the centre of the palace near the harem. Whose concubine, I do not know."

Sorata got a funny look on his face at the mention of the harem. Grinning lopsidedly he stage-whispered, "Whoa, Doumeki got an up stage pass to the royal harem…! I'm so envious…" But the words were insincere and he smiled down at his wedding bracelet a moment later.

Rolling his eyes, Shizuka considered the state of the harem, the brilliantly coloured curtains and extravagant décor, the opulence and luxury crammed into such a small space. There had been plenty of baths and lounging areas, but not a book nor material of entertainment in sight. It must be an incredibly boring place.

It was only then that it occurred to him what Sorata might even be envious of… Shizuka blinked. He wasn't interested in those things. Never had been.

He noticed Jason watching him carefully. When he scowled at the Englishman, Jason merely grinned benignly back.

"One more thing," Shizuka added slowly, bringing his gaze back to his master, "There was another woman with a similar problem. Older. She lives near the harem but is separated with a small space for her own use. Might be a concubine as well. I found her because the younger one had a trace of this older lady's aura, though this older woman is not a sorceress."

Watanuki ripped a piece of flat bread and popped it in his mouth, nodding knowingly, "And?"

"She had a darker shade of smoke," the monk gazed sidelong at Watanuki. "It loops around her index finger and appears not just there but looks like it leads into her mouth." Jason made a face.

Sorata sat up, glancing at Watanuki, "Sounds like she's been doing and saying bad things, then."

Shizuka inclined his head in agreement, quietly shifting closer to his master to hold out a fold of white cloth which he had run through the smoke. Glancing at the monk only briefly, Watanuki touched his fingertips to the cloth, contact ghosting over the fabric then suddenly pulling away.

He breathed with surprise, "Poisoner."

TBC.

Author Notes:

Thanks to the following (not signed in; therefore I could not reply directly):
Levittion, Fuzzy, aki, daphne, Kenarbes

Also, much love to supporters of The Seer forum: Kiiriya, Anifantwist, TheOptimisticPessimist, CCSRonin
You can find the forum here (remove the spaces before and after the dots):
www . fanfiction . net/forum/TheSeerxxxHoLicAU/50826/