Author's Note:
Here it is folks, the next chpater... hope it's good. Been really happy with the reiviews that I have gotten, and I am sorry that I could not update sooner, my life is getting insane at the moment. But here is the next edition to the story... ummm can't think of anything else that I wanted to say. Ummmmm... oh yea, thanks for your patentice(sp?) I now I butchered that, I have been up for way to long and there is no end in site. God I hate mid-terms. I am going to TRY to update again in the middle of the month, I can't promise anything but I am going to try, I think I have most of the next chapter done, in my head, just need to find the time to write it down. So at long last here it is folks, happy reading...
-JediMadchen86
Alexisa woke with her arms above her head and she was sitting on a cold hard surface. Her head hung down so she opened her eyes and saw her lap, "Where am I?" asked Alexisa as she opened her eyes to see darkness around her. She raised her head and rested it on the wall that she was against. "That's right, I'm in Kuto," said Alexisa as she closed her eyes against the pain she now felt from her arms. She kept her eyes closed until she heard footsteps approaching; she opened her eyes slowly and looked for the approaching person.
"How could a weak girl like you break my barrier?" asked a familiar voice
"That explains why it was so weak then," said Alexisa weakly
Nakago nodded his head and two guards walked into the cell and unchained her arms from the wall and pulled her to the center of the room where they chained her arms above her head again.
"How did you break my barrier?" asked Nakago again as he walked into the cell with a whip in his hands.
"Did not take that much, simple really," said Alexisa as she raised her head to look at him, just in time to be hit by Nakago.
"You insulting little brat," said Nakago lifting the whip under her chin. "It was nice of you to save our friends, but to bad you won't see them again," said Nakago as he cracked the whip on her back. Alexisa cried out in pain the first two times what the whip connected to her back but after the fifth time she fainted from the pain. Nakago and the guards left Alexisa hanging in the middle of the cell.
Tasuki walked to his room, grabbed a bag and turned to leave the room.
"You think, we are letting you go alone?" asked a voice as someone walked out form behind the door jam.
"Nuriko? What are you talking about?"
"You think you are the only one worried about her?" he asked walking in to the room.
"No, I just…"
"We are all worried about her, but I know you to. You are pig headed and impatient," said Nuriko as he walked next to Tasuki putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I just. I want her back here." Said Tasuki looking up at his friend.
"Well it's going to be a suicide mission if you go by yourself, but maybe two of us will have a chance," said Nuriko
"Make that three Nuriko," said Chichiri walking into the room as well.
"You guys,"
"You really think that we would let you go by yourself," said Chichiri walking towards them. "Shall we get going?" asked Chichiri as he looked at his friends.
"Yea,"
"Yea, let's go bring her back," said Tasuki as he followed Nuriko and Chichiri out of his room. The group of three walked towards the stables and readied three horses for their journey. They packed light wanting to return home as quickly as possible. They got on their horses and raced out of Konan. They rode hard for the next day and reached Kuto by nightfall. They left their horses outside of the capital and snuck in during the night, they stayed to the shadows and they reached the palace.
"So what are we going to do now?" asked Tasuki as they hid in one of the gardens.
"Well we need to find out where they are keeping her, more than likely down in the dungeons," said Chichiri
"How are we going to get down there?" asked Nuriko
"What we need is a distraction, that will allow Tasuki to run in and rescues her," said Chichiri looking at Nuriko.
"You want me to be the distraction?"
"You are the best for it, but if you see Nakago don't try to fight him, just run and we will meet up outside the city," said Chichiri
"So what do I get to do?"
"Just get their attention and start throwing around their guys,"
"That it? That' easy,"
"Just don't get to cocky," said Tasuki as he and Chichiri ran off towards another place to hid.
Nuriko watched them run to the other side of the garden and ran towards a group of guards that were standing down a hallway. "Hey boys, you looking for some action!" yelled Nuriko towards them as he ran off opposite of where Chichiri and Tasuki were hiding.
"Let's go," said Chichiri as he saw the guards turn the corner in pursuit of Nuriko. Tasuki and Chichiri ran off down the hall searching for Alexisa, they opened doors hoping to find her but they were not successful, they eventually found the hall leading to the dungeons an they raced down the hall.
"Keep your guard up, we don't know where Nakago is," said Chichiri as he took the lead running down the hall towards the cells, with Tasuki close on his heels.
"Which one do you think she's in?"
"Don't know, we have to check all of them," said Chichiri as he turned his head and found her cell. "Tasuki, over here," he yelled as he ran to her.
Hearing his friend cal his name Tasuki looked over and saw her. Her clothes were in ruined hanging off her body and her arms were chained to the ceiling. "Alexisa," he whispered as he saw her. Chichiri opened the door with keys that they found on a guard that they knocked down earlier. Tasuki walked into the cell and she began to stir.
"Come to whip me some more Nakago?" she asked very weakly
"Alexisa, it's me," said Tasuki as he walked closer to her.
"Tasuki?" she asked raising her head. "What are you doing here?"
"You think we would leave you here?" asked Chichiri as he sorted through the keys to find the one that would unlock her arms from the chains; he opened one and her arm feel to her side. "Tasuki, help me," said Chichiri as he went to unlock her other arm. Tasuki moved to her right side and put his arm around her back, she cried out in pain with the contact and Tasuki looked and saw the many wounds that were on her back from a whip. Chichiri released her other arm from the chains and she began to fall to the ground, but Tasuki caught her before she fell. His arms again rested on her back and she cried out again in pain.
"We need to get her to Mits," said Tasuki looking at Chichiri.
"Tasuki," she said weakly. "Hey, don't worry your safe," he watched her, as he saw her eyes close in what he hoped was sleep.
"Can you carry her?"
"Yea," said Tasuki as he moved and rested her on his back. "Hey, don't worry we are getting you out of here," said Tasuki once she was on his back. He stood up and walked out of the cell and back down the hall. Once they reached the main halls, they were empty.
"Nuriko, must be keeping them busy, come on let's go," said Chichiri as he took off running down the hall to the exit.
Tasuki and Chichiri ran down the hall towards the door they entered the palace in only to find Nuriko fighting off several guards.
"Nuriko, we need an exit," yelled Tasuki as they came closer to him.
"Coming up," asked Nuriko as he pushed his way through several soldiers to the door. Tasuki and Chichiri followed close behind him and they ran to the door shoved it open and they were back in the gardens.
"I think we out stayed our visit, you know," said Chichiri throwing his kasa down on the ground. "Come on," said Chichiri as he stepped on it and began to sink into the kasa, Nuriko and Tasuki followed him. As they sunk into the kasa Tasuki looked back at Alexisa. "See we're going home," he said before they were transported back to Konan.
Once they reappeared in Konan Chichiri ran to get Mits, Nuriko went to inform everyone else of their arrival, and Tasuki carried Alexisa to her room. Tasuki was about to lay her on the bed when he remember the wounds on her back, so he stood in the center of the room waiting for Mits to come.
"Where am I?"
"Alexisa, you awake," said Tasuki as he looked back on the girl on his back.
"Genrou, is that you?"
"Will you stop callin me that. Who else would it be?" he asked when her door was opened, Tasuki could see all their smiling faces but those smiles vanished as soon as they saw her. Mits walked over to her and looked at the wounds on her back.
"Tasuki, please set her on the bed, face down please," he said as he walked towards the bed, setting a bag on the ground next to the bed. Tasuki walked over to the bed and gentling laid her down.
"Now please leave,"
Tasuki looked at him, then looked at Alexisa's still form. "Tasuki, come on. Let Mits get to work,' said Nuriko as he put his hand in his friends shoulder and led him from the room. Everyone gathered outside of Alexisa's room waiting for Mits to come out. Some like Nuriko and Chichiri sat on the railing outside, while Chiriko played his flute, Hotohori and Miaka talked quietly among them, and Tasuki paced back and forth in front of her door.
"For the love of god Tasuki, stop pacing," cried Nuriko after and hour of watching him walk back and forth.
"What's taking him so long?"
"I don't know, but if you continue to pace them there will be another person who needs medical attention," said Nuriko as he slid off the railing and walked towards Tasuki. Nuriko grabbed Tasuki's shirt and was about to raise him off the ground when the door behind them opened, revealing a weaken Mits leaning on the doorframe.
"How is she?" Tasuki asked
"Fine, but weak, she will need to rest for a few days," he said as he slid down the door.
"Mitsukake, are you all right, you know?" asked Chichiri as he went to his side.
"I'll be fine, I just used up a lot of strength,"
"Let's get you back to our room you know," said Chichiri as he helped Mits to his feet and to his room. Tasuki watched Chichiri turn a corner heading to Mits room, and then he looked into Alexisa's room. He walked into her room and saw her lying on the bed, face down. Her entire upper half of her body was covered with bandages, her left arm was also wrapped in bandages and laying next to her on the bed. Tasuki walked closer to her and saw that her face was in no better shape, her upper lip was swollen, she had a cut above her right eye, it was also swollen. Tasuki walked to the chair that was sitting beside her bed, he was about to take her hand when she began to stir.
"Where am I?" she mumbled out.
Tasuki hearing her wake kneeled down by her side and looked at her. "Hey it's ok, your back,"
"Genrou? That you?"
"Yea, it's me," he said looking at her.
"What are you doing here? Why are you in Kuto?"
"Your not in Kuto, your home, you're in Konan,"
"Home?" she asked trying to look around but only to be stopped by pain.
"Don't move, you're hurt pretty badly."
"Nakago.." she said before she fell back asleep.
Tasuki watched her fall into a deep sleep, he sat back down in the chair next to her bed and watched over her.
"How is she?" asked Miaka walking into the room.
Tasuki looked towards the door to see Miaka leaning against the doorframe.
"I think she is going to be ok," said Tasuki getting up from the chair.
"Did Tamahome do that?" she asked sadly
"No, I don't think so," he said walking towards her. "She said one name before she went to sleep, though,"
"Nakago?"
"Yea, I think that basted did this," he said looking into the room at her.
"Don't worry, Tasuki. I'm sure she will be fine," said Miaka looking up at him.
"Yea, I just hope your right," he said as she walked back into the room and sat back down beside her. Miaka watched Tasuki sit down and keep a vile at her beside, she turned to leave Tasuki alone with his thoughts.
Miaka wondered the halls thinking about what Tasuki said, that Nakago not Tamahome had injured Alexisa that badly, she just hoped that he was right. She remembered that night when they had left Alexisa behind in Kuto so that Tasuki and Chichiri could bring her self back here. She could not help to think that come of Alexisa's injures were because of her, if only she was stronger than no one would not to get hurt protecting her all the time. First Yui was hurt, and made to believe that Miaka left her in this world, then Tamahome was taken from her and turned against her, now. 'Now Alexisa is hurt badly and it's all my fault,' thought Miaka as she walked the halls. Miaka walked the halls until she came to Tamahome's room, she stopped in front of the doors afraid to enter, since she knew that he was not going to be there. She raised her right hand and it hovered over the doorknob, she opened the door and his familiar scent washed over her. His room was perfect just the way he left it, even his clothes that he had been wearing earlier that day, before he left were stacked neatly on the bed, as if he had just gone out. Miaka walked into the room and over to the bed, she lightly touched the clothes and hugged them to her. Se inhaled his scent, imaging that he was here holding her in his arms, but she knew that not to be true. 'He attacked one of his own, he tried to kill Alexisa, and he had a cold look in his eyes when I called to him,' she thought as she slumped to her knees hugging his clothes. 'The Tamahome that I knew is no longer there, the man that I know would not try to kill a fellow warrior,' she thought as tears ran down the side of her face and onto the clothes that she clutched to her chest.
Nuriko wondered the halls of the palace thinking about what the next move should be, he was happy that Alexisa was back with them, but he knew that Miaka was still heartbroken over not having Tamahome back. He wanted to console Miaka somehow but he did to know how, she had always been a happy person, but ever since, they came back from Kuto, she was down. Nuriko knew Miaka enough to know that not having Tamahome here was saddening her. Even though Miaka put on that smile of hers and said that she was fine Nuriko could tell that the girl was not fine, she was strong but not having the one you love near you would break even the strongest person. Nuriko found himself walking towards the sleeping quarters of all the warriors, he was going to talk to Miaka to cheer her up, when he heard sobbing coming from a vacant room. He walked to the door and realized that it was Miaka weeping in Tamahome's old room. He stood outside and peeked his head inside to see the young girl clutching his old clothes to her chest and sobbing over them whispering his name. He watched her until her sobbing died down a bit and she sat there whispering his name over and over again. Nuriko moved into the room and called her name.
"Miaka,"
The girl looked up with tears running down her cheeks. "Nuriko, I want him back," she said looking up at him. "I need him"
"I know Miaka, don't worry we will get him back," said Nuriko as he approached her.
"But, how could he do that. His eyes were so cold, and distant."
Nuriko walked to her side and kneeled down beside her. "Miaka," he said hugging the girl to him. "We will get him back, don't worry. Remember he said that he would return to you, ad he will, just believe in yourself, and everything will work out. Ok," said Nuriko looking Miaka in the eyes.
"Nuriko, thanks," said Miaka smiling up at her friend.
"Now, come on, let's go see Alexisa," said Nuriko standing up and reaching a hand down to help Miaka up.
"Yea, let's go," said Miaka taking his hand and walking out of the room and down the hall to Alexisa's room.
They came to the room and Tasuki was still keeping watch. He told him that she had not woken up since Mits looked at her. The three sat in the room, talking about things that were happening in the palace, and Chichiri, Hotohori, Chiriko, and Mits, all carrying food, soon joined them.
"What are you all doing here?" asked Tasuki when he saw them standing at the door.
"Well to tell you the truth the dining hall was empty without you all, so I thought to bring the dining hall to you, and His Highness agreed," said Chiriko smiling and rubbing the back of his head.
"FOOOD!!" cried Miaka as she saw the plates upon plates of food between all of her friends. An extra table, and several extra chairs where bought into the room for everyone to sit down and enjoy a meal. They all talked and laughed just like before their lives became so intermixed and chaotic. During the meal Alexisa woke again, this time no one noticed since they were all laughing at the antics of Tasuki and Nuriko. She watched as all her friends, smiled, laughed, and just had fun. Even Hotohori could be seen in a food fight that soon broke out in the group. She smiled what little she could then she went back to sleep, none of her friends even noticed that she woke up. The food disappeared and they all filtered out of the room, Tasuki waited until all his friends had left the room then returned next to Alexisa's side.
"Never thought I would see His Highness in a food fight," he heard Alexisa say as he sat back down.
"Alexisa! You woke up? Why didn't you tell anyone?" he asked as he leaned closer to her.
"It looked like all of you were having fun, I did not want to interrupt. You know Genrou, you don't have to watch me all night, and I'm not going to walk off."
"I know that, hell if you can walk after that it would be a miracle." At the mention of the wounds that she received she grew quite, and her eyes looked downward. "Sorry did not mean to make you uncomfortable, I know that it must have been hard for you to go through that,"
"Genrou, can we not talk about that? Why aren't you yelling at me?"
"Why would I yell at you?"
"I keep on calling you Genrou, and I thought you hated me calling you that?" said Alexisa as she fell off to sleep once more.
"I don't mind much anymore," said Tasuki looking down at her as she slept. He leaned back in the chair and dozed off to sleep.
Tasuki awoke to birds chirping and sunlight shining on his face; he opened his eyes to see that Alexisa was still sleeping peacefully. He got up form the chair he slept in and walked over to eh window stretching and yawning as he walked. He opened the window to allow the nice spring air blow through the room. Once the window was opened he walked back to the chair, he was about to sit down when his stomach grumbled, he looked at Alexisa and knew that she had probably not had anything to eat in a while. He did not want to leave, but he was hungry, so he walked to the door, opened it and looked back at her. Her eyes were still closed he took one last look at her then walked out of the room and headed to the kitchen for some food. Once he reached the kitchen, the cooks were already up and had started to cook breakfast. He asked the cooks for a small meal, and he left with two plates filled with fruit, and bread. He went back to the room and sat down at the table. He began to eat when he noticed Alexisa stirring and waking up.
"Morning," he said grabbing some bread and walking over to her. "You hungry?"
"I'm starving," she said as she tried to push herself up, but to only hiss in pain as she did.
"Easy, I don't think your back is ready for movement yet," he said as he helped her lay back down.
"Then can you hand me some food, guess I am going to eat in bed," she said smiling.
"Sure thing," he said handing her a small loaf of bread.
"Has anything new happened since I've been out?"
"Not really, no, just that we need to find a way to get him back," said Tasuki with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Oh, Tamahome?"
"Yea, him,"
"He has a name Genrou," she said taking a small bite out of the bread.
"I know he does, but…" started Tasuki before he was cut off by another voice.
"Hello," said Nuriko walking into the room with a plate of food.
"Nuriko, what are you doing here?" asked Alexisa looking at her friend.
"Well I thought that I would bring you breakfast but I see that someone has beat me to it," he said as he walked into the room.
"Thank you Nuriko," said Alexisa. Tasuki got up from the chair he was sitting in and went to get the food Nuriko had bought and placed it on the table.
"So how are you?" asked Nuriko taking Tasuki place.
"Pretty good, it's hard to move though."
"You had us worried there, when Tasuki bought you back you were pretty beat up."
"Nuriko, don't mention it," said Tasuki from behind his friend
Nuriko looked at Tasuki and saw that he was just starting at the food, and he saw that Alexisa grew quite at the mention of her wounds. "I'm sorry, I did not know."
"That's ok Nuriko, it is just something that I don't want to talk about yet," said Alexisa looking at him.
"Did Mits say when he could heal you?"
"Not to me, no, but I think he was going to do it tonight I think."
"Well I think His Highness wanted to talk with me, so I'll be back later so we can chat more ok," said Nuriko as he got up from the chair and walked towards out the door.
"Hey, Tasuki, you ok?" asked Alexisa from the bed.
Hearing Alexisa's voice he looked up at her and started. "Tasuki, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, do you want anything else to eat?"
"No thanks, I'm good."
Alexisa watched as Tasuki gathered the empty plates from the table. "What is the matter with you?"
"Nothing is the mater," he said as he picked up the plates and walked towards the door.
"Don't blame yourself Genrou, I'm hurt because of the choices that I made, you had nothing to do with it."
"I know that," he said as he walked out the door, and closing it behind him. "But I should have protected you," he said as he leaned against the closed door.