"Incoming!" Chichiri shouted, as he turned the neighing horses.
"Spread out." Suzahara commanded, brandishing his sword behind him, killing the moth demons that were after the horses.
Nuriko and Chichiri veered off course, still within range of Suzahara. A similar group of Mitsukake, Mi Lin, Mei Fong and Bao Shou rode a little behind hem. Zakuro bent as low as she could, trying to give Suzahara as much space possible. The horses were a gift from the village which helped an injured Mitsukake.
"Suzahara-sama." The wrinkled old lady cried as she held Suzahara's hand. "I thought I would never get a chance to meet you."
Word of Suzahara completing five God challenges had spread across the lands, the people of which were desperately clinging to him as a ray of hope. Though Bao Shou had completed eight challenges, he hadn't been able to get clues about his final challenge, though people did enthusiastically shake hands with him. He had been looking for an answer for the last two years with no luck.
Suzahara was a symbol of their hope.
"Thank you for taking such good care of my friend." Suzahara said, smiling, gesturing towards Mitsukake. "We know he wasn't the easiest patient, being a doctor himself. "
Mitsukake grumbled as he lit a cigarette. The old lady smacked him on the back of his head with her walking stick, his cigarette falling out of his mouth.
"It was an honor." The old lady replied, her wrinkles becoming more pronounced.
Behind Suzahara, she noticed the hostility between Nuriko and Zakuro, Chichiri and Mei Fong standing hapless between them.
"We're going to need horses." Suzahara requested, directing the village elders attention towards himself.
"Horses?" One of the village elders repeated, confused. Suzahara nodded.
"That's a strange request." Another pitched in. "I thought people stopped using horses for travel. They attract demons."
Zakuro felt Suzahara weight on her as he bent over her, protecting her from the demons and urging the horses to go faster. They had been travelling from oasis to oasis in the dark, arid desert for the past couple of weeks. When the horses were too tired, they would huddle around them, protecting them from the onslaught of demons. Horses were easy prey. The smaller demons were not afraid of attacking them, making them a beacon for travelling humans. Usually, the demons were too scared of attacking human settlements in fear of retaliation. But horses were easy meat and usually meant few, scattered humans. Zakuro pulled her hooded cape tighter over her head.
"It's OK." Suzahara said, as he felt Zakuro trembling below him. "We're almost at the rest point."
Zakuro nodded.
The desert sweltered under them, a fact which Zakuro was still trying to wrap her head around in the darkness around her. Zakuro had torn a couple of pants which she had taken from Hokkan. She made them as short as she could. The long tunics were cut till the waist too. But Zakuro was not doing well under the heat. The familiar headache was back. She wanted to lay in ice for a while, if that were possible. But she knew she couldn't complain. She had to get to Chao Shi and the other humans in allegiance with demons. Hadn't Tamahome proved that no demons can be trusted, even the one which seem to be above mindless bloodshed?
Ojou-chan. Tamahome's voice rang in her head that very instant.
Zakuro flinched at the clarity of what didn't seem like a memory. Suzahara tightened his grip around Zakuro's waist, as he handled the horse with his free hand. His sword lay safely in it's sheath.
"Zakuro?" Suzahara exclaimed, his voice worried.
"I'm fine." Zakuro said, urgently, tucking the cape under her legs to stop it from fluttering. "I won't fall off. I remember what you taught me. Concentrate on the demons."
Suzahara hesitated for a moment. He then unsheathed his sword and kept the demons away from the horses. Zakuro's headache worsened. She squinted to keep the desert in focus. But in the dark, she had no idea which way they were heading. They could only rely on Chichiri's knowledge of the land.
"Right!" Chichiri exclaimed, beads of perspiration dripping down his chin. "Now!"
Suzahara and Nuriko bent a little as they steered the horses. Zakuro squinted her eyes in the darkness to tall palm trees that dotted the horizon. The moth demons buzzed in anger as they tried to reach their prey. Chichiri jumped off his horse and created a weak camouflage between the oasis and the demons, Mei Lin attaching talismans to various trees. The oasis glowed a little as the moth demons ,fluttering their wings, flew over it. Zakuro watched as the last of the demon flew over the oasis, a confused look in it's eyes. Everybody slumped to the ground, exhausted. Zakuro took a deep breath. She watched as Suzahara disappeared deeper into the oasis, an empty can of water in his hand.
He should rest. Zakuro thought, ignoring her headache.
She started setting up camp, glancing at her friends ever so often. The look of exhaustion on their face was something Zakuro was getting used to. But they bounced back quickly after a warm meal and a good night's sleep. Zakuro helped the only way she could- by setting up camp and cooking meals. The no sun system made it hard for her to ascertain which meal she was cooking. But she always ensured that there was plenty of rice. She saw Nuriko and Mei Fong, breathing softly as they slept. Zakuro tied up the horses, the way Nuriko had demonstrated before, and covered her friends with blanket.
Zakuro decided to look for Suzahara, as the water started to boil. The horses neighed as she passed them, chomping on the green grass. Zakuro usually reserved taking the horses to the water source in the oasis to after eating. But she could hear the faint sound of splashing water nearby. She untied the horses and led them towards the direction she had seen go.
It must be dusk. Zakuro thought as she looked up at the sky, faint moonlight ironically illuminating the darkness.
She could hear Suzahara talking a little further away. She squinted confused as she followed his voice, the horses trotting quietly behind her.
"Please..." Zakuro heard Suzahara moan in pain, as she moved closer to the spring. "Please, stop. I can't... I don't..."
No! Zakuro thought panicked as she started running towards Suzahara, as quietly as she could.
Suzahara stood, hunched over, in the middle of the pristine pool of water, small ripples circling him. His bare torso rose above the water, the rest of him standing submerged underneath. The water splashed as Zakuro jumped in, fully clothed and waded towards Suzahara. The horses quietly drank water, their disposition calm and composed.
"Suzahara..." Zakuro mumbled, as she quickly studied the area.
She was prepared to drag Suzahara away, offering the horses as sacrifice. Suzahara looked up at the mention of his name. Zakuro quickened her pace, when she caught a glimpse of Suzahara.
"What's going on?" Zakuro demanded. "Is it the mark? Are you in pain? Come with..."
Suzahara pulled Zakuro into an embrace, Zakuro's knees buckling at the force. He buried his face in her neck, the tears still flooding down his cheeks.
"Zakuro..." He murmured, his voice pained. "Zakuro..."
"I'm right here." Zakuro said, holding him as tightly as she could. "It's OK. I'm here..."
Zakuro tried to stroke his back but her arms had limited mobility. It seemed like Suzahara was holding onto her with all his might.
"It's so unfair." Suzahara mumbled, his voice breaking. "I love you so much. It's so unfair."
Zakuro froze for a moment.
It's not possible. Zakuro thought. He can't know.
"What do you..." Zakuro started cautiously.
But Suzahara kissed her with all the yearning in his heart. Suzahara and Zakuro had shared many tender moments. But this was different. Zakuro closed her eyes under the pressure of his urgent lips, trying her best to keep up with him. Her heart raced as her knees started to give way. Suzahara lifted her off the ground, Zakuro responding by wrapping her legs around him. She moaned as he kissed her lips, Suzahara slowly walking to the edge of the lake. Zakuro slipped in and out of rationality, her mind teetering on giving into the moment. Suzahara gently lay Zakuro on the damp forest ground, his lips on her collarbones. He slipped his hand under her shirt, his bare skin touching hers for the first time. The moment was electric.
This is right. Zakuro thought, the last though of rationality in her dim mind. We may never get this chance.
Zakuro traced Suzahara's neck, gently reaching for his biceps. Suzahara shivered a little under her touch, his movements intensifying.
But Zakuro was pulled out the moment of love the second her hand reached the mark of the demon. Zakuro's eyes rolled back as she was pulled away from reality. Suzahara realized the shift a moment too late.
It was as though Zakuro was split in two. She could hear Suzahara calling out to her dimly. She wanted to reply to him. But the Suzahara in front of her had fixed Zakuro to the spot. Zakuro knew that she wasn't in the "real" world anymore (whatever that meant). Though it was pouring, the small gaps in the clouds let in tiny slivers of sunshine. Zakuro looked up, hoping the light would reach her. But she was a ghost, the rain passing through her.
Suzahara was on his knees, balancing rocks on each other as he cried, the rain masking his tears. Villagers stood quietly around him.
"Shuang..." Suzahara mumbled, crying at the smallest of the graves.
Shuang's grave lay in between Suzahara's parents.
"Shuang..." Suzahara repeated as he doubled over crying.
Zakuro reached out to him but her hand went through. She knew this was a memory. But why was Suzahara thinking about it?
A dark winged shadow appeared next to him.
You couldn't protect them. A familiar silky voice echoed in the memory.
The vision shifted, Suzahara still on his knees. Zakuro looked up at the blood red sky punctuated by large, powerful demons. She looked at the battlefield that surrounded her, men lying crumbled all around her. Zakuro fell to her knees too. Suzahara was in battle armor on the summit of a mountain of dead bodies. His form shivered in grief.
A little further from him, Chichiri lay motionless his glassy eyes reflecting the sky.
"No..." Zakuro cried, her hands trembling.
She crawled to Chichiri and tried to take him to safety. But her form passed through him. Close to Chichiri, Nuriko lay on her stomach, her form eerily still. Zakuro started shaking, her stomach churning. Nuriko had one hand over Mei Lin, blood dried up on her chin. It seemed as though Nuriko had died protecting her. Mitsukake and Bao Shou were sitting in death, their backs to each other surrounded by the bodies of hundreds of demons. It was only on closer inspection did Zakuro recognize the smaller figure of Mei Fong, his back to Mitsukake and Bao Shou, as he joined them in death. Zakuro stopped herself from falling, shivering as she crouched on all fours.
We lost. Zakuro thought, her worst fears spread around her.
"ZAKURO!" Suzahara shouted, his voice cracking.
Zakuro instinctively scrambled towards him, her eyes clouding up as she did.
"NO!" Suzahara shouted. "GIVE HER BACK! ZAKURO! ZAKURO!"
Zakuro froze at the spot when she reached Suzahara. Suzahara was doubled up in pain, his body shivering. Fear flowed through Zakuro as she watched her lifeless figure, broken in Suzahara's arms. It was too surreal for Zakuro.
Death isn't the worst thing that can happen. Zakuro heard the familiar silky voice mutter.
Zakuro's hands shivered as she reached for her lifeless body. She stopped when she realized that she couldn't touch it. She couldn't touch anything. She was just a ghost. And at the thought, Zakuro chuckled.
But I had decided I wouldn't die. Zakuro thought, finding the notion funny. We were going to stop the gates of hell from opening. We were going to win the war. Suzahara was going to become a God.
And at that thought, Zakuro realized why she was a ghost. The overwhelming scenes had made her forget that it wasn't real. She was in Suzahara's worst nightmare. This was the reason he was crying at the lake. And that realization was a powerful one. It filled Zakuro with hope, something she thought was lost.
You... Tamahome's voice echoed through the sky, shifting it in and out of focus.
Think. Zakuro urged herself. This is Suzahara's psyche. Tamahome is messing with him.
Get out of here. Tamahome's voice thundered, the scenery around them flickering.
How're you doing this? Zakuro countered, stubbornly fuming at the sky. Let him go or so help me...
Humans can't stay here for too long. Tamahome said, almost urgently. This is for him, not for you. The bond...
Tamahome faltered.
Get out! Tamahome said, an edge in his voice.
The bond? Zakuro thought, her mind working furiously.
Zakuro looked at her surroundings.
This is Suzahara's worst nightmare. Zakuro said, trying to get her thoughts in order. Tamahome is using his bond to manipulate Suzahara. Why am I here?
The answer was obvious to her. She smiled a little as she got to her knees. She mustered up all her energy and thought of Suzahara's carefree grin. She thought of the cheery, laid-back Suzahara she was insanely in love with. Her heart beat strongly against her chest reminding her that she was there and she was alive.
"Suzahara..." She said, softly.
Suzahara froze for a moment and looked around confused. He then looked at Zakuro's lifeless body.
"Suzahara." Zakuro repeated, this time touching his cheeks.
Suzahara immediately caught her hand.
"This isn't real." Zakuro said, her voice reassuring.
It could be. Tamahome's voice countered.
"But it isn't." Zakuro said, her voice more powerful than Tamahome's. "This is what you fear. I'm afraid of something similar. But Suzahara, this isn't real. I'm still alive. If you fear my death, you won't get a chance to live with me."
"Live with you?" Suzahara said, uncertainly.
"You can't see me right now but I'm nodding." Zakuro said, a small chuckle in her voice. "You still have me. You have Chichiri, Nuriko. Everybody is still alive. And they're fighting and praying for you. If you think about them dying all the time, you can't live for all of them."
Zakuro heard Tamahome curse as the skies started clearing up.
"I couldn't save my family..." Suzahara said, the war around him slowly disappearing.
He wiped his tears as Zakuro came into focus.
"I know." Zakuro said, as she cupped his face with her hand. "I'm sorry."
Suzahara nodded. His voice calling out to her grew louder.
"I love you." Zakuro said, closing the distance between them as she hugged him.
"I love you, too." Suzahara said, gently stroking her hair.
Zakuro's eyes snapped open, her body cradled in Suzahara's arms as he rocked back and forth.
"Hey..." Zakuro said, softly.
But Suzahara held onto her, his shaking body slowly calming down.
"It's OK." Zakuro said, as she stroked the demon's mark on his shoulder.
"What just happened?" Suzahara said, his face still unreadable. Zakuro shrugged.
"Tamahome's messing with you." Zakuro said. "Remind me to kick his ass before killing him."
Suzahara chuckled.
"He should be scared." Suzahara said, his tone even and calm.
The two stayed that way for a while, the horses sleeping a few steps away.
"So..." Suzahara said, a small grin on his face. "Where were we?"
He propped Zakuro on his lap and started tracing her neck again. Zakuro, who was become increasingly aware that Suzahara wasn't wearing any clothes, yelped and pushed him away. She sat on the ground, her back to Suzahara.
"Put on some clothes!" Zakuro said, her voice high pitched. "We need to get a move on soon."
Suzahara caught her from behind and pulled her closer, his face buried in her hair.
"Just a few more moments..." Suzahara said, taking deep breathes.
Zakuro nodded, blushing a little. They were still for a few moments, Suzahara's breath growing deeper. She wished she had her watch. She didn't know how long they were sitting there. Zakuro started getting restless, her mind stuck on making dinner and making sure everybody slept well.
"Suzahara..." Zakuro said, trying to move a little.
But Suzahara was fast asleep, something which he hadn't been able to do since Tamahome left. He held onto Zakuro tightly.
"Suzahara!" Zakuro exclaimed, as she tried to wriggle free.
She heard movements in the bushes as Bao Shou appeared on the scene, yawning widely. He looked at Suzahara and Zakuro, Zakuro's face turning red.
"This isn't what it looks like!" Zakuro said, as she tried crawling away from Suzahara.
Bao Shou was quiet for a moment.
"A dip sounds nice." He said, groggily taking off his cloths.
Zakuro yelped and Suzahara fell with a small thud as she rose to leave.
"Dinner is burnt." Bao Shou added, as he looked at Zakuro slightly disappointed. "Honestly! I know you guys are young but still... There is a time and place!"
"Nothing happened!" Zakuro replied, all too quickly.
Suzahara grumbled a little as he turned around and continued sleeping. Zakuro was firmly averting her gaze from the naked forms.
"I will get dinner ready in a jiffy." Zakuro said, as she took the horses and started scampering back to camp. She paused as she saw Suzahara's clothes strewn across a bush. She blushed as she took them and marched towards Suzahara, covering him in his long shirt.
-x-x-x-x-
Suzahara yawned hugely as he joined the others for dinner, the scent finally rousing him from his slumber. Zakuro didn't complain as Suzahara took bits of meat from her bowl, her gaze averted the entire time. Bao Shou ate nonchalantly. Nuriko looked at the food sourly, her expression similar to the one she had when she looked at Zakuro. Zakuro hated the way things were between Nuriko and her. But she knew Tamahome had to be dealt with quickly, her fears worsened.
"Tamahome has been mentally fucking with Suzahara." Zakuro said, suddenly.
The others frowned at her poor choice of words.
"Tamahome has been using their link to give Suzahara realistic nightmares." Zakuro continued. "I think he has been trying to take over Suzahara completely to break his soul."
Nuriko frowned as she opened her mouth to speak. But Zakuro raised her hand.
"Please." Zakuro said, her voice urgent. "Let me speak. Now, I can't give you details of what happened. But I assure you that it did. And it may work again. Chichiri, you mentioned that this would be our last pit-stop before the tengu cave."
Chichiri nodded, as he continued eating. Zakuro looked at her food, the pictures of her dead friends flashing in her mind, wondering if it was her last.