Episode Six
Taka felt the sweat rolling off his brow as he rushed through the school grounds. Upon returning to their world and finding that Yui had been ruthlessly attacked, Miaka promised she wouldn't return to her classes, knowing full well that something was amiss. Taka knew there was a connection between the two worlds, that it wasn't a mere coincidence that something had happened Yui while they were in the book.
He didn't know why he took Miaka's word for it. She'd returned to school anyway, despite what had happened. He knew just as well as Yui did, as Keisuke did, that she was going to try and discover for herself what had happened while they were looking for his Jewels of Memory in the book.
Something was seriously wrong, and if such an evil presence had stretched beyond the world within the pages of the book, then they truly had something to worry about.
"Damn it, Miaka, where did you go?" Taka asked himself through clenched teeth. His eyes snapped back and forth as he came up on the school at dusk, wondering where she could have gone at this hour. He had a bad feeling churning to life in the pit of his stomach. He almost wished his friends were there with him, that Atsuna was there to help him. But he knew he was alone. He had to find her himself, had to save her from whatever had accosted Yui.
He just hoped he wasn't too late.
"Excuse me? Taka Sukunami?"
Taka's feet dug into the dirt as he came to a stop, turning over his shoulder to find a young woman smiling at him, hands folded before her stomach. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?" he asked, his chest heaving for air.
"My name is Miiru Kamishiro. I joined your research club yesterday," she informed, her lips spreading further across her delicately pale face. She bowed her head. "It's nice to finally meet you. I have heard great things."
Taka flashed her a quick smile. "I'm pleased to meet you, but I'm sorry. I can't really talk right now. I'm in a hurry." He spun on his heel and just as he prepared to take a quickened step away from her, he heard a sharp gasp escape her throat. Turning back around, he found the young woman on her knees, her face contorted. "Miss Kamishiro! Are you all right?" He leaned down to her level, resting his hands on her arms. "Come on. We'll go in here."
Taka eased her to her feet and led her into a nearby storage shed, one that held outdoor equipment for the students. Taka led her over to an age-beaten wooden bench and urged her to sit down. "Are you all right?" he repeated, watching carefully as she pressed a finger against the corner of her temple.
"I think so," she answered meekly. She lifted her head, flashing him a weak smile. "I'm sorry. You said you were in a hurry."
"Don't worry. It's okay," he assured her.
"But aren't you worried…about Miaka?"
Taka flinched, and just as his lips parted in inquiry, Miiru's hand slid around his neck, yanking him towards her until her teeth sunk into the shell of his ear.
Pain snapped through his limbs, and just as she pulled away from him, pushing herself to her feet, he collapsed to his knees, his heart racing against his chest. "What - What's happening?" he stammered. He couldn't bring himself to look up at the mysterious woman standing above him, but he could hear the gentle giggle playing about her lips.
"Don't worry. It's only meant to keep you here for a little while," she replied. She brushed past him, coming to a stop at the open door. "I hope that you'll make it in time."
Taka felt drops of sweat lining his jaw, his face burning up as he heard her echoing chuckle, the light patter of her feet as she left him alone. He closed his eyes and fought against the weight of his head before darkness and pain consumed him.
Tasuki could have been ecstatic that in the week that had passed since Miaka and Taka left the book, Nuriko and Chiriko had been found. But no, that was the last thing he was feeling. Instead, he had the very overpowering urge to punch a hole through a wall.
Atsuna wouldn't speak with him. He didn't think he could blame her after everything that had happened so far. But he couldn't explain it why he'd kissed Miaka at Lake Taichi, why he'd seen his priestess in a very different light for that moment. He didn't know what the hell was wrong with him, but he wanted to find out what it was before it destroyed him, before it destroyed Atsuna.
He thought about speaking with Chichiri about it but decided against it almost immediately. He didn't want the monk to know that there were problems between him and Atsuna. He didn't want anyone to know about it. Ever since being reunited with his other comrades, Atsuna had spent a great deal of time speaking with Nuriko, and he had to wonder if the woman had informed him of what was going on.
Dear lord, he hoped not. He didn't need him breathing down his neck about this whole situation.
Staring up at the sky, orange and pink meshing as the sun disappeared behind the trees for the day, Tasuki closed his eyes for a moment. He needed to sort through his emotions, needed to figure out why he was thinking so differently about Miaka. His feelings for Atsuna remained the same, his undying devotion towards her never faltering from the moment he met her.
So why the hell did he feel like he was falling for Miaka?
Biting back a curse, Tasuki raked his fingers through his wild hair, tousling the orange locks even further over his eyes. He turned his head, finding Atsuna walking out of the inn with Nuriko in tow. Both were smiling, Nuriko obviously making the indigo-haired woman laugh her troubles away. He wanted to thank him for that. Atsuna had smiled so little since Miaka and Taka had entered their world. It was comforting to see her that way now, the way she should be.
"Oh, it's you, Tasuki!" Nuriko shouted, waving his hand wildly back and forth in greeting. "I was wondering where you were."
Tasuki scoffed and turned his head, folding his arms over his chest. "I'll bet you were," he grumbled. "Whaddaya want?"
Nuriko's brow rose as he walked up to the bandit's side, leaving Atsuna alone at the entrance to the inn. "If I wasn't a ghost, I would pummel you," he said through clenched teeth. "Don't think I haven't noticed that you and Atsuna are barely speaking with one another. I'm dead, not blind."
"Stay out of it, Nuriko," Tasuki warned, eyes burning through his former comrade. "It's nothin'. Atsuna's just havin' a little tiff."
"Oh, is that so?" Nuriko rested his hands on his waist. "You're the one not talking to her. I've only been back with you guys for two days and I can tell there's something going on. You keep avoiding her. Mind telling me why?"
"Yes, I mind," he snapped. "It's none o' yer business, Nuriko. Drop it."
Nuriko opened his mouth to counter him, but the bandit spun around, stomping off towards the village's marketplace. Sighing, Nuriko scratched his fingers against the back of his head. Tasuki's temper never bothered him. Normally, he found that trait rather amusing and sought to push him further into his anger for his own enjoyment.
But looking over his shoulder at the somber twin sister of Tamahome, he knew there was still something amiss. Atsuna refused to speak anything of it. Nuriko swore to himself that he would figure out what was going on. He pushed for them to get together the moment he noticed that Tasuki had feelings for her. There was no way he was going to see something tear them apart.
Cracking his knuckles, he sought to play matchmaker once again.
Miaka could have thought of a better way to spend her evening. As she stood on the roof of the school, bound by possessed students and staring deep into the eyes of the person responsible for attacking Yui, her mind scrambled for a plan.
The one that had introduced himself as Renhou chuckled, his lips curling into a wicked smile. "You're about to jump off this roof," he said nonchalantly. "The public will have fun trying to explain why you did it."
"You're a devil in human skin!" Miaka shouted, jerking her body against the tight grip of the two students holding her captive by the wrists. "Why are you doing this?"
"You understand nothing about your own kind," he replied, shaking his head in disappointment. "Humans are weak. They care only for themselves. If I'm a devil, then so are they. When something happens, they'll pretend it has nothing to do with them. It's not their concern. They look out only for themselves and no one else. They're petty and selfish."
Miaka bit back a gasp, noticing a purple glint shimmering against his eyes. There was something there, something dark, deep and twisted. A sick feeling churned in the bottom of her stomach. No, don't look into his eyes!
"Taka will disappear soon," Renhou continued, taking several steps towards her. "And when he does, I'll make you love me instead. I can't imagine it being too hard."
There was a constrained groan from behind them, and as Renhou turned around to discover the disturbance, a student's body fell to the ground. Taka stood above him, pulling away his hand. "Sorry for taking so long to get here. But I'm here now."
Miaka watched with a sigh of relief as Taka tore through the possessed students, the vigor of Tamahome blazing through as if his past had never left him. Managing to jerk out of her constraints, she dug into her school uniform, fishing out the red scroll that was responsible for their return into the book. Spinning around to Taka as he slammed his fists against the face of another student, she tossed it into the air. "Here!"
Taka reached for it, and as soon as his fingers closed around the age-worn scroll, it unraveled and with a will of its own, slithered through the evening air and wrapped itself around Renhou before he could escape the roof.
Miaka and Taka watched as the ponytail-haired man tried to fight his way out of the red paper, but the more he resisted, the tighter it became. In a grand flicker of red light that only Suzaku could be responsible for, Renhou disappeared.
And right along with him, so did Miaka and Taka, leaving very bewildered students on the roof, pondering their injuries and just how they ended up on the roof of their school in the first place.
Atsuna winced as she brushed past a prickly bush that grabbed at her sleeve. Wriggling herself out of it, she pressed forward through the brush under the cover of darkness, following closely behind the bandit that, at one point, could not even bear to look upon her. And now, when he did look at her, it was with regret, confusion, desperation.
She knew she could have taken the high road, could have responded to his constant glances with inquiries all her own, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know what was troubling him. All she knew was that he had indeed kissed Miaka at Lake Taichi and it was after her reappearance with Taka that he'd begun to act strangely.
It wasn't a coincidence, that much she knew for certain. But no matter how immature or irresponsible it was, she didn't want to ponder the prospect of losing Tasuki's affections to his priestess, the woman that her own brother risked his life for occasion after occasion, the same woman who prompted her twin to abandon his memories of his life, of her, just so he could be with her.
She loved Miaka like a sister, that much was true, but she was far from an idiot. She knew Tasuki's change had something to do with her, whether the former priestess was aware of it or not. She knew how much Miaka loved Tamahome, loved Taka. She harbored no romantic feelings for the bandit. There should have been no issue.
So why was there?
Atsuna's eyes fell upon the back of the bandit leader's head as he bit back a curse, snipping quietly at Nuriko as to why such foliage circled his former home. Nuriko only chuckled and told him to get over it. Atsuna would normally have been amused by such antics, but she could not bring herself out of the darkened hole she found herself in.
She hated not knowing what was going on.
"Incoming!" Tasuki's voice hissed against his teeth.
Atsuna nearly bumped into him as he came to a wrenching stop. Atsuna peered up, quickly noticing the flash of red light over the watchful moon's gaze. And out of said light came Miaka as she dropped straight into Tasuki's waiting arms.
Atsuna held back a scoff, snapping her head away in disgust. It wasn't a pretty color on her, she knew, but at this point, she hardly gave a care.
"Nice catch, you know," Chichiri said with a grin. No sooner did the words pass his lips did Taka fall less than gracefully into the waiting bushes. "And welcome back to you, Tamahome."
Miaka's eyes fluttered open, finding herself staring into the dark worrisome gaze of the former emperor of Konan. "It's nice to see you again, Miaka," he greeted with a smile. "Are you all right?"
She gasped loudly, jerking forward with a wide smile. "Hotohori! You're here!" she exclaimed.
Tasuki and Chichiri were quick to shush her, looming over her. "Don't be so loud, you know!" Chichiri warned her in a hushed whisper.
"We're being thieves tonight," Chiriko explained quietly.
"Kinda stupid breaking into my own house, though," Nuriko piped in with a sly smirk.
"This is your house, Nuriko?" Miaka asked, tilting her head to the side in obvious confusion. "And we're breaking in?" Blinking several times, she registered that the last time she'd left the book so forcefully, both Nuriko and Chiriko had not been with them. "Oh! Nuriko! Chiriko! You're here!"
"Shhhh! Shut up, would ya?" Tasuki snapped, clapping a hand over her mouth. "We can't be heard out here!"
Atsuna turned her head, noticing that Taka was rubbing the top of his head—the point of his fall from the sky—and wincing in slight pain. "We need to get inside and get this taken care of," she ordered, reaching for Taka's shoulder to make him aware of the situation they were in. "We're running low on time, and I would rather not sneak around like some burglar. I would like to end this, if you please."
Nuriko slapped a hand over her shoulder. "Well, then, follow me." Crawling forward, he led the small team towards the front door, sliding it open with silent finesse. "Come on. Let's go in. Doesn't seem like anyone is awake right now." Turning over his shoulder at Miaka, he flashed her a grin. "A lot has happened in the week you've been gone, Miaka."
"What? A week has already passed?" Taka spoke up. "It's barely been a day in our world."
"Whaddaya think we've been doin' all this time anyway?" Tasuki asked, elbowing him in the side. "Lookin' for yer jewels, o' course. Nuriko's is in here."
"I'm glad that you found Nuriko's," Miaka said with a relieved sigh. She watched the violet-haired warrior settle on his knees, everyone following suit by forming a circle.
"I'm sorry. It's my older brother," Nuriko started, lowering his head. "We were just here. Well, Tasuki, Chichiri, and Atsuna were. My brother, Rokou, didn't know that Hotohori and I were here, as well. He seemed bothered that he lost both Kourin and myself. They told him I died an honorable death, but it wasn't the same to him. He thinks I was buried alone in a frozen wasteland."
"At first he let us burn incense for Nuriko's soul, you know," Chichiri continued. His eyes fell on the bandit, who merely rubbed his hand sheepishly behind his head. "But then Tasuki…"
"I couldn't help it!" Tasuki interrupted defensively. "Nuriko was goofin' off an' makin' faces in that serious atmosphere! I couldn't help but laugh at him!"
"I'm sorry. I really couldn't help it, either," Nuriko apologized. "When I realized I was in my house and you were all praying for me, well… Not that I didn't like the attention and all, but I was a little embarrassed about it."
Taka snapped his gaze towards the bandit, a brow arched high against the wrinkles of his forehead. "So you lost your cool and turned him against us? Is that it?"
Tasuki pulled the tessen from his back, waving it at him menacingly. "Don't give me that dirty look."
Ignoring the twosome in what could only be the next of many rounds between them, Miaka turned to Nuriko. "So does that mean that Rokou has the stone in his possession?"
Shaking his head, Nuriko turned around, pointing his finger to the other end of the room. Sitting between two unlit candles on a small pillow was a blue crystal ball. "No, it's right here with us. It's in that. It was a treasure of mine ever since I was little. I heard that spirits were drawn to them and would live in them during the Chuugen Festival. I noticed that its color had changed from what it used to be. I found the jewel inside."
"We were rash and tried to take it, trying to break it open immediately, you know," Chichiri continued, lowering his head in shame.
"Rokou took it before we could do anything else," Atsuna added, folding her hands in the middle of her lap. "We found out that it belonged to Nuriko. It seemed to make sense that it would hold his jewel. Sadly, Rokou blamed us for getting him killed. He cast us out immediately afterwards, and here we are."
Scoffing, Nuriko shook his head. "My brother's just an idiot."
"I understand how Rokou feels, but Tamahome is more important at this time," Chiriko replied.
"Agreed. We have to retrieve his stone," Hotohori piped up in concurrence. "Tamahome might end up vanishing if we proceed too slowly."
Turning towards the quiet bandit, Nuriko stared at him pleadingly. "Please, Tasuki. Just break it."
Tasuki's eyes softened just a bit. "Are ya sure?"
"We have to do something, and I don't think he'll ever change," Nuriko said with a heavy sigh. "When we were little, he was a coward. He always had to be saved by me. He depended on others for everything." Curling his hands into fists, he shook his head. "It's been two years. He needs to move on. Tamahome's existence is at stake right now. That's more important than whatever problem my brother has."
Tasuki rested his tessen on his shoulder, spinning around to look at Miaka. "Give the ball to Tamahome to hold, Miaka, an' I'll break it open."
"Why? So you can fry me along with it?" Taka asked with an arched brow.
Sighing exasperatingly, Tasuki shook his head. "I can aim, ya know. I'll only hit the ball, ya coward."
Ignoring his sarcasm, Taka's hand closed around the ball, pulling it from Miaka's palm. As soon as his fingers grazed against the smooth surface, a sharp pain zipped through his blood, immediately bringing him to his knees. He dropped the ball to the floor, clenching his teeth to bite back the agonizing scream that wished to tear through his throat.
"What's happening?" Miaka asked worriedly, a hand reaching forward unconsciously.
Stepping backwards, Atsuna watched a purple aura surround her brother like poison. She clapped a hand over her mouth. "It's a darkness demon," she whispered. A shiver shimmied down her spine, chilling her skin within seconds. "It's entered his body. I can see it."
Although she couldn't see what was happening as Atsuna could, Miaka cried out for him, and in response, Taka did the same. However, his scream was curdled with agony.
Rushing forward, Chichiri slammed his fist against Taka's chest, sparking to life a recognizable red light that formed into a barrier around him and Taka. "Miaka, you need to stay away from him!" the monk shouted, turning over his shoulder as soon as he noticed Miaka start forward in concern. "This is more than just a spell being cast at this exact moment, you know! There is something different about this!"
Swallowing the dryness against her throat, Atsuna stumbled backwards, the darkness reaching for the purity in her soul. For that moment, she cursed the power Hikari bestowed upon her, knowing that darkness was attracted to her quite easily. It was making her ill just being close to the evil entity clutching to her brother like a leech.
"Atsuna, can you do something about this?" Chichiri asked. As soon as his eye fell upon the woman, she collapsed to her knees, fingers clutching at the wood beneath her. "Atsuna?"
"I…I can't get close," she whispered, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of her face. "I don't know why. I feel cold. Weak." Scared. I'm scared, she added inwardly. Her hair fell like a curtain from behind her shoulders, masking the pain and fear in her eyes. She released a constrained whimper as she felt a hand close around her arm.
She didn't have to look up to know it was Tasuki. She could recognize the rough yet tender feel of his palm. She wanted to jerk away from him, rebuff his silent concerns, but just as the darkness demon weaved its abyss over her brother, it pulled her along with it.
"What's going on here?" a frightened male voice spoke up from the doorway.
Nuriko turned around, eyes wide, and although he knew he couldn't see him, the Willow warrior's lips parted. "Brother."
"Is it a monster?" Rokou continued, clutching his sleep robe close to his chest. "How did it get in here?"
"Oh, geez. Ya gotta be kiddin' me with this," Tasuki grumbled as he turned his head back to Atsuna, who was now shuddering under the brush of his palm. "Hey, ya okay?"
Just as he leaned in to move her hair away from her face, she snapped her head up, groaning loudly. Avoiding his gaze, she yanked her arm from under his hand and pushed herself back to her feet, fighting against the tremble in her knees. She walked forward, leaving Tasuki's question unanswered, and knelt down opposite Chichiri, her hand closing around her brother's fist. "I'm right here," she whispered.
"Atsuna, are you sure you can handle being this close?" Chichiri asked quietly.
"I'm fine," she answered, brows furrowed. "We need to do something about this before it consumes him."
Behind them, Rokou swiped the crystal ball from the floor, hugging it tight against his chest. "I swear I won't give this up to anyone who's friends with monsters. All of you leave at once!"
"Brother, don't!" Nuriko shouted. But his words were for naught; his elder brother could still not hear him.
"If you won't leave, then I will!" Rokou announced, turning quickly from the room.
Watching him go, Nuriko lowered his head, curling his hands into fists at his sides. "He can't hear or see me at all." He turned over his shoulder, watching as his friends hovered over Taka, Chichiri, and Atsuna. Sighing, he joined their side, noticing that Hotohori and Chiriko were channeling their powers around the threesome, forming a protective barrier. "So, what's going on with him?"
Atsuna's finger grazed the air above two small puncture holes in Taka's ear. "A woman in his world bit him. I can feel the dark energy pulsing the strongest from here. She planted a monster in his body. It has been lying dormant until now. She must be in another location conjuring the spell to control it."
"What a lowly trick," Nuriko said, shaking his head in disgust.
"I'm sorry," Taka rasped. "I was careless. I never suspected she was going to do something like that."
Smoothing her palm over his hair, Atsuna shushed him. "It's not your fault. Relax. We'll do all we can to extract it."
"Chichiri, everything is ready," Chiriko announced.
"Whaddaya doin'?" Tasuki asked, leaning curiously over them.
"We're casting a spell to seal the demon. If I can cast a barrier and the combine our powers with His Highness' holy sword, as well as Atsuna's light powers, we should be able to silence the demon and dislodge it from Tamahome," Chichiri explained.
"Will Tamahome be hurt when you do this?" Nuriko asked, resting his hand comfortingly on Miaka's. The priestess had remained uncharacteristically quiet as she stared down at Taka, who continued to clench his teeth and fight against the urge to scream.
"A celestial warrior has far more resilience than a normal person, but this is tricky," Chiriko informed.
"He's not even a full strength celestial warrior right now," Tasuki reminded his friends, folding his arms over his chest.
"If only we could get that stone," Hotohori whispered, more to himself than anyone.
"We need to find another way to extricate this monster," Chichiri pointed out. His eye fell on Atsuna, who was watching every breath her brother took, watched every bead of sweat that trailed his face. "We can't completely rely on Atsuna right now, you know. It's taking her a lot just to remain in close quarters to the demon, you know. We're going to have to combine our powers with hers, you know."
Atsuna scowled. She knew Chichiri meant no disrespect with his words, but she felt remarkably helpless. Settling a palm over Taka's chest, she murmured a soft chant, channeling her powers around him, seeking entrance through each of his pores. But to her chagrin, the darkness swarming him seemed to repel her power, bouncing it right back into the air around them. Her aggravation peaked. "Whatever spell is being called upon is blocking my powers," she informed. "This is a rather intricate spell."
"We will do everything we can, Atsuna," Hotohori assured her. "Do not concern yourself with it. We will all put forth our power to help Tamahome."
"Hey, uh, where did Miaka go?" Nuriko suddenly asked.
Atsuna snapped her head up, her eyes scoping about the room. Miaka was indeed missing. And to her horror, so was Tasuki. She closed her eyes, released a long sigh through her nose, and decided the pressing matter at the moment was the reincarnation of her brother as he lie in pain in her arms.
But she couldn't help but wonder why Tasuki had left her - again - to run off after Miaka. Such was the curse of falling in love with a celestial warrior, of falling second.
Under the ever-watchful full moon, Tasuki slapped the reins, pressing his horse into a hard gallop. He could feel Miaka's arms tighten around his waist as they rushed through the fields, heading off in the direction Rokou's carriage had departed. He knew leaving unannounced as he did was probably a bad idea, but he didn't like the thought of Miaka rushing off on her own to retrieve the crystal ball from Nuriko's crazy brother.
He kept telling himself that he was fulfilling his duty as Miaka's celestial warrior. He was supposed to protect her. Surely Atsuna would understand that when she came to notice his absence.
Stiffly shaking his head of the roaming thoughts, he slapped the reins again, kicking his heels against the side of the horse.
"Thank you for coming along with me, Tasuki," Miaka said, her smile unseen but heard through the sweetness in her voice. "I'm sure we can find Rokou faster this way, and then we can help Taka."
"Boy, Tamahome can do no wrong in yer eyes," Tasuki replied. "Ain't ya even a little pissed off at him? I mean, think about it fer a second. He let that girl Miiru bite him an' put that monster inside him. As I see it, it's Tama's own fault. He was probably makin' a play fer her an' she bit."
Thin arms slid from his waist, and just as Tasuki turned over his shoulder in question, he watched Miaka fall from the horse. Biting back a curse, he yanked back on the reins, forcing the horse to a quick halt. "Miaka! What the hell are ya doin'?"
Miaka coughed against the dust kicked up around her, swatting her hand before her face so she could stare up at the orange-haired bandit. "That's enough!" she shouted. "Just go! I can do this on my own! I'm so sick of you bad-mouthing Tamahome! You know that Tamahome isn't irresponsible or unfaithful like that! You're Tamahome's friend, aren't you?"
Tasuki lowered his head, unkempt bangs shadowing his eyes. He stammered on his response as his priestess pushed herself to her feet, paying no mind to the dust sprinkled against her clothing, her skin. He didn't know why the hell he said what he did. He didn't think he believed it himself.
Suzaku in heaven, what was happening to him?
"Never mind," Miaka spoke up in a whisper. "Just go back." She turned from him, taking slow strides against the dirt path.
"I…I just felt bad for ya, ya know? I don't like seein' ya so sad," Tasuki stammered, his voice soft as a whisper on the night wind. He groaned loudly and shook his head. "No, that's not it! What the hell am I sayin'?" He lifted his head, watching as Miaka walked away from him. "Hold on, Miaka. C'mon."
"I told you to go back," she called back to him.
"Uh, Miaka, yer goin' the wrong way," he informed. He watched her stop, and without looking up at him, spun on her heel and began walking past him. Just like Atsuna, she wouldn't look at him. He hated that. He hated everything about this. Ever since she and Taka returned to their world, something had changed. He saw everything in a different light. Or rather, in a different darkness. It unnerved him to no end.
Rustling in the nearby grass jerked him from his thoughts. As soon as Tasuki snapped his head in Miaka's direction, a large black snake emerged from the grass, fangs glistening under the moonshine. Thinking of nothing else but the safety of his priestess, he yanked the tessen from his back and jumped from his horse, now bucking from the surprise entrance by the snake.
Pushing Miaka out of the way and ignoring the sudden pain stabbing him on the shoulder, he thrust the tessen through the middle of the writhing snake and called upon his fire spell. As soon as the incantation passed his lips, the snake burst into maddening flame.
As Miaka shook off the suddenness of the situation, she lifted her head, watching as the tessen slid from Tasuki's palm and he collapsed to his knees. His fingers gripped shakily at his shoulder, blood seeping through his shirt and trickling down his hand. Miaka fell to his side, a hand cupping over her mouth as the other reached for him. "Tasuki! Are you okay?"
"I…think it was poisonous," he stammered. His head suddenly felt heavy. Or did it feel light? He couldn't really tell.
"What should I do?" Miaka asked, eyes searching through the cloudy haze of his amber ones.
"Don't ya know? Suck the poison out o' the wound, then bandage it tightly so it can't reach my heart," he replied, his words slurring together.
Swallowing hard, Miaka nodded, and her fingers gently pulled back the sticky fabric over his wound. Her lips closed over it, and ignoring the unwelcome taste, she sucked as much blood as she could into her mouth before spitting it to the dirt.
Tasuki felt heat climb in his face, his eyes falling on his priestess as her mouth suckled the wound on his shoulder, spitting away the venom-tainted blood to the ground. His lips parted, saying her name in gratitude, before she pulled away for the final time and eased him to the ground. He closed his eyes, sighing in relief as the pain throbbed to nothing.
"Will you be all right now?" Miaka asked, wiping the back of her hand against her mouth.
"Yeah. I'll be fine," he groaned. "Just…gimme a minute." His eyes slid open and peered up at the moon as it hung high against the blanket of night.
"Atsuna will be so worried about you, Tasuki," Miaka said as she worked on bandaging his wound. She flashed him a smile. "I'm glad you'll be okay. I wouldn't want her to worry too much about you."
Tasuki watched her for a moment before releasing an incredulous scoff. "Somehow I don't think she's really gonna care," he whispered to himself.
"Hmm? What did you say?" she asked, her attention still focused on wrapping his shoulder.
"Nothin'," he answered, turning his head away from her. As he felt the fabric close in on his shoulder, locking in the pressure, he closed his eyes. No, if he weren't such an idiot and would actually have an inkling of knowledge on what was going on with him, perhaps Atsuna would take the time to care about what just happened. But instead, she would only be worried about Tamahome.
It was probably better that way. At least her anger would be diverted, until he could figure out what the hell was going on. As he looked at Miaka, who seemed off in her thoughts, he wondered if he should ask her about what was going on.
He inwardly slapped himself. And what the hell would he say to her? Yeah, Miaka, I think I might be fallin' fer ya or somethin'. But the thing is, I still love Atsuna. So I guess I might be in love with two women at once. What do ya think about that? Saying something along those lines would only get him slapped in reality.
So he would suffer in silence, or at least until he could piece together what was happening to him. But that proved to be difficult when he couldn't even find the pieces he needed to give himself an answer.
"Out of the way!"
Miaka and Tasuki snapped their heads in the same direction, finding a very recognizable violet head tearing through the field. They watched him sprint past them, and then quickly stopped, turning around over his shoulder in confusion. "Miaka? Tasuki? What's going on? What are you two doing out here?"
Tasuki's eyes fell on the bundle under Nuriko's arm. Rokou. "Nice. Ya found him," Tasuki noticed. "An' I'll bet he's scared outta his mind that a ghost is carryin' him around."
Nuriko waved him off. "Don't worry about it. For now, we need to hurry and get back. Tamahome is still in a bad way, and I don't know how much longer the others can help him. When I left, Atsuna was getting really weak trying to help him."
Tasuki jerked up in concern. "She's gettin' weak? Then we better get back. I don't want that woman killin' herself."
Nodding in agreement, Nuriko turned around, tugging his brother close to him like he was nothing. "Well then, we better go. We have a jewel to get."
Chiriko winced as his palm hovered over Taka's body. His eyes traveled over the tense form of his friend, and he shook his head, closing his eyes in shame. "I can't contain the hold the demon has on him."
"It's not your fault, Chiriko," Chichiri assured him.
"I agree," Hotohori piped in, his fingers tightening over the hilt of his glowing blade. "In the meantime, I will protect Tamahome with my life force. Only a living person can touch him."
Chichiri's eyes traveled over to Atsuna, who was gripping Taka's hand tight. Her eyes were weighing down tiredly as she channeled her own life force, only to have it continually repelled. "Atsuna, your powers are waning, you know. Step back. I can handle it from here."
Atsuna shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I'll keep trying," she mumbled. She clenched her teeth together. Why can't I help him? Why are my powers doing nothing? "There has to be a reason why my powers are ineffective against this spell. I can't even remove the pain from him and transfer it to me, like I did when Chiriko died. There has to be something more I can do for him."
"Don't push yourself," Chichiri scolded. "You're not going to be much assistance if you drain your energy to nothing, you know. Until Miaka and Tasuki return, we all must concentrate and keep our energy leveled."
"We're back!" Nuriko's voice sung out behind them. "I brought my brother and the stone, too! And look what else I have! I brought Miaka, along with this idiot bandit."
As everyone turned to face the Suzaku warrior endowed with Herculean strength, they found Rokou, Miaka, and Tasuki wrapped under his arms like sacks of rice. "What in the world happened?" Chichiri asked, brows furrowed in confusion.
"Ugh, just put me down now," Tasuki groaned, lowering his head in embarrassment.
Nuriko eased Rokou, Tasuki, and Miaka to their feet, and Miaka rushed towards the monk, hands clasped before her chest. "I have an idea that might help, Chichiri! Can we get the demon out through the wound? I had to do something like that with Tasuki when a poisonous snake bit him. Can't we do something like that?"
"Draw the creature out of the wound?" Chichiri repeated, voice incredulous.
"That sounds dangerous and questionable," Hotohori replied. "We don't know what would happen, even if it would work."
"What if it ends up in Miaka next?" Nuriko asked, walking up next to the priestess.
"If Miaka gets hurt, Tamahome will never forgive us," Chiriko spoke up.
"I agree, and Tamahome can't take the pain in his condition, you know," Chichiri reminded his friends.
Taka shifted in Atsuna's hold. "It's okay. I can take it. I don't know how you'll do it, but I'll beat it. I swear," he stammered.
Atsuna's eyes fell. "But we don't know what it will do to you," she said firmly. "Our powers are limited against this spell as it is. There isn't much else I can do." Her jaw locked as she scowled. "There isn't anything I can do at the moment to help you."
"It's okay," he assured her with a weak smile. His fingers tightened around hers. "I won't lose to it, Atsuna. If it means that I'll be able to hold Miaka again, then I can withstand anything. I know you know how I feel. You would want the same thing if it came to Tasuki."
Atsuna's eyes softened and she turned over her shoulder, peering at the silent bandit on the other side of the room. It was apparent he heard what Taka had said, and from the look in his amber eyes, he was waiting curiously for Atsuna's response. "Yes. Perhaps," she whispered, shifting her eyes over her reincarnated brother. "Very well. I know you're stubborn. There isn't anything I can do to tell you otherwise. Just be advised that this is not going to be easy on you."
Taka choked a weak chuckle. "I'm ready for anything."
Miaka felt tears trickling down her cheeks at the display, and she spun to Nuriko, gripping her hands over his arms. "Nuriko! Do something for him, please!"
Nuriko rested his hand on Miaka's shoulder and pulled away from her, walking through the barrier and behind Taka's elevated body. He nodded once to Atsuna and slid his arms under Taka's. His bracelets flickered with red light, but did not transform. "All right, Tamahome. My bracelets are going to be the only thing holding you down. I'm holding back, so I won't be as powerful as usual. So don't get too wild, okay?"
"I'll try my best," Taka promised with a weak nod.
Atsuna bit down on her lip as she pulled away, reluctant, as Miaka walked within the confines of the barrier. She knelt down next to her, and as soon as the priestess' hands touched Taka's shoulders, he flinched away from her. Atsuna threaded her fingers through his tightly. "Squeeze as hard as you want to," she whispered. "I don't mind. I'm right here with you."
Taka had no chance to respond to her. Instead, when his lips parted, a scream escaped, echoing against the thin walls of the room. Miaka's mouth closed over the wound on his ear, suckling gently at first, then as hard as she could, but nothing was happening. Instead, Taka's legs flailed and kicked, his body jerking away from Nuriko. But the violet-haired warrior refused to release him.
Tasuki moved forward, pressing his hands over Taka's ankles. "Just hang on a little bit longer, buddy." His eyes turned to Atsuna, who was staring down upon her brother. He watched the single bead of sweat trickle down her face, her brows furrowed into deep points, as Taka tightened his grip on her hand.
"You can do this, Kishuku," she murmured, biting off his name with a groan. "I believe in you. I won't let you go. I promise, Hold my hand as hard as you want."
Taka let out another blood-curdling scream, wrenching himself away from Miaka's mouth. She called out to him pleadingly, tears beading in her eyes once more as she watched him try yet again to release himself from the insistent hold Nuriko had on him.
He kicked his feet out from under Tasuki's hands and slammed one into his face, knocking the bandit on his back.
"Tasuki, you're injured, too!" Hotohori spoke up, channeling another round of holy power from his sword into the barrier around them. "You are in no condition for this!"
Tasuki pushed himself up, flashing the former emperor a wide smirk. "I'm tough. I can take it. Bring it on!" He leaned forward once more, and just as he prepared to hold down his friend, Taka's boot met with his cheek again, careening him over Chichiri's shoulder and into the nearest wall.
Nuriko winced when he watched the bandit slide to the floor, head hung low and a moan reverberating around him. Turning over his shoulder, his eyes met with the frightened gaze of his older brother's. "Brother! I know you can hear me now, can't you? Help us! Please! You're the only one who can!"
Rokou flinched, grasping the crystal ball tight against his chest. He could hear his brother's pleading cries in the room, but couldn't see him. He snapped his eyes shut, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Ryuuen," he stammered. "I'm…just not as strong as you. I don't have that kind of strength."
Chiriko watched the self-pity flowing from Nuriko's brother and could take it no longer. He pushed himself away from the barrier, stomping behind the man as he continued to sob against the crystal ball clutched against his chest. With small hands tightened into fists at his sides, he cried out, prompting Rokou to turn around in confusion.
"No! You can't, Chiriko!" Chichiri shouted, watching as the young Suzaku warrior entered Rokou's body. Rokou hunched over in pain, keeping the ball still against his chest, as he felt a strange warmth enveloping him, one that was more sickening than comforting. "You can't possess someone whose heart isn't open to you! Leave him alone!"
Everyone watched in horror as Rokou threw his head back, crying out in sync with Chiriko, and the spirit of the young boy was cast out of him, tumbling to the floor. Groaning, Chiriko sat up on his knees, sniffling back the tears in his eyes. "Even though you live now… Even though you live now, you won't live long! Why won't you let me?! Why?!"
Atsuna's eyes fell, sensing the pain coming from the young boy as his shoulders shook against the ravaging sobs. She listened to him mumbling, begging for Rokou to help them, but such pleads went unheard.
"You're a coward!" Chiriko spat, head snapping forward like a snake's. "You're a coward and a disgrace! It will all end because of you!"
Rokou turned away from him, peering down at the crystal ball that now lay at his feet. He hadn't realized he'd dropped the precious artifact. Although he could not see the young child as he cry, his words rang forever against his ears. He couldn't shake them away.
"No! He's biting his own tongue!" Nuriko suddenly cried out, watching as Taka tried to hold back from screaming out in pain again. He snapped his eyes shut, holding the man tight against him as he waited for the blood to splatter, waited for the scream that never came. Sliding his eyes open, he found his elder brother kneeling before them, his arm now latched tight in Taka's teeth. Blood trickled down his flesh. "Brother!"
"I understand, Ryuuen," he whispered. "I know that you're gone now, that no matter where I search, I will never find you. They say you were honorable, that you died bravely, but why can't I accept it? They say that you rest peacefully in the snow, but I couldn't see your body to grieve for you. All I knew was that you were dead, and all I wanted to do was hold you and weep for you. But I was denied that. I just wanted to see you. I miss you so much."
Just as Rokou opened his eyes, he felt his hand unfurling, warm fingers threading through his. Blinking the tears out of his eyes, he found himself staring straight into the smiling gaze of his younger brother, now glowing with the red light of Suzaku. "Oh, Brother. Thank you."
"Ryuuen!" Rokou's smile widened across his face, and his fingers tightened over Nuriko's. "Even though we look alike, we are so different. Your heart and strength are so powerful. I'm pathetic by comparison. Before I could try to be a big brother to you, you were already gone. Can I continue being your big brother anyway?"
Nuriko shook his head. "What are you saying? All my life, you've always been my big brother. It's okay. You're stronger now. And I know that you'll be okay now."
Miaka snapped away, closing a palm over her mouth. From the small pool of blood she'd extracted from Taka's ear wound, a black demon emerged. Atsuna wrapped her arms tight around her brother's body, murmuring a quick chant. While she absorbed his pain into her body, Hotohori pulled back his sword, glowing red with holy power, and sliced through the demon.
Taka blinked lazily up at his sister, finding her hovering over him as a weak moan escaped her parted lips. "Atsuna."
She closed her eyes, resting her cheek against his temple. "It'll be all right now," she murmured, her words slurring together tiredly. "You shouldn't feel any more pain. I have it all now. You'll be all right."
Miaka looked over Atsuna's shoulder, smiling down upon Taka as his eyes connected with hers. "Taka. Oh, Taka. Are you okay now?" she asked.
Taka chuckled weakly, nodding once. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks to you, Miaka. To all of you."
Atsuna smiled and slid her arms from around his body, stumbling backwards a bit for Miaka to take her place. "His pain is gone. He just needs to rest a little," she informed with a smile, turning to the brown-haired priestess. Miaka nodded to her, smiling gratefully, before propelling herself into Taka's chest, submitting herself to the sobs within her chest.
Atsuna's smile faded as she inwardly fought against the throbbing pain throughout her body. She thought she heard Chichiri ask her if she was all right, but she didn't answer him. Instead, she turned over her shoulder, her eyes finding Tasuki's as he continue to lay against the wall. Pushing herself from her knees, she wobbled over to him, her legs threatening to give way with every step.
The bandit glared up at her. "Are ya okay? Ya shouldn't be movin' around after doin' that," he scolded as she all but collapsed to her knees before him. His arm thrust forward, fingers closing over her shoulder to steady her.
His eyes widened when her hand rested upon his, closing over his wordlessly. Her eyes slid to a close and her lips parted in a recognizable chant. Tasuki's eyes blinked to the puncture wounds on his shoulder when he noticed the painful weight easing up. Realizing what was happening, he snapped away from her. "Don't," he hissed, watching as her eyes opened to stare at him in confusion. "Don't do that. I don't need ya to take my pain away."
Frowning, Atsuna released a breathless scoff. "Why are you being so difficult?" she snapped. "Just let me do it. It won't do anything more to me to take away your pain. I have enough of it to bear as it is."
"Don't waste your powers on me," he rebuked. "Miaka took care of the poison. I don't need ya to do anythin'."
Atsuna recoiled and bit back the onslaught of tears. "So, Miaka took care of it for you, did she?" she whispered. She lowered her head to her lap, slamming her eyes shut. "Well, then I suppose you have little need for me." She pressed her palms against the floor and pushed herself up, fighting against the lag and tremble in her knees. She needed to be away from him.
"Atsuna, wait a minute," Tasuki started, leaning away from the wall. But she didn't heed his call. Instead, she staggered away from him, moving back to her fallen brother. He watched her kneel down next to him and cup her palms over his cheeks.
Miaka looked at Atsuna and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right, Atsuna? You look tired. You did so much for Taka. Thank you." She flashed the woman a grateful smile.
Atsuna turned to her, blinking away the single tear that hung deftly in her eye. And with a very fake smile, Atsuna said, "It can't possibly get any worse, Miaka."
In the dark confines of a room not so far away, a gold flame flickered with the image of what transpired between Atsuna and Tasuki, with the Suzaku warriors as they watched over a recovering Taka. Bony, white fingers, long and menacing, stretched over the flame, dosing it within its palm. "From here on in, things will be fun."