Part Two
Ten minutes.
Ten minutes to say goodbye to an entire life. Koutoku looked around the small room, barely big enough for both of their beds and a small cabinet which contained their few possessions, and their food, if they had any. He opened the cabinet and took out the picture of his parents.
"Don't look so depressed," Shunkaku said, punching him in the arm. "You should be excited."
Koutoku sighed. "I'm just worried that I'm not doing the right thing. If there's going to be fighting . . . "
"Hey, we'll be all right," Shunkaku said. "We'll be fine."
Koutoku nodded and collected himself quickly. He looked in the cabinet, which contained their harvesting tools, the one extra shirt they'd managed to find, and some other assorted things. "Do we really need any of this?" he asked his brother.
Shunkaku examined the contents of the drawer. "Nah, I don't think so." He fastened his Ryuuseisui to his belt. Koutoku tucked the picture of his parents inside his shirt.
"We ready then?" Koutoku asked, taking a deep breath.
Shunkaku looked around the room. He'd lived there almost as long as he could remember, ever since their parents had died. "All set, Aniki."
Koutoku put his arm around his twin's shoulders, and the two of them left the room.
~~~
Five out of seven Seishi wasn't bad, Nakago had to admit, especially when one considered that they hadn't even found their Miko yet. Even if the twins weren't particularly old and hadn't really developed their skills yet, they were counterbalanced by himself, Tomo, and Soi, who had already fully developed their skills. And they would learn in time.
There was a knock on the door and Soi stuck her head inside. "I put them in the tent at the south end of camp," she said.
"Did they take long at their house?" Nakago asked.
Soi shook her head. "They didn't even take their ten minutes. I'm not sure if they were there for more than five."
"They really have nothing, then," Nakago said.
"None of us did," Soi replied softly. Then she smiled a little and said, "Their eyes nearly fell out of their heads when they saw the food. I don't think they've eaten in days, maybe even a week."
"It's a poor town," Nakago said.
Soi nodded. "How long do you think it'll be until we find the Miko?" she asked.
"I hope not very long," Nakago said. "From what I hear, the Suzakus have already gathered three of their Seishi. So they're behind us there, but they have their Miko, so . . . it's an even race so far." He looked up. "You should go back to your tent," he told her. "We leave at dawn tomorrow."
Soi looked disappointed, but she only said, "Hai," and left the tent.
Nakago sat alone for almost an hour, deep in thought. He looked up as he heard a soft flute playing, not too far away. He listened intently for a second, recognizing the same hypnotic quality he'd heard earlier. I better go shut him up before the kid puts all the damned guards to sleep, he thought, and got up and left his tent.
~~~
"I can't sleep," Shunkaku was saying while Nakago was talking to Soi.
Koutoku laughed. "You ate too much."
"So did you," Shunkaku answered, not smiling.
Koutoku lifted his head, hearing the serious note in his twin's voice. "You okay, Shun-chan?"
Shunkaku nodded but said nothing. Koutoku looked over at him, concerned, then got out of bed and sat down next to his twin.
"What's wrong?" he asked, running a hand through his twin's hair.
Shunkaku looked up at his twin and spoke two words he'd never spoken before. "I'm scared," he said softly. "Oh, God, I'm scared. Do you know what we're doing, Aniki? You -- " he broke off and nearly choked. "You could be killed. I could, too. That doesn't scare me. I wouldn't care if I died. But you -- Aniki, I can't lose you. It would kill me. That's what I'm always, always afraid of. Losing you." He sat up and looked at the floor. "You never ask me what my nightmares are about," he said softly.
Koutoku blinked, taken aback by the sudden change of topic. "I thought they were about Mother and Father -- "
Shunkaku shook his head. "That's how they start. But then -- then you run out and you start shaking them and begging them to wake up. And a soldier comes by and -- " he broke off again, tears running down his cheeks.
Koutoku put his arms around his twin and pulled him close.
"I'm always afraid of that," Shunkaku whispered. "I don't want to lose you. You're all I have, Aniki."
"You're all I have, too," Koutoku whispered. "I won't leave you, Shun-chan. I'll always be with you. I promise."
Shunkaku sniffed. "I love you, Aniki."
Koutoku smiled. "I love you too, Shun-chan." He paused. "Try to get some sleep, okay? I'll play for you."
Shunkaku nodded and lay back down, turning his face away. He was a little ashamed of his outburst, but he felt better anyway. Koutoku lifted the flute to his lips and started to play softly. Shunkaku fell asleep quickly.
By the time Nakago reached the twins' tent, Koutoku had put down his flute and was staring off into space. He didn't hear Nakago stick his head inside. Nakago watched as Koutoku ran a hand through his twin's hair, wiped the tears off his cheeks, and got into bed.
Nakago quietly left and walked back to his own tent. He had to admit he was a little envious. These twins were a little similar to him, having lost their parents in a gruesome way at a young age. But they'd always had each other, and he'd had no one. Perhaps if he'd had someone there to protect him, like Shunkaku had Koutoku, he wouldn't have ended up in the Emperor's hands, and then --
He broke off the thoughts with a decisive shake of his head. What good was thinking like that? What had happened couldn't be changed. All he could do was claim his revenge for it.
~~~
Three months later . . .
"I can't believe you did that," Suboshi said furiously, throwing his Ryuuseisui onto his bed. "What the fuck were you thinking?"
Amiboshi followed his brother into their room and flopped into a chair, saying nothing.
"Why'd you have to go and volunteer?" Suboshi asked, glaring at his brother. "You didn't have to do that!"
"Nakago would have picked me anyway and you know it," Amiboshi answered. "I was the only option. The Suzaku Seishi aren't idiots. They would never believe in a million years that Ashitare or Tomo was one of them. They've met Nakago. Soi ran into Tamahome here once and she's not sure if he'd recognize her or not. We haven't even found Miboshi yet. That left me and you."
"I could have gone," Suboshi grumbled.
"Nakago wouldn't have let you," Amiboshi told his brother. "And you know it. Your skills aren't as fully developed as mine."
"Oh, sure, I can't do anything."
"Damn it, that's not what I said!" Amiboshi sighed heavily. "I did this for you, Shun-chan. I -- I didn't want him picking you and making you go. You'd be in so much danger. I told Mother I would protect you."
"You think I feel better knowing that you're going into danger? God, I'd rather go myself and you know it!"
"I know it," Amiboshi said simply. "That's why I volunteered. I didn't want you to go."
Suboshi muttered something incoherent and punched the wall in frustration.
"Stop trying to break your knuckles," Amiboshi said.
"You're gonna get yourself killed, you know that?" Suboshi cried. "Do you know how much danger you'll be in?"
Amiboshi nodded.
"The whole plan is stupid anyway!" Suboshi shouted. "We've got their stupid Tamahome anyway, so what does it matter one way or another if any of us goes?"
Amiboshi put a hand on his twin's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. Suboshi shook it off angrily. "Nakago hasn't even told you the details of this damned job yet," he said. "You don't even know what you're going to have to do!"
"I'm just going because I knew if I didn't volunteer, you would. And I didn't know if Nakago would agree to send you or not, but I don't want you going. I want you as far away from all this as possible."
"You think that cheers me up?" Suboshi snapped. "Fine, then, leave me here. Forget it." He turned and stormed out of the room.
Amiboshi sat silently for a long time, then began to pack for his journey.
~~~
Amiboshi stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He didn't want to go on this stupid trip. But what choice did he have? If he hadn't gone, Suboshi probably would have, if not now, then later. Eventually, when his powers were fully developed, Nakago would have sent him.
"Besides," Amiboshi said to himself, "even if I hadn't volunteered, Nakago would have asked me. And you can't say no to Nakago. You should know that, Shun-chan."
He sighed heavily and flipped onto his back. He needed to sleep. He had to leave early the next morning. But he couldn't leave with his twin mad at him. He just couldn't. He hadn't seen Suboshi since their argument that afternoon, and it was long past midnight. He was on the verge of getting out of bed and trying to find his twin -- it shouldn't be difficult, given their bond -- when the door creaked open.
"Aniki?" Suboshi's voice whispered.
Amiboshi sat up in bed. "I'm awake," he said softly.
Suboshi walked over slowly and sat on the bed. "Don't -- don't be mad at me, Aniki. Please?"
Amiboshi sat up next to his twin. The room was nearly pitch black; he could just barely make out his twin's face in the darkness. He reached out, touched Suboshi's cheek, and felt tears there. "I'm sorry, Shun-chan," he said. "I should have told you I was going to volunteer. Then maybe you would've taken it better, ne?"
Suboshi shook his head and leaned against his brother. "I shouldn't have reacted that way. I'm just -- it's the nightmare all over again. I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," Amiboshi said, putting an arm around his twin. "We're always together. You know that. It doesn't matter what country I'm in, we'll always be together."
Suboshi nodded, trying to smile. "You're not mad at me, Aniki?"
Amiboshi shook his head and held back his own tears. "Of course not," he said.
"I didn't want you to leave angry," Suboshi whispered. "This might be the last time we see each other."
"Hey!" Amiboshi said, alarmed. "Don't talk like that!"
Suboshi rubbed his eyes. "Okay, I won't. We'll be okay, ne, Aniki?"
Amiboshi nodded, hugging his brother tightly. "We'll be fine, Shun-chan. We'll be fine." He hesitated. "You want me to play?"
Suboshi shook his head. "Just stay here with me," he said. "Don't let me go. I -- Aniki -- " he started to cry, burying his head in Amiboshi's shoulder. "I'll miss you, Aniki," he said through his tears. "We've never been apart before. I'll miss you so much . . . "
"Shhh," Amiboshi said, rocking his brother back and forth. "I'll miss you too."
Suboshi eventually used up all his tears and pulled away. "Arigatou, Aniki," he said, looking embarrassed.
Amiboshi managed a smile. "No problem. Let's get some sleep, okay?"
Suboshi nodded and flopped down next to his brother. Amiboshi looked down at him in surprise. They hadn't shared a bed since they were about ten years old. Then he lay down, put an arm around his twin's shoulders, and went to sleep.
~~~
Suboshi managed a smile as he watched Amiboshi get on his horse. "Good luck, Aniki," he said, reaching up to grab his brother's hand. "Come back soon."
Amiboshi squeezed his hand. "I will," he said. "No goodbyes, okay?" he asked. "It's easier this way."
Suboshi nodded, holding back tears. "No goodbyes," he agreed. "I'll see you soon."
Amiboshi let go of his brother's hand, nodded to the rest of the Seishi, who were gathered to see him off, then turned his horse around and rode away.
Suboshi watched until his twin was nothing more than a silhouette against the horizon, then until he was a speck, and then until he was gone completely. He continued to stand there until long after the others had gone inside. He closed his eyes and let a single tear slide down his cheek. "Sayonara, Aniki."
~~~