Part Two
Nakago's head snapped up. He stood and walked out of the room, leaving a bewildered advisor behind him, staring. He headed straight for the court doctor's chambers and went in without knocking. "Come with me," he ordered.
The doctor gaped, but knew better than to disobey. "Hai, Nakago-sama." He grabbed his things.
Nakago turned and left the room. The puzzled doctor followed him to Suboshi's room. Nakago again entered without knocking. Suboshi was lying in a crumpled heap at the side of his bed. There was blood everywhere.
"Fix it," Nakago said to the doctor. "I'll be back soon." With that, he turned and left.
~~~~
Nakago knocked on the door to Tomo's chambers, knowing that the seishi hated to be surprised, in case he wasn't wearing his makeup. "Who is it?" a voice called.
"Nakago."
The door opened and Tomo gave a respectful half-bow. "What is it, Nakago-sama?"
"We have a small . . . difficulty," Nakago said, stepping into the room.
"What's wrong?"
"I need you to accompany Yui-sama into Hokkan."
Tomo blinked. "I thought you were sending Suboshi with her?"
"I was."
"Oh. What changed your mind?"
"The fact that he just tried to commit suicide. He slit both his wrists."
"I can see how that would change things. Does Yui-sama know of the change in plans?"
"I'll inform her after I leave here," Nakago said.
"She still doesn't know about Tamahome, does she?"
"No." Nakago's voice implied that he intended to keep it that way. "Can you be prepared to leave at dawn tomorrow?"
"Of course."
~~~~
Yui looked up as Nakago entered the room. "Yes?"
"There's been a slight change of plans," Nakago said. "When you leave tomorrow, Tomo will be accompanying you instead of Suboshi."
"Oh? Why?"
Nakago considered how to best phrase his answer. "Suboshi seems far too . . . distraught . . . over his brother's death."
Yui's face softened. Nakago hadn't even told her that Suboshi had left to take his revenge, and as far as she knew, he was ill, not injured. "How is he? I heard he was getting better. Did he take a turn for the worse?"
"You could phrase it like that," Nakago said. "Actually, he attempted suicide."
Yui's face darkened; her eyes flickered to the scar on her wrist. "Can I see him?" she asked softly.
"The doctor isn't letting anyone in," Nakago lied smoothly. He didn't want Yui within a mile of Suboshi. He'd probably begin falling all over himself apologizing for killing Tamahome, and everything would immediately go to hell.
"Oh. Well . . . give him my sympathies. Please." Yui looked away. "I'll be ready at dawn tomorrow. You don't need to worry about that."
"Hai," Nakago said. "I'll see you later."
~~~~
Suboshi moaned and cracked his eyelids open. Nakago was leaning over him, having heard him. Suboshi caught one glimpse of him and shut his eyes tightly to keep back tears of both pain and despair. Oh God no . . . I can't still be alive . . . Aniki . . . I just want to see Aniki . . .
"Suboshi." Nakago's voice broke Suboshi out of his thoughts. "This is no way for a seishi to behave."
A little part of Suboshi's brain said, Maybe if you irritate him enough, he'll kill you. To this end, he opened his mouth and said, "Fuck you."
Nakago backhanded him. The doctor started to protest, then thought better of it. Suboshi bit back a cry of pain.
"As much as you try to provoke me, I'm not going to kill you," Nakago said coldly. "So you might as well stop."
Suboshi glared up at him.
"Tomo and Yui-sama left this morning at dawn. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
The doctor nervously intervened. "He really can't take much jostling."
Nakago turned to him. "I suggest you bandage him well, then."
The doctor looked at the floor and mumbled, "Hai, Nakago-sama."
"Obviously," Nakago said to Suboshi, "leaving you here to wallow in your self-pity isn't a good idea."
"Then you should've let me die," Suboshi spat, looking at him with hatred.
Nakago lifted a hand, then slowly lowered it. "I don't want you any more injured than you already are. Consider yourself lucky." He turned to the doctor. "Make sure he's ready at dawn tomorrow."
~~~~
"Miaka?" Hotohori cracked the door open and peered into the darkness. "Are you awake?"
"Y-Yes, I'm awake." Miaka's voice trembled. Hotohori knew she was holding back tears. He sighed softly and went into the room, then sat in the chair by the edge of her bed.
"How are you feeling?"
"Oh, I'm fine," Miaka said, trying desperately to wipe the tear tracks of her cheeks without him noticing. She was sitting up in bed. "How's everyone else?"
"They're all right," Hotohori said. He reached over and gently brushed away her tears.
"That's good!" Miaka attempted to sound cheerful. "The sooner we get going, the sooner we can summon Suzaku, and then I can . . ." her voice began to fade. ". . . can . . ."
Hotohori put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She hid her face in his shirt and began to cry.
"Daijoubu, Miaka," he whispered. "You're going to be okay."
"Gomen . . ." she said faintly, pulling away. "I . . . I need to be alone right now."
"Of course," Hotohori said, his heart aching. "I'll come back later."
~~~~
Tasuki clung to the mast and hid his face. "Kowai . . ." he moaned.
"Tasuki, what's wrong?" Nuriko asked, coming up behind him. "Afraid of the water?"
"No!" Tasuki immediately straightened up.
"Good, I was hoping you'd say that! Let's go for a swim!"
"Agh!" Tasuki grabbed hold of the mast again.
"Come on, the water's nice!" Nuriko began tugging on Tasuki's arm. "Don't make me go by myself, Tasuki . . ."
"You're going by yourself!" Tasuki yelled.
"I thought you weren't afraid of water."
"I'm not! I'm . . . uh . . ."
"What are you two doing no da?" Chichiri called over.
"We're going for a swim!" Nuriko yelled back.
"No we're not!"
Chichiri blinked. "Daa . . ." Deciding to leave them to their . . . well, to Nuriko's fun and Tasuki's annoyance, he walked to the front of the ship and leaned against the railing. After a minute of peace, he began to frown. I feel something . . . some chi . . . something's wrong . . .
~~~~
Suboshi stuck his head out of the carriage, wondering vaguely if he could manage to fall out and get trampled. After a moment, he decided it was probably a bad idea. Even if he did manage to get trampled, it probably wouldn't kill him. He sighed and looked at the scenery. It had begun to snow. He shivered and pulled his head back inside. At least they gave me a carriage instead of plunking me on a horse and saying, "Here, hold on."
He picked at the bandages covered his arms. He'd managed to slit one arm from wrist to elbow, then the second wrist, before he'd passed out. He decided to stop thinking about it before he felt even worse than he already did.
He recalled the conversation he'd had with Nakago that morning. "You're going to have to take care of yourself," Nakago had told him. "I don't have time to baby-sit you."
"You could've just let me die," Suboshi had pointed out. This was basically all he'd been saying the whole day.
"You could still be useful," Nakago had said, placing heavy emphasis on 'could.'
"Not likely," Suboshi had grumbled. But he had allowed himself to be bundled up and put in a carriage, alone with his thoughts.
The carriage rolled to a halt. Suboshi stuck his head outside again. "What's going on?"
The doctor was riding on a horse next to the carriage. "We're stopping for food. And to give the horses a rest."
"Great," Suboshi said, and flopped back. The doctor came over a few minutes later and opened the door, holding a plate of food. Suboshi glanced up. "Go away."
"I have your lunch."
"I don't want it. Go away."
Nakago appeared behind the doctor. "You can't starve yourself."
Suboshi glared at him. "I thought you weren't going to baby-sit me."
"Eat the food."
"No."
The two of them held eye contact for a full minute, while the doctor looked between them. Both of them refused to back down. Suboshi had nothing to lose.
"Fine." Nakago knew that the fight was pointless. Suboshi had no reason to back down, and forcing him to eat wouldn't help anything. At this point, Suboshi had proved himself to be pretty much useless. "Go ahead. Starve." He turned and walked away.
Suboshi grabbed the carriage door and slammed it shut before the doctor could say a word. He felt somewhat satisfied, but it didn't really help.
~~~~
"REKKA SHI -- " Tasuki saw the wave coming at his face a few seconds too late. "Shien" quickly changed into "Shiiiiiiit!!" as he was washed overboard.
"Tasuki!" Nuriko wheeled around as he heard Tasuki yell. "Hang on!"
"I can't swim!" Tasuki yelled, waving his arms in the air and desperately trying to tread water, with little success.
"I'll throw you a rope!" Nuriko yelled. He turned around and grabbed the first rope he found, then managed to get Tasuki back on board.
"Look out!" Mitsukake yelled.
Tasuki and Nuriko both spun around to see that the ship was heading at a large rock island. "Ah, fuck," Tasuki swore.
There was a crash as they hit the wall. Everyone was knocked to the floor of the ship.
"Itai no da . . ." Chichiri said, picking himself up. The rest of them got to their feet, looking shaky.
"Who the fuck are you?" Tasuki asked, being the first to notice the figure standing on top of the rock.
The figure tossed aside its cloak and jumped down to the deck of the ship. "Seiryuu no shichi Seishi, Soi!" The symbol on her leg was glowing a brilliant blue. Electricity crackled in the air around her.
Chichiri immediately set up a chi barrier around the Suzaku Seishi, seeing Soi's lightning a second before it came. The lightning hit the barrier and ran down the edges of it.
Soi tried again, with no more results.
Tasuki grabbed his knife and hurled it at her. It went through Chichiri's chi barrier and just barely missed, grazing Soi's arm.
"K'so!" Soi cursed, clutching her arm. She decided, all things considered, it was time for a strategic retreat. She leapt off the boat and disappeared into the storm.
Chichiri let out a sigh of relief.
"Look! A passage is opening up!" Chiriko cried. "The boat's hitting it must have jarred it loose."
"That should cut off quite a few days of time no da," Chichiri said, grinning.
~~~~
"Let's split up into two groups no da," Chichiri said. They were sitting around in a bar in Hokkan-koku. "Tasuki seems irresponsible, so he can go with me no da."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tasuki glared at him.
"I'll go with you, too," Chiriko said. "We can split in a group of two and a group of three, since no one should be on their own."
"That leaves us," Nuriko said, looking at Mitsukake. "We'll make a good pair. I can fight, and then you can heal me."
Mitsukake chuckled.
"How can we signal each other if one of us finds the Shinzaho?" Tasuki asked.
"I've got some flares," Chiriko said, pulling them out.
"That's a good idea no da," Chichiri said.
"Then let's get going," Nuriko said.
~~~~
"Nakago-sama, I'm really starting to get worried," the doctor said in a low voice. "He hasn't eaten in two days. His arms are barely beginning to heal. I'm not sure what to do."
Nakago considered this. Soi hadn't done her job. He'd sent Ashitare to deal with the remaining Suzaku Seishi. Tomo was busy guarding Yui. It wasn't as if he needed Suboshi for anything, but it might be beneficial to keep him around in case something came up. However, in Suboshi's current state, he wasn't going to be much good for anything. But just in case . . . "Force feed him."
~~~~
"Mt. Black?" Mitsukake asked Nuriko. "I've never heard of it."
"Well, I haven't either. But if that's what the monument says, that's gotta be where it is. Now let's get going."
"Should we signal the others?"
"Let's go there first . . . we can signal them from there."
"Okay." The two of them got on their horses and began to long trek to Mt. Black.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Nuriko muttered.
"Maybe we should've signaled the others?"
Nuriko hesitated. "We've got to get there as quickly as possible," he finally said. "Let's get there and see what the layout is, and make sure the Seiryuus haven't already gotten there. Then we can signal the others."
~~~~
Tasuki stopped dead in his tracks. "What the fuck was that?"
Chichiri and Chiriko had also stopped, and were staring around in bewilderment.
"That felt . . . like when Tamahome . . ."
"The signal!" Chiriko cried, pointing at the sky.
~~~~
Mitsukake looked up as Tasuki, Chichiri, and Chiriko came running up the hillside. "What's going on?" Tasuki shouted. He looked at the bloodstains in the snow with horror.
Mitsukake stood from where he was kneeling in the snow. "It's okay," he hastily reassured them. "There was a Seiryuu Seishi here."
Tasuki's fists clenched. "Those bastards . . ."
"Where's Nuriko no da?" Chichiri asked.
"In the mouth of the cave, out of the snow," Mitsukake said. "He was injured . . . badly . . . in the fight with the Seiryuu."
"Is he okay?" Tasuki burst out.
"Hai, I healed him. He'll be fine, once he rests." Mitsukake wavered; Chichiri hurried to support him.
"You should sit down no da."
Mitsukake agreed, and allowed Chichiri and Tasuki to help him to the mouth of the cave, where Nuriko was sitting.
"Daijobu ka, Nuriko?" Tasuki asked urgently.
"I'm fine," Nuriko said, who looked pale but otherwise okay. "Just kind of woozy."
"So what exactly happened?" Chiriko asked.
"Didja kick some Seiryuu ass?" Tasuki asked.
Nuriko grinned. "Sure did!"
"Yes!" Tasuki crowed.
"So are we going in no da?" Chichiri asked. "I think we may need Miaka for this. They may only want to give it to a Miko."
Tasuki groaned. "How in Suzaku's name are we going to get around that?"
"I can go get her no da," Chichiri said, spreading his kesa out on the ground. "Be right back no da!"
~~~~
"Hotohori-sama! One of your seishi has returned to the palace!" an advisor burst into Hotohori's audience room, gesticulating wildly.
Hotohori immediately stood, forgetting all about the petitioners in front of him. Chichiri peeked over the advisor's shoulder. "Daaa!"
"Chichiri! What are you doing here?"
"How's Miaka no da? We need her help to get the Shinzaho."
"She's . . . improving," Hotohori said. "Her physical self is up to the journey, at least."
"How about her spirits no da?"
"They're better."
"Well, I'll just remind her that the sooner we call Suzaku, the sooner we can get Tamahome back no da!" Chichiri's grin was a mile wide.
"Oh, I have a question," Hotohori said. "About half an hour ago . . . I felt something . . . is everyone okay?"
"Everyone's fine," Chichiri assured him. "Nuriko was badly wounded, but Mitsukake healed him and he's fine now no da."
Hotohori nodded. "Well, I really should be paying attention . . ." He glanced around at his audience. "You know where Miaka's room is . . ."
"Hai no da," Chichiri said. "I'll bring her here so she can say goodbye." He turned and quickly left the room.
~~~~
Nakago listened to Tomo's explanation of the fake Taitsuu-kun and smirked. "Good," he said. He was holding the Shinzaho in one hand and looking at it admiringly. "Between your magic and Ashitare's . . . gift . . . things are proceeding quite smoothly."
Tomo bowed, trying to hide his inner glow.
"Now, as long as the Suzakus don't catch up with Miaka, I can deal with her, too."
"My 'Taitsuu-kun' has taken care of that as well, Nakago-sama."
Nakago nodded. "Still, a little extra security would be appreciated."
"I can do it." Suboshi had been sitting in the corner, glaring at the world in general and wishing he could die. Now he saw his opportunity.
Nakago barely glanced at him. He said nothing, but continued to think.
"Hey! Don't ignore me." Suboshi rose to his feet, somewhat unsteadily. "I'll go. I can slow them down."
"And get yourself killed?" Nakago asked.
"If it's convenient enough, sure," Suboshi said.
Nakago turned and looked at him for a long minute. He's never going to be useful again . . . "Fine. Do what you want."
Looking satisfied, Suboshi walked out of the pao.
"Why'd you let him go?" Tomo asked curiously.
"He's not going to recover," Nakago said. "I've lost my patience with him. And if he succeeds, it's all the better. But if he doesn't, it's not a huge loss."
~~~~
"Are you sure we should just leave her?" Nuriko asked anxiously. "I mean, Taitsuu-kun is Taitsuu-kun, but I don't really think we should just abandon her. Not with Seiryuu Seishi running around everywhere."
"Maybe one of us should stay behind?" Chiriko suggested.
There was a crash behind them, and they turned as one to see Suboshi standing on the top of a hill. The crash had come as he tossed his Ryuuseisui and knocked down a tree.
There was a moment of shocked silence.
"Hey!" Tasuki yelled. "You!" He began to run towards the hill, grabbing for his tessen.
Then he stopped dead in his tracks as Suboshi's knees gave way and he crumpled into a heap.
He walked over to Suboshi. "He fainted," he said, voice totally bewildered. "Guess I scared him!" He began to cackle.
"Tasuki, for Suzaku's sake . . ." Nuriko said, walking up the hill. The others followed. "Wow, he really looks terrible."
"Like we care. Can I toast him?" Tasuki asked eagerly.
"No, you can't toast him," Nuriko said. "He's unconscious, for crying out loud. Find some dignity."
Tasuki grumbled.
Mitsukake knelt beside Suboshi.
"Is he injured no da?" Chichiri asked, leaning over them. Chiriko peered over Chichiri's shoulder.
"I think so. Most of the bandages look old, though. These are the newest." Mitsukake gestured to the bandages covering Suboshi's arms.
Tasuki looked at Nuriko. "What'd you do to him?"
"I threw a tree at him. But I don't think it would have caused any injuries on his arms . . . it caught him right across the stomach."
"Well, he's got cracked ribs," Mitsukake said.
"What the fuck do we do with him?" Tasuki asked. "Why can't I just kill him?"
Chichiri thought fast, knowing that 'mercy' was not a reason that would satisfy Tasuki. "He might know their plans no da."
"Huh." Tasuki considered this. "I guess, yeah."
"What are we going to do about Miaka?" Chiriko asked, bringing them back to the original topic.
"Let's split up no da," Chichiri decided. "Tasuki, Nuriko, go look for Miaka. Chiriko and Mitsukake can come with me. We can go back to an inn in Hokkan for one night, and bring him with us no da. You can meet us there. Tasuki, do you remember where we stayed last night?"
Tasuki nodded.
"All right. If you haven't found Miaka by tonight, come back to the inn and we'll regroup no da."
~~~~
"I brought some tea no da," Chichiri said, going into the room in which Mitsukake was taking care of Suboshi. "In case he wakes up." He walked over and saw the look on Mitsukake's face. "What's wrong no da?"
Mitsukake held up one of Suboshi's arms. Chichiri saw the wound, which had just barely closed, and paled slightly, then removed his mask.
"It's recent," Mitsukake said, pointing out the obvious. "He must have done it after when we saw him."
Chichiri set the tea on the table and sat down. "I guess this changes things a little."
"Yes. Maybe Tasuki will lose some of his gusto when he finds out."
"I have to wonder if he even expected to win, when he confronted us just now."
"Or when he confronted us in the first place."
"Good point." The two sat in silent thought for a minute. Both of them knew how it felt to lose a loved one. Mitsukake re-bandaged Suboshi's arms.
"He seems to be healing slowly," he said. "I think he probably hasn't been eating or sleeping much."
"Not too unlikely no da," Chichiri said.
Both of them looked down as Suboshi moaned and began to stir. His eyes flickered open. "Uhh . . ." He saw both of the Suzaku Seishi leaning over him and sat bolt upright, then groaned at the pain it caused. "Where am I?!"
"Calm down," Mitsukake said, pushing him back down. Suboshi was too weak to resist. "Do you remember what happened?"
"I . . . yes . . ." He paused in thought. "You were supposed to . . ." To his horror, tears began to roll down his cheeks.
"Here, drink this," Chichiri said, bringing the tea over.
Suboshi pushed it away. "Why didn't you just kill me?" he asked roughly. "I killed your precious Tamahome."
"Why?" Chichiri asked quietly.
Suboshi turned his face away. "How can you ask that?"
Chichiri blinked. "Maybe because we honestly don't know."
Suboshi wiped the tears off his cheeks. "Don't have any sympathy for me," he spat. "Don't show me any mercy. I don't want it. After what you did to my brother -- "
"Hold on a minute no da," Chichiri interrupted. "What did who do to whom?"
"Tamahome killed my brother." Suboshi closed his eyes to hold back the tears.
Mitsukake and Chichiri stared at each other, then down at him. "No . . ." Mitsukake said slowly. "I think you've got the story wrong. Amiboshi fell into the river. It was an accident."
"Don't lie to me!" Suboshi yelled. He made an attempt to get out of bed, but Mitsukake pushed him back down. "Nakago said that Tamahome killed him!"
"And why did you believe him?" Chichiri asked.
Suboshi stared at him. "Why . . . wouldn't I?"
"Nakago is using you," Chichiri said softly. "Amiboshi's death was an accident. I swear to you."
Suboshi tried to say something and choked. "No . . . that's a lie . . . if . . . Aniki . . . if Tamahome didn't kill Aniki, then . . ." He turned away and buried his face in the sheets.
Mitsukake and Chichiri exchanged a look, both of them thinking, Now what?
"Leave me alone!" Suboshi cried out, his voice muffled.
Chichiri glanced at Mitsukake questioningly. He shook his head and said in a low voice, "We don't dare leave him alone for a second."
"Well, we should give him a minute to compose himself," Chichiri pointed out. The two of them retreated to a corner of the room.
"What on earth can we do with him?" Mitsukake asked quietly.
"I don't know," Chichiri said. "I know Tasuki wants to make him pay, but . . . I understand all too well what it's like to do something in a fit of rage. You don't see the consequences. All you want to do is make other people hurt for what they've done to you."
Mitsukake nodded. "And all odds are, he was probably hoping Tamahome would just kill him."
"And he could die with honor." Chichiri's face was dark. "Could we bring him with us? Is he all right to travel?"
"He should be, once he's rested a night, and if I can get some food into him."
"Because if Tasuki and Nuriko don't find Miaka, we won't have time to waste to bring him somewhere to be taken care of. Bringing him with us will be the only option."
"We may just have to take Taitsuu-kun's word that she'll take care of Miaka for us," Mitsukake said.
Chichiri nodded.
"I'm going to try to get some food into him," Mitsukake said, and turned back to Suboshi. He retrieved the tea from the table. "Here, drink this."
Suboshi lifted his face from the blanket. After a long second of staring at Mitsukake suspiciously, he allowed the healer to prop him up and help him drink the tea. "You re-bandaged my arms," he stated flatly.
"Yes, I did."
"Why?" Suboshi was less than thrilled at the thought of the Suzaku Seishi knowing what he'd done to himself.
"I wanted to make sure they were healing properly. I'm a doctor. It's my job."
Suboshi pulled away from him. "You could've asked first."
Mitsukake sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't think I would see . . ."
"Shut up," Suboshi snapped.
Mitsukake decided to try to make amends. "By the way, my name is Mitsukake. This is Chichiri."
Chichiri managed a smile. "Konnichi wa, no da."
Suboshi didn't answer.
"And you are . . .?" Mitsukake prompted.
Suboshi glared at him, then mumbled, "Seiryuu no shichi Seishi, Suboshi."
"And Amiboshi was your twin brother?" Chichiri asked, figuring he might as well make sure.
Suboshi turned his face away, which was answer enough.
"I'm going to leave Chichiri with you while I find you some food," Mitsukake said.
"Don't bother," Suboshi said.
"When was the last time you ate anything?"
Suboshi honestly tried to remember. "How long have I been unconscious?"
"Only a few hours."
"Yesterday . . . the day before that . . . I don't remember. It's blurry. Nakago had someone force feed me." His voice was cold.
"Then you need to eat something," Mitsukake said. "It would take you weeks to kill yourself through starvation."
"I have time."
"We don't. You're going to eat."
Suboshi glared at him fiercely.
"We don't want you falling ill and slowing us down," Chichiri said.
"Ask me if I care."
Mitsukake sighed and tugged Chichiri aside. "I'm going to bring more tea, and put something in it to make him sleep. Then I should at least be able to get some juice or something down him."
Chichiri nodded. "I guess that's all we can do."
~~~~