Part Five

"Shun? Shun-chan, can you hear me?" It was nearly evening of the next day. Amiboshi refused to stop trying to get through to his brother. He didn't even notice that people kept popping in and out to check on him.

"How're things going no da?" Chichiri poked his head into the room.

Amiboshi barely heard him. "Huh? Oh . . . nn. Nothing's changed." He responded automatically, as if he wasn't even really listening to what he was saying.

Chichiri left the room without saying anything else, knowing that Amiboshi wasn't really listening. Mitsukake was standing just outside. "What's happening?" he asked.

Chichiri leaned against the wall and removed his mask. "Nothing no da. Absolutely nothing. He's totally withdrawn into himself."

Mitsukake grimaced. "If he won't even come out for his brother . . ."

Chichiri shook his head sadly. "It's killing Amiboshi, to watch him like this, and know that it's partially his fault, but not be able to do anything about it. His whole purpose from the beginning was to protect his brother, and now . . ."

"I think Suboshi's just had one shock too many," Mitsukake said. "Even a good shock, like finding Amiboshi again . . . I can only imagine what that must have done to him."

"Do you think he's ever going to come out?"

"It's hard to say," Mitsukake said. "Amiboshi has a better chance than any of us at getting him to do so, but he doesn't seem to be making much progress."

"I feel so sorry for both of them," Chichiri said.

"Hai," Mitsukake said. "Me too."

Sachiko walked up to them. She was extremely worried. She seemed to have acquired a second son, which was fine with her, except he was catatonic and her first son really wasn't doing much better, practically speaking. "How're things going?" she asked.

"Badly," Chichiri said flatly.

"Oh." Sachiko looked down at the mug of tea she was carrying. "Do you think I should bring this in?"

"Hai, Amiboshi needs it," Mitsukake said. "Though I doubt you could get Suboshi to drink it."

Sachiko nodded and went into the room. Amiboshi didn't seem to have moved for the last twenty hours straight. She walked over and pulled a chair up next to him. "How are you feeling, honey?"

Amiboshi mumbled something indistinct.

Sachiko held the tea out to him. "Here, drink this. It'll help."

Amiboshi accepted the mug and held it tightly between his hands, but didn't start to drink it.

Sachiko regarded him carefully. "Do you want to talk?" she asked hesitantly.

He shook his head. A single tear slid down his cheek and fell into his mug. "I just wanted to protect him," he said faintly.

Sachiko put an arm around his shoulders. "He's going to be just fine," she said firmly. "If he's anything like you, then he'll fight until he's better. And if he cares about you anywhere near as much as you care about him, then he won't just give up. He'll want to come back to you."

"He's just been hurt so much," Amiboshi whispered. "And it's all my fault -- "

"Oh, it's not," Sachiko said gently. "You did the only thing you could do, Kaika-chan."

"But it wasn't enough," Amiboshi said. "Oh, God, I just want my brother back . . . I just . . ." He dissolved into tears.

Sachiko quickly took the mug from his shaking hands and put it on a side table. Then she pulled him into her lap as if he was a small child, and held him while he cried. "Shhhh . . . you're going to be all right, Kaika, you're going to be fine . . . shhhhhh . . ."

He cried himself out and lay quietly in her arms. After a long minute, he pulled away and rubbed his red eyes, mumbling an apology.

"You need to get some sleep," Sachiko said. "Here, drink this." She gave him the tea again, which he drank.

"I don't want to leave," Amiboshi mumbled.

"Then stay here," Sachiko said. "I won't stop you."

Amiboshi hesitated, then nodded. He climbed over his brother and flopped down next to him.

"Sleep well," Sachiko said, leaving the room.

Amiboshi closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around his brother, and fell asleep.

~~~~

When Amiboshi woke up the next morning, nothing had changed. He climbed out of bed, feeling somewhat groggy, and pulled the chair back to where it had been the night before. Sachiko poked her head into the room. "Ohayo, Kaika-chan," she said, trying to sound cheerful.

Amiboshi looked up. "Ohayo, Kaa-san."

"How's your brother this morning?" she asked, coming in.

Amiboshi shrugged.

This not being the response she was hoping for, Sachiko leaned down to check on Suboshi. His eyes were open, but blank. "Do you want any breakfast?" she asked Amiboshi.

Amiboshi shrugged again. "I guess."

"Do you think you could run out and get some water for me?" Sachiko said. "We don't have any, and Tou-san has already left for the fields . . ."

Amiboshi stood. "Hai, I'll get some." He looked down at Suboshi briefly, then left the room. The Suzaku Seishi were sitting around in the living room, talking. Amiboshi exchanged a few half-hearted good mornings, then left the house.

Sachiko came out of Suboshi's room. "Mitsukake-san, if you want to check on Suboshi, now would be the time to do it."

Mitsukake nodded, stood, and left the room.

Amiboshi walked down the path to the well, deep in thought and not even noticing where he was going. He didn't notice when Tomo stepped out of the shadow under a tree and into his path.

"Nice to see you're still alive, Amiboshi."

Amiboshi's head snapped up. "Tomo . . .?"

Tomo crossed his arms and looked at Amiboshi speculatively. "So why didn't you return to us?"

"I . . ." Amiboshi contemplated his answers. Nakago was threatening to kill my brother. I would have had to fight my friends. You scared the hell out of me. He settled for, "I . . ."

Tomo sighed. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. I'll let you explain it to Nakago."

This, if anything, was worse. Amiboshi began to slowly back away. "I . . . uh . . ."

Tomo raised an eyebrow. "You're not trying to tell me that you don't want to come back with me, are you?"

Amiboshi nodded vigorously and managed to stammer out, "Yes I am!"

Tomo took a few steps toward him. "I'm afraid that's unacceptable."

Amiboshi continued to back away, not stupid enough to turn his back and run, but trying to get away nonetheless. Unfortunately for him, it didn't occur to him that there might be something behind him. He tripped over a loose rock and went sprawling. He managed to scramble to his feet, but before he could turn and run, Tomo dragged him to the tree and pinned him there, holding him by the throat.

Amiboshi tried desperately to draw in air. He raised his arms and tried to loosen Tomo's hands from around his neck. Tomo was much stronger than him, and Amiboshi couldn't manage to get free.

Shun . . . he thought desperately. Help me . . . Shun . . . chan . . .

And everything started to fade.

~~~~

Mitsukake watched in bewilderment as Suboshi sat bolt upright in bed and started clawing at his throat as if he couldn't breathe. "Suboshi . . .?"

Suboshi's eyes cleared and he took a deep breath, realizing that he could. "Aniki . . . oh my God . . ."

"Suboshi, what's wrong?" Mitsukake asked.

Suboshi looked at him blankly, as if he didn't realize who the Suzaku Seishi was. Then he turned and got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Mitsukake asked in bewilderment.

Suboshi ignored him totally and walked out the door. Everyone else looked up as he walked into the room. He glanced around for a second, as if looking for something. Then he raised one hand. His Ryuuseisui lifted out of a pack across the room and flew into his hand. Then he went through the front door and broke into a run.

"What the hell?" Tasuki immediately got to his feet and went after him. The others followed.

~~~~

Tomo was fairly satisfied with the way things were going. He hadn't really expected to convince Amiboshi to go with them. But Amiboshi would soon be unconscious, and therefore much easier to move. And if he woke up, well, Tomo would have to put him in an illusion and tow him around that way. As it was now, his choking noises were fading and his hands had stopped clawing at Tomo's.

He heard a voice behind him.

"Don't touch my brother!"

He nearly dropped Amiboshi and half-spun around to see Suboshi standing a few feet away, looking extremely menacing. His Ryuuseisui were spinning.

"Leave him alone!" Suboshi shrieked, and sent the Ryuuseisui flying.

Tomo saw them coming, but just couldn't seem to get out of the way in time. He looked down in horror to see blood beginning to stream from a hole in his chest. He slowly sagged to the ground.

"This . . . Nakago . . . gomennasai . . ."

~~~~

"ANIKI!" Suboshi ran forward and cradled his brother in his arms. "Aniki, daijoubu ka?"

Amiboshi coughed weakly and shuddered in Suboshi's arms. He opened his mouth and tried to speak.

"Shhh," Suboshi said gently. "Don't try to talk."

Amiboshi leaned against his brother and closed his eyes.

Suboshi rocked him back and forth. "It's okay, Aniki. You're okay. He won't hurt you anymore. I won't let him hurt you . . ."

Mitsukake walked over and leaned over both of them. "Is he okay?"

Suboshi looked up. For the first time in days, his eyes were clear and coherent. "I think so," he answered.

Mitsukake reached out a hand towards Amiboshi. Suboshi shrank back suspiciously. "It's okay," Mitsukake reassured him. "I'm not going to hurt him. Trust me, okay?"

Suboshi looked at him carefully, then reluctantly let Mitsukake pulled Amiboshi out of his arms. Nuriko and Chichiri both walked over. Chichiri put a hand on Suboshi's shoulder. "Are you okay no da?"

"I . . ." Suboshi shook his head a little as the world started to fade in front of his eyes. "Hai . . . I'm okay . . . Aniki . . ." He looked over at Mitsukake hopefully.

Mitsukake looked up. "He'll be all right," he reassured Suboshi. "He's breathing okay. It's a good thing you got here so quickly, though."

Tasuki walked over and nudged Tomo with his foot. "I think he's dead," he announced for the benefit of the audience.

"Oh God . . ." Suboshi moaned.

Chichiri hastened to comfort him. "Don't worry about it no da. You did it to save your brother."

"But . . ." Suboshi's voice trailed off into misery. He was starting to feel dizzy.

"I think we should go back to the house," Nuriko decided. "Your parents . . . well, his sort-of parents . . . never mind, you know who I mean . . . must be worried."

Suboshi nodded, making the world spin. He felt extremely ill. Chichiri noted that he was getting paler by the minute. Then he attempted to stand. This, of course, was a Big Mistake. His knees buckled underneath him and he started to fall. Chichiri caught him before he crumpled to the ground.

Mitsukake stood up, scooping Amiboshi up in his arms.

Nuriko picked Suboshi up. The group of them went back to the house, where Sachiko was standing in the doorway, looking concerned. Chichiri stopped to explain what was going on, while Mitsukake and Nuriko took the twins into their room and laid them down on the bed. Amiboshi was only half-conscious. Suboshi was still awake, but somewhat dazed.

"How are you feeling?" Mitsukake asked him, leaning over the bed.

"Uhhh . . ." Amiboshi moaned.

"Awful," Suboshi managed.

Mitsukake looked down at both of them. "I think you both need to get some sleep."

"I knew that," Suboshi said wearily. "Some doctor you are . . ."

He's back up to making sarcastic comments, Mitsukake thought. This is a good thing. "Well, I'm going to bring you both some tea."

"You don't need to drug us . . ." Suboshi said vaguely.

"I'm not. I just think you should get something in your system before you lapse into unconsciousness. I'll be right back." He came back a minute later with two mugs of tea. Amiboshi had already fallen asleep, so Mitsukake propped Suboshi up and helped him drink it. Suboshi drank the whole thing without complaint, then lay back down and let Mitsukake put a blanket over him. "Get some sleep."

Suboshi nodded. Mitsukake turned to leave the room when he heard Suboshi call his name. He turned back around. "Hai?"

"Arigatou . . ." Suboshi said faintly.

Mitsukake smiled a little. "What are you thanking me for?"

But Suboshi was already asleep.

~~~~

Sachiko cracked the door open and poked her head in. Both of the twins were still sound asleep, so she felt free to go the rest of the way in. Mitsukake had left the mugs in the room, and she needed them for breakfast. She picked them both up and looked over at the twins. They were curled up together in a small heap, looking absolutely adorable and very young. She smiled gently, then turned and left the room.

~~~~

Nakago was displeased.

He would have been willing to write the twins off as an acceptable loss, the way he'd written Amiboshi off when he'd first 'died' and Suboshi when he'd proven to be entirely useless. This, however, was totally unacceptable. Tomo was not something he could write off as a loss.

Something simply had to be done about this . . .

~~~~

Suboshi moaned and rolled over as he heard somebody calling his name. "Shun . . . Shun, are you awake . . .?"

"Nnnn," Suboshi answered, then lifted one hand and rubbed his eyes. "No," he groaned, then buried his head in his pillow.

"Shun . . ."

"Oh, fine," Suboshi said, half-sitting and propping himself up on his elbows.

Amiboshi was looking at him anxiously. "Are you all right?"

Suboshi nodded. "I think so." He looked at his brother carefully. "What about you?" There were dark bruises on Amiboshi's throat. "You look awful. How do you feel?"

"Awful," Amiboshi clarified. "But you look pretty bad, too."

"Ugh," Suboshi said. "I'm not surprised."

"You were all . . . not there . . ." Amiboshi looked down, fiddling with the blanket. "I was . . . I was scared."

Suboshi sat the rest of the way up and put his arms around Amiboshi's shoulders. "It's okay . . . I'm okay now . . . just don't go anywhere again . . . ever . . ."

"You either." Amiboshi buried his face in his twin's shoulder. "I'm sorry I left you," he whispered. "So, so sorry . . . I didn't . . ."

Suboshi clung to him. "Me too . . . I shouldn't have . . . oh God, I was just so angry and I hurt so much . . ."

"Shhh . . . it's okay . . . Aniki's here . . . I won't leave you again. I promise. I won't ever, ever leave you again . . ."

Suboshi began to cry softly, feeling safe in Amiboshi's arms. Amiboshi rocked him back and forth, still whispering, "It's okay . . . it's okay . . . I won't leave you . . ."

Suboshi buried his face in Amiboshi's shirt and cried himself out. Amiboshi held him and smoothed his hair and did his best to calm him. Eventually, Suboshi exhausted himself and huddled quietly in his brother's arms.

The door cracked open and Chichiri stuck his head in. "Daaa!"

Suboshi immediately pulled out of Amiboshi's arms and sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Hai?"

Chichiri came the rest of the way in. "We heard you talking, so I figured it was safe to come in no da," he said cheerfully. He saw the looks on their faces and hastened to reassure them, "We couldn't understand you no da. We just heard you."

Both twins gave a small sigh of relief.

"You both need to eat something no da," Chichiri said. "Do you think you can get out of bed?"

Suboshi nodded and looked at his brother, who also nodded. He got out of bed, somewhat shaky on his feet, and offered a hand to Amiboshi. He accepted and let Suboshi help him off the bed. Supporting each other, they made their way into the kitchen.

"Ohayo, sleepyheads!" Nuriko called cheerfully.

"You're a morning person, aren't you," Suboshi said, swallowing a huge yawn. He made sure Amiboshi got into a chair, then sat down himself. Sachiko, smiling at everyone and everything in sight, brought them both some breakfast.

"Don't eat too much of that," Mitsukake warned Suboshi. "You'll get sick."

Amiboshi looked questioningly at his brother. "Have you eaten at all since . . ." his voice trailed off. He wasn't sure he really wanted to know.

Suboshi shifted uneasily, which was answer enough. "A little . . ."

Amiboshi sighed a little, but decided not to say anything.

"So what's the plan?" Suboshi asked, trying to change the subject.

"Well . . . we need to go get the Shinzahos," Nuriko said. "But we're not sure we should leave both of here by yourselves."

"Nakago isn't one to give up no da," Chichiri said solemnly.

Amiboshi poked at his food.

"So if you two are feeling up to it, we thought you could come with us," Mitsukake said. "A little extra protection never hurt anything."

Amiboshi looked uncertainly at Sachiko.

"You can come back once we've made sure you're safe," Mitsukake hurriedly assured him.

The twins exchanged glances. "Arigatou . . ." Suboshi said slowly. "But . . . we're not . . . your responsibility. You shouldn't have to take care of us."

Tasuki raised an eyebrow. "You want us to leave ya to Nakago?"

"No, that's not what I . . ." Suboshi's voice trailed off. "Why would you . . ." He frowned. "I guess I just don't understand," he finally said vaguely.

The Suzaku Seishi looked around at each other. How were they supposed to explain basic human kindness to someone who had never known what it was in his whole life?

"Well . . ." Amiboshi decided to try to explain. "They're everything . . . that Nakago isn't. They're . . . they're good people, Shun. I mean, really good. They wouldn't just . . . leave us . . ."

"But we're their enemies!" Suboshi protested.

"What makes someone an enemy no da?" Chichiri asked quietly. "Just being from different countries? Worshipping different gods? That isn't what makes people enemies."

"But . . ."

"Don't worry about understanding," Amiboshi said. "Here, I know how to explain it. If you saw one of them -- " he gestured at the Suzaku Seishi -- "getting hurt, and you knew you could help, would you?"

Suboshi blinked. "Yeah . . ."

"Why?"

Suboshi stopped in bewilderment. "Well, because . . . because I would. They helped me."

"But they're our enemies, right? So why would you help them?"

Suboshi's face twisted as he tried to explain himself. "I just would," he finally said. "It's just what I would do. What . . . they would do."

"There, you've got it." Nuriko smiled at Suboshi.

Suboshi shook his head. "Weird . . ."

~~~~

"So that's what's happened no da," Chichiri finished, finally done with the monologue explanation of their adventures that Tokaki and Subaru had insisted upon. "And we really don't think the Seiryuu Seishi are far behind us, so if we could have the Shinzaho please no da . . ."

Tokaki and Subaru exchanged looks. "I remember Tamahome when he was a kid," Tokaki said.

Suboshi shrank away and tried to make himself invisible.

Miaka looked depressed.

"Well, once we get the Shinzaho, we can call the god and -- " Nuriko began.

"No we can't," Miaka moaned.

"Look, we can at least give it a try," Tasuki said. "The worst that can happen is Suzaku'll come down and say, nope, sorry, and go back. We've got nothing to lose."

"Well, I'll go see Tatara," Tokaki said, "and get the Shinzaho from him."

"Arigatou goziamashita," Miaka cried.

~~~~

"So how are we going to get the other Shinzaho?" Chiriko asked. The Suzaku Seishi, their Miko, and the twins were having a conference. "Nakago still has it."

"He's wearing it," Miaka said. "And he's got a chi barrier around it."

"Which we could break, if we all focused our energy no da," Chichiri said. He looked at Amiboshi suddenly. "You can break Nakago's barriers no da. Can't you?"

Amiboshi shifted. "Hai . . . I did it that one time when you were trapped in Kutou . . ."

"What was this?" Suboshi asked, looking at his brother in confusion.

"Uh, long story . . . the point is that if they all focus their energy on me, I can break Nakago's barrier, because it's Seiryuu chi both ways, so it takes a lot less effort."

"Oh." Suboshi pondered this for a minute, then asked, "Can you do this from here?"

"Not technically . . ." Amiboshi squirmed under his brother's glare.

"You're not going," Suboshi stated flatly. He looked around at the Suzaku Seishi and said, "He's not going." He put a protective -- and restraining -- arm around his brother's shoulders.

Amiboshi looked at him.

"No," Suboshi said, his voice starting to crack. "No way. You . . . you said you wouldn't leave. I won't let you go."

Amiboshi winced. "Shun-chan . . ."

"Do you want Nakago to have the Shinzaho?" Tasuki asked, looking at Suboshi speculatively.

"What the fuck do I care?" Suboshi snapped. "It won't do him any good. We've got this one."

"But we can't call Suzaku without it," Chiriko said.

"So fucking what? I'm not risking my twin brother so you can . . . whatever the hell you want anyway."

Miaka walked over to Suboshi and knelt in front of where he was sitting so they were eye to eye. Her voice was soft and sad. "I want Tamahome back."

Suboshi froze.

"Onegai?" Miaka asked quietly.

"I . . ." Suboshi swallowed hard. "Gomen, I . . . just don't want . . . to lose him again." His voice was no louder than a whisper.

Miaka managed a small, sad smile. "I know how you feel."

Suboshi looked away.

"I'll come back," Amiboshi said. "Don't worry about me, Shun-chan."

Suboshi tried to speak, but could only choke.

"Well, I'll go with you no da," Chichiri said. "We can take my kesa to get in. I can conceal my chi, and you can conceal yours, right no da?"

Amiboshi nodded.

"Then we can go at night, when he'll be asleep, and sneak in no da," Chichiri continued. "And if you all focus your energy from here, then you can play and break the barrier, grab the Shinzaho, and we can go back through the kesa."

Amiboshi nodded again.

"Then I suggest we all get some rest," Mitsukake said. "You can go late tonight."

~~~~

"I'll be fine," Amiboshi reassured his brother, for what seemed like the thousandth time. "Really."

Suboshi mumbled something, looking at the floor.

Amiboshi gave him a quick hug. "Don't worry."

Suboshi hugged him tightly and refused to let go. "Come back to me, Aniki," he whispered.

"I will," Amiboshi said.

Suboshi let go and pulled away, rubbing his eyes.

"You two all set no da?" Chichiri asked. He had spread his kesa on the floor and was getting ready to go.

"Hai," Amiboshi answered, and walked over. He took a deep breath and concentrated on concealing his chi. Suboshi shuddered as his brother's familiar presence disappeared from within him. Amiboshi took his flute out in one hand and nodded at Chichiri. "Let's go."

~~~~

Fortunately, the hall they came out in was empty. Amiboshi looked around nervously. Chichiri put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Let's go no da," he whispered.

Amiboshi nodded and began to creep down the hallway. "There's guards down there," he hissed.

Chichiri pushed him gently behind a pillar. "Stay here na no da. I'm going to go find out where Nakago's chambers are."

"How -- ?" Amiboshi began, then cut himself off as Chichiri poofed into a normal Kutou foot soldier.

"I'll be right back no da." Chichiri walked briskly to the other end of the hallway. Amiboshi leaned out a little to listen to their conversation. "I'm looking for the Shogun's chambers."

"Why?" the guard asked suspciously.

"I have a message for him and I've never been here before," Chichiri answered.

"Oh. Well, it's down this hallway . . ." the guard gave a complicated set of directions.

Chichiri nodded at them, then walked back to Amiboshi. "It's this way no da," he said, changing back into his normal self. "Follow me."

"And hope we don't run into any guards, right?" Amiboshi whispered.

Nakago's door was closed. Chichiri reached out and opened it without a noise. He stuck his head in. Nakago was sound asleep. Chichiri tiptoed into the room, and motioned for Amiboshi to follow him.

Amiboshi took a deep breath. Shun, he thought. Think of Shun. He followed Chichiri into the room. Chichiri spread his kesa out on the floor, ready to leap into it.

They had agreed ahead of time that Amiboshi would stand close to Nakago and play. As soon as the barrier broke, he would grab the Shinzaho. Amiboshi knew, in the back of his mind, that this would wake Nakago up. He was trying not to think about this, and not doing a very good job.

Chichiri nodded at him.

Amiboshi closed his eyes, raised his flute to his lips, and began to play. He got out one ear-piercing note and the barrier shattered with a blue flash.

Nakago's eyes snapped open.

Amiboshi reached down and grabbed the Shinzaho, giving it a solid yank. A little voice in the back of his head said, I sure hope it doesn't matter that I just broke the clasp. A much louder voice was screaming, RUN, YOU FOOL!

He turned and tossed the Shinzaho to Chichiri, just as Nakago grabbed him by the shirt.

"Go, Chichiri!" Amiboshi yelled.

Chichiri hesitated about one millisecond, then jumped into his kesa and was gone.

Amiboshi turned his head, and there was Nakago, larger than life and extremely displeased. Amiboshi could only manage two words. "Oh, fuck . . ."

~~~~

Chichiri appeared. Alone. Holding the Shinzaho. But . . . alone.

There was a second of shocked, horrified silence.

Suboshi spoke. His voice was incredibly low, incredibly quiet. "Where is my brother?"

Chichiri opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't seem to make the words come out.

"WHERE IS MY BROTHER?!" Suboshi screamed. When he still received no answer, he let out a furious shriek and launched himself at Chichiri. Both of them went crashing to the floor. "Where is he?!" Chichiri didn't even attempt to fight back, or do anything other than hold his hands up to protect his face.

Nuriko grabbed Suboshi under his arms and dragged him back off of Chichiri. Suboshi struggled frantically, but couldn't get out of Nuriko's grip. "What happened to my brother?!"

Chichiri managed to sit up, but couldn't make it to his feet. "We'll go back for him," he said.

"I want my brother back!" Suboshi shrieked.

"I just need to rest for a little while -- " Chichiri's face was pale. "Just an hour or two, and then we can go back -- "

"NO!" Suboshi screamed. "Not an hour! Nakago will kill him! We have to go now!" He almost managed to get free of Nuriko, but not quite. "NOW!"

Chichiri turned to Mitsukake and said quickly, "I think we'd better . . . sedate him . . . before anything happens to Amiboshi . . ."

Mitsukake winced, but nodded. "Hai, I'll get something . . ."

"Suboshi, will you calm the fuck down!" Tasuki yelled. "We'll go back soon! Now calm down!" He was the only one who could even make himself heard over Suboshi's hysterical wailing.

"I WANT MY BROTHER!!"

Mitsukake walked over with a small cup. "Here, Suboshi, drink this . . . it'll help . . ."

"Fuck you!" Suboshi shouted. "I don't want your fucking drugs! Get the fuck away from me!"

Mitsukake closed his eyes for a second, then said to Nuriko, "Hold him still."

"Listen!" Tasuki shouted, getting closest to Suboshi. "Will you calm down? You can't do anything! If you went running off into the night you'd only get yourself killed! And that won't do your brother a damned fucking bit of good! Stay here and maybe we can work something out, okay?!"

"MAYBE?!" Suboshi bellowed. "I WANT MY BROTHER!!"

"Are you going to calm down without the fucking drugs?" Tasuki yelled.

"GET ME MY BROTHER BACK AND THEN I'LL CALM DOWN!!"

"I'll take that as a no," Tasuki said.

"And I won't swallow anything!" Suboshi yelled.

Tasuki grabbed his nose. "Hell yes you will! I'm gonna get a fucking headache if you don't shut up!"

Suboshi shrieked and struggled as violently as he could, but together Nuriko and Tasuki were too strong, and Mitsukake managed to get most of the cupful into his mouth. Suboshi tried to spit it out, but ended up coughing and nearly choking on it, then swallowed.

"Well, fuck you anyway!" he shouted. Tears were starting to pour down his cheeks. "He promised he'd come back! He promised! Aniki never breaks a promise! He said he wouldn't leave me again, he can't have left me! He can't have . . . he . . ." Suboshi started to sag in Nuriko's arms. "Aniki, Aniki . . . don't leave me . . . don't . . ." Nuriko gently helped him to the floor, where he curled into a ball in Nuriko's arms. "Aniki . . ." he whispered.

"Shhh," Nuriko said. "We'll get him back." Tears were starting down his cheeks now. "We'll get him back."

Suboshi struggled faintly one last time, then went limp.

Mitsukake turned to Chichiri. "What happened?"

Chichiri quietly explained. "I don't think Nakago will kill him. For one thing, he probably wants Suboshi too, and he knows that Suboshi's going to come running for his brother. Which means that Amiboshi is . . . not exactly safe . . . but at least he's not in mortal danger."

"Yeah, but what the hell will Nakago do to him?" Tasuki asked.

Chichiri looked over at Suboshi's still form. "I think we'll find out soon enough."

"How long before you can go back?" Miaka asked. She had been watching the whole thing with wide eyes.

"At least an hour . . . depending on how many people I need to take with me," Chichiri said. "Probably an hour and a half."

Mitsukake grimaced. "A lot can happen in that much time."

~~~~

Amiboshi searched for words. The only ones that came out were, "I'm going to die."

Nakago looked down at him. "Not yet."

Amiboshi considered this. In the long run, he decided that this was probably worse.

Nakago grabbed Amiboshi's arm and twisted it behind his back, making him drop the flute. "Walk."

Amiboshi took a few hesitant steps foward. "Wh-Where are we going?" he asked, and cursed himself for the waver in his voice.

"Downstairs."

Amiboshi swallowed hard and allowed Nakago to drag him out of the room and down the hall. Please, Shun . . . get here soon . . .

~~~~

Part Six
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