Part Six

Nuriko looked up as Suboshi shuddered in his arms. "What's wrong with him?" Tasuki called from across the room.

"I don't know," Nuriko answered.

Suboshi jerked and cried out.

Mitsukake sighed. "I guess it's a good thing we gave him that. I don't think I even want to know what Nakago is doing to Amiboshi right now."

Chichiri closed his eyes in momentary sorrow. "So where were we no da? If we go in and find Amiboshi, but Nakago's with him . . ."

"What about a diversion?" Chiriko asked.

"Good idea no da," Chichiri said, brightening a little. "Who volunteers?"

"I'll do it," Tasuki said. "I've gotten left out of the fun too much. Also I wanna kick some Seiryuu ass. This is startin' to piss me off."

"You'd cause good diversions," Mitsukake said, with a nod. "You can just explode some things."

"Okay no da," Chichiri said, deep in thought. "How's this. We can go in. I can disguise myself and find out where Amiboshi is. Tasuki can cause a diversion. I can get Amiboshi and leave."

"Wait, how do I get out?" Tasuki asked.

There was a moment of thoughtful silence.

"I can give you my kasa," Chichiri said. "It'll take you directly to Taitsuu-kun's place."

"Oh God! That horrible old hag?!"

Chichiri sighed. "I'd watch what you say, no da."

"Aagh! Do you think she's listening?" Tasuki asked, looking around.

"No, I doubt it," Mitsukake said. He looked at Chichiri. "If you take your kesa directly to Taitsuu-kun's place, then you'll only have to make one trip. We can all meet back there."

"We can go through your kasa ahead of time," Chiriko chipped in.

Chichiri nodded. "That's a good idea."

"So it's settled, then?" Mitsukake asked.

There was a chorus of nods. The following moment of silence was broken when Suboshi let out a full-blown shriek.

"Fucking hell," Tasuki swore. "Is he asleep?"

Suboshi cried out again and started to struggle vaguely.

"No, he's still unconscious," Nuriko said, doing his best to hold on.

Tasuki stared down at the Seiryuu seishi. "What the fuck are they doing to the poor kid?"

~~~~

Nakago was not pleased. He'd proceeded to demonstrate to Amiboshi exactly how not pleased he was. He knew it was only a matter of time before Suboshi showed up to rescue his brother. Then he would show Suboshi how not pleased he was. In fact, he was actually quite angry. Nakago didn't get angry often. He had actually liked Tomo. Having killed Tomo was a crime punishable by . . . much more than death.

Amiboshi screamed.

Nakago smirked. It certainly doesn't take much to make him scream . . . then again, I suppose he doesn't have any reason to pretend he's stronger than he really is.

Amiboshi's voice ran out and he began to whimper. It wasn't much longer before he lost consciousness.

Nakago stood back for a moment in thought. Then he turned and walked out of the room, locking the door behind him.

~~~~

Suboshi had screamed himself hoarse after the first twenty minutes. He continued to whimper and mumble for a good fifteen minutes after that, but eventually even that trailed into silence.

The Suzaku Seishi exchanged looks.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Nuriko wondered, looking down at the trembling heap in his arms that was Suboshi. It could be that Nakago's stopped, but it could also be that Amiboshi . . . let's not finish that thought.

"How much longer?" Miaka asked Chichiri.

Chichiri heaved a sigh. "I don't want to go before I'm ready and end up getting stuck there no da . . . twenty, thirty more minutes maybe."

Miaka fiddled. "I feel bad . . . I made him let Amiboshi go . . ."

"He volunteered," Tasuki said. "'Sides, Suboshi owed ya one. Don't feel guilty for Suzaku's sake."

Miaka mumbled something.

"We all feel bad, Miaka-chan no da," Chichiri said quietly. "I wish there was something I could have done . . . but . . ."

"We'll just have to wait," Mitsukake said softly. "And pray."

~~~~

"How do we do this?" Nuriko asked, looking nervously at the opening in Chichiri's kasa. "And I thought you lost this in Kutou."

"You think I only have one of these no da?" Chichiri asked incredulously. "Here, climb through. We'll send Suboshi after you and you can catch him on the other side."

Nuriko nodded and went through the kasa. Mitsukake and Chichiri carefully slid Suboshi through. Chiriko and Miaka followed. Mitsukake turned to Chichiri and Tasuki. "Good luck, you two."

"We'll fucking need it," Tasuki grumbled.

Chichiri smiled a little. "Arigatou . . . take care of the others."

Mitsukake nodded, turned, and went through the kasa. Chichiri picked it up and handed it to Tasuki, who eyed it suspiciously. "Sure this thing won't try to take me to the old hag too early or anythin'?"

Chichiri just looked at him.

"Okay, okay," Tasuki said.

Chichiri spread the kesa on the floor. "Come on, let's go no da."

~~~~

Nakago looked up as there was a loud explosion. Frowning, he went to the door. This could be a trap . . . He decided to let the guard at the door go check it out. He would stay with Amiboshi.

Except the guard at the door was no longer there.

Nakago blinked, then his eyes narrowed. He walked cautiously out of the room, looking around at every second, trying to see if anyone else was in the hallway.

Come on . . . Chichiri thought. He was around a corner down the hall. Just a little bit further . . .

Nakago rounded the far corner, still walking slowly.

Chichiri dashed for the door and ran into the room, then closed the door quickly behind him and locked it. It won't delay him for long, but . . . the minute might be enough.

Amiboshi was chained up in the middle of the room. Chichiri winced. Oh well, Nakago's gotta know we're here by now. He stretched his hand and chi blasted the chains out of existence. Amiboshi crumpled to the ground; Chichiri hurried to catch him before he could hit his head. He quickly checked for a pulse and noted with relief that it was still there.

He heard footsteps running down the hall.

"Time to go no da," he said out loud to nobody, and spread his kesa on the floor.

Something crashed into the door.

"Bye no da," Chichiri called cheerfully, then, holding Amiboshi in his arms, he jumped through the kesa.

~~~~

There was a collective gasp as Amiboshi and Chichiri appeared in the middle of the room. Amiboshi was a bloody mess. Chichiri laid him gently on the ground. There was a moment of shocked silence.

"Thank Suzaku," Nuriko finally said, "that neither of them are conscious."

Miaka turned her face away. "What . . ."

Mitsukake was too worried to try to think of a nice way to put it. "It looks like he was whipped."

Miaka shuddered.

"HEAL HEAL FIX FIX!!" There was a shriek as several Nyan-Nyans came bounding down the hall.

"I never thought I'd be glad to see one of those little twerps," Nuriko said, looking over at them in relief.

Within seconds, the Nyan-Nyans had surrounded both of the twins and Tasuki, who had a few cuts and bruises because he had flamed the wrong pillar and practically brought the building down on top of himself.

Taitsuu-kun popped up next to them. "Okay, who wants to explain this one?"

"AAAAAA SUNAKAKE BABAAAAA!!" Tasuki shrieked.

Taitsuu-kun glared at him, but chose to ignore the statement. "Anybody?"

"I want a nap no da," Chichiri moaned.

"I can explain," Miaka said. Chiriko and Nuriko volunteered to stay and help. Chichiri wandered off vaguely, looking for a place to rest. Mitsukake stayed with the twins. Even though the Nyan-Nyans had healed their injuries, he was a doctor, and he was worried about what would happen when they woke up.

~~~~

Mitsukake looked over as he heard a low moan. He walked over to see Suboshi holding one hand to his head. "Where . . .?"

Mitsukake sat down on the edge of the bed. "We're safe. We're at Taitsuu-kun's place."

"Aniki!" Memory came back in a flood. Suboshi tried to sit up, then collapsed backwards.

"He's here, too," Mitsukake assured him. "In fact, he's right over there." He pointed to the other bed in the room.

"Aniki . . ." Suboshi tried to sit up again. Mitsukake put an arm around his shoulders and helped him.

"Here, you should drink some of this." Mitsukake had tea ready.

Suboshi glared at him. "How do I know you're not just going to drug me again?"

"Why would I be drugging you?" Mitsukake asked.

Suboshi mumbled, "I dunno . . ."

"Then drink the tea."

Suboshi grumblingly accepted the tea from Mitsukake. "My arms are better," he said between sips.

"I know. The Nyan-Nyans healed you."

Suboshi considered this. "Then why do I feel so weak?"

"Aftereffects of starving yourself and not sleeping," Mitsukake said, looking at Suboshi somewhat sternly.

"Oh." Suboshi finished the tea, then started trying to climb out of bed. Mitsukake held him firmly in place. "Let me see Aniki," he said, scowling.

"He needs his sleep and you shouldn't get out of bed." Mitsukake knew he was tempting death. He didn't care.

"Let me see Aniki," Suboshi repeated, struggling against him.

"No. You need to stay here."

Suboshi began to fight in earnest. "Let me go! Let me see Aniki!" Mitsukake was holding him by the upper arms, keeping him firmly in place. "I hate you! This is all your fault anyway, now let me go! LET ME SEE ANIKI!" He began to pound on Mitsukake's chest. "Let me go! LET ME GO!!"

Mitsukake simply held him and waited. It wasn't long before Suboshi completely tired himself out and crumpled into Mitsukake's arms, starting to cry. Mitsukake said nothing, just continued to hold him comfortingly. After a while, Suboshi's tears stopped.

"Why don't you get some sleep?" Mitsukake asked, loosening his grip.

Suboshi clung to him. "No . . . don't let go . . . stay with me . . . onegai . . ."

Mitsukake hugged him tighter. "Sure."

Suboshi hid his face in Mitsukake's shirt, and eventually fell back to sleep.

~~~~

Mitsukake wasn't sure he wanted to be there when Amiboshi woke up. He felt entirely worn out after having dealt with an approximately five-year-old Suboshi. Therefore, he was extremely glad to see Nuriko stick his head into the room. "How are they doing?"

Mitsukake rubbed his eyes wearily. "Well, Suboshi is an emotional wreck, and I think he's going to be five years old for quite a while. Amiboshi still hasn't woken up yet."

Nuriko blinked. "Excuse me?"

Mitsukake sighed. "Well, when he woke up, he threw a fit when I wouldn't let him get out of bed and see Amiboshi. Then he proceeded to have a temper tantrum, and then cry into my shirt for about twenty minutes before calming down. And he wouldn't let me let go. He's so . . ." Mitsukake searched for a word. ". . . desperate for attention . . . it doesn't even really matter who it's coming from anymore."

Nuriko grimaced. "Great." He eyed Mitsukake carefully. "You look like you need a break. Why don't you go get some rest, and I'll stay here."

"Thanks." Mitsukake stood. "I don't envy you."

Nuriko plopped into the chair Mitsukake had been occupying and waved goodbye to his friend. After a while, he dozed off himself. Fortunately, he was awake when Amiboshi started mumbling in his sleep. Grimacing, he got out of the chair and walked over.

"Nakago . . . no . . . onegai . . ."

"Oh good," Nuriko said. He leaned down and began to shake Amiboshi gently. "Wake up, Amiboshi . . ."

Amiboshi flipped over but didn't wake. "No . . . don't hurt me . . ."

"Wake up, damn it!" Nuriko shook him not so gently.

Amiboshi sat upright with a small shriek and sat there gasping.

Suboshi rolled over in his sleep but didn't wake up.

"Are you all right?" Nuriko asked what he knew was a stupid question in hopes of getting a good answer.

Amiboshi shook his head wildly.

"Well, don't worry," Nuriko said, trying to sound comforting. "Everything's going to be fine."

Amiboshi looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes, as if he were trying to believe what he was saying. "Shun . . .?"

"Yeah, he's right over there," Nuriko said, waving vaguely.

Before Nuriko could react, Amiboshi launched himself out of bed and across the room. He collapsed onto the bed besides Suboshi and started shaking him. "Shun . . . Shun . . ."

"Wha . . .?" Suboshi opened his eyes sleepily. "Uhhh . . . five more minutes, Aniki . . ." His eyes closed.

"No, no, now . . ." Amiboshi continued to shake him frantically.

Suboshi half sat up. "Aniki?" It again took him a minute to remember what had happened. Then his eyes widened. "Aniki!" Without another word, he flung both his arms around Amiboshi's waist.

Amiboshi curled up in his brother's arms. "Shun-chan . . . don't let him hurt me, onegai, don't let him . . ."

Suboshi held him tightly. "I won't," he said, voice choking a little. "He won't hurt you anymore."

"Onegai . . ." Amiboshi began to sob helplessly into Suboshi's shoulder. "Don't hurt me . . ."

"Nobody's going to hurt you," Suboshi whispered. "You're going to be fine. We're both going to be fine. Shhhh . . ."

Amiboshi continued to cry hysterically, clinging to his brother, huddled in a ball in Suboshi's arms. Suboshi continued to hold him, smooth his hair, and tell him he was going to be okay. Amiboshi eventually calmed down and rubbed his eyes. He looked up at his brother, without leaving the safety of his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked shakily.

"Uhh." Suboshi considered. "Not really. But that's okay."

"Where are we?" Amiboshi was examining the surroundings.

"Um." Suboshi realized that he didn't know.

Nuriko decided to take this opportunity to remind them of his presence. "We're in Taitsuu-kun's place."

Both of them looked up, suddenly remembering that someone else was there, and mortified to be reminded of it.

"Oh, don't be embarrassed," Nuriko said. "You both have every right to be upset. I'd be upset if I was you. Either of you." He looked around. "Here, Mitsukake left the tea. Want some?"

"Sure," Suboshi said.

Nuriko brought two mugs over and handed one to each of the twins. "Drink those, and then get some more sleep."

"All you ever let me do is sleep," Suboshi complained.

"Don't whine." Nuriko took the empty mugs back from them. "I think we're leaving tomorrow to go back to Konan and call Suzaku. So you have until then to rest. Okay?"

The twins nodded.

"Are you two all right on your own? I need to get some rest my own self."

They nodded again.

"'Kay." Nuriko yawned and stretched. "If you need anything, give a holler. Some Nyan-Nyan will appear out of nowhere, be cute and small and irritating, and then do what you want."

"Okay," Suboshi said, looking nervous.

"'Night then." Nuriko turned and left the room.

Suboshi turned to his twin. "You okay?"

"For now, I guess." Amiboshi looked at the floor. "You?"

"Same," Suboshi said, managing a tiny smile. "Let's try to get some sleep."

Amiboshi nodded. "I'm tired."

Suboshi picked at the blanket. "Can I have a hug?"

Amiboshi wordlessly put his arms around Suboshi's shoulders. They stayed like that a long time, holding each other, until eventually they drifted off to sleep.

~~~~

"Nuriko!" Miaka glomped onto Nuriko as he walked into the room. "Guess what guess what guess what?!"

Nuriko stopped in bewilderment and looked around the room. Everyone else was already there, grinning like idiots. "What?"

"I'm still a virgin! Taitsuu-kun looked in her little mirrors to find out what happened and nothing happened!" Miaka jumped up and down, clapping her hands with glee.

"That's great!" Nuriko also began to grin like an idiot. He took a seat with the rest of them. "So are we going back to Konan tomorrow?"

"Hai, seems like the plan," Mitsukake said. "But if it's all right with Taitsuu-kun, I think the twins should stay here." He looked questioningly at Nuriko. "Did Amiboshi wake up?"

"Yeah . . . the kid was pretty much hysterical, but Suboshi did manage to calm him down . . ."

Mitsukake blinked. "That's kind of strange. Last time I saw him, he had about the emotional stability of a five year old."

Nuriko shrugged. "Don't ask me."

"Will they want to stay here no da?" Chichiri asked. He looked at Mitsukake and said, "From what you told me, it sounded like Suboshi was being sort of . . . clingy no da."

"To stay here with nothing but those damned Nyan-Nyans for company . . ." Tasuki shuddered.

"And I'm nobody?" Taitsuu-kun glared at him.

Tasuki shrank away.

"No offense no da, but you're not the most comforting person in the whole world," Chichiri pointed out.

Taitsuu-kun raised an eyebrow. "I did fine with you."

"Daaa . . . this isn't really a qualifier no da . . . they aren't me, for starters . . ."

"Well, why don't we just ask them," Chiriko said, attempting to introduce sanity into an otherwise hopeless conversation.

"Sounds like a plan," Tasuki said. "How're the little twerps anyway?"

"Umm . . ." Mitsukake tried to think of an adequate way to explain it. "They're . . . emotional wrecks."

"I think they need a psychiatrist," Miaka announced.

"A psycha-what?" Tasuki asked.

Miaka sighed. "Never mind . . ."

"Well, they should be awake by now," Mitsukake said. "I'll go ask them."

"I had the Nyan-Nyans bring them some breakfast," Taitsuu-kun said.

"Oh, I'm sure that went over well," Nuriko muttered.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." Mitsukake left the room. The twins were sitting up in bed, picking at the remains of their breakfasts and talking quietly. "Ohayo," he said, going in and standing next to the bed.

"When are we leaving?" Amiboshi immediately asked. "The Nyan-Nyans are scaring me . . ."

Mitsukake couldn't help smiling at that. "Well, we were thinking of leaving you two here for a while. Until Nakago's lost some steam, or at least until we've called Suzaku. That okay with you two?"

Suboshi was sitting closest to Mitsukake. "No!" He flung his arms around Mitsukake's waist and held on tightly. "No?"

Mitsukake blinked down at him. "Okay, you don't have to. It was just a suggestion."

Suboshi pulled away, looking embarrassed. "Just . . . don't want to be alone . . ." he mumbled, turning red.

Amiboshi ruffled his hair. "It's okay, Shun-chan. I'm here."

Suboshi hugged him. "I know . . ."

"Well, I'm going to go talk to the others," Mitsukake said, choosing this moment to tactfully leave the room.

Amiboshi put an arm around his brother's shoulders. "What's wrong, Shun?"

Suboshi shrugged. "It's just . . . nice . . . to have someone around who's bigger . . . who'll protect us . . . because they want to. I've never had that before . . . guess I'm afraid if they go away, they won't come back."

Amiboshi looked down at his blankets, feeling guilty. "Shun . . . I -- I'm sorry . . . that I broke my promise. That I didn't come back."

"It's not your fault . . ." Suboshi said. "I guess I knew that then . . . that it was something we had to do. But . . . that doesn't make me not be afraid . . . and Mitsukake and Nuriko are so nice to me . . . and Chichiri . . . even Tasuki . . ."

Amiboshi hugged him tightly. "It's okay . . . I understand . . . that's why I liked them too. They're so . . . good. Nice. I don't know."

Suboshi looked up at his brother. "Are we gonna be okay, Aniki?"

Amiboshi opened his mouth, then closed it. He wanted to say yes, but he was tired of lying to his brother, and lying to himself. "I hope so."

~~~~

"Heika-sama," a voice interrupted Hotohori from the scroll he was reading. He looked up and indicated that the man should speak. "Your Seishi have returned. They're waiting in the kitchen."

Hotohori smiled. Miaka's back . . . of course she would insist that the kitchen be the first stop. "Hai, thank you." He stood up. "Please tell them I'll come join them in a minute."

The man nodded and hurried off. Hotohori followed at a more sedate pace. He'd been receiving regular updates from Chichiri, so he wasn't particularly worried about the state his seishi were in, and saw no reason to run.

"Hotohori!!" Miaka glomped onto him.

He blinked. "Welcome back, Miaka." He thought, Wow, she's in better spirits . . . guess the thought that she's going to be summoning Suzaku soon is enough. He attempted not to get depressed about this and did a fairly bad job.

"Hotohori-sama . . ." Nuriko approached him tentatively.

Hotohori smiled down at him. "Ohayo, Nuriko."

Miaka let go and practically began dancing around. "Now we're all here and we can summon Suzaku and everything's going to be all good . . ."

Nuriko looked over at her. Hotohori gave a wistful smile. "Well, she's happy," he said.

Nuriko sighed a little. "Hai, don't we know it . . ."

The twins were trying to hide behind Mitsukake. He glanced down at them. "He's not going to hurt you."

"We know . . ." they chorused in unison.

"You've only told us a hundred times," Amiboshi said.

"Are you sure?" Suboshi asked. "Like one hundred percent absolutely positive?"

"Yes," Mitsukake said firmly. "Now stop hiding."

Cringing, the twins crept out, still trying not to be noticed.

Chichiri looked at them, then turned to Hotohori. "Have you met Suboshi yet . . .?"

Hotohori looked over at the twins curiously.

Suboshi glanced around, trying to find a quick exit. Unfortunately for him, Hotohori walked over before he could find one. He looked at his feet and stammered, "H-H-H-Heika-sama . . ." He managed to make a nervous bow. Amiboshi followed suit, looking intently at the floor.

Hotohori smiled at them, trying to put them at ease. "You don't need to look so nervous. Chichiri's explained things to me, and I understand."

Suboshi attempted to hide. I don't get it . . . I just don't . . . I give up trying to understand these people . . .

"I've already put things into motion whereas getting the ceremony prepared is concerned," Hotohori said to the group. "We should be able to summon Suzaku by tomorrow morning."

"Yaaaay!" Miaka cheered.

Hotohori smiled. "Why don't you all go get settled back in . . . I had a room made up for the two of you." He nodded at the twins. "I figured you'd want to share a room."

"Um . . . arigatou?" Suboshi guessed at the right thing to say.

"I'll have somebody show you the way . . ." Hotohori said, looking around for a palace servant. He quickly managed to get hold of one and send the twins to their room. Then he looked around at the rest of his seishi. "So are they trustworthy?"

Chichiri nodded. "They're fine no da. They're certainly no danger to us."

Hotohori nodded. "Well, I still don't want them anywhere near the ceremony . . . No offense to them, but that's just asking for trouble."

The others agreed.

"I had an idea, about them for afterwards," Mitsukake said. "I know Amiboshi wants to return to his family in Sailo, but I think it might be best if we brought them here, where they won't be harmed."

"They'd probably be safe in Sailo," Chiriko said.

"Yes, but they'd be safer here," Mitsukake said.

Nuriko laughed. "Also, I don't think Suboshi's stopped clinging to you for the past day and a half!"

Mitsukake actually turned slightly pink.

"Mitsukake's got a son!" Tasuki cackled. "Ha ha!" He punched Nuriko in the arm and said, "And you've apparently got a younger brother, too! He clings to you almost as much!"

Whack.

Thud.

Skid.

Nuriko rubbed his knuckles. "Shall we leave this ignoramus?" he asked sweetly.

Tasuki picked himself up off the floor. "Nuriko!!"

"Hai?" Nuriko turned around and smiled at the red-haired seishi.

"I hate you!"

"Hai, hai . . ." Nuriko said.

~~~~

Part Seven
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