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Part 2
Tasuki was rudely awakened by a panicked scream, accompanied by smallish fists beating him around the head and shoulders. His eyes flew open and he yelled in surprise, reflexively grabbing the beating hands and forcing them away from his body. He and his attacker struggled for a few seconds, until he managed to pin them down with their arms over their head, and their legs trapped beneath his. At that point, his attacker stopped struggling and abruptly went limp. Then Tasuki looked down, and remembered whom he was fighting. "Gomen!" he shouted, releasing Lelahn and throwing himself off of her. He promptly got tangled in the bedsheets and fell off the foot of the bed, landing in a heap on the floor. He sighed. :This seems to be happening a lot around here.: Tentatively, he disentangled himself and poked his head up over the end of the bed. Lelahn was sitting up against the headboard, her green eyes wide, and her breathing quick and ragged. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her arms were wrapped around them tightly. :What do I do?: Tasuki thought in agony. :Should I go over there? Should I leave her alone? Kuso! Suzaku, why did you have to pick *me* to take care of her?!: His decision seemed to be made for him, as Lelahn slowly unwound herself, her breathing calming. She looked down at Tasuki, a stricken look in her eyes. "You slept with me." Tasuki went completely red. "N-N-No I didn't!" he protested. "I didn't touch ya, I swear!" Lelahn's frowned in confusion, then she blushed as well. "No, I mean," she took a breath. "You slept *beside* me." Tasuki felt the blood draining back out of his cheeks and back where it belonged. "Oh. Yeah, I did." He felt a sheepish look cross his face. "But only 'cause you wouldn't let go. I… I'm sorry if I made ya uncomfortable or somethin'." Lelahn shook her head violently. "No! You don't have to apologize! It's my fault." "What's your fault?" Her emerald eyes disappeared from view, hidden by her long lashes, as she dropped her eyes to her lap. "I shouldn't have been so foolish. I *wanted* you to stay with me, really, but…" she sighed. "It appears I trust you, Tasuki, after all." Tasuki's heart soared at that pronouncement, but it didn't appear as if her odd explanation was quite finished. "I trust you when I'm awake, and I trust you when I'm asleep. It appears as though the transition is the problem." She raised her eyes again and met his. "I'm *so* sorry, Tasuki, for reacting like that." Tasuki slowly stood and moved around the bed to where she was. He carefully sat, keeping his eyes on her for any signs that he was scaring her again. She smiled tentatively at him and showed no signs of fear. "You don't have to be sorry, Lelahn," he said seriously. "Like I said last night, you've been hurt a lot. When you're not quite awake, you don't really know *who* I am, so it makes sense that you'd react without thinking. I'm not insulted or anythin'," he grinned toothily. "I jus' have t' keep workin' hard at makin' ya trust me," he announced with a self-satisfied air. Lelahn smiled. "All right, you do that." Tasuki gazed at her for a moment, lost again in her incredible beauty. :I ain't *never* seen anyone this gorgeous!: he thought. He registered her dropping her eyes and shifting uncomfortably and he shook himself out of the trance. He got to his feet, going to his closet and pulling out a fresh shirt. As he put it on, he chattered at her without looking at her. "So, I guess ya want a bath, ne? I'll start warming the water while ya have breakfast. I'm sure we'll be able to find some scraps around that the other guys haven't eaten yet. I don't think they'll be up." "Sounds good, Tasuki," came Lelahn's reply. He heard the sounds of fabric rustling as she rose from the bed. "An' then after breakfast, we'll go. I gotta get you to the capital as quick as I can." He turned and started in surprise as he registered Lelahn's proximity. She had been just inches behind him and he had nearly run straight into her as he turned. He exclaimed in surprise. "Oh! Lelahn, jeez, ya scared me! Don't sneak up on bandits if ya know what's good for ya." She looked up at him and smiled impishly. "Sorry." Tasuki raised his eyebrows at her expression and grinned. :Now *that's* a side of this girl I ain't seen before. Good, that means she's feelin' better.: "Let's go get breakfast, I'm hungry," he said. "Yes, let's," she agreed.
Lelahn washed her face carefully in the cold water and proceeded to rinse herself down. Tasuki had been surprised at her ignorance of their customs until she had reminded him that she was from another world. He had then, blushingly, explained the bath customs, then left her alone to stumble through them on her own. Lelahn didn't mind. She trusted Tasuki, but wasn't exactly ready to be traipsing around naked in front of him while he stood in a corner giving her pointers on bathing etiquette. The water was *cold* and by the time she had finished rinsing, soaping, and rinsing again, she was shivering from head to toe. At least she felt a little more clean. She regarded the steaming bath water with a little trepidation. Tasuki had explained that you were supposed to be clean *before* you got into the hot water to soak, but she couldn't see how she could possibly wash her long hair without hot water. Maybe if she were given to having baths every day like these people, it would be all right, but she hadn't had a bath in something like five years. :Oh well. Given how drunk the other bandits had been last night, I'm sure they won't notice if their bath water is a little dirty.: She picked up a lank strand of hair between her thumb and forefinger and regarded it for a moment. :Or a lot dirty.: She tested the water, poured a bucketful of cold into the wooden tub, then sank into it with a satisfied sigh. :Oh God!: Her entire body was tingling from the sudden transition from cold to hot and she could feel every muscle in her body relaxing. She ducked her head under and then reached for the soap.
A full hour after Tasuki had sent her into the bathing room to wash, Lelahn emerged; dry, clean, and wrapped in a soft robe he had dug up for her. He stopped his pacing just outside the door and stared at her, his eyes feeling like they were bulging out of their sockets. Her hair fell in a waterfall of russet silk down to mid-thigh. It was somewhat uneven, being substantially shorter in front due to not having been cut in five years, but that only made it frame her face prettily. The hot water had brought a flush to her cheeks, belying the pale white that years in prison had made to colour her skin. Her emerald eyes sparkled and a broad smile split her face. "That's *so* much better!" she announced. Somehow Tasuki found his voice. "You look absolutely beautiful," he breathed. The flush darkened but her eyes sparkled even more, with mischief. "Just think how I'll look in something other than some old ratty robe." He resisted the urge to take her into his arms with what must have been the most supreme act of willpower of his young life. "I don't think I dare," he said honestly. "C'mon, I found you some clothes. We should get goin'." He gave her the bundle of clothes one of the bandits had given him. He had been courting a thin young sylph of a girl a few months before and some of her clothes had managed to make their way into his possession. While she changed in his room, he went to find Kouji. The blue-haired bandit was still lounging in his room, apparently undecided about which was more important - staying in bed, or satisfying his hunger. He looked up with a wide grin when Tasuki came into the room. "Ohayo, Gen-chan. Or is it konnichi wa now?" "Still ohayo, I think, Kouji," Tasuki said with an answering grin. "Man, Gen-chan's up before noon. The world must be endin' or somethin'." "Somethin' like that.' At Tasuki's tone, Kouji squinted at him, becoming serious himself. "What's up?" "Ya know the girl I brought back last night?" Kouji whistled. "How can I forget?" "She's not my lover or anythin'. I think she's the Suzaku no Miko." "Masaka," Kouji breathed, his eyes opening wide. He regarded Tasuki's suddenly uncomfortable expression and grinned. "So what you're sayin' is ya want t' take her to the emperor, and ya want me t' take over while you're gone." Tasuki started in surprise, then flushed. "Uh, yeah." "Consider it done, best buddy! I'll hold down the fort while you're gone, I promise." "Arigatou, Kouji," Tasuki said, relieved. "When're you leavin'?" "Uh, as soon as we're ready." Kouji rolled out of bed. He was shirtless, dressed only in loose pants. Two or three white scars crossed his chest and abdomen, but none were as vivid as the one on his cheek. He called it his 'tatakai no torofi' and Tasuki had always liked the look of it. The blue-haired bandit approached his friend. He reached up and trailed his hand down Tasuki's cheek. "Keep yourself safe, Gen-chan. Ya know we'll be waitin' for ya." "Aa," Kouji leaned over and brushed his lips over Tasuki's. "Too bad you're leavin' so soon." "Baka," Tasuki whispered, feeling the light touches of Kouji's breath against his lips. "Gettin' me up an' then leavin' me hangin'. And you call me your best friend." "What do you think you do every time ya leave?" Kouji replied. His hand shot out and rubbed Tasuki's cock through his pants once, then he turned away and walked back to his bed. "Just a little thing t' remember me by," he said lightly. Tasuki growled mockingly, though he couldn't repress the grin breaking out on his face. "Ya better do somethin' about that hard on, Gen-chan," continued Kouji. "Or your Miko-sama'll think you've been thinkin' about her." :Who do ya think I *have* been thinking about, baka!: Tasuki thought irritatedly. He and Kouji had been lovers for years, but it wasn't anything either considered to be serious - just an extension of their friendship. He knew Kouji would be the first to congratulate him if anything happened between him and Lelahn. After he got done teasing him, that is. "Don't get yourself killed or something Kouji," Tasuki said mockingly, then sauntered out of the room.
Tasuki stood outside his room and knocked on the door. "Lelahn? You done changing?" Instead of answering, she opened the door and emerged. She met his shocked gaze for a moment, then dropped her eyes, a flush painting her cheeks. The clothes he had given her had a long blue skirt that nearly brushed the floor. The bodice was a lighter shade of blue and left little to the imagination. The neckline was not deep, but it left her shoulders and collarbone bare, though the sleeves were tight around her wrists. She had braided her hair and the thick braid brushed against her bottom. Finally, she had borrowed a pair of Tasuki's earrings, a blue pair in the same style he was wearing. When she moved her head, they swung and brushed against her jawbone. Suddenly, she looked up again with a smile. "What do you think?" she asked, turning in a circle with her hands spread out and making the skirt billow out to show her ankles. She cocked her head coquettishly and looked at him. Tasuki grinned back. "You don't want to know." She shook her head and winked at him. "Well, fine then. I thought we were going to the capital, are you just going to stand there all day?" "N-No, I'm ready to go." "Then let's go." He began leading her outside, but when he passed her, she reached out and took his arm, falling into step beside him. He sputtered in surprise and looked down at her. "W-What are you doing?" "Are you complaining?" "N-No…" "Isn't this the proper way for a gentleman to escort a lady?" He grinned. He just couldn't help himself. "I *ain't* a gentleman, Jo-chan." "And I'm not a lady. We're pretending for today, all right?" she said sharply. "A-All right." "So, then, isn't this the proper way for a gentleman to escort a lady?" "Uh, I guess so," Tasuki said uncertainly. "Then let's go, and stop stuttering." "Matte," he said, stopping in his tracks. She looked up at him. "What?" "Lelahn, I thought you were, ya know, scared and stuff." Her green eyes grew serious, the impetuous sparkle dying momentarily. "That was yesterday, before you were kind to me, and before you were my Seishi. I feel in my heart that you will never hurt me." Now her eyes grew supplicant. "Please, Tasuki, let me enjoy feeling safe for once. Please." He mentally slapped himself. :Baka!: "Lelahn," he said softly, "you can do whatever you want. Anythin' that'll make you feel better, I'll do. I promise." Her smile returned. "Good, then let's pretend." "Whatever you say, Suzaku no Miko-sama," he said happily, as she took his arm again.
A few minutes later, they were mounted on horseback and headed slowly down the steep mountain trail. Lelahn hung onto the horse's main grimly and tried not to lose her balance. She had never been on a horse before, but was determined not to let Tasuki know that. It didn't take long, however, before she was able to get used to the strange, shifting motion and begin riding more easily. Of course, it didn't help that she had to ride side-saddle because of the skirt. :This is an incredibly irritating outfit for traveling,: she thought. Then she smiled. :But it was worth it to see the look on Tasuki's face.: She glanced forward at the bandit's back, her eyes lingering on his strange weapon, and his silky-looking red hair. She had to admit she was becoming fond of the man, fast. :Maybe too fond,: a voice whispered in her mind. :Your disgusting flirting is only going to encourage him.: For once, though, she was able to bury that insidious, frightened voice. :Shut up. He won't hurt me.: Her smile had disappeared. :I just *know* he won't.: By the time they reached the village at the foot of Mt. Leikkaku, Lelahn was unbelievably sore and tired. Now off the narrow mountain trails, Tasuki was able to drop back and ride beside her. "You look really tired," he remarked worriedly. "Don't worry, we'll stop here for lunch, 'k?" She heard him only dimly through the haze of pain and exhaustion. She mumbled what she hoped was a coherent reply. :I'm so tired.: She felt herself slipping, but didn't have the energy to try to save herself. Dimly, through the encroaching darkness, she heard a shout. Then strong arms were catching her, cradling her. :So warm.: Cursing and swearing penetrated the blackness. There was something rough under her that she was lying on. She was levered up by an arm stretching across her back and a glass was held to her lips. Cold wine trickled into her mouth and she focused her attention on not drowning. The wine was rough and the sensation of it burning down her throat caused her eyes to fly open and she sat up, coughing. "Kuso, Lelahn, ya scared th' fuck outta me!" Tasuki was yelling. She looked up at the bandit. He was livid, and shaking with rage. "G-Gomen ne, Tasuki," she stammered. "I'm all right now, p-please calm down." His eyes widened and he wrapped her quickly in a hug. "No, Lelahn. Gomen. I ain't mad at you." He looked up and glared at a small, white-haired man who was hovering nervously nearby. "I'm pissed 'cause this ahou wouldn't let us in!" The man bowed and scraped tremblingly. "S-Sumimasen, Genrou-sama. I-I didn't know it was you, I swear!" Tasuki grunted. "Jerk," he mutterd. Then louder, "Get us some food, Ojisan, and I'll think about forgivin' ya!" "H-Hai, Genrou-sama!" He scuttled away. Tasuki watched him go, then grinned at Lelahn, seeming to have recovered from his anger. "You okay now?" Lelahn nodded, smiling weakly. "Good, c'mon off that table, then." :Table?: Lelahn looked around and realized that she was, in fact, sitting on a table. The room looked like a restaurant, with booths and tables ranged around the room. She was sitting on the table closest to the door. Most of the other patrons were staring at them with expression ranging from interest to irritation. She hastily slipped off the table and sat on the bench opposite Tasuki. He silently handed her the cup of wine and she sipped it carefully. The harsh wine was reviving and she found it calmed the residual shaking in her hands. After the man brought them their food and Tasuki had sent him away with a sharp, "All right! All right! It's forgotten already! Che," she sighed and looked at him mournfully. "I'm sorry I'm so weak, Tasuki," she said. Now she found herself at the receiving end of a Tasuki Glare™. "Lelahn!" he barked. "You are *not* weak. Stop fuckin' apologizin' for stuff ya can't help." His voice softened and Lelahn stopped flinching as if each word was a physical blow. "How many times do I gotta tell ya b'fore it sinks inta that thick head o' yours that ya *ain't* got anythin' t' apologize for." Tasuki's speech seemed to get worse as his emotion became more acute - the exact opposite pattern Lelahn had seen thus far. She shrugged helplessly. "I just feel like such a burden. And I was *never* weak before." Tasuki got up and circled around the table to sit beside Lelahn on the bench, straddling the rough wooden plank between his thighs. "Look at me, Lelahn," he said. She looked up and met his intense amber eyes. He took her hand in both of his and she could feel the rough calluses on his palms against her skin. "Sometimes, it's okay to act weak. Like last night, when you cried." She dropped her eyes in embarrassment, but he grabbed her chin and forced her to keep looking at him. "Seeing you like that didn't make me respect you any less. It made me happy that you were feeling better enough to cry, and that you trust me enough to cry in front of me." Lelahn smiled self-depreciatingly. "You're right, I'm sorry." "Oi! I told ya not to apologize!" She laughed, breaking into a proper smile. "I was just teasing that time, I swear!" He watched her suspiciously for a few seconds, while she maintained the smile. She threw her arms around his neck. "Thanks, Tasuki. I won't be stupid like that again, I promise!" "Good," Tasuki replied, drawing his arms around her and burying is face in her neck. " 'Cause you're too wonderful to waste your time apologizin' for stuff ya can't change."
After they left the restaurant, Tasuki made sure he rode beside Lelahn, determined to keep an eye on her. He had a feeling her stubbornness was still out in full force, and she would end up collapsing again, rather than admitting she was tired. At least she *seemed* much better after their meal, and they had hit the road again with high spirits. After only two hours on the road, they crested a hill to see the full splendor of the Konan capital spread out below them. Tasuki heard Lelahn gasp, and then let out her breath slowly. "It's… beautiful!" He grinned at her, then jerked his head towards it. "Let's go." The city proper was a bustling metropolis, so thick with people that they had to be careful not to get separated. They had left their horses at a stable in the outskirts and proceeded on foot towards the Imperial Palace. As they headed towards the richer areas of the city, the crowds became progressively thicker, and suddenly Tasuki felt a hand slip into his own. He looked down at Lelahn. "You okay?" She nodded, summoning a small smile, though her eyes were wide and solemn. "I'm just not used to so many people around," she said. He squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, we're almost there." Finally the crowds thinned out and Lelahn seemed to relax, as they approached the massive gates of the Imperial Palace. The guards flanking the gates took one look at the grinning bandit and his bruised companion and pointed their spears at them. "I think you're in the wrong place," one of them said mockingly. Tasuki glared at them fiercely. "Listen ahou! I got the Suzaku no Miko here," he said, jabbing a thumb at Lelahn. She didn't know what to do, so she just raised her head and tried to look… priestess-ish. "I gotta talk to the Emperor!" "I think you better go back to the slums where you belong," the guard returned belligerently. "And take your woman with you!" Lelahn grabbed the arm Tasuki was currently using to reach for his tessen. "No! Tasuki, wait!" she hissed. "We'll come back, we'll try something else!" He fired another glare at the guards, who smirked. "When the Emperor finds out ya turned away the Suzaku no Miko, you're gonna be in deep shit! And I, Suzaku Shichiseishi Tasuki, will make sure I'm there t' love every fuckin' minute of it!" Lelahn bodily dragged him away, still shouting epithets at the guards. When they were out of sight again, she let go. "Now what do we do?" she sighed. Tasuki shrugged. "I dunno. Let's get something to eat, I'm hungry from yelling. We'll talk about it while we're eating." Lelahn shook her head. "Lead the way."
They found an inn that housed a restaurant and Lelahn found a table while Tasuki went to procure food and a room. Lelahn fell to studying the grain of the table, for lack of anything better to do, then suddenly felt a hand fall on her shoulder. She smiled and looked up- --into the smirking face of a young man she didn't recognize. She jerked out of his grasp, narrowly avoiding shrieking in surprise and fear. "W-What do you want?" she asked, stumbling over the first word before finding her stride again. She glared heatedly him. "Sorry to scare ya, Jo-chan. I was just wondering if you were wanting some company to eat with. It's awfully lonely eating by yourself." She sniffed. :Yeah right, sure that's what you want.: "I'm sorry, but I already have someone to eat with." Two other boys came up and circled around the table so she had one behind her, and one on either side. The first one grabbed her shoulder again and she cringed, trembling. "I saw the guy you're with," another said mockingly. "I think you probably want to come with us." "D-Don't say things like that about T-Tasuki," she stuttered, cursing herself mentally. "C'mon, Jo-chan, let's get outta here - ow!" the man with his hand on her shoulder was cut off by someone tapping him on the shoulder, hard. He let go of her and turned around, growling. "Whadda ya want!" The blue-haired young man seemed utterly unimpressed by the three street toughs' attitude. "I think this Jo-chan wants you to leave her alone," he said casually. "Well I don't think it's any of your fuckin' *business*!"
Tasuki turned away from his conversation with the innkeeper to see three ruffians apparently accosting Lelahn. Growling, he headed back towards her, but he noticed another restaurant patron had beaten him to it. The blue-haired man tapped the one touching Lelahn on the shoulder and said something to him. Another of them yelled at him and raised his fists. At that point, the third tough, who had yet to say anything, foolishly aimed a right hook at the newcomer. The blue-haired man neatly sidestepped the punch, then his eyes flashed and he moved in. As he stepped forward and lashed out with his fists, Tasuki saw something on his forehead flash brightly. :A symbol!: He quickened his pace, pushing people out of the way and reaching for his tessen. By the time he'd gotten there, though, the bishounen had finished piling the three street toughs on the table and was dusting off his hands with an air of satisfaction. He turned in Lelahn's direction. "And now, Jo-chan, for my reward-" he stopped, and Tasuki immediately realized why. The bandit looked around wildly. "Where the fuck is Lelahn?" he exclaimed in panic. At his exclamation, the other Seishi turned to him. "Who are you?" The symbol on his forehead was already fading, though it was still clear enough for Tasuki to read. :Oni. Now which Seishi name was that again…?: "I'm Tasuki, Suzaku Shichiseishi. And you just lost our Miko!" The man glared at him. "What do you mean, *I* lost her? If you're a Seishi, you should've been *protecting* her!" "I was, I was just on the other side of the room, ahou! Besides, you're a Seishi, too!" "Who says I'm a Seishi?" Tasuki smirked and jabbed a thumb at the fading symbol. "Whoops, your symbol is showing." The boy flushed. "Oh, right." "What's your name, anyway?" "Tamahome." Tasuki clapped him on the back. "Well, nice t' meetcha, Tama. Let's go find that girl!" He started heading for the door. "Matte!" Tasuki heard Tamahome's serious tone, and stopped, turning to face him. "What?" Tamahome held out a hand. "I haven't been paid yet." Tasuki turned several interesting shades of red. "Haven't been *paid* yet?!" he exploded. "You're a Seishi! You protected the Miko! Where does *payment* come in?!" The blue-haired boy sniffed derisively. "Money happens to be very important to me." "Ahou! I'm a fuckin' *bandit* leader, and money isn't that important to me! Forget it! We're goin'!" He grabbed Tamahome by the collar of his shirt and hauled him back out into the Konan sunshine.
Hotohori was bored. He looked disinterestedly at the scroll in front of him and reached for a quill to sign it without looking at the details. "I hear there was a disturbance today at the gates, Heikka," one of his advisors said casually. :Well, that sounds a bit more interesting, at least,: he thought. :Though it'll probably turn out to be some juvenile scuffle that didn't even involve the guards.: "What kind of disturbance?" "Some scruffy pair of ruffians marched right up to the gate and *demanded* they be let in! Can you *imagine*, Heikka?" the advisor announced haughtily. "What did they want?" The man scoffed. "*Well*, that's the worst part about it! It seems they were claiming to be the Suzaku no Miko, and one of her Seishi!" Hotohori shot to his feet. "What?" The advisor looked a little taken aback by the extremity of his reaction, but after a moment, he nodded vigorously. "Yes, Heikka, that's just what I said." But Hotohori was shaking his head. "No, I mean, they didn't bring them to me?" "But, Heikka…" he seemed confused now. "If we let every kook claiming to be the Suzaku no Miko into the palace…" "Then I would be periodically inconvenienced, but the *real* Miko would not be missed," Hotohori turned to the advisor, his chocolate eyes flashing. "Are you unaware that *I* myself am a Suzaku Seishi? And that there have been numerous reports recently that Kotou is preparing to declare war?" "N-No Heikka! Of course, Heikka! W-What would you have me do, Heikka?" Hotohori stopped the useless order to 'just find her' before it left his lips. He sat down again and laid his forehead in his hand, thinking. The advisor hovered nervously, at a loss as what to do. "I want you to take a contingent of guards, including the ones on duty today, and find her. Arrest her, and any companions she may have, and bring her to the palace, but arrange for her to escape within the grounds." "What?! I-I mean, yes, Heikka," the advisor corrected nervously. "I will put the rest of my plan into action at that point, understand? Allow her to be free, but *don't* let her leave the palace grounds again. Most importantly, do *not* allow her to be hurt, no matter how you are provoked." "I understand, Heikka." "And inform me immediately when she has been apprehended." "It will be done, Heikka." The advisor bowed and scraped his way out of the room and Hotohori then found himself alone with his thoughts. :You may have just made yourself into the biggest fool in Konan, Saihitei.: :Ah, but then again, if it *is* the Miko, the risk is worth it.:
Lelahn took one look at the blue-haired stranger pounding on the street toughs, noticed that she wasn't surrounded anymore, and bolted. She plunged out of the restaurant into the busy streets, it not even occurring to her that she would have been far safer trying to find Tasuki then going out into the streets. Finally, the idiocy of her actions penetrated the terror and she stopped her breakneck plunge. She fell to her knees, her breath wheezing torturously in and out of her mouth. :Damn, that was really stupid.: When her breath had calmed enough and her heart had stopped pounding quite so loudly in her ears, she looked up and took in her surroundings. She was kneeling on the cobblestones of a broad alleyway. She couldn't see anyone, though the sounds of bustling people could be heard, so she couldn't be too far from a main thoroughfare. Unfortunately, she had no idea how she had gotten there. At least it didn't look like a slum area. She got painfully to her feet and turned around. :I may as well go back out of the alley,: she thought. :Maybe I'll recognize something on the main street.: She emerged from the alley, but knew immediately that she was sunk. :Kuso! I don't remember anything!: Then she smiled. :Hmph, you're starting to sound like Tasuki, Lelahn.: To her left she could see the Imperial Palace, rising up from the more humble dwellings around it. She turned in that direction and started walking. :Maybe if I just try to get back to the Palace, Tasuki will find me. The inn wasn't that far from there.: She'd walked for about ten minutes before she arrived within sight of the Palace gates. This was a different gate than the one she remembered, and had only one guard. She picked a random direction and began circling around, following the high wall that encircled the Palace. :Once I find the main gate, I may be able to find my way back to the inn.: Suddenly she heard a sound behind her. "There she is! That's the girl!" At the same moment, she heard Tasuki's voice. "Lelahn!" he called. She glanced behind her and beheld the five burly guards that were bearing down on her. She screamed and tried to run, but they caught up to her and grabbed her by the arms. "You're under arrest, Heikka's orders!" But she was beyond hearing. "Tasuki! Help!!" she yelled. One of the guards put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming, and she promptly bit him. She tasted blood and he wrenched his hand away with a howl. They dragged her, kicking and screaming, towards the nearest gates. Just as she was pulled through, she saw Tasuki and the blue-haired boy who'd helped her skid out of a side street. They ran full tilt towards her, but the gates slammed shut. | |
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