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Part 6
Tasuki opened his eyes slowly, a smile already spreading across his face as he registered the warmth of the body next to him. She shifted, moaning sleepily, and the silk of her nightgown slid against his body. :Whoa, down boy. Just 'cause she loves ya, doesn't mean she's ready for *that*,: he admonished himself firmly. He tightened his grip and buried his face in her fragrant hair. :Arigatou, Suzaku. I've gotta be the luckiest fuckin' guy in the world!: "Ohayo, anata," Lelahn said. "Ohayo," he replied. She levered herself up on her elbows and blinked her huge emerald eyes at him playfully. "And what're *you* thinking about this morning?" she asked, pressing against him. He blushed. "About how much I love ya, Lelahn," he said honestly. Her eyes widened and she flushed, then grinned sardonically. "I knew that." He shook his head. "Baka. Not all guys think with their dicks, ya know," he admonished her. She lowered her eyes with shame. "I-I know that, Tasuki. I'm sorry." He leaned in and met her lips in a deep, spit-swapping kiss. Their tongues warred and they wrapped their arms around each other, pressing their bodies together length to length. When they finally came up for air, he grinned at her. "I didn't say *I* didn't, though." She laughed, a bright, merry sound, and kissed him on the nose. Then, abruptly, she jumped out of bed, hauling on his arm. "Come on, let's go to breakfast. I'm hungry." Finding himself standing, and Lelahn already putting on the robe that had been hanging over the chair, he looked around the room, noting the angle of the sunlight coming in through the window. "What's breakfast?" he said plaintively.
Hotohori looked up and smiled as Tasuki and Lelahn walked into the room and sat down for breakfast. Nuriko glanced up as well and waved brightly. "Ohayo, Lelahn-chan! Hotohori-sama and I were just having the *nicest* talk, and we decided we should go out into the countryside, to look for Seishi today. How does that sound, Lelahn-chan?" she gushed. Lelahn smiled. "That sounds great, Nuriko." Tasuki just glared at the woman. Hotohori found himself frowning in confusion. They *had* been speaking about the subject, but he wouldn't have characterized it as a 'nice talk'. Nuriko certainly was a strange woman. His confusion only increased when Lelahn gave him a significant look and raised an eyebrow at him. He shook his head and resolved to ask Lelahn what was going on later. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to accompany you. I have received reports that Kutoukoku is amassing an army to attack us, and I must be here in case something occurs," he said, with real regret. He had been hoping to spend more time with Lelahn, but the situation was too dire to allow his personal feelings to get in the way. He aimed grave looks at the sleepy Tasuki and manically grinning Nuriko. "Tasuki, Nuriko, I am trusting you and Tamahome to protect the Suzaku no Miko in my stead." Nuriko nodded vigorously. "Hai, Hotohori-sama!" Tasuki, however, gave him a smug, fanged grin. "Ya don't need t' worry about *that*, Hotohori." He reached out and wrapped his arm around Lelahn's waist and cinched her closer to him on the bench. Lelahn smiled at him tolerantly, then bashed him sharply on the side of the head. "Don't make trouble, Tasuki," she said lightly, before going back to eating. Hotohori watched all of this with dread rising in his chest. :Can it be? Has she chosen Tasuki already?: He dimly heard Nuriko's concerned voice calling his name, but didn't attend to it. He met Lelahn's green eyes briefly, and she looked away again without giving him any information. She stood, leaving her breakfast partially untouched. "Ne, Hotohori, can I talk to you for a minute?" With a sinking heart, Hotohori also stood, and nodded. "Of course, Lelahn. Let us go for a walk, shall we?" Lelahn walked beside Hotohori as they headed out into the gardens. The sun was bright, though there were clouds gathering at the horizon. It would be a rainy evening. They walked in silence to one of the pavilions, the one where he had run into her the night before. With each step, his feet seemed to grow heavier. :It cannot be. It cannot,: he thought desperately to himself. When they reached the pavilion, Lelahn turned abruptly to face him, her skirts billowing out and swirling around her. She regarded him with a solemn expression. "Hotohori, I wanted to tell you something very important." "Yes, Lelahn," he replied softly, unable to manage more than a whisper. She took a step forward and laid a thin hand on his arm, smiling up at him. "Please don't be sad, Hotohori. There is someone very close to you who loves you. You would see that if you only opened your heart to her." His eyes widened and he felt his heart soar again. "Lelahn, you mean..." He wrapped her in an embrace, his imperial robes almost swallowing the slender girl. "Arigatou, Lelahn," he said, choking from emotion. "Ai shiteru. Ai shiteru." Lelahn froze in his embrace. "Wha..." she said in confusion, then ducked out of his embrace and took a step back, leaving him flatfooted. "No, no, Hotohori, you don't understand. I didn't mean me." "Oh... gomen Lelahn, I thought..." he said, trailing off sadly. "Hotohori..." she sighed. "I'm sorry, but I love Tasuki. But that doesn't mean you have to be alone. Like I said, there is someone who loves you, and I wanted to let you know that." "I, I will remember that, Lelahn," he said, staring down at the floor, then his determination crystallized and he looked up. "But I will not stop fighting for you. I love you. I have always loved you. And I will not give you up to that uncouth brat!" He turned on his heel and was about to walk away when he heard Lelahn's cry of anger. She grabbed his arm and pulled him around with a strength he wouldn't have imagined she possessed. Her arm came around and her palm connected with stinging ferocity with his face. "Don't be a child!" she yelled. "I love Tasuki, and you're just going to have to deal with it, Heikka!" Now it was her turn to turn on her heel and stalk away while he stood there, stunned, his hand against his cheek. She stopped a few metres away and shouted to him. "You can think about that while I'm gone, Hotohori. I know *I* will." "Wait!" he called after her. When she ignored him, he ran after her, still holding his hand to his bruising face. He could tell he was going to have a mark there, but, for once, didn't care. "Wait, Lelahn! Onegai!" She stopped, her fists clenched, and didn't turn around. "What do you want?" she gritted between clenched teeth. Hotohori did the only thing he could think of. He dropped to the ground and bowed deeply, his nose inches from the floor. "I spoke without thinking, I deeply, deeply apologize, Lelahn. Please forgive me. I will not speak ill of your chosen again. If you love him, I... I..." he closed his eyes, a tear squeezing from between the lids and dripping onto the ground between his hands. "I will accept that decision." He saw, between the strands of his bangs, Lelahn turn around. She gasped when she saw him and whispered. "Hotohori..." "Please forgive me. I could not stand it if you hated me." "Oh, Hotohori..." she said, tenderness creeping into her voice. She dropped to her knees in front of him. "I'm sorry I got so angry. For god's sake, stand up. I don't hate you, I just want you to stop chasing me. It's a losing battle, my friend, and will only end in my resenting you." He looked up and met her eyes, deep verdant pools that reflected only kindness, when a moment ago they showed such rage. :How emotional she is. She cannot hide from the world what she feels,: he thought, the love in his heart only growing in size. "I... do not want to lose you, Lelahn. You are the only friend I have who does not see me only as the Emperor." "Baka," he said, breaking into a grin. "If you just looked around, you'd see three Suzaku Seishi who want nothing but your friendship, if you'd just let them. You are only pushing me away by doing this." She held out her hand and helped him to his feet. "I want to be your friend, Hotohori. Please let me." "You truly love Tasuki?" "Yes, I do." "Then I will not get in the way of your happiness." He looked at her mournfully. "But it will not stop me from loving you, Lelahn. Please, if he ever hurts you, remember that." She smiled, then put her arms around his neck and hugged him chastely. She laid a light kiss on his uninjured cheek. "I'll remember," she said softly. "But please, don't hold your breath. I'd hate myself if you pined away for me rather than being happy yourself." He couldn't answer. She pulled away, her smile widening. "You'd better get that injury looked at. It's starting to swell and stretch your face all out of shape." Horror gripped Hotohori's heart and his hand flew to his face again. "Great Suzaku, are you serious?" he exclaimed. He turned and hurried off, calling for his healer, and missed Lelahn collapsing to her knees in helpless laughter.
Tasuki and Nuriko crouched together just around the corner, watching the Emperor and his Miko have their... conversation. "She... hit Hotohori-sama!" Nuriko said in a shocked whisper as the Emperor hurried off to find some ice. "Damn she's gutsy," said Tasuki proudly. The purple-haired woman reared back. "YOU SOUND HAPPY SHE DID IT!!" she yelled, and sent the bandit flying over the railing into the gardens to land with a satisfying splash in the coy pond. Then, she stalked over to where Lelahn was still getting over her mirth. "Lelahn..." she said in a dangerous tone. The girl turned and started to get up. "Oh, Nuriko. Was that you yelling at Tasuki that I heard? Where is he?" "How dare you hit Hotohori-sama like that?!" she cried. Lelahn put out a hand to pacify the irate woman. "Calm down, Nuriko. He deserved it, and it only makes him that much more likely to realize that you're actually the woman for him, not me. Don't worry." Nuriko drew herself up, then blinked thoughtfully. "Oh... I see." She brightened. "Thank you Lelahn-chan! We should get ready to go, shouldn't we?" Lelahn grinned and nodded. "Let's go. The sooner we find the rest of the Seishi, the sooner you can get down to the serious business of convincing Hotohori to fall in love with you, and get off my back." "Exactly!" The two girls giggled and headed off to get ready.
An hour later, three horses had been led to the front gates of the palace, preparatory for leaving. Lelahn had changed into a short skirt that, while it left nothing of her legs to imagination, was at least more suitable riding gear. She was seated in front of Tasuki, who wrapped one arm around her waist, and held onto the reins with the other. Nuriko arrived a moment later and swung easily up onto her horse, then looked around in confusion. "Mou... where's the other one?" she exclaimed in irritation. "Who, Tamahome?" Lelahn asked in confusion. "Didn't anyone tell him we were leaving?" Tasuki shook his head. "I didn't. I ain't seen him since yesterday. Where the fuck is he, anyway?" "Well, *I* certainly didn't," added Nuriko. "I hardly know him." "Oh great," Lelahn huffed. "Just hold on a minute, I'll go get him." Tasuki helped her down and she raced off towards the wing of the palace where their rooms were. :Niichan no baka!: As she ran, she reflected on the changes that had occurred in such a short time. Two days before, she had barely been able to walk without feeling pain, and yet now she moved almost easily, and was even able to run. She felt strong, vital, and happy for the first time she could remember. Even her bruises had faded quickly, so that most of them were already only fading marks. :I guess that's the power of love,: she thought, then giggled. :Wow, I guess Hotohori is rubbing off on me more than I thought. I'm not that sentimental.: She reached Tamahome's room and knocked, trying to get her breath back after the run. She felt flushed and a little tired, but nothing like she'd felt only a few days before. When there was no answer, she opened the door, but was confronted by an empty room, cleared even of belongings. The bed was made, and there was nothing in the room to even indicate that someone lived there. :What the hell?: She searched up and down the hallways, calling for him, but couldn't locate Tamahome. She even went out to the cherry trees where they had sat and talked the day before, but he wasn't there. Her heart in her throat, she raced for Hotohori's office, and pounded on the door, calling Hotohori's name. The door was flung open as the Emperor responded to the urgency in her voice. Without even giving him a chance to ask what was wrong, she cried out. "Hotohori! Tamahome's missing! I can't find him anywhere! And no one's seen him since yesterday!" she babbled, tears of worry starting in her eyes. Her shoulders were gripped in strong hands. "Lelahn," Hotohori said. "Calm down." His tone penetrated her hysteria and she took a few deep breaths, attempting to follow his instructions. When she had gotten herself back under control, he released her and took an uncomfortable step back, clearing his throat. "Just a moment," he said thoughtfully. Nuriko and Tasuki were running towards them, having been attracted by Lelahn's distress, or perhaps having heard her calling Tamahome's name. "Lelahn! You ok?" Tasuki asked urgently. She nodded and waved off his concern. "I can't find Tamahome," she explained. "Oh!" Hotohori interrupted. "Of course, how stupid I am for not remembering." "What is it, Hotohori-sama?" asked Nuriko. Hotohori blinked thoughtfully. "I seem to remember one of my guards telling me yesterday that Tamahome had gone out to make some money." Lelahn, Nuriko, and Tasuki all hit the floor with astonishment. Rubbing her posterior ruefully as she got up, Lelahn growled at the oblivious Emperor. "Why didn't you tell us that before?" "I didn't think of it." She shook her head. "Well, great. I guess we'll just have to go without him and hope we either find him, or he can catch up with us later. Let's go, everyone." She headed back towards the horses, Tasuki and Nuriko following without comment.
They rode down the streets of the capital of Konankoku, and out of the city. Once outside of the city limits, Lelahn pulled out the precious Shijin Tenshi Sho and began puzzling out the characters. "This tells of a fox-eyed monk," she said slowly. "Where could we find something like that?" "I haven't the faintest idea," replied Nuriko, sighing. "Ohhhh, this is going to take forever! I already miss Hotohori-sama!" "It can't take 'forever', Nuriko. I've already found four Seishi, without even trying at all." "And lost one," Tasuki grumbled irritatedly. The Miko chuckled. "Yeah, that too." They rode in silence for a while, entering a thick forest that muted the sunlight and cast an oppressive air over the trio. It was already moving towards evening and the angle of the sunlight only worsened the feeling. Suddenly there was a rustling in the underbrush on either side of the path and a group of at least twenty armed men emerged, quickly surrounding them. The horses reared in surprise and Lelahn and Tasuki were spilled off, landing with a thud in the path. Tasuki absorbed most of the shock of Lelahn landing and he lay dazed for a moment, trying to get the air back into his lungs. Nuriko was yelling, trying to keep control of her frightened horse while confronting their attackers. "Who are you guys!" she yelled, finally getting the horse to calm down. One of the ones in front of them stepped forward. He was holding a huge poleaxe with casual ease. "Suzaku no Miko," he said, his voice deep and gruff. "We have come to kill you." Lelahn lay on the ground, her arms wrapped around Tasuki, shaking with terror. He shook his head and sat up. "Daijoubu, Lelahn," he said roughly. "We'll protect ya. Just stay here and don't move, got it?" "H-H-Hai..." He stood, pulling his tessen from the holster on his back and spreading it to its fan shape. Finally, he would be able to protect Lelahn! Nuriko dismounted her horse and stood on the other side of Lelahn, her back to him, and fists raised. "All right, kisama!" he yelled. "Who wants to taste flame?" With a yell, the men surged forward towards them, swinging swords and axes wildly. Tasuki let it rip. "Lekka Shinen!" he yelled, swinging the metal fan. A fireball erupted from the weapon, engulfing six of the nearest bandits in flame. They screamed as the fire rushed over them, and their bodies could barely be seen within, as they incinerated. Nuriko was less efficient, but just as deadly. Every fist swung found its mark, as the men underestimated her. She smashed weapons and faces and generated an ever-growing pile of unconscious and broken bodies around her. Within seconds, the fight was over. The bandits had been destroyed or rendered unconscious to a man. Only the sounds of harsh breathing and muted moaning could be seen, as the smoke from still-burning corpses started to dissipate. Tasuki turned to make sure Lelahn was still all right, but had hardly begun when the sound of maniacal laughter started up in the trees above them. The laughter trailed off while they were still looking around wildly for the source. "Shine, Suzaku no Miko," said a deep voice. There was a sudden sound of rushing wind and Tasuki looked to see a huge axe on a chain rushing towards them. He yelled, but the fighting had taken both him and Nuriko too far, and they couldn't get there in time. Then a dark figure leapt out and swung a fist. It connected with the axe with such force that it broke in two, both pieces falling uselessly on either side of the trembling girl that had been their target. Then the figure came into the light. Tasuki gasped. "Tamahome!" Then, remembering their adversary, looked into the trees where the axe had been thrown, in time to see a cloaked and masked figure leapt away and be lost from sight. He made to follow, but was stopped by Lelahn's cry. "No! Tasuki, stop!" He turned and met Lelahn's eyes. "It's okay," she said quietly. "You'll never find him now." Nuriko turned to Tamahome. "What are you doing here?" she asked. The blue-haired boy shrugged. "I was working nearby and had this feeling that maybe I should head back to the palace a little earlier than I'd intended," he said, then grinned. "I'm glad I did." Lelahn was getting shakily to her feet. "Arigatou, niichan," she said. Then she looked around. "Thank you all, you saved my life." Tasuki felt himself blushing and he went over to his beloved. She leaned against him and he wrapped an arm around her, conscious of how demonstrative they were being, but not caring. "I'm glad you're okay, Lelahn," he said. "Yeah, you don't have to thank us!" Nuriko said. She immediately turned to Tamahome and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "And just what made you think you should leave without telling anyone, huh?" she growled. "I was only going for a couple of days!" he protested, his face starting to turn blue. "I needed to make some money." "What is it with you and money, anyway?" said Tasuki irritatedly. "Nuriko, put Tamahome down," admonished Lelahn. "Let's keep going." The purple-haired woman dropped Tamahome and dusted her hands off while he got painfully back to his feet, rubbing his posterior. "Oh no!" she exclaimed suddenly. "Our horses were scared off. What are we going to do now?" Lelahn quickly felt in her pocket and breathed a sigh as her hand encountered the precious Shijin Tenshi Sho. "At least we didn't lose too much in the way of possessions," she said. "There's a town not far from here," Tamahome said. "We can stop there for the night and get more supplies." "Yoshi, let's go, then," said Tasuki brightly. The foursome left the destruction behind and headed deeper into the forest. Tasuki couldn't help wondering, however, just why they had been attacked. :Is it Kutou?: he wondered. :Or does someone in Konan not want Lelahn to call Suzaku for some reason?: :It doesn't matter,: he thought, casting a glance at his Miko. :Whoever it is that's tryin' to hurt her, I'll protect her. Zutto.: |