Standard disclaimer: These characters aren't mine they're created by the wonderful Watase Yuu, although I wish they were, Houjun-chan is such a hottie! So don't sue me, I need o-ka-ne right now.....


By ChichiriDA

Nuriko was accompanying Miaka in her room trying to cheer her up. She didn't seem to want to talk about anything, and Nuriko wasn't about to push her. So they simply sat there, each deep in their own thoughts and waiting for the other to say something. Finally, he couldn't stand it any more and looked her directly in the eyes by getting down to her eye level. "Look," he said, "At least he isn't dead. We have a chance of getting him to remember once we break Nakago's hold on him."

She looked up halfheartedly, incomprehension in her eyes.

Nuriko suddenly had an overwhelming urge to take her into his arms and hug her tightly, much like he used to do to Kourin. So he did. He sat down on the bed next to her, and pulled her into a gentle hug, which was still strong, and stroked her hair. "Shhh….it'll be ok……trust me."

She clutched his shirt protectively, and let loose her fears, her sadness, and her anxiety by crying out as much as she could. Nuriko simply held her, letting her cry the way she needed to. It went on for several minutes, and with each sob, Nuriko comforted her more. He felt inner sadness at seeing her in pain, and he wanted to remedy that as much as he could….demo……he couldn't do much at this point, so he did what he could.

Eventually, he felt her fall silent and still, and he glanced down to see her sleeping in his arms. Giving himself a small smile, he gently lifted her into bed and slid the covers over her, then exited quietly, trying to hope for the best.

He walked quietly through the halls, then suddenly his anger built up to a point where he couldn't hold it in anymore. Taking a huge swing, he proceeded to knock down a wall. He stood there gasping, feeling slightly better when he heard a soft voice behind him. "Ano…the emperor's not going to like that…"

Nuriko turned his head to the youngest Seishi and gave a lopsided grin. "Ah, the Emperor won't even notice with everything that's going on, now will he?"

Chiriko looked doubtful, and clutched his flute tighter. "If you say so…..ne, Nuriko….?"

Nuriko straightened and brushed himself off. "Nani?"

"What will happen now?"

Nuriko sighed. "I'm not sure….."

Chiriko looked down. "I see."

"Ne, don't get discouraged! We have all the Seishi, even if they may be varied in actual strengths! All we have to worry about is summoning Suzaku now!" He caught the young Seishi's arm and led him down the hallway. "Why don't we go and take a nice hot bath to make us feel better, ne?"

"Ara…." Chiriko seemed very uncomfortable, but nodded reluctantly. "Hai…sure."

The two entered the hot bath room and stripped, then emersed themselves in the hot water, feeling it attack their sore muscles. Nuriko sighed heavily, and closed his eyes leaning his head back in contentment. "Ahhhh now this is nice."

Chiriko seemed quite amazed to see with proof that Nuriko was indeed a man, despite what the others had said, he'd always had his doubts. Now, he just sat there, trying to relax, but not seeming to be able to do so.

Minutes passed, and they heard the door open, then shut and someone else walked into the room. Chiriko looked up and smiled to see the quiet healer join them wordlessly. He slid aside to make room, and Mitsukake slid in and sighed deeply, a troubled look on his face.

"What's on your mind Mitsukake?" Nuriko posed the question quietly, drawing pictures in the surface of the water.

Mitsukake shook his head. "What's on all of our minds?"

Nuriko nodded. "Cheer up. Have faith in Tama, and it'll all work out. After all, we're dealing with the power of love between them. Something will work out."

Mitsukake looked less than convinced. "Somehow, life doesn't seem to work out that way Nuriko…." And the cross-dresser realized he'd hit a nerve, remembering the way his love relations with his fiancée, Shouka had worked out. Nuriko bit his lip in shame.

Chiriko looked down, his own thoughts in his mind. He was far too confused at the moment…….he truly needed someone to talk to……..but here…..of course he had no one he could rely on. He sighed and slowly stood, ignoring the concerned looks Nuriko and Mitsukake gave him, smiling bravely back at them. "I'm going to catch some sleep…see you later." And he changed and left the bath.

Letting the crisp stormy air refresh his mind and send shivers down his back, he wandered out into the gardens to do some thinking. He ended up stopping under the pagoda, looking out across the pond. To his surprise, he saw Chichiri seated out on the bank under a tree, fishing. He thought suddenly that the man was very peculiar for doing something like this, fishing in the storm, but his mind also told him, here was a person who could help him, if he asked the right questions.

He made his way over to the man in the rain, and joined him wordlessly, watching the rain splatter across the water in droplets. They both spoke no word for several minutes, then Chiriko finally spoke up. "Ne, Chichiri, can I ask your advice on something?"

The monk nodded, turning his head towards Chiriko giving the boy his full attention.

"Well……" he thought about how he was going to word his question, and decided to lead up to it vaguely. "What would you do if…….if your personal reasons conflicted with a job you were supposed to do?"

The monk cocked his head slightly to the side. "How so?"

Chiriko swallowed nervously, and tried to elaborate as best he could. "I mean….what if you had to do something, and you'd be killed if you didn't do it, but you really didn't want to do it."

Chichiri nodded slowly. "Ah, sou ka…" He looked back across the lake as the rain continued to pour down, luckily the tree keeping them both relatively dry. "I know what you mean no da…..The only thing I can tell you to do is, you must think with your heart and mind no da. What is the best thing for you to do…what is the right thing no da." He looked at Chiriko. "It doesn't matter what others think if you can't decide for yourself no da."

The boy sighed and looked out across the lake as well, feeling his inner emotions that were as turbulent as the storm. "I don't know what to do……I want to do one thing, but I know I should do the other."

Chichiri didn't answer, but instead laid his fishing pole down and looked directly at Chiriko before speaking. "That is something you need to decide for yourself no da."

Chiriko nodded, somehow knowing that that would be the answer the monk would hand him. He stood up slowly and smiled. "Thank you Chichiri……..honestly, thank you. Not very many people have actually listened impartially to me before……thank you for caring."

Chichiri gave him a small smile. "Anytime you need to talk no da."

Chiriko smiled, and headed back to the building, feeling his inner emotions warring. Chichiri was right. He had to settle it himself, especially since he couldn't have the others knowing the truth about him…but, what if the real Chiriko showed up? Then what would he do?

He leaned against the wall and shivered, holding his arms to his side in defeat. He didn't want to help his side any more…..he'd stopped wanting to about a week ago. Ever since he'd seen how they acted, cared, and lived with each other, he'd wanted to stay a part of their lives. But he wasn't sure if they'd want him to be a part if they found out……

But then his thoughts drifted back to the kind faces of each of the Seishi. Each of them welcoming him, accepting him for who he was, or said he was. The fun and happiness he'd had with them….it was all so much better than the abuse, the cold treatment, and the fear he'd lived with back home. He wanted to stay here………would they accept him was the thing……….

He glanced back towards the monk thinking hard. What if he told him…..would he understand, or would he turn him in?

Somehow, he thought that the monk would understand and sympathize with him, and thinking this, he almost headed back to tell him, but fear of what the others would say, especially Tasuki, frightened him. He slid down to the ground, clutching his knees to his chest in confusion. What could he do? He sat there for some time, his inner emotions churning and spinning, then he came to a decision, stood up and headed back to where the monk was. To his dismay, Chichiri was gone. He sighed and closed his eyes in confusion. He continued walking around the area, trying to decide what to do, then headed back to Chichiri's room to talk with him.

There was a light on inside, and so Chiriko rapped lightly on the door.

"Come in no da."

He slowly opened the door, and stepped inside, closing it behind him. Chichiri had been readying himself for bed apparently, and he was just folding his kesa and setting it on the chair, then turned around and smiled at Chiriko. "What can I do for you no da?"

Now Chiriko hadn't seen the monk without his mask before, and this severely startled him to see his real face. He'd thought the monk had been odd, but he'd never suspected that he had worn a mask. So he seemed a little shaken and didn't speak right away, but stared a bit open mouthed at him.

Chichiri noticed his silence and nodded in understanding and walked over to Chiriko and put a hand on his shoulder. "Daijoubu…" he said softly, his voice soothing. "Did you need to talk to me?"

Chiriko broke out of his semi-trance, and looked down ashamed. "G-gomen, I can come back later if I'm bothering you…"

"You're not no da." He pulled up two chairs and they both sat. "What's on your mind no da?"

Chiriko was gripping his pants in his fists nervously, suddenly very frightened about what he was about to do. "Ano…..well, I…"

Suddenly he didn't think he could do it. He had a vision in his mind of telling the monk, and Chichiri grabbing that staff of his and attacking him. He shook it quickly out of his mind, telling himself that the monk wouldn't be that kind of person.

Chichiri saw that he was fighting internally with himself, and stood up. "Why don't I make some tea no da." He went over to the table he had set up, and began filling a pot with water and herbs, then he stuck it over the fire in the hearth and let Chiriko do some thinking by himself.

Chiriko sat there, and felt relieved that he had recognized his uncertainty, and so he began to loosen up. By the time Chichiri returned with two cups of steaming tea and they began sipping it, Chiriko had calmed his nerves and made up his mind.

"Chichiri-san…..I don't want you to….to think I'm a bad person….."

The monk seemed slightly surprised. "Why would I think that no da?"

Chiriko looked away. "I….well, I wanted to tell you something…..something that will probably make the others mad….."

Chichiri smiled quietly, and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you leave that to them to decide no da."

He nodded slowly, then took a deep breath, and spoke quickly before he could change his mind. "I'm not really Chiriko….my name is Amiboshi and I'm a Seriyuu Seishi who was sent her to sabotage your summoning ceremony and then kill all of you." He didn't dare look up for fear of what he'd see in the man's eye.

However, Chichiri surprised him. "I see…..and you're telling me this because…?"

Amiboshi looked up astonished. The monk was calm and had his arms crossed thoughtfully, and was watching him with an honest open face. "Uh…." He swallowed. "I…..I don't want to sabotage and kill you guys……." He looked down and continued. "Nakago-sama sent me to do it….at first, I was devoted to it, and was determined not to be swayed from my duty……demo……" He felt a tear sliding down his cheek. "I don't want to do it now! No one's ever treated me as nice as you guys have…….I feel like this is a home, someplace where I'm welcome………and…..and…" He stopped and felt more tears rolling down his cheeks, dripping into his tea.

There was quiet silence in the room for several minutes, the only noise was the crackling of the fire. Finally, Chichiri spoke up. "What do you want to do then?"

Amiboshi looked up. "I…….I don't know……I know now that……if I go back Nakago-sama will kill me for being a traitor……but, if I stay here…….then….." he looked down again. "The same thing might happen."

Chichiri sighed and stood up, making Amiboshi nervously watch him as he strode to the fire and stared into it for some time in silence. Finally, he spoke, still facing the fire. "Would you like to know something no da?"

Amiboshi looked nervous. "What…?"

Chichiri turned and faced him a thoughtful smile on his face. "I knew who you were from the day we met no da."

Amiboshi almost fell out of his chair in astonishment. "You……what?!"

Chichiri walked back over to him, as he fidgeted nervously in his chair, and sat down again. "I was trained to tell various types of ki no da. Since I'd met Nakago once before no da, I'd recognized the particular signature of the Seriyuu ki no da. I recognized it in you when you arrived at the palace no da."

Amiboshi blinked several times in shock. He'd known the whole time? Then…. "Why…why didn't you tell anyone? Why did you keep it secret?" He was entirely confused now.

Chichiri folded his arms and leaned back causally. "Because no da."

Amiboshi stared at his tea in confusion. "I…don't understand. You knew I was an enemy……but……you didn't say anything?"

"You weren't threatening at the time no da. I wasn't about to say anything unless something went wrong no da." He leaned forward towards him. "Besides, Miaka is not yet ready for the summoning ceremony no da."

Amiboshi looked startled. Why was he telling him this. "She's not?"

"Iie. If she tried to summon Suzaku now, it would be too much for her to handle. She has to grow up first no da."

He looked confused, but bit his lip. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because. I'd like you to know that no matter who you are, or what you may stand for, you're a kind human being who everyone here likes no da."

Amiboshi pulled back startled. He suddenly understood. Chichiri was trying to prove to him that he trusted him. Giving him some confidence to understand that he wasn't to be frightened here. Amiboshi smiled tentatively. "Thank you…….I think I understand."

Chichiri nodded. "What are you going to do then no da?"

Amiboshi looked down at his tea uncertainly. "I…don't know…..do you think they'd understand if I told them the truth? Or should I just leave before anything else happens….."

Chichiri shook his head. "Leaving is not the answer no da. If you leave, then Nakago may find out and you could be worse off than you would be if you just told him plain outright no da." He looked seriously at him. "I would say that your best chance is staying here no da. Now, whether you want to tell the others or not is up to you no da. If you decide not to, then I will say nothing no da."

Amiboshi was astonished. He was willing to keep his secret. Even if it was endangering him to do it, he was willing. That surprised him, and made him suddenly want to stay here more than ever. "I……maybe I should think about it for now…."

Chichiri nodded. "Very well no da. But keep in mind the longer you sit on it, the more dangerous it can be for you and the others as well no da."

"How…do you mean?"

"Nakago is intelligent no da. He might have some surveillance set up on you to make sure you're doing fine no da. That way, he'd know everything no da."

Amiboshi suddenly realized that was probably the truth. It wouldn't surprise him at all if the Shogun did that. However, that didn't mean that he'd think any different. "I understand." He stood up. "Thank you so much for understanding Chichiri-san." He bowed gratefully to the monk, then turned to go.

Chichiri stood up. "Chotto matte." He walked over and put a hand on Amiboshi's shoulder and smiled. "If you need to talk again, don't hesitate to come by no da."

Amiboshi smiled brightly, and nodded. "Hai! Domo."

******

Miaka woke slowly, her head pounding with a severe headache. She stared blankly up at the canopy above her head, and wondered what to do. The whole incident had taken her a long time to get used to. She had slept that night, but her dreams had been filled with fright and terror. She'd woken several times that night, in a cold sweat.

She sat up slowly, clutching the sheets to her in a feeling of loss. She wondered if she should go see him. She got up and got dressed methodically, her heart and mind in a rush of confusion. She slowly exited her room, heading down the hallway. It was early still, and she could hear the sounds of the palace just waking up all around her. She wandered towards the gardens, and saw someone standing in the pagoda once again. She headed towards them, and saw Chiriko was the one leaning over the railing holding his flute and watching the fish. "Ohayo Chiriko!" She joined him, and he turned and smiled at her.

"Ohayo Miaka-san. How are you this morning?"

She nodded. "I'm doing better I think…." Her voice held a tone of seriousness, and Amiboshi was surprised at how much Miaka seemed to have aged overnight.

"That's good. I'm glad you're doing better….." He glanced over at her. "Ne, Miaka.." His words were cut off as she turned her head and looked distracted. He glanced back and saw that a few guards were going by in the hallway. Miaka suddenly left his side and headed for an intercept course. Concerned, Amiboshi followed her. "Miaka-san?"

She caught up to the guards with him trailing. "Ne, could you take me to the dungeons?"

The guards seemed slightly surprised, and glanced at each other. "Miko-sama, I don't think you should be going down there, it's very dangerous." One guard spoke up. Amiboshi had come up behind her carefully, and was listening quietly. The guard looked over seeing him, and then turned back to Miaka who was looking up at him earnestly. He sighed. "Well, if the Suzaku Seishi-sama would accompany the Miko," he said nodding to Amiboshi, "Then I suppose it would be ok."

Amiboshi nodded slowly, hoping he knew what he was getting into. Miaka looked up at him and seeing his agreement, smiled gratefully at the man. "Thank you." They headed down the stairs towards the dungeon area, and entered the cell block area. Amiboshi was very tense about the whole thing. Tamahome had met him back in Kutou, and he hoped the Seishi wouldn't betray him in the wrong way.

Miaka stepped forward to the cell where Tamahome was being kept, and peered in uncertainly on him. He was laying down on the bunk, having been bandaged up, sleeping. He seemed perfectly normal laying there, no one would have known the truth. Miaka's eyes softened, a tear forming as she gazed upon her beloved. Amiboshi put a comforting hand on her shoulder, letting her know he was there for her and she looked back smiling sadly. "Do you think he'll break out of it? Honestly, tell me what you think."

He glanced down at Tamahome in sadness. "No. Nakago-sama has used that drug on people before, and they die under his control."

She blinked. "Nakago…….sama?"

He flinched, suddenly aware he'd made a slip. "Um….yeah that's something I meant to talk about with you Miaka-sama….." He bit his lip as she stared at him, and the guards did as well. He felt very nervous, but decided to lay it out to her. "I already told Chichiri-san what I'm going to tell you…….."

She turned and gave him her full attention.

"I…..am not really Chiriko….." He spoke quietly. "The tattoo was put on me to fool you….." He pulled his shirt down off his shoulder revealing his blue symbol glowing brightly. "I'm actually a Seriyuu Seishi…..Amiboshi."

Miaka looked frightened, and unsure of what to say, and looked at him in complete surprise. She looked as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't. The guards were moving closer threateningly, but he held out a hand. "Please….let me finish." He glanced at her. "I'm sorry I misled you Miaka-san…..I was sent as a spy to sabotage the ceremony and kill you and your Seishi, however…" he emphasized the however as the guards closed in. "I've decided to defect here instead." She looked confused, so he elaborated. "I want to stay here and help you."

The guards roughly grabbed his arms and were about to drag him off, and he put up no resistance, when Miaka spoke. "Stop. Leave him alone."

"Demo, Miko-sama…..!"

"Iie. He wouldn't have told us this then killed us. Leave him alone. I trust him."

Amiboshi felt a wave of relief wash through him. She trusted him…..Chichiri had been right. If he had a little faith in them, then they would surprise him. He nodded understandingly towards her. "Domo Miko-sama for listening to me."

"You said you talked to Chichiri about it?"

"Hai, that's right. He and I talked about it last night. He promised not to say anything until I was ready to tell you the truth."

She nodded. "Well, if Chichiri trusts you then so do I." She smiled up at him. "But what about Nakago? Won't he be mad?"

Amiboshi cringed. "Yeah…I'm sure he probably is sending someone after me now…..but I'm willing to risk it." He straightened gripping his flute firmly. "I won't let him push me around any more."

She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "Good. I'm glad."

****

Tasuki was straining Mitsukake's temperament by making rude comments as the healer did his business by fixing the injuries the Seishi had received. He finished healing him and sighed standing up and looking irritated. "You'll be fine now. Try not to get yourself injured again this time."

Tasuki snorted. "Feh!" He lept out of bed grinning widely. "No one's going to get within pissing range of the mighty Gen-chan without getting somethin outta me!"

Mitsukake sweatdropped and shook his head, then took Tama-neko and left. Tasuki changed quickly and was outside stretching in the bright air with a wide grin plastered across his face. "Oi……it's good ta be alive."

"I'm so glad you're feeling better Tasuki-kun no da."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!! DON'T FRIKKEN SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT AHO!" Tasuki was clinched onto the railing of the walkway his fangs barred.

Chichiri sweatdropped and went super deformed. "Ano…."

They heard a soft laugh, and both turned to see Amiboshi standing there with a smile on his face. Chichiri smiled warmly at the boy. "Ohayo Chiriko….how are you feeling this morning no da?"

He smiled wider, and shrugged casually, and suddenly the monk tensed up.

Tasuki was brushing himself off and snorted. "Feh, you better get used to announcing yourself better or I'm gonna fry ya next time."

Amiboshi just stood there watching them, and Tasuki suddenly felt Chichiri's hand on his shoulder warningly. Tasuki looked up questioningly. "Eh?" He glanced at Amiboshi with a frown. "What's wrong?"

As if to answer his question, Amiboshi raised a hand above his head and suddenly there were strange cords and balls attached to them above his head, which he then threw a hand at them and the balls flew forward with a speed that was phenomenal. Tasuki and Chichiri both threw themselves to the sides, avoiding the high speed balls within a hairs' breath. They rolled on the floor and were instantly on their feet again, watching the balls fly back to their owner and over around his head. "What the hell do you think you're doing??????~~~~" Tasuki screamed whipping his tessen out.

Chichiri stood there his staff leveled in front of him. "Be careful Tasuki…….that's not the person we know no da!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" Tasuki glared at the boy. "Who the hell are you then?"

The boy spoke in a cold voice. "My name is Suboshi. I am a Seriyuu Seishi, and Nakago has sent me here to retrieve my brother and kill you!" And with that the balls went flying forward again. Tasuki deflected one with his metal fan, and sent it sailing into a nearby post, sending half the roof collapsing down on the three. Coughing and wiping dust from their eyes, the two Suzaku Seishi looked around warily from outside the rubble for their opponent. Chichiri whirled around. "There!" He raised his staff as the ball hurtled towards him, and the thing wrapped around the pole of his staff as he whirled it rapidly. He gave a jerk, and the boy's hold on his weapon was jerked loose, and he stood there defenseless…..or so they thought.

The boy simply smirked and looked at them evenly. "Where is my brother and Tamahome?"

Tasuki scowled. "You're Chiriko's brother? Che, that figures…….."

Chichiri stood up slowly, keeping the boy's weapon wrapped around his staff. "What do you want with Tamahome-kun and Amiboshi no da?"

Tasuki stared at the monk. "Amiboshi?"

Suboshi merely smiled. "That is my business. Now tell me where they are and I'll let you live."

Chichiri's eye narrowed. The boy's power was still raw and untrained. But while this meant it was easy to find and overcome him if strategy was thought up, it also meant he was incredibly unpredictable. "I don't think we'll be telling you that I'm afraid no da." Behind him Tasuki nodded in agreement.

Suboshi just grinned more. "Then you will die." And he raised a hand in a sharp gesture and suddenly Chichiri found himself being tied up by the boy's weapon which had uncurled itself from his staff and was spinning around him quicker than the eye could see. Suddenly aware that he was too slow as he suddenly felt a flash of pain in his chest and looked down to see one of the balls fly out of his chest from behind him, red with his own blood. He could vaguely hear Tasuki screaming something unintelligible, but he couldn't tell what was being said, his mind was clouding up. He coughed, and crimson came onto his lips and he felt himself falling endlessly in a slow daze. His vision was tinged with red, and he could hear Tasuki screaming in rage with shouts of Lekka Shinen, and an occasional curse.

Tasuki was overcome with rage, and was flinging fire out not caring what it hit so long as it was in Suboshi's direction. He was so focused he didn't see other people rushing towards them. Miaka and Amiboshi burst around the corner in one direction, and Hotohori came sprinting un-emperor-like around the other with Nuriko at his heels, and Mitsukake not far behind.

Tasuki was too focused on his target, who was defenseless now that his weapon was wrapped around Chichiri's body, and Suboshi was valiantly trying to avoid the crazed bandit, but was in a losing battle.

Miaka gasped and stood rooted to the spot in horror and Amiboshi lept forward with a scream of "YAMETEEEEEEEE!!!!!" He ran out into the gardens and threw himself in front of Tasuki's madness with his arms spread out in front of his brother defensively. "Onigai! Tasuki stop!"

Mitsukake and Nuriko had rushed towards Chichiri, and were bending down and cautiously turning him over. His mask had fallen off and was lying on the ground, blood smeared inside of it. Nuriko stifled a cry of anguish at seeing the hole in the Seishi's chest. "Iie…."

Mitsukake immediately went to work by tearing the weapon off of Chichiri using a knife to cut the ropes that held it, and ripping his shirt off then pressing his shirt that he'd torn off of himself onto the wound. "Hayaku! Get the other doctors!" His voice was harsh and dangerous. "Hayaku!!!!"

Nuriko didn't hesitate, but sprung off as fast as he could. Hotohori had come up beside Tasuki and was watching Suboshi and Amiboshi with a dangerous glance, his sword drawn. Amiboshi merely stood there, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please…..don't kill him. He's the only family I have left……Kill me in his place, but please….." He choked as his gaze landed on the fallen monk. "It's my responsibility."

Tasuki glanced at Hotohori and they looked at each other uncertainly. Suboshi in the meantime had stopped and was staring at his brother. "Aniki…..what…..?"

Amiboshi looked back at him sadly. "I'm sorry…….demo, I can't let you hurt my friends any more than I can let them hurt you…."

Suboshi seemed startled by this. "Friends? You….you made friends with them?" He suddenly looked frightened and guilty. "But, Nakago-sama said you were a prisoner here….."

Amiboshi lowered his head tears spilling down his cheeks. "No….Nakago lied to you and to me. These kind people aren't the ones we should fight…."

Mitsukake was getting frantic. He couldn't use his power since he'd already healed Tasuki….but…..Chichiri would defiantly die if something wasn't done….. Knowing he could well lose his own life, Mitsukake raised his hand and closed his eyes in concentration and focus. He wasn't about to let him die! Red light began to illuminate from under his hand as everyone turned to watch, including Tasuki, Hotohori, and the twins. Miaka was rooted to where she had stopped, and was watching horrified. Mitsukake concentrated harder, feeling the strength drain from him. It hadn't been a full day, so he wasn't at full strength to heal him….but he had to try. Sweat beaded his forehead as he tried valiantly to heal him……

They felt a cold clamp grasp their hearts all at once.

Mitsukake gave a sudden gasp of pain, and bit his lip. The glow from his hand faded, and it fell listlessly to the ground. He stared blankly ahead, shock on his face, and then he closed his eyes and a tear slid down his cheek as he bowed his head in grief.

There was complete silence in the courtyard, even the birds had stopped their talk to let the heavy air hang in stillness. Then the silence was broken by a heartrending wail that emitted from the Miko standing in the hallway, tears rolling down her cheeks in streams. "IIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"


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