Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Blessing ❯ Rescue ( Chapter 2 )

~A Week Later…~

Genrou lay sprawled out in the leader's chair in the Mt. Leikaku stronghold passed out drunk from the party after another successful raid. A knock came from outside the door to the room as Kouji poked his head in from the hallway saying, "Knock, knock! Who's there? Kouji with some really bad news," but Genrou didn't stir. Kouji groaned, rolling his eyes as he walked over to his buddy and shook him awake, "GENROU, WAKE UP!!"

"AHHH!! Dammit! What the hell's go'n on, waking me up like that?!" Genrou screamed as he jolted in his seat.

"Now that you're awake and attentive…" Kouji growled before softening his attitude. "They're been some really bad news traveling down the pipeline."

"Well? What is it?" Genrou urged with a bit of annoyance.

"There's been a really bad raid by the Honsou gang on your village. Most of the young women have been taken along with all the village's valuables. Apparently a few homes were burnt as well," Kouji said with a look of worry.

"Wha.. WHAT?!!" Genrou exclaimed, leaping out of his seat. Kouji just stared back at him sympathetically. "Tell the men to get their asses in order and gather the loot we got with that last raid. We're go'n over there ASAP!" Genrou ordered with a look of both worry and fury on his face.

"Right!" Kouji said with a nod. He turned and went off to inform the rest of the band as Genrou dashed off to his room to gather some things.

By mid morning, the army of bandits that went on the trip arrived at Genrou's home town to see the destruction through their own eyes. Shops were torn apart. Houses were burned. The towns folk skittishly worked to pick up the pieces, but once they saw Genrou and the band of bandits, they fled in terror. Genrou gasped at the sight in horror. After a moment, he snapped out of it and turned to his men. "You boys get out there and help those people clear away the debris, find the missing, bury any of the dead, replenish some of the money supply, and repair the homes and businesses. Kouji, Lansou, Kenjin, Hokana, you boys come with me. At this point, all you boys are no longer bandits while you're here. But volunteers to help the people. Go to it!" Genrou ordered in a loud commanding voice. The band roared and affirmative and instantly everyone broke away to begin carrying out their duties, much to the dismay of the villagers.

Genrou lead his group through the village to house on the out skirts. Once he'd arrived at his house, he saw, to his horror, that it too had be burned. He held up a hand signaling the others to stay back as he ventured into the house. Kouji and the others watched and waited in pure silence for word. A couple of minutes later a scream of rage rang out as the charred wood by the front door was blown away by a mighty punch.

"Oh shit! This is bad!" Kouji rasped. A few minutes later, Genrou walked back out with tears streaming down his cheeks and a look of murder on his face.

"Bury her properly and burn the place to the ground," he said in a low voice as he climbed up on his mount and took off back down the street.

"Hokana, you're leader while Genrou and I are gone!" Kouji said, turning his horse around and bolting after Genrou before Hokana could answer.

Villagers stared in wonder, but some, also understanding, as Tasuki rocketed down the streets and out of town, pushing his steed to top speed as the kanji on his arm glowed a furious bright blood red. Kouji followed as fast as he could get his horse to go, as the rest of the band looked on with the villagers. "Half of you guard the village! The other half attack the slave trade ports! Save the women and children!" Kouji called out to them as he raced through the streets and out of town, hot on Genrou's heels.

Outside the village, Kouji called out to Genrou to slow down so Kouji could catch up. Finally, after the fifth call, Genrou skidded to a halt and turned a murderous glare upon Kouji as the subordinate slid to a stop as well. "Go back! I can do this on my own!" Genrou shouted menacingly.

"You're not going with out me! We're a team on these things, Genrou!" Kouji answered, not budging an inch.

"Damnit, Kouji!"

"Cuss me out all you like, Genrou! I'm still going with you! Two heads are better than one! Remember?" Kouji countered. Genrou growled but finally relented.

"Let's go then!" he spat as he smacked the rump of his horse and rocketed down the road again. This time, Kouji was right beside him.

It was well past midnight by the time Kouji and Genrou reached the enemy stronghold. The darkness of night and the handful of dead hours on the clock were their ally as they crept through the woods with the utmost stealth. Genrou used a few of the talismen he had recently reacquired to distract the guards with a small group of phantom deer while he and Kouji snuck past and into the stronghold.

Inside, the building echoed with the snores of sleeping bandits as the two intruders quietly weaved their way through the corridors. Eventually, the two found the brig located in the center of the hive.

Kouji tapped Genrou on the shoulder when he located a cell holding a familiar looking feminine form. Genrou nodded and quickly picked the lock with fluid ease. A second later, the door swung open and Genrou dashed inside to find Aidou chained to the wall and close to paper thin. As she opened her eyes, Genrou put one hand over her mouth and a finger to his lips, instructing her to keep quiet. Her eyes were wide and filling with tears, but she complied never the less as Kouji picked the lock on her shackles.

A moment later, Aidou was free and rubbing weakly as her raw frail wrists. Genrou leaned in and whispered into her ear, "Where's Chishuu?" He then moved his ear to her lips for a reply.

"With the leader," she whispered hoarsely.

Genrou nodded to his older sister then turned to Kouji and whispered into his ear, "Get her out of here. I'm going after Chishuu." He dashed out if the cell and down the hall at top speed before Kouji could object.

Kouji sighed softly and picked Aidou up. He held her tight to him as he made his way back down the hall to the window he and Genrou had crawled through. He checked the coast and helped Aidou climb out the window when the guard had moved around the building a ways on his patrol. After she was out, he quickly slipped out behind her. The two ducked behind a wood pile while the next two guards moved by , then he picked her up and ran like hell, using a talisman Genrou had given him of an owl fighting with it's prey as his cover. Once he reached the river, he helped Aidou up on his horse, then climbed up behind the side saddled girl to wait for Genrou.

Back inside the stronghold, Genrou used a little of his speed to quickly and quietly search the premises for the leader's quarters. Eventually, he found it and poked his head in. After a moment of scanning the dark room with his eyes, Genrou located Chishuu huddled in a back corner of the room, naked and trembling. A breeze passed through the room, taking up the blanket that the band leader had so conveniently tossed off onto the floor and wrapping it around the shivering child that it abducted and whisked from the room.

Outside the room, Genrou tucked himself away in an alcove as leaned in to whisper into the tiny ear of his struggling sister, "Shh.. Chishuu! Quiet. It's Taski. Calm down and let me get you out of here. Kouji's already waiting with Aidou." The child whimpered softly, but did as she was told as Genrou once again became caught up in a wind that swished through the halls. He stopped briefly to make sure no one was looking, then leapt through the window in a breeze that softly rustled the leaves as it rocketed through the forest and into the night.

A minute later, Genrou reached the river where Kouji and Aidou were already mounted and waiting for him. He quickly climbed up onto his horse and nudged it forward into the river. Kouji instantly followed, and the two horses waded down the river a ways before climbing out onto the road that crossed it. There, the two bandits coaxed their steeds into a dead run as they made a beeline back to the safety of the Leikaku stronghold.

Night became a dark gloomy day and a thunderstorm threatened at the break of dawn, as the group traveled, the two girls sleeping away the ordeal.

"Genrou, do you know where the hell you're going?" Kouji growled, weary from having not slept in three days as Genrou lead them away from the path back and deeper into the mountains..

"Yeah, I know where I'm go'n, blockhead! There's a nasty storm on the way and they're gonna expect us to lay low in some town. But I know someplace better that they'll, number one: never find, and number two: never see even if they do find it," Genrou answered.

"What? Genrou, I think you've lost it, pal!" Kouji argued.

"Just humor me, will ya? I know what I'm do'n," Genrou replied.

"Fine! Have it your way!"

"I will! I'm leader! Remember?" Genrou tossed back with a sardonic grin. Kouji groaned but kept quiet.

A little while later, just as it started to ran and the thunder crash over head amidst the lightning, they arrived at a mountain that was taller than the rest. Kouji blinked at it as Genrou lead them around the base.

"Where the hell's this?" Kouji asked with a puzzled scowl.

"The center of the four counties. This is Mt. Taikyoku. Those with evil in their hearts will only see a barren mountain. But those with good in their hearts will see a magnificent palace. Right….. THERE!" Genrou shouted as he pointed to a grand winding case of stone steps that came into view as they came around the mountain. Kouji gasped at the sight as Genrou lead him up the long stretch of stairs towards the palace. "Told ya I knew what I was doing," Genrou chided.

"Is this someplace you came as a seishi?" Kouji asked.

"Yes," Genrou answered. Closer to the palace, he began looking around for something, or rather someone.

"What are you looking for?" Kouji inquired with a curious face.

"A friend," Genrou answered simply as he continued looking around. Finally he scowled slightly and shouted out, "Taiitsukun? Nyan Nyan?"

Instantly a bubble floated in front of Genrou and his horse and popped to reveal a little girl with blue hair and pig tails. "Nyan Nyan!" she said cheerfully.

Genrou jumped in his saddle but then laughed and shook his head, "Geez! Scare me out of my skin, Nyan Nyan!" Nyan Nyan giggled. "Where's Taiitsukun?"

"Ahh!! What the hell is it?!" Kouji suddenly screamed in horror as he pointed to a figure up the steps a ways.

"Keep that up and see where it gets ya, pal!" Genrou shot back to his buddy. Then he did an about face, "Taiitsukun! Nice to see you again! How are you doing? I trust everything is going well since yer not bug'n me no more?"

"I don't bug you you lout!" Taiitsukun said, whacking him in the head with the tessen. "And I am not something from a horror tale!" she said crankily as she smacked him over the head as well. Both men whined and cringed. But a moment later, Tasuki shook it off an looked to Nyan Nyan.

"Nyan Nyan! Take the ladies inside. Heal them, feed them, and get something for little Chishuu here to wear while Kouji and I talk to Taiitsukun," he told the girl.

"Nyan Nyan!" the girl agreed as she made four of herself and carried the two girls inside the palace.

"Taiitsukun, I sincerely apologize for barging in like this without notice, but Kouji and I have just rescued my two sisters from another band that raided and destroyed my village. With the men out looking for us and the thunderstorm in the area, not to mention the health of all four of us, we couldn't risk hiding in a small town. This was my only option," Tasuki explained.

"You don't think I already know that?" Taiitsukun said raising a brow as Kouji looked on in awe.

"N-no. I didn't say that. I was just-" Tasuki stammered.

"I know you were apologizing. I appreciate it, but there is no need to do so. You know that."

"Yes, ma'am," Tasuki replied softly.

"Now take you're friend on inside and take care of yourselves," Taiitsukun ordered softly, pointing to the palace.

Chishuu woke a few hours later and sat up to look around. She found herself in a futon in a slightly large sleeping chamber inside the palace. To her left was the futon where her brother lay klonked out on his stomach. Across from her was an empty futon that seemed to have still been slept in, then across from Tasuki was another futon on which lay sprawled on his back, snoring with Aidou laying on her side clinging tightly to him as she slept.

The little girl whimpered softly, still in shock over all that had happened to her in the past few days, and crawled over to her brother's side. There, she laid back down and snuggled up as close to him as she could, knowing that, no matter what, she would always be safe when he was around. Sensing her presence, Tasuki groggily opened his eyes and glanced down at her. It drove a dagger into his heart seeing the degree of emotion on her young face.

He turned over, blinking sleep away, as he sat up and opened his arms to her saying softly, "Come here, Sis." Chishuu looked up at him as she sat up, then crawled into his arms, allowing him to wrap her up in his warm, soothing protective embrace. There, in his arms, with her head laid on his chest, she allowed herself to finally break down and fall completely apart with tears of fear and sorrow.

Tasuki gritted his teeth at the sound as it further sliced open his heart. He hugged her tightly as tears of his own welled in his eyes. "It's all right, Chishuu. They won't hurt you anymore. I won't let them," he said softly. She just hugged him tighter and cried some more.

Across the way, Kouji opened his eyes and raised his head up to stare groggily at Genrou. He attempted to sit up but found himself held down by a sleeping Aidou. A blush appeared upon his face as Genrou glanced across the way at him and glared. "What? Don't look at me. It' not my fault she's over here," Kouji retorted. Genrou turned his attention back to Chishuu who calmed down a bit and looked over at Kouji. He blinked at her as she widened her eyes and instantly smacked a hand over her mouth as she turned back to hide her face in Genrou's arms the moment she saw Kouji and Aidou together. Genrou and Kouji both made faces and exchanged glances at the gesture.

"And just what aren't you telling, Chishuu?" Genrou said wryly. Chishuu giggled but said nothing more. Kouji's eyes instantly bugged out as the memory of that night at the Kou house occurred to him. "Kouji? What have you been doing with my sister?"

"Nothing! Well, nothing worth mentioning anyways. Besides… number one, she starts it. And number two, why the hell would you care anyways? It's no like that kind of stuff is any of yer business!"

"It is when it's my sister!"

"She's older than you! Besides. Why would you care when she's the one beat'n the shit out of you all the time?"

"That's half the point!" Genrou shouted. Kouji instantly busted out howling in laughter, which woke Aidou up and caused her to make a face as she wondered what the hell was going on. "That's not FUNNY!" Genrou shouted defensively. Kouji stopped a moment to look at him then broke out laughing all over again. He was instantly rewarded with a pillow hitting him in the face.

"Hey! I can't help it if that was just the god damn funniest thing I ever heard you say! Blockhead!" Kouji said before continuing his hysterics.

"And just what did he say?" Aidou said with a scowl. Genrou stonewalled in defense. Chishuu stonewalled so she wouldn't get in trouble for Genrou finding out about last week. And Kouji was laughing too hard to answer. Both men found themselves being beat over the head with the pillow that Genrou had thrown before Aidou stomped out of the room.

"Touchie!" Kouji said, still trying to contain his giggles. Genrou poked out his tongue and blew the other bandit a raspberry before turning back to Chishuu, who now wore an outfit identical to Nyan Nyan's.

"Let's go see what we can get into, shall we?" he said to her with a grin.

"Yeah!" Chishuu cheered, as she jumped up and wiped the tears off her face.

"Hey! What about me?" Kouji whined.

"You can come if ya want. That is, unless ya don't wanna go hang out with cutie pie Aidou," Genrou mocked. Kouji swung a pillow at him, but missed as Genrou swiftly ducked, picking up Chishuu and moving towards the door. Behind them Kouji growled and dropped the pillow before silently following behind Genrou.

Out in the hallway, Genrou looked both ways wondering which way to go. Finally, he chose right and headed down the hallway. A little ways down, he turned right again and walked through a set of double doors that lead out onto a bamboo catwalk over a deep gully. At the end was another set of double doors and Genrou blinked and looked around as he entered.

"Why do I get the feeling, you haven't a clue where you're going?" Kouji said from behind. His statement was overshadowed by a gasp from Genrou and Chishuu as their eyes took in the sight of the magnificent circular room. The floors were made of marble and there were a set of double doors between each of the four cardinal points of the room. At the center of the room was a pedestal holding a large dark blue globe that was a map of the heavens. In the center of each cardinal point, along the wall, hung a giant tapestry depicting the god of that point. To each side of the tapestry was a golden pillar. Then, in front of the tapestry, on a pedestal sat a statue of the god. Kouji blinked and gulped in awe the moment he stepped in and saw what the other two were looking at.

From the other side of the catwalk, the group had just entered on came Aidou's voice, "Kouji? Chishuu? Shun'u? You here somewhere?"

"We're over here, Aidou," Shun'u called back.

"Sheesh! I leave a minute and you folks split on me! I swear!" Aidou complained as she crossed the catwalk into the room. She instantly shut up with a gasp and a "Wow!" the moment she laid eyes upon the room.

"This must be the center of the universe," Tasuki said as he stepped towards the globe in the center to see the stars of Byakko and Suzaku gleaming back at him.

"Brover! Look! Suzaku!" Chishuu shouted as she climbed out of her brother's arms and ran over to the statue and tapestry of the southern god. Everyone turned to look at what Chishuu was so excited about and Tasuki put on a shy face as he stepped over to the monument to glance at the god before slowly dropping into a low bow on both his knees. Chishuu, stared at her brother then realized what he was doing must be important so she did it too. Aidou followed suit, and Kouji instantly bowed behind her.

Tasuki stood up and stared at the monument, revealing in it's sheer beauty.

TO BE CONTINUED…..