Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Kentah Den ❯ Shogun and Storms ( Chapter 4 )

Kentah Den

Well, I am quite proud of myself, two updates in a day! Well, I'm glad everyone liked the last chapter. Poor Kage eh? More Chichiri and Tasuki in this chapter I think. Ohhh, we're getting so close to `that scene'. Bwahahahaha!

New character coming. Who is he? Wonder wonder wonder?

Seth: Oh just go on and read.

Chapter 3: Shogun and Storm

* * * Last time * * *

Kage stopped at a door that swung back and forth in every little gust of wind, creaking and wheezing with every move it made a small ball rolled out of it and bumped gently at his feet. Carefully he pushed the door open wider. "Ojii-san? Obaa-san? It's me Kage. Is anyone in . . . here?" his voice died away as he saw a pool of dark liquid on the floor. Blood . . .

* * * * * * * * * * *

Unable to take his eyes away from the scene, he could make out a body in the shadows. Gashes covered the flesh and the face was mangled until he couldn't recognize it. In horror he ran back out of the house, despair filling him. So this village was attacked as well.

* *

"Shogun, you requested for my presence?" asked a soldier bowing reverently to his superior. There was a rustling in the shadows of the tent and the soldier could hear the sound of hard boots walking towards him.

"Yes, I did. Now tell me Captain Yusui, what village are we nearing?" came the cool smooth voice, the swish of a cape fluttered against the man's face as the shogun sat down.

Yusui looked down at the ground, "We near the village of Kentah. But there bodes bad news." The captain waited to hear any sign that the shogun wanted him to go on.

"I didn't say to stop Captain. Go on," reprimanded the shogun softly.

"The village has been attacked we found no survivors. All that remains are burnt down buildings and a smoldering pyre. It appears someone had stopped here first and held enough respect to give the bodies a decent funeral," continued Yusui.

There was a moment of silence and a low growl of irritation and anger sounded from the shogun's throat. Yusui flinched and he could almost feel the silver-blue eyes of the shogun piercing through him. "Do you know who the attackers were?" asked the shogun, his voice seemingly calm. But for one with enough experience of serving under the man for a few years, Yusui could hear the tightening of his superior's voice.

"One of the scouts brought back a spear. I'm afraid to say that Kutou's army is back to ravaging our country again." replied Yusui, laying a spear he had brought with him in front of the shogun's feet.

"Leave. And prepare to send troops to all the surrounding villages. I will return with a few soldiers. This news will have to be reported to the Dowager Empress." ordered the rigid voice of the shogun. Yusui nodded and backed out of the tent avoiding the eye-contact of the shogun. Now would be the worst time to be on his bad side.

*

Back inside the tent, the shogun picked up the spear and examined its blue tassel. With another growl of disgust he tightened his grip on the spear shaft and thrust it into the ground, where it remained quivering for several seconds.

* *

It had been two days since they had left Kentah. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and the wintry weather was starting to settle in.

"Chichiri. What the fuck is the matter wit' yeh? Yeh've bin `voidin' that river ever since we got close teh it. Shit, don' tell me yeh're `fraid of water too?" asked Tasuki watching the monk in front of him keep as far away from the river as he could without leaving the path. He pulled his coat closer to himself as a brisk gust of wind blew by.

"I'm fine no da." came the exasperated voice of Chichiri above the whistle of the wind. Tasuki sweat-dropped, that's what Chichiri had been saying the other five times he had asked.

*

The water of the river ran smoothly in the sunlight, as if mocking him. *The Shoryuu . . . the same river that I let Hikou drown in. That should mean my village is close-by . . . * thought Chichiri drawing his kesa closer to his body. The wind made his bangs fly wildly and the rings on his shakujou jingle merrily.

"Hey Chichiri! What'r we eatin' fer lunch?" asked Tasuki.

"Fish no da." replied Chichiri dryly, letting sarcasm drip into his words. There was a groan of frustration from Tasuki and a stream of curse words were lost in the wind.

"Anythin' but fish. I swear Chichiri. Next time I go onna trip wit' yeh, I'm bringin' extra rations and keepin' that damned fishin' pole away from yeh," grumbled Tasuki kicking a small pebble ahead of him on the road.

"Well then Tasuki, we'll just keep on going without food then." said Chichiri. Silence . . .

"Fine then. But I swear Chichiri. Yer're gonna hafta make this up when we go to the next village. A few rounds a'sake might just do it." smirked Tasuki. Chichiri shook his head, was drinking all Tasuki thought about? Little did he know what ELSE was going on that the bandit's head.

*

Tasuki straightened up as they came to a large meadow, long broken down houses speckled the area; some of the houses had grass and other vegetation growing in the stone walls' cracks. Probably an old abandoned village. "Oi Chichiri! How `bout we stop here? Yeh can go on an' fish. I'll start up a fire." said Tasuki rubbing his hands together and taking out his tessen. He stopped when he saw Chichiri kneel down and removed his mask before slipping his hand in his prayer beads once again. "Whatcha doin' Chichiri?"

No reply.

"Earth teh Chichiri! Cantcha see? This place has been like this ferever! Those bastards never came close teh this place." said Tasuki. Still no reply came from the monk. "Fine suit yerself. I'm buildin' a fire. It's fuckin' cold out here!"

Tasuki turned to gather some stones to make a suitable hearth for the fire when a hand rested on his arm. He turned to see a mask-less Chichiri watching him. A sad look weighed his features. * Damn! He looks so huggable right now!* thought Tasuki resisting the urge to hug the mage that stood next to him. Instead he managed to say, "Yeah?"

Chichiri removed his hand from Tasuki's arm and looked away, back towards the old village, sighing, "It's nothing Tasuki."

"Fuck! Nothing my ass. Now what were yeh gonna say?" asked Tasuki planting his hands on his hips and scowling at Chichiri.

*

Chichiri matched Tasuki's glare squarely. * How could I have almost told him? No one needs to know anymore about my past. The only reason I told the Suzaku no Miko, Miaka was because she asked outright. Tasuki doesn't need to bear my burdens of the past as well. * thought Chichiri fixing Tasuki with an even look until the younger seishi fidgeted and turned to walk away.

He shrugged, Tasuki was usually more persistent in his questioning. He turned to eye the river with distaste and then looked at his own hands. "Time to go fishing then no da." He murmured to himself.

* *

Two days later:

"Tasuki! Hurry up no da! There's a storm coming up and it won't be too good for us if we're stuck in the mountains no da!" shouted Chichiri above the wind.

"K'uso! Chichiri! Why can't yeh just teleport us to the next village or somethin'?" complained Tasuki.

"I don't think that the residents of Kutou would take kindly to two of Khonan's own seishi appearing on their front doorstep no da. Not to mention if I take off my kasa or kesa it would blow away and then we could forget about teleporting ever again." replied Chichiri, turning to see Tasuki, the young man was walking face down against the wind that gusted against them, Tasuki, sensing that he was being watched brought up his head gave Chichiri a distasteful face, one of his little fangs poked out from under his top lip.

"Fine." came the grumbled answer, barely heard by his companion.

Suddenly, a bolt of lighting streaked across the sky accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder.

"SHIT!" shouted Tasuki as he ran to catch up with Chichiri, "I fuckin' hate this kinda weather. Chichiri can we stop?" he whined giving the man a small pleading look.

"Where Tasuki-kun no da?" asked Chichiri dryly as raindrops started pelting down on them.

"Yeh mean there's no caves nearby?" asked Tasuki. Chichiri racked his mind, it had been a while since he had been in this region, and the darkness and rain that obscured the place wasn't helping either.

"I think there is no da. But we still have a bit more walking to do no da." said Chichiri with a wince as the wind gusted against his dampened clothes, chilling him.

Silently they walked next to each other heads bowed and trying to keep watch on the cliff facing path ahead of them. It was too late when they noticed how close to the edge they were. The part of the cliff crumbled under the weight of the companions and sent Chichiri plummeting down towards the raging river far below . . .

* * * to be continued . . . * * *

Ummm, bad place to leave off? Heheheh.

Twisted Fool: *shakes head* FP, you're just crazy you know?

*nods* Mmhmm! Arigatou Twisted-chan for beta-reading this and all the other chappies. You get a Tasuki plushi!

Chichiri: *stares at where FP left off* Are you trying to kill me no da?

*gasps* NEVER! *glomps Chichiri* How would you ever get to be with Tasuki-kun that way?

Sabrion: *raises eyebrow, scribbles something down, hands it to FP*

Ohhh, well. Maybe later.

Kage: I'd hate to think what was on there. Hey when is my -

*gets cut off by FP's muting system* Shut-up Kage! First it was *can't say* now you! You're gonna ruin it for everyone!

Seth: *happy that now FP isn't bothering him anymore*