Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Shades of Time ❯ Getting Up And Going Home ( Chapter 20 )

 

Shi opened one eye cautiously then closed it again, feeling like a thousand tiny needles were being shoved into her eyeball. Damn, she had really overdone it this time. But it had to be done otherwise they would have been fighting forever and the amount of casualties that might have caused was unacceptable. She felt herself being rolled from side to side and wet clothing sliding off of her skin. She opened one eye again to peer at Thies, who was shaking her head.

 

“Thies?”

 

“You've only been out for a few minutes, Ma'am. But you've gone through two tubs of ice and three of water. We were worried because you were so hot this time.”

 

“I'll live.”

 

“I have no doubt of that, Ma'am,” Thies said with a laugh, helping Shi sit up and sliding a soft shirt onto her, knowing her skin would be hypersensitive from the burns. “Looks like you toasted yourself good this time. I've had someone send word to Konzen-sama about this.”

 

Shi heaved a sigh and instantly regretted doing so because it hurt. “Great. He'll want me to stay in bed for a week.”

 

“Therein lies my purpose for telling him, Ma'am.”

 

“You're damn pushy for a Major. I'll have to see about getting you promoted,” Shi said, smiling weakly.

 

“Only if you're in need of a Lt. Colonel, Ma'am.”

 

“Thies . . .” Shi began warningly but the other woman held up a hand.

 

“No, Ma'am. I've heard the speech you're about to give before. I go where you go. That's non negotiable. I can think of half a dozen others who feel the same way.”

 

“Gods, I'm too tired to argue with you right now.”

 

“That isn't surprising, Ma'am. You've lost a lot of blood on top of the charge.”

 

“Damn it!” was suddenly heard from outside the tent and Shi looked at her second in command curiously. That had sounded suspiciously like Tenpou but Shi knew it couldn't be him because there weren't any of his soldiers inside of the medical tent.

 

“He won't leave, Ma'am,” Thies said, looking at her CO from under her lashes.

 

“Who won't leave?”

 

“The Field Marshal. I'm betting that General Kenren is out there as well too.”

 

“Why?” Shi asked, not really capable of forming a more coherent question at that point as a shot of pain lanced through her chest and down her arms. “Damn.”

 

“No idea. He hasn't said anything; he's just been out there pacing and smoking like a chimney.” Thies looked at her askance again before saying, “He wanted to take you from Perth after you passed out.”

 

Shi opened and closed her mouth several times, her brain working frantically to find some sort of plausible reason as to why Tenpou would act so . . . well, <i>unlike</i> himself.

 

“Didn't he know I would have roasted him alive at that point?”

 

“Apparently not, Ma'am. He looked pretty annoyed when Perth wouldn't give you to him.”

 

“Dear, sweet, Merciful Goddess! He's crazy.”

 

***

Outside Tenpou was indeed pacing, smoking and swearing under his breath with every step. Kenren was watching him pace, eyes narrowed shrewdly and trying to keep from smiling outright because that would have been a surefire way to get himself skewered. However, his full sense of self preservation was overridden by the need to annoy.

 

“Mind telling me why we're still here, Tenpou? We could be back home or at least in a good Earthly bar celebrating our victory.”

 

Tenpou paused in mid-stride and slowly turned toward Kenren. “That was not our victory today, Kenren. It was hers.”

 

“So what if she's the one who actually finished it. The rest of us pulled our weight too, y'know. So, why are we still here? Unless we're waiting for Konzen to show up.”

 

For some strange reason, Konzen's name seemed to grate on Tenpou's nerves like sandpaper. He found his hand unconsciously clenching and unclenching around the hilt of his sword at the mention of the other man. Who just happened to have chosen that particular moment to arrive on the scene.

 

“Where is she?” he said without greeting either man.

 

Kenren jerked a thumb in the direction of the tent and Konzen walked past Tenpou and directly inside. Tenpou followed right on his heels, grabbing the tent flap before it smacked him in the face. Konzen was standing over the cot that Shi was resting on with the most annoyed expression on his face that Tenpou had ever seen in all the years of knowing him.

 

“I swear, woman. Are you <i>trying</i> to kill yourself?”

 

Shi snorted and immediately regretted it, grimacing. “You aren't my father, Konzen.”

 

“Thank the gods for that! Bastard.” Konzen's tone softened a little but not much. “Do I need to find some way to prevent you going out into the field, Shi?”

 

“Try it and I'll toast you to ash, Konzen,” Shi growled, her teeth clenched against the wave of pain that had shot through her body.

 

“See what I mean,” Konzen said, shaking his head and looking exasperated. “Come on, I'm taking you home.”

 

“I'll argue with you later. It hurts too damn bad to do it now.”