Ashes Fade Away

*(11/?)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

*******************

The day had eventually wound down as the sun set. 

Although the refugees stopped arriving, there were

still so many.  The bodies were increasing in number

and the effect was showing on all.  It looked as

though they had been plagued by war, and perhaps that

wasn't too far off an observation.  King Akunin had

declared war upon his subjects in retaliation for the

disappearance of his son and bride.

Nuriko looked up as Miaka stood from where she had

been kneeling.  Her hands were still busy with

bandaging the raw, burned flesh of a stranger's face.

 "My lady, where are you going?"

"To find Tamahome," she stated flatly before walking

away.

Nuriko wanted to follow, her curiosity about the Isan

knight and what he must know about all this tempting

her to run after her friend.  Unfortunately, the moans

of the man to whom she was attending to reminded her

that she had more pressing obligations to focus on at

the moment.  She just hoped that Miaka knew what she

was getting herself into.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tamahome had just finished tending to some minor cuts

on a young woman's leg when he felt the sensation one

gets when being stared at intently.  He glanced up

over his shoulder to find Miaka glaring at him, tired

yet still furious.  He quickly turned away, avoiding

her gaze as he did the last time.  He felt ashamed and

didn't want to look at her.

"Tamahome, you owe me an explanation."

He sighed wearily, knowing that he couldn't ignore her

nor avoid the issue either.  He stood and brushed the

dirt and leaves from his pants before facing her, eyes

locking onto hers.

"If I may suggest, Your Highness, that we retire

elsewhere.  These people have been through enough

already today."

She nodded, understanding what he meant, and followed

as the knight picked his way through the milling

people.  Without looking back, he led her past the

dwellings and outposts until they reached a moonlit

glen.  Fireflies flitted about in a tuneless dance,

oblivious to the chaos that had occurred. 

Tamahome stopped and Miaka leaned back against a

tree trunk, exhausted from the events of the day.  From

the corner of his eye, the knight watched her.  The

green dress she wore was ruined, covered in blood

stains as well as dirt.  Her once-bound hair was

coming undone, surrounding her pale and drawn face. 

He closed his eyes, certain that his state must be

similar.

"Tamahome," Miaka whispered as she tucked a few errant

strands of her hair behind her ear.  "Tell me what

Kouji meant, what you know.  In all the time we've

spent here, the locals have refused to confide in me

the details about their lives before they came here. 

It's as if someone is trying to prevent me from

finding out the truth."

She stared at him, willing him to open up and confess

everything.  "Please tell me."

Tamahome hung his head with a tired sigh.  "I am a

knight of Isan.  I have lived for two purposes.  I

must protect my country and follow every order given

by its ruler.  The behavior of the knight reflect

that of the king."

She furrowed her brow as she attempted to comprehend. 

"I don't understand..."

"What you have witnessed today was the result of the

knights of Isan acting on behalf of King Akunin, your

husband-to-be."

"Tamahome..."  Her brother had be right, she was to

marry a monster.

"It's true.  I've seen it happen repeatedly in the two

years since I was knighted, although never this

severe.  I could never bring myself to participate,

but I dared not prevent it either and thus incur the

wrath of the king."  He placed one hand against his

forehead as his own brow creased, the words spoken

reviving old memories.

"Why did you become a knight then?"  Something just

didn't add up.

Tamahome looked up, opening his eyes.  The fireflies

still danced on and for a moment, he lost himself in

their soft rhythm before continuing.  "Growing up,

I've always had an aptitude for fighting.  My father

soon grew ill and my siblings were too young, so I

left home in search of a way to support them.

"I had hoped to find a way to put my skills to use.  I

apprenticed with fighters and bounty hunters until I

was older and strong enough to sell my services. 

"When I had accumulated enough money, I returned home

only to discover my family had been killed."

Miaka felt her whole body grow rigid with shock at

that word.  "Killed?"

Tamahome nodded as he turned around, his gray eyes

were brimming with tears.  "All my skill and I was

unable to save them.  They were but helpless children

who harmed no one."

Miaka remembered his sad expression on the morning

after they first arrived here.  She closed her eyes as

she felt tears beginning to form.

"Neighbors had informed me that petty thugs were the

culprits and that they sought to sell the children into

brothels.  But when they fought back, they were

murdered.  I remember as I buried my family that if

only I could have protected them, then perhaps they

could have been spared."

The princess opened her eyes and looked down in

fascination at one lone firefly that had landed on her

hand.  "So that's why you became a knight."

"But I wouldn’t have even considered it if I had been

aware of the atrocities done in the name of justice." 

He clenched his fist in anger.  "I was alone in my

refusal to participate but it still changed nothing."

"I'm sorry..."

Tamahome closed his eyes and shook his head.  "No,

Your Highness.  No need to apologize to me.  Instead I

need your forgiveness because it was I who asked the

locals no to tell you the truth.  I protected you from

ever finding out when it was obvious that you cared

enough to help.  And I..." he trailed off when he felt

her hand on his shoulder.

He opened his eyes to gaze at her again.  She returned

the gesture meeting his tearful eyes with

compassionate acceptance.

"If you sought to protect and shelter me, then why did

you kiss me?"

Tamahome broke contact suddenly, a blush coloring his

cheeks.  He let out a slow breath before answering. 

"I can't deny that that I care for you, Your Highness.

 I'm sorry if I offended you in any way."  He lowered

his head and sighed.  "I don't know why I did that,

but I do care, deeply.  I'll understand if you wish me

to leave."

There was a long pause and Tamahome closed his eyes

again.  Seconds later, the princess's gentle hand

wrapped around his own clenched fist and he looked up

at her, startled.  She gave him a shy smile as she

brought his rough, calloused hand up to her cheek. 

When he opened his fist, she leaned into the palm.

"Do you truly feel that way?"

Tamahome swallowed thickly before nodding.  She sighed

and closed her eyes.

"Then don't feel ashamed.  But I would like to request

that you would bestow another kiss to this princess

who is unworthy of your affection."

"Your Highness..."  Whatever protest or excuse the

knight tried to form was lost once the princess opened

her eyes.  Their gazes locked but a moment before

Miaka spoke again.

"I don't care anymore about etiquette, customs, or

protocol.  Not when I have what I've always longed

for.  I'll throw everything away just to be happy, if

you asked me to."

"Don't, Your Highness..."  He leaned down even as he

uttered those words.  He did love her, but didn't wish

to place shame upon her.  Even so, he couldn't deny

that he wanted to kiss her again, that he wished to

taste her sweetness again.

Miaka wrapped arms around Tamahome's neck, pulling him

even closer.  "I love you, she whispered, her breath

gusting warm against his face.  "You have watched over

me, protected and comforted me, and slept by my side. 

I don't want to be without you."

With those words, she tugged his down and kissed him,

gentle and unsure.  Tamahome slipped both of his own

arms around her waist, pulling her closer until she was

pressed against him.

She moaned in the kiss, her parted lips inciting it to

go deeper.  The knight took full advantage and

tentively began probing with his tongue.  Miaka's

tongue touched his briefly, and she jerked back, a

little intimidated at this intrusion.  However,

Tamahome coaxed her to explore his own mouth,

encouraging her with small moans.

They drew away slowly, both more than a little

breathless.  There was no use hiding how they felt at

this point, it was obvious.

Tamahome ran his fingers through Miaka's hairs as she

pressed her face against his chest.  She was

trembling, but not from the cold.  He squeezed her

shoulder and made himself a new oath.  He would

continue to protect her, but not out of duty.

Then Tamahome heard the sound of someone approaching

them and he looked up.

"Knock-knock.  Who's there?  Kouji.  Kouji who?  Just

a brigand who's returning some lost items."

Kouji entered the glade, bearing the knight's

discarded armor and a sheepish grin.

"Sorry to barge in on your privacy, but a knight of

Isan shouldn't be leaving this just laying around.  I

mean, the people already have had enough of a shock." 

Tamahome approached the rogue, a little shocked at the

sudden change in attitude, but accepted his armor.  He

shook his head ruefully as he stared at the royal

crest emblazoned across the breastplate.  "I don't

need nor do I want it."

"Tamahome?" Miaka tilted her head.

He gave her a smile as he returned the armor to Kouji.

 "I've ignored this for far too long.  I refuse to

align myself with butcherers and murderers any more. 

From now on, I fight with you."

"Tamahome, I forbid it!" came Hotohori's voice as he

entered the glade from the same direction as Kouji

did.  The knight fixed the prince with a shocked yet

defiant stare.

Hotohori turned somewhat saddened eyes to Miaka before

returning the knight's stare.   He then smiled.  "I

cannot allow you do that unless you let a naive young

prince join you."

Kouji widened his eyes.  "Holy shit.  Are you two

serious?"

Hotohori faced the brigand and bowed respectfully. 

"If you're willing to accept out help, we will join

your cause.  I must atone for what my father has put

you through and I'm certain that my companions fell

the same as well."

Kouji ran a hand through his blue hair as he let out a

low whistle.  "And here I thought that almost killing

you was a bad thing..."

***********************

Next Chapter:  Preparation for the oncoming storm.