Ashes Fade Away

*(12/?)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

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

Nuriko stood back with a knowing smile on her face as

Miaka approached the row of archers practicing.  She

tapped on the shoulder of one of the smaller men, one

with sandy blonde hair and deep blue eyes.  He spun to

face her with mild amusement as he placed a hand on one

hip.

"May I see your bow?" she asked with an eager grin. 

The man started to laugh but his brother who stood

nearby also turned around and shook his head

disapprovingly.

"Forgive my brother, Your Highness.  Suboshi was born

without any manners."  Amiboshi sighed when his twin

glared back in response.  "Here."  He held out his own

bow.  "You can use mine."

"She'll probably break it, brother," Suboshi muttered

as he faced the targets again.  He slowly took aim

with his weapon and second later, hit the target. 

"You know how women are with weapons."

Tamahome took a step forward, about to defend Miaka

but she flashed a smile at him over her shoulder

before accepting the elder twin's offer.  At first she

held the object as though it would bite her which

caused Suboshi to stifle laughter behind his hand. 

Tamahome bristled visibly.

Miaka ignored them both as she ran fingers over the

bowstring, tugging slightly.  Nuriko crossed her arms,

preparing for the spectacle to come.  Balancing the

wooden bow in one hand, she held out the other for an

arrow.  Amiboshi complied and she set it against the

string, pulling it taunt and taking careful aim.

When she let the arrow fly, it whistled through the

air.  It sunk in deep once it reached the target,

hitting closer than Suboshi's did.  All eyes stared in

astonishment as she relaxed her position and lowered

the bow.

"It's heavier than what I'm used to, but an excellent

weapon nonetheless.  Thank you, Amiboshi."  She handed

back the elder twin's weapon.

Suboshi's jaw hung open while Amiboshi cleared his

throat.  "Where did you learn to do that, Your

Highness?"

She smiled.  "My brother refused to teach me how to

use a sword for obvious reasons."  Miaka winked at

Tamahome who recalled the earlier story.  "However,

that didn't discredit certain weapons.  Of course,

Mother never found out else she'd kill me."

Nuriko hid her laughter behind her hand as Miaka and

Tamahome left the archers back to their practice.  The

expressions on their faces had been priceless.  She

had been there when the princess's brother, Keisuke,

had taught her archery.

Nuriko's laughter died once she noticed how the former

knight was leading her lady away, one arm around her

shoulder and a tender smile on his face.  It had been

obvious to all the relationship blossoming between the

two, but what would become of Hotohori?  Did her

friend ever realize how much the prince cared for her?

That question made her heart contract.  It didn't seem

fair that Hotohori should be ignored after possibly

throwing away his birthright to help the people of

Isan.  Nuriko sat down and leaned against a tree as

she thought.

She could approach the prince and tell him the truth

about that night, that it was she who kissed him and

kept him company.  But he might hate her for taking

liberties like that.  And even worse, if he discovered

the whole truth about her, then he might even become

disgusted.

Besides, he was preoccupied with gathering the people

and readying them for the ensuing conflict that was to

come.  And of course, she would be ready to fight too.

 It wasn't time for her to be pondering her love life,

or lack thereof, at a time when she was needed.

Nuriko smiled again as she recalled Chiriko's words

about the prince being hope.  Indeed, after Hotohori

had joined, the crisis of a few days ago seemed like a

half-forgotten nightmare.  They all had recovered and

rallied under the prince's strong words, eyes filled

with...hope.

She stood and dusted off the blue dress she wore. 

Thing were still uncertain regarding her future, but

she wasn't afraid anymore.

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

A lone figure stood apart from the people, watching as

they trained and prepared.  His single eye blinked

impassively as the commoners slowly improved under

Hotohori and Tamahome's teaching.  A slight breeze

picked up, billowing Chichiri's robe around his

slender legs and bringing with it a smoky scent. 

Fires were being stoked for forging new weapons.  They

were preparing for a war.

A chill went down his spine and he shivered

uncomfortably.  He had seen what war brings, death and

destruction.  But then again, was what King Akunin

doing any different?   And what would he do once his

companions departed to wage this war?

"Why so silent at a time like this?"

Chichiri spun, startled that he had been taken

unawares, only to find the child with rose-colored

hair peering down at him from the branches of a nearby

tree.

"I can respect that in a man who has probably seen

more than I ever will, even if I should live to be a

hundred.  However, you aren't mute, I've heard you

speak on several occasions."

Chichiri continued to stare as Chiriko gave him a

gleeful wink.  "Ever since you and your companions

have arrived, I've been observing you all.  It's

rather easy considering no one ever takes notice of a

mere child such as myself.  I'm used to people just

assuming what they will based simply on my appearance.

"But I refuse to let their opinions shape who I am. 

After all, what sort of life would I be living if I

simply accepted those assumptions?"  He smiled at the

astonished mage before shimming down the tree and

crossing his arms.

"People just have to perceive the real me underneath

this tiny exterior.  I embrace what sets me apart.  Or

am I wrong to do so?"

Chichiri opened his mouth to reply when he heard the

sound of leaves being trod underfoot.  He turned,

cursing to himself his inability to feel this presence

approaching him.  Being surprised twice like this was

not a good sign.

Tasuki came crashing through the hedges and stopped

short when he took notice of the robed mage.  Chichiri

glanced back at Chiriko only to see that the boy was

gone.  His record was not going well this day.

Chichiri sighed as he removed his hood, a brief

question forming as to why he seemed to be doing this

only in the youth's presence.  He faced Tasuki, his

face unreadable yet his heart racing.

The red-haired man gave a small smile, afraid of

scaring off the mage.  "Hey.  Didn't think I'd run

into you again before the big day."

Chichiri raised an eyebrow at the question.  "What do

you mean?"

Tasuki took a deep breath as he fully entered the

clearing.  "I just heard it from Kouji.  Tomorrow we

set out.  His Highness and Tamahome have really being

valuable and even the princess and her maid are going

to fight.  Ever since you guys have deflected..."

"I'm not..."

Tasuki blinked in disbelief.  "What?"

"I'm not fighting." Chichiri kept his voice low and

his face straight.

"Why?" 

"I can't give you a reason you'd accept.  But I don't

understand the necessity of such a fight.  I don't..."

he trailed off, uncertain of how to continue.

Tasuki frowned as he looked away.  "Hell, I can't make

ya fight.  But I need to know that if you aren't

joining us, then why are ya still here?"  He clenched

his fists as his apprehension turned into anger.  "Why

aren't ya going back to yer cushy job, yer home, or

whatever?"

Chichiri flinched a little bit and then looked

reproachful and sad.  "I don't have a home, not even

the castle..."

The brigand was taken aback by the raw emotion

apparent in the mage's voice.  "Sorry I...I didn't

mean it like that..."

"Don't be sorry.  I deserve your anger, and I wouldn't

blame you if you hated me either."  Chichiri's mouth

quirked a bit into a small smile even though his eye

still looked sad.

"But I don't hate ya.  In fact..."  He began blushing

and then quickly looked away while running fingers

through his hair.  

"I've always fought for vengeance.  The people who've

been hurt, who suffered so much, who died.  But mostly

for my family...my sisters who were murdered.  I

always wanted to make my enemies hurt as bad as they

had been hurt."

He sighed and met the mage's gaze with a genuine

smile.  "Only now, with His Highness helping up, I've

realized I no longer want to keep fighting with that

mindset.  I have something more precious to fight for,

something I want more than revenge."

Chichiri gave a small chuckle as he figured out what

the rogue meant.  "Freedom?"

Tasuki didn't even blink.  "Nope.  You."

The mage's head jerked at that and his mahogany eye

widened.  Tasuki's smile grew bigger at the

beautifully shocked expression as he took a step,

closing the distance between them.

"I don't wanna die with regrets.  I don't wanna go into

battle without having confessed my heart."  He sighed.

 "To say honestly, I want you to be at my side when I

fight, but I can't make you.  Instead..."

The flame haired youth leaned in and pressed his lips

to Chichiri's, taking advantage of the mage's shock at

this confession.  Chichiri barely had time to register

what Tasuki was doing before he was overwhelmed with

alien sensation.  Tasuki's lips moved slowly and

gently, so as not to alarm the sorcerer in any way,

but the azure-haired man was beyond coherent thought

at that point.

The rogue brought both hands up to cradle the mage's

face, slowly angling Chichiri's head to deepen the

kiss.  It was everything Tasuki had expected and more.

 It was as if he had been struck by one of Chichiri's

bolts, his whole being was suffused with magic that

sent tremors through his body and set every nerve

alive with lightning.

Chichiri found himself drowning in a sea of fire,

burning away all his pain.  He felt all his memories

float away like ashes on a breeze.  He parted his lips

to drink in more of that fire, to try and forget

everything but Tasuki and the feel of him.  A small

part of him was confused, but most of his mind refused

to care.

Half a heartbeat later, Tasuki released the sorcerer,

drawing away slowly.  His eyes were closed but he

seemed sad.  Then Chichiri noticed a single tear

working its way down the brigand's cheek.  Moved, he

reached up to wipe it away, but Tasuki turned away.

"I don't know what came over me.  I'm sorry."

"Tasuki..." was all Chichiri managed before the rogue

took off, his speed enabling him to disappear quickly

from view.

Chichiri felt his knees go weak and he collapsed on

the leave-strewn ground.  A Trembling finger touched

his lips in awe as he relearned to breathe.

So, it seemed that Tasuki's true intentions were

clear.  This was how the flame-haired youth had always

felt, that this was what he wanted.  But the question

remained.  How did he feel in return?  What did he

want?

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

Next Chapter:  Shall we begin again?