Ashes Fade Away

*(2a/?)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

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

Slowly, the party made its way along the path,

Tamahome and Nuriko taking lead and Chichiri silently

bringing up the rear.  Miaka sat astride Hotohori's

mount as they made their so far uneventful passage to

the castle.

The seaside town gave way to farmlands and then gave

way to wilderness.  Soon, they were in a vast forest,

the road becoming a mere trail and the towering trees

obscuring most of the sunlight.  The various sounds of

birds and insects filled the air as they continued

still, the horses sure-footed among the foliage.

The princess couldn't say that she didn't enjoy being

so close to the beautiful prince.  His closeness set

her heart racing, but he was to be her stepson. 

Still, he had never been this close to a man before,

except her bother and didn't exactly count.

Gazing ahead, she found the long tail of the knight,

Tamahome, fascinating as it swung back and forth in a

rhythm set by his horse's movement.

Nuriko had insisted that she take the lead with

Tamahome in order to prove that she was just a capable

of protecting her lady as the knight.  However, she

was regretting her decision as she quietly snuck a

glance over her shoulder.

He pride had been stronger than her attraction to

Hotohori and so she couldn't ride alongside him.  She

felt jealous of Miaka and imagined for a moment that

she was the one sitting so close to the prince, feeling

his breath against her hair, his hand holding her

securely at the hip.  I she leaned back, perhaps she's

hears his heartbeat through the armor...

"Lady Nuriko."  The low voice pulled her out of her

fantasy.  In confusion, she looked about her to find

Tamahome, staring intently at her.

He kept his face perfectly neutral but his tone was

filled with annoyance.  "Keep your mind on the task at

hand, My Lady, else you would not be doing your duty."

Nuriko smirked.  This knight was younger than she and

despite the prince's praise, she was certain she could

take him.  She decided to provoke Tamahome.

"As you say, Tamakins."

The knight felt his careful control slip.  He should

have ignored the comment, but instead he scowled. 

Even though it worked to his advantage on battle, he

still hated when others misjudged his skill based on

appearance.  Nuriko had no right to disrespect him

especially since she was no fighter despite her claim.

Chichiri shook his head at those riding ahead of him,

sensing their thoughts as though they spoke aloud. 

They were young still and time would tell if they

would eventually learn to accept things as they were.

His thoughts became scattered by the sudden, but weak,

appearance of strangers.  His hidden eye scanned the

trees around them.  He couldn't discern the

individuals lurking among the foliage, but he knew

they were slowly surrounding the party.

Chichiri sighed.  This was predictable, almost from

the start of the journey.  He could easily disable

their attack with a simple spell.  Unfortunately, he

then felt a very vibrant and heady presence, like a

bright flame.  Another joined this one, not

nearly as powerful as his companion.  Their wills were

strong and he wasn't certain if a widespread spell

that could easily work on the group surrounding them

would detain these two.

The mage pursed his lips and urged his horse ahead to

warn Prince Hotohori and the others of the danger.

From behind, Hotohori could hear the mage approaching.

 He turned to face Chichiri as he pulled up beside his

own mount.  The hooded man then gave a slight nod,

silently conveying his apparent warning.  The prince

returned the gesture before facing ahead to the two

riding in front.

"Tamahome.  Nuriko.  Eyes sharp.  We are about to

receive company."

The knight turned and nodded, acknowledging that he

understood.  Nuriko grinned, her every nerve on edge. 

Finally, she's be able to prove herself to Prince

Hotohori.

The party began to slow and then stopped entirely. 

The wildlife continued on with their noise as if

unaware of the danger. The five individuals waited for

their visitors to make the first move.

Miaka glanced at each of her companions as they

scanned the surrounding area.  Tamahome and Nuriko

were both tense and Chichiri silently stoic.  Her eyes

turned up to look at Hotohori only to se his face set

in a grim expression.  Her heart began pounding at the

anticipation of a confrontation with an unseen enemy.

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

"Three aristocrats and one knight...Don't know what to

make of the last guy..."

"Easy pickings for sure.  They should carry more

protection."  The man turned golden eyes to watch the

waiting party.

His friend narrowed his green ones.  "They know we're

here."

"Yeah," the first agreed.  "But we can't back outta

this one.  Look.  They've got royal crests on them." 

He pointed at the knight and the male aristocrat.

"Royal crests?"  The second man peered at the party. 

"The women are foreigners.  Suppose one is King

Akunin's bride?"

The first man glanced at his friend, excitement on his

features.  "Hot damn!  You know what this means?"

The green-eyed man nodded.  "That we can really strike

a blow to that bastard."

"Give the signal..."

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

There was a sharp snap of a branch which plunged the

area into a deafening silence.  Then twin thuds came

from the foliage towards the group's front.

All eyes watched as a tall man with shaggy, vibrant

blue hair and deeply tanned skin strode into the open.

 He wore a plain white shirt, half open to bare a

muscled chest, underneath a tan leather vest with a

matching headband.  Green eyes returned the stares

from under a pair of thick eyebrows.  He smirked

slightly, the action drawing attention to the small

scar along his left cheek.

He stopped and crossed his arms across his chest,

taking a rather cocky stance.  "Can't let ya go till

ya pay the toll."

"Let us pass," Hotohori commanded while eying the

sword at the brigand's hip.

This comment only seemed to make the young man's eyes

widen.  "Well, well, well...  So you're giving me

orders now?"  He shook his head.  "You're in no

position to do so, I'm afraid."

"Watch your tongue, peasant.  Do you realize to whom

you're speaking to?"  Hotohori's voice had taken on a

dangerous tone as his hand slowly moved to the hilt of

his sword.

"Sure we do," came a second voice.

A red-haired man entered from the same place as his

companion.  His skin wasn't as dark, but his boy was

no less as muscular.  He wore a cream-colored shirt,

edged in a green that contrasted sharply with is hair

but brought out the vibrant gold of his almost

feral-looking eyes.  A pair of blue earrings dangled

from his ears, swaying as he sauntered rather

confidently beside his friend.  Twin hilts for daggers

were strapped to his slender thighs.

"Yer the same as all the aristocrats. 

Arrogant...spoiled...and stupid."  He grinned then,

flashing a pair of fangs.  "Better take yer hand away

from that fancy-ass sword there, else the twenty-odd

archers might get a little nervous."

As if on cue, the collective squeak of numerous

bowstrings being pulled taunt filled the air. 

Hotohori removed his hand and took a deep breath to

calm his rising ire.

"I warn you to let us pass."

"Hand over the woman there," the blue-haired man

indicated Miaka who gave a slight gasp.  "And we'll

let ya go."

Hotohori clenched his teeth.  "Never!"

"Then ya leave us no choice."  The redhead shook his

head in mock pity.

"No, you leave us no choice," Hotohori responded to

the shock of the two men.

An audible hum filled the air before wither of them

could respond.  They both looked about in confusion

until the red-head laid eyes on the robed figure, who

had dismounted unnoticed, glowing with a red light.

"Shit.  A mage," he cursed under his breath as the

light exploded into a pillar, reaching for the

heavens.  It then appeared to hit against an unseen

barrier, splitting into jagged bolts that headed into

the trees...targeting his archers.

He expected to hear screams and grunts of pain

indicating that his men had been killed.  Instead, he

heard the simultaneous snap of over twenty bows and

the surprised gasps of their owners as the weapons

were rendered useless.  He returned his eyes to the

mage, the red light slowly fading, with amazement and

respect.

The sound of metal scraping swiftly against leather

pulled his attention to the other members of the

party.  Too late.  The others had dismounted, the

brunette unsheathing his sword.  The tall, violet haired

woman and the knight took positions around the only

mounted member left, the young princess.

"Genrou!" his companion shouted as he brandished his

own sword.

"So they had a mage," Genrou muttered.  "We've got the

numbers.  We can still win this one, Kouji."  He

winked at his friend as he readied his weapons.  He

held the blade of one dagger up, catching the fading

sunlight against the polished metal.

At that predetermined signal, the party found

themselves surrounded by almost fifty men, the archers

having dropped from the trees, each one ready for

battle.

The four arranged themselves around Princess Miaka and

took a defensive position.  She watched, wishing that

she could help rather than sitting idly by.  But she

had her hands full trying to keep the nervous animal

she rode from bolting.

As Genrou and Kouji looked on, their man advanced on

what they had assumed was the weakest spot, the

unarmed woman with the violet braid.  She smiled

sweetly before reaching up to unclasp her cloak and

then sweeping it towards the first of her attackers. 

Momentarily blinded by the lavender silk, the man

wasn't prepared when her hands slammed into his chest,

pushing him back with incredible force.

Both of the rouge widened their eyes as she deftly

untied the sash about her waist, letting her skirt fall

to reveal a pair of satin, turquoise pants that

loosely clung to her slender legs.  She took a step

forward and hauled back a dainty fist.  When she swung

around, three men were knocked to the ground with that

single blow.

Genrou and Kouji glanced at one another and seriously

considered if they underestimated their opponents.

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

Next Chapter:  Minor skirmish and major changes.