Ashes Fade Away

*(4/?)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

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

As Kouji had said, it wasn't far, but it did require

walking a distance.  Their progress was made slower by

the wounded Hotohori who had been placed on a makeshift

stretcher and was carried by five men.  The horses

were led by others while the prince's companions

followed, staying close to one another and surrounded

on all sides to prevent escape.

When smoke was spotted curling through the trees, the

men began to cheer happily.  Within moments, the

procession had stepped into a thick clump of hedges

and into a vast clearing.  Tall trees reached upwards,

wooden structures built among the branches.  Other

buildings were scattered in the shade, mostly homes

for families.  Women and children cam scrambling from

everywhere at the sight of the men.

The party itself was met with strange glances and

distrustful stares, especially Tamahome and Hotohori

since they wore royal colors.  Kouji waved away the

curious and continued to lead forward.

Genrou suddenly came sprinting up to Kouji, a little

out of breath since he had run ahead.  "He's coming as

fast as he can."

"Genrou, no one is as fast as you, asshole," Kouji

returned as he directed his men to stop.

"What are you doing?" Nuriko ventured.

"Waiting for the doctor," Genrou explained as he

slowly moved to join the others.

Before another word was said, a hulking giant of a man

came running.  He had jet-black hair that was cut

short enough to allow the thick strands to stick up in

jagged-looking spikes.  His olive skin was slightly

flushed from exertion but he was a striking man all

the same with sharp cheekbones and kind eyes.

"I'm here," he huffed.  "Where is he?"

"Here, Kouji indicated the wounded prince, who was

incredibly pale and covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

The newcomer shook his head as he knelt next to

Hotohori and touched thick fingers to the wound which

still oozed blood.  "Genrou was right.  You did do a

number on him."

Kouji's face darkened.  "Can you heal him or not,

Mitsukake?"

The tall man nodded before getting to his feet and

motioning for those who carried the prince to follow

him.  "Bring him.  I'll see what I can do."  The men

started to follow the departing doctor and Nuriko

called out.

"I'm coming too."

Mitsukake glanced over at Kouji who just nodded. 

Nuriko tagged after, wringing hands that were still

caked in dried blood.

"Nothing more we can do but pray," Genrou muttered. 

"Mits is the best there is but even he can't perform

miracles."

"He'll be fine," Miaka spoke up forcefully even though

she looked tired.  "He'll make it, I know."

"Even so," Kouji turned he back on the party and

sighed.  "You're all welcome to stay till we know for

certain if His Highness'll pull through.  I'm sure you

all must be exhausted."

Miaka smiled as she approached the sullen man.  "I

don't hate you."

Kouji spun as he and Genrou stared in the princess in

surprise at her words.

"What hardship pushed you to this kind of life?" she

wondered aloud.

Kouji opened his mouth to speak but Genrou interrupted.

 "We were just born to this type of life.  It's

nothing you can change."

"But His Highness can, that's why you're helping him."

 She made it a statement, not a question.

Both men slowly nodded.  Tamahome stepped forward and

took Miaka's arm.  "I think if you would show us where

we might stay..."  His tone had lost its neutrality

and held a whisper of the fatigue they all felt.

Kouji pondered this a second.  "Shit. A princess

doesn’t deserve to sleep in some hovel.  You have my

place.  Come on, I'll show ya the way."  He took off

with Tamahome and Miaka in tow, leaving his red-haired

friend alone with the silent mage whose hood was in

place once more.

Genrou snuck a glance at Chichiri and grinned.  "I

guess I'll give ya the grand tour."

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

Miaka was perplexed at the way of life these people

lived, simple even though harsh conditions had been

forced upon them.  Despite the poverty, whole families

thrived in a sort of harmony within this secluded

community.

Kouji took a look at Miaka's expression.  "Not used to

seeing such things, huh?"

"No..."

"It's reality, Your Highness.  Harsh and cruel, but we

don't complain.  After all, life goes on even after

everything."  He shrugged his shoulders as he kept

moving.

"In Sakaeru, I never saw this kind of..."  She was at

a loss for words.  It was unfortunate that these

people lived in exile, but they also seemed happy,

free.

"But this is Isan, Your Highness, and yer not in the

seclusion of yer castle."  He sighed as he shook his

head.  "Sorry.  I don't need to take this out on you,

but life is hard for all of us that ain't highborn. 

This must be a shock to you."

Miaka smiled as Kouji stopped at the base of one tree

and looked up.  "Here we are."  He reached over and

took a hold of a rope ladder that hung nearby.  Then

his green eyes widened as he looked over the princess

and her full gown.  "Aw hell.  How're ya going to get

up there?"

Her smile never faltering, Miaka bent down and

gathered the satiny layers between her legs.  Before

the eyes of bother men, she tied the fabric together

and then took the ladder from Kouji's grip.

"When you spend your childhood tagging along with an

older brother, you can't help but learn some things. 

Mother always hated that."  She started climbing but

glanced once more at Kouji's shocked face.  "Thank you

for your kindness."

The blue-haired rouge felt his face turn red and

forced his gaze to meet that of the knight.  "I

suppose I'll need to find you a place as well."

"I'm to stay with Princess Miaka," Tamahome stated

flatly as he held his hand out for the ladder.

Kouji handed it over with a frown.  "We don't intend

to harm any of you."

"I don't trust the word of a man who struck His

Highness."

Kouji felt his anger beginning to rise.  "In case you

haven't noticed, we don't hurt women to children.  That

may not be what yer trained to do, but we operate

differently."

Tamahome met Kouji's eyes.  "And I'm certain that's

why your men attacked Lady Nuriko."

The brigand stifled a chuckle much to Tamahome's

chagrin.  "What do you find so amusing?"

Kouji shook his head.  "I'm certain you'll figure it

out on your won."  And he turned to go, leaving a

confused and scowling Tamahome behind.

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

"The worst is over."  Strong and gentle fingers worked

with surprising nimbleness as they tied off the last

bandage covering the prince's torso.

"Will he live?" a tearful Nuriko asked.  Hotohori

hadn't awakened once during his treatment and despite

Mitsukake's words, she feared the truth.

The physician heaved a tired sigh.  "It really depends

on how strong he is.  You saw how much blood he lost. 

The next few hours will be critical.  If he survives

the night, then you should have nothing to fear."

He stood and placed a comforting hand on the maid's

shoulder.  Nuriko vaguely remembered doing the same

action to calm her lady earlier before nodding numbly

to Mitsukake.  The doctor was impressed by this

woman's will.  She was obviously high-born but didn't

flinch nor even pale when he closed Hotohori's wound

with his skill.

A little deeper and Kouji would have sliced open

something vital.  This woman apparently cared very

deeply for the wounded man.  He smiled sadly at her

tearful face. before letting the coarse material that

covered the doorway drop behind him.

"Please, Your Highness," Nuriko pleaded, bringing

Hotohori's limp hand to her cheek.  "You have to be

okay..."

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

Miaka never knew such a place ever could exist and

marveled at the curious design of the structure she

was to stay the night in.  A small pallet was against

one was opposite a balcony.  Upon lighting a small

lantern, she noticed that there was a small chest

propped open, filled with numerous articles of

clothing, while various weapons leaned nearby.

She wandered over to the remaining wall that was the

very trunk of the tree.  Slanted furrows were carved

into the bark and led down from the roof to a large

barrel that was filled with water.  Next to that was a

sort of bowl forced into the trunk, a hole in its

middle that drained into a different set of furrows. 

These trailed down to the floor and continued through

holes fashioned there.

Miaka had just gone to investigate the chest of

clothing when Tamahome pulled himself through the

opening.  Without looking at her, he began to haul up

the rope ladder.  She blushed as she realized that he

was effectively isolating them in the small

surroundings.

She returned her attention to the chest.  "Why did you

follow me?" she asked as she searched for something

that would fit.

"I vowed to protect you with my life, Your Highness."

"But I doubt we've anything to fear from these

impoverished families that are forced to live here." 

Miaka found a soft green dress that laced up in the

front and was roughly embroidered with tiny yellow

flowers.  It looked like it might fit.

Tamahome snorted as she glanced over to ensure he

wasn't watching.  "I don't trust the uncouth curs."

"I'm assuming you mean Kouji and Genrou and not the

women and children here.  In that case, shouldn't you

be guarding His Highness.  He is severely wounded and

helpless."  Miaka unclasped her cape and began the

tedious process of removing her satin gown.

After a moment of silence, Tamahome looked up to see

the princess sliding down her gown, revealing the

smooth expanse of one, creamy shoulder.  Blushing

furiously, he quickly stood and moved tot eh balcony. 

"What, may I ask, are you doing, Your Highness?"

She peered at the knight's rigid stance as she stood

in her flimsy shift.  "I can't stay in these clothes. 

It's an insult to the people here and besides, I can't

very well sleep in all those layers of satin and

silk."  

Tamahome felt heat rise through his body as he heard

the rustle of fabric.  He focused his attention an the

view the balcony afforded and took note on the

similarity to castle parapets.  Not only was it a

strategic lookout vantage, but an archer would be

well hidden and protected as well.

"Tamahome," came Miaka's gentle voice.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Thank you...for earlier."  When he had comforted her

after being threatened by that man, she felt...  She

felt safe and warm.  Being held in his arms like that

was similar to all the times her own brother had

protected her, but different altogether.

Tamahome nodded once although his back was still to

her.  He didn't quite understand why he had done that.

 Preventing the oaf from striking her was one thing,

but holding her was not required of his vow.  However,

he had wanted to cease her tears and simply had acted

on instinct.

Miaka placed a delicate hand on his shoulder and he

spun to face her.  He auburn hair hung loose and free

down her back, a stark contrast to the green hue of

the dress.  However, it did bring out the green

highlights of her hazel eyes.

He felt his veneer give way to a timid smile at her

beauty.  She reminded him so much of his youngest

sister.  He had loved Yuiren very much and would have

done anything for her.  But in the end, he had been

unable to protect her, or any of his family.  Was that

why he sought to hard to protect Miaka like he did?

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

Nuriko didn't understand what was happening inside

her.  She felt as if a part of her heart was dying. 

The tears would not cease but she refused to give in

to the sorrow.  Hotohori was still alive, still

breathing.  He would survive and she would not give up

on that hope.

She smoothed his fine, brown hair, wishing she could

enjoy its silky softness.  The only solid comfort she

had was found in the warmth of his hand which she

still hadn't let go of.  He was so beautiful, even in

this state, almost as if he were asleep.

A small smile slowly pulled at the corners of her

mouth as she leaned over his prone body.  Very gently,

she pressed her lips against his in a whisper of a

kiss.  Nuriko felt more tears fall at the feel of

Hotohori's mouth, sweet and satiny.

She pulled away as she choked back the sob that began

to pull at her breath.  Despite her hopes, he might

still die.

"Why did this have to happen?  Why do I feel as if my

life will be over is you don't make it?" she whispered

in a voice harsh from fatigue as she sat back to

resume her tearful sigil.

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

Coming Up:  Golden eyes and a Heart of gold.