Ashes Fade Away

*(6/?)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

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

It was nearly dawn when Nuriko felt a large and gentle

hand rest upon her shoulder, snapping her from her

half-asleep daze.  In a tired confusion, she glanced

about until she noticed Mitsukake standing behind her.

 She smiled wearily up at him, but it did little to

belay her battle with the fear.

Mitsukake noticed that still hadn't let go of the

young prince's hand.  "I've come to change his

bandages and make certain he's okay."

"He hasn't moved once," she whispered in a voice

hoarse with tears.

He nodded at the violet-haired woman before taking her

hand.  "You must be tired.  It's not healthy."

"I'm not leaving him."  Nuriko's voice was forceful

despite her fatigue.

"Of course.  But why don't you go outside and get some

fresh air while I work?  I promise to come and get you

once I'm done."

When Nuriko didn't respond, he squeezed her hand. 

Numbly, she nodded, allowing herself to be led outside

the building.  Once her view was obscured, she turned

away and began walking.  She had been sitting all

night and her legs hurt.  But that pain was nothing.

She fell to her knees, her hand fluttering to her

mouth to stifle the sobs.  It seemed so hopeless.

"You should believe in the good doctor, you know."

Nuriko looked up to find a young boy sitting on a

stone nearby, he legs tucked underneath him.

His wide, green eyes that shimmered in the dying

firelight reflected not innocence, but intelligence. 

His soft, pink hair was swept back into a high

ponytail, the wispy strands that escaped framing his

cherub-looking face.  He wore a deep green shirt that

was obviously too large for his small frame and a pair

of brown breeches.

"Who are you?" Nuriko asked as she regarded the

child.

"My name is Chiriko."

Won't your parents be worried that you're up this

late?"  Nuriko leaned forwards as she questioned the

child.

A look of sadness flashed behind his green eyes.  "I

don't have parents anymore.  Mitsukake has been

looking after me and teaching me."

"Oh.  Are you wanting to become a doctor?"

He shook his head, the action releasing more strands

of his hair.  "I just want to learn.  Call it my

instinctive curiosity, however this field holds no

fascination for me occupational-wise."

Nuriko blinked, a little confused.  "What did you just

say?"

Chiriko sighed, used to such reaction.  "I said that

you can call it my instinctive curiosity, however

this field holds no fascination for me

occupational-wise."

Nuriko nodded, not fully understanding.  "How old are

you?"

"Too young to venture into brothels and too old to be

hand fed by adults."  Chiriko sighed again, tired of

being treated like a child.  He only wished to hold

intelligent conversation, but it seemed the doctor was

the only one who afforded him that.

"Anyways," he continued, returning to the original

conversation.  "You shouldn't worry.  Mitsukake is

remarkably skilled as a physician.  He has a natural

talent that goes somewhat beyond conventional

medicine."

"But he can't perform miracles," she muttered glumly,

recalling Tasuki's words from earlier.

Chiriko tilted his head.  "True.  What human hand can

control destiny anyway?  But I have a feeling that

His Highness will pull through."

"How can you be so certain?"

Chiriko looked up into the night sky, the stars

twinkling overhead in a desperate gambit to continue

to shine even as the sun threatened in the east to

overwhelm them all with its brilliance.

"Because it is destiny that His Highness should lead

us to the future we all deserve."

His gaze was leveled at the violet-haired woman and he

smiled.  "Perhaps I am naive to believe in that, but I

want to experience freedom.  You come from a land that

isn't wracked with tyranny and unrest.  Here, civil

war threatens us at every turn.  But hose that have

gathered here refuse to be suppressed.  And now we have

the chance to change everything."

"In His Highness?"

"Exactly."  Chiriko grinned.

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

Mitsukake carefully removed the soiled bandages.  The

bleeding stopped but he should still be careful not to

reopen the young man's wound.  He was still pale, but

his breathing was even and relaxed.  This was a good

sign.

The wound itself showed no signs of infection which

was excellent since the prince probably wouldn't

survive fighting that in his weakened state.  He

pulled out a basket of clean linen and began to dress

the wound once more.

Suddenly, Hotohori groaned and shifted slightly. 

Mitsukake paused in his ministering, watching as the

brunette slowly slitted open his amber eyes.

"Where am I?" he whispered weakly, trying to peer

through the haze of his exhaustion at the stranger

above him in the near darkness.

"You're safe.  Do you remember what happened?" 

Mitsukake resumed his task as the young prince closed

his eyes.

"I remember being injured.  I heard someone scream. 

And it felt like I was being carried somewhere." 

Hotohori reopened his eyes even though it felt as if

there were lead weights holding them down.

"Don't worry, Your Highness.  I've dressed your wounds

and you should be okay.  Why not get some rest since

your body still needs time to heal?"  He slowly and

carefully began to tie the bandages but Hotohori still

stared at him.

"I don't know you."

"My name is Mitsukake and I'm a doctor.  I will make

certain you heal properly.  But you do need to rest." 

He finished the last knot and bent to gather his

supplies.

Hotohori raised a limp hand to weakly grab a hold of

the physician's shirt.  "Where are my companions?  Is

the princess safe?"

Mitsukake paused, thinking.  "Your lady companion

hasn't left your side all night.  I'm assuming that

Kouji and Genrou have seen to your friends' needs."

A tired smile crossed the beautiful features of the

young man as he hand let go, falling with a soft thud.

 "She hasn't left my side?"

"I’ve never seen such a strong and devoted lady

since..," Mitsukake trailed off, deciding not to

dredge up the past again.  "Any ways, it's rather

obvious that she cares for you.  You should thank her,

but for now..."

Hotohori let out a long breath.  "You have my

gratitude, doctor."  His eyes slid closed and he

decided to not open them again for a long time.  

He vaguely remembered a gentle hand that refused to

let his go, a wetness on his face followed by a sweet

pressure on his lips, and a soft voice speaking. 

Could it be that she loved him?  Or perhaps she was

caring out of gratitude?

Faintly, he could hear the slight rustle of cloth and

then the delicate crinkle of silk.  His hand was

enveloped in a familiar warmth and inwardly he smiled.

 He worked his fingers to squeeze the soft hand and

was rewarded with a startled gasp.

"Your Highness?  Are you awake?"  He could barely make

out the whisper.

"I want to thank you for staying with me."

Nuriko leaned in closer to hear his hushed words and

felt tears of happiness come to her eyes.  "You

Highness, you will be okay."

"I know," he managed weakly.  "Because you have given

me your strength..."

"Your Highness, I care so much for you."  Spilled

tears fell against the beautiful face she so adored as

she closed the distance once more an pressed her lips

against the prince's.

She knew it was wrong, that this could never be

because not only of their stations, but because of... 

It didn't matter anyways.  Nuriko wished to savor the

taste of Hotohori, to hold onto this memory within her

heart.

Hotohori responded weakly, slightly deepening the kiss.

 Here was a beautiful woman who loved him, who made

him feel strong.  It was a new sensation and he

planned on enjoying himself as long as possible.  But

more than that, he wanted to return those feelings.

It was Nuriko who broke the kiss, slowly drawing away

from her beloved.  Both were smiling, although

Hotohori's eyes were still closed.  He sighed.

"Your Highness?"

"Stay with me, a little while longer."  His smile

began to slip as a new rush of fatigue overwhelmed his

senses.

"I'll stay as long as you want me by your side, Your

Highness," cam e Nuriko's whispered reply as she

squeezed Hotohori's hand reassuringly.  She couldn't

believe how close to heaven she was, able to show how

she felt, able to say words she never dreamed

possible.

But it was all shattered with Hotohori's next words.

"Thank you, Miaka..."

Outside, the night gave in to the dawning of a new

day...

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

Next Chapter:  The new day.