Ashes Fade Away

*(8/?)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

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

Miaka gasped when she saw Nuriko.  She really hadn't

given much thought to her companion's state of mind

until she saw the dark circles under red, swollen eyes

and the disheveled hair falling from the elaborate

braid.  Nuriko only glanced up at Miaka's entrance

before returning to gaze at Hotohori.

"Nuriko..," Miaka murmured while moving to embrace her

friend.

Nuriko stiffened before turning to hold Miaka, letting

loose the tears she had been holding back. 

"He...he..," she sobbed.

"He'll be fine," Miaka soothed her friend.  "But you

aren't."

"She hasn't left his side all night," Tasuki offered

from the doorway.  "At least that's what Mits said."

"Nuriko, is that true?"  Miaka asked the sobbing

figure in her arms.  She was answered with a silent

nod.  "You can't help him like this, Nuriko."

"He won't listen," muttered Kouji quietly to himself.

Miaka pulled Nuriko from her embrace and looked at the

tearstained face before her.  "Nuriko, if you care so

much for His Highness, then it wouldn't do for you to

be so tired and sad.  It won't help him recover.  Why

don't you go get some rest.  You're my friend and your

well being is my main concern."

Nuriko let her eyes flicker to Hotohori's prone form

and then back to the concerned face of her friend.  A

pang of sorrow and bitterness flashed through her

heart as she recalled Hotohori's last words and she

gave a faint smile.  It was better that she forget. 

At least her friend could find happiness with such a

beautiful and caring man.

She nodded once before numbly exiting the building. 

Kouji halted her departure with his hand on her

shoulder.  "I can show ya a place to sleep and later,

I'll have some food brought as well as a change of

clothes.  Will that be okay?"

Nuriko smiled sadly as more tears fell and allowed

herself to be led away by the blue-haired rogue. 

Tasuki watched them leave and then glanced back inside

before he ran after Kouji.

"Hey, what should I do?" he asked, running a hand

through his hair.

Kouji winked at the redhead.  "Go find yer

boyfriend."  And he kept on moving with the oblivious

maiden in tow.

Tasuki paused and then grinned.  He had wondered last

night what happened to Chichiri after his hasty

retreat.  And just what was that smile all about?  The

young brigand took off knowing that if he wanted to

find out, he'd better start searching the mage out.

No sooner had Tasuki left the area then a figure

materialized from the morning mist.  Chichiri sighed

heavily, unsure what to do with the young man who

seemed hell bent on winning his trust.  He had to

admit that while a bit pushy and definitely stubborn,

Tasuki was genuine in his emotions.  Raw, honest, and

very open...

Chichiri left like he did last light because he could

not afford to let his guard down.  People were

inherently cruel and he knew from personal

experience that no matter how things appeared, it

wasn't worth the eventual pain in the end.

But why did he smile in spite of himself once he saw

the confused and worried expression of the redheaded

rogue peering down at him?  Momentary weakness?  But

at what?  He shook his head ruefully and joined his

companions silently at the young prince's side.

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

Hotohori was greeted with welcoming smiles and sighs

of relief when he opened his eyes again.

"Are you okay, Your Highness?" came Miaka's gentle

voice.  He smiled weakly at her as he focused on her

lovely face.

"I am, thanks to you being by my side."

She blushed slightly at his words and his behind the

curtain of her hair.  Tamahome bristled, jealousy

creeping into his mind until he mentally scolded

himself for forgetting his role.

"Nuriko's been worried about you too.  She'd be here,

but she needs her sleep, Your Highness," Miaka

continued.  "We've been told that you will be up and

bout in a few days."

Hotohori blinked, confused.  "Wasn't I gravely

injured?  How can I expected to be healed properly

if..."

A small child clearing his throat cut him off. 

All eyes turned upon the unnoticed form of Chiriko who

had been sitting quietly in a corner observing the

party.  He grinned as he pulled his knees up to his

chest.

"As I informed Lady Nuriko, the doctor Mitsukake has a

skill that goes beyond conventional medicine.  Call it

a gift, but his patients seem to heal rapidly at his

touch."

"Who are you?" Miaka questioned with wide, hazel eyes.

Chiriko pushed up form the floor, his smile not

leaving his face.  "You can call me Chiriko."

"Are you Mitsukake's son?" the princess continued. 

Chiriko shook his head slightly.

"I'm afraid not, Your Highness.  But he is my family

nonetheless."

"How long have you been listening?" Hotohori asked.

"That's unimportant, Your Highness.  I just cam to

check on your progress and my predictions seem to have

been accurate.  Now I can inform Mitsukake."  He

started to scoot pass the group but Tamahome shot a

hand out to snag the back of the boy's shirt.

"Hey!" Chiriko squeaked in surprise.

"Tamahome, let him go," Miaka pleaded but he ignored

her and began to drag the poor boy over to Hotohori

who watched this situation with a shocked expression.

"Tamahome, I demand to know what you're doing,"

Hotohori stated.

"This boy means trouble, Your Highness."

Miaka furrowed her brow in confusion and looked form

the prince to the knight.  Hotohori sighed, never

quite realizing until this moment the paranoia

ingrained into the knight of Isan.  He knew that the

knights were trained to seek out possible enemies, but

what threat could a mere child represent?  How could

man who hated to take lives with weapons be so

distrustful of one young boy?

"Tamahome, release him," Hotohori stated.  "If he

intended to harm any of us, he'd have done so by now. 

I place my trust in the people here and so should

you."

The knight paused and looked own at the scared green

eyes of the child he held.  Then he felt a light touch

on his shoulder and glanced over to see Chichiri give

a slight nod of his head.  A strange feeling washed

over him and Tamahome turned his gaze to Miaka who

looked near tears.

In shock, he let go of Chiriko and grimaced in shame. 

"For give me, Your Highness.  I don't know what came

over me."

"It's quite alright, Tamahome," the prince assured. 

"But shouldn't you be asking for Chiriko's forgiveness

instead of mine?"

"I'm sorry."  Regret had crept into the normally stoic

knight's voice as he moved his eyes to the pink-haired

boy.  Miaka was surprised to see this side of Tamahome

and found herself wanting to run and embrace him. 

Unbidden, the memories of their stolen kiss resurfaced

and she felt heat rush to her face.

Chiriko met Tamahome's apology with a knowing smile. 

"I knew you weren't going to hurt me.  Although I

really can't blame you for being suspicious.  You are,

after all, in a strange place, out of your element and

among people you've been taught to distrust.  These 

people have injured your prince and you feel

an urgent need to protect him, as well as the

princess."

He straightened his tunic and faced the prince with a

genuine smile of gratitude.  "I thank you.  You are

our hope, Your Highness, and I can see that our faith

hasn't been misplaced."

"Are you going to be alright?" came Miaka's query.

"I wasn't hurt," Chiriko replied, looking from the

princess to the sullen knight.  "I know you love

children Tamahome.  That's why you only attempted to

apprehend me.  But I've seen you save so many others

before, so I wasn't truly afraid, just startled."

The blue-haired knight looked over suddenly,

astonished at this young boy.  He opened his mouth to

inquire what Chiriko had meant, but the boy took the

opportunity to leave, running out the door with the

energy and speed inherent in children.

"Who was that child?" Hotohori asked aloud, but no one

could answer.

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

Next Chapter:  Broken peace.