by Karma
He felt the sun on his face, and woke up to it shining brightly in his eyes. He stared at it stupidly for a minute, and then instinctively averted his eyes to the side. Slowly, he turned his face and stared at his left. Grass. Green grass. Slightly puzzled, though he could not remember why, he turned his head right. More green, lush grass.
With his thoughts muddled, Tsuzuku slowly sat up. His body protested instantly, and he felt every muscle, bone, and tendon ached. Gasping from the surprising pain, he straightened up wearily and sat with his arms leaning on his weak knees for support. Okay, better. Not much, but it was a start. Rubbing his face with one hand, he groped the grass blindly with the other. No book. This time, he hugged both his knees and looked at his surroundings.
He was not, as he had thought earlier, sleeping in the familiar hammock underneath the trees in his back yard. He had no book around him. Furthermore, after a quick survey of his vicinity, he was no where around his backyard. The scenery before him opened to grassy green hills heavily decorated by trees. He heard birds chirping. What he did *not* hear was *any* sound that was even remotely similar to a car, train, or human chatter. It was quiet...peaceful...and quite alarmingly so. For a moment, he thought that Owaru and Amaru, his younger brothers, had pulled another prank upon him. This would not have been the first time that the mischievous Owaru had cooked up some half-baked plan with Amaru to do so. There was that time when they had glued all the pages in his book together, for instance. Dragging his body into some unknown area while he was asleep would have been an instant classic.
But then, he suddenly remembered. The ship. The crazy and stupid man with the metal claws. The frightened captain of the ship, whom Tsuzuku had been threatening, even without a weapon. The explosion. The dragon? Tsuzuku looked at his hands. Sure enough, there was dried salt on it. He then looked at himself and realized something quite startling-he was wearing no clothes. Indeed, the only thing that covered him was a thin blanket on top of him. He looked at his surroundings some more, this time with a combination of horror, alarm, and confusion.
Okay, calm down. Where are you? On dry land. On a scenery that was too perfect for words. Trees, hills, flowers, but no smog or people. Obviously, not in Tokyo. He scooted back up a little, and felt a reassuringly *solid* material behind him. A tree. Who are you with? Nobody, he was alone. At least he thought he was, until he heard a smooth and cheerful voice cry out above him: "Awake now, are you?"
Tsuzuku looked up, searching for the source of the sound. On a tree branch to the left of him sat a young red-haired male, not yet in his thirties. He jumped down, landing softly besides the startled Tsuzuku. In one hand, he clutched a harp, while the other rested on the sword tied to his side. His bright red hair was tied loosely to his side by string, another portion of his head by an ivory-orange headscarf. He wore blue earrings, a loose shirt tied by a long sash, and a...cape? Tsuzuku was not sure, since the man was in a getup that he has never seen before.
"Afternoon," greeted Guibu to the stranger before him. The boy was young, scarcely older than the prince himself was. He had finely boned face structure, deep, warm, brown eyes, and matching light auburn-brown hair. The boy was nothing short of beautiful. Narcasse would kill to get a model like him for one of his paintings...
Despite his current distress, Tsuzuku forced himself to relax. He gave the stranger a calm, calculated smile. "Afternoon."
"I am the minstrel Guibu," the stranger introduced himself. "One day, while I was hurrying south, I could not help but notice a certain naked boy lying out in the middle of nowhere. Since I always help those in need, I set camp and covered you with my blanket." His face grew serious. "I�m not a person who would leave one as vulnerable as you lying underneath a tree without clothing. Are you hurt? Lost? Do you want me to escort you towards the nearest village?" He did not know why, but he was feeling a little chivalrous this afternoon. He always was a sucker for the weak and helpless.
Tsuzuku watched him carefully, and weighed his options. He was alone, and could feel none of his brothers close by. He was naked, and lost in the middle of nowhere. While he was unconscious, the stranger had covered him in a blanket and waited for his recovery. He can�t be all that bad. "How long have you been waiting?"
"Only one night. I was planning on taking you to the nearest village anyway, it simply would have been much easier if I did so while you were awake."
Tsuzuku felt for his brothers. He always had this gift of knowing where they were, instinctively. South. They�re all south of me. Southeast. He looked at Guibu and smiled, his face turning very charming. "I would be a fool to refuse your offer. My name is Tsuzuku." At Guibu�s nod of acknowledgement, he continued. "You�re heading south? What�s north of here?"
"Mount Demavont."
"What�s south?"
"Castle Peshwal."
"If possible...I would like to head south with you."
Guibu raised a fine eyebrow. "You have business in Peshwal?"
"...Yes..." Niisan, Owaru-kun, Amaru-kun, Matsuri-chan...Are you there? What happened? Inwardly, he shivered, feeling lost without Hajime�s usual lead. Are you alright?
Guibu watched him thoughtfully. "Very well, then, south it is. Southeast, actually. Nothing is directly south of us. We�ll go by horseback. Can you ride?"
Damn, I miss my car. "No...but I�ll learn."
"Is your stomach growling at the thought of food?"
"No..." Strange, I�m not hungry at all. I *am* quite sore though. Feeling impatient to see his siblings again, he asked, "When can we start?"
Impatient, aren�t we? Why am I even helping him? Do I just feel a great desire to help every good-looking thing that walks? As amusing as the thought was, Guibu knew that it was not true. Something about this boy...no, not really a boy, close up, he appears to be older...perhaps around twenty, less...something about him...draws me to him and makes me *want* to help him...strange. "Well, as much as I relish the thought of riding besides an unclothed young gentlemen, I�m afraid that social norms would force us to prevent such events from occurring." He smiled jokingly at Tsuzuku�s slight flush, to show that he meant nothing malicious by it.
Guibu walked over to his brown horse, which Tsuzuku had not noticed before. Opening a bundle tied to it, he examined the contents within. He pulled out a dark, thin robe and tossed it to the boy. Ah, my favorite disguise. How many times have I used it to cover myself to escape the wrath of a woman�s angry father or beloved brother? "This is all I have right now. It�ll have to do."
Tsuzuku nodded, grateful for *some* type of clothing. He slipped the robe on without any false modesty, knowing that he had nothing to hide that Guibu had not already seen. Thankfully, however, Guibu turned his head away while he dressed.
Tsuzuku was sore. Horseback riding, something very costly in Japan due to the fact that very few people owned horses in the cities, was not something that one could acquire skillfully within a few hours. Granted, Tsuzuku was no ordinary human; not to mention that he was a quick learner, but it still took a while getting used to. Since Guibu did not give him any under clothes, Tsuzuku was forced to sit on the bottom of his robe. This gave an unsettling slippery feeling; however, it was better than rubbing his own skin against the horse�s hair directly. At bumpy parts in the road, Tsuzuku was forced to clutch onto Guibu�s cape in order to reassure himself that he would not fall down; and if he did, he would be taking the minstrel down with him. It would probably be better if I just held onto his waist. Then I would not fall down for sure.
But no matter how he tried, Tsuzuku was not comfortable with the idea of clutching a stranger�s waist. Holding onto the cape meant that his chances of falling off were greater, because he was indirectly (rather than directly) holding onto the more stable and capable rider. It also meant that if he *did* fall, he would either pull Guibu down with him or rip the cape off. Nevertheless, Tsuzuku did not wish to give his escort the impression that he was incapable of riding. Guibu already saw him as a vulnerable child that he found; he did not wish to add stupidity to that image. It was a stupid dilemma, but it was very real to Tsuzuku.
Suddenly, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand. His surest instinct that told him that trouble was nearby. Forgetting his fear of riding, he turned and looked behind him. In the far distance, he saw a group of riders pursuing them.
"Do you have many enemies?" The red dragon asked casually to the minstrel.
"I have...people with whom I have had a difference in opinion, yes," replied the one in the front. "Why do you ask?"
"Looks like they wish to discuss those opinions with you once more."
Turning, Guibu looked behind Tsuzuku. At first, he saw nothing more than a dark blur. As the dark blur came closer, however, he recognized riders. Silver Mask�s men...or what�s left of them. Even though the near fatal resurgence of the Snake God in Mount Demavont opened a crack in the earth that consumed many of Silver Mask�s men, there was still a formidable number pursuing them. Bad news. Very bad news. Silently, the redhead cursed. I thought I lost them back at the last mountain pass. Suddenly, he recalled taking a break in order to watch over the condition of an unconscious boy in the hills. Whoever thought that Silver Mask was so stubborn and pig-headed? I just saved us all from resurrecting the Snake God and this is the thanks I get. Out loud, he spoke. "Hold on tightly to my waist," he commanded. "We�re going to take a more scenic route."
Reluctantly, Tsuzuku held onto his waist. Guibu kicked his horse into a gallop.
I can�t lead them to Castle Peshwal. The men of the castle may be out aiding the prince. The minstrel did not know what Narcasse�s plans were for retaking Ekubatana, but there was always the risk that Peshwal�s forces were involved. If that was the case, then he would be leading Silver Mask�s army towards a defenseless castle. He steered the horse sharply towards the left. Hopefully, he could lose them at the river. But it seemed unlikely. Behind, he saw through his peripheral vision Tsuzuku grabbing and breaking tree branches as they rode by. What on earth is he doing? Defending us with sticks?
Tsuzuku held onto three thick tree branches. They were heavy and solid. He ignored the tiny fear in him that he would fall from the horse, since he was not holding onto Guibu. The red dragon turned and watched the approaching army. Improvised-helicopter- deathblow-crash...He smiled briefly and threw the first stick.
Despite the long distance between Guibu�s horse and Silver Mask�s army, the wood made contact with the leading rider�s horse. It knocked the silver-masked man off his horse, though not completely, as his leg was caught in the saddle. This resulted in him being half-dragged by the terrified animal.
Tsuzuku smiled and threw the next. This one knocked the horse down, causing it to fall down on the man.
Torn with indecision with helping their leader or letting the minstrel get away, the army stopped to help Silver Mask. He was, after all, more dangerous. Only Zante, Silver Mask�s right hand man, continued to pursue in hopes of catching the minstrel to please his lord, who was now, no doubt, in a terrible mood.
The last branch prevented his desire to please the "true" Prince of Palse. It smacked into the horse�s nose, terrifying the animal. In fright, the horse threw Zante off and galloped away before the he had time to even try to get it back.
Tsuzuku laughed and turned towards the front. Riding wasn�t so bad after all.
After they lost their pursuers, they stopped by the river for a quick break. The branch of the river that they were near was not the main branch of the river. Rather, it was a smaller, harmless branch of the river that was closer to a creek than a river. The last thing that they needed was to run Guibu�s horse to death. The grateful beast munched on green grass happily. Tsuzuku was the first to jump off the horse to stretch. His very, very sore legs reminded him that he still had a while before he would get used to riding. The stretch felt good, and he was feeling much better now than when he first awoke. He felt safe. Knowing that he was heading towards his brothers and would see them soon picked his spirits up immensely.
Slowly, Guibu slid off his horse. He was very quiet. Three sticks!?!? He defeated a small army with three STICKS?!? He shook his head in disbelief. Anyone that could take out Silver Mask and his men with wood on horseback deserves to be scrutinized. If Arslan could convince him to join...Clearing his voice, he spoke to his companion casually, keeping the tremors out of his voice. "So Tsuzuku, from where do you come?"
"Somewhere very far away." Briefly, Tsuzuku thought of Tokyo. The only regret he had was the loss of his car. Ah, I loved that car. His thoughts turned more serious. How did we get from Fairyland to here? This place, with foreign and strange names that do not appear on any map that I know of. Maybe Hajime will tell me when I find him.
Guibu hid his frown. The response that he received was less than ideal. It raised more and more questions. He was now bursting with curiosity. This is no ordinary person. "May I ask what you were doing in the woods dressed as completely as you were?"
Tsuzuku, now in a pleasant mood, smiled. He was sitting near, the bank of the river, his bare feet dangling in the moving water. I suppose I must have been quite a sight. A naked man no where near civilization. I wonder what I should tell him. He had no doubts why he had been naked. He recalled Amaru after their fight with Kamakura no Gozen. Naked as the day he was born. Turning into a giant dragon tended to rip off your clothes in the process. Next time, he promised himself, next time I�ll be awake. If we all must become dragons...I have confidence in myself. If we must become dragons, I�ll choose when.
His thoughts returned to the question. Tsuzuku prided himself on always telling the truth, no matter how horrible it was. *Especially* however horrible it was. I never lie. "You may ask, but I am afraid I cannot answer. A boy found naked in the woods? You can�t imagine what dreadful things must have happened to him. Even now, the memories are a blur." Tsuzuku left it at that, not directly lying, not telling the truth. He hoped that the implications of his words would shame the minstrel into silence and prevent him from pressing further for details.
Could it be? Guibu watched him, startled. All he saw was the back of Tsuzuku, he could not see his facial expressions. Was he raped? Guibu was filled with momentary alarm. Then he calmed down. He�s certainly holding up well, if that was the case. "Are you all right?"
"I�m fine, just a little sore." It doesn�t feel good to turn into a dragon. Nor to ride horses for the first time. "So, Minstrel-san," he began, in an effort to change the subject. "Why are you heading south?"
"I have some old friends that I left behind a while ago. I felt that it might be time for them to enjoy more of my wonderful company. And you?"
"I�m looking for some friends of mine."
Guibu, uncertain whether or not this topic brought back memories too delicate to discuss, changed the subject.
"That was some work you did, with those people who disagreed with my opinions."
"It is my duty as a free loafer who gets a free ride to where he is headed." He looked down. "And as thanks for borrowing your clothes."
Guibu laughed and waved his hand dismissively. "Keep it as long as you need it or want to. Just be careful when you�re around men in any town. Someone may mistake you for me, and wish to discuss their views with you."
Tsuzuku raised a fine eyebrow. He certainly gets around. "I will give your advice the due consideration that it needs."
I haven�t met him before, have I? Guibu watched the hitchhiker�s back thoughtfully. No...I would have remembered any male as beautiful as he. People with* any* sort of extraordinary good looks do not easily slip past my memory. But he felt that the boy was trustworthy enough, despite the fact that he wasn�t telling the whole truth. Being an expert in prevaricating, I can usually detect lies...But either the boy was telling the truth or what he was saying was partially true, because Guibu could not detect him lying. Still, it was obvious that he was hiding *something*. And yet, even with this knowledge, I *still* think he�s trustworthy. How unusual. "Chance meetings are often destiny in disguise," he reminded himself, before he realized that he spoke aloud. He switched subjects again. "Do you have a place to stay in Peshwal?"
Chance meetings are often destiny in disguise...? Hmm... "Err...no..." he said, distractedly.
"If you come with me, I can get you a room. I know the lord of the castle." Guibu was fairly certain that if he explained things to Quishward, he would be able to fulfill that promise. Maybe. Mentally, he shrugged. I�ll find a way, I always do.
If we do all meet up down there, we�ll need a place to stay to talk things over in. But if we all do not meet up, then a room will not be necessary, since we�ll be traveling around to found each other. Better to accept just in case. Can always reject the offer later. "I would be very grateful if you did."
"Consider it done, then."
They talked a little more, and then Guibu noticed how dark it was getting. Half a day�s worth of riding, pursuers, and danger. Quite a day�s work. He yawned, feeling tired. And hungry. He surveyed their surroundings. Not bad. This time, he was positive that they lost Silver Mask and his men. The tree branches gave them at least ten minutes of extra time. And they went across the main branch of the river, so if their tracks were followed, they would have stopped there. Silver Mask, if he was able to follow us that far, which is highly unlikely because we left them in the dust, will think that we crossed the river. In reality, Guibu had guided his horse to partially cross, then to walk down the river, in the water shallowest and closest to the bank. It had been more dangerous, as the chances of the horse falling in were greater, but it was worth it. Any tracks left by the horse would have been erased. It would be impractical to continue right now. The poor beast is far too tired. And this is as safe a place as any other. He looked at his companion. "We�ll set camp here tonight. Tomorrow, we�ll take the short cut to Castle Peshwal. We should arrive there in another day or two."
Two days, hmm... Inwardly, Tsuzuku frowned. He would have liked to see his brothers by tomorrow. Even with a short cut, it would take so long...Oh well. Nothing else can be done. At least this is faster than walking. His thoughts changed direction. I wasn�t *that* far away from Niisan and the others when the ship exploded. And my closest family is at least 2 days� ride away, by horseback. He was in the ship when it exploded, so he did not see where his brothers were positioned on upper deck. If they were far from each other before, then when they were brought here, they would be scattered from each other. The chances of everyone being helped by someone like Guibu were pretty slim. The thought of Amaru shivering and hungry by himself in the cold almost made him want to steal Guibu�s horse and take off by himself. Even if I did, I wouldn�t be able to get to them by tonight. The horse is tired, and if I ran it to death, the I�ll have to walk. That would take even longer. He bit back his impatience. Damn. He turned and looked at his companion.
Behind him, Guibu had set up something that looked like a tent. "It�ll rain tonight," explained the musician at the dragon�s inquisitive look. "Otherwise, normally I would simply sleep out underneath the stars. They are a beautiful sight at night. They make one realize how small man truly is." He glanced at the sky regretfully and then shrugged it off. "Unusual for it to rain at this time of the year. Strange." Is it because of the dreaded Snake God? Did his near returning bring rain?
It�s unusual for it to rain...? Tsuzuku felt worried. Amaru, as a dragon, could make it rain. Did his brother become a dragon while he was knocked out?
"Either come in, or don�t," came the smooth voice from inside the quasi-tent. "I do not have any desire to sleep next to anyone who is wet with the water of the rain."
Hesitantly, Tsuzuku stepped into the tent. Inside, Guibu had scooted over enough to give him room to lie on in the right side of the tent. It was not as spacious as he would like, but the tent was clearly designed for two people. Why someone would want such a large tent if they traveled alone often was beyond Tsuzuku. Unless, of course, he doesn�t sleep alone often. Tsuzuku already disliked the idea of sleeping closely besides a stranger, let alone some perverted womanizer. He tried to lie as far away from Guibu as he could, although there was little room to scoot away to. Oh well. Tsuzuku lied on his side, his back facing Guibu. The latter was staring the ceiling of the tent, his head resting on his left hand, the elbow sticking out away from Tsuzuku.
Guibu sensed that the younger man was unhappy about sleeping next to him. He suddenly sat up in realization. Well, of course! If he really was raped, of course he would be. How stupid and quite unlike me to forget. "I can sleep outside, if you wish."
Tsuzuku, staring at the tent wall when he heard Guibu speak, widened his eyes in surprise. "No, that�s unnecessary. I�m fine, don�t worry." That would be very, very impolite and bad manners. Especially since there was no good reason to force him, the owner of the tent, to sleep outside in the rain at night. If anyone should sleep outside, it should be me. I don�t get sick like normal humans. Normal humans... Besides him, he felt Guibu stir; as the redhead sat completely up, preparing to exit the tent. Reaching out his left hand, he gently grabbed Guibu�s right shoulder and pushed him back down. "Don�t worry about it," he repeated for emphasis. "I�m fine."
Guibu nodded, and lied down again. This time, he was the one who tried to scoot as far away from the other as possible. He�s surprisingly very strong. Perhaps I misunderstood him. For one who might have just been raped, he�s holding up remarkably well. He didn�t actually say that he was, but what else was he doing in the forest without any clothes on? Sighing, he turned towards his left and soon fell asleep.
"So, you have returned."
A graceful nod of acknowledgement.
"Am I grateful? I suppose so. But I don�t think I am ready."
"No you aren�t, not yet."
"This will change everything."
"Yes, it will."
"It is only a little matter of time before we meet..."
"I look forward to seeing you then."
"You will be surprised, I think."
"Why?"
"I am so young."
Tsuzuku awoke, yawned, and looked around. The tent was empty, save him. Where�s Guibu? Suppressing another yawn, he stretched his arms and stepped out of the tent. There was no sign of Guibu, just the sound of the flow of the small river. Tsuzuku looked around, puzzled. His senses told him that the redhead was around, but something was wrong.
Something tapped him lightly on the shoulder from behind. Glancing quickly, Tsuzuku saw that it was Guibu. His eyes looked worried, and the rest of his body was tense. The minstrel put a finger to his own lips, signaling Tsuzuku to be quiet. In a low voice, he whispered: "We�re going to quietly and quickly clean up the camp. Leave no traces that indicate that any living human being was here."
Tsuzuku nodded silently.
The two of them quickly gathered their things. Guibu took down the quasi-tent and folded it as small as possible. Tsuzuku took the blanket and stuffed it back into the bag tied to the horse. After doing likewise with the tent, Guibu looked around and nodded in approval. In one smooth, graceful motion, he easily mounted the horse. The minstrel held out his hand and helped Tsuzuku mount behind him.
"I was exploring the territory from tree top when I noticed a small party headed in our direction," whispered Guibu. "They�re not the men before, but they�re just as dangerous. From the clothing that they�re wearing, they look like brigands."
"How far are they?"
"Given the rate that they were traveling, I would venture a guess that they�ll come here in a few minutes. We can�t go south, because they�re coming from the south. Fortunately, there is a small crevice not far from here. Unfortunately, it�s north, so there is a small, small, very unlikely chance that we�ll run into Silver Mask and his men. It�s not far, however, so chances are very slim." Guibu kicked his horse, making it head north. They rode quickly north for a few minutes, and stopped at a small cliff.
"I thought you said it was a small crevice. This is a cliff."
"I�m a minstrel. Thus, I am prone to exaggeration." It looked a lot smaller from the tree...
"Aren�t you supposed to exaggerate in the other direction? Like saying that it was bigger than it really is?"
"Well, when you�re filled with false hopes..." Mournfully, the two of them looked over the cliff.
"If we jumped, there is a small chance that the horse will land without breaking or injuring any of its legs."
"A very small chance."
"Very, very small. But you never know. This horse may surprise us all."
"Don�t try it," advised the dragon. He did not know much about horses, but he doubted that the beast would make it.
"Well, you can jump down there and catch the horse when I throw it to you."
Tsuzuku gave Guibu a long, sarcastic look. He turned his attention back to the cliff.
"Just a suggestion."
"How many people are there?"
"Around twenty or thirty. Armed, well built, stocky, and on horses. Filthy, of course. Very generic brigands. No originality whatsoever."
"How long before they get here?"
"I�d give them five minutes."
"Think they�d leave us alone?"
"No, we�re too good looking. We would make fine body slaves to some perverted rich old man. You, especially."
Tsuzuku gave Guibu a sharp look. And realized that Guibu was dead serious.
"How else are brigands supposed to make money to dress as filthy as they do?"
"I wonder if we could beat them..."
"...Not very likely. Can you fight?"
I�m supposed to hide my abilities... "A little."
Guibu shook his head. "We�re too outnumbered."
"..."
In the distance, Tsuzuku heard the sound of hooves. But they aren�t coming south, he thought. They�re coming from the east. Closer, much closer, he heard the rumble as more horses approached from the south.
"Well, maybe we can scare them off." Everyone fears the unknown. Perhaps a display of something inhuman...If nothing else, I know that I won�t be killed or taken by common bandits.
"What do you mean?"
If I must become a dragon, I�ll choose when. But for a bunch of humans, I doubt that it would be necessary. "There�s something else coming from the east."
Guibu looked in the east. He saw the silhouettes of a carriage and a man on a horseback. Probably unlucky travelers. I feel sorry for them- they�ll meet the bandits before we do. Unless, of course, the bandits come after us. "Just travelers. Our main concern is the filthy idiots coming closer to us. Well, we don�t have to stand around and wait for them to come." Can Tsuzuku take them out with trees again? He kicked the horse and they began to gallop westward. "If they follow our tracks, then they can easily come after us. If not, then they might not know that we exist and pass by us without noticing." Hopefully, they�ll ignore us and think that we�re too small of game. Maybe go after the people coming from the east instead. But just in case... "Cover your face, Tsuzuku. You�re too pretty."
Tsuzuku ignored his advice. They can�t see me yet, and I have to look out for possible weapons. Behind him, he saw the carriage in the distance. Abruptly, the horse stopped and Tsuzuku�s head bumped into Guibu�s back as a result. He glanced over Guibu�s shoulder.
Before them stood one of the brigands. He was stocky, very large, hairy, smelly, and very dangerous looking. Brandishing his sword before them, he casually spoke to Guibu. "Hello redhead." His teeth were yellow, crooked, and rotting. "Where do you think you�re going?"
"Where the wind blows me. Unfortunately, you�re blocking it. If you�ll kindly move aside..."
"Ha ha. Very funny." The hairy man moved his horse closer, until it�s nose was almost touching the nose of Guibu�s horse. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Guibu�s horse took a few step backwards. To his master�s horror, Guibu himself saw the rest of the bandits coming from behind them. No good. We�re surrounded. "Nothing but a poor, poor minstrel and his ill brother passing through."
The filthy man looked at Tsuzuku�s face over Guibu�s shoulder. "Ill? He looks fine. In fact..." The bandit leaned closer for a better look. "He looks more than fine."
"Well, well, well," came an equally deep voice from behind them. "What�s this?" Tsuzuku looked behind him and saw that the man on his horse and the carriage behind him were also surrounded.
"What a fine day, eh boys? A minstrel, a pretty boy, a carriage, and a slave."
The �slave,� or the man on the horse, looked rather unimpressed. "Leave us be. We are not looking for trouble." He had dark red, almost maroon, hair and wide set dark magenta eyes.
"No? Well, trouble is what you fou--" the bandit gasped as he was struck down by a single arrow from the other man�s horse. It caught him in the neck, nearly decapitating it off.
Guibu drew his sword and quickly attacked the other brigand before him while he was distracted by the other�s death. He plunged his blade into the man�s chest, cracking his rib cage in the process. Turning his horse around, he attacked the other bandits on horseback.
I�m useless just sitting here, thought Tsuzuku. Guibu was already using his sword to attack skillfully from horseback. I�ll just fight my own way. He jumped off the horse.
"Tsuzuku! What the--" Guibu fought back against another bandit. Did he fall off? He was a terrible rider. He parried another blow. Can�t get distracted now...
Tsuzuku landed on the ground. Glancing up, he saw another hairy ape moving rapidly towards him. Calmly, Tsuzuku waited, biding his time. When the man swung his blade, the red dragon caught it between his two palms and easily twisted it out of his hands. Before the unarmed brigand could react, Tsuzuku calmly snapped the sword in half, as if it were nothing more than a stick. He watched amusedly as fear entered the man�s eyes. Then quickly, he reached up, grabbed the man by the arm, pulled him onto the ground, and delivered two punches that knocked him out. He glanced at the man�s frightened horse. Unfortunately, I don�t ride well. He slapped the horse lightly on its side, causing it to run into some of the other bandits. This isn�t too hard. He jump-kicked another rider off his horse.
When the dust cleared, the floor was covered with bodies. Half were alive; half were dead. Stinking, bloody corpses.Whichever brigand was not down had fled at the first sign that the battle would be lost. Glancing around in distaste, Guibu turned towards the maroon-haired man and smiled. "Greetings. I am the traveling minstrel Guibu, and this is my companion Tsuzuku. We travel south, towards Castle Peshwal."
"My name is Melain, of the Zogt clan. I am escorting a lady in search of Prince Hermes."
"Prince Hermes? Of Palse? Isn�t he dead?"
Melain shrugged. "I am told that he still lives, and wears a silver mask to this very day. Have you seen anyone that matches this description?"
Guibu looked thoughtful. He knew that Hermes was Silver Mask, as Narcasse has explained to the prince. But he did not wish to disclose the information to a stranger. "Who are you escorting?"
"The Princess of Maryam."
"Ah, another fellow victim of the Lusitanians. So, where are you headed?"
"Ekubatana."
"Ekubatana? Haven�t you heard? The Palsian capital has been taken by the Lusitanians."
Melain recalled the chance encounter with the silver masked man. "I heard such a rumor, yes."
"And, bravely, you decide to venture anyway?"
"I believe Prince Hermes may be there."
Guibu was about to reply when a delicate hand pushed the curtain of the carriage aside. Shyly, an ethereally beautiful blonde leaned out. Her eyes, being useless, were shut. She turned in the direction that she heard the voices. "Melain?" Her voice was clear and sweet. She smelled of flowers and summer days. She was quite possibly the most beautiful woman that Guibu had ever seen. He recalled his earlier conversation with the Farangis. Well, I was wrong. This blonde is prettier than the raven-haired priest. Farangis is NOT the most beautiful woman in the world after all.
"Yes?"
A small frowned appeared on her face. "Lady Jovana fainted from all the noise. Can you tend to her?"
Melain swiftly jumped from his horse onto the carriage in one swoop. Nimbly, he landed, and entered the carriage to see how the maid was doing.
"Fair Lady, your beauty puts all other women to shame." Moving before her, Guibu bowed and kissed her hand. He tensed suddenly when she placed her hand upon his cheek and felt his face.
Princess Ilina smiled. "What do you call yourself?"
"My lady, I am Guibu, a traveling minstrel."
"A minstrel? How wonderful! Could you sing for us, please?"
"My lady, upon my vision of you, I have been inspired by a song."
And to Tsuzuku�s utter amazement, Guibu burst into a song. His voice was rich and strong. He sang of Ilina�s beauty, a made-up song right on the spot. Creative. But, as I thought, he really IS a womanizer...hitting on every pretty girl he sees. Tsuzuku glanced at the princess. She really is beautiful, though. Can�t say I blame him. He really is smooth, though, I�ll give him that. His thoughts returned to the conversation that Guibu had with Melain. Uh oh. Looks like we landed in a place that is at war. This is getting more and more complicated.
Melain emerged from the carriage. He waited for the end of the quick song, and then he spoke to the princess. "Lady Jovana�s awake."
The princess smiled at Melain�s direction. "Thank you, Melain." She turned and smiled in Guibu�s direction. "Your song was beautiful." Carefully, she stepped back behind the curtain.
Melain, unfazed by the song, looked at the smitten Guibu. "Are you quite finished?"
"Huh?" Guibu gathered his scattered thoughts. "Listen- for the sake of the Princess, I highly recommend that you stay away from Ekubatana. The Lusitanians took Maryam, they�ll probably be glad to take its princess as well. Prince Arslan is planning to retake the capital. Perhaps you should wait until he does...It would be safer then, to continue your search. In the meantime, it might be safer to stay with what remains of the Palsian army. Any enemy of the Lusitanians are allies of the Palsians."
Melain considered, while Guibu continued.
"You could stay at Castle Peshwal. It�s fortified, so it would be safer there. And any royalty there would be treated with respect." Guibu paused, remembering something that Melain had said. "You�re of the Zogt clan?"
Surprised by the sudden change in topic, Melain nodded.
"Do you know anyone by the name of Alfreed there?"
Melain stared at the red-haired minstrel in shock. "Alfreed? How do you know my sister?" His heart quickened in excitement. He had started off looking for his sister, and then ran into the princess by a chance meeting. Because she was blind, he decided to forgo his earlier goal and help her instead of looking for his sister. He recalled their father�s condition when he was found. Dead, cut down like a dog in the road. "Is she alive?"
Sister? This is Alfreed�s brother? Guibu examined Melain. He was handsome, in a strange sort of way. There is a little resemblance. So Alfreed has a family after all. "Your sister is safe. The Prince�s strategist found her and rescued her from the man that killed your father. She�s unharmed and is in the Prince Arslan�s company right now, as we speak." Guibu failed to mention the fact that Hermes was one of Arslan�s enemies. Princess Ilina really would be safer with us.
Tsuzuku watched while the two chatted. Having no idea where they were, he could not contribute to the conversation. Nevertheless, he did not feel left out, mostly because their conversation amazed him. Guibu knows a lot about this Prince Arslan. I thought he was a common minstrel that just sang at taverns and such, like in all the fantasy anime out there. Was he the Royal Minstrel? Do they even *have* royal minstrels? I had no idea this land was so archaic. Warring countries, princes, princesses, clans...it�s like something right out of a Miyazaki film. Or something from Western literature. There�s a lot that Guibu didn�t bother to tell me. Of course, there is a lot that I didn�t tell him, either. He�s still not sure whether or not I was even raped!
Unaware of the hatred between the royal blood of Palse, Melain decided that this was the best course of action. After all, if both Prince Arslan and Prince Hermes were from Palse, then perhaps the former knew where the latter was. And even if Arslan was not in Peshwal, his sister was. Kubard would be in Peshwal as well-- he might know if Hermes was the silver masked man that they had met earlier. If nothing else, maybe he could leave Ilina at Peshwal, and look for Hermes himself. That way, the princess would be in no danger. "Then may we come with you to Castle Peshwal?"
"Certainly."
They had been traveling on the road for a few more hours. After much contemplation, Tsuzuku decided that traveling with Melain was better than traveling with Guibu alone. With his eyes set on the princess, Guibu grilled Melain for details of Her Royal Highness rather than ask Tsuzuku questions about himself. He appeared disappointed to learn that the princess planned to marry Prince Hermes. In fact, in Tsuzuku�s opinion, he was almost a little disturbed about it. He wasn�t really in love with her was he? He hides his emotions well, when he wants to. Puts up a charming mask and hides what he�s thinking. Like all of us. But...he seems a little bothered...more than what is necessary to get over a small crush. If he�s a womanizer, then he should be used to temporary relationships. So why is he bothered? He barely knows her. Just met her. I figure that a womanizer would be used to this sort of thing by now. He glanced up at Guibu�s back. I can�t see his face, since we�re riding. But he tensed when he learned the news.
Stupid Guibu, stupid! Why else would they be looking for Prince Hermes? Guibu was quiet, alone with his thoughts. He brushed some of his bright red hair out of his face. That such a beautiful woman should marry such an ugly man with an even uglier soul. It really is a shame. Blind as she is, still...undeserving. He recalled the incident in the cave. Prince Hermes, blinded by his ambition, retrieved the sword that sealed the evil Snake God. Even when he was told that doing so would bring the dreaded god back, he continued, believing that *if* the god did come back, he would slay him with the sword Rucknabard himself. Foolish. Greedy. Ambitious. And willing to sacrifice half of his army and endanger the entire world for one sword of legend. If it weren�t for his stupid henchman, Zante, then all of us would be in a pit of snakes. Even with the earth opening and swallowing up his men, he still didn�t stop prancing it around until one of them had the courage to throw it back. Although I would hate to deceive them...If...If Arslan�s army loses against Hermes, we might be able to use her as a hostage, if he cares for her. Probably, since she�s the only one that can face him without wincing at his looks.
Tsuzuku felt eyes upon him. He turned and faced the source. Melain�s wide-set eyes watched him thoughtfully. For a moment, Tsuzuku envied him. Melain rode so well that he didn�t even need to keep his eyes on the road, while Tsuzuku was forced to occasionally hold onto Guibu for reassurance. Damn. I guess I�m just used to excelling. "Something wrong?" he asked loudly but conversationally. I�m not used to talking to another man on another horse, either.
"No...but there�s something strange about you..."
"Strange? You are mistaken. Are we not all strange in one way or the other? In this sense, then, I am perfectly normal."
Guibu, listening, joined in. "Melain, this boy behind me is a perfectly normal person found doing perfectly normal things in the forest." He laughed.
"?"
"Inside joke," explained the red dragon in response to the mountain bandit�s puzzled look. Tsuzuku did not bother to elaborate. "What do you find so strange about me anyway?"
"Your looks," laughed Guibu.
Ignoring the minstrel, Melain hesitated before speaking. "I can�t really explain it...but as a mountain bandit, something...instinctively is wrong about you."
"Your hair," laughed Guibu.
"You get that from being a bandit?" asked Tsuzuku incredulously. How does he know?
"No, but when I saw you fight, I noticed that a sword broke when it hit your back," said Melain, with perfect seriousness so that it was impossible to tell whether or not he was being sarcastic. "Not to mention that you snapped a sword in half with your bare hands."
"Really?" Guibu asked. "I never noticed. But then, of course, when I�m fighting, I pay attention to the battle." Actually, I�ve been meaning to ask Tsuzuku about that but I forgot everything when I saw the princess.
"Do you ever shut up?" asked Melain.
"Melain, I make a living from my wonderful voice and hands. Of course I don�t."
Tsuzuku was grateful for Guibu�s stupid jabs. They eased the tension tremendously. He smiled awkwardly at Melain, awkwardly because he was uncertain of what he should say. I never lie...But Niisan always says that we should hide our abilities...even though I dislike doing so. "Let�s just say that I am talented in a few areas."
"Does that include in..." Guibu�s voice trailed off, when he realized what he was about to say. It was such an automatic response, he didn�t even realize who he was speaking to. Remember, he reminded himself. Tsuzuku might have been raped. Although the more I know him, the less likely I believe it was so...
"Include...?"
"Never mind..." Feeling foolish, Guibu said nothing. Darn. It�s usually such a witty comeback, too. "Say, Melain. You�re quite an archer, aren�t you? We have to have a contest sometime..."
Glancing at the bow attached to the Guibu�s brown horse; Melain nodded. "I like to think of myself as the second best archer around."
"Oh? Who�s the first?"
"I haven�t met him yet, but I like to think that someday I will."
"Well," said Guibu with an air of false arrogance, "you just did."
"Really?" asked Tsuzuku, his voice calm but with a trace of sarcasm. "I have yet to see you use your bow."
"I like to use my sword instead-- it needs more practice."
Tsuzuku sweat-dropped and then closed his eyes. He fell silent, and ignored the rest of Guibu�s useless banter against Melain�s short sentences. Niisan, Matsuri, Owaru, Amaru. Where are you? In the darkness, he felt a several small glows. They�re close. Still a few days� ride away. Close...very close...Niisan�s probably with Matsuri, Owaru with Amaru. I hope to see them soon.
"...Tsuzuku?"
"Huh?" Tsuzuku looked up, surprised.
"I am sorry if I disturbed your nap," said Melain with such perfect seriousness that it was impossible to tell if he was sincere or not. "But I was wondering what you are."
"What I am...?"
"Well, you know, you must have some source of income or financial backing," Guibu agreed. "Unless you still live with your parents. See, I make a living by singing and whatnot. Melain makes a living by stealing from others in the mountains."
Melain declined to comment. Instead, he watched Tsuzuku, waiting for a reply.
"It also appears," Guibu blabbed on. "That Melain is currently hired by a princess for money. So, forest boy, what do you do?"
"..."
"You are not carrying a weapon," spoke Melain. "So you are not a mercenary or bandit. Yet, you know how to fight."
"Actually," commented Guibu. "You weren�t carrying anything, when I found you. So you aren�t a normal villager making a decent living..." his voice trailed off, as he once again wondered if this conversation brought back possible painful memories.
Melain glanced at Guibu, puzzled by the minstrel�s constant banter and then silence. One minute, Guibu had quick comebacks. The next, he fell silent, as if he was ashamed of something. Melain looked at Tsuzuku expectantly.
"I...study..."
"Study what?"
"...Everything, I guess..."
"A philosopher?"
"Is that why I found you as you were...?"
"...No..."
"Oh. Sorry."
"?" Once again, Melain did not get it.
Melain looked at the sky. It was getting dark; the sun would set soon. The weather was nice enough, although light rain seemed sure to follow. He looked at the surroundings. The area was still a while from the main road, so it was safe enough. But just in case...
"Looks like rain again," observed Guibu casually to Tsuzuku.
Tsuzuku nodded. Nothing strange happened the last time they slept besides each other, so he was more comfortable with the idea of sleeping close to someone again. Still... sleeping outside would be fun. He wished that it would not rain so often at night. It seemed like a bad sign.
"Coming?" asked Guibu. He finished setting up the tent and took a look at their surroundings as Tsuzuku entered to tent. The princess and her maid were going to sleep in the carriage. And Melain appeared to be planning to sleep outside. Ah well, none of my concern...Giving himself a mental shrug, he entered the tent. Although Melain is young, he is a man, while Tsuzuku is not there yet. Besides, Melain can take of himself. He is, after all, a mountain bandit.
"Is Melain going to sleep in the rain?" asked Tsuzuku, while getting comfortable in one side of the tent.
"Probably."
"..."
"He is a mountain bandit, you know. He can take care of himself."
"..."
Guibu sighed. "What, should I invite him in?"
"..."
"I�m not so chivalrous that I�d squeeze three people in here. It would be an uncomfortably tight fit."
"..." Tsuzuku did not know what to think. One small, selfish side of him told him to forget Melain. He is, after all, a mountain bandit. The other told him that the right thing to do was to invite Melain to take his place. Tsuzuku did not get colds or illnesses, while Melain was an ordinary human. He sighed. Grandfather always said to do what you believe in, for the heart never lies. He turned towards Guibu. "Would it be alright if I let Melain take my place here?"
Guibu threw up his hands in a gesture of exasperation. "Fine. We�ll all sleep here. Some limbs may stick out of the tent, but that�s the price that must be paid." He got up and left the tent. I�m not going to have Tsuzuku sleep out in the wet and cold. I don�t know what kind of training he�s had; and if he had none, then he is still a child.
Okay, thought Tsuzuku. He seems determined to have me sleep in this tent.
Guibu approached Melain outside. "Ever wonder how so many things can fit in a little owl hole?"
"No. Why?"
"Because we are going to find out. Coming?" he indicated the tent.
Once again, Melain shook his head. "I�m keeping watch," he explained. "In case of trouble."
"Oh. Do you always keep watch?"
"I try to. I am mortal, however, so I do need rest. I usually rest for 2 hours, wake up and check the premises, stand guard for 1 hour, and then go back to sleep."
Guibu stared at him in amazement. "And you do this every 2 hours?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"The Princess of Maryam lost her sight and her kingdom. I would not see her lose anymore than she already has."
Guibu observed the mountain bandit quietly. "Melain, you are far too serious for your own good."
"Perhaps. But I�m alive, aren�t I?"
"Whatever." With a carefree shrug, Guibu reentered the tent. "Melain wants to keep watch," he explained to Tsuzuku.
"When does he sleep?"
"He guards for one hour, and then sleeps for two. I think he sleeps very lightly, though, and can be awakened quickly."
"Ah."
Tsuzuku tapped Melain lightly on the shoulder. The bandit turned and stared at him in amazement. He did not sense the Ryudo coming even close to him. Must be losing his edge...
"My turn for watch," explained Tsuzuku. He ignored the light rain that was making him wet and indicated the tent. "You can have my spot. Just don�t get too close to Guibu; I don�t think he would appreciate getting wet."
Melain shook his head. "You do not have to do this."
The red dragon smiled a very small, charming smile. "I never have to do anything. Every human has the final choice of every action completed. I know what I am getting myself into, and I do not regret it." His smile widened, slightly. "My grandfather told me to always do the right thing. It would be wrong to leave you guarding all of us by yourself in the rain. So, let me take my shift."
Melain nodded, grateful. He was tired, wet, and cold. A human could only endure so much. He gave Tsuzuku the smallest and briefest of smiles, and then left to enter the tent.
Guibu poked a resting Melain. Yes indeed, he was solid. And damp. And where Tsuzuku was supposed to be. Tsuzuku must have taken his place as guard. Guibu shook his head in exasperation. He glanced one more time at Melain, who was now awake and watching him.
"Sorry about that. I thought I was still dreaming."
Melain nodded.
"So Tsuzuku has been taking your place as guard? Did you rotate?"
Melain sat up suddenly. "We traded shifts once..." He quickly got up and left the tent.
"Traded shifts once...? So, Tsuzuku has been out all night since he switched places with Melain?" Guibu also hurried out of the tent.
Tsuzuku was outside, sitting on a large gray rock, looking *very* bored. He looked up at Melain and nodded in greeting. He then nodded at Guibu, who was behind Melain.
"Good morning."
"Morning. Why didn�t you wake me for the next shift?"
Tsuzuku smiled. "I did not know when it started. Besides, I lost my watch, so I have no sense of time." Not exactly true, but not exactly false...
"What�s a �watch�?" asked Guibu. "And how do you lose your sense of time because of it? As the glorious sun passes through its phases, how can you not know what time it is?" He spread out his arms, as if trying to hug the sky.
Tsuzuku�s smile widened. "My shift was at night."
This time Guibu held up his arms in a gesture of defeat.
Melain nodded his head. "Thank you..."
"No problem."
"Well," said Guibu. "Is the princess awake?"
"No."
"Good. We catch something to eat, and then go riding to Peshwal. We should reach it in an hour or two." He glanced at his companions. Both Tsuzuku and Melain had a look of anticipation on it. Melain I can understand, since he will finally get to see his sister. But what is Tsuzuku expecting to see? "Tsuzuku, your smile is like that of heaven. Care to tell us why it�s there?"
"Nope." The smile widened in mystery.
"Will Prince Arslan be at Castle Peshwal?" asked Melain.
"Maybe. I haven�t seen that eccentric, idealistic prince since I left him at Peshwal. I don�t know what Narcasse�s plans are..." he mused. I wonder what the prince is doing. I have to tell him about Rucknabard, though. And Prince Hermes. If Arslan�s not there, I�m sure someone there could tell me where he is; and then I�ll go after him. Time for my dramatic return. I wonder how the others are doing. Ah, Farangis...
"You know the prince personally?" asked Tsuzuku incredulously. Guibu may be an excellent singer, but he�s just that; a *singer*. How would he personally know a prince? Is he really good by these standards? Like the prince�s personal musician or something? Then again, I know nothing of the politics of this era. But aren�t princes supposed to be aloof and don�t confer with people below their station and the like? "What�s he like?"
"I told you. He�s eccentric and idealistic." Guibu smiled in memory. He�ll make a fine king, if he gets the chance. "He�s very kind. Friendly. Very strange. Noble and altruistic. The oddest prince ever. If we were born to live for others, then I think it may not be so bad to die for that eccentric prince." Courageous. Intelligent. I can�t stand nobility, but Arslan is one person whose company is very tolerable. Enjoyable, even.
"Why is he so strange to you?"
"On one hand, he is the most kingly being I have ever known."
"And--?"
"On the other hand, he is the most un-princely prince to ever come into existence."
"Hey," Tsuzuku realized. "How do we know you�re not throwing us some far fetched tale? You are a minstrel, and declaring that you know a prince must boost your reputation."
Guibu and Melain both stared at Tsuzuku in amazement.
"You really do live far from here," said the minstrel in amazement.
"Where do you come from?" asked the mountain bandit.
Okay, thought Tsuzuku. Obviously, I said something wrong. What, minstrels don�t lie? In that case, every piece of fiction regarding them was off. A lot. "Nowhere near here. Why?"
"Prince Arslan is at war," explained Guibu. "The Lusitanians have taken the capital and His Majesty, King Andragoras of Palse at the battle of Atropatante, in 320."
"320...?"
"His Royal Highness is the Crowned Prince of Palse. Though many are on his side, many others are not. Now is not the time for anyone to be bragging that they know a prince."
"Oh..."
"But you aren�t expected to know that, seeing as how you live from so far away," said Guibu smoothly. "Where was that again?"
"Good morning," a female voice greeted the three men. It was a little deep, and from on her perfume, Guibu knew that she was not the princess. He turned and saw a middle-aged looking lady approaching them.
"This is the Lady Jovana," explained Melain. "She is Princess Ilina�s maid."
"Is there anything to eat?" the maid asked Melain. "Princess Ilina has just awakened."
"Wonderful," said Guibu, his voice sweet, like honey. "Let�s get breakfast."
After what had been a quick breakfast of small animals, the traveling group found themselves back on the road towards Castle Peshwal. Tsuzuku found that every step of the horse brought furthered his anticipation. He was still lost in an unknown world. But once I find Niisan and the others, everything will be alright. Niisan will know what to do, he�s the leader in the group, not me. Niisan...His thoughts shifted once more, as all thoughts are quick and flighty. I want to meet this prince of Guibu�s, he realized. I want to see why he�s an "eccentric" person. I want to see how one person could affect a carefree minstrel enough to have him contemplating sacrificing himself for a prince. I hope he�ll be at Castle Peshwal.
"Would you like to see it?" asked Guibu.
"...?"
"Melain, I�m going to take Tsuzuku to the cliff..."
"We�ll take a short break," replied the wide-eyed man.
Guibu kicked his horse, which began to gallop. Tsuzuku held onto his waist for fear of falling. The horse stopped abruptly. After a moment of silence, Tsuzuku ventured to look behind Guibu.
He saw a glorious sun rising. In the back, he could see the dark silhouette of a fortress, dark against the light of the morning sun.
"Castle Peshwal."