Tragedy!

A Star Falls From the Heavens!

Episode 24

It all happened so fast. Lina didn't even have a chance to react. Ashitare appeared out of nowhere, knocked her down and snatched the Genbu no Shinzahou in the space of several seconds. He gave everyone a baleful look and then took off in a shot.

Her hands were bleeding. Ashitare had slashed them in order to make her let go.

"No! The...The Genbu no Shinzahou!" she gasped.

Nuriko shot off after the Seiryuu no Shichi Seishi in a flash.

"Nuriko, matte!" yelled Tamahome, but it was too late. He was already fading in the distance.

"Mitsukake-san!" Chiriko squealed. "Hurry! Lina-san is hurt!"

Tamahome glanced at the others for a second, then took off after Nuriko, which Chichiri only seconds behind him.

Tasuki was torn between helping the others get the Shinzahou and protecting Lina in case the strange wolf-man reappeared. He settled down on waiting, pacing nervously as he watched Mitsukake pass his hands over Lina's. Red light glowed between them and the wounds slowly healed.

"Ne, Mitsukake," said Lina weakly, still a bit dazed from the shock, "I could have done that myself."

"Come on, let's get going!" shouted Tasuki, eager to be off and doing something, rather than pacing and waiting.

"Wait," the healer Shichi Seishi counseled. "Let Lina get her wits back. She's still a little in shock right now. Just give her a few minutes."

Tasuki swore several times, kicking at the snow with his boots. His mind was searching for Tamahome, Chichiri, and Nuriko, trying to find out what was going on.

Ashitare was fast, but Nuriko was determined. He was also lighter, and the snow covering the ground was a disadvantage for the heavier Ashitare, who had to plow through the thick white mass.

"Gotcha!" Nuriko threw himself at the Seiryuu no Shichi Seishi, shoving him towards the ground. Snow flew up all around them.

Ashitare shoved Nuriko roughly off him, still clutching the Shinzahou. "So, you want the Shinzahou?" he asked in a gravelly voice.

"Of course I do!" shouted Nuriko, going into a fighting crouch. His bracelets flashed red as they grew to cover his wrists, the same as they had during the storm. He could feel the power surging through him as he yelled, "Come on!"

Ashitare snarled as he negligently tossed the Shinzahou to one side and leapt towards Nuriko, claws slashing.

He's fast! Nuriko realized as he rolled out of the way, his shirt partially shredded. Blood dripped onto the ground.

And strong! Nuriko grunted as he slammed his fist into Ashitare, who winced but showed little evidence of pain.

They both retreated back, regarding the other, attempting to read the other's next move. Nuriko held his side, which was slowly bleeding; Ashitare rubbed his arm, which was sore.

But I'm faster! And I'm stronger! And I have to get the Genbu no Shinzahou back! For Hotohori-sama... For Konankoku! For Lina! Nuriko snapped off an enormous branch from a tree and charged Ashitare, swinging as hard as he could.

Ashitare waited until the last possible moment, then jumped over the improvised club.

He had been expecting that. With surprising swiftness, the purple-haired Shichi Seishi swung the tree limb around, hitting Ashitare in the back and slamming him into the ground in a burst of white snow.

Out of the snow, the wolfish man leapt, straight at Nuriko.

He fell, crying out as Ashitare's claws raked his back.

Far away, Hotohori looked up suddenly from the army reports he was reading.

"Heika?" asked one of his generals.

He blinked several times, trying to dissipate the sudden dizzying feeling. Something was wrong.

"Heika?"

The emperor rubbed his face. "Nothing... I'm fine. Just a strange feeling I got."

On Mount Black, six heads shot upright.

They all knew something was wrong.

Something that had to do with Nuriko and the Genbu no Shinzahou.

"NURIKO!"

Time slowed.

Ashitare pushed ruthlessly down on him, snickering evilly. "Blood," he grinned, licking his lips. "When I finish, I'll go kill Suzaku no Miko too. She'll pay for burning my face like this. For making Nakago-sama angry at me."

He gritted his teeth, ignoring the blood that was pooling below him, and the weight that was crushing him from above. He was strong. He was stronger. He would win. He had to. Suzaku's power filled him, gathering strength around the bracelets given to him by Taiitsukun.

"And then I'll go and give Nakago-sama the Genbu no Shinzahou," smirked Ashitare, evidently enjoying the Suzaku no Shichi Seishi's pain. "And then we'll summon Seiryuu. What do you think of that?"

He gripped his hands, searching for good purchase under the snow. "That won't happen!" His hands met solid rock underneath. He pushed, pushed as hard as he could, sending Ashitare flying off of his back in surprise. Nuriko stood up tall, despite his wounds, and snarled, "I won't let that happen!" He charged Ashitare before the Seiryuu no Shichi Seishi could recover, slamming him into a tree. He wrapped his arms around the wolf-man's neck, squeezing...

Ashitare went limp.

Time resumed its natural speed.

Nuriko dropped the body, feeling weary and pain in every movement. He told Ashitare softly, "Gomen nasai. I can't let you hurt Suzaku no Miko, or summon Seiryuu."

He turned then, to recover the Shinzahou and to rest. Slowly, gently, he picked up the golden necklace and brushed it off. "Lina-chan, minna... hurry."

Footsteps crunched through the snow.

Nuriko spun around happily. His elation died when he saw... "Su...Suboshi!"

His eyes were ice, far colder than the eyes of the Genbu no Shichi Seishi. "You." He looked at Ashitare's slumped form. "You did this."

Nuriko said nothing.

"Give me the Shinzahou."

Nuriko said nothing.

"Give it to me! Now!!"

Nuriko looked at Suboshi. He said nothing.

His ryuuseisui spun dangerously by his side, whirring softly. "Give. Me. The. Shinzahou. Now."

"No." Inwardly, his mind shouted at his companions, telling them to hurry. Outwardly, he was the picture of peace and calm.

Suboshi's eye twitched. "Then die!" he growled, flinging his weapon at the purple-haired man.

Time slowed again.

He saw it coming at him. He tried to dodge it, to move out of the way, but his body, weak from the previous fight, couldn't respond fast enough. The ryuuseisui spun around him, wrapping him tightly. One of the balls bit into his hand.

He fell, still gripping the Shinzahou.

"Stubborn, aren't we?" smirked the younger boy who seemed to hold none of he warmth that his twin brother, Amiboshi had. Suboshi casually stepped on Nuriko's arm, bent down, and pried his fingers off the Shinzahou. He dangled the necklace in front of Nuriko's face. "This is for my aniki."

The ryuuseisui suddenly untangled itself from Nuriko's body, slashing him deeply in the process. Suboshi smirked as he held the weapon's string. He looked once more at Nuriko, then dashed off.

Time resumed its proper pace again.

"Nuriko! Nuriko? Nuriko!" Tamahome's and Chichiri's voices echoed through the trees.

"I'm right... here..." he said softly, pushing himself into a kneeling position and ignoring the blood that was seeping into the ground below him.

"Nuriko!!"

"Baka... don't you listen? I'm here."

Tamahome and Chichiri burst into the clearing, wide eyed and breathing heavily. Tamahome was next to him in a flash. "Nuriko! What happened to you? No... don't say anything! Just hold on! Mitsukake will be here any minute!"

"Suboshi... took the Shinzahou," Nuriko sighed. "I couldn't stop him..."

"Hold on! Don't... Don't die on us! You can't!" Tears flowed down from Tamahome's face, gently splashing onto Nuriko.

"Baka, don't worry about me. You should be finding the Shinzahou. If Nakago gets it..."

"Nuriko..." Chichiri said softly. His mask was off, his scar gleamed white, and tears were pooling in his good eye. "Nuriko, you..."

"Don't look... so gloomy, Tama-chan... remember what I told you? Don't forget that... okay? Thank you... for everything... for accepting me... for being a family for me..."

"Didn't you say we'd always be together?!" shouted Tamahome, tears flying. "You said that, too! Nuriko... oniichan... you..."

"Arigatou..." He smiled, closing his eyes.

We would all give our lives to protect her. His words echoed in Tamahome's mind.

"NURIKO!"

Hotohori dropped the scroll. It fell to the ground with a soft clatter.

"Heika?"

It felt like a part him had torn apart. A part of him had disappeared forever. Something was gone... something that would never, ever be filled again.

Several images flashed in his mind. A quirky smile. An easy laugh. Purple hair. Then, darkness.

Nuriko...?

"Heika! Quick! Someone get a healer!"

Lina and Tasuki ran, Mitsukake and Chiriko just heartbeats behind them.

Chichiri looked up sadly when they arrived. He still held his mask in his hand, and tears rolled down his cheek.

"Nu...Nuriko?" gasped Lina.

Tasuki blinked several times. "Oi... what's going on?" He took a faltering step towards Tamahome and Nuriko. "Hey, wake up, Nuriko! We gotta go get the Shinzahou, right?" He turned to Mitsukake. "Oi, why are you just standing there?" Angrily, he yelled, "You're a healer! Why are you just standing there? Why aren't you healing Nuriko!?"

He stood there, head down, motionless.

"Oi! Nuriko! Wake up! You can't be dead!" He tried to get closer, but Chichiri stopped him. "Nuriko! We were just talking earlier! Wake up!" He tried to push Chichiri aside, but the monk would not budge. "Nuriko? Please... wake up... You can't be dead... Wake up..." His voice trailed off as he lowered his head began to cry.

"He said... he said we were like a family for him. He... he thanked us before..." Tamahome looked up at the others.

"He would," said Lina softly. "He was like a big brother. He would joke and tease us, but he always had our best interests in mind."

"He was a good man. We must pay our respects to him. But after that, we have to recover the Genbu no Shinzahou. Nuriko... would want that from us, na no da."

It took the rest of the day to dig a grave for Nuriko. The earth was cold and frozen in many places, and progress was slow.

They lowered his body into the ground. Mitsukake had used his powers and repaired the damage two battles had wrought, and he looked peaceful, as if he was merely asleep.

Before they began to replace the dirt, Tamahome tossed a small bag onto Nuriko's body. "His braid," he explained to the others.

They nodded, and continued the task at hand.

"Good-bye, Nuriko," said Lina softly as the last handful of dirt was patted into place.

She stared up at the stars. In the clear night air near the top of a mountain, there were many more stars than could be seen from below. They twinkled back at her through the black void.

The others were asleep, the fire was nothing more than a few red embers, but Lina could not sleep.

"Nuriko..." There was an emptiness deep inside of her. He would never tease her again, never taunt Tamahome and Tasuki with calls of Tama-chan or Fang-chan. He would never smile again.

I know that sometimes when you're depressed, it seems like nothing will ever work out again, but it does. Life does go on, and things start looking up again - but only if you're willing to continue living.

Nuriko's words came back to her as she sat there, staring at the sky. He's right, Lina thought to herself. We can't let this stop us. We can't forget him, but we can't let this stop our quest. We have to summon Suzaku and make everything right again.

What would her third wish be?

A thin buzzing distracted her. She glared in its direction, then blinked at the fat, furry bumblebee that was sitting on her blanket.

She stared at it.

It stared at her. (Or at least, that was the impression Lina got, considering how hard it was to determine what it was doing.) Then, it flew off, disappearing among the stars of the sky.

High overhead, a glimmering point arced as it fell towards the ground. A shooting star!

Nuriko...

Indeed, a star had fallen from the heavens.

But not in vain.

No. Not in vain.

Continue: Episode 25: Split Up! There's Two Things to Take Care Of!