~*~
"What the hell--?" Nakago stopped and stared in shock at the tiny urchin bedded down comfortably on the seat of his throne.
Yuiren's eyes were closed, her breathing soft and easy in her sleep. Her hair had come loose of its little buns and tumbled in pale brown tangles that needed brushing, badly. The pink of her pajamas, the blue of her stuffed rabbit, and the pale cream of her skin stood out starkly against the black cushion she rested on and the black velvet swath draped over her. In spite of being dusty and disheveled from playing with the goblins, she looked disgustingly wholesome and sweet. She certainly didn't belong on his throne!
Nakago knew there was no way the little brat could have gotten up there by herself, but he also knew it would do him no good to try to find out which goblin had helped her. With a heavy sigh, he sat down on the dais beside the throne. Around him his goblins romped and frolicked and beat each other senseless, generally enjoying their worthless lives, and yet he felt so alone.
He ought to wipe Tasuki out now. But he might be able to use the bandit later and it would be a shame to lose such a promising tool to simple jealousy. Still, he should have known better than to ever let the ruffian near the oubliette while Tamahome was in it.
"Damn," he muttered to himself, resting his head on his hands.
Behind him Yuiren stirred and awakened. She blinked in confusion, trying to figure out where she was. Oh, that was right. She was in the nasty-bad man's home. It was a strange place to live, but she guessed he must like it, or he'd be somewhere else.
She sat up and clutched her fuzzy bunny as she noticed that the nasty-bad man was right near her. She gulped in fear, but then took a closer look. The nasty-bad man looked sad, like Niichan did when Neechan broke up with him -- something that seemed to happen at least once a week. She couldn't see his face, 'cause it was hidden by his long goldy hair, but his shoulders were slumped the way Niichan's were when he was unhappy, and she suddenly decided he wasn't so scary after all. Maybe he was still bad, for stealing her away, but she wasn't scared of him now.
"Niisama?" she reached out to tug at his shoulder, then squeaked as she tumbled off the high seat of the throne.
Strong arms caught her, and she was set on her feet on the floor. "Be careful."
"Arigatou!" she breathed, staring up at Niisama with wide eyes, clutching her bunny tightly to her chest.
Nakago gave her a long, searching look, waiting for her to start yelling at him again, or to run away in fear, but Yuiren did neither. Instead, she carefully seated herself next to him, swinging her short legs over the edge of the stair. "Why are you sad, Niisama?" she asked, her little voice earnest and concerned as she looked up at him once more.
"I-- Nan-nani?"
"Why are you sad?" Yuiren repeated patiently. She gazed up at Niisama, waiting for his answer. Sometimes it helped Niichan to talk to 'tousan, but it didn't seem as though Niisama had a father, so maybe he could talk to Yuiren and it might help!
"I'm not sad."
Yuiren frowned. Grown-ups weren't supposed to fib. "Yes you are."
Nakago blinked. "Uh...."
Yuiren thought carefully. There were lots of goblin-men around, but no one that was real people, except for Niisama and herself. Maybe.... "Are you lonely, Niisama?" she asked innocently.
Nakago stared at her in shock.
"Is that why you stoled Yuiren-chan away?" Yuiren continued to question, staring at Nakago in sudden comprehension. "So that Niichan would come play with you?"
"N-no!"
Yuiren frowned and clamored to her feet. "Then why?" She leaned in close, staring him right in the face.
Nakago was completely unnerved, but he didn't want to risk hurting the little girl by pushing her away. Though he didn't know why he cared whether he hurt her or not. Her canny guesses were hitting too near the mark, and he didn't like hearing his carefully guarded feelings verbalized like this, especially by a five year old girl.
Yuiren suddenly pulled back and sighed. "That's okay, Niisama. Niichan is coming, and Yuiren-chan will tell him to play nice with Niisama!"
Problem solved, Yuiren beamed happily and climbed into Nakago's lap, bunny and all. Nakago just sat in shock as she snuggled, unable to come up with even one coherent thought.
***
Tamahome cursed and grumbled to himself as he trudged through the maze. He was going to skin Nakago alive once he was done here. This was no longer just about Yuiren anymore; Tamahome was suffering too!
"I could sure use a little help," he muttered under his breath.
No sooner were the words spoken, than he heard someone shuffling and mumbling behind him. Spinning, he watched a large, broad figure moving slowly up some stairs he didn't remember traversing.
It was a curious being, covered in many long, tattered cloaks that added to its already considerable bulk, with a strange outgrowth on top of its head.
"Why do I always get the crappy parts?" the figure groaned as it flopped heavily in a stone chair that was sitting conveniently nearby.
"Niyaao," answered its... hat?
Tamahome blinked, rubbed his eyes, then blinked again. "What-- I mean, who are you?"
"It's me, Mitsukake."
"No way!" Tamahome looked closer. Under all the brightly colored cloth, the fake beard, and the heavy head-dress that Tama-neko was perched smugly on, it was indeed the Suzaku healer. "What the hell happened to you?!"
Mitsukake sighed and tugged off the beard. "I never get the good parts."
"Niyaao."
"Quiet, you!" Mitsukake glared upwards. "I got shafted in the series, and now no one ever gives me any respect when they write fanf--"
"Hush!" Tamahome glanced around nervously. "You're not supposed to be *this* out of character!"
Mitsukake pouted. "Well, I still refuse to act like some brainless old man, just because I'm big and boring! I have a personality too, you know! My pain over Shouka was as bad as any of your troubles with Miaka! Worse even!"
Tamahome sighed. "I know, I know. And I agree. But I have to get through this Labyrinth, and if you're not going to help me, I gotta get going. I'm running out of time."
Mitsukake was deeply sunk in gloom. "This outfit is incredibly uncomfortable too. I've got a freaking cat riding my head! Can you believe this crap?"
Tama-neko held up a little sign. [That way, Monster-chan! -->]
Tamahome considered doing both himself and Mitsukake a favor and blasting the snickering cat off the healer's head, but he was in a hurry. "Arigatou," he blurted to the feline, then, with a last pitying glance for the burdened doctor, he sped away.
"Someday... someday I'll get some respect."
"Niyaaaaaao!"
"Oh, shut up!! No one asked you!! Smart-ass."
"Niyaao."
Chapter 11 - Miscast Misfits
"Jeeze, who'd have expected Mitsukake to be so bitter!" Tamahome mused as he trotted briskly in the direction Tama-neko had pointed. Then again, thinking about it, he really couldn't blame the man. And even the most good-natured person -- a category into which Mitsukake most definitely fit -- could be pushed too far. "Oh well," he shrugged. "Nothing I can do about it. And I *gotta* find Yuiren!"
Tamahome was so lost in his thoughts, he almost missed the sound of a struggle coming from up ahead. "Oh, gods, now what?!" he groaned. At this rate he was never going to get through the Labyrinth! And he wasn't about to let Nakago win by default! Not when that meant....
"Let me down, you little twerps!" yelled a feminine voice angrily. "Baka! Hentai! Sukebe!"
Tamahome sighed. Off to the rescue again. This one probably had no money either, and meanwhile his time was rapidly running out!
Peering around the corner, his violet-grey eyes fell on a curious sight. "What the hell?!" He fought back a snicker, gazing in amusement at the scene set before him.
A slender young girl was suspended by her ankles from a length of cord, hanging upside down about three feet over the ground. She was surrounded by heavily armored little goblins -- the first Tamahome had actually seen, for all this was the realm of the self-styled 'Goblin King' -- who were darting forward to prod at her with sharp sticks, then darting back out of the way when she swung her fists at them. "Damn you! Hold still!"
"Now is that any way for a young lady to talk?" asked Tamahome, stepping into sight and cracking his knuckles.
The girl shot him an angry glare. Her face was unbecomingly flushed from exertion and from being hung upside down, but it was still clear that she was very attractive. A long braid of indigo-blue hair hung to the ground, brushing the dirt and dead leaves littering the stones. "Mind your own business!" she snapped, then swung at a goblin who had been stupid enough to become distracted by Tamahome's entrance while standing too near to her.
"AAaeeeeeaaaaaaaahhh...." The goblin's scream faded into the distance as he flew swiftly toward the castle. Tamahome stared in shock. That was even better than he could do!
But still, there were too many for the girl to take on alone, especially when she was hanging by her feet.
"Yoshi!" His ogre sign flared, the only warning before he waded into the group of confused goblins and generally created some mayhem.
Goblin bodies were flying everywhere. The ones that weren't knocked over walls by Tamahome's fists or feet prudently fled before his merciless attack. In less than one minute the battle was over, and Tamahome felt a lot better. He still had a deep-seated urge to beat Nakago into a bloody pulp, but he was much more relaxed.
"Aaaaah!" He stretched luxuriously, his eyes blissfully closed.
"*Ahem!*"
"Ne?" He blinked his eyes open and noticed the girl, who was still hanging there, her arms folded, a pissed-off expression on her face. "Oh! Right!"
Tamahome dashed over to where the other end of the rope was tied off, and quickly tugged the knot loose.
"AUGH!"
--THUD!--
"Oops!"
Tamahome winced as the girl fell headfirst onto the stones.
"You bastard!" she screeched, leaping up and grabbing the front of Tamahome's teeshirt, her fist pulled back.
Remembering how that one goblin had become airborne, Tamahome hastened to babble several unintelligible but very sincerely meant apologizes. It took a few moments, but finally the girl calmed down and let go. Stepping away from Tamahome, she tugged her clothes back into order and brushed herself off. Then she unbraided her long hair and took a brush to it. "I suppose I should thank you," she said grudgingly, her voice low and husky.
Tamahome smiled weakly. He didn't dare to ask for payment this time. He'd have to let this one slide, but he needed to get going.
"Well, nice meeting you, uh...."
"Ludo. But you can call me Nuriko." The girl -- guy, really, as if everyone didn't know that already -- smiled sweetly and began rebraiding his hair.
Tamahome blinked, then scowled horribly. "All right, I don't believe this! This is the WORST casting decision yet! WHO in their right mind would accept Nuriko as Ludo?!"
Nuriko shrugged blithely. "Hey, I'm cute and I'm strong. What more do you need?"
"How about big, ugly, and hairy?"
Nuriko sniffed. "I think not! If you want that, look in the mirror!"
"Why, you--"
Nuriko giggled. "So what are you doing here, Tama-chan?"
"Don't call me that!" Tamahome snapped.
"Well, doesn't matter." Nuriko latched onto Tamahome's arm, gazing up at the other boy with wide, adoring eyes. He fluttered long, thick lashes and smiled cutely. "Wherever you're going, I'll come with you and help you out!"
Tamahome rolled his own eyes, but he couldn't refuse an offer of aid. He needed all the help he could get.
"I'm trying to get to the castle at the center of the Labyrinth," he grunted, attempting without success to pry Nuriko loose. "I don't suppose you know the way?"
"No," Nuriko pouted. Then he smiled brightly, his beautiful face lighting up. "But I'll help you look! I've heard the Goblin King is a real hunk!" He sighed dreamily, resting his head against Tamahome's arm.
"To each their own," gagged Tamahome. "Would you please let GO?!"
"Mmmmm.... No!"
Tamahome was near tears as Nuriko giggled and dragged him off into the Labyrinth. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Chapter 12 - Interlude II
"waaaaaaAAAAAAH--"
--CRUNCH!--
"What was that, Niisama?" asked Yuiren innocently, blinking from Nakago's lap over toward the window the strange sound had come from.
Nakago turned slightly so that the little girl couldn't see what was left of the goblin that had come flying through the open casement and -- *ahem* -- become a part of the wall. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
"It didn't sound like nothing," Yuiren said suspiciously, but she was growing used to the idea that Niisama would fib to her whenever it suited him. She didn't *like* it, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Nakago stood smoothly as a pair of Clean-Up-Detail goblins scooted by with a huge spatula and a couple of black Hefty bags. "Let's go for a walk in the Garden, shall we?"
"Hai!" Yuiren agreed happily, snuggling closer into Niisama's arms. She hoped there were pretty flowers in the garden. Maybe Niisama would let her pick some to give to Niichan when he arrived!
Behind the two, a hearty goblin voice squeaked, "Ready? One, two, three!"
--SQUELCH!--
"What was that?"
"Nothing, little one. Nothing at all."
***
"Nuriko, where are you leading me?"
Nuriko just giggled at Tamahome's longsuffering tone. "Well, you wanted to get to the castle, right? I figure as long as it's ahead of us," he pointed a finger, "We're going in the right direction."
"Hm." Tamahome wasn't too sure about that, remembering the way he had gotten into the Labyrinth in the first place, but he wasn't going to argue. After all, it wasn't as though he had any better ideas.
"How long have you lived in this Labyrinth, anyway?" he asked, still struggling to pry Nuriko's hand off his arm.
Nuriko was cheerfully oblivious. "About eight years now."
"And you don't know the way through?"
Nuriko pouted at Tamahome's tone of voice. "I stay in my own little part, as everyone does. You don't think I'm lying, do you, Tama-chan?"
"Don't call me that!" Tamahome sighed, noticing Nuriko's dark eyes swimming with tears. Best to humor him. "No, I don't think you're lying. Okay?"
"Tama-chan!"
"Augh!" Tamahome had wanted Nuriko to let go of his arm, but not if it meant the smaller boy was going to throw his arms around Tamahome's neck! At least he wasn't trying to kiss him. That would just be too much. "Erk! Nuriko, let-- go! Can't-- breathe--"
"Oh, Tama-chan!"
"Mmph!"
Tamahome squirmed and tried to escape as Nuriko kissed him soundly. "Shit!" he panted as Nuriko finally released his captive lips and glomped onto his chest, tucking his head against Tamahome's shoulder. Tamahome dragged a hand across his mouth. "What am I, a hentai-guy magnet?!"
"Hey!" Nuriko pinched him sharply.
"Itai! Nurikoooooo!"
Nuriko pulled away and laughed lightly. He knew just how far he could push Tamahome, and he'd almost reached the other boy's limits. "Come on, Tama-chan! You're running out of time!" He skipped away down a corridor, his braid whipping behind him.
Tamahome briefly considered running the other way as quickly as possible, but he decided it would be worse yet to be alone in this place. At least he knew what to expect from Nuriko, and he and the other boy could watch each others' backs in a fight. Which was about the only time Tamahome would trust Nuriko at his back!
With a slight grimace, Tamahome trudged after Nuriko. He'd be cursing Nakago right about now, if he hadn't run out of swear words an hour ago.
***
"This is a pretty one, Niisama!"
Nakago sighed as Yuiren stuck another pink rose in his hair. He must look like an idiot, sitting in the lush Palace Garden, with flowers bedecking his head. Yuiren was having fun though, darting back and forth between the bushes, her pink pajamas now grass-stained as well as dusty, her blue bunny flopping behind her.
It had taken half a moment for Nakago to magic the thorns off the roses. He preferred them the natural way, the pain combined with the beauty to a dangerous yet heady whole. But Yuiren was young and innocent, as he thought maybe, just *maybe*, he had once been himself, and he didn't want to see her hurt. She would lose her ignorance and her untainted view of the world before too many more years passed; why should he rush that tragedy?
"Red one this time!" Yuiren stuck another rose behind his ear. Actually, he was rather glad he'd removed the thorns, all things considered.... "Kawaii!" she giggled.
"How about we check up on Niichan?" Nakago asked, desperate to get her to stop prettying him up.
"Honto ni?" she asked breathlessly, squeezing her bunny tightly. The stuffed toy's head flopped backwards, and it gave Nakago a blank, inane grin.
"Hai. Come here." He helped Yuiren climb into his lap, and then pulled a little mirror out of nowhere.
"That looks like Neechan's!" Yuiren chirped, smiling in recognition.
"Sort of," Nakago answered absently, concentrating on the image slowly forming in the mirror. "This will show us what your brother is doing right now."
"Oooh." Yuiren peered at the mirror. "Look! Niichan is tiny!"
Nakago chuckled. "He looks that way in the mirror."
"Yuiren-chan can see Niichan! Niichan!"
"He can't hear you," Nakago said softly. "We can see him, but he can't see us."
"Oh." Yuiren was disappointed. "Oh, look! That pretty lady just kissed Niichan!" She giggled. She knew what kissing was! Niichan kissed Neechan when he thought Yuiren-chan wasn't looking. But she'd never seen Niichan kiss anyone else! This lady was prettier than Neechan, but Yuiren didn't think Niichan was supposed to be kissing her.
"Kuso!"
Ooh, Niisama said a naughty word! Yuiren stared up at him with wide eyes. Niisama looked MAD! "Why are you mad, Niisama?" she wanted to know.
Nakago wiped his face clean of all expression. "I'm not, little one."
Yuiren frowned. She wondered if Niisama would *ever* stop fibbing!
"I think it's time for you to take a nap," Nakago said smoothly, tucking away the mirror and plucking handfuls of roses out of his hair.
"But Yuiren-chan's not tired!"
"Yes you are. Sleep, little one. Sleep."
"Not...." Yuiren yawned. By the time Nakago had taken her back inside the castle and tucked her into his own bed, she was fast asleep.
"And now, to go take care of a certain little matter," Nakago growled to himself.
Chapter Thirteen - Bad Luck! (Well, What Did You Expect?)
"Aah, Tama-chan, look at these two guys!"
Tamahome sighed as Nuriko doubled over, letting out a peal of light, musical laughter. He had to admit, though, that the other boy was growing on him, and he actually was beginning to like traveling with Nuriko. Especially since the slim seishi had given up cutting off the circulation in his arm and had decided to walk on his own. Well, it was more like skipping. Nuriko seemed to be in a perpetually good mood, and this in itself was something of a comfort to Tamahome. He couldn't make up his mind whether Nuriko reminded him more of Yuiren or Miaka, but he was certainly an encouraging companion in this bleak area of the Labyrinth. And he was much prettier than Miaka. But Tamahome tried not to dwell over-long on *that* fact.
He glanced where Nuriko was pointing, and cocked a brow. Looked as though he had to choose between two doors again. At least there were no scary Taiitsu-kuns to face this time.
But speaking of faces....
He peered more closely at the two knockers set into the dull metal of the doors. No wonder Nuriko was laughing! He grinned a little himself, his good humor slightly restored.
Both of the Knockers had huge rings hanging down -- that was what made them knockers, after all -- one with the thing stuck in its mouth, the other with its ears plugged by the ends. They were very curious indeed, and the rings weren't the half of it.
One was a rough looking character, with a scar over one eye and wild, bushy hair. That was the one with the ring in its mouth, its long fangs gripping the smooth metal in a gnashing snarl. The other, with the ring crammed into its long-lobed ears, appeared to be a young boy with a bald head and slit-pupil eyes. There was a red gem gleaming in its brow.
"Let's give these a miss, ne?" Tamahome suggested. The baleful glare the beast-man knocker was giving him, combined with the evil glint in the other's narrow eyes, made him a little nervous. They were amusing, yes, but he wouldn't trust them to lead him in the right direction.
Nuriko stopped laughing, and gave the Knocker with the ring in its mouth a hard look. "Hai." He grabbed Tamahome's arm once more and practically dragged the other boy away as quickly as possible. Tamahome didn't protest, for he could see that Nuriko had abruptly lost his good cheer, and was actually looking a little pale.
"Oi, Nuriko-kun, daijoubu ka?"
"Daijoubu," Nuriko hastened to assure him, giving him a grin that was a bit less bright than usual. But he seemed to be recovering quickly now that they were out of sight of the two nasty-looking Knockers. "Well, that was an opportunity lost," he commented, loosening his hold on Tamahome's arm, but not letting go.
Tamahome shrugged. "Can't please everyone. And I'm really in a hurry. I *have* to get to the castle and save Yuiren-chan!"
"You're such a wonderful big brother, Tama-chan," crooned Nuriko, gazing up at Tamahome with starry eyes.
Tamahome groaned and began tugging at Nuriko's hands again. "Nuriko, let GO!"
***
"Maybe we should have tried one of those doors after all," Tamahome commented from his perch atop a high wall. He was scouting around, trying to figure out where exactly they had started walking in circles. He and Nuriko had passed the same fountain four times before they realized what was going on, and Tamahome had lost roughly two hours. Those were two hours he couldn't spare!
Down on the ground, Nuriko wrapped his slender arms tightly around himself and shivered. He didn't like the reminder, and besides, there was a strong feeling of unease growing on him. Maybe he shouldn't have been teasing Tamahome like he had been earlier. After all, the Goblin King was the jealous type, and not one to tolerate rivals. And one never knew when he might be watching....
"Eep!"
Tamahome glanced over his shoulder at the muffled squeak. "Nuriko?" There was no sign of the other boy. The corridor below him was completely empty. "Oi, Nuriko!" He hopped down and glanced around, frowning. "This's no time for games. Where are you?"
"He's gone."
Tamahome whirled at the sound of a deep, familiar voice behind him. "Nakago!" he snarled, clenching his fists. "What have you done with Nuriko?! You better not have hurt him!"
Nakago just gazed seriously at Tamahome, a slight breeze springing up behind him, blowing his pale hair about his stern face and wafting the scent of roses to Tamahome's nose. A few loose petals fluttered forward and brushed against Tamahome's face like light kisses. "He is unharmed," he finally replied, still holding Tamahome pinned with his brilliant blue gaze.
Tamahome blinked rapidly, trying to shake the strange feeling overtaking him. "Where is he?"
"Elsewhere." Nakago took a step forward, and Tamahome took a step back. "Why so worried? Does the boy mean so much to you?"
Tamahome glared. "He's a friend! My friends mean a lot to me!"
"Hn." Nakago's full, bloodless lips quirked in a small, bitter smile. "Ah, to be accounted one of your friends."
Tamahome snarled, taking another step back as Nakago advanced, then finding he was against the wall. "Try not kidnapping my sister! That might be a good start!"
"No. You and I are fated to be adversaries." There was a strange sadness deep within Nakago's eyes, though he kept his face carefully blank. He moved slowly, smoothly forward, until he was standing inches from Tamahome, gazing down into the boy's flushed, angry face. "We are destined to clash, and nothing can forestall it. I merely used your sister to get your attention."
"Well, it worked!" Tamahome snapped. "Give her back!"
Nakago seemed to consider it. "I don't think so. You have almost eight hours yet. I'd like to see you struggle a little more." He pulled a rose out of his hair, its petals a deep, dark crimson. "There's still so much of my Labyrinth you have yet to see, Tamahome," he said softly, trailing the delicate petals down the side of Tamahome's face, then across his lips.
Tamahome was frozen, trapped, unable to draw his gaze away from Nakago's gleaming blue eyes. The rich scent of roses was overwhelming him, mingling with the heat radiating from Nakago's close body like some sort of wild spell, clouding his senses and making it impossible for him to think. "What are you--" he gasped, then stiffened as Nakago's lips brushed his own in place of the rose. It was a light, gentle kiss, barely a whisper, yet it made his head swim and weakened his knees as neither Tasuki's nor Nuriko's kisses before had. Not even Miaka affected him like this. Without his willing it, Tamahome's eyes slid closed and he succumbed to sensation, not fighting it, just letting it happen.
And then Nakago was gone. Between one pounding heartbeat and next, the Goblin King's chi disappeared, and Tamahome was left cold and alone in the empty stone passageway.
"Kuso!" Tamahome turned and slammed his fist into the wall behind him.