Their arguing had gotten very intense over the past few weeks. The frustration of not gathering all of the Seishi and not calling upon the Seiryuu had aggravated Nakago to no end, and those around him were feeling his anger. Soi especially. She had always felt that because she was the closest to Nakago he would confide in her and trust her, but recently she also became a target. She tolerated Nakago's moods and outbursts because she knew she could soothe him almost into submission. But even that wasn't working as well as it used to. The "making up" between fights, as she convinced herself it was, wasn't always happening. Nakago didn't need Soi to "boost" his ki after every battle and this started to worry Soi.
After one particularly grueling skirmish with the Suzaku no Miko Seishi, Nakago had returned to the Seiryuu encampment in a dangerous mood. Tomo, whom Soi couldn't stand and considered a "monster" but knew Nakago needed, greeted the pair with his usual flamboyant manner.
"And did we conquer the world, yet?" the heavily made-up Seishi asked, as Nakago brushed past him into his tent. The scowl on Nakago's face answered the unnecessary and annoying question. Soi was following on Nakago's heels but he didn't seem to notice. She was directly behind him when he turned around. They collided awkwardly into each other, Soi almost losing her balance in the process.
"Why do you hound me like this?" Nakago said angrily, Tomo and Soi not sure if the comment was directed at one or both of them.
"Nakago-sama", Soi began. "I'm here to serve you in any way I can. I just thought that after today's battle you would want me to join you and..."
"If I want to see you I'll tell you. Now, both of you, leave me alone, please," Nakago said coldly, not making eye contact with either Seishi. Tomo gave Soi a very juvenile shrug and left in a huff. Soi looked back at Nakago as he was having difficulty removing his armor. His scarf had gotten itself hopelessly tangled up in his claw epaulette and he was tearing at the fabric. Soi came over and stood in front of him and started to gently untangle the mess. Nakago looked down at Soi's face and studied her.
"You don't have to do that. I'm perfectly capable of dressing and undressing myself," Nakago said in his cool, matter-of-fact manner.
"Oh, are you?" Soi said teasingly as she managed to free up the captured scarf. She very seductively pulled on the torn end and slowly stepped back from Nakago. Nakago gave her no reaction. A chill went through Soi as her face slowly blushed from embarrassment. "I'll leave you, then," she said as she dropped the scarf and quickly left the tent, tears stinging her eyes.
A few days later, after avoiding Nakago as much as possible, Soi was summoned to his tent. A flicker of hope and excitement were in her eyes as she entered. Nakago was sitting with Tomo going over a map of Kutou when she walked up to them. "Good, you're here," Nakago began. Soi became confused as she saw what looked like travel orders in Tomo's hands. "I need you and Tomo to scout out the Northern Region of Kutou," Nakago said as if talking to one of his soldiers and not someone with whom had shared his bed. "We've been getting reports that the residents of the smaller villages are becoming sympathetic to Suzaku no Miko's cause. I had a feeling this would happen. That idiot Emperor should have shown his support for them when their supplies were cut. Now he leaves it up to me to clean up his mess," he said bitterly. Nakago always hated the Emperor of Kutou for reasons that go far back into his past, reasons Soi was vaguely familiar with but which Nakago didn't share with her or anyone.
Everyone in Kutou felt Nakago should be Emperor but Nakago had different ideas and goals. The Seiryuu no Miko would help him achieve the ultimate dream he had in mind and it was also his job to protect her. Not being able to gather all of her Seishi and complete the task was making him more and more difficult to live with. As Nakago was explaining the reasons for his summoning her, Soi felt her chest begin to ache as she realized she would be separated from the one man she had allowed herself to love.
"Baka," she said to herself. "He doesn't love me. When will I wake up and accept that this is a one-way relationship." She had overheard Nakago tell the no Miko that he loved her, but Soi had hoped it was just to convince the no Miko to stay. She didn't believe it could be true, not after all they had been through together. Not after Nakago had saved Soi from the wretched life she was living when he found her in the brothel over seven years ago. Not after she was allowed to share Nakago's bed and help raise his ki in her unique manner. She thought she had meant something to Nakago; now she realized she was just one of his many tools to be used and discarded when its usefulness was completed. "I need you and Tomo to be ready to leave in an hour," Nakago said as he rose and folded the map, handing it to Tomo. "Hai, Nakago-sama," Soi said in her best soldier's voice. "I am here to serve you." "Arigato. You may leave. My messengers will keep me posted of your activities," Nakago said with his back to Soi and Tomo, as he continued to look at some other military papers. Soi stared at Nakago's back for a moment, then turned and left with Tomo following closely behind. "Well, I guess that's that, hmm?" Tomo said in a particularly catty voice. Soi turned to give him an angry look, but it was difficult with her eyes brimming with tears. Tomo's smile faded as he realized how much this departure hurt Soi. He didn't particularly like Soi, but they were now working together and he knew Nakago would kill him if he screwed up. They left the encampment together an hour later, taking along just enough men and supplies to make the journey.
Within a week, Soi and Tomo had found an excellent lookout site in which to watch for Suzaku no Miko troops and to map the terrain for future use. Soi had busied herself with the task of leading this small subgroup and for the most part the men listened to her. Her soft, beautiful looks defied a heart of stone as she gave commands and took reports as any shogun would. It was in the darkness of her tent that her femininity broke through, as she cried herself to sleep each night longing for her lover.
Nakago had plenty of work to keep himself occupied and not think of Soi. Although at night when a cool breeze would play on his skin, he thought of Soi's cool fingers caressing his face or arms. He closed his eyes and convinced himself it was a sign of weakness to miss her. She was a soldier, just like him. Time together would have to wait until the Seiryuu was summoned.
One evening as Soi and Tomo were walking back from the dining tent, Soi noticed some unusual flowers off to the side of the woods. Their encampment was at the base of a low hill, with a small forest to the East and a shimmering pond to the West. Her curiosity got the best of her and she allowed her womanly impulse to go over and pick some of the sweet smelling things. As she reached her hand down to pick one, she felt a sharp sting hit her wrist. A cobalt snake had been waiting in ambush and bit her hard, it's fangs injecting its poison into her. Soi screamed and pulled back, the snake still dangling from her wrist as she tried to pull it from her body. Tomo lunged at the snake and pried it off of Soi with his dagger. He then let his magical feathers stab it to death. Soi was crying as she fell to her knees in pain, holding her wrist as blood trickled from the open wound. Tomo quickly tore off a piece of his garment and wrapped a tourniquet around her wrist in hopes of keeping the venom from travelling into her bloodstream. Soi began to feel lightheaded and she sat down to keep from fainting.
"I brought along some potions in case one of us got injured," Tomo said trying to sound as sincere as he meant. Soi looked up at him and gave him a weak smile. She realized he was trying to help her the best that he could. As he helped her to her feet, she leaned against him, and he brought her back to her tent.
The wound on Soi's wrist began to swell as Tomo started treating the bite marks with a strong-smelling cream he had created. Under normal circumstances, the cream would have caused the venom to drain from the site, but this was a very deep wound. Tomo had to cut the wound a bit deeper, causing Soi to lean against him and sob in pain. As the venom drained, the pain subsided a little, the swelling reduced. Tomo dressed Soi's wrist with a clean bandage and they both thought that was the end of it. Little did they know of the events that would follow.
Later that night, as Soi was preparing to retire, she looked at her swollen wrist and sighed. Her head had begun to ache and she longed for Nakago to massage her temples and feel his warm hands around her body. She felt a stirring in her lower abdomen. She thought it was because she was getting herself excited thinking about Nakago, but then the stirring began to become uncomfortable. She didn't let it bother her as she lay down beneath the silk quilt she slept under and tried to drift off to sleep.
A terrible nightmare enveloped Soi as she dreamed back to the days when she was sold by her parents and forced to work in the brothel where Nakago had found her. Except this time Nakago wasn't rescuing her. He was simply smirking at her as he left with his troops. She was running after him, calling his name, but he wouldn't turn around. She was crying as she suddenly awoke, drenched in perspiration and feeling suddenly very sick to her stomach. The ache in her abdomen had become excruciating cramps as she grabbed herself and fell back moaning. She suddenly felt very wet between her legs and knew that something was terribly wrong. She just managed to scream out Nakago's name when blackness surrounded her.
On the other side of Kutou Country, Nakago sat up suddenly from his sleep. He thought he heard someone call his name, but as he listened to the sounds of the camp all he heard was the rustling of the leaves on the trees. He felt terribly uneasy and rose from his bed to look out the tent flap. The moonlight was dancing on the horizon and it cast an ominous light onto Soi's empty tent. Nakago suddenly missed Soi but there was nothing he could do. He was a soldier, he told himself. You need your rest - go back to bed.
Tomo had heard Soi's screams and came rushing into her tent to find her collapsed on her bed, bleeding heavily from between her legs. He rolled her over as she moaned, her instinct was to curl back up into a ball, writhing in pain. Her eyelids fluttered and she saw Tomo was with her.
"What's happening to me, Tomo?" she managed to choke out in a whisper. Her wrist was throbbing and she couldn't focus her eyes. The pain behind her temples was pounding and she had difficulty breathing.
Tomo looked down at Soi's private area that was covered in blood and suspected what might be happening. "Soi, are you pregnant?" Tomo asked as delicately as he could. He knew Nakago and Soi slept together often so this wasn't out of the question.
"I didn't think so. I had hoped not. I'm not that late," Soi said weakly as another round of cramping caused her to pull up her knees in pain and cry out in anguish.
"I think the snake venom is causing a miscarriage, Soi. I need you to sit up so I can help you," Tomo told her gently. In addition to Tomo's deadly talents, he was very skilled at the medicinal arts, and even though he was annoying, at this moment he was all that Soi had to help her.
"Help me, please," Soi pleaded as she hung onto Tomo's arms. Within the next few moments, Soi suffered her miscarriage and passed out from the pain and loss of blood. Tomo gently laid her down on a clean quilt. He quickly took control of the situation and called for some soldiers to assist him. He had them light a fire and bring water and towels to the tent. He ordered them to bury the quilt with its sad cargo far from the camp, for the scent of blood might attract predators. Tomo then went back to Soi and cleaned her up as best as modesty would allow him. Tomo wondered how he would survive telling Nakago of the events that had just unfolded.
The next morning, Tomo became very concerned. Soi had not gained consciousness from her ordeal the night before. She would cry and moan in her sleep, occasionally whispering Nakago's name as she suffered. Her fever was dangerously high and her wrist was turning an ugly gray near the bite wound. The wound itself didn't look particularly bad - two fang marks and some redness and swelling. But the discoloration immediately told Tomo the poison was doing its work. He called one of the men into the tent, wrote a quick message on a slip of parchment, and told the soldier to take the fastest horse and ride back to Nakago's encampment without stopping. Tomo knew it would take about 12 hours because they were quite a ways from the base camp. Tomo desperately tried to think of a way to keep Soi alive...
It was early in the evening when a thunderstorm caused all the soldiering maneuver's to come to a halt. Lightening flashed in the sky illuminating the dark clouds as sheets of rain fell over the camp. This was not making Nakago's mood any better. He had been uneasy all day thinking about Soi. Often during the day he would turn around thinking he heard her voice or smelled her fragrance, only to find nothing there. As the wind whipped up the flaps of his tent, Nakago sat amongst his pillows and started to think of Soi.
She was such a delicate creature when he first saw her. Her heart-shaped face surrounded by long red tendrils made her look like an angel in that God-forsaken place. With all his harshness and coldness toward others, Nakago was surprising uncomfortable when men forced themselves on women. Perhaps having always been attractive and powerful was why Nakago never had any trouble attracting women who freely gave themselves to him. It was after he met Soi that he found brothels distasteful, and after he rescued her and she joined their troop, he never visited one again. When Soi offered herself to him years later he willingly enjoyed her and her many talents, though often for his pleasure alone. It was only recently that he began to think of her pleasure as well as his own. Was it because she was away from his side that he finally realized he missed her company and not just her striking body. He had not allowed himself to love anyone. It only brought pain. He thought of his mother and how he felt powerless to help her as those men forced themselves upon her. And then for him to be the cause of her death...he closed his eyes and mind to such memories.
In his mind now he remembered a very passionate evening with Soi after a victorious battle but one where he had been slightly injured. Soi had tended to his wounds and had finished dressing the injury when Nakago held her closely to him, feeling her body mold into his. He actually allowed himself to smile as he remembered the evening and how much stronger he felt afterwards, her causing his shin to glow bright blue on his forehead afterwards. Soi had the amazing ability to raise his ki through sex but he often went to her tent at night just to be with her and enjoy her body. She always seemed to enjoy his, he thought to himself. Perhaps if things were different. Perhaps...
As Nakago came out of his thoughts he saw a soaked rider on horseback charging towards his tent. He immediately rose and frowned at this untimely intrusion. The rider reared the horse up to Nakago's tent and jumped off in one motion, leaving the exhausted animal with the guard outside Nakago's tent.
"What is the meaning of this?" Nakago asked angrily at the young soldier who was on one knee before him.
The panting young soldier thrust forward Tomo's note and Nakago began to read the message.
"Soi dying. Come immediately."
Nakago's eyes widen as he reread the message but no other emotion was shown on his face. He immediately turned back inside his tent and gathered up his cloak and sword.
"Get us fresh horses immediately!" Nakago shouted to the soldiers who had gathered around to see what all the ruckus was about. "You," he said, pointing at the young soldier, "get on a fresh horse and lead me to your encampment, now!" With that the two riders left in a muddy cloud of dust through pouring rain for the 12-hour return trip.
Soi's breathing was becoming labored and raspy. Tomo could only sit helplessly by and mop her brow. Her temperature had not broken and she trembled constantly. Dark circles were forming under her eyes and her lips took on a bluish tinge. She was dying. He held onto to her hand and she squeezed it from time to time, whispering Nakago's name. With all his magic, there were still some things even he wasn't capable to doing. He looked at her tortured body and wished he could do more. He noted to himself that if he ever was attracted to a woman, perhaps she could be as beautiful as Soi. He gently brushed some of the matted red hair from her forehead, frowning as he noted how hot it still was. Please, Nakago, get here in time, he thought.
Almost a day had gone by since Tomo sent the soldier to fetch Nakago. In that time, Soi's condition worsened. She no longer trembled; she lay ominously still. Her breathing now was erratic, only taking in gasps of air and too long a pause between them. Tomo stood with his arms folded and looked out the tent flaps. Soldiers were milling about, occasionally glancing towards the tent, they themselves wondering what Nakago would do to them if and when...
Suddenly the sound of hoof-beats broke through the evening's silence as the two riders arrived at Northern encampment. The young soldier nearly fell to the ground with exhaustion as he was helped from his horse. Nakago dismounted in one swift motion, his cape flowing gracefully behind him. Both riders were soaked, even though the rain had stopped a few hours before, and both were somewhat disheveled, leaves and dirt in their hair and on their clothes. Nakago strode quickly over to where Tomo was waiting to greet him. Tomo knelt down to greet his shogun as Nakago stopped and stood in front of him. He slowly rose and met Nakago's eyes.
"Is she...?" Nakago whispered. He then glanced at the tent flaps, but did not enter. "Not yet, Nakago-sama," Tomo softly answered. "But I don't think it will be very long." Then Nakago pushed aside the tent flap and entered Soi's tent. The only light in the tent came from a lone candle on the table in the corner. It's flickering added to the solemnness of the situation. Nakago stopped and stared down at Soi for a moment before moving closer to her.
"How did this happen?" Nakago asked as he removed his cloak and brushed the dirt and debris from his body and hair. "Why didn't you contact me sooner?" he glared at Tomo.
"It all happened so quickly, shogun." Tomo began as Nakago knelt down next to Soi and gently touched her on the hand. He let himself frown in front of Tomo as a tightness in his chest made him wince. As Tomo joined Nakago by Soi's side, he tried to relate the events of two nights ago. Of how Soi had been bitten by the cobalt, how the wound appeared to be healing, but then how the pregnancy and miscarriage caused her condition to deteriorate so quickly.
"Pregnancy?" Nakago asked and looked at Tomo with a surprised look on his face. "Soi was pregnant?" "Hai, shogun, only just. The venom caused her to lose the child and I think it was the loss of blood that caused the poison to spread rapidly," Tomo said as he stroked her other hand. "There was nothing I could do to stop it..." his voice trailed off as he began to wonder what form his death would take after Soi died.
Nakago looked down at Soi and gently brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. Tomo had never seen Nakago show a tender gesture in all the years he had known him. Tomo thought he saw tears in Nakago's eyes but figured the candlelight in the tent was playing tricks on him and he must have been mistaken. Nakago sat back onto his heals and sighed. "Arigato, gozaimas," Nakago said very softly. "I believe you did what you could." Tomo was totally taken aback by this sudden show of emotion from Nakago. He looked at Nakago for a long moment and then whispered, "she's been asking for you the whole time." Then after another pause, he said "Gomen nasai, Nakago-sama," and put his hand on Nakago's shoulder. He then rose quietly and left Nakago alone with Soi in her tent.
Nakago looked down at Soi. She's so beautiful, he thought as he felt her forehead. God, it was burning hot. He sat cross-legged next to her and began stroking her hand as he held it gently in his. Why? Why are all the things that I love in this world taken from me? Why? Will I be forever punished for trying to save the mother who gave me life, but who God allowed me to destroy, even while trying to help her? Nakago felt his chin begin to quiver, something that hadn't happened since he was a child. Why must you take my beloved Soi away from me just because I chose to love her? What kind of God are you? Nakago felt tears welling up in his eyes as he gathered Soi's body to his and placed her in his lap. Her head leaned against his chest as he supported her in a semi-sitting position. Her nightclothes were drenched and showed the outlines of her beautiful body that defied the ugly battle that was taking place inside. With his left arm cradling her shoulders, he gently caressed her face with his trembling right hand.
"Why do the few things I hold most dear have to be taken from me?" Nakago whispered aloud as he held Soi's ice cold hand in his. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers as a tear rolled down his left cheek and off his chin. He felt himself start to sob as he pressed Soi's lifeless body to his chest and began to rock slowly. As he rocked, more tears followed the first, one trickling across his lips. He leaned forward and kissed Soi passionately on the mouth and began to sob as he felt her cold lips give no response. He then rested his cheek upon her forehead and cried, heartbroken. In his grief, he never felt the warmth of the shin on his forehead begin to glow a soft blue.
As Nakago wept, a tear trickled from his chin onto Soi's eyelashes. While his mind was lost in grief, he didn't notice Soi's eyelids start to flutter. He didn't notice that the Bo on her left thigh had begun to glow a soft blue. He did feel her body convulse in his arms and he squeezed his eyes shut, thinking she must be left him. He then opened his eyes wide when he thought he heard Soi give a sigh. Nakago lifted Soi slightly away from him to see she regained some of the pinkness to her face that had faded due to the snake's poison. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks as he quickly felt her forehead with his right palm. Her fever was broken.
"Soi? Soi, are you still with me? Please answer me?" Nakago said as he gently shook her and caressed her cheek in an effort to wake her. Soi slowly lifted her left arm. As Nakago watched through tear-filled eyes, Soi brought her hand to her lips. She opened her eyes and looked at Nakago and touched his wet cheek. She then returned her hand to her lips. Then her hand went limp on her thigh. She took a deep breath as if coming up from being underwater. Her eyes brightened as she looked up at Nakago, and then smiled blearily.
"You came back to me, Nakago-sama," Soi whispered in a voice filled with emotion. She reached her hand up again and caressed Nakago's wet face. He looked down at her with loving eyes and said in a choked whisper "you did, too." And he kissed her sweetly on the lips. This time she returned the kiss and lifted her free arm to embrace Nakago. He hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead, her face, her lips, her hair. He didn't know what caused this remarkable recovery of his lover but he thanked God none the same.
Soi sat cradled in Nakago's arms for a long time, neither one wanting to be the one to break the embrace. They murmured words of love only for each other's ear. When Tomo had the courage to ask permission to enter the tent, figuring he'd be making arrangements for Soi's burial, he was shocked to see Soi snuggling in her shogun's arms. Tomo's chin literally landed on his chest as he looked at Nakago then at Soi then again at Nakago.
"Arigato, Tomo," Soi said softly for she was still very weak. "I appreciate all that you did for me." Then with a sly smile, Soi added, "I guess you're not such a monster after all." "Hai, I mean, no," Tomo fumbled as he bowed and left Soi's tent, scratching his head.
Nakago didn't want to put Soi down. He kept looking at her beautiful face and smiled as he caressed her cheek in his hand. "My beloved," Nakago whispered in Soi's ear. Soi smiled a tired smile up at Nakago. As she hugged Nakago again, she reached her fingertips around to her mouth and pressed them against her lips. She smiled in amazement at the wonderful tingle they had on them. She then took her lover's face in her hands and kissed him. Perhaps when all this fighting is over, they could find a way to be together. Perhaps they could have children in the future. Perhaps.
The End
Fushigi Yuugi and characters are the property of Watase Yuu, and Flower Comics, etc.