This begins chapter 40
I think I have settled (at least for now) on maintaining my initial plan of drafting the whole thing before polishing it up to post on FF.net and such, because, well, the truth is... I dislike FF.net commenters on the whole. So I considered that I am clearly able to continue on my own, and whether opening myself up for said commenters was more likely to energize me or mess with my motivation, and thought the latter much more likely.
Anyway, today is just a little scene to start off the next chapter...
Even in the darkness of Tenkou’s cave, Mitsukake has rediscovered his purpose at last. However, his fellow Sei of Suzaku, guided by Chichiri’s discovery of Spirit Sight, have come to the foot of the mountain where the Sei of Seiryuu wait in ambush. The confrontation unavoidable, they can only make plans that they hope will protect what is most precious.
The cold water of the mountain stream swirled against Yui’s legs as she tried to climb through it. Even with her dress tucked up and tied above the knees, there was no keeping it from getting drenched. The brook had worn a smooth path through the surrounding crags, but that was a double-edged sword, leaving sloped runs impossibly slippery. Alone, Yui would have found it completely impassable, but after all, Chiriko had only supposed that “some” of them could navigate it, and especially Tamahome’s agility made it manageable for him. He forged ahead in the lead and helped Yui along, with Hotohori bringing up the rear.
At one steep rock, Tamahome leapt up on top of it and offered Yui his hands. She took them and tried making a step up onto the slope as he hauled her up, but her foot slipped, and she cried in pain as her leg struck and scraped against the stone and Tamahome had to drag her up beside him.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “I can carry you if you need me to.”
“No... I can still keep going.” Despite the pain she got back to her feet, still clinging to his arm. She didn’t want to be that much of a burden, and even though she knew that this was for duty not love, she was keenly aware of herself and Tamahome taking hold of each other so much, and she took her hand off his arm, standing just a little unsteadily.
“Hey, I know how it is,” he said. “I’m only doing this because someone has to.”
Hotohori tried to make the jump after them, but fell barely short and had to catch himself on his hands, which were already badly scraped.
Tamahome laughed, but not cruelly, and helped him up. “I can’t accuse you of sitting around your palace now, can I?”
“No...” He managed a pained smile, but he had long since fallen silent, focused on the effort of the climb.
Or maybe, Yui thought, on other distractions. Even Tamahome’s joking sounded strained underneath. As difficult as it was to move around here, it would be a terrible place to be caught if the Seiryuu Seishi found them, and if they didn’t, the others, Nuriko, Chiriko, Chichiri, and Tasuki, were knowingly walking into an ambush, outnumbered.
Either way, Yui felt that as long as she was able to walk on her own despite a now-throbbing knee, asking to be carried would be especially unacceptable at a time like this. At least from here, the stream wandered sidelong up the mountainside for awhile, giving a gentler slope and some measure of respite.
*******
The next scene should probably be Miboshi's viewpoint; ick. I also realized that with Keisuke busy researching (in position for his next plot point which is later), Mitsukake feeling better (same), and Hiro still asleep (yes, I want to wait and wake him up just in time for the worst possible freak-out), I have left myself nowhere to cut away to. The fight will involve cutting back and forth a lot between different characters and locations, tho, so...
‡ original post at Dreamwidth ‡
Anyway, today is just a little scene to start off the next chapter...
Even in the darkness of Tenkou’s cave, Mitsukake has rediscovered his purpose at last. However, his fellow Sei of Suzaku, guided by Chichiri’s discovery of Spirit Sight, have come to the foot of the mountain where the Sei of Seiryuu wait in ambush. The confrontation unavoidable, they can only make plans that they hope will protect what is most precious.
The cold water of the mountain stream swirled against Yui’s legs as she tried to climb through it. Even with her dress tucked up and tied above the knees, there was no keeping it from getting drenched. The brook had worn a smooth path through the surrounding crags, but that was a double-edged sword, leaving sloped runs impossibly slippery. Alone, Yui would have found it completely impassable, but after all, Chiriko had only supposed that “some” of them could navigate it, and especially Tamahome’s agility made it manageable for him. He forged ahead in the lead and helped Yui along, with Hotohori bringing up the rear.
At one steep rock, Tamahome leapt up on top of it and offered Yui his hands. She took them and tried making a step up onto the slope as he hauled her up, but her foot slipped, and she cried in pain as her leg struck and scraped against the stone and Tamahome had to drag her up beside him.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “I can carry you if you need me to.”
“No... I can still keep going.” Despite the pain she got back to her feet, still clinging to his arm. She didn’t want to be that much of a burden, and even though she knew that this was for duty not love, she was keenly aware of herself and Tamahome taking hold of each other so much, and she took her hand off his arm, standing just a little unsteadily.
“Hey, I know how it is,” he said. “I’m only doing this because someone has to.”
Hotohori tried to make the jump after them, but fell barely short and had to catch himself on his hands, which were already badly scraped.
Tamahome laughed, but not cruelly, and helped him up. “I can’t accuse you of sitting around your palace now, can I?”
“No...” He managed a pained smile, but he had long since fallen silent, focused on the effort of the climb.
Or maybe, Yui thought, on other distractions. Even Tamahome’s joking sounded strained underneath. As difficult as it was to move around here, it would be a terrible place to be caught if the Seiryuu Seishi found them, and if they didn’t, the others, Nuriko, Chiriko, Chichiri, and Tasuki, were knowingly walking into an ambush, outnumbered.
Either way, Yui felt that as long as she was able to walk on her own despite a now-throbbing knee, asking to be carried would be especially unacceptable at a time like this. At least from here, the stream wandered sidelong up the mountainside for awhile, giving a gentler slope and some measure of respite.
*******
The next scene should probably be Miboshi's viewpoint; ick. I also realized that with Keisuke busy researching (in position for his next plot point which is later), Mitsukake feeling better (same), and Hiro still asleep (yes, I want to wait and wake him up just in time for the worst possible freak-out), I have left myself nowhere to cut away to. The fight will involve cutting back and forth a lot between different characters and locations, tho, so...
‡ original post at Dreamwidth ‡