Go Hotohori! Go!

Mr. Scary, as some people have taken to call our yet unnamed, evil NPC, decides to drop in and test the next two seishi on his radar. A little character development for Hotohori and Tomo, and a few hints as to where Mr. Scary may be from, are revealed.


Thomas=blue
Valerey=red
Mr. Scary (Because no one knows his name...yet. ^_~)=black




Thomas sat in the glow of the campfire with his prize draped across his lap: an opera costume stolen from a group of performers he and the Suzaku seishi had happened across while finding accommodations. That had been two days ago, and now they were away from the lights or sounds of any town. The evening was cool and the sheltered campsite was near an impressive cliff that seemed to look out across the entire kingdom of Konan.

Separated from the city glow of modernity, it amazed Valerey the display given simply by the stars. He sat quietly, staring beyond his traveling companion, beyond the cliff, beyond even Konan thoughtfully frowning as his hand rubbed the hilt of the weapon previously returned to him, lying comfortably on the ground by his side.

Thomas broke from his pleased revelry of admiring the silky fabric with its hand stitched designs that some might call gaudy, but aesthetically were just what Thomas wished. The costume was certainly different than that of his strip job, or the suits of his escorting; but the Tomo part of him was very pleased, felt stronger, now that he had this black fabric.

Valerey gave a cursory glance to the man still holding in his lap the robe to which he had gone to such lengths to acquire two nights before. A part of him wished to ask why the French man did not just adorn himself in the robe already, but the answer was simple enough in theory. Why, after all? Should one be so eager to adorn oneself in the raiment of the past? He looked down at the traveling robes from the palace, chiding his inner monologue with a soft shake of his head.

Thomas felt like eyes were on him, and since he had only one companion, and he could feel no one's chi but the Suzaku seishi's, he looked up, his gold eyes falling on the former Emperor. "Yes?"

He found the vocal intrusion of his mental acrobatics was one both welcome and not as the question registered with his senses. Hotohori—Valerey...whomever he was—looked up at the man oddly. "Did you say something?" His eyes did drift beyond the man before he could entirely dismiss the scene.

One of Thomas' thin black brows rose. "Yes, I am even speaking English. Did you not hear me? I was simply wondering why you are studying me."

Val nodded, hand moving off the sword and across his knees as he sat forward. "Ah yes...I was wondering.” It felt odd, in a way, to speak English in such a setting. However, technically, the English would rule China in the future, perhaps the two tongues had no mutual exclusivity to a man such as himself. "I was wondering why you are still in the ministerial robes when you have that black outfit from the Opera troupe."

Thomas cackled softly and slid a hand over the material. "It is...I am simply debating putting this on. I do not want to hide behind a costume this time now that I have returned. And yet I wish to put it on more than anything."

He did not have to bring his mind to the heavy silks on his shoulders, which more than made themselves know on their own, to know exactly what the man meant. "Perhaps you need to reinvent yourself as you are then as you were...Though there can be some comfort in nostalgia..."

"Perhaps you are right." He looked down at the black silk again. "This is not even the color of my old costume. I do not think I will revert to painting my face again. I have no need to hide it this time."

"Why did you last time?" He wanted to stretch his legs, wanted to swing his sword, yet got the impression that most of that such exercise would not be practice in this world. He was only glad his constitution was much better this time around, most problems with his health outgrown with childhood weakness. He only half involved himself in this conversation, finding himself drifting mentally to the news he had heard of Boushin—his son...or whatever they may be now.

Thomas stared at the man a long moment, weighing whether to tell him or not. He found himself answering simply because it was something he could do in this lifetime: try to explain the actions of his past. "It was at first simply because I was an actor. Then it was for protection. No one wished to touch me with my face looking so fierce."

Valerey arched a brow, not entirely following the man's implications. "Protection? You were a seishi of Seiryuu. Would that not offer protection enough given your power?"

Thomas' expression fell into one almost unreadable, but the look in his eyes was clear that his thoughts were not pleasant. "I did not always have my powers. You see my face, yes? It is attractive, yes? I lived in a world of nothing but men. Do you understand?"

Attractive...surrounded by men... </i> It sounded much like himself in Court at the Palace, but the way that the man spoke of this past did not lead him to believe he too had been part of court life. Valerey's eyes rounded slightly in comprehension of what the man was implying. "....To—Thomas...I'm sorry. I had no idea...."

Thomas chuckled softly at the man's expression. "So protected in that palace you were." He glanced out over the cliff face, his gaze falling to the distant glowing stars.

Valerey could not wholly object to that statement and merely returned to his own contemplation of the stars.

Thomas had suddenly lost any mood to continue his conversation with a man who obviously appeared not to understand. Thomas himself still could not wholly reconcile his new memories. They made him feel ill whenever he thought of them. "You are the first I have ever told why I painted my face." He had thought to tell Nakago. To show Nakago, but the blond had never cared, Thomas—Tomo—he knew that now.

Valerey's mouth opened as if to say something, but rather he softly smiled. "I will keep your secret." Had his life not been so public and so protected, he would have offered one of his own to the man as a gesture, but in truth, he, nor Hotohori, had anything remotely comparable to the man's story.

"Merci. Not that it matters to anyone. I only told you because you would not care either. It is only the past." Thomas tried to convince himself again.

"Yes...only the past..." How nice to be able to dismiss it as such.

"The past huh? So, what are the bird brain and the little lizard doing hanging out? You bored?" The figure stalked around the former Emperor, a blur of speed as he picked up the sword, eyeing the steel to appraise it. "You might be more fun than that bandit I burnt down."

Sensing something, his hand flew to the ground just missing the steel sliding out of his grasp, he quickly turned around, though unable to fully get out of his crouch, amber eyes fiercely studying the speaking man. Unarmed and backed up quite close to a fire for one in such silks, the Emperor never had been one to admit possible defeat. "Give that back."

Thomas calmly rose to his feet, the silk of his costume pooling about him as he reached into his pocket to bring his shell to his hand. He eyed the man, with his strange blue skin, with a chi stronger than any he had ever felt and yet it was...not like the chi of other seishi or humans. "Who are you? It seems there are more people who wish to test me."

"Give it back?" He chuckled and tossed the weapon into the air, giving it a spin as he caught it. "You're gonna have to do more than that. I was just thinking we can't fight very well if you don't have a weapon. Your friend seems to have one though." He eyed the small white object in the raven-haired man's hand. "That's pretty lame. A shell?" He threw his head back and laughed, the gold rings in his ears tinkling slightly.

Valerey's eyes narrowed, knowing better than to look back at his comrade while staring down a man with a sword. He cautiously rose, keeping his eyes open and trained upon this powerful, mysterious blue man. He did not have time to seek out Tasuki's chi, but would have to trust the bandit's ability to survive for now... It was better than his had been at least.

Thomas' lips curled up into a mixed expression of amusement and disdain. "This is not simply a shell. As you will soon find out if you do not return my companion’s weapon." He glided over to the Briton's side.

"Not a shell, huh? Well, I'm not here to fight." He tossed the sword back at the more feminine looking of the men, though they both could probably compete against a woman and win.

Valerey's eyes rounded at the sword lobbed in his general direction. It was not that he did not feel comfortable catching a sword thrown like that, just that he was not comfortable catching a sword with a blade like that. He half hopped back in a sidestep, watching the sword land barely in front of the fire. Thank God for small favors... He slipped his toe under the blade, drawing back to his position. "Why are you here?" If he were to guess, this man had something to do with why he himself was here.

Thomas watched the blade flash through the air, landing just at the fire, but what the other man did was not his concern. He himself was trying to figure out the strange chi of this man, stronger than Nakago's. It did not seem the man wanted to do more than mock. It was something that he, as Tomo, understood well.

The man snickered as the man side-stepped and let his blade fall. "I had heard you were supposed to be good with a blade. Guess they lied." His gold eyes, the same saffron hue as his clothing turned to the other man. "And you...with the shell." He simply laughed again. "I'm only here because I wanted to check out the competition. But I'm not too worried." He gave his long spear a spin. "So, you gonna pick up the weapon pretty? So we can do this?"

He kicked up his foot, finding this sword different and heavier than the epee he had worked with for so long. In all, the advantage was his. With a Western mindset and training in regards to swordplay; he perhaps had techniques with no formal parry yet in ancient China, yet he still had his memories if not wholly the muscular memory of Hotohori's style. His hand moved to his side catching the sword though not drawing it forward as yet. "En garde then." The sword floated up resting comfortably in a prepared position. He hoped his Suzaku companions had not exaggerated the Seiryuu seishi's talents, though he was sure he could handle this man alone if need be.

The Tomo part of Thomas wanted to snicker at the British man's rather Errol Flynn-esque "en garde". The man had obviously had some training with a sword, he supposed he could not fault the man when he had yet to see him use his seishi powers. Perhaps now was that time.

His face twisted into the one children often made when faced with liver or some hated vegetable. "En garde? That's enough of this playing." He suddenly spun his weapon above his head as a ball of flame burst into life on the end and created a great circle of flame above his head. "You're first, pretty!" He stretched his arm, aiming for the man's neck.

His eyes rose to the circle of flame raising above the man's head for a moment. Admittedly, that was not what he had expected. Still, he could maintain the advantage, if he could maintain his speed. His hand quickly reset itself on the hilt as he lunged into a run at the man, sword extended. In a way, did this situation seem familiar?

Thomas stood calmly by, a simple illusion made him appear as if he still stood by the fire, when in reality he was striding across the clearing, behind the stranger.

"That's more like it!" He sprung into the air, doing a flip that brought him over the swordsman's head. He landed like a cat and swung low, aiming for the back of the man's ankles.

Valerey could feel his advantage waning, but this was no different. He, as the man moved over him, continued the run, turning offensively inward as one would in fencing to avoid a touch from a passing opponent. He avoided the clip though barely as he returned to his offense, perfected through years of work, just recently improved.

The man turned around, a rather pleased expression on his face. "You're pretty fast. You're also pretty. But you can fight...so far." He spun his great spear again, the flame like a beacon in the night, and he met the steel of the blade. A clash and sparks flying.

"That's more like it" He tossed his arm up, to meet and block the flying spear. He could tell he needed to get closer and switched his primary concern to getting within sword's reach of his opponent to reduce the effectiveness of the longer ranged weapon and give him a chance to end this now.

"That's 'more like it'?" The man laughed and used the swordsman's strength to push himself back out of range. He began to spin the spear above his head, the ball of flame on it a bright circle of white and orange and gold. "You're the one who's got to prove yourself interesting, pretty boy." Suddenly, the flame extended from the spear, heading straight towards the former Emperor.

Valerey, when the spear rose above the man's head, he knew it was probably not the wisest move, but he had no doubt of the effectiveness of his technique, he lunged forward, sword extended as far as his shoulder would go. He just hoped this move required at least a modicum of concentration.

"Shit." Was a quick utterance as the flame missed its mark. The swordsman's speed was impressive and it was only because he himself was not human, that he suddenly disappeared and reappeared at the side of the other man, the one with the clam, who appeared bored with the acrobatics of the fight. He raised his spear. "Let's see what you can do!" As he smacked the man in the back with his weapon, flame sparking.

It took Valerey a moment to connect that the blue man was no longer there. That was admittedly not an expected reaction, he had much more been hoping—however savage his modern mindset found the thought—for the heavy weight of a man pressing against the hilt warmly moving down over the blade. As soon as he realised what had happened, he spun around, eyes widening as the spear swung down hitting the Frenchman. "Thomas!"

He had watched the fight with detached interest. His gold eyes intent not so much on his companion's skills, but the skills of this mysterious man, obviously foreign with the blue skin, the different clothes. From his modern mindset, it was easy to distinguish this man was most likely from India...Thailand? The thought was killed as Thomas watched the man suddenly attack his illusion. The Brit gave out a cry and Thomas decided it was time to show what he could do, though he had hoped to watch Valerey to see if he was capable of killing.

The man smirked in some triumph as he watched the man crumple before him and lay still. What a waste. "Guess it's just you and me, pretty boy. Your friend was pretty disappointing." He gave the body a stab before he let the spear begin its spin in one hand, his left hand held palm open as a ball of flame appeared again.

Unfortunately this time, there was too much of a distance between the two men to stop this attack offensively. Valerey braced himself, symbol on his throat glowing like the flash of red on a sudden bird's plumage. He would avenge his comrade, however fresh their alliance have been, but moreover he had a kingdom to avenge, and a life to regain. He gripped the sword with both hands, all his memories telling him what to do.

Thomas began to glide around towards the battle, watching his copy lie on the ground, and though it looked just like him, Thomas detached himself. He still did not reveal himself. Instead, he was fascinated as he watched the dark clearing suddenly erupt into red as the Valerey's symbol was revealed.

He watched the man's neck suddenly erupt with red light, a light that was almost blinding to him. He instinctively let the fireball disappear, using his hand to shield his eyes. He'd already killed one of them...no sense in sticking around. "Sorry, pretty..." He quickly drew a signal in the air and suddenly a vortex, swirling with light at the edges, appeared. "I've got others to visit." His actions took only the blink of an eye, and quickly he stepped into the black space and disappeared.

Valerey blinked as the man suddenly vanished, though quite aware of his symbol blazing, tinting the night before him slightly rose, but it did not seem as if that could have been what drove the man, who obviously knew they were seishi had he found them, off. He slipped the sword into the sheath at his side, moving to his fallen comrade... Surely, flame or even a blade could not outright kill a seishi. Tamahome had been constant evidence for that fact.

Thomas watched the man curiously. He could finally focus his attentions now that the stranger had gone, which was a relief, though the Tomo side of his nature had wanted to watch him die. Thomas gave a shake of his head to make that feeling leave him. He wanted to know what Val...what Hotohori...would make of his body.

The British man knelt down by the Seiryuu seishi though truly his only clue of what to do in a situation such as this came from the medical dramas his younger sister had watched in the summers he had been home during his youth. He scratched his head, inspecting the body.

The illusionist decided he had used enough chi. The body disappeared with not even a sound. "You are an impressive swordsman." He spoke in French, suddenly breaking the eerie silence that had fallen upon the campsite with the stranger's disappearance.

The fact that human beings were not supposed to randomly disappear was becoming more of a suggestion than a fact as the night wore on. He looked over his shoulder, beginning to understand why his seishi had apparently had such trouble with the Seiryuu seishi Tomo. "Vous vivez..." As much a question as a statement. He pushed himself up from the ground, dusting off his robe.

"Oui. Je vis." He glided over to the Brit's side. "We have a very strange enemy, it would seem." Thomas offered no explanation now as to what had happened, though he took pride in the manipulations of his illusions.

Valerey looked out of the corner of his eye at the man. "We should hurry to Mt. Reikaku in the morning." At liberty now he could seek out his bandit companion's chi, which seemed fine, but the very fact of the matter was that the opponent had planted a small seed of doubt in his mind.

Thomas nodded. "To check on your companion? Tasuki?"

"Oui...that is where we were told to go as it was back at the palace." At least where he was told to go, his companion had revealed no opposite divine command, though the urge to gain allies was less of an issue as he grew more comfortable around his former foe, it still would be nice to be amongst old friends.

"I suppose I will move on then...since you will want to be with your Suzaku friends." Thomas pocketed the clam shell and strode over to where he had dropped his new costume. Perhaps tomorrow would be the time to start wearing it.

"It would probably be best if once together, the group stayed as such though.... you are still welcome, mon ami." It felt funny addressing the man as such, but not entirely so on the nobleman's lips.

Thomas picked up the black silk and held it in his hands. His gold eyes fell upon the other man. "If your friend will let me stay with you. I know it can be very hard to forget the past. Especially since I nearly killed your bandit friend in my old life."

Valerey did pause to consider this. He knew the fiery bandit's temperament and judging from himself, could not trust the man to have changed much apart from any maturing he did in the years after the former Emperor had died. "I am sure... I am sure something can be worked out. It shall need to be anyhow if we are to compete against this blue fellow."

"You will need to use your diplomatic skills then, Emperor." He gave the man a wink and suddenly broke into a chuckle. "I am still sorry that fight ended so soon....I was quite impressed watching you."

Valerey smiled. "Ah, well I worry how my sword skills would have fared against that ball of fire... " With a sigh he continued. "It was Hotohori's...my I suppose? Passion in life, swordplay...it carried over to myself I suppose." He gave a shrug, not feeling the need to continue about the recognition he had won as a fencer of near Olympic level.

"I suspected you fenced from the very hearty 'en garde' you gave." He smiled and resumed his position of sitting by the fire. He watched the fire flicker over the other man's features. "I suppose it is also appropriate that I was a dancer in this life, as well as the old one. I still make illusions, though not of this kind."

Valerey inspected his hands, taking in the man's words. "One would think the gods would be more creative..." Such statements were in a way almost freeing for the Emperor who had embraced nothing, if not piety, in his past life.

"More creative? I do not think you are only speaking of your skills with a sword." He cackled at the implications of what he had just said, but then Thomas had never been afraid of the off-color joke.

Valerey arched an eyebrow, uncertain what this about his fencing ability so amused the man. "I meant regarding such similar situations across time... I suppose my swordplay would be an example..."

Thomas cackled and shook his head as the insinuation he had made flew right over the Brit's head. "Mon ami...you are a very amusing companion. But if we wish to meet your bandit friend and hope he does not want revenge for the crimes of the past...it is time to sleep."

Valerey could agree with that statement... "Shall we take shifts?" It was interesting how most of his instinct for outdoor survival came from books and films—pure fiction. Such was the sheltered life of an aristocrat. Some things never changed with time.

Thomas was silent a moment as he reached out with his chi, but he felt nothing but he and Valerey. "I do not think it necessary. But you may stay awake if you wish for some time and wake me when you want to sleep."

He nodded, still wide awake from the adrenaline rush of his fight, drifting much more towards introspection. "I believe I shall for a bit if that is not problematic."

Thomas carefully put his costume aside and laid out on the makeshift bed that would be his for the evening. "Don't lose yourself in the stars, Hotohori." Thomas smiled and rolled onto his side, wondering what expression was on the innocent man's face now. And with that minor amusement, he was silent.






His eyes rose to the circle of flame raising above the man's head for a moment. Admittedly, that was not what he had expected. Still, he could maintain the advantage, if he could maintain his speed. His hand quickly reset itself on the hilt as lunged into a run at the man, sword extended. In a way did this situation seem familiar?

Seiryuu no 5oi (19:48:09): ((Xie: Like when you died, Hotohori? :D ))
Seiryuu no 5oi (19:48:32): ((Val: .... No *crap, should have thought this through more*))
Illusion My Life (19:51:16): ((Thomas: I'm just waiting here to save you. *smirk*

Seiryuu no 5oi (20:43:30): ((Val's using action movies as a "how to survive" handbook >.> ))
Seiryuu no 5oi (20:44:12): ((I can see him and Stephan bickering over something "Non! This is right because it's what happened in the second Jurassic Park!" ))
Illusion My Life (20:44:27): ((*L* I was just thinking about Jurassic Park. ))
Seiryuu no 5oi (20:49:41): ((Val: It has to work, I saw it on MacGuyver! ))