Standard Disclaimer: Shogakukan Shojo comics owns Chichiri, Tasuki and Ryo. Yu Watase created them, I did not. I recieve no money from this story. Lord WuFang is my own creation, any resembelence they may share with any other author's characters is totally unintentional (honestly I don't read much).

Duty and Honor

Part 4

Lady Ryuen pounded her fists on the wooden board. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true. She heard the villager legislator's voice echo through her mind again.

"I am at a loss to explain the Empress' actions to our subjects. I know that the kidnapping of her only daughter had taken a heavy toll on her, however she beleived that her daughter would be returned to her rightful place in the palace. I trust Lord WuFang to find the identity of the Lady Ryuen's kidnapper and bring him to justice. I know our Empressbelieved this as well. The palace has been overwhelmed with sympathy from friends and citizens alike and despite the tremedous pain of Lady Ryuen's situation, I had thought that the Empress was a beacon of strength through this troubled time, but now I find she was hurting more than we all knew. May she find peace in her new life."

What would Konan do now? The ministers would be going insane right about now. Ryuen was furious. All her pain had turned to anger, but it wasn't anger at her mother, not really. It was anger at her husband. She knew now that she had been denying the truth. Chichiri had been right all along. She could feel it inside her bones. Her mother had killed herself as a message to her and Ryuen was recieving that message loud and clear. There was an evil sweeping the land. Threatening to consume her and her people. It had consumed her mother. It wouldn't consume her.

"Chichiri I've come to a decision."

"What's that Ryo?" Chichiri didn't like the sound in Ryo's voice. It was cold and sharp like the edge of a knife.

"I've decided that we shouldn't head to the palace alone."

"You have someone you want to pickup?" Chichiri was truly surprised.

"Sort of. I think that if we are going to go in to meet Lord WuFang, then we are going to need some help. Lots of help. We need to gather an army together. I have a feeling we are going to need it."

"Are you serious?" Chichiri couldn't believe it, she had just done a 180 on him.

"I'm serious, Chichiri."

"Well I knew you'd figure it out eventually you know. You got any ideas on where to start gathering this army?"

"Well, no actually I don't have a clue."

"Then I think I can help you out." Chichiri turned the truck around and started heading back to the town they came from. He needed to track down Tasuki. They had a lot of planning to do.

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"Hmm, an army? Yeah I think I know where to start looking for recruits. Course it ain't gonna be easy gathering people up to face off against WuFang. Locals don't seem to like him much, but they're pretty scared of him. I've seen a thing or two that makes it pretty easy to guess why. I'll drum up what help I can."

"Thanks, Genro. I'll pay you back for the mule too, you know."

"You're damn right you will. I can't believe I've got to be seen in public on that thing."

"Hey we aren't exactly riding in style ourselves, you know."

"Yeah? What happened to your steed?"

"Couldn't ride double for the whole trip, you know. I had to trade her for a couple of nags.."

"Harsh, well you better keep a close eye on her. The hunt is on."

"Believe me I know."

Tasuki stared at the now blank screen. He had to smile, he was itching to get back at WuFang for the ambush in the last town. Hurting a man's horse was so dishonorable. He wasn't sure about starting a war, but it wasn't an attack of the conscience so much as a realistic idea on their chances. He thought of twenty or thirty mountain bandits that he could call on, but what they really needed was for the people to get behind them. That was something that Lady Ryuen would have to see about. This wasn't gonna be easy. Tasuki wondered briefly if he had just made a huge mistake. This plan of Chichiri's was liable to get him killed. Chichiri was a good guy but not much of a strategist.

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"You ready?"

"I'm ready. Are you?"

"Let's do it."

Ryuen climbed to the top of the building and cupped her hands to her mouth.

"Citizens of Natashu, I am the Lady Ryuen. I am speaking to you here and now, because my husband, Lord WuFang is spreading false rumours about me and I would like to inform you all of his treachery, so that you may prepare yourselves for the battle that is coming your way. Lord WuFang has said that I was kidnapped by an unknown enemy from the palace grounds. This is a lie. I was attacked in my home by my own security force and fled the palace with the aid of a friend. I am now being hunted by my husband, who had hoped to silence me before I could recover from my injuries and tell anyone the truth. In that task he has failed, for I am here before you now. My very presense here puts all of you in danger and for that I am truly sorry. But I could not remain hidden. My husband does not wish to peacefully preside over the land. He wishes to conquer Konan and force its people into submission. How does this affect you? A battle started at the border, will spread into a war that will emcompass all the land. Wars are truly terrible things and there is no safe haven and no innocent lives left untouched in a war. I have a plan to stop my husband's evil intentions. I wish to gather brave men to me, to fight my husband's men and prempt the coming battle. I ask you now: Are there any amoungst you who are courageous enough to stand against Lord WuFang and secure peace for you and your loved ones?"

The crowd below was silent at first. Then quiet murmurrings could be heard as the people gathered together for a consensus. Some were in shock and disbelief over the words, but others proclaimed that they knew it all along. It made perfect sense considering all the insanity that was going on in China now. And then though it was unclear at first what was happening, the sound of women wailing and the patting of men on the backs gave a sure sign that there were those who believed. A small part of the crowd detached itself to the rest, a group of men, some young, some old mostly farmers and laborers, came to the foot of the building and one man spoke for them all. He addressed Lady Ryuen:

"We will help you fight and defeat Lord WuFang. His men come through here and obey no law. They destroy the peace of this small town and we won't stand for it any longer. My name is Chang Mawei and I pleadge my leigance to you Lady Ryuen."

Several other men made similar comments and introduced themselves to Ryuen. She turned around and looked at Chichiri, who looked dark with consideration.

"It has begun you know."

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Lady Ryuen avoided the battlefield. She had no real fighting ability so she just tried to stay out of everybody's way. She helped with the injured as best she could, but most of them were beyond help by the time they were carted off the field to the med tents. Tasuki and Chichiri were good warriors. She shouldn't be surprised, after all they were Celestial warriors. She looked out over the battlefield and began to doubt everything that she had believed just hours earlier. The fields between the mountains and the river were once again being soaked in blood. It made Lady Ryuen shiver. She had wanted to storm the royal palace, use the element of surprise, but WuFang had somehow learned of her plan, before she was able to execute it. So the armies had met on the eternal battlefield once again. She was so young, yet she still felt that she had lived this all before. It wasn't a sense of surprise, more like deja vu, that assailed her when she retreated to her safe haven at the end of the med tents and found Lord WuFang himself waiting there for her.

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"It's come back to this again, eh Tasuki?" Chichiri said as he found himself near his old friend, once again they were in the midst of a bloody battle.

"What? Oh yeah, how you doing?" Tasuki snarled and sent a wave of fire towards his enemies. On man broke threw the flames and Tasuki lashed out with his sword. A couple cries and the man was dead, having emptied all the blood in his heart into the ground.

"I'm doing okay, these young warriors may have energy, but they don't have any brains or finesse.Still I don't like this. I didn't think we'd be involved in a slaughter you know." Chichiri looked around him. He never wanted to bring Ryo to a place like this. But somehow this is where they had ended up. Him killing WuFang's overeager troops and her royal robes soaked in blood as she tried to save the fallen.

'I had to get her out of there.' He thought. This isn't where she belonged. She had the potential to be a good leader, if she could ever get anyone to listen. She was compassionate and strong. 'Not a good time to let my mind wander.' Chichiri was almost taken by surprise by a man on horseback, who jumped over a discarded carriage. Almost. Chichiri swung around and brought his fist straight into the man's gut, knocking him from the horse to the ground. He then finished him off quickly slicing open his throat in one swift move before he moved on to the next man.

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"Come to kill me?" Lady Ryuen was alone. She knew that if that was why her husband was here, then she was as good as dead. She wasn't afraid to die, it just seemed such a waste at this point.

"Heavens no. You've surpassed my expectations my dear wife. I must say I have grossly underestimated you. Look at the destruction you have wraught. Look at the lives that have been destroyed in your honor. They believe in you my Lady. And if you and I unite we can lead them all to a most awesome glory."

"Unite?" Ryo practically spat the word. "Are you kidding? You are my enemy!"

"Am I really? I don't think of you as an enemy of mine. I thought of you as a pawn. You were merely a means to an end. But you have risen. You have raised an army, become a queen. The people believe in you. I can force the people to accept my will, but with you supporting me, I will not have to."

"You tried to kill me! You want to take over Konan and Genbu. I will never support you!" Ryo stood in disbelief it seemed as though WuFang had gone insane. To suggest such an alliance at this point.

"Are you sure about that? Look across this battlefield. The river runs red again. Why? This war started the day you ran away from me. If you had stayed, there would be no fighting. All these people wouldn't be here." He pointed at a body lying just a few feet away. "This man's life would not be over. You ran away from your duty. But I am giving you an opportunity to regain your honor. Surrender and return to the imperial palace with me." Lord WuFang stood looking at her, with a straight back and not a hint of humor on his face.

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Tasuki felt the pain shoot through his side. It was nothing more than a lucky shot. The guard who had nailed him looked shocked to see his blade sticking in fabled warrior. Tasuki grabbed the dagger from his boot and took out the man. He then pulled the blade from his gut. It was a fatal wound. He knew it when he saw the blood, felt the burning pain radiate from the wound into his abdomen and chest. His sight began to fade and he fell to his knees. He caught Chichiri's eye and saw the horror fill his best friend's eyes. He could see Chichiri's mouth working, pushing aside the people in his way. Slashing wildly with his blade. Desperation written all over his face. But what he was saying, Tasuki didn't know. Couldn't hear the words. The sounds of the battlefield began a steady, relaxing hum. It made him want to close his eyes and go to sleep. Chichiri's face was dominating his vision, though the edges were blurred and hazy. Tasuki opened his mouth.

"It was a wild ride, eh? Look after the princess, she ain't so bad for a girl." He was surprised to see tears squeezing out of Chichiri's craggy blue eyes. "Hey you ain't gonna live forever either, bud." Tasuki smiled at that. He was really fortunate to have made it this far, considering the life he lived. Always on the edge, except the last 13 years looking after Ryo. That had been pretty easy, relaxing. He wasn't regretting anything though. He was glad he had the chance to fight again. To feel that adreneline rush. This was where he wanted to be. This was a good place to die.

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Chichiri looked on as Tasuki died. He seemed at peace. He was right. Neither of them were going to live forever. Tasuki was dead and all around him others were dying. He would join them if he kept his back turned to the fighting. Chichiri felt an anger engulfing him. It was more intense than anything he had felt before. He didn't try to fight it. He let it consume him. Burn into his senses and run wild through his veins. Those closest to him, fell almost instantaneously. Those who could see him coming weren't much better off. Those far enough away had the good sense to stay away. They looked upon him in awe and fear.

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Lady Ryuen looked in horror as her friend Tasuki died and her best friend and father figure went berserk. She watched him slice through the onrushing guards as though they were made of paper. He was a force of nature. It seemed like she was watching this from afar. She saw both allies and enemies run away from him in desperation to save their lives.

"Do you see them flee? Pathetic, those who step upon the Field of Battle must be prepared to give up thier lives. Here you and I stand. I would die with pride if that was my fate. What about you my Lady? Are you prepared to die for your ideals?" Lord WuFang smiled at her. It was a dangerous smile.

Ryo knew that her life was in his hands. She wondered why she was still alive. It seemed that Lord WuFang was looking for something within her. She wondered if there was any way for this battle to end that would set things right. In truth she didn't think so. She doubted that even if she managed to win this battle, there were too many broken lives to call it a victory.

"If this is the day that my life ends, I am prepared." She looked her husband in the eye and saw a twinkle there. 'Does he really want me to return to the imperial palace or is he just looking for a way to kill me quietly.' She thought.

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The red began to fade from the scene before his eyes. It had colored his vision and polluted his mind. He couldn't remember where he was or why he was here. There were bodies lying all about him and the faces of the bodies were contorted in masks of horror. He had become cruel in his killing. Killing with hatred and revenge. Killing to satisfy the anger inside him. He hadn't killed them because they were his enemies, in fact he recognized a few of his comrades lying close beside him. He hadn't killed them to benefit Ryo. He had simply become an animal lost in the bloodlust. Chichiri fell to his knees and howled in pain. His spirit was in tatters. If he wasn't careful his very soul might drift away.

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Ryo covered her face in her hands and listened as her best friend's heart shattered. Was this battle worth men's lives? Yes she had believed so. Was it worth a man's soul? No it was too high of a price and one she couldn't...wouldn't pay. It might already be too late, but there were some people out there still fighting. She could save them. She could stop this battle.

"I will return with you. I will be your wife. Just stop this. Stop this fighting, please I beg you." Ryo said, her resolve strong. This was the correct path. Hers was one life and it would buy the lives of many people. She would find a way to live through whatever Lord WuFang put her through.

"Excellent. I am most impressed my Lady, but you need not look so gloom. You are the perfect partner. Your parents land will fall more easily with you by my side. I will spare your father and once the lands are united then our people will not fear any kind of attack because we will be the strongest power in China." Lord WuFang walked away from her then. He had won. In the end it wasn't a battle of men, but of wills and Ryo wasn't strong enough to suffer her friends.

~finis~

AN: Hey what can I say, the good guy doesn't always win.