Tenpou\'s Distraction

Disclaimer: I don’t own Saiyuki or any of the guys. That honor belongs to Kazuya Minekura. I do own my original characters. Kai is the original character from Last-Remnant. She has graciously loaned to her to me. Please check out her brilliant story, Saiyuki Extreme on deviantart(dot)com or under her name GojyoLoverForever on fanfiction(dot)net.


Chizuru woke with a smile on her face. Stretching, she thought back to yesterday with Tenpou. They had been in a passionate embrace up against the bookcase, when an unwelcome visitor interrupted them. After Konzen left, Chizuru admitted to Tenpou that she loved him. Kissing her gently, he told her he loved her too. After straightening their rumpled clothes, she and Tenpou had gone to get some dinner at the dining hall where she used to work. Sitting at a table by themselves, they were in a world of their own. People stared and talked behind their hands about the couple but neither one noticed. He walked her back to her tiny room and kissed her goodnight.

“Why don’t you spend the day with Kai tomorrow? I’ve got to go to the lower world on a reconnaissance mission with Kenren. There’s a youkai causing trouble and the higher ups want me to go.” Tenpou was leaning with his back against the wall next to her door, Chizuru in his arms.

“I could still get some work done in your office. Just because you’re not there, doesn’t mean I have to stop working.” Her fingers made little circles on his chest.

“You haven’t had a day off since you started and I’m sure Kai would love to spend the day with you.” Tenpou kissed her forehead. “Besides, Kenren doesn’t want Kai left alone too much.”

“Why? Is he worried another man might steal her away from him?”

“No, it’s Li-Touten he worries about.” Tenpou sighed. “Kenren is worried that he might use Kai to get to him and I must say, I agree with him. Li-Touten has hated Kenren ever since he came to the Western Army. He’s ruthless, barbaric and power hungry. He would do anything and use anyone he can to gain the power he wants.”

“Kai has told me before that she’s afraid of him but since she’s nothing but a servant, there’s nothing she can do. Tell Kenren not to worry. I won’t leave Kai’s side tomorrow.”

“And you stay away from him, also. Li-Touten hates me more than he hates Kenren. Once, he said something vulgar about Kenren and myself and Li-Touten carried the mark of my fist for several days. If he finds out about us…” Tenpou let the frightening thought hang in the air.

“I promise.”

They kissed softly for several minutes before parting for the night.


After showering in the communal woman’s bathroom, Chizuru dressed and braided her long blonde hair. Giving herself one last look in her tiny mirror, her eyes went wide as she saw the mark on her neck. Tenpou had bit her neck yesterday but when she went to bed last night, she didn’t see anything on her neck. She put on a short sleeved tunic shirt that used to be a bright pink but now had faded to a dusky rose color. With the high collar, it almost hid Tenpou’s mark. Chizuru sighed. It was the best she could do and if anyone saw, well, she was sure she could come up with some explanation. Putting on her black shoes, she was ready to go and find Kai.


Since it was still too early to meet Kai in her rooms for lunch, Chizuru decided to go and pick some wildflowers for her best friend. Kai’s rooms were sparsely furnished and most of her furniture was old and scarred. She had a little table, though, and some pretty flowers would brighten up the place. Exiting the servant’s quarters, Chizuru made her way to the large field where she knew thousands and thousands of bright, pretty flowers grew.

Rounding the palace, Chizuru came to a grove of sakura trees. In Heaven, the trees were always in bloom, their soft pink petals lazily falling to the ground. As she made her way through the trees, the sounds of men’s voices reached her ears. Her heart quickened as she realized that this must be were the reconnaissance team was meeting. Maybe she would get to see Tenpou before he left for the lower world.

“I don’t see why so many of us have to go. It’s just one youkai that’s the problem.”

“You know Field Marshall Tenpou. He always takes a bunch of us along on these missions. Safety in numbers and all that shit.”

“Oi! Back in ranks!”

Chizuru recognized that voice. It was General Kenren. He was wearing his leather uniform, with the top open, revealing the skull clasp that he always wore. Chizuru’s breath caught in her throat as she finally saw Tenpou, dressed in his Field Marshall uniform.

As he walked, Tenpou pulled on his black leather fingerless gloves. A long sword hung from his side and his long black leather coat brushed against his highly polished boots as he walked. Cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth, Tenpou looked over a map one final time before rolling it up and stashing it away. If she had thought he was handsome in a shirt and tie, Chizuru wasn’t prepared for the gorgeous sight of Tenpou in his uniform. She moved out from the trees to get a better look at him.

“Well, well. What do we have here?”

Chizuru spun around at the unfamiliar voice. It was one of the soldiers and he had silently come up behind her. She backed away from him, coming to a painful stop against the rough bark of a sakura tree. The soldier advanced on Chizuru, stopping with his body against hers, pinning her up against the tree.

“What are you doing out here, little one? Coming to catch a glimpse of the handsome soldiers?”

The soldier was a little older than her with long, stringy brown hair and a pockmarked face. He wasn’t much taller than her and with his hands against the tree, blocking her escape, he brought his mouth near hers. Chizuru turned her head away from his foul breath, but he followed her movements. She cracked the back of her head on the tree, trying to put more distance between her and the soldier.

“Get away from me! I’m warning you!” Chizuru brought her hands up and put them on the soldier’s chest, shoving with all her might. He stumbled back a few steps and tripped over tree roots, falling smack on his butt. Chizuru bolted from the tree and ran. She only made it a few steps before the soldier had caught up with her, grabbing her long braid and wrapping it around his wrist, tugging her to him, harshly.

“You little bitch!” He was breathing heavily, holding Chizuru against his large body. His mouth came crashing down on hers, his thick tongue gagging her as he kissed her. Scratching and kicking at the soldier, Chizuru fought him. He screamed as she bit down on his tongue, drawing blood.

“Fuck!” Wiping the blood from his lips, the soldier spat a good amount of blood on the ground. He pulled his arm back, ready to strike Chizuru. Taking advantage of being free, she turned and ran into a hard chest. It was Tenpou. She looked up into his face as he put one arm around her shoulders.

The look on his face sent a shiver of fear up her spine. She had never seen him look so angry, like he was ready to kill the soldier. Never taking his eyes off of the soldier, he spoke to Chizuru.

“Are you hurt?”

“No. I’m fine. He’s not, though. I bit his tongue.”

“Good for you.” Tenpou yelled for his General. “Kenren?”

“Yeah? Where the hell are you, Tenpou?” Kenren ran through the grove of sakura trees, finally finding them. “What the…? Chizuru?” He took in the sight of Chizuru, her braid coming undone and lips swollen and bruised. The soldier was in worse shape, his mouth bleeding as he spat more blood on the ground from his bitten tongue. “What the fuck is going on here, soldier?”

“Nothing, sir. My…girlfriend and I were just having a little argument.” The ugly little man made eye contact with Chizuru, his eyes cold and hard. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” He glared at Chizuru, daring her to contradict him.

Kenren’s bark of laughter made the soldier break eye contact with Chizuru.

“Girlfriend? Oh, man.” Kenren shook his head. “I pity you, soldier. You’ve just fucked with the wrong man.”

“General Kenren, please take Chizuru away from here while I deal with this.” Tenpou’s voice was calm, belying the anger that was raging through his body. This man had dared to touch what was precious to him and he would pay.

Kenren took Chizuru gently by the arm, moving her away from the soldier and Tenpou. Chizuru started to walk away with Kenren. The sound of Tenpou drawing his sword was loud in the stillness of the sakura grove. Breaking away from Kenren’s light hold on her arm, Chizuru ran back to Tenpou. Chizuru grabbed the back of Tenpou’s leather coat.

“Don’t, Tenpou.”

Shoulders sagging, Tenpou let the tip of his sword touch the ground. She was right. It wouldn’t be right to kill this man, although Tenpou never had liked the man and he had hurt Chizuru. Sheathing his sword again, Tenpou nodded to Kenren. Kenren grabbed the soldier by the arm and dragged him away.

“What are you going to do with him?” Tenpou could hear the fear in Chizuru’s voice.

“He’ll spend a few days in the dungeon, thinking over his actions.”

Turning around, Tenpou put his hands on Chizuru’s shoulders and looked her up and down. That bastard didn’t do any injuries to her that he could see, other than kissing her. Tenpou smiled and Chizuru looked at him, puzzled by that reaction.

“So, you really did bite him, didn’t you?”

“I know it wasn’t very ladylike, but…”

After ordering two other soldiers to take the offending man to the dungeons, Kenren came back to check on Chizuru and Tenpou. He grinned at Chizuru’s comment.

“The hell with ladylike! You should have kicked him in the balls, too.” Kenren took a drag off his cigarette as he made that comment. “Stupid fucker, trying to take advantage of you like that.”

“Kenren, stop. Can’t you see that you’re only making Chizuru more upset with talk like that?” Tenpou pulled Chizuru so tightly against him, she was struggling to breathe. Deciding to let Tenpou comfort her, Chizuru wound her arms around Tenpou’s neck and laid her head on his shoulder.

She wasn’t really all that frightened. A woman, on her own, like Chizuru, needed to learn how to handle unwanted advances from men. One of her first friends taught her the little trick of biting down on the man’s tongue and another taught her just where to kick so it caused the most damage. Right in their crotch. Or as Kenren so nicely put it, their balls.

“I’m sorry if I frightened you. I almost control of myself. But when I saw him pin you up against that tree, all logical reason flew from my mind.” Tenpou took a deep, shuddering breath and let it out against her neck. “I love you.” He kissed her neck. “I love you.” Full lips against her temple. “I love you.” Mouths brushing against each other. “I love you.” Tenpou tenderly kissed her bruised lips, making sure he didn’t put too much pressure into the kiss.

“Alright, you fuckers! Quit looking and get the hell back in ranks! Nothing to see here, you bastards!” Kenren shot a few rounds into the air with his pistol, making the disorganized soldiers jump to do his bidding. “Ya got five minutes, Tenpou and then we gotta go.” Kenren winked at Chizuru. “Kai’s in my study, mixing medicines. Have her look at those lips. We’ll be back in a few hours and I’m sure Tenpou wants them healed by then.”

Tenpou took Chizuru’s hand and started leading her back to the palace. His long legs quickly ate up the ground and Chizuru was struggling, trying to keep up.

“Tenpou! Don’t go so fast! My legs aren’t as long as yours.” Pulling on his hand, she stopped him. “And what are you doing anyway? Kenren said you have five minutes and then you have to go. Where are you taking me?”

“I’m taking you to Kai.”

“You don’t have to go with me. You’re needed in the lower world. Besides, I have an idea where Kenren’s suite of rooms are, so I should be able to find them by myself. Be careful and I’ll see you when you get back.”

Chizuru started to walk away, leaving a stunned Tenpou behind her. She hated leaving him this way but he was ordered to lead a platoon of men to the lower world and she didn’t want him to get in trouble because of her. She only got about ten steps before she felt strong arms scoop her up, one arm under her knees, the other behind her shoulders and hug her to a broad, muscled chest.

“Tenpou! Put me down! You’re going to be in so much trouble if you’re not back there in time!” Chizuru half-hearted struggled in Tenpou’s arms, poking and pinching at him. He just ignored her. Making a tiny fist, she punched him in the shoulder.

“Remind me some time to teach you how to make a proper fist. You’ll break your thumb with the way you’re doing it now.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Kenren warned me you were a saucy wench.”

Outraged, Chizuru gasped. Oh, when she saw Kenren again, she was going to yell at him until her tongue fell out! Calling her a saucy wench! Who the hell did he think he was? Chizuru crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to hold onto Tenpou and mumbling under her breath at him. Grinning, Tenpou pretended to drop her and Chizuru let out a little squeal, throwing her arms around his neck and holding on for dear life.

“You’re mean.”

“Yes, but you love me anyway.”

Chizuru nuzzled her nose along Tenpou’s neck, the light stubble on his chin tickling her nose. She did love him, there was no doubt about that.

Tenpou carried her all the way to Kenren’s suite of rooms, nodding hello to several people as they passed them. Chizuru blushed at their reactions to her and Tenpou. A few people said hello back but most of them just stared at the couple, their mouths open in shock. Finally, much to Chizuru’s relief, they reached Kenren’s suite of rooms. Kicking the bottom of the door with his foot, Tenpou waited for Kai to open the door.

“You could put me down, you know.”

“I know but I don’t want to.” His voice was soft and sensual in her ear, sending delicious shivers over her skin.

Opening the door slightly, Kai peered out of the small crack. There, in the hallway, stood Tenpou with Chizuru still in his arms. Chizuru was blushing enough to start a fire and Kai had never seen Tenpou so happy. Opening the door wider, she let the couple in.

“Chizuru, are you hurt?” Concern rang from Kai’s voice.

“I’m fine. He”, Chizuru poked Tenpou in the shoulder, “won’t let me walk.”

“She was attacked earlier.”

Kai started running her hands over Chizuru’s legs, feeling for injuries. Finding nothing on her legs, Kai moved her hands to grasp Chizuru’s hands. Turning them over and over, Kai searched for injuries. She pulled her hands from Kai’s grip.

“It wasn’t like that, Kai. Some jerk tried to kiss me and when I ran away, he grabbed my braid and pulled. Then he kissed me really hard, bruising my lips. I just need some sort of poultice to take down the swelling.” Chizuru sighed. “Tenpou! Are you ever going to let me go?”

“Never.” He kissed Chizuru’s forehead, letting his lips linger over her skin.

“I’ll mix a poultice for that bruising, while you two say your good-byes.” Leaving the couple in the main room, Kai went into Kenren’s study, where she kept most of her herbs and other medicines.

“Tenpou, you really need to let me go. You’re going to be in so much trouble if you aren’t back in time.”

“Sweetheart, I’m a Field Marshall. I only answer to the Dragon King. Believe me, I won’t get into any trouble if I’m a few minutes late.”

Bringing her hand up to his face, Chizuru brushed his hair back from the side of his face, putting it back behind his ear. She let her hand linger on his cheek.

“Be safe.”

“I will.” Tenpou set Chizuru on her feet and kissed her.

The kiss started out soft. Her mouth was still bruised and Tenpou didn’t want to cause her any more pain but when he felt her tongue brush against his, he couldn’t stop himself. Deepening the kiss, he pressed his lips fully against hers, moving them slowly over hers. Chizuru’s hands came up to clutch at the front of his black leather coat, bringing him closer to her.

“Just stay here with Kai until I come back.” Tenpou put a finger to Chizuru’s lips as she started to speak. “I know it sounds like I’m being over protective, but humor me.”

Tenpou kissed her one last time before leaving Kenren’s apartments. Chizuru closed the door behind him and leaned back against the door, sighing happily. Kai came back into the room, a smile on her face.

“I could have sworn that you told me there was no way you would ever fall in love with Tenpou. Or maybe it was one of my other friends.”

“Oh, hush! Where’s my poultice? I’ve only got a few hours to heal before Tenpou returns.”


The two women sat down to tea and sandwiches. It was the first time in almost a week that they’d had a chance to relax and catch up with each other. Chizuru told Kai about falling off of the broken chair; how she’d gone flying into Tenpou’s arms, knocking him and her to the floor. They talked a little bit about Goku and what each of them were teaching the little boy.

“So, where did you take Goku yesterday? Usually, he’s in Tenpou’s office before I even get there.” Chizuru took a sip of Kai’s special tea.

“First, we went to my small garden but the herbs I plant there, weren’t ready to pick yet, so I took him to the edge of the forest on the South Slope. I gave him a licorice leaf to eat. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him to chew it!” Kai laughed at the memory.

“Did he eat it?”

“He licked it first and then shoved the whole thing in his mouth. He told me it was ‘yummy’. Then, he ran off looking for more but he grabbed oak leaves instead. He shoved a pile of them in his mouth before I could tell him they weren’t anything he should eat. He spit them out so fast! I told him the only things that found oak leaves tasty, were caterpillars.”

“Tenpou told me that one day he and Konzen were out walking with Goku when Konzen grabbed Goku’s hand and forced it open. Here, Goku had a little caterpillar in his hand and he was just about to eat it!”

“Goku told me about that yesterday. His little face was so sad, thinking back about that little caterpillar. He whispered in my ear that he still wants to try one someday. He said that something that looks that cute, must taste good!”

Chizuru told Kai that she was teaching Goku the alphabet and how quickly the little boy was learning. He had already learned the letters up to M and was a big help putting books away and things like that. She told Kai about the math lesson with the peanuts and how Goku was more concerned with eating the peanuts and how the soldiers died, than he was with solving the problem itself.

“Then what happened?” Kai took a bite of her sandwich.

“Tenpou heard me laughing and came into his bedroom to see what I found so funny.”

“Oh, you were in his bedroom, were you?” A teasing gleam came into Kai’s eyes.

“It wasn’t like that!” Chizuru flapped her palm at Kai. “Look what happens when you spend too much time around Kenren! You’re just as perverted as he is.” Chizuru chuckled at her friend. “I was gathering up his clothes that needed washed and when I heard Goku tell Tenpou that there would be no soldiers left because he would eat them all. I started laughing so hard, tears were rolling down my cheeks. Tenpou came in, saw me laughing and asked who would protect me if I turned into a peanut and Goku decided to eat me. I told him, he would.” Chizuru blushed as she remembered what happened next.

“Come on, tell me. What did he say?”

“He said, ‘With my life’.”

Kai smiled at Chizuru, happy for her best friend. The men they had fallen in love with seemed totally wrong for them at first glance. Kenren’s gruff and outspoken personality hid his true nature. He was a man who craved love but who had never found anyone who he could trust enough to let down the barriers that he had built up around him. Tenpou hid behind smiles and his battle plans. Telling himself for so many years that he need no one but himself, had turned him into a lonely man. His walls were physical. He hid behind his books and maps and scrolls that were piled around his desk, blocking out the world.

With the entry of Kai into Kenren’s life, his whole world had changed. Sure, he was still a little on the perverted side, making ribald comments now and then. And he still loved to pick on Goku, causing Konzen to yell at the both of them like they were little children. But, there was a softness to him now, an openness that hadn’t been there before. And it was all due to Kai’s love.

Chizuru looked at the little clock on Kenren’s desk. It had been several hours since Tenpou and Kenren had left to go to the lower world. Chizuru didn’t know how long Tenpou was usually gone on a mission like this, but it seemed to her, that he should be back by now. The way he talked about the mission to her made it seem like he shouldn’t be gone for more than a couple of hours. Almost five hours had passed since he had left her in the care of Kai. Since Kai was calm, Chizuru decided that this must be how long the men were usually gone.

They had cleaned up the tea and sandwiches hours ago and were sitting in front of the big fireplace in Kenren’s office, feet tucked under them, chatting. Kai was half listening to Chizuru. She looked at the clock for what seemed the tenth time in as many minutes. Kenren and Tenpou should have been back by now. Kai twisted the ends of her hair around her fingers, a nervous habit left over from childhood. Chizuru stopped talking and watched her best friend.

“Kai, that’s the fifth time you’ve looked at that clock while I’ve been talking. What’s wrong?” Chizuru got up and went to the large window behind Kenren’s desk. She opened the window and looked outside. There was no sign of the men or any of the soldiers.

“They should have been back by now, shouldn’t have they, Kai? Oh Merciful Goddess, something went wrong, didn’t it?”

“Calm down, Chizuru. Just because they are taking a long time doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong. Maybe they couldn’t find the youkai right away or they found it and it was hiding in it’s lair and they had to flush it out. Maybe they stopped to have some beer…” Kai trailed off. That last part didn’t sound plausible, even to her.

The door burst open and Kenren came flying in. He was bloody and bruised, his uniform torn in several places. Grasping his knees, he put his head down, trying to catch his breath.

“Kai…get your…kit…”

Kai turned and ran into Kenren’s study, not stopping to ask any questions. Any information she needed, Kenren would tell her on the way to where ever they were going. Chizuru watched with growing panic. Her hands twisted together as she fought for control, fought to keep the tears at bay. Pushing past Kenren, Chizuru went out into the hall.

“Tenpou?” Her voice echoed down the long, empty hall. No answer. An icy hand of fear gripped her stomach, making it contract in pain. Where was he? Merciful Goddess, she just found him after all these years of loneliness, she couldn’t lose him now. Hands shaking, she cupped them around her mouth, screaming Tenpou’s name.

Large hands gripped her shoulders, biting into the soft flesh. Those same hands spun her around. Kenren shook Chizuru a little, trying to get her attention. She looked up into those dark chocolate colored eyes, fresh panic setting in.

“He’s in his bedroom.”

Not waiting for Kenren to finish, Chizuru broke free of Kenren’s grip and ran to Tenpou’s bedroom. She threw open the door to his office and raced to the door to his bedroom. Fumbling with the doorknob in her panic, it took her a few seconds to open the door.

Tenpou laid on his bed, eyes closed, his leather uniform torn and bloody. Tears blurred Chizuru’s eyes and she wiped them away. Several bloody cuts were on his cheeks and his neck. An ugly bruise was starting to form on his left cheek. Placing her hand on his neck, she felt a strong, steady pulse. Dropping to her knees by his bed, Chizuru wept and thanked the Merciful Goddess for saving him.

“Chizuru?” Tenpou tried to pick his head up from the pillow.

“I…I was so…w…worried.” Chizuru wept while she talked. “Kenren came running into his office, told Kai to get her kit and you…weren’t…there…” She sobbed out the last few words.

“Kenren tends to panic a bit.” Tenpou smiled as he made that comment. He shifted in bed, wincing as Chizuru laid her head on his shoulder.

“Sweetheart, could you help me get this coat off? Kai needs to look at my shoulder.”

Opening the buttons on the coat, Chizuru paled as the make-shift bandages were revealed. The bandages were soaked with blood. As careful as possible, she got Tenpou’s arms out of the coat. She tossed the torn coat on the floor. Helping Tenpou off the bed, she pulled the covers down and helped him sit down on the edge of the bed. She took off his boots and set them aside, next to his coat.

“This might seem forward of me, but could you help me off with my pants? He gave her a lopsided grin. “You will behave yourself, won’t you?”

A little giggle escaped Chizuru’s lips. Now, that she knew he was alive and relatively unharmed, her panic disappeared. She leaned down and kissed him.

“I’ll try but I’m not promising anything.”

After removing his pants, Chizuru helped him back into bed. She took off his socks and covered him up to his waist with the sheets and blanket. At that moment, Kai and Kenren burst into the bedroom.

Kai set her medical kit on the floor next to her and got to work. Cutting off the bloody bandages, she gave them to Chizuru to throw away. Once all the bandages were off, Kai got a good look at the would. Three deep gashes from the claws of a youkai were on Tenpou’s left shoulder. Kai had Chizuru get some hot water and soap and cleaned the gashes. The wound needed stitches. Kenren paled when Kai threaded the needle and left the room. Tenpou was quiet the entire time Kai stitched his shoulder, only wincing once in a while. When she finished, she spread on a foul smelling salve.

“Chizuru, help me, please? I need him upright so I can bandage him properly.”

With deft hands, Kai soon had the wound bandaged tightly. Chizuru laid Tenpou back down and covered him up to his chest, leaving his left shoulder out.

“Keep the bandages on for the next day. Don’t let them get wet. Then, the day after tomorrow, remove the bandages and put some fresh salve on. I’ll leave it here, in Tenpou’s bathroom for you. Rebandage the shoulder and leave it alone for two days. Then, I’ll check him and make sure everything is alright.”

Kai pointed a finger at Tenpou.

“And you, you stay in bed. Don’t rip out those stitches. That was some of my best handy work and I don’t want to see them ruined.” Kai smiled at Tenpou, softening the command.

“Why aren’t you going to change Tenpou’s bandages?” Kenren had finally come back into the bedroom, the color back in his face.

“Do you really want me looking at your best friend’s bare chest?” Kai arched a brow at Kenren.

“Well, when you put it that way…no.”

Kai repacked her kit, leaving fresh bandages and the jar of salve. Chizuru walked the couple to the office door and hugged Kai, thanking her for all of her help. After they left, Chizuru went back into the bedroom.

“Tenpou, do you need anything before I leave?”

He opened his eyes and held out his hand to her. She grabbed it, bringing up to her cheek. Tears threatened to fall again but she held them back.

“Stay with me.”

Not needing to be asked twice, Chizuru removed Tenpou’s glasses and set them on the little table next to his bed. She took off her shoes and crawled under the covers next to his uninjured shoulder and snuggled up next to Tenpou. He kissed her forehead and told her he loved her. Lifting herself up on her elbow, she pulled the covers down, until they were just above his stomach. She placed an open mouthed kiss over his heart, telling him she loved him. Laying back down, she left her hand over his heart, letting the feel and sound of his steady heartbeat lull her to sleep. Tenpou soon followed her into a dreamless sleep.

Deep in the dungeon, a soldier sat on the cold stone floor, his hands chained above his head. His thoughts were ugly and mean. He wanted revenge on that bastard Field Marshall Tenpou Gensui. All this, just because he tried to kiss that bitch! Who the hell was she to him?

Above the sound of dripping water, heavy footsteps reached his ears. Rats scurried out of the way of whomever was approaching his cell. In the flickering firelight of the wall sconce, the soldier could see a large body of a man, his dark hair pushed back from his forehead. The soldier’s eyes widened as he realized who his late night visitor was.

“Well, well, well.” The voice was deep and smooth. “I heard you had a run in with Field Marshall Tenpou over a woman. Strange. I always thought he had a thing for General Kenren.” The figure moved closer to the cell, his large hands circling the bars. “What’s your name, soldier?”

“Souji, sir.” Souji swallowed nervously. This man terrified him and he shuddered as he wondered what he wanted with him.

“Well, Souji. How would you like to get out of this place?” Souji could see the man’s teeth in the firelight, his lips pulled back in a cruel smile. Souji nodded. “Do you remember the name of the woman?”

“Her name is Chizuru.”

The man took out a ring of keys and unlocked the door, the metal making a hollow clinking sound in the empty dungeon. He stepped into the cell and unlocked the shackles and Souji hissed as the blood flowed back into his arms.

“Let’s go to my quarters. We can discuss our arrangement in, shall we say, more pleasant surroundings?”

Li-Touten smiled a chilling smile as he led Souji up the stairs and through the secret passageways to his rooms.