4   Stormy Omen

In an inner room of the Souun castle, Ougi was gazing at Kyouan arranging the flowers in vases with a calm expression. "It has been 3 days since you came here?'
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Yes..." Kyouan, wearing a crimson garment Ougi had ordered for her, answered him with a bright smile. "This place has been like another world so far..."

"I see. If there's anything you want, just say so." Ougi said as he looked at her sheepishly.

"Thank you. But...I'm just a florist. Why are you..." Kyouan turned to Ougi with downcast eyes.

Ougi placed a hand to his chin and looked for words. "That day, for some reason I wanted to go out to the city. And then I stepped down from the carriage allured by the scent of flowers. I saw you and my heart was stolen by your beauty..."

"......Oh my." Kyouan blushed.

"When I heard about your sad life I just had to do something..."

"..............." Kyouan hung her head and with the sleeve of her robe silently wiped away the tears that spilled down.

"Even I did not know...that Kutou Country has been secretly attacking Kounan Country." Ougi hadn't learned from Saihitei, the Country's Emperor, that there was such a massacre in the villages neighboring the capitol. "Saihitei didn't offer any aid?"

Kyouan weakly shook her head at Ougi's question. "When I left my birthplace and came here to the western city I thought perhaps my sadness would heal a little too..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"I see." An unusual seething thought crossed Ougi's mind who by nature wasn't the type to trouble himself with small matters.

"Ougi-sama..." Kyouan raised her head and looked at the Castle Lord with intense eyes. "Ougi-sama, you are Saihitei's elder brother. Why are you merely the Souun Castle Lord and not the true Emperor?..."

"Well..." Ougi didn't know how to answer. There had been a bloody power struggle among the Kounan Country imperial consorts that lead to Saihitei and Ougi getting the positions they had now. It had been a terrible battle of women determined to have their child take the throne.

"Saihitei's mother rose up to the position of Empress. In the end, my mother was finished as a concubine... It could not be helped." Ougi shook his head.

Kyouan said to Ougi. "Kounan Country is in a crisis now. There is dissent among the subjects as to whether the true Emperor is the person who will really protect our country..."

".........That is true but..." Ougi faltered from such a modest girl making a flat assertion.

"What does your mother's former status matter now? Ougi-sama, as the elder brother, please take the lead and protect our country at such a time." Kyouan stepped before Ougi and appealed to him with a serious look.

".........Um-hm."

But, when he thought of Saihitei's, his younger brother born of a different mother,  magnificent swordsmanship and intense popularity, not to mention those good looks that outshone any woman...Ougi's fighting spirit withered at once.

"I wish Suzaku would appear here and bring eternal peace but..."

Kyouan suddenly tilted her head at Ougi's timid words. "Suzaku... Is that the one from the Legend of Suzaku no Miko and the 7 Seishi?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"That's right."

Kyouan hit her hand with a smack. "That is a good idea. How about you look for the Seishi and gather them to your side for when the Miko appears?"

Feeling overwhelmed, Ougi looked at the girl who drew closer and closer. "Ah... you're right. I already know who one of them is though..."

"What? One of the Seishi?"

"----------It's Saihitei."

Kyouan slightly parted her glossy beautiful lips. "Saihitei..."

"My younger brother is also one of the Seishi <Hotohori>. It was because of that that the position of Emperor naturally went to my younger brother..."

The scent of flowers, riding in a breeze that entered out of nowhere, tickled Ougi's nose.

"Matters of the country should be left to Saihitei. And I, with you..." Having said that, Ougi embraced Kyouan.

"No!" Kyouan writhed slightly in Ougi's arms. "I like strong men."

"......Kyouan..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Kyouan looked up at Ougi with watery eyes. "Please become a stronger man...... A stronger man......"

*

"Shun'u! Haven't ya finished with that firewood yet!?"

At Aidou's scolding voice, Genrou stopped swinging the ax that he held with a disgusted face. "Hey, Neechan you're demanding."

Sitting on a nearby log, Kouji chuckled.

"Hey. Just eating at someone else's home for a week. Chopping wood really should be the freeloader's job."

"Didn't Reirei bug us about how she wanted to come to your house? Hey, you owe Reirei your life. If it hadn't been for Reirei you would have been done in by that butaman." Kouji said and guffawed.

"Shiit....that brat..." Genrou swung up the ax.

"Gen-chan, Kou-chan, dinner is ready!" Reirei ran blushing.

"What the hell's with the Gen-chan?! Hey, this isn't your home. Why're ya all laid back? Listen up, you're a hostage. If I did it properly you'd be tied up with rope and ya wouldn't get to eat." Genrou snapped.

Reirei silently hung her head. ".........I know..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"What the? You shouldn't get so angry. Poor Reirei." Kouji said and glanced at Reirei. "Reirei just wants to experience the warmth of a normal family. ...Just like me but..." Kouji stood up and hit Genrou's head with a slap. "You leave home and become a bandit even though you have this kind of family. You really are an idiot."
 
 

Aidou presented Kouji with a rice bowl full of rice porridge. "Here you go. Have all you want."

"What what!? Neechan, aren't you awfully lively. Ah~? I thought you might but you do like Aniki after all, don't ya? Why you."

Smack Whap! Aidou's elbow slammed into Genrou's head.

"What're ya saying ya little brat! You haven't changed at all."

".........Owowowowow. What family warmth?..."

"Here, have some hard-boiled fish too!"

Suddenly a large plate was held over Genrou's head.

"Wah, Ma. Move your breasts. You're breaking my neck~. What was that about you becoming emaciated and your breasts shrinking to half their size? Aren't they bigger than ever?"

"Huh? Is it alright to eat without your father here?" Kouji looked around the table.

"He's right next to ya." Genrou pointed out as he rubbed his neck.

"I'm sorry you can't tell I'm here..." Genrou's father laughed "Ah ha ha" and with a slender arm weakly picked up his chopsticks.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Da---mn, what family warmth? Before I left home there were still 4 marriageable nagging slave driver girls here. Ya understand my hardships, don't ya?"

In the midst of that kind of family table of Genrou's, Reirei smiled as she looked at everyone's faces.

*

"What're ya do..."

"What? You?..." Genrou, sitting on a large stump in front of the house, gave her a cold uninterested reply. Reirei plopped down right beside Genrou.

"Wah, get away from me. Dammit... I hate women." Genrou cried out as he jumped back with a squeal.

"Are ya looking at the stars?" Reirei said with a faraway look.

"Idiot. I'm not that kind of romantic guy." Genrou quickly snapped back.

"......That's true."

Genrou looked at a giggling Reirei and let out a hmph.

"But your family is great, aren't they? I wish I had that kind of life too... My mom and dad both died early and ever since I could remember I made a living there as a bandit..."

".........Oh? Then your family is just that...bu...I mean, Keiron?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Yep... Oniichan isn't the same as a mother to me though."

"No shit... Ha ha ha ha ha, doesn't look much like one..." Genrou was silent for awhile after that then told Reirei. "Hey, tomorrow we're returning to Mt. Leikaku. Our leader will probably be worried."

"......OK."

"OK...? Why have ya been sticking with us and haven't tried to run away?" Genrou was totally disappointed that rather than stealing the treasure, the treasure herself had stuck with them. "Damn, don't just sit there."

".........I'm sorry."

"But, your brother is probably so angry that steam is coming out of his head. He'd decapitate a competent man just from ogling. He really loves you... He's probably pissed and making an all out attack on Mt. Leikaku about now... What'll we do?..."

"......It's alri~ght." Reirei said carefreely as she looked up at the stars. "Cause I left a farewell note..."

"Farewell note~?" Genrou distorted his face and looked into Reirei's face.

"Yep. It said...I'm just going to have some fun in Mt. Leikaku for a bit so don't worry. If you do anything weird I'll make you die a slow and painful death."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Wh-wha-wha~t!?" Genrou slapped his forehead thinking What the hell? "Then you planned on coming with us all along..."

"The one who saw you 2 in the city of Souun was me." Reirei pointed to herself. "So, I carefully thought over what to do and got you to kidnap me."

Genrou's mouth gaped wide open. "S-so then we did everything as you planned it... The pit and the wild boar's net... ah, could Keiron saying that disgusting stuff, and that... dirty, obscene..."

"I didn't take that into account..."

Genrou tore at his hair with an ah and turning to the girl next to him ground his teeth. "......Damn you, sitting there with a blank face..."

"Eh heh, I'm smarter than you..."

Swearing, Genrou picked up a pebble at his feet and threw it into the night sky. "It's no wonder you hate your brother. Even so, who'd get ecstatic at being the enemy's hostage?"

Reirei glanced up at Genrou as he gave a nagging sermon and said lightly as if to herself. "Oniichan wasn't the only reason why I wanted to leave..."

"Hey, what're ya doing in such a place?" Kouji ran up to where the 2 of them were. "What would happen if Reirei caught a cold?..."

Genrou sulkily turned away. "Do I care about this brat?"

Smack! Kouji hit Genrou's head.

"Reirei is an important war spoils. And Reirei. If you spend time with this guy who doesn't have a speck of delicacy, he'll become a splinter in your heart that will make your life awfully awful." Saying that, Kouji pulled on Reirei's hand and forcibly lead her back inside the house.

"Make your life awfully awful? Nicely put. The same can be said about you Aniki." Alone, Genrou battered the ground at his feet. Suddenly he tilted his head. "Wait, something's not right. In the mountain, Aniki was asking to meet my sister but didn't show any interest in Aidou. ...Instead..."

Genrou hit his hand with an oh!

"What? Is that what it was? But, Aniki is crazy too. Getting upset just by listening to us talk. What's so great about that stupid girl? Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha, hee hee hee hee hee hee, Ah-- how funny. I'm crying." Genrou stood up with a swish. And then contentedly combed up his spiked hair. "Heh. I've got plenty of delicacy."

*

The next day, Kouji and Genrou returned to Mt. Leikaku and went straight to the leader's room.

"That took a really long time. So, did you steal the treasure?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Kouji suddenly presented Reirei from behind him before the leader. "Keiron's treasure. His little sister who he would do anything for."

Reirei looked at Hakurou, her big eyes blinking. "Woow, he's cool! He's the exact opposite of Oniichan."

Hakurou cleared his throat with a cough. "I heard Keiron had a little sister but... I see, this is his treasure? ...But, doesn't this girl seem happy to have been stolen? She's not even tied up..."

"No, leader. At first she cried and was making a fuss, and that was terrible so..." Kouji explained with a serious face. "We sneaked into Mt. Kaou a week ago, analyzed the enormous data that we collected, and finally identified his treasure. Well, when we kidnapped her, she gave us a bit of trouble but weell, we told her we'd kill her right then and there if it looked like she might try to run away. After that she did everything she was told."

Amazed, Genrou listened to Kouji's explanation as his jaw dropped.

"Hm..." Hakurou put a hand to his forehead and alternately looked at Kouji and Genrou. "So, who stole the girl?"

"Well......" Kouji hesitated.

Genrou glanced at Aniki. Looks like he's gonna claim the feat as his own. Well, that's OK but... Genrou thought. This isn't a feat or anything.

"It was me... together with Genrou. We both did it together..."

Hearing that, Hakurou gave a mystic smile.

"...Wherever you go, you 2 make a good team." That said, Hakurou looked at Reirei hobbling beside him and said. "Hey, what're ya doing, girl!"

"Wow, a halisen made of iron. It'd really hurt if ya got hit on the head with this~" Reirei said cheerfully, seemingly not knowing about the tessen.

Hakurou slapped Reirei's hand that extended toward the tessen sitting on a pedestal. "Hey hey, this isn't a kid's toy."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"That's right. That's an adult's toy." Genrou said.

Kouji called him an idiot and hit him over the head.

"First off!" Hakurou cleared his throat again and told his 2 young subordinates. "You 2 have done well. ...I've decided to entrust the future of Mt. Leikaku to you 2."

"What...!?" Hearing that, a surprised Kouji and Genrou looked hard at the leader. "Future of Mt. Leikaku?..."

"Right. The next leader."

"But... you'll still be leader for a long time..."

Hakurou shook his head at Kouji's words. "Who knows what may happen to a person's life tomorrow. It's the duty of a leader to take precautions for the worst of times as well. ...Actually I was going to pick the person who stole the treasure but, hmf... You're both still together as a group. Looks like you're finally adults. From now on apply yourselves, and live up to being Mt. Leikaku bandit managers. And then, the person whose ability improves the most will succeed me."

"......Y-yes!" Both Kouji and Genrou answered in loud voices as they turned bright red in excitement.
 
 

"Both of you are becoming managers. That's great."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Yeah, thanks!"

"It's because of me, isn't it?"

"It really is. E--verything is because of......Hm?????" Genrou sullenly grew silent and sat down with a thud in front of the door looking displeased. But he never even thought he would suddenly be chosen to be a manager after being in the group for about a year. And, someday Kouji or himself as leader...?? Genrou felt like he was dreaming.

"I wonder if the leader's lost his mind? Come to think of it, didn't he look a bit tired?" Not to mention... With a disgusted face, Genrou looked at Reirei who restlessly sat on the bed. "I'm glad I get my own room from now on but why do I gotta guard ya in my room even at night?"

"......Hmf hmf."

"What're ya hmf hmfing about? Hey you, if ya like you could go to Kouji Aniki's room." Genrou suggested, intending on showing Kouji he was clever.

"I'm fine here." Reirei said as she swung her legs from the bed. "Didn't the leader say I'm safe since you hate women?"

"......Dammit. It might be OK cause you're safe but I don't like it!" Genrou folded his arms and closed his eyes. "I'm going to sleep."

The rustling sound of covers being pulled up came from the direction of the bed.

"......Sorry I made you let me sleep here..."

"Forget it, would ya go to sleep? Alright, if ya change your mind and try to escape out the window, then"

"You'll kill me...?"

".........Forget it, go to sleep..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Well, no reason such a slow girl could escape but, Genrou thought. After a little while he heard Reirei whisper.

"I'm sure you'll be the one to become leader..."

"......What're...ya saying?"

However ya looked at it, isn't Kouji Aniki way better when it comes to real ability? We're getting equal when it comes to fighting but, Kouji Aniki is smarter than me, and he also understands how to use people. Me, leader?... That could never happen even I had a super huge special break. It's impossible...

"......At least that's what I want... For you to become leader..."

Genrou didn't respond.

He kept hearing Reirei making noise as she kicked up the covers on top of the bed. Was she excited at her first night in Mt. Leikaku that she couldn't sleep?
 
 

Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp. Genrou opened his eyes with a yawn at a small bird's chirping, looked at the empty bed, and jumped up.

"Why you~! You ran away, didn't ya!?" Genrou opened the window with a rattle and rubbed his beady eyes. "Wh-what're ya doing?"

In the courtyard underneath the window, Reirei was swinging a bou about 2 meters long with a shout.

"What am I doing? It's boujutsu practice."

"H~m. You are the little sister of the Mt. Kaou leader. You would know the art of self defense, wouldn't ya? But, where'd ya get that piece of wood?..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Whiz! Reirei's bou suddenly flew at Genrou and he squealed. The bou changed direction with a whirl right before his eyes and returned to the girl.

"Y...you..."

Genrou saw the bou in Reirei's hand become smaller as he watched and contracted until it fit in her hand. His lips quivered as he pointed at that. Reirei quickly put the contracted bou in her hair and grinned.

"This is my aibou no aibou."

"It's an aibou no aibou so it aibou's aibou!?"

Reirei turned a smiling face to Genrou whose mouth flapped.

"So,  what will I be doing from now on?"

*

"Hold on"

A leg suddenly stuck out of the thicket and caught the lead man who had been running swiftly along the mountain path. The 5 men behind him suddenly stopped as well.

"Hi there, so~ you're all passing by?" A figure said, appearing from the thicket with a rustle. It was a short 13 or 14 year old girl.

"What is it girl? You shouldn't be playing jokes on adults around here." The fat middle-aged man laying on the ground slowly rose as he reshouldered a large cloth bundle and walked away again with the people accompanying him.

"Didn't I tell ya to hold on?" The girl said in carefree voice and stood before the men. "Don't ya know 'bout the Mt. Leikaku bandits?"

"We know but what about them? Come on, outta our way."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"I'm one of those bandits."

The men simultaneously burst out laughing. "Poor thing. This girl's a bit crazy."

"You're the ones who're crazy!" With that voice, 2 men appeared from the thicket. Seeing that, the fat man's eyes bulged in fright.

"We've heard 'bout you guys. So you demand unreasonable rent and then harass the farmers?" The black coat said.

The middle-aged fat man cried out to the men behind him. "W...well? I don't know if they're bandits or not but do whatever it takes to get rid of them!"

"I'll take care of them..." The girl held back her 2 male companions and put a hand to an ornamental hairpin. In an instant the girl extended the hairpin in her hand. Seeing it lengthen to exceed her height, the men squealed and retreated.

"Wh...who... are you?..."

"Didn't I tell ya, I'm a bandit." Saying that, the girl swung the bou up with a twirl.
 
 

"Hya~ I did it again." Reirei said in a happy voice.

Genrou, holding the large war spoils ripped off from the corrupt landlord's belongings, scratched his head.

"It's really hard to do isn't it? Doing our job with a hostage." Saying that, he made a displeased face and looked at Kouji. It was 2 weeks later and Kouji and Genrou had Reirei tagging along even while doing bandit business. Well, you can't look down on her tagging along. Reirei carried herself like another person from the moment she held the ornamental hairpin in her hand, so both Genrou and Kouji hardly did any work.

"We're Mt. Leikaku's strongest team. Hey, this time why don't we try to head more down the foot of the mountain?"

Glancing at Reirei whose cheeks were blushing as she sprung up, Genrou whispered in Kouji's ear. "I'm exhausted from being with her... She's driving me crazy and keeping me up at night."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Hey...It couldn't be you're just pretending to hate women and you're really an extremely perverted bastard who every night is having your way with an unwilling Reirei!?"

Grasped by the chest, Genrou feebly said "Quit it." to Kouji with a disgusted face.

"The leader is now in the middle of carefully thinking over the hostage exchange terms for Keiron. We have to be patient a little longer."

Then, a newcomer boy ran toward them.

"Aniki---! Something terrible has happened!" The newcomer, his chest heaving, came before Genrou and Kouji. "This time...our treasure was stolen."

"What was that?"

Genrou and Kouji exchanged intense looks.

Genrou wrinkled his brow and squeezed his fists. "Oo~~h, son of a bitch~~ .........By the way, what's our treasure?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Idiot! Obviously the tessen. Die already ya son of a bitch." Kouji yelled, his hair standing up on end.

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Copyright Watase Yuu/Nishizaki Megumi/Shogakukan   Translated by Tasuki  no Miko