To Dance By Moonlight

Chapter Twenty Four

"Help us!" Kiyoko screamed as soon as she made it onto the palace grounds. "Somebody! Help us, please!"

They'd only just managed to escape the clutches of the men who had chased them down, but they fought their way out, thanks in no small part to Kei and Ji showing them how to move around giant swinging cutlery. Kiyoko snorted, thinking this wasn't really the time to remember Kei's smart remark about weaponry, but it helped strengthen her to keep going. And she had to keep moving if she was going to get Hitoka to the palace doctors.

"Help!" she screamed again, wobbling under the younger's weight.

The imbalance was too much, and she fell to her knees, jarring herself as well as her friend, which she carried on her back. Hitoka groaned softly, and Kiyoko was reminded that their escape didn't come without a price. Just as they were breaking free, one of their assailants swung his dagger. It was meant for Kiyoko, but Hitoka took the brunt. Kiyoko wanted to stop, to take the knife out, to at least tend to the wound. But Hitoka urged her to keep going, to leave her behind.

She wasn't the leader of the Crow Clan because she did everything she was told. And she wasn't about to leave Hitoka to die. The men who were supposed to guard them on this outing, finally caught up and while they fought the Eagle Clan members, Kiyoko quickly took Hitoka to a safe place and carefully removed the dagger. Then she tore off some of her own tunic and placed it against the wound to staunch the blood. She tore more fabric, and wrapped it tight around Hitoka's torso, maneuvered them so that Hitoka was draped over her back, and lifted the younger woman to carry her to safety.

"Shimizu-san!"
She looked up and sighed with relief. Thank heavens. Help had finally arrived.
"What happened?" Eita asked her as he gently pulled Hitoka off her back. When he gasped at the sight of her blood-soaked bandage, Kiyoko started explaining. Once she was finished, he laid a shaky hand against Hitoka's pale face, and scooped her up in his arms. "I'll get her to the doctor. You go find the Sheikh."
"Yeah."
"Eita! What happened?" Taichi came running over with a few more guards.

Eita said nothing, hurriedly passing by everyone to get Hitoka to the infirmary. Kiyoko also walked past Taichi without saying anything, until he grasped her arm. She cried out, fighting to free herself. Taichi let her go, his hands held up in peace.

"Shimizu-san! I won't hurt you."
"I-I'm sorry. I know. It's just..."
"What happened?" He gestured to the blood stains on the back of her tunic. "Is any of that yours?"
"No. At least, not that I'm aware. No, I'm fine, don't worry," she backed up when he reached out toward her. "We need to go to the Sheikh."
"Right. Come on."

~*~

Kuroo paced back and forth, his strides quickly eating up space around the room. Bokuto stayed still, but his face was stern, mentally going through what they'd just been told. Akaashi was barely able to hold it together, his eyes filled with unshed tears. Taichi stood still, having delivered the information he had, and Kiyoko beside him, told the Sheikh her part of the story.

"We have to get him back." He looked at Taichi. "Do you have any idea where they might be hiding him?"
"None, sir," Taichi answered, frustrated. "I could find out..."
"No," Kuroo interrupted harshly, but then gentled his voice. "Sorry, Kawanishi. I know how much you and Semi want to help, but if you are caught..."
"Right."
"You've told us everything you know about their plan, correct?" Bokuto asked, finally speaking.
"Yes, sir."
"How far is their lair from here?"
"Eagle's Nest is roughly two days south of here. The town is roughly the size of this one."
"Hmmm..." Now Bokuto began to pace, eventually stopping where Akaashi was seated. He crouched down, and then settled behind him, gathering him up in his arms. "I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help. Are you willing?"
"Of course, I am! I'll do anything to get Kei back!"
"It may require you to fight..."
Akaashi nodded. "It's not like I don't know how. I didn't forget the lessons they gave us."
"Right."

Kuroo postponed all further meetings and ordered his meal to be brought to him. Fatima came through in a pinch, and they had a veritable feast of everything she had on hand, mostly vegetables and fruits. He called for Nekomata to join them, and they were just about to eat when Eita came into the room. He bowed, and faced Kiyoko.

"The healer stitched her up, and she's resting," he told her. "He wants to keep an eye on her, though. He also says there's a good chance of fever..." his voice broke a little.
Kuroo, seeing that the man obviously had feelings for the young lady, took pity on him.
"You may stay with her, if you'd like," he said gently. Eita's eyes widened before he bowed to Kuroo.
"If you're sure you don't need me?"
"I'm sure. Besides, she'll need a familiar face to wake up to, yeah?"
"Yes, sir."
"Come. Eat with us, and you and Kawanishi can tell us everything you know about the clan, their home, and any suggestions about how to get Kei back."
"Yes, sir."

~*~

"Welcome back, my golden dove," a raspy voice said into the darkness. "You've grown quite a bit, haven't you?"
"Like you care," Kei bit back. "I'm worthless to you anyway."
A sharp bark of laughter filled the room. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"You did! Every chance you got, you said I was..."
"Ah, yes. That."

Minute by minute, Kei waited for the inevitable litany of words that Washijo would say about his worthlessness. But, they never came. It was quiet. Too quiet. Until he heard the shuffling of feet, and smelled something delicious, though he dared not eat for fear of poison. But he was so hungry. And thirsty.

The door squealed on its hinges, and Kei heard more than saw people coming in. Someone came to cut his ropes, someone else brought a tray of food, water, and sat it down on a chair.

"I'm somewhat surprised you believed me, my dear Kei-chan. I thought you were smarter than that. With your rare golden coloring, you would bring me more money than anyone else."
"Then why...?"
"Couldn't let you think you were more important than anyone else, could I? And that seems to have backfired on me. Pity, that. Still, together, you and Keiji-chan would have brought me more money than the Sheikh can even claim to have, but after they got one good look at you in all your splendor, they amended their offer. The same amount of money, but only for you."
"I hate you!"
"I know. Eat up, my dear Kei-chan. We'll be leaving soon."
"Wait! What about Ji?"
"What about him? Ooohh, I see. You think I wanted you both?"
"Well, yeah."
"Oh, I do. But your buyer is already waiting. In a few days, I'll hand you over, collect the money, and then lay my trap for your... friend."
"You bastard!"
"Careful, Kei-chan. I'm not supposed to harm you... but accidents can happen."

The door slammed, and Kei was left alone in the dark room. With food and water that he was starving for, but too wary to eat it. He had to escape somehow, but alone, it was difficult to think of how. He scooted along the wall until he came to the corner, and scrunched himself in it as far as he could. He needed to think, and the food was distracting him.

That's when he noticed it. A tiny, yet faint shaft of light and dust motes drifting down from above. His eyes followed that small beacon, and he found what might possibly be his salvation: a small hole, high up on the wall. He didn't have anything to write with, and nothing to write on, so he had to think of something that would find its way back to the palace and double as a message.