a/n; apologies for the short update. lots of things going on right now and writing this as a pleasant distraction. thank you for the support and as always, I'll assure everyone that this story would still continue. I may have difficulty replying to comments, but i appreciate each and every single one of them!

-rhye

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

It took them awhile to get just to the foot of the mountain despite their familiarity of the place. It didn't help that it was raining earlier and the temperature dropped; their horses were getting too cold for travels. To make matters worse, their birds were acting strange, circling far and not following their orders.

The Prince had a hunch that since they were there unannounced, they can't get through the territory easily – and forcing through would mean suicide and sheer stupidity.

"Tch. We're setting camp here, man the horses," Kouki said as he stepped down his own and whistled for his falcon. It gave a pleasant sound as if it was happy that it was finally given orders to rest. Kouki gave it food and let it perch on his arm while his men settled for the night, guarding in turns.

"Nothing unusual, your Highness. Please rest first," Sugawara reported while the rest manned their stations. The sun was still up, but was dark enough because of the fog now enveloping them. Kouki could see his breath forming every time he breathes – and, though difficult by the dampness of their surroundings, they managed to make fire and settled comfortably.

"May I sit here?"

"Ha, It's not like you need permission," Kouki laughed and Sawamura sat beside him, admiring the Prince's falcon.

"I think now's the good time to tell us about what're hiding. I have an idea, but the others need to know as well. It is our job to do whatever you want with absolute obedience the moment we pledge our allegiance. It'd be nice, however, to know what exactly are we battling."

"Fair enough," Kouki said as he summoned everyone around him. Though they were alert to their surroundings, everyone was all ears, "gather 'round."

Kouki started to tell their story, starting from his childhood to the part where he met the owls and Shouyo. No one dared asked anything and no one dared to comment. Everyone was just listening – and, even though they were confused to hell and back, they supposed keeping it in would be the best thing to do.

As the story progressed, Nishinoya and the rests' faces grew darker. Kouki could not guess what were those faces for. Are they mad? Afraid?

"So what exactly is Shouyo-sama?" Nishinoya asked when the story ended.

"My brother," Kouki breathed, "your Prince." Kouki said with conviction – as if he was offended they even asked him that.

"Then all of this doesn't matter does it?" Tanaka asked, a bit annoyed that he thought it was a big deal – like Shouyo actually is a Princess and pretended to be otherwise for safety reasons. When he voiced this outloud, Sawamura slapped him on the back of his head.

"But what're we going to do? Come there and demand that they bring Shouyo back? I doubt the tengus are diplomats."

"Sugawara is right," Kouki clasped his hands together, "my plan is to talk, of course, using Bokuto-sama's authority."

"What if we were being led to our deaths? Can we be sure that Bokuto can be trusted?" Sugawara asked again. The true voice of reason to their groups of hot-heads.

"We can," Kouki answered dryly, "over the years that I have thought about this, it does not make sense that they'd led us to death now."

"Why'd you say so? How are we sure?"

"Gut feeling," he answered with a chuckle.

"Well… I too, do not think they have bad intentions as they also helped the Prince and us healed faster last time, right?" Nishinoya replied.

"Well," Kouki laughed heartily, "that – and they could have killed me a long time ago. Rather than kill me, I think they needed me alive to take care of Shouyo. They went to clarify things when we were convinced the Tengus went to kill us, don't you all think so?" he added.

"Hmm… than believe the small logic, I'm siding with your 'gut feeling' more. You've never been wrong from the years I've been with you," Sawamura scratched his head.

"Oho? That's nice."

They all turned around to check where the sound was coming from - armed to death, and positioned to strike.

"Show yourself!" Kouki bellowed.

"Ya-hoo~"

A tengu wearing an expensive silk kimono in white and green came to surfaced, followed by a familiar looking tengu nodding his head towards them.

"It's nice to see you again, Human Prince," he said as he stood besides the cheerful tengu with chestnut hair.

"My name is Ichirou," the chestnut spoke with eery, happy voice, "Tengu clan's heir," he added; walking towards them with his arms in the air as if he was making sure he was unarmed – or, trying to look harmless, even though every nerve of the humans that were present were sensing the danger. "Our little birds told us we have visitors camping nearby. Such important guests cannot stay out here in the cold. We have a lot of youkais traveling here," he said as a warning that they might get harmed or eaten there.

Though Ichirou was wearing his long-nosed, red faced tengu masked, it did not hide the fact that he has an overwhelming presence, for everything about him screamed 'pride'. Kouki supposed he wasn't lying, for the tengu named Iwaizumi introduced himself as a servant. For such a character, he must be serving under someone powerful.

Kouki was the first to lower his weapon, followed by the worried men that needed a command of two to surrender. When they let their guard down, Ichirou removed his mask to reveal his face. And though he was smiling, there wasn't humor present in his face.

Quite the opposite in fact—Kouki noted—Ichirou doesn't look happy at all with the situation.

"Pardon us for the sudden visit, but since you're here, I supposed the Chief is willing to meet us?" Kouki asked. He noticed a lot of tengus were actually perched at nearby trees. On quick surveillance, they were at least about twenty. All eyes on them.

How spine-chilling, he thought.

"The Chief is forced to meet you, since we wanted to know the truth. But first, we need to talk and think this through. My brother, the idiot who kidnapped your brother, left with him towards the somewhere to search for something. We need to talk!"

Kouki was surprised at the sudden changed of attitude. As if Ichirou was sulking for he was not involved, "Of course. But may I know if Shouyo is safe?"

"He won't be if you don't cooperate!"

Kouki's hand unsheathed his sword and pointed it straight between Ichirou's eyes, "Is that a threat I hear?" he asked, ready for a fight. He don't care how many tengus now near him, ready to defend their master. He would take him down with him.

"Not a threat, no. Shouyo, together with all the youkais he had gathered with him will die if we don't sort this out." Ichirou did not backed down and towered his height, looming over Kouki. It took a good minute for Kouki to calm his nerves and re-sheathe his sword.

"What in the world…." Nishinoya asked, confused as the rest of them.

"If you're done being an idiot, then follow me." Ichirou walked towards the thick of trees and Iwaizumi stayed to escort them, saying excuses for his master's foul attitude.

"Oh? Forgive me if I caught your master in a terrible time," Kouki said.

"Nah. Not really. He's just awful by nature."

Though tensed, Kouki laughed a bit and followed them to the tengu village.