He reached the city on his third horse, leaving it at the gate and taking the horse of one of the guards.  The man started toward him, drawing a sword, but with a twitch of his hand he sent the ryuseisui to kill him.  He kicked the horse into a high gallop, reaching the castle quickly.

By then, rage and tears blinded him as he burst into the castle, ryuseisui swirling around him, killing anyone in his way.  He screamed for the Suzakus to come and face him or have more lives on their souls.

There was a flash of Suzaku energy around him, forming a barrier. His ryuseisui were also caught and grounded.

A strangely dressed man with hair that defied gravity poofed into existence in front of him and the slit eyes seemed to widen slightly. "Amiboshi-kun?" The voice was shocked.

The boy screamed.  He balled his hands into fists, closing his eyes tightly as he fought against the barrier, struggling to [get his balls up.....] raise his weapons again.

"Anata ga... Amiboshi no kyoudai no da..." the strange man realized.

Unable to use his power, the boy folded to his knees, sobbing.  "Just kill me too!" he shouted hoarsely.

The sounds of running feat entered the courtyard. "Amiboshi!" a girls voice cried out in happy disbelief.

"Miaka-chan, kore ga Amiboshi janai no da...."

The Miko didn't seem to hear and ran over to the boy. "Amiboshi! Yokkata!" she cried out, going to hug the boy.

"Miaka-chan!"

The boy looked up, face twisted in anger and hit her hard, sending her stumbling back.  "Aniki ga shin da!  Omae no sei!"

The girl stumbled back, eyes wide, hand over where she had been hit. "You're his brother?" she said softly, a hand over her chest. "You look just like him..."   She looked down and pulled something from her pocket, holding it out to the boy, eyes sad.

The boy stopped, staring at the girl's hands.  After a moment he grabbed the flute out of her hands, hugging it to his chest as he sobbed brokenly.

"Shit," Tasuki said.  "Who the hell is he?"

"Amiboshi no kyoudai no da," Chichiri said in a soft voice.

Miaka looked at the boy sadly, and kneeled down in front of him. "I tried... but he let go..." she said in a soft voice. "When he fell I tried to catch him..." She lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry..."

The boy shook his head violently.  "Aniki wouldn't!  You!  You killed him!"

"Well, fuck.  Why'd we do that for?" Tasuki demanded.

The boy looked up, snarling through his tears.  "You found out he was Seiryuu.  That's enough for you, isn't it?" he demanded.

"He was our friend!" Miaka protested. "I won't say his betrayal didn't hurt, but he was one of us!  I didn't-- I didn't want him to die..." she looked down, expression depressed. "He was my friend...."

"Then why is he dead?" the boy demanded.

Miaka was quiet a moment. "He attacked us..." she said slowly. "And... we were by the river and he fell...." Her eyes closed in mental pain.  "I tried to catch him... I-- I caught hold of his flute and... he let go...."

"Aniki wouldn't," the boy denied, shaking his head violently.

"I'm sorry..." Miaka's voice was very soft and sorrowful.

The boy looked up, eyes blazing.  "What do you know about it?!  You don't know what pain IS!"

The girl was quiet a moment more. "I'm fighting my best friend in order to summon Suzaku and I don't know if I'll ever be able to see my family again," she said in a soft voice. "I don't know the pain you feel, but I can understand how badly it hurts..."

"Aniki," the boy whimpered. Giving hiccoughing sobs, he raised the flute to his lips, playing a stuttering version of Amiboshi's favorite tune.

The Suzaku were quiet, allowing the boy his grief.

After a moment the flute was lowered.  More calmly, he looked up.  "Are you going to kill me now too?"

Miaka shook her head.  "I don't want anyone to die...." she said softly. "Maybe... maybe Suzaku can bring him back?" She looked up at Chichiri hopefully.

The monk shook his head. "The gods will not break the lines between life and death no da."

"So what are you going to do to me?" the boy asked, seeming resigned to whatever fate he was given.

The miko looked uncertain. "If... if you promise not to hurt any one here, you can stay...." she offered hesitantly.. "if-- if it's alright with Hotohori, that is," she added quickly, looking over at the man.

"Shit," Tasuki said.  "What if he's a spy?"

"But we already know he's a seiryuu seishi," Miaka pointed out.

"Miakachan... the seiryuu are our enemies no da.." Chichiri pointed out.

"But he's Amiboshi's brother!" Miaka protested. "and-- I miss him..." she admitted softly, looking down again. "I liked him..."

"But he could still be a spy, Miaka," Nuriko pointed out, crouching next to the girl and hugging her.  "And if he is, he could tell Nakago everything we're planning."

"Then... we just won't talk about it when he's here?" Miaka asked?

"It's not that easy, Miaka," Hotohori said gently.  "Just by being here, he could find out things about the country that could help Kutou in any war effort.  He's dangerous to us."

The girl sighed. "So he has to go home..." she said softly. "But... without his brother..." She pressed her lips together as if fighting off tears. "Could... could we at least... find the-- the body? So.. so we can give him a burial? And then we can send his brother home...."

There was a choked noise from the boy before he held back all emotion.

"I suppose it's the least we can do," Hotohori acknowledged.  "Chichiri, can you find it?"

The monk debated a moment. "I can try no da." He turned to Suboshi. "You won't attack while we look, will you?"

The boy turned a tear-stained face to the monk.  "I want my aniki," he whimpered.  He bit his lip, feeling pathetic.

Miaka turned to him and hugged him. "I'm sorry..." she said softly. "I wish I could bring him back for you..."

Chichiri looked at the pair a moment before nodding and teleporting off.

"Shit," Tasuki said softly.  "I still don't like this."

Mitsukake put a hand on the bandits shoulder. "In times of grief, rules are different..."

"I liked him too!" the bandit protested, "But he betrayed us and we don't even know who this kid is!"

"I would assume Chiri-- Amiboshi's twin," the healer corrected himself.  "Even in times of war, if possible the bodies of loved ones were shipped home to their families so they could be properly mourned. This isn't much different."

"He was killing the guards and servants five minutes ago!" Tasuki pointed out.

Mitsukake grimaced slightly. "It's Miaka's call," he pointed out. "I think she needs to mourn as well..."

"Mitsukake-kun!" Chichiri called as he teleported back into existence, bearing the wet form of Amiboshi. "Hayaku no da! He's still alive!"

Suboshi's head snapped up.  "Aniki's alive?"  He pushed Miaka away, rushing to the monk's side.  "Aniki?"

Mitsukake hurried over, holding his hand over the boy's form. A soft green light flowed out and Amiboshi gave a weak, wet cough.

"Aniki!" Suboshi cried. throwing himself on the wet boy and the monk holding him.

Amiboshi's eyes opened slowly and he turned towards his brothers voice. "Shunkaku?" he put his arms around his brother best he could.

Chichiri carefully set Amiboshi on his feet so the brothers could embrace fully.

"Aniki," the younger boy sobbed, holding Amiboshi as if the other boy would disappear.

Amiboshi held his brother comfortingly. "Shh, otouto. Daijoubu..."  He looked over at the Suzaku seishi, expression slightly apprehensive.

"Shit," Tasuki said for the third time.  "How're we going to tell them apart?"

Chichiri gave a small chuckle. "It's not that hard, no da."

Chiriko pushed past the taller seishi to stand in front of the brothers.  "Hajimemashite," he said with a bow.

Amiboshi looked at the boy. "Chiriko-san..." he guessed. "Hajimemashte..."  He continued to hold his brother almost protectively, unsure what was going to happen.

"Miaka-san says you did a good job as me," the young seishi said.  "Probably better than I will."

Amiboshi blinked, looking over at the miko a moment before looking at the boy again, very unsure how to reply. "But... I just betrayed you all..." he looked at the group again. "I-- I don't understand why I'm alive but... thank you...." He looked as if he was going to bow, but kept his arms around his brother instead.

"Shit, we wanted you dead you'd be dead," Tasuki said.

Amiboshi was quiet a moment. "So the insanity of the warring gods will continue...?" he finally said.

"We'll have to go find the shinzahou now," Tamahome said, "But yes.  If Nakago goes after them, the fighting will continue."

"Otouto..." Amiboshi lifted his brothers face. "Do they think I'm dead?"

Suboshi sniffled and nodded.  "Nakago couldn't find your ki either."

"If I can keep it concealed..." Amiboshi looked over at the Suzaku. "It's the least I can do to repay you..." he said softly.

"What about him?" Tasuki asked, pointing at Suboshi.

"Otouto..." Amiboshi turned his attention back to his brother. "They know you came here... if you conceal your ki as well... and don't call on seiryuu... we can go off somewhere and try and live a normal life and leave this all behind..."

"Just us?" the younger boy asked.

Amiboshi nodded, before looking at the Suzaku again. "If you'll let us."

"Shit," Tasuki said in thought.  "Just stay far away.  Like in another country far."

Amiboshi smiled and nodded. "Somewhere this war will never reach us again..." he said softly, stroking his brother's hair.

The bandit nodded.  "Go then."

"I'll send you to Taiitsukun no da," Chichiri spoke up. "She'll take care of you both."

Amiboshi nodded. "Thank you."

With a small poof, the three seishi vanished.