Nuriko: Reflections
by Tanzy
Nuriko stared out the window of his room, looking outside across the gardens he could see Suzaku no Miko and that boy Tamahome. They were walking through the gardens with the emperor.
'Damn that girl,' Nuriko thought sadly, 'I spend all my life trying to get close to the emperor and one day she just stumbles in and now he's only got eyes for her. Well you should have known.' Nuriko's expression turned slightly bitter, 'Whenever you overheard the emperor talking, what did you hear hin talking about? The legendary Suzaku no Miko this, te legendary Suzaku no Miko that. What ever made you think that he could ever feel anything for someone like you?'
Nuriko turned from the window and sashayed over to the dressing table in his room. Touching up on his makeup Nuriko tried to shut that annoying voice up but it would not be stopped, 'So you're beautiful, but your whole life is a lie. You live in a constant deception. Hotohori-sama is beautiful but he's smart too. If you even could get close to him he would see through your lies in a second. Not only that but you are a freak: you have that weird birthmark, you are way way too strong, and you live in denial of something that happened almost 10 years ago.' Nuriko sighed, he had to do something or he was going to drive himself crazy. Leaving his room, Nuriko signaled for his 'attendants' to follow him. They weren't really attendants, Nuriko dressed himself and bathed himself, he couldn't have his secret getting out.
As Nuriko walked along, he happened by a group of women gossiping. Hoping to catch some tidbit of gossip about Hotohori-sama, Nuriko stopped and quietly joined the group. The other women paused and greeted him then continued their conversation.
"Oh, yes, I completely agree. That boy Tamahome is quite interesting, he is just so (^.^ oops got side tracked there snips the rest of that description) But he's just as untouchable as the emperor," the gossiper paused for effect, "because he's a Suzaku no Seishi and Suzaku no Miko apparently has a thing for him."
"Well that's obvious but how do you know he's a seishi?" Another woman asked.
Well, because in the legend it talks about how the seishi each have a mark somewhere on their bodies and they also have some sort of special power that they can use to protect the Miko. That boy's power seems to bee fighting, he's such a nice boy it would really be a shame if he fell Suzaku no Miko, considering the legend and all..." The gossiper continued on as Nuriko stood and just stared in shock. One of his attendants nudged Nuriko and he started. Quickly recovering Nuriko wandered of so he could sort out the implications of what this news might mean. Nuriko knew of the legend but had never thought that maybe his birthmark might mean something.... maybe that would explain his incredible strength. Nuriko almost felt giddy, if he was actually a seishi then that would give him a chance to get close to the emperor and appear on the scene before that girl Suzaku no Miko could take away Hotohori-sama and ruin all his chances.
'Not that there ever was a chance for you.' That secret voice inside said. Before Nuriko could continue that depressing train of thought a loud crash interrupted his thoughts, followed by a lot of ruckus and shouting. Hurrying towards the site of all the commotion, with his attendants in tow, Nuriko headed towards his destiny....
And the rest shall we say is history ^.^
