Author Fangirling: Long time no see, Readers! I'll be honest, all it really took to get me inspired to write this was an insightful review on "Concomitant", which I wrote, what, four years ago? Let this be a lesson, always review on stories you liked even if they seem ancient! Nevertheless, it was still one of my favorite stories, and you could consider this a sequel of sorts if you want (some parts do hark back to it). Like Concomitant, I wrote this as something I could realistically see fitting in alongside canon, only I gave myself more of a challenge this time by adding a crack pairing of sorts to it. It all takes place during the three months while Miaka is back home towards the beginning of the series, all Nuriko POV. It will be able six installments. I hope you all enjoy it, because I certainly enjoyed writing fanfiction again!
It's funny when your mind suddenly dwells back on things you only did a few weeks ago.
I don't know why it came back to mind. It was just a little caterpillar I found while we were on our way back from Mount Taikyoku. After Miaka when back home, we stayed there a little while so that His Majesty and Tamahome could recover, and then we made a fairly slow trip back. While they were taking a break, I wandered around a bit and found the fuzzy little thing. It was standing on the edge of a branch on a bush trying to reach a leaf above it, but it kept falling short every time it stretched.
If I really wanted to help, I could have just picked it up and put in on the leaf, but I didn't really want to touch it. Caterpillars are gross—I only tolerate them because they turn into butterflies later. I figured I'd just push the other branch down so the leaf would be closer. It wasted no time latching on to start its lunch, and I thought that was that, and I let go. That's when the branch sprung back to where it was before and the caterpillar was sent flying off. I never did see where it ended up, but I didn't go looking for it either. Instead I sighed and leaned on a tree next to me—only to knock it over. Nothing a little stuffing it back down into the ground couldn't fix, though I left the roots bending back into the air instead of into the ground. It's not like I was going to get my dress dirty by trying to fix it any more than that. It wasn't a big deal, but it left me feeling very unsatisfied.
I thought about mentioning this to Houki to get it off my mind, but I could imagine what she'd say: "Maybe it's symbolic for how your mission as a celestial warrior is unfulfilled."
I love the girl, but sometimes she assumes too much. I know Miaka's going to come back and we're going to summon Suzaku then, and yes, it's a little irritating that she left us on hiatus, but I never had to anticipate too much about the whole warrior business and I don't think I'll start now. I live in the moment, and at the moment, I am content. Quite content.
"So you might have figured it out already, but Miaka and Tamahome?" I smiled to Houki, my best friend in the imperial harem (it's just a plus that she happens to look a lot like me). We had been catching up on a lot of gossip since I returned. That did lead to finally revealing my gender to her clearly, but that's no big deal between friends.
She smiled, "I can guess."
"Totally into each other! Thing is, Tama-baby won't admit it."
"But the priestess will? Does he know?"
"Oh yeah, he knows. And he even had the gall to try to turn her down, when he knows he likes her too! It's only thanks to me that they even said much else to each other before she left." That, and there was the added bonus of keeping Miaka busy with Tamahome so that she'd keep her paws off of Hoto—I mean, His Majesty. I didn't want to tell this to Houki, though. I didn't want her to worry, and she could just leave the jealousy thing to me anyway.
"I'm sure you helped," she replied in her usual 'yes, dear' tone. "The priestess sounds sweet. Since it sounds like she's already come around the harem quarters before, how about you introduce her to me when she returns?"
"Hmm… well…"
"Oh, but she'd be busy, wouldn't she? You were so tied up with all the celestial warrior business once she arrived, after all."
"Busy out of my mind! And His Majesty still likes to invite us to meetings with him even though there's nothing for me or Tama to do. There's not even a good chance to flirt! Oh, Houki!" I buried my face in her lap to whine. "I'm ignored even when I'm right in front of him! It's so vexing!"
"There, there… how about some wine to cool your nerves?"
"You can't be serious," I shot a glance back up at her, and she was already wearing a teasing smile that said 'I know' right back. You wouldn't be able to tell at first, but this one has got some sass to her. Maybe that's because of my influence—have I corrupted her? All the better to make her just like me, I suppose. That way when she bares the emperor's children, it'll practically be like I get to be the one at his side.
And yes, I've already decided this. I know my limits, and providing some certain feminine services is outside of them. As hard as it is to stand the thought of any other woman at his side, I suppose I can stand one there who would do almost as good a job as I would. Besides, any man would be lucky to have the devotion of a woman like her, and there is no other man perfect enough for her. That doesn't mean I can't still hope he'd like some pleasure-company on the side, though.
"Oh, that's right! I get to move into a bedroom closer to him!" I perked back up. "Everybody seems to have this idea that Suzaku Warriors want to be around each other all the time, so it works out just fine for me!"
"Then you won't be living in the harem quarters anymore?"
"Well, I can hardly be considered an official member of the harem anymore. It's really only thanks to this mark of Suzaku that I'm allowed to be here still."
"But, who all knows?"
"Well, His Majesty happened to mention that to a few officials…" I had recalled the conversation starting with something like "please have Nuriko stay in one of the larger guest chambers", "oh, Your Majesty, could that mean…?", "it means he is an honored warrior of Suzaku, one of my brethren", "brethren? But she is…", "a man, apparently. You need not mind his hobby", "a man? How could we have allowed a man into the imperial harem? Perhaps all along, His Majesty really is—", "you certainly cannot blame a few men here and there for appreciating me", and then a few off-color comments from Tamahome which merited him getting slammed into a wall when no one was looking.
That being said, though, Tamahome and I actually get along very well. Being the little country bumpkin that he is, I think he feels a little awkward cooked up here in the palace, and he's probably more comfortable with me because of what we've already through together as Suzaku warriors. That, and some experiments with bondage and stealing first kisses have a way of bringing people together. I don't think he even minds that I tease him a bit still.
"I wonder what Miaka's up to right now," he blankly stared out at the sunset with a glazed look on his face from his usual spot on the veranda. Now, any refined person wouldn't be sitting on the banister, but this is his habit. It makes him a little too easy to push over when saying hello, I've found out.
"Hmm… I'm more curious who she's with."
"What in the world do you mean by that, Nuriko?"
"I think you know what I mean," I sing-songed beside him, waving my sleeves in the air over my hands. "I wonder when she'll get back."
"I'm more curious what other things she'll bring back with her from her world."
"Are you drooling, Tama?"
"If I just had five more pieces of that gum…"
"You're a real jerk sometimes, you know that?"
"I feel so useless here," he hung his head. "I should be working right now. Why isn't she back yet? How long are we going to have to wait around?"
Another voice joined us out there, saying "I agree." Oh, and it was a voice I always fluttered at the sound of! I could feel my whole face lighting up into a smile as I turned to face him—and oh, facing him was enough to make me weak in the knees! The low sun highlighting his features just so, the way just a few delicate strands of hair were caught in the breeze! He is always so much more stunning up close!
"Your Majesty…"
"After waiting ten years to meet her, it is even more difficult to wait for just a short time. I'm sorry for how bored the two of you must be."
"Members of the harem are well-practiced at waiting, Your Highness."
"That is good to know. And Tamahome, how are you fairing? Are your accommodations suitable?"
Come on, Your Highness, take a hint! You can keep yourself occupied with other things while we wait! At least I'm allowed to be in his company more now. I know I don't have much of a chance, but being in his company still makes me feel special. Watching over him as he does his work, or be exchanging something as simple as conversation is like fulfilling a dream. I had always had a sense of connection to him. Maybe it was just something from Suzaku driving us together, but that desire to be close to him is what drove me to infiltrate the harem to begin with. And no, I'm not sorry that I don't have to share this with any of the other girls! Oh, but Tamahome is here too. I really don't mind that, since he doesn't seem to care much. That's not true, I guess—things are tense between them because they both have their eyes on Miaka. So much so that they were willing to give up their lives for her—I watched as they tried to!
"Nuriko, are you alright? You seem irritated?"
"Oh, do I?" I squeaked back and noticed that I had gripped the banister so tightly that the wood splintered apart. "Of course, I'd just like to stay useful as well."
"In that case, while there is nothing more we can do to summon Suzaku at the moment, you are both welcome to attend my regular meetings with the officials."
"Really?"
"Do we have to?"
"I wouldn't force you to," he sounded irritated with Tamahome's tone, "but I feel your varied experience may be useful to us and to the rest of the country."
"I guess I could show up, then."
"It would be an honor."
"It's an honor to spend time with him, but political meetings are going to be so boring, Houki," I whined to her while packing my things. "What would I really know about anything more than harem drama?"
"You're a warrior of Suzaku, Kourin, it's only natural that you would be an important person to have at those meetings. You're a central figure to the good of the country."
"I'm a central figure in the summoning of Suzaku, that's all. All I have to do is be present for a ceremony and make sure nothing happens to the priestess beforehand. Not that there's much that could happen to her while she's here. "
"But you did rescue her from that fallen pavilion."
"Tamahome did most of the work; I wasn't in a big hurry. I guess when she comes back, my biggest job will be to make sure she doesn't choke when she scarfs down her food!"
"I'm sure you'll do much more than that," she had a tense smile. "You better hurry to your new quarters, I suppose."
"There's no hurry at all," I replied. "Why, are you trying to get rid of me?"
She frowned deeply and shook her head. Holding back tears, obviously. What was she trying to do, make me feel guilty?
"Oh, I get it. Jealous because I'll get to be closer to His Majesty."
"That's not true!" she retorted. "To be perfectly honest, I was always rooting for you."
"Oh? And not for yourself? Why would that be?" I took her hands in mine as I asked, but she was looking away, chewing on an answer she thought she had best not let out. "Let me guess—you didn't want me to react violently if I wasn't chosen to be his lover?"
"That's part of it."
"I think I get the rest of it," I put my forehead against hers. After all, my wish for her happiness was probably the same as her wish for mine. "Listen, I know I'll be tied up a bit more with this official business or whatever, but you can come visit me in my new room. It'll be so much bigger! I'll have the servants bring us some really nice tea to try tomorrow."
"But I'm not allowed to leave the harem quarters!"
"Consider me your escort! I have a lot more sway with the officials now, remember?"
"Well," she had a sheepish smile, "who am I to say no to a Suzaku Warrior?"
Somehow I both loved and hated the sound of that. I didn't let that bother me, because I had a lot of fun to look forward to before Miaka returned. If I can't have my way with His Majesty, mark my words—Houki will.