Disclaimer:

Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play was created by Yu Watase, who has real claim to it, along with people at Pioneer Entertainment, Shogakukan, Flower Comics, Bandai, Studio Pierrot, TV Tokyo, and anyone else on this seemingly endless list that I forgot to mention. Fushigi Yugi characters were used without permission. This story was created for other Fushigi Yugi fans to enjoy. No money is being made from this fic.

Overall Warnings:

Language (Tasuki's a main character, what do you expect?) and adult situations. Rated PG-13.

Notes:

Hi! Sapphire again. If you haven't read "Suzaku's Orakuru" then stop right now! You are about to read "Oracles of the Four Gods: Oracle's Destiny", which is not just a sequel to "Suzaku's Orakuru", but a continuation of it. As with "Suzaku's Orakuru" there will be thirty chapters to this story, but each chapter will never exceed more than 4 pages worth on a word processor. Though most of my readers might not mind having more lengthy chapters, as the author, I find having these frequent chapter breaks helpful with things like pacing and movement (just in case you were curious as to why I do this). As I said before, this will be a continuation of "Suzaku's Orakuru" and the narration will pick up two days after the events in the final chapter of "Suzaku's Orakuru".

Introduction:

The four stars of the Four Gods are about to align, and those who serve Suzaku are hurrying to discover this cosmic event's importance before it's too late. Complicating matters, the evil entity Suzaku warned about has become a very real and dangerous threat…

Oracles of the Four Gods

Oracle's Destiny

By: Sapphire

Part One ~ An Emperor's Gift

Part One ~ An Emperor's Gift

"I was waiting for you." Aneko turned around and there was Danno. He was sitting at her kitchen table in her apartment. A long box with a red ribbon tied around it lay on the table top.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, confused.

"We had a date, remember?" he returned. So, she was dreaming again. "I told you last time I'd prove it's safe for you to love me again. I know it had to hurt when I left. Believe me, I didn't want to leave. It wasn't my choice."

"I know," Aneko said. "It was the rain, I guess. It was dangerous weather to drive in." Danno seemed confused.

"Whatever they told you, whatever you think happened, it's not true," he finally said. He didn't understand. He thought he was still alive. The funniest part was, he was only a ghost of Danno, a memory that existed only in her dreams. She supposed it was useless to try and convince him he was dead. He was so sure he wasn't dead. Maybe he wasn't, not really, in her heart. "I brought you these," he said, indicating the long box with the red ribbon. Aneko stepped over and untied the bow. Then she lifted the cover of the box to reveal six long stem red roses. "I thought we'd go back, make a kind of fresh start," he said. Aneko sighed.

"They're beautiful," she said. "Thank-you."

*****

It had only been two days since returning to the palace, but since their arrival, Tasuki, Chichiri, and Aneko had been immersed in a flurry of activity. Aneko was quite surprised to find herself with a little spare time at midmorning, and so she found herself a quiet spot to sit in the court gardens. She decided it was high time she take a moment to think and reflect on the course her life was taking. Being Orakuru was an enormous undertaking, and she had spent little time taking into account the responsibility of her position. There were so many questions she had, and concerns, too. Just the idea of dealing with them overwhelmed her. She wished she could talk things over with someone. Right away she considered Chichiri might find some time for her, but after that strange incident on Mt. Daikyoku, she was reluctant to ask it of him. Empress Houki would listen, she knew, but the kind Empress knew less about her situation than she did herself. Tasuki, as a confidant, was out of the question. He had absolutely no patience for discussion.

Suddenly she noticed a pair of hazel eyes staring out at her from among the nearby hedgerow. She wasn't afraid of them, however. Aneko slipped off the bench and got on her hands and knees and crawled toward the eyes and smiled when she saw it was, indeed, who'd she'd suspected it to be. She sat back on her knees, and held out a hand.

"Please come out, Prince Boushin," she asked with quiet kindness. The little boy answered with a giggle, then scrambled out, planting himself in her lap. "What in the heavens were you doing in that bush?" Aneko inquired curiously.

"Playin' hide an' seek," the prince replied with a shrug.

"Hide and seek?" Aneko was surprised. He was supposed to have his entourage of nannies and guards with him at all times, but they were nowhere to be seen. She smiled. The little sneak had managed to give them the slip, she supposed.

"Who're you?" the little prince asked in his most regal tone of voice.

"I'm Aneko, Suzaku no Orakuru," she told him. "Do you know what that means?"

"Hai," Boushin replied. "You're here to save me like you saved me 'afore."

"You remember that?" Aneko asked surprised. "I didn't think you would. It was pretty scary, and sometimes that makes people forget." She mentally winced, having reminded herself about other problems she was too busy to deal with properly.

"Not me," the young prince assured her. "Mama said you got hurt."

"I did. That's why I decided to go away with Chichiri and Tasuki. They took me to Mt. Daikyoku. Taiitsukun, who lives there, healed me."

"That was a good idea," the little prince said with a decisive nod.

"What was?" Aneko asked, wondering what he knew of Taiitsukun and Mt. Daikyoku.

"Going with Chiri," he replied. "Chiri's good at taking care of me. Did Chiri take good care of you, too?"

"He did," Aneko agreed with a smile. She remembered how the boy had clung to Chichiri right after the demon's attack. The young prince was apparently very fond of the wandering monk.

"Are you better now?" the Prince asked.

"Yes, I am," she answered.

"Good," Boushin said. "Come with me," he ordered suddenly, scrambling from her lap. Aneko was a little startled. She wasn't used to receiving orders from children, but she was curious, so she got up. Prince Boushin took her hand and led her toward the main palace pavilion. He led her to the private apartments he shared with his mother. He dropped her hand and scurried across a large room. With all his might he pushed a wide, heavy, ornate, red chair against the wall under a beautifully ornamented sword that hung there. The little prince climbed up on the chair, and after some effort, managed to get the sword down. He dragged the heavy weapon back across the room and held it out to Aneko. "Here," he said simply, looking up at her with his trusting, expectant brown eyes.

"For me?" Aneko wasn't sure what to say. She'd never seen anything like it, and it hardly seemed appropriate for her to take such a treasure as a gift. "I- I don't deserve something as beautiful as this," she professed, trying to give it back to the boy. He scowled and refused to accept it, turning his head from her in disdain. Aneko was a little unsure what she had done to make him angry with her.

"It's rude not to accept the gift of the Emperor," Aneko turned to see Empress Houki standing just inside the doorway to the far left of the room. Captain Hikaru, her personal bodyguard, stood just behind her like a shadow. "Boushin wishes you to have that sword. It once belonged to his father, Emperor Saihitei. It is a holy sword given to him by Taiitsukun when he served as the Suzaku seishi Hotohori." The Empress walked toward her with a smile.

"This is the sword that belonged to Hotohori?" Aneko was floored. This was not just the whim of a child, this was a great honor that was being bestowed upon her.

"My son's wish is my own. It is appropriate that you, Suzaku no Orakuru, have that holy sword." Aneko looked at the young prince. He was still acting insulted over her refusal to accept his gift. Despite his tender age of three, he looked every inch an emperor at that moment. Aneko lowered herself to her knees and bowed to him.

"I am honored that you think me worthy of such a gift," she told him. He nodded regally, then broke into smiles.

"I'm glad," he told her as he started running about the room. "She liked it, Mama," he said as he passed by the Empress.

"Yes," Empress Houki agreed. "But now I must take Suzaku no Orakuru away. I must speak with her on some important matters."

"Hai," Boushin answered as he ran outside and down the steps to the gardens. The entourage of guards and attendants he'd managed to escape earlier had located him once again, and they trotted after the rambunctious child in exasperation.

"Come, Lady Aneko. Follow me. I wish to speak with you, informally." Aneko nodded, then followed Empress Houki to the private courtyard that was accessed only through the royal apartments. The Empress ordered a servant to bring tea and refreshments to them, then led Aneko to a pair of marble benches under the shade of a young tree. Aneko noticed Captain Hikaru as he made himself as unobtrusive as possible, standing out of immediate earshot, but not out of shouting or visual range.

"To what do I owe this occasion, Highness?" Aneko inquired politely. Houki looked up through her beautiful violet eyes and then broke into a friendly smile.

"Really, do call me Houki, at least in private," Empress Houki requested with an earnest smile. "I wish to be your friend. I notice you have none, other than your seishi," she said in a rush. Houki wasn't sure how exactly to go about this. Aneko was as lonely as herself, and that gave them one very important thing in common. The reason for such loneliness was the second thing they had in common. Both held lofty positions within Konan, positions that either evoked fear from others, or a reverence that would not allow anything else beyond it. They were isolated, though they were surrounded by people, and both were in need of a close companion. "I am sad to admit that I am rather lonely myself. I only thought-"

"I'm flattered, Your High- I mean, Houki," Aneko responded.

"You are?" Houki was a little surprised. Usually other women ostracized her because she had been the lucky one to marry the Emperor. Jealousy was a monster that was hard to fight. Aneko hadn't been in Konan then, Houki reminded herself. Somehow, though, she didn't think that would have mattered to the other woman.

"I am," Aneko affirmed. "And you're right. I am lonely. Chichiri and Tasuki are kept so busy, they have little time for me. Everyone else avoids me like the plague, and when they do come upon me, apologize for disturbing 'Her Divine Eminence' before fleeing. But you have been very kind to me. I hoped we could be friends."

"I am relieved, and pleased," Houki confided. "I have wanted someone I could confide in so long, I do not know where to start." Aneko smiled at her, and Houki found comfort in that.

"You're worried for Prince Boushin, aren't you?" Aneko asked. Houki was surprised at her astuteness, but as she considered it, it wasn't that surprising after all. Aneko had proved observant before, and she was Orakuru, which gave her insight that others were not granted. "You needn't worry so much. As long as Chichiri, Tasuki, and I draw breath, no harm will come to him. I promise you."

"Coming from Her Divine Eminence, I can truly believe that," Houki replied. "And coming from my friend, my heart is put at ease." Aneko smiled. "You know my deepest fear, now what is it that worries you? It is only fair that I return the favor you have granted me. Tell me, and I will do my best to help you through it." Houki watched as Aneko's face fell, and her gaze dropped to her feet. "Is it so terrible you fear to tell me?"

"No, it isn't that," Aneko replied, glancing up into the violet eyes of the Empress. "It's just, so much has happened in such a short time, I feel overwhelmed. I wouldn't know where to start."

"No one can fault you for that," Houki reassured her. "Oracle or not, you are still a human woman with human feelings and human fears."

"So much responsibility has been placed on my shoulders. I'm afraid I can't live up to the expectations everyone has for me," Aneko confided.

"Suzaku would not have chosen you had he not been certain you were capable of carrying out your duty. Remember that, and think of it when you find your journey as Orakuru difficult. It will bring you strength."

"Thank-you, Houki. I will remember."

"Empress," the two women were interrupted by the deep rumble of Captain Hikaru's voice. "Your Highness, the council asks for your immediate return." Empress Houki took note of the young page beside her personal bodyguard, then glanced longingly at Aneko. She wanted nothing more than to spend the remainder of the fine day in the other woman's company, but it just wasn't going to be possible.

"I would like to talk again," she requested, "another time, when I have more time than I do now. Do you agree?"

"I do," Aneko nodded. "Another time. I look forward to it, Houki."

"Good," the Empress beamed. "I will leave you to find your own way out, I presume you know the way." Aneko nodded. "Feel free to visit the royal apartments again." With that, the Empress hurried away with Captain Hikaru following closely after her.

*****

To be continued…

End Note:

Don't get all worked up about the italicized portion that started out this chapter. As with everything else, all will be answered in due time. ~Sapphire