Chapter 2: Be Careful What You Wish For…

"Itai!" Miaka picked herself off the ground. "I really need to work on my landings…" Looking around, she realised that she had been absorbed back into the Universe of the four gods. How did this happen? Oh right…I wanted to help Houki-san and Boushin…

An exaggerated pained moan sounded close by and her eyes widened when she saw that her brother had been transported into the book along with her. Beside Keisuke, Taka was already on his feet, taking in his surroundings in astonishment. For a moment, she wondered at the reason for his confusion, before she remembered that he had no recollection of his past life as Tamahome.

"Is the ride on Suzaku Airways always this rough?" a deep voice inquired wryly from directly behind her.

She spun around and was confronted with the sight of a blonde man dusting grass off his shirt, looking less than pleased. "Nakago! You're here too?" She was surprised, yet strangely glad that he was with them.

"No, that bump on your head is causing you to hallucinate. You're actually talking to empty air," he told her. His voice was impassive, but it was hard to miss the sarcasm in his words.

Bump? Miaka lifted a hand to gingerly probe the quickly swelling lump on her forehead. She had not realised that she had knocked her head until he had pointed it out. Now that she was aware of it, however, it had started to hurt in earnest.

Before she could say anything more, a hand caught hers, gently forcing it away from the bruise on her head. Turning in surprise, she saw that Taka had made his way to stand beside her…and it was he who held her hand.

"You shouldn't touch that…it'll make it worse," he said softly, his soulful violet eyes staring into her hazel ones for a long moment.

Suddenly, as though realising that he was still holding her hand, Taka blushed lightly and let go, clearing his throat in embarrassment. Miaka felt the frustration welling up along with the tears. For a moment, she had been so sure that it was Tamahome who had been holding
her hand…that it had been Tamahome who was speaking and gazing into her eyes. It made it all the more difficult to accept that he did not remember her and the love that they had shared. Why? Tamahome…why don't you remember?

She took a deep breath, blinking back the tears. Don't be such a baby, Miaka! I won't cry over this! I would love Tamahome even if he never recovers his memories! she told herself firmly.

"Miaka, are you all right?" Keisuke peered at her worriedly, concern written across his face. He thought his sister's eyes looked suspiciously shiny, as if she was about to cry.

"Hai, it doesn't hurt anymore!" Miaka forced a bright smile, deliberately misinterpreting the query; hoping to fool her brother and prevent him from questioning her any further. Behind her, she heard Nakago give a very soft, but unmistakably derisive snort. Belatedly, she realised that he had caught her in the midst of her little white lie.

Apparently, he had not lost his ability to read her like an open book.

Thankfully, no one else seemed to have noticed.

Miaka turned her head slightly and gave him the evil eye, only to be rewarded with the sight of him wearing a carefully neutral expression of feigned innocence, as if he had not almost given her away. Of all people, it just had to be him… It was uncanny, the way he seemed to know her better than anyone else. Jerk! I can't believe that I actually missed him! she thought irritably. He certainly had not wasted any� time in getting down to annoying her…

Just like old times, his vaguely mocking expression seemed to indicate. Ne, Suzaku no Miko?


It was decided that the most logical thing to do was to find out more about what was going on, and Konan Palace seemed like a good place to start. It was fortunate that they had been deposited near the capital. As they walked through the busy streets, Miaka was glad to see
that there was no trace of the last war. The people seemed happy; content to put the past behind them. Children played in the streets, shouting…laughing; unmindful of the group of oddly dressed strangers who passed them.

She almost laughed at the awe-struck expressions on her brother's and Taka's faces. They still could not believe that they were inside the Shijintenchisho. Miaka remembered how it felt like to see it all for the first time…she just wished that they were not so obvious about it. Their gasps of amazement were starting to draw stares from the passer-bys…as was the tall, impassive blonde man who was walking silently beside her.

Like a six foot blonde would not draw attention…just who am I trying to kid here? she rolled her eyes, The last thing we need right now is--

"Hey! That's the Suzaku no Miko!" someone yelled.

Oh crap…

"This can't be good…" Keisuke muttered, echoing her sentiments perfectly.

She turned, just in time to see one of the townsfolk pointing at her. All the people in the immediate vicinity froze for an instant…before everyone started converging on her, anxious to catch a glimpse of the legendary Priestess of Suzaku and beg her to grant their wishes.

In short, she was about to be mobbed…and it would most likely prove to be hazardous to her personal well-being.

"You certainly are famous, aren't you?" Nicholas lifted one blonde eyebrow at her. From the look on her face, he gathered that it was not the first time that she had been caught in a situation such as this. Sweeping a critical glance over the crowd closing in on them, "I suppose now would be a good time to get out of here," he remarked calmly.

"You think?" she mumbled sarcastically, trying to hide the fact that she was becoming increasingly nervous. Damn the man and his unflappable calmness! He was far more composed than anyone had the right to be, given the situation.

The next moment, much to the townsfolks' surprise and immense disappointment, their beloved Suzaku no Miko---the girl of legend, and the protector of the country of Konan---waved weakly to the rapidly advancing people; suddenly issuing a high-pitched squeak of alarm when some of them got too close for comfort…

… and turned tail, taking off down the street in the opposite direction at a dead run.


She leaned against the wall in a deserted alley, panting heavily, while at the same time scowling at the blonde man standing in front of her, as if everything had been his fault. He merely looked back at her with an expression of mild amusement, which annoyed her more than the fact that he didn't seem the least bit winded after running what felt like miles.

Keisuke was slumped against the opposite wall of the narrow alley, and Miaka thought that her brother sounded more like he was wheezing rather than panting.

Taka, on the other hand, appeared to have faired better…like Nicholas, he had the stamina of a trained athlete, and had covered the distance with little difficulty.

Must be because they used to be seishi, Miaka thought enviously.

It was by luck that their mad dash through Konan's capital had not been in vain. A short distance away, the imposing gates of the imperial palace loomed. Miaka could only hope that there would be no further mishaps in the hundred or so metres which separated them from their destination.


One of the guards at the palace gates had recognised Miaka as the Suzaku no Miko, and they had been admitted immediately. As they were led through the palace, Taka and Keisuke could not help gaping openly at the splendour surrounding them.

"Suzaku no Miko-sama, we are very glad to see you and Tamahome-sama again," the man who had been Hotohori's chief advisor approached them, bowing deeply to Miaka. She blushed slightly, uncomfortable with the respect he was showing her.

Introductions were swiftly made, with Miaka carefully skirting the subject of who the blonde man with her really was, save that he was a friend; and it was not long before they were comfortably seated in a large, richly appointed hall, at a table laden with food. Obviously, their hosts aimed to please, knowing that the Suzaku no Miko was happiest when accompanied by food…and a lot of it.

Nicholas noted that all of the royal advisors were present. Although he did not show it, he was feeling distinctly uneasy, mostly because of where he was and who he was…or rather, who he used to be. Everyone seemed to accept his presence because their Miko trusted him, yet a part of him was surprised that no one had recognised him as the shogun who had orchestrated the last war and led Kutou's army against them.

Once upon a time, he had been their enemy…and it was Nakago who was directly responsible for leaving Konan without its emperor. The Suzaku no Miko had forgiven him, but he knew that there were few like her. It was hard to ignore the memories, and for a moment, he almost envied Tamahome…almost, before he decided that facing a regrettable past was preferable to the frustration of not knowing and not remembering.

Giving himself a mental shake, Nicholas put aside his dark introspective thoughts and observed with amusement that Miaka had eaten most of the food on the table, finishing it at an amazing rate. He was vaguely intrigued (and he was certain that he was not the only one) by how she managed to squeeze that much food into her small, slender frame. It was nothing short of a marvel of nature and frankly, it was a wonder that she did not give herself indigestion…


The chief advisor, Katsu, cleared his throat politely, "Miko-sama, your arrival is timely, given the grave situation we are in," he said slowly, the lines of his face deepening with worry, making him look older than he already was.

"Is there really going to be a war?" Miaka asked, with her mouth half-full of food.

The old man looked grim, "Kutou has deployed troops to the border, and although they have not made any outwardly aggressive moves--"

"--they could be preparing to attack at any time," Keisuke deduced flatly, completing the other man's sentence. He watched Nicholas out of the corner of his eye, wanting to see if there was any reaction from the former shogun of Kutou at the news…only to find that the blonde man had an expressionless mask firmly in place; simply sitting in stoic silence, seemingly indifferent to the conversation.

The advisor sighed and nodded, "Exactly."

Silence descended as each person contemplated the implications of a war between Kutou and Konan. It was Miaka who finally broke the silence with an abrupt question.

"How is Empress Houki?"

The faces of the royal advisors seemed to darken even more. Katsu closed his eyes, his voice coming out strained and tired, "She has not been well, Miko-sama." His mouth was pressed into a tight, grim line as he continued, "A strange illness came upon her not long ago, and the imperial physicians have been doing everything they can…but her health continues to deteriorate. If this goes on, I fear…" he could not bring himself to finish hissentence, bowing his head in sorrow.

Miaka slowly put down the chopsticks she had been holding, "I must see her," her eyes darkened with emotion, her concern for the ailing empress showing clearly on her face.

"But in her condition, Her Majesty should not be disturbed--" one of the advisors protested loudly.

Keisuke glanced at the offending man, finding himself disliking the weaselly-looking advisor immediately. In fact, I would not trust him as far as I can spit, he thought unkindly. He was about to open his mouth to say something which would put the advisor in his place, but Miaka beat him to it.

"I wish to see Empress Houki," she said evenly. Her voice had not been loud, but the words seemed to echo in the room. She rose from her chair and stepped away from the table, "Now." The tone of voice was one which brooked no argument. There was no mistaking it…it was an order from the Suzaku no Miko, not Miaka Yuuki.

What the Suzaku no Miko wants, the Suzaku no Miko gets, Keisuke fought the urge to grin, feeling a surge of pride. This was his sister,stubborn to a fault; once she set her mind to something she would not let anything stand in her way until she got it, come hell or high water.


Nicholas watched the royal advisors scrambling the comply with their Miko's order. It was rather impressive, how smoothly she could make the transition from the ditzy high-school student to the dignified Suzaku no Miko in a space of a heartbeat. Her voice had been calm, with a quiet underlying authority as befitted the Priestess.

Apparently, she was not above pulling rank to get what she wanted. There had been that all-too-familiar, obstinate "I-will-not-lose" expression on her face, and that fierce glitter of determination in her hazel eyes. He knew first-hand, how indomitable her will could be when she decided on something…

The pompous court advisor who had tried to deny her request had not stood a chance.

He smirked inwardly. A group of seasoned courtiers and bureaucrats falling over themselves at the word of one small girl…Now THAT was something one didn't see everyday.


Notes:

1) Sorry if this chapter was long and rather boring...but I was trying to define the various problems facing Konan (ie, the impending war, Houki's illness). The next chapter will have some action, hopefully...

2) I'm using Keisuke as a sort of observer. He watches everyone and how they react, particularlyNicholas. It is not that Keisuke doesn't trust him, it's just that he's still uncomfortable around Nicholas...but then again, everybody is, with the exception of Miaka!

3) Damn...is it my imagination or are there too many characters around? Maybe I should start thinking of ways to get rid of a few people...(Evil Smirk)