Vol 1 - Chapter 2 : The World Within the Book
"Woaaaahhh. This is amazing!" an amazed high pitched voice of a young girl was heard all over.
"I bet they heard her all the way to Kutou" Tamahome joked making Miaka giggle.
"So it's true, the world within the book really exist." Hikari proclaimed.
"How are you feeling Miaka?" Tamahome assisted his wife.
"I feel better Taka, for some reasons, as soon as I take foot in here, all the heaviness disappeared all of the sudden."Miaka explained.
"I wonder how long has it been since we're last here." Tamahome looked around.
"This is Eiyou right? Konan's capital" He said.
Looking around, the couple noticed that nothing much has changed. unlike when they were last here during the incident with the false priestess, there's no visible damage is within the kingdom.
"We need to go to the palace, His Highness Hotohori, may know what's going on. We also need to talk to Taitskun."Tamahome said.
"Let's go. Hikari- huh?" Tamahome looked around only to see Hikari missing.
"Hikari!"Miaka shouted. Somehow, along their conversation, Hikari had disappeared.
"Hikari, where-"
"Aaaaahhh" a shrieking sound was heard from the shady part of a forest close to the capital. Tamahome was wondering how in the the hell there's a forest in here.
"Hikari!" the couple ran to Hikari's rescue, only to see her surrounded by a pride of lions.
"Lions" Tamahome said.
"What are all these lions doing here?"
Miaka said.
"Hikari, dont move!" Tamahome said.
"Dad! These lions appeared out of nowhere!" Hikari said. She's afraid. Who wouldnt be? at least 15 lions are surrounding her. Not to mention another three appeared behind her mom and dad. So they're now practically dead meat, that's for sure.
"Come you mangy cats, Im not scared of you" Hikari threatened with a piece of paddle at hand.
The lions only growled at her and leapt to attack the girl.
"Hikari!" Tamahome and Miaka screamed as both ran to Hikari's rescue.
Hikari close her eyes, awaiting for the impending death. She's barely even fifteen years old and she never thought she would be eaten alive.
"Stop" a clear voice of a woman was heard.
Tamahome and Miaka was shocked to see the lions abruptly stop and moved away from them on to the woman who just ordered them.
Hikari opened her eyes and saw the most beautiful maiden she has ever seen, patting the head of the lions that almost had her for dinner.
"Woah" she said to herself. The woman looks almost ethereal, with the light of the afternoon illuminating the forest. Her long purple locks and wine colored pools are to die from her world would definitely envy this lady.
"Sorry, this area is guarded an-" the lady paused as she looked at us.
"Nuriko..." my mom said. Both she and dad have this joyful expression.
"Oh if it isnt Miaka and Tamahome!" the woman said in glee.
"Nuriko!" My mother ran to hug the lady who saved us. The one they call Nuriko.
"Its been awhile. What are you doing here you guys?" Nuriko-san said while patting my mother's head.
If I remember correctly, according to the book, Nuriko is one of the Suzaku Seven. One of my mother's protector.
"Daughter?" I was brought back in track as I noticed them look at me.
Lady Nuriko, came to me and held my cheeks on her hands. She smiled at me. She's pretty at a fair distance, but now I got to see her up close, she's drop dead gorgeous. All my womanly confidence flew out of the window.
"My name is Ko Reisshun, but I'm also Nuriko, one of the Suzaku Seven. I'm glad I'm able to meet you Hikari." she smiled,making me blush. I nod in acknowledgement.
"You're so beautiful. Im glad you grew up to be just like me and not taking after both of them" she joked.
"Nuriko!" My mother fumed, making my father laugh.
"Im sorry for scaring you three, we just need to keep our guard up for quite a while now." Lady Nuriko said, and as she touched the lion's head, it dissipated into butterflies, lots of them. My jaw dropped at what she did. Lady Nuriko must be an enchantress.
"How did you do that?" My father asked.
"I've been studying sorcery under Taitskun for the past twenty years." Lady Nuriko explained
"Twenty years? its been that long since we last came here?" My father asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Anyway, we should go somewhere comfortable to discuss this." Lady Nuriko suggested.
"You're right. We're planning to go to the palace and meet up with His Highness Hotohori and...wahhh!" my dad was interrupted as a man with flame colored hair kicked him down and stood up on him.
"Nuriko! I've been looking around for you!"The unknown guy said.
"Sorry Tasuki" Lady Nuriko smiled and pointed at us.
"Tasuki!"My mother said cheerfully.
"Miaka is that you?" He said in excitement and hugged my mom.
"It's been awhile! Now, where could ghost boy be?" He said.
"I'm right here you stinky punk!" My father said below before he stood up. The flame haired boy looked down on my dad, and as dad stood up Tasuki-san jumped beside Lady Nuriko..
"I guess you're still alive and kicking Tasuki" Dad said to him. he looks annoyed, but his eyes tells otherwise, he looks so happy.
"Of course, it's me we're talking about here. I wont die easily even if they kill me. What are you two..I mean three..wait three?" he said pointing to me.
"Tasuki, this is mine and Taka's daughter. Hikari" my mom introduced, I bowed in acknowledgement.
The brash guy, known as Tasuki pats my head. I know him from the book. Tasuki is a bandit, one of the Suzaku seven like Lady Nuriko, he has a magic fan that shoots flame.
"Haha! You're so little and cute. Let me tell you about ghost boy aka you're father and how I saved his helpless ass many times and..aw" he was hit in the head by Lady Nuriko.
"Dont scare her."Lady Nuriko said making us laugh.
"Anyway, mind if we go together to the palace?" Miaka asked.
"Of course we're coming with you. We dont want you getting lost around here, especially now." Tasuki said.
"Ha! dont underestimate me fangboy, I know this kingdom like the back of my hand, I can travel back and fort with my eyes close" Tamahome proudly said.
I noticed Nuriko-san and Tasuki-san exchange glance.
"If you're so proud and mighty mister, then lead the way" Tasuki mischievously smirked, gesturing my father to walk ahead of us.
As we're walking out of the forest, I heard my mom and Lady Nuriko talking.
"So what are you and Tasuki doing all this time?" Mom asked.
"Hmmm, nothing much. Actually we both volunteered to join the imperial army. His highness, refuse us at first but, saying us, Suzaku Warriors are to be taken into high regards and should be taken care of. I whacked his head for that. He eventually gave up, I'am one of his Generals now, much like Tasuki and Chichiri." Lady Nuriko explained. So she's indeed a warrior, how cool.
"A General?"My mom's eyes bugged out, so as mine. Being an Imperial Army General is the last thing I can imaging of Nuriko-san. She's too beautiful and feminine to be in the army, plus a general that is.
"I thought you're going back to the imperial harem" Mom joked.
"I dont need to stay in the court, I'm still the prettiest girl in all of Konan empire" Nuriko-san said. Point taken.
"Anyway, about you're coming here.." Nuriko-san suddenly turned serious.
"Whaaaaatttt?!" The shocked voice of Dad, caught our attention. I immediately ran towards him and Tasuki-san on a cliff.
"W-woah, is that, snow?" I said to my self.
I look above us and the sun is shining brightly, this side we're on seems to be having a season of spring, but on the edge of the cliff, snow is falling.
"Ho-Hokkan" My Mom said with a surprised look, reflecting that of my Dad.
"This..this Hokkan right?" Dad turned to Tasuki-san and Nuriko-san.
"What in Suzaku's name is the country of Hokkan doing here? A few steps away from Konan?" he said confusedly
"This is what's been happening, a few days ago. Each of the four kingdoms are experiencing a terrible continental drift."
To Be Continue
