Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own it.
A/N: Nyan! Sorry Chapter 3 came out a little late~! School just started so it took me a while to write this. Please be noted that I won't be updating frequently because I'll be really busy. For now, enjoy this chapter~
CHAPTER 3
Tamao was stunned. Her feet slowly backed away from the door and she tumbled back on her butt and clapped a hand over her mouth to kept herself from screaming. No... No...This can't be true... I... I am...I am Moutaiko's daughter... The daughter she raised properly and loved so dearly before her sudden death... She force herself to think, kicking herself further into the room.
Her whole world was frozen for a very long moment until it began to rotate again when she heard Korin's voice. "You think whatever Gentokuin said is true? Give me a freaking break! Didn't he said to us a bunch of times that His Majesty will visit the harem soon." He imitated Gentokuin's voice and goes using his normal voice, "But yet there's still a no show from His Majesty."
"Gentokuin used to be Saihitei's father's adviser. I'm sure he knows a lot of stuff before Moutaiko sent him to the eunuchs." said Yuno. "Don't you know that, Korin?"
"Of course I know that. Who doesn't?" Korin said in Yuno's bitchy tone.
Yuno rolled her eyes.
"You don't believe us because you're always saving the princess' royal ass. Is that not, Korin?" Kinboh asked all too kindly.
"Yeah." Yuno agreed. "Every time Her Highness' life is on the edge, you'd rescue her just in time. Like some kind of hero or something. How can you explain that?"
"You're trying to get His Majesty's attention, aren't you?" Kinboh asks, walking slowly towards Korin and stops in front of him.
Korin is suppressing a smile and folds her arms together and looked into Kinboh's eyes, chuckling, "Partly, yes but that's not the whole reason." He answered. "It's just all about instincts and timing. That's all. Nothing special." I think. Korin himself has no idea either.
Korin and Kinboh gave each other a hostile glare full of contempt and hatred. Kinboh blinked and looked away to the left (admitting defeat in a lady way). "Come, Yuno. Let's go before someone sees us here." She said over shoulder and glanced back at Korin. "You should get going too. You'll get caught if someone finds you here." She told him.
"I'll stay here for a while." Korin said.
"Suit yourself." Kinboh said before walking with Yuno.
Bitches Kiboh cursed in his mind and sighed. He paused for a long moment, staring down at the floor. This rumor will spread fast with those two spreading it... Tamao...Tamao must not know about this. He reminded himself and quickly left.
Hearing Korin's footstep fading away, Tamao got up on her feet and wobbled her way to the door and peered out. After checking the coast is clear, she stepped out and slowly walked as she tries to figured out what was Kinboh and Yuno talking about. It was too sudden. Too senseless. How could Gentokuin know such things? And how could her own mother kept this away from her? Moutaiko found little Tamao wandering outside all by herself and she was badly injured?
Everything Kinboh and Yuno had said... Was it true? Am I not Moutaiko's daughter? Am I just a girl that she took pitied? No! Tamao shook her head forcefully. "No! Don't believe a rumour like that! Gentokuin must be trying to black mail me because mama put him into eunuchs. Yes, that's why." She said to herself.
Tamao isn't paying much attention to where she's walking. Unaware with her consciousness, her feet aimlessly carried her along. There's someone yelling a name in the distance, but she couldn't hear it like she's in some kind of trance. Too deep in her thoughts. What brought back to her senses was the sudden impact of someone bumping onto her. She didn't react quickly to steady herself and she went falling back. She looked up to a handsome young man drenched in sweat, panting and offering a hand to her.
"I'm sorry. Are you alright, miss?" He asked, panting.
Wow, such a gentleman. Tamao nodded shyly and took his hand as he help her up. "Thank you." She says shyly, blushing. Then she looked up into his eyes to know the identity of this young gentleman. But instead, she stared at him with wide eyes.
He did the same and their grey eyes locked. The two shared the same reaction. Korin told Tamao once a long time ago, Through out the world, there'll be at least a few people that looks like you. A doppelganger, in a way. Korin found his. And now, out of no where. Tamao found hers. She was now looking at her own reflection, except that he was more masculine and his hair is dark aqua. On top of that, he looked very familiar and... There's just something strange about his eyes, it's the same shade of grey of her eyes. Her heart tightens.
"There he is!"
Their heads whipped at the direction of the voice. Ahead of them, a bunch of Imperial guards were running directly towards them.
"He's touching the princess!"
The young man looked back at Tamao, stunned. "The princess?" He murmured under his breath.
"Get him!"
The imperial guards yelled as they charged towards them.
"Shit!" He lets go of her hand and sprints off.
A few imperial guards stopped by at Tamao's side while the rest chased after the young man. "Your Highness, did he do anything to you? Did he harm you?" One of them asked
Tamao shook her head no softly as she watched the young man's dark aqua hair and silhouette disappearing into the distance. "No... No, he didn't..." She softly said.
Miaka fluttered her eyes open and found herself floating through an endless of white emptiness. "Where am I?" She wondered wearyly. Miaka finally landed on a green meadow and curiously looked around and spotted her best friend, Yui who was sitting and reading a book from afar. "Yui!" She called as she sprinted forward and run. "Yui-chan! Yui-chan, you got back!"
Yui turned her head to Miaka with a grim expression. "Miaka, you were going to take the Jonan Academy entrance exam together with me."
"Eh?" Miaka stopped in her tracks, confused. "Yui-chan, what are you talking about?"
Yui stood up and suddenly as she spoke, her voice and appearance changed, slowly transforming into Miaka's mother. "But you have no chance." She said.
"Mom?"
"No, you have no chance, Miaka." Her mother said again as she slowly disappeared into the white emptiness.
"Mom, wait! Don't go!" Miaka cried.
The ground broke, she squeezed her eyes shut as she screamed.
Miaka opened her eyes to see metal bars in front of her. It was just a dream...
"Hey, are you alright?"
Miaka turned her head and realized what she had hugged the moment she woke up from her nightmare.
"KYAAAAHH!" Miaka screamed again, letting go and wildly waving her hands.
"AHH!" Tamahome screamed, equally startled.
"Hcchi!"
"What do you mean?! You're the one who grabbed me!"
That made Miaka stopped and blinked and looked back at him in realization. "Oh yeah... We were captured by the Konan soldiers."
Tamahome narrowed his eyes and peered at her. "What are you? Still half-sleep or something? You're so calm about getting thrown into a dungeon! Besides, who are you exactly? What was that red light you gave off anyway?" He demanded.
Miaka gasped, jerking her head back and looking really confuse.
Tamahome sighed at her confused face, looking away with his eyes close. "Well, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, okay?"
"Yui-chan..." Miaka blurted out.
Tamahome looked back up to Miaka.
"Yui-chan... She went back..." She continued.
"Yui was the other girl, right?" Tamahome asked.
Miaka quietly nodded. "But I didn't make it back..." She sniffed.
Tamahome sighed again. "Don't cry. I'll find some way to get you back. Don't worry."
"Really?" Miaka gasped.
"Besides, I was already paid for it." said Tamahome, poking her forehead.
Miaka's cheek heated up and gazed down, mumbling. "Idiot."
"But first thing's first. We've got to find a way out of here." He dropped his voice into a whisper, not letting the guard on duty hear him.
"Yes! I got it!" Miaka brightly agreef.
"Sssh...!" Tamahome nodded and rolled his eyes at the direction of the guard on duty.
"Oops! Sorry!" Miaka cleared her throat to speak in a soft-low whispering voice. "Yes, got it!"
Tamahome shook his head in annoyance. How did I end up in the dungeon with his weird ass girl.
And out of all scenarios, Miaka's stomach began to growl in hunger. She crouched down, clutching her stomach. "Oh, and on top of everything. I'm starting to get hungry." She sighed in frustration. "Ah! Wait!" She tucked her hand into her left pocket and pulledl out a few piece of chewing gum. "Ah~! Lucky~! Gum! This should help calm down my stomach!"
The sound of rustling caught the guard's ear and he saw Miaka unwrapping something and throwing it into her mouth and chewing it happily. He crossed to the cell. "hey, girl! What did you just put in your mouth?!"
Miaka fluttered her innocent eyes to him.
"Show me what you have in your mouth right now!" He demands impatiently.
"Wat dis? Geez.." Miaka chewed a few times and blew a bubble, leaning forward to the guard.
The guard jumped back.
The bubble grew bigger and bigger as she blew.
"Get away! That's disgusting!" The guard shrieked.
POP!
The bubble popped and the light blue gum flattens and covered her face and she lets out a grin.
"AHH! A ghost!" He screamed and ran away.
"Who are you calling a ghost, you idiot!" Miaka snarled.
The guards missed a step and tripped over and went out unconscious. And keys came flying into Tamahome's ready-to-catch hands. "Gotcha!" He grinned happily. "These should do the trick! Wow, that quick thinking-"
"Really? Thanks!" Miaka said happily.
Tamahome screamed and jumped at the sight. "A-A monster! H-Help!" He turned around and he too ram into the wall but didn'y went unconscious somehow.
"Argh. I'm really getting it from everyone!" Miaka growled.
After regaining his composure, Tamahome quickly unlocked the door. "Come on!" He urged, dashing out from the cell as Miaka followed behind him.
The two slightly sticked their head out at the long hallway before them. They ninja-ed from pillar to pillar until they reach the end of the hall at the corner.
They stopped and checked again. Tamahome still had time to turn around to Miaka with a grin, greedily holding out a pair of chewing gums. "Are you sure I can have this incredible stuff? No take backs, okay?"
"What are you talking about?! You're so stingy about a couple of pieces gum!" Miaka remarked under her breath.
Footsteps echoed down from the other side of the hallway.
"Uh-oh! Someone's coming!" Miaka said in a panic.
Tamahome and Miaka panicked They look at their sides but there's no sign of sanctuary room any where right now. They ran in different directions and ran back into each other.
"What are you doing?!" Miaka yelled.
"What about you!?" Tamahome yelled back.
"Jeez!" They both snarled and finally got their sense direction of working. To their luck, there was an open door down the hallway, waiting for them to enter.
The door slammed shut behind them and they panted. Miaka slightly ajar the door and peeked out. "Darn it, I sure chose the wrong guy to ask for help from." She said under her breath.
"Hey, Miaka." Tamahome called out.
"What?"
"Look at that..."
Miaka turned around to see a golden sparkling statue of a phoenix Her eyes fixed on it. "That's... That's the bird I saw drawn in the book!"
"It's Suzaku." Tamahome explained, not paying attention on what she had said just now.
"Suzaku?" Miaka repeated
Tamahome began to explain, "There's one guardian God each for North, South, East and West." He said, walking closer to the statue. "The God who protects the East, Seiryuu. North, Genbu. The west, Byakko. And the finally the south is Suzaku. Suzaku is thje guardian deity of Konan. Of course, other's Gods are worshiped in the other land."
While Tamahome went on, a delicious aroma of food caught Miaka's nose and she soon enough, went out from the room, following her the scent.
"Well, first of all, we should see about getting out of here." Tamahome turned around. "Right Miaka?" She was gone.
"Hey, where are you, Miaka? Miaka!" He cursed in his breath. "Damn it, Miaka! Miaka!" He opened the door and checked his left and right. "Miaka?" There's no sight of her. "Oh shit!" Without thinking twice, his legs started to run and kept screaming Miaka's name. He started to panic. No, I can't let this happen again. He told himself. "Miaka!" He turned into a corner and bumps into someone, causing the person to fall backwards.
Tamahome stopped and glanced down. He was hoping that it would be just a guy so he could just apologize and continue to dash off. Unfortunately, he was now looking down to a young maiden and by the looks of it, she was in her deep thoughts and the impact of the fall snapped her back to reality.
As a gentleman, he naturally offered a hand to her. "I'm sorry. Are you alright, miss?" Tamahome politely asked.
The young maiden nodded and took his hand as he help her up onto her feet. "Thank you." She shyly said. At the same time, they looked at each other and paused. Their grey eyes meet and lock. Tamahome was stunned to see a splitting image of his own reflection. Except, it was more feminine and her hair, the colour of a hazelnut. Like his mother's hair. And... There was something strange about her grey eyes. It was the same shade of colour shade of his eyes. So familiar...
He opened his mouth to speak.
"There he is!" A commanding yelled interrupted him
Their head whipped at the direction of the voice. Imperial guards, running straight towards them.
"He's even touching the princess!"
Tamahome looked back at the young maiden with wide eyes. "The princess?"
"Get him!"
"Shit!" He lets go of her hand and sprinted off as fast as he could. She's the princess! How could I not know that! It's impossible that she's alive... The tragic moment flashed in his mind. He squeezed his eyes as he ran with all his might. Damn it! Why now?!
While on the other side of the palace...
"Hooo~ I'm stuffed! I feel so much better now!" Miaka said, patting on her satisfied stomach as she walked out from the kitchen. "Wow, you have got to love how great real Chinese cooking is!" Then it hit her. "Oh. Where's Tamahome- Oh no! I got separated from him!" She frantically began to run but she doesn't know where to go. "I don't know where to go! I wondered all over here and oh god, I'm lost!" She helplessly cried.
A soft chuckle caught her ear. Miaka turned around to see a beautiful lady, sitting on the marbled railings, looking at Miaka with her golden eyes. She lifted her right hand and pointed at a direction. "What's wrong? You're lost, aren't you?" The lady asked gently and warmly smiled at her. "The gate's over there. You can get out."
"Ah! Oh, Thanks!" Miaka said with a quick bow and dashed.
"You're the girl they captured just now, weren't you?"
The lady's question froze Miaka on her tracks.
"It seems you are. Is it true you were rude to His Majesty?"
Miaka laughed nervously. "What do you mean? I'm just a random middle school student just passing through, that's all. Well, then. Good bye!" She raised her hand and awkwardly trying to walk away normally.
"Don't worry, girl. I'm on your side. I won't call the guards after you. So, please. Relax." The lady said.
Miaka stopped and turned around. "R-really?"
She nodded.
Miaka slowly walked towards the lady. "Then... Can you help me find for my friend?"
"You want me to help you find for your friend?"
Miaka nodded and dropped her head and explained, fiddling with her fingers, "Well, you see. He got thrown into prison because of me and if I don't get him out now, I will never be able to go back to my world."
" Your world, you said?" The lady perked up. "Are you saying you're not from this world and you came from another world?"
Miaka looked up to the lady. "Yeah..." Oh, no! I just said something weird. She'll never believe. What will I do?
"That's amazing!" The lady suddenly exclaimed.
"Eh?"
"How interesting! From another world, you say? That's just simply amazing!" She said and cupped Miaka's face between her hands, leaning in slowly to her face and stared deeply into her dark green eyes.
Miaka was mesmerise at the of colour of the lady's soft golden eyes. She couldn't help but blush.
"Relax... My name is Hotohori. Although I'm usually address by another name." Hotohori said softly.
"I'm Miaka Yuuki... You can just call me, Miaka..."
"I'm please to have made friends with you. Something wrong?" Hotohori asked.
"No, it's nothing... It's just that you're really beautiful." Miaka shyly remarked.
"Indeed, I am."
Their faces were getting closer and closer, as if they're about to kiss. "Come on, walk! Let's go!" Ruined the moment.
They both turned around at sound of the voice. Imperial guards! "Quick! Hide!" Hotohori hid Miaka into the corridors.
"C'mon, get talkin'! Where's the girl? Where'd she go?!" One of the guard demanded, pulling Tamahome 's front hair. "You're not gonna talk, eh?"
"I don't know where she is." Tamahome grumbled.
"You're still resisting us, huh?" The guard held Tamahome's neck in his hands, threatening to straggle him.
"I can't tell you what I don't know! Maybe she ran away while you guy were chasing me!" Tamahome yelled back.
"Why you!"
"Wait!" Miaka shouted.
Tamahome's eyes widen. "Miaka?!"
"Please don't hurt him!" Miaka said, running towards them.
"Stay back, you idiot! Miaka, what are you doing here?!" Tamahome shouted.
She stopped a few feet away. "It's...Because... Because I couldn't just leave you!"
An imperial stepped forward and caught Miaka.
"Miaka!"
Miaka struggled from the guard's grip. "Tamahome!" She cried.
"Miaka!" The images of a helpless young girl struggling from a man's grip around her neck flashed before his eyes. "AHH!" A red character appeared on his forehead and broke free from the ropes that ties his wrists. He punched and kicked all of the imperial guards in one swift move and finished off with a punch on the jawline, sending the guard onto the ground. He stood in front of Miaka in defense, "If you bastards lay a finger on her, I'll make you sorry!"
"Silence! Silence, all of you!" Hotohori's voice boomed. "No one will harm either of these two without my orders!"
Tamahome raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell are you?"
The imperial guards let go off their weapons and were shaking."It-It's the emperor!" An imperial guard stammered and they all fell onto their knees and bowing deeply.
Tamahome was still confuse and asked, "Really?"
Hotohori curtly nodded, looking very serious at Tamahome.
Tamahome's face went pale and he kneel down and bow before Hotohori. "Hotohori's the emperor? This young, beautiful lady?" Miaka asked.
"You blockhead! The emperor is a man!" Tamahome hissed.
"What?!" Miaka wasn't convince. "No way!"
"Just shut up and bow already!" Tamahome yelled.
Miaka bravely crossed to Hotohori and pressed her hands against the flat chest. "Wow! Totally flat! Which means he's got one of THOSE down there!"
Tamahome smacked Miaka's head. "Don't think that far through!"
"Ow!" Miaka rubbed her head. "That hurts!"
After that, Tamahome and Miaka were guided to the throne room. They bend down on one knee and waited until the emperor entered. Hotohori, now dressed more formally and his hair tied up into his crown, sat on his throne. He looked isolated yet still graceful at the same time. "Forgive me, Miaka. I didn't mean to trick you. I had to hid my identity because I wanted to learn your intentions. At the very least, you don't appear to be enemies or demons."
"Then you won't..." Miaka hesitated.
"No, we won't harm you." Hotohori told her.
Tamahome and Miaka looked up to Hotohori with full of relief.
"However, I do have a request." Hotohori kept his gaze on Miaka. "Miaka, will you save Konan?"
Miaka was dumbstruck and confused at his sudden request.
"There's an ancient legend that says, when the empire faces destruction, a girl will appear from another world and she will gain the power of Suzaku to save the empire."
Miaka shook her head."No! That couldn't be me!" Miaka finally finds her words to speak. "I'm-I'm just a middle school student! An exam candidate! I'm only here by mistake!"
"Well then, wouldn't you like the power of Suzaku? Have you no wishes?" Hotohori questioned her.
"Wishes?" Miaka repeated.
'This is the story of a young girl who single-handedly gathered the Seven Stars of Suzaku and gained the power to make all her dreams come true. The story itself is an incantation and whomever reads it gains the main character's power to have their wishes granted...'
"Then... If I become the heroine of 'The Universe of the Four Gods'..." Miaka though of everything she wants in life, have any boy she wants, beat up any bad guys that threatens her, eat all her favorite food everyday and... She gasped. She can get into any high school she wants!
"Well? You can have the entire world if you wish it." Hotohori added to her thought.
"Yes! I'll do it! I'll do it! I'll be the Priestess of Suzaku! I've been waiting for this role!" Miaka said confidently, loud and clear.
Hotohori was happy to hear those words coming from her mouth. He smiled and stood up. "Listen to me, all of you! This girl is the one who shall gain the power of Suzaku! She who shall save our empire, the Priestess of Suzaku, has appeared!"
Hotohori walked down from the throne and crossed to the door and the door opened to reveal thousands of scholars kneeling down and bowing throughout the courtyard.
"Thank you, O' Priestess of Suzaku!" They chanted in unison, continuously.
Miaka stood there at the door way, stunned.
On the other side of the palace, Tamao blew her fringe and laid back on her chair, violently waving her arms at the soldiers. "Hey, guards! How long am I suppose to stay here in my room?!"
"Until they have captured the two prisoner, your highness!" The guard told her.
"Eh?!" She sighed in disbelief and grunted, rubbing her hungry stomach. "But I'm starving!"
"Then we'll ask the servants to bring your lunch here."
"No!" Tamao stubbornly snapped, shooting up onto her feet. "I don't want to eat in my room. I want to eat with my brother!" She strided across her room and opened the door. "I'm going to the kitchen to find something to eat!" She grumbled.
"Wait, your highness! Don't!" The soldiers were trailing behind her.
"Stay away! Don't follow me! I can handle them with by myself!" She shouted, ignoring the guards as she walked on.
Smelling the delicious food cooking, roaming out from the kitchen, excited Tamao's appetite even more. "Excuse me." She said, entering.
The cooks turned their head at the door and the reaction is immediate as they all turn pale and stopped whatever they were doing. A complete silence filled in the kitchen."Yo-Your highness. What are you doing here?" A female cook asked, nervously.
"Is lunch ready yet?" Tamao asked politely.
"Lunch? Oh, Lunch. About that... Lunch will be slightly late today because the food we've prepared a while ago...Erm... Suddenly disappeared..." The head-chef explained.
Tamao's expression immediately changed. "What?!" She snapped. "How can the food suddenly disappear!? Food can't disappear like that!"
"We're very sorry, your highness. But we don't know what happened. We're now preparing the food as fast as we can." He told Tamao, bowing his head deeply.
"Never mind." Tamao sighed in annoyance and stomped out from the kitchen.
How can the food disappear just like that?! Her stomach growls. Okay, now she was pissed. She started to run. To where? To where her brother was at, of course. The only person she could complain everything about to next to Korin and Houki. As natural, she went to the throne room. When she reached there, she was surprise to see thousands of scholars, kneeling down and bowing.
"Thank you, O' Priestess of Suzaku!" They chanted in unison, continuously.
Priestess of Suzaku? Tamao turned her head to the entrance of the throne room. There, she saw her brother standing with two strangers. One of them was the strange girl she had seen earlier. Her dark green eyes were gazing out in astonishment. Standing behind her was the young man Tamao bumped into a while ago and once again, her eyes fixed on him.
And the young men felt her staring at him and he stared back at her with the same look. They didn't look away and they both wondered.
Why does she/he look so familiar?
