By: fuzzypoo
A/N: Thanks to Nikki and Mamers as always. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! For those of you curious about how this story came to be, keep an eye out for the fic version of our RPG. I'll be uploading it soon (with credit to the contributors of course!).
Rated: M (probably more like MA throughout to be fair, but be prepared!)
Warnings: Language… it starts pretty mild. The "good" stuff will be coming soon.
Disclaimer: Blah blah work of fiction blah blah don't own the characters blah blah.
Part 4: Reunion
Houki and her attendants guided Hikari, trying to take in all of the beauty of the world around her, through the palace. The palace was more beautiful than she'd guessed. The fact that she was in this world was almost too much for her to take. It was like a beautiful dream. She was a Princess in a fairy story and would get to meet he super hero father at last!
"Houki-sama, where did monk-san go?"
"We're having a small, private meal. Are you hungry?"
Her stomach rumbled loudly at the mention of food. "Now that you mention it I didn't eat breakfast this morning." She laughed, embarrassed to make a fool of herself around an Empress and her son. Neither Houki nor Boushin seemed to mind her growling stomach.
They entered the room and Hikari ran straight in, looking for her father. "Wha... where is he?" She searched under cushions and behind paintings, hoping this was just a trick.
"Hikari, sit down please. He's not here." Miaka gestured for her to sit next to her. She plopped down, disappointed. Yet another chance to meet her father and he still wasn't there! She was starting to believe that he was a ghost or spirit, trying to stay far away from her. She loaded up her plate with food and began to dig in, furiously devouring the delicious food. It was then that Chichiri noticed the striking resemblance between them more clearly.
"She's your daughter, no da?!" He stared at her directly. That hair... those eyes... the fangs. She was obviously the offspring of Miaka and Tasuki but how was it possible? How had he not seen it before?
"Yes, this is my little Hikari. She got pulled in with me. I'm glad though, I wouldn't have wanted to leave her behind. She's wanted to meet her father for a long time now."
"This isn't right, no da. You needed to be a virgin to make your wishes to Suzaku, otherwise you'd have been stuck here without wishes to make, no da!" He looked around and realized that everyone at the table was blushing but Hikari.
"What's that mean, a 'virgin'?" She paused between bites.
"It means..." Chichiri looked to Miaka, unsure how to field that one.
"It means that I couldn't be pregnant with you. Suzaku granted me a favor and I made my last wish right before I..." She looked at the curious girl whose big eyes were staring at her mother intently. "Right before I became pregnant." That seemed to satiate her for now and she went back to the food.
"The Gods don't grant favors, no da. They let you make wishes. I don't understand why Suzaku did that, no da." He was perplexed, refusing to leave the subject. Taiitsukun had always impressed on him how strict the rules of their world were. Suzaku had some underlying reason for giving Miaka a favor and he was determined to figure out what it was.
"Well Suzaku did! He's the God of Love, right? Maybe he wanted to give us a chance to express our love for each other before tearing us apart!" Her voice had grown squeaky and loud. "I'm sorry, Chichiri. I don't know why he did it but I consider it a gift ever day."
The table remained silent for a few moments, only the sound of Hikari's eating drowning out the silence.
"Well then, I'm not going to argue that, no da! When you're finished eating I'll take you back to Mt. Reikaku. It's high time for Tasuki to meet his daughter, no da!"
When the eating was done and thank-you's were spent, Miaka, Hikari and Chichiri prepared to go to the mountain. Miaka had to promise to return to the palace to visit to get Boushin to let go of Hikari's arm, but it worked.
"You ready, no da?" Chichiri looked at the little one.
"I think so. How does this work?" She looked at his hat, turning it over in her hands. "It just looks like a funny straw hat to me."
"It's more than that, no da. It takes magic to get us there, na no da!" He concentrated his energy into the hat and when it was ready he gestured for the girls to stand closer to him. "Hold on, no da! My last landing was a little bumpy, no da."
Before she could protest, Miaka felt the hat surround the three of them and before she knew it they were on the path leading up the mountain. "That was wonderful!" she grinned.
"Cool! I want to learn how to do that!" Hikari twirled the hat in her fingers, tying it around her own neck.
Anou, I'd intended us to show up in the Stronghold but I guess this will do, no da. Why am I so off today?
They walked up the dusty path to the entrance, passing each checkpoint without question. Hikari hummed a happy little tune, scarcely believing that she'd get to meet her father so soon.
"Chichiri, shouldn't the bandits be stopping us?" She didn't like the eerie quiet on the mountain path. If this had been the last time, someone would have questioned them at least.
"They know me here, no da. Don't worry, you'll be safe with me na no da!" He hummed along with Hikari until her tune stopped and he carried on alone until he realized. "Why did you stop, Hikari-chan no da?" No answer.
"Hikari, answer him." Miaka turned around to scold the girl but she wasn't there. "Hikari! Where are you? Answer me!" She began to feel her chest tighten as panic set in. "Where did she go? Where is she?" She'd experienced this feeling only once before, back in her own world. Hikari had wandered off in the grocery store and she couldn't find her. It was the throbbing panic of a worried mother coupled with the haunting feeling she was losing the only thing that kept her close to Tasuki in her own world. In this one she could easily be killed or sold into slavery. Maybe even worse. She began to hyperventilate, the world spun around her.
"Miaka! Hold together, it'll be okay no da! Look her footsteps disappeared here. I'll bet a bandit grabbed her and is taking her to the 'hold, no da!"
"How can you be sure of that?" Her throat was tight and the words would barely come out. It was all she could do to stay conscious now. Until she heard her daughter scream in the distance.
"Let go of me you filthy bandit scum! You're gonna regret this!"
"Quick! Follow the sound of her voice!" Miaka grabbed Chichiri by the hand and led him up the hard side of the mountain trail, not wanting to lose the only piece of the love she and Tasuki had shared that she had left.
"Let me go!" Hikari flailed wildly, her feet connecting with the sternum of the man carrying her. He slowed down as he reached an outpost of confused looking men.
"Sorry for the noise fellas, caught this one wandering around. Figured da boss could scare 'er away from bad, bad men like us." He held onto her tightly, tossed over his should and clamped a hand over her mouth to mute the screaming.
Kouji approached the last group with renewed interest when he heard the screams. "What th' hell are you aho's doin' out here? Tryin' to attract attention?"
"Naw, we caught this little rabbit out in the woods. Figure she'll bring in a pretty ransom, eh?" Kouji looked her over, struck by her familiar eyes.
"What the hell... I'll run it by th' boss first. Give 'er to me." She was tossed to Kouji, taking the moment she could to scream. "Quiet down, rabbit!" He shushed her. "Ya dun wanna get yerself killed do ya?"
"You won't kill me! You're Mt. Reikaku bandits!" She punched him in the chin, knocking him back.
"Whuddya know... The boss might enjoy 'er after all." He grabbed her wrist and led her back to the hold. "Just how do ya know we're Mt. Reikaku bandits? Maybe we killed 'em and took the place o'er?" He teased the child.
"No! You couldn't do that!"
"Why not?"
With logic like that, she was defeated. If her father was dead, then it was pointless to be here. She wouldn't know for sure until she got to meet him. If she cooperated and he was still the leader, then everything would be okay. If not, though, Chichiri and her mother would save her. They had to!
"Miaka! Are you home?"
Keisuke had been banging on her front door for a good 15 minutes, but there was no answer from within the apartment. Tetsuya and Yui looked on impatiently.
"She was supposed to come with us for coffee. Where is she?" Yui checked her watch impatiently. Miaka wasn't usually on time but she would never leave them standing in the hall and certainly wouldn't abandon them.
"Maybe Shin couldn't take Hikari to school?" Tetsuya offered.
"Nonsense. Shin is a very stand-up guy. He would have to be hit by a car to not take Hikari to school." Keisuke continued his banging. Yui pushed him aside and turned the handle. The door swung open.
"You should try the handle next time. Miaka, are you home?" She wandered in, looking around. There was a complete quiet in the apartment. "Maybe she and Shin had another fight."
"That sister of mine... she should be happy! Shin's a very successful man. He's smart, rich, and he wants to take care of her and her daughter. That's more than she could have hoped for."
"Money doesn't bring love, Keisuke." Yui knew that her friend had been hurting since they left the world of the book. Her miracle pregnancy made life even harder but Miaka proved herself to be stronger than any of them had guessed, finishing high school and getting into college even though she had a baby. She mourned her separation from Tasuki for one week and then seemingly moved on with her life. Yui knew just how hard it was for Miaka to accept help from Shin, a man she'd felt nothing for.
"But he can take care of her! That's more than a thief from some book world can offer her. Even if she did go back and live with him she'd be giving up all her dreams for that kind of life. It's not fair to Miaka!" He was like a spoiled child, even if his concern was for the well being of his sister and niece. Shin may not be the love of her life but he was a good man and would treat Miaka well.
"I don't think any of them are here." Tetsuya offered from the kitchen as he helped himself to some coffee.
"Miaka!" Keisuke called down the hall, heading for the bedrooms.
"That guy... he thinks he's looking out for her but Miaka is never going to go through with that wedding." Yui accepted the cup Tetsuya handed her, sipping the hot liquid slowly. Tetsuya knew how to put in just the perfect amount of cream and sugar. He was a coffee artist! She opened her mouth to speak with him when they heard a cry from the bedrooms. Setting the cups down, they ran to Keisuke, seeing him slumped over on the floor of Hikari's room.
"What's the matter?"
"It's Miaka... she's gone back into the book!" He pointed wildly at the story writing itself before their eyes.
"That's not possible!" Tetsuya snatched the book from him, inspecting it. "She's not needed anymore."
"She must be, why else would the story take her back?" Yui peered around Tetsuya's arm at the pages. "Looks like we've got some catching up to do."
Keisuke pulled himself to his feet, following the others back to the couch in the living room. Why, Miaka? We stopped you from being devoured once. Why would you put yourself and your daughter in this kind of danger?
Kouji dragged the little girl to the leader's closed door. "Knock, knock! Who's there? It's Kouji. Kouji who? Kouji, your second in command, of course! Oh well then, come on inside! Don't mind if I do." He pushed the door open a little, trying to peer into the darkness and spot his friend. "Brought somethin' for ya. Found a little rabbit in the woods. Figured ya could scare her a bit, keep 'er away from the mountain. Ya feel up to it?"
There was a long silence from the room before a growling voice said simply "Later."
Kouji shut the door again and Hikari looked up at him, registering that scar on his cheek with his name for the first time. "Kouji! Kouji please, you have to let me see Tasuki! Please!"
"Hang on a second, how do ya know that name?" He glared at the child, wondering whose big mouth was leaking stories of Genrou's time as a Suzaku seishi. Since Miaka had gone he'd tried to forget his duty to Suzaku and the Priestess.
"We're related. Please, let me see him!" She reached for the door, trying to grip the handle as Kouji pulled her away. Her fingers barely made contact with the cold metal as she was dragged away.
"Sorry, kiddo, but th' boss is busy. I'll ask 'im if he's seen this Tasuki person for ya. For now, stay 'ere and be quiet." He tossed her into a small room and slammed the door shut, locking it with a key he then returned to his pocket. She said she was related to Genrou... maybe she's 'is niece? She looks like Aidou... His face went red as he thought about Aidou's pretty face and the curvy body under her robes. No time fer that. Gotta make sure tha patrols are in. Genrou's countin' on me.
Miaka and Chichiri snuck into the Stronghold without being noticed. Miniature versions of themselves the crept along trying to be sneaky, dodging bandits and open hallways as they made their way through the halls. "Miaka, wait here no da. I'll get Tasuki for you and then we'll hunt down Hikari na no da."
She waited for Chichiri to round the corner and then snuck off, being as quiet as possible. She wanted to be patient and wait for his help to find her daughter but she could be in danger here. She strained to listen to any bandits talking near by but none mentioned a red headed little girl being nabbed. She worked her way through the halls, tapping on locked doors and whispering Hikari's name but there was no answer.
Chichiri on the other hand had stridden straight up to Genrou's room without being stopped or seemingly noticed. He knocked on the door before pushing it open. "Tasuki, are you in here no da?"
He heard the monk's voice. He wanted to ignore it... to block out everything but the thought of her. It didn't seem that fate wouldn't let him die just yet. "His royal loveliness got another mission fer us already?"
"No, it's not that. There's someone here you need to see, no da."
"Leave me alone, 'Chiri. Whoever it is can wait, I'm gettin' good an' drunk." He poured another bowl of sake, downing it in one swallow to make a point.
"I think you'd better not keep this one waiting, no da." He touched Tasuki's shoulder, trying to emphasize his point. He helped Tasuki stumble to his feet and led him out of the dark room, guiding him back to where Miaka had been moments before but no longer was. "Hmm now where did she go, no da?"
Tasuki pushed Chichiri away, swaying but staying on both feet. "Ya brought a woman 'ere? Wha's the matter wit' ya? Ya know I hate women. Did Kouji, the infamous despoiler of women, put ya up t'this? Aho thinks a good fuck will cure my broken heart." He almost toppled over, but caught himself at the last moment, leaning against the wall for support.
"Tasuki it's not like that, no da!"
"Like hell it ain't! Ya'll think I can't be a man if I don't go 'round bedding every pretty piece of ass we see. I ain't gonna betray Mi-chan like that! I'll stay alone 'till I die an' that's the last time I'll say it! I've got two perfectly good hands an' I'm fine without 'er!"
Chichiri stared at him blankly, not quite sure what to say to his stunning revelation until he managed a "...no da..."
Hikari kicked the door in frustration but found she wasn't getting anywhere. The room was small and cramped, full of jugs of sake, and it smelled bad too. She looked around for a way out, not sure where she could go. One of those men had to come back for her and take her to the boss. She'd find her papa for sure!
Miaka ducked into a closet as voices approached. The sound of one in particular was familiar. Kouji-kun... is that you!?
"So I locked her in the sake room next to 'im till he's ready. I think she must be a niece or somethin'. Her hair is jus' like 'is!" He laughed loudly with the other bandits, not hearing the tiny plink of the key tucked into his pocket falling out. When the laughter had subsided Miaka slid open the door, peering down the halls for any sign of bandit life. When she was satisfied no one was coming; her hand darted out and grabbed the key tightly.
I'm coming, Hikari.
She ran up towards Genrou's room, not stopping to think about anyone that might see her go by. Her daughter might be traumatized by the whole experience! She approached the locked door with caution. Hikari was too busy making a racket inside, screaming at the top of her lungs, to hear the key turn in the door. "Hikari!" Miaka rushed in and squeezed the tiny girl in her arms. "I told you to stick close to me!"
"I'm sorry, Mama!" she hugged her mother back, not wanting to be separated from her for another moment. "Come on! The boss is in the next room. He'll know where Papa is for sure!" She raced out of the room and into the dark one next door, her mother trailing behind her.
"You can't just go barging into people's rooms. Besides, it's dark in here. I think he left."
"We'll wait for him to come back, then!" She looked through the trinkets spread out over the stolen furniture. Jewelry of varying sorts. Further down she spotted her prize. A shiny tessen, just like the one her father carried! She snatched it up, tucking it in behind her skirt. The sound of voices and footsteps approached the room.
"Hikari, hide! Under the bed, quick!" She obeyed, ducking for cover and staying perfectly quiet. It was just like hide and seek, only a teeny bit more serious. She stayed perfectly still and quiet as she watched her mother's feet move about frantically, looking for somewhere to hide herself.
Miaka turned to face the doorway as two men entered. Relief and joy overwhelmed her when she saw Tasuki's face with Chichiri dragging him along.
"I told you to stay downstairs, no da! I brought him for you."
"So this is the girl ya bought t'ease my mind, eh?" His words slurred together and Miaka's heart sank. He was so drunk he didn't recognize her. Not only that, but it seemed Chichiri was bringing him prostitutes while she was gone! She glared at the monk who shook his head, looking confused. Tasuki stumbled forward to her, looking her body over.
"Well she certainly looks like Mi-chan. Ya even found 'er some foreign clothing. Ya coulda at least asked her to do her hair up in those odango's I liked so much." He pulled her close to him, breathing in the smell of her hair. "She smells like 'er too." His eyes welled up with tears as he held her close to him, breathing in the faint smell of strawberries that always lingered in her hair. His hands gripped the back of her neck, refusing to let her go. "Chiri... leave me alone with 'er."
"I don't think you should in this state, no da."
"Dammit you brought 'er for me an' now yer sayin' ya don't want me to have 'er? You got a cruel sense of humor, aho." His eyes were searching her face for a reason to keep living. If he could pretend she was Miaka just for a moment, he'd be able to feel like he was alive again. Before she could speak he slammed his mouth down on her own, kissing her hard. She tried to pull away from him but he wasn't having it. This girl looked just like Miaka and he'd take the opportunity to be with her again even if he knew it wasn't real.
Hikari could hear what sounded like a struggle between them as he got her over to the bed and pushed her down. She moaned as his fangs nipped at her earlobe and down her neck to the pale, tender skin at her collarbone.
"Unless ya like t'watch I'd recommend you get out a here!" He growled towards the doorway but Chichiri stood his ground. He shrugged, turning back to the woman on his bed. His hands run up her legs and under the skirt, across her thighs. The way felt and smelled...
"Let me up, please!" the desperate, yearning sound in her voice was just like Miaka's. He'd almost believe it really was her if it wasn't too good to be true. He growled again, going in for another kiss. She moaned, pained by the cruel way he was forcing himself on her yet longing to feel his touch after all this time apart.
Under the bed, Hikari had grown more and more angry at the sound of this man attacking her mother like this. She would help her Mama and demand to know her Papa's whereabouts. She had a Tessen after all! She scurried out from under the bed and jumped onto the man's back, whacking him in the head repeatedly.
"Get off'a her!"
"Ow! What the hell?" He leapt to his feet, trying to knock off whatever little gnat was buzzing around his head. He managed to grab hold of the back of the child's shirt, holding her up in front of him. "What do ya think yer doin'?"
"I'm protecting my Mama! You better tell me where Tasuki or he's gonna be real mad at you when he gets back here!" She swung her arms wildly, trying to get the Tessen to burn the man but it wasn't working.
"The whore brought a kid with 'er. Chiri, I think ya'd better avoid whoring for Kouji. Bringin' a kid is a big no-no." He snatched the Tessen from her hands and dropped her on the bed beside his Miaka look-alike.
"I'm not afraid of you, Mr. Scary Face!" She stuck out her tongue and him, baring her fangs.
"What'd you call me?" His voice was a deep growl, his own fangs bared as well.
"You heard me!"
"Stop it, all of you no da!" Chichiri made his way to the windows, opening the covers and letting in some light. He repeated with each window in turn until the room was full of golden brilliance, bathing them all. Tasuki squinted against the harsh sun burning his tear-drained eyes.
Miaka moved to the window, staring out at the familiar scenery of Konan. Everything was summer here but it seemed that Tasuki had been dealing with nothing but winter in his heart.
"I think ya'd better go Chiri, 'fore I burn ya to a crisp. Take 'em with ya."
"I'm not going anywhere!" Miaka's eyes searched his face, looking for a little bit of that spark he once had inside. "Come here." Like a child he came when called, moving up against her, pressing her bottom to the wall under the window. She put her arms around his neck, pulling him in to rest his head in the crook of her neck as she'd done with her daughter countless times.
"I can't believe you didn't think it was me." She whispered in his ear.
He snapped to attention, staring in her eyes for a sign she was lying. He touched her face with his thumb, careful not to press to hard in case she were to crumble under his touch. The sunlight pouring in from behind her made her appear angelic and surreal. "Stop messin' with me..."
"I've missed you so much, Tasu-chan." She whispered as tears filled her eyes, threatening to spill over. She was surprised to find him the first to cry. Tears poured down his cheeks as he sank to his knees, holding her around the middle like he'd done the day she disappeared. Her name came out between sobs, as he gasped for air, scarcely believing she was with him again. It was a gift from Suzaku; he had a reason to live again.
"Yeah, you better be sorry!" Hikari was off the bed and kicked him in the shin, laughing in triumph. He grabbed the girl and held her by the back of her shirt again, tears gone. "Wait a minute, if this is yer daughter..." His heart sank again. "I see, ya forgot all about me back in yer own world. Moved on, that sorta thing? I can't say I blame ya..."
"Hold on! You were going to sleep with me when you thought I was a sex worker!"
"That's different' Mi-chan. I wasn't really gonna do nothin' I was jus' trying to remember what it felt like that night." He blushed, putting the girl down again. She ducked behind Miaka's legs, poking her head out from the side. "'Sides, yer a mother now. I'm sure ya need to get back to yer husband, right?"
She looked at the diamond sparkling on her finger and then hid it behind her back. "No! You big dummy, you've got it wrong like usual." She pushed Hikari out from behind her, letting the girl sulk and glare at the man in front of her.
"Tasuki, I'd like you to meet your daughter."