Chapter 4 – Moonlight's Wisdom
David with narrowed eyes glanced at his silver omega wrist watch, 3:45am. He was still wide awake and resigned that he will be able to get even an ounce of sleep for the fact that his mind seemed to be incompetent of even shutting off. He sighed while lying on his bed wearing only the trousers of his pyjamas, gazing past the ceiling, both hands tucked below his head, his leg crossed over the other outstretched leg. He was recollecting his encounter with Miaka since he first met her at the airport.
There was something mysterious about her he can't seem to explain. She looked in a very distant way, familiar. He tried to scramble his brain for memories of possible acquaintance. She after all had travelled to China before… Wait. She had never mentioned ever travelling to his country. David clipped his mouth in uncertainty. Really strange, but he felt like they already met before yet sure that they never did. And for the hundredth time pondered as to why her name was so strangely familiar again...
Yuuki Miaka...
The man creased his perfectly contour eyebrows. As soon as the plane landed, he felt something peculiar, like a strong energy pulling him and his body seemed to move on its own accord. And this strange energy knew exactly where to go. As soon as he stepped out of the door, he felt a burning sensation in his neck and the first person his eyes instinctively caught was… her. He closed his eyes tightly, unsure how to perceive another worth-noting sight or even put it in words but, I thought I saw her glowing in dimming red aura... but… maybe it was just the lights.
Still... she called him by another name. What was the name again? He tried to rewind the scene in his mind in hopes to recall the name but failed. The shock in her face was undeniable, like she was absolutely sure she knew him before. Her reaction was betraying her as if this particular person who looks like him was someone important in her life. His eyes narrowed in disbelief that there was another man who exists that looked exactly like him. Impossible! It can't be! Whoever that person was, that man can't be as equally as beautiful as he was!
But the disappointment in her voice and hint of sadness in her eyes after learning her mistake made his insides clenched in displeasure as if it was the last thing he would ever want to witness. It was overwhelmingly confusing but he felt a sudden desperation to make her smile or see her pair of expressive hazel eyes widened in surprise once again…
... And why does he get this feeling of excitement whenever they touch? No matter, even if it was a simple handshake or touch of their fingertips, the simple innocent gesture left him with the same thrilling effect. It sent electric current down his spine. It disturbed him as he was never like this in past, never! This bizarre feeling was new to him, messing all his senses and he doesn't know how to explore it. All reactions she exhibited... all emotions she displayed seemed to affect him in a strangest way he could have possibly imagined. Her tears... her laughs... her smile... her frown even when she gave him a shocked or aloof stare, the sensation he felt was so strong, so violent it was overwhelming to the point that it became tongues of fire that licks every part of his body.
How in four corners of heaven did he call her Miko? Even he could not explain calling her in such a bizarre title... Priestess... like she was some legend of the past... that was the dumbest word that ever escaped his mouth!
He got up and walked himself to the balcony. David sighed, leaning both hands against the railing, he slightly shivered when the gentle breeze touch his bare chest. He stared at the beauty of the silvery moonlight, appreciating its glow in the vast of darkness and the stars that flicker in constant synchronization like fireflies waltzing in the sky. He sighed once again before closing his eyes to welcome the calming effect as his long silky hair dances harmoniously in the soundless light zephyr. He opened his eyes and saw the moonlight staring back, peeking through the 2 golden brown orbs of his, as if trying to decipher the mystery hidden within the depths of his soul making him feel naked yet safe.
As if finding the perfect companion on that lonely night, he beseeched the moonlight to seek wisdom and conveyed every emotion that troubled his soul...
Was this feeling, people used to define as... Love... at first sight...? He smiled wistfully at the idea. Am I a desperate soul to even resort to that conclusion? He chuckled in disbelief. Those thoughts and feelings are for teenagers only. It doesn't suit my age... But does it suit my personality...? All those times of longing... of wishing and hoping... How I yearned for someone who will come my way and accept me simply for who I am as person without doubts and fear... I had been patiently waiting for that special someone who will fill my soul with unknown infinite joy... a girl who holds the missing piece of my heart... a woman who will see a 'man' behind the black suit I wear, titles I held and treasures I had... a maiden who is destined to be my twin soul... my love of a lifetime...
His eyes turned to the 2 stars fulgent in unison, as if calling his attention. Of all the stars that night, those two stars shone the brightest, they look beautiful together... almost enchanting... as if both had travelled light years in a separate time across the vast universe to find each other... And tonight, he had become a witness to their fateful meeting... perhaps these stars symbolize the meeting of two souls... and again he felt the hot tingling sensation developing around his neck, he was becoming febrile by every passing second when suddenly a lone shooting star, blazing in red appeared between the two bright stars as she flew across the sky and disappeared to nothingness.
Unconsciously, he closed his eyes and for some unknown reason, the face of the woman with beautiful hazel eyes who deprived him of sleep appeared in his mind...
Miaka... he whispered.
OOOOOO
Miaka was tossing and turning without any success of getting a proper sleep. She turned to her side to check the time and groaned in frustration... 3:00am. She wondered if she was being punished by the unknown. It seemed that the prince of sleep has forgotten to visit her that night... Yet, who was she kidding? She knew who was responsible to this crime.
Never in her wildest dream, that her second seishi will be reborn in this world... She considered Taka's reincarnation of Tamahome as a miracle. But David's reincarnation of Hotohori went beyond the miracles of miracle. This feat has never been achieved by any other priestesses except her. The Universe of the Four Gods forbade it. That was why it took Suzuno and Tatara almost ninety years to finally be together... in their deaths. Takiko and Uruki's love were doomed when the priestess was consumed by Genbu. She wonders if Suzaku was being too generous to her and her seishis... Would it be too much to ask for the rest of them?
She closed her eyes and placed her hand on her chest, seeing Hotohori after ten long years made her heart leap in joy. He looked just like the last time she had seen him, as if he never aged in those ten years. He still looks beautiful, elegant, every inch of a royal blood. She smiled at the last thought. Hotohori, it seems that unconsciously, you had brought your personality when you were reborn. But of course, you and David Wong were one and same. I never imagine how much I had missed you until I saw you walking in my direction... and I felt you! I felt the bond... Suzaku's bond! It was burning in my neck where your symbol was located... the red light radiates in your body, glowing...
Despite her excitement, she felt lost and confused. The same question went on and on in her mind. Why was he reborn? Why did we have to meet each other again? Suddenly, she sat up nervously with the thought that crossed her mind. It can't be! Suzaku will never allow it! I will never allow it! I can no longer hurt Hotohori for the second time. I can't allow him to fall in love with me! I won't be able to reciprocate the feelings he has for me... Please Suzaku Seikun, I beg you, don't let Hotohori... or David Wong... to fall in love with me. I already have Taka. I loved him... loved...? He had crossed 2 worlds just to keep his promise... but... where is Taka now...?
She was assaulted by a terrible headache... she pressed her temples as hard as she could hoping that it will reduce the pain. She wanted to scream with the sharp attack of emotion that not only invaded her heart but also her soul... She was torn between wanting to see him again and not wanting to see him at all. Why was she being punished? Her silent sob became audible... louder, clearer. The four corners of her room became a silent witness to her throes...
Miaka stood up and walked towards the opposite direction of her bed. She opened the window curtain and stood there slowly inhaling the light cool breeze and gradually releasing it. She closed her eyes to feel the same cool breeze on her body, calming her and releasing her from all her tension and burden. She has yet to recover her energy and her riotous emotion had taken a toll in her, physically, mentally and emotionally. She feels so little and insignificant... fragile and coward... She took another deep breath and opened her eyes.
There, she saw the silvery moonlight staring at her in a hypnotic trance... probing, demanding... and she found herself drowned in mystical force in quest to unravel the riddle that lies deep in her soul making her naked yet safe.
As if finding solace and peace in the presence of uninvited companion star, she beseeched the moonlight to seek wisdom and conveyed the massive flow of her labyrinth emotions bursting out in the abyss of her troubled soul...
Ever since I was a little girl, I had always believed in fairy tales. I always dreamt of living a happily ever after life with my prince like Cinderella and Snow White. How big is the population of the entire world? Compare to other people, I'm just a little, insignificant specie that my very existence wouldn't make any difference even if I die. That's why when I stumbled upon that magical book and was called by the mystical Phoenix God to become the priestess who will summon him and wish for the safety of his chosen kingdom from destruction, I felt not so little any more... not so insignificant any more... because for the first time in a long time, I finally found a singular reason why I was born... I found my purpose. My destiny... was already written in the stars. And I was truly glad, truly honoured that I became a part of one of the greatest adventure there ever was. Didn't matter if my adventure happened in another world, didn't matter anymore if in my own world I was still little and insignificant...
And I will always be grateful to Suzaku... I may never find the reason of his own purpose why he had chosen me. This clumsy glutton stupid girl who always run into trouble... yet, I am forever grateful to him...
...Forever indebted to him... for I went back to my world a new born person. "You had given me your Eternal Fire, Suzaku Seikun. Your flame lived in me... continued to burn in my soul to keep me warm... and alive... a symbol that you continued to watch over me, though I already accomplished my sacred duty... fulfilled my destiny...
But what else is in store of my destiny? The large part of my adventure had already unfolded. They said Love conquers all... When Tamahome was reborn as Taka in this world, I thought that our love had been strong enough to bridged 2 worlds to let one soul meet the one destined for him. It was indeed, a love against all odds... But was he really the one destined for me...?
Taka... when you left, my heart was filled with sorrow. Everything seems so empty. Day by day, I lived my life with a constant hope of your return, a faithful prayer that the winds will carry my love to you and that love will reach you no matter how big the distance between us. I was always waiting for you, patiently waiting... for the last 5 years I had only known sorrow and emptiness... I continued to live just for the sake of living. I was here but my heart had already left me. I had to drown myself in work so when I reach home there will be no room for another mourning and desperation... Sleep is my only solace, the only escape to my loneliness...
It scares me... that I'm no longer capable of giving anything. That the fire burning inside me will soon diminish. For the last 5 years, I was like a dead tree... without a single leaf to console me, just waiting for someone to cut me down... and it scares me, Taka... it scares me that when you return I have nothing to give anymore... nothing to offer anymore...
And it hurts... it hurts so much because you see... you were not the only one who cared for me...not the only one who loved me. I had my family, my friends... and they cared for me, continued caring for me. Mom... Keisukei... Yui... Tetsuya... and now... Hotohori...
Hotohori...Did Suzaku consent Hotohori to be reborn in this world too? But for what purpose...? Everything about Hotohori now is beyond my comprehension... the reason of his sudden appearance, intense emotions, strong connection and impulsive reactions... For the last 5 years, I was like a human dummy. But when I saw him, I felt the fire that was slowly fading within me sparked once again, and that small flicker was reaching the coldest part of my almost dead soul... his gaze warms me... caresses me...
He has no recollection of his past yet his actions, his gaze spoke a passion... of a man who was madly in love in his previous lifetime. Oh, Hotohori, was it possible that even without your memories, you still carry the same kind of feelings you had for me? A feeling more intense than before even though we just met in this world?
And how should I take it from here? I cared for him, I really do... but to care is not enough! I still have this guilt in me not being by his side when he died...In case my suspicion is correct I don't want 'him' to misinterpret my feelings... I don't want to misinterpret my own feelings...
But why was I so emotional earlier? As if I was possessed by an unfathomable desire to run in his protective arms and feel the warmth of his gentle caress. Was he reborn because my pain and sorrow has reached him... because he felt my longing...? I missed him so much, that I know. He was always there to give comfort. He was like a warm blanket to me... always making me feel safe and happy. And his gaze... was searching ever corner of my soul, penetrating ever layer of my heart as if trying to comprehend the depths of my pain and sorrow. His gaze professed a promise to soothe my loneliness... to heal my sadness... And I'm afraid...too afraid that I won't be able to return the same kind of passion. I'm afraid of even trying... of falling... because I already tried but failed... I already soared and fell...
I wanted to see you again Hotohori... seeing you made me feel safe once again... made the dimming fire inside me sparked again... but I'm afraid of my own personal conflicts. I had become a coward. I don't know if I will be able to confront my own fears... my own demons...
She closed her eyes again for the longest time as she leaned her head on the window sill. When she opened her eyes, 2 stars fulgent in unison caught her attention. Of all the stars that night, those 2 stars shone the brightest, they look beautiful together... almost enchanting... as if both had travelled light years in a separate time across the vast universe to find each other... And tonight, she had become a witness to their fateful meeting... perhaps these stars symbolize the meeting of 2 souls... and again she felt the hot tingling sensation developing around her neck, she placed her hand on her neck as she become febrile by every passing second when suddenly a lone shooting star, blazing in red appeared between the 2 bright stars as she flew across the sky and disappeared to nothingness.
Unconsciously, she closed her eyes and for some unknown reason, the face of the man with beautiful golden brown eyes and long silky hair who deprived her of sleep appeared in her mind...
Hotohori... she whispered.
End of Chapter 4