Author's Note: First of all, I always refer to Uruki as he or him, even when he uses his power and change into a woman.
As mentioned in the last chapter, they will arrive in Konan, and I feel that it is necessary to give a slight recap of Setsuka's family. Setsuka's mother (Manake) is the daughter of the leader of the Kan tribe. Her father (Hekyune) is actually a noble from Konan. Hekyune is the middle son and he was engaged to this noble woman- Miyumi, but due to meeting Manake he decides to marry her. As a result, Miyumi ends up marrying Hekyune's younger brother.
Written: January 29-February 8 2009
"It may be a dream
That I can defend all that I love
So what if it is?
Try to do your best"
~ (Maybe a dream) (1)
One of the first things they had to do in Konan was to buy a set of clothes for everyone, as they were all complaining about the weather.
Unlike the men, Setsuka couldn't possibly take off her top or even just wearing it unbuttoned. But as it was so hot she only buttoned the part in the middle, which meant that both Uruki and Tomite had to try and avoid looking at her direction.
"Is it my fault that men are like that?" Setsuka protested when Takiko, due to the insistence of the other two, was forced to point out the problems her outfit was causing. "It is not bothering Emutato, is it?"
"That is because he is the only one who can see it without being punched by your fist." Tomite muttered out. "Hikitsu…"
"Don't look at me." Setsuka hates being ordered to do something. If I tell her to button it then she might just loosen another button for the sake of doing so." Hikitsu said with a slight smile. "Then I might really get angry at you two."
Her unconventional behaviour didn't bother him as he long accepted that she was different. He would be a bit jealous at seeing many others admiring her body if she continued to walk like that, although he knew that it really was just because she was hot.
He couldn't really blame her as the weather was very extreme. Hekyune always used to say that Konan's weather was warm, but he felt that this was a bit of an understatement.
"We should get some native clothing." Hikitsu said. "Otherwise it is quite easy to detect us as being foreigner."
"But we already look different from the people of Konan." Setsuka pointed out, remembering what Soichi said before. "Our skin tends to be paler and we have a different accent." (2)
"But it will prevent us from being noticed as foreigners at a glance." Hikitsu reasoned out before he noticed Setsuka beckoning to him. "What is it?"
"Hold this for me." She said as she made him grab the end of her hair, which was plaited into many braids. "I dropped my hair ribbon."
"Pass it to me and I'll do it for you." He said. "Do you remember how your hair always used to get tangled up with the tent's pole? I always had to be the one to untie them for you as you just take the end of the ribbon and pull it, causing it to get completely untied. But you didn't want your mother to know because it'll take time for her to brush it."
"So I'd just pull you long and one day my hair ended up being in a complete mess." She laughed out as she passed the ribbon to him. "I even tried running away when my mother tried to brush my hair since it really hurt. My father only caught hold of me after I ran some distance."
Takiko glanced at Uruki shyly as she tied her hair up. Despite what the two of them promised, she was still a bit regretful at not being able to be like Setsuka and Hikitsu.
Tomite himself felt a bit awkward at seeing this because it made him wonder whether this was what he should be doing with Aira when he sees her.
"I still think that we should get some new clothes. We can't go around like this!" Hikitsu said. "What do you think, Takiko?"
"I agree!" she said, a bit too loudly as she quickly turned away from Uruki.
Takiko ended up changing as well because her clothes were rather obvious and they were already conspicuous enough in Konan. In addition, both women also had to wrap up their weapons. (3)
When they arrived at the entrance to the city, they were asked to write their name down along with where they come from.
"What is wrong, Hatsui?" Tomite asked when the young boy didn't move after he wrote his own name.
"I don't know how to write the name of the village I was from." Hatsui whispered, a bit embarrassed.
"A large amount of people in Hokkan are illiterate." Tomite muttered. "In fact, most people in my tribe only know how to write their own name along with the name of our tribe."
"This is a strange last name for someone from Hokkan." One of the guards commented to Setsuka.
"Nonetheless it is my name." Setsuka said sharply.
Unknown to them, the two guards actually pocketed that piece of paper.
"Konan's security seems more strict then Hokkan." Setsuka pointed out. "I have never encountered such a situation when I was travelling around in Hokkan."
"But Konan seems to be a very peaceful country." Hikitsu said. "It is just like what your father told us."
A sad smile appeared as she thought of what happened more then a decade ago: this place had been their intended destination. If these bandits did not come then she might be living here right now.
"At least you are here." Setsuka whispered as she took his hand.
He kissed her gently before they headed back to join the rest, as they had fallen a bit behind.
"The necklace is pointing at this direction!" Takiko said excitedly.
"Are you sure?" Setsuka asked, a bit worried.
She has spent some time travelling and was experienced to a certain degree. Her first suspicion came when she noticed that many men were looking at her and Takiko in a rather lecherous way.
"I am very sure!" the younger girl said. "See…"
At this point they were approached and his questions confirmed Setsuka's suspicion.
"Which brothel do you two belong to? How much for the pair of you?"
The other's reaction was also almost comical: Takiko and Tomite both blushed, while Hikitsu and Uruki were controlling themselves to not do anything. Hatsui appeared rather confused, which was a good thing.
Setsuka's first reaction was to punch the man and then give him a few more kicks as she loathed men who practiced prostitution. However, this would give them too much unwanted attention.
There was a temporary alternative and she should be able to carry it out, she will just pretend that she was acting out one of Soichi's stories.
"This man over here has already paid a very high price for us." She declared out as she threw her arms around Hikitsu.
"I can pay you a much higher price as well as paying them off." The potential client said.
Setsuka was not exceptionally vain, but she was like everyone by tending to be a bit flattered at having their beauty praised. But for the very first time in her life, she really couldn't take any pleasure in being regarded as beautiful.
"We best act along to get rid of him without causing too much trouble." Hikitsu whispered to Uruki, deciding that they should follow Setsuka's wish as she was deliberately controlling herself to not punch the man- a rather amazing achievement.
"I am extremely fond of this woman." Hikitsu declared out. "I am determined to spend the night with her."
At this Setsuka giggled, a surprisingly girlish sound.
"You must visit me more often! I will always be very happy to welcome you!" she said.
As soon as the others left, Takiko lifted up her necklace in order to stare at it.
"But…the necklace really points toward this building.
"It is not impossible for a celestial warrior to be someone involved in prostitution." Hikitsu reasoned out reluctantly before he slapped Tomite at the back of his head. "Will you just calm down?"
"I think we should find an inn first." Uruki decided, hovering in front of Takiko protectively.
Upon finding an inn, they began to debate on what they should do again.
"There is no definite proof that the celestial warrior is a prostitute or someone who practise in such a thing!" Takiko reasoned out. "They might just happen to be there."
"Happen to be there?" Setsuka repeated bitterly. "I do not think that anyone would happen to be in such place."
"But Takiko has a point. We cannot make any judgement on them just yet." Hikitsu said. "We should try to make inquiry."
"Find a way?" Setsuka's voice becomes very chilling and she was actually clenching her fists together. "I will not share you in such a way!"
"You won't, because I will not share you either." Hikitsu promised grimly before he suddenly chuckled. "You will probably end up stabbing someone. Besides," he whispered to her, "I am not so devoted to Hokkan as to sacrifice you."
Their discussions were suddenly interrupted as the door of their room was opened without any warning, and two armed guards entered.
"Which one of you is You Setsuka?"
Setsuka and Hikitsu exchanged a slight glance before she shrugged and acknowledged her identity."
"Then please come with us." One of the guards said. "We are asked to do this by out master."
"What does he want with me?" Setsuka demanded, not letting go of her spear.
"We do not know, but we were told that you won't be in any danger." The guard promised. "As a proof of his goodwill he will let you bring your weapons."
"And if I don't comply?"
"We were told to bring you to him at all cost." Was the gentle but firm reply.
"Setsuka, we will stand by you no matter what." Takaiko promised firmly.
She received a very warm smile before the elder woman declared out: "I will go with you."
"Setsuka, are you sure?" Hikitsu asked urgently.
"I do not think that they will harm me." Setsuka said. "I am not very sure as to why, but I know that they are telling the truth."
But she still took her weapons with her.
"Hikitsu, I know you want to go after her." Takiko decided. "You can go because I can manage with the rest."
"Thank you, Takiko, and I am sorry about this." Hikitsu said. "Takiko…I will tell Setsuka about this.
The two guards came to a stop once they reached a very elaborate mansion. Once there, Setsuka was guided into some sort of sitting room.
There were five people there, and judging by the look of things it was an elder father with his children, probably his two sons and daughters-in-law.
"You are You Setsuka, are you not?" The elder man said.
"Do people of Konan have the right to do such a thing?" she demanded bluntly. "I have done nothing wrong, so I see this treatment as an insult."
One of the women began to laugh but the laughter was very sharp and rather cruel. In addition, her eyes were very cold.
"As to be expected, there are no such things as manners to you!"
"Miyumi!" the eldest man said sharply, forcing her to stop. He then turned to Setsuka again, forcing himself to smile. "I will explain my actions. But first, please tell me your parent's name."
Her mother's name did not matter to them, but her father's name certainly caused a large reaction.
"It is true then!" the man said as he started to weep. "You are Hekyune's child! I've been trying to find Hekyune and his family for so long but there has been no news of them at all."
"So all that Father can do is to make the guards at the gate tell him whether anyone with our last name has enters the city." One of her uncle explained, as her grandfather was getting too emotional- he could no longer speak. "But where is Hekyune?"
"…dead." Setsuka whispered. "Father has been dead for eleven years. He…he was killed by bandits. Mother is dead as well…just a few days before father…she was ill…"
"My poor child, you must have suffered a lot." Her grandfather said as he reached forward to pat her on the head, as if she was still a little girl. "If only I found you earlier…"
Setsuka suddenly found herself being hurled away as Miyumi- her aunt- grabbed her by the collar.
"You say that Hekyune is dead?" she demanded hysterically. "You little witch! You are the one who did this, aren't you?"
Her other aunt tried to interfere while her other uncle angrily demanded his younger brother to do something.
Even though Setsuka was irritated by the other woman, she couldn't help but to feel a bit upset at the slap.
"I am sorry, but this is necessary." Miyumi's husband told her.
Unknown to them, Miyumi actually smiled- her plan was working much better then her original anticipation.
"Father was going to find you when he was killed, so he did not have any opportunity of telling me anything about his family." Setsuka said bluntly. "I do not know if I can trust you, especially after what my other grandfather did."
"That is to be expected after what I did to Hekyune." her grandfather said with true guilt. "I didn't let him do what he wanted. Yes, Miyumi, I know that this really hurt you but you are no longer a child now."
"I should have married him." was the bitter reply as she placed her hands on her swollen check.
"My lord, I am sorry to interrupt you but we found someone trying to sneak in." a guard said as he rushed in.
"Is he about this high with long blond hair? Oh, and his right eye will be covered with an eye patch." Upon the nod Setsuka turned to her grandfather. "That is the man that I love as well as the man who I will marry. He must have chased after me."
It was Hikitsu and the first thing he did was to hug Setsuka.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
"I am fine." She assured him before telling him all that had happened.
"And what do you plan to do?" he asked.
She could only shrug.
"Setsuka…there is no need for you to decide now." her grandfather said kindly. He could understand the suddenness of everything because unlike him, she had not been trying to find her relatives for the past few years. "But know that you can stay with me whenever you want and for as long as you want. I will also let you do what ever you want."
"Your grandfather seems like a nice man." Hikitsu commented out. "And he will probably be acceptant about you being a celestial warrior."
"But I am not sure whether I wish to live in Konan. It is a very nice country, true." Setsuka began. "But it is not Hokkan. What about you though? Do you want to live in Konan?"
"I know what you mean. But no matter what we won't be able to live with our tribe again." Hikitsu stopped upon the sight of Tomite, who was clearly very agitated.
"Takiko…Takiko just sold herself into the brothel." He yelled out.
"What? I am going to the brothel now." Setsuka immediately yelled out, "I refuse to let any girl I know be forced into prostitution."
"Setsuka, calm down." Hikitsu hissed, grabbing onto her with all his strength as she would probably do what she threatened.
If the circus did not find her then she could have ended up being in this trade, at the very least she would have had to consider this. That was probably why she had such an aversion for the trade, as well as hating it due to this being caused by the boundary of gender.
"Tomite, why did this happen in the first place?" Hikitsu demanded.
They calmed down a bit due to Tomite's explanation, although they were not that assured because there was a limit to what Uruki could do.
"We have to get into contact with them." Hikitsu decided.
The prospect of having to entertain a guest again was rather scary for Takiko even though Uruki was beside her. Perhaps she was more scared about what Uruki would do then instead of what would happen to her.
"A man like that deserves to be looked after by me…" Uruki hissed with a very unpleasant smile as he cracked his knuckles together.
Not only did their latest client demand the two of them at once, he also had his own concubine with him.
"Uruki, don't kill anyone." Takiko repeated.
"I…you two!" Uruki yelled out upon seeing the two inside.
It was Hikitsu with Setsuka, and the latter was dressed in similar clothing as Takiko and Uruki, while her hair was held up and decorated in a similar fashion. The thunderous expression on Setsuka's face indicated that she had to swallow a lot of pride in order to be here.
"There is no other way." Hikitsu explained.
"You seem to be the only one at ease." Uruki muttered as he sat down.
"At ease?" HIkitsu repeated this with a sidelong glance at Setsuka, recalling how he had to stop talking since her swearing prevented any other sounds being heard. "Is that what you think?"
"Takiko…has anything happened to you?" Setsuka demanded with great concern.
"Of course not. I am here." Uruki pointed out indignantly.
"And do you plan to always go with her when she has a client?" Setsuka snapped. "Takiko, I can get you out of here as I can get extra money."
"I will be alright." Takiko said confidently. "But thank you very much."
"I am not doing this because you are the priestess of Genbu, it is because you are a woman like me." Setsuka reminded her.
After some debate, they decided that their best option was to get the necklace back and even though what happened was beyond their original plan, they did end up finding the last celestial warrior due to the necklace.
"So my secret is out." Tarma said with a biter smile. "Yes, I have the misfortune of being able to answer to Inami as well. However, I have no intention of accompanying a spoilt little girl like you."
"Takiko, let me handle this." Uruki demanded. Tarma being a celestial warrior meant that Takiko might be in serious danger.
"Can you not even last through a fight?" Tarma taunted, still attacking with the enlarged pipe.
"I don't care what…" Uruki began angrily but much to his surprise, he felt himself being grabbed by the collar. "You!"
"A promise is a promise." Sesuka said grimly before adding: "This is Takiko's decision."
Takiko's decision of challenging Tarma actually made Setsuka see her in a much more favourable light, as she believed that one who could only be protected would not be able to protect others, let along a whole kingdom. Yet this made Uruki rather angry as it could be interpreted as her choosing to not save Takiko.
Uruki did not blame Setsuka for resenting her fate as a celestial warrior as he himself was like that, what he grudged her for was her personal vindictiveness towards Takiko. Setsuka was not rude, but Takiko had told Uruki that she felt the other woman was determined to blame her for what happened to her.
"Maybe what happened to you would have happened anyway, even if Takiko never came." He muttered to Setsuka viciously. "Did those who you claim to have loved you so much really love you that much if they were willing to do what they did?"
Setsuka couldn't even offer any rebuff due to how much the insult hurt- the only thing she could do was to grab onto Hikitsu for support.
Uruki was sure that he would be slapped or punched and he was right: he was soon on the receiving side of a very hard slap.
But it was not Setsuka who struck him.
…it was Hikitsu.
Unlike the woman he loves, Hikitsu rarely acted on impulse. The one exception was him tearing the flower of snow but even then, he managed to excuse himself in a composed manner. He even managed to remain calm when Setsuka was taken away, as he did not immediately follow.
"You…you went too far." Hikitsu said, his voice a hiss. "She does not…she does not deserve that. Nor do I. Don't you understand that what happened to us haunt and hurt us so much due to the fact that they loved us? To be harmed by the one you hate does not matter, but to be harmed by the one that love you… and to know that they did it out of love…" (4)
As his hand was still raised, the possibility of him slapping Uruki for a second time was not impossible. Tomite was just going to drag Uruki away when Hikitsu used that hand to take off his eye patch.
He right eye seemed to be burning, a sign that something drastic was going to happen.
Meanwhile, Takiko actually managed to score a victory as she knocked away Tarma's weapon.
"I have another weapon, although I confess that this is rather unsporting," she admitted, "but as I said, I have no intention of going with you."
Saying so, her hair began to grow and circle itself around all of them. Some of them managed to raise their hands fast enough to prevent it from being tied around their body, but this unnatural weapon still restrained their movement.
Hikitsu only had one hand free as his other hand was still held over his eye to prevent his power from working. Setsuka did not have her hand tied to her body but they were cuffed together by the hair.
"I dislike spoilt little girls like you." Tarma stated spitefully.
"'Spoilt little girls', is it?" Setsuka suddenly whispered out. "Takiko…it seems that I own you an apology."
Raising her hands to her lips, she bit down hard enough to cause it to bleed. With great difficulty, she began to move her hands so that the drops of blood could form a word.
The word tiger.
Once more, her blood began to mould themselves into the living creature whose name she wrote. Tarma was shocked, but she quickly sought to bind the creature with her hair.
"Free Takiko." Was the order of the one who summoned the creature. Her words were loud and clear, heard by all.
Out of instinct, Tarma tightened her hair's hold on Setsuka. She did not intend to kill the other woman, but the sudden grip still made Setsuka chock as some of the hair was around her neck.
That was enough for Hikitsu, who uncovered his eye.
Perhaps this was the most dangerous power given because who has the right to make hidden memories surface? Hikitsu also felt a deep guilt whenever he made anyone face what they wanted to forget.
He hated his power and was very reluctant to use it, but when he saw that Setsuka was in danger, he knew that he was willing to do anything that would help her. He was really like any other men; he desired to be of use to the woman that he loved.
Liked all others who had the misfortune of looking into his right eye, Tarma was immediately affected. Her reaction was very severe as she actually fell onto the ground with her eyes gazing forward vacantly.
Her hair began to loosen, shrinking back to its original length.
Hikitsu caught Setsuka in his arms and immediately examined her neck: it was slight red with some of the flesh swelling in the shape of many thin lines. His fingers touched her skin very delicately and the lack of deep pain made him a bit more at ease.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Her lips curled into a mocking smile- suggesting that she was alright, although her voice was very hoarse. "Don't ask me stupid questions- I thought I was going to die. But what is happening now?"
"I think 'Inami' might join us very soon." He told her as he observed how Takiko walked to Tarma and knelt beside the other woman, placing a hand on the other's shoulder. "What about Urumiya?"
"Maybe she will appear sooner then you expect." Setsuka muttered.
Inami did decide to join them and upon hearing what happened with Setsuka, they decided to trust her grandfather by asking for his aid. This turned out to be a good idea as he managed to provide them with many information.
Much to Setsuka's surprise, the first person who ran to take her hand was her aunt Miyumi.
"My husband and I had a very long talk." She explained. "And he made me realise that I really went too far. I realised this when he actually slapped me, as he is always so gentle."
"I do not like your mother as I loved your father and lost him to her. But this is not your fault at all." She said sweetly, putting on a very great performance. "So please forgive me."
"I…I guess I can understand what you feel." Setsuka said slowly.
"I am so glad!" Miyumi said happily. "But as a proof of good will, you must allow me to sit beside you when we eat dinner."
Setsuka agreed as this was a common enough gesture of goodwill.
Technically all seven celestial warriors were present, which meant that they had to think of a new goal as they had been concentrating on the idea of finding all of them.
Setsuka's grandfather managed to provide them with many information about the legend of the priestess and her celestial warriors, which proved to be very important. They now knew that they had to find the sacred scroll in order to summon Genu.
During their discussion Setsuka made a move to speak to Takiko, only to end up shaking her head.
"It's alright." Takiko whispered to her just before they all parted way to rest in the chambers that were given to them.
"A rich man." Inami commented.
"This is only the second time she has been here." Hikitsu quickly pointed this out. "She spent the last eleven years of her life wondering around Hokkan."
But her grandfather was certainly rich, Hikitsu admitted as he observed the room that they were given. It was a great contrast to what their life with their tribe was like, but Hikitsu could still understand why Hekyune would give up all that he had in order to be with the woman that he loved.
"I am so pathetic!" Setsuka said angrily, causing him to sit beside her in order to wrap his arm around her waist. "I couldn't even say what I want to say."
He let her rant for a while longer before reminding her that she still had many opportunities, since Takiko was rather understanding.
"Much better then me." Setsuka muttered. "I am glad that my grandfather let us stay here, I felt that I have finally done something for her."
"Your grandfather is determined to make up for his past neglect." He commented. "Are you going to let him?"
"You mean…after this whole mess is over?"
She tried to picture their future several times but found herself unable to do so. For some strange reason, she just couldn't.
"Let us not worry about what will happen until then." Setsuka decided. "Right now, my main worry is how to tell Takiko what I want to say to her."
He agreed because he was actually experiencing a similar thing.
"What is this, by the way?" she asked, pointing to the cup in his other hand.
"Hatsui made this from some of the herbs he found in your grandfather's kitchen. He says that it is good for the body."
"Can I have some as well?"
He answered by giving the cup to her.
Takiko was talking to Uruiki about all that had happened when the door of her room was suddenly thrown open.
"Hikitsu?" they were not sure what shocked them the most: the breach of civility by him not knocking on the door, or due to the shock at seeing him in such an agitated state.
"Hatsui…where is Hatsui?" he demanded. "Setsuka started to throw up after she drank that potion Hatsui made."
"But we are fine after drinking it." Uruki pointed out.
"I am not saying this it is his fault, but I want him to take a look as Setsuka is in a really bad state."
They could understand his panic once they arrived in the room- Setsuka was still gagging and throwing up, her face extremely pale.
"There is nothing wrong with that potion and there should be no such reaction." Hatsui said nervously.
"But why is she throwing up?" Hikitsu demanded as he knelt beside Setsuka in order to hold back her hair for her, not concerned with the stench that was coming from her due to her vomiting.
"I am sure that you can help." Takiko told the boy very gently. "Just try to think."
The young boy nodded and he closed his eyes, trying to recall everything that he heard from his parents- who were both very skilled at herb lore.
"There is only one possibility." He suddenly said. "She…she had something bad in the body as the herb would also get rid of such a thing."
Tugging at Takikos' sleeves, he began to whisper.
"What? But…"
"Something bad?" Hikitsu repeated slowly. "How bad?"
"It is alright, I will tell them for you." Takiko assured Hatsui before she turned to meet Hikitsu's gaze. "He means poison. Strong poison too, since it is causing such a reaction."
"Are you saying that my own grandfather…" Setsuka stopped halfway as she began to vomit once again.
"Is there something that you can do?" Hikitsu demanded, forcing his voice to remain steady as blood was now present in her vomit.
"She must drink the rest because it will help her to get rid of the poison." Hatsui said, his voice was soft but steady.
"You are a celestial warrior as well, so I trust you." Hikitsu said firmly. "Setsuka?"
She couldn't speak, so she just nodded.
It was almost ironic how the strong woman was reduced to this state. When her ordeal was over, she was so tired that she couldn't even speak.
"I would like to stay and help Hatsui." Takiko offered to Hkitsu.
"Thank you, thank you both." Hikitsu whispered, holding onto Setsuka's rather limp hand.
"Emutato…the light…hurts my eye." Setsuka whispered.
Nodding, Hatsui indicated that it was alright to blow out the candle. The young boy was actually growing up a bit as he realised that there were things that only he could do, although he naturally wished that such an incident did not happen.
Because the lights were out and none of them were really moving, it was not hard for the accompanist to think that the poison had work- it was meant to paralyze Setsuka's body.
But much to his shock and disappointment, he would find his victim gone, as well as facing two very healthy and armed people.
"Who are you and what do you want with Setsuka?" Hikitsu demanded.
Muttering a curse, the intruder answered by attacking.
"Takiko- scream!" Hikitsu yelled out. "It is better if we get everyone else's attention."
Uruki was the first person to arrive, followed by Tomite. Within seconds, they managed to capture and bind the intruder.
"I have never seen him before." Setsuka whispered.
"He is Miyumi's cousin." Setsuka's younger uncle said when the rest of them arrived. "But he doesn't usually come to father's house."
Miyumi was soon there as her husband insisted on them staying the night in his father's house since it had been quite late when the banquet finished. Standing beside her husband, she allowed herself to look like a frightened woman- which was what they expected of her. In reality, she was desperately trying to find a way to prevent herself from being suspected, especially when the source of the poison was mentioned.
But she needn't have worried at all.
"I made a mistake, the poisoned sweet was for Miyumi. To paralyze her so she couldn't resist." Her cousin yelled out, determined to save her. "I wanted to take her away."
"But why did you come to this room?" Uruki declared out.
"I made a mistake."
At a glance this seemed logical enough- the man was jealous at having the woman he loved for such a long time being another man's wife that he finally decided to abduct her. But his plan ended up misfiring as she offered some of these sweets he gave her to Setsuka when they waited for their dinner to come. It was just that Setsuka happened to take the poisoned one.
But there were too many holes to those who were already suspicious- Takiko declared that they would leave the very next day, and the rest of the celestial warriors all agreed.
As she watched their guests leave, Miyumi couldn't help but to feel her hatred for Setsuka growing. Not only did her plan failed, her most useful tool was now gone.
"There would be other ways for me to succeed." She whispered to herself as she tried to calm down and think of a way to achieve her goal.
The celestial warriors of Genbu would die because this is what Hakei-sama desires." A voice said very chillingly. "But it won't be you who do this."
"Wait…I can…" she began but her words trailed off when she saw how cold that person's eyes were.
"You've failed us, ad we do not accept that."
The celestial warriors of Genbu briefly altered something in Konan as Miyumi's death was the consequence of their arrival, although this was certainly not their fault.
But this was nothing compared to what they would do in their own country as they were determined to summon Genbu. It would result in a better future, but the weaving of this better future was stained. (5)
The celestial warriors and the priestess were now staying in an inn and they would continue being here until Setsuka recovered, despite her reluctance at being weak and causing their plans to be delayed.
"So, why don't we just charge there and get the scroll and summon Genbu?" Tomite yelled out.
"Is your brain really that simple or are you doing this on purpose?" Uruki muttered.
"But we've got the priestess and all the celestial warriors." Tomite reasoned. "I don't like not doing something and just talk because what can you achieve by doing that?"
"Tomite is right," Hikitsu said as he walked down. "Takiko, will you go and see Stsuka? I think you will find the last of your celestial warrior."
Takiko wasn't sure whether she was motivated by the hope that the other's words were true, or being excited at the fact that the last celestial warrior was finally here.
"Takiko, I need to thank you as well as apologise to you." Setsuka began when the younger girl took a seat beside her. "Will you let me say all that I have to say before you say anything?"
Setsuka actually took a deep breath before she began: "I really have to start from the very beginning.
"My maternal grandfather was the tribal leader and even though he has many sons, he only has one daughter. His children grew up and married and his son gave him many grandsons, but I was his only granddaughter.
"This hair is also the same shade as his wife's hair and I heard that I am very much like her- wanting to do what the boys did. Unlike me, she was not allowed to do these things. I think that might be why my grandfather let me do whatever I want, because he now has the power to overrule tradition.
"As for my parents…my mother was very fragile as she has been very ill through out her whole life, as a result she could only spend her time in front of the hearth. Therefore, seeing her daughter behaving in such a wild manner was not unpleasant. As for my father, he loved us too much to care about convention.
"I was like a princess- what I wanted, I would obtain. In fact, I already had a prince who was waiting for me to grow up in order to marry me. I hated being a celestial warrior because it made me lose what I had and I once had so much.
"Do you remember the circus? Many of them could take great pleasure in just being alive and have food because they had nothing. But I cannot do this- I have become much too greedy because the life I had was too good.
"That is why I loath this fate of being a celestial warrior and that is why I blamed you. But then I realised that this is simply too unfair, because you have suffered so much. From what I have heard…"
"That isn't true." Takiko finally interrupted her. "What Inami said is true. It is true that my father was frequently absent but we were left well off, and most of all…my mother was there.
"Perhaps I would do what you are doing if I thought that it could save the ones that I love, but yet I know that this is not it." Setsuka said. "Takiko, why are you here? Why do you wish to summon Genbu?"
"Because I wish to help Hokkan." The young girl said firmly. "And it is also because I want its people to be happy. If I can somehow make this happen then I will try to do so."
"A better future for Hokkan, is it?" Setsuka repeated. "It is a very pretty vision. I wish that such a thing would come true as well. You are a very strange girl, Takiko, because you say the impossible in a way that makes us feel that it is possible.
"Emutato is travelling with you so I will naturally remain with him. But for the first time I feel that I am also here because of you. Your visions are so pretty that they might just be dreams, but I want to stand beside you and try to make these dreams come true.
"But it is also due a selfish reason. You finally made me feel that being a celestial warrior is not a curse. I would like the rest of the world to think that too, and I think you are the only one who can proof otherwise."
"Are you…are you willing to help me as a celestial warrior then?"
"Yes." Urumiya told her.
(1) "Maybe a dream" (Yume ka mo Shirenai) is the ending song for the second OVA series.
(2) This is what was said by the girl they thought was Inami in Volume 4.
(3) I know that this didn't happen in the story but I really thought that Takiko might change her cloth as well when they were in Konan since it really would make them too distinctive.
(4) Hikitsu is referring to his father because his father tried to kill him out of love.
(5) I am not saying that Takiko and the rest were harbingers cause I think the real harbingers are Miaka and Yui, but I am just saying that like everything, there are sacrifices and consequences.
Author's note: I seemed to have gained a sudden inspiration for my genbu kaiden fan fic as I've been doing quite a bit of writing. I am half way through the next chapter and I believe that the story will have a total of nine chapters with one epilogue. Hopefully, the story should be finished by June this year. ( first half of the year.)
As mentioned before, I got all this idea when I only read the first few volumes of the manga so what happened next will be very different from the actual. In addition, my genbu kaiden fan fic is also related to my fushigi yugi stories, as I work with the idea that the priestess and the celestial warriors had a past life before they become the priestess and celestial warriors. So once again, I advertise my previous fushigi yugi stories (mainly the second one as the second one first introduce this idea of the past time) in order to the story to make more sense.