Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play
Chapter 11
Going Home
:Or:
Because I am the Suzaku no Miko…
By:
Night~Mare
With help from someone who's never home when I call:
Annikia Valentine
Dedicated to:
The Mighty Trumpet Loving Frog
---
Author's Note: Well? How do you like it so far? I'm pretty proud of it myself. I've never written this far before. Eleven chapters…phew. Well I'm glad I finally got out of episode four. Did you know that it took up about three chapters? Eeesh!
----
Sharon's face was pale and her breathing barely registered. The fever was going down and she was slowly getting better. Ann sat beside her friend and sighed. When Tamahome had brought Sharon in, Ann had hardly recognized her. She had been covered with mud and her face bruised and swollen. She didn't look much better now. The pale skin made the black eye stand out more. It was a good thing nothing had been broken. Ann had never seen the sixteen-year-old sleep so peacefully before. Usually she tossed and turned and spoke nonsense. Now she just lied there, never moving except to breathe.
Ann wished she knew what had happened. Nuriko hadn't been able to get anything useful out of the Hong family and Tamahome didn't know anything after the point he'd left her. The only way they were going to find out was when Sharon woke up. Ann did not want to be in Tamahome's shoes now. He was with the emperor telling everything that he knew had happened. Ann felt sorry for him. She didn't know what kind of rebuke he was getting but she was sure he didn't like it.
"Wow, she really took a beating didn't she?" Nuriko said. Ann looked back at the woman standing in the door way. The lady came in and sat in a chair by the edge of Sharon's bed.
"Don't worry. Sharon's like a Timex. She takes a licking and keeps on ticking."
"And in real words that would mean…?"
"It means that it's hard to keep her down."
"Let's hope you're right."
They were silent as they watched her sleep. The fever wasn't quite through with the miko and it was Ann's self appointed job to watch over her. She wished Sharon would speak. She wished the girl would do anything to show she was going to be all right. Ann put her hand to locket hidden underneath her shirt. Sharon had to get better. There was no if, ands or buts. She had to because she was the Suzaku no Miko.
"How is she?" Hotohori came into the room. As he passed her Ann caught a faint scent. Lilacs? The Emperor of Konan sat on the edge of Sharon's bed and put a hand to her forehead.
"She's still hot."
"The healers said that the fever was going down," Ann said.
"It had better," Hotohori said sternly. Ann looked at Tamahome who was lurking by the door and gave him a sympathetic smile. Sharon moaned in her sleep and everybody's attention was turned to her.
"Daddy? David? Where are you? Take me home. I wanna go…" her voice trailed off into a whisper, "home." Ann got up from her seat and went over to Tamahome. She leaned against the door frame and smiled at him.
"You can come in," she said in a hushed voice. "I don't think that Sharon will bite your head off."
"It's my fault you know. I shouldn't have been so mean to her."
"I don't think it's entirely your fault. Face it Tamahome, trouble follows Sharon like thunder follows lightning. Just as dangerous and just as loud." Tamahome smiled and Ann smiled back.
---
Hotohori sighed and brushed the hair from Sharon's face. He knew what he had to do. She needed to go home. He'd known it ever since had come in the library looking for The Universe of the Four Gods. He didn't want to lose her though, not now. Well she could come back. Going home didn't mean she was going to stay there. She could come back when she was better. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, oblivious to the others in the room. Then he stood.
"Come," he said. He walked out of the room.
---
Ann watched as the seishi left with their emperor and went back to her friend's side. She sat on the edge of Sharon's bed and stared down at her.
"Eeee," Sharon said. Ann blinked, that was odd. "Eeeelephants in meee peejaaamaaaasss!" she whispered. Ann laughed.
"And what are they doing in there?"
"Don' know. Don' care. Don' eat apples for breakfast." Ann knew Sharon was still asleep and sat back to enjoy the show. Sharon rolled over on her side and shoved her hand under the pillow.
"Gah. I wan McDonalds an' Subway an' Taco Bell an' pasgetti! An' I wanna watch Fooshigee Loogee and see Tamaho…Tomoea-sama. Yes I do. "
"Then what?"
"Then I wanna drink stawbewwies and eat Suuurge! Mwa ha ha ha…. Lestatle? Lesstaatle… Bite me! Ah hee hee hee…not funny." Ann laughed, it was good to see her friend almost back to normal. She would give anything to know what was going on in Sharon's head right now.
Color was coming back to her friend's face and her eyelids fluttered. Sharon didn't wake up though. Ann watched her a little while longer. When it was apparent that she was in a more restful sleep; she got up and stretched. The fifteen-year-old hadn't slept since yesterday morning and she was exhausted. She looked one more time at Sharon's sleeping form and smiled. Then she walked to the door. Ann heard voices on the other side and paused to listen.
"We are going to take the miko back home." That was Hotohori. Ann would have stopped eavesdropping if he hadn't mentioned the word home. She was curious as to how he was planning to accomplish it. She leaned closer to listen better.
"How are we going to do that?" Nuriko said.
"We are not sure," Hotohori said.
"We could go ask the oracle of the Mt.ain where the rest of the seishi are," Tamahome said.
"The oracle of the Mt.ain?" Nuriko asked.
"It's a legend my father used to tell me when I was little. He said if you go up to the Mt.ain you can get any question answered."
"Well that's all well and good, but which Mt.ain?"
"That's right. Taikyoku. We know if it," Hotohori said. "Perhaps we can even ask Taiitsukun to send them home."
"A suitable escort can be prepared in what, two days?" Nuriko asked.
"No," Tamahome said. "In the legends, people always had to get there on their own merit."
"Tamahome is correct. We will make the necessary arrangements and let you know when the journey is to begin."
"I hope this works," Tamahome said. "We need to get them home as soon as possible."
Ann stepped away from the door and skipped over to Sharon's side. She sat down and grinned at her friend.
"We're going home!" she whispered excitedly. "I can't believe it. Don't worry Sharon. Soon you'll be safe and sound back in our world. I'll make sure of it."
---
Sharon gasped and opened her eyes. Where was she? Why was it so dark? She remembered falling in the street and being picked up…by…someone. Tamahome? Yes. Tamahome had rescued her. She couldn't help but smile. Even if he didn't care about her, she could always pretend.
Her head still ached a little. Sharon pulled the covers up to her chin and buried her face in the pillow. A single candle on the night stand lit the room. Resting next to it was her glasses. She heard the sound of faint snoring and vague mumbling. Sharon looked up and smiled. There was Anni, curled in a chair and sleeping like a baby. Ann mumbled something unintelligible and shifted her position.
Sharon shook her head. Ann was one of those people who talked in her sleep. Some of the things she said were really weird. Sharon laid her head back on the pillow and stared at the ceiling. She knew that she had to apologize again. To Nuriko for failing her. Sharon should have known that she wouldn't have been able to tell Hotohori something like that without messing up. Then she had to apologize to Tamahome, mostly for getting him in trouble. She shouldn't have walked away from him like that.
She needed to say sorry to Ann for making her worry and to Hotohori for the same reason. She had a lot of apologizing to do and she didn't know where to begin. Sharon heard the door open and shut quietly again. Well, as a wise woman once said, start at the very beginning. She wondered who it was. He sat on the edge of her bed. Well that knocked out Nuriko pretty much. Was it Tamahome maybe? She felt a hand stroke her face and had to rule out Tamahome as well.
"Hello Hori-kun. How are you doing?"
"You're awake?"
Sharon sat up and grinned at him in the dim candlelight.
"Yep."
"How are you feeling?"
"Perfect," she said, swinging her hair over her shoulder. Her head pounded with the movement and she winced.
"Well almost anyway." She bit her lip. Why were apologies so hard to say? Oh well this was Hotohori. She could tell him anything. The others would be a bit more difficult. "Look, Hori-kun…I'm really sorry for getting you worried and all. If you were. I mean I don't know but…if you were."
"I was. Extremely worried. But don't apologize you did nothing wrong."
"But I…"
"Shhh," he said softly. "Let me speak. I am going to get you home Sharon."
"Oh. Well I had an idea before and…well…I have to admit I tried to act on it…but…"
"I know. You tried to take The Universe of the Four Gods."
"How did you…"
"I saw you were looking for a particular scroll and you seemed vehement about finding it and I saw that you were only picking up red scrolls. So…I put it together."
"I thought you were reading," Sharon mumbled.
"Do you think it would be wise for an emperor to be so totally immersed in what he is doing that he doesn't see what's going on around him?"
"Well…no. But anyway. So my idea was to read it and we'd get sucked into it. Because that's what happened before."
"If someone wanted you in this world that badly, I doubt they would make it so easy to get back."
"Well…yeah. I guess. So what's gonna happen?"
"We are going to Mt. Taikyoku to see Taiitsukun."
"Mt. Tai…Tai…Peachez huh? Well that'll be fun."
"Peaches?" he asked with a laugh.
"No, no, no. Ez, ez, the q is silent."
"How do you get Peachez from Taikyoku?"
"Very carefully."
He laughed again and Sharon smiled. He was just so easily amused. Whoda thunk? His laughter faded and the room was silent.
"Promise me, you'll come back, when you get better."
"Of course Hori-kun. I'll always come back for you. Don't be a baka." She hugged him and he returned it. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Why had she said that? She couldn't come back. Not after all she'd done. If she didn't though, she would miss Hotohori too much. And Tamahome…but no…she wouldn't think of him. Not at all. She knew that he would be a lot happier if she had never come. Or if Ann had become the Suzaku no Miko. If, if, if too many ifs and not enough definites. But that was life. Of course that didn't mean she couldn't change it.
"I worry so much about you," Hotohori said, stroking her hair. "Tamahome had no right to leave you alone like that."
"It's not his fault. We had an argument and I walked away. Please don't get mad at him."
"You are so compassionate…but you don't understand. The duty of a Suzaku seishi is to protect the miko, not put her in danger because of their pride."
Well…they did protect Ann pretty well. Everything seemed to lead back to her. Tamahome had saved her twice because Ann had been there. Nuriko seemed to like Ann. Only Hotohori didn't seem to acknowledge her. That would change. She would make sure of it. She would get all of Ann's seishi working together for her. Maybe that was why she was here in the first place.
"Hori-kun? Are you really sure I'm the miko? I mean absolutely?"
"Of course I am. I am very glad you are the miko. If you hadn't been, I never would have met you. I never would have felt the way I do now."
Sharon winced. As soon as he found out she had been a commoner all along; did that mean they wouldn't be friends anymore? That was doubtful. After all, he shouldn't have to bother with people so far below him.
She knew it was selfish, but she'd pretend to be the miko until she went to Mt. Tai…Tai… Peachez, just so she could be Hotohori's friend a little longer. Then, when they got there, she could ask the Taiitsu person who the miko truly was. After she did that, everyone would be happy. Nuriko would have her friend, Tamahome would have his love and Hotohori would have his miko. She just wished she knew where that would leave her.
---
Kourin watched Tamahome peering through the slightly open door. He was spying on Sharon again. He'd been doing that off and on for two hours now. He never went into the room however. Kourin was frustrated. It was just so annoying. Tamahome obviously liked Sharon. It could develop into something more. If he would just admit that he did like her, Sharon would take her grubby little hands off the emperor. Then Kourin would be free to move in for the kill. Figuratively speaking of course.
The purple haired seishi grabbed Tamahome's arm and dragged him away from the door. He stumbled after her, demanding to know what she was doing. She ignored him until they were out of ear shot. Then let go abruptly. Tamahome rubbed his arm and glared at her.
"What did you do that for?" he asked.
"Tamahome. Why don't you just admit that you like Sharon?"
"Because I don't."
"I get it. You don't like Sharon."
"Thank you."
"You love Sharon don't you, Tamahome?"
"What? How could you even think that?" he sputtered. Kourin smiled. A denial like that only meant he was trying to hide something
"I think you're jealous of Hotohori-sama."
"Jealous huh? Right. Ha, ha. I haven't even known Sharon that long. So what makes you think that I could possibly be in love with her? Besides, what I happen to love most of all is cold, hard, cash." The lady rolled her eyes.
"Whatever
you say Tama-kins."
"You can keep your jealousy to yourself. I like Ann better anyway…"
"Well if you don't like Sharon…why do you keep spying on her?"
"I'm not. I mean, I'm just seeing if she's all right. After all she is the miko…" Tamahome ranted on in his defense. Kourin tuned him out and went over to a heavy wood table. She fingered its guilt edges and approved at the workmanship. It may have looked delicate but it could probably survive a typhoon. Or a crash landing with a hard head that needed to get some sense knocked into it.
Kourin lifted the table and hurled it at the retreating man's back casually. She watched as he fell under it making a sound strangely resembling a duck. She tried to keep her calm façade and not smile. Tamahome shoved the table off of him, and stood up, his fingers curled into claws and twitching.
"That hurt!"
"Did it? I'm sorry, I didn't think it would."
"Liar!" he snapped. Kourin rolled her eyes and flicked open her fan.
"Will you just get over yourself and tell Sharon you like her all ready?"
"Why do you care anyway?" he yelled. The woman growled. What was he? Totally dense?
"Because if you distract the little twit from Hotohori maybe he'd notice me once in a while!" she yelled. The anger faded from his face replaced it with a blank look. Then he blinked and rubbed the lump on the back of his head.
"Geez, you are obsessive aren't you?"
Kourin opened her mouth to protest, decided it wasn't worth it and smacked Tamahome upside the head.
---
Sharon got better. She was soon back to her normal self again with a few improvements. She had learned to control her temper somewhat and simply ignored what Nuriko said to her. She was also a lot nicer to Tamahome. She was never alone with him. They were always with Ann, Nuriko or both. Two days had passed and Sharon was never closer the seishi. She decided that before they left she would put in play the final phase of her plan. Then she would see if Hotohori was willing to lower himself a little.
Unfortunately Sharon only thought she had been controlling her anger. When in fact it had been building up inside her. It was now like a shaken up can, ready to explode as soon as someone opened it the right way. The morning of the third day had not been very good for the Emperor of Konan. He was angry with himself for not being able to control the nobles. Also there had been a large wild fire that had destroyed a good number of crops. To put it mildly, he was having a bad day.
---
Sharon laughed at the look on everyone's face. They were shocked. She knew the suggestion would surprise them, but not to this extent. It was hilarious.
"But…but…Sharon…heh, dine with the emperor?" Ann said. "I don't think…really…that that would be the wisest idea."
"Oh come on. I talked him about it and he said it was fine. Don't worry," Sharon said.
"When did you ask him?"
"That night when he said…you know…that thing?"
"He must have been drunk," Nuriko commented dryly. Sharon ignored her and spread her hands.
"Well. Are you gonna come or what?"
"Well…"
"Oh please Anni? Just this once? It'll be fun! Hotohori's really neat to talk to when you know him. "
"I guess so," she said. Sharon cheered and clapped her hands.
"I suppose I'm not invited," Nuriko said.
"Sure. You and Tamahome both. I couldn't leave out you two."
"Well in that case count me in," Nuriko said with a smile. Tamahome remained silent. He leaned against the wall and stared at the floor. Sharon turned to him.
"Are you coming Squash-boy?"
"No. I'd really rather not."
"Please? Comon'. Tamahome?" Sharon said, and put on her best puppy dog face. He glanced at her, rolled his eyes and looked down again. Sharon kept at it. Persistence always won out. Finally he sighed and she knew she had him.
Sharon skipped out of the room and down the hall. The others filed behind her. She hoped this worked. Then it would be perfect. Hotohori was the only real guy friend that she'd ever had. She'd had a few others who pretended to be friends. In public however, they had ignored her. Or teased her. Sharon suspected it was because they didn't want to be seen with a weirdo. She did have a few guys that she was friendly with, but they were all Ann's friends and Sharon didn't know them to well. If all went according to plan. Hotohori would become Ann's friend as well.
They came to his rooms and the servant opened the door. Sharon looked back at the others before going into the other room. They looked nervous. Well, that would pass. She walked into the other room. Hotohori looked up and smiled as she came in. His smile faded as he noticed the others.
"What…?" he asked. Sharon frowned.
"You said that I could bring them." He nodded and straightened a bit.
"All right. The three of you have permission to enter." Sharon went to her usual place and plopped down. Then she picked up a chopstick and began stabbing happily at her food. The others sat down as well. They still looked uncomfortable. Ann was blushing and sweatdropping at the same time.
A tense silence fell over the room. The anxiety was palpable. Sharon had to lighten the mood somehow. How though? Maybe conversation. That always seemed to get Hotohori to open up.
"So how was your day?"
"Fine," he said shortly and didn't offer anymore. Sharon put down her chopstick and tapped her fingernails on the table and waited. He was silent. She could see his mask was back on. She gritted her teeth. Why did he have to be so difficult?
"You're not helping Hori-kun," she murmured to him. He winced and she saw his fingers twitch slightly.
"We never said we would."
"You said…" Sharon said louder. She was beginning to get angry. She tried to force it back in, and succeeded. But only barely.
"We said we would think about it."
Sharon couldn't believe this. He was doing the third person thing again. How could she possibly get him to understand?
---
Hotohori couldn't believe that she was doing this. How could she talk back to him with his subjects in the same room? How could she talk back to him at all? Now that he thought about it, she was just the Suzaku no Miko. Not the emperor. No matter what she was, he'd always be above her. He had been too lenient. The girl would have to learn her place.
---
Sharon snarled and snatched up her chopstick. She began stabbing at her food randomly not eating any of it. She doubted now that he had considered it at all. She tried to calm her shaking hands. Maybe this was too premature.
"If you're still thinking about it Hori-kun. I can…"
Hotohori sucked in his breath and glared at her.
"We are not thinking about it miko. We are the emperor. Whether or not they are seishi; they are still our subjects. We do not have to do anything." Sharon bit down on her teeth. He hadn't thought about it at all? So when he said he would, he had just been patronizing her. Sharon narrowed her eyes.
"Even an emperor has to humble himself sometime Hotohori," she snarled. The others gasped. The emperor stood up so fast that his chair fell back.
"Who are you to talk to me that way?" He didn't raise his voice but it was ice cold and dangerous. She wasn't scared of him though. She stood up and met his icy glare.
"I thought I was your friend,"
she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"You are."
"Yeah right. If this is how you treat a friend then it's no wonder you don't have any." She immediately regretted saying that after she spoke it. She didn't want to hurt him.
"Perhaps then, you are not our friend. Friends treat each other with the respect due to them."
"You don't have any from me at the moment."
"Sharon will you shut up?!" Ann snapped. Sharon didn't even turn to look back at her.
"You are very fortunate you are the miko. If you were not-"
Sharon couldn't take it anymore. That was the last straw. Before she could think about it she swung her hand out and slapped him as hard as she could. Hotohori stumbled back and stared at her shocked. One hand was to his face where she had hit him. The seishi and Ann were staring at her as if she'd lost her mind.
"If this is what the miko has to go through, then I don't count myself fortunate at all," Sharon said, turning away from him. "You were the only one I trusted not to hurt me Hotohori, I guess I can't trust anyone can I?" She left before he could answer. She couldn't stay in the room any longer. Once safe in the hall, she began running back to her room, where no one could see her cry.
---
Tamahome stared at the emperor with wide eyes. His mind was still numb from what he had just witnessed. He just couldn't believe it. Sharon had slapped the Emperor of Konan. Just hauled out and slapped him. She had just hurt someone who could kill them all with a word. Or more likely kill her.
Hotohori was still sitting down with a hand to his face. Tamahome felt the surprise fade. He wished it hadn't. The emotion that replaced it was worry. Worry over the miko's safety…and sanity. He closed his eyes. That little idiot, he needed to talk some sense into her. Otherwise who knew what kind of trouble she could get into?
He bowed respectfully to the emperor and left the room.
---
Sharon was almost to her rooms when someone grabbed her around the waist from behind. She frantically tried to dry her tears while struggling to get away from the iron grip.
"Let go!" she yelled.
"Not until you listen to me," Tamahome said. Sharon ignored him and tried to claw his hands away. He didn't let go of her.
"Sharon do you have any idea what you just did? Any idea at all?"
"Yes. I know. I slapped the emperor right across his perfect face."
"Note the words, the emperor," Tamahome said, his voice tinged with anger. "Do you know that he could kill you regardless of the fact that you're the miko?"
"Just let me go." She had to get free of him. She couldn't let him see her cry. She jerked her elbow back into Tamahome's ribs. He grunted and his grip loosened. Sharon slipped out of his grasp and opened her door. The seishi grabbed her arm before she could get inside.
"What possessed you to do such a thing anyway?"
"It doesn't matter."
She yanked away from him and ran inside her room. Tamahome followed her. Sharon didn't face him. She was crying now and there was no way to stop once she got started. She kept wiping her eyes trying to get rid of the tears.
"I'm not going to leave until you tell me," he said.
"I…it's just that, I thought he was my friend."
"Well I suppose he is. I don't really know. The point is, Sharon, whether he's your friend or not, he's still the emperor."
"I know that. But I don't understand why he can't be my friend in front of anyone else."
"Because we're his subjects."
"But you're seishi. You're different and Ann is from my world so she's different too."
"It just doesn't work that way."
"Well why not!" Sharon yelled turning toward him. "Why can't it work that way? Why do things have to be the same?"
"Sharon…" he trailed off as if he didn't know what to say. Sharon bit her lip and shook her head.
"I thought he was different. I thought he wouldn't be like you two… I wonder if all the other seishi are going to hate me too." He was silent, just staring at her. She wished he would leave. She wanted too much to be alone. He came toward her and wrapped his arms around her. Sharon was surprised at first. As if independent of her mind, her body relaxed against him.
"Don't say things like that. He doesn't hate you…and neither do I. If I were your friend, I wouldn't care who knew."
"The problem is that you're not. No one seems to be anymore…. I guess I don't deserve it."
"Everyone deserves to have friends."
For some reason, those simple words warmed her inside. She closed her eyes as he began to stroke her hair. She felt so safe like this. It felt as if nothing in the world could hurt her as long as he held her. She was glad she didn't believe in love. If she did, Ann would have some competition about now.
---
Ann and Nuriko walked down the hall. They were looking straight ahead, stunned out of their minds. Ann still couldn't process what had happened. She was still stuck on how Sharon had yelled at the emperor. Actually yelled at him. She'd actually gone as far as insulting him. Then thwack. Right across the face. That was…that was… Did that really happen? Or was it a figment of her imagination? Surely not even Sharon could be that stupid as to hit royalty. No…she wasn't that stupid, just that insane. Nuriko tugged at her arm and Ann blinked.
"Buh?"
"Nothing, just a little course correction. You were heading straight toward a wall."
"Oh. Thanks. She just…hit him. Just like that. "
"I know. That's just…"
"…incredibly…"
"…stupid… How did she ever survive in your world?"
"The most powerful person she ever met was the school principal."
"That would explain things. She never slapped him did she?"
"No."
They fell silent again. Ann didn't even know where they were going. Just wandering around the palace she supposed.
"Who do you think was more surprised though? Us, her or him?" They shared a glance, nodded and almost at the same time said:
"Him."
"You've got to admit though, the expression on his face was priceless," Ann said.
"Yes, especially because it's the last expression we'll ever see before we're put to death."
"That could be painful. "
"Just slightly."
"I wonder if I can convince him that I'm allergic to death."
"I doubt it."
"Yeah."
"She just slapped him…"
"Yeah…"
---
It was late. Kourin stared up at the stars flung across the night sky. Sharon's words echoed in her mind. You were the only one I trusted. Kourin sighed and closed her eyes. This whole situation was wrong. A miko was supposed to trust her seishi. Then again, her seishi weren't being very trustworthy….
"It's not my fault," she said to the heavens. "I didn't ask to be a seishi!"
She
suddenly remembered a time long gone when not a day went by that she hoped she
was a seishi. But that was a long time ago. It seemed the desire to be a seishi
had been someone else's wish. Someone who was buried in the
past.
Kourin turned back into her rooms but left the door open. She stood for a long moment, then went over to her vanity, and began to unbraid her long purple hair. The moon shone onto the mirror as she began to brush it out. Her chest grew warm but she didn't look to see what it was. She knew. Her character, the willow, was glowing. Nuriko was trying to tell her that this was very wrong. She wouldn't be able to deny it forever.
---
Sharon rubbed her eyes and stumbled to the door. Who could it be this late at night? She slid the door open and blinked at the servant standing there. It was Keiki. Surely the emperor didn't want to eat dinner with her. If he did she wasn't about to go.
"Gah? What?"
"His Majesty wishes you to know that you are leaving today for Mt. Taikyoku."
"Zat it?"
"Yes."
"Kaybe. Whatsh time is in now?"
"A few hours before dawn. Is there something wrong Your Grace?"
"No. Just teird. Ah hee. Get it? Teird? Tired? See?" She yawned. "So what time we leavin' huh?"
"Shortly after sunrise Your Grace."
"Oh joy. Well good night Keiki…or morning…or whatever time it happens to be. Thank you."
"You're welcome Your Grace."
She shut the door and sat back down on the bed. If she slept now, she wouldn't be up in time. She sighed, might as well stay up. She began to brush her wild hair. She hated brushing in the mornings. It was always so tangled. When the spokes of the brush got stuck in the small braid for the fifth time she snarled and began to unbraid it. Stupid thing.
She pulled the ribbon out of unbraided hair and sighed. She had no right to keep it. Not now, not after she'd hit him. She shouldn't have presumed he would change anyway. After all, in this world of monarchy and nobles, she was lower then nothing. Sharon knew she would have to give it back to him. She stroked the velvet once, then set it on the night table and finished brushing her hair.
---
Ann was walking toward the emperor's rooms. She needed to apologize for her friend. She knew there was no way Sharon was going to do it. Not unless Ann forced her and Ann didn't have the time just now.
She was sort of nervous. She had never actually talked to Hotohori before. She had never talked to anyone really important before either and she wasn't sure what to do. Or say. Ann slowed her pace. What was the point of rushing? She didn't need to try to roust Sharon out of bed until sunrise. She had a few hours to kill. She turned the corner and paused. Was that…the emperor?
He was dressed in a plain gray tunic belted at the waist and his long hair was tied back. For a guy he had really long hair. Of course that only enhanced his beauty and made it a lot harder to talk to him. She gulped, well might as well get it over with. It wasn't as if she had done anything. She stopped herself when a guard walked up to him.
"Your Majesty? Are you sure you should go out on your rounds unguarded?"
"Do not worry. We are in disguise. No one should recognize us."
"Yes…but…not even civilian clothes could disguise your elegance," the guard said. Hotohori smiled,
"We would call that flattery, but we know it is true."
A huge sweatdrop rolled down Ann's head. Modest he wasn't. She steeled herself. The longer it took her, the harder it would be to tell him.
"Oh. Hey Ann. What are you doing up?"
"Buh?" Ann looked behind her and saw Sharon. She blinked startled. The girl was actually out of bed at four o'clock in the bloody morning?
"You know we're leaving today right?"
"Buh?" Ann said again.
---
Sharon gave her friend a strange look. What was wrong with her? She shrugged. Who knew? She bowed her head and fingered the ribbon in her hand. She had to give it back. It just was so hard. Although she knew she no longer deserved it, something inside her still hurt. Slowly, she walked forward, looking down.
Wait a minute. Why did she have to give it to him personally? She could just give it to a guard or something. Yes. That would be best. Sharon approached a man wearing a gray shirt and fingered the ribbon nervously. It wasn't Hotohori…but the words were still so hard to say.
"Umm…hello. Could you do me a favor?" Without waiting for an answer she pressed the piece of cloth into his hand.
"Take this…" she gulped around the lump in her throat. Comon' Sharon, she thought. It's not that hard. He's not Hor…the Emperor. Just tell him.
"Sharon…" Ann snapped from behind her. Sharon looked at the fifteen-year-old out of the corner of her eye. Ann was dragging a finger across her throat. Sharon shook her head, the girl just didn't understand. This was something Sharon had to do.
"Take this," she continued. "I can't keep it anymore."
"Sharon!" Ann said a little louder.
"Just a minute. Look, I know you're wondering. It's just that…well since we can't be friends anymore…me and the emperor I mean…it's pointless. I'm not his friend; I'm just his miko… At least that what he thinks. Anyway it means nothing to me any…more." She trailed off as she finally looked up.
Sharon saw the hurt golden eyes before she saw anything else. Hori-kun? What was he doing in civilian clothes? Sharon bit her lip. This was not good. His gaze suddenly turned cold. Sharon looked away and ran a hand through her hair. Gaah. Why had she done that? Why couldn't she have looked up sooner?
"You know," she said in a cheery voice to Ann. "I think I'll go kill myself now. Excuse me, I wouldn't want to splatter blood all over the carpet. Ah hee hee. Gotta go!" With that, she ran.
---
Ann watched Sharon go and shook her head. Poor baby. Then she looked at the Emperor. He appeared slightly alarmed.
"Don't worry," she said to him. "She didn't mean the whole suicide thing." Ann looked after her friend again and paled. Might as well chase after her just in case. "Excuse me."
She finally caught up with the girl outside in the palace gardens. Sharon was standing in a small pond. The water was only up to her ankles. Ann folded her arms and shook her head.
"Hi Ann, am I drowning yet?" Sharon asked.
"Nope. Get out of there before you give yourself another cold."
Sharon obeyed and pulled on her socks and shoes. Then flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled.
"Kaybe. I think I'll go stab myself with a rose petal."
Ann wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulder. Sharon sighed and leaned against her.
"Why did I do that Anni? I didn't mean to hurt his feelings or anything. I feel like such a dork."
"Hey, you didn't know it was him."
"Why was he in civilian clothes anyway?"
"I think we're traveling in disguise. Just relax Sharon. It probably won't be that bad."
"If you say so."
"Well I do. Because I am Ann Jeter and you are just the Suzaku no Miko. So there," Ann said. Sharon chuckled.
"Oh I get it. Throw my own words back in my face. You're so nice Ann."
"That's my job."
"Well in that case you're fired."
"Nice try, only I can do that."
"Meanie."
"I thought you just called me nice. You know Sharon, contradicting yourself is a sign of insanity."
"Oh hush. I passed that stage a loooong time ago."
"What? Insanity or contradicting yourself?"
"Take your pick."
"You know we still have a while. Do you want to go back to sleep?"
"Sure. Do you really think it'll be all right?"
"Of course." Ann winced inwardly at the blatant lie and crossed her fingers in hope.
***********
A red book flips open and the words at the top say…
Tomorrow's Episode: Things Always Get Worse
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Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is a creation of Yuu Watase
All other characters are under my jurisdiction and cannot be used with my permish although why you'd WANT to use 'em I dunno but just in case.
