Fushigi Yuugi (sorta): Through the Looking Glass
by Kati d'Esprit and Half-Esper Laura
Based on Fushigi Yuugi by Watase Yuu
Yui's resolve was shaken when she discovered the suffering that had turned Miaka against her. Though her heart was heavy at having to oppose her friend, Taiitsukun made her understand her importance and her duty as the Suzaku no Miko. With new conviction, she returns to Konan with Tamahome and Chichiri.
Episode 12:
Reunion and Separation
"Sire!" a guard shouted, dashing into the throne room. "The Suzaku no Miko has returned."
Hotohori leapt to his feet. "Yui! Is she all right!?"
"She was fine, as far as I could see. And she had Tamahome-sama and... a monk, I guess, with her."
"That would be Chichiri," Nuriko said.
"Oh, thank heaven!" Hotohori said with relief.
A moment later, the doors swung open again, and Yui and her two Seishi entered. Hotohori immediately dashed across the room and took her in his arms. "Yui, thank goodness! When I heard you'd gone to Kutou, I was so worried!"
"I know, I'm sorry," Yui apologized, leaning against his shoulder. It felt good to be in his arms again. Even as frightening and confusing as her situation had become, his embrace felt warm and safe, as if he really could protect her from it all...
"It's wonderful to see you safe and sound," Hotohori said, giving Yui a squeeze before releasing her. "And you've found another Sei?"
Yui nodded. "This is Chichiri," she said, directing him to the monk. "Chichiri, this is Hotohori."
Chichiri blushed through the mask and bowed awkwardly. "Pleased to meet you no da."
"Likewise," he replied before turning back to Yui. "Did anything else happen while you were in Kutou?"
Yui nodded. "I saw the Seiryuu no Miko."
Hotohori hesitated with shock for a moment. "The rumors are true, then... If Kutou summons Seiryuu before we can summon Suzaku..."
"And, there's something else..." Yui looked at the floor. "I... there was a battle, and I... lost 'The Universe of the Four Gods'..."
"It's my fault no da," Chichiri added. "I accidentally left it behind no da."
"If there was a battle, I'm thankful to have you all back safely," he said. "If we don't have 'The Universe of the Four Gods,' however, finding the other Seishi will be more difficult..."
Yui took the hand mirror out of a pocket of her uniform. "Taiitsukun gave me this mirror to take its place. She said it would let me know if one of my Sei was nearby." She looked at its face and, sure enough, four small characters---"Ogre," "Star," "Willow," and "Well,"---showed up in a circle around the edge. She sighed heavily at it.
"Taiitsukun has been very kind to us," Hotohori said, looking at the mirror. "Eventually we'll need the incantation in 'The Universe of the Four Gods,' but that can be dealt with later..." He trailed off as he noticed Yui's downcast expression. "Yui, are you all right?"
She paused, and shook her head slightly. "I know what I have to do. I'll do my best, but now it's so hard..." What am I saying? I sound pathetic. What is he going to think of me...?
"Yui, I know what you've been through must have been terrible, but we won't be defeated. Our intelligence tells us that the Emperor of Kutou is waiting until Seiryuu is summoned to make a move, so we'll have time to find the other three Seishi, and then..."
"No," Yui said softly. "It's the Seiryuu no Miko. When I saw her..."
"Yui, did she hurt you?" Hotohori asked protectively.
"You remember the friend I was looking for, Miaka?"
"Yes. When you returned, it was the first thing you said..."
Yui rested her face on his shoulder, sobbing quietly. Hotohori looked bewildered, and hesitantly put his arms around her.
"Miaka is the Seiryuu no Miko," Tamahome explained. "We trusted her because she'd been Yui's best friend, but... She lured Yui into the Shrine of Seiryuu and nearly killed her."
Hotohori gasped. For a moment he stood there, dumbfounded, and looked around the room as if searching for a solution. Finally he took off the red robe that was draped over his shoulders and wrapped it around Yui, as if it would somehow shield her from all eyes and preserve her dignity. "Yui, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I don't know what to say to you..."
Yui straightened and shook her head. "No. I shouldn't be crying in front of everyone..."
"I don't mind," he said hesitantly.
Tamahome frowned and looked away. In that moment he wanted so much to hold Yui tightly and tell her not to cry, that it would be all right, that he would make it all right, if only she had come to him...
"Hotohori," Yui said softly. "Would it be selfish to use one of Suzaku's wishes for something I want for myself...?"
He paused for a long moment. "If you protect Konan, that's all we're asking of you. Anything more, I suppose you'll have earned."
"I just want my best friend back..."
An awkward silence fell over the room. "You've all had a long trip. I'm sure you'd like some rest," Nuriko said at last, supposedly addressing the group although she focused on Hotohori.
He smiled slightly. "Yes, I think that would do us all good."
*******
"Miaka?" Nakago asked, tapping on her door.
"Go away," she said, pushing her face into her pillow.
He eased the door ajar. "I brought your lunch."
"Oh, well, that's different," she said, sitting up.
He carried a tray of food into the room and set it down on the table beside her bed, then took a seat in a nearby chair. However depressed Miaka may have been, it seemed to have little effect on her insatiable appetite.
"Don't you want to talk about it, Miaka?" he asked, watching her eat. No matter how many times he saw this, it always surprised him just how much food she could pack into that petite figure, with room for dessert. "If you keep your feelings inside, they'll just get bigger."
"You know what it is," she said between mouthfulls. "You know what Yui's like. You know it'll be bad if she summons Suzaku, and you let her get away."
Nakago sighed. Those few minutes in the shrine kept playing themselves over and over in his mind, raising new doubts each time. Even if the Suzaku no Miko were evil, surely there was another way to stop her. Did they really have to resort to murder? "I know, Miaka. But I'm sure there are other ways to keep her from summoning her god."
"It's all summoning gods with you, isn't it?" Miaka said. "There's more to worry about than just that. The Sei of Suzaku are nice. I came to this world for a little bit when Yui first did, and Tamahome protected me," she glanced at Nakago venomously. "I can't let her do whatever she wants to them."
"But she's safe in her own Empire now. How do you propose we stop her? And don't think I haven't been told about the assassins, Miaka-chan."
"That was the Emperor's idea, not mine," she protested, avoiding his eyes.
Nonetheless, that told Nakago that she had something to do with it. "Miaka," he said gently, taking her hand. "Are you certain about these tactics? It's all right to fight against evil, but you mustn't let yourself become it."
"It's not like this is the way I want it to be. If I could have whatever I wanted, I'd have Tamahome and Hotohori and everyone I want to protect right here with me, where Yui'd never touch them. Then, I'd be happy."
Miaka cocked her head as Nakago's eyes got a far-away look, the expression of a thousand possibilities going through his mind at once, being considered and rejected or filed away for later use.
"What'cha thinkin' about?" she asked.
"Chichiri is impossible to keep in one place for a prolonged period of time, and the Emperor is unattainable," Nakago muttered, more to himself than her. "Our intelligence says there's another Sei, but we can't identify him---or her. But perhaps Tamahome..."
"Perhaps Tamahome what?"
Nakago sat back, still considering possibilities. "Perhaps he could be brought here, out of the reach of the Suzaku no Miko." If I can keep him here safely, I'll have several options open... Yui may be able to manipulate her Emperor into beginning the war, but that would take time, and at least keep her from omnipotence. At the same time, if Miaka is happy, perhaps she'll delay summoning Seiryuu. My Emperor won't begin the war until afterwards, so we can delay if not prevent the loss of life. Besides, I fear to think what might happen if Miaka does summon Seiryuu while still in this state of mind. And even if she changes her mind, we could get Tamahome back to Konan with no harm done...
Miaka fairly bounced in her chair. "Ooh, can we!? Please...?"
"I can make no promises, of course, but I'll see about making arrangements," he said, rising from his chair.
Miaka jumped up and hugged him."Oh, thank you!"
*******
In a normal book, it was normal, and even to be expected that a reader would know something important that the hero didn't, but 'The Universe of the Four Gods' was something totally different. If only there was some way I could talk to Yui and warn her about this... Hiromasa thought. At least it isn't like they're going to kill him or anything. It could still come out okay...
He glanced at his watch. "Two a.m.!? Oh, geez, I am gonna be dead in class tomorrow..." If I even make it to class tomorrow. This stupid book is gonna be the death of me.
"'Knowing that the Suzaku no Miko was safe, the Emperor was finally persuaded to rest'..."
*******
After going without rest for the past few days, Hotohori slept until late in the afternoon. When he woke, he changed into casual clothes and brushed his hair, still not feeling fully awake. I can't appear in public like this, he thought, yawning. Perhaps he should practice his swordsmanship for awhile. He'd been neglecting that for the past few days, as well, and it always made him more alert.
He picked up his sword and walked down to the training hall, bodyguards following closely. He slid the door open and stopped. Already inside, practicing with a sword of her own, was the new Sei, Chichiri. Her hat and cape were stowed under a nearby bench. She rolled out of the way on a nonexistant opponent, then saw him and quickly stood.
"Hello no da," she said nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Hello, Chichiri," he said, walking in. "I didn't know you were a fencer, as well."
"Oh, hai no da. I don't get much time to practice, but my sensei taught me how to use a sword no da."
"'The Universe of the Four Gods' refers to me as the 'Prince Swordsman,' so I've been taught swordplay from an early age," Hotohori explained.
"Oh, so you're where I get it no da," she said with a smile. At least, Hotohori assumed it was a smile. Her face always seemed to look like that.
"What do you mean? I don't know that we've ever met."
The arches of her eyes seemed to scrunch up more. "I have the powers of every Sei; so if your power is swordplay, you must be where I get my skill no da."
"So, you have the same skill with the sword that I do?" he asked with interest.
"Similar; I'm probably not as good no da." One of the eye-arcs flattened out in a wink. "But I'm weird, so it makes up the difference no da."
"I see. I would like the chance to spar with you sometime. It may sound boastful, but I haven't had a truly challenging opponent in years. The best sword-masters in the country have given up trying to teach me."
Chichiri chuckled. "I'd be happy to anytime you can find me no da."
"What about now?"
"I, um... I suppose it's as good a time as any no da. You may have an advantage, though; I've already used some of my chi today no da."
"I'm not at my best today, either," he said, setting his own sword aside and picking up two wooden practice swords. "Shall we consider it fair?" He held one out to her.
"Certainly no da," she said, taking it.
"Thank you for instructing me," he said politely, and bowed, then took an on-guard position.
"No, no, it's bound to be a learning experience for me too no da." She kowtowed and also took position.
*******
"Hotohori-sama?" Nuriko called, wandering through the palace. He wasn't in his chambers, at court, or in the garden. I suppose that leaves the training hall, she thought. Sure enough, when she turned into that section of the palace, there was a small group of guards and servants looking in the door in fascination. "What's going on?" she asked, walking up.
"Nuriko-sama," one of the guards said. "It's incredible! The emperor and Chichiri-sama... Just look!"
"What is going on in there?" Nuriko asked, leaning in the door to see Chichiri evade a slash of Hotohori's wooden sword in a fleeting blur of motion.
"Nuriko?" came Yui's voice, loudly over the small crowd.
"I found him for you!" Nuriko said, waving her over. "Come look. You've gotta see this."
Yui pushed her way to the front of the crowd and looked. "My goodness..." She could only imagine what the members of her school's fencing club would think if they could watch Hotohori and Chichiri. Even Olympic fencing on television was nothing like this.
"Hey, go get Tamahome!" Nuriko ordered, smacking one of the guards and knocking him off-balance. "I wanna see his face when he sees this."
The guard, not wanting to take another hit like that, rushed off to find Tamahome.
"I'd seen Hotohori with a sword, but I never knew he was this good," Yui said.
"I don't think he's ever had an opponent like this," Nuriko answered. "It looks like he might actually lose."
I don't want him to lose... Yui thought, although she knew it was silly to have such worries about a practice match with a friend like Chichiri. But the wooden blades whistling through the air with each thrust and lightning parry, the two opponents dodging in and out, striking with incredible accuracy, dodging an inch out of harm's way... It was hard to think of it as friendly practice.
"Nuriko, you better have a darn good reason to make this ape of a guard wake me up and drag me out here," Tamahome grumbled, pushing through the crowd.
"Tamahome, look!" Yui said.
KRAK!
Yui gasped as Hotohori's practice sword snapped, and he barely dodged away from the slash it had yielded to. Tamahome had just gotten into position to watch when the piece that had broken from the unfortunate weapon flew in just that direction and bounced off his forehead.
"Tamahome!" Yui cried, taking his arm and trying to steady him as he reeled from the blow. Nuriko grabbed his collar and held him up.
"Da!" Chichiri squeaked as she and Hotohori rushed over.
"Are you all right?" Hotohori asked, standing close behind Yui. After watching the fencing match, it felt somehow strange to have him that close, like standing next to a movie star or famous athlete.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Tamahome muttered, rubbing a swiftly-growing goose-egg. "It didn't hit that hard."
"Yeah, and he's got a thick skull anyway," Nuriko agreed, setting him on his feet.
"Let me get it no da," Chichiri said, reaching up and putting her hand on the bump. Her already glowing character flashed brightly under the mask, and Tamahome felt a warm tingling in his skin. "There, it wasn't going too fast no da," she said, wiping off her hand.
"I'm terribly sorry about that," Hotohori apologized.
"Yeah, sure..."
Chichiri yawned slightly. "You could at least have the decency to be a little tired no da," she teased Hotohori.
"Tired?" he said. "It's the furthest thing from my mind."
"Daaa..." she groaned softly.
"Do you want to stop now?" he asked.
"You're not going to let me off that easily, are you no da?" she asked with a smile, retrieving another practice sword for him.
"I suppose not. Perhaps we should get everyone away from the door, however..."
"Maybe we should just close it before we break something in the hall no da," she said with a shrug.
"That would be wise," he said, going to close the door.
"I don't suppose you'd let me come in and watch, Hotohori-sama," Nuriko asked hopefully.
"Yeah, Nuriko's skull is thicker than mine, he can take it," Tamahome muttered.
BONK!
"You know the risks," Hotohori said with a smile. Nuriko came in before he closed the door, as well as Yui, with Tamahome following close behind her.
"Ready no da?" Chichiri asked, standing on guard again.
"I believe so," he said. They circled each other for a moment. Although Chichiri had been keeping him on the defensive, Hotohori knew by now that she would be slow to make the first move, so he feinted toward her shoulder. Instantly they both exploded into motion, whirling around each other as swordstrikes rattled across the room like a drumroll with their speed. It was all Yui could do to keep her eyes on them. She could sense Nuriko tense next to her, also wrapped up in the action; Tamahome, on the other hand, yawned.
Suddenly, Chichiri broke form in the middle of a move, darting towards Hotohori unexpectedly. Yui gasped as the monk brought her practice sword straight for his heart. Seeing the switch with only a moment to react, he sidestepped and dodged forward, slowing up just enough to gently lay the edge of the wooden sword across her belly.
She froze for a moment, and looked down. "No one has ever done that one before no da."
"No one has ever made me do it before," he replied, breathing heavily.
"I think you win no da."
"I certainly won't argue with you," he said, lifting the sword away. Nuriko couldn't help but applaud softly as Chichiri held out her hand out.
"That was incredible!" Yui said, walking up and taking Hotohori's free arm as he shook Chichiri's hand.
"Ah, thank you."
"I am now exhausted no da," Chichiri announced, walking over and sitting down on the bench above her things.
"It's nothing, really," Hotohori said. "I've just been studying for so long..."
"Don't be modest," Yui insisted. "I've never seen anything like that!"
THUD!
The group turned as Chichiri leaned over to get her things from under the bench, and just kept leaning; she landed on the floor, sound asleep.
"Did we mention Chichiri gets very tired very quickly using all those powers?" Nuriko said.
"Oh. I'm terribly sorry..." Hotohori said.
"Well, she seemed to be enjoying herself," Yui remarked.
Nuriko walked over and hefted the monk up. "I'll take her back to her room, if you don't mind."
"Yes, please," Hotohori said, picking Chichiri's hat and cape up from under the bench.
"I can get it if you'll open the door for me," Nuriko said, taking them in the hand that was supporting Chichiri's knees. Yui opened the door and saw her out. Thankfully the crowd of gawkers had already dispersed.
"Showoff," Tamahome muttered, crossing his arms and glaring out of the corner of his eye at Hotohori.
Hotohori and Yui both stared at him for a moment. "No one was forcing us to come and watch," Yui said.
"Yui, can I talk to Hotohori-sama alone, please?" Tamahome half-growled. He didn't want to contradict Yui aloud, but he seemed to remember a palace guard dragging him out of bed to "come and watch".
She looked at the two of them hesitantly. "It's all right, Yui. If there's something he has to say to me, I want to hear it," Hotohori said.
Yui sighed and left, closing the door behind her.
"You think you're so wonderful, don't you, Hotohori-sama," Tamahome growled, saying his name like a terminal disease.
"What do you mean?"
Tamahome tapped his foot, obviously trying to figure out where to begin. "You're so handsome, you're so rich, you're so powerful, you're such a good swordsman, you're so 'cultured'... You are so full of yourself, it makes me sick."
Hotohori stayed silent for a moment. "It isn't my intention to act arrogant."
"Well you do anyway! The only reason Yui acts like she cares about you is because you're the Emperor!"
"I wouldn't use that to force her. She knows that."
"Does she? Why else would she care about you? You haven't done anything for it. You always just sit around in your palace because you're too important to go out and risk your neck for her like the rest of us. Who is it who keeps saving her from the thugs roaming your Empire? Who was it who saved her from the Seiryuu no Miko? It sure wasn't you! And then when she cries on your shoulder, you just stand there looking like an idiot!"
"I care as much about Yui as anyone!" Hotohori insisted. "Do you think it's easy for me, being trapped here by my duties, knowing she could be in danger and not being able to do anything about it?"
"It's obviously not important enough to you to do anything about!"
"I don't have any choice! No one ever asked me if I wanted to be the Emperor and spend my life behind these walls. I have a duty here, too. What good will it do for Yui to summon Suzaku to protect this country if I turn my back on my office and let it go to ruin under her feet?"
"Oh, yeah, your life is so hard! You sit back with all your riches and your servants and whine about your troubles! You found someone to take care of the Empire when you wanted to go to Mt. Taikyoku, you could do it again. But that would mean you'd have to go out and get your hands dirty like the rest of us, and we can't have that, can we? We can't have Yui seeing you with your whiskers in the morning or looking less than immaculate because then maybe she'd realize you're not the god you act like, and then where would you be?"
"I won't argue the point of what I have and haven't been through because you obviously can't understand it," Hotohori said, crossing his arms. "And if I'm such a god, why haven't I had my guards drag you out of my sight and throw you in my dungeon? There's nothing to keep me from it."
"I've been wondering that myself. But you don't want to look bad to Yui, do you? You don't want to throw her 'big brother' in your dungeon because then maybe she'd realize what a JERK you really are!"
"You just can't believe that I could do anything sincerely, can you? What if I said you only followed Yui and protected her because you wanted to look better than me? You'd think I was a complete fool!"
"Because you are. I love Yui; I would do anything for her! I would work myself to the bone and then some if that's what it took! But how am I supposed to compete with you, with all this?" he gestured around at the palace. "You can just sit back because you're the Emperor. You don't have to do anything, and there's still no way I can compete with you!!"
"Do you think that I wouldn't do anything for her if I could? That I wouldn't suffer and sacrifice for her? You accuse me of thinking I'm better than you because I'm rich and powerful; don't think you're better than me because you're a common person who can do as he likes! Do you think I can buy Yui's love!?" Hotohori demanded. He took a deep breath; what he had in mind was difficult to say. "The first time I told her I loved her, do you know what she said to me? She said 'how dare you!' At that time I had never questioned that the Suzaku no Miko would love me when she came---not because I was the emperor, but because I'd waited for her so long and believed so long." He gave a slight laugh. "She knew I was the emperor, but she stood up to me, and the moment she said it, I knew she was right. If Yui isn't still sincere, if she would affect love for me because I'm the Emperor, then you can have her for all I care! The love of a woman who would sell herself for money or power or anything else is not worth having!"
Tamahome narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists as his character started to glow. "How dare you talk about her like that!?"
*******
Yui leaned against the wall outside, overcome. Hotohori and Tamahome were arguing in raised voices; every word came clearly through the training room door. She felt like some sort of fairy-tale princess, with brave heroes dueling for her hand, and she didn't like it one bit.
Tamahome's response took a moment to understand, spoken in a hiss that matched in sharpness what it lacked in volume. "How dare you talk about her like that!?"
Suddenly there came a sound, a sound she had heard around Tamahome all too many times. The recognition of it struck in her mind amid shock and horror; the sound of one of his fists hitting its mark, and a cry of pain...
"Hotohori!" she cried, flinging the door open and dashing to him as he hit the floor, with his hands to his face. "Tamahome, what do you think you're doing!?"
Tamahome opened his mouth, stood there for a moment, then closed it again, struggling to find his voice.
"What is going on in there!" Nuriko shouted, cutting him off. "I heard the commotion all the way from Chichiri's room..." she leaned in and trailed off, seeing Hotohori on the floor and Tamahome standing over him, character glowing and fists clenched.
"Just stay out of it, Nuriko!" Tamahome shouted. "It's none of your business!"
"The heck it isn't!" Nuriko shouted back.
"Leave him alone, Nuriko," Hotohori said, then looked up at Tamahome. "If it will prove anything to you, I'll put my station aside between you and I. But if you strike me again, I will defend myself."
Tamahome glared at him. "If you shed a little blood instead of making speeches or slaved all day so the people you loved would have something to eat, maybe it would prove something to me," he said, turning his face away. "Someone like you doesn't have any right to say you'll suffer and sacrifice for someone. You don't even know what those words mean. It's easy for someone like you to be generous, so don't be proud if you can give more gold and silk and favors than me. Maybe I can't give as much as that, but I care enough to give everything I have." He glanced at Yui and found her staring at him with what he could best read as hurt confusion. "Don't do me any favors, Hotohori-sama," he said, pushing past Nuriko and out of the hall.
"I would kill to know what Suzaku was thinking when he made that man," Nuriko muttered, watching him storm off. She walked into the room and offered her hand to Hotohori, who took it and stood.
"Are you all right?" Yui asked as he gingerly touched the bruise already forming around his left eye. "I don't know what could have gotten into him. He's normally not like this..."
"I'll be fine."
"You're going to have a serious shiner---er, black eye," Nuriko warned.
"Wonderful," he sighed. "I suppose I'll have to look sidelong at the mirror for awhile..."
"I'll tell someone to bring you some ice, maybe it'll keep the swelling down."
"Thank you," he said, then turned to Yui. "So, you were just outside the door all that time...?"
Yui blushed too deeply to be innocent. "Well..."
She and Hotohori avoided each other's eyes. "I... You know I didn't mean to insult you," he said.
"I know."
"I just meant that, if it wasn't truly... That is, I wouldn't want you to feel you should keep up an act to spare my feelings..."
"Um, actually, I think I'll go that ice myself," Nuriko said, fidgetting her way toward the door.
"It might be best..." Yui agreed.
"Not a problem." Nuriko bowed out of the room and closed the door behind her.
There was a bit of a pause. Finally, Yui smiled. "You think he was right, don't you?"
"Perhaps," he said, sitting down on the bench. "I would understand if it was him you loved. However willing I am, I can't be there for you and protect you as he has. I can't give of myself as he can..."
"Shh," she shushed him softly, sitting beside him and putting her arms around him. "Don't think that way. Don't worry about it." She rested her head on his shoulder. "I am fond of Tamahome, but not that way. And, there's a flaw in his reasoning."
"Oh?"
"It's not as if I'm selling my love to whichever of you bids highest. I think that's what you were trying to say yourself," Yui said, lifting her head and looking him directly in the eyes. "I don't love you because of what you can give me."
He smiled a little, but paused. "Why, then?"
Yui laughed softly. "You talk like that would be the only obvious reason. It makes me sad that you'd think that. I love you because... Because of a lot of things, I think. Because I can make you happy. When you see me and you smile, it makes me happy."
"I'm glad," he said, and smiled. "So I suppose if we just keep making each other happy, back and forth that way, we'll both be happy forever."
"That sounds like a plan to me," Yui said with a chuckle, and closed her eyes. Hotohori took the hint and leaned forward to kiss her.
"I will speak with the Suzaku no Miko," boomed a deep, unfamiliar voice.
Immediately, Hotohori leapt to his feet and covered Yui as best he could, snatching up his sword and looking around the room. "Who are you!?" he demanded. Someone's here... an enemy. I can feel him...
"I am an agent of Kutou, and I will speak with the Suzaku no Miko."
"I'm here," Yui said from behind Hotohori. "Start talking."
"Our forces are massing outside several towns on the border. If Suzaku's Sei Tamahome is not delivered to us, we will invade."
"Comin' through!" Nuriko shouted, dashing into the room. Tamahome joined her a moment later.
"I'll say it again for his benefit," came the voice. "We will invade several border villages if Suzaku's Sei Tamahome does not come with us."
"What do you want with me?" Tamahome shouted.
Nuriko scanned the room. "Kuso, where is he...?"
The voice is coming from above... Tamahome scanned the ceiling and noticed four small clusters of tiny black marks; holes where the man was using claws to cling to the ceiling? He snatched a wooden sword off the wall and threw it at the black marks, which skittered across the ceiling to dodge.
"I get it!" Nuriko said, throwing another wooden sword after them; this one struck with a sharp WHACK, and a black-cloaked figure dropped to the floor. "Oh no you don't!" Nuriko shouted, darting for him as the man leapt to his feet. He managed to dodge around her and out the door. "Come back here!" she shouted, running after him. "If you want your neck in one piece when I do catch you, you'll stop right now!"
Without a word, the spy continued his flight, bounding over the railing of the walkway around the palace and through the garden, Nuriko close behind him.
"Yui, are you all right?" Tamahome asked, going to her.
"I'm fine," she said, slipping out from behind Hotohori. "What about you?"
"I'm OK."
"Do you think that guy was the only one?"
"Yes, I believe so," Hotohori said, sheathing his sword. "That, at least, we can be thankful for."
"You aren't thinking of going to Kutou, are you?" Yui asked Tamahome.
"Is it true? Could Kutou invade some of the towns on the border?" Tamahome asked softly, not looking at Hotohori.
He sighed. "We've been doing our best, but we can't fortify the entire border. Some villages in that area have already been attacked."
"My village is really close to Kutou," Tamahome muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
"Tamahome..." Yui said, touching his arm.
"I know you must be concerned, but you mustn't go to Kutou," Hotohori said. "I can send troops to protect your village, but you should stay here."
Tamahome just stared at the wall without answering.
"If one of us falls into Kutou's hands, we'll be taking a step back, not forward," Hotohori continued. "It could even be that they plan to kill you, and then we could never summon Suzaku. I'd rather not order you to stay, but I will if I have to."
"You don't have to do that," Tamahome said after a long pause.
A moment later, Nuriko's voice echoed down the hallway in a string of curses. "Dang, those guys just won't quit," she said, leaning back into the room. "Hotohori-sama, I'm sorry about the hole in the garden wall. I can't believe he got back up after that."
"I'll see that it's repaired as soon as possible," he said slowly.
"Well, since he's still loose, someone really should stay with Yui tonight," Nuriko suggested.
"I'm more worried about Tamahome," Yui said. "If those people decide he isn't coming, they might try to take him by force."
"Don't worry, as soon as they get to know him, they'll bring him right back," Nuriko joked.
Tamahome shot her a venomous glare. "I can take care of myself."
"There's no reason to take chances," Yui argued.
"Don't worry about me," Tamahome assured her with a slight smile. "No one's taking me anywhere I don't want to go."
"I'd feel better if I knew you were there. For me?"
Tamahome's smile widened just a bit. "Well, if you want me to stay with you, I can..."
"Well, you are my acting onii-chan."
"Very well," Hotohori said. "Take care of her. Please," he said to Tamahome as he walked past him.
Tamahome obviously bit his tongue as he led Yui to her room.
*******
"I know this must be difficult for you," Yui said, sitting up in bed.
"I'm sorry I slugged your boyfriend," Tamahome grumbled.
"Well, that isn't what I meant and I'm not the one you should apologize to..."
"Yui..." he started, taking her hand.
"Yes?"
He paused, then sighed. "I didn't mean for you to hear all that."
"I know. I suppose I'm the 'bad guy' for eavesdropping. I'm not going to pretend I'm pleased with you for that, but I'm sure your intentions were good..."
"I do love you, Yui. And I meant what I said. I would give everything I have for you."
"Now, how would I live with myself if you did that?" she said, laying down.
A slightly bittersweet smile played across his lips. "It's been a really long day, huh? Why don't you go ahead and get some sleep."
She yawned and nodded. "I know you want to help your family, but... Just be there when I wake up, alright?"
"I'm not going to abandon my Imouto-chan," he assured her.
She closed her eyes and pulled the covers up around her. "If you did that, I'd wonder who you were and what you'd done with the real Tamahome."
"'Night, Yui."
"Good night."
Tamahome rested his head on her desk and watched her as her breathing slowed. Finally, when he was certain she was asleep, he sighed and picked up one of the pens that were laying on the desk. Now, for something to write a letter on. She deserves that much, at least. He didn't see anything laying out, so he very slowly and carefully looked through Yui's bag, and pulled out a notebook as silently as possible. He opened it to a blank page, picked up the pen, and wrote the note as best he could in the dim moonlight. Amazingly, the ink seemed to be dry the moment he was finished writing, and he lay the notebook face-down on the desk to mark that place.
He got up from the desk and silently padded across the room. With one look back at Yui, sleeping peacefully, he slipped out the door. He vaulted over the railing into the garden and landed lightly, then set off toward the hole in the stone wall; it seemed the easiest place to get out undetected.
"Yui-chan will miss you quite a bit if you leave no da."
Tamahome's heart nearly jumped out of his chest as he whipped around and noticed Chichiri, wrapped in her black cape against the night chill, sitting beside the garden pond with a fishing pole in her hands. "You're not gonna stop me, Chichiri," he warned.
"If I had been planning to stop you, I wouldn't have told the guard that I might have heard someone on the other side of the palace grounds no da."
He blinked at her, although she probably didn't notice the gesture in the dark. "You're helping me get out? Why?"
"I'm helping you to carry out your choice; I'm not saying it's the right one no da."
"Well, I guess I appreciate that," he said. "Don't misunderstand me. I don't want to upset Yui, but..."
"I know that's not your intent, but it is one of the things that will happen no da." It was odd; her voice seemed so... serious.
"I know," he sighed. "It's probably better if I go, though. After this evening, I mean. She wouldn't tell me, but she's probably feeling like I'm under her feet right about now..." He laughed spiritlessly.
"She does care for you, Tamahome-chan no da. Perhaps not the way you wish she did, but you are very important to her no da."
"Well, will you tell her I'm sorry, then?" He paused. Chichiri, of all people, seemed so solemn about this... "Do you know something I don't, with your dreams and that? Are they going to kill me or something?"
"Not... physically no da," she answered slowly, reaching for her mask, then turning to him. Even in the moonlight, he could make out her surprisingly deep brown eyes. "If you leave tonight, Tamahome-chan, you will not be the same man next time you are within these walls no da."
He paused. "Is that it? Come on, Chichiri, that could mean anything."
She sighed, looking back out at the pond. "That's all I can say; some dreams won't let me share them no da."
"I can't just let my family fend for themselves, no matter what. So, I guess I'll be seeing you later," He paused, then turned back to Chichiri. "Er, sweet dreams."
"I always hope for them no da," she answered very softly, setting the fishing pole on the bank and resting her chin on her knees.
With nothing else to say, Tamahome crossed the garden and slipped through the hole in the stone wall.
"Suzaku's Sei Tamahome?" a voice queried.
"That's me. You're here to take me to Kutou?"
"That's right," said another nondescript, black-cloaked character, emerging onto the street he had come out in. "Come with us."
"Lead the way," he said, following them. Yui, please forgive me...
To Be Continued...
PREVIEW
Though Yui is shocked at losing Tamahome, she and her other Seishi set out to find the last three Sei of Suzaku. The path to an ally's door, however, can be as dangerous as that to an enemy's.
NEXT TIME:
In Your Abscence
