Happyfish: Thanks, here's the next one! ^^
Lacygrey:… You're right… I should add an AU warning and ooc … but the characters aren't out of character, ( I think) just… have magical talents… But you do have a point… Sai isn't dependant on other's magic… He's just not feeling well at the moment…
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
*sweatdrop* I just realized I forgot to thank Lovelymokona for being my wonderful beta last chapter… Sorry Moko-chan!... anyways Thanks for the help Moko-chan! ^^
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
"… To think back, there were times that I thought you weren't serious that you had gone easy on me. This time we should play an even game. Because no matter how good the strategies are, it can never be the real one who has true talent, can it? So what do you think, Fujiwara-dono?" At the courtyard, Tsuyujima kept talking incessantly and a fake smile played on his lips as he saw the other noble's sweat drop and tried to hide his confusion behind the Ogi-fan, that hateful smile made Isumi felt shiver and made Hikaru's blood boil with indignation.
"Ah, there you are, Fujiwara-dono!"
At that time, a voice raised up, cut short their innermost thoughts and four pairs of surprised eyes instantly directed towards the hallway nearby, where the call came from. And they saw a snowy-haired old man in court dress was gracefully stepping forwards their post. The man bowed to the two nobles while the others did concurrently the same, then looked up to Sai, "So, you were here all this time. I have been looking for you, Fujiwara-dono." he said.
"What is it, Unabara-dono? Was it His Majesty's command?" Sai courteously asked, to some certain degree he could anticipate the answer, since this man was one of the old courtiers in the court that closest to the emperor.
"Yes, His Excellency has given instruction to convoke you and your friend… I mean, friends, to meet him at the central chamber." The courtier corrected his word when he noticed there was not only a chibi dragon but also a phoenix on the young noble's shoulders; both were staring at him with curious eyes.
"Thank you for informing us, Unabara-dono." Sai replied, after that turned to the other tutor, he smiled politely, "And I am thank you, for your kind offer, Tsuyujima-dono. But since this late, I will have to go to make a respect-paying audience with His Majesty. So it would be my pleasure of having a game with you another time." said Sai with his remained calm mask as usual.
"That is disappointing, but if it is His Majesty's command, then I guess I don't have much choice." Raised one hand to cover his mouth, Tsuyujima made an affected manner as if he was really sad with Sai's refusal.
"Then I will take my leave." Gave the other a brief bow, the young noble turned and walked straight forward, following the old courtier, who was walking in front of him with a solemn pace. Sai passing by the other tutor with self-confident attitude of any high-born noble of the honorable Fujiwara on his graceful features proved that there was nothing could move his usual nature and that had made Tsuyujima angry enough to spit blood if he did not restrain himself, since his plot to threatened Fujiwara had been upset.
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
'Who is this gentleman, Sai?' Hikaru curiously asked with a tiny voice after they had went out of Tsuyujima's sight a little later.
"Oh my!" Before Sai had a chance to explain anything, the old man, who was still stepping in front of them up to now, burst out and halted all of a sudden, made the surprised noble was walking not far from behind him nearly bumped his head to the man's back.
"Please forgive my discourteousness for not introducing myself beforehand, young dragon." Turned around to face with the tutor and the two wide eyes supernatural creatures, he smiled and said, "No one apart from Fujiwara-dono here that has known me long, has it not?" Sai chuckled, "I am in charge of the court, an advisor of the emperor. My name is Unabara(1) no Waizu(2), please to meet you." the old noble solemnly said, he then bowed to them.
'Same here, Unabara-dono.' chorused Hikaru and Isumi as they gave him a bow back. 'But… back then when I arrived here, how come I've never seen you before?' Hikaru questioned while staring at the old man.
"Ah, I was sent on a mission by His Excellency the last time you came, so I just have only heard about you when I returned the capital yesterday." He chuckled, "Anyhow, this is an honor to meet you in person, young ones."
'You will have no idea how different the "in person" word for these forms and our true forms mean.' Hikaru giggled with the phoenix beside him.
"Pardon me?" Waizu was confused.
'Err… Hehe, it's nothing!' the dragon-teen put on his best smile as he saw a meaningful glance from Sai. 'Anyway, you're a very kind person, Waizu-sensei… I mean, Unabara-dono." he grinned at the advisor.
"Why, thank you, young dragon!" Waizu laughed. He looked so gentle when he did so, just like his grandfather…
…Grandfather…
Hikaru felt somewhat homesick as he thought of his family in another age, wondered if they were still well after he disappeared…
"Then, shall we go, Unabara-dono? I believe His Majesty is waiting for us." Sai's voice as he reminded the jovial old man brought Hikaru out of his nostalgia.
"Alas, I forgot! Thank you for recalling me to my duty, Fujiwara-dono. Please follow me." He apologized then elegantly stepped aside and they walked forward, while Isumi flew after them.
'Yeah, as long as I am here with Sai still, there's nothing to be regret.'
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
On their way to the sanctum, along the wooden lobbies, which were carved with dragons and phoenixes on, Isumi had a chance to see the beautiful sight around. Luxurious trees stood still along the stone-paved paths, large water-lily pond was covered by the pretty sweet-smelling and flowers. Under the limpid water, herds of colorful Koi swimming together composed the wonderful water-color painting. From their position looking towards, the flocks of fish were just like a range of rainbows. In the distance, there was even a rock-garden that looked very natural. Here and there, hiding under the foliage was the carol of the birds. All in all, it was such a charming scene.
::Isumi-san, we're here.:: With absorbed interest, the phoenix had forgotten the reason why they came here – to meet the emperor, and only just happened to remember when Hikaru's mental tone called after him.
::Where's Unabara-dono?:: Isumi asked while still looking around to locate the old man.
'He's in there to report on our arrival to the emperor.' Sai responded as he reaching over his left forearm for the bird to land on.
A little while later, the advisor stepped out and gestured to the doorway, "Please come in, Fujiwara-dono. His Excellency is waiting inside." Sai bowed again and unfolded his fan to hide half of his face, and then they walked into the luxurious central chamber.
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
"Your Majesty." The young noble greeted as he bowed deeply to the person who was sitting behind the thin bamboo curtain.
"Fujiwara-dono, have you just returned?" questioned the voice which sounded belong to a young male. Isumi made a guess and his prediction was confirmed right after that, when the ivory screen had been scrolled back, it had revealed a young, rather handsome emperor that was about his mid-twenties – the same as Sai's age.
"Yes, I have already comeback just moments ago, Your Majesty. Please forgive me for my lateness. I deserve death for making you wait so long." The young tutor said softly as he bowed deeper.
"You are forgiven. Now, go rest." The Mikado nodded and gestured to Sai to sit up. "How have you been, Fujiwara-dono? I do hope that you will have felt better after the trip."
"I have been well, Your Majesty, thank you for your concern." He bowed again.
"And is that a phoenix on your arm, Fujiwara-dono?"
"Ah, yes. Please forgive my impoliteness for not making introduction right from the start, Your Majesty. This is Isumi Shinichiro, he is a phoenix and a friend of Hikaru-kun."
"It is an honor to meet you, You Majesty." Said Isumi as he landed on the tatami floor and transformed into his human form, as well as Hikaru, in front of the surprised eyes of the Mikado and the old advisor, who was standing beside him up to now.
Then Mikado Ichijo asked some more questions about how they met, where did he come from and known that the strange youth with unusual clothes, who seemed to have a very polite nature, had also came from some "Tokyo" place, where the young dragon had said it was his home before.
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
Some time later, the court dismissed and they withdraw from the chamber with Waizu showed them to the door.
"Fujiwara-san… I mean, Fujiwara-dono," Isumi asked tentatively and waiting for the other paid attention, "May I go on a sightseeing around here? This is such a splendid place that I've ever seen before, even in China."
"Isumi-san, I am afraid that…"
"Oh yes, there are many beautiful views hereabouts. You are welcome to go anywhere you wish to, Isumi-san, so please make yourself comfortable." The old man laughed lightly as he replied on Sai's behalf, making the young noble speechless while the phoenix-youth widened his eyes.
"Thank you then, Unabara-dono, for seeing us to here." Sai bowed to the man as he did the same, and then withdraw back inside the central chamber.
"I'll go with you, Isumi-san." Hikaru eagerly said after the advisor had out of their sight.
"Oh no, you don't, Hikaru!" Sai called back as he laid a hand onto one of the bleached bang boy's shoulder, made the teen lost speed and almost felt over. Looking back and he saw an icy gaze from those beautiful morning-glory eyes of his brother, "You've promised me something… Have you forgotten, Hikaru? I wonder."
Hikaru gulped, "N-no, of course I haven't…" he said hesitantly.
"Then good!" Sai chirped and turned to smile his most brilliant smile, as if his sulk had been washed away by the teen's affirmation.
"Ne, ne, shall we go now, Hikaru?"
Hikaru sighed, knowing for sure that he could never say the refusal with such a voice, especially when the tone got along with those puppy's eyes… Oh damn it! Did Sai know that those were always his strongest weapons towards him? Of course not because of his threats. Well, since this was Sai the scared-of-toads noble he was talking about, there fore, even if this childlike noble tried to use all his effort to make a 'threat', Hikaru doubted that if it could make a bunny get scare, or on the contrary, the rabbit would run forward and consider Sai as one of his other bunny fellows. It was most because of his charming expressions that could always make people never hold anything against him for very long, or refuse him on anything.
"Isumi-san, please get ahead of me. I have to repay Sai first," The dragon-teen made a fake doleful face, "then I'll catch up with you later." Quickly, the sorrow had changed to a bright grin after he finished his addition.
"Take care, Isumi-san. And please do not get lost." Sai recommended as he dragged Hikaru off to do something the younger teen had promised the noble earlier.
"O-okay! See you then, Fujiwara-san, Shindou-kun!" Isumi bid farewell to the other two, then walked forward.
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
The young three-dan pro was currently wandering in human form and looked around the palace, utterly fascinated by the graceful building and the artificial yet so natural landscape here.
'This is such a luxurious place. Extremely splendid!' He praised, 'No wonders why they always use the words "as happy as a king" in modern time to compare with those who living in honor and wealth like this…' The former insei shrugged as he chose to swerve to the left corridor of the three-way lobby.
"Hey! You stranger with those… peculiar clothes over there!" Suddenly, a snide voice called after him, and Isumi turned around to find it was an imposing mid-aged noble, who was swiftly walking toward his position. "Yes, you! Hold on right there!" the noble asserted as Isumi gestured to himself.
"Who are you, stranger? How did you get here and why are you here?" he demanded when they were standing in frond of each other.
The man staring him up and down with his narrow eyes, which absolutely filled with suspicion, then it flashed with danger, "Say now! Who sent you here? You are here to assassinate the Emperor, are you not?" his face became clouded.
"N-No, no! You misunderstand! I am not an assassin of any kind, I came in with Fujiwara-dono…" Isumi instantly rejected the wrongful accusation.
"Silent! How am I supposed to believe you are not lying, stranger?"
"It's true, I am a friend of Shindou-kun and I have just seen him again not long ago, in an accident at the Fujiwara's residence. Fujiwara-dono has rescued me and took me with him. So I'm here." The youth explained.
"Shindou? Who is it? Are you trying to distract me?" he questioned closely with blazing fret.
The noble man's query made Isumi fell into awkward position. What if the man really hadn't known who Shindou was? If so he would surely be branded as an assassin, who was trying to make a piteous excuse, and that would make up a big trouble, for him and for the other two as well.
"It is Shindou Hikaru, the Dragon. You have… Haven't you heard about him, Sir?" So the young former insei decided to put out feelers.
"If it is the Dragon-teen, who arrived days ago, then yes, I have been heard about him." The answer of the man gave Isumi a little relief.
"According to your words, as you said you are friend of a supernatural creature, then you also ought to be one other… Wait! You are not one of the youkai, are you?"
"Wha- No! I am not a youkai!" he startled.
"Then who the devil are you?" the imposing man chided.
'How rude!' Isumi thought displeasingly, and then calmly answered, "I am a phoenix."
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
"What do you mean? Fujiwara-dono went out with a Dragon and now returned with a Phoenix? And what strange clothes you have on?" the noble shouted with certain surprise after a while overwhelmed with shock, and because now he thought that this stranger really devoid of potential harm, at once curious took an overview of the young stranger.
Isumi felt like crying. Why on Earth had he been stuck with this troublesome matter, anyway? First being imprisoned in a cage without any reason had made him very miserable then had been told the shock news that he himself at present was a phoenix and now must deal with this annoyed guy. Oh bother! If he had known it in advance, he would never have chosen this way, since there were many other ways and places to look around. Yet this situation brought Isumi a chance to study the man he was now facing with as well. It was certainly one of the curious snakes… err, nobles in the court. Isumi was now more sympathized with his magical fellow and could understand why Shindou called them that – the arrogant snakes with hawk's eyes. Then however did the angelic Sai get used to with a splendid nest yet full of vipers like this?
"I am the phoenix who accompanied Fujiwara-dono. I and Shindou-kun, both can take human form if we so choose." Well, it wasn't far from the truth, was it? For all he knew according to what Hikaru had said earlier, it was common for them to be able to transform, just need to concentrate. Concentration – the key was easy enough for him to try out, though. Hence, he was quite successful when transformed into human form in frond of the emperor moments ago. And apparently in this case, that explanation made sense. "So of course, we will appear with our own clothes, which conformable to our time and that we've worn when we came to this… era." he answered for the curious man at once.
"You said you are a phoenix?" Isumi nodded and the imposing man went on, "Prove it, then, Phoenix-kun." his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Isumi knew that he was no where near as temperamental as Shindou, but there was only so far he was going to allow himself to be pushed. He then closed his eyes to concentrate, not knowing that his irritation manifested itself into the other of his shape. The more he felt irritated, the larger his holy form became. And the phoenix form kept growing unheeded and the rainbow color of his feathers gradually reddened. Until the form could not fit in the corridor and hit against the handrail, snapped his eyes open to realize what was happening, the former insei took in a deep breath, hoping it would calm him down and relying on that, he could transform back to his human self.
"Is that proof enough, Sir?" There was quiet between them. Looking at the man's face, which was now filled with awe, Isumi found somewhat amusing. Well, weren't they always saying 'silence implies consent'? In this case, he would take it as the obvious answer.
"Then, if you do not mind, Sir, I will take my leave now. As… stimulating as this conversation is, I have to meet Fujiwara-dono in… soon." Isumi bowed and left quickly before the noble could say anything else.
The Phoenix-youth could sense where Sai and Shindou were, somewhere near… And he headed to that direction, while still frantically trying to clear away his anger in order not to commit any mistake, which would make him a laughing-stock of other people around, here and there.
Even though it had been hiding very perfect under the magnificent screen that covered all over the palace, as well as the lives contained within its precinct, this place was still full with irritation, danger and implicit threat. Most of things had its bright sight and black sight, after all.
◊:◊:◊:◊:◊
1) Unbara:It means Sea/ocean/the deep
2) Waizu: Wise