Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play
Chapter 37
The Whole Truth
:Or:
Why do you always have to be such a brat?!
By:
NightMare
With class rings and really really bad puns from:
Annikia Valentine
Dedicated to:
The Mighty Trumpet Loving Frog
---
Author's Note: It feels so good to be completing something. I'll be ending the season soon. ((again)) yay!
By the way. Does anyone know what the Chinese name their clothes? 0o? Weird question I know. Any help would be much appreciated. -
---
Sharon was hyper. They were on the road now and had long since left Tamahome's village. She had decided to walk, being too energetic to ride. She just felt so happy and bouncy and bubbly. She was walking a little ahead of the group. The sunshine splashed across her face and a strong breeze pushed her hair back from her forehead.
Tama-neko pranced at her feet. Sometimes he walked beside her…sometimes he ran ahead then back again…and sometimes he just perched on her head. His favorite thing to do seemed to be unexpectedly attacking her shoelaces. More then once she had nearly tripped over the cat…but she didn't care. Nothing could bother her today.
It was so exciting. When Amanda came back they could start practical joking again. Amanda always had great ideas…and they could drool over cute guys…or rather try not to drool over them. All the Suzaku seishi were cute and she rather appreciated it. She wouldn't have minded if they were ugly…but being cute was like a bonus. Even Tasuki had his charm…but she'd be damned if she admitted it.
Sharon bit her lip. She hoped Amanda really did love Tamahome and wasn't just saying empty words. If not, she would probably break his heart. The fourteen-year-old was flighty with boyfriends. The longest relationship she'd ever had had lasted about a month.
"So," Nuriko said, coming up beside her. "You're a daughter-in-law now huh?"
Sharon blushed. "Of course not. You know better then that."
"Well if Tama-kins ever gets moving, you will be," he said. Sharon blinked at him.
"I'll be Tamahome's daughter-in-law?"
"No, you idiot. Sou-san's."
Sharon laughed and sweatdropped. "You can't be serious. Me and Tamahome? Get married?"
"I don't think he'll have it any other way."
"Yeah right! I'm way too young to get married," she said, flapping her hand dismissively. Nuriko raised his eyebrows.
"Sharon, you're sixteen. Most girls your age are either newly married or have a child or two."
"Yeah, but that's in this world. In my world…well in my country…you can't marry until you're eighteen. There's a law against it actually. And I don't really want to get married."
"Tamahome's not going like hearing that. It'll be hard on him," Nuriko said in a soft voice. Sharon gave the purple-haired seishi a strange look.
"Why will it be hard on him? I don't see how it affects him either way."
"What's that supposed to mean? Of course it will affect him. He's completely in love with you."
Oh. Right. Nuriko didn't know about Amanda.
"Well I know he thought he was," Sharon started. Nuriko groaned. Sharon ignored him and continued.
"But he loves Amanda now. I can accept that. I knew it would happen. I was just kind of…here. A diversion."
"You are so pathetic," Nuriko said, rolling his eyes. "You're just saying this so you'll have an excuse not to love Tamahome." That statement made her a little angry and she wasn't sure why.
"That doesn't even make any sense."
"I know. But you're the one making the excuses…not me. First you couldn't love him because of Ann, now you can't because of Amanda. What are you going to do when you find out he still loves you? Foist him on me?"
Sharon folded her arms and didn't bother to answer. That was the problem with Nuriko. He just didn't understand.
"He's too good for you anyway," she grumbled. Instead of sniping back, he just smiled at her patronizingly.
"Now you're just trying to get me mad so I'll stop being so right. You know, sometimes you're as easy to see through as a window."
"I'm not going to talk to you anymore," Sharon said, tossing her hair.
"Uh-huh."
"I'm not!"
"You just did," Nuriko said with a smile. Sharon glared at him.
"That didn't count and you know it!"
"Well did that?"
"No!" Sharon snapped. Nuriko put a hand to his face.
"Why, Sharon, I thought you weren't going to talk to me anymore."
"I really don't like you, Nuriko."
The purple haired seishi laughed.
"I know you do. I know you like Tasuki too."
"What?! I do not!"
"Oh please. Genwou? Gen-chan? Didn't you once say you gave nicknames to the people you liked? It seems you like Tasuki twice more then you like me. I'm hurt."
Sharon was about to retort but couldn't think of anything to say to get her out of the hole she had dug herself. Man. It just wasn't fair.
---
Dusk was fast approaching and Kotuku was tired. This was their second day of travel since Chuei's village. He hadn't traveled so hard in a long time. Usually when Shun and him traveled, they took a much easier place. They never had anywhere really to go and so just took each day like they felt like taking it.
This however was different. They were definitely headed somewhere and Hotohori seemed anxious to get there. They reached a crossroad and Hotohori pulled the palomino to a halt. He said nothing for a long moment as he looked back and forth between the two roads.
"There are two options," he said finally. "We can continue to travel and reach Eiou around midnight… or we can stay in Jozen." Kotuku wasn't sure who he was asking and kept silent.
"I think we should go on," Nuriko said. "If we go to the capital we won't have to travel again in the morning."
"No way. I'm beat. I'm sick of walkin'. I say we go to Jozen," Tasuki said.
"If we stopped by Jozen we'd have to walk more then we would going straight to the capital," Nuriko said.
"So what? At least I'd be awake while I'm doin' it."
"What do you think Chiriko?" Sharon asked. Kotuku sweatdropped. He really didn't want to get into the middle of their argument.
"I don't care. Whichever way is fine with me."
"Okay. That was helpful."
"Sorry," he said, blushing slightly.
"No. Don't worry about it. What about you Mitsukake?"
"I think the decision should be yours," the healer said. Sharon thought a moment.
"Well…personally I would like to go to Jozen. Traveling till midnight really doesn't appeal to me. But Hori-kun was gracious to stop by Tamahome's village."
"Well ya can't have it both ways, little girl," Tasuki said. Sharon suddenly beamed.
"That's a great idea," she said cheerfully.
"Huh?" Tasuki said.
"Hori-kun can go on ahead to Eiou and we can stay in Jozen."
"I really do not wish to leave you," Hotohori said.
"I know…but it's only going to be a night and you really need to get back. Besides, I have four seishi to take care of me."
"But…"
Kotuku suddenly felt a sharp pain in his wrist. He pulled back his sleeve and paled as kanji appeared on his skin as if someone was cutting it with their fingernail. Of all the times for Shunkaku to write to him. He took a few steps away from the others and turned.
So, what are you doing Aniki? The message said. Kotuku cursed inwardly and wrote back on his other wrist.
You're going to get me killed.
Sorry, said the writing appearing on the back of his forearm. Nakago wanted me to ask you where you were. He says he lost track of you. Ha! I think you should stay lost. That would show that bastard. I really don't like him. He orders us around like-
STOP! Kotuku scratched viciously on his palm. It hurt and he knew it would hurt his twin too. Sometimes pain was the only thing that would get Shunkaku's attention.
I'm between Eiou and Jozen. Don't write anymore. I'll contact you, he wrote on his other palm. A hand suddenly clapped on his shoulder, making him jump. He threw his arms down, covering them with his sleeves and closed his hands into fists.
"We're headin' into Jozen. Thought you might like to know," Tasuki said. Kotuku winced. Off all the Suzaku seishi to tell him it just had to be the most suspicious one. The tone of his voice didn't imply that he suspected anything. Kotuku had been lucky.
"Thanks," the fifteen-year-old said, and went to rejoin the others.
"What were you doin' anyway?" Tasuki asked.
"I…uhh…dropped something."
"Oh. Well I hope ya don't mind walkin' to Jozen. Pretty boy there is takin' the horse. I wonder just what's so damned important for him in Eiou anyway?"
---
Finally. The day was over. Chichiri opened the doors to the outside and smiled at the soft warm breeze that came floating in. The past week had been so frantic that feeling a simple breeze was the most wonderful thing in the world. He let his emperor façade drop and sat cross-legged on the floor, the stars the only light.
Clasping his prayer beads in between his hands he closed his eye. Thoughts and worries pressed heavily on his mind, filling his head with their chaotic noise. Being the emperor was busy one day and boring the next and the paperwork was piling up because Chichiri didn't feel comfortable with signing anything. One wrong move, like a stone flipped into a pond, could make a dozen other things wrong and so on and so forth until everything was tangled. He only hoped he was flipping his stones in the right direction.
Chichiri forcefully removed the thoughts from his mind. Only in the absence of thought could he find true peace. He succeeded after a few moments and drifted in the stillness. The crickets chirped melodically and the playful breeze would return again and again to ruffle his bangs. As he began to end the meditation, he felt a sense of someone coming near. The person was like him but different, like two feathers in one wing and he knew who it was. He rose easily and smiled at the man who stumbled in the door, exhausted.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty," he said with a slight bow. The emperor nodded in greeting and moved past him to sit heavily on his elaborate bed. Once he was settled, he yawned widely, covering his mouth delicately. At that moment he didn't look like an emperor, just a tired man returning from a long journey. Chichiri felt much the same way.
"Thank you for doing this," Hotohori said after a moment. "I know it must have been overwhelming and you will not be held responsible for anything that has gone awry. You deserve a reward for allowing me to accompany Sharon."
"It's no problem, no da."
"Could I beg one more favor? It is not an order and you may decline if you wish. But could you go to Jozen in the morning to escort the miko here? I would feel more comfortable if she had every seishi available."
"Of course, no da!" he said cheerfully.
"Thank you again, Chichiri. I am indebted to you. Name anything you want and you shall have it."
"I never want to be emperor again, no da," Chichiri said honestly. It had been rough, but at least he now appreciated even more the simplicities of being a monk. Hotohori laughed softly.
"Granted. I would make the same decision if it were offered to me."
"Would you really?"
Hotohori was silent for a long moment, then chuckled softly again.
"No. I don't think I would."
---
Sharon stared out the window as the sun rose, making everything golden. She hadn't slept well at night. She had been worried. Just how were they going to get Tamahome back anyway? They couldn't just walk into Kutou and get him. That hadn't worked so well the last time. She sighed heavily and looked at the others.
With the remainder of their money they had managed to get a rather expensive room with two beds and a folding screen Sharon could only guess the purpose of. She had doubled up with Nuriko. Tasuki and Chiriko were sharing a bed and Mitsukake had taken a pillow from one bed and a blanket from another and had stretched himself out in between the beds. Tama-neko was curled up on his stomach, rising and falling with his breathing.
After a few moments, Tama yawned, stretching out his front claws. Then he stretched out his backend, tail curling a little at the tip. He sat daintily on Mitsukake's stomach and stared at her with closed eyes.
"Mrow," he said. She smiled.
"Good morning to you too."
He washed his face for a moment. Then bounded up to Mitsukake's chest, reached out with his paw and began to bat his master across the nose. She giggled softly. Mitsukake grunted and opened his eyes a little.
"You know, one day I'm going to mistake you for a giant fly and swat you," Mitsukake grumbled. Tama licked the tip of his nose and purred loudly.
"I don't think he believes you," Sharon said. Mitsukake sat up, spilling the cat onto his lap. He yawned and stretched his arms out in front of him, almost like Tama-neko had done.
"I'm sorry that you had to sleep on the floor. We probably shouldn't have gone shopping in Sung…we would have been able to afford another room."
"It doesn't bother me."
"Is it morning all ready?" Nuriko asked sleepily.
"Yep. Sorry, 'Riko-chan," Sharon said. The seishi grunted and rolled onto his back. He lay there, squinting up at her with sleepy brown eyes before rolling over and shuffling with something on the floor on his side of the bed. After a moment, he sat up, pulling a satchel with him and started to go through its contents.
"I can't wait to get back to the capital," Nuriko said, pawing through the clothes and things inside the satchel. "I miss my own room. My own bed. Where the hell is my comb?"
"Yeah…me too. I can't wait to get back some privacy," Sharon said, leaning over to help Nuriko look. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the company of her seishi but there was only so much a girl could do in the company of four men.
"I can't wait to stop wakin up so damn early in th' mornin'," Tasuki said, accent so thick she could barely understand him. "How many seishi we got left to find anyway?"
"No one," Sharon said, feeling something hard under her fingers. She worked it out of the pile of cloth only to find one of the bracelets they'd bought in Sung. She set it beside her and continued to look.
"So th' other two are back at the palace?" Tasuki asked.
"Chichiri is. Tamahome went off to Kutou." But that was all right because he was keeping Amanda safe from that evil bastard. And anyway, they would get him back somehow. Tamahome would come back soon.
"Well that was stupid," Tasuki said.
"Why would he go to Kutou?" Mitsukake asked. Sharon glanced at him. She should tell him. It wasn't a bad reason really but….
"It's a long story," she said. "He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do." And it was. Because Amanda needed more help than she ever would. Tamahome was just the right person to offer that.
"And he'll be back," Nuriko said sternly. "Now help me find my comb. I'm not going back into town looking like I just rolled out of bed."
"Yes, your highness," Sharon said and began to poke through the clothes once more.
"Ryuuseisui!" Chiriko said, sitting up. Sharon glanced at him. He blinked, glanced around with a bewildered look, then nodded.
"Morning Chiriko," she said. He gave her a tired smile.
"Good morning."
"I've never heard that word before… Ryuuseishi…or whatever. What's it mean?" she asked. He sweatdropped.
"Ryuuseisui. It's my brother's weapon."
"Weapon? Is he in the military or something?"
"No. He's a-" Chiriko stopped abruptly and sweatdropped again.
"He's a what?" Tasuki asked.
"He's a…a guard. Someone's personal guard."
"Huh. Well now that everyone's awake. Does anyone have any idea how to kidnap two people from Kutou without being detected?" Sharon asked.
"I have no clue," Nuriko said. "Ah, there it is." He pulled his comb from the satchel with a flourish and started to push it through his hair.
"Hmph. I say we just leave him where he is," Tasuki said. "What's-his-name dug his own damned pit and he can dig himself out of it again."
"Yeah. I wish he could. But it's not that simple. He said he was going to come back once all the seishi were found, but how are we going to tell him?"
"I can take care of it, no da!" Chichiri said, popping into existence at the foot of her bed. Sharon nearly fell off the bed.
"How th' hell did you get here so sudden?!" Tasuki asked.
"What are you?" Chiriko asked, eyes wide. Chichiri gave him a hurt look.
"Hey, you don't have to be mean, no da. I'm just your basic wandering monk ,no da."
"You're not funny looking to me," Mitsukake said.
"Thank you no da!" Chichiri said, going chibi. The short monk sat on the bed as well and turned his smile to Sharon.
"I'm glad you made it back safely no da."
"With all the stuff we went through, I'm surprised we made it back at all," Nuriko said. Sharon blushed and looked at her fingers.
"I get into trouble a lot."
"And not even half of it was your fault so shut up little girl," Tasuki said. Sharon stuck her tongue out at him.
"So can you really contact Tamahome?" Nuriko asked. Sharon turned her attention back to the monk. Chichiri nodded.
"And you can even speak to him personally if you want."
"Then we can figure out how to get him out of Kutou," Sharon said.
"I still say he should get his own ass out."
"Well no one cares what you say, dork."
"Little girl."
"Dork."
"Little girl."
"Do they do this a lot, no da?"
"Unfortunately," Nuriko said.
"But believe it or not, they are better then they were before," Mitsukake said.
"Well she always starts it," Tasuki said.
"I do not!"
---
Tamahome stared out the window at the dawn. He hadn't slept well that night. He'd been worried. For one thing, he missed Sharon. He wished he could be with her right now. He had missed so much time with her. At this moment he could be watching her wake up…or padding down the halls of the palace, half asleep and in search for breakfast.
Then of course there was Amanda. She didn't seem to care about Sharon as much as Sharon thought she did. Maybe it was just his imagination. Or maybe he just didn't understand girls. He wished Ann were here. Ann might be able to explain what was happening.
He missed Ann too. She had a cute, quirky personality and was the perfect foil for her wild friend. If only she could have returned with Sharon. She was almost like another little sister to him.
It was strange though, he could picture Sharon and Ann together in Konan…but not Amanda with them. The depressing truth was that Amanda seemed to belong to Kutou just as Sharon belonged to his country. He hoped for his miko's sake that it wasn't true. But Amanda wasn't the miko just on coincidence. The only other choice was Ann…but Ann wasn't here and Amanda had ended up in Kutou when she'd returned. Like she'd been drawn to it. If that was true then maybe conflict was inevitable. He hoped he was wrong. It would hurt Sharon so much.
"Tamahome?" He turned at the sound of his name but there was no one in the room. In fact the voice sounded a little like Chichiri's. Tamahome shook his head. That was ridiculous. What would Chichiri be doing here? He must be imagining it.
"Tamahome, can you hear me?" the voice said again. Tamahome's eyes widened.
"C…Chichiri?"
"Do you know where a folding screen is, no da?" Tamahome blinked.
"A folding screen? Why do you want a folding screen?"
"I can't explain just now."
"I know where one is."
"Sit in front of it and wait."
"Why?"
Chichiri didn't answer him. Tamahome asked again and when there was still no answer he figured Chichiri had ended the spell. It was a strange request but he might as well. He shrugged and did as he was told.
---
Amanda adjusted the breakfast tray in her hands. This thing was heavy but
Tamahome would appreciate it. She loved to be able to see his handsome face every morning. It was almost like an anime character coming to life. She quickly opened the door with her free hand and then nudged it open with her knee.
"I brought breakfast!" she said cheerfully. Tamahome looked up from where he was sitting cross-legged on the floor and smiled.
"Thank you. Just set it down. I'll get to it in a minute."
Amanda set the tray on a nearby table and looked at him. He was sitting in front of a folding screen like he was waiting for something to happen.
"What are you doing?" she asked, coming over to him. He sweatdropped.
"Well I'm not really sure. I think something's going to happen."
Amanda knelt beside him, her curiosity piqued.
---
"So I'll actually be able to see Tamahome?" Sharon asked.
"He'll see you and you'll see him no da and you can talk to him…. But I can't keep this kind of spell up for very long so don't waste any words."
"Okay." Sharon sat in front of the folding screen, combing her fingers through her hair self-consciously. Here she was finally seeing Tamahome and she looked like she'd just woken up. Well at least she had one consolation. Nuriko didn't look any better, though at least his hair was halfway brushed. Tasuki sat on her other side. She stared at him.
"What are you doing?"
"I wanna see this Tamahome guy."
"Why?"
"To see if he's a real man or he's as hopelessly pathetic as the rest of yer little group," Tasuki said. Chichiri bopped him across the head. Sharon snickered while Tasuki rubbed the spot and glared at him.
"What did you do that for?"
"You're really obnoxious, no da."
"Yeah? Well you're really weird."
"Well you're really stupid," Sharon said.
"Shut up, little girl."
"Dork."
"Little girl."
"That's enough children," Nuriko said. Tasuki stuck his tongue out at Sharon and she stuck her tongue back out at him.
"Can we get on with this, no da?" Chichiri asked. Sharon nodded and looked back at the screen. She would just ignore Tasuki. Chichiri put a long slip of paper with kanji on it on the screen. Then he lifted his hand and began mumbling strange words to himself. Sharon stared into the screen. A dark silhouette appeared…which soon solidified into two very familiar people.
"Amanda?"
The fourteen-year-old's eyes widened. "Sharon! What's happening?"
Sharon put her hand on the screen and leaned forward.
"This is a spell. We're going to get you-"
"No! You can't be doing this! I don't care! I won't let you have him back! He's mine Sharon Alissa Glace and you can't have him!" Amanda cried. Sharon felt the slightest twinge of annoyance. She was so overdramatic.
"Will you just listen to me? We're going to bring both of you back to Konan."
"I don't care about your stupid Konan! I don't care about you!" she snapped. Her words stung. Konan wasn't stupid! It was a real country with real people that could get really hurt if things got worse.
"This is not the time for you to be throwing a temper tantrum! Grow up would you?!" Sharon snapped back. "Why do you always have to be such a brat?!"
Amanda's eyes filled with tears and Sharon wished she could take it back. Wished she could take it all back. How could she have said something so mean?
"Amanda…" she started.
"How can you say that after everything that's happened to me?! You don't care about me! You hate me! Well I hate you to and I never want to see you again!" Then, before Sharon could even say anything, Amanda stood and ran from sight.
"Amanda!" Sharon yelled after her. But it was too late and she knew it. She curled her hand into a fist. Dammit, she'd done it again. She'd lost her temper and driven Amanda away. Why did she have to be so stupid.
"What a witch," Tasuki said. Sharon glared at him. She wanted to tell him to shut up. Amanda wasn't really that bad. She'd been through so much. He had no right to say things about a situation he didn't even know about.
"Just sayin'," Tasuki muttered, looking down. Sharon was torn between explaining to him and apologizing.
"Sharon," Nuriko said, gesturing toward the screen. Oh, right. There wasn't a whole lot of time. She stared back at the screen and the first thing she saw was Tamahome's eyes, filled with sadness.
"Tamahome…" she said, resting her other hand against the screen as well. A mixed thrill went through her. She was actually talking to him. To him. It was real. She was seeing him again. She took him all in. His face, his shoulders. His shirt was open and she frowned as she saw long thin welts crisscrossing his chest.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
"Don't worry about it right now. What is going on? Who are those people behind you? Did you find the seishi?" Sharon grinned, Amanda temporarily forgotten.
"Yup. The tall one is Mitsukake, the blond is Chiriko and the obnoxious redheaded loudmouth is named dung for brains, but we call him Tasuki for short."
"At least dung is more then you got little girl."
"Shut up."
"I can't hold this forever no da." Sharon glanced at Chichiri, then suddenly got an idea. She glanced back at Tamahome.
"I'm coming to Kutou to get you out."
"What?!" Nuriko asked.
"Are you outta yer mind?" Tasuki asked.
"You can't come here!" Tamahome said.
"It's the only way. I have to talk to Amanda. I'll see if Chichiri can transport me there, that way we won't have to travel or anything. We can pop in, grab you guys and pop back out again."
"If they find you here, you're as good as dead," Tamahome said.
"I know. But what else can I do? I'm the only one who can convince her to come back with us." He sighed and nodded.
"All right. I can't like it but all right. When are you planning on coming?"
"I don't know. Tomorrow afternoon?"
"You wanna sneak into an enemy nation in th' middle of the afternoon? How about night ya dummy!"
Sharon blushed. That was a definite duh.
"Yeah…tomorrow night. You know a place we can meet?" Tamahome thought for a moment.
"The biggest tree in the garden. It's full of sweet smelling flowers. I'll see if I can get the scroll too and I'll meet you there when the moon is at its peak. Don't you dare move from that spot."
"I won't. Don't worry."
"Oh I plan to worry. I'm not going to stop worrying until we get out of Kutou in one piece."
"You're such a pessimist."
"No. I'm a realist." She shook her head.
"Whatever you say Squash-boy." Then she beamed and clapped her hands. "On a lighter note. We stopped by your village! Mitsukake healed your dad, who's really pissed at you for going to Kutou by the way."
"You told him?" he said, somewhat angrily. Sharon folded her arms and glared at him.
"Yes I told your father where you were because he was concerned. But I also told him you were safe. He wanted you to know that he's proud of you no matter what. Chuei was attacked by bats, but that was my fault." Sharon sweatdropped. "He's okay now. He wants me to tell you that he's taking care of everything. Gyokuran is just as spunky as ever. She gave me permission to kick you in the shins whenever you misbehave." Tamahome smiled.
"Sounds like her."
"Yurien asked Hotohori to marry your father because she thought he told great stories." Tamahome laughed.
"I can just see Dad's reaction. Serves him right the old goat."
"Actually it's not a bad pairing. After all, Hotohori's got the money…" He shot her a look.
"Ha ha," he said sarcastically. She giggled.
"Anyway Yurien also sends her love. Oh and Shunkei followed in the Sou family tradition."
"The Sou family…" Tamahome started. Then a huge sweatdrop trailed down his face. "You mean he got a ryu stuck up his nose?"
Sharon giggled. "Yup. Still hasn't beaten your record though." Tamahome's face went red and he dropped his head a little bit.
"Dad didn't tell you that story did he?"
"Yup."
"I'm gonna hurt him. I can't believe he did that to me. What else did he tell you?" Sharon just grinned making Tamahome go a deeper shade of red.
"That's it; I'm never leaving you alone with my father again."
"He also wanted to thank you for his lovely daughter-in-law," Nuriko said cheerfully.
"Nuriko!" Sharon snapped, blushing. The purple-haired man beamed.
"Sharon doesn't think you love her anymore," Nuriko continued as if he hadn't even heard her.
"Will you shut up?!"
"You idiot. I still love you," Tamahome said, smiling softly. Sharon blinked.
"You…you do?"
"Of course I do. I'll always love you. You're the only woman I could ever want. I wish I could be there right now, just holding you." Sharon couldn't help but smile. His words made her warm. He placed his hand against hers but she couldn't feel his warmth.
"I'll see you soon Tamahome."
"I can't wait."
"You know what Squash-boy? I think I really do-" Suddenly he disappeared and she was left staring at a folding screen again. She sighed.
"Love you…" she finished.
"Sorry about that no da. I held it as long as I could."
"Don't worry about it. Why don't you rest for a bit and then we can head to the capital?" Sharon said, getting to her feet. Chichiri nodded. She went to sit on the bed and began brushing her hair. She would get to see Tamahome tomorrow…and Amanda too. She sighed again and dropped her head back. She didn't want to deal with Amanda. She knew that made her a terrible friend…but Amanda was being impossible.
"Yeah. Well he's an idiot too," Tasuki said standing.
"What makes you say that?" Sharon asked.
"Because love is stupid. It's like putting your heart in the middle of the road and hoping it doesn't get trampled."
"It is a little like that," Mitsukake said. "But even if your heart gets trampled occasionally…there is always someone there to heal it again."
---
Tamahome sat back, staring at the screen. She was going to say she loved him. He knew she was going to say that. It was just his luck that the screen cut off when it did. Well she'd say it again when he saw her in person. He couldn't wait.
Of course…there was Amanda to think about. The way she had blown up at Sharon like that. It was just like a child throwing a temper tantrum. He wondered if she really meant her words or she was just saying them to hurt Sharon. He had to find out her true intentions. He had to before they risked trying to bring her back to Konan. Otherwise things could get dangerous.
---
Amanda realized that they had stopped talking and straightened up. Sharon was coming back to Kutou. That wasn't fair! They hadn't even mentioned her but twice! Amanda stomped back to her room.
---
Doukun yawned and rubbed his eyes. He glanced sleepily out the window. It was morning and already Jozen was bursting with life. He sat up and stretched his arms over his head. There was something he had to do today but he couldn't remember what it was.
He slid out of bed and slipped on a white robe, then put on a green robe over it and tied it with a maroon belt. He peered into the small mirror as he began to brush his hair. Master always said that the scholar had to look presentable, even first thing in the morning. He tied his hair up with a red cord, then padded to the main room for breakfast.
Gamui was sitting at the table. He didn't look like a scholar at all. His dark brown hair was tumbled all over his shoulders and he hadn't even shaved yet. Soldiers, he supposed, were allowed to look messy first thing in the morning.
"Good morning, runt," Gamui said, tugging Doukun's ponytail.
"Don't! You'll mess it up," Doukun said, patting his hair unconsciously. He sat at the table and smiled as his mother put rice porridge in front of him. He loved breakfast. It meant the start of a day. He loved a well organized day.
"You look entirely too happy for this early in the morning," Gamui grumbled.
"Well that's because he wasn't out in the tavern till all hours," Mother said, putting a bowl in front of her older son. "You'd think you returned to Jozen to drink rather then stay with us." Gamui sighed heavilly.
"Mother. I'm a grown man. Stop talking to me like I'm a child."
"Ou Gamui, as long as you still live under my roof I can talk to you the way I want. I don't care if you are the oldest son. Besides, I just want to see your handsome face once in a while."
"I miss you too, brother," Doukun said. The man gave a noncommittal grunt and began eating. When he had finished the bowl, he put it down and Mother had another one ready for him. Doukun was always so amazed at the depth of his brother's stomach. He couldn't eat more then three bowls without bursting. Gamui could usually hold at least twice that and still eat a meal at noon.
"I heard the miko was in town," Gamui said casually. Doukun spit out his porridge.
"Doukun!" Mother scolded.
"Sorry!" the boy said and began to wipe up the mess. When he was finished he looked up at his brother wide-eyed.
"The miko? You mean the Suzaku no Miko?"
"No, the Genbu no Miko."
"But…but what is she doing here?" Gamui shrugged.
"How should I know? I just heard it from the innkeeper. He said that the miko herself was staying in his rooms."
Doukun stared down at his porridge. He had suddenly lost his appetite. What was the miko doing here? Did she know? How could she know? His sign had stayed dead the entire time he was there…at least to his knowledge. Well there was always the possibility the innkeeper was lying. He hoped that was the case. He took a bite of porridge.
"So, Doukun," Gamui said. "Are you still tutoring Gai-san's brats?" Doukun spit out his food again.
"Ou Doukun! That's the second time!"
"I forgot! I was supposed to be there early! Gai-san is going to be so angry with me!" Doukun dashed to his room, jammed his feet into his shoes and began to gather his scrolls and inks. He needed the money he got from Gai-san to continue his studies. He made a quick check to make sure he had everything and dashed from the house and into the streets.
---
Jozen sure was crowded. The flood of people swamped her and she was feeling a little crowded. Sharon tried to stay close to the others.
"Man, this place is thief heaven," Tasuki said. "With all these people you wouldn't know yer pockets were picked until it was long gone."
"In Eiou it's worse. This would be a slow day," Nuriko said. A man got in between her and the seishi. She ducked around him and a jewelry stall caught her eye. She paused to admire the pretty necklaces for a moment then looked up. The seishi had gotten really far without her.
"Hey!" she shouted. They didn't seem to hear her. She tried to catch up but people kept getting in her way. She grunted in frustration. There were fewer people by the wall. She squirmed past a knot of boys and began to jog keeping close to the wall. She could just see Mitsukake. As long as she kept him in sight everything would be fine.
Suddenly something came hurtling around the corner and slammed into her, knocking her onto the ground. Scrolls went flying everywhere. Sharon looked into slightly pained sea green eyes.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I didn't see you," Doukun said, climbing off of her. The girl began frantically picking up scrolls.
"Excuse me, sir. Sorry, ma'am," she said hurriedly as she flitted expertly through the crowds collecting her scrolls. Sharon saved what looked like an inkpot from under a man's foot and picked up a small scroll that was nearby her.
"Do you need help?" Sharon asked, when Doukun came up to her. She shook her head.
"No thank you. I can handle it," Doukun said. Sharon looked at her armload of scrolls and raised her eyebrows.
"I think I'll help you anyway. You look like you could use it," Sharon said. Doukun seemed to think about this for a moment.
"Okay. You can take these," she said, handing her a few more scrolls. The rest she tucked under her arm. "I'm in a hurry. Do you mind running?"
"No. But you better take my hand so I won't lose you."
Doukun clasped her hand and an unexplainable shock jolted through her. She didn't have time to ponder on it as Doukun began to run. The girl was fast and slipped through the crowds as easily as if they were standing still. Sharon wished she could do that. She was getting bumped and jostled all over the place. She was glad she had taken Doukun's hand. If not, she would have lost her awhile ago.
They turned a corner and went up a street and the crowds suddenly thinned. By the looks of things, this was the richer part of town. Doukun finally stopped at a walled house with a beautiful red feather painted over the door. Sharon slumped against the wall, panting for breath. Doukun seemed slightly out of breath as well. She straightened her hair, tugged at her robes then reached out to ring the bell. Before she could the door opened and a stern faced man peered out.
"Lord Gai no longer wants your services, boy. Leave." The door slammed shut. Sharon stared at Doukun. Boy? Doukun was a boy? She sweatdropped. Well that could have been embarrassing. Doukun sighed.
"Now what am I going to do?"
"What exactly do you do?"
"I'm a tutor. I teach writing, figuring and a little classical poetry too. But there aren't many people who want to hire a thirteen-year-old tutor. Gai-san only did it because he knew of my father."
"What do you use the money for? Do you support your family?"
"No. Gamui does that. He can afford us a comfortable living but not my studies unfortunately. I want to be a civil servant and maybe even work on the Emperor's council but for that I have to study real hard.
I guess it's for the best that I didn't have to go today though. It's been gone for a while so I don't know nothin' anyway," he said, looking at his foot.
"It?" Sharon asked. Doukun stared at her, then his eyes widened as if he'd only just seen her.
"S…Suzaku no Miko?!"
She grinned.
"You bet! I knew I'd run into you again Doukun and I guess I did…literally."
"I apologize for that, Your Grace," Doukun said hurridly. Sharon winced. Not that again.
"Just call me Sharon," she said. The boy looked horrified at the very thought.
"Oh no. I can't do that. You're much too important."
"I don't care. Call me Sharon anyway."
"As you wish, Sharon-sama."
She sighed. Well…it was close enough anyway. She adjusted the scrolls in her arms.
"So now what?"
"Now I go home." He suddenly looked around, a bewildered expression on his face. "Weren't…weren't you traveling with Nuriko-san?" Sharon slapped a hand to her face.
Oops. She'd totally forgotten about them. Nuriko was gonna be pissed.
"I lost them when you ran into me.
"I'm really really sorry." Sharon smiled.
"It's okay. Really. You can stop apologizing."
"I'm sorry. Here. Let me get those." He took the scrolls from her. The small one dropped from his arms and bounced along the ground.
"What's this one?" Sharon asked, scooping it up.
"Oh, those are just my poems. I write them when I'm bored. They haven't been very good lately," he said sweatdropping.
"Can I read them?"
"If you wan,t Sharon-sama." Sharon opened the scroll and sweatdropped as she saw the elegant Chinese characters. Oh yeah. That was another duh.
---
Doukun anxiously watched her as she looked at the scroll. He wondered what she would think. She probably wouldn't like them. They weren't really any good. They were just little things he'd done on spur of the moment. Most of them weren't even in proper form. But he disliked the proper form at times. It was a bit too verbose and sacrificed simple words for complicated eloquence making it difficult for the common people to translate accurately.
Doukun suddenly realized a spot on his right foot was burning softly. He glanced down and the sign of Suzaku shone back at him. Oh no. He looked at the miko to see if she had noticed, but she was still looking at the scroll. He had to leave…but…but he couldn't just leave her here alone…but he couldn't let her know either. He scuffed dirt on the kanji, hoping it would dull it. It was sufficient for a disguise…as long as she didn't look too closely
---
Sharon bit her lip, trying to think of what to say to him. Maybe she could tell him she really liked his handwriting but she couldn't read.
"There you are, no da," Chichiri said, appearing beside her. She jumped and looked at him guiltily.
"Yeah. Sorry about that. I kinda got…separated."
"Not your fault, no da. We should have kept an eye on you," he said with his usual cheerfulness. Sharon looked up to speak to Doukun but found him running down the street.
"Wait!" she called after him. He disappeared around a corner and was gone. Sharon looked down at the scroll. Well…at least now she had another excuse to visit Jozen…if she ever had a chance.
"Who was that?" Chichiri asked.
"Ou Doukun. He's training to be a civil servant."
"He looked a bit young for that, no da."
"I guess. Well let's go."
---
Amanda threw the vase against the wall, getting satisfaction as it shattered into bits. It just wasn't fair! Tamahome was hers by right! Not Sharon's! There was a knock on her door.
"Go away!" she shouted. The door opened anyway and Nakago stepped in. She glared at the general and was about to yell at him…but then realized that he would probably be best able to help her. She went over to him and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, Nakago. It's not fair! Sharon's going to come here and steal Tamahome from me! I don't know what to do."
"I can help you, Lady Amanda…but you must do something for me." Amanda sniffled.
"What?"
"Meet with the emperor. Just for a short while."
"Will you really help me Nakago?"
"My lady, I would do anything for you."